The Wisdom of the Prophet: the Incident of the Epileptic Woman

There is a hadith narrated by 'Ata bin Abi Rabah:
Ibn 'Abbas once said to me,"Shall I show you a womanof the people of Paradise?"
I said, "Yes."
He said, "This black lady came to the Prophet (peacebe upon him) and
said, 'I get attacks of epilepsy and my body becomes uncovered; please
invoke Allah for me.' The Prophet said (to her), 'If you wish, be
patient and you will have Paradise; and if you wish, I will invoke
Allah to cure you.' She said, 'I will remain patient,' and added, 'but
I become uncovered, so please invoke Allah for me that I may not
become uncovered.' So he invoked Allah for her." - Bukhari :: Book 7
:: Volume 70 :: Hadith 555
This hadith was published recently on MuslimasOasis.com , and I was
fascinated by the many comments from readers who have epilepsy and
have been inspired or comforted by this hadith.
One sister wrote:
"(This hadith) was a comfort to me as an epileptic when I had a
seizure outside of a masjid on the pavement in Philadephia during a
busy Jumaah afternoon. When I came to, my niqab was removed, my hijab
loosened, and my husband and a brother were helpingthe paramedics that
had arrived. Because of this hadith I felt comfort in spite of being
such a spectacle, alhamdulillah."
Another said:
"I too am an epileptic. When I first reverted to Islam over 3 years
ago, oneof the sisters who witnessed my Shahada wrote this hadith out
and gave it to me. It is a HUGE comfort to know this. May Allah ease
the trials of all epileptics and those who suffer from any disease
andgrant us all sabr. Ameen!"
And there were other similar comments, from men and women, ma-sha-Allah.
I don't have epilepsy or any other serious sickeness,Alhamdulillah
(praise God) for all His blessings. But as Iread the comments of
people who do have some illness and have been tremendously comforted
by this hadith, all of a sudden I realized the huge wisdom of the
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in whathe said to the epileptic woman. He
could have simply invoked for her and she would have been cured, and
then all of us 1,400 years later would read the story and say,
"Ma-sha-Allah, another miracle to prove his Prophethood." But it
wouldhave no lasting personal significance.
Instead, by asking the woman to be patient and promising her Jannah
(Paradise), the Prophet (pbuh) has sent a message of hope down through
the ages to all the other sufferers in the world: Allah sees your
suffering. Your pain will be compensated, and your patience rewarded
with the greatest possible prize.
Even today epilepsy cannotbe cured, though it can be controlled
somewhat through medication. So even now, all these years later, in
this age of medical wonders, this hadith still has immediate
significance for people who suffer from this illness, and in fact
frompeople who suffer from any illness, from cancer to leprosy to
bipolar disorder.
Another point of note is that every Prophet was sent with certain
types of miracles appropriate to theunderstanding of their people.
Musa (Moses, peacebe upon him) was sent with the staff of power andthe
white hand, because his mission was to a peoplesteeped in sorcery.
"Medicalmiracles" – curing the sick, even bringing the dead back to
life – were the hallmark of the Prophet Isaibn Maryam (Jesus son of
Mary, pbuh), because he was sent to a people who specialized in
healing arts.

--
- - - - - - -

Jokes

Husband: I had a 5ne dream last night.I dreamed I was touring world in
a fine car. WIfe:Sorry,I heard Engine snorting.
@
X: Do you think a genius ever makes a good husband? Y: You should
better ask my wife.
@
Appu-Oye!wat R U doing? Pappu-Recording babies voice. Appu-y? Pappu-
When he grows up,I shall ask him wat he meant by dis?
@
Most people have 5 senses. Some people have 6 senses. But u r blessed
with 7 senses. An extra sense is NON SENSE.
@
A silent night, a star above, a blessed gift of hope and love. A
blessed Christmas to you!
@
8 Semesters 80 GB sylabus80 MB v study 80 KB v remember 80 Bytes v
ans. BINARY Marks v get, known as BTech (Brain Technically Empty)

--
- - - - - - -

Do Your Thing

Life has been challenging lately. In July I've faced some financial
setbacks, and also some personal setbacks that have hit me hard, and
drained me emotionally to the point where sometimes I just sit in my
padded computer chair and don't feel like getting up. I feel like I
hardly have the energy to get up and prepare some food to eat, let
alone pray, work, go to class, care for my daughter…
And yet I do get up. I go out and teach a 2.5 hour martial arts class
and I do itwith vigor, because my students are looking to me for
guidance and inspiration. I get up and domy volunteer job at the
Muslim community center. I get up and take my daughter to the lake or
themasjid, and have a tea party with her, and read her the latest
chapter of "Fish Face". I laugh with her and love her with everything
I've got, because she needs me. I don't have time for self-pity.
I get up and do my thing, because that's what it is to be a man (or
woman), to be a father (or mother), to be a Muslim, to be a friend, to
be alive! You get up anddo what you have to do. You pick your foot up
and take a step, then lift the other one and take anotherstep, and
before you know it you are moving ahead, and time has passed and your
problems have diminished and don't hurt quite so much, or maybe you
have overcome them entirely, because you are experiencing the joy of
life.Your love for Allah, and your gratitude, and your attentiveness
to the beautyand blessings around you, all wash the pain away likea
river.
That's what it is to be alive.SubhanAllah.
So, to all those reading thisnow, I send you light and love, and I
know that no matter what physical or emotional aches you are
experiencing, you will rise each morning with gratitude, you will take
a step and move ahead, you will love and laugh, you will push
self-pity to the side and live your lives with commitment, in the
short time that we all haveon this beautiful ball of brown and blue.

--
- - - - - - -

In a season of consumerist madness, let’s be grateful, and give

At this time of year the stores are pushing their sales at us.
Advertising is everywhere. There if a frenzy to buy, buy, buy. Let's
realize that this is not a spiritual way of life. It's not an
appropriate lifestylefor someone who is dedicated to God. The
consumerist madness is a deception. There's no joy orpeace attached to
it. It's a shallow illusion.
Look at what society has done to itself in the name of consumerism. A
day of thanks (Thanksgiving) has become the prelude to "Black Friday",
the biggest shopping day of the year. Itused to be that Black Friday
did not begin until Friday morning, out of respect for Thanksgiving.
Then the starting gun was moved to midnight, and now it has crept into
Thursday evening. Nothing is sacred.
The Prophet 'Isa ibn Maryam (Jesus the son of Mary), peace be upon
him, has been turned into a marketing strategy. His purported birthday
has become a month of shopping insanity, presidedover by a mythical
sub-deity named Santa. People go into debt, they fight over sale
goods… no mention is made of faith.
We Muslims fall prey to thesame consumerist lifestyle. Sometimes the
holy monthof Ramadan becomes a month of shopping, sleeping and binge
eating, astaghfirullah.
Let us – Christians, Muslims,Jews and all people of God – not follow
this path. Let'shew to a way of sacrifice, zakat (purification),
sadaqah (charity), zuhd (giving up material luxury).We don't have to
be monks, but we must focus on the things that matter: faith and
family.
There are movements that advocate a simple living, back-to-nature,
low-impactlifestyle. In Islam this is called zuhd , which could be
translated as detachment or asceticism. Zuhd is a choice that a person
makes to give up the hunger for material possessions and transgressive
carnal experiences, and live a simple lifestyle dedicated to God.
That's what we need.
The faith in our hearts is more important than the brand name of the
clothes we wear. Where our feet carry us – to someplace good or bad –
is more important than the cost of our shoes. The sincerity in our
hearts is more important than any gift. May Allah help us to see what
is important in life.

