For children, - Allah: Arabic name for God, Allah the most Merciful, Allah the Creator and Lord of the Universe

If we see a beautiful picture painted on good canvas, do we not think that an artist produced it? If we see an automatic machine, regularly manufacturing articles, are we not led to think that there is an engineer who made, designed and invented its system? If we see a book written in any scientific field, surely we are aware that an author wrote it? Surely the picture could not have been created without an artist! Surely the machine could not work without an engineer! Surely the book could not be written without an author! Is it possible to say that this book in your hand was written by chance? Would you believe it if someone told you that it happened that the paper was scattered by wind, and ink was spilt on it, and thus the book was written? Basic human sense does not believe such a supposition but rather, makes fun of it. Thus everything needs a maker or a creator; nothing can come into existence without there being an originator: the creator. Look at the sky and do you not wonder how the bright and beautiful sun sends down its light and heat to the people on earth? Look at the land upon which we live and ask how do plants grow on it? Look at the water we drink, the air we breathe; the sun when it sets and the night when it comes; then, look at the beautiful stars which are impossible to count, and the light of the moon. Look, and then think how these wonders were created and who then created them? Are they created by themselves or do they have a creator who made them? They are as in need of a maker or a creator, as a house which needs a builder to be built; or a chair, on which we sit, needs a carpenter to be made; or a picture needs an artist in order to be painted, or a book needs an author to be written. And certainly Allah is their Creator and Maker Who created everything. Let us ponder about ourselves and our bodies, and ask: Who created us in this unique way? Who gave us two eyes with which to see? And the tongue with which we talk? And two hands with which we work? And two legs with which we walk? And two ears with which we hear? Who created the food we eat and the water we drink? Not the farmer who cultivated the crops or the plumber who connected the pipes. Without food and water, one will surely die. Who gave us the air which we breathe? Without air, surely we will suffocate and die. Indeed, our Creator is He Who created the heavens, the earth, water, air and the stars. And He is All-Great and All-Powerful. It is He Who created and provided us with all these amenities of life.

Health and Fitness, - Stomach Swelling After Breaking the Fast

Question: Whenever I start eating, my stomach swells, and I get a stomachache when it is empty. What do you advise me to start with when breaking my fast inRamahdaan? Answer: Assalaamu ‘Alaykum, First of all, we must know the reason behind these symptoms. You may be suffering from an infection in your stomach, or it may irritable bowel syndrome. Therefore, you must get a speculum test done in order to know what is causing this pain in order to treat it. As for what to eat when breaking your fast, then, naturally, it is best to follow the food system recommended by the Prophet,sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, which is to start with fresh dates. If they are not available, then dry dates, and if this is also not available, then water. If your swelling is a lot, then you may drink lemon juice with mint because it is very helpful for stomach swelling after eating. You must reduce the consumption of greasy foods and spices, and must avoid sleeping or lying down soon after eating. If these practices prove to be insufficient, then you can take some medication like Disflatyle. However, we recommend you see a doctor for this so that the cause for these symptoms can be better defined and thus properly treated.

Health and Fitness, - Normal Blood Sugar Levels While Fasting

Question: Once while I was fasting, I had my blood sugar level checked and it was 120. Then I started to reduce my sweets and sugar consumption. A few months later I checked it regularly again for a while when I was fasting and two hours after breaking my fast. The results during the fasting periods ranged between 100-105, while after I ate they ranged between 110-130. Is this normal, knowing that I am not diabetic? Answer: Assalaamu ‘Alaykum, dear sister. You have failed to provide us with many important facts that can better help us assess your case: Are you or did you ever suffer from any symptoms before, like abnormal thirst, loss of weight or excessive urination? Do you have any chronic diseases? How much do you weigh? Are any family members diabetic? However, generally speaking, and based on what you mentioned in your question, your blood sugar before you started the diet was slightly high but it would not classify you as a diabetic person. On the other hand, the other results mentioned were normal. Sugar levels are medically used to judge whether or not a person is considered diabetic, and they are as follows: For normal people: To classify a person as diabetic, the blood sugar level of a person who was fasting for a period of 8-10 hours must be equal to or higher than 126 mg. To classify a person as diabetic, the blood sugar level for a person in a normal situation )without fasting( must be higher than 200 mg. People who are diabetic candidates: Such people must maintain a monitored regimen of diet and physical exercise, and their blood sugar after fasting must range between 110-126 mg. Without fasting, their blood sugar must be less than 110 mg. Therefore, we advise the respected sister to exercise and be moderate in her consumption of sweets.

Health and Fitness, - Headache When Fasting

Question: I constantly suffer from a headache, especially when I fast. What could be causing this? Answer: Assalaamu ‘Alaykum, There are many things that could be causing this constant headache. Migraine or stress could be causes of this. Secondary headaches result from organic problems, like sinuses, teeth problems, eye problems, high blood pressure or a bad nervous system. Migraine is the type of headache that increases when you fast. The reason for this is that when you fast, your sugar level drops, which increases the severity of the headache. Physical exhaustion and mental stress also contribute to the problem. Additionally, some perfumes and food, and staying up late at night also add to the problem, as well as many other reasons. However, to properly diagnose the problem, you must consult a physician who could advise you to adhere to certain preventive measures that could stop the recurrence of the headache, or at least reduce its severity. After treatment, you may resume fasting.