Who should small businesses choose to run their IT?

"I have just been through a week of utter tech hell," says Hamish Thompson, managing director of Twelve Thirty Eight, a small public relations firm that he founded in 2007.

"At one point I experienced something akin to Stockholm Syndrome, having finally got through to someone at a call centre for one of our 'service providers'," he says.

"I'm actively searching for an affordable external support option, having naively assumed that I could do it all myself and with some support from colleagues."

Thompson's experience is typical of that of many small firms who know what they need in terms of technology, but are struggling to work out where to turn to get it.

On the flip side of the technological coin is Andrew Banks, founder of marketing agency Squeeze Digital, who makes it sound easy.

"We are a small business and have no servers, minimal-bought software and a flexible set-up," he says.

"Our staff have better IT provision than most large companies where I've worked and almost everything is bought in as a service with a monthly cost.

"This keeps it cheap, robust and more importantly scalable as we grow the business," he adds.

Horses for courses

The big question then is who should small businesses put in charge of sorting out their IT?

The answer is the ever-unsatisfactory "that depends", or if you'd rather, "horses for courses".

IT needs are dependent on a number of factors, including the size of your business and what you need IT for, as well as issues of cost, convenience, reliability and flexibility.

Once upon a time a small firm might have had a dedicated IT person, who would connect up the printers or fix the computer.

There is still a place for such a person in the modern day, according to John McGlinchey, vice-president, Europe and Middle East, at the IT trade association CompTIA.

"In-house IT people bring benefits because they are close to your business - they can recommend the best IT equipment, set up networks and handle security," he says.

"They can also analyse customer data, optimise websites and even help support programmes like online marketing."

But the extraordinary speed at which technology develops means one person may not have enough expertise in all the aspects of technology a small business is using.

There is also the practical consideration of what happens when the in-house IT specialist goes away.

If they are off sunning themselves when a problem arises it could hit business operations and effectiveness, something small businesses can ill afford.

What to outsource

To say there is no shortage of companies willing to take over the running of your IT is perhaps the understatement of the millennium.

Small business IT strategies

• 40% say their IT function has grown over the past year; 16% say it has down sized; 8% say it has been outsourced
• 51% say lack of budget is holding back their IT strategy; 36% say lack of staff capability is responsible
• 21% plan to deal with shortfalls in IT capabilities by outsourcing; 23% plan to turn to contractors.
• Most will rely on existing staff skills (39%) or training programmes (29%)

Source: Modis IT recruitment

They are everywhere and offer just about anything, prompting the question of just what should be outsourced?

"I'd say that data management, business development, support, maintenance, sales and marketing are the areas that are ripe for outsourcing," says Andy Richardson, chief executive officer of software development firm Influential Software.

For his part, Bruce Mair, head of IT practice at interim management firm Alium Partners, thinks "outsourcing is best suited to the commoditised areas of technology such as support, operations and infrastructure".

"This covers areas ranging from a dedicated helpdesk, to network and voice and data communications," he says.

Cloud cover

But the word on everyone's lips at the moment is the 'cloud'.

"Whoever they turn to, one area of focus that small businesses should be paying attention to right now is the cloud," says Steve Watmough, head of CIO Advisory at professional services firm KPMG.

"It can provide SMEs (small and medium-sized businesses) with access to enterprise applications that may have been beyond their financial reach and is beginning to be a real leveller as organisations can now 'leapfrog' the costs often associated with infrastructure and application development."

But before firms rush into clouds where angels fear to tread (or indeed sit and play the harp), there are some things to be taken into consideration.

"It is tempting for an SME to view the cloud as a simplistic way of achieving reductions in IT costs - but there is a balance that they need to strike," says Mr Watmough.

"Even with cloud technology, a business needs someone with the skills to manage service-level agreements, contracts and supplier support."

Furthermore, putting your faith in outsourcing might not be the right move if you have sensitive information that you need to keep to yourself or a unique business set-up.

"Outsourcing is not suited to environments where the systems involved are business critical or have been heavily customised to suit specific business needs and are therefore not easy for third-party suppliers to support cost-effectively," says Bruce Mair from Alium.

"This model may also not lend itself easily to businesses where data security is critical as it could make information more vulnerable."

Such data might also be affected by different legal regimes, says CompTIA's John McGlinchey.

"You need to check where your data is held - if it's held in the USA for example, it could be seized under the Patriot Act," he warns.

Interim solution

In the middle ground between dedicated IT staff and outsourcing lie interim appointments.

Interim staff are a resource you can switch on and off as required, can be chosen based on the skills set you need at any particular moment, and should be working to your agenda.

Interims should be seen as the short, sharp, shock - they are the Stormtroopers of the IT world”

End Quote Andy Richardson Influential Software

But at the same time they are likely to be more expensive pound for pound than full-time employees and you have to make doubly sure you end up fully owning the technology they put in place for you.

"Interims should be seen as the short, sharp, shock - they are the Stormtroopers of the IT world," says Influential Software's Andy Richardson.

He suggests one alternative could be investigating 'collective IT' where a geographic business community, such as a business park, can hire the IT staff they need but distribute that resource to all the partners, who are billed hourly.

Stretching the earlier equine metaphor to its limits, one last thing you might consider is an approach of 'horses for several different courses'.

Rather than pigeonholing your IT person, you might consider putting them to wider use.

"A happy medium for small businesses could be to hire people with IT skills who can also learn your business and operate in a dual role within it," says CompTIA's John McGlinchey.

