Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
OLIVE OIL- Health Benefits
THE OLIVE: A HEALTH-GIVING PLANT
One of the foods to which attention is drawn in the Qur'an is the olive. Research in recent years has revealed that the olive is not just a delicious food but also represents an important source of good health. In addition to the olive itself, olive oil is also an important source of nutrition. Attention is drawn to the oil of the olive tree in these terms in the Qur'an:
Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The metaphor of His Light is that of a niche in which is a lamp, the lamp inside a glass, the glass like a brilliant star, lit from a blessed tree, an olive, neither of the east nor of the west, its oil all but giving off light even if no fire touches it. Light upon Light. Allah guides to His Light whoever He wills and Allah makes metaphors for mankind and Allah has knowledge of all things. (Qur'an, 24:35)
The expression "mubarakatin zaytoonatin" in the above verse describes the olive as being "plentiful, sacred, auspicious, providing countless blessings." Olive oil, referred to in the term "zaytuha," is known as one of the most highly recommended types of oil by all experts, especially for coronary and arterial health. Its health benefits may be summarised as follows:
Benefits for Coronary and Arterial Health:
Most of the fatty acids in olives and olive oil are mono-unsaturated. Mono-unsaturated fatty acids do not contain cholesterol. Therefore, olive oil does not raise cholesterol levels but instead keeps them under control. Olive oil also contains omega-6 linoleic acid (EFA: essential fatty acid), which is essential for the human body. Due to this feature, health-related bodies (such as The World Health Organization) recommend that at least 30% of the fatty acid consumed in societies in which hardened artery and diabetes levels are high should consist of omega-6. This increases the importance of the olive still further.
And by it He makes crops grow for you and olives and dates and grapes and fruit of every kind. There is certainly a Sign in that
for people who reflect.
(Qur’an, 16:11)
Studies in this area have revealed much lower LDL (bad cholesterol) and higher antioxidant levels in people who consume 25 millilitres (about two dessertspoonfuls) of natural olive oil a day for one week. Antioxidants are important as they neutralise the harmful substances in the body known as free radicals and prevent cell damage. It has also been established in a great many studies that the consumption of olive oil reduces cholesterol levels and prevents heart disease.
Olive oil is also recommended for patients with heart and artery disease since it reduces the level of harmful cholesterol (LDL) in the bloodstream and raises that of useful cholesterol (HDL). In countries with high occurrences of heart and artery diseases, saturated fats with high cholesterol content are generally consumed.
In addition, olive oil does not disrupt the proportion of omega-6 to that of omega-3. It is very important that omega-3 and omega-6 be present in the body at specific levels because any imbalance in these proportions can lead to progression in many diseases, especially those of the heart and immune system and cancer.131 For all these reasons, many people enjoy good health thanks to olive oil. The American Heart Association suggests that in order to reduce the risk of heart disease high mono-unsaturated fats can be an alternative to a 30% reduced fat diet.
Cancer Prevention
One study, published by The Archives of Internal Medicine, showed that women who consume high levels of mono-unsaturated fat have a lower risk of developing breast cancer. Another study by scientists at the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York demonstrated that b-sitosterol, a fat found in vegetable oils such as olive oil, helps prevent the formation of prostate cancer cells. The researchers concluded that b-sitosterol strengthens the internal communication system of the cell that issues the command for the cells to divide and that cancer can thus be prevented before cell division reaches an uncontrollable level.
A recent study by doctors at the University of Oxford has shown that olive oil has a protective effect against intestinal cancer. The doctors discovered that olive oil enters into a reaction with stomach acid in order to prevent intestinal cancer from beginning. At the same time, the University of Oxford researchers also established that olive oil reduces the level of bile and raises that of DAO (the enzyme diamine oxidase), thus protecting against abnormal cell growth and cancer.134
Prevention of Arthritis
According to researchers' reports, people who consume large quantities of olive oil and cooked vegetables can have a reduced risk of rheumatic arthritis, a chronic inflammatory disease of the joints.
Olive Oil Assists Bone Development
The vitamins E, A, D and K contained in olive oil are particularly important from the point of view of assisting bone development in adults and children, and in strengthening the bones by fixing calcium. It is also recommended for the elderly as it is easily digested and through its minerals, it assists with the use of vitamins in the body. It also prevents calcium loss by stimulating bone mineralisation.135 Bones are the organism's mineral structure storehouses and an absence of mineral accumulation in the bones can lead to serious complications such as bone softening. Olive oil has a most beneficial effect on the skeleton in this regard.
Prevention of Aging
Since the vitamins contained in olive oil have a cell renewing effect they are also employed in the treatment of the elderly, as well as nourishing and protecting the skin. As foodstuffs are transformed into energy in our bodies, certain substances known as oxidants are formed. With the high levels of anti-oxidants it contains, olive oil prevents damage by harmful substances, renews our cells and delays aging in the tissues and organs. Olive oil is also rich in vitamin E, which suppresses the free radicals that destroy the cells in our bodies and cause aging.
Contribution to Child Development
Due to the linoleic acid (omega-6 fatty acid) contained in olives and olive oil, these are a most healthy food for newborn babies and growing children. A deficiency in linoleic acid leads to the emergence of a retardation of development in babyhood and various skin disorders.
Olive oil contains anti-oxidant elements that prevent the destructive effects of harmful substances in our bodies, and fatty acids of great importance to human health. These support the hormones and assist in cell membrane formation.
Olive oil possesses a balanced polyunsaturated compound at a similar level to that in human milk. Olive oil is a sufficient source of these fatty acids, which cannot be obtained from the human body but which are of the most essential importance to it. These factors make olive oil very important for new-born babies.
Since it contributes to the natural development of the baby's brain and nervous system before and after birth, olive oil is the only oil recommended for mothers by experts. As well as containing similar levels of linoleic acid to those of mother's milk, when olive oil is added to fatless cow's milk, it becomes as natural a food source as mother's milk itself.
Blood Pressure Reduction
One study published in the 27 March 2000 edition of Archives of Internal Medicine once more stressed the beneficial effect of olive oil on high blood pressure. Medicines to reduce high blood pressure are also made from olive leaves.
Benefits for the Internal Organs
Whether consumed hot or cold, olive oil protects the stomach against diseases such as gastritis and ulcers by reducing gastric acid levels. In addition to this, by activating the bile, it makes it perfect. It regulates the discharge of the gall bladder and reduces the risk of bile stone formation. Moreover, thanks to the chloride it contains, it also assists the functioning of the liver and thus helps the body eliminate waste products. In addition, it also has a beneficial effect on the brain arteries.
On account of all these properties, olive oil has attracted considerable expert attention in recent years.
One of the foods to which attention is drawn in the Qur'an is the olive. Research in recent years has revealed that the olive is not just a delicious food but also represents an important source of good health. In addition to the olive itself, olive oil is also an important source of nutrition. Attention is drawn to the oil of the olive tree in these terms in the Qur'an:
Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The metaphor of His Light is that of a niche in which is a lamp, the lamp inside a glass, the glass like a brilliant star, lit from a blessed tree, an olive, neither of the east nor of the west, its oil all but giving off light even if no fire touches it. Light upon Light. Allah guides to His Light whoever He wills and Allah makes metaphors for mankind and Allah has knowledge of all things. (Qur'an, 24:35)
The expression "mubarakatin zaytoonatin" in the above verse describes the olive as being "plentiful, sacred, auspicious, providing countless blessings." Olive oil, referred to in the term "zaytuha," is known as one of the most highly recommended types of oil by all experts, especially for coronary and arterial health. Its health benefits may be summarised as follows:
Benefits for Coronary and Arterial Health:
Most of the fatty acids in olives and olive oil are mono-unsaturated. Mono-unsaturated fatty acids do not contain cholesterol. Therefore, olive oil does not raise cholesterol levels but instead keeps them under control. Olive oil also contains omega-6 linoleic acid (EFA: essential fatty acid), which is essential for the human body. Due to this feature, health-related bodies (such as The World Health Organization) recommend that at least 30% of the fatty acid consumed in societies in which hardened artery and diabetes levels are high should consist of omega-6. This increases the importance of the olive still further.
And by it He makes crops grow for you and olives and dates and grapes and fruit of every kind. There is certainly a Sign in that
for people who reflect.
(Qur’an, 16:11)
Studies in this area have revealed much lower LDL (bad cholesterol) and higher antioxidant levels in people who consume 25 millilitres (about two dessertspoonfuls) of natural olive oil a day for one week. Antioxidants are important as they neutralise the harmful substances in the body known as free radicals and prevent cell damage. It has also been established in a great many studies that the consumption of olive oil reduces cholesterol levels and prevents heart disease.
Olive oil is also recommended for patients with heart and artery disease since it reduces the level of harmful cholesterol (LDL) in the bloodstream and raises that of useful cholesterol (HDL). In countries with high occurrences of heart and artery diseases, saturated fats with high cholesterol content are generally consumed.
In addition, olive oil does not disrupt the proportion of omega-6 to that of omega-3. It is very important that omega-3 and omega-6 be present in the body at specific levels because any imbalance in these proportions can lead to progression in many diseases, especially those of the heart and immune system and cancer.131 For all these reasons, many people enjoy good health thanks to olive oil. The American Heart Association suggests that in order to reduce the risk of heart disease high mono-unsaturated fats can be an alternative to a 30% reduced fat diet.
Cancer Prevention
One study, published by The Archives of Internal Medicine, showed that women who consume high levels of mono-unsaturated fat have a lower risk of developing breast cancer. Another study by scientists at the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York demonstrated that b-sitosterol, a fat found in vegetable oils such as olive oil, helps prevent the formation of prostate cancer cells. The researchers concluded that b-sitosterol strengthens the internal communication system of the cell that issues the command for the cells to divide and that cancer can thus be prevented before cell division reaches an uncontrollable level.
A recent study by doctors at the University of Oxford has shown that olive oil has a protective effect against intestinal cancer. The doctors discovered that olive oil enters into a reaction with stomach acid in order to prevent intestinal cancer from beginning. At the same time, the University of Oxford researchers also established that olive oil reduces the level of bile and raises that of DAO (the enzyme diamine oxidase), thus protecting against abnormal cell growth and cancer.134
Prevention of Arthritis
According to researchers' reports, people who consume large quantities of olive oil and cooked vegetables can have a reduced risk of rheumatic arthritis, a chronic inflammatory disease of the joints.
Olive Oil Assists Bone Development
The vitamins E, A, D and K contained in olive oil are particularly important from the point of view of assisting bone development in adults and children, and in strengthening the bones by fixing calcium. It is also recommended for the elderly as it is easily digested and through its minerals, it assists with the use of vitamins in the body. It also prevents calcium loss by stimulating bone mineralisation.135 Bones are the organism's mineral structure storehouses and an absence of mineral accumulation in the bones can lead to serious complications such as bone softening. Olive oil has a most beneficial effect on the skeleton in this regard.
Prevention of Aging
Since the vitamins contained in olive oil have a cell renewing effect they are also employed in the treatment of the elderly, as well as nourishing and protecting the skin. As foodstuffs are transformed into energy in our bodies, certain substances known as oxidants are formed. With the high levels of anti-oxidants it contains, olive oil prevents damage by harmful substances, renews our cells and delays aging in the tissues and organs. Olive oil is also rich in vitamin E, which suppresses the free radicals that destroy the cells in our bodies and cause aging.
Contribution to Child Development
Due to the linoleic acid (omega-6 fatty acid) contained in olives and olive oil, these are a most healthy food for newborn babies and growing children. A deficiency in linoleic acid leads to the emergence of a retardation of development in babyhood and various skin disorders.
Olive oil contains anti-oxidant elements that prevent the destructive effects of harmful substances in our bodies, and fatty acids of great importance to human health. These support the hormones and assist in cell membrane formation.
Olive oil possesses a balanced polyunsaturated compound at a similar level to that in human milk. Olive oil is a sufficient source of these fatty acids, which cannot be obtained from the human body but which are of the most essential importance to it. These factors make olive oil very important for new-born babies.
Since it contributes to the natural development of the baby's brain and nervous system before and after birth, olive oil is the only oil recommended for mothers by experts. As well as containing similar levels of linoleic acid to those of mother's milk, when olive oil is added to fatless cow's milk, it becomes as natural a food source as mother's milk itself.
Blood Pressure Reduction
One study published in the 27 March 2000 edition of Archives of Internal Medicine once more stressed the beneficial effect of olive oil on high blood pressure. Medicines to reduce high blood pressure are also made from olive leaves.
Benefits for the Internal Organs
Whether consumed hot or cold, olive oil protects the stomach against diseases such as gastritis and ulcers by reducing gastric acid levels. In addition to this, by activating the bile, it makes it perfect. It regulates the discharge of the gall bladder and reduces the risk of bile stone formation. Moreover, thanks to the chloride it contains, it also assists the functioning of the liver and thus helps the body eliminate waste products. In addition, it also has a beneficial effect on the brain arteries.
On account of all these properties, olive oil has attracted considerable expert attention in recent years.
Monday, July 28, 2014
Eid-ul-Fitr Dua
Eid-ul-Fitr Dua
"O" Allah! Bless us in the day of our Eid and our fast breaking and let it be the best day that has passed over us.
"O" the High and the Great [God]! "O" the Forgiving and the Merciful [God]! You are the Great Lord like whom there is nothing. He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing. This is the month that You have exalted, honoured, glorified, and preferred over the other months; it is the month whose fasting You have made obligatory on me; it is the month of Ramadan in which You revealed the Qur'an as a guidance for people, as clear signs of guidance and as a means of separating the right from the wrong. And You placed in it the Night of Destiny which You have made better than a thousand months. So "O" the Lord who favours others and none can oblige Him, favour me by releasing my soul from the hell-fire... and admit me in the Heaven by Your mercy. "O" the Most Merciful of the Mercifuls.
"O" Allah! Bless us in the day of our Eid and our fast breaking and let it be the best day that has passed over us.
"O" the High and the Great [God]! "O" the Forgiving and the Merciful [God]! You are the Great Lord like whom there is nothing. He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing. This is the month that You have exalted, honoured, glorified, and preferred over the other months; it is the month whose fasting You have made obligatory on me; it is the month of Ramadan in which You revealed the Qur'an as a guidance for people, as clear signs of guidance and as a means of separating the right from the wrong. And You placed in it the Night of Destiny which You have made better than a thousand months. So "O" the Lord who favours others and none can oblige Him, favour me by releasing my soul from the hell-fire... and admit me in the Heaven by Your mercy. "O" the Most Merciful of the Mercifuls.
EID UL FITTER
Throughout the month of Ramadan, Muslims observe a strict fast and take part in religious activities like peace-making and charitable giving. It is a time of extreme spiritual rebirth for those who observe it. At the end of Ramadan, Muslims all over the world observe a festive three-day celebration known as Eid ul-Fitr, which is the Festival of Fast Breaking.

Eid ul-Fitr, frequently called Eid means "festivity", and Fi?r means "to break fast"; therefore the holiday signifies the breaking of the fasting period. It is observed after the end of the Islamic month of Ramadan, on the initial day of Shaw'waal which is the 10th month of the Islamic calendar. Eid ul-Fitr or the 'festival of fast breaking' is the most festive of all the Muslim celebrations. The term 'Eid' has been originated from the Arabic word 'oud', which also means 'the return' and signifies the return of the festival each year.
The celebration is momentous as much for its timing, as it is for its religious connotations. Legend has it that the Koran was made known to Prophet Mohammed in the final ten days of Ramadan. The celebration signifies the start of festivities and enjoyment for a time frame of three days. Eid ul-Fitr is filled with thanksgiving and joy.
Prior to the day of Eid, within the final number of days of Ramadan, every Muslim family bestows an established amount as a contribution to the poor. This contribution is of real food such as barley and rice and other provisions. This is to make sure that the needy can have a holiday meal and take part in the festivities. This contribution is referred to as Sadaqah al-Fitr, which means Charity of Fast Breaking.
On the day of Eid, women look about sweets at home and every Muslim is seen embellished in new attire, as they are persuaded to dress in their best clothes, new if feasible for the celebration. Muslims assemble early in the morning in outdoor spots such as fields, squares or mosques to carry out the Eid prayer. After the Eid prayer is the Khutbah which is a sermon that educates Muslims as to the act of the rituals of Eid, like the Zakat (an offering of a small fraction of one's belongings to charity, usually to poor and Muslims in need). Afterwards there is a prayer, known as Dua' requesting pardon, forgiveness and assistance for each and everyone all over the world. It is then traditional to hold in your arms the individuals sitting on either side of you, when you are greeting them.
After the Eid prayer, Muslims usually go to visit several friends and family members, provide gifts, especially to children, and make phone calls to distant family to offer them well-wishes for the holiday and some persons also go to visit graveyards. These actions customarily go on for the three days of the celebration. In many Muslim countries, the three days are certified government and school holidays.
Eid ul-Fitr promotes the shared characteristics of the fast, which conveys many of the essential values of the Muslim community. It is a time to give in charity to those in need, and rejoice with
friends and relatives, the close of a month of joy and blessings.

Eid ul-Fitr, frequently called Eid means "festivity", and Fi?r means "to break fast"; therefore the holiday signifies the breaking of the fasting period. It is observed after the end of the Islamic month of Ramadan, on the initial day of Shaw'waal which is the 10th month of the Islamic calendar. Eid ul-Fitr or the 'festival of fast breaking' is the most festive of all the Muslim celebrations. The term 'Eid' has been originated from the Arabic word 'oud', which also means 'the return' and signifies the return of the festival each year.
