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Category: Tafseer: Surah al-Baqarah

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• Basic Family Tree - PDF (right click & "save target as")

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Category: Tafseer: Surah al-Baqarah

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Category: The Hereafter Series

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When the son of Adam dies, his body disintegrates and vanishes apart from the tailbone, which is a bone at the base of the spine. When the Resurrection begins, Allaah will cause the bodies to grow by means of rain from the earth which will make these bones grow until each person's body is restored to the way it was before he died.

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Category: The Hereafter Series

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Day of Judgement (right click & "save target as").

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Category: Supplications

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Category: Health, Beauty, Self Defence and Fitness

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• 7 cups water
• ½ cup baking soda
• ⅓ cup lemon juice (or ammonia - I am not a fan of this so I stuck with the lemon juice)
• ¼ cup vinegar

• Mix all ingredients together in a bowl or bucket
• Use a toothbrush to apply to grout and scrub clean
• Use a dry washcloth to wipe up excess

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Category: Health, Beauty, Self Defence and Fitness

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Obesity

The proportion of adults with a healthy body mass index (BMI) – defined as being between 18.5 and 25 – fell to just 34% in men and 39% in women during 2011.

Health outcomes

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Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

 لعن الله الواشمات والمستوشمات والمتنمصات والمتفلجات بالحسن، المغيرات خلق الله‏!‏ فقالت له امرأة في ذلك فقال‏:‏ وما لي لا ألعن من لعنه رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وهو في كتاب الله‏؟‏‏!‏ قال الله تعالى‏:‏ ‏{‏وما آتاكم الرسول فخذوه وما نهاكم عنه فانتهوا‏}‏

Allah has cursed those women who practise tattooing and those women who have themselves tattooed, and those women who get their hair removed from their eyebrows and faces (except the beard and the mustache), and those who make artificial spaces between their teeth for beauty, whereby they change Allah's creation. A woman started to argue with him, saying: "What is all this?" He replied: "Why should I not curse those whom the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) cursed and who are cursed in Allah's Book? Allah, the Exalted, has said in His Book: "And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad (P)) gives you, take it; and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it)." (59:7) [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

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Think nothing can be done about cellulite and stubborn saddlebags? A proven formula to iron out the creases is back - and it's better than before...Banish saddlebags: Through specific toning exercises and the right diet, you can shape up in just a month!

Are your jeans feeling uncomfortably tight...? Would you do pretty much anything to get rid of your cellulite?

Unfortunately, when women pile on the pounds, it tends to sit stubbornly on our hips, bottom and thighs.

But the good news is that there is something you can do about those unwanted lumps and bumps. How does dramatic inch-loss in less than a month sound?

Wendy Stehling, author of Thin Thighs In 30 Days — which sold more than 2.5 million copies in the 1980s — has updated it for today's woman.

Though the basic programme remains true to the highly effective original, a handful of new exercises and the introduction of interval training in the Walk Out section will blast away cellulite more efficiently than ever before.

Follow Wendy's expert advice and your thighs should feel sleeker and slimmer within days.

'Because of our female ­physiology, wobbly, cellulite-ridden thighs, saddle bags of fat on hips and a dimpled, droopy bottom are the bane of most women's lives,' says Wendy.

'In my experience, however, we can eliminate some of that unwanted fat and firm up things quite dramatically in a relatively short time with a focused diet and exercise.

'You don't need to eat exotic foods, buy expensive miracle creams or even invest in a gym membership to see results. All you have to do is commit to my simple, proven, three-step ­programme for 30 days.'

STEP ONE: THE WALK OFF

Get perfect pins: It's a walk in the park...

One of the very best ways to slim your thighs and improve your general health and well-being is to get out and walk — briskly and regularly.

It doesn't sound ­innovative, but did you know that with the right pace and route, walking can burn off more than 300 calories an hour?

And when you use the correct technique, walking regularly really can tone bottom and thigh muscles incredibly quickly.

To get the dramatic results that the Thin Thighs In 30 Days programme promises, you need to walk one to three miles, six days a week — ­follow the weekly walking 'prescriptions' in the 4-Week Fitness Plan (below).

You also need to perform the ­simple — but hugely effective — Work Off exercise routine after each walk.

