Are You Satisfied?

Almost all of us feel and complain about not being able to live a happy and satisfied life, always wondering and striving hard to live one. An urge to be satisfied and always longing for the peace of heart is an inherent desire of every living being. Everybody is searching for the ways and means to satisfy their own worldly or spiritual desires but despite of doing all the struggle, our heart longs for an eternal satisfaction is peace which we are unable to get along in our lives. This can surely divert our attention to the point that are we trying to find our satisfaction in right place?

In this current state of affairs when there is a calamity which has befallen upon all the world, I see ourselves to be standing amid nowhere if we are still not being able to recognize that there is something wrong, we are lacking something which is just more than money, worldly things and desires. Allah has brought to the point where we are unable to fight a microscopic creature despite having all the resources and super powers in the world. The world is at their knees. Even if it’s a bio warfare, Allah has allowed this to happen. If Allah doesn’t want anything to befall us, it would and could never do so without the will of Allah swt. This should be enough for us to know that there is something wrong going on in our hearts.

Today we are sitting at homes, unhappy and empty with the instinctual desire to know what is the cure of this emptiness and failure despite having everything?

The world “Insaan” has been derived from the world “Nisyaan” which means forgetfulness. Human is a forgetful creature. So, What we have forgotten? All souls have made an oath to Allah swt when we were not born to accept Allah as our Rab! Have we forgotten that promise? Have we stopped listening to what he has ordained to us? The soul is from Allah and it always longs to be with Allah. It will not stay happy if we try to make it impure with worldly desires and rebel against the world of Lord.

Allah says in Holy Quran in Surah Inam “This worldly life is no more than play and amusement, but far better is the ˹eternal˺ Home of the Hereafter for those mindful ˹of Allah”. We have been trying to find the solace of our soul in this temporary place which Allah has shown us is like a house of cards. It can fall upon the ground on just a blow. We can’t stand the wrath of Allah swt and the heat of hellfire so now is the time that we start contemplating and mend our ways to find the real peace and success which lies with Allah swt.

Ibn Qayyim said,

“Truly in the heart there is a void that can not be removed except with the company of Allah. And in it there is a sadness that can not be removed except with the happiness of knowing Allah and being true to Him. And in it there is an emptiness that can not be filled except with love for Him and by turning to Him and always remembering Him. And if a person were given all of the world and what is in it, it would not fill this emptiness.”

International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day (IWD), originally known as International Working Women Day is observed on 8th March every year to show respect, appreciation and love towards women and to commemorate their ongoing struggle, economic, social and political achievements. The UN has declared the year’s theme as  “I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights”.

Despite of living in 21st century, the women of today are still suffering from disrespect and harassment. The waves of feminist revolution which has dragged the women towards earning a living is taking its toll in other ways as well, empowering women economically but depriving them from other basic rights.

Are Women Really Empowered, Made Equal and Saved?

Women have got an important role in maintaining the equilibrium of the society. This balance has to be maintained for the proper functioning of society. Despite massive awareness campaigns about human rights through different organizations, women are still the prime victim of all criminal activities in one or the other way. The countries where women are considered to be the most empowered top all chart on such crimes. After their massive ‘struggle’ of feminism and by cashing the catching and appealing slogan of ‘Empowering Women’, the world still has to hide itself in shame when it comes to the gender discrimination, not limited to any one culture, ethnicity or country.

Since the 18th century’s first feminist movement, up till now, with every passing year, women are more abused, more harassed and more exploited. Today, HR organizations see women as empowered figures in many cultures, but in reality, she is merely presented as a sex commodity, resulting in more violent crimes such as rapes.

Let us take figures from UN itself and see whether, today world is a safer place for an ‘empowered commodity’ or women still suffer the plight it was suffering in the rotten history of dark ages.

Keeping in view that the facts and figures are international, let’s have a glimpse of worldwide women sufferings:

• 1 in 3 women have been beaten or sexually abused in her lifetime. Usually the abuser is a member of her own family or someone known to her. (Ending Violence against Women, L Heise, M Ellsberg, M Gottemoeller, 1999)
• Boys who witness their fathers’ violence are 10 times more likely to engage in spouse abuse in later adulthood
• In some parts of the world a girl is more likely to be raped than to learn how to read
• In Britain, one incidence of domestic violence is reported to the police every minute (Stanko 2000).
• The most recent British Crime Survey (2009/2010) found that 7% of women between 16 and 59 were victims of domestic violence in the previous year.
• One in five women will be a victim of rape or attempted rape in her lifetime. (WHO Report, 1997)
• One in 10 women in the European Union report having experienced cyber-harassment since the age of 15 (including having received unwanted, offensive sexually explicit emails or SMS messages, or offensive, inappropriate advances on social networking sites). The risk is highest among young women between 18 and 29 years of age
• Every year, 60 million girls are sexually assaulted at, or on their way to, school
• Women and girls are 80% (640.000) of the estimated 800,000 people trafficked across national borders annually with the majority (505,600) trafficked for sexual exploitation.
• At least 60 million girls are ‘missing’ from various populations – mostly in Asia – as a result of infanticide, neglect or sex-selected abortions.
• Up to 5% of women report being physically abused while pregnant. 50% of physically abused Indian women report violence during pregnancy.
• Between 100 and 140 million women and girls alive today have been subjected to Female Genital Mutilation. In six African countries over 80% of women have been subject to this practice.
• Over 60 million girls worldwide are child brides: 31.3 million in South Asia, 14.1 million in Sub-Sahara Africa. Violence and abuse characterize married life for many of these girls. (Source: UN and Woman’s Aid)

These are merely those ‘official’ figures that were collected by a body of UN. Apart from these reported crimes against women in general.
If we go through the figures of Rapes alone, we will be seeing a horrific picture of violence against women.

• In January 2013, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), Office for National Statistics (ONS), and Home office released its first ever joint official statistics on sexual violence, according to which, approximately, 80000 women are raped on average in England every year, Over 400,000 women are sexually assaulted each year, 1 in 5 women (aged 16-59) has experienced some form of sexual violence since the age of 16.
• In India reported cases of rapes vary from 22000 to 15423 over the time period in 2010-2012. In 2012, again there was a spike in rapes of women in India. In Dehli alone a spike of 17% was observed officially. In famous rape of Dehli caught the spot light last year which brought people’s attention to world’s biggest democracy.
• In United States of America, an average of 207,754 cases of rapes was recorded over a time period of 2000-2007.

Let us take some figures of those countries, who claim to be most vigilant and aware in respect of women and who claim to empower women.

A Feminist Revolution, or Talking about Rights of Women, What is the Solution?

One of the prime requirements of the society in regard is that to understand an important issue that empowering women and freeing them from disrespect is not about being depriving them of the modesty in any way. The freedom should be from injustice and ought not to be by depriving them from the modesty and clothes.

Islam being a natural and balanced religion has stressed a lot upon the rights of women, has given the women their due status from which they were being deprived since centuries. As a matter of fact, Islam is the only religion in which the rights of women are emphasized a lot along with their duties. Women in every role have been considered important, be it as a mother, daughter, wife or sister; her part in the society has been immense. For her role as a mother, she is considered as a way to Jannah. Being a daughter, she is a blessing because according to one of the Hadith her up-bringing can protect one from the hellfire. In last Sermon of Prophet Muhammad pbuh, He emphasized about the rights of women and that they should be taken care of. We cannot deny the teachings of Islam and then expect our society to be better.

Role of women in a family system is of much more importance. Bringing her status equal to men and her part in maintaining a family has to be acknowledged. Educating the women is also a part of empowering them. There has been no discrimination regarding this in our religion and women are considered to be at par with men, acquiring education has been made compulsory for both.

At many other instances, both men and women are mentioned side by side in Quran signifying their equality as mentioned in the Surah Ahzaab verse 35 and Surah Ale-Imran verse 195.

West and the media, which have commercialized the women by using her for advertisement and making her existence a commercial commodity, this needs to be condemned strongly. Women are not the object to be equated with the commodities rather they should be given their due respect. Have you ever wondered what a woman has to do with the advertisement of a mobile phone or an energy drink?

Educated women are synonymous with the educated and the generators of great nations. Empowering our women with education and enlightening them means nurturing an enlightened and strong nation because our mothers are our teachers in our cradle. Need of the hour is to liberate their thoughts, not their hormones.

The feminist revolution, which has empowered women socially and economically, has thrown to oblivion the fact that respect and love do not come with economic empowerment but with the ethical upbringing of the society. Need of the hour is to take into regard what Allah and His Prophet has ordained us regarding the rights and duties of the women. Let’s start considering the housewife as a full-day faithful employee, let’s return modesty to her work-place environment, let’s make them equal to our men in every opportunity to acquire their natural aspirations and finally let’s acknowledge whatever they are doing for nurturing our nation.

It is time for the world to revert to the Islamic solution for the real empowerment of the Woman; the power that comes from recognizing her natural inclinations and aspirations. It is time to throw the burdens of a false Western solution via feminism, that has done no good to her, to her children nor her family but only served to deprive and destroy them. Woman are emotionally fragile and hence need to be protected rather than being asked for nudity and being made a commercial commodity. “MERA JISM, MERI MARZI” isn’t equality by any stretch of imagination and is just a pseudophrase just to make the liberalism (read nudity) common.

An untitled title!

Assalamu alaikum friends!

I hope you all are in their best of health and wealth and everything by the Grace of Almighty, inshaa’Allah. I am really writing something after a hiatus of almost 3 good years. Back then I was a medical student and used to procrastinate less; now a little life is left in between a lot of procrastination. The post has been named untitled because I wasn’t able to think of a good one. Apologies for that but I am open to suggestions like always; topics to write about and talk about.

One thing which bothers you me and every second or third person is “insomnia”. Yes, the insomnia (with inverted commas). Sleeplessness, unable to sleep, sleep latency, delayed sleep phase syndrome and other things and few solutions which you can adopt and habits that you can change.

I am keeping today’s write short and to the point and will write more about it with more links and references in next post inshaa’Allah. I hope everyone reading this is will pray that Allah give me toufeeq to write the next post as soon as possible.

I will end my post with few dua’as that you can recite before sleeping or in case of insomnia.

1. Last three surah of Quran i.e. Surah Ikhlaas, Falak and An-Naas.
2. Ayat-ul-Kursi (Ayah 255 of Surah Al Baqarah)
3. Ayah number 285-286 Surah Al Baqarah

4. اللهم باسمك أموت وأحيا
   “Allahumma bismika amootu wa ahya
5. There are lot many other etiquette and dua to recite before sleeping from sahih Hadith which you can find here.