The celebration is momentous as much for its timing, as it is for its religious connotations. Legend has it that the Koran was made known to Prophet Mohammed in the final ten days of Ramadan. The celebration signifies the start of festivities and enjoyment for a time frame of three days. Eid ul-Fitr is filled with thanksgiving and joy.
Prior to the day of Eid, within the final number of days of Ramadan, every Muslim family bestows an established amount as a contribution to the poor. This contribution is of real food such as barley and rice and other provisions. This is to make sure that the needy can have a holiday meal and take part in the festivities. This contribution is referred to as Sadaqah al-Fitr, which means Charity of Fast Breaking.
On the day of Eid, women look about sweets at home and every Muslim is seen embellished in new attire, as they are persuaded to dress in their best clothes, new if feasible for the celebration. Muslims assemble early in the morning in outdoor spots such as fields, squares or mosques to carry out the Eid prayer. After the Eid prayer is the Khutbah which is a sermon that educates Muslims as to the act of the rituals of Eid, like the Zakat (an offering of a small fraction of one's belongings to charity, usually to poor and Muslims in need). Afterwards there is a prayer, known as Dua' requesting pardon, forgiveness and assistance for each and everyone all over the world. It is then traditional to hold in your arms the individuals sitting on either side of you, when you are greeting them.
After the Eid prayer, Muslims usually go to visit several friends and family members, provide gifts, especially to children, and make phone calls to distant family to offer them well-wishes for the holiday and some persons also go to visit graveyards. These actions customarily go on for the three days of the celebration. In many Muslim countries, the three days are certified government and school holidays.
Eid ul-Fitr promotes the shared characteristics of the fast, which conveys many of the essential values of the Muslim community. It is a time to give in charity to those in need, and rejoice with
friends and relatives, the close of a month of joy and blessings.
Sunday, July 27, 2014
EID UL FITR - FESTIVEL OF JOY
Eid ul fitr History
Eidul Fitr is a day of feasting and is celebrated by Muslims to congratulate themselves for fasting the month of Ramadan. It is celebrated on the first of Shawwal (10th month of the lunar Islamic calendar). This Eid is a reward to the Muslims who spent the month of Ramadan fasting and in worship. Like Eidul Adha, this Eid begins early in the morning with a prayer held in a large, open area. Before the Eid prayer, Muslims are obligated to pay Zakat-al-Fitr, a charity that goes to poorer families who cannot otherwise engage in the festivities.


Facts and quotes

Prophet Muhammad asked the Muslims of Madinah about two carnivals that they used to engage in. They replied that before Islam, celebrating by setting up grand carnivals was traditional. It is reported that Muhammad said, Instead of those two days, Allah has appointed two other days which are better, the days of Eid-al-Fitr and Eid-al-Adha. (Book of Hadith).
For Eid ul fitr it is customary to eat breakfast before prayer (unlike Eid ul Adha). It is the tradition of the Prophet Muhammad to eat something sweet.
In accordance with Islamic tradition, many Muslims wake up extra early on Eid ul Fitr to take a bath, called ghusl. They also wear the best clothing they own.
Every single month in the Islamic calendar begins when the new moon is sighted. Eid ul Fitr begins when the new moon of Shawwal (10th month of the Islamic calendar) appears. Because the moon appears on different dates in different parts of the world, many Muslim communities celebrate Eid ul Fitr on whatever day this occurs in Mecca.
Unlike regular prayers, Eid prayers do not begin with an adhan or a call to prayer. The format for Eid ul fitr prayer is quite different from those of the daily prayers.
Eid ul fitr Top Events and Things to Do
In Islamic communities, sheer khorma is typically made for breakfast. Sheer khorma is a sweet milky dish with broken vermicelli pasta, dried fried dates, and roasted nuts.
Women often decorate their hands with beautiful henna designs on Eid ul fitr. In the United States, many Islamic centers have henna booths set up on the last night of Ramadan.
The prayer of Eidul Fitr, like the prayer of Eidul Adha, begins with a sermon. During this sermon, the Imam encourages Muslims to do good deeds and be responsible citizens. After prayer, Muslims hug all people around them and say Eid Mubarak, which is a way of saying, Congratulations. The words Eid Mubarak translate to Eid Blessings
Saturday, July 26, 2014
Eid ul Fitr
Eid ul Fitr
Eid-ul-Fitr is a day of thanksgiving and jubilation as it signifies the successful completion of the sacred month of Ramadan.
This festival marks the completion of an act of duty and devotion. It teaches us the lesson that real happiness arises from performing one’s duty and making sacrifices for a noble objective.
Fasting is one of the most significant pillars of Islam. The practice of fasting sublimates the inner self of man and inculcates discernment of the pangs and hardships which the poor and needy face. This feeling is awakened in all those, whether rich or poor, young or old, who observe fasting. It is the loftiest achievement of moral exercises which is celebrated with the greatest zest and verve on the day of Eid-ul-Fitr.
All kinds of spiritual adorations during the sacred month of Ramadan are in celebration of the revelation of the last and perfect message of Allah to humanity, for the limitless and vast favour on mankind in the shape of the Glorious Qur’an and its implication in the dedication and devotion in the month of Ramadan to which the Divine Book had led. Says the Qur’an: Allah has revealed to you the Book and Wisdom and taught you what you did not know before. Allah’s goodness to you has been great indeed.” (4:113)
There are multiple results of fasting (Siyam) in the shape of vigorous duties, moral and spiritual self-discipline and austerity. This reward equips man to swim in the roughest seas of life. It is in this concept that the Qur’an has clearly expressed the act of fasting as a blessing and not a calamity. Allah desires your well being, not your discomfort. He desires you to fast the whole of the month so that you may magnify Him for giving you His guidance, and that you may give thanks.
It is with this spirit of thanksgiving that Eid-ul-Fitr is observed all over the world by Muslim Ummah by offering prayers to Allah, and rejoicing and festivity on the accomplishment of an act of dedication and submission to the Almighty. The Muslim Ummah meditates and pays obeisance to their Lord in congregation, displaying the real spirit of brotherhood, equality and fraternity through the prayers and through the zest of meeting and embracing the Muslim brothers.
On this happy occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, we should pray to Allah to bless the Muslim Ummah.
We should not forget those who are afflicted with poverty, ignorance, disease and other misfortunes. Charity i.e. the Saddqaha-e-Fitr is obligatory at the end of the fasting month i.e. Ramadan and should be compulsorily paid to the needy by every Muslim of means. The real happiness of Eid lies in sharing our happiness with others. Payment of fitrah to the poor and needy is obligatory. It has to be paid before Eid prayers.
Significance of Ed-ul-Fitr
The Muslims celebrate Ed-ul-Fitr on the first of the lunar month of Shawwal. This religious festival, in fact is an expression of thanks-giving to Allah the Almighty for His grace in enabling His faithful servants to observe the fasting month of Ramadan, besides the daily Tarawih Prayers, recitation of the Qur’an and works of charity.
Prescribed Works on Ed-ul-Fitr
The following eleven things have been prescribed to be done on Ed-ul-Fitr;
1. To rise early in the morning.
2. To brush the teeth.
3. To have bath for Eid after the Fajr Prayer.
4. To put on the best available dress.
5. To use perfume.
6. To arrange for one’s personal adornment and decoration.
7. To give away ‘Eid Charity (Zaka-ul-Fitr) before departure for the Eid ground.
8. To eat something sweet before going for the ‘Eid Prayer.
9. To reach the ‘Eid ground as early as possible.
10. To walk to the ‘Eid ground by one way and return by the other; however, there is no harm if one rides back home.
11. To pronounce the following Takbir on the way in a low voice.
Alla-u Akbar, Allah-u Akbar
Allah is greatest Allah is greatest
La-Ilaha ill-Allah
There is no God but Allah
wa-Allah-u Akbar, Allah-u Akbar
and Allah is greatest Allah is greatest
wa-lillah-il-hamd
and all praise is for Allah.
Regulations Relating to ‘Eid Prayer
1. If a person misses the ‘Eid prayer, he cannot offer it individually, for the ‘Eid prayer is conditioned upon congregation. Similarly, if the prayer of a person who joined in the congregation is invalidated due to some reason, he cannot offer it later as a missed prayer, nor is it incumbent upon him to do so. However, a few persons who have missed the prayer can get together and offer it if they so desire.
2. There is neither Azan nor Iqamah for the ‘Eid Prayers.
3. Women and the men who cannot offer the ‘Eid Prayers due to some reason, should not offer any voluntary prayer before the ‘Eid prayer’.
1. The Ahl al-Hadith scholars maintain the view that women and children have been enjoined to attend the ‘Eid prayer, because the ‘Eid, like the Friday Prayer, is a special feature of Islam, and the holy Prophet (Pbuh) himself has exhorted the women to go to the ‘Eid ground.
Hadrat Umm’atiyyah has narrated; “The holy Prophet (Pbuh) commanded us that we should take un-married young girls and grown-up women, even the menstruating ones, along with us to the ‘Eid ground. The menstruating women, however, are not to attend the prayer, but should sit aside and keep on pronouncing the Takbir, and join only in the supplications. I asked, ‘O Prophet of Allah! what about those who do not have the over-garment to cover themselves up?” The holy Prophet (Pbuh) replied; The one having an over-garment should take her sister along with her.” (Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmizi)
4. If a person joins the ‘Eid prayer when the Imam has already pronounced the Takbirs and is reciting the Qur’an, he should pronounce the Takbirs after expressing intention for the prayer. If he joins in the Ruku position, he should pronounce the Takbirs, instead of the usual Tashibh, without raising the hands. If the Imam resumes the standing position before the late-comer has been able to pronounce the required number of Takbirs, he should also resume the standing position after the Imam; the remaining Takbirs are excused.
5. If Imam forgets to pronounce the additional Takbirs and remembers this in the Ruku position, he should pronounce them even in that position instead of resuming the standing position for the purpose; but even if he resumes the standing position, the prayer will not be invalidated.
6. It is undesirable to say a voluntary prayer in the ‘Eid ground or elsewhere before or after the ‘Eid prayer’.
7. If a person has missed the ‘Eid Prayer, he should not say it later as a missed prayer, because the ‘Eid prayer cannot be said later individually.
8. Jurists have agreed that the ‘Eid prayer may be held at more than one place in the city. The people who cannot go out to the ‘Eid ground may offer the prayer in the city according to their convenience.
9. The recitation in the ‘Eid prayer is to be audible.
The Imam should preferably recite Surahs al-A’ala (87) and Al-Ghashiyah (88) or Surahs Qaf (50) and Al-Qamar (54) as was the practice of the holy Prophet (Pbuh) himself.
Regulation Concerning the Eid Sermon
1. The ‘Eid Sermon is Sunnat in nature, but listening to it is wajib (obligatory) for the audience.
2. The sermon should be delivered after the prayer, Hadrat Abu Sa’id says; “The holy Prophet (Pbuh) would first of all offer the Fitr or Adha Prayer; then he would stand up facing the people who kept on sitting in their rows and he would instruct them in religion. Then if he had to send out an army or had to give a special command to the people, he would do so. After this he would return home”. (Bukahri, Muslim)
”I accompanied the Holy Prophet (Pbuh) to the ‘Eid ground. He led the prayer and then gave the sermon. Then he approached the gathering of the women and gave them religious instructions and urged them to practise charity.” (Bukhari)
Zakat -ul- Fitr
Zakat -ul -Fitr is a type of Sadaqah which must be paid by every Muslim, young and old, male and female, free and slave, at the end of the Month of Fasting (Ramadan).
The purpose of Zakat -ul- Fitr is to purify one who fasts from any indecent act or speech and to help the poor and needy.
Zakat ul Fitr is incumbent on every free Muslim who possesses one Sa of dates or barley which is not needed as a basic food for himself or his family for the duration of one day and night. Every free Muslim must pay Zakat ul Fitr for himself, his wife, children, and servants. (One Sa’ equals approximately three kilograms).
The required amount of Zakat ul Fitr is one Sa’ of wheat, rice or corn or similar items considered as basic foods.
Abu Hanifah made it permissible to set aside, as a Zakat ul Fitr, an equivalent value and also said that if the payer pays in wheat, one half of a Sa’ would be sufficient.
Most scholars believe that it is permissible to pay Zakat ul Fitr a day or two before Eid. According to Abu Hanifah, it is permissible to pay it even before Ramadan. Ash-Shafi holds that it is permissible to do so at the beginning of Ramadan. Malik and Ahmad maintain that it is permissible to pay it only one or two days in advance.
The founders of the four accepted Islamic legal schools agree that Zakat ul Fitr is not nullified simply by not paying it on its due date. In such a case, it becomes a debt on the one who is responsible for it until it is paid. They also agree that it is not permissible to delay it until the day of Eid.
The distribution of Zakat ul Fitr is the same as that of Zakat that is, it has to be distributed to the eight groups of beneficiaries mentioned in the ayah. (At Taubah : 60)
Az-Zuhri, Abu Hanifah, Muhammad, and Ibn Subrumah make it permissible to give Zakat ul Fitr to a dhimmi. Allah, the Exalted One says: “Allah allows you to show kindness and deal justly with those who did not war against you on account of religion and did not drive you out of your homes. Lo! Allah loves those who are just.” (at Mumtahanah :8)
Things permissible to break Fast / Fidyah / Wasiyyat
Things which make Permissible the Breaking of Saum (Fasting)
Breaking Saum becomes permissible only in case of a real need, emergency or danger. When a fast is broken on account of a valid reason Qadha of the fast is obligatory. In such cases only Qadha is necessary, not Kaffarah.
The following are valid reasons which make permissible the breaking of Saum (fast)
1. Sudden sickness which endangers one’s life or which will cause great deterioration of the health if the fast is not broken.
2. When it becomes necessary to take medicine due to having been bitten by a poisonous animal.
3. Extreme thirst which endangers one’s life.
4. A pregnant woman having genuine fear for either her own safety or the safety of the child she is bearing, may break the fast.
5. A woman fearing for the life of the baby she is breast-feeding may break the fast. If her milk dries up as a result of the fast and the baby is dependant on breast-feeding, breaking the Saum is permissible.
6. A Nafl fast may be broken to honour one’s guests. Qadha of the fast has to be made.
Fidyah
Fidyah is the compensation which has to be paid for the Saum which has not been executed on account of permanent disability, etc.
1. The Fidyah amount for each compulsory fast not kept is the same as Sadaqah Fitr, viz. 3-kg wheat or its cash equivalent or feeding a Miskeen (poor person) two full meals for a day.
2. Unlike Kaffarah, it is permissible to distribute the Fidyah amount among several masakeen (poor persons).
3. Fidyah (as well as Kaffarah) monies/food can be given to only such Muslims who are allowed to accept Zakat.
4. If by the time maut (death) approaches, one has not yet paid the Fidyah, it will be waajib to make a wasiyyat (bequest) for the Fidyah to be paid.
5. A person who is allowed to pay Fidyah for undischarged Saum, on recovering his health after having paid the Fidyah, is obliged to fast the number of days he had missed. The Fidyah thus paid will become a Nafl charity.
Wasiyyat
Wasiyyat is a bequest which a person has to make with regard to undischarged Saum.
1. If by the time of the approach of maut (death) a person has not executed his obligation of Qadha Saum or Fidyah, it will be wajib (obligatory) on him/her to make a wasiyyat, declaring that Fidyah for the undischarged Saum obligation be paid on his/her behalf.
2. Once the mayyit (deceased) has made a wasiyyat, it will be waajib on the executors/heirs of the mayyit’s estate to pay the Fidyah from the estate of the deceased, i.e. from one third of the estate.
3. If the Fidyah amount exceeds one third of the estate, payment of the excess from the mayyit’s estate is not permissible. However, if all the adult heirs willingly consent to the payment of the full Fidyah (i.e. including the excess), it will be permissible. The consent of minors is not valid, hence the excess (i.e. more than one third the value of the estate) cannot be paid from the shares of the minor heirs
Eid-ul-Fitr is a day of thanksgiving and jubilation as it signifies the successful completion of the sacred month of Ramadan.
This festival marks the completion of an act of duty and devotion. It teaches us the lesson that real happiness arises from performing one’s duty and making sacrifices for a noble objective.
Fasting is one of the most significant pillars of Islam. The practice of fasting sublimates the inner self of man and inculcates discernment of the pangs and hardships which the poor and needy face. This feeling is awakened in all those, whether rich or poor, young or old, who observe fasting. It is the loftiest achievement of moral exercises which is celebrated with the greatest zest and verve on the day of Eid-ul-Fitr.
All kinds of spiritual adorations during the sacred month of Ramadan are in celebration of the revelation of the last and perfect message of Allah to humanity, for the limitless and vast favour on mankind in the shape of the Glorious Qur’an and its implication in the dedication and devotion in the month of Ramadan to which the Divine Book had led. Says the Qur’an: Allah has revealed to you the Book and Wisdom and taught you what you did not know before. Allah’s goodness to you has been great indeed.” (4:113)
There are multiple results of fasting (Siyam) in the shape of vigorous duties, moral and spiritual self-discipline and austerity. This reward equips man to swim in the roughest seas of life. It is in this concept that the Qur’an has clearly expressed the act of fasting as a blessing and not a calamity. Allah desires your well being, not your discomfort. He desires you to fast the whole of the month so that you may magnify Him for giving you His guidance, and that you may give thanks.
