Farhan's Picks & Pricks

F5 F5 F5!

2011-05-14T18:37:00.001+05:00

Nothing.

Do not curse

2011-05-09T13:33:00.002+05:00

Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said (English translation): 'When a person curses something or someone; the curse ascends towards the heaven, then all the gates of heaven are closed against it; thereafter it descends to the earth, and then the gates of the earth are closed against it. After this it turns towards the right and left and when it finds no way there too, it turns to the person or the thing which has been cursed and gets attached to him or it, if the same may deserve it; otherwise, it returns to the one who uttered it.' [ Abu Dawood ]

Allah prevent us from cursing and forgive everyone who has cursed, and take that curse away from him/her or the other person, ameen.

Inconvenience to another Muslim

2011-05-08T19:37:00.002+05:00

The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said (English translation): “A man while walking along a path saw the branches of a tree lying there. He thought, ‘By Allah, I shall remove these from this road, so that they may not harm the Muslims, and he was admitted to Jannah.” [Sahih Muslim]

Lesson: We should try to protect a Muslim from inconvenience and wish well for him/her. It is a conduct that entitles one to enter Jannah. A Muslim is a well-wisher of another Muslim and tries his best to save him from difficulty and hardship.

Supplications

2011-04-30T00:09:00.000+05:00

A website recently created for supplications:

http://dua.farhathashmi.com/

JazakAllah.

Clubbed to Death

2011-04-25T07:20:00.002+05:00

0:01 In a world full of deceit, we're moving backwards like mindless sheep.

0:55 He starts to move against the system.

1:05 How, one way or another, we try to destroy each other.

1:37 Love can freeze time, and create it's own reality.

2:19 Falls and rises again, like we all should do.

2:58 That wall represents all that keeps us from being the best we can (addictions, procrastination, unfair laws, envy, etc.)

3:07 Comes back better, stronger, wiser. Children look up to us and take our example.

It is complicated!

2011-04-24T15:58:00.001+05:00

Actually, it is not.

Pain

2011-04-17T12:56:00.000+05:00

It hurts.

Wow!!

2011-03-19T00:34:00.003+05:00

There were so many people there. The place was quite full with people looking for dinner meals. I was about to have dinner with my colleagues too. Just when I thought I need to wash my hands and was walking towards the restroom; I saw something simple, yet beautiful and heart-melting in that crowd.

I was walking and just on my right I saw a cute girl, about four, arms wide open, with a huge smile on her face, running towards her dad and saying 'daddy daddy daddy...'

It was inspirational. Its been several hours now, but something inside me is saying 'I want that too'.

Gulp!

And Ameen to this too.

Most Beautiful Place I have been to (with picture I took) - Saif ul Muluk, Pakistan

2010-09-16T11:54:00.002+05:00

Money and Happiness

2009-08-03T11:37:00.005+06:00

Of course its not a new topic, but this topic can never be old either.

There are a lot of different views on this topic as to whether money gives happiness or not. Everyone has his/her own views which in my opinion emerges out of personal experience and understanding.

Some of the views that one usually comes across are:

1) I need money, I know I'll be more happy with it

2) Money gives you happiness

3) You can buy everything but not happiness

and of course, Money makes the mare go.

I just thought that I should write here about how I think on this topic. You can read if you are interested.

In one sentece it is: Money is a necessity and gives you comfort too, and comfort is not happiness.

Here is how I came to this conclusion:

- I have come across people in my life who have money and are happy.

- I have come across people in my life who have money are are not happy.

- I have come across people in my life who have limited money and are happy.

- I have come across people in my life who have limited money are not happy.

- I have never come across anyone with no money and happy.

To me, the basic purpose of money is to fulfil your basic needs and after this privide you with comfort. Comfort can be viewed physically in the form of beautiful homes, good cars, luxurious living conditions, international traveling (yes, i know you are thinking that its happiness, i disagree).

Think a little deep here!!

