General Articles, - How do our cells recognize and bind to one another?

Every cell that multiplies and divides as the embryo develops knows
what its task is and heads towards the relevant location in the
body. Bone cells locate other bone cells and adhere to them, while
eye cells bind to eye cells and other cells to others of their kind.
Let us now examine these statements with care.
Every cell that multiplies and divides knows what its task is. In
these images you are looking at, you are seeing a fertilized egg
multiply and divide. As the number of cells grows, cells begin
grouping together. It is at this stage that the decision is taken as
to what tasks these cells will undertake in the body. Some cells
group together as muscle cells, others as nerve cells and others
again as bone cells.
So how and why do these millions of constantly multiplying cells
decide to become nerve, heart, muscle or liver cells?
Scientists discovered that cells use calcium in order to join
together. They first combined and separated various embryonic cells
in a laboratory environment by reducing the amount of calcium. The
cells in this calcium-deprived environment could not combine
together. They then added calcium to these cells and saw that cells
of the same type recognized one another and joined together. In
other words, all liver cells, heart cells, stomach cells and all the
other types of cells recognize each other, come together and give
rise to the relevant organ.
But how is it that these cells find one another, making no mistakes,
and combine to create an organ?
Combination takes place in three stages; cell activation, mutual
recognition and finally binding together.
Cell activation takes place with micro- protrusions which resemble
fingers on the surface of the cell. By means of these protrusions,
a bone cell moves along millions of developing cells and finds
another bone cell to adhere to. But in order for a cell to move
among millions of cells, the fluid inside the cell has to be of just
the right thickness. If the fluid were a little bit thicker, the
cell could not bear the resistance, and therefore could not move.
That would make it impossible for cells to produce first a tissue
and then later an organ.
THAT IS, IF CELLS DID NOT MOVE, our organs would not be formed.
The answer to the question of how a liver cell recognizes another
liver cell lies in the wondrous proteins on the cell membrane.
Known as cadherins , these proteins first move toward the cell
surface before binding takes place. They settle on the cell
membrane and form a bridge between the inside of the cell and the
outside. There are various types of cadherins. When two cells with
the same cadherin molecules make contact, they recognize one
another and binding begins. During the binding process, molecules
on both the inside and outside of the cell become involved and
establish a glorious cooperation together. The cadherin protein
has the ability to bind to that part of the calcium remaining
outside the cell. That is why calcium is one of the chemicals
necessary for cells to bind to one another.
Nerve cells that recognize one another during embryonic development
fold in on themselves after binding together. This takes place as
cells with the same kind of cadherin bind together. When this
process is over, all the nerve cells gather together in a single
layer.
Two binding molecules use the force of attraction to join together.
In order for a force of attraction to be established between cells,
the distance between the two surfaces of the binding molecules has
to be less than one nanometer and they have to be at the same level.
While it is difficult for these conditions to be met the cells
still manage to combine togetherbecause the force of attraction is
capable of bearing a load of 40 nanograms; if the force of
attraction between cells were not that strong, it would be
impossible for one cell to bind to another. Allah has created this
force attraction in such a sensitive manner that this bond permits
both a very powerful binding force among cells as well as providing
for a degree of flexibility, meaning it can be dissolved when
necessary.
If our cells lacked this superb functioning that allows them to
identify one another, we could not survive because in the event of
any sickness, our red blood corpuscles would be unable to defend
the body, our blood would not clot and, most important of all, the
cells that give rise to our organs during embryonic development
could not combine together.
This flawless functioning in our bodies is one of the manifestations
of Allah's glorious creative artistry.
I take refuge in Allah from the satan;
Does not man recall that We created him before when he was not
anything? (Surah Maryam, 67)

General Articles, - The miracle of thecell membrane

In order for a living thing to survive, the cell needs to dispose of
the waste products and take the nutrients and other products into
the cell. This task is carried out by the cell membrane. However
this is quite a hard task.
The cell membrane is a layer consisting of lipid molecules.
On the fat particles in the cell membrane, there exist some gates
ensuring the entrance into and exit from the cell and receptors
which enable the cell to recognize the external environment.
These gates and receptors are made up of lipid molecules.
The cell membrane;
-Controls exit from and entrance into the cell
-Establishes the intracellular communication
-Conveys the messages into the cell
-Determines the harmful organism such as microbes and bacteria.