Oh and will not forget to post my most favorite duaa with hadith too inshaa’Allah.

لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ ، وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ، سُبْحَانَ اللهِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلهِ ، وَلَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَاللهُ أَكْـبَرُ ، وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيمِ رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي

Translation:

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever wakes up at night and says: ‘None has the right to be worshipped except Allah, alone and with no partner, to Him belongs [all] sovereignty and praise, and He is able to do all things; How far from imperfections Allah is, and all praise is for Allah, and none has the right to be worshipped except Allah, Allah is the greatest, and there is no power nor might except with Allah, The Most High, The Supreme.’ and then supplicates: ‘O my Lord forgive me.’ will be forgiven.” In another narration: “and then asks [for something], he will be answered. If he then performs ablution and prays, his prayer will be accepted.

 

Jazak’Allahu khairan Kaseera forreading. suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.

You can find my arts related twitter handle too. Just @ me on @artilicious925.

Writer’s block

Assalamu’ Alaikum

A long hiatus of course and still I have no clue on how and what to write here and how to resume the much-needed written whining session.  And of course like all my previous writings, I can label my procrastination and laziness as writer’s block.

Yeah, writer’s block – a fancy term which we usually use to hide our laziness and mask our busyness, oblivion to the blogging world. Anyway. It’s a casual post and of course, I’m going to vent out and whine about my writer’s block as well.

So for the sake of convenience let’s define it. Wikipedia defines writer’s block as,

Writer’s block is a condition, primarily associated with writing, in which an author loses the ability to produce new work or experiences a creative slowdown. The condition ranges in difficulty from coming up with original ideas to being unable to produce a work for years.

Oh! I am so glad to find the word “years” in the definition. Now I can safely say that a hiatus that extended to a couple of years is actually a writer’s block. Thank you, Wikipedia!

Tbh, now I think it’s really a writer’s block since I can’t really find a sensible topic to articulate even after a long gap. Just yesterday I was teasing a friend about her writing. Sigh! One shouldn’t be hasty and shouldn’t tease her friends at least. Keep reminded about the fact, otherwise, you can suffer from worst kind of writer’s block and then all you can do is to post a gibberish write up like me.

Anyway, folks, that’s all for now! I hope, I’ll be able to write again insha’Allah and that too something sensible and regularly. Also thank you if you have been able to read all the post until this last sentence. You’re appreciated! 🙂

 

 

PQRST

Assalamu’alaikum wa rehmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

Its really been a while since I wrote something not mainly because of being busy; that was also one of the reason but primarily because of my procrastination and yeah, I can blame “Writer’s block” as well 😛

The title of the post is weird, isn’t it? It might sound gibberish to you. But, believe me I am not trying to devise a new language or whatsoever. I’m even not trying to teach you the language written below. 😀

Oh well, the wikipedia has to say this about ‘PQRST‘.

Basically, PQRST is the waveform of ECG. There can be many types of ECGs like,

and

but today let me introduce you to one of the most illustrious, augusted, noteworthy, well-acclaimed and most talked about version of ECG. Yes, the ECG of a student, and to be specific, the ECG of a medical student.

Anyways, that was on a lighter note.

Have you Ever wondered how important are these peaks, plateaus etc are? There is no life if the ECG goes straight. Ups and downs are essential part of the life, like an ECG. What matters is our attitude towards them and how do we deal with them and obviously remembering Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala is most important whether we are at the heights of glory or witnessing a descent.

Have Mercy on Me, My Soul

Why are you weeping, my Soul?

Knowest thou my weakness?

Thy tears strike sharp and injure,

For I know not my wrong.

Until when shalt thou cry?

I have naught but human words to interpret your dreams,

Your desires, and your instructions.

Look upon me, my Soul;

I have consumed my full life heeding your teachings.

Think of how I suffer!

I have exhausted my life following you.

My heart was glorying upon the throne,

But is now yoked in slavery;

My patience was a companion,

But now contends against me;

My youth was my hope,

But now reprimands my neglect.

Why, my Soul, are you all-demanding?

I have denied myself pleasure

And deserted the joy of life

Following the course which you impelled me to pursue.

Be just to me,

Or call Death to unshackle me,

For justice is your glory.

Have mercy on me, my Soul.

You have laden me with Love until I cannot carry my burden.

You and Love are inseparable might;

Substance and I are inseparable weakness.

Will e’er the struggle cease between the strong and the weak?

Have mercy on me, my Soul.

You have shown me Fortune beyond my grasp.

You and Fortune abide on the mountain top;

Misery and I are abandoned together in the pit of the valley.

Will e’er the mountain and the valley unite?

Have mercy on me, my Soul.

You have shown me Beauty,

But then concealed her.

You and Beauty live in the light;

Ignorance and I are bound together in the dark.

Will e’er the light invade darkness?

Your delight comes with the Ending,

And you revel now in anticipation;

But this body suffers with the life

While in life.

This, my Soul, is perplexing.

You are hastening toward Eternity,

But this body goes slowly toward perishment.

You do not wait for him,

And he cannot go quickly.

This, my Soul, is sadness.

You ascend high, though heaven’s attraction,

But this body falls by earth’s gravity.

You do not console him,

And he does not appreciate you.

This, my Soul, is misery.

You are rich in wisdom,

But this body is poor in understanding.

You do not compromise,

And he does not obey.

This, my Soul, is extreme suffering.

In the silence of the night you visit The Beloved

And enjoy the sweetness of His presence.

This body ever remains,

The bitter victim of hope and separation.

This, my Soul, is agonizing torture.

Have mercy on me, my Soul!

–Khalil Gibran

Blasphemy and Islamic stance

The issue of hurting the religious sentiments and blasphemy in the name of freedom of expression and tolerance is not new. Whether it’s Raj Paul who wrote a book against the honor of the Prophet, Salman Rushdi, Tasleema Nasreen, Dr. Wafa Sultan, the Danish Newspaper published the caricatures of Holy Prophet, repeated Facebook incidents, Terry Jones and now the Movie “Innocence of Muslims” (and yesterday the French magazine which has again published Caricatures). The drama is being well staged on the principle of “Freedom of Speech”.

Our love for the Holy Prophet is naturally different and far more superior to us than any other thing. Allah swt has sent him as the last Messenger and final Messenger and with him, He has closed the doors of Prophet hood and we have left with no other way of getting Hidayah other than following his sunnah. His love is the part of our Imaan (Bukhari), We have got the best example in him (Surah Ahzaab Verse 21), He was sent as a mercy to mankind (Surah Anbiya Verse 107), and the mission for which he was sent and he accomplished that alhmadulillah is worth loving as Allah swt narrates in the Holy Qur’an about it in following words,

“Allah did confer a great favour on the believers when He sent among them a messenger from amongthemselves, rehearsing unto them the Signs of Allah, sanctifying them, and instructing them in Scripture and Wisdom, while, before that, they had been in manifest error.” [Surah Ale-Imran 164]

So this is indeed a great favor of Allah swt upon us, without which we might be in error. Prophet Muhamamd (peace be upon him) is the only way to attain the love of Allah swt (Surah Ale-Imran verse 31)  Love of the Holy Prophet and following his example is the only way to attain Allah’s mercy (Surah Ale-Imran Verse 132) and is the gateway to Jannah i.e. Higest achievement. (Surah Ahzaab Verse 71 ) So, there are so many reasons to love him and why his honor and dignity is so much important and superior to us than our own lives. Such is the honor of our beloved prophet that Allah has ordered Muslims even not to raise their voices above that of Prophet or their deeds might render fruitless (Surah Hujraat 21) and Allah has cursed all those who annoy Him and His Prophet. (Surah Ahzaab 57)

We’ve an example:

Sahabah-e-Karaam were always willing to sacrifice their lives, we have got example in their lives that how much they used to love Prophet Muhammad.

A well known incidence of Urwah bin Masud when he narrates the love of Sahabah for Prophet Muhammad to Quraish in the following words,

“I have visited the kings of the world, and I have had audiences with Caesar and with Kisra -the Persian emperor, and with the Negus, and I have never seen the followers of a king so devoted to their leader like the Sahabah (the Companions) in their devotion to Muhammad (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)! And I have never seen any obedience amongst the followers of the kings like I have seen of the Sahabah with the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)! Whenever he would give them a command they would rush to do it, and whenever he would speak they would be silent as if birds are on their heads, and whenever he would make Wudu they would rush to get the droplets of water falling off his body, whenever a hair would fall from him they would try to get it! So O people of Quraish! Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has given you an offer, accept it, because I don’t think that his followers will ever give him up!

Islam is the religion of peace but when it comes to such an issue, which is of course very sensitive one, a straight forward punishment of putting the blasphemer to death has been imposed. Blasphemy has been the issue of debates among scholars and all are on the same consensus and considered it a serious crime. Let’s have a look at few incidences and what was Prophet’s stance on any such incidence.

Narrated Jabir bin ‘Abdullah: Allah’s Apostle said, “Who is willing to kill Ka’b bin Al-Ashraf who has hurt Allah and His Apostle?” There upon Muhammad bin Maslama got up saying, “O Allah’s Apostle! Would you like that I kill him?” The Prophet said, “Yes,” Muhammad bin Maslama said, “Then allow me to say a (false) thing (i.e. to deceive Kab). “The Prophet said, “You may say it.” Then Muhammad bin Maslama went to Kab and said, “That man (i.e. Muhammad demands Sadaqa (i.e. Zakat) from us, and he has troubled us, and I have come to borrow something from you.” On that, Kab said, “By Allah, you will get tired of him!” Muhammad bin Maslama said, “Now as we have followed him, we do not want to leave him unless and until we see how his end is going to be. Now we want you to lend us a camel load or two of food.” (Some has difference between narrators about a camel load or two.) Kab said, “Yes, (I will lend you), but you should mortgage something to me.” Muhammad bin Mas-lama and his companion said, “What do you want?” Ka’b replied, “Mortgage your women to me.” They said, “How can we mortgage our women to you and you are the most handsome of the ‘Arabs?” Ka’b said, “Then mortgages your sons to me.” They said, “How can we mortgage our sons to you? Later they would be abused by the people’s saying that so-and-so has been mortgaged for a camel load of food. That would cause us great disgrace, but we will mortgage our arms to you.” Muhammad bin Maslama and his companion promised Kab that Muhammad would return to him. He came to Kab at night along with Kab’s foster brother, Abu Na’ila. Kab invited them to come into his fort, and then he went down to them. His wife asked him, “Where are you going at this time?” Kab replied, “None but Muhammad bin Maslama and my (foster) brother Abu Na’ila have come.” His wife said, “I hear a voice as if dropping blood is from him, Ka’b said. “They are none but my brother Muhammad bin Maslama and my foster brother Abu Naila. A generous man should respond to a call at night even if invited to be killed.” Muhammad bin Maslama went with two men. (Some narrators mention the men as ‘Abu bin Jabr. Al Harith bin Aus and Abbad bin Bishr). So Muhammad bin Maslama went in together with two men, and sail to them, “When Ka’b comes, I will touch his hair and smell it, and when you see that I have got hold of his head, strip him. I will let you smell his head.” Kab bin Al-Ashraf came down to them wrapped in his clothes, and diffusing perfume. Muhammad bin Maslama said. “I have never smelt a better scent than this. Ka’b replied. “I have got the best ‘Arab women who know how to use the high class of perfume.” Muhammad bin Maslama requested Ka’b “Will you allow me to smell your head?” Ka’b said, “Yes.” Muhammad smelt it and made his companions smell it as well. Then he requested Ka’b again, “Will you let me (smell your head)?” Ka’b said, “Yes.” When Muhammad got a strong hold of him, he said (to his companions), “Get at him!” So they killed him and went to the Prophet and informed him. (Abu Rafi) was killed after Ka’b bin Al-Ashraf.”  (Sahih Bukhari Book 59, Hadith 369)