The reason why I call all this as comfort and not happiness is because of a situation like this:

Lets suppose I am rich, like filthy rich. I have all the luxurious things that I can think of. Now, I love travelling, and my dream travelling is to travel to space (wohoooooo). I contact some agency and I have a ticket to travel to space. I feel happy, yes I think that I feel happy; confusing myself because its actually one more comfort/luxury that I am able to buy with my money. Now, on the day I will travel, my personal doctor tells me that I can not travel to space because I am not fit for it; and never will be. Now, where does this particular happiness go? It will vaish. My money and my happiness break apart.

I think happiness comes to you from inner self, and the people around you. Money is a necessity, but once you reach a level where your basic needs are satisfied, it provides you comfort and not happiness.

Who is Allah?

2009-07-01T11:38:00.001+06:00

The reason that things must have a creator, is because the things which are comprehensible by the mind that is man, life, and the universe, are limited, weak, imperfect, and are in need for something other than themselves. Man is limited, because he grows in every aspect to a certain limit that he cannot surpass, so he is limited. Life is limited, because it manifests itself only in individuals, and what is noticed by the senses is that it is concluded with the individual, thus it is limited. The universe is limited, because it is the sum of celestial bodies, and each body is limited; and the sum of limited things is self-evidently limited. Thus, man, life, and the universe are definitely limited. When we ponder on the limited (thing), we see that it is not azali (eternal - limitless), otherwise it would not have been limited, and therefore, it must be created by something else, which is the Creator of man, life and the universe. This Creator, is either created by someone else, creator of himself, or azali (eternal - limitless) whose existence is indispensable (wajib ul-wujood). It is absolutely false that he is created by someone else, because he would then be limited. It is also false that he is the creator of himself and could not be rationally considered as the Creator. As for being self-created, the ramification of which would be he is created by himself and creating himself simultaneously. This is simply absurd. Hence, the creator must be azali(eternal - limitless) whose existence is indispensable. He is Allah.

~ An Excerpt from The System of Islam (English translation of Nidham-ul-Islam by Taqi-ud-Din Nibhani)

P.S. Although I believe that Allah does not has a gender, but one has to use some keyword while writing. As in normal writing, the word 'He' is used here, and I had to go with it.

Difference between picture taken with and without flash...

2009-06-24T17:57:00.001+06:00

A Question!

2009-06-23T15:19:00.002+06:00

Have you ever asked this question from yourself:

"What are the good things I have done in my life?"

If not, then do it. Your response to the question has the ability to make you surprised/muddled/irate/happy/sad. Lets see what it is :) ....

If the feeling is not a good one, then I guess its time to try to improve it :)

Pwned!!

2009-06-22T12:41:00.001+06:00

Quote...

2009-06-02T14:58:00.005+06:00

"A man is about as big as the things that make him angry"

~Winston Churchill

A Legend!

2009-05-29T19:45:00.002+06:00

Bruce Wayne: You're vigilantes.
Henri Ducard: No, no, no. A vigilante is just a man lost in the scramble for his own gratification. He can be destroyed, or locked up. But if you make yourself more than just a man, if you devote yourself to an ideal, and if they can't stop you, then you become something else entirely.
Bruce Wayne: Which is?
Henri Ducard: A legend, Mr. Wayne.

~ From Batman Begins

Just Imagine!

2009-05-19T10:51:00.006+06:00

Yesterday I was watching an old black & white movie named "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb". The movie was actually quite hysterical at the way Army Generals can behave sometimes, without even letting the countries civil higher authorities know about it.

What it made me think was that, it is actually possible that Generals can go crazy. Just think about it for a moment. You are hired to fight your countries enemies, and all your life, serving your country for like 30-40 years, you don't even get a chance to fight. Just imagine, this can actually make some people go psychotic.

Then it made me think, was that some kind of thinking that can trigger wars (like in the movie)? and i thought it can, it definitely can. Maybe Kargil was one such thing, as no civil authorities were really aware about it, but Army generals just went for it and ohhhh we are in a war.....

Teamwork :)

2009-05-08T18:08:00.001+06:00

On Set vs. On Screen

2009-04-20T14:38:00.000+06:00

Forgiveness

2009-04-18T14:17:00.001+06:00

~ An extract from a newsletter I received from 'Simple Truths''

Our emotions are powerful motivators, and more than almost anything else in our lives they will drive our behavior. Sometimes our greatest challenge is to get inside our own heads to understand what makes us tick. Why do we feel and behave the way we do?

