‘He pronounces judgment upon a needle, and at the same time swallows a large pole.” This is an Arabic proverb used to describe a person who is quick in making judgements, but commits wrong himself or herself.
We tend to judge others by applying arbitrary measures and standards such as pedigree, last name, or choices in terms of dress, religion and personal conduct. I find this interesting, because, for instance, no one can choose to be born into a specific family or status.
Consider the story of Brittany Maynard that recently went viral. The 29-year-old American woman was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, with no possible cure. So she decided to end her life, thereby becoming the new face of the right-to-die movement. Her decision to take her own life sparked controversy. While most people expressed sympathy for her, some disagreed with her decision, especially religious conservatives who said that it is unlikely she will go to heaven as she went against God's law, where it is forbidden to commit suicide.
But who are we to judge her actions? Few of us can decide how to end our life, although death with dignity is what most of us want. Most people don’t realise how excruciating pain and extreme circumstances can lead you to do something you never imagined you would.
I remember a neighbour in a Polish town who took her life after suffering for many years from illness and depression. The people of the neighbourhood didn’t want her to be buried in their cemetery as she had “sinned” by taking her life. After long discussions, however, she was buried in the furthest corner of the cemetery, together with those who died “atypically”. Thus, discrimination is applied even in death.
Closer to home, there is another example of how a woman is treated based on her decision over wearing the niqab. Saudi activist Manal Al Sharif sparked controversy for talking about removing her niqab in an article and analysing the history behind the veil and abaya.
It was a bold piece, because anyone who dares to question the Wahhabi interpretation of hijab, the choice of black clothes, as well as other rigidities faces condemnation from the more conservative members of society. The amount of hateful comments she has received says more about the responders than it does about the writer.
I just have to look at old family photo albums to see what Arab women wore. Looking at their clothing in these photos, should we judge whether they were less or more religious. Only the Almighty knows what is in our hearts.
All faiths have a variation of the belief that religion is defined by your treatment of others and by your manners. Treat others as you would like to be treated is something many judgemental and self-proclaimed righteous people should be reminded of, especially those who ruin others’ lives with their action.
This inherent need to be “better” and “more right” than someone else is disturbing. I think it is one of those sentiments that leads the misguided to join extremist groups, as all they try to do is impose their twisted interpretation of Islam on others and feel entitled to kill people under the excuse of Islamic rules.
It’s easy to dismiss them as mentally ill, but they are more than that. A UN report mentioned that foreign jihadists are swarming into Iraq and Syria on “an unprecedented scale”. Many of them think they have found some meaning in their lives, even if that meaning includes destroying people’s lives on the basis of their twisted judgements.
rghazal@thenational.ae
On Twitter: @arabianmau
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Tottenham v Ajax, Tuesday, 11pm (UAE).
Second leg
Ajax v Tottenham, Wednesday, May 8, 11pm
Games on BeIN Sports
The Vile
Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah
Director: Majid Al Ansari
Rating: 4/5
Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
Rating: 3/5
Top 10 most polluted cities
- Bhiwadi, India
- Ghaziabad, India
- Hotan, China
- Delhi, India
- Jaunpur, India
- Faisalabad, Pakistan
- Noida, India
- Bahawalpur, Pakistan
- Peshawar, Pakistan
- Bagpat, India
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EWafeq%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJanuary%202019%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENadim%20Alameddine%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%2C%20UAE%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EIndustry%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Esoftware%20as%20a%20service%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%243%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERaed%20Ventures%20and%20Wamda%2C%20among%20others%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
SANCTIONED
- Kirill Shamalov, Russia's youngest billionaire and previously married to Putin's daughter Katarina
- Petr Fradkov, head of recently sanctioned Promsvyazbank and son of former head of Russian Foreign Intelligence, the FSB.
- Denis Bortnikov, Deputy President of Russia's largest bank VTB. He is the son of Alexander Bortnikov, head of the FSB which was responsible for the poisoning of political activist Alexey Navalny in August 2020 with banned chemical agent novichok.
- Yury Slyusar, director of United Aircraft Corporation, a major aircraft manufacturer for the Russian military.
- Elena Aleksandrovna Georgieva, chair of the board of Novikombank, a state-owned defence conglomerate.
if you go
The flights
Emirates offer flights to Buenos Aires from Dubai, via Rio De Janeiro from around Dh6,300. emirates.com
Seeing the games
Tangol sell experiences across South America and generally have good access to tickets for most of the big teams in Buenos Aires: Boca Juniors, River Plate, and Independiente. Prices from Dh550 and include pick up and drop off from your hotel in the city. tangol.com
Staying there
Tangol will pick up tourists from any hotel in Buenos Aires, but after the intensity of the game, the Faena makes for tranquil, upmarket accommodation. Doubles from Dh1,110. faena.com
Defined benefit and defined contribution schemes explained
Defined Benefit Plan (DB)
A defined benefit plan is where the benefit is defined by a formula, typically length of service to and salary at date of leaving.
Defined Contribution Plan (DC)
A defined contribution plan is where the benefit depends on the amount of money put into the plan for an employee, and how much investment return is earned on those contributions.
