Ramadan Articles - Glad Tidings

In a few days, Allaah willing, we will be receiving the blessed month
of Ramadan … the month which the believers' hearts long for.
It is a season for the hearts to regain their purity and for peopleto
salvage their conscience after being polluted by the overwhelming
desires and the pleasures of this worldly life.
Allaah has blessed us with this great month… it is an honorable guest
which our Salaf )righteous predecessors(used to supplicate Allaah
earnestly to make them live long enough to witness. It is the best
month in the year during which Allaah revealed the Quran and blessed
itwith a night which is better than one thousand months, plus
manyother distinct features with which Allaah distinguished it.
Abu Hurayrahreported that the Prophet,said:"O people! You are being
approached by a blessed month. Allaah made fasting within it an
obligation. The doors of Paradise will be opened and the doors of Hell
will be closed, and the devils will be chained. It is a month which
contains a night that is better than one thousand months; he who is
deprived from its blessings is truly the deprived one".]Ahmad and
An-Nasaa'i[
Indeed, this is the best news one can receive; why would the believer
not rejoice when the gates of Paradise are opened andthe gatesof Hell
are sealed? How can any sane person not rejoice to the chaining of the
devils? How can devout worshippers notrejoice when worshipping in one
night is better than one thousand months? Undoubtedly, the virtues of
this month are countless.
This great occasion, however, comes in a time that the Muslim nation
is defeated, surroundedbymany impediments and ailments and the Muslims
are suffering from calamities, disunity and humiliation. Therefore, it
is time to review this painful condition and recognize the real causes
of weakness and ailments.
As we receiveRamadan,it is time for us to bid farewell to all our
sufferings! Wecannot,however, do that except by holding fasttothe path
of the Quran andSunnah, by working hard and being sincere with Allaah.
The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam,gave a
comprehensiveclarification of the conditions for victory and the
causes of defeat for the Muslim nation by saying:"If people break the
covenant of Allaah and His Messenger, Allaah will send an external
enemy against them who will seize some of their possessions; If theydo
not rule by the Book of Allaah,nor attempt to implement everything in
it, Allaah will spread enmity among them."]Ibn Maajah[
Thus, breaking the covenant of Allaah and His Messenger, sallallaahu
'alayhi wa sallam,or in other words, disobeying Allaah and His
Messenger,, is one of the reasons for its defeat and being subjugated
by its enemies. Likewise, ruling by other than therulings of Allaah is
the reason for the poverty, disunity and conflict which is occurring
among the Muslims.
How can the Muslims expect Allaah to grant them victory while they are
discarding prayers,refusing to pay Zakaah)obligatory charity(and
dealing in interest? What can they expect when alcoholic drinks and
nightclubs become prevalent in their lands? What happens when evil
becomes widespread? The Prophet,was once asked: "Will we be punished
by disasterswhich befall us while we have righteous people amongst
us?' he,replied:"Yes, if evil becomes widespread."]Al-Bukhaari and
Muslim[
Additionally, the unrestrained love for this life and preferring it to
the Hereafter has further weakened the Muslim nation. It is this
predicament that gave its enemies the power to dictate many of its
affairs, seize its wealth, conquer its lands and severely persecute
the Muslims. The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam,said:"Beware!
The nations all over the world shall join forces against you as diners
gather around their plate of food".The companions asked:"OMessenger of
Allaah! Is that because we will be few in number then?" Hesaid:"No,
rather you will be many, but you will only be as )worthless as( the
scum after a flood. The fear of you shall be removed from the hearts
of your enemies and Wahnwill be put into your hearts".The
companionsasked:"What is Wahn?"He, sallallaahu 'alayhiwa
sallam,answered:"To love this life and detest death".Ahmad and others[
Hence, we must desist from heedlessness as Almighty Allaah has
condemned the heedless andpraised the pious.
If Muslims truly wish for victory, then they must change what is
inthemselves, as Allaah Says )what means(:"…Indeed Allaah will
notchange the condition of a people until they change what is in
themselves …"]Quran13:11[. Obeying Allaah and His Messenger,
sallallaahu 'alayhiwasallam,is the only source of victory. Allaah Says
)what means(:"O you who have believed, if you support Allaah, He will
support you and plant firmly your feet."]Quran 47:7[
The fortunate is the one who uses his time to work for the Hereafter
and neither worldly commitment nor its desiresdistracthim from
fulfilling the rights of his Lord.Letusutilize the opportunity of
Ramadan and try to change the situation of theMuslim nation which
starts with me and you changing ourselves.