It is with this spirit of thanksgiving that Eid-ul-Fitr is observed all over the world by Muslim Ummah by offering prayers to Allah, and rejoicing and festivity on the accomplishment of an act of dedication and submission to the Almighty. The Muslim Ummah meditates and pays obeisance to their Lord in congregation, displaying the real spirit of brotherhood, equality and fraternity through the prayers and through the zest of meeting and embracing the Muslim brothers.
On this happy occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, we should pray to Allah to bless the Muslim Ummah.
We should not forget those who are afflicted with poverty, ignorance, disease and other misfortunes. Charity i.e. the Saddqaha-e-Fitr is obligatory at the end of the fasting month i.e. Ramadan and should be compulsorily paid to the needy by every Muslim of means. The real happiness of Eid lies in sharing our happiness with others. Payment of fitrah to the poor and needy is obligatory. It has to be paid before Eid prayers.
Significance of Ed-ul-Fitr
The Muslims celebrate Ed-ul-Fitr on the first of the lunar month of Shawwal. This religious festival, in fact is an expression of thanks-giving to Allah the Almighty for His grace in enabling His faithful servants to observe the fasting month of Ramadan, besides the daily Tarawih Prayers, recitation of the Qur’an and works of charity.
Prescribed Works on Ed-ul-Fitr
The following eleven things have been prescribed to be done on Ed-ul-Fitr;
1. To rise early in the morning.
2. To brush the teeth.
3. To have bath for Eid after the Fajr Prayer.
4. To put on the best available dress.
5. To use perfume.
6. To arrange for one’s personal adornment and decoration.
7. To give away ‘Eid Charity (Zaka-ul-Fitr) before departure for the Eid ground.
8. To eat something sweet before going for the ‘Eid Prayer.
9. To reach the ‘Eid ground as early as possible.
10. To walk to the ‘Eid ground by one way and return by the other; however, there is no harm if one rides back home.
11. To pronounce the following Takbir on the way in a low voice.
Alla-u Akbar, Allah-u Akbar
Allah is greatest Allah is greatest
La-Ilaha ill-Allah
There is no God but Allah
wa-Allah-u Akbar, Allah-u Akbar
and Allah is greatest Allah is greatest
wa-lillah-il-hamd
and all praise is for Allah.
Regulations Relating to ‘Eid Prayer
1. If a person misses the ‘Eid prayer, he cannot offer it individually, for the ‘Eid prayer is conditioned upon congregation. Similarly, if the prayer of a person who joined in the congregation is invalidated due to some reason, he cannot offer it later as a missed prayer, nor is it incumbent upon him to do so. However, a few persons who have missed the prayer can get together and offer it if they so desire.
2. There is neither Azan nor Iqamah for the ‘Eid Prayers.
3. Women and the men who cannot offer the ‘Eid Prayers due to some reason, should not offer any voluntary prayer before the ‘Eid prayer’.
1. The Ahl al-Hadith scholars maintain the view that women and children have been enjoined to attend the ‘Eid prayer, because the ‘Eid, like the Friday Prayer, is a special feature of Islam, and the holy Prophet (Pbuh) himself has exhorted the women to go to the ‘Eid ground.
Hadrat Umm’atiyyah has narrated; “The holy Prophet (Pbuh) commanded us that we should take un-married young girls and grown-up women, even the menstruating ones, along with us to the ‘Eid ground. The menstruating women, however, are not to attend the prayer, but should sit aside and keep on pronouncing the Takbir, and join only in the supplications. I asked, ‘O Prophet of Allah! what about those who do not have the over-garment to cover themselves up?” The holy Prophet (Pbuh) replied; The one having an over-garment should take her sister along with her.” (Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmizi)
4. If a person joins the ‘Eid prayer when the Imam has already pronounced the Takbirs and is reciting the Qur’an, he should pronounce the Takbirs after expressing intention for the prayer. If he joins in the Ruku position, he should pronounce the Takbirs, instead of the usual Tashibh, without raising the hands. If the Imam resumes the standing position before the late-comer has been able to pronounce the required number of Takbirs, he should also resume the standing position after the Imam; the remaining Takbirs are excused.
5. If Imam forgets to pronounce the additional Takbirs and remembers this in the Ruku position, he should pronounce them even in that position instead of resuming the standing position for the purpose; but even if he resumes the standing position, the prayer will not be invalidated.
6. It is undesirable to say a voluntary prayer in the ‘Eid ground or elsewhere before or after the ‘Eid prayer’.
7. If a person has missed the ‘Eid Prayer, he should not say it later as a missed prayer, because the ‘Eid prayer cannot be said later individually.
8. Jurists have agreed that the ‘Eid prayer may be held at more than one place in the city. The people who cannot go out to the ‘Eid ground may offer the prayer in the city according to their convenience.
9. The recitation in the ‘Eid prayer is to be audible.
The Imam should preferably recite Surahs al-A’ala (87) and Al-Ghashiyah (88) or Surahs Qaf (50) and Al-Qamar (54) as was the practice of the holy Prophet (Pbuh) himself.
Regulation Concerning the Eid Sermon
1. The ‘Eid Sermon is Sunnat in nature, but listening to it is wajib (obligatory) for the audience.
2. The sermon should be delivered after the prayer, Hadrat Abu Sa’id says; “The holy Prophet (Pbuh) would first of all offer the Fitr or Adha Prayer; then he would stand up facing the people who kept on sitting in their rows and he would instruct them in religion. Then if he had to send out an army or had to give a special command to the people, he would do so. After this he would return home”. (Bukahri, Muslim)
”I accompanied the Holy Prophet (Pbuh) to the ‘Eid ground. He led the prayer and then gave the sermon. Then he approached the gathering of the women and gave them religious instructions and urged them to practise charity.” (Bukhari)
Zakat -ul- Fitr
Zakat -ul -Fitr is a type of Sadaqah which must be paid by every Muslim, young and old, male and female, free and slave, at the end of the Month of Fasting (Ramadan).
The purpose of Zakat -ul- Fitr is to purify one who fasts from any indecent act or speech and to help the poor and needy.
Zakat ul Fitr is incumbent on every free Muslim who possesses one Sa of dates or barley which is not needed as a basic food for himself or his family for the duration of one day and night. Every free Muslim must pay Zakat ul Fitr for himself, his wife, children, and servants. (One Sa’ equals approximately three kilograms).
The required amount of Zakat ul Fitr is one Sa’ of wheat, rice or corn or similar items considered as basic foods.
Abu Hanifah made it permissible to set aside, as a Zakat ul Fitr, an equivalent value and also said that if the payer pays in wheat, one half of a Sa’ would be sufficient.
Most scholars believe that it is permissible to pay Zakat ul Fitr a day or two before Eid. According to Abu Hanifah, it is permissible to pay it even before Ramadan. Ash-Shafi holds that it is permissible to do so at the beginning of Ramadan. Malik and Ahmad maintain that it is permissible to pay it only one or two days in advance.
The founders of the four accepted Islamic legal schools agree that Zakat ul Fitr is not nullified simply by not paying it on its due date. In such a case, it becomes a debt on the one who is responsible for it until it is paid. They also agree that it is not permissible to delay it until the day of Eid.
The distribution of Zakat ul Fitr is the same as that of Zakat that is, it has to be distributed to the eight groups of beneficiaries mentioned in the ayah. (At Taubah : 60)
Az-Zuhri, Abu Hanifah, Muhammad, and Ibn Subrumah make it permissible to give Zakat ul Fitr to a dhimmi. Allah, the Exalted One says: “Allah allows you to show kindness and deal justly with those who did not war against you on account of religion and did not drive you out of your homes. Lo! Allah loves those who are just.” (at Mumtahanah :8)
Things permissible to break Fast / Fidyah / Wasiyyat
Things which make Permissible the Breaking of Saum (Fasting)
Breaking Saum becomes permissible only in case of a real need, emergency or danger. When a fast is broken on account of a valid reason Qadha of the fast is obligatory. In such cases only Qadha is necessary, not Kaffarah.
The following are valid reasons which make permissible the breaking of Saum (fast)
1. Sudden sickness which endangers one’s life or which will cause great deterioration of the health if the fast is not broken.
2. When it becomes necessary to take medicine due to having been bitten by a poisonous animal.
3. Extreme thirst which endangers one’s life.
4. A pregnant woman having genuine fear for either her own safety or the safety of the child she is bearing, may break the fast.
5. A woman fearing for the life of the baby she is breast-feeding may break the fast. If her milk dries up as a result of the fast and the baby is dependant on breast-feeding, breaking the Saum is permissible.
6. A Nafl fast may be broken to honour one’s guests. Qadha of the fast has to be made.
Fidyah
Fidyah is the compensation which has to be paid for the Saum which has not been executed on account of permanent disability, etc.
1. The Fidyah amount for each compulsory fast not kept is the same as Sadaqah Fitr, viz. 3-kg wheat or its cash equivalent or feeding a Miskeen (poor person) two full meals for a day.
2. Unlike Kaffarah, it is permissible to distribute the Fidyah amount among several masakeen (poor persons).
3. Fidyah (as well as Kaffarah) monies/food can be given to only such Muslims who are allowed to accept Zakat.
4. If by the time maut (death) approaches, one has not yet paid the Fidyah, it will be waajib to make a wasiyyat (bequest) for the Fidyah to be paid.
5. A person who is allowed to pay Fidyah for undischarged Saum, on recovering his health after having paid the Fidyah, is obliged to fast the number of days he had missed. The Fidyah thus paid will become a Nafl charity.
Wasiyyat
Wasiyyat is a bequest which a person has to make with regard to undischarged Saum.
1. If by the time of the approach of maut (death) a person has not executed his obligation of Qadha Saum or Fidyah, it will be wajib (obligatory) on him/her to make a wasiyyat, declaring that Fidyah for the undischarged Saum obligation be paid on his/her behalf.
2. Once the mayyit (deceased) has made a wasiyyat, it will be waajib on the executors/heirs of the mayyit’s estate to pay the Fidyah from the estate of the deceased, i.e. from one third of the estate.
3. If the Fidyah amount exceeds one third of the estate, payment of the excess from the mayyit’s estate is not permissible. However, if all the adult heirs willingly consent to the payment of the full Fidyah (i.e. including the excess), it will be permissible. The consent of minors is not valid, hence the excess (i.e. more than one third the value of the estate) cannot be paid from the shares of the minor heirs
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Night Of Power In The Islamic Fasting Month Of Ramaran
Lailat ul-Qadr' or 'Night of Power'… a very important occasion in the history of Islam and in our personnel lives.
Allah says in the Qur'an in Surah Al-Qadr:
"We have indeed revealed this (message) in the Night of Power. And what will explain to thee what the Night of Power is? The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. Therein come down the angels and the spirit by God's permission, on every errand: Peace! This until the rise of Morn." (97:1-5)
Allah also says about this powerful night in Surah Dukhan (smoke, mist):
Ha. Mim. By the book that makes things clear. We sent it down during a blessed night. For We (ever) wish to warn (against evil). In that (night) is made distinct every affair of wisdom, by command, from Our Presence. For We (ever) send (revelations), as a mercy from Thy Lord: for He hears and knows (all things). (44:1-6)
Allah said in the Qur'an in Surah A 1-Baqarah (the Cow):
"Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (signs) for guidance and judgment (between right and wrong)."(2:185)
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said about Lailatul-Qadr:
It as narrated by Abu Hurayra that Prophet said, "Anyone who stays awake for the Night Of Power with belief and for the pleasure of Allah, all his previous sins will be forgiven."
(Bukhari and Muslim)
It has also been reported by Aisha, the wife of the Prophet (pbuh) who said:
"I asked the Messenger>Of A11ah if I knew which night was the Night of Power and what Prayer I should say during that night? He said to me: Say: "O Allah! You are forgiving and you love forgiveness, so you too forgive me.
From the foregoing verses of the Qur'an and the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) I would like to mention to you the following:
The Night Of Power is better for you to live, to experience and to enjoy than one thousand months of your personal life. Even if you were to live one thousand months (83.3 years) with sincerity, dedication, and sacrifices and with good intentions and deeds, the Night Of Power is still far better for you to live and to enjoy.
The Revelation of the Qur'an started in the month of Ramadan and specifically on the Night Of Power. The Revelation of the Qur'an; a sign of Mercy, a guide and a blessing of Allah to mankind.
Anyone who is interested in finding the best guide, he/she should look into the teachings of the Qur'an.
The Night of Power is a night of blessings Allah has blessed this Night. Therefore whosoever is interested in receiving the blessings of Allah may look forward to the Night of Power.
Anyone who seeks the Night of Power and lives it, all his/her sin will be erased. This is, as if, he/she is, born again now free of all sin and mistakes.
I am sure every one of us would like to live a life free of sins an free of mistakes. Everyone would like to meet Allah on the Day of Judgment without sins. Every one of us would like to feel that he/she is reborn today. All of us wish to rejuvenate ourselves, and to start a new year with a fresh outlook and a fresh life. Every one of us wants to live a pure life and everyone wants to purify himself/herself without anguish or torment. The Night of Power is one of the best ways in which a person is to achieve all these ideals. For this reason may I suggest that you start looking for it, so you will be able to observe it and enjoy it.
As far as determining the Night of Power (Lailatul Qadr) is concerned, it has been reported to be during one of the odd numbered nights of the last ten days of Ramadan, i.e. 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th or 29th. It has been emphasized that it is most likely to be the 27th night.
As far as the signs of Lailatul-Qadr are concerned:
1. The sun rises early in the morning without rays.
2. Rain may fall either during the night or during the day of that night.
3. During night the sky will be lightly foggy.
4. The sky will be slightly lighted without reflections and without rays.
5. The angels and Gabriel all descend down onto earth for many purposes.
If you are interested in living the Night of Power, let me remind you of some of the things that you might have to do.
1. Try to observe it during the last ten days of Ramadan, at the time of sunrise, during the days and the nights.
2. On the nights one may spend the time collectively and/or individually observing the following activities:
a. Recitation of the Our'an.
b. Prayers-Nafl after Taraweeh.
c. Remembrance of Allah or zikr
d. Supplication or Du'a for you and for others.
e. Pondering and contemplating into the universe, the creation of the Heavens and the Earth: "...and they contemplate the (wonders of) creation in the heaven and the earth…."(3:191)
f. Reading books of Hadeeth so as to enjoy the sayings of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
g. Reading Tafseer of Qur'an.
h. Giving charity to others if you can afford it.
i. Trying to explain Islam, if you know something about it, to those next to you so they will benefit from you.
To summarize, I would like to mention the following:
The Night of Power is a very important occasion in Islam. Everyone is asked to live it and to enjoy it. This Night is a night of Mercy, a night of Blessing, a night of Peace and a night of Guidance. It is a night of Unification between the finite world of ours and the Infinite Universe of the Unseen.
Anyone who is interested in attaining the Mercy of Allah will strive very hard to look for the Night of Power. Anyone who is interested in receiving the blessings of Allah on the Blessed Night will work very hard to enjoy the Night of Power. Anyone who is interested in attaining peace of mind, peace of body and peace in society, he has to look for this Night and to live it.
May Allah give us the strength, the power, the courage and the effort to do our best to obey Allah and to follow His teachings. May Allah guide us and may Allah strengthen our Iman May Allah help us to live another year with sincerity and devotion. May Allah make us realize that one year of our life is over and that we are one year closer to our graves.
Let us wake up and do our best to please Allah in our daily life. Let us ask Almighty Allah forgiveness. Ameen
Allah says in the Qur'an in Surah Al-Qadr:
"We have indeed revealed this (message) in the Night of Power. And what will explain to thee what the Night of Power is? The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. Therein come down the angels and the spirit by God's permission, on every errand: Peace! This until the rise of Morn." (97:1-5)
Allah also says about this powerful night in Surah Dukhan (smoke, mist):
Ha. Mim. By the book that makes things clear. We sent it down during a blessed night. For We (ever) wish to warn (against evil). In that (night) is made distinct every affair of wisdom, by command, from Our Presence. For We (ever) send (revelations), as a mercy from Thy Lord: for He hears and knows (all things). (44:1-6)
Allah said in the Qur'an in Surah A 1-Baqarah (the Cow):
"Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (signs) for guidance and judgment (between right and wrong)."(2:185)
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said about Lailatul-Qadr:
It as narrated by Abu Hurayra that Prophet said, "Anyone who stays awake for the Night Of Power with belief and for the pleasure of Allah, all his previous sins will be forgiven."
(Bukhari and Muslim)
It has also been reported by Aisha, the wife of the Prophet (pbuh) who said:
"I asked the Messenger>Of A11ah if I knew which night was the Night of Power and what Prayer I should say during that night? He said to me: Say: "O Allah! You are forgiving and you love forgiveness, so you too forgive me.
From the foregoing verses of the Qur'an and the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) I would like to mention to you the following:
The Night Of Power is better for you to live, to experience and to enjoy than one thousand months of your personal life. Even if you were to live one thousand months (83.3 years) with sincerity, dedication, and sacrifices and with good intentions and deeds, the Night Of Power is still far better for you to live and to enjoy.
The Revelation of the Qur'an started in the month of Ramadan and specifically on the Night Of Power. The Revelation of the Qur'an; a sign of Mercy, a guide and a blessing of Allah to mankind.
Anyone who is interested in finding the best guide, he/she should look into the teachings of the Qur'an.
The Night of Power is a night of blessings Allah has blessed this Night. Therefore whosoever is interested in receiving the blessings of Allah may look forward to the Night of Power.