In order for the cell to accomplish these activities,
The cell must know all the activities of the cell,
-Should have an amazing knowledge of chemistry,
-Should make a list of the necessary or surplus materials,
-Should have a memory and decision making ability to keep stocks
under control
-Should know the meaning of the intracellular messages and
-Should recognize the harmful agents for the cell.
The cell membrane distinguishes the required substances among
hundreds of chemicals and only lets them in. In order to accomplish
this the membrane uses different techniques according to the size
of the molecules.
Among the materials which pass through the membrane, there are
small molecules like electrons photons, ions and water molecules ,
medium- sized molecules such as amino-acids and glucose and large
molecules like protein and RNA.
The cell membrane lets the small molecules pass through the membrane
which the cell requires by diffusion.
Phospholipids and protein channels determine which molecules and
ions to pass in which rate and when they'll pass.
Protein Channels and Carrier Proteins
Some molecules pass through the protein channels on the cell membrane.
Some molecules, on the other hand, can only pass through by the help
of a carrier protein. Binding of protein to the molecule which will
be taken into the cell changes the shape of the protein and this
action allows the protein to pass through the cell membrane.
Each one of the proteins on these channels has a sequence of amino
acids of their own.
Some proteins carry out this action without taking energy from the
cell. However, there are special proteins for molecules, which are
carried against the ion and concentration flow. These proteins are
competent in an even harder task. Using the energy of the cell, they
meticulously carry the necessary material into the cell, against
the very ion and concentration flow. Meanwhile, no harm is given to
the protein channel, the passing material or the cell.
With the energy they receive from the cell, these special proteins
change their shapes and thus carry the materials matching their own
gates inside the cell.
Cell Membrane Vesicles
In larger molecules the cell membrane extends like an arm, encloses
the molecule and, joining its arms from two ends, takes the molecule
into the cell.
In order to take liquids into the cell, the cell membrane employs
another method: At the point where the liquid exists, the membrane
sinks in. The liquid filling in this structure is enclosed by the
cell membrane and thus the liquid remains within the cell when a
full sack is formed.
In both cases there exists a vesicle within the cell enclosed by the
membrane. For these materials to be used by the cell, they should
still pass through the membrane. Lysosome joins with the vesicle
and the digestive enzymes inside the vesicle break down the
material into particles small enough to pass through the membrane.
In some cases receptors enter the equation. The molecule binding
with the receptor is enclosed by the cell membrane and a vesicle
comes into being. Again lysosome joins with this vesicle and the
digestive enzymes break down the molecule into smaller pieces and
release them from the receptor. This way the cell membrane can reuse
the receptors .
The cell membrane also determines the waste and throws them out by
the vesicle method.
Relay of messages into the cell
There are hormones commissioned to any order from the brain. When
the hormone reaches the cell, it relays its message to the receptor
protein on the cell membrane. Accordingly the protein conveys the
message to the center. The cell acknowledges this order, makes a
decision and thus gets into action. These hormones can order the
cell to move, divide or even die.
Large hormones bind to the protein receptors. Receptors send
messenger molecules to the enzymes and organelles.
Cells recognizing each other
Cells recognize one another from the cell membrane
Hook-like extensions form on the outer side of the cell membrane
Thus, heart cells recognize other heart cells, liver cells recognize
other liver cells.
The cells hold on to each other by these hooks to form the organs.
Defense cells and the cell membrane
The membranes of the defense cells detect harmful external
materials. When necessary, the tentacles of the cell membrane
elongate to catch the bacteria and microbes. When the enemy is
caught it is absorbed by the cell.
The cell digests the enemy and the released particles are reused for
the benefit of the body.
This amazing wisdom and conscience displayed by the cell membrane
surely does not belong to the lipid particles and proteins. This
superior intelligence and wisdom belongs to the Almighty Allah. By
the inspiration of Allah, these processes are flawlessly carried out
in every cell membrane of each cell in our body.
It is Allah Who created the seven heavens and of the earth the same
number, the Command descending down through all of them, so that
you might know that Allah has power over all things and that Allah
encompasses all things in His knowledge. (Surat at-Talaq, 12)

Tourist Place, - The Taj Mahal

Agra [1] is the city of the Taj Mahal, in the north Indian state of
Uttar Pradesh , some 200 km from Delhi .
Agra has three UNESCO World Heritage sites, the Taj Mahal and the Agra
Fort in the city and Fatehpur Sikri nearby. There are also many other
buildings and tombs from Agra's days of glory as the capital of the
Mughal Empire.
