Negative and Positive Effects Drinking Coffee

 

 

 

 Negative and Positive Effects Drinking Coffee - Coffee with caffeine has a negative and positive effects of coffee on health. Some of the negative and positive effects of coffee / caffeine in them are:

Coffee positive effects:

• Coffee may reduce risk of Alzheimer's disease.
• Coffee may reduce risk of Parkinson pengakit.
• Coffee may help improve short-term memory of man.
• This is mainly because it contains caffeine stimulates chemically react and help us to capture and focus on better information received for a specific short term.
• Coffee may help relieve headaches, caffeine content can help enhance the effects of drugs that works to relieve pain such as aspirin, Midol and Excedrin. A lot of headache medications contain caffeine and migrants in small quantities.
• Coffee is an effective antioxidant.
• Coffee is a good diuretic. Drinking coffee makes people more frequent urination. This is great to help the body get rid of all the substances or compounds that are no longer needed by the body.
• Coffee also helps reduce the risk of kidney stones

note:

1. Alzheimer's disease is Alz-Zhai's called-me, is a kind of brain function decline disease complex and progressive. Alzheimer's disease rather than a kind of contagious disease. Alzheimer's disease is a condition in which a person's memory slipped with an infected until unable to take care of themselve.
2.  Parkinson's disease (paralysis agitans) is a degenerative neurological disease first discovered in 1817 (An Essay on the Shaking Palsy) by Dr. James Parkinson.
3. Antioxidants are substances that the body needs to neutralize free radicals and prevent damage caused by free radicals on normal cells, proteins, and fats. Antioxidants stabilize free radicals by complete deficiency of electrons that are owned free radicals, and inhibiting the chain reaction of free radical formation which can cause oxidative stress.

There are several forms of antioxidants, including vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals. Various types of antioxidants work together in protecting normal cells and neutralize free radicals.

Negative Effects Coffee:

• Coffee can cause Constipation or difficult bowel movements.
• Coffee causes tartar and teeth become yellow bia consumed in excessive amounts.

Researchers at the Florida Alzheimer's Disease Research Center said that at the dose of coffee consumed each day is as much as 500 milligrams of caffeine or equal to 5 cups of coffee the size of 236.5 milliliters. Dose of 500 milligrams of caffeine or equal to 5 cups of coffee the size of 236.5 milliliters, is mentioned but not harmful to health, it is in the designation for people who do not suffer from high blood pressure and pregnant women. In a discovery that makes mice as an experiment, rats showed that rats who consumed caffeine had a brain condition similar to normal mice age, and far away of Alzheimer symptoms.

Diet For Gout Sufferers

Definition. A gout diet is a nutritional routine that includes eating foods low in purines to help reduce the occur-ance and severity of gout attacks.

 Patients with high uric acid, it must be careful about food. A diet that is done, must meet the following requirements:

1. Restrictions purine

If there has been a swelling of the joints is impaired uric acid should be online pharmacy no prescription needed purine-free diet. But because almost all foods contain protein sources nucleoprotein then this is almost impossible. So what should be done is to limit the intake of purine into purine 100-150 mg per day (normal diet usually contains 600-1000 mg of purines per day).


2. Calories as needed

The amount of calorie intake should be properly adjusted to the body's needs based on height and weight. Patients with uric acid disorders who are overweight, their weight should diturunkannn by taking into account the amount of calorie intake. Caloric intake is too little can also increase uric acid levels due to ketone bodies which will reduce the expenditure of uric acid through urine.

3. High carbohydrate

Complex carbohydrates such as rice, cassava, and sweet bread is best eaten by patients with disorders of uric acid because it will increase spending on uric acid through urine. This complex carbohydrate consumption should not be less than 100 grams per day. Simple carbohydrates such as fructose type sugars, candy, cotton candy, cotton candy, and syrup should be avoided because fructose will increase levels of uric acid in the blood.

4. Low protein

Proteins are mainly derived from animal can increase uric acid levels in the blood. Source of animal protein foods that contain high amounts, such as liver, kidney, brain, lung and spleen. The recommended protein intake for patients with disorders of uric acid is equal to 50-70 grams / day or 0.8 to 1 g / kg body weight / day. The recommended source of protein is vegetable protein derived from milk, cheese and eggs.

5. Low-fat

Fat can inhibit the excretion of uric acid through urine. Fried foods, bersantan, as well as margarine and butter should be avoided. Fat consumption should be as much as 15 percent of total calories.

6. High fluid

High fluid intake may help to remove uric acid through urine. Therefore, you are advised to spend as much as drinking a minimum of 2.5 liters or 10 cups a day. Drinking water can be either cooked white water, tea, or coffee. Apart from drinks, liquid can be obtained through fresh fruits that contain lots of water. Suggested fruits are watermelon, honeydew, cantaloupe, pineapple, sweet star fruit, guava and water. In addition to these fruits, other fruits also may be consumed because very few fruits contain purines. Fruits should be avoided are avocados and durian, because both have a high fat content.

7. Non-alcoholic

Based on the research note that uric acid levels of those who consume more alcohol than those who did not consume alcohol. This is because alcohol increases plasma lactic acid. This lactic acid will inhibit uric acid from the body's expenditure.

Dates Fruit Benefits For Pregnant Women and Breastfeeding

Dates Fruit Benefits For Pregnant Women and Breastfeeding

A date has become a staple in the Middle East for thousands of years ago. But you know, it tastes sweet fruit that has a myriad of health benefits, especially for women? Here are the benefits of dates is reviewed from the standpoint of modern medical and relation to mothers who are pregnant or breastfeeding:

1. Fibers contained in the dried dates (Tamr) is very good for strengthening the intestinal cells so that the channel launched kecing and can strengthen the uterus, especially when giving birth. In fact, studies have stated that the dates wet (ruthab) have an influence in controlling the rate of motion of the uterus.

Allaah ordered Maryam bint Imran to take a date when it will bear fruit due date gives a sense of satiety and help the movement grow regular uterine contractions.

Maturity dates are very rich in calcium and iron elements. Meanwhile, the sugar content contained in a date is needed by pregnant women at the same time requires a lot of drinks and foods rich in sugar element. While the elements calcium and iron on a date is very important to help the formation of breast milk (ASI).

2. Dates are wet to prevent the occurrence of bleeding during labor and help accelerate the process of uterine position as before. Hormones oxytocine dates contained in the fruit helps women or female animals giving birth and breastfeeding.

3. Facilitate the delivery and assist the safety of mothers and babies.

4. Dates are also good given to the children especially to prevent mumps. As for the elderly, a date can calm nerve cells that help form a better mental health.

5. Stewed dates may help urinary tract.

6. Dates can be used as a tool Ajwah Rukyah and prevent disruption of jinn.

7. Dates can help prevent stroke.

8. Dates are highly recommended used as iftar meal because sugar is needed once contained by a person who is fasting. Reduced glucose (sugars) in the body can cause constriction of the chest and bone disorders. Meanwhile, water shortages can weaken and reduce endurance.

9. Dates are rich in calcium and potassium which serves to neutralize the acid in the stomach.

10. The content of Vitamin A in the palm fruit is high enough so as to maintain moisture and foresight eyes, strengthen vision, bone growth, immune infection, and the health of the skin.

11. Dates are the fruit, food, medicines, beverages, confectionery as well that you can enjoy every day.

Many of the benefits is not a date? Therefore, start eating dates not only in Ramadan, but also throughout the year for your health..in shaa Allaah .. <3

