This paper aims to explore the issue of human actions in Islamic thought, focusing on the various stances regarding determinism, free will, and the intermediate position between them. This topic is linked to an ontological question: What are the limits of human responsibility for their actions? Our view is that the different positions on human actions reflect the presence of pluralism within Islamic thought, specifically through the discipline of Islamic theology (kalām). The difference in positions about the human actions within the science of theology expresses the vitality of Islamic thought and its appreciation of the right to differ between theological schools such as the Mu’tazila, Shi’a, and Sunnis, especially in an era dominated by the rationalism of Mu’tazila thought influenced by the methodology of Greek philosophical thought. This difference was recognized, especially in the third and fourth centuries AH/ninth and tenth centuries AD. We consider this difference in discussing the subject of the human actions as evidence of the principle of pluralism in Islam, which allows us to speak of the existence of a significant degree of intellectual tolerance, a subject that has not been studied to date. The prevailing view in studies today on this subject is that the theological groups accuse each other of unbelief, which is a mistaken position, because the saying of unbelief did not appear until after the fourth century AH/tenth century AD when transmission, reliability, and conservatism prevailed in Islamic thought. In addressing this issue, we examine three major stances on human actions as represented by three theological schools: The Mu’tazila (who advocated free will in human actions), the Jabriya (who advocated determinism in human actions), and the Ash’ariyya (who upheld the theory of acquisition). Once this is accomplished, we will explore the philosophy of pluralism in Islam through the lens of kalām. The most important conclusion we reached is that the debate on human actions opened, by the mid-4th century AH/10th century CE, an intellectual horizon that laid the foundations for pluralism in Islamic theological discussions. However, this horizon was soon closed due to various factors, which we have discussed throughout the paper.

The study’s goal is to evaluate how microfinance initiatives affect women’s empowerment in Bangladesh. For this study, we analyzed data on a variety of women’s empowerment-related issues, including both beneficial and detrimental elements that stand in the way of women’s empowerment. Therefore, in order to accomplish the specified goal, we choose a suitable and intentional methodology. We employ diverse data gathering approaches to examine the gathered data and achieve the primary goal of the research project. It presents the positive effects of microfinance on women, such as (1) the enhancement of women’s authority in financial affairs; and (2) the augmentation of their ability to make decisions in household; and (3) community matters following their participation in the microfinance program. This also provides an analysis of the data pertaining to the adverse effects of microfinance on women. It examines how women encounter various challenges and engage in unethical behaviors after obtaining a loan, leading to heightened levels of stress following their participation in the microfinance program. This study looks into the advantages and disadvantages of Grameen Bank’s microcredit program for women. A questionnaire gathered primary data for this study from women participating in the microfinance program in Gopalgonj. To collect information and comprehend respondent behavior, I used case study, analytical and descriptive study design. Regression analysis, correlation, and percentage are used to examine the data. The findings indicate that women’s decision-making skills have improved due to their financial stability, but they have also experienced increased life challenges and high levels of stress.

This study aims to explore the precise characteristics of the issue of bequests, not solely from a jurisprudential perspective as is common among researchers, but also by linking it to its role in community development and progress. Bequests serve multiple functions that represent the ethical and cultural objectives of Sharīʿah [the ‘Divine Legislation’], which manifest in the process of uniting members of a single society. This is achieved through their contribution to building bonds of affection and compassion among individuals. Additionally, bequests have economic dimensions that consider the interests of the needy and provide them with resources to elevate their living standards. The study also presents a comparison between the contract of bequest an inheritance contract in Islamic Sharīʿah and secular laws, particularly Western ones. This is done by examining the mechanisms employed in enforcing bequests and understanding the interests sought in each, highlighting the distinct features of Islamic Sharīʿah in its consideration of kinship and both private and public interests, aiming to clear religious liability and via promoting community development while prioritizing moral and societal values. Accordingly, this study, in its examination of the subject, seeks to investigate the essence and objectives of bequests and extract the meanings endorsed by the majority of scholars who permitted bequests to heirs, conditional upon the consent of the remaining heirs. This approach considers both the significance of maintaining harmonious familial ties, and the positive impact this has on individual and community development. This will then be compared to some methods that strictly define inheritance in certain Western societies. The researcher employed both analytical and comparative methodologies, in line with the study’s requirements, noting that the nature of the research opens horizons for understanding the approaches of non-Islamic countries regarding the issue of wills, the importance of exploring the culture of the other and its foundational references, the impact of Islamic laws on others, and how the laws upon which Islamic legislations were established have benefited from Western legal obligations. This represents an extension that goes beyond legislative codification to a cultural exchange that allows us to build intellectual communication with the other, placing this research before a fundamental problem embodied in the following question: To what extent do bequests contribute to community development? And what are the communicative dimensions that comparative legislation on bequests with the other offers us?