Ramadan Articles - Ramadan and Community Health

Fasting in the month of Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam
enjoined upon Muslims by almighty Allah as mentioned in verse 183 of
chapter 2:"O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was
prescribed to those before you, that ye may learn self restraint."
Reduced Crime and Higher Morale
The enormous impact of Ramadan on a Muslim society is seen from the
fact that as compared to the other months, the number of all sorts of
crimes and the magnitude of corruption,indecency, vicious behaviour
and immoral acts are all reduced markedly. The rate of crimes in
Muslim societiesis already lower than other societies and it declines
even more in theholy month of Ramadan.
Violence and crime impose a great burden on the health budget of any
country. As a matter of fact in most developedcountries they supersede
the expenditure and agony caused even by the road traffic accidents.In
a Muslim country like Saudi Arabia the crime rate is already much
lower than other countries and it becomes minimal in the month of
Ramadan.
Fasting is not just the act of refraining from food and water; rather
it is a devotion to fulfill the religious duties as well asto behave
in a manner which is harmless to others, so that even if someone
incites a personto quarrel, he has to pacify him by acting upon this
saying of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh),"Fasting is a shield or
protection from the fire and from committing sins, if one ofyou is
fasting, he should avoid quarrelling and if somebody should fight
orquarrel with him he should say I am fasting."
In another Hadith, Allah's Apostle says,"Whoever does not give up
forged speech and evil actions, Allah is not in need of his leaving
food and drink."
Although such good teachings of Islam are not confined to the month of
Ramadan alone, yet they are best observed in this month. Hence, one
can notice a great fall in the crime rate, violence, loss of working
days due to offensive injuries and a great reduction in the cost of
medico-legal expenditure which has a pronounced effect on thehealth
budget of a given community.
There is no doubt in saying that the number of offensive injuries and
trauma cases reported to the emergency rooms in a Muslim country is
far less in the month of Ramadan than in any other month. Ramadan, in
other words, is a training period for the Muslims in which the
foundations of a subtle character are laid whose gains can also be
seen round the year and this has a positive effect on the morale of
the whole society.
Happiness and Reduced Stress
Now, to come to another blessedness of Ramadan. In today's stressful
time when every third person is suffering from a psychological problem
even though it might be a mild depression, the advent of Ramadan means
an era of happiness and felicity forall Muslims.
Social insecurity is the root cause of today's psychological chaos and
bereavement. Ramadan, in contrast, is a month of optimum social
interaction and familiarization with each other. Mosques are thronged
with worshippers, people invite intimate friends to iftar, shopping
centers are packed with crowds and Eid offers a rainbow of joyous
moments, although the real happiness which the believers derive comes
from the fulfillment of Allah's order about whichHe says that fasting
is for Him alone and He will pay its reward.
Ramadan has its own culture, a glimpse of which can be seen at Iftar
when the whole family joins together to dine. Allah's apostle (pbuh)
says,"There are two pleasures for the fasting person: one, at the time
of breaking his fast, and the other at the time when he will meet his
Lord. Then he will be pleased because of his fasting."
Not surprisingly, due to the decreased stress the human body's steroid
level, which is raised in stress and anxiety, has been found to be
decreased among Muslims in the month of Ramadan.
Cleanliness
Cleanliness is the hallmark of Islamic virtues. Although according to
Islamic teachings, a good Muslimoffering his prayers regularly is
supposed to be neat and tidy, in the month of Ramadan personal
cleanliness among the Muslims reaches its peak. I need not mention
that a high level of cleanliness in the days of Ramadan will deter
infections. The zeal to offer prayers in Ramadan continues in other
days as well, more and more people form the habit of offering prayers
regularly, which by itself is a spiritual and health package for
Muslims.

