‘Chemical in lipsticks can cause heart problems’

A chemical commonly usedin lipsticks, handwashes and other personal
care products may cause heart problems and muscle impairment, a new
study has claimed.
Scientists at the University of California have found that triclosan,
which is used in hundreds of household products, can hinder the
process by which muscles, including the heart, receive signals from
the brain.
In tests on mice, they noted a 'dramatic' 25 per cent reduction in
heart function within 20 minutes of exposure, and warned there is
'strong evidence' it could affect human health.
However regulators and other experts insist triclosan levels in
productsare safe, and that the doses injected into the mice were
higher than those to which humans would ever be exposed.
Previous studies have found that triclosan may have links to thyroid
and fertility problems, this is the first time its effects have been
tested on muscles.
Scientists had thought thatthe chemical — which wasdevised to prevent
bacterial infections in hospitals — was metabolised quickly by thebody
without harmful effects.
However, the researchers at the University of California say it may
remain active and be transported to organs, causing damage.
"Triclosan is found in virtually everyone's home and is pervasive in
the environment," said professor Isaac Pessah, who led the study,
published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences .
"These findings provide strong evidence that it is of concern to both
human and environmental health,"
"For someone who is healthy a 10 per cent dropin heart function may
not have an effect, but if you have heart disease it couldmake a big
difference," Pessah said.
His team injected a group of mice with triclosan. They saw a
'significantly reduced' function in the heart's left ventricle
within20 minutes.
"The effects of triclosan oncardiac function were really dramatic,"
said Nipavan Chiamvimonvat, professor of cardiovascularmedicine at UC
Davis and astudy co-author.

Repentance (tawbah) - on compensating for acts of worship deliberately neglected in the past

I have neglected many rights of Allah in the past, such as prayers, fasts, and zakah. Am I required to repeat them or compensate for them?
As far as the five daily prayers are concerned, thepreferred opinion is that the repetition or compensation (or what is known as qadaa' in Arabic), is not obligatory for the reason that prayers are obligatory at a particular time, and once that time has elapsed, there is no way to offer them. However one ought to seek Allah's forgiveness and offer as many nawafil (voluntary prayers) as possible.
As for fasting-yes, if a person was a Muslim at the time they became obligatory and he did not fast, then their performance is required, accompanied by feeding of a poor Muslim for everyday of fast that was not observed during previous years. What is required is always a day for a day-no more, no less.
Example 1: A person did not fast three days of Ramadan of the year 1400 A.H., and five days ofRamadan of the year 1401 A.H., all out of negligence. He must now fast 8 days, and feed eightpoor Muslims in compensation.
Example 2: A girl reached puberty in the Ramadan of the year 1400 A.H. but out of shame and modesty did not inform anyone of her menstruation, and, rather,continued fasting say for eight days of her period. Thereafter, she repented. She would then be required to redo eight days of fasting.
It may also be pointed out here that this is the predominant position. A minority opinion is that the ruling for fasting is the same as that for the prayers, i.e., there is no qadaa' (making up) for fasting in the case of a person who did not fast and did not have a valid reason for not fasting.
As for he who did not offer the obligatory zakah, it is necessary for arepentant to them for all previous unpaid years, forit is, from one angle, Allah's right, while from another, the poor people'sright. (See Madaarij Al-Salikin for further details).
Excerpts from the book"I would like to repent BUT..."

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4b] Repenting from taking a riba-based loan

4b]
This is the goodly loan. As for the loan which brings a benefit or the loan which is intended to bringa payment of interest, thisis haraam according to the consensus of the Muslims. It is haraam according to the Qur’aan and Sunnah and the consensus of the Muslims, and a stern warning is issued to the one who does that. What should bedone is to repay the amount that was borrowed; as for the additional payment whichhas been stipulated and taken from you, this is haraam and is riba. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) cursed the one who consumes riba, the one who pays it, the two who witness it and the one who writes it down. He (peace and blessings ofAllaah be upon him) also cursed the one who consumes riba and the one who helps him to consume it. So what you have done is haraam and is a major sin, and you have to repent to Allaah. He has to give this interest that he took back to you, because it is not permissible for him. You committed a haraam action by giving him the interest. What you should have done is to refrain from paying interest.
What you have done is blatant riba, so you both have to repent to Allaah and not do any such transaction again. The other person has to returnthe interest that he took. And Allaah knows best.
End quote from al-Muntaqa min Fataawa al-Shaykh al-Fawzaan, 5/210
Remember that the more quickly you get rid of this loan, the better it will be, so that you may rid yourself of riba and its effects.
So it is better for you to hasten to pay it off and touse the money that you were going to use for ‘Umrah to rid yourself of this debt.
We ask Allaah to heal your son and to relieve your distress, and make you independent of means from halaal sources so that you will have no need of anything haraam.
And Allaah knows best.
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4a] Repenting from taking a riba-based loan

