HISTORY - ~ The Prophet's Birth

The Year of his Noble Birth:
According to the most correct opinion of the scholars, the Prophet
sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam (SAWS) was born in the city of Makkah in
the year of the Elephant (in theyear 570 or 571CE), in the month of
Rabee'ul-Awwal.
The Day of his Birth:
There is an agreement amongst the Scholars that the Prophet (SAWS) was
born on a Monday, since he(SAWS) was asked about fasting on a Monday,
and he said: "On that day I was born and on that day Revelation
descended uponme." (Related by Muslim and Ahmad)
However, as regards the exact date of his birth, thenthe scholars have
differed about this. Dispite the common belief amongs people that he
(SAWS) was born on the 12th of Rabee'ul-Awwal, yet the only
substantiated fact regarding this date is that it is his (SAWS) death
date .
Imaam an-Nawawee (d.676H) - rahimahullaah- said: "There is on
agreement that he was born on Monday in the month of Rabee'ul-Awwal.
There is a difference of opinion whether this day was the 2nd, 8th,
10th or 12th day of the month - and these are the four most well-known
opinions concerning this." 3
Events at the Time of his Birth:
Certain miraculous events are reported to have occurred at the time
that the Prophet (SAWS) was born. However, most of them are not
authentically related, rather they are da'eef (weak) or mawdoo'
(fabricated) and therefore cannot be relied upon as decisive proof;
such as the narration which relates that some of the galleries of
Kisraa's (the Persian King's) palace broke-up andcollapsed, that the
sacred-fire of the Magians died-out and that some of the churches on
Lake Saawah (in Syria) collapsed and sank down. (Related by
adh-Dhahabee who said: munkar ghareeb (rejected))
However, it is authenticallyrelated that the Prophet (SAWS) said. "I
am a result of the supplication of my father Ibraaheem and the
glad-tidings brought by 'Eesaa 'alayhimus salaam. And my mother - when
shebore me - saw that a light shone out from her, which lit up the
palaces in Syria ..." (Related by al-Haakim and Ibn Katheer said: "Its
isnaad is good and strong.)
Celebrating the Day of hisBirth:
Imaam al-Fakihaani (d.734H) - rahimahullaah -said: "Celebrating his
birthday has no basis in theBook (Qur'an) nor the Sunnah, nor is this
action recorded from any one of the scholars of this Ummah; those who
are taken as examples to be followed and who cling to the narrations.
Rather it is a bid'ah (innovotion), which was introduced by the
Battaaloon (a deviated sect from the Faatimids).
As regards to the origins of this newly-invented celebration, then
some of the research scholars have stated that the first person to
innovate this practice was 'Umar ibn Muhammad al-Mulaa in the city of
Mawsil in Iraaq, during the fourth century, as is mentioned by the
Imaam Abu Shaamah (d.665H).
He was followed in this by the likes of Abul-Khattaab 'Umar ibn
Dihyaa: "who was employed in the west, then travelled to Syria, then
he travelled to the city of Irbil in 'Iraaq, duringthe fourth century,
where he found its king Mudhaffarud-Deen ibn Zaynud-Deen showing a
keen interest in the Milaad (birthday) of the Prophet (SAWS). So he
composed a book for him called at-Tanweer fi Mawlidis-Siraajil-Muneer;
so he recited this to the king who then rewarded him with one thousand
deenaars."
Imaam Maalik (d.179H) - rahimahullaah - said: 'Whosoever introduces
intoIslaam an innovation, and holds it to be something good, has
indeed alleged that Muhammad (SAWS) has betrayed his message. Read the
saying of Allaah - the Most Blessed, the Most High: "This day I have
perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you and I
have chosen for you Islaam as your religion." [Soorah al-Maa'idah
5:3]. So that which was not part of the religion at that time, cannot
be part of the religion today. And the last part of this Ummah cannot
be rectified, except by that which rectified its first part."
Thus, had the practice of celebrating the birthday of the Prophet
(SAWS) been something praiseworthy then: "the Salaf (the Pious
Predecessors) - may Allaah be pleased with them all - would have
instituted it. For they were the ones having a greater love and honour
for Allaah's Messenger (SAWS) and a greater zeal for doing good.
Indeed, the most perfect expression of love and honour for him is by
following him, obeying him, carrying out his commands, upholding and
reviving his Sunnah (guidance and example) - both inwardly and
outwardly - and in spreading his message and striving in this, with
the heart, the hand and the tongue. Such was the path of the
Companions and those who followed them in goodness (i.e. beliefs
andactions)."