I know two family members who were best of friends, but several years ago, one reminded the other of something that had happened thirty years earlier. One thing led to another and, you know what, they haven't spoken since.

William Ward identified the cure when he said, "Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the handcuffs of hate."

Those are powerful words, and I know from personal experience...forgiveness works. A few times in my life I've been greatly wronged and taken advantage of. My first reaction, of course, was anger and resentment. I held it for awhile and felt my stomach tie up in knots, my appetite wane, and the joy slip out of my life.

The quote from Ward provided the wake-up call I needed to forgive the person who had wronged me. It was like I had been playing the first half of a basketball game with three-pound steel shoes, and in the locker room the coach said, "Mac, try these new Nikes in the second half." Multiply that by ten and you'll understand how great it feels to unload your "emotional baggage" through the power of forgiveness.

Life is too short to stay angry...even for a day. Just remember that, "this special Dash may only last a little while."

"Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future."
-Paul Boese

The Blessed Lisp

2009-03-11T10:22:00.005+05:00

I was having a conversation with my 3.5 year old cousin last weekend. I was just talking to her if she has any friends, etc. While she was telling their names, this happened:

Hira: Aik aur hai, uss ka naam hai Zaya
Me: (finding it a little strange name) Zaya?
Hira: haan Zaya
Me: (still not convinced that i heard it right, i asked again) Zaya ?!? yeh kaisa naam hua?
Hira: (a little not happy with me not getting it) Zaya hai na ... ZAYA
Me: (i thought a little about the name) acha Zara ?!?
Hira: (replied calmly) haan Zaya...

:)

Charlie bit me ...

2009-02-22T00:44:00.001+05:00

I just love this video :D ....

iApple =)

2009-02-21T17:25:00.004+05:00

~Photography by Majid Azim (http://flickr.com/photos/majzim)

Move to the side? :|

2009-02-17T14:26:00.004+05:00

Iran puts satellite into orbit for 1st time - Congratulations :)

2009-02-03T17:41:00.001+05:00

Iran has placed a domestic research satellite into orbit for the first time, ushering in an era of independence in its space program.

Press TV has received confirmation that the first domestic Iranian satellite has been placed into orbit via two carrier rockets.

Omid (meaning 'Hope' in Persian) was sent into space by the Iranian-produced satellite carrier Safir 2 early on Tuesday, Press TV correspondent Saman Kojouri reported from the launching site. Safir 2 is an upgraded model of carrier Safir 1.

Equipped with two frequency bands and eight antennae, Omid will transmit information to and from earth while orbiting the planet 15 times per day.

The lightweight telecommunications satellite is equipped with remote sensing, satellite telemetry and geographic information system technology as well as remote and ground station data processing.

Omid is a research satellite that has been designed for gathering information and testing equipment. After orbiting for one to three months, Omid will return to earth, returning with data that will help Iranian experts send an operational satellite into space.

Omid carries experimental satellite control devices, communications equipment and power supply systems to a distance of 250 to 350 kilometers from the earth's atmosphere.

The Safir 2 satellite carrier before the launch on February 3
The launch of Omid comes amid celebrations of the 30th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. In a Tuesday message, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad congratulated the nation on the new aerospace achievement.

"Dear people of Iran, your children have sent Iran's first domestic satellite into orbit... May this be a step toward... justice and peace," he said. "Iran's official presence in space has been added to the pages of history."

In August 2007, Tehran announced plans to carry out the domestic satellite launch after testing its first domestically-produced satellite carrier Safir 1.

Head of the Iranian Aerospace Organization, Reza Taqipour, told Press TV that Iran has plans to put a series of satellites into orbit by 2010 that will improve national disaster management programs and the country's telecommunications network.

Omid is the third Iranian-made satellite to be sent into space. Russia launched Iran's first satellite in 2005. Three years later, another satellite, which had been jointly designed by Iran, China and Thailand, was also sent into orbit. So far, only eight countries have launched domestically-made satellites into orbit.