Narrated by Imam Ibn Taymmiyah in “Al-Sarim ul Maslool ala Shatim ar Rasool” that when Prophet was asked about killing Ka’ab Ibn al-Ashraf he said the following,

“If he had calmed down, like others who follow his opinion or are on the same opinion as his have calmed down, he wouldn’t have been assassinated! But he has harmed us and he has defamed us with his poetry, and none of you would do this except we would deal with him with the sword!”

Means that he wasn’t killed because of disbelief, or his hatred towards Prophet or Muslims, rather he was killed because “he has harmed us and he has defamed us with his poetry”(means because of his blaspheme)

In another Hadith,

Narrated Sa’id Ibn Yarbu’ al-Makhzumi: the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: on the day of the conquest of Mecca: there are four persons whom I shall not give protection in the sacred and non-sacred territory. He then named them. There were two singing girls of al-Maqis; one of them was killed and the other escaped and embraced Islam.  (Sunan Abi Dawud Book 14, Hadith 2678)

Few other hadiths shedding light on few other incidences are as follows,

Narrated Sa’d ibn Abu Waqas: On the day of the conquest of Mecca, Abdullah ibn Sa’d ibn AbuSarh hid himself with Uthman ibn Affan. He brought him and made him stand before the Prophet (peace be upon him), and said: Accept the allegiance of Abdullah, Apostle of Allah! He raised his head and looked at him three times, refusing him each time, but accepted his allegiance after the third time. Then turning to his companions, he said: Was not there a wise man among you who would stand up to him when he saw that I had withheld my hand from accepting his allegiance, and kill him? They said: We did not know what you had in your heart, Apostle of Allah! Why did you not give us a signal with your eye? He said: It is not advisable for a Prophet to play deceptive tricks with the eyes.  (Sunan Abi Dawud Book 38, Hadith 4346)

Narrated abdullah Ibn abbas: a blind man had a slave-mother who used to abuse the Prophet (peace be upon him) and disparage him. He forbade her but she did not stop. He rebuked her but she did not give up her habit. One night she began to slander the Prophet (peace be upon him) and abuse him. So he took a dagger, placed it on her belly, pressed it, and killed her. a child who came between her legs was smeared with the blood that was there. When the morning came, the Prophet (peace be upon him) was informed about it. He assembled the people and said: I adjure by allah the man who has done this action and I adjure him by my right to him that he should stand up. Jumping over the necks of the people and tremble the man stood up. He sat before the Prophet (peace be upon him) and said: Apostle of Allah! I am her master; she used to abuse you and disparage you. I forbade her, but she did not stop, and I rebuked her, but she did not abandon her habit. I have two sons like pearls from her, and she was my companion. Last night she began to abuse and disparages you. So I took a dagger, put it on her belly and pressed it till I killed her. Thereupon the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Oh be witness, no retaliation is payable for her blood.  (Sunan Abi Dawud Book 38, Hadith 4348)

Narrated Ali ibn AbuTalib: A jewess used to abuse the Prophet (peace be upon him) and disparage him. A man strangled her till she died. The Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) declared that no recompense was payable for her blood.  (Sunan Abi dawud Book 38, Hadith 4349)

Narrated Al-Bara bin Azib: Allah’s Apostle sent a group of Ansari men to kill Abu-Rafi. One of them set outand entered their (i.e. the enemies) fort. That man said, “i hid myself in a stable for their animals. They closed the fort gate. Later they lost a donkey of theirs, so they went out in its search. i, too, went out along with them, pretending to look for it. They found the donkey and entered their fort. And i, too, entered along with them. They closed the gate of the fort at night, and kept its keys in a small window where i could see them. When those people slept, i took the keys and opened the gate of the fort and came upon Abu Rafi andsaid, ‘O Abu Rafi. When he replied me, i proceeded towards the voice and hit him. He shouted and i cameout to come back, pretending to be a helper. i said, ‘O Abu Rafi, changing the tone of my voice. He asked me, ‘What do you want; woe to your mother?’ i asked him, ‘What has happened to you?’ He said, ‘i don’t know who came to me and hit me.’ Then i drove my sword into his belly and pushed it forcibly till it touched the bone. Then i came out, filled with puzzlement and went towards a ladder of theirs in order to get down but I fell down and sprained my foot. i came to my companions and said, ‘i will not leave till i hear the wailing of the women.’ So, i did not leave till i heard the women bewailing Abu Rafi, the merchant of Hijaz. Then i got up, feeling no ailment, (and we proceeded) till we came upon the Prophet and informed him.”  (Sahih Bukhari Book 52, Hadith 264)

Narrated Anas bin Malik: On the day of the Conquest, the Prophet entered Mecca, wearing a helmet on his head. When he took it off, a man came and said, “Ibn Khatal is clinging to the curtain of the Ka’ba.” The Prophet said, “Kill him.” (Malik a sub-narrator said, “On that day the Prophet was not in a state of Ihram as it appeared to us and Allah knows better.”)  (Sahih Bukhari Book #59, Hadith #582)

Opinion of Scholars on Blasphemy:

Ibn Taymiyah says, .Whoever curses the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) -a Muslim or a non Muslim- then he must be killed!

Imam Abu Hanifa says that the Muslim speaking against the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) should be executed and if it is a non-Muslim who doesn’t have a contract he should also be executed.

Imam Malik said, .If someone says that the button of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is dirty, then he should be executed!.

Even if it is as small as saying that, then this person should be executed!

Imam Malik says, .Whether Muslim or Kafir that doesn.t make difference he should be killed without warning!.

When the Caliph Harun ar Rasheed asked Imam Malik about a man who had spoken against the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).

Imam Malik got angry and said, “O Ameer al Mumineen, how can the Ummah survive when its Prophet is cursed! Whoever curses the Prophets should be executed, and whoever curses the companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) should be flogged!”

The very recent issue of blasphemy has provoked the sentiments of Muslims all around the globe and Muslims have started protesting against this very sad incidence. Blasphemy is such a sensitive issue that even though Prophet Muhammad pbuh has been forgiving and kind, yet the blasphemers were severely executed. Now this matter is crystal clear that anyone attacking the honor and dignity of Prophet Muhammad wasn’t forgiven by him then who are we to do that?

All this drama which is always being staged in the name of freedom of expression has got no basis, since we all know that this so called freedom of expression is only being exercised against Muslims, others being exempted. You can only speak false against Islam, its Prophet Muhammad pbuh, its book i.e Qura’n, but mind you; don’t apply the same for Holocaust, Hijab ban in France or any other such issue related to west. The double standards and what was concealed in their hearts for we muslims is now clearly visible.

Being Muslims, we can tolerate anything but when it comes to such an issue, there is a clear cut demarcation. Everything has limits and so does the freedom of expression, Islam does not oppose freedom of expression, there is no problem unless it is operated within limits. Even we being muslims are asked not to mock or insult idols or idol worshippers by any means (Al-Anaam verse 108).

Repeated such incidences and anti-blasphemic feelings created by Islamophobe and fake liberals have created a clear cut boundary, dividing the people into two groups, one who is “enlightened” and is always ready to compromise and the other one who is ready to sacrifice even their lives, if there is a need of that. The former group is trying their best to dilute the seriousness of the issue, people who made so many hue and cries upon the issue of “Asia Bibi” and have given so much hype to the case of “Rimsha Masih”, want those to be forgiven who have hurt the feelings of billions of Muslims.

Now this is the time to take some serious decisions, just babbling and condemning the movie is not enough. If there can be laws about Holocaust and they are taken so seriously by the west then why not blasphemy, which being a serious crime is condemned in all religions. We Muslims have a clear stance that we will never be compromising upon this issue, whenever or whatever the case may be, let it be clear that we are not authorized to forgive anyone on the behalf of our Holy Prophet Muhammad pbuh on those issues upon which even he has imposed such severe punishments.

Now many claiming and demanding that these blasphemers should be forgiven as Prophet Muhammad pbuh was sent as a mercy and has always been forgiving even to his enemies. But this is a separate issue and we need to analyze it further. Prophet Muhammad pbuh has forgiven all those who people who have hurt him personally, be the incidence of Tai’f, or the people who plot to kill him. Prophet Muhammad pbuh truly demonstrated that he was sent as a mercy for the mankind and has forgiven all those generously. But there were instances, when people tried to ridicule and mocked him as a “Messenger” and these were the instances when those people were not forgiven and were severely executed.

 Ibn Taymiyyah says,”After the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) passed away, we cannot forgive anyone. We can forgive people when they harm us, but not when they harm the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)! ”

 The Defeat of Kuffar is near: 

Ibn Taymiyah says, Many Muslims, trust worthy, people of expertise and Fiqh spoke many times about their experiences when they surrounded castles and cities in Sham and surrounded the Christians.

They said we would surround the castle or the city, for a month or more and our besieging of them is doing nothing, and we are almost going to give up and leave. Then when the people of that town or castle, would start cursing the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) suddenly it would fall in our hands, sometimes the delay would not be even a day or two and it would be opened by force. So we would take it as a glad tiding when we would hear them curse the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) even though our hearts would be filled with hatred but we would see it as a glad tiding because it is a sign of our coming victory..