Walk off wobbly thighs

Decide on the routes you are going to walk. You need to map out a selection of 1½, 2, 2½ and 3-mile courses. To quickly work out suitable routes, go to mapmywalk.com. Key in your proposed walk on a map of your local area and the site will ­calculate the distance for you.

Alternatively, first drive or walk around your ­proposed route and use your car's mileometer, or — if you're on foot — a pedometer to ­measure ­distance. Include hills and inclines in your workout when you can for their extra fitness and toning benefits.

Set aside at least 45 minutes (ideally an hour) every day for your Walk Off, but do remember you must include a rest day each week (I recommend Mondays). You can walk to work, pop out at lunchtime for a brisk stroll — whatever suits. Walking on a treadmill counts, too.

Always walk in a pair of good-quality walking or running shoes that leave plenty of room for your toes.

Walk at the pace that is right for you. If you're already pretty fit, alternate jogging and walking to boost your routine.

Stretch your muscles thoroughly before and after exercising.

Quicken your pace

LUMPS AND BUMPS: 70 per cent of cellulite is caused by lifestyle; 30 per cent is genetic.

Posture is important. Keep your shoulders back and your chin held high — look straight ahead.

Walk naturally, but faster than you typically do, allowing your arms to swing.

This is not a casual amble around the shops, so step up your pace ­several notches. Lengthening your stride will tone your inner and outer thighs more efficiently.

If your legs become stiff during your walk or you become short of breath, slow down.

If you become dizzy, stop immediately and regain your equilibrium. If you haven't exercised in a while, you may struggle at first, but don't give up.

Just take things steady until you build up enough strength and ­stamina to up your pace a little.

STEP TWO: THE WORK OFF

1. THIGH RAISE: Lying face down, raise your legs —from just above your knees — so your feet are a few inches off the ground (above top). Bend your knees, keeping them off the ground, and hold that position (above bottom). Start with five ­seconds and gradually work up to 15 seconds. Slowly unbend your knees and, with control, lower your straight legs to the ground, then repeat

2. BYE BYE TO YOUR INNER THIGHS: Sit on the floor with your back straight, knees bent and legs wide apart.

Place your left arm directly over your left knee, using your right hand to support yourself by your hip. While sitting straight, move your right foot to your left hand and hold for five seconds to start. Begin with five reps, then repeat on the other side.

3. KICK-KICK: Sit straight, on the floor, with your right knee bent and left leg straight out (above, top). Lift up your left leg so that your foot is at least 6in off the ground (above, bottom). Hold for five seconds to start, then, with control, lower leg. Repeat on the other side.

4. PONY KICK: Get down on your elbows and knees (above, top). Keeping your back flat, slowly raise your left thigh to about 45 degrees, with your knee bent and pointing your heel up to the ­ceiling (above, bottom). Hold for five seconds. Lower leg and repeat five times or more — before repeating ­exercise and same number of repetitions with your right leg

5. BALLET THIGH: Holding on to a railing or the back of a chair, stand with both feet facing forward. With your chin up, move your right leg back with the toe touching the floor (left). Then raise your right leg back at an angle (not straight back) — lead with your heel, until your heel is 12in off the ground (right). Hold for five seconds, then lower leg and repeat. Start with five repetitions and work up to 20 or more. Repeat on the other side

6. THIGH CHAIR: Stand about a foot away from a wall with your feet straight ahead. Slide your body down the wall, until you are sitting with your thighs perpendicular to the surface (pictured). Hold this position for between 30 seconds and two minutes

YOUR FOUR-WEEK FITNESS PLAN

WEEK ONE
Every day (except Monday): Walk for at least one mile at a brisk pace. On days when you have extra energy, add a hill to your walk or introduce ­interval training: walk at a fast pace for 30 seconds to one minute. Then slow to a brisk pace for 30 seconds to one minute. Repeat for as long as you comfortably can.

Follow each of your walks this week with this Work Off routine (outlined above). Repeat exercises one to four five times on each leg. Hold Ballet Thigh for five to ten seconds and repeat five to 20 times (do as many repetitions as you can comfortably manage). Hold Thigh Chair for 30 seconds to two minutes.

WEEK TWO
Apart from on Monday, walk a minimum of 1½ miles every day this week.

Interval train on Tuesday (alternating fast and brisk paces for 30-second to one-minute intervals) and walk up a hill five times in addition to your walk on Friday.

