The main causes of liver damage

1. Sleeping too late and waking up too late are main cause.
2. Not urinating in the morning.
3. Too much eating.
4. Skipping breakfast.
5. Consuming too much medication.
6. Consuming too much preservatives, additives,food coloring, and
artificial sweetener.
7. Consuming unhealthy cooking oil. As much as possible reduce cooking
oil use when frying, which includes even the best cooking oils like
olive oil. Do not consume fried foodswhen you are tired, except if the
body is very fit.
8. Consuming raw (overly done) foods also add to theburden of liver.
Fried veggies should be finished in one sitting, do not store.We
should prevent this without necessarily spending more. We just have to
adopt a good daily lifestyle and eatinghabits. Maintaining good eating
habits and time condition are very important for our bodies to absorb
and get rid of unnecessary chemicals according to 'schedule.'

When You Forgive, You Live

Forgiveness is not for the weak.Being able to forgive those whohave
wronged you is a mark of spiritual strength and confidence. When you
forgive, you grow, your heart begins to heal, your back straightens
up, your eyes clear so that you can see the road ahead. Anger is a
spiritual sickness; but when youforgive you live.
I know this isn't easy. In an earlier article I mentioned my time in
Fort Worth. There was one particular person there who treated me quite
badly. It's very difficult for me to hold an image of that person in
my mind and say, "I forgive you." It's almost frightening in some
strange way. But in doing it, I feel something in my chest let go, and
I find tears in my eyes, and a smile on my face. SubhanAllah.
It doesn't matter if the other person deserves forgiveness.
Forgiveness is a gift you give to yourself. If someone has hurt you,
don't worry about receiving an apology or explanation, or making them
understand you. You'll rarely getan explanation that makes sense. In
fact, if you want to move on, the best way to do that is to forgive.
Resentment is a chain that binds you to the other person, but
forgiveness breaks the chain, so that you can release that person
along your anger.
Not to mention, as the poet Oscar Wilde said, "Always forgive your
enemies – nothing annoys them so much."
In ancient Chinese thought, the state of forgiveness is like a wide,
deep valley. That's because it opens your mind andallows your thoughts
to flow freely, while anger constricts your mind and makes you blind.
"Hold to forgiveness, command what is right, and turn away from the
ignorant." (Qur'an, 7: 199)
In other words be constantly forgiving but don't give up
yourprinciples ("command what is right"). If you've forgiven the
ignorant and they persist in their hurtful ways, then move on and
leave them behind. Separate yourself from those who are negative, and
seek the company of people who are supportive and kind. Hold no
rancor. When you lay your head on the pillow, sleep in peace, and
you'll wake with tranquility.
I admit that I'm working on this.It's easy to say, "I forgive you."
The hard part is getting to a place where my heart is clear, where I
have no resentment or fear. At times I hold conflicting emotions: I
might love someone, but mistrust them. I think I should take a lesson
from my daughter Salma. I makemistakes with her, but her love flows
like a mountain stream. No one forgives with more grace than a child,
and no one forgives more fully than God.

Surely in Allah’s remembrance do the hearts find peace

True peace comes with remembering Allah and growing closer to Him
When we remember God, we also realize that we are constantly in His
presence, and thus we are liberated from the self-destructive habits
that consume us.
So often in life we are wronged by others, and the temptation
torespond in a demeaning and un-Islamic manner is very strong.
Fortunately, we can avoid wrong responses in the case of mistreatment
by relying on Allah and knowing that He is the All-Knowing. When we
take part in wrong responses, we fallvictim to disobediences that lead
the soul away from righteousness, and into the pits of retaliation and
cruelty.
"Surely in Allah's remembrance do the hearts find peace." (13:28)
Those who seek God and remember Him will find contentment and joy in
their lives with the knowledge that they are under the protection
ofAllah. When we utter praise to the Almighty and thank Him for his
countless bounties, our hearts are filled with inner peace and
reflection. How happy and blessed are those who seek refuge in their
Lord, the Most Beneficent and Most Merciful Allah.

