Sunday, November 30, 2014

Usuary / Interest - A major sin - Talk by Abdul-Raheem Green


The Psychological Effects Of Divorce

Marriages may end up in divorce for a number of reasons like misunderstandings between the couple, incompatibility or just a minor fight but the after effects of divorce are many creating emotional and a psychological impact on the family as a whole.

Emotional Feelings Related To Divorce:
During the process of divorce or once the divorce takes place an individual both the men and the women have many emotional feelings that may have a long term psychological effect on their mind. theses feeling may include:

1. Anger: During all stages of divorce there are intense feelings of anger towards the Ex. The person may feel angry for not being understood, for his/her ex having an affair or just feel angry on the thought that why he/her was left alone.

2. Guilt: There is a feeling of guilt for both the partners whether they have initiated it or not. Feeling guilty on the fact that why one was not able to keep the marriage is a common emotion feeling in divorce.

3. Anxiety: Being anxious and stressful is a mixture of emotions that occur following a divorce. A person may stop taking care of oneself, missing meals and thinking only about the conditions that lead to divorce. It may be associated with sleep disturbances and continuous thoughts about the relationship with the ex.

4. Fear: People may remain terrified after a divorce. There may be fear of unknown or a fear of something worse happening in near future. There is a fear of what people would think and say and an individual might isolate oneself. There are thought of 'what if' disturbing the normal life.

5. Grief: When a marriage breaks up it is natural to grieve over the loss. It can be a very painful experience and going through all the stages of grief as for the death of a loved one may help recover oneself from the loss and the effects of divorce. It may take a long time and may even be a life long process of adjusting to the effects of divorce.

Peace In Remembrance Of Allah


Friday, November 28, 2014

Want To Quit Smoking- Here Are A Few Tips To Help You

Whether you are a new smoker, a teenager or a life time smoker, when ever you decide to quit smoking and think it will be difficult to stop smoking here are a few tips that will help you out.

1. Smoking tobacco is both a physical addition as well as a psychological habit. Understand that it might be difficult to quit smoking but it is never impossible.

2. Make up the plan and fix the date to quit smoking. Also inform friends and family about your plan so that you will have people who can support you.

3. Identify your triggers for smoking like stress at work, or a stress with a relationship and try to avoid those triggers.

4. If you know a friend or a family member who smoke , you both can work together to help quit smoking.

5. Get rid of ashtrays, lighters and all the cigarettes.

6. Be prepared for the withdrawal symptoms which occur when the addicted body does not get its nicotine. The symptoms may include nausea, feeling sick, headache, anxiety, irritability and feeling awful but they will gradually subside over 2-4 weeks.

7. Talk to your doctor about getting help to quit smoking.

Monday, November 24, 2014

Islamic Teaching Regarding Good Care For Parents

Islam is a complete way of life. The teachings of Islam put a great emphasis on good behavior and taking care for parents. There are numerous verses in the Holy Quran that mention to be kind to the parents and to be obedient to them after belief in Allah. Muslims are advised to be good to their parents and take care of them on a daily basis especially when they are old and unable to look after themselves. Also It is advised by Islam to be good and kind to the parents whether they are Muslims or non-Muslims.
Allah says in the Holy Quran chapter 17 verse 23:

Thy Lord has decreed that ye worship none but Him and ye be kind to your parents.

A similar message is repeated in Chapter 31 verse 14:

And We have enjoined on men (to be good) to his parents, in travail upon travail did his mother bear him and in years two was his weaning (hear the command) , show gratitude to Me and to thy parents, to Me is the final destination 

Another verse shows how much important it is for people to be respectful towards their parents and to honor them and not to speak harsh with them. Allah says in the Holy Quran chapter 17 verse 23:

And Your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him , and that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them but address them in terms of honor. 

Further it is told to make supplication for the parents and it is described as follows in chapter 17 verse 14 as:

My Lord Bestow upon them (parents) Your mercy as they did bring me up when I was small.