"This is an attractive prospect, particularly for very small businesses, but one rarely considered." 

My Business: From banking to ice cream making

Single-mother Suzanne Batlle gave up a well paid job in banking to set up an ice cream shop bringing the flavours of South America to Miami.

What makes an entrepreneur? BBC Mundo's Lorena Arroyo and Heather Sharp hear from Suzanne Batlle, 43, a single-mother who gave up a job in the banking sector to set up an ice cream store bringing the flavours of South America to Miami.

As the huge styrofoam ice-cream cone took shape, day after day, in her Miami backyard, Suzanne Batlle frequently asked herself how she had come to be spending $30,000 (£19,500) on it.

A single-mother supporting two teenage children, she had resigned from a well-paid job in banking and set up an ice-cream shop in the city's Little Havana district.

With bank loans difficult to obtain during the credit crunch, she ploughed $280,000, mainly borrowed from her mother and brother, into the business.

"Actually, it was all my inheritance," she says. "If you jump, you jump."

Azucar, Ms Batlle's shop selling homemade ice-cream in flavours with a Latin American twist, draws its inspiration from her grandmother.

What's great about this is ice cream's fun. Ice cream's a good time!”

Married to an engineer working for a big Cuban sugar company, her grandmother would collect exotic fruits on her travels around Latin America, and use them to make the frozen dessert.

When the 2008 crisis struck in banking, it ended Ms Batlle's enjoyment of a world in which she'd worked for more than two decades.

"There was no career progression, it became impossible to do business. I hated it."

After a brief stint working as an estate agent, she decided to take the plunge and start her own business.

Ms Batlle spent a couple of months studying "the chemistry and physics" of ice-cream at two specialist institutes, and then enlisted the help of a chef friend and began to concoct her own flavours.

These ranged from the Latin American fruit mamey, to avocado, to rum cake and a blend of guava, cream cheese and crackers, which echoes a popular Cuban habit of eating the three together.

Customers engage in lively debates to help refine the flavours.

After five months, Ms Batlle is taking $750 a day - enough to cover rent, bills, ingredients, loan repayments and a small wage for herself - although it isn't enough to live on.

At this rate, she says, the business's debts will be paid off within five years.

Family affair

She is not, however, paying staff yet. Family and friends are all pitching in.

"We're family so I have a stronghold on these people," she jokes.

"Of course they get free ice cream, and at night it becomes a bit of a party."

"Suzy" as she's known locally, buzzes with energy as she switches effortlessly between English and Spanish in her sales banter.

But she says the venture has been tougher than she expected.

Costs spiralled from $180,000 to $280,000, as difficulties arose with building renovation and second-hand freezers broke down.

"I didn't realize I'd be there 14 hours a day," she adds, describing a punishing schedule beginning with getting her daughter to school for 6am, and ending after the shop closes at 11pm.

And the scale of the investment weighs heavily.

"I feel anxious every day. You don't sleep at night, you've got a big nut to crack every month - it's brave thing to do. I never realised until I did it," she says.

But although she has been driven to tears at times, Ms Batlle says she has learned to face setbacks.

"When my freezer broke and I had a birthday party coming in and all the ice cream was melted. You think 'oh my god what do I do?' But you start making ice-cream, you serve it soft," she says.

"You just keep going. In banking I never had those problems, but it's funny, you just have to deal with it."

My Business

What does it take to build your own business from scratch?

How does a US expat navigate Russian bureaucracy? Or illiterate Moroccan women learn to sell their own wares? Or a Brazilian designer win over Western celebrities?

BBC World Service reporters speak to entrepreneurs around the world about their inspiration, struggles and successes.

The shop's reputation has grown faster than she had dared to hope, for which she credits its presence on social media networks such as Facebook and Twitter.

Ms Batlle's daughter, Bianca, 14, has taken to appearing around Little Havana in an ice-cream cone suit, in situations ranging from playing dominoes with elderly men, to posing on a fire engine.

"Photos of her exploits have been reposted on the internet and are developing a growing online following," says Ms Batlle.

Ms Batlle hopes to instil in her own children the same work ethic she inherited from her parents, who left behind land and homes in Cuba in 1960 after Fidel Castro established communist rule on the island.

Her mother held down three jobs to help support four children, who in turn were expected to work from their early teens.

'Luxury items'

Even amid the economic downturn, Ms Battle says demand is healthy.

"For $5 you can give yourself a luxury item. They're not buying jewellery, they're not buying art, but they are buying ice cream."

Locals, such as her first customer Vidal, initially complained the prices were too high, but Ms Batlle says many have been won over as she has explained the quality of the ingredients she uses.

A local restaurant has recently begun selling her lemon and basil ice-cream, and she hopes eventually to sell wholesale, and also to open other premises.

And now the Styrofoam ice-cream is now proudly displayed on the shop's front she has another goal: to get it certified by the Guinness Book of Records as the world's largest

10 Steps to starting a business

Starting a business involves planning, making key financial decisions and completing a series of legal activities. These 10 easy steps can help you plan, prepare and manage your business. Click on the links to learn more.

Step 1: Write a Business Plan

Use these tools and resources to create a business plan. This written guide will help you map out how you will start and run your business successfully.

Step 2: Get Business Assistance and Training

Take advantage of free training and counseling services, from preparing a business plan and securing financing, to expanding or relocating a business.

Step 3: Choose a Business Location

Get advice on how to select a customer-friendly location and comply with zoning laws.

