Conflicting Images of Muslims in Post-9 11 American Literature

Since the advent of Islam, Muslims have never ceased to be important for the West and have been variously depicted in English literature from time to time. However, after the tragic incidents of 11th September, 2001, there has been a dramatic change in the world's focus on them, both in nature and in magnitude. Both as Ummah—the formal Arabic word for the global community of Muslims —and as individuals, they have suddenly found themselves among the protagonists of English literature in general, and that produced in the North American Continent in particular. This paper aims at discussing the different images of Muslims and Islam in the English literature of North America, focusing on their nature, types, causes, consequences and the way they differ from the depiction of Muslims and Islam before the drastic disaster of nine-eleven. It also intends to contrast the literature authored by Muslim Americans about themselves with that written by non-Muslim Americans about them during the period in focus.

Impact of Fundamental Measures on Dividends: Evidence from Non-Financial Firms Listed at Pakistan Stock Exchange

This study examines the insight dynamics of factors affecting dividend payout in the context of Non-Financial firms listed at Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) in KSE-100 Index. Through observation, 66 firms were identified from 18 sectors of Non-Financial firms that have been paying the regular dividend in the past 6 years (2009-2014). In this study, a complete business cycle has been encompassed for reader?s view. Key explanatory variables were identified on the basis of prior literature (Dividend Payout, Cash Flow on Total Assets, Debt to Equity, Profitability, and Liquidity) and one which has not been studied before and considered significant is Free Cash Flow to Capital Expenditure. For econometric analysis of the data, Multivariate Regression Analysis was considered as a most appropriate tool. Descriptive statistics of data under study described its normality. In empirical analysis, Housman and BPLM tests declared random effect exist in the panel data. Moreover, data was found free from contemporaneous correlation, multicollinearity issue, and autocorrelation but the issue of heteroscedasticity has been found. Results of the study revealed that free cash flow to capital expenditure, debt to equity, net profit margin and current ratio are significantly impacting the dividend payouts. However two measures are insignificant that are cash flow to total assets and absolute liquidity ratio. These results suggest that Managers of the listed firms in Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) should aim to increase the meaningful cash flows to capital expenditure for the profitable projects that would yield high profits to firms, this will lead to high dividend and improve the investors? confidence.