Message To Muslim Youth

This pointers are  quite apt . Truly a thoughtful Message To Muslim Youth esp those still in school.

May Allah Almighty (God) bless all of you with health and happiness all
the time all the year round, this year and the next, and forever. Since
you are the youth of Islam, and the future of Islam rest’s on your
shoulders, let me tell you the following :

1. Be kind to your parents, if they are alive. Treat them with kindness
and love.

2. Be yourself. Do not try to be somebody else.

3. Manage your time properly. Keep an account of time; how much you
spend on studies, how much talking with loved ones, how much watching
TV, how much on other

entertainment etc? I am not saying that you should not watch TV or go
to a movie. What I am saying is that you should always take stock of
time.

4. Your first priority should be your studies. You must try to excel in
your studies. Whatever your potential, you must try to develop it
fully.

5. When you study a book, be critical. Always generate plenty of
questions. If you will not question, then chances are that you may not
understand it completely.

6. Try to be creative. How to be creative? Well there are many ways to
be creative. Probably everyone has a unique approach. But there are
some common guidelines one can use. When you get stuck on a problem,
let your mind think and wonder. Do not open the book and see what the
solution is. Let your mind get frustrated.

Always resist the tendency of quick results. Give your mind a chance to
succeed on its own. You will realize soon that your creative energy
will start flowing. When the mind is deprived of easy means and it is
not satisfied with present things, it tries to create ingenious means
by being creative. All the inventions has been invented in that way.

7. So far I did not talk about the Quran. There is a reason for that. I
want you to develop critical thinking ability in your studies first: in
science, mathematics, computers, and economics, whatever you have
chosen. If you cannot develop this ability most probably you would not
understand the Quran. Also, understanding of the Quran is a long and
hard and a life long process. And it requires lot of patience and
perseverance plus it demands sacrifice. Therefore, you should first try
to take few important verses of the Quran (the ones dealing with human
relationships and character building) and try to integrate them in your
life and studies. Of course it will be very hard and there will be lot
of temptations to skirt. But try to avoid them. But keep in mind that
we are human beings. We make mistakes. So, don’t feel too bad or don’t
be too hard on yourself if you make mistakes. Just make sure that next
time you must be careful.

8. Do not take advantage of others and do not let others take advantage
of you. This is easier said than done, especially for the latter part.
But always remember Hazrat Umar’s saying: A momin is one who not only
does not deceive anyone but does not get deceived as well. The downfall
of Muslims is in major part due to the fact that that they have not
practiced this saying of Khalifa Umar. They are so easily conned,
cheated, and taken advantage of when they are in strong position. When
they are weak and vulnerable no one cares for them and everyone kicks
them around. What you see now a days is the result of that. So, always
keep this saying of Hazrat Umar in mind. But remember, as I said, it is
very difficult but with experience you will learn – if you are
sincere.

9. In relation to the above, let me also mention that from among
Muslims there are con artists selling Islam in the name of serving
Islam. They are hunting for Muslim youth. Do not fall prey to their
sweet talks. Keep your mind’s eyes open and apply Hazrat Umar’s
principle. Do not ever underestimate your own intelligence.

10. Whatever is happening in the World right now in general, do not
worry too much about them yourselves. Let us, (the older generation)
worry about it. You should remain focused on your studies and to become
economically independent and stable. How can you help others if you
cannot help yourself? That should be enough worry for you if your goal
is to be the best.

11. When you have accomplished that then your cumulative weight of
knowledge and expertise and the strength of character will create
miracles that you at this time cannot imagine. Then a new world of
Islam will rise up on your shoulders. An Islam, which will have dignity
and power, based on the strength of knowledge and character rather than
the current Islam that is based on customs, rituals, and belief in
miracles resulting in suffering and humiliations of Muslims throughout
the world.

These are some of my thoughts emanating from the depth of my heart. I
hope like wise that it penetrates the bottom of your hearts and
become’s the driving force in your lives. I hope this serves as a
catalyst to change your lives for the better. Let the youth of Islam
show to the world what Islam really is, not what Islam has been
made out to be. May Allah Almighty give you the strength and the
necessary courage to carry out this important mission.

SOURCE: http://my.opera.com/Quran/blog/index.dml/tag/Message%20To%20Muslim%20Youth

THE POWER OF AYAT-UL-KURSI

It was reported in a local paper in Rochdale (A town, northeast of Manchester), of a young woman who was raped in a small dark alley (a narrow passage between buildings) one evening.

On a separate evening around the same time, a young Muslim girl was walking home from college. Aware that it was getting dark fast, she wanted to get home as soon as possible, so her mother would not be worrying about her.
…
The young Muslim girl faced a dilemma. Take the short-cut down the same alleyway to avoid getting home after dark, or to take the longer route and have her mother worrying herself sick about her daughter’s safety.

Conscious of the time, she takes the alleyway. While the girl is walking, she sees a rather sinister and dark figure of a man walking towards her from the other end. As her pace quickens, she begins to read Ayat-ul-kursi for her safety.
The man, he makes eye contact but carries on walking.

When the young Muslim girl reaches home she tells her family about this sinister looking man. They advise her to contact the police, after having read the newspaper article some time before. When she contacts the police they ask her to give a physical description of the man and it matches the description the rape victim had given.

Some days later the young Muslim girl receives a phone call from the police, asking her if she would come down to the police station to identify the man in a line up. Both the rape victim and the Muslim girl pick out the same man.

The police are confused; they ask the rapist that why he attacked one girl and not the other? In reference to the Muslim girl, he replies ‘Why would I attack her, when she was walking with two huge men on either side of her?’

SUBHANALLAH! ALHAMDULILLAH! ALLAHU AKBAR!
by: Being a Muslim its our responsibility to spread the message of Islam……

SHARED BY: Damilola Bint Ishie

18 Ways to Achieve Greatness through Gratefulness

Whether you consider yourself a positive, easy-going person or a demanding, hard to please person, these tips can help you become a more grateful, caring, and content individual.

There is much more to gratitude and Shukr (thankfulness) in Islam than a mere “Thank You” that our ears have become so used to ignoring. Discover how you can be more thankful to Allah and His creation.