After each walk, perform five repetitions of the Thigh Raise, eight repetitions of exercises two to four on each leg and hold Ballet Thigh and Thigh Chair positions for as long as you can.

WEEK THREE
Walk a minimum 1½ miles on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. Walk two miles (including one-minute interval training) on ­Tuesday. On Friday, walk 1½ miles and walk up a hill five times. Walk 2½ miles on Sunday.

After each walk, do the Thigh Raise five times. Repeat exercises two to four up to ten times on each leg. Hold Ballet Thigh and Thigh Chair for as long as possible.

WEEK FOUR
Walk a minimum two miles on Wednesday, ­Thursday and Saturday. Walk 2½ miles (including one-minute interval training) on Tuesday. On Friday, walk two miles, and walk up a hill seven times. Walk three miles on Sunday.

After your walks, repeat Thigh Raise eight times. Repeat exercises two to four up to 15 times on each leg. Hold Ballet Thigh and Thigh Chair for as long as possible.

STEP THREE: THE WEIGHT OFF

TOP TIPS
Tried-and-tested tips to help reduce your calorie intake:

• Weigh yourself every week.
• Eat when you are hungry. Never come to the table starving — you'll just over-eat.
• DRINK plenty of water and stay hydrated. Water can help you feel ­satisfied and full.
• Always sit down to eat — and enjoy your food!
• Pick one food that is calorie-dense that you splurge on regularly (mine was desserts) — and stop eating it.
• Check with your doctor before you begin any diet. Never eat fewer than 1,500 calories a day without being monitored by a physician.
• Treat food labels with caution. Check serving sizes to see how many there are in the container — you might be eating four servings and not even know it!

The diet part of the Thin Thighs In 30 Days regime is incredibly simple: you need to count calories.

That's right, straight-forward calorie counting. No eating only a single food group, no crash diets or weird recipes to follow.

According to a 2009 study by Frank Sachs, Harvard School of Public Health professor of cardiovascular disease ­prevention: 'Weight loss depends on cutting calories rather than any specific diet. ­People can lose weight eating the food they like to eat just by eating less.'

So despite what other diets would have you believe, it really is that simple. Eat the right number of ­calories and you will lose weight.

The Weight Off diet is designed to help you drop up to half a stone in 30 days.

If you have more than a dress size to lose, you are best finding long-term ­support in a diet programme.

So how many calories should you be eating? Once you start following the Thin Thighs Work Off and Walk Off programmes, if you eat the right amount of calories to maintain the weight you'd like to be (see chart below), you should lose weight.

So, if you are 39 and would like to weigh 9st, you need to eat 1,900 calories a day. This is because active, strong ­muscles need more calories to keep them ticking over than inactive ones do.

If you are fit and your muscles are toned, you'll be burning substantially more energy than an unfit, inactive person — even if you're just sitting on the settee.

It's easy to keep track of the amount of calories you are eating each day. All you have to do is tot up the number of ­calories on the nutrition labels of the foods you are eating.

But do remember that though a ­calorie is a calorie, whether it is in ice cream or vegetables, foods that are packed with lean protein (such as grilled chicken, nuts, fish, low-fat dairy products and lean red meat) and low in fat, added sugar and rich in fibre (such as ­vegetables, fruit and wholegrain carbohydrates) will fill you up for longer.

And they will help to keep you healthier than a diet of cakes, crisps and chocolate.

Source: Daily Mail.

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Category: Health, Beauty, Self Defence and Fitness

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Allaah the All-Mighty Says (what means): 

اللَّهُ الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الْأَرْضَ قَرَارًا وَالسَّمَاءَ بِنَاءً وَصَوَّرَكُمْ فَأَحْسَنَ صُوَرَكُمْ

وَرَزَقَكُم مِّنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمُ اللَّهُ رَبُّكُمْ ۖ فَتَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ

"It is Allaah who made for you the earth a place of settlement and the sky a ceiling and formed you and perfected your forms and provided you with good things. That is Allaah, your Lord; then blessed is Allaah, Lord of the worlds.” [Qur'aan, Surah Ghaafir [40]: 64]

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We all know the importance of exercise; we've heard it many times through TV shows, blogs, books, our parents/friends, but have we considered how exercise is VERY essential to a productive lifestyle? I know from personal experience, if I don't exercise for a stretch of few days to a week, my productivity tends to drop. I tend to feel slower and lethargic :(

Exercise is ESSENTIAL to stay productive. I cannot stress this enough.

