Study shows spanking boosts odds of mental illness

People who were hit or spanked as children face higher odds of mental
ailments as adults, including mood and anxiety disorders and problems
with alcohol and drug abuse, researchers said Monday.
The study, led by Canadian researchers, is the first to examine the
link between psychological problems and spanking, while excluding more
severe physical or sexual abuse inorder to better gauge the effect of
corporal punishment alone.
Those who were spanked or hit as kids were between two and seven
percent more likely to encounter mental issues later, said the
research in the US journal Pediatrics, based on a retrospective survey
of more than600 US adults.
That figure may seem low, particularly since about half of the US
population recalls being spanked in childhood, but nevertheless shows
that physical punishment can raise the risk of problems later on,
experts said.
"The study is valuable because it opens the conversation about
parenting," said Victor Fornari, director of the division of child and
adolescent psychiatry at North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System
in New York.
The rate "is not dramatically higher, but it is higher, just to
suggest that physical punishment is a risk factor for developing more
mental disturbances as an adult," said Fornari, who was not involved
in the study.
Previous research has repeatedly shown that children who were
physically abused as youngsters suffer from more mental disturbances
as adults, and are more likely to engage in aggressive behavior than
kids who were not hit.
But these studies have typically included more serious abuse.
The current study excludes both sexual abuse and physical abuse that
left bruises, marks or causedinjury.
Instead it focuses on "harsh physical punishment," defined as pushing,
grabbing, shoving, slapping or hitting as a form of punishment from
elders.
While 32 nations around the world have banned corporal punishment of
kids, the United States and Canada are not amongthem.
Using a nationally representative survey sample of 653 Americans, they
found that those who recalled experiencing harsh punishment as
children faced higher odds of a range of mental problems.
Between two and five percent of disorders like depression, anxiety,
bipolar, anorexia or bulimia were attributable to physical punishment
as a child, the study said.
From four to seven percent of more serious problems including
personality disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder and intellectual
disabilities were associated with such punishments in childhood.
Researchers stressed that the study could not establish that spanking
had actually caused these disorders in certain adults, only that there
was a link between memories of such punishment and a higher incidence
of mental problems.
The survey data came from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol
and Related Conditions collected between 2004 and 2005,and included
adults over age 20.
Participants were asked: "As a child how often were you ever pushed,
grabbed, shoved, slapped or hit by your parents or any adult living in
your house?" Those who answered"sometimes" or greater were included in
the analysis.
Roya Samuels, a pediatrician at Cohen Children's Medical Center inNew
York, said the parents' genes may influence both their response to
raising an unruly child as well as their likelihood ofpassing down
certain ailments.
"Parents who are resorting to mechanisms of corporal punishment might
themselves beat risk for depression and mental disorders; therefore,
there might be a hereditary factor going on inthese families," she
told AFP.
Future research could shed more light on the issue. In the meantime,
the study offers a reminder that other disciplinary options such as
positive reinforcement and removing rewards are viewed more favorably
by doctors.
"The reality is, if 50 percent of thepopulation has experienced being
spanked in the past year, most kids are resilient. It is just that
there are better ways for parents to discipline kids than spanking,"
Fornari said.
"And for some vulnerable kids, the spanking may increase their risk
for the development of mental disturbances. So for thosereasons it is
important to really minimize or extinguish physical punishment."
The American Academy of Pediatrics opposes striking children for any
cause and the Canadian Pediatric Society recommends that doctors
strongly discourage the use of physical punishment.