Since the external environment on a global level is very unstable, recovering from various unexpected shocks becomes a challenging question for all countries. Thus, for each country it is necessary to understand its weaknesses and threats. Further, the preparation for any level of uncertainty in various fields must be imperative. Even for the most unpredictable shocks such as pandemic, cyberthreat, or even war. The aim of the article is to evaluate the state resilience of the Baltic States by creating the national resilience index. A state’s resilience is based on four pillars: economic, social, good governance, and defence. The methodology is based the SAW method, data has been collected from NATO and Eurostat databases. As the result of the study, resilience index has been estimated for each year from 2015 to 2022. Results revealed vulnerability and problematic areas of each country.

This study examines the adoption and usability of lifestyle (LS) apps, considering demographic factors like age and education that influence adoption decisions. The study employed a mixed-methods design, combining an experiment (spanning 14 weeks of app use) with semi-structured interviews and periodic measurements. The researchers employed the Mobile Application Usability Questionnaire (MAUQ) to identify pivotal aspects of standalone app usability, interface satisfaction, and usefulness at various stages of use, with a particular emphasis on the experiences of Hungarian students (n = 36). The results demonstrate that health-related factors have a significant impact on students’ behavior and evaluation of lifestyle apps over the 14-week period. Overall, the analyzed LS apps demonstrated positive outcomes in terms of supporting subject health and significantly improving the perceived health state. The findings highlight both practical and theoretical contributions to the field of mobile health applications, suggesting avenues for further research to either confirm or challenge existing theories.

This study investigates the critical skills required for new entrants to succeed in today’s workforce, focusing on both soft and hard skills. Through a comprehensive systematic review of existing literature using the PRISMA method, we analyzed 12 selected journals from an initial pool of 870, sourced from major databases such as Scopus, Science Direct, and Emerald Insight. Our research uncovers four key insights. First, we provide a clear and precise definition of employability skills, establishing the foundation for what competencies are essential for workforce readiness. Second, our analysis identifies a distinct separation between soft and hard skills, with soft skills such as communication, problem-solving, teamwork, ethics, and leadership being universally critical across all industries. Third, while soft skills have broad applicability, hard skills are highly specialized, varying significantly depending on industry and job role. To simplify their understanding and application, we categorized these hard skills into specific groups. Finally, the study highlights the urgent need for further empirical research to validate these findings in real-world settings, as the current conclusions are drawn solely from literature. This potential gap between academic preparation and industry expectations underscores the necessity for ongoing collaboration between educational institutions and employers, which will be a primary focus of our future research.

The article undertakes an exploration into the rather unexpected progressiveness exhibited by courts across the globe in bestowing protection upon LGBTQ rights. A three-pronged study, which encompasses an examination of the theoretical rationales, empirical investigations, and doctrinal underpinnings of the augmentation of LGBTQ rights in diverse locales, is executed. It is hypothesized that a prima facie paradox emerges, whereby LGBTQ rights have been safeguarded and advanced in an extraordinary fashion, while concurrently, a discernible general trend of deviation from liberal constitutionalism, rights safeguarding mechanisms, and the rule of law is observable in other arenas. This article scrutinizes this contention and discovers that it is substantiated by case law from various regions. Critical theory and Butler’s theory of performativity potentially offer the most cogent explanations for this paradox. They have led to the social embrace of LGBTQ rights, while simultaneously, the enactment or amplification of these rights even in illiberal states furnishes an effortless ‘triumph’ for illiberal political actors, which can be employed as a countermeasure against assaults on their liberal and democratic reputations.

This study aims to explore the connotation of “Guanxi” within contemporary Chinese marketing channels and to construct and verify a global management model. The objective is to examine how instrumental and emotional dimensions of Guanxi influence enterprise operations and management processes. A hybrid research methodology combining qualitative and quantitative approaches was employed. In-depth interviews with 30 dealer executives provided qualitative insights, while a large-scale survey with 305 valid responses facilitated quantitative analysis. SPSS22.0 and LISREL8.8 were utilized for data analysis, including reliability, validity, hypothesis testing, and structural equation modeling (SEM). The findings reveal that Guanxi is multi-dimensional, comprising both instrumental and emotional components. Instrumental Guanxi includes factors such as status, prestige, credibility, and decision-making power, while emotional Guanxi encompasses trust, emotional connection, and mutual respect. Both dimensions significantly affect professionalism, shared values, contact frequency, and popularity within marketing channels. Hypothesis testing confirmed the significant relationships between these variables, except for the non-significant impact of popularity on instrumental Guanxi. The mediating effects of flexibility and supervision on the relationship between Guanxi and corporate performance were also significant, highlighting the mechanisms through which Guanxi influences organizational outcomes. Moderating effects of perceived internal incentive fairness and digital collaboration capabilities further amplify these relationships. Finaly, the study underscores the dual importance of strategic utility and emotional resonance in Guanxi, providing a robust model for understanding its impact on business management. These insights are valuable for both researchers and practitioners aiming to leverage Guanxi in enhancing organizational performance and relational strategies.