The recent completion of the semi-domestic research satellite Mesbah is another success added to the accomplishments of Iranian aerospace experts.

Mesbah, which is ready for launch into outer space, has been equipped with a store and forward communications receiver that gathers information from various parts of the planet and then forwards the transmission.

Iranian scientists have also finished designing a satellite called Besharat, which is to be launched in a joint effort with the members of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC).

Tehran also plans to send its first astronaut to space by 2021.

Source: http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=84486&sectionid=351020101

Men and Women saying 'Men' and 'Women'

2009-02-02T10:37:00.007+05:00

Women saying Men ..... Men :@

Men saying Women ..... Women ;)

Men saying Men ..... Men :D

Women saying Women ..... Women :(

P.S. Post is supposed to be taken as light humour :)

Love Letter ...

2009-01-15T12:05:00.002+05:00

Received an SMS from a friend yesterday, enjoyed it a lot. Thought I shall blog it. Here it goes:

Mujhay apni mehbooba say milnay ka bara shoq tha ...
Ussay door say dekhnay ka bara shoq tha ...

Aik din likh dala khat sabar ker kay ...
Dil mai armaano ki qabar ker kay ...

Bholi bhaali na samajh saki meray pyaar ko ...
day diya khat apnay bhai Gulzar ko ...

Mai ne darya mai aik mauj dekhi ...
Jab apnay peechay Gulzar ki aik fauj dekhi ...

Unn kay maarnay say jism say saaz nikal rahay thay ...
Munh say aglay pichlay raaz nikal rahay thay ...

Logoon ne poocha kis per azaab aaya hai ...
Dil ne kaha, khat ka jawab aaya hai ...

~ Anonymous

Have a good laugh :D ...

2008-12-23T15:08:00.000+05:00

Classified Information !!!

2008-12-16T18:51:00.001+05:00

Talk about classified information :) .....

Contractor: "Can you make our code run faster?"
Tech Support: "Yes, but we have to take a look at it."
Contractor: "We can't, the code is classified."
Tech Support: "Can you explain to me what your code is doing?"
Contractor: "No, that's classified."
Tech Support: "Can you tell us what functions you use?"
Contractor: "No that's classified."

Source: http://www.rinkworks.com/stupid/cs_programming.shtml

212°

2008-11-13T17:46:00.002+05:00

At 211 degrees...water is hot.
At 212 degrees...it boils.
And with boiling water, comes steam.
And steam can power a locomotive.
And, it's that one extra degree that...
Makes all the difference.

:)

Mother - Sami Yusuf

2008-10-21T19:43:00.000+06:00

Commitment!

2008-09-25T21:03:00.003+06:00

"You're not disabled by the disabilities you have, you are able by the abilities you have."

Oscar Pistorius

Oscar won three gold medals in World paralympics. He is famous as "fastest thing on no legs". Saw his picture in newspaper a few days back, and only one word came to my mind - Commitment :)....

Tribute to Ahmed Faraz!

2008-08-05T20:25:00.004+06:00

First of all, I am not someone who reads poetry regularly. I just receive it sometimes on mobile SMS and undoubtedly the best ones (mostly romantic) are from Ahmed Faraz (no one sends any from Allama Iqbal :| [He's my favourite in poetry]).

Here goes a few that I liked as a tribute to Ahmed Faraz:

1)
Hum to aghaaz-e-Mohabbat mai hi lutt gaye Faraz
Loag kehtay hain, anjaam bura hota hai

2)
Apnay Haalat ka bhi ehsaas nahi hai mujh to Faraz
Mai ne auron se suna hai, Pareshan hoon mai

3)
Hamaray Sabr ki inteha kya poochtay ho Faraz
Woh hum say lipat ker ro rahay thay, kisi aur ke liye

4)
Hum to Mohabbat mai bhi Tauheed ke kail hain Faraz
Aik hi shakhs ko Mehboob banae rakha hai

5) On Fahdi's request:
Woh jis k paas rehta tha doston ka hujoom
Suna hai faraz kal raat ehsas-e-tanhai se mar gaya

6) And my favourite:
Uss Shakhs say faqat itna sa taaluq hai Faraz
Woh pareshaan ho to hamain neend aati

Hukm!