Eating fruits and vegetables: Washing and cutting

Tips for handling fruits and vegetables
1. First of all, before handling any food wash your hands for twenty
seconds with soap and water.
2. Before cutting or eating, wash all food thoroughly under running
water. There is no need to use any soap,detergent or chlorine
forwashing as they leave residues of their own and are avoidable.
Sturdy foods like cucumbers and melons can be scrubbed with a
scrubbing brush.
3. Wash the chopping board and knife thoroughly after using it for
meat, poultry and seafood if the same board will be used for cutting
fruits and vegetables to prevent cross-contamination.
4. Even if you intend to discard the outer covering, for example in
case of a cucumber, it is advisable to wash first as dirt and bacteria
present on it may get transferred to the knife and consequently to the
inside.
5. After growing sprouts store in the fridge in a covered container.
Before eating steam or lightly cook the sprouts. This has two
advantages: they are easier to digest and the heat kills any bacteria
lurking in them.
6. To prevent apples, pears and bananas from turning brown after
cutting, coat them with an acidic juice from pineapple, lemon or
orange. Alternatively mix these fruits with acidic ones in case of a
fruit salad, as they'll keep them from changing colour.
7. Cut fruits as close to serving time as possible. After cutting,
cover with cling wrap and put it in the refrigerator. It is important
to cover themwith cling wrap to prevent them from taking on the odour
of other food in the fridge.
8. Remove the outer leavesof cabbage and lettuce before chopping them.
9. Cut out any overripe parts of the fruit or vegetable before washing
and handling.
10. Use a salad spinner to remove excess water from your greens, pop
them in the spinner after washing each leaf thoroughly under tap
water. Any excess water can be dabbed atwith a clean towel or kitchen
roll. This is important while preparing a salad with greens. If water
is present the dressing slides off the greens and collects in the
bottom of the bowl.
11. A melon baller is a handy implement. Use it to core apples and
pears, remove the seeds from papayas and kiwi and remove the seeds and
pulp from capsicum.
12. Many bagged foods arepre-washed. If the labelon the packet
mentionsthat it is pre-washed, there is no need to wash it again at
home.
13. Some fruits like apples have a waxy coat on them for a longer
shelf life and to enhance their appearance. This coat can be removed
by scraping with a knife or dipping the fruit in a solution of
potassium permanganate or warm salt water.
14. Berries and grapes are often sprayed with a lot of pesticides.
Soak them in warm salt water for 5 minutes and then hold them under
running water. Allow the excess water to drain in a colander.

Islamic Article :-

Surah Al Baqarah (2) verse 185:
"Ramadhan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'an, as a guide
to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (Between
right and wrong). So every one of you who is present (at his home)
during that month should spend it in fasting, but if any one is ill,
or on a journey, the prescribed period (Should be made up) by days
later. Allah intends every facility for you; He does not want to put
to difficulties. (He wants you) to complete the prescribed period, and
to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perchance ye shall be
grateful. " [ 2:185 ]
Sahih Bukhari Volume 8, Book 73, Number 2 :
Volume 3, Book 31, Number 123:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah's Apostle said, "When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of
the heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils
are chained."
Listen to this Dua'a:
Transliteration: (how it sounds)
Wa-i th q a la ibr a heemurabbi ijAAal h atha baladan a minan wa o
rzuqahlahu mina a l ththamar ati man a mana minhumbi A ll a hi wa a
lyawmi al- a khiri q a lawaman kafara faomattiAAuhu qaleelan thumma a
dt arruhu il a AAa tha bi a l nn a ri wabi/saalmaseer
Meaning:
And remember Abraham said:"My Lord, make this a City of Peace, and
feed its people with fruits,-such of them as believe in Allah and the
Last Day." He said:"(Yea), and such as reject Faith,-for a while will
I grant them their pleasure, but will soondrive them to the torment of
Fire,- an evil destination (indeed)!" [ 2:126 ]
Name of Allaah
AL-KHAFIZ
(The Abaser)