1. Stop Complaining and be positive! This is the first step towards being thankful to Allah and people around you. We have become a community of complainers and whiners, which has lead to a collective psychology of negativity and unproductively.Stop complaining about the economy, weather, politicians, traffic, or ‘the system’. Refrain from blaming your Masjid, Imams, parents, spouse, in-laws, children, or boss. If you think with an open mind, you may find more positives in your circumstances and the people around you than negatives.
2. Say “Al-hamdulillah” (All thanks and praise belongs to Allah) often: A constant utterance of this phrase reminds you of the source of all blessings and happiness in this life. This practice of attributing all good actions to Allah keeps you humble and content and has a positive affect on your relations with people.Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, has instructed us to say “Al-hamdulillah” on daily basis: “Allah is pleased with His servant if, when he eats something he thanks Allah for it, and when he drinks something he thanks Allah for it” (Muslim).
3. Respect others’ time and schedule: Part of ungratefulness is wastage of time. As a scholar once said, “Time is not just money. It is more expensive than gold, diamonds and pearls. Time is life itself!”Arriving late at a meeting or a class, cancelling appointments last minute, or starting off a program late, are not only a big waste of time and disrespectful to others, but also a lack of appreciation of others’ time on your part.
4. Seize the opportunity while you can. Procrastination in offering your prayers, delaying a donation to a humanitarian cause, or filling your leisure time with unproductive or unlawful activities is ingratitude to Allah for the limited time and opportunity He has given you to do good and to achieve Paradise.Prophet Muhammad warned us, “Good health and spare time are two of the blessings of Allah with respect to which many people are deceived.” (Bukhari)Even if you live till tomorrow, what guarantee do you have that there won’t be any obstacles in carrying out a good action. The Prophet used to call on Muslims to take the initiative to do good deeds before any problems arise.
5. Spend 15 minutes daily to think about things that you should be thankful for: Recall people in your life, whom you may have taken for granted like your parents, spouse, children, co-worker, or teacher, who were caring and loving.List some of Allah’s gifts that are not tangible or were not obvious to you before. Sulayman, a follower of the Prophet’s Companions, once said: “Remembering His blessings makes one love Allah.”This simple mental exercise not only makes you a grateful person, but also a healthy one. According to a 2001 research bythe Institute for Research on Unlimited Love (IRUL), based in Ohio, just 15 minutes a day focusing on the things you are grateful for will significantly increase your body’s natural antibodies, will make you less vulnerable to clinical depression, and will keep your blood pressure and heart rate stable.
6. Be patient and grateful when disasters strike: The depth and strength of your gratitude is tested in difficult times. Allah wants to see how thankful you truly are when you loose your job or a loved one, or when you feel ill and or get injured.It helps to know that in times of calamity and distress, there will be some good for you, provided you respond appropriately. The Prophet said, “How wonderful is the case of a Believer! There is good for him in whatever happens to him -and none, apart from him, enjoys this blessing.” (Muslim)Sufyan al-Thawri, a famous early scholar of Islam, said, “He does not understand religion properly who does not count affliction as a blessing and ease as a trial.”
7. Donate your time, talent, money, and advice to social work and non-profit efforts: In our profit-driven culture, it is burdensome to squeeze out time and wealth for others. Your selfless service and generosity towards people in need and non-profit organizations is a sure way of showing gratitude to Allah and to your community.The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him said, “People are dependants of Allah; the closest to Him are those who are most useful to His dependants” (Muslim).”As the blessings from Allah to a servant increase, so will the people’s needs of that blessed servant’s services. If the servant ignores their needs, it will cause those blessings to be removed” (lbn Hibban).
8. Visit the sick, the terminally ill, and the disabled: Frequenting patients and families of the deceased, not only brings comfort to them and brings multiple rewards from Allah to you, it also helps you appreciate your own good health and opportunities you have in life to serve others.
9. Share the message of Islam: If you appreciate the guidance of Islam as your most precious treasure, don’t hesitate to share it with others. If Islam has changed your life for the better, what’s holding you back from inviting your friends, family, neighbours, and co-workers to explore this message of hope and positive transformation?
10. Recite and memorize the Duas of Prophet Muhammad: The most natural and beautiful way to thank Allah is the words of the Prophet himself.The Prophet told Muadh, “By Allah, I love you, so do not forget to say at the end of every prayer, ‘O Allah, help me to remember You and to give thanks to You and to worship You well’” (Ahmad and At-Tirmidhî).
11. Fall in Prostration (Sajda) when you receive a blessing from Allah:Prophet Muhammad used to prostrate (Sajda) to Allah whenever he received something pleasant or was told good news to thank Allah for the grace he had received.
12. Don’t consider any blessing too small: Treat all gifts of Allah with equal respect and gratitude, lest you lose it one day for good. Aishah said that the Prophet entered upon her one day and saw a small piece of bread on the floor, so he picked it up and wiped it, then told her: “O Aishah, treat the blessings of Allah with respect, for when it departs from a household it may never come back to them” (Abud Dunya).
13. Use and display Allah’s blessings moderately. Part of being grateful to Allah is to look presentable and clean, and spend money on yourself with moderation.Abul-Akhwas nar­rated that his father said: “I came to the Messenger of Allah looking dishevelled and scruffy. He asked me, ‘Do you have any possessions?’ I said, ‘Yes.’ He asked me what sort, and I told him, ‘I have all sorts. Allah has given me camels, horses, slaves and sheep.’ The Prophet said: ‘If Allah has given you all of that, then let Him see His blessing on you.’”
14. Don’t be too picky and accommodate others! Some people express their discomfort (perhaps unintentionally) with anything that they are not used to. They may be too picky about their taste of food, clothing and furniture; they may get irritated easily in new environments; they may like meeting only a certain type of people; they may not like working with others.This insensitivity to other people’s preferences and inability to accommodate others is a sign of selfishness, arrogance, and ungratefulness. Be content in every situation and you will become grateful.
15. Admire those below you and keep your expectations low: A lot of times the reason for our ungrateful behaviour is that we are constantly comparing our material success with the wealthier, healthier, and more accomplished. In our race to ‘keep-up-with-the-Ahmad-family’ next door, we forget so many obvious blessings that others may not enjoy and we should be thankful for.The Prophet admonished us, “Look at those people who have less than you and never look at those who have more grants than you, this will ensure that you will not depreciate Allah’s favours” (Muslim).
16. Thank people for littlest things: People like to be appreciated for little favours they do for us, which often get ignored in our busy routines. When was the last time you thanked your little son for taking care of simple chore for you? Has your husband heard a compliment from you lately?Take the time to thank them for their thoughtfulness. As the Prophet stated, “The one who does not give thanks for a small blessing will not give thanks for a great blessing, and the one who does not give thanks to people will not give thanks to Allah” (Abud Dunya).
17. Compliments & recognition and motivate team members: Whether you are an employer or a manager at work, or lead a volunteer based project, or simply a team player, a personal recognition significantly boosts the employee or volunteer morale.As Stephen Robbins in his book “The Truth about Managing People” explains, several organizational behaviour studies have indicated employees and volunteers rate personal thanks and recognition from a superior for a job well-done as the most motivating of a variety of incentives; yet not many team leaders use this simple, cost-effective technique that works like magic! What kinds of personal recognition and group success incentives does your organization have in place?
18. When you thank someone, make sure you mean it: When you say “Jazakallahu Khayran” (May Allah reward you the best) to your wife, does it come from your heart? Or is it received as another cold cliché? Be a little creative when you really want to express your gratitude to someone. Say it with a personal thank you card. Show it with flowers. Accompany it with a genuine smile. Charge it with emotions. Enhance it with a meal or a meaningful gift.

