Business Halal Online

Forex Trading: Great Opportunity or Scam?

2008-08-14T09:57:00.000+08:00

Forex Trading: Great Opportunity or Scam?
by: Steve Pickering

A lot of interest has been generated recently in FOREX trading, hailed by some as the great new investment opportunity. There are even companies running TV infomercials, offering sure fire systems that will bring massive profits in an easy fashion.

So what is forex? Is it something new? The exchange of currencies is said by some to be the world's second oldest profession and as long as there have been two sovereign states that have issued their own currencies, there has been foreign exchange as a facilitator for trade.

Forex, as foreign exchange has been abbreviated to, has been conducted for centuries and has become a global market with a daily turnover according to a recent Bank for International Settlements survey of $1.9 trillion (billion, billion) per day. Essentially it is a global market place with no physical exchange building where all claims on foreign currencies are settled - between governments, corporations, investors and speculators among others. Banks have traditionally been the middlemen who provide the liquidity to this gigantic market, which incidentally is traded on an almost continuous 24-hour basis.

Then came the Internet and suddenly it became possible for everyone to get a piece of the speculative action. Brokers sprouted up with their electronic trading platforms and high 'leverage'. Essentially the brokers lend clients funds to speculate with, 100:1 or in some cases up to 400:1 ratio, or leverage. This means that $10,000 can 'control' up to $4,000,000 in the market. This is far higher than is possible in the stock market.

Many people have been attracted to the possibilities of earning fast profits from forex. There are often sharp movements that can turn your $10,000 to $20,000 in a matter of minutes. You can also get wiped out, but the lure of a fast buck has turned would-be speculators into out-and-out gamblers.
The Internet has also made it possible for the individual to obtain so-called 'charts', that allow them to do 'technical analysis' on their own PCs. The theory is that price movement patterns repeat themselves, so if you have a system of analysis, you can predict a future move in the market.

This may well be the case, but it does not address the problems of the psychology of trading - the fear and greed that drives many to irrational behaviour. People are often taken in by the seller of a system, often paying $5,000 for a piece of software that shows a green light to buy and a red light to sell. However, they don't tell you how to manage your money.

So speculators lose. It has been estimated that 90% of new investors in forex lose their capital in the first year - an appalling figure. What can one do to avoid being a victim? Well, forex is a business like any other business and planning is required. It is also a profession and as such, adequate training is necessary so that you understand fully what forex trading is all about.

Many are prepared to invest thousands in forex trading without really knowing what it is all about. Just think if franchises were offered in a major hamburger chain without the franchisees having a clue how to run a restaurant or even make the burgers. The failure rate would also probably be 90%!
As with all investing, it is all a matter of risk and reward. Investing in Government securities is considered low risk, therefore they carry the lowest return. Increase the risk (the probability of loss on the investment), the higher an investor is rewarded in terms of return. An individual trading forex decides his own level of risk, which should dictate the level of reward. However, in the hands of an inexperienced trader, the two factors are impossible to reconcile, meaning in stark terms that traders cannot control the risk or the reward levels.

People attracted to forex trading often have an unrealistic expectation of what can be earned. To start with an investment of $5,000 and expect to be making $100,000 a year after the first year is unrealistic. It is not impossible; then again, neither is winning the lottery.
If the parameters for trading are laid down and adhered to combined with knowledge of forex trading, success is possible. It does not take much in the way of 'enhanced' returns to be able to double an investment. 26% per annum is required to double your investment within 3 years.

Who is going to teach you? There are some very good courses available, but these will only give you the theory, in itself very important. The ideal way is to have a mentor, or guide to show you the way.
Getting mentored is a wise move because it makes it possible to draw on the experience of a veteran expert and avoid making the common mistakes that cause the unwary to suffer catastrophic losses. After a while under guidance, a forex trader will gain the experience

The bottom line is that forex is not in itself a scam. There are for sure scam artists who prey on individuals' greed as there are in any other business. If it is approached in a sensible and realistic manner and the trader is prepared to work hard, forex can provide a good living both financially and materially.

