Page 24 - Pakistan Link - July 2, 2021

P24 – PAKISTAN LINK – JULY 2, 2021 COMMENTARY
Investing: How to Get Started

n By Saghir Ahmed Aslam investment because your money will
be managed by professionals. How-
(The following information is ever, you should know each thing FOUNDATION
provided solely to educate the Mus- as the fund’s short and long term
lim community about investing performance compared with that P.O. BOX 5481, Santa Clara, CA 95056 | (408) 244.3282 | www.hidaya.org
and financial planning. It is hoped of other funds. The fund’s invest-
that the Ummah will ment objective and strategy (what One Million Meals
benefit from this ef- the fund invest in - stocks, govern-
fort through greater ment funds, municipal bonds etc.)
financial empower- and the fund charges, expenses and
ment, enabling the risk. These, and other questions on
community to live in the investments company, are an- 50 C $1 $5 $10
security and dignity not want to invest in long-term in- swered in fund’s prospectus, which provides provides provides provides
and fulfill their religious and moral struments. However, if you have can be obtained from your financial
obligations towards charitable ac- assets that can be converted easily professional. Read and consider it 1 meal 2 meals 10 meals 20 meals
tivities) to cash (like money-market funds carefully before investing.
To the novice investor, the or stocks), you may want to invest 5. Seek professional advice as
increasing number of investment long-term in search of higher re- briefly outlined above, there are
choices available can seem confus- turns potential. many things you should know be-
ing. Most financial advisors, how- Similarly, you should calcu- fore you invest. An experienced
ever, agree that you should follow late an annual household budget by financial advisor can help youfrom
a few basic steps when just getting adding up all of your income for the setting financial goals and under-
started with investing: year (salary, interest and dividends standing various investments to
1. Determine your financial on investments, distributions from monitoring the success of your ac-
objectives. There are many reasons pension or profit-sharing plans, count. As with your investments
for investing. Some of the most alimony) and then subtracting your be sure you understand how a fi- Donate online via check or card at
common are earning more current regular, essential expenses (such as nancial advisor is comfortable with
income; building your net worth; mortgage or rent payments, food, your objectives. Some advisors www.hidaya.org
saving for a home, college educa- utilities and clothing). The balance work only with aggressive, high-
tion for your children, or your re- is the amount you have to spend on risk investors, while other advisors
tirement; and reducing your tax personal uses, such as vacations and are well suited to long-term, securi- or call us at (408) 244-3282
burden. Each of these objectives gifts, or to invest. ty-conscious investors. Hidaya Foundation is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) charitable organization with Tax ID # 77-0502583
suggests different investment strat- 3. Understand your tolerance If you take the time to under-
egies and different types of invest- to the risk. Most investments have stand your financial situation, set
ments. For example, if you want some measure of inherent risk. If reasonable goals and work with a
more current income, you might do you have sufficient assets and in- qualified Financial Advisor; your
better with a fixed income invest- come, you might be willing to ac- experience with investing has a bet- Exchange Rates for Currency Notes*
ment such as a bond, rather than a cept greater risk in exchange for a ter chance of success.
growth-company stocks that offer potentially larger gain. However, if (Saghir A. Aslam only explains Countries Buying Selling
long-term potential but may fluctu- you cannot afford risk to your in- strategies and formulas that he has Rs. Rs.
ate more than a bond. vestment principal, you probably been using. He is merely providing
2. Understand your current should consider lower-risk invest- information, and NO ADVICE is
financial position. Calculate your ments, which, while relatively safe, given. Mr Aslam does not endorse USA 157.50 158.50
net worth by adding up all your usually do not earn high returns. or recommend any broker, broker- UK 216.00 219.00
assets (such as the value of your 4. Understand your invest- age firm, or any investment at all, S.Arabia 41.70 42.30
home, personal property, invest- ment. Before you invest, you should nor does he suggest that anyone will Japan 1.41 1.44
ments, bank accounts and pension understand how the investment earn a profit when or if they pur- Euro 185.00 187.00
or profit sharing plans) and then works. If, for example, you are chase stocks, bonds or any other in- UAE 42.50 43.00
subtracting your liabilities (money thinking about buying the common vestment. All stocks or investment
you owe for such things as mort- stock of a company, take the time vehicles mentioned are for illustra- (*July 1, 2021)
gages, car loans, credit card debt to; learn about the company and the tive purposes only. Mr Aslam is not
and other bills). If most of your as- industry (or industries) in which it an attorney, accountant, real estate
sets are in real estate (which is true operates by reading the company’s broker, stockbroker, investment ad- (Dr Ahmed S. Khan II drama Bomb Girls (Global), past
for many people), you may need to annual report or analysts’ research visor, or certified financial planner. (dr.a.s.khan@ieee.org) is a Fulbright film and television credits include
convert your investments to cash in reports about the company. A mu- Mr Aslam does not have anything Specialist Scholar - 2017-2022) Coroner (CBC), Tiny Pretty Things
an emergency. Therefore, you may tual fund may seem to be a simple for sale.) (Netflix), The Hardy Boys (Hulu) and
NAME FROM P9 the feature film Beeba Boys directed
KIERNAN FROM P22 Heaven, the arrow wavers and glances I hope improved.” Kiernan was not a GabeGreyGabeGreyGabeGrey — by Deepa Mehta. Theatre credits in-
And cast the dearest pearl he had by. native speaker of Urdu and Persian, so feels empty. I feel empty. clude Small Mouth Sounds (Segal
Before Jamshed and Kaikobad; he relied on the help of others to do the Mahershala Ali won Oscars for Centre, Montreal) After Wrestling
Till so. ingrained his cringings Quatrain rendering of Iqbal’s poetry in English, Best Supporting Actor in 2016 and (Factory Theatre, Toronto), Shake-
were, SWEET is the time of Spring, the as a result his perspective, commen- 2018. speare in Love (Citadel Theatre, Ed-
He grew more abject than a cur— red Rose cried; tary, and translations [2004] are still Riz Ahmed was nominated for monton/Royal Manitoba Theatre
Who ever saw at one dog’s frown Sweeter an hour here than an age not at par with the earlier renderings of Best Actor in 2020. Company, Winnipeg) and Disgraced
Another dog’s meek head bow outside; Prof R.A. Nicholson, Prof A. J. Arberry Ramy Youssef won the Golden (Citadel Theatre, Edmonton).