What Everyone Should Know About Shariah

The newest buzzword these days is 'Shariah.' As several states
scramble to pass legislation to outlaw Shariah, a hyped fear and
persistent confusion surrounds this loaded term. Most people who speak
passionately against Shariah do not, in reality, understand it and
often reduce it to merely a penal code. This introduction describes
the universal principles of Shariah and itsholistic approach. It
furtherhighlights misconceptions about Shariah in order to address the
concerns currently surrounding this topic.
Shariah is an integral part of Islam. It is often defined as 'Islamic
law,' causing one to assume that it consists mostly of criminal
rulings and penalties. However, Shariah encompasses much more than the
conventional understanding of law. While Shariah provides the legal
framework for the foundation and functioningof a society, it also
details moral, ethical, social and political codes of conduct for
Muslims at an individual and collective level.
Islam is a faith that every prophet sent by God preached to his
people, culminating in the message brought by the final prophet,
Muhammad, peace be upon him (pbuh), in the 7th century in Arabia.
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) called people towards the belief in one God
and encouragedthem to be just and compassionate to one another. In
Islam's holy book, the Quran (also spelled 'Koran'), God explains that
he sent Muhammad (pbuh) as a source of mercy for humanity: "And We
have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds."
(21: 107)
His mandate for mercy is symbolic of the overall message of Islam. The
Quran states, "O mankind! There hath come to you a direction from your
Lord and a healing for the (diseases) in your hearts, and for those
who believe, a guidance and a Mercy." (10:57)
In the same spirit, the essence of Shariah is also characterized by
mercy andcompassion. The very purpose of Shariah is to facilitate the
individual andthe community to establisha relationship with God and
one another. Its rules and regulations are designed to benefit and
protect all members of the society. God declares in theQuran, "O you
who believe!Stand out firmly for justice,as witnesses to Allah, even
as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin…"(4:135)
According to Ibn al-Qayyim(d. 1350), one of the great scholars, "The
Shariah in itsentirety is justice, mercy and benefit. So any issue
that leads from justice to injustice, or mercy to its opposite, or
benefit to harm, then it is not from the Shariah, even if someone
thought that it is."
Mercy and compassion are the essence of Shariah, which is designed to
protect all members of society and to improve the condition of
humanity. It isreported that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said, "Show
mercy to those on earth, so that He who is in the Heavens (God) will
show mercy to you."
Shariah is an Arabic word that literally means a 'vast road leading to
an uninterrupted source of water.' Figuratively, it refers to a clear,
straight path, as mentioned in the following Quranic verse: "Then We
put you, [O Muhammad], on a straight way concerning the matter[of
religion]; so follow it and do not follow the inclinations of those
who do not know." (45:18) Hence, Shariah is the practical guidance
Muslims live by. It is rooted in the divine teachings of Islam and
relates to all aspects oflife. Its collective aim is to facilitate
justice and benefit for humanity in thislife and the hereafter.
Shariah is derived from thescholarly study of Islamic texts. These
texts include the final revelation from God (Quran) and the recorded
teachings of Prophet Muhammad (Sunnah) which are timeless and of
divine origin. However, scholars derive specific rulings from the
revealed texts by usinghuman effort and interpretation, taking into
account the surrounding context. As such, Shariah relies on scholarly
consensus, legal analogy, and interpretive reasoning in deciding
rulings. Hence, there are areas of Shariah where the scholars
unanimously agree due to clearly defined evidence and areas where
disagreements exist. This flexibility enables Shariah to maintain its
applicabilityand relevance in the light of changing social,
cultural,and historical circumstances, while remaining faithful to the
guiding principles of Shariah and its core objectives.
Objectives of Shariah
To fulfill its intrinsic goal ofachieving benefit and justice, Shariah
sets forth certain timeless principles, which deal with the necessary,
supplementary, and voluntary realms of human lived experience.

Success in My Own Room

When I woke up this morning I asked myself:
"What are some of the secrets of success in life?"
I found the answer right there in my very room:
The fan said : Be cool.
The roof said : Aim high.
The window said : See the world.
The clock said : Every minute is precious.
The mirror said : Reflect before you act.
The door said : Push hard for your goals.
And finally, the carpet said :Kneel down and pray.