Physical inactivity kills 5 million a year: report

A third of the world's adults are physically inactive, and the couch
potato lifestyle kills about five million people every year,
expertssaid in the medical journal The Lancet on Wednesday.
"Roughly three of every 10 individuals aged 15 years or older-- about
1.5 billion people -- do not reach present physical activity
recommendations," they said in a report that described the problem as
a "pandemic."
The picture for adolescents is even more worrying, with four out of
five 13- to 15-year-olds not moving enough, it said.
Physical inactivity was described for the study as failing to do 30
minutes of moderate physical activity five times a week, 20 minutes of
vigorous activity threetimes a week, or a combination of the two.
Inactivity increases with age, is higher in women than in men, and
more prevalent in high-income countries, the researchers found.
A second study, comparing physical activity levels with population
statistics on diseases like diabetes, heart problems andcancer, said
lack of exercise claimed more than 5.3 million of the 57 million
deaths worldwide in 2008.
It said inactivity was a risk factor comparable to smoking or obesity.
Lack of exercise causes an estimated six percent of coronaryheart
disease cases, seven percent of type 2 diabetes (the most common form)
and 10 percent of breast and colon cancers, it said.
The human body needs exercise to help the bones, muscles, heartand
other organs function optimally, but populations are walking, running
and cycling less and less as they spend more timein cars and in front
of computers,the investigators said.
The Lancet series called for globalefforts to promote physical
exercise by improving pedestrian and cyclist safety on city roads, for
example, more physical education at school or promotingaccess to free
public exercise spaces.