--
- - - - - - -

Beautiful Muslim Women in History

What comes to your mind when I say, "A beautiful Muslim woman"? Many
of us may think of a woman in hijab (headscarf) or modest attire.
Hijab is indeed beautiful, but by thinking Islamic beauty is only
because of hijab, we are perpetuating the idea that beauty exclusively
applies to an image.
While our religion teaches us to take care of our bodies and to
maintain a pleasant physical appearance, it also emphasizes the need
for every individual to developan inward beauty: a beautythat comes
with knowing Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala (exalted is He) and obeyingHim,
and that transcends the mere image of a person. This inward beauty
can actually become so radiant that it manifests in a person's
external appearance. It is for this reason that some of the righteous
people of the past would comment on the physical beauty of those who
prayed during the night or performed other righteous deeds.
OurProphet ﷺ (peace be upon him) mentioned again and again the beauty
of he or she who embodies good character. He ﷺ also emphasized to
those seeking marriage to look for the one who is beautiful as a
result of theircharacter and religion. In this way, Islam defines
beauty as something more profound than just the physical.
Our history is filled with beautiful women, women who were devout in
their service to God and who lived lives of purpose and meaning.
Their beauty is so much more than physical appearance; we see in them
the beauty of character, morals, deeds, speech and lifestyle.
While there are multitudes of incredible women to select from in our
tradition,I have specifically chosen not as well known women who will
shatter our narrow perceptions of beauty and break the stereotypes of
how a "righteous Muslim woman"should or should not be. Here is a brief
glimpse into their lives.
A West African Beauty: Princess Nana Asma'u
We begin with the story of Nana Asma'u, the daughterof Uthman don
Fodio, who was not only a renowned scholar of her time, but a poet, a
political and social activist, and a creative intellectual. She is
considered to be one of thegreatest women of 19th century Islamic
communities. She was bornin 1793 in modern-day Nigeria. A princess
with an impressive lineage, she was named after a hero in Islamic
heritage—Asma, the daughter of Abu Bakr, who was a strong woman in her
support of Islam. Shewas raised in a supportive Islamic household,
having not only memorized the Qur'an, but extensively learned the
Islamic sciencesand four languages as well.
Asma'u believed in women having a role in society andshe led the women
of her time by example throughout her life. One of her greatest
achievements was compiling the extensive collection of writings of her
father after he passed away when she was 27. The degree of respect the
scholarly community had for Asma'u is seen here because they chose her
to complete sucha monumental task. Not only did this job require
someone trustworthy, but also someone who was familiar with his
writings and was well-versed in the Islamic sciences.
When she was a mother of two and pregnant with herthird child, Asma'u
completed the translation of the Qur'an in her native tongue and also
translated her father's work into the various dialects of the
community. This shows herconcern for her communityand her desire to
bring the knowledge of the Qur'an and Islam to her people.
Asma'u saw a dire need for the teachings of Islam to reach the women
in her community and beyond the Sokoto region. She sawthat women were
absent from the circles of knowledge and stayed in their homes as they
tendedto their familial duties. Asma'u came up with a brilliant idea
to not only teach these women but to teach them in the comfort of
their homes. It was then that she gathered knowledgeable women in her
community and trainedthem as teachers. This group, known as jajis,
traveled to neighboring communities to bring Islamic knowledge to
secluded women. This movement was called the Yan-taru movement,
whichmeans "those who congregate together" and "sisterhood". Asma'u
taught the jajis to use lesson plans, poetry, and creative mnemonic
devices in their teachings.
Nana Asma'u, by the grace and guidance of Allah (swt), revolutionized
the way her community learned Islam. She brought the knowledge of the
religion to the people in aneasy to remember fashion and wrote in
their language. Her legacy is a legacy of scholarship and activism,
and her name is still used today in West Africa.

--
- - - - - - -

Coup fears return to Pakistan

TRAPPED DEMOCRACY: Yousuf Raza Gilani leaves the Supreme Court
following a hearing in Islamabad in April this year.
~
Unrelenting pressure on government from judiciary,opposition parties
Always on the boil, the melting pot of conspiracy theories that is
Pakistan is now boiling over. Suspicionthat "hidden hands" were at
work in ousting Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani from office — reportedly voiced
by none other than the former Prime Minister at a closed-door meeting
— has given way to fears thatthe democratically elected government is
being encircled. When an arrest warrant was issued againstMakhdoom
Shahabuddin, the first choice for replacing Mr. Gilani, coup talk
returned to Pakistan full steam.
Many found the timing of the warrant suspect. The case had been
pending for sometime. To add to this, the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) —
which is investigating this case — isheaded by a serving Army officer.
For a country all toofamiliar with military takeovers under one
pretext or the other, it wasenough to set alarm bells ringing.
Television anchorperson, Farrukh Pitafi, reflected the exasperation of
many when he tweeted: " Bhai , takeover kar lo (you might as well take
over)".
The ingredients were all there, raising the spectre ofthe 1990s when
politicianssparred often enough and so bitterly that it was easy to
play one against the other, the revolving door change of governments
ending with Pervez Musharraf's takeover that lasted a decade.
Despite the iconic aura it has gained since 2007 and the harsh words
it has used against the military ina couple of cases, the superior
judiciary's past has not been forgotten. Every military intervention
was validated by the judiciary and the present pantheon includes
judges who had validated Gen. Musharraf's coup. That has only added to
the apprehensions of a nation several times bitten.
The Dawn's editorial articulated these fears about the arrest warrant:
"Given the uncanny timing of yesterday's developments, we cannot rule
out the possibility thatthere are forces working behind the scenes to
prevent Pakistan's fledgling democracy from weathering the current
crisis."
Since the new PM-designate, Raja Pervez Ashraf, also has a fair
shareof cases against him, the joke in town was that efforts were on
to dig up dirt onQamar Zaman Kaira, the "cover candidate" introduced
into the fray by the Pakistan People's Party(PPP).
In any case, no one expectsthe new premier to have an easy run. As the
search for candidates for premiership was on, the bottom line was that
only those willing to be disqualified for five years need apply. It is
amply clear that the PPP is determined not to write tothe Swiss
authorities to reopen graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.
Among the first tasks awaiting the new man in would be the Supreme
Court order asking that theletter be sent. Or go the Gilani way.
Halo fades
But the PPP too is determined to hang in for the remainder of its
term, which ends in March 2013, despite calls from political opponents
to call it quits. Ironically, the man who selects the new Prime
Minister is the same personas the court's real target in the
government-judiciary standoff – President Zardari. So, expect more of
the same in coming months The two have beeneyeball to eyeball since
thePresident dragged his feet over the reinstatement of Justice
Chaudhry from 2008 to 2009. Mr. Gilani got caught in the crossfire, as
the judiciary stood tall over an inefficient government bogged downby
controversies.
Some of the halo around the judiciary – that harks back to the
lawyers' movement for the reinstatement of judges removed by Gen.
Musharraf— has faded in recent weeks with the Chief Justice's son,
Arsalan Chaudhry, being accused oftaking millions from a property
tycoon for influencing cases. More than the accusations, the manner in
which the Court handled that case has dented its image.
Writing in The News , lawyer Babar Sattar said the judiciary had
"squandered a vital opportunity to salvage its reputation as a neutral
arbiter of the law" with its judgment in the case.
The court's decision to disqualify Mr. Gilani has also drawn its fair
share of criticism, not out of any love or appreciation for thePPP-led
dispensation but because of what it portends for Pakistan's fledgling
democracy.
Expressing disappointment, The Dawn editorial said: "Legally there
might have been a case against the Prime Minister, but it was best
forthe supreme judiciary not to have waded so deep into such obviously
political waters."
Questioning the decision toask the Election Commission to notify Mr.
Gilani's disqualification instead of just referring thematter to it,
The Dawn noted: "By doing so, it has both disrupted an existing
democratic set-up and set a worrying precedent for the future."

--
- - - - - - -

6.6-magnitude quakeshakes Indonesia - just now

A 6.6-magnitude earthquake shook Indonesia's Aceh province on Sumatra
island Saturday, the Indonesian Meteorological and Geophysics Agency
said.
The quake was centred 24 kilometres northwest of Subulussalam City, at
a depth of 103 kilometres, according to the agency.
There were no reports of casualties or damage.

