The Size of Africa

Frank Jacobs on November 20, 2006, 3:29 AM

Africa remains the least developed continent, and the most plagued by disease, poverty and malnutrition. The ‘dark continent’ also largely remains off the news radar in the developed world, although it’s not clear to me whether that is a consequence or a cause of the troubles it suffers.

Christian Preacher Says STOP EATING PORK

The Arrivals Series 1 / 46

The Meaning of Light (Nur) in the Islamic Traditions

http://www.mountainoflight.co.uk/

Nur is the Arabic word for light, An Nur (the light) is one of the many names for Allah.  This name Allah has no gender nor has it a plural form. Allah is not used to refer to anything or anyone but, The Lord and sustainer of the Universe.  Anwar is the Arabic plural of Nur meaning lights.

                    Nuri has been referred to "The light of Muhammad"      



     Light is that which is evident or manifest in it's self and makes other things evident.  In every seeking soul there is a portion, be it small or great, of the light of God.  Darkness is simply an expression for the lack of light.  Light is divided into light of itself and in its self and light of it's self but in another.  When the commanding light departs from the human fortress it is darkened and desirous of darkness.  Wicked states become fixed in it and it is drawn to the brute fortresses of other animals and darkness beckons to it.

     No one finds salvation unless his greatest desire is for the afterlife and most of his thoughts are directed toward the world of light.

     Every person is in need of God at every instant of life.  From the air we breathe, to food we eat, from the ability to use our hands to the faculty of speech, from being sheltered to being in a joyful spirit, we live completely in need of what God creates and grants us.

     In The Glorious Quran Allah has revealed that the unbelievers will constantly revert to various means and mobilize all their forces to prevent people from believing in Him, adhering to His path and remembering Him.  Those who disbelieve spend their wealth barring access to the way Allah.

Al-Anfal

Lo! Those who disbelieve spend their wealth in order that they may debar (men) from the way of Allah.  They will spend it, then it will become anguish for them, then they will be conquered.  And those who disbelieve will be gathered unto hell, (36)

This labor of opposition may sometimes be carried out using open methods and means and at other times by use of secret tactics.  Yet the objective is always the same; to prevent the remembrance of the name of Allah and thus turn people away from religious moral values.

The deeper secrets and laws of our being are self protected; to learn them requires an adaptation of character and purpose.  It requires humility of mind and spirit inconsistent with those displayed by the perverse or merely curious enquirer.  Allah has revealed in detail the kind of moral values people should have and the kind of lives they should lead, if they choose not to follow this divine "Light of Guidance", they will be in darkness.  The Qur'an, contains all the previous revelations sent to man, the books of Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus and Lastly Muhammad (May God's peace and blessings be on them all)

Al-Noor

Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The similitude of His light is as a niche wherein is a lamp. The lamp is in a glass. The glass is as it were a shining star. (This lamp is) kindled from a blessed tree, an olive neither of the East nor of the West, whose oil would almost glow forth (of itself) though no fire touched it. Light upon light. Allah guideth unto His light whom He will. And Allah setteth forth for mankind similitudes, for Allah is Knower of all things. (35)

Status

I sit in my prayer room, contemplating on the mercy of my Lord. I am in awe of His gifts and previsions to our family.  While much sadness has hit us recently, Allah has always followed it with some type of Joy, Alhumdullilah.  We are but travelers in this world of illusions , passing through this life to our finale destination in the next life, of this i have no doubt. I pray that all who read these words have a blessed day and also contemplate the many gifts God has bestowed upon them and give thanks, Ameen. 

"Which of the favors of my Lord will ye dare deny" 

non of the favors of my Lord will I deny, for thee is all Praise

The Origin of Human Belief

“O mankind!  Be conscious of your Lord, who has created you from one soul (Adam), and out of it created its mate (Eve), and out of the two spread many men and women.  And remain conscious of God, in whose name you demand [your rights] from one another, and of these ties of kinship.  Verily, God is ever watchful over you!” (Quran 4:1)

Tawhid was the norm from the days of Adam until shirk emerged.  Allah says in the Qur'an:

 

Sahih International

Mankind was [of] one religion [before their deviation]; then Allah sent the prophets as bringers of good tidings and warners and sent down with them the Scripture in truth to judge between the people concerning that in which they differed. And none differed over the Scripture except those who were given it - after the clear proofs came to them - out of jealous animosity among themselves. And Allah guided those who believed to the truth concerning that over which they had differed, by His permission. And Allah guides whom He wills to a straight path.

Muhsin Khan

Mankind were one community and Allah sent Prophets with glad tidings and warnings, and with them He sent the Scripture in truth to judge between people in matters wherein they differed. And only those to whom (the Scripture) was given differed concerning it after clear proofs had come unto them through hatred, one to another. Then Allah by His Leave guided those who believed to the truth of that wherein they differed. And Allah guides whom He wills to a Straight Path.