About the author:
Steve Pickering is founder and owner of Forex Trader Mentor and has been engaged in the forex markets since 1971.
www.forextradermentor.com

US recession poses no threat to halal trade

2008-05-21T10:41:00.001+08:00

US recession poses no threat to halal trade
By Woon Wu Lin

Email us your feedback at fd@bizedge.com

KUALA LUMPUR: A recession in the United States will have a minimal impact on the international halal trade as the need to consume halal products is an Islamic tenet, said Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) chief executive officer Datuk Noharuddin Nordin.

Speaking at a press briefing yesterday on the upcoming 5th Malaysia International Halal Showcase (Mihas 2008), he said: “A large portion of the trade is in consumer goods; when it comes to consuming something that is halal, it is an Islamic tenet. You can’t compromise on religious tenet.”

“So irrespective of whether the economy is going up or down, if you are consuming something and the halal alternative is available, you should not be consuming something that is not halal,” he added.

Noharuddin also said a recession would not affect the number of participants at Mihas 2008. “The beauty of the current situation is that fortunately for us, many of the Muslim countries are oil exporting countries.

“At the moment they are enjoying the best moment of their lives as the revenue from oil is allowing them to invest and undertake development projects,” he said.
Mihas 2008, to be held from May 7 to May 11, 2008 at the Matrade Exhibition and Convention Centre, will have 600 booths for a targeted 500 participating companies comprising 350 local and 150 international firms. Confirmed participants include companies from US, Turkey, Iran and Australia.

The exhibition is estimated to welcome 40,000 visitors, 3,208 more than last year, and showcase five key sectors; food and beverage, pharmaceuticals and herbal products, cosmetics and healthcare, banking and finance, and food processing and packaging machinery.

Total sales for Mihas 2007 was logged at RM683.2 million, of which RM209.7 million came from immediate sales while the remainder was “sales under negotiation”. Higher sales were expected this year due to the larger number of participants this year, Noharuddin said.

New participants this year include India, while China and Pakistan resume participation after a two-year hiatus. “China is coming in a big way. They have confirmed to take 16 booths,” said Mihas 2008 chief executive officer Mohd Shukri Abdullah.

He added that Mihas 2008 would remain the biggest halal showcase internationally compared to 11 others. India had also recently jumped on the bandwagon, announcing that it would do two halal shows per year.

Matrade estimates the global market value for halal consumable and non-consumable products at RM2.1 trillion annually while halal food products are worth RM150 billion yearly. Islamic financing, takaful and other services are pegged at US$1 trillion (RM3.3 trillion).

Check Halal Status Via SMS

2008-03-14T00:17:00.000+08:00

Public Can Check Halal Status Via SMS To Jakim

KUALA LUMPUR, March 22 (Bernama) -- Muslims can now get confirmation on the halal status of a product easily and promptly through the short messaging service of the Islamic Development Department of Malaysia (Jakim).

"They only need to type the word "halal" and enter the product's bar code and send it to 32728.

"God Willing, they will receive the reply immediately," parliamentary secretary to the prime minister's department Datuk Dr Mashitah Ibrahim said Wednesday.

Replying to Fadhillah Yusof (BN-Petra Jaya) in the Dewan Rakyat during question time, she said through this method the people would trust the information on the halal status received from an authentic source and not from a third party.

Dr Mashitah said Jakim had increased its enforcement officers to 165 to strengthen the enforcement team.

She said the figure did not include the auxiliary team from the health and chemistry departments and the Malaysian Agriculture and Research Development Institute (Mardi).

Replying to Salahuddin Ayob (Pas-Kubang Kerian) on 90 per cent of the halal products in the country being produced by non-Muslims, Dr Mashitah said the government had set conditions that companies run by non-Muslims must have two Muslim officers.

For bigger halal goods manufacturing companies, she said, they must have a special committee with Muslims as members to conduct internal auditing.

On halal logo, Dr Mashitah said efforts are in progress to standardise issuance of the halal logo, with Jakim as the sole issuer.

"A meeting was held between menteris besar and chief ministers on March 7 to discuss the standardisation.

"God Willing, after this, a meeting will be held with the state religious affairs departments to enable Jakim to be the sole issuer of halal certificates in the country," she said.

Currently all companies could issue the halal logo or logo or words which carries the same meaning, she said, adding that Jakim officers would check such premises.

She said the Attorney-General's chambers and the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry were studying to stop the practice.