--
- - - - - - -

How to go to Hajj when I have children?

Q :->I have some questions regarding my children.
I wanted to keep them in an Islamic boarding schooland perform hajj
after enrolling them in one but as i am residing in nagpur i could not
find one. so what should i do?
Second, I have 17 tolas of gold which was given to me in marriage and
i am due on zakaat for past 8 years. What to do regarding this?
Please help. khuda hafiz.
A :-> Sister, if you have your Mahram who is taking youfor the Hajj,
then ask him to convince his relatives tokeep your children with them
until you return from the Hajj. Else you can do so with your
relatives, and insha Allah, they won't deny this.
Moreover, it is best if you can take your children with you on Hajj.
But if you plan to go on Hajj without a Mahram, then it is not allowed
for you to do so. You can not go for Hajj, without a Mahram.
As for he who did not offer
the obligatory zakah, it is
necessary for a repentant to
Pay them for all previous unpaid years, for it is, fromone angle,
Allah's right, while from another, the poor people's right. (See
Madaarij Al-Salikin for further details).
(islamqa)
--
- - - - - - -

Love for your partner what you love for yourself

To summarize the duties of brotherhood and sisterhood in Islam, we
should love for our brother and sister what we love for ourselves.
This is an incredible teaching that if implemented would go a long way
towards improving relations between us. This spirit of love is
especially important between husbands and wives, as we often treat
each other as abstract enemies as opposed to Muslims, first and
foremost.
- Imam Zaid Shakir
This is an excellent observation and insightful piece of advice. Many
of usare familiar with this hadith but have not thought of it in terms
of husband and wife.
When we want for our spouse what we want for ourselves, it takes our
marriage to a new level oflove. We begin to think about our partners
needs and wants, we pray for our partner just as we pray for
ourselves, we work for our partner's material and spiritual success as
much as our own.
We also forgive them for their mistakes just as we would hope to be
forgiven. We praise them for the good they do, thank them, hug them,
and when they need it we correct them in kindness. That's love, and
it's what agood marriage is made of.

Rights of the Husbandand Wife in Islam

First of all, we'd like to state that in Islam the marriage of a man
and a woman is not just a financial and physical arrangement of living
together but a sacred contract, a gift of God, to lead a happy,
enjoyable life and continue the lineage. The main goal of marriage in
Islam is the realization of tranquility and compassions betweenthe
spouses. For the attainment of this supreme goal, Islam defined
certain duties and rights for the husband andwife.
For a detailed account of these mutual duties and rights, we'd like to
cite thefollowing:
"Piety is the basis of choosing the life partner. Many are the
statements of the Qur'an and the Sunnah that prescribe kindness and
equity, compassion and love, sympathy and consideration, patience and
good will. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, says, "The
best Muslim is the one who is best to his family." Also, he says, "…
and the most blessedjoy in life is a good, righteous wife." (Reported
by At-Tirmidhi)
The role of the husband evolves around the moral principle that it is
his solemn duty to Allah to treat his wife with kindness, honor, and
patience; to keep her honorably or free her fromthe marital bond
honorably; and to cause her no harm or grief. Allah Almighty says:
"…consort with them in kindness, for if you hate them it may happen
that you hate a thing wherein Allah has placed much good." (An-Nisa':
19)
The role of the wife is summarized in the verse that women have rights
even as they have duties, according to what is equitable; but men have
a degree over them. Allah Almighty says, "And they (women) have rights
similar to those (of men)over them in kindness, and men are a degree
above them. Allah is Mighty, Wise." (Al-Baqaraqh: 228)
This degree is usually interpreted by Muslim scholars in conjunction
with another passage which states, among otherthings, that men are
trustees, guardians, and protectors of women because Allah has made
some of them excel othersand because men expend of their means. Allah
Almighty says: "Men are in charge of women, because Allah has made the
one of them to excel the other, and because they spend of their
property (for the supportof women). So good women are the obedient,
guarding in secret that which Allah has guarded. As for those from
whom you fear rebellion, admonish them and banish them to beds apart,
and scourge them. Then if they obey you, seek not a way against them.
Lo! Allah is ever High Exalted, Great." (An-Nisa': 34)

--
- - - - - - -

In My Heart

When the coals of faith are cooling off inside you;
and you feel like all you do is act a part;
When you're desperate for one ember that's still burning -
you will find it, hot and glowing, in my heart.
When you've lost that smilingimage of yourself,
and you don't know where to stand or where to start;
When you're looking for your compass and your candle,
you will find them, safe and protected, in my heart.
When some people label you a failure,
and the accusation pierces like a dart;
There's one to whom you've always been an angel;
I still love you, I still see you, in my heart.
Everything that's good and sweet about you -
and there's so much, you're a living work of art -
is alive in me, I've kept it like a songbird,
soaring still and calling in my heart.

Resilience is Contagious

Amy Estrada. Sure, life comes along now and then and blows you off
your feet. That'salright. What matters is that you get back up.
You don't have to have the answers. You don't have to besuperman or
superwoman. When the thundercloud opens up, who among us can stop the
rain? When the hurricane blows, who can stayon his feet? No one.
When the storm passes, stand up. Dust yourself off, take stock, and
move forward in the name of Allah. If the storm has disoriented you
andyou don't see the way forward, look to the Quran. "And if there
should come to you guidance from Me – then whoever follows My guidance
will neither go astray [in the world] nor suffer [in the Hereafter]."
(Quran, Surat TaHa, 20:123). The Quran is a mighty book. Never
underestimate it. If youcannot speak Arabic and find the English
translations unwieldy, get one of the modern translations that are
easier to read, like those by Umm Muhammad, or Thomas Cleary.
When you get knocked down and then stand up tall, with strength,
others see it, and it rallies them. Your spouse seesit, your children
see it, your friends see it, and of course Allah sees it. Don't think
of it as showing off. Not at all. Think of it as brotherhood
andsisterhood, all of us helping each other, giving each other
strength, being good shepherds to our flocks.
Superman is no hero, he's impervious to bullets! Real heroes get hurt,
they get down on themselves sometimes, they're imperfect,they struggle
to pay the bills and raise their children, they struggle to be become
stronger in their faith, but they struggle! They don't giveup.
That's inspiring, and it's contagious, and maybe sometimes it will be
someoneelse inspiring you, and maybesometimes it will be you, getting
up after the hurricane,showing us all how it's done.
--
- - - - - - -

Believe in Allah, Because He Believes in You

I believe in Allah because He believes in me… and He believes in you
too. Believe inHis plan for you, have faith in Him, trust His guidance
to you,because He has faith in you, and trusts you.
Some people might challengethis assertion that Allah believes in us
and trusts us. Tome, that's surprising. Allah created nothing in vain.
Everything He does has a purpose. His creation of humanity was done
with intent.
Why were we created? Many Muslims will automatically respond, "To
worship Allah." That's true, but why does Allah want to be worshiped?
Furthermore, why did He create everything else – the stars, planets,
forests, seas, mountains, animals?…
Without presuming to know Allah's intentions, and returning to the
realm of the human for a moment, I will make a simple observation. Asa
writer, one of the reasons I write is because the act of putting my
thoughts and feelings on paper satisfies something deep within me.
I've been writing creatively since I was a child, and to me it's not a
hobby but a calling. I'm a writer, therefore I write;and I am a writer
because I write.
The same is true for a painter or any other artist. I imagine ifyou
asked a painter why he paints, you might get many different answers:
*. "It makes me happy"
*. "It's my passion."
*. "To express my ideas."
*. "To make money."
*. "I don't know, I just do."
The bottom line is that it's thepainter's nature to paint; it's her
calling, her function. She is a painter, therefore she paints; or she
paints, therefore she is a painter. Same difference.
Allah is Al-Khaaliq, The Creator. That is one of His names, one of His
attributes. He expresses this attribute by creating. You are a part of
thatexpression, and so am I. So is a blue whale, Mount Kilimanjaro,
the Grand Canyon, a dolphin, a mouse and an amoebum. Everything that
Allah created is amazing in its function and awesomelycomplex in its
design. Everything that He created is beautiful and purposeful.
Including you and me.
To create is an act of love. It isan act of faith. The Creator loves
you and believes in you.Believe in Him, believe in yourself, believe
in humanity,and believe in the unique path that Allah has chosen for
you.