While bad health and disease is often beyond our control, we must take the precautions available to us to maintain our physical health. Our bodies are gifts from Allah, and we will be held accountable for how we use them.

Furthermore, a Muslim should be able to defend his or herself from aggression (which requires physical strength) and should be prepared to struggle in the path of Allah, should the occasion arise. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) has said: "The strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than the weak believer, while there is good in both." (Reported by Muslim.)

"Any action without the remembrance of Allah is either a diversion or heedlessness excepting four acts: Walking from target to target [during archery practice], training a horse, playing with one's family, and learning to swim." (Reported by Tabarani.)

It should be kept in mind that the Prophet and the Companions were naturally physically fit. Life was tougher back then – long distances were covered on foot, men hunted and farmed their food to survive, and there did not exist useless recreations - like television - to produce laziness and waste many hours of otherwise constructive time. It was almost assumed back then that believers would be physically fit. It was not until later generations that the scholars encountered actual obesity and laziness.

A Muslim man and woman is required to dress appropriately while exercising in front of others, being sure to cover his or her 'Awrah (nakedness) and to not wear revealing and tight clothing like spandex. The average gym these days entails mixed sexes in revealing clothing and loud music and thus should be avoided.

Husbands and wives should try to exercise and play together. This is a good way of building love and happiness together. The Prophet's (peace be upon him) wife 'Aisha (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: "I raced with the Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) and beat him in the race. Later, when I had put on some weight, we raced again and he won. Then he said, 'This cancels that,' referring to the previous occasion." (Reported by Ahmad.)

So how can you get into the habit of exercising regularly?

Set the days of week you'll exercise in advance when you plan your week: 3-4 days a week should be sufficient.

Set the actual hours you'll exercise: Make sure you've specific times to exercise (ideally early in the morning when you have most will power!)

Prepare yourself before the exercise appointment: Get your gym bag/gym clothes ready, decide which exercise you'll get done, call an exercise buddy, etc.

Add variety to your exercise routine: It doesn't have to be the gym each time, it could be a variety of exercises.

Try to aim for at least 75-150 minutes of intense to moderate exercise each week and that should keep your mind sharp, your productivity soaring and you feeling great inshaa'Allaah!

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{And do not kill yourselves. Surely, Allaah is Most Merciful to you} [Soorah An-Nisaa, Verse 29].

Deaths from lung cancer have overtaken deaths from breast cancer as it becomes the most lethal form of the disease among British women, new research has shown.

Lung cancer kills 16,000 women a year in the UK, compared with 12,000 for breast cancer.

The rise in lung cancer is attributed to the rise in young women taking up smoking the late 1960s and 1970s.

The Europe-wide study shows that despite an overall decline in cancer deaths, mortality rates from lung cancer among women continues to rise across the continent, up seven per cent to around 82,000 since 2009.

This year experts predict breast cancer to kill 88,886 women in Europe and lung cancer to kill 82,640.

Professor Carlo La Vecchia, one of the study authors from the University of Milan in Italy, said if trends continue lung cancer will become the most lethal form of the disease in Europe.

She said:

"If these opposite trends in breast and lung cancer rates continue, then in 2015 lung cancer is going to become the first cause of cancer mortality in Europe.

"This is already true in the UK and Poland, the two countries with the highest rates: 21.2 and 17.5 per 100,000 women respectively.

"This predicted rise of female lung cancer in the UK may reflect the increased prevalence of young women starting smoking in the late 1960s and 1970s, possibly due to changing socio-cultural attitudes at that time.

"However, fewer young women nowadays in the UK and elsewhere in Europe are smoking and, therefore, deaths from lung cancer may start to level off after 2020 at around 15 per 100,000 women."

There has also been a steady reduction in breast cancer deaths across Europe in the last four years.

Prof La Vecchia added:

"This reflects the important and accumulating advances in the treatment, as well as screening and early diagnosis, of the disease."

The study, published in the Annals of Oncology, looked at cancer rates in all 27 European Union member countries, as well as six individual countries – France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the UK.