Anyone who seeks the Night of Power and lives it, all his/her sin will be erased. This is, as if, he/she is, born again now free of all sin and mistakes.
I am sure every one of us would like to live a life free of sins an free of mistakes. Everyone would like to meet Allah on the Day of Judgment without sins. Every one of us would like to feel that he/she is reborn today. All of us wish to rejuvenate ourselves, and to start a new year with a fresh outlook and a fresh life. Every one of us wants to live a pure life and everyone wants to purify himself/herself without anguish or torment. The Night of Power is one of the best ways in which a person is to achieve all these ideals. For this reason may I suggest that you start looking for it, so you will be able to observe it and enjoy it.
As far as determining the Night of Power (Lailatul Qadr) is concerned, it has been reported to be during one of the odd numbered nights of the last ten days of Ramadan, i.e. 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th or 29th. It has been emphasized that it is most likely to be the 27th night.
As far as the signs of Lailatul-Qadr are concerned:
1. The sun rises early in the morning without rays.
2. Rain may fall either during the night or during the day of that night.
3. During night the sky will be lightly foggy.
4. The sky will be slightly lighted without reflections and without rays.
5. The angels and Gabriel all descend down onto earth for many purposes.
If you are interested in living the Night of Power, let me remind you of some of the things that you might have to do.
1. Try to observe it during the last ten days of Ramadan, at the time of sunrise, during the days and the nights.
2. On the nights one may spend the time collectively and/or individually observing the following activities:
a. Recitation of the Our'an.
b. Prayers-Nafl after Taraweeh.
c. Remembrance of Allah or zikr
d. Supplication or Du'a for you and for others.
e. Pondering and contemplating into the universe, the creation of the Heavens and the Earth: "...and they contemplate the (wonders of) creation in the heaven and the earth…."(3:191)
f. Reading books of Hadeeth so as to enjoy the sayings of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
g. Reading Tafseer of Qur'an.
h. Giving charity to others if you can afford it.
i. Trying to explain Islam, if you know something about it, to those next to you so they will benefit from you.
To summarize, I would like to mention the following:
The Night of Power is a very important occasion in Islam. Everyone is asked to live it and to enjoy it. This Night is a night of Mercy, a night of Blessing, a night of Peace and a night of Guidance. It is a night of Unification between the finite world of ours and the Infinite Universe of the Unseen.
Anyone who is interested in attaining the Mercy of Allah will strive very hard to look for the Night of Power. Anyone who is interested in receiving the blessings of Allah on the Blessed Night will work very hard to enjoy the Night of Power. Anyone who is interested in attaining peace of mind, peace of body and peace in society, he has to look for this Night and to live it.
May Allah give us the strength, the power, the courage and the effort to do our best to obey Allah and to follow His teachings. May Allah guide us and may Allah strengthen our Iman May Allah help us to live another year with sincerity and devotion. May Allah make us realize that one year of our life is over and that we are one year closer to our graves.
Let us wake up and do our best to please Allah in our daily life. Let us ask Almighty Allah forgiveness. Ameen
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Now, medical-related info just a dial away
Now, medical-related info just a dial away
Jul 24, 2014, 06.05AM IST TNN Times of India Trichy
TRICHY: Medical helpline '104' was officially inaugurated in the district on Wednesday. The helpline will help people seek medical advice and bring grievances related to medical treatment to the notice of the higher officials.
At a brief function held at the district collectorate on Wednesday, collector Jayashree Muralidharan inaugurated the ?helpline for Trichy.
With the help of the helpline, people also can get details on various facilities and specialties available at government hospitals. Counselling will also be provided for people with psychological problems, including depression, anxiety, suicidal tendencies, sexual issues etc.
As part of the programme, 89 CUG (closed user group) mobile phones were distributed to medical officers at the primary health centres, chief medical officers at government hospitals, dean of Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital (MGMGH), the joint director of health services and the deputy director of health service. One of the phones will be handled by the district collector.
"The helpline will provide all health-related information and solutions. Grievances in the government health sectors can also be brought to the notice using the number," the collector said adding that if there is no response from the respective officers in the district, calls will be transferred to the collector who will take necessary action.
Once a call is made, the respective registration officer will collect the personal details of the caller after which he/she will be provided with a unique registration number. This will help the caller to identify himself, whenever he makes a call to the helpline. This will also help the medical officer to access the history of the caller. Initially, calls made from mobile phones to the helpline will be charged at the rate of Rs 50 paise per call. However, calls made from landline will be free. "In future, calls from mobile phones too would be made free," said the collector. As a demo call, Dr G Muthukumar, district project manager of Tamil Nadu Health Systems Project, made a call to the helpline from his mobile phone.
Dr M A Aleem, vice-principal of K A P Viswanatham government medical college, Dr Kanagaraj, dean (in-charge) of MGMGH, Dr K Chandra, JDHS, Dr I Ravindran, DDHS also took part in the function
Islamic Fasting Will Come in All Seasons
Ramadan Fasting Based On Moon Cycle
Fasting in some other religions is based on a solar calendar, like the Gregorian calendar. This demands vast knowledge of calculation and astronomy in the making of a calendar. Besides, the months are fixed in a specific season, they do not rotate or change. Fasting in Islam is based on the lunar calendar and is tied to the sightings of hilal, the crescent, or new moon. Allah (SWT) states: "They ask you concerning the new moons. Say: They are but signs to mark fixed periods of time...." (Al-Qur`an, 2:189) And the hadith: "Eat until you see the crescent and break not until you see the crescent. If it is cloudy calculate the period of the month." (Muslim and others)
This enables Muslims in every corner of the earth, east and west, north and south, and all in between, in remote villages, on mountains, in conditions of illiteracy or literacy, in jungles or deserts to start and end the fast all at the same time, without difficulty.
Why the moon instead of the sun as the basis for starting and ending fast? There are several reasons:
The lunar year is about ten or eleven days less compared to the Gregorian. Thus, if Ramadan 1990 began on March 27th, Ramadan in 1991 would begin around March 16th. Consequently, in the course of 36 years, every Muslim would have fasted every day of the year, the short days of the year, the long days of the year, the hot days and the cold days of the year. Muslims in different regions of the world would have had total equality in the number of days they fasted, and would have had an equal amount of seasonal and climatic changes. They would have an equal amount of cold or mild weather Ramadans.
If the fast were based on the Gregorian calendar, the Muslims in hot summer climates would have Ramadan during hot weather every year, forever. Some Muslims would have fasted long days while others short days, because Gregorian calendar months are fixed and immobile.
There is another interesting reason; fruits, vegetables for using the lunar calendar and some food items come in certain seasons. Fasting based on the lunar system means we may miss certain fruits in certain seasons, but by the end of the circle a Muslim would have tasted and tried different fruits during Ramadan, whereas fasting based on the Gregorian calendar would have prohibited some fruits during Ramadan, forever. This is why Muslims did not change the month of Ramadan, nor did they distort it by increasing or decreasing days, nor did they change it to different months.
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
Marriages Between Close Relatives
Marriages between close relatives still prevail despite awareness
Jul 23, 2014, 12.33AM IST TNN[ Gokul Rajendran ]
TRICHY: Marriages among close relatives continue to prevail in the district despite awareness being spread about children born with disabilities in many cases.
Speaking on the sidelines of a medical camp for the differently-abled in the city on Monday, district collector Jayashree Muralidharan said that those who prefer to marry between close relatives should contemplate about the future consequences before such marriages take place. "It is also a fact that people should still be instilled awareness about the possibilities of their children contracting hereditary diseases," the collector said.
In a sense, it is evident from the fact that the previous trend was a clear indication that marriages between close relatives resulted in the birth of disabled children. Further, Trichy district found 2,833 differently-abled children in medical camps held in 2013-14 and half of the cases seemed to be the fallout of marriage between close relatives.
Medical experts expressed concern over the fact that this kind of trend is still continuing besides vast awareness. "The fact is that in some cases only, children with disabilities are born while many people who married within close relatives have healthy babies. So, we cannot come to any concrete decision as far as the marriages between close relatives are concerned," said neurologist Dr M A Aleem, vice-principal of K A P Viswanatham Government Medical College, Trichy. However, he attributed the disability to hereditary diseases. "If any one from either families have been affected with diseases in the past, chances are high for the children to contract them," said Dr Aleem.
Meanwhile, some medical experts say that people are well aware of the fact about the consequences of marriages taking place between close relatives. "People are very cautious in selecting their life partners. Unlike their ancestors, people nowadays want to have one or two children, since they don't want to give birth to disabled children by marrying close relatives," said Dr M Nagamani, obstetrician and gynaecologist.
District social welfare officer (DSWO) M Usha said that the practice is still continuing mostly in rural parts of the district. "Parents in rural areas prefer marriage between close relations like first cousins to avoid the gap between their brothers and sisters. Despite creating awareness about the possibilities of children being born with disabilities, they don't mind it. Also, some people eyeing properties of close relatives force their sons or daughters to marry their cousins," Usha told TOI.
Jul 23, 2014, 12.33AM IST TNN[ Gokul Rajendran ]
TRICHY: Marriages among close relatives continue to prevail in the district despite awareness being spread about children born with disabilities in many cases.
Speaking on the sidelines of a medical camp for the differently-abled in the city on Monday, district collector Jayashree Muralidharan said that those who prefer to marry between close relatives should contemplate about the future consequences before such marriages take place. "It is also a fact that people should still be instilled awareness about the possibilities of their children contracting hereditary diseases," the collector said.
In a sense, it is evident from the fact that the previous trend was a clear indication that marriages between close relatives resulted in the birth of disabled children. Further, Trichy district found 2,833 differently-abled children in medical camps held in 2013-14 and half of the cases seemed to be the fallout of marriage between close relatives.
Medical experts expressed concern over the fact that this kind of trend is still continuing besides vast awareness. "The fact is that in some cases only, children with disabilities are born while many people who married within close relatives have healthy babies. So, we cannot come to any concrete decision as far as the marriages between close relatives are concerned," said neurologist Dr M A Aleem, vice-principal of K A P Viswanatham Government Medical College, Trichy. However, he attributed the disability to hereditary diseases. "If any one from either families have been affected with diseases in the past, chances are high for the children to contract them," said Dr Aleem.
Meanwhile, some medical experts say that people are well aware of the fact about the consequences of marriages taking place between close relatives. "People are very cautious in selecting their life partners. Unlike their ancestors, people nowadays want to have one or two children, since they don't want to give birth to disabled children by marrying close relatives," said Dr M Nagamani, obstetrician and gynaecologist.
District social welfare officer (DSWO) M Usha said that the practice is still continuing mostly in rural parts of the district. "Parents in rural areas prefer marriage between close relations like first cousins to avoid the gap between their brothers and sisters. Despite creating awareness about the possibilities of children being born with disabilities, they don't mind it. Also, some people eyeing properties of close relatives force their sons or daughters to marry their cousins," Usha told TOI.
Monday, July 21, 2014
World Brain Day - Our Brain Our Future 22.07.2014
World Brain Day 22.7.2014
Our Brain Our Future
Dr.M.A.Aleem.M.D.D.M., (Neure) HOD and professor of Neurology KAPV Government Medical college. MGM Government Hospital Trichy -620017. Cell: 94431-59940 E-mail: drmaaleem@hotmail.com
Introduction:-
On 22 July, the World Federation of Neurology (WFN) launches the first “World Brain Day” an event dedicated to bringing more attention to the importance of brain health and the prevention of brain diseases, a largely underestimated health problem. Indian Academy of Neurology (IAN) supports the awareness-raising campaign. Brain disorders, comprising mental, neurological and substance-use conditions, constitute 13 percent of the global burden of disease, surpassing both cardiovascular disease and cancer. Many of them are preventable and treatable, but diagnostic and therapeutic resources are unequally distributed globally.
`The complexities of the brain and of neurological diseases often become a barrier for public awareness. Our most important goal with this novel campaign is to present brain health in all its aspects and social dimensions and sensitize the public to its significance. In doing so, we want to support those affected by brain disease and in particular neurological diseases and inform the broad public about the importance of prevention,” says Dr.M.A.Aleem Professor of Neurology KAPV Govt Medical College and President Trichy Neuro Association. It’s time to act. This is why we are taking this initiative to promote better brain health globally.
The burden of brain disorder and neurological diseases is largely underestimated, however, according to Dr.M.A.Aleem professor of Neurology KAPV Government Medical College. “Stroke and traumatic brain injuries are two most important causes of disability in India, one to two percent of the global population suffers from some kind of disability related to traumatic brain injury. Worldwide, stroke is the second commonest cause of death after ischaemicheart disease and ahead of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. According to WHO data, neurological diseases alone are responsible for between 4.5 and 11 percent of all burden of disease, depending on whether you look at low – or high-income economies. This is far higher than the number of respiratory ailments, gastrointestinal disorders or malignant tumours.”
Neurological diseases are a major cause of death. According to the WHO, they account for 12 percent of deaths worldwide a figure that varies according to levels of economic development. Lower-middle-income countries are the hardest hit. They account for nearly 17 percent of deaths attributable to neurological causes because both infectious and non-communicable neurological diseases contribute to mortality. Of all neurological illnesses, stroke and other cerebrovascular disorders are by far the commonest cause of death, accounting for 85 percent of all fatalities.
Yet the incidence of many neurological conditions such as dementia, Parkinson’s or stroke will skyrocket as population’s age. According to the WHO, the number of disability – adjusted life years (DALYs) attributable to neurological illnesses – years lost due to premature death combined with the equivalent years of health life lost through poor health or disability – is expected to rise from 92 million worldwide in 2005 to 103 million 2030. This represents an alarming 12 percent increase. For demographic reasons alone years of life lost in connection with Alzheimer,s and other forms of dementia in particular will rise most dramatically by around 66 percent. The lion’s share – more than 55 percent – of equivalent years of life lost through neurological disoreders is attributable to cerebrovascular illnesses such as stroke and intracranial haemorrhage. It is estimated that in 2015, 50 million healthy life years will be lost due to stroke alone.
Having a healthy brain and nervous system is vital to being able to think clearly, without which our active will lacks intelligent guidance and is weakened.
Neurological illnesses can occur across the entire life span. They manifest as autism and attention deficit problems in children, multiple sclerosis and insomnia and seizures in adults, and Alzheimer’s and parkinson’s disease in the aging population.
Whereas we are often not aware of the disturbances in our metabolism that precede the appearance of the signs and symptoms that occur with cancer or high blood pressure, in neurological disorders we become aware quite early that something is not right. We may observe that our child is delayed in developing speech or stops speaking; we may notice one of our legs is not moving right ; or we may find that our parent is having serious memory impairments.
Why are these events and illnesses happening with increasing frequency today? There are a number of key reasons.
One reason is that we live in a toxic world. The great majority of chemicals we now take in daily were not on the planet 30 years ago. Many of these accumulate, especially in our fatty tissue, and slowly incapacitate our nerves. These toxins become neurotoxins, damaging the nervous system. The brain is essentially composed of fats in its structure. Its healthy function depends on an intake of good fats – eggs, coconut oil, and others – to function optimally. This high fat content enables our brains to float in the cerebrospinal fluid that bathes it, similar to the way oils float on water. It is this quality that enables us to think clearly, reflect on life develop insight and intent, and plan for the future.
The accumulation of environmental toxins impairs these functions. It is important to limit your exposure to these chemicals as much as possible, and take steps to eliminate them from your body. You can do this by eating good fats (olive oil, avocados, nuts and seeds, fish oil are good examples) by sitting in infrared saunas, and by properly disposing of the commercial home and yard products you have on hand and purchasing nontoxic replacements at health food or other “green” stores. (Note that it isn’t only the pesticides to watch out for; common household cleaning and laundry supplies are filled with chemical toxins.)
The toxins you are exposed to also include heavy metals, especially mercury which destroys nervous tissues. The sources of mercury today are dental metal amalgam fillings, many fish coal burning and most vaccines. The mercury in vaccines is strongly implicated in our autism epidemic. What can you do? Thoughtfully consider the pros and cons of vaccinating your children and yourselves, eat northern ocean fish, and consult a dentist who is aware of the dangers of the dangers of mercury fillings.
There is an old saying in natural healing: all disease begins in the gut. There is truth in this. Due In large part to the epidemic of fear of illness, and our adversarial relationship with nature, we go to great lengths to kill any microorganism that we blame for out illnesses. This has led us to the overuse of antibiotics, which leads to immune impairment and severely disrupts the balance of healthy microflora in the intestines. Use of antibiotics permits overgrowth of unfriendly bacteria and other microorganisms, damage to the intestinal walls, and subsequent absorption of the toxic microbes into the body. The intestines are out second brain. Over 90% of all detectable neurotransmitters in the body are produced in the small intestine. We need healthy bile flow to excrete many of these neurotoxins.
Therefore, care for your gut : eat slowly, take enzymes or apple cider vinegar in water before eating to prime the pump, limit your use of antibiotics to only the most serious conditions, take probiotics (beneficial bacteria) , learn healthy breathing, take green clay orally in water, and use topical castor oil packs to improve liver, lymphatic and intestinal function.
Chronic infections also play a huge role in the development of neurological illnesses today. These include Lyme disease, viral conditions, fungal infections (which have increased exponentially due to overuse of antibiotics) , mercury toxicity, and disorders related to mold exposure. In addition to dampness in homes, wireless technology and the impaired wiring in old and new homes; all these factors can lead to a thousand times the overgrowth of mold.
