News Kashmir Magazine

OPEN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS NOW

By: Syed Mustafa Ahmad
A long time has passed since the students were to academic institutions. Now, it has become necessary to open them. Many students have lost touch with their studies and are less bothered about their studies. They believe that it will take a long time for institutions to open. Let us live a free life. Online education formalities are fulfilled, why to take more pains. It is in this perspective, I want educational institutions to start working. Proper behavior should be maintained strictly. For it, some harsh measures must be taken in order to let students attend institutions in a proper manner.       Why there is dire need of opening of institutions, is the theme of my article. Everywhere I see students have become everything but have not remained students. Surfing the Net and playing offline and online games, in addition to online classes, have made reasonable people to get frustrated, without any power in their hands. Now, some ray of hope lies in opening the institutions so that they get isolated from smart phones for some time and breathe freely and in reality.       The first cause is isolation. Smart phones have isolated them from surroundings as well as from themselves. In society, where we are supposed to live harmoniously, students have renounced the society and are living in their own constructed worlds, where socialization has no entry.       The second is health problems. Both physically, emotionally and psychologically, students have fallen ill. In other words, they are sick. No physical movements, emotional disturbances due to the material available on the Internet and imitating those people or things whom he or she likes, has made our students’ lives hellish. To be smart means to live practical life. But enjoying in virtual world, means unhealthy practices.       The third is careers. In this fashion, the careers of students are at stake. Physical classes have human touch, though they are archaic. We human beings need human attitude. Artificial Intelligence, Algorithm and Cloud Computing can make our lives comfortable but they lack human empathy, sympathy, patience, love, etc. In this way, if by chance students learn anything, they will be like machines. They will react and act like machines. So, saving the careers of students is necessary, by unlocking institutions with proper consultations.       The fourth and last is future of our Union Territory. If the present trend continues, a time will come we must have ill educated students. Our Union Territory needs problem solving brains. They have to represent us at many forums. Any leniency at the present has long time bad effects in the future. The present calmness will give rise to ferocious waves of ignorance.      So, the need of the hour is to help the government in opening up the academic institutions. And  opening up of parks and hotels  should not be meant like educational institutions. If parks are open, it is their fault. Responsible citizens care for others as well as for themselves. Don’t act like fools. There is no hurry in opening up the institutions, if the situation doesn’t  allow, but at least, we can try to open them. Let us act responsibly. 

SOCIAL INTELLIGENCE: SPREAD THE LOVE 

Dr Suhaib Ashraf Bhat
Improving one’s level of social intelligence requires intellectual effort and acquisition of knowledge, as well as practical, behavioural effort.With regard to intellectual effort and acquiring knowledge, it is attained by learning the noble characteristics that have to do with dealing with people in general terms, and learning the ideal ways of dealing with transgression and hypocrisy, and bad characteristics in particular. 
With regard to practical, behavioural effort, it is attained by persisting and steadfastly interacting with people on the basis of noble characteristics; developing self-restraint when dealing with transgressors, hypocrites and ill-mannered people; and repelling with that which is better and bearing with patience the evil of wrongdoers.
With the advent of 20th century, people started believing in the fact that there are no two individuals who are born exactly identical. When we say “identical”, it means both physical features and thought process. There was a time when people used to tell their children to “be like” their idol who could be their favourite player or athlete. However, now it has been universally accepted that asking someone to be somebody else is not only is an unrealistic and impractical demand, but also is a disastrous practice to follow, especially for children, as it stunts mental growth and creative thinking in people.Two individuals are born distinct from each other, and are different in their ways of thinking and interpreting the world. Asking them to be someone else could prevent the growth of their own distinct personality. While this factor of humans to be born unique and different gives us the wide variety of personality traits and approaches, it is the same factor that is the reason behind difference of opinions.
Social intelligence can be defined as the human ability of decoding the happenings of the world and responding to it likewise. This ability is exclusive to humans and distinguishes us from the rest of beings in the animal kingdom.Social Intelligence is also the capability to act wisely while maintaining human relations. It is markedly different from just intelligence, unlike what people used to think earlier. Over the years, it has been observed that many exceptionally intelligent people struggle a lot while maintaining a social life.

