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Initial thoughts
I will use this blog to put in thoughts of my journey in Sufism. Sufism is controversial in many places, especially Malaysia. For this reason I need to be careful who I tell of my lessons and whatnot, but this is my blog, so I shall put what I like here. I have been drawn for years to the sufimystic yahoo group and to learn more of Sufism. To me ( Read more... ) -
The world under siege
What a crazy time to be in the world. The US is the safe place to be kan, but now the markets in the US are being battered, with many experts, including my boss, saying this is only the start. It will get a lot worse before it gets better. So, where does takaful stand in all this? How much will takaful be affected? One unintended consequence was ( Read more... ) -
What to do with the money
I was asked a question: what happens to surplus in takaful? Well, that is a difficult question. First surplus must be defined. It is defined as assets minus liabilities of the takaful risk fund. These liabilities are defined as both accounting liabilities as well as actuarial liabilities. Accounting liabilities are generally set aside for ( Read more... ) -
I felt the angels
Just a quick story of my day today. Its been a tough day. Woke up early for salat raya, then went to my mother in laws house. She had just found out her aunt in the kampung, one she was very close to, died. Thus I drove her there, along with a few brothers in law. We got there just in time for the prayers and sending the body to the mosque for ( Read more... ) -
Raya
Well, raya is here again. Time flies so quickly. So, what will I remember about this raya? Definitely the trials of getting my wife healthy will stick with me for a while. She is still weak, but getting stronger. We've been through a hospital stay, 4 doctors, several Ustaz, traditional chinese medicine, pharmacists, tons of friends advice, EFT, ( Read more... ) -
Yee Mun
Well, said goodbye to Yee Mun yesterday. Its always hard saying goodbye to family. For better or worse she has been family for several years now, through the good and bad. I still remember when she first came down for interviews from Singapore. She was brought in to interview for general insurance, with us just tagging along to see how she was. ( Read more... ) -
Buyer Beware
Well, its been a tough week again. My wife is still very sick. Been sick for a month now. Well, we are doing our best to survive this ramadhan. One thing that has struck me is the real need for the buyer to beware in Malaysia. Some of the takaful products being sold are halal in theory, but our money is still being put into haram investments, ( Read more... ) -
Paradigm Shift
Its been an eventful week, not at work but at home. Through this adversity I have found myself getting so much closer to my family at home, and so much further from my family at work. I guess I needed the time with my wife to realize my life had been out of balance. I hope the whole team can regain that balance, for those of us who have kind of ( Read more... ) -
Tough Week
Well, no consulting, actuarial or takaful stories to tell this week. I didn't go to the office once this week. Started out as taking care of my wife and kids who were very sick, and now has extended to myself being sick. My wife was hospitalized for it, and is out already, but doesn't seem to be getting better. At least the kids are roughly ok ( Read more... ) -
What is your sacrifice?
Well, Ramadhan is upon us. In just an hour I will be heading to the first tarawih prayers of the month, the first of thirty. Hopefully there will be no business trips and no crazy deadlines to keep me from coming home to be with my family and praying tarawih at the mosque. There is a nice relaxed mosque in Seremban which finishes the whole Quran ( Read more... )