When absorbed into the body, most of the toxins discussed here damage what is called the blood-brain barrier. This is a very thin layer of protective cells that keep toxins from seeping into the brain and doing harm. In most people today, this barrier is damaged. Most of the chronic neurological disorders of today originate physiologically in this damage.
Another area of toxic exposure, and one that is increasing at an alarming rate today, is electromagnetic radiation to the head. The number one source of this radiation is cell phones and cordless phones, the use of which we now accept as normal. We live in a culture of convenience, and we are paying the price for this. It is time to change. Studies in Germany have demonstrated that children who live within 300 meters of a cell phone tower have abnormal EEGs. New research in Sweden indicates that children and teenagers are fiver time more likely to get brain cancer if they use cell phones. In addition, the way many homes are wired today increases the electrical currents that go through our brains while we are in buildings. This is more damaging when we are asleep.
What can you do? Limit cell phone use to emergencies and essentials. Use corded phones rather than cordless phones. Avoid microwaving foods. Avoid wireless technologies, especially Blue Tooth. Use high speed internet that can be unplugged at night. Turn off the electricity to the bedroom at night if you can. Clean up hidden mold in the house.
Beyond the accumulation of toxins that we have deluded ourselves into believing is a normal part of life in this excessively materialists and comfort culture, there are deeper reasons for our epidemic of chronic neurological disorders.
The psychological conflicts in previous generations become the biological conflicts in children, and we are all children. It can be that a child with autism is not speaking because someone in the family tree from an earlier generation is not spoken about. The autistic child is like a black hole; he attracts everything to himself but cannot emit a single word. The same family tree issues can hold true in other neurological illnesses of today, or it may be a present lifetime issue. Someone who develops multiple sclerosis, for example, has often experienced a deep devaluing of self. These problems often originate in the preverbal times of life, especially between conception and one year old, and even before conception, in what we inherit from our ancestors. We can access and heal these unconscious memories in many ways.
As you can surmise, the healing of our neurological impairments and illnesses will require a concerted effort by all of us in many areas of life. Though this includes addressing the specific contributing causes mentioned in this article, healing also includes widening our fields of perception and actions to include homeopathic and anthroposophical treatments-oral and topical remedies, color and sound, and movement therapies like eurythmy-to activate more subtle forces in healing.
In addition, let us be mindful that sometimes our healing requires us to learn to live with an illness rather than to cure it. I recall a patient with multiple sclerosis who transformed from a cold businessman to a warm loving man as his illness progressed to become more debilitating.
It is time to wake up! The economic events of our time shake up our complacency and assumptions. We need healthy brains and a change of perception toward our illnesses in order to have the necessary mental clarity, the receptivity to the whispers of higher suggestions, and the will to make constructive therapeutic movements toward healing our neurological illnesses of today.
Introducing World Brain day is also meant as a wake-up call to political decision-makers. Despite the huge burden they cause, neurological conditions are largely absent from the national and international health agendas. Not only do neurological diseases cause individual suffering they also have much greater social and economic relevance than people often assumed.
Brain disorders are costly The burden of neurological disorders continues to be underestimated while in fact they should be treated as one of the highest-level healthcare priorities. The message we are sending out with the first World Brain Day in this respect is clear: Political and funding priorities need to shift, governments and international organizations need to prioritize brain health.
Much of this burden is preventable. One of the important actions required in the field of prevention are immunization programmes for the prevention of neuroinfections and the neurological consequences of other infections. Other diseases such as stroke can be prevented through a comprehensure, cholesterol, smoking healthy diet or diabetes. More than 100 million DALYs could be gained by effective strategies to reduce the burden of stroke and traumatic brain injury alone.
There is no health without brain health. Our brain is our most amazing and complex organ, and its functioning is most closely linked to the health of the whole human being,” according to Dr.Raad Shakir, President of the World Federation of Neurology (WFN). “However, there is a lack of awareness in the public and among decision makers for the essential role of the brain and its health. This is also true for the individual and collective burden arising from brain diseases and in particular from neurological diseases. It is becoming increasingly clear that these disorders, such as stroke and dementia, are projected to rise at a rate that could overwhelm our health care systems. Hence a new emphasis has to be developed on prevention. Neurologists are the guardians of the brain and need to take the leading role in advancing new approaches in stemming the tide of neurological diseases. Dr.chandrashekhar Meshram president Indian Academy of Neurology addresses this appeal to the public at the launch of WFN’s first “World Brain Day” on 22 July. The theme for this year is” our brain – our future “
In this 1st world Brain Day, Dr.M.A.Aleem as a neurologist from the developing world requesting the world Health organization [WHO] to separate Neuro health from mental health and keep Neurosciences as a separate entity under the World Health Organization to promote and strengthen the Neurological awareness care, Management and research activity worldwide
So it’s time to act. Let’s get together to promote better brain health globally. Our Future - Our Brain. Says Dr.M.A.Aleem.
Facts of the human brain
1. Brain is the most amazing and complex organ in the human body.
2. The human brain consists of millions and millions of electrical wires which are known as axons
3. This distance is the equivalent of travelling around the earth four times in a row! It is thought that there are about eighty billion neurons within the human brain. There are about ten trillion connections between these neurons whish help us to read, write watch, learn, plan, think, feel, move and solve problems on a daily basis
4. One in three of us will get dementia or stroke during our life time. This can occur at any age-any time-anywhere! Both these disorder are preventable-treatable for the most part.
5. Diseases affecting the brain include stroke, Epilepsy, Depression, Tumore, Traumatic Injury, Alzheimer,s Disease, Infections, Headache, Sleep disorder and genetic disorders.
6. Diseases affecting the brain are single most important cause of disability in the world.
Our Brain Our Future
Dr.M.A.Aleem.M.D.D.M., (Neure) HOD and professor of Neurology KAPV Government Medical college. MGM Government Hospital Trichy -620017. Cell: 94431-59940 E-mail: drmaaleem@hotmail.com
Introduction:-
On 22 July, the World Federation of Neurology (WFN) launches the first “World Brain Day” an event dedicated to bringing more attention to the importance of brain health and the prevention of brain diseases, a largely underestimated health problem. Indian Academy of Neurology (IAN) supports the awareness-raising campaign. Brain disorders, comprising mental, neurological and substance-use conditions, constitute 13 percent of the global burden of disease, surpassing both cardiovascular disease and cancer. Many of them are preventable and treatable, but diagnostic and therapeutic resources are unequally distributed globally.
`The complexities of the brain and of neurological diseases often become a barrier for public awareness. Our most important goal with this novel campaign is to present brain health in all its aspects and social dimensions and sensitize the public to its significance. In doing so, we want to support those affected by brain disease and in particular neurological diseases and inform the broad public about the importance of prevention,” says Dr.M.A.Aleem Professor of Neurology KAPV Govt Medical College and President Trichy Neuro Association. It’s time to act. This is why we are taking this initiative to promote better brain health globally.
The burden of brain disorder and neurological diseases is largely underestimated, however, according to Dr.M.A.Aleem professor of Neurology KAPV Government Medical College. “Stroke and traumatic brain injuries are two most important causes of disability in India, one to two percent of the global population suffers from some kind of disability related to traumatic brain injury. Worldwide, stroke is the second commonest cause of death after ischaemicheart disease and ahead of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. According to WHO data, neurological diseases alone are responsible for between 4.5 and 11 percent of all burden of disease, depending on whether you look at low – or high-income economies. This is far higher than the number of respiratory ailments, gastrointestinal disorders or malignant tumours.”
Neurological diseases are a major cause of death. According to the WHO, they account for 12 percent of deaths worldwide a figure that varies according to levels of economic development. Lower-middle-income countries are the hardest hit. They account for nearly 17 percent of deaths attributable to neurological causes because both infectious and non-communicable neurological diseases contribute to mortality. Of all neurological illnesses, stroke and other cerebrovascular disorders are by far the commonest cause of death, accounting for 85 percent of all fatalities.
Yet the incidence of many neurological conditions such as dementia, Parkinson’s or stroke will skyrocket as population’s age. According to the WHO, the number of disability – adjusted life years (DALYs) attributable to neurological illnesses – years lost due to premature death combined with the equivalent years of health life lost through poor health or disability – is expected to rise from 92 million worldwide in 2005 to 103 million 2030. This represents an alarming 12 percent increase. For demographic reasons alone years of life lost in connection with Alzheimer,s and other forms of dementia in particular will rise most dramatically by around 66 percent. The lion’s share – more than 55 percent – of equivalent years of life lost through neurological disoreders is attributable to cerebrovascular illnesses such as stroke and intracranial haemorrhage. It is estimated that in 2015, 50 million healthy life years will be lost due to stroke alone.
Having a healthy brain and nervous system is vital to being able to think clearly, without which our active will lacks intelligent guidance and is weakened.
Neurological illnesses can occur across the entire life span. They manifest as autism and attention deficit problems in children, multiple sclerosis and insomnia and seizures in adults, and Alzheimer’s and parkinson’s disease in the aging population.
Whereas we are often not aware of the disturbances in our metabolism that precede the appearance of the signs and symptoms that occur with cancer or high blood pressure, in neurological disorders we become aware quite early that something is not right. We may observe that our child is delayed in developing speech or stops speaking; we may notice one of our legs is not moving right ; or we may find that our parent is having serious memory impairments.
Why are these events and illnesses happening with increasing frequency today? There are a number of key reasons.
One reason is that we live in a toxic world. The great majority of chemicals we now take in daily were not on the planet 30 years ago. Many of these accumulate, especially in our fatty tissue, and slowly incapacitate our nerves. These toxins become neurotoxins, damaging the nervous system. The brain is essentially composed of fats in its structure. Its healthy function depends on an intake of good fats – eggs, coconut oil, and others – to function optimally. This high fat content enables our brains to float in the cerebrospinal fluid that bathes it, similar to the way oils float on water. It is this quality that enables us to think clearly, reflect on life develop insight and intent, and plan for the future.
The accumulation of environmental toxins impairs these functions. It is important to limit your exposure to these chemicals as much as possible, and take steps to eliminate them from your body. You can do this by eating good fats (olive oil, avocados, nuts and seeds, fish oil are good examples) by sitting in infrared saunas, and by properly disposing of the commercial home and yard products you have on hand and purchasing nontoxic replacements at health food or other “green” stores. (Note that it isn’t only the pesticides to watch out for; common household cleaning and laundry supplies are filled with chemical toxins.)
The toxins you are exposed to also include heavy metals, especially mercury which destroys nervous tissues. The sources of mercury today are dental metal amalgam fillings, many fish coal burning and most vaccines. The mercury in vaccines is strongly implicated in our autism epidemic. What can you do? Thoughtfully consider the pros and cons of vaccinating your children and yourselves, eat northern ocean fish, and consult a dentist who is aware of the dangers of the dangers of mercury fillings.
There is an old saying in natural healing: all disease begins in the gut. There is truth in this. Due In large part to the epidemic of fear of illness, and our adversarial relationship with nature, we go to great lengths to kill any microorganism that we blame for out illnesses. This has led us to the overuse of antibiotics, which leads to immune impairment and severely disrupts the balance of healthy microflora in the intestines. Use of antibiotics permits overgrowth of unfriendly bacteria and other microorganisms, damage to the intestinal walls, and subsequent absorption of the toxic microbes into the body. The intestines are out second brain. Over 90% of all detectable neurotransmitters in the body are produced in the small intestine. We need healthy bile flow to excrete many of these neurotoxins.
Therefore, care for your gut : eat slowly, take enzymes or apple cider vinegar in water before eating to prime the pump, limit your use of antibiotics to only the most serious conditions, take probiotics (beneficial bacteria) , learn healthy breathing, take green clay orally in water, and use topical castor oil packs to improve liver, lymphatic and intestinal function.
Chronic infections also play a huge role in the development of neurological illnesses today. These include Lyme disease, viral conditions, fungal infections (which have increased exponentially due to overuse of antibiotics) , mercury toxicity, and disorders related to mold exposure. In addition to dampness in homes, wireless technology and the impaired wiring in old and new homes; all these factors can lead to a thousand times the overgrowth of mold.
When absorbed into the body, most of the toxins discussed here damage what is called the blood-brain barrier. This is a very thin layer of protective cells that keep toxins from seeping into the brain and doing harm. In most people today, this barrier is damaged. Most of the chronic neurological disorders of today originate physiologically in this damage.
Another area of toxic exposure, and one that is increasing at an alarming rate today, is electromagnetic radiation to the head. The number one source of this radiation is cell phones and cordless phones, the use of which we now accept as normal. We live in a culture of convenience, and we are paying the price for this. It is time to change. Studies in Germany have demonstrated that children who live within 300 meters of a cell phone tower have abnormal EEGs. New research in Sweden indicates that children and teenagers are fiver time more likely to get brain cancer if they use cell phones. In addition, the way many homes are wired today increases the electrical currents that go through our brains while we are in buildings. This is more damaging when we are asleep.
What can you do? Limit cell phone use to emergencies and essentials. Use corded phones rather than cordless phones. Avoid microwaving foods. Avoid wireless technologies, especially Blue Tooth. Use high speed internet that can be unplugged at night. Turn off the electricity to the bedroom at night if you can. Clean up hidden mold in the house.
Beyond the accumulation of toxins that we have deluded ourselves into believing is a normal part of life in this excessively materialists and comfort culture, there are deeper reasons for our epidemic of chronic neurological disorders.
The psychological conflicts in previous generations become the biological conflicts in children, and we are all children. It can be that a child with autism is not speaking because someone in the family tree from an earlier generation is not spoken about. The autistic child is like a black hole; he attracts everything to himself but cannot emit a single word. The same family tree issues can hold true in other neurological illnesses of today, or it may be a present lifetime issue. Someone who develops multiple sclerosis, for example, has often experienced a deep devaluing of self. These problems often originate in the preverbal times of life, especially between conception and one year old, and even before conception, in what we inherit from our ancestors. We can access and heal these unconscious memories in many ways.
As you can surmise, the healing of our neurological impairments and illnesses will require a concerted effort by all of us in many areas of life. Though this includes addressing the specific contributing causes mentioned in this article, healing also includes widening our fields of perception and actions to include homeopathic and anthroposophical treatments-oral and topical remedies, color and sound, and movement therapies like eurythmy-to activate more subtle forces in healing.
In addition, let us be mindful that sometimes our healing requires us to learn to live with an illness rather than to cure it. I recall a patient with multiple sclerosis who transformed from a cold businessman to a warm loving man as his illness progressed to become more debilitating.
It is time to wake up! The economic events of our time shake up our complacency and assumptions. We need healthy brains and a change of perception toward our illnesses in order to have the necessary mental clarity, the receptivity to the whispers of higher suggestions, and the will to make constructive therapeutic movements toward healing our neurological illnesses of today.
Introducing World Brain day is also meant as a wake-up call to political decision-makers. Despite the huge burden they cause, neurological conditions are largely absent from the national and international health agendas. Not only do neurological diseases cause individual suffering they also have much greater social and economic relevance than people often assumed.
Brain disorders are costly The burden of neurological disorders continues to be underestimated while in fact they should be treated as one of the highest-level healthcare priorities. The message we are sending out with the first World Brain Day in this respect is clear: Political and funding priorities need to shift, governments and international organizations need to prioritize brain health.
Much of this burden is preventable. One of the important actions required in the field of prevention are immunization programmes for the prevention of neuroinfections and the neurological consequences of other infections. Other diseases such as stroke can be prevented through a comprehensure, cholesterol, smoking healthy diet or diabetes. More than 100 million DALYs could be gained by effective strategies to reduce the burden of stroke and traumatic brain injury alone.
There is no health without brain health. Our brain is our most amazing and complex organ, and its functioning is most closely linked to the health of the whole human being,” according to Dr.Raad Shakir, President of the World Federation of Neurology (WFN). “However, there is a lack of awareness in the public and among decision makers for the essential role of the brain and its health. This is also true for the individual and collective burden arising from brain diseases and in particular from neurological diseases. It is becoming increasingly clear that these disorders, such as stroke and dementia, are projected to rise at a rate that could overwhelm our health care systems. Hence a new emphasis has to be developed on prevention. Neurologists are the guardians of the brain and need to take the leading role in advancing new approaches in stemming the tide of neurological diseases. Dr.chandrashekhar Meshram president Indian Academy of Neurology addresses this appeal to the public at the launch of WFN’s first “World Brain Day” on 22 July. The theme for this year is” our brain – our future “
In this 1st world Brain Day, Dr.M.A.Aleem as a neurologist from the developing world requesting the world Health organization [WHO] to separate Neuro health from mental health and keep Neurosciences as a separate entity under the World Health Organization to promote and strengthen the Neurological awareness care, Management and research activity worldwide
So it’s time to act. Let’s get together to promote better brain health globally. Our Future - Our Brain. Says Dr.M.A.Aleem.
Facts of the human brain
1. Brain is the most amazing and complex organ in the human body.
2. The human brain consists of millions and millions of electrical wires which are known as axons
3. This distance is the equivalent of travelling around the earth four times in a row! It is thought that there are about eighty billion neurons within the human brain. There are about ten trillion connections between these neurons whish help us to read, write watch, learn, plan, think, feel, move and solve problems on a daily basis
4. One in three of us will get dementia or stroke during our life time. This can occur at any age-any time-anywhere! Both these disorder are preventable-treatable for the most part.
5. Diseases affecting the brain include stroke, Epilepsy, Depression, Tumore, Traumatic Injury, Alzheimer,s Disease, Infections, Headache, Sleep disorder and genetic disorders.