STORY - ~ It is not just all work at DU

With just days to go beforethe last date for submission of admission
forms, these girls brave theheat filling up their forms at Delhi
University on Wednesday. Photo: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar
Many colleges offer a number of extra-curricular activities
Can you count the number of times you have heard the words "Delhi
University" and "90 per cent" together? Most people in the age bracket
of 17 years and 19 years applying for admissions cannot.
These people also feel the school they just left behindwith its
super-competitive basketball games, even more competitive choir
competitions and umpteenother activities that once defined their whole
existence, is lost forever. They are wrong.
"We have the debating society, the English literary society, the fine
arts society, the hiking club, thephotography society, the wildlife
society and a history society among many others. All these societies
have a staff advisor and the remaining members are students," said St.
Stephen's College teacher Karen Gabrielle.
She added that their winter fest, their annual Shakespeare stage
production and the annual music competition was something the students
looked forward to every year.
"Throughout the year there is always something going on, there are no
restrictions for any studenton the number of activitiesbut there is so
much going on in each society that a student can manage a maximum of
four," she said.
St. Stephen's College has itsown admission procedure that is set apart
from the university. Its application form asks whether you have any
interest in a particular activity but thereis no separate ECA quota.
However, this can work to your advantage.
"Every student is welcome to any activity, provided there is some sort
of demonstrative skill and instinct in the student," said Ms.
Gabrielle.
Ramjas College is, however,most proud of its debating team.
"Our debating society has been winning constantly atalmost every
inter-college debate for the past five years. It is the most popular
activity among ourstudents," said Cultural Coordinator and Botany
teacher Madhumitha Banerjee, who added that they had an extra
curricular activities (ECA) quota that required concrete proof of past
achievements to be eligibleto apply in addition to passing the college
trials.
However, she said that there are plenty of opportunities for students
with no background in the any of the college's popular activities like
music, dramatics and debate among others.
" Some of our best students in the past who have won several
competitions for us, have been those who have never taken part in
anything in school," she said, adding that the college will be taking
auditions for several activities within a few weeks into the new term
and that the interested student must remain alert for dates and such.
Another college that does not have an ECA quota is the Shri Ram
College of Commerce which, they say,works to the advantage of the
student as everybody is at an equal footing and eligible to compete.
"The dramatic festival, 'Histrionica,' with its series of stage and
street plays is a big hit every year. The 'Shri Ram Debating Festival'
is another traditional event with Parliamentary, spot and conventional
debates. This goes back several years and usually happens around
February," said Cultural Co-ordinator and English professor S. K.
Choudhury.
"However, since we are a commerce college we havespecific events like
the annual college festival, 'cross-routes' which has a week-long
business conclave where industry leaders speak and there are business
quizzes and games." The college's commerce and economics societies are
the most coveted as are the foreign programmes that allow students to
travel to countries like Japan, Australia and the Netherlands to
compete.
Miranda House, with a hostof activities like debate, dramatics and
fine arts has an ECA quota and the last date of applying being June 30
by 1 p.m.
"The trials will be held on July 4 and 5, with admissions scheduled
for July 6 and 7," said PrincipalPrathiba Jolly.
ECA and sports forms are being sold in almost every college of the
university, save a few that do not have quotas.
Sale of forms dips
With only five more days to go, the sale of application forms at Delhi
University dipped to 5,000 on Wednesday. The last date for applying is
June 18.
"This is not counting onlinesales of 4,000 forms," said Dean of
Students' Welfare Prof. J.M. Khurana, adding that over all online
sales sofar had touched 22,000.
Interestingly, ever since the sale of application forms opened on June
4, more than one lakh copies have been sold for the 54,000 seats that
are available in the university.

Science & Tech: - - China's manned spacecraft in final preparations for mid-June launch