Intoxicants: Harms and impacts

The Muslims of today, especially the youth, are facing many problems
and temptations that were not there before. The youth are easily
distracted by activities such as addiction to TV, addiction to video
games, gambling, disco, parties, and addiction to drugs. This article
will explore the harmful effects of drugs on our youth, the family,
the society and most important , on our belief especially that drugs
(or any intoxicant) are forbidden in Islam.
Types of intoxicants:
1. An intoxicant is any substance (liquid, solid orgas) that is
voluntarily taken into the body by swallowing, injection, inhaling or
ingesting, which produces an effecton the brain resulting in a change
of the mood of the individual.
2. Examples of intoxicants are alcohol, wine, beer, spirits, home
made alcoholic brews, all forms of drugs such as cocaine, heroin, etc.
3. All intoxicants are totally forbidden (Haraam), irrespective of
the quantity that is used; even one drop of alcohol is forbidden; it
is not the quantity that is important - the substanceitself is
forbidden.
4. Anyone who associates in any way, with any aspect of the
intoxicants (whether alcohol or drugs), whether using it, selling it,
producing it, or delivering it, is a partner with the devil, since all
kinds of intoxicants are the handiwork of the devil.
Getting 'hooked'
Young people are very gullible and vulnerable tothe influences of
society, their friends, TV, adults, and those that appear to be
fashionable. Hence, a youth may find that all his friends have
experienced the use of drugs, and now he is feeling left out because
everyone else appears to be having a good time, and all his friends
tease him that he is "chicken". This unsuspecting youth then decides
to 'experiment' only once, 'just to try it out."
Furthermore, if he does not have money to buy the drugs, someone may
even offer it to him for free. What he does not realize, is that his
first weakness, to please his friends, is the biggest mistake that he
can ever make. The strategy of thedrug dealers is to get as many
customers as possible.
Some drug dealers are soruthless that they give out free sweets
containing drugs to school children. The trick that they use is to
give free drugs to unsuspecting people. Once a person becomes addicted
(hooked) he becomes a customer for life.
The addicted person will then beg, borrow, steal, prostitute
themselves, just to make sure that they have money to buy drugs for
their next fix. It is a vicious cycle of crime,prostitution, family
breakdown, social breakdown, community breakdown. It is for this
reason that intoxicant is known as the source of all evils, Islamicaly
termed as the 'mother ofall evils'.
Intoxicants with respect to their impact
There are many types of drugs available on the market. The general
effect of all drugs is basically very similar, though theydiffer in
their speed of action as well as the severity of the harm on the body.
All drugs directly affect the brain, since this is the only way of
causing mood changes. Some examples of drugs are as follows:
1. Heroin, (upper drug): highly addictive opiate; gives very high
rush, followed by many hours of fogginess; the addict lives day to day
forthe next fix.
2. Marijuana, (downer drug): affects the parts ofthe brain that
deals with emotions and memory.
3. Alcohol, (downer drug): impairs judgements, memory lapses, blackouts.
4. Cocaine, (upper drug): whether in powder form or crack, it is
a highly addictive stimulant; addict loses interest in school, family,
work, etc.
5. Vapor Inhalants (downer drug): (glue, petrol, hair spray,
paint thinners, etc.) destroy theprotective layers around the brain
cells.
6. Ecstasy (upper drug): powerful amphetamine that causesproblems
in concentration and causesthe person to find difficulty in realizing
the difference between fantasy and reality.
7. LSD (upper drug): gives a distorted view of time and space;
causes paranoia, confusion, panic attacks.
8. Steroids (upper drug): used by 'body builders" to gain
muscles;causes mood changes and permanently impairs learning and
memory.
Harmful effects of drugs
· Physical effects: The brain is the most delicate and powerful
computer- it is an amazing organ, with virtually limitless potential-
it is a Gift from Allaah; it has to be protected and cherished and its
full potential mustbe utilized. The moment any person takes a drug
into the body (either by nose, mouth or vein) the drug enters the
blood stream and goes directly to the brain, crosses the blood-brain
barrier (BBB)and occupies various receptor sites in the brain. This
leads to alteration in the chemicaland electrical neuronal functioning
of the brain which also leads to eventual organic damageto this
delicate, yet powerful organ.
These changes in the brain is what causes the state of 'addiction'-
eventually, the body automatically starts craving for the damagingdrug
leading to a vicious cycle of abuse and further damage.
However, other body organs that are damagedinclude the following:
damaged nasal septum; collapsed & clotted veins; kidney, liver & lung
failure to various degrees; damage to the brain; infected needles
causes Hepatitis Infectionand HIV/AIDS.
· Social effects: The person indulged in the usage of
intoxicants displays anti-social behavior such as: staying away from
home; stealing; crime; job loss; withdrawal from community;
embarrassing behavior inpublic; deterioration in relationship with
parentsor wife or children. The most harmful effect of drugs is on the
brain.
Baby addicts
Pregnant mothers sometimes take drugs. These drugs enter the brain of
their unborn baby, so that the baby becomes addicted even before
birth. When these babies are born, they show withdrawal symptoms and
will develop with various learning disabilities. This is a crime
against the innocent unborn child.
Symptoms of drug abuse
Sudden mood changes; unexplained weight loss and loss of appetite; no
interest in school, work, life or even in themselves; no longer caring
about personal hygiene, clothing and dressing; always looking
disheveled; frequent prescription medication; depression and mood
swings.
Solving the problem
If there is someone in your familyor close friend, who you suspect has
a problem with drugs, then itis our duty to assist them in any way
possible. Some suggestions in this regard are:
1. Communicate. Don't pretend that the problemwill go away or that
it cannot be happening in your own family. Parents and families must
learn the art of healthy, open communication and discuss issues in an
open, frank and friendly atmosphere.
2. Show sympathy. Evenif it is to a stranger. The addicted person
is a diseased person; so, he/she needs our help. There may have been a
family problem that led the person to drugs. Or the person may have
thought that it will be 'fun' just to try it out. No one deliberately
says: "I want to be a drug addict." What they don't realize is, that
after the first taste of the drug, 'you are hooked.' Insteadof
condemning them, offer counseling, moral support, send to drug
rehabilitation and offer words of encouragement.
3. Religious figures must speak out against this evil and discuss
the devastating effects of drugs on the individual, his family as well
as the society.
4. Muslim communities must provide alternative forms of recreation
for their youth; these could be community centers, sports, youth
camps, etc, where the youth can socialize in an Islamic environment
and are then not tempted to experiment out of boredom.
5. The addicted youth should be encouraged to turn to Islam. There
have been many examples of heavily addicted Muslim youth, who have
been rehabilitated by turning to Islam. Today, they are totally
devoted to Islam. Allaah accepts sincere repentance when one intends
to give up the way of the devil and rather follow the StraightPath.
6. Mothers have a very important role to play in the upbringing of
their children. The whole community must work actively to rid society
of drugs. Only a mother knows the pain and sorrow of seeing her
beloved child being a slave to the evils of drugs. Drugs destroy the
dreams of every mother.
We have a responsibility to look after our youth and protect themfrom
the dangers of society. Our youth are our future.