Step 4: Finance Your Business

Find government backed loans, venture capital and research grants to help you get started.

Step 5: Determine the Legal Structure of Your Business

Decide which form of ownership is best for you: sole proprietorship, partnership, Limited Liability Company (LLC), corporation, S corporation, nonprofit or cooperative.

Step 6: Register a Business Name ("Doing Business As")

Register your business name with your state government.

Step 7: Get a Tax Identification Number

Learn which tax identification number you'll need to obtain from the IRS and your state revenue agency.

Step 8: Register for State and Local Taxes

Register with your state to obtain a tax identification number, workers' compensation, unemployment and disability insurance.

Step 9: Obtain Business Licenses and Permits

Get a list of federal, state and local licenses and permits required for your business.

Step 10: Understand Employer Responsibilities

Learn the legal steps you need to take to hire employees.

Tips on How to Save Money for Single Men

our ability to save money has less to do with your paycheck than your desire to save. Even people with small incomes can conserve money. Look at two people with the exact same incomes, and you'll most likely see two very unique financial histories. The difference in finances often comes down to choice. If you're willing to adjust your lifestyle and manage your spending habits, it's possible to save money as a single man.

Step 1

Assess your finances. Take an afternoon or evening to sit down and look at your income versus your expenses. Figure out how much you actually earn, how much it costs to live and how much money is left over.

Step 2

Define "want" and "need" in relation to your spending. Wanting something and needing something are two different motivations. Once you recognize this difference, it can help you save money. You need to eat, but you don't need to eat out. You need to work, but you don't need to drive to work.

Step 3

Create a budget to give you the big picture of your income and expenses. A budget can also help you control spending while providing a framework for short term and long term saving.

Step 4

Balance your checkbook regularly. Besides ensuring you don't overdraw your account, balancing your checkbook can track spending habits, which can give you an idea of where your can make cuts. Most software suites contain a money management tool for this purpose, and often include spending reports.

Step 5

Pay in cash. Putting purchases on credit card only serves to accumulate interest, so pay in cash--or debit--whenever possible. If you do charge an item, pay the bill as soon as it arrives.

Step 6

Talk to your bank about automatic deductions to move a certain amount of money out of your checking and into a savings account each month. Not having the money available keeps you from spending it.

Step 7

Renegotiate your rent, suggests Bank of America. If property values and rental price are dropping in your city, you may be able to convince your landlord to lower your rent.

Step 8

Pack a lunch. Eating out when noon rolls around can add up fast. Instead, bring your own lunch to save money. Do the same in the evening. Groceries cost much less than dining out. If you do want to enjoy an evening with friends, take advantage of local happy hours.

Step 9

Fill a thermos. Ordering specialty coffees costs $3 to $5 a cup. Bringing coffee from home can help save cash.

Step 10

Carpool to work. Carpooling not only saves money on gas, but it's also lighter on the pocketbook when it comes to parking.

Step 11

Eliminate non-essentials. Smoking, eating out, buying cable TV or sprucing up your car are expenses you can reduce. Put the money you would have spent into savings.

Tips and Warnings

·         Invest and expect some earnings in the long-run. Talk to an investment planner for the best options for your age and income.

Getting the Most Out of eBay as a Seller

Auction sites like eBay can be a great way to make some extra income by selling your unwanted belongings. You can go down the road of just slapping up a basic listing and hoping for the best, but personal experience has taught me that being proactive can pay dividends when it comes to improving your success rate.

When to Sell

Before you even start putting together a listing, think about whether it’s the right time to put your items up for sale. Sometimes, the best time to sell items will be a no-brainer -- after all, who will be looking for patio sets in November? Even if an item isn’t tied to a specific time of year, there can still be benefits to not just slapping up a listing as soon as you decide to sell (more on this in the next section).

When To Start and End an Auction

Timing can make all the difference for clinching an eBay sale. For example, there’s no point planning to end an auction in the middle of the night when hardly anyone will be around to place bids. In my early days on eBay, my enthusiasm to get the auction started as soon as possible cost me sales when I found myself in direct competition with auctions that were going to end at much more civilized times of the day (whereas mine were scheduled to end in the middle of the night). My items were often in the same condition and similarly priced but weren't selling as well, so I knew it was timing that was to blame. A friend who is a long-time eBay seller advised that things can get hectic in the last hour of an auction, which is to your advantage, but not if everyone is asleep!

If I come across similar listings that have some big advantage of mine (for example, they’re going for a ridiculously low price or they’re brand new), I’ll often plan my listing to start when the their auctions have finished so that we’re not in competition at all.  That way, anyone searching for that item is more likely to bid on mine and there is the added possibility of drawing in bidders who didn’t come out on top during the previous auction.

Setting a Price

Contrary to what you might expect, I’ve had some good success when starting with a low price. The advantage to a lower price is that it attracts more bidders at the beginning who, if the auction is timed right, will bid against each other in the last hours and you'll leave with a legitimate price.

If you want to have control over the price, a fixed price auction is your best bet. If you’re open to negotiation but don’t want to give the buyer too much say, a Best Offer auction can work well too. For a regular auction that still gives you some control over the price, you can set a reserve price to make sure that you don’t sell to anyone who doesn’t meet this.