Allah First

--
- - - - - - -

Allah first, glorified and exalted be He. Not career, money, savings,
stocks, investments, 401K, IRA. Allah first. Not family, because we
cannot serve our families wellunless we serve Allah first. Not
culture, nationality, "race", caste, tribe, clan, lineage, social
status (all of which are utterly meaningless).
Allah first. Not material, shopping, sales – people get up early for a
sale but can't wake up for Allah – smart phone, internet, computer.
Allah, Allah, Allah first. Not movies, shows, fake celebrities who are
worshiped like idols. Not sports teams, city, school, neighborhood.
Only when we put Allah first can we stay that we have understood "Laa
ilaha il-Allah" (there is no God but Allah) – this simple sentence and
testimony of faith, over which Prophets have been killed, believers
persecuted, and which has been so little understood even by Muslims.
This Laa ilaha il-Allah was the call of every Prophet and Messenger
from time immemorial. Allah says about it, "…and know that Laa ilaaha
ill Allah (there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah)…" [Quran
47:19, 20:8, 3:18, 59:22-3]
And Abu Sa`eed al-Khudri said, that the Messenger of Allah (S) said:
"Moses (AS) said: 'O Lord! Teach me something that I can remember You
with and I can supplicate You with'. He (Allah Ta'ala) said: 'Say 'Laa
ilaaha ill Allah', O Musaa'. He (Musaa) said: 'All of your servants
say this'. He (Allah) said: 'If the seven Heavens and those who dwell
in them other than Me and the seven Earths are put into one pan (ofthe
scale) and 'Laa ilaaha ill Allaah' is put into the other; 'Laa ilaaha
ill Allah' would be heavier.'" [Ibn Hibbaan and Haakim]
Laa ilaha il-Allah is the stuff oflegends. It is the calling card of
the Eternal Prime Mover. It has rights over us. It's a contract, an
oath, a promise tolove Allah before the people, fear Allah more than
the people, and to ask ourselves in every situation, "What doesAllah
want me to do here?" It's a vow to trust Allah beforethe people, call
upon Allah in times of hardship, thank Allah in times of plenty, and
know in our bones that our return is to Him.

It is haraam for a man toshake hands with a non-mahram woman in the Maaliki madhhab

I want to know in what reference it says that Imam Maalik forbade a
man to shake hands with a non-mahram woman.
There is an opinion which says that there are four possible scenarios,
and in only one is it regarded as haraam for a man to shake hands with
a non-mahram woman. These four scenarios are: when the one who is
shaking hands does it for the sake of pleasure and finds pleasure in
it; when he does it for the sake of pleasure but does not find
pleasure in it; when he does not do it for the sake of pleasure but
finds pleasure in it; and when he does not do it for the sake of
pleasure and does not find pleasure in it.
Who is the author of this opinion? Does he belong to the Maaliki madhhab?.
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
In Mukhtasar al-Akhdari and other Maaliki books there is an indication
that it is haraam to shake hands with a non-mahramwoman according to
the madhhab of Maalik (may Allah have mercy on him).
'Aleesh said in Minah al-Jaleel Sharh Mukhtasar Khaleel (1/22): It is
not permissible for a man to touch the face or hand of anon-mahram
woman, and it is not permissible for them to put their hands together
without a barrier.'Aa'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said:
TheProphet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) never accepted
the oath of allegiance (bay'ah)of a woman by holding her hand; he
would acceptwomen's oath of allegiance verbally. According to another
report: His hand never touched the hand of a woman; rather he would
accept their oath of allegiance verbally. End quote.
Secondly:
The details that you mentioned have to do with losing wudoo' by
touching; wudoo' is broken in the event of seeking pleasure, or
finding pleasure (even if he was not seeking it), or seeking it and
finding it. Wudoo' is not broken when one does not seek pleasure or
find it.
The prohibition is connected to doing it deliberately, whether there
is pleasure or not.
For more information please see the answer to question no. 21183 and 2459
And Allah knows best.

--
- - - - - - -

Child marriage in Islam is subject to the condition that it serve a clear and real interest

From my understanding, Islamic Law states that if agirl passes
puberty, she is allowed to be married - regardless of whether she is
9, 11, 15 etc Does the law take into consideration her emotional and
mental readiness to be married, despite the physical abilityto be able
to bear children? It disturbs me that young girls who pass puberty are
automatically believed to be whole-heartedly ready for marriage and
motherhoodJUST because she is physically able to do so. Isnt it
equally important that she is emotionally and mentality ready for this
role?
Also - does Islamic Law also state that if a boy passes puberty
(regardlessof his age), he is ALSO allowed to be married?.
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
It is permissible for a man to arrange a marriage for his young son
even if he has not reached puberty; it is also permissible for him to
arrange a marriagefor his young daughter even if she had not reached
the age of puberty. It was narrated that there was consensus on this
point, but that is provided that compatibility is taken into account
and that a clear and real interest is served by this marriage.
Ibn 'Abd al-Barr (may Allahhave mercy on him) said:
The scholars are unanimously agreed that the father may arrange a
marriage for his young daughter without consulting her. The Messenger
of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) married 'Aa'ishah
when she was six years old.
End quote from at-Tamheed, 19/98
Ismaa'eel ibn Ishaaq (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
The father may arrange a marriage for a young (daughter) according to
the consensus of the Muslims, and that is binding on her.
End quote from at-Tamheed, 19/84
Ibn Shubrumah disagreed with that, as we shall see below.
Secondly:
It is not prescribed to arrange a marriage for a young girl unless
there is aclear and real interest to be served by doing so. Thesame
applies to young boys, but the ruling is emphasized more with regard
to girls because a boy has the power of divorce (talaaq).
An-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
It should be noted that ash-Shaafa'i and his companions said: It is
recommended for the father or grandfather not to arrange a marriage
for a virgin until she reaches the age of puberty and he seeks her
consent, lest she find herself trapped in a marriage that she resents.
What they said is not contrary to the hadeeth of'Aa'ishah, because
what they meant is that he should not give her in marriage before
puberty ifthere is no clear and real interest to be served by that for
which there is the fear that it will be missed by delaying marriage,
suchas the story of 'Aa'ishah. Inthat case (i.e., if there is a clear
and real interest to be served) it is recommended not to miss the
opportunity to marry that husband, because the father is enjoined to
take care of his children's interests, not to neglect them.
End quote from Sharh Muslim, 9/206
Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) was of the view
that in the case of a girl who has reached the age of nine years it is
stipulated that she give consent and he said: This is the view
favoured by Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah, and this is the correct
view.
With regard to the girl who is younger than the age of nine years, he
favoured the view that thefather does not have the right to arrange a
marriage. He narrated from Ibn Shubrumah (mayAllah have mercy on him)
that he said: It is not permissible to arrange a marriage for a young
girl who has not reached the age of puberty, because if we say that
that is subject to her consent, her consent does not count (because
she is too young to make such decisions), and when she does reach the
age of puberty we believe that she should not be forced into a
marriage. The Shaykh said:This view is the correct one, that the
father shouldnot arrange a marriage forhis daughter until she reaches
the age of puberty, and when she reaches the age of pubertyhe should
not arrange a marriage unless she gives her consent.
But if we assume that a man regards this suitor as compatible and he
is old, and there is the fear that ifhe passes away and guardianship
of the girl passes to her brothers, they may not take the matter of
her marriage seriously and they may arrange her marriage according to
their whims and desires, not according to what is in her best
interests, and he thinks that it is in her best interests to arrange
her marriage to someone whois compatible, there is nothing wrong with
that, but she will have the choice when she grows up; if she wishes
she may say: I do not agree to this and I do not want it.
If the matter is like this, then the safest option is not to arrange
her marriage and to entrust her to Allah, may He be glorified and
exalted.