 

 

What makes a Psychiatrist?

Years.

Years of learning that the smallest details of a patient’s life can be the most compelling and important part of their story.

Years of listening to to tales of love, anger, and loss until the patterns become less daunting and more obvious.

Years of hearing things that are so bizarre, so far-fetched, so on the fringe of humanity that nothing surprises anymore, but everything still fascinates unceasingly.

Years of trying every new thing under the sun until you finally realize that there isn’t.

Years of feeling guilty, so profoundly guilty, about losing a patient, even when you know in your heart of hearts that you did everything you could possibly do to keep them alive.

Years of feeling like a student, then a competent medical doctor, then a counselor, then a social worker, then a nurse, then a psychiatrist, and then a student again, and finally understanding why you had to be all of them in turn.

Years of learning how important timing really is. Too soon, and the patient is not ready to hear what you have to say. Too late, and the patient is no longer around to hear what you have to say.

Years of preparation to learn how to be wrong, and to admit it, in the best, most productive way possible.

Years filled with moments of pure joy when you see that little spark of insight, so hard won, roar into a giant flame of confidence.

Years to understand that if you do your job to the best of your ability, your patients should no longer need you, and that you can model for them how to say goodbye.

Years of learning that if all you carry in your tool kit is a hammer, everything that walks in your door will most certainly look like a nail.

Years of pride and satisfaction knowing that someone will tell you the darkest secrets of their heart and their most terrifying fears and will expect you to keep them to yourself.

Years of balancing the utter joy at seeing something rare and odd and wonderfully interesting, studying it objectively, but then always, always coming back to the humanity of the poor soul who suffers every day because of it.

Years of learning exactly what it is that you do not know, and realizing that the list grows longer every year.

Years of knowing that when things are spinning out of control and you are the most stressed you thought you could ever be, your teachers’ and mentors’ examples and training are something you can always fall back on.

Years of dreading your own obsolescence, but knowing that a listening ear, a kind word, and an understanding heart will never go out of style.

Years of your life when you could have been doing something, anything else.

Years that could never have been spent in a more noble enterprise.

What makes a psychiatrist?

Years.

Written by Greg Smith, who is a psychiatrist and blogs at gregsmithmd.

…

Read this here and really liked it.. Thought to share it here as well 🙂

But my Lord Allah!

When I cry silently and yearn for someone to be there,

Nobody listens but, My Lord, Allah

When my tears roll down, and I crave for someone,

Nobody is there  but , My Lord, Allah

When my soul tears apart and I have stabbing wounds all over my heart,

Nobody heals them but, My Lord, Allah

And when my dream shatters and hope dissolves.

There’s no one to help me at all, except my Lord Allah

My Allah, Who is Al-Wadud, Al-Mujeeb, Al-Sami, Al-Ghani, Al-Wahaab…

.

.

~Inspired to write few words 🙂

A marvellous gift of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala:Dates

Dates

Assalamu’alaykum

For many days I was thinking to write something about the “dates” also known as “tamar or temer” in Arabic, “Khajoor” in Urdu and “Khurma” in Persian  which are commonly associated as an emblem of Muslim culture , and are specifically associated with Ramadan.

Date and Palm dates have been mentioned several times in the Quran in Surah al-Baqarah verse 266, Surah Al-Anaam verse 99 and 141, Surah Ar-ra’d verse 4, Surah Nahl verse 11 and 67, Surah Al-Isra verse 91, Surah Kahf verse 32, Surah Maryam verse 23 and 25, Surah Mominoon verse 19,  Surah Ash-Shuara verse 148, Surah Ya-seen verse 34 and 39, Surah Fussilat verse 47, Surah Ar-Rahman  verse 11 and 68, Surah Abasa verse 29 and many other verses. Dates have also been honored in Qur’an as a blessing of Jannah.

The botanical name of dates is “Phoenix dactylifera L.”  It’s a perennial plant & starts giving fruit within an average of 5 years.

Dates are also been mentioned frequently in the many Hadiths of Holy Prophet(peace be upon him)

‘A’isha reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: ‘A’isha a family which has no Dates (in their house) its members will be hungry; (or) ‘A’isha the family which has no Dates its members may behungry. He said this twice or thrice.  (Sahih Muslim Book 023, Hadith 5079)

Narrated Salman ibn Amir: The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: When one of you is fasting, he should break his fast with dates; but if he cannot get any, then (he should break his fast) with water, for water is purifying.  (Abu Dawud Book 13, Hadith 2348)

Narrated Ibn ‘Umar: Allah’s Apostle said, “Amongst the trees, there is a tree, the leaves of which do not fall and is like a Muslim. Tell me the name of that tree.” Everybody started thinking about the trees of the desert areas. And I thought of the date-palm tree but felt shy to answer the others then asked, “What is that tree, O Allah’s Apostle ?” He replied, “It is the date-palm tree.”  (Sahih Bukhari Book 3, Hadith 58)

 

Some Nutritional facts:

The flesh of date is low in fat and protein but very rich in sugars; particularly Glucose and the Fructose and has a high caloric value, easily digestible, and very important for brain. It contains, carbohydrate (total sugars, 44-88%), fat (0.2-0.5%), 15 salts and minerals, protein (2.3-5.6%), vitamins and a high percentage of dietary fibre (6.4-11.5%). The flesh of dates contains 0.2-0.5% oil, whereas the seed contains 7.7-9.7% oil. 100 g of flesh can provide an average of 314 kcal. Important minerals like boron, calcium, cobalt, copper, fluorine, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, phosphorous, sodium and zinc are present in various proportions. The consumption of 100 g of dates can provide over 15% of the recommended daily allowance from these minerals. They are high in dietary fiber (8.0 g/100 g), insoluble dietary fiber is the major fraction of dietary fiber in dates. Date seeds contain higher protein (5.1 g/100 g) and fat (9.0 g/100 g) as compared to the flesh. It’s also high in dietary fiber.

The protein in dates contains 23 types of amino acids, some of which are not present in the most popular fruits such as oranges, apples and bananas. Dates contain at least six vitamins including a small amount of vitamin C, and vitamins B(1) thiamine, B(2) riboflavin, nicotinic acid (niacin) and vitamin A. Dates are also rich in folic acid.

Dates are used as nutritious food as well as a medicine. Hazrat Maryam (A.S) was commanded to eat this fruit in Surah Maryam:

The pains of labour drove her to the trunk of a date-palm. She [Maryam] said, “Oh if only I had died before this time and was something discarded and forgotten!” A voice called out to her from under her, “Do not grieve! Your Lord has placed a small stream at your feet. Shake the trunk of the palm towards you and fresh, ripe dates will drop down onto you. Eat and drink and delight your eyes…” (Qur’an, 19:23-26)

Maryam(A.S) was inspired to understand this point, in order to make her own labour easier.

Research suggests that women who consumed date fruit prior to delivery had significantly higher mean cervical dilatation, and a significantly higher proportion of intact membranes. Spontaneous labour occurred in 96% of those who consumed dates. Use of prostin/oxytocin was significantly lower and the mean latent phase of the first stage of labour was also bserved to be shorter in women who consumed date fruit.

Oxytocin induce contractions in the uterine muscles. Dates can ease the stages of labour.

• In addition to this, dates contain Iron an intergral part of the Hemoglobin molecule and prevents anemia. Also folic acid which helps in the maturation of Red blood cells and prevents a birth defect called “Spina Bifida” if administered prior to conception. The Iron and folic acid requirements increases significantly during pregnancy.
• Calcium and phospates are needed for the effective mineralization of bones and teeth. Calcium is important for the blood coagulation.
• Zinc plays its role in preventing atherosclerosis (reduction of artery lumen due to fats deposition), helps in wound healing.
• Potassium is good for hypertensive (high blood pressure) patients.
• Flourine being good for teeth.
• Magnesium and copper are important for the nervous system integrity.
• Vitamin A is good for the eyes and skin.
• Niacin prevents Pallagra (characterized by 3Ds; dermatitis, dementia, Diaorrhea)
• Vitamin B1 is important in protein metabolism
• Dates are a good source of antioxidants, mainly carotenoids and phenolics.

Thanks to “dates” for being a good reservoir of vitamins & minerals.

It’s a long established custom among Muslims parents to put a piece of well chewed date (or other available sweet fruit) in the mouth of the newborn baby.

Abu Musa reported: A child was born in my house and I brought him to Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upod him) and he gave him the name of ibrahim and he rubbed his palate with Dates.  (Sahih Muslim Book 025, Hadith 5343)

The researches indicate that doing so decreases the pain in neonates, in an interesting scientific medical study, published in the British Medical Journal (No. 6993, 10 June 1995), according to which sugar seems to reduce crying and the autonomic effects of a painful procedure in healthy normal babies and may be a useful and safe analgesic for minor procedures in neonates like circumcision etc.

• Ajwa Dates is a soft dry variety of date fruit from Saudi Arabia. It is
  

  Ajwa Dates

  cultivated in Madinah, Saudi Arabia. The Ajwa date is a delightfully soft fruit date with a fine texture. They are mentioned several times in hadiths. In one of the Hadith Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) told us that they are from “Jannah”

 The Messenger (Sallallaahu Álayhi wa aalehe Wasallam) said, “Ajwa dates are from paradise.” [Tirmidhee (2068)]

• Ajwa dates are specifically beneficial in heart diseases as narrated in the hadith of Sunan Abu dawud

 Narrated Sa’d: I suffered from an illness. The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) came to pay a visit to me. He put his hands between my nipples and I felt its coolness at my heart. He said: You are a man suffering from heart sickness. Go to al-Harith ibn Kaladah, brother of Thaqif. He is a man who gives medical treatment. He should take seven ajwah dates of Medina and grind them with their kernels, and then put them into your mouth.  (Abu Dawud Book 28, Hadith 3866)

• In another Narration of Bukhari,

Narrated Saud: I heard Allah’s Apostle saying, “If Somebody takes seven ‘ajwa dates in the morning, neither magic nor poison will hurt him that day.”  (Sahih Bukhari Book 71, Hadith 664)

 

Other benefits:

• Dates Increases the Immune Function
• Reduces the Risk of Colon Cancer due to high fiber content
• Dates have been found beneficial in patients of allergic rhinitis and common cold.
• Date Fruit extract is a neuroprotective agent.
• Dates are beneficial in gastric ulcers
• Alleviation of Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
• Prevention of Alopecia (Spot Baldness)
• Stroke Prevention
• Antioxidant Protection
• Prevention of Epileptic Seizures

In a nut shell, dates are the marvellous gift from Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala for us that can be used as both medicine and food.