JIUQUAN, Gansu, June 13 (Xinhua) -- China's Shenzhou-9 manned
spacecraft is in final preparations for its launch in mid-June, paving
the way for China's first manned space docking mission, as well as the
country's first space mission featuring a femaleastronaut.
The mission will feature the country's first attempt at manual space
docking with the orbiting Tiangong-1 lab module, aswell as tasks to be
completed aboard the Tiangong-1 by astronauts from the Shenzhou-9,
space experts said at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest
China's Gobi desert.
China will launch the Shenzhou-9 spacecraft sometime in mid-June, a
spokesperson said last Saturday.
"The launch of the Shenzhou-9 is a highly influential event that marks
an important milestone for the development of China's space
technology," Cui Jijun, director of the Jiuquan Satellite Launch
Center, said on Wednesday.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the creationof China's manned
space program, which was officially initiated on Sept. 21, 1992. The
launch of the Shenzhou-9 spacecraftmarks the program's 10th launch and
the country's fourth manned spaceflight.
China aims to build a space station around 2020based on the space
rendezvous and docking technology that is currently being tested.
Several components will be sent into space separately before being
assembled into a space station through a variety of docking
procedures.
"In the Russian and USA space programs, the most serious docking
problems have been caused by automatic docking systems, more so than
by manual docking," said Pat Norris, chairman of the Royal
Aeronautical Society Space Group.
"China has taken the prudent course of verifying new space technology
in robotic flights before applying it to human space missions,"he
said, referring to last November's unmanned Shenzhou-8 mission to test
docking technology, as well as four unmanned missions that took place
before the launch of the Shenzhou-5, which took astronaut Yang Liwei
into space in 2003 and orbited Earth 14 times.
"China is only the third nation to launch humans into space, which is
a very impressive achievement," said Norris, who is also a member of
the Executive Committee of the UK Parliamentary Space Committee.
FULL PREPARATIONS
The Command Hall of the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center is in "ready
to launch" status, according to launch center commander Wang Jun, who
will be responsible for turning the ignition key during the actual
launch.
A full-system drill was held on Tuesday, with all systems relevant to
the mission found to be in full operating condition, Cui said.
He added that a sound emergency plan is in placeand comprehensive
escapedrills have been conductedto ensure the safety of thethree
astronauts aboard.
The target module Tiangong-1 was brought down to docking orbit in
early June and is ready for docking attempts by the Shenzhou-9 and
Shenzhou-10 spacecraft, according to a spokesperson from China'smanned
space program.
The three astronauts havebeen "strictly quarantined" so as to
guarantee their physical and psychological condition, according to Lu
Jinrong, chief engineer at the Jiuquan center.
"We cannot see them or get in touch with them. Allwe can do is provide
support for their life and work," Lu said.
Although the construction of another launch center in southern China's
island province of Hainan is well under way, the Jiuquan center will
continue to be used to send manned spacecraft into space, while heavy
components to be used to build the space station will be launched at
the Hainan center, Lu said, adding that the Jiuquan center will
"constantly adapt to new missions."
HIGH TEMPS POSE THREAT
"This launch marks the first time for a Chinese spacecraft to be
launched during the hot summer weather," Cui said.
The previous nine launches -- from the launch of the Shenzhou-1 to the
Tiangong-1 -- took place in spring, autumn or winter, he said.
For the Shenzhou-9 mission, high temperatures will pose a threat to
the craft, as the ship's propellant can vaporize in excessively high
temperatures. Efforts have been made to cool the propellant to around
15 degrees Celsius, "the best temperature before launch," Cui said.
"Summer is a good choice for the launch time," he said, as
thunderstorms seldom occur near Jiuquanduring the summer. Springand
winter bring sandstorms and extremelylow temperatures to the area,
respectively.

Suicide car bomb hits bus station near Damascus, 14 injured/ - 2012-06-14 10:41:55 GMT 2012-06-14 18:41:55(Beijing Time) Xinhua English

DAMASCUS, June 14 (Xinhua) -- A suicide car bomb tore through a bus station early Thursday in asuburban area of the Syrian capital Damascus, leaving 14 people injured and a nearby security complex damaged, witnesses and the state-run SANA news agency said.
A suicide bomber driving an explosive-laden van tried to storm the Saida Zainab bus garage near Damascus at about 5:50 a.m. local time (0250 GMT),prompting guards at the bus station to open fire to stop him, witnesses told Xinhua.
The bomber managed to reach the bottom of the garage and detonate the bomb, witnesses said.
A security complex overlooking the garage was damaged, along with a nearby hospital and a Shiite shrine.
The blast left a deep craterat the scene, as well as twisted debris and a dozen of burned cars. Windows of some nearby buildings and shops were also shattered.
A local resident told Xinhua that he, along withhis family, was awaken by a "loud sound" that rattledhis house's windows and doors. "My kids are still crying in fear," he said.
A team of UN observers headed to the scene and examined the blast site.
Meanwhile, another car bomb ripped through a military checkpoint in the northwestern province of Idlib, injuring six army men, including an officer.
Thursday's bombings are the latest in a series of explosions that have rocked the unrest-torn country during the 16-month-old unrest.
The Syrian government blames "foreign-backed terrorists" of being behindthe daily violence.
/ - - - :-> Transtors: 1.http://free-translation.imtranslator.net/lowres.asp 2.http://translate.google.com/m?twu=1&hl=en&vi=m&sl=auto&tl=en

The Tall Grass

I could listen all day
to the eucalyptus leaves
rustling in the wind, passing it on.
You said once
that the world was stale and worn,
like a room where everything's been used.
Sometimes I wonder
if you were speaking of yourself.
I don't see the world that way,
or you either. At this moment
the clouds in the Eastern sky
are limned with red light
like the edge of a forest fire.
The cows across the road are grazing
in the acres that burned last year.
Now tall green grass growsthere.
I know they are slow beasts, barely aware,
but they love their calves,
and they worship in their way.
They are beautiful in their striped coats.
All is beautiful, especially you.
If your world is a stale room
then let me break the door
and carry you into the Junesunshine.
Maybe you're right that everything's been touched,
but the world renews itself.
The rains wash to the sea,
and all is clean. I know that-
like the acres where the cows graze -
you've been burned.
You said you have ten thousand questions
and nowhere to turn. You said
you are a painful mystery to yourself.
That's okay. None of us have answers,
none of us know our own depths
any more than we know the stars..
You are innocent as a child to me.
You are new, never stained,
the tall grass growing green
on the acres of your soul.