A similar message of being kind to parents is repeated in Chapter 46 verse 15 where Allah says:

We have enjoined on man kindness to his parents, In pain did his mother bear him, and in pain did she give him birth. 

Going Through Tough Times? - Islamic Reminder


Have Patience and Faith In Allah


Sunday, November 23, 2014

Live A Happy Life


Forgive, Forget And Live Happily

Introduction:
Forgiving someone who has done wrong to you and forgetting about it has a great impact on ones own well being and feelings of happiness. Few people realize this truth.
According to a famous personality
Holding onto anger is like grasping a hot coal, with an intent to throw it on someone else but instead you are the one getting burned. 
It is never easy to forgive someone who has hurt you but that doesn't mean that we keep our own self at distress and discomfort just thinking about the revenge and staying angry forever.
This life has many ups and downs with experiences of suffering, loss, hurt, betrayal and injury but forgiving and forgetting will help let us go on and stay happy and content.

Definition of forgiveness as explained by Psychologists :
Psychologists define forgiveness as 'a shift in thinking' towards someone who has wronged you. It is explained as a feeling that the desire of taking revenge has decreased and instead a desire to do good has increased. Forgiveness is also a natural resolution in the grief process for any loss.

Forgiveness not necessarily means reconciliation: 
If a person forgives another for the injustice done to him it is just his/her inner feelings and it does not necessarily mean to come together with the person he had suffered an injustice. After forgiving it is entirely up to the person himself either to reconcile or not.  Sometimes even the person you forgive is not a part of your life anymore or has been deceased or you may think that the relationship with the concerned person may not be good for you.

Forgiveness Is Not Justice:
It is sometime easy to forgive someone who sincerely apologizes but sometimes justice needs to be given may be in the form of punishment by law or a compensation.

How To Forgive:
Forgiveness is a powerful choice which a person makes and it surely helps in a greater well being and stronger relationships.
Here are a few ways that may help you forgive:

1. Let go off the ill feelings in Your mind: It is better said then done but in order to truly forgive a person it is necessary to kick off all the ill and bitter feeling you have towards him in your mind. Once you get rid of the negative feelings you will feel more happier and content. It is not an overnight process and will take time. May be you can write it down to take them off your mind.

2. Be Honest with Yourself And Your God: Be sure to be honest and share your feelings with your God Who already knows what is inside your heart. Just trust in God and think positive and it will make you feel better.

3. Don't Try To change the Past: Understand the fact that past has gone and nothing could be done to change what already has happened. Try to make choices in the present that can be good for the future.

The 99 Names Of Allah

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 20 verse 8:
Allah! there is no god but He! To Him belong the most beautiful names.

AllahThe Greatest Name
Ar-Rahman1The All-Merciful
Ar-Rahim2The All-Beneficient
Al-Malik3The Absolute Ruler
Al-Quddus4The Pure One, the most Holy
As-Salam5The Source of Peace
Al-Mu’min6The Inspirer of Faith
Al-Muhaymin7The Guardian
Al-’Aziz8The Victorious
Al-Jabbar9The Compeller
Al-Mutakabbir10The Greatest
Al-Khaliq11The Creator
Al-Bari’12The Maker of Order
Al-Musawwir13The Shaper of Beauty

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Allah the All Merciful


Eat Fresh Fruits And Vegetables- Stay Healthy

Fresh fruits and vegetables are an important part of a healthy diet. It helps keep you stay healthy and protects you from heart attack, stroke, obesity, high blood pressure and many other chronic diseases. 