You can forgo the auction aspect of eBay altogether with the Buy It Now option. Buyers taking advantage of this option can buy your item straight away without having to wait for the auction to end. It’s worth setting a Buy It Now price if you’ve got a definite price in mind or you’re happy to sell at a lower price (perhaps lower than competitors) if it means that you can sell the item quickly. However, it’s probably not the best option if you’re hoping for a bidding war to pump up the price. You can choose between having the Buy It Now price alongside a normal auction or just having the Buy It Now price with no option for bids. Personally, I’ve never had anyone buy through the Buy It Now option in either scenario.

Getting Your Listings to the Top of eBay

Getting your listing higher up in the Best Match results increases the chances that it will be seen by the right people. There’s no foolproof way to do this but you can help your cause by having a good track record as a seller, pricing your items competitively, creating accurate and descriptive titles, and listings with good photos.

Uploading Photographs

It’s not impossible to sell items without uploading photographs but you can increase your chances to sell by doing so. It’s not surprising that prospective buyers will want to see what they’re getting before they put in a bid given that they can’t handle an item like they could in a shop. While it’s no definitive gauge on condition and appearance, you can at least partially put their minds at rest that it’s not a sub-standard offering. I try to take photos from as many angles as possible, especially if I’m hoping to fetch a decent price for it.

What are your tips for becoming a successful eBay seller? Do you have any other tips that you'd like to share with us?

10 Negara TerKAYA di dunia 2012

Siapakah negara terkaya di dunia pada masa ini? Jika jawapan anda adalah China maka anda salah besar. Menurut laporan International Monetary Fund (IMF) 2010, Qatar lah merupakan negara yang paling kaya Di Bumi ini


Penentuan status ini berdasarkan jumlah pendapatan per kapita atau produk domestik kasar (KDNK) di mana Qatar mencatat pendapatan tahunan tertinggi di atas USD88 ribu.


Hanya saja perlu dicatat, angka-angka tersebut bukan merujuk pada penghasilan rata-rata penduduknya, melainkan jumlah dari ketersediaan barang dan perkhidmatan yang setanding dengan jumlah seluruh penduduk yang terdapat di negara tersebut.


Selain Qatar, ada beberapa negara lain dari benua Asia yang masuk di dalam urutan sepuluh negara terkaya di dunia diantaranya adalah Singapura dan Hong Kong.


Dan berikut urutan lengkapnya seperti dipetik Forbes Magazine, Isnin (12/3).




1. Qatar


Negara Arab ini berjaya mencapai pendapatan per kapita USD88.222, 9 juta per tahun dengan populasi penduduk sebanyak 1.8 juta orang.


2. Luxembourg


Luxembourg mencatat pendapatan per kapita tahunan rata-rata sebesar USD81.466, 2 juta dengan jumlah penduduk 502 ribu jiwa.


3. singapura


Negara yang termasuk dalam kawasan Asia Tenggara ini mempunyai pendapatan per kapita sebanyak USD56.694, 8 juta, dengan jumlah penduduk 4.9 juta orang.


4. Norway


Norway mempunyai pendapatan per kapita rata-rata USD51.959, 6 juta per tahun, dengan jumlah penduduk 4.9 juta orang.


5. Brunei Darussalam


Brunei menduduki peringkat kelima negara terkaya dengan pendapatan per kapita rata-rata USD48.333, dan mempunyai populasi penduduk hanya 388 ribu jiwa.


6. Emiriah Arab Bersatu


Amiriah mencatat pendapatan per kapita tahunan rata-rata sebesar USD47.439, dengan jumlah populasi penduduk 8.2 juta orang.


7. Amerika Syarikat (AS)


Kuasa besar dunia dn ini meduduki tangga ke tujuh dengan pendapatan per kapita mencapai USD46.860, dengan jumlah penduduk 313 juta orang.


8. Hong Kong


Pendapatan per kapita Hong Kong rata-rata mencapai USD45.944, dengan populasi menduduk tujuh juta orang.


9. Switzerland


Rata-rata pendapatan per kapita USD41.950 atau, jumlah penduduk 7.7 juta orang.


10. belanda


Pendapatan per kapita rata-rata bernilai USD40.973 a, dengan jumlah penduduk 16 juta orang.

Richard Patterson, Jutawan Amerika masuk Islam

Bukanlah kewajipanmu menjadikan mereka mendapat petunjuk, akan tetapi Allahlah yang memberikan (memberi taufik) siapa yang dikehendaki-Nya.

(al-Baqarah: 272)

Maka itu, tidak hairan jika hidayah Allah itu datang dengan cara yang tidak disangka-sangka. Begitu juga dengan kembara hidayah insan bernama Richard Patterson atau nama Islamnya, Abdulaziz.

Abdulaziz bukan sebarangan orang. Dia adalah seorang ahli perniagaan terkemuka warga Amerika Syarikat (AS) yang juga seorang juruterbang. Namun, dia melakukan hijrah akidah selepas sebulan berada di bumi Arab Saudi.

Jutawan sebuah syarikat yang mengendalikan perkhidmatan bantuan perawatan kritikal memiliki kekayaan berjumlah RM155 juta, dua pesawat peribadi dan dua helikopter yang khusus untuk penerbangan perubatan khas.

Abdulaziz menjejakkan kaki di Arab Saudi atas urusan menandatangani kontrak perjanjian dengan Persatuan Bulan Sabit Merah Arab Saudi untuk melatih para pelajarnya menyediakan bantuan kecemasan ketika di udara.

Semasa tinggal di negara itu, Abdulaziz keluar makan malam atas pelawaan tiga orang dari Kementerian Hal Ehwal Islam yang juga merupakan ahli kepada projek yang dikenali Guide Me to Islam. Ketiga-tiganya bercerita dengan Abdulaziz mengenai Islam dan intipati tentang kebenarannya.