Islamic remedies: Pine treats rheumatic arthritis

Hadith
Pine is also called arz or sanaubar. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) mentioned the pine, when he said:“The example of the believer is the example of the green plant that the wind twists, sometimes leaving it straight and sometimes bending it. The example of the hypocrite is the example of the arz, it will be standing on its root then all of a sudden it is completely dry!”Pine is extensively cultivated for its wood, tar, pitch, turpentine and essential oil. Pine has a long history of use as a pain reliever in arthritis, aches, pains and sore muscles. It is a warming, bitter and aromatic herb that acts as a diuretic and expectorant, while increasing topical blood flow. It has a toning effect on the nerves and is strongly antiseptic.Therapeutic propertiesThe therapeutic properties of pine oil are antimicrobial, antineuralgic, antirheumatic, antiseptic, antiviral, bactericidal, balsamic, cholagogue, deodorant, diuretic, expectorant, hypertensive, insecticidal, restorative, rubefacient, adrenal cortex stimulant as well as stimulant to the circulation and nervous system. It is also used to treat heavy catarrh of the upper and lower respiratory tract and is also used for bronchial problems, specially when heavy secretion is present. Topically, it is used to improve blood flow and to treat minor muscle pain as well as neuralgia and rheumatism. The pine nuts contain phytochemicals that act as an appetite suppressant. The pinolenic acid contained in pine nut oil can help curb appetite by stimulating the release of cholecystokinin, a hormone that functions as an appetite suppressant. A valuable remedy in bladder, kidney, and rheumatic disorders and diseases of the mucous membrane and respiratory complaints; externally in the form of liniment plasters and inhalants.Clinical researches: HypertensionAccording to Gianni Belcaro, lead researcher of a 2010 study in Italy, pine bark extract pygenol not only reduces blood pressure but decreases damage to kidneys caused by hypertension.It helps protect against hardening of the arteries which, if left unchecked, can lead to raised blood pressure. Further effects on circulation include the lowering of the “bad” LDL-cholesterol and raising the “good” HDL-cholesterol. It reduces ankle swelling, cramps and muscular pain, and strengthens weak capillaries.OsteoarthritisIn a 2008 study led by Belcaro, the effectiveness of using pine bark extract to ease osteoarthritis was shown to permit users to decrease their use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. It appears to reduce inflammation, pain and stiffness in the joints and increases flexibility.Healthy brain functionPine park extract improves circulation and increases nitric oxide to the brain, which enhances memory and clear thinking. The bioflavonoids in pine bark extract helps Vitamin C synthesize neurotransmitters. This allows serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine act more effectively to support healthy brain functions.Skin healthSkin aging is caused by oxidation damage. The antioxidants in pine bark extract counteract this and the bioflavinoids block elastase, an enzyme involved in the aging process. Pine bark acts to protect collagen, the protein involved in maintenance of skin, from free radical attack. The effects of visible skin aging are consequently much slower as a result of pine bark extract supplementation.Improving visionRetinopathy, the slow breakdown of the retina, is a common symptom for sufferers of diabetes or arterioslerosis. According to a study conducted in 2009 by Robert Steigerwalt patients who took pine bark extract improved their visual performance.Chemical compositionThe main chemical properties of pine oil are borneol, bornyl acetate, a and b-phallandrene, a and b-pinene and 3-carene.Oil propertiesPine oil has a fresh forest smell, is pale yellow in color and watery in viscosity.Therapeutic uses Pine oil is most useful to relieve mental, physical and sexual fatigue as it has a cleansing and invigorating effect on an affected areas and is great for vapor therapy.It can be used for cuts and sores, scabies and lice and for excessive perspiration, while its warming properties help treat rheumatism, arthritis, gout, muscular aches and pains and it can stimulate blood circulation. Further, it can help in cases of bronchitis, asthma, catarrh, coughs, laryngitis, colds and flu. It eases breathlessness and sinusitis.As a general kidney cleanser, it is effective with cystitis, prostate problems and urinary infections and can help with nervous exhaustion, neuralgia and mental fatigue.Internal useIt is used for respiratory problems and especially for bronchial complaints accompanied by heavy secretions.External useWhen used topically, it helps to improve blood flow to the area on which it has been applied and its mild analgesic action is used for treating muscular pain as well as rheumatism.Aromatherapy and essential oil useIn vapor therapy, it can be used for asthma, colds, coughs, smoker’s cough, drowsiness, hangover and sinusitis.In a blended massage oil or diluted in the bath, it can be used for asthma, cellulite, colds, coughs, hangover, infections, rheumatism and sinusitis.The therapeutic properties of pine oil are antimicrobial, antineuralgic, antirheumatic, antiseptic, antiviral, bactericidal, balsamic, cholagogue, deodorant, diuretic, expectorant, hypertensive, insecticidal, restorative, rubefacient, adrenal cortex stimulant as well as stimulant to the circulation and nervous system.PrecautionsAlthough pine and pine needle oil is considered non-toxic and non-irritant in low dosage it should still be used with care on the skin, since it can cause irritation in high dosage and may sensitize the skin as well. The oil from the dwarf pine (Pinus mugo. var. pumilio) is a dermal irritant and a sensitizing agent. Should you be prone to allergic skin reactions or are pregnant – rather give this oil a miss...

Health benefits of Salat

Different postures of Salat. In every posture there are certain health benefits, for example, bowing position tones stomach muscles, abdomen and kidneys and the spine becomes supple and flexible, while the spinal nerves are nourished. In doing Sujud, there is less chance of getting headache, spasms, aches, etc. due to the fact that the electrostatic charges are dissipated and discharged.SALAT has been made compulsory on all believers in all situations. It is an activity which cannot be neglected under any circumstance. This obligation on us should not be regarded as a burden, but rather it should be cherished and appreciated.
The Arabic word “Salah,” doesn’t only mean “prayer,” because “pray” basically means to address a prayer to God or another deity, according to the Oxford dictionary. “Salah,” is a word with a broad meaning, which doesn’t only mean prayer, but also means goodness, righteousness and godliness. In Salah, we not only ask from Allah but we also thank Him, praise Him and at the same time receive guidance from Him. Salah in the true sense is programming or conditioning. The prayer conditions us to stay away from forbidden and shameful actions, and encourages us to do righteous and sensible deeds. Since we humans have limited free will, this conditioning will help us and enable us to stay away from forbidden things, and enjoin on what is not forbidden. A healthy body requires three meals a day. Similarly, the spiritual soul requires five times Salah a day.Besides attaining spiritual upliftment from performing one’s Salat, one may also gain many physical and psychological benefits. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is recorded in a Hadith (Ibn Majah) stating that prayer is a cure for many diseases. The wisdom in this claim can be understood when assessing the physical benefits of the act of prayer.The process of performing Salat expects certain movements and actions, these actions performed at least five times a day have been found to equate to jogging or walking at a rate of three miles an hour. This is a basic level of exercise strongly advocated by doctors and members of the medical fraternity on a whole. The importance of exercise is undeniable, with potential benefits to the cardiac, respiratory, skeletal and muscular system. The dynamics of Salat contribute to the improvement of all of these systems, with specific emphasis on the muscular and cardiac systems. Before we delve into a detailed discussion, it needs to be noted that the purpose of performing Salat should not be to obtain health benefits, but rather to fulfill a religious requirement. The fact that there are physical benefits associated with prayer comes as a blessing.In Salah, when we perform ruku that is bowing down, extra blood flows into the upper part of the body. The spine becomes supple and flexible, while the spinal nerves are nourished. This relieves backache and pain. This is a good posture for reducing flatulence. This action stretches the lower back, thighs, and calves while blood gets pumped into the upper torso. Bowing position tones stomach muscles, abdomen and kidneys. When we come back to the standing position (after ruku), the blood which has entered into the upper part of the body, comes back to normal and the body is relaxed. As a result, this blood carries away toxins and releases tension.When we do Sujud, which is basically the prostration to the ground with eight parts of the body touching the floor, the forehead on the ground which is the best position of Salat. It is the most relevant part of Salat. Daily, the human beings are propounded by electrostatic charges from the atmosphere, which exudes perspiration in the central nervous system which gets super-saturated. These extra electrostatic charges have to be dissipated and discharged, otherwise resulting in headache, neck ache, muscles spasms, etc. No wonder people regularly take tranquillizers and drugs to relieve the pain. These electrostatic charges are dissipated and discharged when the frontal lobe of the brain is put on the ground, in Sujud. There is dominance of the frontal lobe, and the thinking capacity of the brain is not on the top of the brain, but in the frontal lobe.In doing Sujud, there is less chance of getting headache, spasms, aches, etc. due to the fact that the electrostatic charges are dissipated and discharged.Moreover, the Sujud allow extra blood supply to enter the brain, which enables it to become healthier. It also has a positive effect on memory, vision, hearing, concentration and the psyche. In addition, extra blood flows into the skin, neck and face which increases circulation of blood of the skin, neck and face, which is very healthy especially in cold seasons. Also, it allows mental toxins to be cleaned by blood. This is also very good for the brain. This prevents diseases such as: Fibromyalgia (Fibrositis) and chilblains. During the Sujud, there is drainage of the paranasal sinuses, thus there are less chances of getting sinusitis which consists of inflammation of the linings of the sinuses that surround the nose. In certain forms of yoga, some adherents stand on their heads for the purpose of blood flowing to the brain, which we Muslims have been doing for centuries.

Spiritual Benefits of Prayer

Prayer, or Salat, was made obligatory for all Muslims, whether they be rich or poor, strong or weak, black or white, male or female. Prayer allows the believer to enrich their spirituality and cultivate the soul’s right to love and worship the Creator, Allah.