Ibn Qayyim in his Tibb al-Nabawi writes: Dates are a type of fruit that is also used for its nutritional and medicinal value, being favorable for most bodies and for their role in strengthening the natural heat. Moreover, dates do not produce harmful wastes or excrement like other types of food and fruits. Rather, dates preserve the body wastes from being spoiled and from rotting, especially for those who are used to eating dried dates.”(Healing with the Medicine of the Prophet, Translated by Abd el-Qader bin Abd el-Azeez, Dar al-Ghadd al-Gadeed, al-Mansoura (Egypt), 2003 p.121)

–

–

P.S; Ramadan Mubarak

Reader Appreciation Award!

Assalamu’alaykum!

Brother Othman has nominated my blog for the Reader Appreciation award. I am really delighted to have my first award. Thank you Brother for the nomination.

So, here are few things that need to done and followed when you are being nominated.

1. Include the award logo somewhere in your blog.

2. Answer the 10 questions below for fun, if you want to.

3. Nominate 10 to 12 blogs that you enjoy, or you pick the number.

4. Pay the love forward: Provide your nominees with a link to your post and comment on their blog to let them know they’ve been included and invited to participate.

5. Pay the love back with gratitude and a link to the blogger(s) who nominated you.

Questions:

Favorite color: Red.

My favorite animal: Rabbits

What is your favorite non- alcoholic drink?  No doubt its Lemonade

What do you prefer Twitter or Facebook? Twitter 😀

What is your favorite pattern? Floral

Would you rather receive or give presents? Giving!

Favorite number? 25

Favorite day? Friday

Favorite flower? Rose

Passion?  To be a good Muslimah insha’Allah

And the Nominees are:

Different strokes… My musings

Random Pages

Rebecca Salman

From Pakistan

Wild innocence

Mirror

wallsbridgesandblues

and

Theaccidentalblog

Today’s Hadith!

Anas reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) had a very fair complexion and (the drops) of his perspiration shone like pearls, and when he walked he walked inclining forward, and I never touched brocade and silk (and found it) as soft as the softness of the palm of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and I never smelt musk or ambergris and found its fragrance as sweet as the fragrance of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him).  [Sahih Muslim Book 30, Hadith number: 5760]

An honor, an achievement!

Zahid Hussain, An IT professional from Pakistan has developed a Search engine/directory which can display required results from the Qur’an as well as from the Hadith books, alhamdulillah. Its been a year that this software has been launched. According to google, he is the only person in the world who has completed the translation of Holy Quran in Roman Urdu and made this Search Engine.

This search engine offers search for any topic or subject in the Holy Qur’an in four languages

• English,
• Arabic,
• Urdu and
• Roman Urdu

The software works in  this way that if one wants to search ayaat related to sabar, you can type “sabar” in roman urdu or “صبر” in urdu or patience in english. System will give you the answer in just a moment with translation of the related ayah plus how many times the term has been mentioned.

Brother Zahid Hussain is offering this software free of cost. He is also working on few other projects related to this, like adding tafseer.

You can add your input in this great work by donating and helping him insha’Allah.

Below is his website, from where you can download the software.

www.zahidchihpa.com

Some facts about sleep!

Lately, I was reading about sleep, so I thought why not to Post something about it as well. So, here I’m with another doctoricious post!

 About sleep, Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala mentioned in the Holy Quran that “Among His signs is sleep” (30:23) and “and made your sleep for rest” (78:9).

Essentially, sleep is important to the body functioning, promoting bodily rest and rejuvenation in the neurons and other cells that are replaced or repaired during times of sleep. Sleep has also been proposed to conserve energy, detoxify the brain, control thermoregulation within the brain, and consolidate  the memory.

While sleeping, a person goes through stages of two types of sleep that alternate with each other. They are called

(1) slow-wave sleep, in which the brain waves are strong and of low frequency,  and

(2) rapid eye movement sleep (REM sleep), in which the eyes undergo rapid movements despite the fact that the person is still asleep.

Most part of the sleep is of slow-wave variety; which is deep, restful sleep and is experienced by a person during the first hour of sleep REM sleep, on the other hand, occurs in episodes that occupy about 25% of the sleep time in young adults; each episode normally recurs about every 90 minutes. This type of sleep is not so restful, and it is usually associated with vivid dreaming.

Non-REM sleep

Further divided into four stages.

Stage one: Light Sleep

During the first stage of sleep, we’re half awake and half asleep. Our muscle activity slows down and slight twitching may occur. This is a period of light sleep, meaning we can be awakened easily at this stage.

Stage two: True Sleep

Within ten minutes of light sleep, we enter stage two, which lasts around 20 minutes. The breathing pattern and heart rate start to slow down. This period accounts for the largest part of human sleep.

Stages three and four: Deep Sleep

During stage three, the brain begins to produce delta waves, a type of wave that is large (high amplitude) and slow (low frequency). Breathing and heart rate are at their lowest levels.

Stage four is characterised by rhythmic breathing and limited muscle activity.

REM Sleep:

Bouts of REM sleep lasting 5 to 30 minutes usually appear on the average every 90 minutes. When the person is extremely sleepy, each bout of REM sleep is short and may even be absent. Conversely, as the person becomes more rested through the night, the durations of the REM bouts increase. 

Although we are not conscious, the brain is very active – often more so than when we are awake. This is the period when most dreams occur. Our eyes dart around (hence the name), our breathing rate and blood pressure rise. However, our bodies are effectively paralysed, said to be nature’s way of preventing us from acting out our dreams.

After REM sleep, the whole cycle begins again.

So why do we sleep??!!

Well, its not exactly known but there are many theories that are proposed regarding this, which I am enlisting below.

1. Inactive theory: suggest that inactivity at night is protective to harm to the animals from the predators, also called adaptive/evolutionay theory
2. Energy Conservative theory: suggests that the primary function of sleep is to reduce an individual’s energy demand and expenditure during part of the day or night, especially at times when it is least efficient to search for food.
3. Restorative theory: suggests that sleep in some way serves to “restore” what is lost in the body while we are awake. Sleep provides an opportunity for the body to repair and rejuvenate itself.
4. Brain plasticity theory: suggests that sleep is correlated to changes in the structure and organization of the brain – phenomenon known as plasticity.
5. Consolidation of memory: episodic memory is converted into long term memory.

• Previously, its thought that sleep is a time when your body and brain shut down for rest and relaxation but we know that in REM sleep brain is highly active, secretion of some hormones and memory is also consolidated, besides, brain is the regulatory organ which is never completely shut down!
• Also its thought that Nap is a waste of time but researches reveals they can be restorative and help counter some of the impaired performances during the day.

——

Sleep and Memory: 

So, this part is most fascinating about sleep.

Scientist hypothesized that the memory is converted in long term memory during sleep 🙂

Scientists hypothesized that REM sleep played an essential role in the acquisition of learned material, both declarative  and procedural memory. 

Researchers now hypothesize that slow-wave sleep (SWS), which is deep, restorative sleep, also plays a significant role in declarative memory by processing and consolidating newly acquired information.

Sleep is very important before taking exams, the saying goes, “Rest is best for the test” 

as sleep plays its role in consolidating whatever we have learned and refreshes us as well.

Check Few interesting facts about sleep and

the potential ramification of sleep deprivation, you can see in the below illustration

**YAWN* *YAWN*

Now on a lighter note, Do you know the amount of sleep required by the average person ??!!

A question to check whether you’re still awake while reading it or not!! Do answer to let me know! 😀

.

.

Peer-e-Kamil (صلی اللہ علیہ و آلہ و سلم) – The Perfect Mentor

Below, I am quoting few lines from a novel called Peer-e-Kamil (صلی اللہ علیہ و آلہ و سلم), which are my Personal favorite!

‘In life, at sometime or another we come to a point where all relationships cease—where there is only us and Allah. There are no parents, brother or sister, or any friend. Then we realise that there is no earth under us nor is there sky above, but only Allah who is supporting us in this emptiness. Then we realise our worth – it is not more than a grain of sand or the leaf of a plant. Then we realise our existence is only confined to our being. Our demise makes not a whit of difference to the world around us, nor to the scheme of things.’
‘We come to our senses; we understand our utter insignificance.’

“Some are born virtuous, some become virtuous. To be good by nature is indeed fortunate but to become good is like walking on a double-edged sword; it takes a longer time and is more painful.”

“Sometimes in our lives we do not know whether we have emerged from darkness into light or if we are entering into the dark—the direction is unknown. But one can differentiate, in any case, between the earth and the sky. When you raise your head, it is the sky above; and when you lower it, it is the earth below—whether or not it is visible.”

 I have read this novel in urdu, two years back… But now its english translation is also available!

Personally I feel – “Jo baat Urdu main hai, wo kisi aur main kahan” 😀

 —–

for urdu: see comments 🙂

Types of handwritings!

Seems familiar?

source: Doccartoon.blogspot.com

Today’s reminder!

Narrated Anas: A man asked the Prophet about the Hour (i.e. Day of Judgment) saying, “When will the Hour be?” The Prophet said, “What have you prepared for it?” The man said, “Nothing, except that I love Allah and His Apostle.” The Prophet said, “You will be with those whom you love.” We had never been so glad as we were on hearing that saying of the Prophet (i.e., “You will be with those whom you love.”) Therefore, I love the Prophet, Abu Bakr and ‘Umar, and I hope that I will be with them because of my love for them though my deeds are not similar to theirs. (Sahih Bukhari Book no.57, Hadith no. 37)

In the light of the above hadith, do you think we need to remodel our thinking, our ideals and the people we love??

Let’s pay a thought to this!

By the Figs and the Olives (Qur’an, 95:1)

Assalamu’Alaykum

In the previous post I have mentioned that I will be starting a series of post related to the medical and health benefits of the things that are mentioned in the Qur’an. So I decided to start with Fig and Olives.