SOURCE: By Taha Ghayyur

http://myinkspiration.wordpress.com/2009/11/03/18-ways-to-achieve-greatness-through-gratefulness/

Muslim Standard Time – How to Cure the Chronic Disease

< I so love productivity and getting real result ;  as a Muslim we have to think on our feet when it comes to time management. so yeah i love productivemuslim.com where i found this piece JZK to Author (Br. Taha Ghayyur) too>

“Oh my God. I am running late, again! Well, it’s all good. No one is going to be there on time anyway.”

How many times have you heard this and similar phrases in the Muslim community? Perhaps you are guilty of uttering them yourself as a habit.

Sadly, starting off late, arriving late, and delaying our programs has become a norm for many of us.

It’s gotten so bad that we no longer even feel guilty about arriving late to a class, function, meeting, Jumah prayer or appointment. Many don’t even bother to apologize. We fail to realize how much time and resources of others we waste due to our own insensitivity and indifference.

I remember arriving at a wedding last summer about two hours late (due to a pre-planned legitimate reason), only to find over half the wedding hall full of non-Muslim guests still waiting for the bride and groom and their families to arrive. The most heartrending scene was of a group of non-Muslim friends laying on the ground asleep. It turned out they were out-of-town guests who had arrived a couple of hours prior to the “official’ start time.

Of course the blame goes both to the organizers of the events and the attendees. It’s easy to criticize the organizers, but we have to do our part of making the program or meeting professional. It begins with arriving on time and respecting everyone else’s time.

As Muslims, every time we arrive late we lose respect in the sight of others. Imam al-Ghazali, in his commentary to a Hadith describing the characteristics of hypocrites, states that the trait “when he makes a promise, he never fufills it” includes specially those who consistently say ‘In-sha-Allah’ and arrive late.

I know of a great contemporary Muslim scholar who, when he used to enter a conference, meeting, or dinner, the audience or members would match and reset their watches to the minute he was supposed to arrive at because he was reputed to be strict with time-management.

What can you and your family do and how can you prepare to arrive on time at any event:

1. Get the directions to where you are going in advance. The common excuse for arriving late we often present is “got lost” or “I didn’t have correct directions.”
2. Arrange your ride at least two days in advance. Call around and find out who can give you a ride. Always have a backup plan for rides. “I didn’t get a ride” is one excuse given, to which I ask: did you ask around early enough? Don’t wait for others to offer you a ride.
3. Start getting ready at least 30-45 min. before leaving home. Don’t run into the shower, squeeze in three Rak’at of Maghrib, or iron your clothes just three minutes before you are supposed to step out!
4. Have a realistic estimate of travel time. If you know it takes 25 minutes to get to a place, you have to leave your home at least 35 minutes before arrival time.
5. Consider weather and traffic conditions. Listen to the local news or watch the weather report before getting behind the wheel.
6. The 10-minute Rule works! No matter what the occasion, always aim to get to the destination 10 minutes ahead of time. This allows you to accommodate any last-minute uncertainties: “Oh, I forgot my wallet at home,” “Man, I have to pick Brother x on the way,” “Oops! I have to pray my ‘Asr before I get to…” Etc.
7. If it helps you, set your personal watch, cellphone or car time five minutes ahead.
8. “Well it’s a typical Muslim party or conference! There is no way they will start on time!” Well, guess what, if we ALL adopt this attitude, no one would ever arrive on time and let the program start on time. We have to change this thinking and make a point to arrive on time. Being people of principle, we must remain consistent in all circumstances.
9. Be honest! Be honest to yourself and others. If you know you are going to be late to a party or Halaqa, clearly set that expectation with your host, coordinator or meeting leader. What does it take to drop a message or call to let the other person know that you will be 10 to 15 minutes late (whether it’s due to expected or unexpected reasons).
10. Don’t succumb to the “In-sha-Allah Syndrome.” Use In-sha-Allah only when you know you mean it.

SOURCE: This post was prepared and submitted by Br. Taha Ghayyur to- http://www.productivemuslim.com/muslim-standard-time-how-to-cure-the-chronic-disease/

Aloe Vera: A Natural Cure …

Allah bless us with wonderful natural cure.. if only we will pause and learn more about those things we over look or run from can do to our body. Here is a piece on Aloevera .. Yuck! you say? if you take your time to understand it benefits, you will be able to see that behind that greenish or bitter plant lies abundant healing, Enjoy!

Aloe vera is an impressive plant with an amazing variety of healing benefits. In a single plant, aloe vera offers a potent, natural cure for many internal and external conditions and its medicinal potential makes it a must-have plant for every home.

The gel found inside the aloe vera plant is made up of water, 20 minerals, 12 vitamins, 18 amino acids and 200 active plant compounds or phytonutrients, which are responsible for the plant’s remarkable healing properties.

The use of aloe vera topically, to relieve sunburn or painful joints, for example is well known. However, this versatile plant has also been shown to:

•             Halt the growth of cancer tumors

•             Lower high cholesterol and high blood pressure

•             Ease inflammation and soothe arthritis pain

•             Protect the body from oxidative stress

•             Cure ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome and other digestive disorders

•             Alkalize the body and nourish it with minerals, vitamins and enzymes

•             Accelerate healing from burns

Aloe Vera Reduces inflammation and Boosts the Immune System

Aloe has been found to ease the inflammation of joints, including reducing arthritis pain, when used both topically and internally. One study found that people who drank aloe vera for two weeks began to experience a significant reduction of inflammation symptoms.

Aloe vera contains acemannan, a natural immune booster. Studies have also shown that when aloe is taken internally it can stimulate and regulate the immune system by stopping inflammation and cutting off the blood supply of tumors.

Aloe vera also amplifies the antioxidant effects of vitamins. It makes Vitamin C, Vitamin E and other antioxidants work better, probably due to its effect on enhancing blood quality and allowing the blood to more effectively transport oxygen and nutrients to the body’s cells.

Aloe Vera Destroys Cancer

Research into the anti-cancer effects of acemannan, a phytonutrient found in aloe vera, found promising results. In one study, dogs and cats undergoing radiation for cancer were given acemannan. Not only did the tumors shrink more in the acemannan-treated group, but post-treatment survival was significantly extended.

Another study demonstrated that acemannan increased cells’ production of nitric oxide (NO), an anti-cancer chemical strongly associated with the shrinking of cancer tumors.

Although this particular research was focused on chickens, the same effect has also been observed in humans.