What is the meaning of Allaah’s name al-Muqeet? .,Names and Attributes of Allah -

Dought & clear, - What is the meaning of Allaah's name al-Muqeet (The
Ever All-Able, All-Witness)?
Praise be to Allaah.
Ibn Jareer mentioned a number of opinions concerning the meaningof
this name: al-Muqeet means al-Hafeez (the Protector), al-Shaheed (the
Witness), al-Hasab (the Sufficient), the One Who is in control of all
things. He thought that the last interpretation is the correct one.
Allaah is al-Muqeet, i.e., the Protector, the Witness, the One Who is
Able to do all things.
Al-Muqeet is the Preserver, the Omnipotent, the Witness;He is the One
Who sends down provision to His creatures and shares it out among
them.
Al-Muqeet is the Sustainer; He is taking care of all living beings,
for when He causes partsof them to die over time,He compensates for
that.At every moment He gives them what they need to survive, until He
wills to put an end to their life – then He withholds what keeps them
alive, and so they die.
Some reports give the name al-Mugheeth instead of al-Muqeet.
Al-Mugheeth is interpreted as meaning the Helper, for He helps His
slaves at times of difficulty when they call upon Him; He answers them
and saves them. It also has the meaning of the One Who responds and
the One Who is called upon. Ighaathah [help] refers to actions and
istijaabah [responding] refers to words, but they may be used
interchangeably.
Ibn al-Qayyim said:
"He is the Helper of all His creatures, and He responds to those who
are desperate."

Refutation of the Church’s quoting the Qur’aan to prove that ‘Eesa is the “son of God” .,Dought & clear, - Names and Attributes of Allah -