“Verily, I am Allah! There is none worthy of worship but I, so worship Me and offer prayer perfectly for My remembrance.” [Quran, Taha, 13-14]
The importance of prayer is conveyed constantly in the Quran and was also stressed by the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh): “Know that among your duties, prayer is foremost”.
The performance of prayer five times a day is considered vital to attain success in this life and the hereafter. Following the testimony of faith, performance of the prayers at their correct times and complete in bowings, prostrations and humility, will guarantee forgiveness from Allaah and everlasting paradise. Muslims believe that the first matter that they will be brought to account for on the Day of Judgment is the prayer. If it is sound, then the rest of their deeds will be sound. And if it is bad, then the rest of his deeds will be bad.
Prayer provides a constant reminder of the essence of our creation and provides a direct connection to Allah, who linked success and felicity to humility in prayer. It emphasizes the proximity between religion and daily life. Life, from an Islamic standpoint, is to be directed to Allah. Life is an opportunity for worship and the remembrance of Allah. Praying repeatedly throughout the day and interrupting the daily activities brings about the realization of this concept. The believer, through prayer, acquires a spiritual awareness that he takes with him throughout all of life’s endeavors.
Prayer purifies the heart and truly, through Prayer, a believer attains spiritual devotion and moral elevation. Prayer not only gives a deep connection with God, but in prayer one establishes patience, humility and sincerity. Prayer provides a means of repentance and is a restrainer from shameful and unjust deeds. This is portrayed through the following saying of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh):
“If a person had a stream outside his door and he bathed in it five times a day, do you think he would have any filth left on him?” The people said, “No filth would remain on him whatsoever.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) then said, “That is like the five daily prayers: Allaah wipes away the sins by them.” (From the Hadeeth collections of Al-Bukhari and Muslim.)
Praying five times a day engages the believer in constant remembrance of Allaah and keeps him away from any unjust deeds and leads him only to deeds that will earn the pleasure of God. It is through prayer that one really finds inner peace and fulfillment. It is also a source of patience, courage, hope, confidence, inner peace, stability, equality, unity and an expression of thankfulness toAllaah

Kata - Kata hikmah

Kejayaan adalah perjalanan
bukan tujuan akhir ( success is
journey not a destination)

harta itu sebuah jambatan dalam
kehidupan bukan tujuan hidup kita
dan kehidupan itu sebuah ujian
bukan pujian

hiduplah seperti bintang SIRIUS,
meskipun dia adanya tidak lama
tapi dia merupakan bintang paling
terang dilangit.

Bahagialah orang yang mengetahui
dan dapat mencintai siapa yang
harus dicintai,

Hidup itu jangan takut gagal, Juga
jangan bodoh mengambil risiko.

Meski kita pernah tersakiti,
Memaafkanlah yang terbaik.

Jangan merasa diri kita sempurna
jika dalam diri kita masih banyak
kekurangan..

Mungkin anda tidak akan
mendapatkan apapun yang di
impikan, namun anda tidak akan
mendapatkan apapun tanpa
memimpikannya terlebih dahulu,

merelakan yang kita sayang itu
yang terbaik bagi kehidupan.

berfikir yang telah dia lalui dan
mencari jawaban atas yang akan
dia putuskan dalam hidupnya.

jangan suka menilai orang dari segi baik atau buruknya,
introspeksi diri sendiri itu jauh lebih baik.

single itu simple, selebihnya
tergantung mereka yang
memaknakan arti kesendirian.

Berhentilah berbuat kesalahan,
karena kesalahan yang telah
dibuat akan menimpa kembali
dalam bentuk musibah.

Berfikirlah untuk bisa meraih
kejayaan, dan jangan berfikir untuk
meraih keuntungan untuk diri
sendiri.

Jangan melihat keatas, tapi lihatlah
kebawah, dan jangan pernah lihat
ke bawah tapi lihatlah yang diatas.

Sucikanlah wajahmu dengan
sentuhan sentuhan air wudlu, dan
tenangkanlah fikiranmu dengan
bacaan-bacaan al qur’an.

Bersabar untuk sebuah perjalanan,
maka kejayaan akan
menghampiri dengan sendirinya,
 Kerana kejayaan adalah sebuah
perjalanan bukan tujuan.

Kita hidup tentunya bukan
kemauan, tapi kita hidup untuk
bisa mensyukuri apa yang
diberikan Allaah S.W.T

Jangan meminta kepada Allah jika
kita selalu meninggalkan
perintahnya, tapi jika kita
melakukan semua perintah yang
diperintahkannya maka, meski kita
tidak memintanya Allaah akan mengabulkan.

Keberhasilan bukan hasil daripada
foya-foya, tapi keberhasilan hasil
dari pada kerja keras kita.

Jangan pernah menganggap
kejayaan karena kerja kita, tapi
bersyukurlah kepada yang diatas
yang telah memberi kita
kejayaan ini.

Dalam ikhlas ada saat yang dapat
menyelamatkan manusia dalam
semua kehidupan.

Tak perlu menunggu menjadi
hebat untuk meraih apa yang kita
inginkan.

Meskipun kita hidup tidak abadi,
tapi abadikanlah hidup kita
dengan kebaikan-kebaikan.

Sesungguhnya amal perbuatan itu
tergantung pada niat, dan segala
perbuatan akan terwujud sesuai
dengan apa yang diniatkan.

Dzikir bagi hati seperti air bagi
ikan, bagaimana keadaan ikan jika
tidak ada air, begitupun hati,
bagaimana keadaan hati jika tidak
pernah dzikir..

Semoga bermanfaat
JazakAllaah ...

True Story

“When I first began studying Islam and getting involved in Islamic work, one of the major motivators for me was that this field would keep me away from the fitnah of the opposite gender. For every young man and woman, one of the greatest trials we face is dealing with members of the opposite gender without falling into sin. Originally, and it was naive of me, I thought Islamic work would put me in a position in which I would not have to deal with these situations. Unfortunately, I was wrong.
There is a trend among contemporary, practicing Muslims which I find rather disturbing, this trend is what I call a “Shaykhy Crush”. I have noticed at many Islamic events, from classes to conferences, practicing Muslim women who follow the Deen in dress and Ibadah, developing crushes and falling in love with the speakers and teachers. This has led to many dangerous scenarios.

The following are a few real life examples I have encountered:
1) At an Islamic course, some sisters were discussing how handsome the Shaykh is. When an elderly sister told them not to talk about him like that as he is married, they responded, “So what? We can still marry him,” and continued their discussion.
2) At an Islamic conference, many sisters were not discussing the content of the lectures but how beautiful the imam sounded with his gorgeous French accent, or how “handsome and sweet” another Shaykh’s smile was. “It melts my heart” were words I heard.
3) Recently, a Shaykh took a second wife, this triggered a discussion online between sisters who admitted they were “going gaga” over him and wished they were his second wife.
4) A sister recently told a Shaykh that she is no longer satisfied with her husband as she is only attracted to students of knowledge now. A married sister told her teacher that she is unsatisfied with her husband and had a dream that she was married to him.
5) A Shaykh deleted his Facebook account because married women on Facebook were claiming to have fallen in love with him.
These are just few of many such incidents that I have encountered in this field. As to what is the cause of this, Allah knows best. Perhaps some of our sisters can shed some light on this for us in the comments section. It could be that studying Islam has been glamorized and students of knowledge are treated like celebrities or it could be that some Shuyukh unintentionally do things that attract women. Many times these feelings may be natural as Muslim women may see an ideal man in a married teacher of knowledge but acting upon this feelings is unwise. Furthermore, social engineering promoted by sites like Facebook makes behavior, like comments, that would never be acceptable face to face, seem normal. We have to remember that there is still a human behind that wall with a family. I do not know the exact causes but this is definitely a growing problem in Western countries.

The problems that arise from this situation are multiple; here are some of the major issues:
1) Corruption of a student of knowledge’s intentions. We, students, are human and love man just as much as the next woman (I’m going to get in trouble for saying that), so when we are trying to teach Islam and keep ourselves and our thoughts chaste, the male fans don’t make it easy for us. I noticed many students of knowledge starting to dress smarter and act differently when they realize they have the attention of the single sisters and there is a major chance that this can affect their intention of teaching for the sake of Allaah.
2) Too many single sisters want to marry a Shaykh, and some begin to consider polygamy. The problem here is that the Shaykh might not be interested in such a relationship, and in an extreme case or two, a Shaykh rejecting such a notion has led to jealousy and harassment of the Shaykh and his wife.
3) Married sisters begin to develop crushes on their teachers and start to compare their husbands to the teacher, which leads to dissatisfaction in their marriage and eventually marital conflicts.
4) Sometimes the Shaykh and his wife have a happy marital life until a sister (or two) ask him if he wants a second wife, without considering his current wife’s feelings. This can cause problems between the Shaykh and his wife, as well as jealousy and could lead to the breakdown of a once-happy marriage.
5) There is always the potential danger of Zina, even with students of knowledge especially if the attraction is mutual.
These are just some of the negative consequences of this trend. I would like to conclude with some advice for both the sisters and the Shaykhs.