In other studies, aloe vera showed a marked result in producing remission in skin cancers. Its highly effective antioxidant effect has also been found to help prevent skin damage from x-rays and other forms of radiation.

Aloe Vera Stabilizes blood sugar Levels

Diabetic patients who took aloe vera for 3 months experienced a significant drop in fasting blood sugar levels. They also had lower cholesterol levels and slight improvements in total cholesterol. Numerous clinical studies have been published that demonstrate aloe vera’s anti-diabetic properties.

Aloe Vera Heals burns, Cuts and Scrapes

Aloe vera is nature’s first aid kit. It is antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal, making it extremely effective in wound care. Placed directly on or in the wound, aloe vera gel kills bacteria, prevents infection and actually nourishes the damaged tissues while sealing the wound against infection.

Aloe has been known to heal third-degree burn victims with no scarring and to restore burned skin that would have normally died.

Studies confirmed that wounds treated with aloe heal far faster than other wounds not so treated – both for traumatic as well as surgical wounds.

The juice is also effective for the treatment of minor wounds and insect bites by forming a “natural plaster” over the wound.

Aloe Vera Extends Lifespan

A study on rats showed that aloe vera extended lifespan by 10 percent. The study also found that the rats had a less incidence of blood clots in the heart, less kidney disorders, a slightly lower incidence of fatal leukemia and fewer causes of death compared to the control group. Also, no adverse, toxic effects were found with the ingestion of aloe vera.

Aloe Vera Enhances skin Health

Aloe is one of the most widely-used ingredients in skin care products. This is because it is great for the skin. Aloe soothes the skin, hydrates it, nourishes it and accelerates the regeneration of new skin tissue. It also enhances skin health when used internally, such as when added to juices.

Externally, aloe vera gel can be applied directly to the skin as a softening agent and used for the treatment of:

•             skin irritation

•             burns and scalds

•             sunburn

•             wounds

•             eczema

•             psoriasis

•             acne

•             dermatitis

•             ulcers

This is just a selection of the conditions that aloe vera is known to improve or cure. For more information or for further studies, search on Google Scholar.

How to Use aloe Vera

Aloe vera plants are easy to care for. They need bright light and water every two weeks to grow and stay healthy, so keep your plant on a sunny windowsill.

Aloe vera is most effective when used fresh so use it as soon as it is removed from the plant.

The gel found inside the aloe vera leaf contains its health benefits. To extract this gel, cut off a large leaf from the plant. Either strip away the green leaf from around the gel using a knife, or squeeze the gel out. The plant will heal up around the cut leaf, and will not become infected, due to aloe’s anti-bacterial properties.

Apply this cool, soothing gel directly onto the skin, or use it internally by adding it to fresh juices.

SOURCE:

http://www.healthymuslim.com/articles/fewed-aloe-vera-a-natural-cure-for-cancer-diabetes-inflammation-and-much-more.cfm

The Productivity Triangle

The year is still fresh (whether you count the Georgian or Hijirah calendar) and we like to see you achieve more. Here is a tip piece by ProductiveMuslim. We pray your dreams and aspiration will be Insha Allah!

I would like to introduce you today to 3 powerful elements of productivity. These are the cornerstone of productivity without which one cannot be productive, and here they are:

1. Knowledge
2. Action
3. Consistency

I call this the Productivity Triangle, and if all 3 element meet in a person, he/she becomes truly productive. But if one element is missing that’s when unproductivity kicks in.

So how do these 3 elements work?

Knowledge

وَقُل رَّبِّ زِدْنِي عِلْمًا say, “O my Lord! advance me in knowledge (Taha, Chapter #20, Verse #114)

It all starts with knowledge. Understanding what you need to do, and how to do it. One of the top reasons for people to procrastinate on a project or task is that they do not know how to do it. And they are worried to approach this learning curve out of fear that they may never understand how to do it.

Here’s some good news though: Knowledge can be attained in a number of ways, and I’ve yet to meet someone who has put their mind onto something and failed to gain knowledge in that area. But the key factor here is action, you need to put effort in to gaining knowledge.

Here are top tips to gaining knowledge:

1. Research online/offline:

Al-hamdulillah, the information world is in our finger tips these days and this is a blessing of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) upon us all. I’ve found myself if I lack knowledge in a field, I would firstly go to the Library and pick as many books on the topic as I can, I’ll read some of them and scan through others, then I’ll research online or listen to further audiobooks/podcast on the topic and within a few weeks/months, that knowledge gap would be filled with the permission of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala)

2. Ask an expert/Someone who has done it before:

If there’s something new you need to learn, then know that there’s a teacher out there who’s ready to share his/her knowledge with you. And trust me, no matter how “important” this person is, you’d be surprised how they would love to pass their knowledge to you. Approaching them through associates or friends can be a good start, or a direct e-mail and cold calling can sometimes work. The most important thing is to be persistent until you get what you need from them.

3. Make dua:

Knowledge is a blessing of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) upon you, and it’s enlightening. So if you’re stuck or find yourself not knowing much about a subject and really need to learn about it, ask Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) for help and try some of the above methods to gain what you desire. A word of caution here: Make sure you seek beneficial knowledge, that is knowledge that will be beneficial to you either in this world, or hereafter, or both preferrably!

Action

The value of knowledge without action is zilch! In fact, this brings about the wrath of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) – may Allah protect us. Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) described those who had the knowledge but did little action as “those who incurred His anger” in the opening chapter of the Quran. So let’s not be one of them.

But here’s an important point: in one hand we need to remember that we must take action upon the knowledge that we learnt in order to be productive, but we have to understand here that Action/Ability or Skill comes from Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) first and foremost, since without his permission you can’t do anything. That’s why again in the opening chapter we say: “You alone we worship and You alone we seek help from”. So we want to worship Him, but we can’t worship Him without His permission, and this is true servitude to Allah.

When you realise that everything you do, you’re doing it with the permission of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala), you’ll be humble in your approach, will seek perfection in all your actions, and you’ll be sincere in what you do.

Also, action starts with you taking the first step. Again, those of us who procrastinate, here’s a killer-productivity technique: Start working on a project/task for just 10 minutes and watch yourself drift to 30-45 minutes. Give yourself a 5 minute break and then start again for ‘just’ 10 minutes. I always say that our ‘nafs’ and self is like a baby, and we have to treat it that way; a bit of encouragement, a bit of scolding, a bit of prize and it’ll get a long just fine.

Consistency

So, you’ve gained the knowledge, you’ve taken action and after a few days, you flop. You can’t be bothered and you’re not productive anymore. 90% of the productivity complaints is regarding consistency. People normally have no issue in gaining knowledge or taking action, but being consistent that’s when they find it hard.