I read that the Church quotes some verses of the Qur'aan to prove that
'Eesa (peace be upon him) is the "son of God." Their evidence is that
when Allaah was alone He said, "Verily, I am Allaah! Laa ilaaha illa
Ana (none has the right to be worshipped but I)"[Ta-Ha 20:14 -
interpretation of the meaning], in the singular; but when He created
'Eesa the style used in some verses changed to the plural, asin the
verses (interpretation of the meaning): "Verily, We, it is We Who have
sent down the Dhikr (i.e. the Qur'aan)" [al-Hijr 15:9] and "And
certainly We! We it is Who give life, and cause death" [al-Hijr15:23].
And they say, Godis speaking in the plural, i.e., in the sense of
"God,Jesus and the Holy Spirit".
Praise be to Allaah.
The variation in style in the Qur'aan, and the factthat Allaah
sometimes speaks of Himself in the singular and sometimes in a plural
form used by way of respect, does not prove that 'Eesa (peace be upon
him) is the son of God, or that he is divine. This is for a number of
reasons:
-1-
The variation in styles used in the Qur'aan, both singular and
plural,occurs with reference to events that took place thousands of
years before the creation of 'Eesa (peace be upon him) and his mother
Maryam (Mary), and when they were created and after that. Their
existence has no effect on the variation in styles, rather that is due
to another reason whichmay be explained as follows:
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"And indeed, We createdman from dried (sounding) clay of altered mud.
And the jinn, We created aforetime from the smokeless flame of fire"
[al-Hijr 15:26]
"And (remember) when We said to the angels: 'Prostrate yourselves unto
Adam.' So they prostrated themselves except Iblees (Satan). He was one
of the jinn; he disobeyed the Commandof his Lord. Will you thentake
him (Iblees) and his offspring as protectors and helpers rather than
Me while they are enemies to you?"
[al-Kahf 18:50]
The style used (singular vs. plural) varied before 'Eesa and his
mother (peace be upon them both) existed. Allaah said:
"Verily, We did send down the Tawraat (Torah) [to Moosa (Moses)],
therein was guidance and light, by which the Prophets, whosubmitted
themselves to Allaah's Will, judged for the Jews. And the rabbis and
the priests [too judged for the Jews by the Tawraat (Torah) after
those Prophets], for to them was entrusted the protectionof Allaah's
Book, and they were witnesses thereto. Therefore fear not men but fear
Me (O Jews) and sell not My Verses for a miserable price. And
whosoever does not judge by what Allaah has revealed, suchare the
Kaafiroon (i.e. disbelievers -- of a lesser degree as they do not act
on Allaah's Laws).
And We ordained therein for them: Life forlife...
And in their footsteps, We sent 'Eesa (Jesus), sonof Maryam (Mary),
confirming the Tawraat (Torah) that had come before him, and We gave
him the Injeel (Gospel)...
And We have sent down to you (O Muhammad) the Book (this Qur'aan) in
truth, confirming the Scripture that came before it and Muhaymin
(trustworthy in highnessand a witness) over it (old Scriptures)"
[al-Maa'idah 5:44-48]
"Verily, We sent Nooh (Noah) to his people"
[Nooh 71:1]
And Allaah said concerning His Khaleel (Close Friend) Ibraaheem(peace
be upon him) (interpretation of the meaning):
"So when he had turned away from them and from those whom they
worshipped besides Allaah, We gave him Ishaaq (Isaac) and Ya'qoob
(Jacob), and each one of them We made a Prophet.
And We gave them of Our Mercy (a good provision in plenty), and We
granted them honour on the tongues (of all the nations, i.e. everybody
remembers them with a good praise)"
[Maryam 19:49-50]
And He said concerning Moosa (peace be upon him) (interpretation of
the meaning):
"and made him draw near to Us for a talk withhim [Moosa (Moses)].
And We granted him his brother Haaroon (Aaron), (also) a Prophet,out
of Our Mercy"
[Maryam 19:52-53]
And He said (interpretation of the meaning):
"Verily, We have sent theRevelation to you (O Muhammad) as We sent the
Revelation to Nooh (Noah) and the Prophets after him..."
[al-Nisa' 4:163]
"And she who guarded her chastity [Virgin Maryam (Mary)], We breathed
into (the sleeves of) her (shirt or garment) [through Our Rooh --
Jibreel (Gabriel)], and We made her and her son ['Eesa (Jesus)] a sign
for Al-'Aalameen (the mankind and jinn)"
[al-Anbiya' 21:91]
"(Remember) when Allaah will say (on the Day of Resurrection). O 'Eesa
(Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary)! Remember My Favour to you and to your
mother"
[al-Maa'idah 5:110]
And there are many other verses in which the style varies between
singular and plural, where the verses speak of the creation of 'Eesa,
or Allaah's words to him,and before he was created. From this it is
clear that the style did not change after the creation of 'Eesa (peace
be upon him) as a sign that he is the "son of God" or that he is
"divine", rather it is for another reason as we shall see below.
-2-
Everyone who knows the Arabic language and its styles will know that
the pronoun Ana (I) and the first person is used in the singular when
speaking of oneself. The first person plural Nahnu(we) is used to
refer to two or more. But it may be used by an individual of high
standing as a sign of his greatness, and the context and circumstances
help the reader or listener to understand what is meant. Whoever
disagrees with that is either ignorant and doesnot know what he is
talking about or he is stubborn and wants to twist the meaning of
thewords, following his whims and desires. But Allaah will establish
and make apparent the truthby His Words, however much the sinners hate
that [cf. Yoonus 10:82]. This will be explained further below.
-3-
The Qur'aan is a Book the Verses whereof are perfected (in every
sphere of knowledge), and then explained in detail from One (Allaah),
Who is All-Wise Well-Acquainted (with all things) [cf. Hood 11:1]and
Falsehood cannot come to it from before itor behind it, (it is) sent
down by the All-Wise, Worthy of all praise (Allaah) [cf. Fussilat
41:42]. Parts of it explainand confirm other parts. Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning):
"And they say: 'The Most Gracious (Allaah) has begotten a son (or
offspring or children) [asthe Jews say: 'Uzayr (Ezra) is the son of
Allaah, and the Christianssay that He has begottena son ['Eesa
(Jesus)], and the pagan Arabs say thatHe has begotten daughters
(angels and others)].'
Indeed you have brought forth (said) a terrible evil thing.
Whereby the heavens are almost torn, and the earth is split asunder,
and the mountains fall inruins,
That they ascribe a son (or offspring or children)to the Most Gracious (Allaah).
But it is not suitable for (the Majesty of) the Most Gracious (Allaah)
that He should beget a son (or offspring or children).
There is none in the heavens and the earth but comes unto the Most
Gracious (Allaah) as a slave"
[Maryam 19:88-93]
"Say (O Muhammad): He is Allaah, (the) One.
Allaah-us-Samad [Allaah -- the Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all
creatures need, (He neither eats nor drinks)].
He begets not, nor was He begotten.
And there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him"
[al-Ikhlaas 112:1-4]
"Verily, the likeness of 'Eesa (Jesus) before Allaah is the likeness
of Adam. He created him from dust, then (He) saidto him: 'Be!' -- and
he was"
[Aal 'Imraan 3:59]
So whoever believes in Him must study the verses of the Qur'aan in the
light of one another,not in isolation, the one who quotes from Qur'aan
should be fair inhis quotation. He should not quote verses and turn
away from others, and he should not confuse truth with falsehood or
use some verses against others in order to promote falsehood, as our
predecessors the Jews did with the Torah, for which Allaah
denouncedthem when He said (interpretation of the meaning):
"Then do you believe in a part of the Scripture and reject the rest?
Thenwhat is the recompense of those who do so among you, except
disgrace in the life of this world, and on the Day of Resurrection
they shall be consigned to themost grievous torment. And Allaah is not
unaware of what you do"
[al-Baqarah 2:85]
Based on this, those whoquote the Qur'aan as evidence should accept
its evidence that 'Eesa (peace be upon him) is not the "son of God"
andthat he is not divine along with God, and they should affirm the
Oneness of God, because of what is mentioned in its verses, and
because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"Surely, they have disbelieved who say: 'Allaah is the Messiah ['Eesa
(Jesus)], son of Maryam (Mary).' But the Messiah ['Eesa (Jesus)] said:
'O Children of Israel!Worship Allaah, my Lord and your Lord.' Verily,
whosoever sets up partners (in worship) with Allaah, then Allaah has
forbidden Paradise to him, and the Fire will be his abode. And for the
Zaalimoon (polytheists and wrongdoers) there are no helpers.
Surely, disbelievers are those who said: 'Allaah isthe third of the
three (in a Trinity)'"
[al-Maa'idah 5:17]
And there are many similar verses in the Qur'aan.
Otherwise they should stop playing with the words, because that will
only lead them to shame and will make the wise laugh at them in
derision.