"Mankind was one single nation, and Allah sent Messengers with glad tidings and warnings...(al Baqarah 2:213)

Thus a noble civilization is one which creates a suitable environment- political, social, economic, cultural and material-that will enable man to direct himself toward the worship of  God alone and to adhere strictly to His commandments in all his activities, unimpeded by the institutions of the society.

No matter how advanced a civilization may be in sciences, literature and arts; no matter how colorful its achievements in architecture, furniture, clothing and cuisine; no matter how far a civilization has advanced in material progress; in the Islamic View, it still remains "backward" and "deficient" so long as it falls short of creating an environment appropriate to the worship of God and the observance of His commandments as embodied in the Shari'ah.

Dates: Relief of Pain

It is a long-established custom among Muslim parents to put a piece of well-chewed date (or other available sweet fruit) in the mouth of a newborn baby.  Muslims do this following the practice of the Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, believing him to bee, as the Quran says, sent as a healing and a mercy to mankind.  We may infer from the way this custom originated that there is a virtue in it.  There is - complimentary to the virtue and pleasure of following the Sunnah (the practice of the Prophet) - placing a `sugary substance’ inside the mouth of a new-born baby dramatically reduces pain sensation and heart rate.

An interesting scientific medical study, published in the British Medical Journal (No. 6993, 10 June 1995), proved beyond any doubt the benefit of giving a new-born child sugar, in order to reduce the feeling of any painful procedure like heel pricking for a blood sample or before circumcision.

The study, entitled `The analgesic (pain killing) effect of sucrose in full term infants: a randomized controlled trial’, was done by Nora Haouari, Christopher Wood, Gillian Griffiths and Malcolm Levene in the post-natal ward in the Leeds General Infirmary in England.

60 healthy infants of gestational age 37-42 weeks and postnatal age of 1-6 days, were randomized to receive 2ml of one of the four solutions: 12.5% sucrose, 25% sucrose, 50% sucrose, and sterile water (control).

The first group of 30 babies received sugar syrup before a routine blood test (heel pricking, which is usually painful) done to detect jaundice.  The other 30 babies were given only sterile water as a control group.

Placing 2ml of a 25% or 50% sucrose solution on the tongue before pricking the heel significantly reduced the crying time, compared to babies who got water.  Also, their heart rate returned to normal more quickly.  The stronger sugar solution had the greater effect, crying being reduced further with increasing concentration of sucrose.  From which we may conclude that sucrose (sugar) placed on the tongue may bee a useful and safe form of analgesia for use with newborn infants.

Blass and Hoffmeyer also showed that 12% solution of inter-oral sucrose significantly reduced the duration of crying in new-born babies subjected to heel pricking or circumcision.  This study was reported in The Independent newspaper (Friday 9 June 1995) as well as in the British Medical Journal article.

The practice of the Prophet, upon him b piece, is recorded in the collections of his sayings and reports about him, of which the most revered are the two authentic collections of Al-Bukhari and Muslim:

Abu Buradah reported from Abu Musa, who said:

“I had a new-born baby; I took him to the Prophet Muhammad, who called him Ibrahim.  The Prophet chewed a date then he took it and rubbed the inside of the baby’s mouth with it.”

There are many other reported incidents like this one.

The date contains a very high percentage of sugar (70-80%); it has both fructose and glucose which have high calorific values, it is easily and quickly digestible, and very helpful to the brain.  The date contains 2.2% protein, vitamin A, vitamins B1, B2 ad nicotruic acid (against Pellagra); it has traces of minerals needed for the body such as potassium, sodium, calcium, iron, manganese, copper.  Potassium, of which percentage is very high, has been found to be very effective for cases of haemorrhage, such as the occasions of birth or circumcision.

We may note that the Sunnah also commends dates for the breaking of the fast in Ramadan.  Dates should be eaten, if available, before the sunset prayer - this is medically and nutritionally the best way and the Sunnah.

The great worth of dates is also indicated in a famous and beautiful passage of the Quran, in chapter named Maryam, verses 25-6:

“And shake towards you the trunk of the palm-tree and it will drop on you fresh ripe dates.  So eat and drink and be comforted.”

This was the prescription of God, the Creator, for the blessed Virgin Mary at the time of the birth of Jesus, the blessed Prophet of God.  It was a prescription to make the delivery easy and comfortable.

As the authors of the medical study referred to intend trying new sugary or sweet substances, we shall recommend that they try dates for the newborn for the relief of pain.

“We shall show them our signs on he furthest horizons and within themselves until it becomes clear to them that it is the truth.  Is it not sufficient that your Lord is witness over all things?” (Quran 41:53)