I’ll admit, this is the hardest stage and there’s no easy answer, but here are some helpful advice:

1. Start small and grow slow

It’s tempting when you’re super excited about a project to jump into it with BIG action and BIG tasks only to find yourself overwhelemed a few days after. Why not start small, build small, and grow slowly over the years? Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said that the most beloved actions to Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) are those that are consistent even if they are small.

2. Break it down

Some of the reasons why it’s hard to become consistent in your action is because the action is HUGE or takes a number of tasks to achieve. Try breaking it down and see if there’s better ways of doing it: can you eliminate some steps? Can you delegate some parts?. As the Chinese proverb goes: A journey of 1000 miles starts with one step. My only addition to this is: KEEP WALKING!

3. Check your Intentions

Sometimes when you fail to be consistent on a project, it might be a sign that perhaps your intentions are not pure and sincere. For example, if you’ve tried many times to memorize the Quran and failed, check your hearth, check your intention, who are you doing it for. Normally, when our intentions are pure and when our goals are bigger than ourselves, it’s easier to be consistent inshaAllah.

4. Ask Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) for help

I swear upon the One who created me and you, you cannot be consistent in any task, project, endeavour you’re in  except by His permission. So ask Allah for help in all your matters and ask Him to that He makes you consistent. Most importantly, ask Him to be consistent in your Deen and religion, so that you’re constantly worshipping Him to the best of your ability and improving yourself and those around you.

I hope you found this article beneficial. Can you find practical examples of how Knowledge-Action-Consistency made you productive?

SOURCE: http://www.productivemuslim.com/the-productivity-triangle/

Embarrassing! Discomfiting! Discombobulating! Dishonouring! …

What do you think about smoking or smokers? or are you one? read this and enjoy the lovely piece by Mulkah Fola HunterTokun

“Having to queue up at the banking hall on a Friday afternoon around 3.30pm is one of the things I dread doing. I was just left with no choice because I had promised to transfer some funds to my sister through one of the First Bank branches.

 

“I counted about twelve people ahead of me and I was busy wondering how much the cashiers had to count that’s taking ages. My conclusion was that they definitely needed more cashiers. Of course, I wasn’t the only one who was getting agitated as I noticed that a well suited up middle aged man, 2 people ahead of me, just kept stepping out of line. One glance at him, and you would think he was the popular Pa Kasumu.

 

“Moments later, he finally excused himself and headed towards the gents.‘Oh!’ I thought, ‘maybe he’s pressed.’ Few minutes after, I heard a loud beep and some words of cursing, followed by what sounded like chanting. All from the direction of the gents. Could you possibly hazard a guess at who could have been the harbinger of this chaos?

 

“The man who just left, of course!!!

 

“He came out all wet, his chanting now clearer,

 

‘This, this…this is embarrassing! This is discomfiting! This is Discombobulating! This is dishonouring! This is degrading! This is humiliating! This is demeaning! This is mortiftying! This…this is abasing!…’ I wasn’t wrong about the pa Kasumu countenance I had observed in him afterall!

 

“ Everybody in the banking hall burst into reeling laughter! I guess his manner of utterance of this oyinbo repete was on one hand enough to stir up the laughter, but on the other hand, he was a sight to behold! He was completely wet, as in, from head to toe! His jacket was dripping water unto the tiled floor, and so was his trousers!! Infact, u needed to see him!

 

“Guess what really happened as I later learnt? He was trying to be a ‘courteous and civilised’ smoker. Hmn hmnn!!!  So that explains why he left the line. I thought something could be rather wrong too as he was fidgety. He felt the urge to smoke. Fine! He wanted to be ‘civilised’ about it, but unfortunately, the bank does not like the smell of smoke! He he he!! They had a sprinkler system installed in the gents, and his smokey cigarette got it triggered off! Oh my!! What a day for this guy! Am so sure he won’t ever smoke again!” This is a modified narration of a colleague at the office.

“I don’t think so! That incident might not be enough to serve as a deterrent to him. It’s not an easy thing for an addict to quit anything, be it cigarette, drugs, prostitution, homosexualism, or whatever vice even though most times they wish they could stop. I only pity his family because they will suffer more from passive smoking.” I countered.

 

“Passive smoking!” I thought aloud. Memories came in torrents.

 

My service year.

 

I served in the Northern part of the country. Precisely in the capital of Kebbi State. With the Ministry of Lands and Housing, Gwadangaji. I guess we all have an idea of how some of these ministries run…a lot of times, people had little to do, so you see them hanging around the walkways, the stair halls, the sidewalks, the porch…practically everywhere, a sizable number of them doing what? Smoking!! The unfortunate part of it is the fact that one has to pass through these alleys to transit between offices and whether liked or not, one commits the ‘offence’ of passive smoking unwittingly.

 

Again I recall Abba’s dad. Abba was one of Mr. Musa’s children whom he had begged me to teach to speak English. He worked at the Ministry and was also a chain smoker.

 

“Mr Musa, why do you smoke?” I confronted him. He was driving me to his residence to take kids as he did Mondays,Wednesdays and Fridays.

 

“Hmn?” He was apparently caught unawares.

 

“Would you like Abba, and probably Amina, your daughter, to become a smoker like you?” I pressed further.

 

“Definitely not! I will kill them! They know they mustn’t do it. I’m an addict, not because I like it, but because circumstances have pushed me. Mulkah, am sorry, I won’t be able to give you the details.”

 

“What if they pick up your cigarette stubs and try to experiment? Anyway, I really don’t need the details, what I’d candidly advice you is that you quit smoking! I know you know it’s bad enough for you, but I doubt if you know that its worse off for your family as they become passive smokers.”

 

He had just pulled up outside the compound, so I got down. I really wondered about what will become of his children. Of course children easily pick up habits of people closest to them, and knowingly or unknowingly make them role models.

 

Now back in Lagos, get to the parks and see them in droves! The drivers, the conductors…the agberos…well maybe not all of them, but most of them are chimneys, and they affect passersby and passengers one way or the other. Many times, I confront the security man at my residence why he sells cigarettes. He said: “E dey move well well!” What a reason! He doesn’t smoke however, but his fellow mallams do. “So u know say e no good to smoke?” I asked. “ I know now, but them dey always ask for am, na why I dey sell be that.”

 

And don’t even think only the downtrodden smoke in Lagos (stale gist!)Tshhhh! This one is meant for only your eyes o … I had a lecturer…He doesn’t live in ‘Mowe’. But we used to call him chimney! The ceiling of his office was no longer white by the time he was moving to another office…For those who know him…I no dey o!!! 🙂

 

Do we really know the import of passive smoking? Passive smoking is the exposure of someone, involuntarily to another person’s smoke. It is also called secondhand smoking. Second hand smoke is made up of gases and particles that are very harmful, especially to children because they are very sensitive and vulnerable to it.