Ramadan Articles - Ramadan for a Novice

I attended my first iftar earlier this month.
Iftar is the breaking of the fast that takes place every night in the
homes of observant Muslims during the month of Ramadan. Hosted by the
Sacramento Area League of Associated Muslims, the iftar I attended was
an interfaith event, intended to educate non-Muslims like me about the
significance of Islam's holiest month.
Arden Fair Mall
I learned that Ramadan isthe ninth month of the Islamic lunar
calendar, the month Mohammed was supposed to have first received
divine revelations from the Archangel Gabriel that became the Holy
Qur'an. For a full lunar cycle, from full moon to crescent, adult
Muslims around the world refrain from food, drink and sexual relations
from dawn to sunset.
The fasting or sawm - theword in Arabic literally means self-restraint
- is meant to build discipline.As Imam Azeez, the spiritual leader of
the SALAM center, explained it, when people deny themselves the simple
permissible pleasures - food, drink, sex - it becomes easier to
refrainfrom the impermissible - alcohol or drugs or criminal behavior.
While attention focuses on foodand drink, the faithful are also
supposed to refrain from foul language, gossip, evil thoughts and even
war during Ramadan.
Fasting is also a way to build understanding and empathy for those who
are suffering. Those who cannot fast because of illness or because
they are pregnant are required to feed the pooreach day that they
themselves fail to refrain from.
Finally, Ramadan, we were told, is about family. At the end of the
day, after prayer, familiesand friends come together for iftars, to
break the fast. By tradition, the first foods eaten are dates and
milk.At the SALAM center that Saturday night, a sumptuous feast of
spiced rice, lamb, fried dumplings and sweets followed, all served in
a joyful holiday spirit.
It felt like Christmas. Our hosts regaled us with tales of Ramadan
back home in Egypt, Syria and Pakistan. They told us themonth is very
much like Christmas, a time when mothers prepare their favorite dishes
and families and friends visit. On the last day of Ramadan, gifts are
exchanged. In fact, in many Muslim countries, Ramadan, like Christmas,
has become the principal shopping season and that has some worried
that, like Christmas, Ramadan will become tainted by commercialism.
But as I've watched the Muslims I know this Ramadan and in the past,it
seems unlikely. The central ritual of Ramadan, the fast itself,
prevents the Muslim holy season from drifting too far from its
spiritual roots.
To deny oneself all food and drink for 12 hours - not even a sip of
water is permitted - is very hard. To do that not just for a day or a
week, but for a full month, represents a commitment to faith that is
rare and precious and real. Certainly, it seems soto someone like me,
who has a hard time walking past the candy vending machine at work,
even after I've just had lunch. So, I left my first iftar impressed
and deeply moved.