Names and Attributes of Allah - What is the meaning of Allaah’s name al-Quddoos?.

What is the meaning of Allaah's name al-Quddoos (the Holy)?
Praise be to Allaah.
Al-Quddoos (the Holy) is the One Who is Blessed and Pure, who is
exaltedabove all impurity. It was said that the angels sanctify Him
and He, mayHe be exalted, is the One Who is praised for His virtues
and goodness.
Allaah is al-Quddoos because He is far above having any opposites,
rivals, partner or son. He is described as being perfect, and is far
above having any faults or shortcomings at all. He isfar above
anything being near Him or like Him in any aspect of His perfection.
Ibn Jareer said:
"Taqdees (sanctification)is purification and veneration… Quddoos…
purity and veneration are for Him, hence land may be described as ard
muqaddasah or holy land, meaning that it is pure. When the angels say
'Nuqaddisu laka (we sanctify You)' it means we attribute to You
Yourattributes of being pure and free of all impuritiesand of all that
the people of kufr attribute to You. It was said that the angels'
sanctificationof their Lord is their prayer (salaah). Then he
mentioned some of the comments of the mufassireen, who said that
taqdees (sanctification) may mean prayer, veneration,
glorification,magnification or obedience. Salaah and veneration come
back topurification because they declare Him to be pure and free from
all that the people of kufr attribute to Him.
Ibn al-Qayyim said:
One of His attributes is the Holy, declaring Him to be above all
imperfection and glorifying the Most Merciful