--
- - - - - - -

I have cheated on my boyfriend, how can I get him back?

Assalaamu alaikum brother/sister,
I'm an international student in a university, I was in a relationship
with a guy for seven years when I was living back home; by that time
we also committed zina. We decided we would come abroad for higher
studies and live together here. Butsomehow he didn't get hisvisa but I
did and I came here because my parents put in too much money for this.
After I came here things started to get bad, he got into a depression
state and was jealous of me coming abroad, he used toconstantly hurt
me and berude and it eventually made me fed up of him and we had a
fight and didn't talk for 20 days.
By that time I met this new guy who was a very good person, always
prayed Salaah and motivated me to do so. Hegave me idea of hijaab and
I started wearing it. He basically introduced meto Allah's mercy a lot
morethan I knew previously. I fell in love with him and we kissed
which was only a spur of the moment. I wanted a person like him to be
my husband who will guide me through Allah's path and I will do the
same for him.
I was afraid to tell him that I committed zina withmy previous bf but
I told him I was in an abusive relationship (which was true). Somehow
my ex knew about this and he contacted my new bf and he told
everything about us.
However, I tried to manage things and we were in a good place with our
relationship and even decided to get married as Ihave also committed
zina with him. But I got dragged again with my previous bf and cheated
on my new bf a number oftimes. I went back home last year and I met my
ex, which my new bf got to know about. So now he hates me too much but
I fell in love with him. I'm trying to repent to Allah but whenever I
ask myselfwhy did I cheat? I get no answer from my heart.
I feel very guilty for mynew bf because he always supported no matter
how much it hurts him. I still want to get married to him but he hates
me too much as well as his family (who knew of my wrongdoings too). I
also feel ashamed to post this here, but I have no other option to
seek advice fromsomeone in an Islamic perspective. Can you please
advise me on what to do?
Thank you,
- Nafisa

--
- - - - - - -

Greating Tips

Fact of life: One woman brings you into this world crying N the other
ensuresyou continue to do so for the rest of your life!
=
If u r married please ignore this msg, for everyone else: Happy Independence Day
=
Marriage is not just a having a wife, but also worries inherited forever.
=
There`s a way of transferring funds that is even faster than
electronicbanking. It`s called marriage
=
Man: Is there any way for long life? Doctor: Get married. Man: Will it
help? Doctor: No, but the thought of long life will never come.
=
Your wedding day is just the start Of a lifetime full of love N fun.
It just beginsas u take ur vows, When the 2 of u r joined as one
=
Hoping that the love u shared years ago Is still as strong today as it
was then Bringing u much joy ,love N happiness 2 celebrate again.
=
Q: During Marriage ceremony why is the bridegroom made to sit on the
horse? A: He is given his last chance to run away!
=
Marriage is that relation between man and womenin which the
Independence is Equal, theDependence mutual and the Obligation
Reciprocal

--
- - - - - - -

Tall Grass

I could listen all day
to the eucalyptus leaves
rustling in the wind, passing it on.
You said once
that the world was stale and worn,
like a room where everything's been used.
Sometimes I wonder
if you were speaking of yourself.
I don't see the world that way,
or you either. At this moment
the clouds in the Eastern sky
are limned with red light
like the edge of a forest fire.
The cows across the road are grazing
in the acres that burned last year.
Now tall green grass growsthere.
I know they are slow beasts, barely aware,
but they love their calves,
and they worship in their way.
They are beautiful in their striped coats.
All is beautiful, especially you.
If your world is a stale room
then let me break the door
and carry you into the Junesunshine.
Maybe you're right that everything's been touched,
but the world renews itself.
The rains wash to the sea,
and all is clean. I know that-
like the acres where the cows graze -
you've been burned.
You said you have ten thousand questions
and nowhere to turn. You said
you are a painful mystery to yourself.
That's okay. None of us have answers,
none of us know our own depths
any more than we know the stars..
You are innocent as a child to me.
You are new, never stained,
the tall grass growing green
on the acres of your soul.

--
- - - - - - -

Resilience is Contagious

"Resilience is contagious." –Amy Estrada. Sure, life comes along now
and thenand blows you off your feet. That's alright. What matters is
that you get back up.
You don't have to have theanswers. You don't have tobe superman or
superwoman. When the thundercloud opens up, who among us can stop the
rain? When the hurricane blows, who can stay on his feet? No one.
When the storm passes, stand up. Dust yourself off, take stock, and
move forward in the name of Allah. If the storm has disoriented you
and you don't see the way forward, look to the Quran. "And if there
should come to youguidance from Me – then whoever follows My guidance
will neither go astray [in the world] nor suffer [in the Hereafter]."
(Quran, Surat TaHa, 20:123). The Quran is a mighty book. Never
underestimate it. If you cannot speak Arabic and find the English
translations unwieldy, get one of the modern translations that are
easier to read, like those by Umm Muhammad, or Thomas Cleary.
When you get knocked down and then stand up tall, with strength,
others see it, and it rallies them. Your spouse sees it, your children
see it, your friends see it, and of course Allah sees it. Don't think
of it as showing off. Not at all. Think of it as brotherhood and
sisterhood, all of us helping each other, giving each other strength,
being good shepherds to our flocks.
Superman is no hero, he's impervious to bullets! Real heroes get hurt,
they get down on themselves sometimes, they're imperfect, they
struggle to pay the bills and raise theirchildren, they struggle to be
become stronger in their faith, but they struggle! They don't give up.
That's inspiring, and it's contagious, and maybe sometimes it will be
someone else inspiring you, and maybe sometimesit will be you, getting
up after the hurricane, showing us all how it's done.

--
- - - - - - -

Hadees

The Mother of the Believers, Juwairiyah bint Al-Harith reported that
the Prophet (sallAllahu 'alyhi wasallam) came out from my apartment in
the morning as I was busy in performing Dhikr after Fajr (the dawn
prayer). He cameback in the forenoon and found me sitting there.
TheProphet (sallAllahu 'alyhi wasallam) said," Are you still in the
same position asI left you?" I replied in the affirmative. Thereupon
the Prophet (sallAllahu 'alyhi wasallam) said,
•►"I recited four phrases three times after I had left you. If these
are to be weighed against all you have recited since morning,these
will be heavier. Theseare:
Subhan-Allah Wa bihamdihi, 'adada khalqihi, wa rida-a nafsihi, wa
zinatah 'arshihi, wa midadakalimatihi
(Allah is free from imperfection and I begin with His praise, as many
times as the number of His creatures, in accordance with His Good
Pleasure, equal to the ink that may be used in recording the words
(for His Praise)."
(Muslim 4/2090) —