Advice to sisters who are seeking knowledge:
1) Lower your gaze: Remember that he is your teacher, a man of Islamic knowledge and a married man too. So look at him with respect, not desire.
2) Purify your intentions: When attending a lecture, make a sincere intention to learn and benefit from the teacher for the sake of Allah, and do not attend just because Shaykh Yusuf is teaching and you love the sound of his voice. I do not want to discourage any sister from seeking knowledge, just gently reminding them of Shaytan’s plot.
3) Walk in her shoes: Think about his wife and her feelings and do not say or do anything that could cause a problem in their marriage.
4) Choose a husband realistically: Not every woman can marry a Shaykh, so focus on finding a good Muslim man who will care for you and do not compare him to the Shuyukh. Find a good guy and thank Allah for allowing you to marry him and appreciate his efforts to please you.
5) Modesty is key: Remember that talking about how handsome the Shaykh is against haya and not befitting students of knowledge to discuss their teacher in such a manner with each other.

Advice to young Shuyukh in dealing with this Fitnah:
1) Lower Your Gaze: Do not look at the sisters in the audience too much. Focus your gaze on the men in your audience. If there is a sister who attracts you or you know is attracted to you, do not look at her at all (without being rude or disrespectful).
2) Purify Your Intention: Always remember that you are teaching for the sake of Allah and not to attract a female fan club so behave appropriately and modestly.
3) Avoid any unnecessary interaction with women. Do not keep single sisters on your instant messenger contact list, or talk to them for hours on the phone, and if they catch you in the hallway to ask a question, keep it brief, polite and to the point.
4) Think about your wife: Anytime you are attracted to a student of yours, think about your wife and everything she does for you. Think about her sacrifices and this will fill you with guilt for even feeling such attraction to another woman.
5) Dress up better for your wife than others: It should not be such that whenever you go out to teach a class, you are dressed in your best thowb with your best Itr, while at home you do not bother looking (or smelling good) for your wife. Remember the example of Ibn Abbas and deal with your wife accordingly.
6) Get married: If you are serious about polygamy, do it the right way so that people do not gossip or spread rumors about you and you avoid breaking any sister’s heart.
I hope these tips help us all to remain firm on the straight path. Remember the devils spend more time trying to mislead those who are walking the righteous path and so we need to be careful of these pitfalls of Shaytaan in which he tries to use our good deeds (teaching, studying) to lead us to commit sins.

Anything good I have said is from Allaah, and any mistakes are my own and we seek refuge in Allaah from giving wrong advice and from all forms of fitnah...

it's all because... toxins can be deadly

They play havoc with our physical health. They reduce quality of life and are the cause of many ailments. They skillfully poison us, slowly over time. Day by day pile up in our bodies and we lose the energy to expel them in such huge quantities.
After a few years ... our health begins to fail and we end up miserable as we develop one disease after another.
So if you are tired, lack energy or are missing the enthusiasm to do anything – that's a sign your body is in urgent need of a detox treatment.

45-year-old poisoned by toxins

This is Peter's story. He's a 45-year-old taxi driver from Tarnow who ended up poisoned by toxins.
"It was the summer of 2010 when I started to experience unusual symptoms. I had abdominal pain, tedious constipation and I struggled with bowel movements. I kept telling myself "don't worry, it'll get better." But my health didn't improve.
I began taking handfuls of pills and then I became depressed. My doctor doubled my medication. But still it did not work.
I lost my appetite. After just 3 months, I was struggling with basic daily living. And my condition kept deteriorating. I started to have problems getting my breath. Even taking a few short steps to the bathroom was a problem. I'd wake up each day full of panic anxiety. It was the worst experience of my life.
Over years, poor diet, lack of exercise, stress and breathing in pollution had left pounds of crap piled up in my body. My intestines were not working.
I remember reading an American doctor who said: "Diseases are revenge on the body for an inappropriate diet. If toxins are not removed, they get into all the organs and block some of the processes of life." Now I know what he meant."
 

A body poisoned with toxins
performs worse and worse.

Fecal masses that you don't excrete accumulate in your body. They can amount to pounds in weight. And they sit in your intestines.
You go to the toilet but some of this waste stays in you.
The result? Illness, bacteria and bad mood.
Storing up dangerous substances takes years. It's a silent but deadly process. You only feel its effects years down the line. But when it starts ...it creates chaos in the body and requires expensive drugs to treat.
STOP! It doesn't have to be this way. You can save yourself from these horrors and secure a healthy life for yourself.
People are shocked when they weight themselves after using our detox treatment. They feel light and blissful when they've dumped the hard fecal masses from their bodies. Some people have lost an amazing 11 pounds in weight.

Keep clean inside
and live longer

Our intestines, liver and kidneys are in charge of keeping our bodies clean. These organs work closely together to detox the body.
It's a simple equation – keep your body clean and you'll have a better life and no health problems. A pure body gives you a happy mind.
Various detox methods exist. Most are loaded with chemicals, expensive and have side effects. You need something completely different – a proven and natural way to detox your body. It's been recommended by experts and our countrymen.

This method comes from the mysterious Plantago psyllium seed and Plantago ovata husks.
Our droplets remove settled toxic substances, fungi and parasites from your body.
They remove everything that's outstayed its welcome and harms your health. In short: they give your body round-the-clock protection and significantly improve quality of life.
But only by combining these two components can we create the unique blend that delivers this breakthrough efficiency. This mix is Fibre Primvital.

How to Lose Weight Fast With Apple Cider Vinegar

There are many ways to lose weight fast, but one of the best ways is using apple cider vinegar. According to "Folk Medicine: A Vermont Doctor's Guide to Good Health" by D. C. Jarvis, apple cider vinegar works in several ways. First, it suppresses your appetite, causing you to eat less and lose weight quickly. Secondly, it increases your metabolism, causing you to burn more calories. Third, it reduces the amount of water your body retains, allowing you too look and feel thinner. Plus, as a added bonus it helps you lower your cholesterol too.

Things You'll Need

• Tea
• Teaspoon
• Cinnamon (optional)
• Honey (optional)

Step 1:
Add 2 to 3 tbsp. of apple cider vinegar to 8 to 16 oz. of either tea or filtered water. The mixture is matter of preference. Do not add sugar. If you need to add something for taste, add cinnamon or honey. For rapid weight loss results, drink three times a day, at least half an hour before your meals.

Step 2:
Try to double the amount of water you are drinking per day to amplify the detoxifying effect of the apple cider vinegar. Avoid soda, high fructose corn syrup, sugar and high-calorie drinks. This will allow you to lose more weight.

Step 3:
Exercise four times a week for at least 30 minutes. Cardiovascular activities are some of the best exercises, but anything that allows you too sweat is a good activity. Apple cider vinegar increases your metabolism, but if you exercise along with taking apple cider vinegar, you will experience more dramatic effects.

Step 4:
Maintain a healthy diet filled with fruit and vegetables. Avoid processed foods, sugar, white flour, and fast food. Apple cider vinegar alone will not make you lose a lot of weight if you are maintaining an unhealthy lifestyle. To ensure you see dramatic rapid weight loss results, consume a healthy diet.

The Best Diet for Men Wanting to Lose Belly Fat

Unsightly stomach fat is one of the foremost concerns for men looking to complete a diet. Often, they remember a time when they could eat nearly anything they wanted and not put on unwanted pounds. But the body's metabolism slows, and the accumulation of body fat steadily increases until one day we are surprised by the person in the mirror. However, there is hope.

Truth About Abdominal Fat
No matter your age, you can generally lose substantial amounts of fat within 3 to 6 months of beginning a regimented diet. However, for men, stomach fat is some of the last to be lost. Whereas women tend to store stubborn fat on their legs, hips and glutes, men tend to store it in their abdominal area. Excess fat storage tends to make the body more resistant to insulin, a fat storage hormone. So for those looking to shed fat, managing insulin is crucial. And the best way to keep the body's insulin levels under control is lower-carb eating.