Practical benefits of breastfeeding

Allaah Almighty Says)what means(:"…His mother carried him, ]increasing
her[ in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years. Be
grateful to Me and to your parents; to Me is the ]final[
destination."]Quran 31: 14[
In this article, we will shed light on some facts discovered by modern
medicine and study that confirm the Wisdom of Allaah, The Almighty,
and the completeness and perfection of Islam.
Human milk, the best food for babies, contains the right amount of
nutrients, in the right proportions, for the growing baby. A living,
biological fluid; it contains many unique components. For example,
lactoferrin )a glycoprotein that belongs to the iron transporter or
transferrinfamily( provides optimal absorption of iron and protects
the gut from harmful bacteria; lipases assist in digestion of fats;
and special growth factors and hormones contribute to optimal growth
and development. The mother's own milk changes during a feedingfrom
thirst-quenching to hunger-satisfying, and comes in a variety of
flavors as the mother's diet varies. Its composition changes as the
baby grows to meet the baby's changing nutritional needs.
Breastfeeding and the immune system:
Human milk is the baby's first immunization. It provides antibodies
which protect the baby from many common respiratory and
intestinaldiseases, and also contains living immune cells. First milk,
colostrum, is packed withcomponents which increase immunity and
protect the newborn's intestines. Breastfeeding as an infant also
providesprotection from developing immune system cancers such as
lymphoma, bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease and celiac sprue, and
juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, all of which are related to immune
system function. Additionally, breastfed babies generally mount amore
effective response to childhood immunizations. In all these cases,
benefits begin immediately, and increase with increasing duration of
breastfeeding.
Babies from families witha tendency to allergic diseases particularly
benefit from breastfeeding. Breastfeeding provides protection against
allergies, asthma, and eczema.
Some conclusions come to by modern medicine concerning breastfeeding:
Breastfed babies:
Get sick less often and get less severe illnesses
Are hospitalized less often and have a lower rate of mortality
Have a lower risk of diarrheal disease
Have a lower incidence of gastrointestinal illness
Have a lower risk of urinary tract infections
Have a lower incidence of respiratory disease
Have a lower incidence of otitis media ear infections
Have a lower incidence of allergies
Have a lower rate of pneumonia
Have lower rates of obesity
Have a lower incidence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome )SIDS(
Have fewer learning and behavior difficulties
Breastfeeding:
Helps bond mother and child
Confers passive immunity
Is protective against measles and other communicable diseases
Provides optimal growth and neurological development
Prevents malocclusion and leads to better teeth and jaw development
Protects against hypothermia
Provides partial protection against necrotising entercolitis
Provides major protection against bacteremia and meningitis
Reduces the incidence of childhood lymphoma
Enhances visual development
Provides protection against neonatal sepsis
Is less risky for prematurebabies and low birth ratebabies
Artificially fed babies:
Have an increased risk factor for juvenile diabetes
May have impaired antibody response to vaccines
Have a higher risk of inflammatory illness
Have a higher risk of celiac disease, Crohn's disease, ulcerative
colitis,cholera, and neonatal hypocalcemic tetany
Have higher rates of middle ear infections, pneumonia, and cases of
gastroenteritis )stomach flu(
Benefits for the mother from breastfeeding:
Bonds mother and child
Provides the mother hormonal induced contentment
Encourages efficient uterine contractions afterchildbirth
Allows mothers to lose pregnancy weight and size faster
Is convenient since the milk is pre-warmed, clean and always available
Is cost effective and savesmoney
Contributes to natural family planning
Contributes to household food security
Fosters confidence and promotes self-esteem
Reduces the incidence of urinary tract infections
Is protective against cancer )breast, ovarian, cervical(
Lowers the incidence of chronic hepatitis
Reduces the incidence of osteoporosis
Reduces the requirements of insulin for lactating diabetic mothers
Breastfeeding and the environment:
Another important issue related to infant feeding and health is the
interaction between infant feeding method and the environment.
Breastfeeding is a completely natural, efficient use of resources.In
contrast, artificial feeding involves overgrazing of land by cattle;
use of chemical fertilizers to grow the soy; use of valuable
environmental resources for formula production; packaging and
transportation of the product; use of water and fuel for mixing the
product and heating it, for sterilizing bottles and nipples; waste
disposal ofthe cans, bottles, accessories, cartons, etc.
Despite this, the media and some environmental groups tend to play up
issues of environmental contaminants in mother'smilk. In fact, except
in situations of toxic spills or occupational exposureto hazardous
levels, breastfeeding has causedno ill effects in babies. Tothe
contrary, studies comparing breastfed andbottle-fed babies in the same
environment have shown better development and less cancer in the
breastfed babies.