 

Children who are exposed to second-hand smoke at home can easily develop bronchitis, pneumonia or any form of respiratory infection. They will have less developed lungs that have a reduced ability to function well.

 

Temporary effects of passive smoking on children are shortness of breath, coughing, sore throats, pressure or tightness in their chest, wheezing etc.

 

They are more likely to suffer ear infections, fluid in the ears, chronic middle ear disease or “glue ear”, which could lead to some loss of hearing.

 

They can suffer from possible cardiovascular disorders and various types of cancers in childhood as well as in adulthood.

 

They are more likely to die in infancy .The risk is twice as high If a pregnant mother smokes.

 

They are at a higher risk of developing meningitis.

 

So, daddies, and mummies; aunties, and uncles; brothers and sisters; friends and foes. Do u truly like these for your kids?

 

Ok! Something brings about passive smoking- smoking itself! Do you know that in the United States, from reliable statistics, tobacco smoking is the single greatest cause of preventable death? This cannot be far from the truth worldwide. Smoking is a major risk factor for heart attacks, strokes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema(dilated air sacs), and cancer(particularly lung cancer, cancers of the larynx and mouth, and pancreatic cancer). It also causes peripheral vascular disease and hypertension, all developed due to the exposure time and the level of dosage of tobacco.

 

Interestingly, cigarettes sold in developing nations tend to have higher tar content, and are less likely to be filtered, potentially increasing vulnerability to tobacco-related disease in these regions. So Nigerian smokers, emurasi o!

When tobacco is smoked, nicotine causes physical and psychological dependency. Tobacco use is a significant factor in miscarriages among pregnant smokers, and the incidence of impotence is approximately 85 percent higher in male smokers compared to non-smokers, and is a key factor causing erectile dysfunction (ED).With all these information, wont we still ask that why do people still smoke and hardly think of quitting?

 

For those who have been having a hard time quitting, there’s good news: Always remember that there are only two good reasons to take a puff once you quit. You either decide you would be going back to your old level of consumption until smoking habit cripples and then kills you, or you decide you really want to withdraw and make it last forever and keep away from the next free puff! Sorry, hope you were not expecting a list of how-to’s?

 

Sure in the long run, if you still find it difficult to quit, then you are definitely waiting for when it will be humiliating…embarrassing…discomfiting…discombobulating…dishonouring…degrading…humiliating…demeaning…mortiftying…abasing…All for grammar! Well, methinks that if a smoker doesn’t achieve the feat of quitting. Indeed, his black lungs, teeth, ceiling board and burnt fingers et al, will testify!

 

Let’s live a smoke-free life. Ciao.

Interview with Shareefah Andu -Life of a muslimah

This is one of muslimah i had always admired. She is based in Lagos Nigeria, a wife mother and entrepreneur. So read along and learn one or two ideas or ideal about being a true muslimah.

Three words best describe Shareefah Andu: Determined, driven and a goal getter. She opens up to Nkarenyi Ukonu on her life and all of the things she is involved in.

Shareefah Andu is every inch a Muslim woman and this is made all the more obvious by her veiled hair. But besides the veiled hair, her dress sense even though simple still makes her come across as a stylish person who doesn‘t compromise on good quality, vintage and timeless pieces of apparel.

She says, ”I wasn‘t covering my hair until 12 years ago. I went for hajj in 1998 and by then I was ready to do things the way the Quran spells it out, that a woman should cover her hair so that she will be noted as a Muslim and she will not be molested. Just like the Catholic nuns who will never go anywhere with their hair uncovered.

”So for me, it is the religious level I have gotten to that informed my choice to have my hair covered and still be stylish at the same time. I want to be seen to be coordinated, I don‘t just want people to see my hair covered, I want them to notice that it has been stylishly covered. I also think it suits me.”

Covering her hair and being stylish at the same time is not all there is to Abeokuta, Ogun State born Andu. The sociology graduate of the University of Ibadan is in fact many things rolled in one. Starting out as a journalist in charge of the children‘s pages in Nigerian Tribune Newspaper, she rose through the ranks to head the women‘s desk and after four years left for the banking industry for want of something more challenging to do and to earn something commensurate to her hard work. Berthing at Equitorial Trust Bank, she later left for the then Trans International Bank from where she decided to leave to run her own show. ”I decided to just stop working for anyone because I felt there were other things I could do. I started my business called Arabel because I found a vacuum to be filled. There were no shops where high quality Islamic materials were sold then, so I took the plunge, convinced that the business would do well,” 48 year old Andu explains.

Even though the shop which has been in existence for 12 years has become a success story, the restless soul that Andu is sought for other ventures that were intellectually stimulating rather than just doing buying and selling which she felt any green horn could do. ”In my fantasy, I feel as if I am a cloud, and can‘t be pinned down somewhere, I just like to express myself and do things my own way. I eventually went back to writing.

”I think I get a lot of fulfilment from writing and I think I should have remained in that profession all along but you know, God has a way of working things out for everybody. So in 2004, I wrote a Muslim book and the printer made a mistake, he just didn‘t get it right so I burnt the 2000 copies. I put in a lot of effort and wanted the production to be right, because if it isn‘t, people won‘t read it and all my efforts would have gone to waste.

”I would personally not read a book that isn‘t well produced, no matter what the content of the book is. I knew I had to do something really good, so I took it to another printer where I came across the daily devotional, something that isn‘t available in Islam and I knew there would be a need for it. Living in the light of Allah is quite popular and people love it.”

Not one to rest on her oars, she sought another void to fill. Andu whose way of life is guided by being genuinely kind, just and helpful to people decided to add another publication to her kitty. After writing and publishing the daily devotional for six years, she decided to start a bi-monthly life style magazine called Zephyr. ”I decided to write for everyone instead of just concentrating solely on Muslims. I saw another need to be met. I see a lot of magazines that are sectional, not all embracing and I wanted something that had an element of everything, something one would enjoy reading.”

In actual fact, the idea to float a lifestyle magazine was formed about four years earlier but the production was stalled for want of a proper and befitting name. A yet to be registered name, Zephyr meaning soft gentle wind was eventually chosen for it. ”It sounded nice, powerful, exotic and meaningful. I had decided within me that if the name was available, then that meant that God was speaking to me to go ahead with the magazine but if it wasn‘t, then it meant I would have to drop the idea of floating a magazine forever. Luckily it was available.”

Just two months old, Andu says of the magazine, ”The reception has been wonderful, people have started to accept it, they love it very much and it has been encouraging. I believe it is going to be everywhere and I say with all sense of modesty that with time, it would be very unstylish not to have a copy of Zephyr.” Asked why the magazine is bi-monthly, she says, ”Because I have my hands in a lot of pies. I decided to test run it on a bi-monthly basis to see how it would turn out but I intend for it to become a monthly magazine eventually.”