Benefits Of Eating Fresh fruits and Vegetables:

1. Fresh fruits and vegetables have very high levels of vitamins and minerals that are essential for a health body.
2. Eating raw fruits and vegetables helps keeping a normal body weight because it fills you up without giving extra calories. 
3. Fruits and vegetables contain no animal fats and the natural sugar they contain is enough to provide plenty of energy. 
4. Research and studies done show that a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables significantly lowers the risk of heart disease, helps control the blood pressure and prevents stroke.
5, There appears to be strong link between eating fruits and vegetables and protection against cancer. 
6. Fruits and vegetables contain a high fiber content and so it is good for gastrointestinal health and prevents constipation and relieves the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. 
7. Eating fresh fruits and vegetables keeps your eyes healthy and studies show that it protects fro two common age related diseases: cataract and macular degeneration. 
8. Adding fruits and vegetables to the dining table gives color and texture to the servings and make the food look more appealing and delicious to eat. 
9 Fresh fruits and vegetables come in infinite variety and in all seasons and so there is always something new to try. 
10. Fruits and veggies are also easy to grab for a snack and fun to eat. 

How Much Fruits and Vegetables To Eat Each Day:
It is a common question that how much to eat and stay healthy and get the related health benefits.

Monday, November 17, 2014

Story of Yusuf Estes - From darkness to light


Counselling For Infertile Couples

Introduction:
A diagnosis of infertility is emotionally a very distressing event. Infertility has been a source of sadness and despair since very early times. People normally assume and expect that they will be able to have children and start a family whenever they choose, but when a couple starts experiencing problem with that then it begins to create anxiety and if after medical workup a diagnosis of infertility is made then it leads to feelings of hopelessness and grief.

Definition Of Infertility: By definition infertility is a difficulty in conceiving despite having regular unprotected sex. There is no defined cutoff period after which a medical professional may determine a couple to be infertile but statistics show that normally if a couple is trying to conceive naturally more than 3 years with no success is less than 25%.

Infertility Statistics: 

  • About 6% of married women age 15-44 years in United states are unable to get pregnant after one year of unprotected sex.
  • According to NHS statistics about 1 in 6 couples experience difficulties when trying to conceive which means that around 3,500,000 people are affected by this condition in UK.
  • A study done in year 2006-1007 and published in Oxford journal concludes that internationally there is a 9% prevalence of infertility among which 56% of couples seek medical care. 
Common Emotions Felt When Infertility Is Diagnosed: 
  • Women may feel angry on the fact that she is not being able to get pregnant. 
  • She may be jealous of other pregnant women or friends who can get pregnant easily.
  • Feelings of guilt.
  • A women may have feelings of inadequacy, perceiving her body as dysfunctional. 
  • There may be a significant strain on the relationship of the couple.
  • Females usually feel isolated from her social circle and society.
  • Women may put everything else in their lives on hold and will try to put all the energy, time and what ever needed to get pregnant. 
  • Many women delay making changes in their carrier, to the current housing situation just thinking that it is better to wait until the baby arrives.
  • For some women there goes a cycle of hopefulness until the period arrives that leads to feelings of severe disappointment and depression. 
  • In case if infertility is due to male factor, the men may feel that his masculinity is challenged
  • Many men try to keep their infertility a secret that leads to isolation. . 
  • Couples may feel difficulty with scheduled intercourse.
  • Some may start using alcohol or drugs.
Effect on the Relationship Between the couple: 
Infertility puts a great strain on the relationship between the couple especially if a problem lies with one of them. 

Sunday, November 16, 2014

Benefits Of Drinking Water

Drinking water either plain or in the form of other fluids or food is very essential for the well being of the human body. Water helps keep the body hydrated and it is essential for every cell of the body in order to absorb nutrients and expel the waste products.

How much water To Drink?
How much water should you drink each day? It is a simple and a common question to ask but has no simple answer. It depends and varies from person to person and is also effected by having any underlying disease, taking any medicines, weather changers, age and gender etc.
How much fluid an average health adult may need can be determined by studies which show that an average adult male requires approximately requires 3 liters of fluids per day while an average adult female requires appx. 2.2 liters of fluid per day.
Experts therefore recommend drinking 8 to 10 glasses of water each day to maintain good health.