Going to Allah when we need Him

Do we think we can go to Allah only when we "need"Him?
I'm not saying that it's wrong. I'm saying that it's impossible.
We need Allah every hour, every day. Every heartbeat,every breath,
every bite of food, every ray of sunshine.We need Him when we arepoor
and sick, and when we're rich and robust. We need Him when we're
starving in the gutter, or cruising on top of the world. We depend on
Allahmore than a newborn babydepends on its mother, even when we don't
see it.
Our failure to see this reality does not change thefact that it is
true. We can achieve nothing without Allah. I write this article only
by His will. You get out of bed, pour your cereal, hug your children,
go to work, run that 5K race, and breathe, all by means of the gifts
He has given.
When we're doing well, and everything is butter, that's the time to
turn to Allah even more, with gratitude and praise. If we do that,
then when we're having hard times He'll be there for us, He'll rescue
us and lift us up, even if we don't ask.
This not my idea. I did not make this up. The Messenger of Allah (sws)
said, "Remember Allah during times of ease and He will remember you
during times of difficulty." (Tirmidhi)
Remembrance of Allah is not only a matter of prayer. It is also
kindness to others. If I have an excess of energy, I need to use that
to help someone who is ill, weak, depressed,or lost. If I have been
blessed with wealth, intelligence, knowledge, or talent, then I need
to use that to bring someone relief.
I need Allah , I know that. I feel it.
We need Allah with every rotation of the earth. So yes, go to Allah
when you need Him – at every moment in time.

1] Dua Against Debt

Being in debt is a killer. It consumes us with stress, and eats away
at our happiness and sense of security. It destroys marriages, and if
the debt is between family or friends then it can ruin those
relationships. In some countries, inability topay your debt can even
you put in prison.
I feel obligated to mention that part of the reason so many people are
carrying so much debt is our addiction to the material lifestyle. We
are bombarded with messagesand advertisements telling us we need to
buy this andown that. It gets to the point where we measure our status
in life (and that of others) by what we own, or worse, by how much we
spend. If we spend a huge sum of money on a lavish wedding, then we
are "honored" in society. If not,we feel shamed. Since our incomes do
not match our desires, we go into debt.
This thinking and lifestyle is completely contrary to what Islam
teaches us, and to the example set by the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and
the Sahabah (may Allah be pleased withthem all). Even when they became
rulers of the world,they continued to live simple and humble
lifestyles, because they understood what really matters in life.
So the first step for us is to readjust our priorities, and to realize
that what matters is our relationship with Allah. Beyond that, the
important things in life are our family relationships– loving our
spouses and children and spending timewith them, worshiping with them,
supporting them. Then our friendships,and doing some good in the
world, creating something meaningful, andbeing an agent of compassion
in the lives of those around you.
Dua Against Debt
If you have done whatever you can to avoid debt, and still you find
yourself burdened with debts, try this dua from Fortress of the
Muslim. Repeat it manytimes every day:
Dua for relief from debt, inArabic
Allaahummak-finee bihalaalika 'an haraamika wa 'aghninee bifadhlika
'amman siwaaka.
"O Allah, suffice me with what You have allowed instead of what You
have forbidden , and make me independent of all others besides You."
(Reference: At-Tirmithi 5/560. See also Al-Albani, Sahih At-Tirmithi 3/180.)
This dua against debt is really brilliant, because the dua contains
within itself the solution to the problem. "Suffice me with what you
have allowed." Inother words, let the halal be enough for me. Don't
letme get myself into debt because of haram mortgage loans or
excessive material desire, or out-of-control consumerspending. Let me
be satisfied with a simple, halal life, so that I don't getinto debt.
If you repeat this often enough it becomes a part of your thinking and
awareness, and you modifyyour own behavior, which leads to: "make me
independent of all others besides You." You become your own man or
woman, not owing money to anyone, independent, relying only on Allah.
I'm not saying the dua is just an affirmation, I'm saying it works on
both levels, as an affirmation and as a prayer to Allah to help you
achieve that affirmation. It's a subtle and amazing dua.
Three Excellent Dua's Against Debt:
(note that #2 is the sameas the one above)
1) "Oh Allah, I take refugein You…"
Narrated by Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri (ra):
One day the Messenger of Allah (saw) entered the mosque. He saw there
a man from the Ansar (a resident of Madinah) called Abu Umamah and
said to him: "What is the matter that I am seeing you sittingin the
mosque when there is no time of prayer?" Abu Umamah said: "I am
entangled in sorrow and debts." The Prophet Muhammad (ra ) replied:
"Shall I not teach you words by which, when you say them, Allah will
remove your sorrow, and settle your debts?" Abu Umamah said: "Yes,
Messenger of Allah." The Prophet Muhammad (ra ) said: "Say in the
morning and evening: Allahumma inni 'auzu bika min alhamma wal 'huzn,
wal 'ajzi wal kasali wal bukhli wal jubn, wa dhala'iddini wa
'galabatir rajaal." (See here for the arabic text).
'O Allah, I take refuge in You from anxiety and sorrow, weakness and
laziness, miserliness and cowardice, the burden of debts and from
being overpowered by men.'
Abu Umamah said: "When Idid that Allah removed my distress and settled
my debt." [Abu Dawood]