Follow the 7 Habits
Low-carb does not mean no-carb. It just means that you have to strictly monitor the types of carbs you ingest for the duration of the diet. To that end, the 7 Habits of Effective Nutritional Programs by Dr. John Berardi provide a good jumping-off point for those looking to lose their love handles and become reacquainted with their ab muscles. The 7 Habits:

1. Eat smaller meals every 2 to 3 hours, for a total of five to eight small meals per day, every day.
2. Eat a lean protein source with every meal (meat, chicken, fish, eggs).
3. Eat fruits, vegetables or both with every meal.
4. Make sure that almost all carbohydrate intake comes from fruits and vegetables.
5. Make sure that at least 25 percent of your calories come from fat sources, including animal fats and oils (flax, fish, coconut, and olive).
6. Drink only beverages that have zero calories. Stick to just water and green tea if possible.
7. Eat only whole foods (as opposed to liquid nutrition).

This might seem similar to many other low-carb plans you have seen, but keep in mind that the 7 Habits encourages carb intake from fruits and vegetables. So while you still can't have that muffin or burrito you crave, you can still get a fair supply of daily carbohydrates--which alleviate many of the complaints people have about no-carb diets (such as brain fog and lethargy).

What Next?
Deciding on the diet is the first step toward regaining your health. But this is not a system of eating that should be discarded immediately after you reach your goals. As you continue to age, the body will tolerate fewer deviations from a healthy lifestyle. Understanding that will allow you to make the 7 Habits a way of life. And accomplishing that will do wonders for all aspects of your life as you reach old age.

Foods That Help Burn Stomach Fat

When targeting stomach fat, the first thing people look to is their diet. Eliminating fast foods, lowering carbohydrates and drinking more water are necessary in weight reduction, but if you are targeting an area like your stomach, this is often not enough. Instead of eliminating foods, use them to your advantage. Many items are packed with vitamins that target fat and hinder its formation.

Whole Grains
Oats are a rich source of fiber, keeping food cravings under control and preventing you from overeating. Oats, such as oatmeal, brown rice, whole-grain pasta and whole-wheat tortillas, slow the entry of sugar and fat into the bloodstream. This reduces insulin production and raises your metabolism, increasing energy level and burning stomach fat. Cook oatmeal over the stove instead of the microwave. Instant oatmeal still contains the benefits of oats, but it contains lots of calories, sugar and sodium.

Egg Whites
By eliminating the yolk, eggs have little to no fat and all the advantages of protein. The body uses the proteins of the egg white for synthesis, burning calories when the egg white is digested by forcing the stomach to do extra work. This prevents its protein from converging into fat and preserves muscle tissue. Chocked full of choline, amino acids, folate and vitamin B12, egg whites enforce a sense of fullness while aiding in the metabolization of fat.

Monounsaturated Fats
People often ignore avocados during weight loss because they are high in fat. However, they contain high amounts of monounsaturated

 fats, which specifically target belly fat. Limit your intake to ½ cup daily. Nuts, olives and flax seeds are also high in monounsaturated fats, helping the body burn fat while maintaining a healthy cholesterol level. Almonds are the most productive, packed with fiber, protein and monounsaturated fats. Don’t eat more than 23 nuts a day; although they are beneficial, they are high in calories and will add inches to your waist if overeaten.

Meat and Fish
When trying to burn stomach fat, many people consider meat to be their biggest problem. Chicken, turkey, fish and even beef play a vital role in burning belly fat if eaten correctly. They are each high in protein, increasing your metabolism and promoting fat burning, but you have to select these foods wisely. Only lean portions of beef are beneficial in burning stomach fat, eliminating favorites like steak, hamburgers and rump roasts from the menu. Fish like salmon and tuna are also useful because they are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which block stress chemicals and refute fat from forming on the belly.

Green Tea
If looking for something to drink besides water, try green tea. The University of Marilyn has shown through studies that green tea contains a high amount of catechin polyphenols, antioxidants and thermogenic substances, and is highly effective in burning stomach fat. The epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) found within green tea works as a powerful antioxidant, lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or "bad" cholesterol levels, killing and inhibiting the growth of cancer cells and stopping the formation of blood clots without harming surrounding tissue. It also speeds the metabolism to increase the burning of stomach fat. Green tea is most effective when homemade because it has not been diluted by artificial sweeteners.

The punishment of one who backbites

Islaam has placed much emphasis on respecting the honour of a Muslim. It is for this very reason that from amongst the major sins in Islaam is falsely accusing another Muslim of fornication. In fact this sin is seen to be so horrendous that Allah has mentioned in the Quraan:

 وَٱلَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ ٱلْمُحْصَنتِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَأْتُواْ بِأَرْبَعَةِ شُهَدَآءَ فَٱجْلِدُوهُمْ ثَمَنِينَ جَلْدَةً وَلاَ تَقْبَلُواْ لَهُمْ شَهَادَةً أَبَداً وَأُوْلَـٰئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْفسِقُونَ . إِلاَّ ٱلَّذِينَ تَابُواْ مِن بَعْدِ ذٰلِكَ وَأَصْلَحُواْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ .
(24:4,5)
”As for those who slander chaste women (accuse them of fornication or adultery) without presenting four (reliable) witnesses (who had personally witnessed the act), you should punish them (the accusers) eighty lashes and never accept their testimony (in a court hearing) ever again. These people are sinners except for those who repent thereafter and make amends, Allah is most forgiving most merciful.”

This punishment has its regulations, and is only to be carried out under an Islaamic government. None the less, the idea is that Islaam has not taken the honour and respect of Muslims lightly.  The sanctity and honour of the Ka’bah is something which is well known in Islaam. Keeping this in mind, consider the following narration:

Abdullah ibn amr narrates: I saw the messenger of Allah performing tawaaf around the ka’bah and I heard him say (addressing the ka’bah) ”How pleasant you are and how pleasant is your smell. How great you are and how great is your sanctity. I swear by that being in whose hand is the life of Muhammed, the sanctity of a Muslim in the sight of Allah is greater than your sanctity, his wealth, his blood and that we think good of him.” (Ibn Maajah: 3932)

This narration shows us the level of sanctity and honour of a Muslim in Islaam. In order to protect this honour Allah has also prohibited backbiting and has mentioned in the Quraan:

 وَلاَ يَغْتَب بَّعْضُكُم بَعْضاً أَيُحِبُّ أَحَدُكُمْ أَن يَأْكُلَ لَحْمَ أَخِيهِ مَيْتاً فَكَرِهْتُمُوهُ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ تَوَّابٌ رَّحِيم .
(49:12)
And never backbite each other. Does any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother, which you so detest? Fear Allah, Allah is most pardoning most merciful.

In this verse Allah has equated backbiting to eating the flesh of one’s dead brother and this is an analogy which has been used by the messenger of Allah peace be upon him on many occasions. For example, Anas Allah be pleased with him narrates that the messenger of Allah peace be upon him said:

ما صام من ظلّ يأكل لحوم الناس.(رواه ابن أبي شيبة في مصنفه مَا يُؤْمَرُ بِهِ الصَّائِمُ مِنْ قِلَّةِ الْكَلاَمِ وَتَوَقِّي الْكَذِبِ ح/٨٩٨٣)

The one who spends his day eating the flesh of people has not fasted.( Ibnu abi Shaybah). Even though someone may have physically fasted during the day, due to his backbiting he is deprived of any reward from Allah.

The messenger of Allah peace be upon him has clearly defined for us what backbiting means.

عَنْ أَبِى هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- قَالَ أَتَدْرُونَ مَا الْغِيبَةُ؟ قَالُوا اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ. قَالَ ذِكْرُكَ أَخَاكَ بِمَا يَكْرَهُ قِيلَ أَفَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ كَانَ فِى أَخِى مَا أَقُولُ قَالَ إِنْ كَانَ فِيهِ مَا تَقُولُ فَقَدِ اغْتَبْتَهُ وَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِيهِ فَقَدْ بَهَتَّهُ.(رواه مسلم،ح/٦٧٥٨)

Abu Hurayrah Allah be pleased with him narrates that the messenger of Allah peace be upon him asked his companions, ‘Do you know what backbiting is?’. They replied ‘Allah and his messenger know best’. The messenger of Allah peace be upon him then explained and said ‘Backbiting is to mention your brother with words he would dislike’. It was asked ‘What about if what is mentioned is actually found inside him?’. The messenger of Allah peace be upon him replied ‘If what you mention is found in him then you have engaged in backbiting about him, but if what you say is not found inside him then you have certainly slandered him’.(Muslim 6758)

This narration also highlights the unacceptability of one of the most common justifications of backbiting, being the truth. The mere fact that what one is mentioning is the truth regarding his brother is the same reason it is considered backbiting as if it were a lie it would be slandering.