  1. Drinking Water Helps Maintaining The balance of Body Fluids: Human body is composed of about 60% of water and the function of the body fluids is digestion, excretion, circulation, transportation of nutrients and maintaining a normal body temperature. When the body is low on fluids the brain triggers the thirst mechanism that makes us feel thirsty and drink water. If the body gets dehydrated it cannot function normally and in extreme cases may even lead to shock and death.
  2. Water Increases Energy Level and Relieves Fatigue: Drinking water keeps the body alert and helps concentrate better and boosts up the energy levels.
  3. Helps Weight Loss: Water removes by products of fat, helps decrease hunger, reduces eating intakes and promotes body metabolism,. All these have effects in controlling and losing weight. 
  4. Improves Skin Complexion: Water keeps the skin moisturized, fresh, glowing and smooth. 
  5. Drinking Water keeps You Young: Water helps prevents the development of wrinkles and make you look young and fresh.
  6. Helps In Digestion: Water improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, helps in digestion and prevents constipation. 
  7. Flushes Out The Body Toxins: Water is an excellent detoxifier and it helps get rid of waste products and toxins through excretion in the urine and sweat. 

Saturday, November 15, 2014

Question About Hijab- Answer By Dr Zakir Naiq


Drinking Alcohol- Prohibited By Islam, Bible and Medical Science

What Islam Says?
Alcohol or Drinking has been prohibited in Islam and it is very clear by the verse of the Holy Quran from Chapter 5 verse 90:

 O ye you believe! Intoxicants and gambling, (dedication of) stones, and (divination by) arrows are abomination of shatan's handiwork. Eschew such abomination, that you may prosper. Shatan's plan is (but) to excite enmity and hatred between you, through intoxicants and gambling, and hinder you from remembrance of Allah , and from prayer, will you not then abstain.

Drinking alcohol and consumption of intoxicants is harmful to the human body and leads to dullness and cloudiness of the normal sense and judgement. Islam has a total prohibition for drinking alcohol and not only drinking alcohol is prohibited dealing with alcohol either directly or indirectly is also completely prohibited in Islam.
According to A hadith the sayings of prophet Mohammad (pbuh) in Sunan ibn Majah Volume 3 Book of Intoxicants chapter 30 Hadith number 3371 Is is mentioned:

Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) said, God's curse falls on ten group of people who deal with alcohol, the one who distills it, the one for whom it is distilled, the one who drinks it, the one who transports it, the one to who it has been brought, the one who serves it, the one who sells it, the one who utilizes money from it, the one who buys it and the one who buys it for someone else. 

When first the message of Islam was delivered at that time use of alcohol was very common and it was readily available . Also like nowadays people used to think that alcohol has some beneficial effects too and so it is ok to consume it. But it is very clear that the harmful effects are far more that the benefits.
It is mentioned in the Holy Quran chapter 2 verse 219:

They ask you concerning alcohol and gambling, Say, In them is a great sin, and some benefits for men , but the sin is far grater than the benefits.

Also during the early days people were told not to drink alcohol when praying and in mosque but later this was ruled for all times. The holy Quran mentions in chapter 4 verse 43:

O you who believe! Approach not the prayers with a mind befogged, until you an understand all what you say.

Prohibition of Using Alcohol In Bible:
Not only the Holy Quran the last revelation by God prohibits drinking alcohol the Holy Bible also prohibits its consumption. It is because our creator God does not want us the human beings to use anything that is harmful for our body and mind.

Interview with Areeb Islam. His Journey To Islam


Thursday, November 13, 2014

Praying Salat


Misconception About Islam #1 Woman Rights

One of the common misconception about Islam is that it oppresses woman and do not give her the proper rights. Instead in Islam both man and woman are equal in front of God in terms of receiving the rewards and accountability of their action. The only action that distinguishes people in the sight of God is the piety in the hearts.
The Holy Quran mentions Chapter 49 verse 13
    Verily the most honorable of you in the sight of Allah is the most God conscious. 
The oppression of woman by islam and muslims which is usually publicized is not because of the teaching of islam instead these are the effects of culture and local customs and traditions.  Violence against woman and forcing them against their wills is not allowed in Islam.
Allah, the Creator our Lord, has assigned different responsibilities for both the genders and according to true islamic teachings based on the Holy Quran and Sahih hadith woman should be given utmost respect and honor and they are given rights for the choice of the spouse, inheritance, getting education, divorce etc.
Oppression and abuse of woman is actually a global issue and not confined only to muslims. the worldwide statistics shows that abuse of woman is no more in muslims than among non-muslims.