Stories of New Muslims

This page is built on the shoulders of those people who have
volunteered their personal stories of how they entered Islam. Ifyou,
the reader, are open to the possibility that Allah, the Creator, has
given you clear evidence to accept Him and His message of Islam, then
read these stories. From different backgrounds, anddifferent
experiences, you just might find someone here who had the same
questions and doubts that you may have. Many of these people have
endured against tremendous obstacles, including parental opposition,
despair with other religions, being blind, and being lied to about the
true nature of Islam.

How to become a Muslim

If anyone has a real desire to be a Muslim and has fullconviction and
strong belief that Islam is the true religion ordained by Allah for
all human-beings,then, one should pronounce the " Shahada ",the
testimony of faith, without further delay . The Holy Qur'an is
explicit on this regard as Allah states:
"The Religion in the sight of Allah is Islam." (Qur'an 3:19 )
In another verse of the Holy Qur'an, Allah states:
"If anyone desires a religion other than Islam (Submission to Allah),
Never will it be accepted of him; and in the Hereafter he will be in
the ranks of those who have lost." (Qur'an 3:85 )
If a person does not pronounce the Shahada and enter Islaam, we cannot
say that he is a Muslim, even if he admiredIslaam and recognized that
it the best religion, a great religion, and so on. Abu Taalib, the
uncle of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) died
a kaafir (non-Muslim), and Allaah forbade His Prophet to pray for
forgiveness for him, even though he used to defend the Prophet (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and said in his poems: "I do know
that the religion of Muhammad is better than all other religions of
mankind; were it not for fear of blame or slander, you would find me
accepting it completely."

Do Fish Oil Supplements Protect Your Heart?

Many people take fish oil supplements because someevidence suggests
that the omega-3 fatty acids they contain help protect against
cardiovascular disease (CVD) and sudden death caused by heart rhythm
abnormalities. But there is conflicting evidence from several research
studies and, in theend, these supplements areprobably not helpful.
Results of a New Study
The fatty acids thought to help protect against CVD are called
eicosapentaenoicacid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). In
reviewing this ongoing issue, the latest results are from a
meta-analysis published recently in Archives of Internal Medicine.
This report examined 14 research trials that enrolled20,485 patients.
These patients, all with known aCVD, took either a placeboor fish oil
supplements. Theaverage dose was 1.7 gram/day of EPA and DHA. The
results showed that supplementation did not reduce the risk of CVD
events, sudden cardiac death, heart attacks, strokeand transient
ischemic events, or deaths from all causes. The authors concluded that
fish oil supplements were not beneficial in secondary prevention
(preventative measures used in people with a prior history of CVD.)
Results of Previous Studies Differ
One reason for the popularity of fish oil supplementation was the 1999
report of a large Italian study which followed people who took fish
oil supplements for a period of 3.5 years, startingwithin 3 months
after a heart attack. Those taking the supplements significanty
lowered their risk for overall death as well as a combination of CVD
outcomes, compared to study participants who did not take fish oil
after a heart attack. While that sounded promising, two other research
trials looking at secondary prevention, published in 2010, found
different results, as did the meta-analysis described above. These
trials found that fish oil supplements offered no protection against
CVD events. What could be the reason?
There are a couple of possible explanations for the different results
of the latest studies:
1) accurate determination of the benefits of preventive measures
requires a longer follow-upthan employed in any of these studies; and,
2) any possible benefits of fish oil supplements were not apparent in
participants in the later studies because their CVD risk was reduced
by taking the new medications to control cholesterol levels and blood
pressure.
In addition, an earlier meta-analysis also had found no CVD benefits
of fish oil supplements in people with no prior history of CVD (i.e.,
primary prevention).
Should you continue to take fish oil supplements?
I think not, but there does remain the possibility that fish oils
provide some protection against CVD. Thecontroversy may be resolved by
results of the ongoing vitamin D and omega-3 trial that will enroll
20,000 men older than 50 and women older than 55.
Omega-3s are Essential in Your Diet
Despite the disappointing research results around fishoil, omega-3
fatty acids arean essential dietary component since humans can't make
these fats.
If you decide to continue to take fish oil supplements, you'll want to
understand that the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA comprise only
about 20 percent of most supplements. Meanwhile, whether you have CVD
or not, you should eat at leasttwo servings of marine fishweekly
because they not only contain omega-3 fattyacids but may also replace
your intake of less healthy red meat.
One final point about fish oil—there is even less evidence to support
other beneficial claims for these supplements, for example to improve
memory and joint pains of rheumatoid arthritis. However, strong
evidence does show that large doses of fish oil supplements
effectively lower blood triglycerides (but do not raise HDL
cholesterol or lower LDL cholesterol levels).

