Al-Quran

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1) WE ALWAYS ASK: Why was I TESTED?
AL-QURAN ANSWERS: "Do men think that they will be left alone saying,'We believe', and that they will not be tested? We did test those before them, and Allah will certainly know those who are true from those who are false." [29:2-3]
2) WE ALWAYS ASK: Why do I never get what I want?
AL-QURAN ANSWERS: " It is possible that you dislike a thing which is good for you, and that you love a thing, which is bad for you. But Allah knows, while you know not." Surah Al-Baqarah [2:216]
3) WE ALWAYS ASK: Why was I burdened this way?
AL-QURAN ANSWERS: "Allah does not place a burden to a soul greater than it can bear. It gets every good that it earns, and it suffers every ill that it earns." Surah Al-Baqarah [2:286]& " So verily, with every difficulty there is relief: (repeated) Verily, with every difficulty there is relief." Surah Al-Insyirah [94:5-6]
4) WE ALWAYS ASK: Why am I losing hope?
AL-QURAN ANSWERS: "So lose not heart, nor fall into despair: For you will be superior if you are true in Faith." Surah Al-Imran [3:139]
5) WE ALWAYS ASK: How can I face it?
AL-QURAN ANSWERS: " O you who believed! Persevere in patience and constancy; vie in such perseverance; strengthen each other; and fear Allah that you may prosper." Surah Al-Imran[3:200]& "And seek(Allah's) help with patient, perseverance and prayer: It is indeed hard, except to those who bring a humbly submissive (to Allah)." Surah Al-Baqarah [2:45]
6) WE ALWAYS ASK: What do I get from all these?
AL-QURAN ANSWERS: "Indeed, Allah has purchased from the believers their lives and properties (in exchange) for that they will have the garden (of Paradise)..." Surah At-Taubah [9:111
7) WE ALWAYS ASK: To whom could I depend?
AL-QURAN ANSWERS: "(Allah) suffice me: there is no god but He: On Him is my trust- He the Lord of the Throne (of Glory) Supreme." Surah At-Taaubah [9:129]
8) WE ALWAYS ASK: But I can't take it anymore!
AL-QURAN ANSWERS:
"Despairs not of the Mercy of Allah: for Allah forgives All sins for He is Often- Forgiving, Most Merciful." Surah Az-Zumar [39:53]

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Personal, - Why late pregnancy?