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HEALTH ~ ADVISE :- ~ Islamic Meditation for Relaxation and Spiritual Comfort

This is a meditation that a Muslim can use to relax and recover from
stress. It is not a substitute for prayer and duaa, or a replacement
for dhikr (remembrance of Allah). Salat in particular is the first
duty and refuge of the Muslim. This is just a simplerelaxation
technique that one might use either alone or share with a spouse, to
relax the body and release some of the worries of the day. It also
functions as an affirmation, reminding the reader of the love and
peace that Allah offers us, and of each person's pure nature.
Settle yourself in a quiet place, in a comfortable position. Imagine
yourself to be in the most relaxing, secure, peaceful place you have
ever known. Breathe deeply in and out, breathing into your stomach.
Recite the following to yourself, with a quiet voice, very slowly, but
imagine it is being spoken to you by a voice outside yourself, by a
voiceof love. If you do this with your spouse, let one read and the
other close his/her eyes and listen:
***
Your breath is warm and soothing. As it spreads through your body it
makes you warm. It brings peace and tranquility to every cell in your
body.
Let every cell in your body know and feel that you are loved. Allah
lovesyou. Many people love you. You are surrounded by love and caring.
The love is all around you likewarm light, comforting you, taking away
all your pain.
The air that you are breathing in is warm and soothing. That warmth is
spreading all through your body. As it spreads throughyour body, it
causes your muscles to relax.
Now the warmth spreads to your head. Relax the topof your head. Relax
your mind. There is nothing to think about right now, nothing to worry
about. Release the burdens that you carry in your mind.
As you breathe deeply, the warmth spreads to your face. Let your face
relax. Relax your eyes. Whatever your eyes have seen that isunhappy or
that causes you pain, let it go. Release it with your breath.
Relax your cheeks and yourmouth. Whatever you havespoken that you
regret, let it go, release it with your breath. It's in the past and
is gone now with your breath.
Relax your ears. There is nothing for you to listen toright now except
the peacefulness of your own breath. Whatever you haveheard that has
hurt you, at any time in your life, let it go now. You don't need it
anymore. Release it with your breath.
Relax your jaw. Any tension that you are holding in your jaw, let it
go, release it. Feel the warmth spread through your mind, your face,
your neck. Relax your neck.
Know that you are safe. You are protected. You are in a place of
shelter. You are in Allah's care. You are in a safe place, a good
place. You have nothing to fear, nothing to regret. The past is gone,
and the future has not arrived. All that existsis this peaceful
moment, this safe place where youare protected and warm.
Continue to breathe deeplyand softly. Your breath warms you. The
warmth spreads now into your shoulders and relaxes your shoulders.
Whatever burden you have been carrying on your shoulders,let it go.
Give to Allah, and He will hold it for you until you are ready to take
it back. For now, let it go with your breath. Relax your shoulders.
Let go of your fear and your worry. You are following Allah's guidance
and that is peaceful. You are at harmony with the entire universe and
that is peaceful.
Breathe deeply and softly. The breath spreads now into your back and
warms your back. Relax your shoulder blades, and the middle of your
back. Relax your lower back. As you breathe out, release the burdens
that you have borne on your back. All the troubles, all the weight on
your back, release them with your breath, and let them disappear. You
don't need them anymore.
Allah is on your side and He will always be with you. You have the
strength of Imaan. Know that whatever challengesyou face in life, you
are strong and capable.
As you breathe, warmth continues to spread through your body, now
moving into your chest andyour stomach. Relax your chest. Whatever
fears you have for the future, let them go. Release them with your
breath. Trust in Allah; He is with you right now, at this moment, and
He will protect you. Relax your stomach. Whatever tightness you have
in your stomach, whatever tensionyou carry there, release it, let it
go with your breath.
Know that Allah created you pure, with the purity of fitrah. That
purity is always inside you, like a light. Allow yourself to feel it,
to be in touch with it; let that purity come out, and with it comes
peace.
Your breath is warm and soothing. As it spreads through your body it
makes you warm. It brings peace and tranquility to your mind, to your
soul, and to your heart.

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HEALTH - ~ Kidney, the amazing organ

Kidney Day is observed all over the world on the second Thursday of
March every year. Incidence of kidney failure cases is increasing day
by day due to a steep increase in the number of diabetes and
hypertensive patients in the recent past. Globally, nearly 50 million
people suffer from renal failure but only 1 million among them undergo
treatment. It has been estimated that 360 million people will die of
renal failure in 2015.
Though there are no accurate statistics on the subject, the available
data shows that 7.58 million people in India are suffering from kidney
failure. Surveys conducted point out that less than 5%of the general
public is aware of the location and functions of the kidney.
It was to create awareness among the people that JoelKopple, the
founder of International Federation ofKidney Foundations (IFKF),
conceived the idea of World Kidney Day (WKD) inthe year 2003. The day
offers a crucial and visible opportunity to educate policymakers as
well as thegeneral public including all those who are at the risk of
kidney disease/failure.
The kidney does a magnificent job in our urological system, thus
becoming a unique organ in the body. Every day, it filters 200 litres
of blood. Itis an amazing organ not only excreting urine from the
blood, but also maintaining the body electrolyte, maintaining blood
pH, synthesises active form of vitD3. It produces Erythroprotien,
which is essential for maturation of the red blood corpuscles and to
maintain the blood pressure.
Then why does the kidney fail? It can fail due to uncontrolled
hypertension,diabetes, failure to take proper treatment for the
nephritic syndrome (excessprotein in the urine), prolonged obstruction
in the urinary tract, frequent use of analgesic (pain-killers)
tablets, use of native medicine made of the metals, and a family
history of renal disease. Some do suffer from kidney failure, without
anyspecific or identifiable cause. Various reports fromSri Lankan
studies reveal that environmental factors like the use of pesticides,
use of medicines containing metals, hydrocarbon, etc., too can cause
kidney failure.
Chronic kidney failure causes severe economic burden to the individual
and his family, and to the nation as a whole on dialysis and renal
transplantation. Such patients undergo a lot of stress and strain for
want of a potential donor for transplant, most often resulting in
depression. With frequent rackets and malpractices involving kidney
donation which have become common, in spite of the strict enforcement
of rules, the motivation of brain-death patients for organ donation is
the only alternative for transplantation.
Prevention is always betterthan cure. In order to prevent kidney
failures, it is essential that everyone knows about the kidney and its
importance. There are eight golden rules which help to avoid
kidneyfailures.
1. Keep fit and active. Maintain ideal body weight.
2. Keep regular control of blood sugar.
3. Monitor your blood pressure.
4. Eat healthy and keep your weight in check.
5. Maintain a healthy fluid intake.
6. Do not smoke.
7. Do not take over-the-counter pills regularly.
8. Check your kidneys function if you have any one or more of the high
risk factors. The theme for the this year's World Kidney Day (March 8)
was: "DONATE — RECEIVE — KIDNEYS FOR LIFE"