6. Diseases affecting the brain are single most important cause of disability in the world.
Headache and Islamic Fasting
There are many things that could be causing headache during fasting. Migraine or stress could be causes of this. Secondary headaches result from organic problems, like sinuses, teeth problems, eye problems, high blood pressure or a bad nervous system.
Migraine is the type of headache that increases when you fast. The reason for this is that when one fasts, his sugar level drops, which increases the severity of the headache. Physical exhaustion and mental stress also contribute to the problem. Additionally, some perfumes and food, and staying up late at night also add to the problem, as well as many other reasons.
However, to properly diagnose the problem, you must consult a physician who could advise you to adhere to certain preventive measures that could stop the recurrence of the headache, or at least reduce its severity. After treatment, you may resume fasting.

Fasting during the Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. Followers should abstain from eating, drinking and smoking from dawn to sunset for 29 to 30 days. Many people who fast over Ramadan suffer mild or moderate headaches as a result of factors such as caffeine withdrawal, stress and low blood sugar. You can manage these headaches without breaking your fast.
Headache onset often occurs in the afternoon or evening just before the fast is broken. Headache frequency typically increases over the duration of fasting. Those prone to headaches at other times of the year are most likely to get headaches, but some patients that experience headaches during this time have no history of headaches or migraines.
How to eliminate headache from your fasting regimen during Ramadan:
Caffeine withdrawal as the most common cause of headache while fasting. Patients can often prevent headaches by reducing caffeine consumption in the weeks leading up to Ramadan month, while a cup of strong coffee just before the start of the fast for the day may prevent caffeine withdrawal headache.
Hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) can also trigger headaches in many people. If a meal with high sugar content is taken before the day fast begins, it can cause a rapid rise in blood sugar levels followed by a fast drop that may trigger a headache. Eating a meal with low sugar content before the fast may prevent the onset of a headache during the day.
Dehydration is another common trigger, adequate intake of fluid before the onset of the fast can often prevent headaches. The human brain is more than 75% water, and it is very sensitive to the amount of water available to it. When the brain detects that the water supply is too low, it begins to produce histamines. This is essentially a process of water rationing and conservation, in order to safeguard the brain in case the water shortage continues. for a long period of time. The histamines directly cause pain and fatigue, in other words a headache and the low energy that usually accompanies it. Patients should also, as far as possible, try to avoid exposure to other triggers such as fluid retention, stress, fatigue and lack of sleep during Ramadan, when there is a greater tendency to experience headache,†says Dr Shevel. “Rest and sleep often to help prevent being subjected to headaches and the pain often melts away when the fast is broken for the day.
Medicinal help
Preventive medication that will last for the full twelve hours of the fast is available and it can be get with neurologist consultation. Preparations such as the tablet Naproxen sodium, which is taken as a single dose of 500mg just before the fast begins may be useful.
So that Muslims can continue fasting without breaking any of the principles of Ramadan . If headaches persist after Ramadan or are severe in nature, patients are advised to seek help from a medical professional.
World Brain day - Our Brain Our future 22.07.2014
World Brain Day 22.7.2014
Our Brain Our Future
Dr.M.A.Aleem.M.D.D.M., (Neure) HOD and professor of Neurology KAPV Government Medical college. MGM Government Hospital Trichy -620017. Cell: 94431-59940 E-mail: drmaaleem@hotmail.com
Introduction:-
On 22 July, the World Federation of Neurology (WFN) launches the first “World Brain Day” an event dedicated to bringing more attention to the importance of brain health and the prevention of brain diseases, a largely underestimated health problem. Indian Academy of Neurology (IAN) supports the awareness-raising campaign. Brain disorders, comprising mental, neurological and substance-use conditions, constitute 13 percent of the global burden of disease, surpassing both cardiovascular disease and cancer. Many of them are preventable and treatable, but diagnostic and therapeutic resources are unequally distributed globally.
`The complexities of the brain and of neurological diseases often become a barrier for public awareness. Our most important goal with this novel campaign is to present brain health in all its aspects and social dimensions and sensitize the public to its significance. In doing so, we want to support those affected by brain disease and in particular neurological diseases and inform the broad public about the importance of prevention,” says Dr.M.A.Aleem Professor of Neurology KAPV Govt Medical College and President Trichy Neuro Association. It’s time to act. This is why we are taking this initiative to promote better brain health globally.
The burden of brain disorder and neurological diseases is largely underestimated, however, according to Dr.M.A.Aleem professor of Neurology KAPV Government Medical College. “Stroke and traumatic brain injuries are two most important causes of disability in India, one to two percent of the global population suffers from some kind of disability related to traumatic brain injury. Worldwide, stroke is the second commonest cause of death after ischaemicheart disease and ahead of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. According to WHO data, neurological diseases alone are responsible for between 4.5 and 11 percent of all burden of disease, depending on whether you look at low – or high-income economies. This is far higher than the number of respiratory ailments, gastrointestinal disorders or malignant tumours.”
Neurological diseases are a major cause of death. According to the WHO, they account for 12 percent of deaths worldwide a figure that varies according to levels of economic development. Lower-middle-income countries are the hardest hit. They account for nearly 17 percent of deaths attributable to neurological causes because both infectious and non-communicable neurological diseases contribute to mortality. Of all neurological illnesses, stroke and other cerebrovascular disorders are by far the commonest cause of death, accounting for 85 percent of all fatalities.
Yet the incidence of many neurological conditions such as dementia, Parkinson’s or stroke will skyrocket as population’s age. According to the WHO, the number of disability – adjusted life years (DALYs) attributable to neurological illnesses – years lost due to premature death combined with the equivalent years of health life lost through poor health or disability – is expected to rise from 92 million worldwide in 2005 to 103 million 2030. This represents an alarming 12 percent increase. For demographic reasons alone years of life lost in connection with Alzheimer,s and other forms of dementia in particular will rise most dramatically by around 66 percent. The lion’s share – more than 55 percent – of equivalent years of life lost through neurological disoreders is attributable to cerebrovascular illnesses such as stroke and intracranial haemorrhage. It is estimated that in 2015, 50 million healthy life years will be lost due to stroke alone.
Having a healthy brain and nervous system is vital to being able to think clearly, without which our active will lacks intelligent guidance and is weakened.
Neurological illnesses can occur across the entire life span. They manifest as autism and attention deficit problems in children, multiple sclerosis and insomnia and seizures in adults, and Alzheimer’s and parkinson’s disease in the aging population.
Whereas we are often not aware of the disturbances in our metabolism that precede the appearance of the signs and symptoms that occur with cancer or high blood pressure, in neurological disorders we become aware quite early that something is not right. We may observe that our child is delayed in developing speech or stops speaking; we may notice one of our legs is not moving right ; or we may find that our parent is having serious memory impairments.
Why are these events and illnesses happening with increasing frequency today? There are a number of key reasons.
One reason is that we live in a toxic world. The great majority of chemicals we now take in daily were not on the planet 30 years ago. Many of these accumulate, especially in our fatty tissue, and slowly incapacitate our nerves. These toxins become neurotoxins, damaging the nervous system. The brain is essentially composed of fats in its structure. Its healthy function depends on an intake of good fats – eggs, coconut oil, and others – to function optimally. This high fat content enables our brains to float in the cerebrospinal fluid that bathes it, similar to the way oils float on water. It is this quality that enables us to think clearly, reflect on life develop insight and intent, and plan for the future.
The accumulation of environmental toxins impairs these functions. It is important to limit your exposure to these chemicals as much as possible, and take steps to eliminate them from your body. You can do this by eating good fats (olive oil, avocados, nuts and seeds, fish oil are good examples) by sitting in infrared saunas, and by properly disposing of the commercial home and yard products you have on hand and purchasing nontoxic replacements at health food or other “green” stores. (Note that it isn’t only the pesticides to watch out for; common household cleaning and laundry supplies are filled with chemical toxins.)
The toxins you are exposed to also include heavy metals, especially mercury which destroys nervous tissues. The sources of mercury today are dental metal amalgam fillings, many fish coal burning and most vaccines. The mercury in vaccines is strongly implicated in our autism epidemic. What can you do? Thoughtfully consider the pros and cons of vaccinating your children and yourselves, eat northern ocean fish, and consult a dentist who is aware of the dangers of the dangers of mercury fillings.
There is an old saying in natural healing: all disease begins in the gut. There is truth in this. Due In large part to the epidemic of fear of illness, and our adversarial relationship with nature, we go to great lengths to kill any microorganism that we blame for out illnesses. This has led us to the overuse of antibiotics, which leads to immune impairment and severely disrupts the balance of healthy microflora in the intestines. Use of antibiotics permits overgrowth of unfriendly bacteria and other microorganisms, damage to the intestinal walls, and subsequent absorption of the toxic microbes into the body. The intestines are out second brain. Over 90% of all detectable neurotransmitters in the body are produced in the small intestine. We need healthy bile flow to excrete many of these neurotoxins.
Therefore, care for your gut : eat slowly, take enzymes or apple cider vinegar in water before eating to prime the pump, limit your use of antibiotics to only the most serious conditions, take probiotics (beneficial bacteria) , learn healthy breathing, take green clay orally in water, and use topical castor oil packs to improve liver, lymphatic and intestinal function.
Chronic infections also play a huge role in the development of neurological illnesses today. These include Lyme disease, viral conditions, fungal infections (which have increased exponentially due to overuse of antibiotics) , mercury toxicity, and disorders related to mold exposure. In addition to dampness in homes, wireless technology and the impaired wiring in old and new homes; all these factors can lead to a thousand times the overgrowth of mold.
When absorbed into the body, most of the toxins discussed here damage what is called the blood-brain barrier. This is a very thin layer of protective cells that keep toxins from seeping into the brain and doing harm. In most people today, this barrier is damaged. Most of the chronic neurological disorders of today originate physiologically in this damage.
Another area of toxic exposure, and one that is increasing at an alarming rate today, is electromagnetic radiation to the head. The number one source of this radiation is cell phones and cordless phones, the use of which we now accept as normal. We live in a culture of convenience, and we are paying the price for this. It is time to change. Studies in Germany have demonstrated that children who live within 300 meters of a cell phone tower have abnormal EEGs. New research in Sweden indicates that children and teenagers are fiver time more likely to get brain cancer if they use cell phones. In addition, the way many homes are wired today increases the electrical currents that go through our brains while we are in buildings. This is more damaging when we are asleep.
What can you do? Limit cell phone use to emergencies and essentials. Use corded phones rather than cordless phones. Avoid microwaving foods. Avoid wireless technologies, especially Blue Tooth. Use high speed internet that can be unplugged at night. Turn off the electricity to the bedroom at night if you can. Clean up hidden mold in the house.
Beyond the accumulation of toxins that we have deluded ourselves into believing is a normal part of life in this excessively materialists and comfort culture, there are deeper reasons for our epidemic of chronic neurological disorders.
The psychological conflicts in previous generations become the biological conflicts in children, and we are all children. It can be that a child with autism is not speaking because someone in the family tree from an earlier generation is not spoken about. The autistic child is like a black hole; he attracts everything to himself but cannot emit a single word. The same family tree issues can hold true in other neurological illnesses of today, or it may be a present lifetime issue. Someone who develops multiple sclerosis, for example, has often experienced a deep devaluing of self. These problems often originate in the preverbal times of life, especially between conception and one year old, and even before conception, in what we inherit from our ancestors. We can access and heal these unconscious memories in many ways.
As you can surmise, the healing of our neurological impairments and illnesses will require a concerted effort by all of us in many areas of life. Though this includes addressing the specific contributing causes mentioned in this article, healing also includes widening our fields of perception and actions to include homeopathic and anthroposophical treatments-oral and topical remedies, color and sound, and movement therapies like eurythmy-to activate more subtle forces in healing.
In addition, let us be mindful that sometimes our healing requires us to learn to live with an illness rather than to cure it. I recall a patient with multiple sclerosis who transformed from a cold businessman to a warm loving man as his illness progressed to become more debilitating.
It is time to wake up! The economic events of our time shake up our complacency and assumptions. We need healthy brains and a change of perception toward our illnesses in order to have the necessary mental clarity, the receptivity to the whispers of higher suggestions, and the will to make constructive therapeutic movements toward healing our neurological illnesses of today.
Introducing World Brain day is also meant as a wake-up call to political decision-makers. Despite the huge burden they cause, neurological conditions are largely absent from the national and international health agendas. Not only do neurological diseases cause individual suffering they also have much greater social and economic relevance than people often assumed.
Brain disorders are costly The burden of neurological disorders continues to be underestimated while in fact they should be treated as one of the highest-level healthcare priorities. The message we are sending out with the first World Brain Day in this respect is clear: Political and funding priorities need to shift, governments and international organizations need to prioritize brain health.
Much of this burden is preventable. One of the important actions required in the field of prevention are immunization programmes for the prevention of neuroinfections and the neurological consequences of other infections. Other diseases such as stroke can be prevented through a comprehensure, cholesterol, smoking healthy diet or diabetes. More than 100 million DALYs could be gained by effective strategies to reduce the burden of stroke and traumatic brain injury alone.
There is no health without brain health. Our brain is our most amazing and complex organ, and its functioning is most closely linked to the health of the whole human being,” according to Dr.Raad Shakir, President of the World Federation of Neurology (WFN). “However, there is a lack of awareness in the public and among decision makers for the essential role of the brain and its health. This is also true for the individual and collective burden arising from brain diseases and in particular from neurological diseases. It is becoming increasingly clear that these disorders, such as stroke and dementia, are projected to rise at a rate that could overwhelm our health care systems. Hence a new emphasis has to be developed on prevention. Neurologists are the guardians of the brain and need to take the leading role in advancing new approaches in stemming the tide of neurological diseases. Dr.chandrashekhar Meshram president Indian Academy of Neurology addresses this appeal to the public at the launch of WFN’s first “World Brain Day” on 22 July. The theme for this year is” our brain – our future “
In this 1st world Brain Day, Dr.M.A.Aleem as a neurologist from the developing world requesting the world Health organization [WHO] to separate Neuro health from mental health and keep Neurosciences as a separate entity under the World Health Organization to promote and strengthen the Neurological awareness, care, Management and research activity worldwide.
So it’s time to act. Let’s get together to promote better brain health globally. Our Future - Our Brain. Says Dr.M.A.Aleem.
Facts of the human brain
Brain is the most amazing and complex organ in the human body.
The human brain consists of millions and millions of electrical wires which are known as axons
This distance is the equivalent of travelling around the earth four times in a row! It is thought that there are about eighty billion neurons within the human brain. There are about ten trillion connections between these neurons whish help us to read, write watch, learn, plan, think, feel, move and solve problems on a daily basis
One in three of us will get dementia or stroke during our life time. This can occur at any age-any time-anywhere! Both these disorder are preventable-treatable for the most part.
Diseases affecting the brain include stroke, Epilepsy, Depression, Tumore, Traumatic Injury, Alzheimer,s Disease, Infections, Headache, Sleep disorder and genetic disorders.
Diseases affecting the brain are single most important cause of disability in the world.
Our Brain Our Future
Dr.M.A.Aleem.M.D.D.M., (Neure) HOD and professor of Neurology KAPV Government Medical college. MGM Government Hospital Trichy -620017. Cell: 94431-59940 E-mail: drmaaleem@hotmail.com
Introduction:-
On 22 July, the World Federation of Neurology (WFN) launches the first “World Brain Day” an event dedicated to bringing more attention to the importance of brain health and the prevention of brain diseases, a largely underestimated health problem. Indian Academy of Neurology (IAN) supports the awareness-raising campaign. Brain disorders, comprising mental, neurological and substance-use conditions, constitute 13 percent of the global burden of disease, surpassing both cardiovascular disease and cancer. Many of them are preventable and treatable, but diagnostic and therapeutic resources are unequally distributed globally.
`The complexities of the brain and of neurological diseases often become a barrier for public awareness. Our most important goal with this novel campaign is to present brain health in all its aspects and social dimensions and sensitize the public to its significance. In doing so, we want to support those affected by brain disease and in particular neurological diseases and inform the broad public about the importance of prevention,” says Dr.M.A.Aleem Professor of Neurology KAPV Govt Medical College and President Trichy Neuro Association. It’s time to act. This is why we are taking this initiative to promote better brain health globally.
The burden of brain disorder and neurological diseases is largely underestimated, however, according to Dr.M.A.Aleem professor of Neurology KAPV Government Medical College. “Stroke and traumatic brain injuries are two most important causes of disability in India, one to two percent of the global population suffers from some kind of disability related to traumatic brain injury. Worldwide, stroke is the second commonest cause of death after ischaemicheart disease and ahead of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. According to WHO data, neurological diseases alone are responsible for between 4.5 and 11 percent of all burden of disease, depending on whether you look at low – or high-income economies. This is far higher than the number of respiratory ailments, gastrointestinal disorders or malignant tumours.”
Neurological diseases are a major cause of death. According to the WHO, they account for 12 percent of deaths worldwide a figure that varies according to levels of economic development. Lower-middle-income countries are the hardest hit. They account for nearly 17 percent of deaths attributable to neurological causes because both infectious and non-communicable neurological diseases contribute to mortality. Of all neurological illnesses, stroke and other cerebrovascular disorders are by far the commonest cause of death, accounting for 85 percent of all fatalities.