1. Why Islam allows a Man to marry more than one wife?
The Holy Quran mentions in chapter 4 verse 3,
      Marry woman of your choice, two or three or four, but if you fear that you shall not be able to             deal justly with them , then marry only one. 
The point to be noted here is that Quran clearly mentions that if one cannot be just among the wives he should marry only one. Also Quran has given the upper limit of four wives while before the Quran was revealed people could marry as many wives as they wanted and not all of them were treated equally.
The religious scripture Bible unlike Quran has not mentioned about any limits of marrying woman instead it has mentioned Prophet Abraham having 3 wives, and Prophet Solomen having hundreds of wives. In earlier times Christians used to marry as many wives as they wanted it was just a few years ago that the Church as put a restriction and allowing to marry only one wife.
In Islam getting married to more than wife wife up to four is only an exception and not a rule. Instead it is preferable to marry only one since it is difficult for a man to give equal and just rights to all his wives. It cannot be said that a muslim who has more than one wife is a better muslim that the one who has only one wife.
The concept behind the permission of having more than one wives is that Islam wants to safeguard the rights of every woman.

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Surah Al Ma'un (The Small Kindness) with English translation


Surah Takasur with english Translation


Counselling For Grieving Parents

Introduction:
There can be no more devastating loss than the death of a child. This experience which a parent faces is the worst possible grief. In the natural order of life children are supposed to outlive the parents that is the reason death of a child is like no other. A psychologist truly said,
   "When Your child dies, Your life changes irrevocably, Life gets different. You are different."
Grieving parents say that their grief is a life long process, a long, painful process in which they try to give some meaning to their lives without the child. Most parents describe their feeling as "A hole in the heart that will never heal. "
The loss of a child is the loss of the innocence and the loss of the future hopes and dreams.

The Process Of Grief:
Grief is a natural process that the parents will go through after the death of their child and it cannot be bypassed, instead it is important to be allowed to happen. The age of the child at the time of the death does not effect the feelings of loss and devastation even if the child dies in utero or may be of age 19 years.
Everyone goes through the process in a different way and it may depend upon their beliefs, culture, family history etc. Also it depends upon how the child died. Some losses may not be visible such as miscarriages, while some experiences may be more traumatic like a sudden unexpected accident which may even involve more than one child at the same time.

Types Of Loss:

  1. Miscarriage effects about 25% of woman who get pregnant during their lifetime. The pregnancy loss experience can be very devastating for the couples more so if they were trying to conceive for a very long time and this good news and hope gets shattered so soon.
  2. Stillbirths that occur in about 1% of pregnancies leaves a feeling of disorientation and despair.Most stillbirths occur at or near term and parents have already prepared the nursery to welcome the baby and this loss leads to a very traumatic and devastating experience.  
  3. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is one of the most frequent cause of death of children less than one year of age. The parents are just learning to know their new baby and spending time with the child when all of a sudden with no apparent reason the child dies. It causes a profounf sense of loss in the family. 

Don't Blame The Devil (Shatan) For Your Bad Deeds


Take Care Of Your Parents


Wednesday, November 5, 2014

How The Human Brain Works

Introduction: 
Understanding the psychology behind the fact that how the human brain works is really interesting as well as a very complicated process. The human mind can be considered as the most complicated machine on the face of the earth. A number of studies and researches have been done in order to understand how and why individuals perform daily actions and activities. Understand the human brain is so complex that no study could ever be regarded as complete. Even if we can split open the skull of a living volunteer we can just see the brain and the grey matter , no one can look into what other is thinking, the emotions, the memories, the perceptions and the dreams.

A Brief Summary of the Brain Anatomy:
The basic structure that makes up the human brain is summarized here.