-- BERNAMA

Credit Cards

2008-02-14T23:44:00.002+08:00

Credit Cards

Credit Cards is a very convenient method of making purchases without carrying cash.
The way a normal credit card works is that you make purchases using your card and the bank issuing the card will pay on your behalf to the merchant providing you the product or service.

The bank deducts a certain percentage (2.5% normally) from the merchant in return for processing the transaction and adding the money to the merchant's account.
From the customer side (the card holder), he is given a loan for that amount and given a grace period (normally 26 days to a month) to repay the amount interest free. If the card holder decides he does not want to pay the full amount, he pays the minimum (printed on the monthly statement), and the rest of the unpaid balance gets deferred in the form of a loan with compound interest.

Many consumers have gotten used to this, and use the card as a loan machine.
Apart from being convenient, credit cards offer other benefits, such as frequent flyer miles, donations of a certain amount or percentage to your favorable charity, consumer protection (can refund the price of a faulty product), extended warranty, ...etc. All depending on the specific card in use. The largest issuers of Credit Card worldwide by far is VISA followed by MasterCard. There are lots of others as well, including Diners Club, American Express, Discover (USA only), JCB (Europe), and others.

There are certain services that one cannot get without a Credit Card, including Car Rentals in North America, and many internet services.

Another feature of Credit Cards is that you can get Cash Advances using it at bank outlets and Automatic Teller/Banking Machines (ATMs/ABM). This is treated as a loan, and interest is to be paid on it. Therefore a Muslim should avoid this, unless it is an emergency, where such an exception would be permissible.

In short, this has become a very pervasive aspect of our modern life.

For the Muslim, a Credit Card can be had, but extreme care must be taken not to be late in paying the statement balance in full, so as not to incur interest. If you travel on a regular basis, you may miss a statement, so maybe you want to talk to your bank about this and explain that you travel and make other arrangements.

Also note that because you are paying during the grace period on a regular basis, you will eventually be "flagged" as an unprofitable customer to the bank (you use their money for a month, and generate no interest revenue for them). There has been reports of some Credit Card Issuers in the USA asking customers to pay an annual fee to compensate for this "loss of revenue". If this is the case, find another credit card company to do business with, there are too many of them.

Leading Halal meat producer & distributor

2008-02-05T20:34:00.000+08:00

Leading Halal meat producer & distributor steps up production to meet demand for Eid Al Adha

One of the Gulf’s leading producers of Halal meat food products is stepping up production by 25 per cent for Eid Al Adha as Muslims around the region prepare to celebrate the occasion.

Khazan, whose products are a familiar sight on supermarket shelves across the Middle East, is increasing production at its manufacturing facilities in Kuwait and Sharjah to meet the extra demand as awareness of being Halal is rapidly catching up.

The opening of a second Khazan meat factory in Sharjah, UAE, a year ago has given the company huge additional manufacturing capacity, and the facility has in fact been designed to allow expansion for the next 20 years.

“We will be using our extensive regional distribution network to ensure we meet the greater than normal demand for Halal products during Eid Al Adha,” said Dr. Laith Abuhilal, the company’s General Manager in the UAE.

The Kuwaiti-owned company, which has developed an extensive range of Halal food products over more than 40 years, is planning a new phase of regional and global expansion which will be highlighted at Halal World Expo in Abu Dhabi from 9-11 December.

Leading event organisers IIR Middle East are launching the exhibition at a time when the global Halal industry is worth an estimated US$2.1 trillion a year, with demand from 1.8 billion Muslims resulting in growth of US$500 billion annually.

Khazan, one of the Gulf region’s top five producers and distributors of Halal products, will take its place alongside many of the industry’s global giants in the first comprehensive exhibition in the region covering all sectors and focus areas of the Halal market.

It is often taken for granted that processed food and products available in supermarkets in Islamic countries like the UAE and the other Gulf states are fully Halal compliant unless stated as being for ‘non muslim’ consumption or use. While systems currently in place offer protection to consumers, rapid growth in the Halal consumer market means there is a rising demand for a globalised standard across all Halal products.

Some countries like Malaysia and Brunei have already formed regulatory bodies to service their markets, and Brunei’s Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources will be among the exhibitors at Halal World Expo.

Khazan’s GM, Dr. Laith Abuhilal said: “The exhibition is enormously important as it provides a platform to meet, debate and discuss standards, regulations and explore options into globalising our fast growing industry.”