It looked at all cancers but focused on stomach, intestine, pancreas, lung, prostate, breast, uterus (including cervix) and leukaemias.

The study found that an estimated 1.3 million people will die from cancer -737,747 men and 576,489 women- in the 27 countries of the EU in 2013.

Though that number has increased since 2009, as there have been more cases in that period, the rate at which people have died has actually declined, six per cent in men and four per cent in women.

Lung cancer is still the main cause of cancer death among men, with nearly 187,000 deaths predicted for 2013, giving a death rate of 37.2 per 100,000 men.

Source: The Telegraph (13th Feb 2013).

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Weight Watchers is a well-known weight-loss program that many have used to successfully lose weight. Weight Watchers uses the PointsPlus program. Foods are assigned points based on their calories and nutrient values, and participants are advised to keep intake within a certain number of points each day. Weight Watchers works because it does not advocate crash dieting or restrictive plans. The program instead advocates that participants make lifestyle changes. You can lose weight quickly on the program if you make a goal and plan and carefully follow direction.

Weight Watchers advocates safe, reasonable weight loss goals -- no more than 1 1/2 to 2 lbs. per week or no more than 1 percent of body weight per week after the second week of participation in the program.

Step 1
Sign up for Weight Watchers online. It's your responsibility to keep track of points and stay under your target.  If you choose not to go to meetings and join Weight Watchers online, an e-Tool can help you determine your PointsPlus Target.

Step 2
Eat foods you enjoy as long as you stick to your daily PointsPlus Target. PointsPlus Values take protein, carbs, fat and fiber into account. Weight Watchers also provides healthy recipes online. Keep track of points by looking them up online, using a phone application or buying a points calculator, a device that tallies points values that you can carry in your pocket or purse.

Step 3
Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables. Each has a PointsPlus Value of 0 (excluding some, such as mangos), so you can eat as much as you want and still stay within your PointsPlus Target.

Step 4
Cut back on processed foods, which have high PointsPlus Values. Examples of processed foods include canned foods, white breads, packaged sweets, sugary breakfast cereals and processed meats.

Step 5
With eTools, you can create an archive of healthy recipes, watch food preparation videos, track points values and chart your progress.

Step 6
Keep certain kitchen staples on hand. Weight Watchers recommends always having boneless, skinless chicken breast, unsalted dry-roasted nuts, frozen vegetables and dried whole-wheat pasta.

Step 7
Exercise regularly. Weight Watchers points out that the appropriate amount of exercise varies depending on your goals. For weight loss, the American College of Sports Medicine suggests exercising for 200 to 300 minutes per week, burning 2,000 calories. You can achieve this goal with 60 minutes of exercise, five days a week, burning around 300 to 400 calories per session. If you're not losing weight as fast as you'd like, exercise more intensely or for longer time periods. You can also watch exercise demos on the Weight Watchers website. If you go to meetings, ask a fellow participant if she'd like to be your workout buddy.

Step 8
Practice mindful eating. Focus on the experience of eating and enjoy your food. Don't feel obligated to clean your plate. Pay attention to certain emotions that may influence you to overeat.

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As a Muslim woman who wears the niqaab (face-veil, headscarf, and jilbab), and after much research on the subject, I wish to increase awareness amongst sisters to take precaution in preventing vitamin-D deficiency. We may be at a slightly higher risk than others due to the lack of sun exposure because of the way we dress and due to the fact that many of us may rarely leave our homes.

People who are mostly susceptible are those who stay indoors most of the time, wear sunscreen constantly, who are vegetarians who cut out all forms of meat including fish...etc, or live in a location that lacks sufficient sunlight sometimes up to 6 months during the winter months.

Vitamin D keeps our bones strong, helps to prevent some cancers and benefits the immune system. Preliminary research suggests it may reduce the risks of breast, prostate and colon cancer. This vitamin is a hormone and is manufactured in the body. It helps the body utilize calcium and phosphorous and builds bones and teeth.

Your body can only make vitamin D under the proper conditions. It actually does not take much to do so and will not compromise our lifestyles.

It is recommended that you try to find a secluded place outdoors so that you can expose your face and hands to direct sunlight for 10 to 15 minutes only 2 or 3 times a week. (Remember too much sun is not good either and overexposure can lead to skin cancer). You will most likely manufacture enough Vitamin D to meet your needs and because it is a fat-soluble vitamin, you can store enough to supply you for days even months without sun exposure (according to many health specialists and Bill Sardi a health journalist and consumer advocate in CA).

