Online Collaboration

Today, I would like to share with you something that I have found just by coincidence. I came across the "ZOHO" office applications that work on web using your web browser - internet explorer or firefox. All you have to go to http://www.zoho.com and login by using your gmail Id or yahoo Id and start using online applications. It is a tremendous tool for collaborating online. You don't have to physically everywhere. You can interact and collaborate your colleagues in remote areas or in other places using this online application tools. All you need is an internet connection.

Start your online collaboration effort.

Islamic Finance

The fundamental question that concerns me is "What in essence is Islamic Finance?" I have shared this question on IBF net. I am having a very lively discussion on the topic. So far generally, there is a consensus that the way Islamic Banking is being practiced, it is not quite Islamic, it disguises conventional banking products. A very straight forward comment on an Islamic Banking product - Murabahah Contract - is from Brother Dr. Mahmood Ahmed "Finance, whether Islamic or conventional, is dependent on financial inter mediation which has three essential features-1.Principal amount,2.Rate and 3.Time. All these three must be pre- determined. Hence an intermediary accepts signature of the client in a set of charge documents as per law of the land then makes him agent to buy goods which is not an essence for it but is done as an eye wash for labeling it "Islamic" which is a religious cheating in the name of Islamic finance. Signing in a baking charge document makes a client owe to the bank and the bank creates bank money out of nothing for financing which is unjust and is the cause of current world recession. Financial inter mediation cannot be Islamic indeed. Please read "Financial Institutions and Markets, Second edition, written by Meir Kohn. It will open your eyes to understand well that banking is a gambling which can not be Islamic. Are you interested to buy Islamic wine?"

بہ زبان غالب "میں نے خط کو مکالمہ بنا دیا ہے "۔

بلاگ لکھتے ھوے مرزا غالب بہت یاد آتے ھیں۔ انہوں نے بہت عرصہ پہلے یہ کہا تھا کہ میں نے وہ چیز ایجاد کی ھے کہ خط کو مکالمہ بنا دیا ھے۔ بلاگ ایک دو طرفہ مکالمہ ھے۔ بلاگ کا مصنف کسی موضوع کو زیر بحث لاتا ھے اور ھم اس پر اپنی راے کا اظیار کرتے ھیں۔ عام مکالمہ اور بلاگ میں فرق صرف یہ ھے کہ مکالمہ بروقت ھے جبکہ بلاگ میں مکالمہ دو مختلف اوقات میں ھوتا ھے - بلاگ لکھنے کا اور اس پر اظہار خیال کا وقت مختلف ھے۔

Socializing Online

I have made minor changes in my Blog. First, now I shall be publishing my views on host of other things than only Islam and Islamic Banking, and open source software movement. Second, I have changed the template of my blog.

All these changes are mostly, the result of my experience with "facebook" - the social networking portal. To my amazement, I found my university fellows and old friends there. One such friend provided links to articles relating to the origins of current financial mess. I am enjoying this new way of socializing. In my quest to know more about Blogs, Online Socializing and other related things, I came across "The New Rules of Marketing and PR" by David Meerman Scott.

Anyone can find me on facebook as saeedbabar and on twitter as saeedbabar. I am looking forward to meet like minded people on the net.