Why are female doctors paid less than male counterparts?

Male doctors earn more than their female counterparts, even if
theyhave similar hours, titles and specialties, according to new
American research.
*. Should a woman's period affect her pay?One CEO makes the case
*. Why we still need booster shots of feminism
*. How do we control physician costs?
Researchers at the University of Michigan Health System and Duke
University conducted an analysis that found male doctors earn
about$12,000 more a year thanfemale physicians. The findings were
published Wednesday in the Journalof the American Medical Association.
"The gender pay disparitywe found in this highly talented and select
groupof physicians was sobering," Reshma Jagsi, associate professor of
radiation oncology at the University of Michigan Medical School and
lead author of the study said in a press release .
The researchers surveyed about 800 doctors who had received
competitive grants early in their careers from the U.S. National
Institutes of Health. Doing, allowing researchers to examine a pool of
similarly motivated and talented physicians.
The results showed that, on average, male doctors earned about
$200,400 a year, while female physicians earned about$167,600. Some of
the differences are explained by differences in medical specialty,
with men goinginto fields that traditionally pay more. For instance,
studies show men are more likely to choose cardiology, which typically
pays high amounts, while women are more likely to opt for the
less-lucrative pediatrics. When those differences were factored in,
the overall pay gap between men and women was about$12,000, the
researchers said.
Over a 30-year career, that difference would addup to about $360,000.
Why the difference?
The Associated Press spoke to two women in the medical field who
believe a big factor is the fact men are simply better at
self-promotion and pushing for more money.
"Male faculty members are willing to negotiate more aggressively. It
maybe social and cultural. It seems to be fairly deep-rooted," JoAnn
Manson, chief of preventive medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital,
told the Associated Press.
Of course, the issue isn't just limited to the medical profession. Pay
inequality has been the subject of debate for years, and could become
an issue in the 2012 U.S. presidential election. One of the biggest
reasons researchers point to in the gender pay-inequality gap is the
fact many women interrupt their careers to have children.
Is there any solution to the persistent problem of pay inequality
between men and women?

HADEES :- ~

Waraqah ibn Nawfal, the cousin of Khadijah (ra) was a Christian and a
man of faith. His words to the Prophet (s) when he first received
revelation show us the loyalty we should have to the Message and the
Messenger:
"I wish that I were still young. I hope I will still be alive when
your people drive you out!" The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alayhi
wa sallam) said, "Will they drive me out?" He said,"Yes, no man has
brought anything similar to what you have brought without being
treated with hostility. If I am still alive on that day, I will give
you my strong support."
[Sahih Muslim]

Al Qur'an Ayath Explanation: - -

"And We certainly sent Moses with Our signs, [saying], "Bring out your
people from the darknesses into the light and remind them of the days
of Allah." Indeed in that are signs for every patient and grateful
one." [Ibrahim: 5]
- Reminding people of the days of Allah `azza wa jall, and connecting
them to Him is one of the greatest things a person or a da'ee can do
for a person. Waffaqanallahu wa iyyakum (may Allah grant us success,
ameen).