--
- - - - - - -

Waste land or 'brownfield' sites are vital for wildlife

Wasteland or"brownfield" areas are vital but overlooked habitats for
UK wildlife, according to the charity Butterfly Conservation.
These sites are home to unusual, hardy plants and their patches of
bare ground become warm"microclimates".
Experts say these features allow many rare insects to thrive.
One moth, the small ranunculus, which disappeared from the UK before
World War II, has now recolonised brownfield habitats throughout
England and Wales.
Winged wasteland residents
While most moths fly during the night, there are about 500 species of
day-flying moths in the UK. Early summer is the best time to spot them
Butterflies are actually a type of moth. The insects both belong to
the Lepidoptera family
Many moths thrive on brownfield sites, including the rare small
ranunculus (pictured) and more common, (and colourfully named) bright
wave, chalk carpet, wormwood and six-belted clearwing, which looks
like a wasp
In pictures: Day-flying moths
Springwatch: see how anoil refinery became a wildlife haven
BBC Nature's wildlife-finding field trip to the Chernobyl exclusion zone
The conservation group and and the wildlife magazine the insect
journal Atropos are encouraging people, wheresafe and legal access is
possible, to explore their local quarries, disused railway lines,
gravel pits and spoil tips in search of unusual moths this weekend.
This call for public participation is part of the charity's annual "moth night".
Richard Fox from Butterfly Conservation said that many of the sites
were under threat from by redevelopment and "bland landscaping
schemes".
He explained to BBC Naturewhy these areas - of disturbed or even
contaminated land - were such unique habitats.
"An old spoil tip [for example] would be terribleif you wanted to
create a garden, but it's great for wildlife, because the poor soil
leads to slow development of diverse plants."
The diversity arises because only hardy plants can grow in such poor
soil. These "tough" wild flowers- such as rosebay willowherb, prickly
lettuce and dandelions - thrive precisely because they are not pushed
out by swathesof more common weeds that need a more nutrient-rich
landscape.
The variety of wild flowers provides some favoured food for the
caterpillars of unusual moth species, suchas the small ranunculus.
This species disappeared from Britain completely in the mid-20th
Century, but has now recolonised large areas of south-east England,
become established in south Wales and been sighted as far north as
Lancashire.
Wild cities
Patches of bare ground that heat up in the sun alsoproduce "little
microclimates" on brownfield sites.
Mr Fox explained: "These are great for insects, especially in a cool,
damp place like Britain."
Elephant hawkmoths are commonly found on brownfield sites
He added that he hoped"moth night" would encourage formal wildlife
surveys of brownfield areas, so that their true environmental value
could be calculated and taken into consideration in any decision about
whether and how to develop them.
Philip James, professor of ecology at the University ofSalford, agreed
that such sites could be ecologically important, telling BBC Nature
that they often became home to rare species "normally associated with
other habitats that are regularly disturbed, such as river banks,
sandy heaths or chalk grassland".
But rather than avoid developing brownfield sites all together, he
pointed out that it was important to understand their changing nature,
and perhaps to leave areas derelict when they harboured "the greatest
species richness".
"Over a few years," Prof James explained, "soil begins to build up and
the vegetation changes.
"Before the soil builds up and burrowing animals come in is when there
are opportunistic plants and the insects that feed on them.
"That is the time when... one might find nationally rare species."
Prof James suggests that these "transient" habitats could become part
of planning an ever-changing,rich urban landscape.
Disused quarries can be home to many wildflower species

--
- - - - - - -

HEALTH

Daily in the morning, on anempty stomach, drink honey and cinnamon
powder boiled in one cup of water,and then do not eat breakfast till
90 minutes.
Repeat the same cup of this drink at night before sleeping.
If taken regularly, this magical prasad will reduce the weight of even
the most obese person, and will not allow the fat to accumulate in the
body even if the person is on a high calorie diet :)

--
- - - - - - -

New Day

People often wish for a return to the good old days. First of all,
when we look at them objectively, they weren't really so good. Sure, I
have funny and pleasant memories from my youth, but I also remember
the confusion and loneliness.
I personally would not trade my life at this moment for my life at any
time in the past. Among other things, I now have a beautiful daughter
who I love more than life itself; my writing, which has evolved to
allow me to express my deepest convictions; and many small blessings
that add upto a pot of gold.
Secondly, the old days are called "old" for a reason. That's the past.
We can't goback.
What we can do is focus onthe journey forward.
"Be quick in the race for forgiveness from your Lord,and for a Garden
whose width is that (of the whole)of the heavens and of the earth,
prepared for the righteous; – Those who spend (freely), whether in
prosperity, or in adversity; who restrain anger, and pardon people;-
for Allah loves those who do good; – And those who, having done
something to be ashamed of, or wronged their own souls, earnestly
bring Allah to mind, and ask for forgiveness for theirsins,- and who
can forgive sins except Allah…." – Quran, Surat Aal Imran, 3:133-135
This is how we make a better future for ourselves and our families,
Insha'Allah. Letting go of anger, forgiving, asking forgiveness,
giving to the poor and needy, and racingto Allah. The Almighty has
given us the formula. This is how, instead of yearning for the good
old days, we create good new days! Our future can be as good as the
past ever was; it can bebetter, brighter and happier.
Let's build the good new days.

--
- - - - - - -

Be someone’s silver lining

They say every cloud has a silver lining. Goodness knows, a lot of
people these days are laboring under heavy clouds. I am, sometimes.
Maybe you are too.
Today, how about being someone else's silver lining? Relieve someone's
distress, bring ease to someone's heart, and help someone, as the
Messengerof Allah (pbuh) said,
"Whoever relieves a believer from a distress of this life, Allah will
relieve from him a distress on the Day of Judgment. Whosoever brings
ease to a believer who is in difficulty, Allah will bring ease to him
in both this lifeand the next. Whosoever conceals the shortcomings of
a Muslim, Allah will conceal his shortcomings inthis world and the
next. Allah will always help a servant as long as that servant helps
his brother."
Many of us are familiar with Allah's words in the Quran, in Surat
al-Balad. It'sa Juz Amma surah, frequently memorized:
"And what can make you know what is [breaking through] the difficult
pass? It is the freeing of aslave, or feeding on a dayof severe hunger
an orphan of near relationship, or a needy person in misery; and then
being among those who believed and advised one another to patience and
advised one another to compassion. Those are the companions of the
right."
What if you don't have the capability at this moment of feeding an
orphan, or a needy person? The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) has given us
examples of extremely simple things each of us can do that still count
in Allah's eyes as sadaqah (charity). He (peace be upon him) said:
"Charity is prescribed for each descendant of Adam every day the sun
rises." Hewas then asked: "From what do we give charity every day?"
The Prophet answered: "The doors of goodness are many… enjoining good,
forbidding evil, removing harm from the road, listening to the deaf,
leading the blind, guiding one to the object of his need, hurrying
with the strength of one's legs to one in sorrow who is asking for
help, and supporting the feeble with the strength of one's arms — all
of these are charity prescribed for you." He alsosaid: "Your smile for
your brother is charity." – Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 3, Number 98
All of these are only examples. Look around youat your community. What
needs are not being met? What distress are people in? What simple
things can you do to help the people around you?
*. Muslims in communities from California to New York, and in other
nationsas well, have started soupkitchens to feed the poor and
homeless.
*. Muslims in Baltimore USA and other cities have opened shelters for
victims of domestic abuse.
*. There are many organizations that allow you to support an
orphananywhere in the world. For a monthly donation that's probably
less than you would spend on a movie or a restaurant dinner, you can
make sure that one child is fed, clothed, and educated.
*. Volunteer jobs are plentiful. The Prophet (pbuh) mentioned leading
the blind. Even today many blind people need assistance from
volunteers. You can help with grocery shopping, reading the newspaper,
or sending and reading email.
*. Many public libraries haveadult literacy programs, and always need
tutors to help teach people to read and write.
*. Campaign online, throughFacebook and forums, to raise money for
victims ofdisasters like the recent typhoon in Indonesia, or the
floods in Pakistan. Or work with your local masjid to collect
clothing,blankets and food supplies from your local community to be
sent to disaster areas.
*. Volunteers in some inner cities have turned abandoned lots into
organic food gardens. Theinner city residents all pitch in to help,
and the result is healthy food for people who otherwise would not have
access to fresh produce, and a new sense of community brotherhood and
sisterhood.
There are countless other examples I could give. Evenclearing some
broken glassout of the road or smiling at someone are counted as
sadaqah; they may seem like small things, but the stakes are greater
than youor I can imagine.
It's not about being a goody-two-shoes, impressing your friends,
having a story to tell, or earning a merit badge. It's not about
recognition. It's about changing the world one small step at a time,
earning Allah's pleasure, saving your own soul, and becoming one of
the people of Paradise. What could be more important?