Islamic Articles - SURAH YASEEN BENEFITS

1. WHY MUST WE RECITE SURAH YASEEN EVERY DAY?
RASULLULLAH[SAW] HAS SAID:

1."The person who reads Yaseen every night, (he) will be pardoned."(Baihaqi)

2."The person who reads Surah Yaseen every night, thus, when he dies,
he will die as a sha'heed (martyr)."(Tabaraani)

3."Whosoever reads the heart of the Quraan -"YA-Seen"in Ramadhan will
recieve the sawaab of reading 10 Quraans."(Tirmihi)

4."Whoever reads Surah Yaseen in the beginning of the day, all his
needs for the day will be fulfilled."

5.Whoever reads Surah Ya'seen for the pleasure of Allah only,all his
previous sins are forgiven.Therefore make a practice of reading this
Surah over your dead.

6. If someone reads Surah Ya'seen and Surah Saffat on Friday and begs
Allah of his needs, his needs will be fulfilled

7. Surah Ya'seen is named in the Torah as Mun'mah (giver of good
things) because it contains benefits for its readers in this life as
well as in the Hereafter, it removes from him the afflictions of this
world and the next and takes away the dread of the next life.
---------
Beloved reader, there are many more virtues of Surah Yaseen that are
not mentioned here, so please try your best to read it each night.
Allah will surely reward you in abundance.Insha Allah. This Surah can
be read at any time.
---
Remember me in your Duas!