The city has little else to recommend it. Pollution, especially smog
and litter, is rampant and travellers are pestered byswarms of touts
and hawkers at every monument, mosque, temple or palace. That said,
the sites are some of the wonders of the world and no trip to India is
complete withoutat least one visit to the Taj.
[ edit ] Understand
While Agra's heyday was as the capital of the Mughal empire between
1526 and 1658, the city was founded much earlier. The earliest
reference to Agra is in the ancient epic, the Mahabharata, while
Ptolemy was the first person to call it by its modern name. The
recorded history of Agra begins around the 11th century, and over the
next 500 years, the city changed hands between various kings, both
Hinduand Muslim.
In 1506, Sultan Sikandar Lodi, the ruler of the Delhi Sultanate, moved
his capital from Delhi to Agra. His son Ibrahim Lodi was the last
ruler of the Lodi dynasty, as he was defeated in 1526 by Babur, the
first Mughal ruler, in the battle of Panipat. Agra fell too, and
became the capital of the Mughals, whose rule over Agra was
uninterrupted except for a brief period between 1540 and 1556. In
1540, Sher Shah Shuri overthrew Humayun became the ruler of much of
North India, including Agra. After SherShah Suri's death his
descendants proved unequal to the task of ruling the kingdom, and
Hemu, a Hindu general ofSuri became the effectiveruler who would later
crown himself King Hemachandra Vikramaditya just as the kingdom was
facing an assault from the reinvigorated Mughals. In 1556, Hemu would
be defeated and killed in the second battle of Panipat, and the
Mughalsregained Agra.
Mughals were great builders. Babur built the Aram Bagh (garden of
relaxation) modeled after the garden of paradise, where he was
eventually buried after his death. His grandson Akbar refurbished the
Agra fort and built the Fatehpur Sikri , an entire city just on the
outskirts of Agra. He also renamed Agra after himself, and the city
was known as Akbarabad while it was in Mughal hands. Akbar's grandson
Shah Jehan would give Agra its most famous monument, the Taj Mahal ,
which is the mausoleum of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal . The Taj is
constructed in white marble. It took 20 years to construct, and is now
universally known as a monument to love. Legend has it that Shah Jehan
wanted a replica of the Taj constructed in black marble that would be
his final resting place. There is no actual support for this theory,
but even if it were true, it would have been unlikely to be
eventuated. His son Aurangzeb was austere and pious, and had no time
or inclination for the ostentation of his forefathers, preferring
tospend his money on warsin South India. In any case, even during Shah
Jehan's reign, which was the period when the Mughal empire was at its
height, the construction of the Taj put a strain on the resources of
the empire and caused a min-famine around Agra.Shah Jehan was
eventually buried in the white Taj, next to his beloved Begum.
Shah Jehan, in addition to giving Agra its greatest claim to fame, was
also responsible for beginning its decline, as decided to shift his
capital to Shahjehanabad, which we now know as Old Delhi, in 1658.
Though Aurangzeb ordered a move back, this too was short lived, as he
moved his headquarters down south to Aurangabad to be focus on his
wars. Agra declined, and so didthe Mughal Empire. The city was
eventually captured by the Marathas, who renamed it back to Agra. In
1803, itcame under the British, who situated the Agra Presidency
there, and when India gained independence, the city was incorporated
into the state of Uttar Pradesh, and did not gain even the limited
honour of being the state's capital, that distinction going to Lucknow
, further east. It is now a tourist town, known for the Taj and a
couple of other monuments.
Anyone interested in reading a novel based onthe remarkable story
behind the Taj Mahal's creation should consider Beneath a Marble Sky
by John Shors. Beneath a Marble Sky is an international bestseller,
has won multiple awards, and is being made into a movie by Hollywood.
Other book (historical fiction) is The Taj by Colin De Silva.
[ edit ] Get in
Agra is 200 km southeast from Delhi and is one of the points of the
tourist'sGolden Triangle of Agra- Delhi - Jaipur . Agra is alsovery
well connected via rail and road with other nearby cities and tourist
destinations.
[ edit ] By plane
Service to Agra's Kheria Airport ( IATA : AGR ICAO : VIAG ) is
seasonal. As of November 2008, the city is served by Kingfisher
Airlines and Air India Regional, who both fly on the Delhi -Agra-
Jaipur tourist triangle route. The flight time to either is less than
an hour. Travelers have had trouble with extreme lateness, and for
that reason a hired car may be a safer (and probably cheaper)
alternative.