Halal World Expo will feature Halal lifestyle products, including Islamic fashion, cosmetics and other health care products, as there has been a growing demand in the UAE towards products that are Halal compliant. The exhibition will also focus on Islamic Finance, which is currently worth between US$200 and $500 billion annually and a consistently growing interest for financial market across the world.

The Global Halal and Islamic Business Forum will run alongside the Halal World Expo at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. The exhibition will be an annual landmark event opening the gateway for the Middle East market to the international Halal industry.
© 2007 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)

Halal Exchange™ set to make UAE the major hub for global Halal trade

2008-01-02T09:22:00.000+08:00

Halal Exchange™ set to make UAE the major hub for global Halal trade
Posted: 12-12-2007

Halal Exchange™, a unique e-commerce platform aimed at facilitating global Halal trade, will make UAE the preferred hub of the $2.1 trillion-a-year* global Halal market. With UAE ideally positioned through its impressive infrastructure, telecommunication network and its growing significance as one of the largest re-export centres in the world, the Halal Exchange™ will facilitate the growth of Halal trade, both within the Middle East as well as globally.

Powered by vLinx, a web-based solution, which addresses the challenges of global sourcing, the Halal Exchange™ makes the costly and complex import-export process as simple as doing business across the street. The Exchange will provide a seamless business platform for the larger retailers and distributors as well as the small and medium-sized companies, which are currently responsible for nearly 80 per cent of the global Halal transactions.

In his comments, Kombiz Eghdami, Chairman and CEO of Halal Exchange™ said: “the underlying technology power of The Halal Exchange™, combined with the advanced physical, financial and technical infrastructure in the UAE, are a formidable combination to neutralize the challenges to the growth of Halal trade - inherent inefficiencies and complexities in import and export. The Halal Exchange™ is designed to simplify the complex process of international trade”.
-----------
* Source: Malaysian Government estimates 2007

Pamela Pike, Vice-President Marketing said: “The Halal Exchange™ utilizes the unique vLinx eCatalogue-Transaction Engine™ that allows buyers to not only browse supplier catalogues online, but to also communicate, negotiate, request samples and place orders using the Internet. It takes the users an average of 30 minutes to be up and running on the Exchange. The elimination of data re-keying and administrative inefficiencies coupled with increased visibility of the transaction for all related parties accelerates the trade cycle and increases profit margins for both buyers and suppliers.”

Headquartered in the UAE, the free of charge Halal Exchange™ is accessible to registered clients anywhere in the world. There is no need for investment in new hardware or software. All that is required is an Internet connection.
© 2007 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)

The Dow Jones Islamic Fund

2007-12-23T21:42:00.000+08:00

The Dow JonesSM Islamic Fund (symbol: IMANX) invests in Shariah -compliant companies, in response to the needs of Muslim investors, who not only want to have a financially rewarding investment, but a Shariah compatible one as well. Since June 2000, IMANX has provided Muslims with an investment option based on Islamic principles.

The Dow Jones Islamic Fund is offered by Allied Asset Advisors, a subsidiary of the North American Islamic Trust (NAIT). Allied Asset Advisors is the registered investment advisor and manager of the Fund.

The Fund seeks growth of capital while adhering to Islamic principles. The Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in domestic and foreign securities included in the Dow Jones Islamic Market Indexes (Indexes), as well as up to 20% of its net assets in securities chosen by the Fund's Investment Advisor that meet Islamic principles. The Fund consists solely of common stocks. It includes, among others, shares of stocks from the Dow Jones Islamic Market US Index, which tracks American companies that meet Islamic principles.

The Indexes is advised by a Shariah Supervisory Board of six prominent Islamic scholars from six countries. The Investment Advisor is advised by a Board of Trustees of prominent Islamic scholars and community leaders from the United States.
The Dow JonesSM Islamic Fund offers the following benefits:

• Shariah compliance- The Fund adheres to the criteria developed by the Shariah Supervisory Board composed of internationally renowned scholars. Based on these criteria, the following businesses are generally excluded: Alcohol, Tobacco, Pork-related products, Conventional financial services (banking, insurance, etc.), Weapons and defense, Entertainment (hotels, casinos/gambling, cinema, pornography, music, etc.) The Fund does not invest in interest-paying instruments frequently used by mutual funds as overnight or temporary investments, and instead may hold cash on a temporary basis.