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ADVISE :- ~ The Later Years of Life

The destructive effects of the passage of years are observable in
one's own body. As the years go by, the body, the most precious
possession a human being has, goes through an irreversible process of
destruction. Thechanges a human being experiences throughout his life
are recounted in the Qur'an as follows:
It is Allah Who created you in a state of (helpless) weakness, then
gave (you) strengthafter weakness, then, after strength, gave (you)
weakness and a hoary head: He creates as He wills, and it is He who
has all knowledge and power. (Surat ar-Rum: 54)
The later years of life are the times most neglected in the future
plans of an adult, except in the anxious process of saving for old-age
pensions. Indeed, being too close to death, people usually develop a
hesitant approach to this period. When someone tries to talk about old
age, others feel concerned and attempt to change this"unpleasant"
topic as soonas possible. The routine of daily life is also a good way
of escaping from the thought of these potentially miserable years of
life. So, it is postponed until the day one inevitably meets it.
Nodoubt, the main reason forsuch avoidance is the assumption that one
has endless time until death comes upon one. This common misconception
is described in the Qur'an:
Nay, We gave the good things of this life to these men and their
fathers until life grew long for them. (Surat al-Anbiya: 44)
This mistaken idea often leads to great grief. That issimply because,
no matter how old one is, the only real possessions remainingfrom
one's past are dimly-recalled memories. One barely remembers
childhood. It is even hard to recall exactly what happened during the
last decade. The greatest ambitions of a young man,important
decisions, and the goals to which he is most committed, all lose their
significance once they are experienced and done. That is why to tell
a"long" life story is a vain endeavour.
Whether a teenager or an adult, this should prompt man to make an
important decision about his life. For instance, if you are forty and
expect to live until your mid-sixties – and of that you have no
guarantee – those remaining twenty-five years will surely pass as
quickly as the preceding forty years. The same holds true even if your
life is prolonged a great deal, since the remaining thirty or forty
years will, likewise, pass before you even notice. This is, surely, a
perpetual reminder of the true nature of this world. One day every
living soul on this earth will leave this world and there is no
return.
Hence, man should set aside his prejudices and bemore realistic about
his life. Time passes very quickly and each day brings on further
physical weakness and more impaired thinking rather than fresher
dynamism and a younger figure. In brief, growing old is a
manifestation of man's inability to control his own body, life and
destiny. Time's adverse effects on the body become visible during this
period. Allah informs us about this in the followingverse:
It is Allah Who creates you and takes your soulsat death; and of you
there are some who are sent back to a feeble age, so that they know
nothing after having known (much): for Allah is All-Knowing,
All-Powerful. (Surat an-Nahl: 70)
In medicine, advanced old age is also called "the second childhood".
Hence, during this latter stage of life, elderly people just
likechildren need care, since their bodily and mental functions go
through certain alterations.
As one grows older, physical and spiritual characteristics pertaining
to childhood become more apparent. Elderly people fail to do many
tasks requiring physical strength. Changes in judgement, impaired
thinking, difficulties in walking, maintaining balance and speech,
impediments, memory impairment and gradual memory loss, and changesin
mood or behaviour are only a few symptoms of diseases commonly seen in
old age.
In short, after a certain period, people often regress to a state of
childish dependency both physically and mentally.
Life both begins and ends in an infant-like state. Thisis evidently
not a random process. It is possible that man could remain young until
he dies. Yet Allah reminds man about the temporary nature of this
world by making the quality of his life deteriorate at certain stages
of life. This process serves as a clear reminder that life is slipping
away. Allah explains this matter in the verse below:
O mankind! If you have doubt about the Resurrection, (consider) that
We created you out of dust, then out of a drop, then out of a
leech-like clot, then out of a morsel of flesh, partly formed and
partly unformed, in order that We may manifest (Our power) to you; and
We cause whom We will to rest in the wombs for an appointed term,

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