General Articles, - The glorious structure of the atom - Part 1

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From within the depths of matter a tiny speck with an extraordinary structure and glorious equilibrium emerges: THE ATOM.
This tiny speck IS THE BUILDING BLOCK OF EVERYTHING in the universe, from giant stars to the proteins inside the cell. EVERYTHING IN THE UNIVERSE, WITHOUT EXCEPTION, IS MADE UP OF ATOMS.
The Atom has three basic parts; the neutron, the proton and electrons.
Protons and neutrons are in the exact center of the atom, are bonded to one another, and constitute what is known as the nucleus. And the nucleus gives the atom its weight.
Electrons revolve around the nucleus. Electrons are essentially a cloud of dust with literally no weight at all.
Protons are positively charged particles and electrons are negatively charged. Neutrons have no charge. The number of protons in an atom is always equal to that of its electrons.
There is nothing between the nucleus and the electrons. That giant void represents 99.999% of the atom.
That void can be described using this comparison: if we think of an atom as a football stadium, then the nucleus that comprises its entire mass is no larger than a pea.
Electrons orbit the nucleus at incredible speeds ranging from 1000 to 100,000 kilometers PER SECOND . To put it another way, an electron revolves around the nucleus AROUND ONE MILLION TIMES A SECOND ON AVERAGE.
As a result of that extraordinary speed, the atom looks very hard and solid, much in the way that the blades of a fan seem to resemble a solid object as they revolve at high speed.
All of the more than 10 79 atoms that constitute the universe have been maintaining their same course uninterruptedly, and with no mistakes for the last 15 billion years. This amazing fact of creation belongs to our Almighty Lord, the Lord and Creator of all worlds.

- PUBLISHERNajimudeeN M

General Articles, - The extraordinaryfeatures of the atom

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The atom consists of a nucleus, containing neutrons and protons, and electrons revolving around it.
The smallest components of the atom are two types of quarks, and the electrons. All the matter in the universe, all odors, all tastes, all colors, hardness, softness and everything else is created out of these three tiny components.
Electrons are extraordinarily minute compared to the nucleus. An electron is just one 2000th of the protons that make up the nucleus.
If we put a dot on a piece of paper and take this as the nucleus of the atom, the electron revolving around it would be 50 meters away.
If we think of the nucleus as an apple, the electron orbiting it would be 50 kilometers away. It would be impossible for a human being standing there to see the electron.
No blow, impact or explosion that could take place in this world can displace either the atom, the nucleus or the electrons. Even when a living thing made up of atoms dies, the atoms that constitute it will keep on turning.
The atoms that constitute a burning tree do not burn up and cease to exist with it; they continue revolving in the air and combine with different atoms to produce new substances.
The nucleus inside the atom is constantly revolving. Electrons revolve both around the nucleus, and around their own axes. The quarks inside the nucleus also revolve endlessly in the same way. Each one revolves at a specific speed. They never make a mistake and never impair the order set out for them. The electron revolvesboth around its own axis and around the nucleus at an extraordinary speed ranging from 2000 to 100,000 kilometers PER SECOND.
Not a single electron has ever collided with another electron throughout the 15 billion years since they were first created. No such collision could ever happen.
Electrons revolve around the nucleus in seven different orbits, and the number of electrons circling the nucleus may sometimes exceed 100.
Electrons jump into one another’s orbits and change places at a very high rate of speed. But despite their stupendous speeds and movements they still never collide with one another.
Electron exchanges between two atoms takes place with a very low energy. This is a great blessing to us in terms of the continuation of life, as this is one of the reasons behind the existence of everything, from the cells in our bodies to the objects we use, from the stars in the skies to the Earth itself.
In a single moment, there is as much electrical transmission in our brains as the number of stars in an average-size galaxy. This electrical transmission is made possible by electrons.
Electrons also revolve around their own axes. This is known as “spin”. Were it not for that, all electrons would combine in a single orbit, no electron exchange would ever take place, and matter could never form.
While we think we are sitting quietly at home, the Earth is revolving around its own axis at 500 meters per second . And we are revolving with it. The Earth revolves around the Sun at 30 kilometers per second. And we again revolve with it. The Solar System revolves within the Milky Way at a speed of 250 kilometers per second. And we revolve with it. And every one of the atoms in our bodies, all around us and where we live also constantly revolve. Everything, from giant galaxies down to the tiniest quark, is under the knowledge and control of Almighty Allah, Creator and Lord of all the worlds.
I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed satan;
Everything in the heavens and the earth belongs to Allah. He knows what you are engaged upon. On the Day when they are returned to Him, He will inform them of what they did. Allah has knowledge of all things. (Surat an-Nur, 64)

- PUBLISHERNajimudeeN M

Islamic Marriage Articles, - Islamic Sex Education?

