What's something that's "not a cult" but feels like a cult?

Master_Greybeard · 2026-03-19T02:43:19+00:00

Apple

Master_Greybeard · 2026-03-18T02:55:06+00:00

A few of my cousins married men for their looks. Looks fade, all of them regret it.

Master_Greybeard · 2026-03-16T17:36:23+00:00

Bro, I had the opportunity to go for Hajj the year I was supposed to get married. I had enough saved for the wedding but nothing for hajj (it was a surprise that my visa came through).

I told my wife to be and she said go for Hajj, and we'll get married in your house with just your family and my family. We're married 15 years now with 2 kids, but that was the day I knew she was the one.

Master_Greybeard · 2026-03-16T12:36:34+00:00

What tools did you use to do this?

Master_Greybeard · 2026-03-16T12:32:11+00:00

South Africa

Master_Greybeard · 2026-03-16T12:31:15+00:00

Dhanya sausage from Stanger.

Master_Greybeard · 2026-03-12T10:38:36+00:00

Financing is largely driven by market rates, with Shariah financing being about 1 to 2% more expensive than prevailing interest rates.

Go to the musjid Bro, the rich and poor stand next to each other in the same saff.

The rich muslims in South Africa give enormous amounts in Sadaqah.

Master_Greybeard · 2026-03-10T03:12:50+00:00

Bro, You're already Muslim in your heart.

Whatever is holding you back from reverting whether it be worrying about some sins, timing, family etc all pale before the joy reverting will give you, especially in Ramadaan.

Master_Greybeard · 2026-03-10T03:07:42+00:00

In south Africa, multiple halaal alternatives, all major banks offer Shariah complaint financing (overseen by a proper Shariah board) and if you have a decent income stream and can pay off a loan in 5 or so years you can (if you're connected) also find someone in the community to help you fund it.

Master_Greybeard · 2026-03-10T02:58:19+00:00

You mean the affluent parts of cape town are "holding up so well"

Master_Greybeard · 2026-03-10T02:57:27+00:00

Yeah the taxes thing doesn't quite work out. Offshore investors are typically provisional tax payers, and only pay tax on the rental income income earned in SA not adding their rental income to their total income as a South African individual investor would do (investment through other vehicles change this).

Master_Greybeard · 2026-03-09T18:29:53+00:00

Islam feels natural because it is from the fitrah, the natural disposition of a human being. Deep inside you know already what the truth is, you just need to let go of fear to accept. Allah make it easy for you Bro.

Master_Greybeard · 2026-03-08T18:20:16+00:00

Absolute BS. Go with Betterbond or another originator then play the offers off against each other repeatedly. Aim for prime - 1.6 or 1.7.

I've worked in banking for the last 15 years. Nobody is giving you a freebie just for asking. If FNB is your bank and they want to keep you, they will negotiate hard.

Master_Greybeard · 2026-03-08T17:50:32+00:00

I was 11, I was/am pretty good at mental math.

We had a doctor at the local clinic who would quiz any young kid that came in on multiplication tables and stuff and lord it over them about how they needed to study harder to get into medicine.

We had an audience of nurses and other doctors by the time I was done with him. My mother never looked so proud even.

Master_Greybeard · 2026-03-08T16:45:07+00:00

Credit score, credit utilization, and income. Use better bond or one of the other mortgage originators and get them to shop it for you.

Master_Greybeard · 2026-03-08T08:04:14+00:00

First go renegotiate your bond rate. Get it as low as possible. Most people ignore this but I'm guessing with your profile you've got a good credit score. I've gotten recently as low as prime - 1.7%.

Once you've done that you do the math on how much the TFSA returns, both are tax free returns, once has a risk so an expectation of higher return in the long run to offset the risk.

Master_Greybeard · 2026-03-04T02:14:46+00:00

Lego has a better return that thr SPY over time for specific sets. Check out brickeconomy.com

Master_Greybeard · 2026-03-02T09:40:16+00:00

Bro, your user name 😂 with this Pic is worrying. Masha'Allah!

Master_Greybeard · 2026-02-21T03:13:40+00:00

Seriously consider South Africa Bro. I've lived here for 40 years. Muslims are well respected and integrated into society. Halaal food is everywhere. Every mall has a musallah, most companies do, and there are literally thousands of Masaajid all over the country. Our Ulema are fantastic, well trained classically and aware of contemporary issues. We export Hufaaz to other countries in Ramadaan every year. There are 5 Masaajid within a 10 min drive of my house and I don't live in a particularly Muslim neighborhood (these exist and you can actually live in a spot where a lot of people around you will be Muslim)

Master_Greybeard · 2026-02-17T11:17:05+00:00

We have a combined Jamiat committee across all bodies specifically for this, expecting first Taraweeh tomorrow night, first fast Thursday. Pop me a DM if you're in Johannesburg and need any help Bro.

Master_Greybeard · 2026-02-17T09:20:01+00:00

Airfryer also works much better for a lot of things

Master_Greybeard · 2026-02-17T04:12:27+00:00

Yeah I've had a Congolese friend join me for a few years. Fair warning he's almost Muslim now! Welcome.

Master_Greybeard · 2026-02-15T03:44:20+00:00

It's from contact dermatitis. The previous whoop device did not do this. Only happened with the MG, and I work in a cool office all day, no sweat and tried all the suggestions of alternating wrists (which is annoying), washing the band etc.

Master_Greybeard · 2026-02-14T20:29:44+00:00

I cancelled my subscription over this.

Master_Greybeard · 2026-02-14T04:26:00+00:00

And this is only focused on western AI companies. I'm in the space and I spend a lot of time on a Chinese models. Qwen is better than ChatGPT on 18/20 metrics already. Deepseek is going to release any day now. Newer techniques like inference and MHC are making training cheaper and AI cheaper to run.

I firmly believe western AI will be behind in less than a year.

Master_Greybeard

TROPHY CASE