down? Before some lover plucks you for and Prof Annemarie Schimmel. Globe for Best Actor in a Comedy in
his cap, In the preface of the 1955 edi- 2020. HIJAB FROM P19
Time Sweetest to die in this green gar- tion, a not very well known Kiernan Hamza Haq won the Canadian to respond. I chose not to answer.
WHAT was, has faded: what is, is den’s lap. was all praise for Iqbal and called him Screen Award for Best Lead Actor in
fading: but of these words few can tell a political poet concerned about man 2021. Being Hijabed changed others’
the worth; Epilogue and humanity. But in the preface of the I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t been perception of me
Time still is gaping with expecta- WHEN, to leave earth, I gathered 2004 edition, Kiernan, by then, a very thinking about going back to my Outside the store, I asked one of
tion of what is nearest its hour of birth. what was mine, well-known historian of the left, and real name for a while now. But I al- the Muslim men I was with, “Am I
New tidings slowly come drop by To have known me through and with couple of history books under his ways stopped myself. I built a career Muslim?” He explained that every-
drop from my pitcher gurgling of time’s through was each man’s claim; belt, takes a jab at Iqbal by stating: “… around this name. 15 years is a long thing that breathes and submits is.
new sights, But of this traveler none knew He shows little knowledge of history, a time. Everyone knows me this way. I have concluded that I may
As I count over the beads strung truly what he subject very long neglected in India, in But today, I don’t care anymore. be and just don’t know it. I haven’t
out on my threaded rosary of days and Spoke, or to whom he spoke, or contrast with China or Europe --- or It’s not a big emotional moment. I am labeled myself as such yet. I don’t
nights. whence he came. of the new social science like Econom- taking my name back. I’m walking know enough about Islam to assert
With each man friendly, with each ics….” In reality Iqbal understood his- back into my own home. that I am Muslim.
I vary, and have a new part at my com- Referring to the translation pro- tory and economics very well; but Ki- My name is Fuad Ahmed. My Though I don’t pray five times a
mand: cess, Kiernan, “in note on the transla- ernan looked at Iqbal’s message from name is Fuad Ahmed. It’s pronounced day, go to a mosque, fast, nor cover
To one the rider, to one the courser, tions,” observes: “In translating these a Marxist historical lens, in reality his Fu-’Ad. It is an Arabic name mean- my head with a scarf daily, this does
to one the whiplash of reprimand. poems I have tried first of all to give description of Iqbal follows a typical ing “heart,” or more specifically, not mean that I am not Muslim.
If in the circle you were not num- the sense of the originals as exactly orientalist style and lacks an apoliti- “The place in your heart where God These seem to be the natural mani-
bered, was it your own fault, or was it as possible, without addition or sub- cal and holistic approach as demon- resides.” My name is Fuad Ahmed. - festations of what is within.
mine? traction…in this new edition [2004] strated by Dr Annemarie Schimmel CBC Arts How I am inside does not di-
To humor no-one am I accustomed which differs from that published in (1922-2003) in studying and explain- Fuad Ahmed is a graduate of rectly change whether I am Hijabed
to keep untasted the midnight wine! India several years ago [1955], I have ing the works of Iqbal viz a viz Islamic the Canadian Film Centre’s Ac- or not. It is others’ perception of me
No planet-gazer can ever see omitted a number of poems of lesser perspective. Despite Kiernan’s Marx- tors Conservatory and a recipient of that was changed. Repeated experi-
through my winding mazes; for when interest, especially from Iqbal’s earlier ist lens for looking at Iqbal, the global REEL Canada’s RBC Emerging Artist ences with others in turn creates a
the eye period, and have added those…all the readers can still enjoy Kiernan’s Eng- Award. Best known for his breakout self-image.
That aims it sees by no light from others I have revised considerably, and lish renditions of Iqbal’s verse. role as Dr Ned Patel in the World War HIJAB, P28
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