It is also advised to take a daily multi-nutrient that contains at least 400IU of vitamin D3 (look for the word "cholecalciferol" on the label). Try and consume more vitamin D-rich foods like fish (salmon, sardines and tuna), fish oils, eggs, liver, milk, bran cereals and butter (avoid using margarine, it's liquefied plastic). In doing this your skin, nerves, heart, hormonal system, bones, teeth and joints will benefit. This also helps minimize bone loss, leading to osteoporosis. Studies have also shown that consistent weight-bearing exercise also increases bone density such as jogging, walking, weight-training, etc. (i.e. treadmill's are great!)

Rickets and Osteomalacia (adult form of rickets) is also caused by a lack of vitamin D in the body. This is when the bones become increasingly soft making them brittle and more flexible causing deformity to the body. Symptoms can include pain in the limbs, spine, throat, and pelvis also amenia and progressive weakness.

Vitamin D is formed in the skin by the action of short-wave ultra-violet light. Precursors of vitamin D in the skin are converted into cholecalciferol, a weak form of vitamin D3, which is then transported to the liver and kidneys where enzymes convert it to 1,25 dihydroxycholecalciferol, the more potent form of vitamin D3. Vitamin D precursors require cholesterol for conversion into the hormone-vitamin.

Without adequate sun exposure, vitamin D precursors turn to cholesterol instead of the vitamin. Fat-soluble vitamin D supplements are available. Vitamin D3 is believed to exhibit the most potent cancer-inhibiting properties and is the preferred form of the vitamin. Evidence of vitamin D's protective effect against cancer is compelling and it may also go beyond cancer prevention and provide tumour therapy. Much has been made of pharmaceutical angiogenesis inhibitors- agents that help inhibit the growth of new, undesirable blood vessels that tumours require for nutrient supply and growth. Laboratory tests have shown vitamin D to be a potent angiogenesis inhibitor. Vitamin D also works at another stage of cancer development. Tumour cells are young, immortal cells that never grow up, mature and die off. Because vitamin D derivatives have been shown to promote normal cell growth and maturation, drug companies are attempting to engineer patentable forms of vitamin D for anti-cancer therapy.

So my dear sisters, it does not require a whole lot to avoid vitamin-D deficiency. Only a small amount of sunlight and/or vitamin D supplements are required. If you do not have the convenience of you own privacy fenced-in yard, try to find a secluded place to expose only your face and hands for about 15 minutes such as a park for example, where no one else can see you. Choose the least busiest time to go with a friend and ensure that it is safe.

You do not have to compromise the wearing of niqaab in doing so sisters. Remember, even sisters who do not wear niqaab who live in locations such as Canada, Alaska, etc where you lose much sunlight or even work indoors most of the day should take these extra precautions in order that we may all help to keep our bodies healthy.

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It might seem funny to devote an article to sleeping. But think about it. The average person spends around eight hours of a 24-hour day asleep. That is a third of a person’s lifetime.

Allah describes sleep as a blessing from Him. He says in the Qur’an: “And We made your sleep a rest for you.” [Surah al-Naba’: 9]

“And remember when He made slumber fall upon you as a reassurance from Him.” [Surah al-Anfal: 11]

“It is Allah who has made the night for you, that you may rest therein, and the days as that which helps you to see. Verily Allah is full of grace and bounty to humanity, yet most people give no thanks.” [Surah Ghafir: 61]

Sleep is not only described as a blessing bestowed upon the people, but also as a testament to Allah’s creative ability. Consider where Allah says:

“He it is who gathers up your souls at night and knows all that you do by day. Then He raises you up again, so that the term appointed for you (on Earth) may be accomplished. And afterward unto Him is your return. Then He will proclaim to you what you used to do.” [Surah al-An`am: 60]

“Allah takes the souls at the time of their death, as well as (the souls of) those who die not, during their sleep. Then He withholds those on whom He has passed the decree of death and sends the others back until an appointed term. Most surely there are signs in this for a people who reflect.” [Surah al-Zumar: 42]

Yes, sleep is His creation, and it has its marvels. A sleeping person drifts away from his consciousness and reason, only to be fully restored to his rational faculties upon waking, refreshed and revitalized.

