Humber Bridge debt

Professor Rodney Shakespeare writes,

A bridge over the river Humber (in the UK) was required. The materials and expertise were available; the finance was by the UK government which provided interest-bearing loans; and construction was begun in 1972 at an estimated cost of £28,000,000. Because of price inflation, difficult ground conditions, labour relations difficulties and adverse weather, the cost rose to £98,000,000 but, by the time the bridge opened to traffic in 1981, interest charges had taken the cost up to £151,000,000.
At which point an important fact should be noted ─ every year since being opened in 1981 the bridge has made an operating profit i.e., its running costs (basically, repair, maintenance and staff salaries) are exceeded by the fees it receives from travellers crossing the river Humber. Put simply, it’s a money-maker.

With that fact in mind, now consider what happened in the years that followed. In 1982, because of compound interest, the debt was up to £164,000,000. However, by 1992 ─ only ten years later ─ it had shot up to an amazing £439,000,000! Wow!!

Whereon, to stop the huge repayment burden falling on the Humberside residents, the UK government intervened to reduce the rates of interest, write off amounts and give grants of £40m per year so that the debt was effectively pegged for six years. Further ‘re-structuring’ then took place to reduce the debt, i.e., a large proportion of it was cancelled. (Readers are advised not to even think of the horrific level the debt would be at today if the government had not ‘re-structured’ the debt by cancelling a large part of what was due.)

The story of the Humber Bridge then gets egregiously preposterous and completely outrageous. The original money was lent, at interest, by the UK government, which had borrowed the money at interest! Thus, today, the National Debt carries the whole burden (at whatever fantastic level it is now at) and the UK public as a whole (as opposed to the residents of Humberside) will be eternally paying for the never-ending interest on the Humber Bridge!

Please note that, like the Nigerian example, repayments were being made all the time but the figure was up to £439,000,000 by 1992 whereon the government stepped in and, in effect, took the cost of the whole thing away from the residents of Humberside and put it onto the National Debt -- for ever!!! The usually quoted UK Nation Debt figure in the UK is around £8/9 per person per week.

All this information should now put you in a position to understand why Albert Einstein is allegedly quoted as saying that compound interest -- not E = mc2 -- is the greaterst mathematival discovery of all time (or the most powerful force in the unverse).

Whether or not Einstein did say it (or a version) I'm sure that you now get the point about the nature of interest.

Dubai Business Bay Towers

Most of these towers will be completed within the next two years. Pictures taken from Ten real estate

Vision Tower- Transparent glass all the way to the top- clear view from inside and outside
Executive Towers- 10 buildings
Binary Towers- Contains an aqua-massage unit and an oxygen bar

One Business Bay- The entrance. It's 30 storey only.
Dancing Towers- Centrepiece of Business Bay, connected @ the bottom, and the top

Crystal Flower shaped- Burj Al Alam

Towers in Dubai

Some of them...

Dubai towers

Cricket

It's past 1am... my parents are still downstairs watching the cricket match. Mummy studied for a bit in between, regularly checking the score from my father, then she sat and watched the rest of the match, making dua constantly for Bangladesh to win... lol
Everyone in my family knows cricket except me... it's rather embarassing, but no one tries to explain how it works either!
Mummy just came and said "Good news, Bangladesh won"..

Jheel

I learnt about Jheel everything a person could, when they're travelling together. and our journey wasn't some ordinary journey: It was the highest spiritual quest possible. When I first met her, I could see through her veil, and I thought to myself she's so young! But she wasn't, she had been married 14 years.

In the many days we spent together, she did everything she could for me. She would wash my clothes, make tea for me, let me borrow anything of hers I needed, advise me, ask me if I'm okay, and just wouldn't stop talking! Out in the streets, she stressed that I should spend with ease, for the reward is double because we were in sacred lands, and her phone conversations would be either about donating 200 Qur'ans to a masjid, or about some other form of charity.
The most beloved people to me are the ones who give freely in charity.
She never cringed when she had to pay exorbant fare to the cab drivers. She was always smiling, always happy. I would often think.. Subhanallah, if only people would give away money the way Jheel did. That's why Allah has blessed her with so much.
She had no children, but her husband and her had decided that was Allah's Will, and they will live for each other. And they were two remarkable companions.
Then we departed, and I didn't see her for 3 months. We decided to visit her when she returned from her travels. She had prepared a feast for us, and she was the same cheerful self. But I was shocked. Jheel's appartment was barely furnished. The kitchen and the washroom were the same size. She had lit candles for me, and presented a gift to my mother. Their furniture was old and unattractive. There were piles of paper stacked on the shelf above where I sat. With all of us, we seemed to have filled up the space in the entire appartment. I had believed that she was rich. And, she was rich, but she lived simple. She spent where she needed, and gave away the rest in the name of Allah, and her only purpose in life, was to gain knowledge and to serve her Lord.

