I get this question sometimes from others and want to share a good resource:
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) provides a wealth of information on starting a business at the SBA home page (http://www.sba.gov/) under "Small Business Planner.” Within this category you will find information on entrepreneurship, writing a business plan, and managing and growing your business. You may also take advantage of SBA’s resource partners. Both the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) and the Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) provide free one-on-one counseling to those interested in starting and expanding a business. This includes, critiquing your business plan, legal requirements, marketing, and licenses needed for your business. To find the location nearest you, please visit Local Resources and click on your state.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Islamic Famfest 2009 - Atlanta
Islamic Famfest 2009 - Atlanta
Halal fun and entertainment for the entire family!| Host: | |
| Type: | |
| Network: | Global |
| Start Time: | Thursday, April 16, 2009 at 7:00pm |
| End Time: | Sunday, April 19, 2009 at 6:00pm |
| Location: | Jazzman's Cafe - Food for Life Cafe - Startime Entertainment - "West End" Park |
| Street: | 608 Holcomb Bridge Rd Roswell GA 30076 |
| City/Town: | Atlanta, GA |
| Phone: | 4042792926 |
| Email: |
Description
Join us for a weekend of pure entertainment, done “halal-style”, just the way we know you like it! This unique event was designed to join our families together in the spirit of unity and there is literally something for everyone and we mean everyone!We’ll kick things off Thursday night at Jazzman’s with an evening of open mic, giving the areas hidden jewels light to shine and share their talent!
Friday evening we’ll set it off at Food for Life Cafe by featuring some of the finest spoken word available, and everyone gets the chance to be heard at our Poetry Forum.
We don’t intend to stop there! Saturday is sure to be memorable. Join us at Startime for more than 200 video games featuring three motion simulators, outdoor adventures including two 18-hole, mini-golf courses, six batting cages, and go-karts. If you feel like just relaxing then they also offer a first-run movie theatre located within the complex!
Last but not least, wind down Sunday afternoon, while enjoying a day in the park with good food, good company, family and friends.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Modest Muslim Clothing not just for the Mosque
‘I cannot obey Him in public and disobey Him in private’
THE grandfather of Abu ‘Abdullah Bin Zayd Bin Aslam narrated an interesting incident during the rule of Umar Bin Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him):
Once when I was accompanying Umar Bin Al-Khattab on his patrol of Madina at night, it so happened that he leaned against a wall (to rest) when he felt tired. It was midnight, and (we heard) a woman say to her daughter, “O my daughter, get up and mix that milk with some water.”
The girl said, “O mother, did you not hear the decree of Amir Al-Mu’minin (chief of the believers) today?”
The mother said, “What was that?”
The girl said, “He ordered someone to announce in a loud voice that milk should not be mixed with water.”
The mother said, “Get up and mix the milk with water; you are in a place where Umar cannot see you.”
The girl told her mother, “I cannot obey Him (Allah) in public and disobey Him in private.”
Umar heard this, and told me: “O Aslam, go to that place and see who that girl is, and to whom she was speaking, and whether she has a husband.” So I went to that place, and I saw that she was unmarried, the other woman was her mother, and neither of them had a husband.
I came to Umar and told him what I had found out. He called his sons together, and said to them: “Do any of you need a wife, so I can arrange the marriage for you? If I had the desire to get married, I would have been the first one to marry this young woman.”
Abdullah said: “I have a wife.” Abdur-Rahman said: “I have a wife.” ‘Asim said: “I do not have a wife, so let me marry her.” So Umar arranged for her to be married to ‘Asim. The woman gave birth to a daughter, who grew up to be the mother of Umar Bin Abdul Aziz.
(Sifat Al-Safwah, Wafiyat Al-A’yan and cited by Ibn Al-Jawzi in Ahkam Al-Nisa’ pg. 441, 442)
Note: Umar Bin Abdul Aziz is the one of the most respected caliphs for his honesty, justice and devoutness, after the four rightly-guided caliphs.
Permission is granted to circulate among private individuals and groups, to post on Internet sites and to publish in full text and subject title in not-for-profit publications.
This is a great article and we should all use this in relation to our everyday life.
Modest Muslim Clothing not just for the Mosque
Some people believe that it is ok to dress modestly at the Mosque and then afterwards in their everyday lives they dress the way they want, not what Allah has said and they do not dress and cover themselves properly. We all need to think about what we are doing and realize that
"I cannot obey Him in public and disobey Him in private" is meant for all of us and is a lesson to be learned by all.