[ edit ] By train
Agra is on the main train line between the Delhi - Mumbai (Bombay) and
Delhi - Chennai routes, and many trains connect Agra with these cities
every day. Some east-bound trains from Delhi also travel via Agra, so
direct connections to points in Eastern India (including Kolkata ) are
also available. There are close to 20 trains to Delhi every day, and
at least three or four to both Mumbai and Chennai. Agra and Delhi are
notorious for their thick winter fog which reduces visibility to
almost zero. If travelling in late December or early January (the fog
season), travelers should be aware that, because of the reduced
visibility, all trains slow down and travel time goes up. The Bhopal
Shatabdi, for example, may arrive in Agra well after 10AM, andmight
return to Delhi well after midnight. Froma safety point of view, it is
always preferable to travel by train during thewinters. Driving in fog
onthe road is very risky. There are three stations in Agra:
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And Allah Knows the Best!
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Published by :->
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Soul Purification, - Whispering is the Devil’s Weapon - I

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There is no doubt that the enmity between man and the devil is ancient. It started when Allaah ordered the angels to prostrate to Aadam, may Allaah exalt his mention, and Satan refused this in arrogance and declared war against the sons of Aadam. Allaah The Almighty Says about this )what means(:}]Iblees[ said, “By Your might, I will surely mislead them all. Except, among them, Your chosen servants.”{]Quran 38:82-83[ The devil is keen on seducing and misleading the sons of Aadam and is also keen on pouring his poison into the Muslims’ hearts in order to rock the foundations of their belief in Allaah The Exalted in Might, the Praiseworthy. Moreover, the devil tries to throw doubt in our hearts regarding what Allaah has told us about the Unseen. In a Hadeeth on the authority of Sabrah ibn Abu Faakih, may Allaah be pleased with him, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:
The devil sat on all man’s paths. He waited for him on the path of Islam and said to him, “Will you revert and abandon the religion of your fathers and forefathers?” But the son of Aadam disobeyed him and embraced Islam. Then, the devil sat for him on the path of Hijrah and said to him, “Will you emigrate and leave your homeland when a person in the lands to where he immigrates becomes like a tied horse?” But the son of Aadam disobeyed him and emigrated. After that the devil waited for him on the path of Jihaad and said to him, “Will you fight in the cause of Allaah and sacrifice yourself and your money? You would be killed and your wife would marry another man and your wealth would be distributed.” But the son of Aadam disobeyed him and went for Jihaad.)The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, continued:(Allaah will certainly let the one who does this enter Paradise, and He will certainly let the one who is killed, the one who is drowned and the one whose camel kills him by breaking his neck, enter Paradise.”]An-Nasaa’I, Al-Haafith - Hasan[
Out of His mercy for His slaves, Allaah The Almighty did not enable the devil to have authority over these slaves of His, as He Says )what means(:}Indeed, My servants - no authority will you have over them, except those who follow you of the deviators.{]Quran 15:42[ Moreover, Allaah The Almighty describes the devil’s plot as being weak when He Says )what means(:}Indeed, the plot of Satan has ever been weak.{]Quran 4:76[ Hence, the devil resorts to whispering when he cannot find any other way to seduce the believers.
The Meaning of Whispering
Whispering is what the devil throws into the hearts. Ar-Raaghib, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said that whispering refers to bad thoughts. Al-Baghawi, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said that whispering is the concealed speech that is meant to mislead. This type of whispering is evil and includes all the bad thoughts that occur to one’s mind.