According to experts, there are three types of intelligences −Abstract Intelligence − It is the ability of applying knowledge in complex problem-solving by seeing the problem as a whole as opposed to checking only the individual, constituent parts. This is about understanding the non-verbal ideas and expressing them verbally. They are assessed as a part of Intelligence Testing.Mechanical Intelligence − It is the skill to understand the functioning of mechanisms and processes. Engineers and scientists have a typically high level of mechanical intelligence that enables them to understand how a machine works or what would make a specific machine work.Social Intelligence – This kind of intelligence is found in successful managers and marketing people. They know how to find their own in a group of people and they are always ready with proper responses to every query. In other words, they know how to be the people’s person.
Social Intelligence is also known as interpersonal intelligence because it is also the study of an individual’s ability to notice the distinctions between him and other people. As per this concept, a person’s own unique personality is a product of the person’s difference in knowledge on different areas as well as the level of social interactions he has with the people in his surroundings.Social intelligence skills are something anyone can learn. They don’t depend on genes or biology, although some people might be more susceptible to acquiring them than others. The social intelligence theory was first developed by psychologist Edward Thorndike all the way back in 1920.
Today we can say that social intelligence is the ability to read and properly react to social signals, monitor, understand, and manage one’s own emotions, and fit into a variety of social contexts.
As adults, most of us develop these skills to some extent. We may have a broad idea of what it means to be socially well-adept, but we differ in our ability to comply with the rules of social life and navigate them. The first signs of social intelligence in humans are visible as early as the 6th week of life. At 18 months of age, children can comprehend complex social cues and understand others’ intentions. As we grow older, our social environment becomes more complex and demanding, and it requires a sophisticated set of skills and abilities that for the majority of people don’t simply come naturally–they need to be taught. As adults, we become responsible and capable of acquiring new social skills, and can significantly benefit from doing so. Scientific research has proven time and time again that people with stronger social connections, and who are more optimistic and positive, tend to suffer less from mental health problems, experience less stress, and consequently have better physical health.
There are several simple ways to improve your social intelligence skills.1. PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE PEOPLE AND SITUATIONS AROUND YOU.2. FOLLOW YOUR OWN PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL CUES.3. RESPECT AND KNOW OTHER CULTURES.4. PRACTICE ACTIVE LISTENING.5. APPRECIATE THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE.
We live in a society and come in contact with people with different thoughts and personalities every day. While meeting these people with different social and psychological characteristics, we experience happiness, sorrow, misunderstandings, agreements, quarrels, and other different emotions. If we don’t know how to handle these feelings, we will tend to avoid those people who make us feel uncomfortable. That in turn, will make us appear unfriendly to those people, many of whom could be important people in our lives.
Booster to happy life: Steadfastness of heart and not being disturbed about the imaginary things that bad thoughts may bring to mind. For when a person gives in to his imagination and lets his mind be disturbed by these thoughts, such as fear of disease and the like, or anger and confusion stirred up by some grievous matter, or the expectation of bad things and the loss of good things, it will fill him with worries, distress, mental and physical illness and nervous breakdowns, which will have a bad effect on him and which causes a great deal of harm, as many people have seen. But when a person depends on Allah swt and puts his trust in Him, and does not give in to his imagination or let bad thoughts overwhelm him, and he relies on Allah swt and has hope of His bounty, this wards off his worries and distress, and relieves him of a great deal of mental and physical sickness. It gives indescribable strength, comfort and happiness to the heart. How many hospitals are filled with the mentally sick victims of illusions and harmful imagination; how often have these things had an effect upon the hearts of many strong people, let alone the weak ones; how often have they led to foolishness and insanity. It should be noted that your life will follow your train of thought. If your thoughts are of things that will bring you benefit in your spiritual or worldly affairs, then your life will be good and happy. Otherwise it will be the opposite.
suhaibbhatt85@gmail.com