"Tujuan saya datang ke Arab Saudi semata-mata berkaitan urusan perniagaan. Tetapi saya gembira dengan keputusan bijak dalam kehidupan saya ini iaitu bergelar Muslim," kata Abdulaziz dalam satu majlis meraikan pengislaman itu.

Abdulaziz memuji etika berpakaian orang Arab dan mengakui ia cukup selesa dan begitu cantik.

Pakaian tradisional orang Arab turut menarik minat Abdulaziz 

Ketika berada di negara asal kelahirannya, Abdulaziz selalu mendengar cerita-cerita negatif tentang Islam menerusi saluran-saluran media yang boleh dikatakan memburukkan imej Islam.

"Membaca tentang Islam semata-mata adalah tidak mencukupi untuk mengenali dan memahami Islam yang sebenar.

"Lantaran itu peluang bertemu dan berkenalan dengan umat Islam lebih membuatkan saya mengenali roh Islam dengan lebih jelas," katanya.

Abdulaziz menganggap dirinya bertuah kerana mengenali Islam menerusi teman-teman Muslim yang bersama-samanya sepanjang berada di bumi Arab itu. Malah beliau turut mengakui Islam adalah agama yang benar dan penuh toleransi.

"Masyarakat Islam dan warga Arab Saudi sangat baik hati, merendah diri dan bersikap terbuka kepada orang luar," kata Abdulaziz.

Beliau turut merasa mereka seperti keluarganya sendiri, kerana tidak pernag mengalami perasaan terasing atau dilayan dengan buruk sepanjang berada di Arab Saudi.

Bagi Abdulaziz, apa yang paling menarik mengenai masyarakat Arab adalah mereka sangat beragama dan menjadikan agama Islam sebahagian daripada kehidupan.

Dia memang berharap untuk membawa rakan-rakannya ke Arab Saudi untuk mengalami sendiri apa yang telah dilaluinya, sekali gus mengubah persepsi mereka tentang Islam. Abdulaziz juga menyeru pengusaha Muslim untuk bekerja keras dan menarik pengusaha asing memeluk agama Islam. Ini kerana ada di antara usahawan Muslim tidak begitu serius dalam melakukan dakwah kepada rakan kongsi yang bukan beragama Islam. Beliau berpendapat, sikap begitu sebenarnya satu kerugian besar buat agama Islam itu sendiri.

"Kita boleh menyediakan buku-buku tentang Islam kepada delegasi semasa pertemuan urus niaga dijalankan.

"Dengan cara ini ia dapat membantu menjernihkan imej Islam yang selama ini telah diburukkan oleh pihak-pihak tertentu," tegas beliau.

Seorang guru yang menjadi jurubahasa kepada Abdulaziz, Issam Abdul Razzaq berkata, golongan yang sudah berjaya terutama para usahawan adalah kunci utama dalam memainkan peranan mempamerkan imej-imej tertentu tentang Islam.

"Mereka yang sudah berjaya mempunyai kredibiliti dalam kalangan ahli komuniti mereka kerana mereka telah dianggap penting.

"Oleh itu, apabila mereka memilih untuk memeluk Islam, pasti ia menimbulkan rasa ingin tahu orang lain yang mana pada masa sama mereka mahu mengetahui dengan lebih mendalam akan agama baru mereka itu," kata Issam.

Oprah Winfrey Show Tonjolkan Kebenaran Islam

Hati saya amat gembira dan penuh dengan kebanggaan sebagai Muslim ketika sebuah kumpulan nasyid melantunkan nada-nada penuh semangat pada acara Musda DPD PKS Kota Bandung yang diselenggarakan di Pusdai, Bandung.

Ini kerana nasyid itu sangat menyentuh hati dan perasaan, dan kerana juga  beberapa jam sebelumnya saya baru saja menonton dan terpesona dengan salah satu episod talk show paling popular di dunia, iaitu The Oprah Winfrey Show. 

Dalam episod yang ditayangkan itu, fokus bual bicara adalah tentang diskriminasi terhadap umat Islam. Ceritanya tentang seorang lelaki dari AS yang benci terhadap Islam diajak tinggal bersama sebuah keluarga Muslim selama sebulan dan disuruh ‘menyamar’ sebagai seorang Muslim, lengkap dengan janggut dan pakaian yang dipakai oleh orang-orang Arab. Salah satu misinya adalah untuk mengetahui kehidupan seorang Muslim yang sebenarnya dan merasakan sendiri bagaimana menjadi seorang Muslim yang sering menerima diskriminasi oleh kebanyakan warga AS.

Pendek kata, dia dapat memahami dan mengalami sendiri bagaimana pahitnya menjadi seorang Muslim yang dicurigai hanya kerana memeliki janggut dan memakai pakaian islam yang sopan, padahal semua tuduhan itu sama sekali tanpa bukti. Dia telah berjalan jalan di kota dengan penampilan seperti itu, dan kebanyakan respon yang diberikan orang sekitar terhadapnya sangat menyakitkan. 

Bahkan sebagian besar warga AS yang diajaknya berbincang secara bersemuka menolak untuk tidak mendiskriminasikan umat Islam kerana mereka yakin dan percaya bahawa semua Muslim adalah pengganas. 