Allah’s messenger peace be upon him has also warned us of the poisonous nature of backbiting.

 عَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ قُلْتُ لِلنَّبِىِّ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- حَسْبُكَ مِنْ صَفِيَّةَ كَذَا وَكَذَا قَالَ غَيْرُ مُسَدَّدٍ تَعْنِى قَصِيرَةً. فَقَالَ لَقَدْ قُلْتِ كَلِمَةً لَوْ مُزِجَتْ بِمَاءِ الْبَحْرِ لَمَزَجَتْهُ.(رواه أبو داود،باب في الغيبة، ح/٤٨٧٧)

Aaishah may Allah be pleased with her narrates, ‘I once said to the prophet peace be upon him, such and such a thing of Safiyyah is sufficient for you (referring to her shortness). He replied you have made such a statement that if it were to be mixed in the water of the ocean, it would pollute the water’.(Abu Daawood 4877)

This narration shows us the horrendous nature of backbiting. Aaishah may Allah be pleased with her moves on to say:

 وَحَكَيْتُ لَهُ إِنْسَانًا فَقَالَ: مَا أُحِبُّ أَنِّى حَكَيْتُ إِنْسَانًا وَأَنَّ لِى كَذَا وَكَذَا.

I mimicked a certain person in the presence of the messenger of Allah peace be upon him, on seeing this he said, ‘I would never want to mimic a person even if I was given so much and so much as a recompense.’ i.e. A large amount of wealth.   

This narration also shows us that mimicking an individual is also considered backbiting. In fact backbiting is not limited to words but can also be expressed through actions as the word used in the narration is حكيت , this is used when an individual mimics the actions of another individual in a degrading way. Therefore backbiting also includes pointing or gesturing towards someone or mimicking someone in a way which is degrading.

Allah’s messenger peace be upon him has also warned us of the punishment one who backbites will receive.

عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- لَمَّا عُرِجَ بِى مَرَرْتُ بِقَوْمٍ لَهُمْ أَظْفَارٌ مِنْ نُحَاسٍ يَخْمِشُونَ وُجُوهَهُمْ وَصُدُورَهُمْ فَقُلْتُ مَنْ هَؤُلاَءِ يَا جِبْرِيلُ قَالَ هَؤُلاَءِ الَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ لُحُومَ النَّاسِ وَيَقَعُونَ فِى أَعْرَاضِهِمْ.(رواه أبو داود، باب في الغيبة، ح/٤٨٨٠)
Anas may Allah be pleased with him narrates that the messenger of Allah peace be upon him said, ‘When I was taken to the heavens I passed by some people who had nails made of copper with which they were scratching their faces and chest. I enquired who are these people Jibreel? He replied, these are people who used to eat the flesh of others (backbite others) and defame them.'(Abu Daawood).

After reading the above mentioned narrations, only a foolish individual would intentionally want to backbite. However, there are many who want to stop backbiting but find it difficult to do so. Hereunder is an action plan to put into place which will aid in staying away from this sin Inshallah.

1. The very first thing required to stop any sin is resolve. One must make a firm intention to never commit this sin again.
2. Make dua to Allah to give one the ability to stay away from this detestable sin.
3. Refrain from unnecessarily talking about others even if it may be good, as many times this leads to mentioning the bad points of the very same person.
4. By pondering over one’s own bad points, he will not consider the bad points of others.
5. Always try to think good of others and give them the benefit of the doubt. This is why Allah mentions thinking bad of others before mentioning backbiting itself.

يٰأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ ٱجْتَنِبُواْ كَثِيراً مِّنَ ٱلظَّنِّ إِنَّ بَعْضَ ٱلظَّنِّ إِثْمٌ وَلاَ تَجَسَّسُواْ وَلاَ يَغْتَب بَّعْضُكُم بَعْضاً. (49:12) 

O you who have Imaan! Refrain from excessive assumption (suspicion and assuming evil things about people without verification). Verily some assumptions are a sin. Never spy on people and never backbite each other.

• Ask forgiveness from whom so ever one backbites. This will make him think twice the next time he thinks of backbiting as he would also consider the shame in having to ask forgiveness from that individual.

It is important to remember that the one listening to the backbiting is also considered to be backbiting. This is why when this sin takes place in one’s presence it is imperative that he either stops it or leaves the gathering. We must also remember that who so ever we may have backbitten, we must ask forgiveness from them in order for this sin to be forgiven as it is from amongst the rights of slaves.  If one cannot ask specific forgivingness for backbiting as he feels it will cause problems, then he should at least ask for general forgiveness for anything he may have said or done. If one cannot remember who he has backbitten about or cannot contact them, then he should ask Allaah for forgiveness nd pray for them.

The Forgotten Twig

I leave behind me two things, the Quraan and my teachings and if you follow these you will never go astray. [The Last will Of Muhammad Peace Be Upon Him].(al-mustadrak, hadeeth 318)

In this modern day and age we are constantly reminded and bombarded by commercials about our health and beauty by promoting new products at great prices each day of our lives.

There is nothing wrong with looking after and maintaining our hygiene by spending a little extra on products to maintain our skin, shiny hair or sparkling white teeth. Islaam has emphasised the importance of hygiene and cleanliness to the extent it has shown man the etiquettes of attaining the call of nature and to the removal of unwanted hair.

To understand the importance of hygiene in Islaam I will quote a saying of Muhammad Peace Be Upon Him: ‘Cleanliness is half of Faith’.

I would just like to bring your attention to one forgotten Sunnah which was greatly used and practiced by our predecessors in fact it was a custom of the previous Prophets who have come and gone thousands of years ago.

This forgotten practise is none other than the Miswaak!

Now some may be confused or some may know a little. Trust me and read on and all your questions will be answered, even further you will be shocked regarding this forgotten practise.

Being in the holy month of Ramadhaan where a fasting persons mouth becomes dry and parched also not being able to consume food nor liquid there is a chance of bad odour from the mouth where the stomach gas plays a role in creating an odour.

Islaam is a religion of peace which educates a Muslim not to bring forth any kind of harm to others may they be Muslim or non Muslim.

There is a hadeeth which states that using the miswaak before prayer (Salaah) multiplies its reward to seventy times more. (al-mustadrak,hadeeth 515)

Before the invention of our conventional toothbrush and mouthwash, The Miswaak was a trade tool which kept a man’s breath fresh and teeth white. It is a small twig the size of a hand span from certain trees which was used as a tool of hygiene.
It was so important during the era of Muhammad Peace Be upon Him, this practise was probably the only optional practise which was stressed upon and emphasised on to such a great degree.

The Messenger stated that Angel Jibraeel use to urge me to use the miswaak so much that I feared that this practice would be decreed an obligation on this nation. If I did not fear hardship on my nation I would have made this an obligation.(Ibn Maajah: 289)

This Miswaak has great benefits; spiritually and scientifically. Now before I state its benefits, know that this miswaak is still taught in some survival/military schools, when one has lost his/hers provisions and have to adapt to nature.

A small article I found:

A 2003 scientific study comparing the use of miswaak with ordinary toothbrushes concluded that the results clearly were in favour of the users who had been using the miswaak, provided they had been given proper instruction in how to brush using it. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended the use of the miswaak in 1986 and in 2000 in an international consensus report on Oran hygiene that concluded that further research was needed to document the effect of the miswaak.

The Miswaak is commonly found from the following trees:
• Salvadora persica tree (Araak/Peelu)
• Olive tree
• Walnut tree

These are the most common ones which are also documented in the sayings and teachings of Muhammad Peace Be Uopn Him.

“Use the Miswaak of the Olive tree. It is the Miswaak of a Mubaarak (auspicious or gracious) tree. It purifies and makes wholesome the mouth. It removes the yellowness of the teeth. It is my (i.e.Muhammad Peace Be Upon Him) Miswaak and the Miswaak of the Ambiyaa (Prophets) who came before me.” (Al-mu`jamul-awsat: 678)

Here are some physical benefits:

1. Miswaak strengthens the gums and prevents tooth decay.
2. Miswaak assists in eliminating toothaches and prevents further increase of decay which has already set in.
3. Miswaak creates a fragrance in the mouth.
4. Miswaak is a cure for illnesses.
5. Miswaak eliminates bad odours and improves the sense of taste.
6. Miswaak sharpens the memory.
7. Miswaak is a cure for headaches.
8. Miswaak creates lustre (noor) on the face of the one who continually uses it.
9. Miswaak causes the teeth to glow.
10. Miswaak strengthens the eyesight.
11. Miswaak assists in digestion.
12. Miswaak clears the voice.