A sleeping person can see the strangest and most amazing things, things that a waking person could never possibly see. Our ability to dream is another of Allah’s blessings, and another sign of His greatness.

We can appreciate the importance of sleep if we consider that Allah guided His Messenger (peace be upon him) regarding the etiquettes of sleeping, like being in a state of purity and lying on his right side. (As for facing the qiblah, this is actually not established by the Sunnah.)

Likewise, a number of remembrances and supplications are prescribed for sleeping. The Prophet (peace be upon him) instructed `Ali b. Abi Talib and Fatimah to say “Subhan Allah” 33 times, “al-Hamdu Lillah” 33 times, and “Allah Akbar” 33 times. He informed them that doing so will remove their fatigue and revitalize them, and said: “It is better than having a servant.” [Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim]

Our generation is sometimes accused of being “the sleeping generation”. Most of us certainly do not need to sleep more than we already do. Nevertheless, we must respect our need to sleep by observing the etiquettes and approaches to sleep that will maximise the benefit that we get from it. This, in turn, helps us manage stress and makes our waking hours more productive.

It is a mistake to dismiss the importance of sleep. We all need it, and we all get our daily quota of sleep. Therefore, it is wrong that we make light of the subject of sleep and disdain reading or speaking about it, as if it were something superfluous.

In order to sleep better, we should first relax a bit. We need to unwind from the pressures, worries, and distresses of the day. We need to end the day on a note of forgiveness and with a few moments of tenderness with our families. We need to recite our remembrances of Allah and rid our hearts of all our animosities. We should not lay our heads down on our pillows with resentfulness in our hearts and angry thoughts in our minds. We should make our last thoughts of the day positive ones.

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Besides the overwhelming majority of scholars declaring it as haraam for the attached reasons, there are serious health implications. Check these health warnings from hospitals and councils and take heed dear Brother and dear Sister.

Shaykh Abdul Majeed (Islam Channel and Luton Ghurabaa mosque) dealt with a possession of an individual. He spoke to the leader of the Jinn that were possessing that individual, asking why and where they possessed them.

The Jinn responded that they possessed the person through shisha and that there were over 140 of them in his/her body. Jinn live in impure places and according to the Shari'i definition, tobacco is classified as impure.

Stay away from these places, Muslim and Muslimah, for your health and Eemaan!!!

Please read and forward the following leaflet and this article:

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One day a sister dropped by to pick up something and saw me dressed up with make-up and jewelry, so she assumed I was going somewhere. When I told her I wasn’t, the reason I dressed up surprised her. I told her, “Because it is about time for my husband to return from work.” She said, “You still get ready for your husband?” “Yes, what do you mean “still”?!” I asked. She said, “I used to do that in the beginning of the marriage and then I don’t it anymore.”

Unfortunately this is a common scenario among many Muslim married sisters. In fact, one of the most common complaints husbands have against their wives is that the wives don’t beautify themselves at home.

I have personally observed many Muslim sisters stop taking care of themselves once they get married. Some married sisters only dress up when they go out and while others don’t even bother with that. For some, abaya and hijab become a perfect “cover up” for outside the house and a t-shirt and sweat pants become the perfect lounge-wear for inside the house!

Reasons Why Sisters Don’t Dress Up:

I cannot generalize the reasons why sisters stop taking interest in taking care of themselves at home, but I want to highlight 2 main points:

1. Once married to a practicing brother, sisters assume their knight in shining armor won’t be interested in their looks but, rather, in their imaan. They believe their beauty lies in their “piety.”
2. Husbands don’t express their desire in seeing their wives dressed up. Or, when their wives dress up, they don’t bother to compliment them, which confuses the wife into thinking, “He does not care.”

Beauty and Piety are Two Separate Characteristics:

Let’s remember, piety may add to a person’s inner beauty which may reflect through physical appearance; however, they both are independent characteristics.

There is no prohibition in looking good; in fact, to physically beautify oneself to please one’s husband and keep him happy is not only a praiseworthy act but also a means to earn reward from Allah azza wa jall.