Tagged... ugh, I gotta do this

My sister says my weirdness cannot be expressed in words.
Hafsa tagged me.. so 10 unnecessary things about me:

- I like to do lists. I have to do lists/alerts/reminders/deadlines:

• On my phone
• Google calendar
• Google desktop
• Googe homepage
• In notepad text files on my desktop and in various folders
• In my calendar on my desk.
• on a whiteboard hanging from a switch in my room
• In my last few sleepiest moments in bed, I often think of left over tasks.. so I started keeping a pen and paper close to my pillow
• And of course, grocery lists in my bag

- I'm a fast driver. I think it comes from being a part of family of fast drivers, including my mother.

- I live in UAE... across the Globe from Canada, but I live most days Toronto time. Love it!

- I challenged someone to get me a pink rose that was all by itself, out of reach in a big shrubby bush back in 1999 when I went to Egypt, and I still have the dried remains.

- I love animals, and I spend time watching them... but from a reasonably safe distance :P I don't think I'd ever get a pet.

- The only types of movies I watch, once in blue moon are animated movies :) Simply loved Hoodwinked. I can imitate the characters from these movies too.. hehe. But sometimes, these movies get to me. Like the time I watched Garfield on the plane to Toronto. And then when I'd see a cat on the street, I could swear it was talking to me...

- I used to be one of the lead singers in school. Ms George used to call us the "nightingales of the school". Renu was the best, she still sings.. she's in US now. We went to Dubai for competitions as well. I dont sing anymore the way I used to, I've replaced my singing with reciting the Qur'an as I memorise, and I feel very grateful Alhamdulillah. I'm definitely not an engineer @ heart.

- I'm a very impulsive person, and my impulsive nature has often made me come across as immature, irresponsible and rude.

- I talk to Hafsa more than anyone else in the world I think :P

- When I eat something (really) spicy... my eyes start tearing, and my ears go red. But that still doesn't stop me!

“Each player of this game starts off with ten weird things or habits or little known facts about yourself. People who get tagged must write in a blog of their own ten weird things or habits or little known facts as well as state this rule clearly. At the end you must choose six people to be tagged and list their names. No tagbacks!”

um.. I dont think I'm gonna tag anyone!

Hafsa

is funny when serious, and serious when funny :)

12:38 AM me: did u start work with joomla?
Hafsa: who?
me: that project u were doing...
php
12:39 AM Hafsa: yeah, the canadian space society website..i know of php..
but who's joomla?
12:40 AM me: mambo?
lol
Hafsa: hahhahahaa...

One day at a time

From Ruby's forwards... I should probably have a separate category for her forwards.

The most useless thing to do ... ........Worry

The greatest Joy....................... ........Giving

The greatest loss.................Loss of self-respect

The most satisfying work................Helping others

The ugliest personality trait......................Selfishness

The most endangered species...................Dedicated leaders

The greatest "shot in the arm"..................Encouragement

The greatest problem to overcome.............Fear

Most effective sleeping pill..............Peace of mind

The most crippling failure disease.........Excuses

The most powerful force in life......................Love

The most dangerous pariah.................................A gossiper

The world's most incredible computer......The brain !

The worst thing to be without...................Hope

The deadliest weapon.... The tongue.......

The two most power-filled words..............."I Can"

The greatest asset.................Faith

The most worthless emotion................Self-pity

The most prized possession................Integrity

The most beautiful attire...................A SMILE!

The most powerful channel of communication........Prayer

The most contagious spirit.................Enthusiasm

The most important thing in life...............GOD

Cricket

Ether sent me this

What is the heart?