Somewhat a surprise that a hardcore Muslim like her doesn‘t shy away from expressing her inner self or fantasy in whatever form without any inhibitions, she tries to debunk the notion. ”I don‘t think Islam has anything to do with trying to suppress one‘s fantasy and I do not think Muslims should have any inhibitions about anything. I haven‘t done anything that is un-Islamic, everything I have done is within Islamic injunctions. Everything I have done is what anyone can do regardless of what religion you practise. I am not a timid person, I am a goal getter.”

Continuing, Andu who lived a comfortable life growing up because her mother, Shifaa Adebimpe provided for them says, ”My mother always told myself and my only sister that there is nothing we cannot do. I remember the first time I was going to drive to Ibadan from Lagos, I was so scared, but my mum talked me into it saying I could do it. She encourages us to do anything. So right from a very young age, taking bold steps has always been a part of me, there is nothing I want to do that I cannot do as long as it isn‘t obscene, illegal or unethical.

”I know people who have worked in about eight, nine places in about 12 years. I try to stay at least five years in one place but I just get so restless I have to do more because I believe that the human capacity is so elastic, we don‘t use 40 per cent of what we can actually do. We can stretch ourselves. I know I can still stretch myself and I can still keep going.”

Wondering how she finds the time to do all of the things she is involved in and if she ever makes out time to unwind, Andu who isn‘t biased about having members of staff who are Christians offers. ”I don‘t know how, I just know that I get them done. When you love to do something, you don‘t feel it is a big chore. I like to work, work is like a stimulant for me. But really why are we here, to just eat, sleep, go to parties? You have to be able to do things and see that you are doing things. For me that is what I enjoy doing and then I read a lot, comics especially. I only go to parties as a matter of obligation, if I have my way, I won‘t attend any because I do not really enjoy parties.”

She considers her greatest challenge to be when she mismanaged funds at the initial stage of her business. ”It was the most challenging period of my life but I came out of it stronger and better experienced. I just knew that there would always be light at the end of a tunnel, so I held on to that as it gave me confidence that I would survive and get over it, and I did.”

Even though she feels her best is yet to come, she however feels that one singular daring move she has ever made in her life was when she went on a tour of the South-West by road. ”I think that tour was one of the reasons I got broke in the first instance. I was on the road for one month. I hired a big truck, costing N500,000 to ferry a big container of Islamic stuffs I brought in from Dubai and I was going from place to place exhibiting them with big media coverage. I was just having fun trying to build a brand but for people, that wasn‘t a way to run a business.”

SOURCE: PUNCH online by By Nkarenyi Ukonu –

You Ask, Quran Answer

<There will always be times in everyone life when deep questions comes to mind, when you look unto God for  divine answers. At times like this, it is time to turn to the quran . Start from anywhere by following your heart and insha Allah you will find answers. More so, if you spend time familiarizing yourself with the quran before such times, you will be consoled and know that Allah’s promise will never go unfulfilled. Hope you enjoy this piece! Peace!>

WHY I’M TESTED?

Quran said:

“What man is left to calculate that they only say;” We believe, “(” I am full of faith to God “) while they are not tested? We tested the salt before them, surely Allah knows those do-and-true, He knows those deceitful. ”

(Al-Ankabut verses 2-3)

WHY I CANNOT GET WHAT I WANT?

Quran said:

“It may be that you hate something when it is good for you, and can also be something you like, although it is bad for you, Allah knows and you do not know.”

(Surah Al-Baqarah verse 216)

WHY DO I TESTED WEIGHED THIS?

Quran said:

“Allah burdens not a person but to its capacity.”

(Surah Al-Baqarah verse 286)

WHY I FEEL FRUSTRATION?

Quran said:

“Do not be weak, nor grieve you, but ye who highest rank, if you say I believe.”

(Surah Al-Imran verse 139)

HOW DO I DEAL?

Quran said:

“Nay, seek (Allah’s) help with patient perseverance and prayer and truly it is hard, except to those who humble themselves”

(Surah Al-Baqarah verse: 45)

WHAT I GET FROM ALL THIS ?

Quran said:

“Allah has purchased of the believers, themselves, their wealth by giving them heaven ”

(Surah Al-Taubah verse: 111)

TO WHOM I HOPE?

Quran said:

“Enough is Allah for me, there is no god apart from Him. Only to Him I trust.”

(Surah Al-Taubah verse 129)

I CANNOT TAKE IT ANYMORE!

Quran said:

“… .. And do not despair of the mercy of God. There is no despair of the mercy of Allah save disbelieving folk.”

(Surah Yusuf verse 12)

SOURCE: http://adam-love-islam.blogspot.com

The Preventive and Healing Wonders of Ablution

“Nor does he say (aught) of (his own) Desire. It is no less than inspiration sent down to him” (Chapter 53, Verse 3 & 4).

I have a confession to make. I never really took my time to make  ‘ablution’ the way I ought to. By ‘ought to’ I’m referring to the detailed care that was encouraged by our prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). However, when conducting the research for this article, I felt quite foolish, to say the least.

Not only was I squandering the chance to get more reward for perfecting ablution, but I was also wasting golden opportunities to enhance my health and general well being.

A Daily Ritual

Fourteen centuries ago, our Prophet, a walking encyclopedia if I may so describe him, gave us a prescription of 26 washing movements to be carried out 5 times a day, a total of 130 daily washing movements, to grant us optimum health.

“O ye who believe! when ye prepare for prayer, wash your faces, and your hands (and arms) to the elbows; Rub your heads (with water); and (wash) your feet to the ankles. If ye are in a state of ceremonial impurity, bathe your whole body. But if ye are ill, or on a journey, or one of you cometh from offices of nature, or ye have been in contact with women, and ye find no water, then take for yourselves clean sand or earth, and rub therewith your faces and hands, Allah doth not wish to place you in a difficulty, but to make you clean, and to complete his favor to you, that ye may be grateful.” (Chapter 5, Verse 6)

Before a Muslim performs his prayers, he carries out the ablution movements mentioned in the above verse as well as others, which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has added.

Thus, the ablution comprises of washing the hands, arms right up to the elbow, face, mouth, nostrils, and feet up the ankle, all three times each. The inside and behind the ears, as well as the part of the head above the forehead is wiped once.

Done five times a day, it not only cleanses these vital parts of the body from dust and dirt but also “softens” and refreshes them

Interestingly enough, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also encouraged doing ablution before going to bed. This same ritual is also encouraged by Yoga experts who say that washing important motor and sensory organs such as the hands, arms, eyes, legs, mouth and genitals before sleep using cool water relaxes the body preparing it for a deep sleep.