       HUMILITY, SINCERITY AND COMPASSION

Dr Suhaib Ashraf Bhat

The basic foundation for success in social relationships is love for people, and being kind and polite towards them. Man is a social animal and to live and survive in life, humans have to interact and rely on each other. This is the reason why humans have the gift of being born with relationship and throughout their lives they go for new relationships or try getting rid of the ones that don’t contribute positively to their lives. If something bad happens to a believer, he either bears it with patience or panics. If he is patient he earns a great reward and accepts the will and decree of Allah swt, because he knows that it comes from Allah swt, so he feels content with it and accepts it. So what reason is there to panic and feel stressed?On the contrary, if he is not patient and he reacts to what befalls him of sin with panic and anger, and worry and stress, he will lose the reward that Allah swt has promised to those who are patient. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):“Only those who are patient shall receive their reward in full, without reckoning” [al-Zumar 39:10]One of the salaf said: “Believers and unbelievers alike may have patience at a time of adversity, but only people of strong faith can have patience at a time of ease.” Therefore Allah warned against the fitnah of wealth, wives and children: “O you who believe! Let not your riches or your children divert you from the remembrance of Allah. If any act thus, the loss is their own.” (al-Munâfiqûn 63:9) “O you who believe! Truly, among your wives and your children are (some that are) enemies to yourselves: so beware of them!” (at-Taghâbûn 64:14)The enmity referred to in these aayat is not that which results from hatred and conflict, but that which results from love and care, that might prevent parents from religious duties such as hijrah, jihad, seeking knowledge and giving sadaqah.Trouble is inevitable in the life of this world; this is how Allah swt has decreed it and He has made it a place of trials and tests, and a bridge to the Hereafter. Even the best of His creation, the prophets, were never free of troubles. Life is never plain sailing for anyone, young or old. You may have reason to rejoice one day, then reason to feel sad for many other days; this is how it always is in the life of this world and this is how people are all the time. Who among us has not felt grief and sorrow as a result of the calamities we see befalling the Muslims, day after day? Who among us has not lost interest in this world and everything in it, because of what we hear or see? But when these feelings of sadness and loneliness or bad moods persist and prevent us from living a normal life or carrying out the duties that are required of us, or fulfilling the rights of others, or they cause us to neglect the blessings of Allah swt which He has bestowed upon us and fail to give thanks for as we should, at that point sadness moves from being something natural to being a case of weakness and sickness that needs to be treated.The point to be noted is soft-hearted people are not fools, they know what people did to them but they forgive again and again because they have beautiful hearts.We live in a time when qualities like humility, sincerity and compassion have become considered as weak and useless. They say the nice people finish last and that soft-hearted people are the ones who get knocked down and are often mistreated in the society. What will save us on the Day of Judgement? Are we favoured based on our race or colour? No. Then what is it? It is the place in our body which Allah swt made the location of the most valuable possession of a human being: (faith). It is your heart. What favours you in the sight of Allah swt is the state of your heart. What will save you on the Day of Judgement is a sound heart. 
When you say the word ‘Think!”, most of us point to our heads, right? How many of us point to our hearts when we say “Think?” The Messenger of Allah swt Muhammmad (Peace and blessings of Allah swt be upon him) said, “Taqwa is here,” and he pointed to his chest. [Muslim, at-Tirmidhi, Ahmad]
Subhan Allah, one of the functions of the heart is understanding. Allah swt gave us a heart to comprehend, to reflect, and to reason. That brings us back to the central ayah: and have hearts by which to reason.
Ibn Taymiyyah (Rahimullah) said that many doctors and philosophers have said that the mind is in the brain, so we think and understand with our brains and not with our hearts. He then said that the centre is actually the heart. Ibn Katheer said: The arrogant philosophers say that the mind is in the brain. [Tafsir ibn Kathir vol 4 p.508] To believe, to disbelieve, to understand, to comprehend, to have tranquillity, to feel confusion, to have tawakkul and to have khushoo’ are all functions of your heart.

The state of your heart will decide what you do with your knowledge. Will you benefit from it by practicing it or not?  For example, if you hear an ayah of the Quran or a hadith, does it make you feel you want to practice it straight away or does it not have much impact on you? Whatever the answer is, it will tell you about the state of your heart. Sins have an effect on your heart; they can cause your heart to be sealed so that the light of knowledge doesn’t reach it anymore and the ayaat of Allah swt don’t affect you anymore. May Allah swt protect us from this. There are many diseases we find in our hearts, like jealousy, envy, greed, lust, and showing off. Our aim should be to strive to purify our hearts and turn back to Allah swt with a sound heart. 
Ibn al-Qayyim, (may Allah swt have mercy on him), said, “In the heart are disorders that cannot be remedied except by responding to Allah swt. In it is a desolate feeling that cannot be removed except by intimacy with Him solitude. In it is sadness which will not leave except by happiness with knowing Him and truthfulness in his dealings. In it is anxiety that is not made tranquil except by gathering for His sake and fleeing to Him from His punishment. In it is a fire of regret which cannot be extinguished except by satisfaction with His commands, prohibitions, and decrees, and embracing patience with that until the time he meets Him. In it is a strong desire that will not cease until He is the only one who is sought. In it is a void that cannot be filled except by His love, turning to Him, always remembering Him, and being sincere to Him. Were a person to be given the entire world and everything in it, that would never fill the void.” Madārij al-Sālikīn 3/156
How beautiful are those hearts which are enlightened and are very soft:Pain and agony is what we see everywhere, on different media. And it can be exhausting. We start to wish that it wasn’t there. But instead of only wishing for better time, you can find a soft-hearted person trying to make your world seemingly distant from the pain. Their positive spirit overshadows the despair and offers light, belief and hope. With so many selfish people in the world, the soft-hearted ones are the ones still willing to offer support. Although some may run to a soft-hearted person not only for support but to take advantage of them, the soft-hearted person still offers a shield to anyone who needs assistance. When you run for support to a person with a soft heart, you will never be rejected. People who are still willing to help others are who hold this world together. It may seem weighty and appear to make them weary, but soft-hearted people are not overwhelmed by the task of carrying lots of responsibility. They appreciate the burden and the treasure that was given to them to carry. No matter how the world sees it, they find this task easier than everyone will think. Philanthropy is never a burden to them.
Conclusion: It would be better if soft-hearted people were in abundance. To have only a few soft-hearted people seems to be a problem on the surface. But on the other hand this offers every soft-hearted person out there an opportunity to showcase their wonderful gifts of love, compassion and kindness. suhaibbhatt85@gmail.com