The most important part of your 'person' is your inner self. This inner self the Qur'an calls the qalb or the 'heart'. The heart of the Prophet pbuh was the first recipient of the Quranic message:

You will therefore reap the full joys and blessings of reading the Qur'an when you are able to involve your heart fully in your task.
The heart in the Quranic vocabulary, is not the piece of flesh in your body, but the centre of all your feelings, emotions, drives, aspirations, remembrance and attention.
It is the hearts which soften:
اللَّهُ نَزَّلَ أَحْسَنَ الْحَدِيثِ كِتَابًا مُّتَشَابِهًا مَّثَانِيَ تَقْشَعِرُّ مِنْهُ جُلُودُ الَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُمْ ثُمَّ تَلِينُ جُلُودُهُمْ وَقُلُوبُهُمْ إِلَى ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ ذَلِكَ هُدَى اللَّهِ يَهْدِي بِهِ مَنْ يَشَاء وَمَن يُضْلِلْ اللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُ مِنْ هَادٍ 39:23
or harden and become stony.
see post: Stones
It is they which go blind and refuse to recognise the truth
أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَتَكُونَ لَهُمْ قُلُوبٌ يَعْقِلُونَ بِهَا أَوْ آذَانٌ يَسْمَعُونَ بِهَا فَإِنَّهَا لَا تَعْمَى الْأَبْصَارُ وَلَكِن تَعْمَى الْقُلُوبُ الَّتِي فِي الصُّدُورِ 22:46
for it is their function to reason and understand.
وَلَقَدْ ذَرَأْنَا لِجَهَنَّمَ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ الْجِنِّ وَالإِنسِ لَهُمْ قُلُوبٌ لاَّ يَفْقَهُونَ بِهَا وَلَهُمْ أَعْيُنٌ لاَّ يُبْصِرُونَ بِهَا وَلَهُمْ آذَانٌ لاَّ يَسْمَعُونَ بِهَا أُوْلَـئِكَ كَالأَنْعَامِ بَلْ هُمْ أَضَلُّ أُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْغَافِلُونَ 7:179
أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَتَكُونَ لَهُمْ قُلُوبٌ يَعْقِلُونَ بِهَا أَوْ آذَانٌ يَسْمَعُونَ بِهَا فَإِنَّهَا لَا تَعْمَى الْأَبْصَارُ وَلَكِن تَعْمَى الْقُلُوبُ الَّتِي فِي الصُّدُورِ 22:46
إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَذِكْرَى لِمَن كَانَ لَهُ قَلْبٌ أَوْ أَلْقَى السَّمْعَ وَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ 50:37
In hearts lie the roots of all outward diseases
فَتَرَى الَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ يُسَارِعُونَ فِيهِمْ يَقُولُونَ نَخْشَى أَن تُصِيبَنَا دَآئِرَةٌ فَعَسَى اللّهُ أَن يَأْتِيَ بِالْفَتْحِ أَوْ أَمْرٍ مِّنْ عِندِهِ فَيُصْبِحُواْ عَلَى مَا أَسَرُّواْ فِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ نَادِمِينَ 5:52
they are the seat of all inner ills;
فِي قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ فَزَادَهُمُ اللّهُ مَرَضاً وَلَهُم عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْذِبُونَ 2:10
hearts are the abode of Iman
يَا أَيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ لاَ يَحْزُنكَ الَّذِينَ يُسَارِعُونَ فِي الْكُفْرِ مِنَ الَّذِينَ قَالُواْ آمَنَّا بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَلَمْ تُؤْمِن قُلُوبُهُمْ وَمِنَ الَّذِينَ هِادُواْ سَمَّاعُونَ لِلْكَذِبِ سَمَّاعُونَ لِقَوْمٍ آخَرِينَ لَمْ يَأْتُوكَ يُحَرِّفُونَ الْكَلِمَ مِن بَعْدِ مَوَاضِعِهِ يَقُولُونَ إِنْ أُوتِيتُمْ هَـذَا فَخُذُوهُ وَإِن لَّمْ تُؤْتَوْهُ فَاحْذَرُواْ وَمَن يُرِدِ اللّهُ فِتْنَتَهُ فَلَن تَمْلِكَ لَهُ مِنَ اللّهِ شَيْئًا أُوْلَـئِكَ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يُرِدِ اللّهُ أَن يُطَهِّرَ قُلُوبَهُمْ لَهُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا خِزْيٌ وَلَهُمْ فِي الآخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ 5:41
and hypocrisy.
فَأَعْقَبَهُمْ نِفَاقًا فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ إِلَى يَوْمِ يَلْقَوْنَهُ بِمَا أَخْلَفُواْ اللّهَ مَا وَعَدُوهُ وَبِمَا كَانُواْ يَكْذِبُونَ 9:77
It is the hearts again, which are the centre of good and bad thing, whether it be contentment and peace,
الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ اللّهِ أَلاَ بِذِكْرِ اللّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ 13:28
the strength to face afflictions,
مَا أَصَابَ مِن مُّصِيبَةٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ وَمَن يُؤْمِن بِاللَّهِ يَهْدِ قَلْبَهُ وَاللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ 64:11
mercy,
ثُمَّ قَفَّيْنَا عَلَى آثَارِهِم بِرُسُلِنَا وَقَفَّيْنَا بِعِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ وَآتَيْنَاهُ الْإِنجِيلَ وَجَعَلْنَا فِي قُلُوبِ الَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُ رَأْفَةً وَرَحْمَةً وَرَهْبَانِيَّةً ابْتَدَعُوهَا مَا كَتَبْنَاهَا عَلَيْهِمْ إِلَّا ابْتِغَاء رِضْوَانِ اللَّهِ فَمَا رَعَوْهَا حَقَّ رِعَايَتِهَا فَآتَيْنَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنْهُمْ أَجْرَهُمْ وَكَثِيرٌ مِّنْهُمْ فَاسِقُونَ 57:27
brotherly love,
وَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِهِمْ لَوْ أَنفَقْتَ مَا فِي الأَرْضِ جَمِيعاً مَّا أَلَّفَتْ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِهِمْ وَلَـكِنَّ اللّهَ أَلَّفَ بَيْنَهُمْ إِنَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ 8:63
taqwa
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَغُضُّونَ أَصْوَاتَهُمْ عِندَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُوْلَئِكَ الَّذِينَ امْتَحَنَ اللَّهُ قُلُوبَهُمْ لِلتَّقْوَى لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَأَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ 49:3
ذَلِكَ وَمَن يُعَظِّمْ شَعَائِرَ اللَّهِ فَإِنَّهَا مِن تَقْوَى الْقُلُوبِ 22:32