4a]
I took out a loan from thebank, due to difficult circumstances, because I wanted to prepare an apartment to get married.Please note that there is nothing luxurious in this flat at all, and it is a very simple flat. I am a teacher and my salary is transferred to the bank and a sum of money will be deducted from it each month for five years, untilthe loan ends. Two and a half years have passed, and I have decided to go to the bank and stop this loan, because I feel that anything that happens is because of this loan. But I found out that the amount that should be paid is more than I can afford. In addition to that,I was intending to do ‘Umrah this year, myself, my wife and my son and daughter. Is it permissiblefor me to travel for Umrah, hoping that Allaahwill heal my sick son and then come back to stop this loan next November in sha Allaah, or what should I do?.
Praise be to Allaah.
It is not permissible to take out riba-based loans,from the bank or elsewhere, even if that is to prepare a house for marriage, because of the definite prohibition on riba and the stern warning against it. Allaah says (interpretation of themeaning):
“O you who believe! Be afraid of Allaah and give up what remains (due to you) from Ribaa (from now onward) if you are (really) believers.
279. And if you do not do it, then take a notice of war from Allaah and His Messenger but if you repent, you shall have your capital sums. Deal not unjustly (by asking more than your capital sums), and you shall not be dealt with unjustly (by receiving less than your capital sums)”
[al-Baqarah 2:278-279]
Muslim (1598) narrated that Jaabir (may Allaah bepleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) cursed the one who consumes riba, the one who pays it, the one who writes it down and the two who witness it, and he said: “They are all the same.”
Ibn Qudaamah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: Every loan in which it is stipulated that something extra be paid is haraam, and there is no difference of opinion on this point. Ibn al-Mundhir said: They were unanimously agreed that if the lender stipulates that the borrower must pay extra or give him a gift, and he gives the loanon the basis that he will take an additional payment for that, it is riba.
End quote from al-Mughni, 6/436
What the one who has taken out a riba-based loan has to do is repent toAllaah and regret what hehas done, and he has to resolve firmly not to go back to this great sin and serious crime, concerning which there is narrated a warning such as has not been narrated concerning any other sin. We ask Allaah to keep us safe andsound.
Moreover, according to Islam you are not obliged to pay back any more than the capital; as for theharaam interest, you are not obliged to pay it and it is not permissible for the lender to take it from you, because Allaah says: “but if you repent, you shall have your capital sums. Deal not unjustly (by asking more than your capital sums), and you shall not be dealt with unjustly (by receiving less than your capital sums)”.
But if you fear harm and problems if you do not pay the interest, then pay it, and repent to Allaah and feel dislike towards this great evil.
Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan (may Allaah preserve him)was asked: I borrowed one hundred pounds fromone of my friends on the basis that I would pay him back one hundred and fifty. When the time to pay it back came, I tried to give him one hundred only, but he insisted on taking the extra amount of fifty pounds in return for the laon. What is the ruling on this extra amount? If that comes under the heading of riba, is there any sin on me, and how can I rid myself of that, knowing that the money that I borrowed from him has become mixed with my own money. What do I have to do?
He replied: Allaah has forbidden riba and has issued a stern warning against it. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Those who eat Riba will not stand (on the Day of Resurrection) except like the standing of a person beaten by Shaytaan (Satan) leading him to insanity…
O you who believe! Be afraid of Allaah and give up what remains (due to you) from Ribaa (from now onward) if you are (really) believers.
And if you do not do it, then take a notice of war from Allaah and His Messenger”
[al-Baqarah 2:275, 278-279]
There are many forms andtypes of riba. What you mention in the question isa loan with interest. The kind of loan that is allowed in Islam is al-qardal-hasan (a goodly loan) in which you lend something to your brother so that he may benefit from the loan, then he pays you back without any additional payment being stipulated and without paying less. This is the goodly loan.
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