So we all need to dress and act the way we should both in public and in private. Make it something you do all the time not just some of the time when others may be watching, for Allah always sees us.
By the way if you are looking for proper dress do not forget our shop http://www.oneislamicstore.com. We have Modest Islamic Clothing and Accessories for the Entire Family and we will help you to dress properly no matter where you are.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
A Muslim Comedy Event in Gainesville Florida
Check this out!LAUGHING IS NOT HARAM! A Muslim Comedy Event
Saturday, March 28th inshAllah. University of Florida.
For Florida, Georgia and Alabama Muslims: http://www.laughingisnotharam.com/
Event Info
WHEN?
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Doors open at 7:30pm, event starts at 8:15pm.
COST?
Totally Free. Gratis. Balaash. Muft. If you pay to get in, you got scammed.
Restrictions?
ABSOLUTELY NO CHILDREN ALLOWED
Ages 15 & up only
Looks like this could be a great event and at a cost of FREE, it is sure to fit everyones budget!
If you do go let us know how what you thought of it, we would love to hear your comments.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Cure for Arrogance
Cure for arrogance
In continuation of the earlier topic “Hues of Arrogance” here are Islamic remedies for this disease of the heart with the steps one can take to develop humility towards Allah and His creation to stem the disease of arrogance and to increase humility:
Know Allah
What has knowing Allah got to do with arrogance? Everything. The one who truly recognizes his Creator, and learns about His exalted names and attributes, embraces reality. He knows with conviction how great his Lord is, and how absolutely insignificant his own self is.
He knows that Allah created him, fashioned him, brought him into this world, gave him sustenance and bestowed upon him strength after the frailty of infancy and childhood. Allah has revealed about Himself in the Qur’an and once someone truly knows Allah, he cannot harbor arrogance in his heart for long.
Allah’s signs
The most powerful people who ever lived – with extraordinary physical or mental strength – all become weak with the passage of time. Great scholars or professors can one day suffer from amnesia or Alzheimer’s. Even the man who played the fictional “Superman” – the idol of many young boys – suffered a crippling fall, withered and died before their very eyes.
Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said, “Allah looks neither at your figures, nor at your outward appearance, but He looks at your hearts and your deeds.” (Sahih Muslim)
This should remind us that each and every little blessing we have – from our looks, to our wealth, to our abilities and talents – is solely from Allah. Our achievements are not the product of our own selves, they are a result of whatever talent Allah blessed us with combined with the effort He guided us to undertake. Not only that, He can take them away whenever He wants, even in a split second.
A beauty queen can lose her perfect body and beauty to a disease (just a passing reference to the recent death of a 20-year-old Brazilian model, who died within two months of contracting a mysterious disease).
A strong wrestler might suffer an accident that could render him invalid. Taking lessons from these will Insha Allah bring humility in us.
“Did they then feel secure against the Plan of Allah. None feels secure from the Plan of Allah except the people who are the losers.” (Qur’an, 7:99)
Wear ordinary clothes
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever gives up wearing elegant and expensive garments out of humbleness, when he can do so, Allah will call him on the Day of Resurrection and before all the creations, He will give him the choice to wear whichever garment of ‘Iman‘ he would like to wear.” (Al-Tirmidhi)
Everything is temporary
Remember: whatever you have – or whoever you are – will cease to exist one day. The life of this world is fleeting; everything in it, whether it is a source of happiness or misery, will be gone one day.
Only memories and stories will remain, remembered as ‘history’. So if you have something that makes you swell with pride, just remind yourself that it will be dead and gone one day. Just like you.
“Whatsoever is on it (the earth) will perish. And the Face of your Lord full of Majesty and Honour will abide forever.” (Qur’an, 55:27)
Admit your mistakes
It might take a huge effort at first, but try to develop humility by hearing the other person out, even if you are right or better in opinion. Develop the ability to look at things from their point of view, which will make you a gentler and more empathetic person; more approachable and likeable.
Also, if you are among the older generation (say, above 50) and for the most part of your life, you have been telling the younger lot what to do and how to do it, accede to the fact that now they are adults; maybe acknowledging your own shortcomings before them, and occasionally acquiescing to their wishes won’t really belittle you before them. On the contrary, it might just make you more honorable.