or, doubt and hesitation,
إِنَّمَا يَسْتَأْذِنُكَ الَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ وَارْتَابَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ فَهُمْ فِي رَيْبِهِمْ يَتَرَدَّدُونَ 9:45
regrets,
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ لاَ تَكُونُواْ كَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَقَالُواْ لإِخْوَانِهِمْ إِذَا ضَرَبُواْ فِي الأَرْضِ أَوْ كَانُواْ غُزًّى لَّوْ كَانُواْ عِندَنَا مَا مَاتُواْ وَمَا قُتِلُواْ لِيَجْعَلَ اللّهُ ذَلِكَ حَسْرَةً فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ وَاللّهُ يُحْيِـي وَيُمِيتُ وَاللّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ 3:156
anger.
وَيُذْهِبْ غَيْظَ قُلُوبِهِمْ وَيَتُوبُ اللّهُ عَلَى مَن يَشَاء وَاللّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ 9:15
Finally, it is, in reality, the ways of the heart for which we shall be accountable, and only the one who brings before his God a sound and whole heart will deserve to be saved.

God will not take you to task for oaths which you may have uttered without thought, but will take you to task [only] for what your hearts have conceived [in earnest]: for God is much-forgiving, forbearing. (Baqara 2:255)

The Day on which neither wealth will be of any use, nor children [and when] only he [will be happy] who comes before God with a heart free of evil!” (As Shu'ara 26:88-89)

---

Source: The way to the Qur'an by Khurram Murad

What righteousness is not, and is

I think verses 177 and 189 in Surah Baqarah are the only 2 ayahs in the Quran that talk about what Birr is not, and what it is. Very beautiful.