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There are some factors that affect the occurrence of pregnancy. They include the timing of sexual intercourse, the number of times it occurs, and the exact timing of ovulation, in addition to other factors that will be mentioned later in this article.
Some wives believe that mere abstention from taking contraceptive pills necessarily leads to pregnancy. They believe this because they had previous pregnancies in this manner and believe that this would happen again, without delay. However, physicians advise those who wish to be pregnant to approach gynecologists, at least for immunization against German measles and for checking the levels of folic acid. This is effective in preventing deformities during pregnancy and in discovering any disease that may cause harm to the fetus.
After this is the state of waiting for pregnancy to occur. There are some factors that usually have a positive effect on pregnancy, by the will of Allaah The Almighty.
One of those factors is observing the woman's period of fertility when she is likely to fall pregnant. Modern medical studies have proven that this period continues for six days from the beginning of ovulation, which is estimated to occur in the middle of the interval between two menstrual cycles. Medical studies also mention that there is a 36% chance of conceiving if sexual intercourse happens before ovulation or on the same day it begins. However, chances decrease to only 10% if sexual intercourse takes place four or six days before ovulation starts. That is because sperm may survive for five days inside a woman's body, but this is usually unlikely.
Dr. Suzanne Board says that ovulation usually occurs from the tenth to the eighteenth day of the menstrual cycle. Ovulation is indicated by sticky vaginal discharges that come from the cervix to the vagina. At the beginning of the menstrual cycle, there are quite a lot of these discharges that are of a light and sticky texture. They become more sticky and plentiful at the beginning of ovulation, as they resemble the white of a raw egg.
On the other hand, there are various medical means to detect the beginning of ovulation. Some of them depend on urine tests, and others depend on measuring body temperature which increases considerably on the day of ovulation. However, some physicians do not recommend this and prefer that sexual intercourse takes place before or during ovulation. If sexual intercourse occurs daily from that time on, conception may well occur, by the will of Allaah The Almighty. Still, women are advised not to yearn for pregnancy in the first months of marriage. Some believe that extreme desire may delay conception. If there are relevant concerns, physicians can be consulted to help.
Special Marital Relations
It was believed that the husband's abstention from having sexual intercourse with his wife for a period of time before her ovulation may help her to get pregnant since his sperm would increase in number by the time ovulation begins. This is correct, but it is not practical, for sperm usually fertilizes the egg. Sexual intercourse, however, is necessary when ovulation is about to start or has already begun, but not necessarily every day. If there is sexual intercourse every couple of days, the chances of conception are 22%. However, when sexual intercourse occurs on a daily basis, the chances of conception are then no more than 25%. If the couple have sexual intercourse weekly, the chances of pregnancy decrease to 10%, for the period of fertilization or most of it would be lost when a whole week elapses.
How Does a Woman Know She is Pregnant?
Pregnancy is commonly recognized when the menstrual cycle stops. A woman, nevertheless, can know even before that. Some women mention relevant signs, such as headache, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, swelling in the belly, tenderness of the breasts, light cramps in the muscles, sudden appearance of acne, extreme sensitivity to odors, and repeated desire to urinate. Most of these signs are the result of hormonal changes. Modern blood tests can detect pregnancy a week after fertilization. The ideal method, however, to accurately detect pregnancy is to do a blood test after the cessation of the menstrual cycle. Pregnancy tests can also be done at home. In both cases, 28 days from the beginning of the menstrual cycle must pass so that early tests or examination do not lead to a negative result.
What Happens if Menstruation is Late?
A woman should know that menstruation may be late for natural reasons that should not cause any concern. When a woman stops taking contraceptive pills, her menstrual cycle does not return to normal for three months. If she used to take contraceptive injections every three months, her ovulation may take six months to start occurring again.
Smoking Delays Pregnancy
In Britain, a study carried out on 17,000 women of ages ranging between 25 and 39 years proved that the pregnancy rate among smokers is less by 22% than that of non-smokers. Other studies established that female smokers are more liable to abort pregnancies, compared to non-smokers.
Is Medical Consultation Necessary Immediately After Pregnancy?
Physicians advise women to wait a year for the occurrence of pregnancy if they are under 30. If a woman is over 30, she may go for a medical consultation, since it is quite likely that there is a problem. There is a timeline recommended by doctors as follows: women between 30 and 35 years of age should consult a physician if pregnancy is delayed by 6 to 9 months. Women who are between 35 and 40 years of age are advised to have medical consultation 6 months after marriage. Women who are above 40 should go to the doctor 3 months after marriage. If a woman went for a medical consultation with a gynecologist, she has to continue her visits for at least six months. In other words, she should not be hasty in consulting fertility specialists.
Fertility Problems
A wife should know that the availability of all factors related to pregnancy does not necessarily mean that pregnancy will inevitably occur. This is subject to the power of Allaah The Almighty and His Divine decree. Studies confirm that normal women have no more than 20-40 % potential of conceiving in each ovulation cycle. The egg and the sperm may be too weak to fertilize, or, fertilization may occur, but the fetus may remain for no more than a few days, then it leaves the body without the woman noticing. Therefore, it is better for a woman to wait for pregnancy to happen, not within a month or a few months; rather, she ought to wait for a whole year. This is supported by a statistic that was carried out in the United Sates about women's chances of pregnancy within a year in relation to their age. The results show that women who are less than 25 years old have chances to conceive of up to 96%; women who are between 25 and 34 have chances to fall pregnant of up to 86%; and women who are between 35 and 44 have chances to fall pregnant of up to 78%.
Scientifically Futile Recommendations
There are some mistaken beliefs about fertilization. For example, it is believed that drinking coffee weakens the fertilization process. This is not scientifically proven since more than ten studies have shown that moderate consumption of coffee does not affect fertilization at all. It is also believed that taking Rubitone helps with fertilization. It is thought to have positive effects on the viscous liquid in the cervix helping the sperm to swim up to the uterus. Modern studies say that there is no need to increase this liquid as long as ovulation is natural. Even if it is not natural, there would be no benefit at all from that liquid. A third mistaken belief is that a husband's underpants decrease the chances of fertilization. This depends on the belief that the testicles decrease their production of sperm in a warmer environment. The most recent studies established this to be unfounded.
Even a man who wears tight underpants with a high percentage of polyester in its fabric has sperm rates not less than those of another man who does not wear such underpants.
It should be noted, however, that a man's fertility is affected by 20% due to smoking less than a pack of cigarettes a day, compared to a non-smoker. Therefore, what would be the case if the smoking rate is more than this?
A fourth mistaken belief is that if a woman exercises regularly it will decrease her fertility. This, however, is not scientifically established. Studies would rather say that if the menstrual cycle is regular, there is no reason to stop exercise. If the exercises are difficult while the woman needs them, she can enhance her fertility by eating more and by reducing activity to resume her ovulation cycle.
When to Visit Fertility Specialists?
A woman should not be hasty in this regard. It is preferable that she visits a gynecologist regularly so that the doctor can do an initial examination and study the medical record of both the husband and wife. There should be analysis of the husband's sperm and confirmation of the occurrence of ovulation.
It is important to test the ability of the uterus to host the fertilized egg exactly seven days after the occurrence of ovulation. It is also necessary to test the viscous liquid in the cervix at its due time, according to medical specifications. For an accurate calculation of time, it is preferable that ovulation is observed practically, not to depend merely on the time of the wife's menstrual cycle.
It is also incorrect to depend on the drug Clomid for activating the ovaries. If it does not give the desired results, another more effective drug, such as Pergonal, should be used instead. If there is no progress, there may be problems other than ovulation because fertilization is an intricate process that is beset with many complicated details.
Psychological Mood
Does the psychological mood affect the pregnancy? Can stress delay a woman's conception? It may be said that a woman who suffers no stress conceives quickly. However, some doctors such as Dr. Mark Sware, from New York, opposes this opinion. In the meantime, Dr. Alice Domar from Harvard University emphasizes that psychological states affect the occurrence of pregnancy. Depression, not just normal anxiety, may cause trouble to a woman's fertility. In a study that was carried out in 1995, it was established that a depressed woman may have fertility problems double those of the woman who does not suffer from depression. The less a woman is depressed, the higher her rates of conception.