Stimulating the Biological Rhythms

In an article titled “Muslims Rituals and their Effect on the Person’s Health”, Dr. Magomed Magomedov, assistant to the department of the Man’s General Hygiene and Ecology in the Daghestan State Medical Academy, speaks about how ablution stimulates the biological rhythms of the body and specifically Biological Active Spots (BASes), very much like the idea behind Chinese reflexotherapy.

Presently we know that a man is a complex system of electromagnetic fields, meridians, biological rhythms and so on. Man’s internal organs, in their turn, present a no less sophisticated bioenergetical whole; they all have indissoluble multi-channel bilateral connections with the skin, which hosts special spots, whose functions resemble those of buttons on “control” and “ recharge boards” responsible for particular organs. These spots are called biologically active spots (BASes).

While pointing out to the similarities between ablution and the science of Chinese reflexology in his fascinating article, Dr. Magomedov also states the main different points. To become a doctor in reflexology, he says, one has to take a 15 to 20 year course of study, incomparable with the simple learning techniques of ablution.

In another comparison, reflexotherapy was primarily used to cure diseases and very rarely for prevention, while, as we shall see, ablution has many preventive benefits.

There was also a negative side to reflexotherapy, he says, one that is not found in ablution; a patient was exposed to traumas since doctors used cauterisation.

“The majority of the most powerful BASes are being washed during the Muslim ritual. It is not the doctor, who had studied for many years, who does it, but every Muslim by himself. Besides, praying five times a day obliges a Muslim to take the preventive measures against diseases beforehand.”

According to Dr. Magomedov, Chinese medicine says that there are more than 700 BASes, and sixty-six of them have quick reflex therapy effects and are named the drastic (or aggression or antique or prime-elements) spots.

Out of these sixty-six spots, sixty-one of them are located in zones required for ablution while the other five are located between the ankle and knee (an area which is desirable, according to prophetic traditions, to wash).

Thus, ablution becomes a kind of treatment complex, which includes the hydromassage of the BAS, their thermal and physical stimulation.

The BASes in the face (which are washed during ablution) “recharge” such organs as the intestines, stomach and bladder, in addition to having a positive effect on the nervous and reproductive systems, says Dr. Magomedov in his findings, adding that the BAS responsible for the osseous system, intestine, nervous system, lumbar area, stomach, pancreas, gall-bladder, thyroid gland, solar plexus and others are situated on the right leg, another area reached by ablution.

The left leg has the BAS responsible for the work of the pituitary gland, the brain organ that regulates the functioning of the endocrine glands and controls growing. In the ear’s cochlea are hundreds of BASes that “harmonize the work of almost all organs, decrease high blood pressure and relieve tooth and throat pain.” Ear ablution is considered Sunna (Prophetic tradition).

Another aspect that Dr. Magomedov stresses on is that Prophetic tradition emphasized the importance of massaging and applying pressure during ablution, which is something that has a scientifically-grounded explanation.

Dr. Magomedov said that his studies were triggered by his solemn belief that the five-time-a-day Muslim prayers were bound to have not only an “indisputable spiritual effect” but were also bound to “have a purely physical healing effect as well.”

Former research carried out in the Soviet Union regarding BAS was regarded unworthy because they believed that “man was not supposed to have either soul or an energy body, because the opposite would contradict the materialistic (atheistic) ideology of those times,” says Dr. Magomedov.

Preventive Cleansing
From a non-alternative medicine perspective, Mukhtar Salem, in his book titled ‘Prayers: a Sport for the Body and Soul’, speaks about the health benefits of every aspect of ablution.

He does not speak about the BASes in one’s body, but nevertheless, he describes the preventive benefits of ablution.

Ablution, he says, helps prevent skin cancer. This is his explanation: the areas that are washed during ablution are the parts of the body that are most prone to be exposed to pollution, whether it is pollution from the internal secretions of the body on to the skin surface, such as sweat, or whether it is external. Ablution, removes this ‘pollution’ five times a day, and hence maintains a clean outside layer of skin, which in turn helps the cells underneath to function properly.

Also, washing with water helps invigorate the ends of the blood vessels, as well as the nerves and glands that are near the skin surface, and hence helps them perform their functions efficiently.

Salem adds that research has proven that one of the main reasons behind skin cancer is that the skin is exposed to chemicals, especially petrochemicals, and that the best way to prevent skin cancer is by constantly removing these chemicals.

The obvious reason behind washing the mouth during ablution, Salem says, is to remove the food particles, which could cause teeth and gum problems. That is also the reason why siwak (brushing one’s teeth) is also encouraged before ablution.

When washing one’s nostrils, (a practice, which I myself find very hard, but will try to work on), one is also performing a preventive health measure as the germs trapped in the nostrils are removed and do not pass on to the respiratory system.

According to a study conducted by a team of doctors in Alexandria University, the Prophetic tradition, which urges the exaggeration of washing the nostrils by introducing the water in the nostril then blowing it out, positively affects the inner coating of the nostrils. Those who carried out the washing in the correct form had clean, shiny nostrils with no dust clinging to the small hair inside.

However, those who did not perform ablution had light colored, greasy nostrils and their nostril hairs fell off easily.

Repeated washing of the face invigorates the facial skin cells and helps prevent early wrinkles as well as having a cleansing effect on the inside of the eyes, which prevents eye infections, says Salem.

Washing the ear helps rid them from wax accumulation, which may cause ear infections as well as affecting the inner ear, which eventually causes body imbalances.

The Prophetic tradition of encouraging one to wash between the toes while washing the feet, is also extremely important, says Salem, as it prevents the foot, which in our modern times is trapped most of the day inside shoes, from acquiring athlete’s foot.

Over all, he adds, ablution also has an exercising effect on all the muscles involved in its movement, which are thus being stimulated five times a day or even more according to repetition.

Extinguishing the Fires of Anger
Prophetic tradition, with regards to ablution, is also ecologically friendly, as the Prophet repeatedly encouraged water conservation, even if abluting from a running river. Ibn Majah related that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “There is a shaytan (devil) for ablution called `walhan‘, meaning greedy, avoid the waste of water.”

Muslims are encouraged to ablute not only before praying or going to bed, but also when entering the mosque, making the call to prayer, delivering a sermon, after visiting a graveyard, after touching or carrying a dead person and also before reading the Quran.

We are also encouraged to ablute while being in a state of anger for the cooling and refreshing effect of the water, as we are told that anger is from the devil who is made out of fire and can therefore be put off by water.

Finally, there is a moral to this article, besides understanding the benefits of ablution. One should never take things at face value, and must have strong faith that everything that Allah prescribes has a wisdom behind it that we may or may not know.

“And they say: ‘We hear, and we obey: (We seek) Thy forgiveness, our Lord, and to Thee is the end of all journeys.’” (Chapter 2, Verse 285)

SOURCE: http://www.islamonline.net