IMPACT OF COVID-19: CHILDREN FORGET THINGS

By: Syed Mustafa AhmadSyedmustafaahmad9@gmail.com
Covid-19 brought  many problems with it. The problems are social , political , economic , health problems, moral , etc. All but health problems are visible. People, being closer, are far apart from each other, businesses are shut and poverty is increasing with each passing day, governments don’t have any other concern but how to respond to the grievances of the people, who are shattered due to the novel Corona Virus, people or students misbehave or have become aggressive due to the pandemic; however, there are many health problems that are invisible. Anxiety, depression, forgetting, mental fatigue, intellectual stagnation, etc., are hidden. All are dangerous, but the new trend that I have been experiencing among my students, is that they forget things. I run a private coaching centre, where I have come the cases where students tell me plainly that sir, I am unable to do the assignments and homework due to forgetting.        This thing motivated me to write the article. I have been thinking about for a long time and I have come to conclude that it not only is pandemic, but there are other factors that have supported the pandemic to make our students a burden for themselves as well for society. In the coming lines, the causes responsible for this are discussed.      The first is Covid-19. It has restricted the movements of students. They are confined to their homes. Their mental horizon is narrowed. They are only used to the fear of the novel Corona virus, that will spread to them. It brings anxiety. It restricts your social horizon, political horizon, economic horizon, etc., as they fear in touching each other. In this way, they are lost in the world of isolation, where others have no entry. In this vaccum, students forget basic things. As already said, their lives are so narrowed that there is minimal area in their minds to tread upon.      The second is Covid-induced smartphone addiction. Apart from many miseries, one of the miseries it brought with it, is the addiction of smartphones. From a kid to the university scholar, all are busy in so-called online classes. However, a majority of them are busy in some other things like games, video making, useless chats, etc. Lost in the virtual world has made them lose contact with the actual world. It has become necessary for them to remember the things related to the virtual world than the actual world. It has consequences in the form of forgetting. I remember that students remember efficiently how many likes and dislikes they get on the social media. In this way, they have no inclination towards the basic things of life like food, shelter, clothing, education, etc.        The third is negative concept of globalization. When the pandemic hit the world, at that time, globalization had spread its wings far and wide. In this coincidental situation, remaining at homes and embracing the modern technology, acted as the last nail in the coffin. Now, anybody who doesn’t have technical know how, in the form of a smartphone, is considered illiterate and unfit to live. It would have been like this: technology in the restricted manner, while having a close contact with the nature. However, it is vice versa. The negative concept of globalization or technology has made it hard to live the actual lives, but the life of forgetting.     The fourth and last is our societal behaviour. We behave in an awkward manner with our children. They, at this moment, need support and care. Leave competition for a moment. Enjoy time with them. Make them optimistic that this time will go away. Those days will come back when everything was good. They will go through this difficult time in this manner. However, its opposite can be dangerous.      So, the need of the hour is to make a long-term arrangement for the future of our students, by safeguarding their present. They need our attention. Calmly try to listen to them and make it possible that they take interest in the homely things as well. Forgetting is a beginning of the chain of diseases. If God forbid, the present situation remains as it is, we may a tsunami of diseases among the children. Let us rise to the occasion and prove mature.