--
- - - - - - -

Bellies and Souls

Most of us are concerned with our bellies and the souls of others;
when we should be concerned with our own souls, and the bellies of
others. The first thing the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said when he
arrived in Madinah was, "Spread peace, and feed the people."
Instead of judging others, care for them. Feed them, help them, and
spread peace. That is your representation as a Muslim,your da'wah, and
your salvation of the world. In the process, you save your own soul.

--
- - - - - - -

A yellow watermelon is a fruit that is nearly identical to a traditional watermelon

A yellow watermelon is a fruit that is nearly identical to a
traditional watermelon, but the flesh inside is a bright yellow color
instead of red or pink.The taste is also very similar, though some say
it has a sweeter or more honey-like taste.

--
- - - - - - -

Syptoms of DENGUE FEVER..

--
- - - - - - -

Try the rainbow diet

A "Rainbow Diet" is one that includes foods of different colours by
addingdifferent kinds of fruits andvegetables into your diet. Most of
us know that including generous servings of fruits and vegetables in
the diet is the cornerstone of good health, but we lack the motivation
to do so.
Besides, the effort that goes into the processing and preparation of
vegetables and the ever spiralling cost are huge deterrents towards
ensuring a salad, one or two vegetables and an after meal fruit. But
everyone must include more fruits and vegetables in their diet because
they have special ingredients that not only prevent but also delay the
onset of many diseases.
Essential nutrients
Vitamins like vitamin C, compounds called carotenoids (some of which
can be converted to vitamin A in the body), vitamin K, riboflavin, and
folic acid are found in many vegetables and fruits. In fact, guava and
gooseberry are some of the inexpensive sources of vitamin C.
Vegetables like capsicum are rich in thiamin, a member of the Bcomplex
family of vitamins.
Some vegetables like potato, sweet potato, tapioca and yam and fruits
like mango, banana and sapota make a fair contribution towards energy
intake. Most vegetables and fruits are high in water and fibre
contents and low in calorific value.
Many of the greens — Amaranth (mulai keerai and araikeerai),
manathakkali, mint and cowpea leaves — are packed with iron. Green
leafy vegetables like agathi, amaranth, drumstick and fenugreek leaves
also have generous amounts of calcium. Green leafy vegetables are also
high in potassium and magnesium, low in fat and sodium, all of which
are cardio-protective.
Phytochemicals
More recently it has been reported that vegetables and fruits contain
compounds called phytochemicals, which have antioxidant,
anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and immune-boosting properties and
promote good health and a high quality of life. There are thousands of
phytochemicals packed into fruits and vegetables.
Flavonols are found in lemons, oranges, plums, peaches, apricots,
apples, green leafy vegetables, yellow capsicum, onions and broccoli.
Naringenin — found in all citrus fruits, especially grape fruit —
known to reduce blood cholesterol and glucose concentrations.
Anthocyanidins are found in red grapes, pomegranates, strawberries,
cherries and plums and are cardio and neuro-protective.
Yellow fruits like mangoes and green leafy vegetablesand carrots are
rich in beta carotene which is converted to vitamin A in the body and
also helps fight cancer.
Red fruits like tomatoes and watermelon contain lycopene, which is
important for fighting prostate cancer and heart disease.
Fisetin — found in strawberries, blueberries, apples, grapes and
onions — is being studied for its anti-ageing effects
The most natural way to overcome constipation is to increase intake of
green leafy and other high fibre vegetables and fruits.
Their high water and fibre content and low energy values promote
satiety anddecrease energy intake andcould be important in weight
management. Nutritionists recommend regular moderate exercise and many
servings of soups and salads for those who need to shed a few pounds.
Substituting fruits and vegetables for a calorie dense evening snack
helps weight loss.
Benefits
Other health benefits include prevention of or delaying type 2
diabetes mellitus, protection againstesophageal, stomach and perhaps
colorectal, lung and mouth and pharyngealcancers; reduced risk of
cardiovascular events and stroke. A diet packed with raw fruits and
salads can help prevent Amyloid plaque formation in the brain, which
leads to Alzheimers disease.
Emerging evidence also shows a beneficial role in reducing risk of
cataract, diverticulosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and
even hypertension. In fact, the Dietary Approaches to StopHypertension
(DASH) plan recommends generous intake of fruits and vegetables.
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) recommends
that adults eat at least five kinds of vegetable and twokinds of fruit
every day. Most experts do not consider potatoes as a partof these
seven servings.
The key to good health is therefore to include plenty of fruits and
vegetables. Ensure that your shopping bag is filled with colour. Both
variety and quantity is the key. Lastly, go seasonal. This is the best
way to ensure quality and an affordable price.
Begin early
Train children to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables. Add pureed
or smooth vegetables and fruits to cereals as first foods and
introduced to infants at about six monthsof age.
The quantity, consistency and variety can be increased as the child
grows. This way, resistanceto vegetables and fruits at a later age is
likely to be minimal.
How much?
Start with five servings of fruits or vegetables.
Slowly increase to at least seven servings through theday.
One serving = 75 gm.

--
- - - - - - -

Keep faith in yourself and don’t let anyone else define your reality. You arestrong and unique. You have a particular mission inthis life that only you can fulfill. You can wake up in the morning and change the world, one small step at a time, just b

Keep faith in yourself and don't let anyone else define your reality.
You arestrong and unique. You have a particular mission inthis life
that only you can fulfill. You can wake up in the morning and change
the world, one small step at a time, just by fulfilling your unique
mission.
Maybe you think, "Hey, I don't want to change the world. I just want
to stay sane, take care of myself and my family, perform theIslamic
rituals and hope forJannah."
The thing is, life is always acontest between the worldchanging you,
or you changing the world. The world pushes, and if you don't push
back then it willinevitably corrupt you in one way or another.
Today's world tries to change you through the pressures of:
*. blind materialism
*. consumerism
*. sexual imagery in the media
*. constant advertising
*. negative portrayals of Islam
*. alcohol and drug use
*. peer pressure
to name a few.
Sometimes the pressures are more brutal and blunt: emotional or sexual
abuse, pornography, violence, racism, bigotry, misogyny, hatred and
war.
Iman (faith) is not static. It rises or it falls, but it never freezes
in place. If the world is not changing you then you must be
changingthe world.
You change the world by spreading light, teaching truth, being
honorable and kind, behaving with sincerity in all things, showing
compassion to all people, and always being just. You exert an outward
pressure of truth that has atransformational effect on those around
you, beginning with your family, and then rippling out to all those
you come in contact with, and then everyone they come in contact with,
flowing outward in concentric circles.
The ultimate world-changer – and our eternal example – was the
ProphetMuhammad (peace be upon him). Allah describes Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh) in the Quran as an illuminating lamp: "O Prophet, indeed We
have sent you as a witness and a bringer of good tidings and a warner.
And one who invites to Allah, by His permission, and an illuminating
lamp." (Quran, Al Ahzab 45-46).
The Prophet's light radiatesthroughout humanity and the ages. Any
objective observer must admit the power and influence of the Prophet's
tremendous struggle. A non-Muslim writer named Michael Hart, in his
book, "The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History",
ranked the Prophet Muhammad as thesingle most influential human being
in history.
The Prophet grew up in a society of idol worship, moral corruption and
constant blood feuds, but he never allowed that society to taint his
innocent nature. Not knowing how he should worship Allah, he kept
himself distant from the evil around him and sought Allah in his own
way, until Prophethood came to him. When it did, he accepted the
burden and fulfilled the trust, exerting an outward pressure so
powerful that it changed the entire worldforever.
The same is true for you and I, on a smaller scale. We've been given a
trust and a mission. We are to be callers to Tawheed , witnesses for
truth, a civilizing force, champions of human equality, and restorers
of human values (the fact that many modern Muslims have failed
abominably on everypoint does not change the truth of this).
"O you who have believed, fear Allah as He should be feared and do not
die except as Muslims[in submission to Him].
And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become
divided. And remember the favor of Allah upon you – when you were
enemies and He brought your hearts together and you became, by His
favor,brothers. And you were on the edge of a pit of the Fire, and He
saved you from it. Thus does Allah make clear to you His verses that
you may be guided.
And let there be [arising] from you a nation inviting to [all that is]
good, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong, and
thosewill be the successful." (Quran, Aal-Imran: 102-104)
That is our mission and trust. If we fulfill it – even ifwe only try –
we will change the world, maybe incrementally, maybe profoundly.
If we fail, then the world will change us, and not for the better.
There is one key to success in fulfilling our mission to change the
world. It's not purity, because in a post-Prophethood age, no one is
truly pure. Purification of the soul is indeed a lifelong goal to
strive for, but it is not the key.
It's not wisdom, or power, or finance. It's not even knowledge.
Knowledge is the most powerful tool there is, but like any other tool
it can be used or misused. That's why a littleknowledge can be a
powerful thing, while greatknowledge can sometimes be crippling.
Purity, wisdom and knowledge are goals for usto pursue. But none of
those is the single most important key to changing the world.
The key is sincerity in all things: sincerity with Allah,with your
family, your friends, your colleagues, and – this is the greatest
challenge of all – sincerity with yourself. Sincerity enc0mpasses
purity, because actions done sincerely are done with purity of
intention, and with obedience to Allah.