• Diversification - The Fund offers you diversification with a portfolio of over 300 Shariah Compliant companies in diverse business sectors.

• Low Expenses - The Fund is a no load fund with one of the lowest annual fees of any Shariah compliant fund available. (Source: Allied Asset Advisors, 3/27/2006)

• Accessibility and Flexibility -The Fund is available at Charles Schwab One Source, the largest mutual fund marketplace. In addition, we are available through Ameritrade, and TD Waterhouse. We offer flexible accounts and services including telephone purchase and redemption, and check writing.

• Active Portfolio Management - An actively managed portfolio enables the Fund to take advantage of future opportunities in the market while staying true to Islamic principles. Among the securities that meet Islamic principles, the investment advisor determines a security's attractiveness for purchase based on a number of factors, including its anticipated value and record of earnings growth, among other things.

The Fund invests in foreign securities which involve risks relating to adverse political, social and economic developments abroad, as well as currency risks and differences in accounting methods.

In selection of stocks, the Fund adheres to the criteria developed by the Shariah Supervisory Board of the Dow Jones Islamic Market Indexes composed of internationally renowned scholars. The Fund also does not invest in interest-related instruments and may hold cash on a temporary basis. It is possible that such restrictions may result in lower overall Fund performance than those mutual funds which are not subject to such restrictions.

The prospectus contains more complete information, including risks, fees and expenses related to an ongoing investment in the Fund. Please read the prospectus carefully before you invest or send money.

The Fund has been referred to by Morningstar, Cnnfn, The Wall Street Journal and Crain's Chicago Business.

World’s Largest Islamic Bond Market

2007-12-16T11:40:00.000+08:00

Financial Markets

RAKIA lists first sukuk on DIFX, world’s largest islamic bond market
Posted: 06-12-2007 , 13:47 GMT

Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority (RAKIA) today listed a $325 million Sukuk (Islamic bond) on the Dubai International Financial Exchange (DIFX), taking the DIFX’s total listed value of Sukuk to $14.105 billion – the largest value of any exchange in the world.

RAKIA has raised the money for its Al Marjan artificial island tourism project being built in the Gulf off Ras Al Khaimah in the northern United Arab Emirates.

Dr Khater Massaad, Chief Executive Officer of RAKIA said: “Investors have shown great interest in this first Sukuk to be issued by RAKIA, as we move forward with the Marjan development including upmarket hotels, villas, a marina and a theme park. As the region’s international exchange with high regulatory standards, the DIFX enhances our visibility to investors and underpins their confidence in our Sukuk.”

Per E. Larsson, Chief Executive of the DIFX, said: “Sukuk are a rapidly growing asset class, with global issuance rising 63% to $26.9 billion in the first nine months of 2007, from the same period last year. The DIFX region is playing a central role in this expansion and the exchange will remain at the forefront of the sector.”

RAKIA’s Sukuk has been issued by RAKIA Sukuk Company Limited and matures in 2012. It is based on an Al-Wakala structure. The lead managers for the issue were Credit Suisse, HSBC and NBD Investment Bank.

Hamed Ali, Executive Officer of the DIFX, said: “Islamic finance will increasingly be a growth area for the exchange in areas such as structured products as well as Sukuk. Our securities suit a wide range of international and regional investor requirements.”

© 2007 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)

Malaysian Products Power Their Way To Global Market

2007-12-04T23:52:00.000+08:00

Malaysian Products Power Their Way To Global Market

PETALING JAYA, Dec 4 (Bernama) -- Made-in-Malaysia products are now powering their way into the European market, including the United Kingdom.

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shafie Apdal said Malaysian products were manufactured to the highest standards, meeting and often exceeding international quality standards benchmarks.

He said Malaysia had a distinct advantage in the supply of halal products and services.

"For not only are the products of excellent quality and presentation, our processes for inspection and certification are second to none.

"Furthermore, Malaysian products are recognised as being produced under stringent health and safety standards, and in a place where there is a clear commitment to responsible care for the environment," said Shafie at the Supplier Conference 2007: Partnering with Tesco UK, here.

On Malaysian halal products, the minister said they were widely perceived as a reliable brand conforming to diverse market requirements which met global standards of quality, product and service integrity, and could be targeted for non-Muslims as well.