Be quick to apologize
It takes a lot of strength to not just admit your mistake, but to go one step ahead and apologize to those you’ve wronged, whether it happened intentionally or not. Asking another person to forgive you is a sign of humility, one that very few strong individuals can muster up the guts to acquire.
Befriend poor people
A humble person always compares himself to those lower than him in worldly status. For this reason, he is constantly concerned about their well-being and prosperity. Think: “If we can not afford a rented apartment, what about those who are homeless?”
You will find humble people sharing their meals with the poor, giving away clothes to them, paying their medical bills, or often asking about their well-being.
In short, instead of always spending time with the elite at lavish soirees featuring arrays of expensive food, couture and decor, eat at times vegetables on bran whilst sitting on the floor with servants.
Greet people first
“So-and-so’s daughter is such a Miss high-and-mighty! What does she think of herself? Whenever she sees me, she averts her eyes. She doesn’t greet me, even though I am old enough to be her mother.”
Maybe you can teach her what she’s missing by practicing what you preach? What’s stopping you from greeting her with a warm, motherly smile?
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Do not disdain any good deed, even your meeting with your brother (Muslim) with a cheerful face.” (Sahih Muslim)
Remember your origin
“Was he not a Nutfah (mixed male and female discharge of semen) poured forth? Then he became a clot; then (Allah) shaped and fashioned (him) in due proportion.” (Qur’an, 75:37-38)
The IslamQA team bluntly describes this: “Another remedy (for arrogance) is to remember that he and urine came out of the same place; that he began as a despised drop of sperm and he will end up as a rotten corpse, and that in between he is a vessel for feces. So what does he have to feel so proud and arrogant about?!”
Take account
Every day, when you retire for the night, mentally recount how many wrong things you did during the day. After that, proceed to sincerely ask Allah for forgiveness. This daily activity will ensure that you stay focused on your own errors and weaknesses, paving the way for consistent humility and a gentler attitude towards the mistakes of others.
Humility: Path to Paradise
Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said, “Shall I not inform you about those who are entitled to Paradise? It is every person who is modest and humble (before Allah), a person who is accounted weak and is looked down upon, but if he swears (hoping for Allah’s Bounty), Allah will certainly give him what he desires. Now shall I not inform you about the inmates of Hell? It is every violent, impertinent and proud man.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Allah says: “Whosoever desires honor, power and glory then to Allah belong all honor, power and glory (and one can get honor, power and glory only by worshipping Allah Alone).” (Qur’an, 35:10)
Permission is granted to circulate among private individuals and groups, to post on Internet sites and to publish in full text and subject title in not-for-profit publications.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Our Interview
Georgia News One Islamic Store Odds N Ends Interview
Click on the following to read the entire interview:
http://blog.classifieds1000.com/Georgia/modest_clothing/20090129-132737-One-Islamic-Store-Odds-N-Ends-InterviewThis was a great interview. Here are a couple of highlights:
What makes your website different from other, similar offerings?
We are a small family business, where many other sites are a larger Company. We really care about our customers and are willing to go the extra mile. We offer Clothing and Accessories for the Entire Family. Many sites feature mostly items for Women. We also offer both High Quality Merchandise and Affordable Prices. Many other sites price their merchandise at a much higher cost. We also offer a nice variety of items and sell more than just clothing.
Is starting your own website a large risk?
Yes, starting your own website is a large risk. They are so many websites and big companies out there on the web that the competition is tremendous. But if you want to own and run your own business you have to be willing to take some risks. If you are not willing to take a risk than you may never see your dream of owning your own business become reality. Some risks are worth taking.
In Conclusion - Our Thoughts:
Until next time..............
Monday, March 2, 2009
Scam reported from the Small Business Administration
The Small Business Administration issued a scam alert that letters are being sent out on official looking letterhead purporting to be from the SBA telling small-business owners they might be eligible for tax rebates under the Economic Stimulus plan. The letter asks the business owner to send in their bank account information and the SBA is advising Small Business not to respond or send any information out. These letters are fraud and did not come from their office.
This is another scam to try and get money and empty bank accounts from unsuspecting victims. It is unfortunate that during these hard economic times people are still out there scamming and have chosen to target small business owners who may be barely staying afloat just shows the extent these scammers are willing to go to.
If you receive a letter purporting to be from the SBA you are being asked to contact the SBA through email at OIGHotline@sba.gov and send them any information you have. By working together hopefully we can catch these scammers before Small Business Owners loose their bank accounts.
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