Di sudut lain, 30 hari yang dihabiskannya bersama sebuah keluarga Muslim benar-benar menunjukkan sebaliknya dari apa yang dia jangkakan selama ini. Dia merasakan bahawa keluarga itu sangat bahagia, walaupun banyak yang tidak difahami, namun dia mengakui bahawa banyak masalah dapat diselesaikan dengan ajaran Islam. 

Salah satu kisah yang paling menarik adalah ketika lelaki itu duduk berdua duaan dengan isteri tuan rumah di sebuah ruangan rumah. 

Kemudian tuan rumah datang dan mengatakan bahawa dalam Islam tidak dibenarkan berduaan duaan di tempat yang tidak mempunyai orang. Ini kerana pihak ketiga akan muncul iaitu Syaitan yang akan menggoda manusia melakukan maksiat.

Perkara ini di fikirkan oleh lelaki bukan islam tersebut dan berfikir ini adalah prinsip yang benar-benar gila. Tetapi di hadapan Oprah dan semua penonton di studio ketika itu, akhirnya dia mengakui bahawa prinsip hubungan diantara berlainan jantina dalam Islam seperti yang dialaminya benar-benar dapat menyelesaikan banyak masalah yang terjadi dalam pergaulan sosial di AS yang serba bebas. 

Pencabulan, perzinaan, sex songsang, sehinggakan penyebaran HIV / AIDS pun dapat dicegah dengan jalan Islam, lebih efektif daripada cara apa pun dan tidak memerlukan kos.

Pengakuan ini membuatkan saya terkejut mendengar pengakuannya. Saya tidak menyangka seorang bukan islam dengan begitu beraninya mengakui kebenaran Islam di hadapan jutaan penonton melalui televisyen. 

Walaupun saya mengakui keberanian Oprah dalam mengangkat cerita cerita yang kontroversi, saya tetap terkejut melihat bagaimana dia berani mengenengahkan cerita ini di sebalik arus media yang berterusan menghentam umat Islam yang dikatakan pengganas

Anda boleh melihat sendiri betapa buruknya Islam di pendangan mata kebanyakan orang. Oprah telah membuka jalan bagi syiar Islam, iaitu dengan membuktikan bahawa keteladanan akan menghancurkan semua kesimpulan dan tanggapan yang salah. 

Kalau mereka tidak mahu percaya pada kata-kata, maka buktikanlah dengan perbuatan. Buktikanlah bahawa umat Islam bukan pengganas. Kita harus membuktikan bahwa kita adalah sebenar-benarnya umat terbaik (khairu ummah) yang mampu memberikan penyelesaian bagi setiap masalah. Kita harus menjadi umat yang menyenangkan, bukan menjadi beban kepada dunia. 

Dan kita memang mampu memberikan penyelesaian yang paling bagus, asalkan kita terus berpegang pada Al-Qur’an dan Al-Hadits. Tidak ada petunjuk yang lebih jernih daripada keduanya. Sesungguhnya kebenaran adalah kebenaran. Tidak peduli ras mana pun, bangsa apa pun, atau bagaimana pun keadaannya, kebenaran akan selalu diterima sebagai kebenaran. Kalau mereka menolak, mungkin kerana mereka belum melihat buktinya. 

Tugas kita sekarang adalah memberi pembuktian.

Doa-doa di bulan Ramadhan

"..DOA SEPANJANG RAMADHAN.."

Marilah kita sama2 beramal soleh pd bulan yg mulia, bulan Ramadhan.. semoga dgn ape yg kite kerjakan mendapat keberkatan dari ALLAH S.W.T...

Doa Hari - 1 

Yaa Allah! Jadikanlah Puasa Ku Sebagai Puasa Orang-Orang Yang Benar-Benar Berpuasa. Dan Ibadah Malam Ku Sebagai Ibadah Orang-Orang Yang Benar-Benar Melakukan Ibadah Malam. Dan Jagalah Aku Dari Tidurnya Orang-Orang Yang Lalai. Hapuskanlah Dosa Ku ... Wahai Tuhan Sekalian Alam!! 

Dan Ampunilah Aku, Wahai Pengampun Para Pembuat Dosa. 

Doa Hari - 2 

Yaa Allah! Dekatkanlah Aku Kepada Keridhoan-Mu Dan Jauhkanlah Aku Dan Kemurkaan Serta Balasan-Mu. Berilah Aku Kemampuan Untuk Membaca Ayat-Ayat-Mu Dengan Rahmat-Mu, Wahai Maha Pengasih Dari Semua Pengasih!! 

Doa Hari - 3 

Yaa Allah! Berikanlah Aku Rezki Akal Dan Kewaspadaan Dan Jauhkanlah Aku Dari Kebodohan Dan Kesesatan. Sediakanlah Bagian Untuk Ku Dari Segala Kebaikan Yang Kau Turunkan, Demi Kemurahan-Mu, Wahai Dzat Yang Maha Dermawan Dari Semua Dermawan! 

Doa Hari - 4 

Yaa Allah! Berikanlah Kekuatan Kepada Ku, Untuk Menegakkan Perintah-Perintah-Mu, Dan Berilah Aku Manisnya Berdzikir Mengingat-Mu. Berilah Aku Kekuatan Untuk Menunaikan Syukur Kepada-Mu, Dengan Kemuliaan-Mu. Dan Jagalah Aku Dengan Penjagaan-Mu Dan Perlindungan-Mu, Wahai Dzat Yang Maha Melihat. 