"What I want to stress is the importance of companies to be alert and responsive to new market opportunities, not just in Malaysia but, as we are witnessing today, across the world," he added.

The conference, jointly organised with Tesco, provides guidelines to Malaysian small and medium industries to enable them to know the detailed requirements of the UK market.

Shafie also told a press conference that there would be no price control for the upcoming Christmas and Hari Raya Aidiladha celebrations.

"However, this does not mean that businesses should raise the price of controlled items. The government will take action on this matter," he said.

-- BERNAMA

Halal Grants For New Businesses

2007-09-29T22:31:00.000+08:00

Halal grants for new businesses
By Deborah Linton

THE Islamic Bank of Britain (IBB) has joined forces with a Bolton business support network to boost halal enterprises in the region.

The bank, together with Bolton Business Ventures has launched a pioneering scheme to make funding of up to £25,000 available to the growing number of companies that avoid activities - such as the sale of alcohol or cigarettes - prohibited by Muslim Shariah law. The bank's facilities are available to Muslim and non-Muslim companies and it specialises in providing cash-generating alternatives for Muslim clients who are prohibited by religious law from paying or receiving interest.

Funding from £5,000 will be made available through the North-west Ethical Fund - which is administered by Bolton Business Ventures - to suitable halal' companies. Halal is the Islamic term for "permitted".

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The funds are available to all sectors of the community, irrespective of religious background.

It is estimated that Britain's Muslim community contributes more than £31 billion to the economy each year, according to the Institute of Asian Professionals.

Bolton Business Ventures chief executive Paul Davidson said: "In the interests of financial inclusion, it is important to look at how financing for entrepreneurs can be made inclusive through access to finance facilities that are in line with ethical principles.

"The Islamic Bank of Britain has established itself as a market-leading innovator and we are delighted that it is our partner in this exciting initiative.

"We believe in financial inclusion for all and we aim to provide enterprise services to all sectors of the community."

10:58am Wednesday 26th September 2007

Gano Coffee Opportunity Home Based Business

2007-09-11T19:55:00.000+08:00

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Halal in non-Islamic countries

2007-09-08T21:40:00.000+08:00

Halal in non-Islamic countries

Halal certificate issued for dairy products by a German registered merchant.

In Dearborn, Michigan, United States, home to one of the largest Muslim and Arab populations in the United States, a number of fast food chains like McDonald's introduced halal chicken nuggets.

Recent laws passed in the United States have made it illegal to sell, distribute, and/or produce food that has been mislabeled "halal," when it is determined that the food does not meet Islamic dietary standards. Similar laws protect kosher foods. Some were struck down by the courts as an unconstitutional sanction of religious provisions, but others were upheld as consumer protection regulations. See Kashrut.
McDonald's is intending to offer Halal meals in the United Kingdom with two of its franchises currently on trial, offering this service. After success in Australia where sales doubled as a result of McDonald's changing a restaurant to cater of the needs of Muslims. All McDonald's Restaurants in Singapore are Halal certified.

Australian halal certificate for chocolate.

Malaysian halal certificate for a coffee's brand

Depending on which definition of halal a Muslim chooses to adhere to, and the strictness with which the person chooses to adhere to it, living in a non-Muslim country can pose minimal or great difficulty.

Dhabiĥa Halal

Dhabiĥa halal is relatively difficult to adhere to in a non-Muslim country:

• Depending on the presence or absence of a significant Muslim population in the area, finding grocery stores, meat stores, and restaurants which serve/sell dhabiĥa halal foods can be extremely difficult.

• The abundance of pork and non-dhabiha meats at restaurants presents a rather difficult problem to overcome. While a Muslim will not order a non-dhabiĥa halal dish, there is a concern about cross-contamination. This is likely to occur when the dhabiĥa halal dish is prepared with the same cooking tools as other non-dhabiĥa halal dishes. Food and juices from the two dishes are likely to be exchanged, technically rendering the dhabiĥa halal dish as haraam.

• Many apparently meat-free dishes, and even some desserts, contain pork, gelatin, or other non-conforming substances. There is also a concern in the Muslim community about food additives such as monosodium glutamate (MSG) that may use enzymes derived from pig fat in the production process. It is very difficult to avoid such food additives as they are widely used and are not declared on restaurant menus.