Miswaak has become a subject in modern science baffling many doctors and researchers of its effects to stop many oral diseases and its positive effects.

The Messengers has said:
‘Make a regular practice of the Miswaak, for verily, it is healthy for the mouth and it is a Pleasure for the Creator (i.e. Allah is pleased with the Muslim who uses the Miswaak)’. (Ibn Maajah: 289)

The Miswaak is so rewarding even spiritually that when performed before Salaah (prayers), the reward is multiplied seventy times. It has so many endless spiritual benefits but I will state one of the most profound ones which is that the believer will die with testifying on his tongue that there is no god but Allah to be worshipped and Muhammad is the last messenger.

There is nothing alien about using a stick to clean your mouth.

But I ask you, research the miswaak in modern science. Would you revive this forgotten practise to uplift your spiritual side, a practice which was loved by the Messenger OR discard it because it has no space or recognition in the eyes of Tomorrow?

How much money do we spend on health related products when we know of the miswaak and its health benefits costing no more than few loose change.

Modesty and Chasteness

The females of the first era (of Islam) gave a lot of sacrifice to spread Islam. History testifies to this fact. For example the first person to accept Islam was a female, namely Khadija Bint Khuwaylid (May Allah, the almighty be pleased with her). The first person who was martyred as a (so called) punishment for accepting Islam was a female, namely Sumaya bint khabat (May Allah, the almighty be pleased with her). The cause of hadhrat Umar Ibn Khattab (May Allah, the almighty be pleased with him) accepting Islam was his sister, Fatimah Bint Khattab (may Allah, the almighty be pleased with her). These chaste females were the true beacons of light of Islam. They knew the true value of Islam and its teachings. They constantly did what they could for the elevation of Islam.

What is the state of females today? In an environment full of anti-religious indications, corrupted with a modern mentality, acclimatised to not veiling, wearing tight, translucent or in some cases even transparent clothes to attract onlookers, wearing high heel shoes so that whilst walking others know of her presence, speaking in a sweet tone to be seductive, showing off and becoming accustomed to excessive spending is the female of today. With the ease of the whole world at the fingertips, walking freely and bear headed in front of ghayr mahram[1] is the habit of a female today. Even if she will have a scarf she will put it around her neck- why? So her face and hair are clearly visible. Is this what Islam teaches? Is this the protection Islam gives to a female?

No, not at all! Islam is a religion that reflects on nature and environment- a religion that takes in to consideration all aspects of a human’s life. Islam likes that a lady spend her life with modesty and chastity. Hence the prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) mentions:

الحياء شعبة من الإيمان

“Modesty is a branch of faith”
(Bukhari,Hadith no:9)

Nevertheless, in the society there is another picture- a picture of those females who stay veiled. They know the importance of modesty. They know and value the teachings of Islam. They personify the saying of the prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):

الحياء لا يأتي إلا بخير

“Modesty only brings good”
(Al-adab-ul-mufrad, The chapter on modesty,hadith no:1312)

Umar Ibn Khattab (may Allah, the almighty be pleased with him) once said: “My lord concurred with me in three things. One of those things where that I said to the beloved Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) good and bad people come in your service/ to you, if you can tell the mothers of the believers (i.e. wives of the Prophet) to do purdah[2]……… At that very same moment Allah, the almighty revealed the verse regarding purdah”. The order of purdah was given by Allah, the almighty and his beloved Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Therefore females must act upon the rulings of purdah.

Only if we could set ourselves right and think properly. Allah, the almighty gives respite to us. But when we transgress the limits of guidance and go in to the boundaries of deviation then Allah, the almighty seizes us- and the seizing of Allah, the almighty is drastic and severe.

I pray that Allaah make all sisters understand the true meaning of modesty, make them modest and appreciate the true teachings of Islam which are an epitome of chastity...
Aameen summa Aameen...

The Blessed Days of Dhul-Hijjah

The Great month of Dhul-Hijjah is upon us, thousands and thousands of fortunate Muslims have embarked on the great journey of Hajj.

For those of us that are not going for Hajj, these first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah also hold great value.  Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these days” (i.e the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah). (Bukhari)

These first 10 days are a great chance for a Believer to turn to his lord and gain his pleasures.  Allah has taken an oath of the first ten nights of this great month.

وَالْفَجْرِ. وَلَيَالٍ عَشْرٍ

I swear by the dawn, and by ten nights (89:2)

Our beloved Prophet (peace be upon him) has said “There is no better time to perform worship of Allah than on the (first) ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. A Day’s fast in it, equals the fast of a year, and a night’s worship in it, equals the worship of Laylatul Qadr”. (Tirmizi, Ibn Majah)

There are a few acts that we should all try to do in these ten days:

Fast as many days as we can in these blessed days. The Messenger of Allah used to fast the Day of Ashoorah, the first nine days of Dhul-Hijjah, and three days out of every month”. (Ahmad, Nasaa’i)

The observance of the fast of the ninth of Dhul-Hijjah is an atonement of the past and coming year.

Takbir: To say the Takbir from the Fajr of the ninth of Dhul-Hijjah to the Asr of the 13th Dhul-Hijjah, (23 Salaat).

   الله أكبر , الله أكبر, لا إله إلا الله الله أكبر  , الله أكبر ولله الحمد 

 (“Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, laa ilaaha illallallahu, Allahu akbar, wa Lillaahil-hamd”)

Doing more good deeds in general , because good deeds are beloved to Allah and will bring a great reward from Him. Whoever is not able to go to Hajj should occupy himself at this blessed time by worshipping Allah, praying (Salaah), reading Qur’an, remembering Allah, making supplication (du’a), giving charity, honouring his parents, upholding the ties of kinship, enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil and other good deeds and acts of worship.


Sacrificing an animal is such a great deed that will take a person closer to Allah and will attain great reward. Regarding this great act of worship, Allah says in the Glorious Qur’an:

لَن يَنَالَ اللَّهَ لُحُومُهَا وَلا دِمَاؤُهَا وَلَكِن يَنَالُهُ التَّقْوَى مِنكُمْ

‘It is neither the meat nor their blood that reaches Allah, but it is piety from you that reaches Him.’ (22:37)

Sincere repentance: One of the most important things to do during these ten days is to repent sincerely to Allah, and to give up all kinds of disobedience and sin.

Dua: A person should increase in the amount of Dua that he makes. Thousands and thousands of Muslims have embarked on the great journey of Hajj and Allahs mercy is in full flow. We should try supplicating to Allah as much as we possibly can.


There is a lot to be gained throughout these ten days. They are great opportunities to turn to Allah and make a firm resolution that we are going to live our lives in accordance to the Shari`ah and the Sunnah of our Beloved Prophet peace be upon him.

Leave pornography and turn to Allaah Swt

Unfortunately we find more and more Muslims indulged in pornography (printed or visual material containing the explicit description or display of sexual organs or activity, intended to stimulate sexual excitement), and this trend is on the increase. Individuals as young as 13 up to adults well over 60 are trapped in this vicious vice which is deteriorating their Imaan. Just as the way drugs, alcohol and other sins are harmful to us and our faith, pornography is no different, it’s as harmful if not more, and addictive.

Allah All Mighty has clearly stated in the Quraan:

ولا تقربوا الزنا إنه كان فاحشة وساء سبيلا

And go not nigh to fornication; surely it is an indecency and an evil way

[surah Isra: Ayah 32]

Allah has forbidden us from even going close to Zinah, let alone carrying out the act. There are many forms of zinah, and glancing unlawful gazes also qualifies as this, as does watching pornography. Spending couple of minutes or hours watching such movies we are paying a spiritual price for this, it has an effect on our day to day life, it has an impact on our worship, our salah, dua, our character and most importantly our connection with Allah All Mighty.

Pornography is a topic that we need to tackle and we must help those that are trapped in this sin. Many societies sweep the topic of porn under the carpet, despite knowing it exists.

This multi-billion dollar/pound industry is thriving on individuals who are addicted to the sin and the figures speak for themselves

25% of most internet searches request porn and these figures are increasing, the graph below shows the volume of search results from 2005-2013, increasing immensely.

View full report in Google Trends

In 2013 among the top cities searching for such material are New Delhi, Istanbul, Karachi, Cairo, which are all  Predominant Islamic cities.

In February 2013, University of Sydney conducted a research in which 800 people participated, 47% acknowledged watching pornography for between 30 minutes and three hours every day, and over half had de-facto partners or were married. The study revealed that in addition to the damage to friendships and romantic relationships, negative consequences of watching pornography’ included loss of jobs and legal problems.