Allah says in Surah At-teen,

[I swear] By the fig and the olive. (Qur’an 95:1)

Figs:

Figs (Ficus carica)

The biological name of fig is Ficus carica (Urdu:انجیر, Arabic:تین)

The nutritional value of Ficus Carica is given below:

• Energy  1,041 kJ (249 kcal)
• Carbohydrates  63.87 g
• – Sugars                47.92 g
• – Dietary fiber    9.8 g
• Fat          0.93 g
• Protein 3.30 g
• Thiamine (vit. B1)             0.085 mg (7%)
• Riboflavin (vit. B2)           0.082 mg (7%)
• Niacin (vit. B3)   0.619 mg (4%)
• Pantothenic acid (B5)     0.434 mg (9%)
• Vitamin B6          0.106 mg (8%)
• Folate (vit. B9)   9 μg (2%)
• Vitamin C             1.2 mg (1%)
• Calcium                162 mg (16%)
• Iron        2.03 mg (16%)
• Magnesium        68 mg (19%)
• Phosphorus        67 mg (10%)
• Potassium           680 mg (14%)
• Zinc        0.55 mg (6%)

Some health benefits of Figs are as follows:

1. Prevention and medicine for constipation (due to the presence of dietary fibers)
2. Ca/P(Calcium to Phosphorus ration) ratio is lies as recommended by nutritionists so the patients suffering from stone formation in kidney may also use it safely
3. Due to High potassium in fig is beneficial to patients of hypertension
4. High potassium avoids calcium loss in urine.
5. Good for bones.
6. Has anti-cancerous component.
7. Has anti-diarrheal activity
8. Effective for diabetics
9. Anti-oxidant activity(due to the presence of antioxidant vitamins)
10. Anti-inflammatory action
11. Good for eye-sight (due to the presence of Vitamin A)
12. Good source of vitamin B-complex
13. Results of a prospective study involving 51,823 postmenopausal women for an average of 8.3 years showed a 34% reduction in breast cancer risk for those consuming the most fruit fiber compared to those consuming the least. In addition, in the subgroup of women who had ever used hormone replacement, those consuming the most fiber, especially cereal fiber, had a 50% reduction in their risk of breast cancer compared to those consuming the least. Int J Cancer. 2008 Jan 15;122(2):403-12. (Figs contain high amount of fibers)
14. Protection against heart diseases.
15. Good for weight management ( due to presence of dietary fibers).
16. Being used as aphrodisiacs.

---

Olives 

Olives :Olea europaea

Botanical name: Olea europaea (urdu and arabic :زیتون)

Olives have been mentioned about six times in the Holy Quran,

1) It is He Who sendeth down rain from the skies: with it We produce vegetation of all kinds: from some We produce green (crops), out of which We produce grain, heaped up (at harvest); out of the date-palm and its sheaths (or spathes) (come) clusters of dates hanging low and near: and (then there are) gardens of grapes, and olives, and pomegranates, each similar (in kind) yet different (in variety): when they begin to bear fruit, feast your eyes with the fruit and the ripeness thereof. Behold! in these things there are signs for people who believe.(6:99)

2) It is He Who produceth gardens, with trellises and without, and dates, and tilth with produce of all kinds, and olives and pomegranates, similar (in kind) and different (in variety): eat of their fruit in their season, but render the dues that are proper on the day that the harvest is gathered. But waste not by excess: for Allah loveth not the wasters. (6:141)

3) With it He produces for you corn, olives, date-palms, grapes and every kind of fruit: verily in this is a sign for those who give thought. (16:11)

4) Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The Parable of His Light is as if there were a Niche and within it a Lamp: the Lamp enclosed in Glass: the glass as it were a brilliant star: Lit from a blessed Tree, an olive, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil is well-nigh luminous, though fire scarce touched it: Light upon Light! Allah doth guide whom He will to His Light: Allah doth set forth Parables for men: and Allah doth know all things. (24:35)

5) And olives and Dates, (80:29)

6) By the Fig and the olive,(95:1)

Nutritional value of Olives:

• Calories: 81                                        
• Proteins: 0.97 g
• Total Fat: 6.87 g
• Fatty acids,

• monounsaturated: 5.071 g
• saturated: 0.909 g
• polyunsaturated: 0.586 g

• Carbohydrates: 5.61 g
• Fiber: 2.5 g
• Water: 84.34 g
• Calcium: 94 mg
• Iron: 3.32 mg
• Magnesium: 4 mg
• Phosphorus: 3 mg

• Potassium: 9 mg
• Sodium: 735 mg
• Zinc: 0.22 mg
• Copper: 0.226 mg
• Selenium: 0.9 mcg
• Manganese: 0.020 mg
• Thiamin: 0.003 mg
• Niacin: 0.022 mg
• Pantothenic acid: 0.015 mg
• Lutein + zeaxanthin: 510 mcg
• Choline: 6.6 mg
• Beta carotene: 204 mcg
• Vitamin A: 346 IU
• Vitamin B-6: 0.012 mg
• Vitamin C: 1.5 mg
• Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol): 1.65 mg
• Vitamin K (phylloquinone): 1.4 mcg

Medical benefits of Olives:

1. Patients of Rheumatoid arthritis showed much improvement when they used fish oil supplements in combination with olive oil.
2. Olive oil may have a protective effect on the development of CRC (colorectal cancer)
3. Has antihypertensive effect (lowers blood pressure)
4. Antioxidant activity
5. Prevents oxidative DNA damage and so has anti carcinogenic effect on cells.
6. Protection against Breast cancer
7. Usage of olive oil decreases the incidence of Cardiovascular diseases (due to presence of LDL)- has anti-atherogenic effects
8. Lower incidence of stroke with the use of olive oil is observed
9. Bactericidal activity
10. Protection  against oxidative stress (so has anti- Aging effect)
11. Well tolerated by stomach
12. Provide protection for skin

P.S., The benefits of Figs and Olive[oil] mentioned above are complied from various research papers.

Then which of the favours of your Lord will ye deny? (Qur’an Surah Ar-Rahman)

I have been thinking of posting something pertaining to medical benefits of things that have been mentioned in the Holy Qur’an, but as I have never been able to blog regularly, that’s why I wasn’t able to write anything in this regard. Recently Brother Muqeet has also suggested me to write something regarding this. Now as I have made a resolution again to blog regularly insha’Allah, I am starting a series of post pertaining to this.

As we know that Allah is most Gracious and Merciful , He has blessed us with Islam alhamdulillah, He has created things for us to eat, to drink; created earth, sky, sun, moon, stars, and everything we need. There are hundred trillion cells in our body and all of them receiving nutrition. We don’t need to buy oxygen, we all get it for free. The blessings and bounties of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala are “infinite” we can’t count them.

Allah says in the Holy Qur’an,

And He giveth you of all that ye ask for. But if ye count the favours of Allah, never will ye be able to number them. Verily, man is given up to injustice and ingratitude. (Surah Ibrahim, chapter number: 14, verse:34)

and that,

If ye would count up the favours of Allah, never would ye be able to number them: for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Surah Nahl, Chapter number 16, verse 18)

Allah has invited many times in the Holy Qur’an to reflect upon His Creations(tafakkur). Whatever Allah has created is beneficial for us, whether we have its knowledge or not, Because our wisdom and our thinking is limited and science has yet to discover many things. So, insha’Allah we will be reflecting upon few things in upcoming posts and discovering some medical facts about them, upto the level of our limited humanly wisdom insha’Allah.

It is He who sends down rain from the sky: from it ye drink, and out of it (grows) the vegetation on which ye feed your cattle. With it He produces for you corn, olives, date-palms, grapes and every kind of fruit: verily in this is a sign for those who give thought. He has made subject to you the Night and the Day; the sun and the moon; and the stars are in subjection by His Command: verily in this are Signs for men who are wise. And the things on this earth which He has multiplied in varying colours (and qualities): verily in this is a sign for men who celebrate the praises of Allah (in gratitude). It is He Who has made the sea subject, that ye may eat thereof flesh that is fresh and tender, and that ye may extract therefrom ornaments to wear; and thou seest the ships therein that plough the waves, that ye may seek (thus) of the bounty of Allah and that ye may be grateful. (surah An-Nahl verse 10-14)

Hijab – an interesting conversation!

A conversation for Muslim sisters:

“I’m so tired.”

“Tired of what?”

“Of all these people judging me.”

“Who judged you?”

“Like that woman, every time I sit with her, she tells me to wear hijab.”

“Oh, hijab and music! The mother of all topics!”

“Yeah! I listen to music without hijab…haha!”

“Maybe she was just giving you advice.”

“I don’t need her advice. I know my religion. Can`t she mind her own
business?”

“Maybe you misunderstood. She was just being nice.”

“Keeping out of my business, that would be nice…”

“But it’s her duty to encourage you do to good.”

“Trust me. That was no encouragement. And what do you mean `good` ?”

“Well, wearing hijab, that would be a good thing to do.”

“Says who?”

“It’s in the Qur’an, isn’t it?”

“Yes. She did quote me something.”

“She said Surah Nur, and other places of the Qur’an.”

“Yes, but it’s not a big sin anyway. Helping people and praying is more
important.”

“True. But big things start with small things.”

“That’s a good point, but what you wear is not important. What’s important
is to have a good healthy heart.”

“What you wear is not important?”

“That’s what I said.”

“Then why do you spend an hour every morning fixing up?”

“What do you mean?”

“You spend money on cosmetics, not to mention all the time you spend on
fixing your hair and low-carb dieting.”

“So?”

“So, your appearance IS important.”

“No. I said wearing hijab is not an important thing in religion.”

“If it’s not an important thing in religion, why is it mentioned in the Holy
Qur’an?”

“You know I can’t follow all that’s in Qur’an.”

“You mean God tells you something to do, you disobey and then it’s OK?”

“Yes. God is forgiving.”

“God is forgiving to those who repent and do not repeat their mistakes.”

“Says who?”

“Says the same book that tells you to cover.”

“But I don’t like hijab, it limits my freedom.”

“But the lotions, lipsticks, mascara and other cosmetics set you free?!
What`s your definition of freedom anyway?”

“Freedom is in doing whatever you like to do.”

“No. Freedom is in doing the right thing, not in doing whatever we wish to do.”

“Look! I’ve seen so many people who don’t wear hijab and are nice people, and so many who wear hijab and are bad people.”

“So what? There are people who are nice to you but are alcoholic. Should we all be alcoholics? You made a stupid point.”

“I don’t want to be an extremist or a fanatic. I’m OK the way I am without hijab.”

“Then you are a secular fanatic. An extremist in disobeying God.”

“You don’t get it, if I wear hijab, who would marry me?!”

“So all these people with hijab never get married?!”

“Okay! What if I get married and my husband doesn’t like it? And wants me to remove it?”

“What if your husband wants you to go out with him on a bank robbery?!”

“That’s irrelevant, bank robbery is a crime.”

“Disobeying your Creator is not a crime?”

“But then who would hire me?”

“A company that respects people for who they are.”