• Alcohol, especially wine, is frequently used in cooking. It is largely used in sauces and cakes, and is also present as an ingredient in vanilla and other extracts. Some contend that this is not a concern, so long as the alcohol has been thoroughly burned off in the cooking process.

Since the turn of the century, there have been efforts to create organizations such as the Muslim Consumer Group that certify food products as halal for Muslim consumers.

2007-09-08T21:31:00.000+08:00

Halal

Halal (حلال, ḥalāl, halaal) is an Arabic term meaning "permissible". In the English language it most frequently refers to food that is permissible according to Islamic law. In the Arabic language it refers to anything that is permissible under Islam.

"Halal" the word
The use of the term varies between Arabic-speaking communities and non-Arabic-speaking ones.
In Arabic-speaking countries, the term is used to describe anything permissible under Islamic law, in contrast to haraam, that which is forbidden. This includes behaviour, speech, dress, conduct, manner, and dietary laws (listen to some aspects of halal).
In non-Arabic-speaking countries, the term is most commonly used in the narrower context of just Muslim dietary laws, especially where meat and poultry are concerned, though it can be used for the more general meaning, as well . This dichotomy of usage is similar to the Hebrew term "kosher".

Malaysian Islamic Development Department (JAKIM)'s Halal's logo is one of the most trusted Halal logo.

Quranic verses relating to Halal
General Dietary Prescriptions

In determining whether a food is halal or haraam (forbidden), various verses of the Quran (ayat) are frequently referenced:

"He hath only forbidden you dead meat, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that on which any other name hath been invoked besides that of Allah. But if one is forced by necessity, without wilful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits - then is he guiltless. For Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful"[Qur'an 2:73]
"Forbidden to you (your food) are: dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which the name of other than Allah hath been invoked; that which hath been killed by strangling, or by a violent blow, or by a headlong fall, or by being gored to death; that which hath been (partly) eaten by a wild animal; unless ye are able to slaughter it (in due form); that which is sacrificed on stone (altars); (forbidden) also is the division (of meat) by raffling with arrows: that is impiety. This day have those who reject Faith given up all hope of your religion: yet fear them not but fear me. This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed my favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion. But if any is forced by hunger, with no inclination of transgression, Allah is indeed Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful"[Qur'an 5:3] “This day are (all) good things made lawful for you. The food of those who have received the Scripture is lawful for you, and your food is lawful for them. And so are the virtuous women of the believers and the virtuous women of those who received the Scripture before you (lawful for you) when ye give them their marriage portions and live with them in honour, not in fornication, nor taking them as secret concubines. Whoso denieth the faith, his work is vain and he will be among the losers in the Hereafter”[Qur'an 5:5]

"Say: I find not in the message received by me by inspiration any (meat) forbidden to be eaten by one who wishes to eat it, unless it be dead meat, or blood poured forth, or the flesh of swine, for it is an abomination or, what is impious, (meat) on which a name has been invoked, other than Allah's. But (even so), if a person is forced by necessity, without wilful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits, thy Lord is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful"[Qur'an 6:145]

"He has only forbidden you dead meat, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and any (food) over which the name of other than Allah has been invoked. But if one is forced by necessity, without wilful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits, then Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful"[Qur'an 16:115]

10 reasons for starting a home business online

2007-09-08T18:59:00.000+08:00

10 reasons for starting a home business online.
by: Douglas Titchmarsh

1. You want to escape the rat race. You'd rather spend the 2 hours
you waste every day with your family, or on a hobby. Running your
own business online you can stop the commute, and you can feel good
because you are helping to cut pollution too.

2 You can work part time building your new home business online until
you see it taking off. You aren't giving up your bill paying regular
job to jump in without any income.

3 It's possible to start a home business online with very little
outlay. Webhosting is cheaper than a bricks and mortar shopfront.
You already have the pc to access the net, it can start working
for it's keep.

4 You can choose your own hours. If you have an appointment to keep
in the morning, start your online work in the afternoon. No one can
tell you "you can't have that week off in August, Bill got in first"

5 If you work harder you can benefit directly, you put more hours in
and your online business makes more profit, your wages go up. Your
salary isn't fixed by someone elses view of what you're worth.

6 A lot of online business tasks can be automated, using readily
available tools. Emails can be automatically sent by
autoresponders, even regularly asked questions can be sorted and
answered by software.