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Personal, - Nutrition tips for pregnant women

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Most of us consider pregnancy a very ordinary period of life. However, nutrition specialists have not ceased studying it till now in an attempt to draw nutritional plans for pregnant women during this critical time of their life.
The purpose of these plans is to ensure good health for both the mother and the healthy development of the fetus. Therefore, they consider the nine months of pregnancy a period of emergency that requires alertness, serious monitoring and the provision of every possible type of care. This is because this period has many dimensions and it is not just about a woman who is pregnant and afterwards delivers a male or a female baby; rather, pregnancy in the first place is a matter of a body within which another soul is being created and a new body that is going to separate from it. This situation requires caution so as to guarantee the safety of the two bodies from any harm.
1-A mother has to pay attention to her health, as this is a key factor in having a healthy pregnancy. For example, if a woman was suffering from any defect or deficiency in nutrients, then it would surely be doubled during the periods of pregnancy and nursing. Hence, the wife and the husband should take care of their health if they are thinking of having children. It is recommended for those who want to have children to start a new healthy lifestyle and habits, and to give up smoking.
2-Diversity of integrated food is necessary to increase the amount of calories, which come from sugars. Also, integrated diverse food provides the body with proteins, vitamins and mineral salts that are necessary for nutrition. The mother should consume a lot of dairy products, meat, whole cereals, and fresh vegetables. This helps the woman to satisfy the nutritional needs of pregnancy.
3-Red meat, fish, poultry, eggs, cheese and milk are the main sources of proteins. A pregnant woman who is vegetarian is recommended to eat different kinds of cereals, nuts, pistachios and eggs daily given their nutritional value. Given the fact that vitamin B12 is rarely found in vegetables and is usually found in meat, pregnant women who are vegetarian suffer from deficiency in this vitamin.
4-Mineral salts are usually found in pistachios, sunflower seeds, plant buds, seaweed and seafood, which contains abundant amounts of vitamin B12.
5-Meat contains some calcium, but contains a high percentage of phosphorus, which impedes calcium absorption.
6-For many years, doctors kept advising pregnant women to avoid salt, but now they advise them to consume normal amounts of it. The tendency of a pregnant woman to eat olives and acidic foods might be a result of the body’s need for salt. Although the body needs salt to increase blood circulation, consuming excessive amounts of it causes retention of liquids in the body, high arterial blood pressure and other health problems that might negatively affect the mother and the fetus. Therefore, eating meat, cheese, eggs, escalope and turnip provides the body with its needs of salt and there is no need for eating salted foods such as potato chips.
7-It is better to choose fresh food instead of canned and preserved foods. In addition, a pregnant woman should eat a lot of fresh fiber-rich fruits and vegetables, which prevent constipation which is often developed during pregnancy.
8-A pregnant woman should drink 6-8 glasses or cups of water daily besides milk and herbal tea )not black tea(. The tea that is extracted from the leaves of raspberry is one of the best kinds of tea for pregnant women as it strengthens the uterus.
9-The consumption of stimulants such as tea, coffee and some kinds of soda water )or drinks( must be decreased. This is because it was found that the caffeine in these drinks might be transmitted to the fetus through the placenta or transmitted to the baby through the mother’s milk. The caffeine affects the weight and growth of the baby and causes the child to be smaller than the normal size for his age.
10-Food that contains a high percentage of acids such as citrus fruits or juices increase nausea and the urge to vomit. Eating small amounts of starches and proteins could make the body accept them in a better way. Additionally, eating toast in the morning might alleviate nausea, as well as facilitate respiration and relaxation.
11-At the end of pregnancy )near delivery(, you could consume a good amount of calcium or magnesium, about 1.5 grams of each, to alleviate the pains of the throes of childbirth and muscle spasms. If you are going to deliver your baby by means of a cesarean section, then it is better to have vitamin A and C in addition to zinc, some days or weeks before the operation, as they promote healing.
12-There are many alternative vitamins that are helpful during pregnancy and you could choose the suitable kind after consulting a doctor. If consuming vitamins causes nausea, then you should take it at the end of the day with a meal to avoid this problem.
13-Avoid excessive consumption of vitamin A during pregnancy because it causes damage to the fetus. Liver is among the foods that contain large amounts of vitamin A, so the pregnant woman should eat it at wide intervals.
14-Consumption of fats must be decreased as much as possible and it is recommended for the pregnant woman to cook using corn oil and refrain from using ghee, shortening or butter. This is because saturated fats are high in calories, which causes the pregnant woman to gain weight and accumulate fat. Of course, this makes it difficult for the pregnant woman to lose weight after giving birth. )1 gm of starches or proteins provides the body with 4 calories, while 1 gm of fats provides the body with 9 calories(.