--
- - - - - - -

Everything is possible for those who believe

Nourish your dreams. To achieve anything requires faith in Allah,
belief in yourself, imagination, vision, persistence, hard work, and
sometimes blood and tears.
The will of Allah and the power of your heart and mind make an
unbeatable combination. Everything is possible for those who believe –
anything you can envision, and many things you can't.
I'm thinking of a ragtag group of desert Arabs, who,in the course of a
single generation, transformed the world forever. I am speaking of
course of the Prophet Muhammad (peacebe upon him) and his companions.
What they didwas impossible – there's noother word for it. But through
the power of Allah, and the tremendous determination of one man, and
the faith of those who followed him, the impossible became possible.
Because of their faith and sacrifices, you andI can utter the words, "
Laa ilaha-il-Allah " and put them into practice in our lives.
Your dreams don't have to be that grand. Whether you dream of building
a new masjid for your community, writing a novel, competing in sports,
becoming a doctor, doing charity work overseas, memorizing the Quran,
or any other good and meaningful goal – it can beachieved by the will
of Allah. But you can't just sit back and wait for it to happen. Feed
your dream as you would feed a newly planted seed. Care for it, devote
time to it, don't give up, and watch it grow before your eyes.

--
- - - - - - -

Your “Stuff” is Not a Part of You

In fact what truly defines our character is how we react to loss. If
we were stripped of all the possessions we love, who would we be in
that moment? Would we still be grateful to Allah, patient, trusting?
Hopefully it never comes tothat. But seriously, those times of
greatest sadness and joy are when our thoughts must turn to Allah, The
Eternal, The Merciful, The Wise.
Allah says, "Never will you attain the good until you spend from that
which you love. And whatever you spend – indeed, Allahis Knowing of
it." [Quran 3: 92]
Think about that. Allah is telling us to give away the things that we
love the most! SubhanAllah! Why does Allah ask this of us? Is it to
liberate us from slavery to material possessions? To f0cus our minds
on Allah and the aakhirah (hereafter)? To prevent the evil that
results from the love of money? To benefit the poor?
Yes, for all of those reasons. Excessive attachment to any
materialthing is misguidance. The love of possessions is a spiritual
trap.
I have at times given away things that were precious to me, thinking
they wouldmean as much to the otherperson as they do to me. Sometimes
they do, and sometimes they don't, and yes it hurts my feelings when
the other person doesn't value my gift; but eventually I get over it,
because the point is the actof giving. And maybe – Insha-Allah – I'll
have something to show Allah on Yawm Al-Qiyamah (the Day of
Resurrection), maybe I'll be able to say, "O Allah, I gave away
thesethings that I loved," and maybe that will earn me some
forgiveness, Allah knows.

--
- - - - - - -

Diligence is the Mother ofGood Luck

"Diligence is the mother of good luck." – Arabic proverb
If you want something, work for it and do not stop. That's how you
create your own luck. Whether you were born into a rich family or a
poor one, whether you are innately talented or not, whether you have
charisma and charm or you are a tongue-tied nerd, it doesn't matter.
I'm not saying it wouldn't be nice to be rich, talented, and
charismatic, but you can succeed without them, and you'll appreciate
it all the more. All you have to do is hang on even after others have
let go.
Don't bemoan your fate. No one is born into a perfect family. Don't
complain about lack of resources. Allah created this world and
everything in it, and laid it at your feet. If you're facing the right
direction, you can reach anywhere in the world if you keep on walking.
Find a Way
In 1997 I started a small web development consulting service. I really
wanted to work with Muslims and help to create Islamic websites. As a
small adjunct to my service, I started a Muslim matrimonialservice. I
thought of it as a hobby. That was the first incarnation of Zawaj.com
Muslim Matrimonials . It was one of the first three such services on
the internet. The problem was that I was not really a programmer (I
was more of a graphic designer), and in the beginning I was
hand-creating every page for every ad. The traffic climbed, until I
was getting many new ads every day. It quickly became impossible.
I contacted some large web development firms to get a price quote for
building a proper, automated matchmaking service. Their quotes were
too high for me. I contacted some firms in India, and found one that
would build the website first, and let me pay in monthly installments
of $500. The bill was many thousands of dollars, and that was at a
timewhen I could barely pay the bills. I agreed to the deal, not
knowing where the money would come from. Every month I had to come up
with$500 somehow. I eliminated all unnecessary expenses, I borrowed
from my parents and my wife, and somehow I made it, and paid it all
off.
More than ten years later, Zawaj.comis still my bread and butter. I
don't know whatI would have done without it. I feel that Allah guided
me to make that choice, and I was smart enough and determined enough
to seize the opportunity. For once in my life, ha ha!
Make your own luck. Make something happen. Find a way.
Diligence, diligence. Focus on your goal, work hard, don't give up… be
as persistent as the sun. Sometimes the sun is hidden behind clouds,
but it's there every day. It's okay to have days when you're tired,
when it seems hopeless, when you wish life would give you a break, but
just keep showing up every day and doing the work, and your break will
come.
Whoever said that opportunity knocks once mustnot have been paying
attention, because opportunities come along all the time. It's just
that you have to listen for them, and you must lay the groundwork so
that you are ready when the knock comes.
Faith and Diligence
I'll finish with a story from thelife of the Prophet Muhammad (sws):
Narrated Khabbab bin Al-Arat:
We complained to Allah's Apostle (of the persecution inflicted on us
by the disbelievers) while he was sitting in the shade of the Ka'ba,
leaning over his Burd (i.e. covering sheet). We said to him, "Would
you seek help for us? Would you pray to Allah for us?" He said, "Among
the nations before you a (believing) man would be put in a ditch that
was dug for him, and a saw would be put over his head and he would be
cut into two pieces;yet that (torture) would not make him give up his
religion.His body would be combed with iron combs that would remove
his flesh from the bones and nerves, yet that would not make him
abandonhis religion. By Allah, this religion (i.e. Islam) will prevail
till a traveler from Sana (in Yemen) to Hadrarmaut will fear none
butAllah, or a wolf as regards his sheep, but you (people) are hasty."
What type of persecution wasKhabbab referring to? Was it simple name
calling, or Muslim businesses being boycotted? No, it was torture and
murder. Bilal was laid in the desert with a huge stone on his chest.
Others were place in chains, burned, stabbed by spears… all because
they had adopted the religion of Allah. So it wasno small thing they
were complaining of. And yet all the Prophet had to say to them was
that they were hasty, and that a time would come when all of Arabia
would be united and safe. Someone standing beside himat the moment,
looking around at the weak circumstances in which the Muslims found
themselves, might have found such a statement hard to believe. But the
Messenger of Allah (sws) had faith, and he had diligence, and those
together can achieve anything.--
- - - - - - -