7 A website works 24 hours a day without complaining. Even if you're
on holiday your online business website can be working online for
you bringing in money.

8 Your online business can be as far reaching as you want, it can
offer something for your local community. It can equally sell to
people around the world, without penalty. It doesn't cost any extra
to send an email to Australia, or for your website to be used to
make a purchase by someone in Europe.

9 Starting a home business online means you have a continuously
growing market as more and more people come online everyday.

10 It's dress down day everyday. You can work in your pyjamas if you
want, nobody's going to stop you in your own home. No more suits and
ties unless you want to wear them, but that's your choice.

About the author:
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Douglas Titchmarsh recently decided to start a home business online
and is running a work at home opportunities site at
http://www.cashinonline.info.

5 keys to making money online

2007-09-03T20:48:00.000+08:00

5 keys to making money online
by: Keith Kingston

Would you believe there are tens of thousands of people who have found ways to make money online? Not only that, but their incomes are significant and growing, due to little competition and low cost of entry. If I can do it, then there is no reason why you can't. You can literally begin making money right away.

There are many, many, opportunities online, but here are the 5 factors you really need to consider, to guarantee your success:

1. Set your goals.
As with any business you need to set goals. Goals help you visualize where you want to go, and keep you motivated when you get up in the morning. You goal may be to earn $500 or $10000 a month, it may be to take that dream vacation, or it may be to give up your job. These are all great goals. It is imperative that you write them down and reread them often. You need a short term goal - e.g monthly goal, to keep you motivated from day to day and a longer term goal 1-2 years - to keep you on track and prevent you from chucking it in. I am confident that if you adopt a positive attitude and embrace your goals then you will soon be making money online.

2. Take time to research.
As I alluded to earlier there are many people making money online - and there are thousands of different businesses that you can try. The internet is a mine field of information and “making money online” opportunities are not difficult to find. However you will need to decipher the genuine opportunities from the scams. Many online promises are just methods to extract money from you. Some do's and don'ts

DON'T fall for the “get rich quick schemes” that promise huge returns in record time
DO try and email or telephone for more information
DO search online for feedback on the opportunity e.g. try name of opportunity + scam
DON'T part with money without consulting a friend you can trust and/or sleeping on it.

3. Find something that you like.
You're the boss now - so do yourself a favor and choose something you enjoy. This will greatly enhance your chances of success. A few things to consider:
Do you enjoy writing?
Do you enjoy talking to people?
Do you enjoy working on the computer?
Do you have a flair for sales?
Are there particular things that you are passionate about e.g sports, music?
Do you want to be contactable 24x7?
Do you want to have flexible/fixed hours?
Personally I like to work on my computer on my own time and my choice of internet business matches this. Find out what suits you, and you can weed out the business ventures which are not for you. Don't settle for second best - choose something you are comfortable with.

4. Find something worth your while.
While it is a good idea to avoid the sales pitch that promises the sun, moon, and stars; it is also important that you don't take the safe option - that guarantees $5 an hour for sending emails, filling our surveys, or licking stamps. These amount to you underselling yourself, because the opportunities of making money on the internet are so much greater. Look for systems which offer a good monthly return for a few hours work a day - if you find something with a residual income all the better.

5. Anything for an easier life!
One of my motivations for venturing into internet marketing was to create an easier life for myself. As I sat in my day job I used to think - “There must be easier ways to make money” - and there are! Earning a living online means that you have the luxury of working from home and choosing your own hours. It is important that you can exploit these perks, by being able to take time off, take extra vacations and spend more time with your family. You need to avoid the 40-50 hours a week for the sake of your sanity.

You have taken the first step by reading this article - you now just need to act upon it. I wish you the very best in your online endeavors.

About the author:
Keith Kingston is a highly successful affiliate marketer who is dying to share the methods he uses with you. Find out today about his guaranteed way to make money online at http://www.earnmoremoneyonline.com

Business Halal Online

2007-09-02T14:24:00.000+08:00

Welcome to Business Halal Online.

Your Business Halal Online secrets,information,tips and resources.Gateway to your halal online's effort in the internet earning halal income.

All about halal and business halal online;halal food,halal investment,halal banking or islamic banking,halal products.

Business Halal Online, your Halal Hub Online gateway.