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Personal, - My problem is forgetfulness

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Raawiyah Mustafa from Cairo asks, "I used to have a normal memory, but recently have begun to forget things. When I enter my room for something, I remain inside it for several minutes until I remember why I entered. I keep standing in front of the refrigerator, uselessly trying to remember what I wanted to get from it. There are other situations that bother me a lot and threaten the stability of my family life. Is there any way to overcome the weakness of my memory?”
Forgetfulness - A Feature of This Age
Forgetfulness is associated with several problems that appeared and have increased in the second half of the twentieth century. It usually afflicts a man after the age of fifty, or maybe even earlier. Forgetfulness, in its simplest form, refers to the inability of a person to remember recent incidents, names, numbers or dialogues.
The American Newsweek magazine published a scientific study about the most important causes of forgetfulness. The results of modern research indicate that excessive physical and mental exertion without giving the body enough rest, entertainment and relaxation, leads to the production of adrenalin and cortisone derivatives. These derivatives have been proved to decrease thermal energy in the brain, which is necessary for many of its functions such as the process of remembering, understanding and receiving information. Hormones that result from excessive physical and mental exertion help in the formation of oxidizing substances, which are the most important cause behind forgetfulness and this is scientifically proven. They might also be among the causes that lead to Alzheimer's disease. Old age is also an important factor that causes forgetfulness.
Studies indicate that the rate of forgetfulness is remarkably high after the age of sixty and thereafter. Forgetfulness is closely associated with current problems and events. Researches also indicate that air, water and food pollution with heavy metals like mercury, lead and aluminum is one of the most important causes of being afflicted with a weak memory. Having a normal and moderate sleep pattern is one of the most important factors in activating the memory; hence, insufficient sleep weakens the memory, exactly as what happens when a person suffers from insomnia or uses stimulants for a long period of time.
Dr. 'Izz Ad-Deen Ad-Dinshaari, professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy in Cairo University, recommends that a person should get enough rest, relaxation, entertainment and should play physical sports to protect himself from forgetfulness. One should also avoid drugs, alcohol and smoking. Studies that were conducted in the University of Southern California indicated that some individuals who are more than seventy years old have a strong memory because they play physical sports that activate blood circulation in the brain. They also protect the arteries in the brain from the formation of clots. Moreover, physical exercise helps to produce substances that maintain the soundness of brain nerves.
The results of modern studies show that we can avoid forgetfulness by using natural substances that could be in the form of food, or substances that are added to food or herbs that stimulate blood circulation in the brain. Garlic is very important for refreshing the memory. Researches proved that eating from half to three cloves of garlic after cutting them into pieces every day protects a person from a deficit in memory, thinking and the acquisition of knowledge. Garlic also prevents many harms such as high cholesterol, clotting and cancer. Food that contains vitamins B6 and B12 and folic acid that is found in beans, spinach, tomatoes, onion, olive oil, flaxseed oil, soybean, fish, oranges and bananas, also help in activating the memory. There are some herbs that sharpen the memory and resist forgetfulness like green tea and black tea that is mixed with peppermint. The roots of the ginseng plant contain elements that improve brain function and overcome exhaustion and fatigue, which are the key factors behind forgetfulness. Other modern studies indicate that it is possible to use gene therapy to avoid forgetfulness and Alzheimer's disease, which is the most dangerous disease that afflicts the memory. Medical statistics show that Alzheimer's afflicts nearly 10% of individuals who are above sixty-five years of age, and this percentage decreases in those who are under the sixty-five.
We would like to draw your attention to the importance of reciting and memorizing the Quran, no matter how difficult this might be. It is good exercise for the memory. We should not forget theAthkaar)mention of Allah( and supplications.
May Allaah The Almighty grant us all a conscious brain and easy memorization.

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