“Not after 9-11”

“Yes. After 9-11. Don’t you know about Hanan who just got into med school?
And the other one, what was her name, the girl who always wore a white hijab…ummm…”

“Yasmeen?”

“Yes. Yasmeen. She just finished her MBA and is now interning for GE.”

“Why do you reduce religion to a piece of cloth anyway?”

“Why do you reduce womanhood to high heals and lipstick colors?”

“You didn’t answer my question.”

“In fact, I did. Hijab is not just a piece of cloth. It is obeying God in a difficult environment. It is courage, faith in action, and true womanhood.
But your short sleeves, tight pants…”

“That’s called `fashion`, you live in a cave or
something? First of all, hijab was founded by men who wanted to control
women.”

“Really? I did not know men could control women by hijab.”

“Yes. That’s what it is.”

“What about the women who fight their husbands to wear hijab? And women in France who are forced to remove their hijab by men? What do you say about that?”

“Well, that’s different.”

“What difference? The woman who asked you to wear hijab…she was a woman, right?”

“Right, but…”

“But fashions that are designed and promoted by male-dominated corporations, set you free? Men have no control on exposing women and using them as a commodity?! Give me a break!”

“Wait, let me finish, I was saying…”

“Saying what? You think that men control women by hijab?”

“Yes.”

“Specifically how?”

“By telling women how and what to wear, dummy!”

“Doesn’t TV, magazines and movies tell you what to wear, and how to be `attractive’?”

“Of course, it’s fashion.”

“Isn’t that control? Pressuring you to wear what they want you to wear?”

[Silence]

“Not just controlling you, but also controlling the market.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, you are told to look skinny and anorexic like that woman on the cover of the magazine, by men who design those magazines and sell those products.”

“I don’t get it. What does hijab have to do with products.”

“It has everything to do with that. Don’t you see? Hijab is a threat to consumerism, women who spend billions of dollars to look skinny and live by standards of fashion designed by men…and then here is Islam, saying trash all that nonsense and focus on your soul, not on your looks, and do not worry what men think of your looks.”

“Like I don’t have to buy hijab? Isn’t hijab a product?”

“Yes, it is. It is a product that sets you free from male-dominated consumerism.”

“Stop lecturing me! I WILL NOT WEAR HIJAB!
It is awkward, outdated, and totally not suitable for this society … Moreover, I am only 20 and too young to wear hijab!”

“Fine. Say that to your Lord, when you face Him on Judgment Day.”

“Fine.”

“Fine.”

[Silence]

“Shut up and I don’t want to hear more about hijab niqab schmijab Punjab!”

[Silence]

She stared at the mirror, tired of arguing with herself all this time.

Successful enough, she managed to shut the voices in her head, with her own opinions triumphant in victory on the matter, and a final modern decision accepted by the society – but rejected by the Faith:

“Yes!” – to curls on the hair – “No!” – to hijab!

“And he (/she) is indeed a failure who corrupts it [the soul]!”
[Holy Quran 91:10]

Subhana’Allah!!!

“Nay! You prefer the life of this world; While the hereafter is better and more lasting.”
[Holy Quran: 87:16-17]
“You are the best community (Ummah) raised up for (the benefit of) humanity; enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong and believing in Allah.

“
[Holy Quran: 3:110]

Taken from http://www.islamtomorrow.com

The ‘Isra- Night Journey and Mairaj- the Ascension

The miraculous journey of Isra and Mairaj is narrated by Allah in the Holy Quran, The starting verses of Surah Al-‘Isra opens as, 

سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي أَسْرَىٰ بِعَبْدِهِ لَيْلًا مِّنَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ الْأَقْصَى الَّذِي بَارَكْنَا حَوْلَهُ لِنُرِيَهُ مِنْ آيَاتِنَا ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ

Glory to (Allah) Who did take His servant for a Journey by night from the Sacred mosque to the farthest mosque, whose precincts We did bless,- in order that We might show him some of Our Signs: for He is the One Who heareth and seeth (all things). [Qura’an Surah ‘Isra 17:1]

One of the Hadith says that,

Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas: (regarding the Verse) “And We granted the vision (Ascension to the heavens “Miraj”) which We showed you (O Muhammad as an actual eye witness) but as a trial for mankind.’ (17.60): Allah’s Apostle actually saw with his own eyes the vision (all the things which were shown to him) on the night of his night journey to Jerusalem (and then to the heavens). The cursed tree which is mentioned in the Qur’an is the tree of Az-Zaqqum.  (Sahih Bukhari Book 77, Hadith number 610)

This miraculous journey is described in various Hadiths

 Narrated Malik bin Sasaa: The Prophet said, “While I was at the House in a state midway between sleep and wakefulness, (an angel recognized me) as the man lying between two men. A golden tray full of wisdom and belief was brought to me and my body was cut open from the throat to the lower part of the abdomen and then my abdomen was washed with Zam-zam water and (my heart was) filled with wisdom and belief. Al-Buraq, a white animal, smaller than a mule and bigger than a donkey was brought to me and I set out with Gabriel. When I reached the nearest heaven. Gabriel said to the heaven gate-keeper, ‘Open the gate.’ The gatekeeper asked, ‘Who is it?’ He said, ‘Gabriel.’ The gate-keeper,’ Who is accompanying you?’ Gabriel said, ‘Muhammad.’ The gate-keeper said, ‘Has he been called?’ Gabriel said, ‘Yes.’ Then it was said, ‘He is welcomed. What a wonderful visit his is!’ Then I met Adam and greeted him and he said, ‘You are welcomed O son and a Prophet.’ Then we ascended to the second heaven. It was asked, ‘Who is it?’ Gabriel said, ‘Gabriel.’ It was said, ‘Who is with you?’ He said, ‘Muhammad’ It was asked, ‘Has he been sent for?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ It was said, ‘He is welcomed. What a wonderful visit his is!” Then I met Jesus and Yahya (John) who said, ‘You are welcomed, O brother and a Prophet.’ Then we ascended to the third heaven. It was asked, ‘Who is it?’ Gabriel said, ‘Gabriel.’ It was asked, ‘Who is with you? Gabriel said, ‘Muhammad.’ It was asked, ‘Has he been sent for?’ ‘Yes,’ said Gabriel. ‘He is welcomed. What a wonderful visit his is!’ (The Prophet added:). There I met Joseph and greeted him, and he replied, ‘You are welcomed, O brother and a Prophet!’ Then we ascended to the 4th heaven and again the same questions and answers were exchanged as in the previous heavens. There I met Idris and greeted him. He said, ‘You are welcomed O brother and Prophet.’ Then we ascended to the 5th heaven and again the same questions and answers were exchanged as in previous heavens. there I met and greeted Aaron who said, ‘You are welcomed O brother and a Prophet”. Then we ascended to the 6th heaven and again the same questions and answers were exchanged as in the previous heavens. There I met and greeted Moses who said, ‘You are welcomed O brother and. a Prophet.’ When I proceeded on, he started weeping and on being asked why he was weeping, he said, ‘O Lord! Followers of this youth who was sent after me will enter Paradise in greater number than my followers.’ Then we ascended to the seventh heaven and again the same questions and answers were exchanged as in the previous heavens. There I met and greeted Abraham who said, ‘You are welcomed o son and a Prophet.’ Then I was shown Al-Bait-al-Ma’mur (i.e. Allah’s House). I asked Gabriel about it and he said, This is Al Bait-ul-Ma’mur where 70,000 angels perform prayers daily and when they leave they never return to it (but always a fresh batch comes into it daily).’ Then I was shown Sidrat-ul-Muntaha (i.e. a tree in the seventh heaven) and I saw its Nabk fruits which resembled the clay jugs of Hajr (i.e. a town in Arabia), and its leaves were like the ears of elephants, and four rivers originated at its root, two of them were apparent and two were hidden. I asked Gabriel about those rivers and he said, ‘The two hidden rivers are in Paradise, and the apparent ones are the Nile and the Euphrates.’ Then fifty prayers were enjoined on me. I descended till I met Moses who asked me, ‘What have you done?’ I said, ‘Fifty prayers have been enjoined on me.’ He said, ‘I know the people better than you, because I had the hardest experience to bring Bani Israel to obedience. Your followers cannot put up with such obligation. So, return to your Lord and request Him (to reduce the number of prayers.’ I returned and requested Allah (for reduction) and He made it forty. I returned and (met Moses) and had a similar discussion, and then returned again to Allah for reduction and He made it thirty, then twenty, then ten, and then I came to Moses who repeated the same advice. Ultimately Allah reduced it to five. When I came to Moses again, he said, ‘What have you done?’ I said, ‘Allah has made it five only.’ He repeated the same advice but I said that I surrendered (to Allah’s Final Order)'” Allah’s Apostle was addressed by Allah, “I have decreed My Obligation and have reduced the burden on My slaves, and I shall reward a single good deed as if it were ten good deeds.” (Sahih Bukhari book 54, Hadith 429)