  • The cerebral cortex is what we can see when we look at the brain. The human brain can be divided into four lobes the frontal, temporal, parital and the occipital lobes. Each bump on the surface of the brain is known as the gyrus while each groove is known as the sulcus. Each part of the brain has specific designed functions for speech, movement, memory sight etc.
  •  The brain stem connects the brain to the spinal cord and consists of structures like medulla, pons, reticular formation, red nucleus and substantia nigra each having certain specific functions. 
  • The cerebellum lies on the top of the pons behind the brain stem ans is involved with coordination of movement as well as certain cognitive functions.
  •  The thalamus is located above the brain stem ans acts as a relay station for the transmission of sensory information. 
  • The hypothalamus is a group of nuclei that lies along the base of the brain near the pituitary gland and controls the hunger, emotions, body temperature as well as the circadian rhythm.
  •  The limbic system is made up of important structures that is involved with memory, learning and control of emotions. 
  •  The basal ganglia are large group of nuclei that control body movements.  
Human Behavior - The raw data of Psychology: 
Since one cannot observe the mind directly the psychologist take human behavior as the raw data for testing their  theories and to understand exactly how the brain works.

Facts About Ebola

Ebola Virus is not spread through:

  • Casual contact
  • Air
  • Water
  • Food grown or legally purchased in USA
How do You get The Ebola Virus?
Ebola virus is spread by direct contact with:
  • Body fluids of a person who is sick with or has died from Ebola ( blood, vomit, sweat, semen, spit, other fluids )
  • Objects contaminated with the virus ( needles, medical equipment )
  • Infected animals ( by contact with blood or fluids or infected meat )
Early symptoms:
Ebola can only be spread to others after symptoms begin. Symptoms can appear from 2 to 21 days after exposure. The symptoms include:
  • Fever
  • Stomach pain
  • Headache
  • Unexplained bleeding or bruising. 
  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting
  • Muscle pain
When is someone able to spread disease to others?

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Story of sister Sana New Muslim from America convert to Islam !!


Violence Against Woman In Christianic World

Introduction: The status of women in the society is neither a new issue nor it has ever been settled. This issue has been discussed by people since centuries and the most of them who are raising their voice are the one from the western world. They are in the control of the media and show that the third world countries and mainly the Muslims subjugate the women and deprive them of their rights.
The actual thing is totally different. The Western talk of women's freedom is in real a disguised form of deprivation of her honor and using her as a mere tool to seek pleasure.

USA has one of the highest rates of Rape:
USA is supposed to be one of the most advanced countries in the world. but it has the highest rate of rape. The majority of its population are the Christians. and the statistics mentioned here are also conducted by themselves.

Different Statistics:
1. According to FBI report in year 1990, every day 1756 cases of rape were committed in USA.
2. Over 22 million women are raped in USA in their life time  ( Survey National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey 2010  )
3. 18.3 % of woman survive a completed or attempted rape in United states. Of them 12.3% were younger than age 12 years ( Survey National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey 2010 ) 
4. One out of every five American women have been a victim of an attempted or complete rape during her life time ( The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey 2010 )
5.In United states 83% of girls in schools grade 8 through 11 have experienced some sort of sexual harassment in public school ( Data taken from national representative study American association of University women 2001) 
6. According to a survey conducted in Australia in year 2006 The personal safety survey(2006) nearly two third (57%) of Australian women reports experiencing at least one incident of either physical or sexual violence by a man in her life time. 
7 According to an article published in Houston chronicle in October 2014 , central American countries are among the nations with highest rate of women killed per 100,000 female population from year 2004-2009. 
 It is really surprising as people who themselves are actually speaking about the women rights have the highest rates of abuse and violence against women.This Christian world tries to create misconceptions and hide their own truth. 
Instead Islam is the only way of life that protects the women rights and let them live an honorable, respectable and protected life. 

More US Hispanic Women Convert to Islam


Read the details here:http://m.learningenglish.voanews.com/a/us-hispanic-women-convert-to-islam/2493562.html