لَّيْسَ الْبِرَّ أَن تُوَلُّواْ وُجُوهَكُمْ قِبَلَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ وَلَـكِنَّ الْبِرَّ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ وَالْمَلآئِكَةِ وَالْكِتَابِ وَالنَّبِيِّينَ وَآتَى الْمَالَ عَلَى حُبِّهِ ذَوِي الْقُرْبَى وَالْيَتَامَى وَالْمَسَاكِينَ وَابْنَ السَّبِيلِ وَالسَّآئِلِينَ وَفِي الرِّقَابِ وَأَقَامَ الصَّلاةَ وَآتَى الزَّكَاةَ وَالْمُوفُونَ بِعَهْدِهِمْ إِذَا عَاهَدُواْ وَالصَّابِرِينَ فِي الْبَأْسَاء والضَّرَّاء وَحِينَ الْبَأْسِ أُولَـئِكَ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا وَأُولَـئِكَ هُمُ الْمُتَّقُونَ
Righteousness is not that you turn your faces to the East, and the West; but righteousness is that one believes in Allah and the Last Day and the angels and the Book and the Prophets, and gives wealth, despite it's love (or, out of His love), to relatives, and to orphans, the helpless, the wayfarer, and to those who ask, and (spends) in the (freeing) slaves and observes the prayers and pays the Zakah; and those who fulfil their promise when they promise and, of course, the patient in hardships and sufferings and when in battle! Those are the ones who are true, and those are the God-fearing (2:177)

Mufti Shafi Uthmani writes in his tafseer:
Birr is an umbrella word in Arabic used for what is good in the absolute sense, and which combines in itself all acts of righteousness and obedience, inward or outward.

Often, we're so busy perfecting rituals. We're so busy gaining all the knowledge we can, yet our actions and intentions don't seem to synergise.
This verse comprehensively presents the Islamic injunctions:
- First, the articles of faith
- Then, dealings with people
- Finally, mention of morals.

Such are the true Muslims, and they are the ones who are God-fearing.
-> Spending wealth should be out of love for Allah, or/and, spending from that which you love. One should also be satisfied with what he spends: not that the hands spend, and the heart aches.

يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الأهِلَّةِ قُلْ هِيَ مَوَاقِيتُ لِلنَّاسِ وَالْحَجِّ وَلَيْسَ الْبِرُّ بِأَنْ تَأْتُوْاْ الْبُيُوتَ مِن ظُهُورِهَا وَلَـكِنَّ الْبِرَّ مَنِ اتَّقَى وَأْتُواْ الْبُيُوتَ مِنْ أَبْوَابِهَا وَاتَّقُواْ اللّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
They ask you about the new moons. Say: They are indicative of time for the people, and of the Hajj. And it is not righteousess that you come into your houses from their backs but righteousness is that one fears Allah. And come to the houses through their doors. And fear Allah so that you may be successful.(2:189)

During the times of Jahiliyyah, people used to enter their houses from the back, as it was forbidden to do so from the front in the state of Ihram. This ayah adds 2 more injunctions:
- Jihad
- Hajj

And we should not undermine the importance of the lunar months. Know your dates.

But the most important message is to keep fearing Allah, so that we can hope to have the best of both the worlds.

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For further reading, the tafseer is here: Maariful Quran

Naseer uncle

Please pray for my uncle who's in the hospital since yesterday. Uncle and aunty are very close to me.. My mother knows them since her first day in UAE after her marriage, and aunty has played a significant role in our upbringing. They're a part of every celebration in our lives, every ocassion whether sad or happy.
I hope uncle recovers and is out of the hospital soon...

The view from the top

It's never poured in Al Ain so much as it has been pouring since last night. There's stagnant water on many roads, and the air is simply beautiful. I went to our rooftop and took pictures of the neighbourhood from there. Not much of a view though, of the neighbourhood since our house is between 2 date palm tree farms. And it's rare to have farms in the middle of residential areas, so Alhamdulillah!

This is my roof... with all the A/C coolers, and dish in the far left corner.

This is just standing water in our front yard...

Could you live in a house like this?

Perhaps, if you were going camping.
However, this is a real "house" of a family in Sri Lanka. If you would like to get information on donating to them to rebuild the house, please contact me. The father has 4 children to take care of, as his wife has been diagnosed with a mental condition, and he's refusing to remarry, in hopes that she will be cured. But he doesn't have the means to pay for the medical. Imagine, if your young daughter or sister had to use an open toilet like this. I don't have to say more.

And which of the favours of thy Lord will ye deny?

Washing and shrouding a woman's body

I wonder how many of us know the rules of how exactly this happens? Last Saturday I went to a session on this topic with my mother where they did a demo using a doll.
Seeing the whole process in front of my eyes was very frightening. The speaker talked about the importance of washing your own relative- if it's your daughter, mother, sister- do it yourself. Just because the person now is a lifeless body, doesn't mean you hand it over to a professional to do it.
Towards the end of the wrapping, the top part of a woman's body is left untied, in case people want to see her face one last time. I wouldn't want that to be allowed for me, but then, does it really matter?