Doa Hari - 5 

Yaa Allah! Jadikanlah Aku Diantara Orang-Orang Yang Memohon Ampunan, Dan Jadikanlah Aku Sebagai Hamba-Mu Yang Sholeh Dan Setia Serta Jadikanlah Aku Diantara Auliya'-Mu Yang Dekat Disisi-Mu, Dengan Kelembutan-Mu, Wahai Dzat Yang Maha Pengasih Di Antara Semua Pengasih. 

Doa Hari - 6 

Yaa Allah! Janganlah Engkau Hinakan Aku Karena Perbuatan Maksiat Terhadap-Mu, Dan Janganlah Engkau Pukul Aku Dengan Cambuk Balasan-Mu. Jauhkanlah Aku Dari Hal-Hal Yang Dapat Menyebabkan Kemurkaan-Mu, Dengan Anugerah Dan Bantuan-Mu, Wahai Puncak Keinginan Orang-Orang Yang Berkeinginan! 

Doa Hari - 7 

Yaa Allah! Bantulah Aku Untuk Melaksanakan Puasanya, Dan Ibadah Malamnya. Jauhkanlah Aku Dari Kelalaian Dan Dosa-Dosa Nya. Dan Berikanlah Aku Dzikir Berupa Dzikir Mengingat-Mu Secara Berkesinambungan, Dengan Taufiq- Mu, Wahai Pemberi Petunjuk Orang-Orang Yang Sesat. 

Doa Hari - 8 

Yaa Allah! Berilah Aku Rezki Berupa Kasih Sayang Terhadap Anak-Anak Yatim Dan Pemberian Makan, Serta Penyebaran Salam, Dan Pergaulan Dengan Orang-Orang Mulia, Dengan Kemuliaan-Mu, Wahai Tempat Berlindung Bagi Orang-Orang Yang Berharap 

Doa Hari - 9 

Yaa Allah! Sediakanlah Untuk Ku Sebagian Dari Rahmat-Mu Yang Luas, Dan Berikanlah Aku Petunjuk Kepada Ajaran-Ajaran-Mu Yang Terang, Dan Bimbinglah Aku Menuju Kepada Kerelaan-Mu Yang Penuh Dengan Kecintaan-Mu, Wahai Harapan Orang-Orang Yang Rindu. 

Doa Hari - 10 

Yaa Allah! Jadikanlah Aku Diantara Orang-Orang Yang Bertawakkal Kepada-Mu, Dan Jadikanlah Aku Diantara Orang- Orang Yang Menang Disisi-Mu, Dan Jadikanlah Aku Diantara Orang-Orang Yang Dekat Kepada-Mu Dengan Ihsan-Mu, Wahai Tujuan Orang-Orang Yang Memohon. 

Doa Hari - 11 

Yaa Allah! Tanamkanlah Dalam Diriku Kecintaan Kepada Perbuatan Baik, Dan Tanamkanlah Dalam Diriku Kebencian Terhadap Kemaksiatan Dan Kefasikan. Jauhkanlah Dariku Kemurkaan-Mu Dan Api Neraka Dengan Pertolongan-Mu, Wahai Penolong Orang-Orang Yang Meminta Pertolongan. 

Doa Hari - 12 

Yaa Allah! Hiasilah Diriku Dengan Penutup Dan Kesucian. Tutupilah Diriku Dengan Pakaian Qana'ah Dan Kerelaan. Tempatkanlah Aku Di Atas Jalan Keadilan Dan Sikap Tulus. Amankanlah Diriku Dari Setiap Yang Aku Takuti Dengan Penjagaan-Mu, Wahai Penjaga Orang-Orang Yang Takut. 

Doa Hari - 13 

Yaa Allah! Sucikanlah Diriku Dari Kekotoran Dan Kejelekan. Berilah Kesabaran Padaku Untuk Menerima Segala Ketentuan. Dan Berilah Kemampuan Kepadaku Untuk Bertaqwa, Dan Bergaul Dengan Orang-Orang Yang Baik Dengan Bantuan-Mu, Wahai Dambaan Orang-Orang Miskin. 

Doa Hari - 14 

Yaa Allah! Janganlah. Engkau Hukum Aku, Karena Kekeliruan Yang Ku lakukan. Dan Ampunilah Aku Dari Kesalahan-Kesalahan Dan Kebodohan. Janganlah Engkau Jadikan Diriku Sebagai Sasaran Bala' Dan Malapetaka Dengan Kemuliaan-Mu, Wahai Kemuliaan Kaum Muslimin. 

Doa Hari - 15 

Yaa Allah! Berilah Aku Rezki Berupa Ketaatan Orang-Orang Yang Khusyu'. Dan Lapangkanlah Dadaku Dengan Taubatnya Orang-Orang Yang Menyesal, Dengan Keamanan-Mu, Wahai Keamanan Untuk Orang-Orang Yang Takut. 

Doa Hari - 16 

Yaa Allah! Berilah Aku Kemampuan Untuk Hidup Sebagaimana Kehidupan Orang-Orang Yang Baik. Dan Jauhkanlah Aku Dari Kehidupan Bersama Orang-Orang Yang Jahat. Dan Naungilah Aku Dengan Rahmat-Mu Hingga Sampai Kepada Alam Akhirat. Demi Ketuhanan-Mu Wahai Tuhan Seru Sekalian Alam. 