Paradise-Jannah - The Highest Blessing: Allah's Good Pleasure

Allah has promised the men and women of the believers Gardens with
rivers flowing under them, remaining in themtimelessly, forever, and
fine dwellings in the Gardens of Eden. And Allah's good pleasure is
even greater. That is the great victory. (Surat at-Tawba, 72)
Earlier, we looked at the dazzling blessings found in Paradise. The
picture that emerges is one of letting people experience the greatest
pleasures and delights ofthe five senses.
But the biggest blessing of all is Allah's good pleasure, and the joy
and happiness a believerfeels when he or she wins it. As one hadith
also relates: "Allah wouldsay to the inmates of Paradise: 'I shall
cause My pleasure to alight upon you' " (Muslim). Moreover, being
contentwith everything that Allah has given and offering Him continual
thanksgiving brings a noble contentment. The Qur'an draws our
attention to this, as follows:
Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him. That isthe
Great Victory. (Surat al-Ma'ida, 119)
The most striking expression of what believers feel when they win
Allah's good pleasure is that He will manifest Himself to themin a way
that they can see Him. This is impossible in the world because, as the
Qur'an says: "Eyesight cannot perceive Him" (Surat al-An'am, 10) But
according to the Qur'an, in the next life and in a certain way Allah
will manifest Himself to His believing servants. Only Allah knows how
this will happen. But we are informed in the Qur'an that the
believers' "facesthat Day will be radiant, gazing at their Lord"
(Surat al-Qiyama, 22-23) and "'Peace!' A word from a Merciful Lord"
(Surah Ya sin, 58) will be heard. Believers will be"on seats of honor
in thepresence of an All-Powerful King" (Suratal-Qamar, 55).
In other words, the greatest possible blessing that believers can have
is the deep sense of Allah's mercy and will. By winning His good
pleasure, they experience a joy and a happiness that cannot be
compared with any material blessing.
Actually, it is Allah's will that gives value to Paradise's other
blessings. The same blessings may exist on Earth to a certain
extent,but they have no meaning for believers aslong as they surpass
the limits Allah established.
Believers should think carefully about this extremely important point.
The real thing thatgives a blessing its value is something far beyond
its intrinsic pleasure and delight, for its real value lies in the
fact that Allah"granted" it. Believers who use the blessing and thank
Allah for it feel that they have received Allah's gift; thatthe Lord
loves, protects, and looks after them; and gives them a taste ofHis
mercy. They take realjoy from this.
A blessing is not an end; rather, it is a means to an end. As its
purpose is to encourage men and women to offer greater thanksgiving to
Allah, all of Paradise's blessings have only one goal: To lead
believers to offer eternal thanksgiving to Allah. This is what gives
them their value. In short, the blessings of Paradise are no more than
a means whereby believers can approach Allah and attain the
indescribable joy of winning His eternal friendship, love, and
approval. This is why Allah's good pleasure is the greatest blessing
of Paradise and far above all other material pleasures.
Let us consider one of Paradise's most striking blessings, one that is
frequently mentioned in the Qur'an: beautiful women, who represent the
height of the aesthetic idea. Just to be with them is a great
blessing. The Qur'an describes the beauty of their faces, their skin,
and even their bosoms. With these magnificent women, one of Allah's
greatest material blessings - sexuality - canbe experienced
eternallyin the most wonderful way. In the same manner, unmarried
women will be married to young palace servants. This also is a free
gift to them from Allah.
However, what makes these women so valuable is not merely their
beauty, but the factthat they are known to be a gift from Allah.
Indeed, the greatest pleasure that can be hadis that which comes
fromreceiving the love, closeness, grace, and benevolence of the
Giver. No matter how valuable a gift may be, Allah's gift is more
valuable for the pleasureit gives in being deemedworthy to be of the
gifts of Allah, Lord of the Worlds, and in receiving it.
Accordingly, if they werenot Allah's gifts, all blessings would lose
their meaning for a believer. Prophet Yusuf's(as) great nobility
orients a believer's moral sense in that direction. The Qur'an tells
how the wife of an Egyptian governor, desired Yusuf (as) and even
forced herself on him. We are told that Yusuf (as) found her
attractive, but avoided this forbidden relationship due to Allah's
sign to him. Whenshe continued to press him, he preferred to go to
prison rather than to commit adultery. He said: "My Lord, prison is
preferable to me than what they call on me to do" (Surah Yusuf, 33).
The fact that he found the prison's extremely difficult conditions
preferable to what the governor's wife wanted him to do shows the
importance that a believer places upon Allah's good pleasure. Toact in
such a manner andto know that you have gained His approval is the most
important thing in a believer's heart. If material blessings present
themselves to a believer in a way that goes against Allah's good
pleasure, they lose their value.
In Paradise, all material blessings are approved by Allah. He
especially created beautiful women and gives them as a gift to
believers. Houses, food, natural beauty, and everything else are
blessings that Allah offers, and this is what makes them valuable.
Thus, the human heart can be satisfied only in Paradise, for it was
created to serve Allah and takes pleasure only in His generously given
gifts. In this world, it takes refuge in places that are reminiscent
of Paradise; that is, in places whose blessings are used with thanks
and in a way that gains Allah's good pleasure. This is why Paradise on
Earth, the ideal long cherished by unbelieversand atheists, is
impossible. If you were to take things in this world that resemble
Paradise's material beauties and gather them in one place, they would
have no meaning without Allah's approval.Moreover, He may also destroy
the pleasure thatmight be derived from such material beauties.
In short, Paradise is a gift of Allah and is valuable only because
ofthat. The people of Paradise experience eternal happiness and joy
because "they are honored servants" (Suratan-Anbiya', 26).
The wisest word that canbe spoken there is a word that praises Allah's
mighty name: "Master of Majesty and Generosity" (Surat ar-Rahman, 78).