Here's the process from ISNA's website:
A female's body should be washed by a female.

PROCEDURE FOR WASHING THE BODY

1. Place the body on the washing table.
2. Keeping the private parts of the body covered, remove all other garments from the body.
3. Gently but firmly press the stomach and clean out by a towel or cloth any excertions that may have resulted by stomach pressing.

The body is now ready for washing. Body should be washed with your hands or a piece of clean cloth. Use clean and warm water to wash the body.

1. The body is to be washed three times, five times or seven times-always an odd number of times.
2. For each washing, first place the body on its left and wash the right side using warm water and soap. Then place it on its right side and wash the left side. Female's hair should be gathered into two braids, with loose hair at end of each braid.
3. For the final washing, scented water (non-alcoholic scent) can be used.
4. Now perform ablution (wudu) for the body. Do not forget to clean the teeth and nose also.
5. Generous application of non-alcoholic perfume can be made on various parts of the body. Perfumed cotton can be placed on the front and the rear private parts and the nostrils.

WRAPPING THE BODY ( KAFAN)

1. For women, five pieces of clean, cotton preferably white cloth should be used. Each piece of cloth should be large enough to cover the entire body.
2. Apply non-alcoholic perfume to the kafan.
3. Use a piece of cloth and tie the top (head side) and bottom (foot side). The two tie knots should be different so as to recognize the head side.

Material Required

Name of the Cloth piece Approximate size
1. Kafan 4 feet x 12 feet
2. Head Wrap 4 feet x 4 feet
3. Body Wrap 4 feet x 6 feet
4. Chest Wrap 4 feet x 4 feet
5. Body Sheet 4 feet x 8 feet

Note:

1. Tear a one inch strip from the length of the Kafan sheet and use it as strings to tie the body.
2. For wrapping an adult male body, three pieces, i.e., Kafan, Body wrap and Body sheet are required.
3. For wrapping an adult female body, all five pieces are required.
4. Tear a one inch strip from the length of the Kafan sheet and use it as strings to tie the body.

Procedures for wrapping the body (female)

1. Spread the Body sheet on a flat table, a firm bed or floor.
2. Lay the Chest wrap on the Body sheet about two feet each from the top and the bottom edge.
3. Then lay the Body wrap on the Chest wrap about one foot each from the top and the bottom edge of the Body sheet.
4. Fold the Kafan sheet over in half, so that its size after folding is 4 feet x 6 feet.
5. At the crease in the middle, cut a hole big enough for the head of the body to pass through.
6. Unfold the Kafan sheet and lay it on the three sheets prepared earlier in steps 1-3 above; the cut hole will now be in the center of the Kafan sheet.
7. Lay the body on its back on one half (which is on the other three sheets) and pull the other half of the Kafan sheet over the whole body, making sure that the head comes out through the hole; except for the head the rest of the body should now be covered inside the Kafan sheet.
8. Comb and brush the hair in two groups loose or braids; spread one group on the right side of the chest and the other group of hair on the left side.
9. Roll the upper half of Kafan sheet from both the right and the left sides to gather in the center of the body.
10. Wrap the lower long sides of the Kafan sheet over the body from both the right and the left sides (from shoulders to feet).
11. Then unroll the upper half of the Kafan sheet to spread it over the lower half wrapped previously on the body (as above) and wrap it along both sides of the whole body. To do this ,the whole body will have to be tilted on its side to push the Kafan sheet under the body; first on the right side and then on the left side.
12. Fold the Head wrap in half; raise the head and upper part of the body to slip about one half of the Head wrap under the body.
13. Then fold the other half over and around the head so that the face is not covered and the lower edge of the Head wrap covers the hair on the chest.
14. Now wrap the left side of the Body wrap over the body and cover it by wrapping the right side of the Body wrap over the left side on the body.
15. Next in alike manner wrap the Chest wrap with the right side of the wrap over the left side of the wrap on the body.
16. Use the Kafan strings to tie around the body; one just below the shoulders, another in the middle on the navel, and third string a little above the knees on the thighs.
17. Cover the face with the Head wrap.
18. Lastly wrap the Body sheet all over the body with the right side over the left side on the body; gather at the head and tie a string and then gather at the feet and tie a string. If necessary tie a string in the middle of the body also.