2008-07-25T19:02:00.002+06:00

Meray humsafar ka yeh Hukm tha
Keh mai kalaam uss say kam karoon

Meray hont aisay silay ke phir
Meri chup ne us ko rula diya

~ Anonymous

Class Behaviours

2008-05-22T14:51:00.001+05:00

Real Fight Club: In Silicon Valley!

2008-05-12T13:49:00.001+05:00

That was a SURPRISE for me!!!!

read more | digg story

What a Swing :)

2008-05-12T11:08:00.001+05:00

Its so odd that it looks cute ;)

read more | digg story

NASA to Fly You to the Moon for Free

2008-05-05T14:45:00.001+05:00

NASA is opening the door to anyone wanting to go to the moon as part of their next lunar mission—all without requiring years of tests, training, or smoking astroturf. Sadly, only your name will go. You will get a certificate from NASA.

read more | digg story

Why I tell my friends, "Please, beware!!! It can always turn out to be fake" :D

2008-05-02T11:11:00.001+05:00

No, I do not have any personal experiences, I am just a little pro-active :D ... Just check out the comic :) ...

read more | digg story

3D Projection, its AWESOME!!!

2008-04-30T09:58:00.001+05:00

Amazing show of 3D Projection ... Must watch!!!

read more | digg story

9 Questions To Ask Your Boss

2008-04-30T09:11:00.001+05:00

This is nice :P ....

read more | digg story

50 Stunning Pictures and Photos

2008-04-29T14:20:00.001+05:00

Check out the link below :)

read more | digg story

Information Overload!!

2008-04-25T17:27:00.001+05:00

Why I like Steve Jobs :D ....

2008-04-21T14:57:00.001+05:00

Why Use Linux?

2008-04-14T13:34:00.001+05:00

I am seriously thinking about switching or at least have multiple Operating Systems .... :)

read more | digg story

Warning labels for Bloggers :D

2008-04-14T12:43:00.002+05:00

13 Stupid Ideas That Made Millions of Dollars

2008-04-11T14:32:00.001+05:00

Want to make it big as an entrepreneur? Check out these recent odd and quirky business ideas. P.S. These ideas could not have been too “stupid” as they have all made millions of dollars for the entrepreneurs who started them.

read more | digg story

Google is Insane!!!

2008-04-11T10:12:00.001+05:00

Google has been known for a long time as the best place in the world to work. They offer free massages, gourmet meals, and professional haircuts at their beautiful campus in California. That right there puts them above 99.99% of the other companies in the world. At any rate, you already knew all that so lets move on.

Have you ever wondered how much a Google employee makes? Well this data isn't extremely easy to find, if you don't believe me just search Google. However, here is some interesting statistics.
Google Programmer in Phoenix - $174,000/year
Google Programmer in California - $197,000/year
Google Programmer in Chicago - $222,000/year
Google Programmer in New York - $242,000/year
(according to Indeed.com)

...and thats just in salary. What other financial benefits does Google offer it's employees?

1) Google will pay $8,000 / year for you to continue your education. They just require you get at least 'B's in your classes.

2) If you refer another employee to Google's staff and they stay for 60 days, Google will pay your $2,000

3) If you are thinking about adopting a kid, Google will contribute $5,000 towards all the legal and adoption fees.

4) Depending how long you have worked at Google you can get up to 25 days (almost a month) paid vacation a year!

Now their is one more thing that is very interesting about Google employees financial lives. According to the New York Times there are estimated to be over 1,000 Google employees with Google stock worth over $5 million dollars. Woah wait! There are over 1,000 people working for Google who are worth OVER $5 MILLION DOLLARS! Even Google's former masseuse (did I mention employees get free massages) is a millionaire. Also, according to the New York Times, every employee that has been at Google for over a year is worth well over $250,000. Competing firms have said that Google alone has raised the average programmers salary by 50% over the last few year and with salaries and benefits like this I really don't doubt it.

Blog Blog Blog ...

2008-04-10T13:43:00.000+05:00

Welcome :) ....

Picture link: http://flickr.com/photos/25036088@N06/2397483533/