Doa Hari - 17 

Yaa Allah! Tunjukkanlah Aku Kepada Amal Kebajikan Dan Penuhilah Hajat Serta Cita-Cita Ku. Wahai Yang Maha Mengetahui Keperluan, Tanpa Pengungkapan Permohonan. Wahai Yang Maha Mengetahui Segala Yang Ada Didalam Hati Seluruh Isi Alam. Sholawat Atas Mohammad Dan Keluarganya Yang Suci. 

Doa Hari - 18 

Yaa Allah! Sedarkanlah Aku Akan Berkah-Berkah Yang Terdapat Di Saat Saharnya. Dan Sinarilah Hatiku Dengan Terang Cahayanya Dan Bimbinglah Aku Dan Seluruh Anggota Tubuhku Untuk Dapat Mengikuti Ajaran-Ajarannya, Demi Cahaya-Mu Wahai Penerang Hati Para Arifin. 

Doa Hari - 19 

Yaa Allah! Penuhilah Bagianku Dengan Berkah-Berkahnya, Dan Mudahkanlah Jalanku Menuju Kebaikan-Kebaikannya. Janganlah Kau Jauhkan Aku Dari Ketertedmaan Kebaikan- Kebaikannya, Wahai Pembed Petunjuk Kepada Kebenaran Yang Terang. 

Doa Hari - 20 

Yaa Allah! Bukakanlah Bagiku Pintu-Pintu Sorga Dan Tutupkanlah Bagiku Pintu-Pintu Neraka, Dan Berikanlah Kemampuan Padaku Untuk Membaca Ai-Quran Wahai Penurun Ketenangan Di Dalam Hati Orang-Orang Mu'min. 

Doa Hari - 21 

Yaa Allah! Berilah Aku Petunjuk Menuju Kepada Keridhoan- Mu. Dan Janganlah Engkau Bed Jalan Kepada Setan Untuk Menguasaiku. Jadikanlah Sorga Bagiku Sebagai Tempat Tinggal Dan Peristirahatan, Wahai Pemenuh Keperluan Orang- Orang Yang Meminta. 

Doa Hari - 22 

Yaa Allah! Bukakanlah Bagiku Pintu-Pintu Karunia-Mu, Turunkan Untuk ku Berkah-Berkah Mu. Berilah Kemampuan Untuk ku Kepada Penyebab-Penyebab Keridhoan-Mu, Dan Tempatkanlah Aku Di Dalam Sorga-Mu Yang Luas, Wahai Penjawab Doa Orang-Orang Yang Dalam Kesempitan. 

Doa Hari - 23 

Yaa Allah! Sucikanlah Aku Dari Dosa-Dosa, Dan Bersihkanlah Diriku Dari Segala Aib. Tanamkanlah Ketaqwaan Di Dalam Hatiku, Wahai Penghapus Kesalahan Orang-Orang Yang Berdosa. 

Doa Hari - 24 

Yaa Allah! Aku Memohon Kepada-Mu Hal-Hal Yang Mendatangkan Keridhoan-Mu, Dan Aku Berlindung Dengan- Mu Dan Hal-Hal Yang Mendatangkan Kemarahan-Mu, Dan Aku Memohon Kepada-Mu Kemampuan Untuk Mentaati-Mu Serta Menghindari Kemaksiatan Terhadap-Mu, Wahai Pemberi Para Peminta. 

Doa Hari - 25 

Yaa Allah! Jadikanlah Aku Orang-.Orang Yang Menyintai Auliya-Mu Dan Memusuhi Musuh-Musuh Mu. Jadikanlah Aku Pengikut Sunnah-Sunnah Penutup Nabi-Mu, Wahai Penjaga Hati Para Nabi. 

Doa Hari - 26 

Yaa Allah! Jadikanlah Usaha ku Sebagai Usaha Yang Di syukuri, Dan Dosa-Dosa ku Di ampuni, Amal Perbuatan Ku Diterima, Dan Seluruh Aib ku Di tutupi, Wahai Maha Pendengar Dan Semua Yang Mendengar. 

Doa Hari - 27 

Yaa Allah! Rizkikanlah Kepadaku Keutamaan Lailatul Qadr, Dan Ubahlah Perkara-Perkara ku Yang Sulit Menjadi Mudah. Terimalah Permintaan Maafku, Dan Hapuskanlah Dosa Dan Keslahanku, Wahai Yang Maha Penyayang Terhadap Hamba- HambaNya Yang Sholeh. 

Doa Hari - 28 

Yaa Allah! Penuhkanlah Hidupku Dengan Amalan-Amalan Sunnah, Dan Muliakanlah Aku Dengan Terkabulnya Semua Permintaan. Dekatkanlah Perantaraanku Kepada-Mu Diantara Semua Perantara, Wahai Yang Tidak Tersibukkan Oleh Permintaan Orang-Orang Yang Meminta. 

Doa Hari - 29 

Yaa Allah! Liputilah Aku Dengan Rahmat Dan Berikanlah Kepadaku Taufiq Dan Penjagaan. Sucikanlah Hatiku Dan Noda-Noda Fitnah Wahai Pengasih Terhadap Hamba- HambaNya Yang Mu'min. 

Doa Hari - 30 

Yaa Allah! Jadikanlah Puasa ku Disertai Dengan Syukur Dan Penerima Di Atas Jalan Keridhoan-Mu Dan Keridhoan Rasul. Cabang-Cabangnya Kokoh Dan Kuat Berkat Pokok-Pokoknya, Demi Kenabian Mohammad Dan Keluarganya Yang Suci, Dan Segala Puji Bagi Allah Tuhan Sekalian Alam.