Yet the incidence of many neurological conditions such as dementia, Parkinson’s or stroke will skyrocket as population’s age. According to the WHO, the number of disability – adjusted life years (DALYs) attributable to neurological illnesses – years lost due to premature death combined with the equivalent years of health life lost through poor health or disability – is expected to rise from 92 million worldwide in 2005 to 103 million 2030. This represents an alarming 12 percent increase. For demographic reasons alone years of life lost in connection with Alzheimer,s and other forms of dementia in particular will rise most dramatically by around 66 percent. The lion’s share – more than 55 percent – of equivalent years of life lost through neurological disoreders is attributable to cerebrovascular illnesses such as stroke and intracranial haemorrhage. It is estimated that in 2015, 50 million healthy life years will be lost due to stroke alone.
Having a healthy brain and nervous system is vital to being able to think clearly, without which our active will lacks intelligent guidance and is weakened.
Neurological illnesses can occur across the entire life span. They manifest as autism and attention deficit problems in children, multiple sclerosis and insomnia and seizures in adults, and Alzheimer’s and parkinson’s disease in the aging population.
Whereas we are often not aware of the disturbances in our metabolism that precede the appearance of the signs and symptoms that occur with cancer or high blood pressure, in neurological disorders we become aware quite early that something is not right. We may observe that our child is delayed in developing speech or stops speaking; we may notice one of our legs is not moving right ; or we may find that our parent is having serious memory impairments.
Why are these events and illnesses happening with increasing frequency today? There are a number of key reasons.
One reason is that we live in a toxic world. The great majority of chemicals we now take in daily were not on the planet 30 years ago. Many of these accumulate, especially in our fatty tissue, and slowly incapacitate our nerves. These toxins become neurotoxins, damaging the nervous system. The brain is essentially composed of fats in its structure. Its healthy function depends on an intake of good fats – eggs, coconut oil, and others – to function optimally. This high fat content enables our brains to float in the cerebrospinal fluid that bathes it, similar to the way oils float on water. It is this quality that enables us to think clearly, reflect on life develop insight and intent, and plan for the future.
The accumulation of environmental toxins impairs these functions. It is important to limit your exposure to these chemicals as much as possible, and take steps to eliminate them from your body. You can do this by eating good fats (olive oil, avocados, nuts and seeds, fish oil are good examples) by sitting in infrared saunas, and by properly disposing of the commercial home and yard products you have on hand and purchasing nontoxic replacements at health food or other “green” stores. (Note that it isn’t only the pesticides to watch out for; common household cleaning and laundry supplies are filled with chemical toxins.)
The toxins you are exposed to also include heavy metals, especially mercury which destroys nervous tissues. The sources of mercury today are dental metal amalgam fillings, many fish coal burning and most vaccines. The mercury in vaccines is strongly implicated in our autism epidemic. What can you do? Thoughtfully consider the pros and cons of vaccinating your children and yourselves, eat northern ocean fish, and consult a dentist who is aware of the dangers of the dangers of mercury fillings.
There is an old saying in natural healing: all disease begins in the gut. There is truth in this. Due In large part to the epidemic of fear of illness, and our adversarial relationship with nature, we go to great lengths to kill any microorganism that we blame for out illnesses. This has led us to the overuse of antibiotics, which leads to immune impairment and severely disrupts the balance of healthy microflora in the intestines. Use of antibiotics permits overgrowth of unfriendly bacteria and other microorganisms, damage to the intestinal walls, and subsequent absorption of the toxic microbes into the body. The intestines are out second brain. Over 90% of all detectable neurotransmitters in the body are produced in the small intestine. We need healthy bile flow to excrete many of these neurotoxins.
Therefore, care for your gut : eat slowly, take enzymes or apple cider vinegar in water before eating to prime the pump, limit your use of antibiotics to only the most serious conditions, take probiotics (beneficial bacteria) , learn healthy breathing, take green clay orally in water, and use topical castor oil packs to improve liver, lymphatic and intestinal function.
Chronic infections also play a huge role in the development of neurological illnesses today. These include Lyme disease, viral conditions, fungal infections (which have increased exponentially due to overuse of antibiotics) , mercury toxicity, and disorders related to mold exposure. In addition to dampness in homes, wireless technology and the impaired wiring in old and new homes; all these factors can lead to a thousand times the overgrowth of mold.
When absorbed into the body, most of the toxins discussed here damage what is called the blood-brain barrier. This is a very thin layer of protective cells that keep toxins from seeping into the brain and doing harm. In most people today, this barrier is damaged. Most of the chronic neurological disorders of today originate physiologically in this damage.
Another area of toxic exposure, and one that is increasing at an alarming rate today, is electromagnetic radiation to the head. The number one source of this radiation is cell phones and cordless phones, the use of which we now accept as normal. We live in a culture of convenience, and we are paying the price for this. It is time to change. Studies in Germany have demonstrated that children who live within 300 meters of a cell phone tower have abnormal EEGs. New research in Sweden indicates that children and teenagers are fiver time more likely to get brain cancer if they use cell phones. In addition, the way many homes are wired today increases the electrical currents that go through our brains while we are in buildings. This is more damaging when we are asleep.
What can you do? Limit cell phone use to emergencies and essentials. Use corded phones rather than cordless phones. Avoid microwaving foods. Avoid wireless technologies, especially Blue Tooth. Use high speed internet that can be unplugged at night. Turn off the electricity to the bedroom at night if you can. Clean up hidden mold in the house.
Beyond the accumulation of toxins that we have deluded ourselves into believing is a normal part of life in this excessively materialists and comfort culture, there are deeper reasons for our epidemic of chronic neurological disorders.
The psychological conflicts in previous generations become the biological conflicts in children, and we are all children. It can be that a child with autism is not speaking because someone in the family tree from an earlier generation is not spoken about. The autistic child is like a black hole; he attracts everything to himself but cannot emit a single word. The same family tree issues can hold true in other neurological illnesses of today, or it may be a present lifetime issue. Someone who develops multiple sclerosis, for example, has often experienced a deep devaluing of self. These problems often originate in the preverbal times of life, especially between conception and one year old, and even before conception, in what we inherit from our ancestors. We can access and heal these unconscious memories in many ways.
As you can surmise, the healing of our neurological impairments and illnesses will require a concerted effort by all of us in many areas of life. Though this includes addressing the specific contributing causes mentioned in this article, healing also includes widening our fields of perception and actions to include homeopathic and anthroposophical treatments-oral and topical remedies, color and sound, and movement therapies like eurythmy-to activate more subtle forces in healing.
In addition, let us be mindful that sometimes our healing requires us to learn to live with an illness rather than to cure it. I recall a patient with multiple sclerosis who transformed from a cold businessman to a warm loving man as his illness progressed to become more debilitating.
It is time to wake up! The economic events of our time shake up our complacency and assumptions. We need healthy brains and a change of perception toward our illnesses in order to have the necessary mental clarity, the receptivity to the whispers of higher suggestions, and the will to make constructive therapeutic movements toward healing our neurological illnesses of today.
Introducing World Brain day is also meant as a wake-up call to political decision-makers. Despite the huge burden they cause, neurological conditions are largely absent from the national and international health agendas. Not only do neurological diseases cause individual suffering they also have much greater social and economic relevance than people often assumed.
Brain disorders are costly The burden of neurological disorders continues to be underestimated while in fact they should be treated as one of the highest-level healthcare priorities. The message we are sending out with the first World Brain Day in this respect is clear: Political and funding priorities need to shift, governments and international organizations need to prioritize brain health.
Much of this burden is preventable. One of the important actions required in the field of prevention are immunization programmes for the prevention of neuroinfections and the neurological consequences of other infections. Other diseases such as stroke can be prevented through a comprehensure, cholesterol, smoking healthy diet or diabetes. More than 100 million DALYs could be gained by effective strategies to reduce the burden of stroke and traumatic brain injury alone.
There is no health without brain health. Our brain is our most amazing and complex organ, and its functioning is most closely linked to the health of the whole human being,” according to Dr.Raad Shakir, President of the World Federation of Neurology (WFN). “However, there is a lack of awareness in the public and among decision makers for the essential role of the brain and its health. This is also true for the individual and collective burden arising from brain diseases and in particular from neurological diseases. It is becoming increasingly clear that these disorders, such as stroke and dementia, are projected to rise at a rate that could overwhelm our health care systems. Hence a new emphasis has to be developed on prevention. Neurologists are the guardians of the brain and need to take the leading role in advancing new approaches in stemming the tide of neurological diseases. Dr.chandrashekhar Meshram president Indian Academy of Neurology addresses this appeal to the public at the launch of WFN’s first “World Brain Day” on 22 July. The theme for this year is” our brain – our future “
In this 1st world Brain Day, Dr.M.A.Aleem as a neurologist from the developing world requesting the world Health organization [WHO] to separate Neuro health from mental health and keep Neurosciences as a separate entity under the World Health Organization to promote and strengthen the Neurological awareness, care, Management and research activity worldwide.
So it’s time to act. Let’s get together to promote better brain health globally. Our Future - Our Brain. Says Dr.M.A.Aleem.
Facts of the human brain
Brain is the most amazing and complex organ in the human body.
The human brain consists of millions and millions of electrical wires which are known as axons
This distance is the equivalent of travelling around the earth four times in a row! It is thought that there are about eighty billion neurons within the human brain. There are about ten trillion connections between these neurons whish help us to read, write watch, learn, plan, think, feel, move and solve problems on a daily basis
One in three of us will get dementia or stroke during our life time. This can occur at any age-any time-anywhere! Both these disorder are preventable-treatable for the most part.
Diseases affecting the brain include stroke, Epilepsy, Depression, Tumore, Traumatic Injury, Alzheimer,s Disease, Infections, Headache, Sleep disorder and genetic disorders.
Diseases affecting the brain are single most important cause of disability in the world.
Sunday, July 20, 2014
Anger and Islamic Fasting
Does Anger break the fast?
Anger does not invalidate Islamic fast, but it decreases the reward. Thus it is upon the Muslim to restrain himself, and guard their tongue from insults, cursing, backbiting, tale carrying and the like; things which Allah has prohibited during the fast and outside of the fast. Although during the fast these actions become more severe and it becomes more urgent for the person to guard the completeness of his fast, and to be far away from harming the people, and far away from being a cause for fitna, animosity, and division
Ramadan Anger Management
We all welcome Ramadan and look forward to it; it’s a chance to purify our hearts, minds and bodies and get closer to Allah (subHana wa Ta`ala). It’s also a more social time; the time when family and friends get together to do good deeds, break fast and meet up for Tarawih Prayer.
But it’s also a testing time for patience, as we’re being tested by hunger and thirst, lack of sleep due to night prayers and getting up for Sahur, our desire to balance our responsibilities to our families and communities with extra worship and also by our tolerance - or lack of it - of others. So sometimes it’s difficult to remain patient.
So anger management is something that's important, as it’s mentioned along with other major aspects of fasting. If you have difficulty to controll the anger, especially in Ramadan, trere are a few tips that I hope will help you get through this blessed month and gain the extra reward for your patience.
1.First say I am Fasting -
The hadith of the prophet, peace be upon him, tells us that if we are fasting and someone is trying to argue with us, we should say to them -
"Anna saaum! Anna Saaum!" (I'm fasting! I'm fasting!)
2. Seeking Refuge from Satan
If you get into a situation where you feel your anger rising, try to catch it before it gets full-blown and seek refuge in Allah from Satan:
The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasallam) said: "If a man gets angry and says, ‘A`udhu billahi min ash-shaytan ir rajim (I seek refuge with Allah from the accursed Satan),’ his anger will go away." (Sahih al-Jami’)
Saying this will make it easier to control your anger, as it will remind you that it’s being increased by Satan’s whisperings and that he is rubbing his hands with glee at your rising temper!
3. Get Closer to the Ground
The worst position to be angry in is when you’re standing up. In this position you feel strong and powerful and ready for flight or fight. So if you get angry while you’re standing, follow the Prophet's advice:
"When one of you becomes angry while standing, he should sit down. If the anger leaves him, well and good; otherwise he should lie down." (Abu Dawud and Al-Tirmidhi)
When you’re either sitting or lying, you’re more relaxed and in less of an aggressive position, so it will be easier for you to control your anger.
4. Remember Allah and the Day of Judgement
We’re told in Hadith Jibra’il, that Ihsan is: "to worship Allah as though you are seeing Him, and while you see Him not yet — truly He sees you." (Al-Bukhari)
Strive to develop your Iman to the level of Ihsan, so that each moment you live, you’re conscious of Allah watching every little thing you do. Would you like Allah to see you losing your temper and getting angry with someone, just because you feel offended or you weren’t able to be patient with someone? How will you answer Him on the Day of Judgement for your actions? Ramadan is a great time to get closer to Allah, to gain peace through increasing your worship. Make the most of this precious time!
5. Look in the Mirror
Have you ever looked at yourself in a mirror when you’re angry? You know how other people look, they get tense, their faces get flushed, their brow muscles move inward and downward, they stare fixedly, their nostrils flare and the jaw clenches. Not a pretty sight! Try to avoid people seeing you like that.
Further the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasallam) said, "Beware of anger, for it is a live coal on the heart of the descendant of Adam. Do you not notice the swelling of the veins of his neck and the redness of his eyes? So when anyone experiences anything of that nature he should lie down and cleave to the earth" (Al-Tirmidhi)
6. Take Wudu’
If you still feel your temper rising and don’t feel able to control it, a great piece of advice is to take Wudu’. And then do two Rak'ahs of prayer if you can. As well as taking you out of the situation, it helps you to think of Allah and it also cools you down.
The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasallam) said: "Anger comes from the devil, the devil was created of fire, and fire is extinguished only with water; so when any of you is angry, he should perform Wudu'" (Abu Dawud)
7. Learn How to Relax
Anger often erupts when people are feeling stressed and tense. If that’s how you’re feeling, stress management would help to reduce the likelihood of you letting your anger go. There are a number of things that you could do to relax yourself, a few of them are:
Take your time over your prayers, don't rush them, and doing extra Dua`
Listen to recitations of the Qur’an by your favourite Qari’
Breathe deeply, from your diaphragm; making the exhalation twice as long as the inhalation. And think calming thoughts while you’re doing it
Imagination can also be a very powerful tool for many different reasons to control anger. Imagine yourself getting angry over something that often trips you up and then image yourself controlling your anger.
If you practice these techniques on a regular basis, you’ll be able to use them automatically when you start getting angry.
8. Be Silent or Speak Wisely
Anger is an instinctive normal emotion that Allah implanted in all of us and it can be aroused for a number of reasons, i.e. when a person feels that they have been offended, when they feel that other people have been offended or when they feel that Allah and His Messenger have been offended. There are times when anger needs to be expressed, but it has to be done in an effective and wise manner, and not just to relieve personal tension, as that can be so destructive.
The Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasallam) said: "If any of you becomes angry, let him keep silent." (Ahmad)
But the he (salAllahu alayhi wasallam) also told us to speak up when we see something evil, so we need to follow each of these Hadith in their proper context and learn when to speak and when to be silent. So if you’re in a situation where you need to speak up, don’t just say the first thing that comes to your head. Take time to think through your response and what effect your words may have on the other person. What might they be thinking and feeling now? How might they perceive the situation? Will they actually listen to what you’re saying and accept it from you?
Before you say anything, make this Dua’: "O Allah, I ask You to make me fear You in secret and in public, and I ask You to make me speak the truth in times of contentment and of anger. “
Work out how to express yourself clearly and calmly and really listen to the response you get. Avoid emotive exaggerations; just state the facts and what you would like to be done and try to come to a win-win result where both of you gain.
9. - DON'T LOOK
Stop looking at the person you are angry with, close your mouth and don't speak. When angry looking at or talking to the other person only makes it worse for both of you. Just look away and be careful not to show anger in your face or movements.
These are just a few of tips for anger management.
Anger does not invalidate Islamic fast, but it decreases the reward. Thus it is upon the Muslim to restrain himself, and guard their tongue from insults, cursing, backbiting, tale carrying and the like; things which Allah has prohibited during the fast and outside of the fast. Although during the fast these actions become more severe and it becomes more urgent for the person to guard the completeness of his fast, and to be far away from harming the people, and far away from being a cause for fitna, animosity, and division
Ramadan Anger Management
We all welcome Ramadan and look forward to it; it’s a chance to purify our hearts, minds and bodies and get closer to Allah (subHana wa Ta`ala). It’s also a more social time; the time when family and friends get together to do good deeds, break fast and meet up for Tarawih Prayer.
But it’s also a testing time for patience, as we’re being tested by hunger and thirst, lack of sleep due to night prayers and getting up for Sahur, our desire to balance our responsibilities to our families and communities with extra worship and also by our tolerance - or lack of it - of others. So sometimes it’s difficult to remain patient.
So anger management is something that's important, as it’s mentioned along with other major aspects of fasting. If you have difficulty to controll the anger, especially in Ramadan, trere are a few tips that I hope will help you get through this blessed month and gain the extra reward for your patience.
1.First say I am Fasting -
The hadith of the prophet, peace be upon him, tells us that if we are fasting and someone is trying to argue with us, we should say to them -
"Anna saaum! Anna Saaum!" (I'm fasting! I'm fasting!)
2. Seeking Refuge from Satan
If you get into a situation where you feel your anger rising, try to catch it before it gets full-blown and seek refuge in Allah from Satan:
The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasallam) said: "If a man gets angry and says, ‘A`udhu billahi min ash-shaytan ir rajim (I seek refuge with Allah from the accursed Satan),’ his anger will go away." (Sahih al-Jami’)
Saying this will make it easier to control your anger, as it will remind you that it’s being increased by Satan’s whisperings and that he is rubbing his hands with glee at your rising temper!