In Sahih Muslim, its mentioned as,

 It is narrated on the authority of Anas b. Malik that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: I was brought al-Buraq Who is an animal white and long, larger than a donkey but smaller than a mule, who would place his hoof a distance equal to the range of version. I mounted it and came to the Temple (Bait Maqdis in Jerusalem), then tethered it to the ring used by the prophets. I entered the mosque and prayed two rak’ahs in it, and then came out and Gabriel brought me a vessel of wine and a vessel of milk. I chose the milk, and Gabriel said: You have chosen the natural thing. Then he took me to heaven. Gabriel then asked the (gate of heaven) to be opened and he was asked who he was. He replied: Gabriel. He was again asked: Who is with you? He (Gabriel) said: Muhammad. It was said: Has he been sent for? Gabriel replied: He has indeed been sent for. And (the door of the heaven) was opened for us and lo! we saw Adam. He welcomed me and prayed for my good. Then we ascended to the second heaven. Gabriel (peace be upon him) (asked the door of heaven to be opened), and he was asked who he was. He answered: Gabriel; and was again asked: Who is with you? He replied: Muhammad. It was said: Has he been sent for? He replied: He has indeed been sent for. The gate was opened. When I entered ‘Isa b. Maryam and Yahya b. Zakariya (peace be upon both of them), cousins from the maternal side. welcomed me and prayed for my good Then I was taken to the third heaven and Gabriel asked for the opening (of the door). He was asked: Who are you? He replied: Gabriel. He was (again) asked: Who is with you? He replied Muhammad (may peace be upon him). It was said: Has he been sent for? He replied He has indeed been sent for. (The gate) was opened for us and I saw Yusuf (peace of Allah be upon him) who had been given half of (world) beauty. He welcomed me prayed for my well-being. Then he ascended with us to the fourth heaven. Gabriel (peace be upon him) asked for the (gate) to be opened, and it was said: Who is he? He replied: Gabriel. It was (again) said: Who is with you? He said: Muhammad. It was said: Has he been sent for? He replied: He has indeed been sent for. The (gate) was opened for us, and lo! Idris was there. He welcomed me and prayed for my well-being (About him) Allah, the Exalted and the Glorious, has said:” We elevated him (Idris) to the exalted position” (Qur’an 19:57 وَرَفَعْنَاهُ مَكَانًا عَلِيًّا ). Then he ascended with us to the fifth heaven and Gabriel asked for the (gate) to be opened. It was said: Who is he? He replied Gabriel. It was (again) said: Who is with thee? He replied: Muhammad. It was said Has he been sent for? He replied: He has indeed been sent for. (The gate) was opened for us and then I was with Harun (Aaron-peace of Allah be upon him). He welcomed me prayed for my well-being. Then I was taken to the sixth heaven. Gabriel (peace be upon him) asked for the door to be opened. It was said: Who is he? He replied: Gabriel. It was said: Who is with thee? He replied: Muhammad. It was said: Has he been sent for? He replied: He has indeed been sent for. (The gate) was opened for us and there I was with Musa (Moses peace be upon him) He welcomed me and prayed for my well-being. Then I was taken up to the seventh heaven. Gabriel asked the (gate) to be opened. It was said: Who is he? He said: Gabriel It was said. Who is with thee? He replied: Muhammad (may peace be upon him.) It was said: Has he been sent for? He replied: He has indeed been sent for. (The gate) was opened for us and there I found Ibrahim (Abraham peace be upon him) reclining against the Bait-ul-Ma’mur and there enter into it seventy thousand angels every day, never to visit (this place) again. Then I was taken to Sidrat-ul-Muntaha whose leaves were like elephant ears and its fruit like big earthenware vessels. And when it was covered by the Command of Allah, it underwent such a change that none amongst the creation has the power to praise its beauty. Then Allah revealed to me a revelation and He made obligatory for me fifty prayers every day and night. Then I went down to Moses (peace be upon him) and he said: What has your Lord enjoined upon your Ummah? I said: Fifty prayers. He said: Return to thy Lord and beg for reduction (in the number of prayers), for your community shallnot be able to bear this burden. as I have put to test the children of Isra’il and tried them (and found them too weak to bear such a heavy burden). He (the Holy Prophet) said: I went back to my Lord and said: My Lord, make things lighter for my Ummah. (The Lord) reduced five prayers for me. I went down to Moses and said. (The Lord) reduced five (prayers) for me, He said: Verily thy Ummah shall not be able to bear this burden; return to thy Lord and ask Him to make things lighter. I then kept going back and forth between my Lord Blessed and Exalted and Moses, till He said: There are five prayers every day and night. O Muhammad, each being credited as ten, so that makes fifty prayers. He who intends to do a good deed and does not do it will have a good deed recorded for him; and if he does it, it will be recorded for him as ten; whereas he who intends to do an evil deed and does not do, it will not be recorded for him; and if he does it, only one evil deed will be recorded. I then came down and when I came to Moses and informed him, he said: Go back to thy Lord and ask Him to make things lighter. Upon this the Messenger of Allah remarked: I returned to my Lord until I felt ashamed before Him. ( Sahih Muslim Book no. 1, Hadith 309)

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was also shown many scenes of Heaven and Hell at this occasion.

Things that were given on this night:

It is narrated on the authority of Abdullah (b. Umar) that when the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) was taken for the Night journey, he was taken to sidrat-ul-Muntaha, which is situated on the sixth heaven, where terminates everything that ascends from the earth and is held there, and where terminates every- thing that descends from above it and is held there. (It is with reference to this that) Allah said:” When that which covers covered the lote-tree” (al-Qur’an, Iiii. 16). He (the narrator) said: (It was) gold moths. He (the narrator further) said: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) was given three (things): he was given five prayers, he was given the concluding verses of Sura al-Baqara, and remission of serious Sins for those among his Ummah who associate not anything with Allah  (Book 1, Hadith 329)

The Miraculous event of ‘Isra i.e. the journey from Masjid ul Haraam to Masjid ul Aqsa and Mairaj i.e. The ascension indicates the greatness of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon Him). Another thing which I would like to mention here is the virtues of Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique. When he was told about this miraculous journey, he immediately testified this, upon which he received the title of “As-Siddique” because of how strongly he believed all what the Prophet said.

The main purpose of this Post is to refresh our Iman and to counteract the attacks of non-Muslims via our great and endless power of Imaan. Our Holy Book Quran is itself a great Miracle by Allah Subhanahu Wa ta’la. Let’s recognize the main purpose of our creation rather than becoming puppets at the hands of Satan who is our vowed enemy.
May Allah guide us all to the true path…Ameen

Make everyday a “No Tobacco day!”

31st May is observed as “World No tobacco day”

Tobacco contains so many carcinogens (agents causing cancer) which can pose severe health risks.

Lets learn about some of those problems resulting from using tobacco actively or passively.

• Heart and blood vessel problems:
  • Blood clots and aneurysms in the brain, which can lead to strokes
  • Blood clots in the legs, which may travel to the lungs
  • Coronary artery disease, including angina and heart attacks
  • High blood pressure
  • Poor blood supply to the legs
  • Problems with erections because of decreased blood flow into the penis
• Cancer (especially in the lung, mouth, larynx, esophagus, bladder, kidney, pancreas, and cervix)
• Poor wound healing, especially after surgery
• Lung problems such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis, or asthma that is harder to control
• Problems during pregnancy, such as babies born at low birth weight, premature labor, miscarriage, and cleft lip
• Other health risks or problems:
  • Decreased ability to taste and smell
  • Harm to sperm, which contributes to infertility
  • Loss of sight due to an increased risk of macular degeneration
  • Tooth and gum diseases
  • Wrinkling of the skin

Smokers who switch to smokeless tobacco instead of quitting tobacco completely still carry a number of health risks:

• Increased risk of mouth or nasal cancer
• Gum problems, tooth wear, and cavities
• Worsening high blood pressure and angina

HEALTH RISKS OF SECONDHAND SMOKE

Those who are regularly around the smoke of others (secondhand smoke) have a higher risk of:

• Heart attacks and heart disease
• Lung cancer
• Sudden and severe reactions, including those involving the eye, nose, throat, and lower respiratory tract

Infants and children who are regularly exposed to secondhand smoke are at risk of:

• Asthma (children with asthma who live with a smoker are much more likely to visit the emergency room)
• Infections, including virus-caused upper respiratory infections, ear infections, and pneumonia
• Lung damage (poor lung function)
• Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
• and many more

So lets join hands and say no to tobacco, once and for all.

Source: http://www.drugs.com/enc/making-the-decision-to-quit-tobacco.html

Life- a test

Every now and then we people complain about our lives, our status and our Health and so on so that we have a never-ending lists of complains. Such a situation or even every situation should be analysed according to Quran and Sunnah that why we are being created, should we complain to Allah or consider life as a test or what. The main purpose to write this post is to refresh and realise the purpose of our creation and act according to what Allah has told us in Quran.
So, lets have a glance below to learn what life actually is!!First of All our purpose of creation as mentioned by The Holy Quran as follows,
[Quran Surah Adh Dhariyat 51:56] I have only created Jinns and men, that they may serve Me.

So the purpose of creation is very well told in this verse of Holy Quran.

[Quran Surah Al-Mulk 67:2] He Who created Death and Life, that He may try which of you is best in deed: and He is the Exalted in Might, Oft-Forgiving;-

So, its quite clear from the Ayah above that life is a test. which is mentioned in many of the Ayahs below,

[Quran Surah Al-Baqarah 2:155] Be sure we shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil), but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere,

[Quran Surah Al-Baqarah 2:156] Who say, when afflicted with calamity: “To Allah (God) We belong, and to Him is our return”:-

[Quran Surah Al-Baqarah 2:157] They are those on whom (Descend) blessings from Allah (God), and Mercy, and they are the ones that receive guidance.

Allah test His creations in many ways and only those will be successful who are steadfast and believe on Allah alone. Allah test His believers by atrocities and affilictions and we should not assume them as the punishment from Allah and signs that Allah is displeased with us or doesn’t like us etc etc. Likewise, we should never construe the success and pleasures that others enjoy as signs that Allah is pleased with them or that they are privileged. Allah has given us the will to do good or bad and this is the way Allah test us that we opt to do good or bad.

Allah expressed in the following ayat that everything in our lives – the good and the bad of it– is a trial for us. How will we cope in the situation that Allah has placed for us? Will we be grateful in prosperity and patient in affliction or will we be arrogant and disobedient?

[Quran Surah Al-Anbiya 21:35] Every soul shall have a taste of death: and We test you by evil and by good by way of trial. to Us must ye return.

[Quran Surah Al-Fajr 89:15] Now, as for man, when his Lord trieth him, giving him honour and gifts, then saith he, (puffed up), “My Lord hath honoured me.”

[Quran Surah Al-Fajr 89:16] But when He trieth him, restricting his subsistence for him, then saith he (in despair), “My Lord hath humiliated me!”

[Quran Surah Al-Anbiya 21:23] He cannot be questioned for His acts, but they will be questioned (for theirs).

As expressed in Ayat below,
[Quran  Surah Al-Nahl 16:9] And unto Allah (God) leads straight the Way, but there are ways that turn aside: if Allah (God) had willed, He could have guided all of you.

Allah has power over all universe, He can make everyone pious and good but then it will not be a test and justice. Justice is that one will be given free will to opt between good and bad and then what that person decides he is destined to get reward or punishment. Like suppose we know that Allah will give us “rizq” but the source of that, we have to choose- whether we are going to have Halal or get it Haram way. One should realise that Allah doesnt need us rather we need His help, blessings and mercy.

[Quran Surah Fatir 35:15] O ye men! It is ye that have need of Allah (God): but Allah (God) is the One Free of all wants, worthy of all praise.

We can never doubt on the power of Allah as He has the power over all universe and He can do want He want to. We can’t blame Him as He loves us seventy times more than ur mother do!!

Hello world!

Assalamu alykum!

Welcome to my brand new blog… I love to write and read but because of my procrastinating habit, I have never been able to post regularly as I ought to… The sole purpose of creating a new blog is that to compile the thought which I have been spilling over the internet on various forums. My posts will be about, Islam,  my views and reviews about various issues and of course about Medical.