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Bismillah
Sex- a topic with the most polarized attitude known in our society! With all the presumption and the cultural aspects accredited to it, all the more desperate and urgent is the need to initiate a communication regarding this vacuum in our minds, in our conduct and in our society is not only
Why does this attitude prevail in our society? Thanks to our religion? NO! Thanks to our cultural upbringing, ignorance and the hypocritical attitude of our society, which allows sex everywhere, which condones sex as "student life kae mashghaley" (part of growing up, in the sense of first experiences)- the most pathetic excuse I ever heard. It accepts marrying off their daughters to those very students, but will run amok if a girl speaks of "hush…. that disease", called AIDS! No, I am not exaggerating, I hardly could believe my ears, when a literature graduate mother, of educated background, hushed her then medical student daughter into silence while we were discussing about HIV and AIDS, telling her not to mention this disease without any inhibitions, blurting out its name.
Sex is hushed and curtained off to the bedroom and speaking about it is a sin, accredits a loose character and well, I could go on echoing all those remarks, prevailing even in our Muslim society- be it Pakistan, the middle East or the sisters (I guess the brothers aren't any better) and gatherings in the western hemisphere, to which I have been, regretfully but in not avoidable situations, witness.
Grown up in the west, being educated in the normal public schools and experiencing the era when sex education was introduced in the curriculum of German schools, I could follow the conservative attitude of our society, but what shattered my respect for our society was the hypocrisy as pointed out above. In the West I knew what people thought, you knew who is sexually active or at least you knew how they think of it and thus also protect yourself in some way from it. Boys knew I wouldn't date, so I wasn't asked. Period. In the Muslims countries, you can't guarantee and know where the person would have been around, the very person you may end up marrying through a proposal "with good and respected family background and bright future" I would have loved to see the faces of people, if a girl would have asked him to get his HIV test done before saying yes, let alone his attitude towards family planning or contraceptives!
Can we endorse this hypocrisy as a society?
I can't accept this ignorance and hypocrisy, neither as a Muslim nor as a responsible citizen of any society, be it ANYWHERE in the world!! I thus pondered over this hypocrisy and found many answers, which collectively I would title as "ignorance and uneasiness of expression with respect to our sexuality, blindly following cultures and traditions, instead challenging it through education, as Muslim in the days of Muhammad (S) used to do". They used to come up to him and ask and discuss issues pertaining to sexuality; shyness is indeed a virtue of a Muslim- male or female, but not in matters of knowledge or deen/concept of life (Islam). Any person, yes in fact even child who reads the Qur'an and understand it, will come across the teaching pertaining to reproduction, creation (32:7-9)), menstruation (2:222), family life, sexual positions (2:223) and even ejaculation (86:6)(75:38) along with the moral and the social ethics in the light of Islam. This is the basics of Islamic Sex education: treating it as a blessing form the Almighty, a gift to human nature, a source of peace and tranquillity, as well as hasana in the light of high social and moral ethics.
Sex is not a "dirty word", as per our cultural concepts; it is a gift of God to mankind. Islam provides a legal frame to enjoy this blessing from God, which is NOT only for procreation. The sexual urge should be enjoyed as His blessing, but within a commitment. Contrary to some religions and philosophies, Islam doesn't degrade Sex to the status of " lust of flesh, thus sinful, which the soul has to conquer." In fact exercised within the appropriate frame, it is not only a source of emotional satisfaction and enjoyment, thence peace, but also a source of hasana is promised in return.
In this very light, we Muslims should emancipate ourselves in the light of the open minded and very modern concept of life Islam, abrogating all those cultural and traditional influences, which only turn the wheel backwards.
Sex education should start at home or in the frame of Islamic Sunday/Friday Schools, wherever the possibility is given. It should however be actively supported through the participation and support, as well as objective answering to the questions, through parents and elder siblings. In the Islamic Schools Muslim teachers, pref. Physicians should come forward and fill this vacuum. What should be taught? Anatomical and physiological aspects, table of puberty, along with the physical changes, need for family life, sexual drive, menstruation and pre-menstrual syndrome, conception and development of the child/foetus, contraception and then also the STD's and the Islamic concepts of it. The emotional, mental and social aspects of puberty should be discussed, moral, social and Islamic ethics of sexuality should be brought to word; in the western hemisphere tell them how to avoid peer pressure.
Preferably premarital counselling should be conducted, including sex education. Scholars prefer sex education in separate classes, contrary to the model in Iran, as described somewhere. We should however not forget the potential of marital counselling along with sex education in marital life. A very good book in this regard is the “Muslim Marriage guide”, written by Ruqayya M. Waris.
We need to grow out of the traditional baggage and pressure, which we carried along with us for centuries, malpractising the most modern concept of life, if we only gave ourselves the chance to understand it. The potential is enormous, we only need to take up the challenge and give ourselves the chance, thus abrogating this hypocrisy in our society of which we ourselves-me and you, are a part.
A proper sex education may not only be an effort against this hypocrisy and a potential towards a more natural attitude to sex, but also help to fight the very grave crime of child sex abuse. It could happen to your child, get involved and prevent it, fight it!

- PUBLISHERNajimudeeN M