Times have changed

One of the main issues with pornography is that it is widely accessible for everyone. Going back 15 – 20 years, one had to go to a special theater to watch such explicit videos and images, and then it became available on VCR’s, which were available for purchase in a limited manner, in certain stores only.

Now with the internet, smart phones, tablets, it is not just accessible at a person’s fingertips, but apps, notifications and other junk emails regarding such content are constantly created and distributed. So naturally, if a person is spiritually weak he/she can easily slip and get caught up in this evil act of viewing pornography’.

“The easy access to pornography on the Internet and other devices makes resisting the urge more difficult, and appears to be increasing pornography addiction. There are people who are now porn addicts who arguably wouldn’t have gotten there without the new technologies,” San Francisco psychotherapist Michael Halyard, MFT.

The internet-centered and sex-driven society we find ourselves in, add to the difficulty of staying away from pornography. Sex is deemed as the normality in many developed countries and is promoted on billboards, shopping malls, TV channels and advertisements.

However, the problem is not in the widely available nature of such explicit content, it is in the psychological addiction to it. Pornography, like gambling, drugs and alcohol is dangerously addictive.

“Why is pornography so incredibly powerful?

There has got to be more to this than just ‘dirty pictures’ and research now shows that an addiction to pornography is a “chemical addiction”. Such addictions produce a response in the brain, similar to that produced by drugs, alcohol and gambling.

Every time a person watches porn their brain releases dopamine (a chemical that is responsible for transmitting signals between nerves and brains, it is usually released when your body accomplishes something, eating, running, sports, and sexual excitement etc). Over time, this causes Neuroplasticity, a change in the brain that alters the brain cells to motivate certain actions, causing he/she to perform the same act repetitively in the future. Having fallen into this trap, the body will not just desire to do the same act, but it will require it to do the act. It is therefore safe to deem this an addiction.

“For compulsive pornography consumers, the pornography often serves as a way to self-soothe, relax, and escape the stress of modern life. People also use pornography to avoid uncomfortable feelings like sadness, guilt and shame, and as a way to manage their anxiety. Sometimes people use porn just to avoid doing work or tedious tasks,” San Francisco psychotherapist Michael Halyard, MFT.

Pornography is degrading, unreal and is the root of corruptions. It has a great impact on a person’s character; the ways they think, see and speak are all greatly affected. A person who engages in such evil activities is far away from modesty. The Prophet Muhammad (Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) has said “Modesty is half of faith”. So as being modest is half of faith, a person who is involved in this demoralising activity automatically does not have modesty because if they did they would not engage in such activities. It is important to understand the harms of porn.

Actual harms of pornography

Before a person looks at the spiritual harms of pornography some of the apparent harms are:
Problems within social and married relationships: Dr. William Struthers, who has a PhD in biopsychology from the University of Illinois at Chicago, states, found that men who use porn become controlling, highly introverted, have high anxiety, narcissistic, curious, have low self-esteem, depressed, dissociative, distractible. Ironically, while viewing porn creates momentary intensely pleasurable experiences, it ends up leading to several negative lingering psychological experiences.

Rewires your brain:  “After all, pornography works in the most basic of ways on the brain: It is Pavlovian. An orgasm is one of the biggest rein forcers imaginable. If you associate orgasm with your wife, a kiss, a scent, a body, that is what, over time, will turn you on; if you open your focus to an endless stream of ever-more-transgressive images of cyber sex slaves,that is what it will take to turn you on. The ubiquity of sexual images does not free eros but dilutes it”. ­- Naomi Wolf

Leads to masturbation: This is a whole new topic which again harms your faith and body.

The loss of sense: It makes real sex and even the real world boring in comparison.

Lies about reality:  When a person is watching pornography, they are watching something that is unrealistic, and unnatural. It cultivates a single standard of beauty that no real women can live up to. It also leads men to be mistakenly dissatisfied with reality as it pertains to sex.

Porn makes men get bored with their own wives. “Excessive exposure to the incredible variety of naked bodies that you see in porn makes men feel permanently dissatisfied with their wives’ bodies,” Rabbi Shmuley.

Turn to Allah

We acknowledge from the above research and points that one can easily fall into pornography and before realising, it becomes an addiction.

Allah (swt) says: “Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: and Allah is well acquainted with all they do. And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof… ”

Allah All Mighty has given people the blessing of sight, just the thought of losing one’s sight brings shivers down the spine. With this great blessing which Allah has bestowed upon us, shouldn’t a person be thankful and use it in the manner which is pleasing to Allah. Just ponder over the day of resurrection when one is standing in front of Allah All Mighty, and Allah asks “aren’t you ashamed, you could see the blind around you, and I gave you sight, with which you used to watch unlawful activities.” What answer will we have?

Everything a person does in this world they are accountable for, and watching one glimpse or hours of porn, calls onto the disobedience of Allah. When a person is indulged in such an activity the heart dies and becomes dark, losing the light of imaan. Besides guilty conscious what has one got to gain from such a sin? There is no benefit in this world or in the hereafter. For a couple of minutes to feed ones desire, a person is selling away their imaan for consequences which they will come to know on the day of judgment, when the book of deeds are presented.

Some are searching contentment from their busy stressful days in pornography, Allah All Mighty clearly states in the Quraan “Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest”. Why not turn to Allah, and witness what contentment your body and soul will find. Allah has given a person their body as a cage for their soul to take them through their life. Verily to Allah will we return after we die. Just as the body (the shell of the soul) needs nourishment which is provided in the form of food and drink, the souls also need to be nourished and taken care of. As a person’s soul is from Allah, the nourishment of the souls therefore also comes from the heavens in the form of remembrance of Allah.

How to cure oneself

1. Understand it is haraam (unlawful) and ask forgiveness from Allah. Allah is the most merciful and if a person turns to him sincerely repenting for their sins, He will make it easy for that person to stop their addiction and will also forgive them, never underestimate the mercy of Allah.

2. Stay in good company.

3. Take precautions whilst browsing on the internet, only use the internet for work, block off adult sites using the security on your browser (on Chrome browser you can do this easily), and use the internet in a public place rather than in solitary.

4. A person will be accountable for every single action, remember Allah is watching at all times, a person should engross themself as much as possible in the remembrance of Allah in the form of Quran recitation, reading Islamic books, and zikr of Allah.

6. Practise lowering your gaze.

7. Stop watching unlawful vidoes

8. Give in charity

9. Every time a person commits this evil sin, pray 2 rakaat salah and ask Allah for forgiveness and help.
Anas ibn Malik (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said
“By Him in Whose Hand is my soul: If you committed sins to the extent that your sins filled what is between the heavens and the earth, Allāh would forgive you after seeking His forgiveness. By Him in whose hand is Muḥammad’s soul, if you did not commit sins, Allāh would replace you by other people who would commit sins. Then, Allāh forgives them after seeking His forgiveness.”

People have become slaves of their lusts, whatever their lusts desire they are ready to feed them. This is something they need to practice to resist. Yes it is tough, but the rewards that Allah has in store are far better. A person may slip once and twice, but seek forgiveness from Allah and keep practising, and just like everything else, over time with dua and perseverance that person will be able to control their desire, and enjoy the fruits that Allah has in store for them.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The one who repents from sin is like one who has never sinned.”

Whether a person watches pornographic movies individually or with their marriage partner it is impermissible and haram (unlawful) in Islam. It is against the teachings of Islam and our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him).
As a person is not allowed to expose themself or look at the private parts of others, whether alive or in pictures, how can he/she be permitted to look at the sexual acts between two people? Such practices are, indeed, not only forbidden but also reckoned as one of the most heinous sins in Islam.

Now my brothers and sisters ponder upon this- is it worth it when this world and all it includes is only in existence for a limited time? Therefore, a person must avoid it to keep the purity of their souls.

Everybody’s goal in this world should be to prepare themselves for the everlasting life in the hereafter, not to gain Allah’s wrath by engaging themselves in these de-modest activities, just take a moment and think if they were to die in the state of watching porn then how will they able to face Allah – the king of both worlds? In a person’s life time Allah gives them enough indications to realise what is right and what is wrong but sometimes they are too ignorant and arrogant to accept and practice the teachings of the Qura’an and sunan of our prophet (Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) because they have received these teachings with so much ease. Before a person knows it he/she will be on their death beds wishing they hadn’t done all the evil and incorrect acts that they did in their lives. A change must be made before it’s too late.

May Allaah give everybody the ability to control their desires nd gain better understanding of Allaah nd his closeness... Aameen summa Aameen...