3. Get Closer to the Ground
The worst position to be angry in is when you’re standing up. In this position you feel strong and powerful and ready for flight or fight. So if you get angry while you’re standing, follow the Prophet's advice:
"When one of you becomes angry while standing, he should sit down. If the anger leaves him, well and good; otherwise he should lie down." (Abu Dawud and Al-Tirmidhi)
When you’re either sitting or lying, you’re more relaxed and in less of an aggressive position, so it will be easier for you to control your anger.
4. Remember Allah and the Day of Judgement
We’re told in Hadith Jibra’il, that Ihsan is: "to worship Allah as though you are seeing Him, and while you see Him not yet — truly He sees you." (Al-Bukhari)
Strive to develop your Iman to the level of Ihsan, so that each moment you live, you’re conscious of Allah watching every little thing you do. Would you like Allah to see you losing your temper and getting angry with someone, just because you feel offended or you weren’t able to be patient with someone? How will you answer Him on the Day of Judgement for your actions? Ramadan is a great time to get closer to Allah, to gain peace through increasing your worship. Make the most of this precious time!
5. Look in the Mirror
Have you ever looked at yourself in a mirror when you’re angry? You know how other people look, they get tense, their faces get flushed, their brow muscles move inward and downward, they stare fixedly, their nostrils flare and the jaw clenches. Not a pretty sight! Try to avoid people seeing you like that.
Further the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasallam) said, "Beware of anger, for it is a live coal on the heart of the descendant of Adam. Do you not notice the swelling of the veins of his neck and the redness of his eyes? So when anyone experiences anything of that nature he should lie down and cleave to the earth" (Al-Tirmidhi)
6. Take Wudu’
If you still feel your temper rising and don’t feel able to control it, a great piece of advice is to take Wudu’. And then do two Rak'ahs of prayer if you can. As well as taking you out of the situation, it helps you to think of Allah and it also cools you down.
The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasallam) said: "Anger comes from the devil, the devil was created of fire, and fire is extinguished only with water; so when any of you is angry, he should perform Wudu'" (Abu Dawud)
7. Learn How to Relax
Anger often erupts when people are feeling stressed and tense. If that’s how you’re feeling, stress management would help to reduce the likelihood of you letting your anger go. There are a number of things that you could do to relax yourself, a few of them are:
Take your time over your prayers, don't rush them, and doing extra Dua`
Listen to recitations of the Qur’an by your favourite Qari’
Breathe deeply, from your diaphragm; making the exhalation twice as long as the inhalation. And think calming thoughts while you’re doing it
Imagination can also be a very powerful tool for many different reasons to control anger. Imagine yourself getting angry over something that often trips you up and then image yourself controlling your anger.
If you practice these techniques on a regular basis, you’ll be able to use them automatically when you start getting angry.
8. Be Silent or Speak Wisely
Anger is an instinctive normal emotion that Allah implanted in all of us and it can be aroused for a number of reasons, i.e. when a person feels that they have been offended, when they feel that other people have been offended or when they feel that Allah and His Messenger have been offended. There are times when anger needs to be expressed, but it has to be done in an effective and wise manner, and not just to relieve personal tension, as that can be so destructive.
The Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasallam) said: "If any of you becomes angry, let him keep silent." (Ahmad)
But the he (salAllahu alayhi wasallam) also told us to speak up when we see something evil, so we need to follow each of these Hadith in their proper context and learn when to speak and when to be silent. So if you’re in a situation where you need to speak up, don’t just say the first thing that comes to your head. Take time to think through your response and what effect your words may have on the other person. What might they be thinking and feeling now? How might they perceive the situation? Will they actually listen to what you’re saying and accept it from you?
Before you say anything, make this Dua’: "O Allah, I ask You to make me fear You in secret and in public, and I ask You to make me speak the truth in times of contentment and of anger. “
Work out how to express yourself clearly and calmly and really listen to the response you get. Avoid emotive exaggerations; just state the facts and what you would like to be done and try to come to a win-win result where both of you gain.
9. - DON'T LOOK
Stop looking at the person you are angry with, close your mouth and don't speak. When angry looking at or talking to the other person only makes it worse for both of you. Just look away and be careful not to show anger in your face or movements.
These are just a few of tips for anger management.
Saturday, July 19, 2014
Hiccups and Islamic Fasting
sometimes hiccups can occur for a longer time during islamic fasting and it is very annoying.
Mostly, they are caused by eating or drinking too much or too fast,
eating spicy foods, sudden excitement or temperature changes.
Hiccups occur because our diaphragm (that's the muscle under your lungs) is spasming.
Breathe in deeply and hold your breath for some time (however long you are able to). Do this sitting or standing, with your back very straight and look forward. Don't move around when you do this, be statuesque for a minute or two (or three), however long you can stand to hold in your deep breath.
When you exhale, do so slowly.
No, don't break the fast. You can try taking many deep breaths or immediately turn your attention to something different rather than thinking about the hiccups will release your hiccups
so,there is no need to break the fast. You can try taking many deep breaths or immediately turn your attention to something different rather than thinking about the hiccups.

Thursday, July 17, 2014
Exercise In the Fasting Month of Ramadan
EXERCISE
The best time to do mild to moderate exercise is an hour after you break your fast with something light such as walking, jogging, swimming, or yoga. Try to include at least 30 minutes of exercise daily during the month of Ramada and make sure to hydrate with plenty of fluids.
Stay fit while fasting
People tend to go easy on their exercise routine during the Ramadan month and end up feeling heavy once Eid comes along. But there’s no reason why you should not make the most of the shorter hours at work and plan a workout to fit into your routine
It is important to do cardiovascular exercises such as walking or cycling. This helps burn calories and improves one’s stamina.
Go for a low intensity resistance training. It helps maintain muscle strength.
Do warm up and stretching exercises. Full body stretching helps improve flexibility and also in detoxification.
Gym goers can do mat exercises like free squats, abs exercises and pushups.
Other forms of exercise are Pilates, yoga and meditation; these help in relaxation and detoxification.
Low intensity group exercises help burn calories. It can also be fun if you do it with your friends, family or in a large group.
Keep your workout short; at least 30 to a maximum of 60 minutes.
Don’t exercise when you are fasting. One should exercise either before Sehri (meal before dawn) or after Iftaar (meal after sunset).
Don’t do high intensity exercises like high speed running, stepper and heavy weight lifting as it can lead to joint or muscle injuries and complications like low blood pressure, hypoglycemia and dizziness.
Come to the gym with friends or get a personal trainer, to keep your motivation levels high.
To maintain your fitness within Ramadan, it is recommended to exercise four to five a week.
If you can’t make it to the gym, you can try to go for a brisk walk, a jog or just use a jumping rope at home for 30 minutes.
EXERCISE
The best time to do mild to moderate exercise is an hour after you break your fast with something light such as walking, jogging, swimming, or yoga. Try to include at least 30 minutes of exercise daily during the month of Ramada and make sure to hydrate with plenty of fluids.
Stay fit while fasting
People tend to go easy on their exercise routine during the Ramadan month and end up feeling heavy once Eid comes along. But there’s no reason why you should not make the most of the shorter hours at work and plan a workout to fit into your routine
It is important to do cardiovascular exercises such as walking or cycling. This helps burn calories and improves one’s stamina.
Go for a low intensity resistance training. It helps maintain muscle strength.
Do warm up and stretching exercises. Full body stretching helps improve flexibility and also in detoxification.
Gym goers can do mat exercises like free squats, abs exercises and pushups.
Other forms of exercise are Pilates, yoga and meditation; these help in relaxation and detoxification.
Low intensity group exercises help burn calories. It can also be fun if you do it with your friends, family or in a large group.
Keep your workout short; at least 30 to a maximum of 60 minutes.
Don’t exercise when you are fasting. One should exercise either before Sehri (meal before dawn) or after Iftaar (meal after sunset).
Don’t do high intensity exercises like high speed running, stepper and heavy weight lifting as it can lead to joint or muscle injuries and complications like low blood pressure, hypoglycemia and dizziness.
Come to the gym with friends or get a personal trainer, to keep your motivation levels high.
To maintain your fitness within Ramadan, it is recommended to exercise four to five a week.
If you can’t make it to the gym, you can try to go for a brisk walk, a jog or just use a jumping rope at home for 30 minutes.
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Congratulations to our CM Jayalalithaa
MCI approves 50 more seats for govt medical college in Trichy
Jul 17, 2014,
TRICHY: In a huge relief to the state government, the Medical Council of India (MCI) has approved 50 MBBS seats to K A P Viswanatham Government Medical College (KAPVGMC) in Trichy. The counselling to fill the additional seats is expected to begin in the next 10 days.
"KAPVGMC, Trichy has received approval for 50 additional MBBS seats from the MCI. Efforts taken by the state government to provide the required facilities and fulfil the norms of the MCI have paid off," Dr S Geethalakshmi, director of medical education (DME) told TOI.
With the approval for 50 additional seats, KAPVGMC will admit 150 MBBS students from this academic year. The MCI has also approved 100 seats for the Government Medical College in Tiruvarur, 25 seats for Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College in Salem and 100 seats for ESI Hospital in Chennai.
The counselling for the 50 seats at KAPVGMC will be held from July 21 to July 26.
MCI delayed the approval for additional seats in KAPVGMC due to some discrepancies in the infrastructure and number of manpower last month. However, the state government took steps to attain the approval.
The MCI team is expected to visit the KAPVGMC again in order to assess the situation.
KAPVGMC which had been functioning with 100 seats increased the number of seats to 150 last academic year 2013 but got the approval this year.
"The state government has provided so crores of money for infrastructural development and purchase of equipmen
t. So, we were able to satisfy the norms laid down by the MCI. Moreover, the process is on to recruit doctors and para medical staff through medical recruitment board to equip all the government hospitals," said Dr Geethalakshmi.
Dr M A Aleem Vice principal of KAPVGMc congratulate our chief minister Jayalalithaa Health minister Vijaya baskar health secretary Radhakrishanan our DME Geethalakshmi our dean and her team tried to get MCI approval for the additional 50 more MBBS seats for. Year 2014__15 at KAPVGMC Trichy
Jul 17, 2014,
TRICHY: In a huge relief to the state government, the Medical Council of India (MCI) has approved 50 MBBS seats to K A P Viswanatham Government Medical College (KAPVGMC) in Trichy. The counselling to fill the additional seats is expected to begin in the next 10 days.
"KAPVGMC, Trichy has received approval for 50 additional MBBS seats from the MCI. Efforts taken by the state government to provide the required facilities and fulfil the norms of the MCI have paid off," Dr S Geethalakshmi, director of medical education (DME) told TOI.
With the approval for 50 additional seats, KAPVGMC will admit 150 MBBS students from this academic year. The MCI has also approved 100 seats for the Government Medical College in Tiruvarur, 25 seats for Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College in Salem and 100 seats for ESI Hospital in Chennai.
The counselling for the 50 seats at KAPVGMC will be held from July 21 to July 26.
MCI delayed the approval for additional seats in KAPVGMC due to some discrepancies in the infrastructure and number of manpower last month. However, the state government took steps to attain the approval.
The MCI team is expected to visit the KAPVGMC again in order to assess the situation.
KAPVGMC which had been functioning with 100 seats increased the number of seats to 150 last academic year 2013 but got the approval this year.
"The state government has provided so crores of money for infrastructural development and purchase of equipmen
t. So, we were able to satisfy the norms laid down by the MCI. Moreover, the process is on to recruit doctors and para medical staff through medical recruitment board to equip all the government hospitals," said Dr Geethalakshmi.
Dr M A Aleem Vice principal of KAPVGMc congratulate our chief minister Jayalalithaa Health minister Vijaya baskar health secretary Radhakrishanan our DME Geethalakshmi our dean and her team tried to get MCI approval for the additional 50 more MBBS seats for. Year 2014__15 at KAPVGMC Trichy
Healthy Food in the Islamic Fasting Month of Ramadan
Healthy Food in Ramadan
During the holy month of Ramadan, which occurs on the ninth month of the lunar-based Islamic calendar, all Muslims are required to abstain from food and drink from dawn to dusk for 30 days. Because Ramadan shifts approximately eleven days earlier each year on the solar-based Gregorian calendar, Muslims experience Ramadan in different seasons throughout the course of the lives.
Consider the following:
Divide your food into three meals. Saher is the morning meal when the fast starts, iftar is the evening snack when the fast is broken and then dinner.
Include complex carbohydrate foods rich in fibre, such as those found in grains and seeds. For example, whole wheat roti, brown rice, daal, beans, bajara, bran, fruits and vegetables should be eaten, particularly during saher. Fibre-rich foods help increase the feeling of fullness, promote good blood glucose levels and help with regularity. Fasting during the day can also increase stomach acid content and cause feelings of pain or discomfort. High-fibre foods during dinner can help neutralise this acid and alleviate pain. (Remember to increase fluids with fibre intake to prevent excessive gas).
During iftar, dates and juice are traditionally consumed. Include three dates and 4 oz (120 mL) of juice to help normalise possible low sugar (hypoglycemia) and provide the much needed “instant” energy along with hydration. If you have diabetes, please consult with your healthcare provider for medication or diet adjustments and learn more about Fasting and Diabetes.
Bake or grill foods instead of frying them, and if frying, decrease the amount of oil used. Try and measure the oil in spoonfuls instead of just pouring it from the bottle.
Choose lower fat and lean cuts of meat. Skin chicken and remove any visible fat before cooking.
Eat slowly and chew food well. Because you have not eaten all day, there will be a tendency to want to eat a large quantity of food quickly. Remember that it takes 20 minutes for your stomach to tell your brain that you are full — put small portions on your plate first.
Walking in the evening for at least 30 minutes is an ideal routine activity. Walking will not only help your metabolism, but also help your mind stay clear. However, if you’ve eaten a big meal, blood needs to move to your digestive system rather than to your muscles, so a brisk walk straight after a heavy meal is not a good idea. Wait 1-2 hours after your meal before engaging in any strenuous activity. Best to keep your meals light.
Drink as much fluid (preferably water) as possible. It is advisable to consume at least 8-12 cups between iftar and bedtime so that your body may adjust fluid levels in time for the next day.
Avoid:
Fried and fatty foods such as french fries, sweets, fried samosa, pakoras, parathas, greasy curries and biriyani. High-fat foods are high in calories and are nutrient deficient which will lead to an imbalanced diet, thereby increasing sluggishness and fatigue during Ramadan.
Salt and salted food, such as achars pickles, papadums, sauces, nuts, chips and olives. Dehydration is a risk due to limited fluid intake during the day, and high salt foods can further increase this risk by drawing fluids out of your body.
Foods containing too much sugar such as sweet glucose energy drinks and mithai. These are sources of empty calories with very little nutritional value. While they may provide you with instant energy, they will not sustain you through the day and night.
Overeating especially at saher can cause further metabolic imbalance, like highs and lows in your blood sugar and dehydration.
Too much tea or caffeine at saher. Both of these are diuretics when consumed in large quantities and the body can lose valuable minerals, salts and fluids that you need during the day.
Sleeping immediately after iftar and saher meals, since your body will require time to digest the food. Wait for 2–3 hrs before sleeping.
Fasting during Ramadan means abstinence from all food or drink, including water and chewing gum, from dawn to sunset. It is recommended that before sunrise, Muslims eat a pre-fast meal known as suhur. This meal often resembles breakfast, but in some cultures it may include more dinner-like foods. After sundown, Muslims break their fast in a meal iftar, which usually starts with dates and water or milk, followed by a dinner meal. Muslims are permitted to snack at night between those two meals and hydration is encouraged, especially when Ramadan falls during summer.
For suhur, iftar and snacks, Muslims can more easily make it to sundown by eating high-fiber meals to sustain satiety over longer periods, fruits and vegetables to maintain electrolyte stores, and plenty of fluids to maintain hydration. Muslims should also limit fried foods and sugary sweets, the latter of which is a common cultural tradition among many ethnicities during the holy month.
some tips to manage the month’s fast.
STAY HYDRATED
Keeping hydrated is evidently more challenging in the summer months of Ramadan . Usually, men are required to drink about 2.5 litres of water or 10 cups, whilst women are required to consume about 2 litres, or 8 cups a day. During Ramadan, it is advised to drink as much water as possible before, during and after meal times after sunset.
BREAK YOUR FAST SLOWLY
Breaking your fast should be gradual. Beginning with water, small hot appetisers like soups, light salads and yogurts or a small cup of fresh juice and even 2-3 dates are recommended. Dates have gained popularity in Ramadan, as they’re high in fruit sugar, yet nutritious as they are filled with magnesium, potassium and fibre.
MAKE YOUR MEALS COUNT
A balanced diet is recommended even when you are not fasting. Power foods like whole grains, barley, wheat, oats, whole grain rice and legumes such as lentils or beans and fresh produce like fruits, vegetables and potatoes are low in sugar, and high complex carbohydrates, remaining in your system for longer, lessening the hunger throughout the day. Protein rich sources like lean meats, fish, eggs, milk, nuts or seeds can also help to stabilise blood sugar levels, which in turn can help curb cravings.
AVOID SALTY AND SUGARY FOODS
Foods to avoid are spicy, salty, and processed foods such as canned food and packaged products. The faster the body breaks the meal down, the sooner you’ll get hungry. That means instead of a sugary breakfast cereal, try oatmeal and fruit. The addition of chia seeds provide an added boost of healthy omega fatty acids, iron, vitamin C, potassium, calcium, fiber, protein and antioxidants.