Whispering is different from inspiration, which is everything good that occurs to one’s mind. Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said that whispering is a secret communication, either in a low sound that is audible only to the receiving person, or without sound at all as the devil does with humans. Whispering sometimes comes from the Jinni devil as Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}But Satan whispered to them to make apparent to them that which was concealed from them of their private parts. He said, “Your Lord did not forbid you this tree except that you become angels or become of the immortal.”{]Quran 7:20[ Allaah The Exalted called both the jinni and human devil “the whisperer” as He Says )what means(:}From the evil of the retreating whisperer. Who whispers ]evil[ into the breasts of mankind{]Quran 114:4, 5[ At other times, whispering is attributed to the soul as Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}And We have already created man and know what his soul whispers to him, and We are closer to him than ]his[ jugular vein{]Quran 50:16[
Types of Whispering
The devil is ever present with the son of Aadam. He comes to him even at the times of eating and drinking to tempt and afflict him. However, his major aim is to corrupt the believer’s faith. For this reason, he does his best to extinguish the light of knowledge and guidance in his heart, and entrap him in the darkness of doubts and confusion. Hence, the devil’s whispering is mainly targeted at two religious matters:
The first is at matters pertaining to knowledge, which are issues related to belief and faith. This is the most dangerous type of whispering because Tawheed )monotheism( is the foundation of Islam and the capital of the believer. Through this type of whispering, the devil can corrupt one’s religion. Hence, Satan concentrates his efforts on corrupting this creed and making people doubt pure Tawheed to divert them from the true religion. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:“The throne of Satan is over the sea and he sends his brigades to tempt people. The best one for him is the one who causes the greatest Fitnah ]tribulation[.”]Muslim[
The second has to do with practical matters, which are the acts of worship and dealing with others. The devil is present with the Muslim when he purifies himself, prays, remembers Allaah, supplicates to Him, performs pilgrimage, circumambulates and fasts in order to confuse him while performing these acts of worship and obedience and ruin them for him. In a Hadeeth on the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:“When the devil hears the Athaan ]the first call to prayer[, he flees and passes wind noisily so as not to hear it. Then, when the Athaan is completed, he returns and whispers to people. When he hears the Iqaamah ]immediate call to prayer[, he goes away and his voice cannot be heard, then he returns again after it is completed and whispers to people again.”]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
Returning to the first type of whispering, which pertains to matters related to creed and faith, one of the devil’s tricks is to encourage people to be curious and ask about things that they, as creatures, cannot comprehend regarding the Creator. Thus, he whispers to people to ask about the reality of Allaah The Almighty and His existence. This may happen to many of the sincere believers who would then drive these thoughts away by glorifying Allaah. In a Hadeeth on the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him, he said, “Some of the Companions came to the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and said to him, ‘Some of us sometimes find ourselves wondering about things that we cannot talk about.’ The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:‘And do you ]in particular[ find this?’They said, ‘Yes.’ So, he said:‘This indicates pure faith.’”]Muslim[
In a Hadeeth on the authority of ‘Abdullaah, may Allaah be pleased with him, he said, “The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was asked about whispering, and he said:‘It is absolute faith.’”]Muslim[ Al-Khattaabi, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said, “This means that pure faith prevented them from repeating the devil’s whispering and from believing in it. It does not mean that the whispering itself is pure faith as this whispering comes from the devil, so it could not be pure faith. Faith means certainty and the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was referring to the fear that they felt from being punished by Allaah for such thoughts, and this is sheer faith because fearing Allaah clashes with having doubts about Him.”
Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said, “Being subjected to whispering ]and the acts of[ hating it greatly and driving it away only emerge from pure faith. This is similar to the Mujaahid ]holy warrior[ who fights his enemy until he defeats him. This is the greatest type of Jihaad. It is pure faith because he hates such whisperings and strives to drive it away; thus, these people ]i.e., the Companions[ purified their faith and it became pure.” He added,
When the devil cast these whisperings into their hearts and they drove them away, the faith in their hearts made them hate these whisperings and think of them as a great sin, and this is pure faith. This in no way implies that one is commanded to have such whisperings. Moreover, anything could cause man to disbelieve or disobey Allaah, but he could defy that cause and prevent himself from doing so, as this would lead him to faith and piety. Nonetheless, one is not commanded to be affected by such causes. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}Those to whom hypocrites said, “Indeed, the people have gathered against you, so fear them.” But it ]merely[ increased them in faith, and they said, “Sufficient for us is Allaah, and ]He is[ The best Disposer of Affairs.” So they returned with favor from Allaah and bounty.{]Quran 3: 173-174[ This increased faith and reliance upon Allaah was the result of people attempting to frighten them by mentioning their enemy; however, this act of frightening people is not permissible. One might commit a sin that causes him to repent and win the love of Allaah; however, people are not commanded to commit sins. This is a very broad issue.
The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, informed his Companions that people would talk about these whisperings. In a Hadeeth on the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:“O Abu Hurayrah, people will keep asking you until they will say, ‘If there is Allaah, then who created Allaah?’”Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him, said, “Once I was in the mosque and some Bedouins came and said, ‘O Abu Hurayrah, If there is Allaah, then who created Allaah?” He continued, “I took hold of some pebbles in my hand and threw it at them and said, ‘Go away! Go away! My friend ]the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam[ was right.” ]Muslim[

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