When the Prophet (sallallahu alihi wasallam) was asked which woman was best, he replied, “The one who pleases (her husband) when he looks at her, obeys him when he gives a command….” (Nasa’i)

Hence, sisters, please on a daily basis before your husband returns home:

• Take a shower (make sure you are not smelling like food)
• Change your clothes.
• Wash your face with cleanser/scrub.
• Put light make up on. Please don’t use the excuse, “I don’t know how to.”
• Wear some jewelry.
• Show some creativity with your hair. Remember frizzy hair can be taken care of with gel, mousse, hair spray, hair straightener etc.
• Use your perfume everyday and not only when you visit a friend.
• Moreover, try to get a facial done once in a while. If you can’t afford to, there are millions of products available at very reasonable prices for home facials/deep cleaning.

Dear sisters, abaya should not be used to cover up weight gain, and neither should the hijab keep frizzy/unkempt hair covered. I understand that a t-shirt and sweat pants are the most comfortable clothing but it needs to be changed before your husband get back home.

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Muslims and their institutions are expected to become targets of harassment due to Islamaphobeia spreading in the West. Muslim women, especially those who dress Islamically, particularly need to be much more street smart and aware of their surroundings to ensure their safety in the wake of possible attacks against Muslims and Muslim-looking individuals.

While it is necessary for the whole community to defend Muslim women, sisters must also take personal precautions when they go outside. Here are some safety tips that can help Inshaa'Allah:

1. Always be aware of your surroundings

This applies whether you are travelling alone or in groups. Don’t just focus inwardly on your thoughts if you are alone, or on your friends if you are together. Keep one eye out for your environment, looking out for suspicious characters, possible danger, etc. Also, don’t assume that because your area has been "safe" thus far, that it will continue to be so.

2. Travel in groups

"There is safety in numbers" is not just a cliche. It’s true. Make a point of travelling together with other sisters, whether it’s on public transportation, on campus, in cars, etc.

3. Change the route you normally travel by

If you’ve taken the same bus, train or highway to get to work or school, change your route. Even if it takes you a little longer, your safety is more important. By changing your route, you can avert possible attacks or harassment from those who know your schedule, method and route of travel well. Please note though that you should avoid short cuts that take you through unfamiliar or unsafe areas.

4. Look confident

Walk with a straight posture and your arms swinging by your sides. Avoid slouching or walking like a victim. This makes you an easy target for attackers.

5. When riding by public transportation choose the right seat

If you are riding by bus or train, do not sit on the window seat as you may be "blocked in" by a potential assailant. Always select the seat next to the aisle so that you can quickly leave if necessary. If you are taking public transportation alone after peak hours, sit as close to the driver as possible and/or choose the section of the bus/train that is most crowded. Try to get a seat near the exit as well.

6. If you are driving alone

Don’t think that if you are in a car, you’re safe. Windows should be up and doors locked even when driving to avoid unwanted passengers at intersections. When you are walking to your car, always have your keys ready, so that you can quickly get into your car. But don’t just get in right away. Always check your car before entering, especially the back, for any intruders.

7. Never leave your car door unlocked

Even if it means for one minute to drop something off in the mailbox that’s a few feet away, keep all doors locked. Attackers have been known to lie in wait for such an opportunity.

8. Be careful in parking lots

Always be alert in parking lots, especially when it's dark. Ask someone to escort you to your car. Between cars and inside cars, it's easy for someone to hide and wait until an unsuspecting person comes along.

9. If you are traveling by taxi

Always check the identification of the driver (usually located near the visor) and ensure that it matches the driver. Once inside, don't sit behind the driver as it may be easy for the driver to lock the rear passenger door. Always choose the adjacent seat. In addition, avoid flagging taxis. Always order taxis so the driver can be traced if something happens.

10. Don’t use the walkman

If you’re used to listening to your walkman while outside, drop this habit, especially in isolated areas. With your walkman on, you cannot hear the approach of a possible attacker.

11. Note "safe houses" along your route

Mentally note houses at intervals on each route you take that can be used as "safe houses" if you are attacked, such as shops or houses that you know to be occupied by a friend or acquaintance.

12. When you make a call from a phone booth

After dialing the number you wish to call always turn around so that you have your back to the phone and may see who or what is coming your way. You will then be able to tell the person to whom you are speaking that you may be in trouble and you may be able to use the weight of the phone as a weapon. The door of a telephone box could be used to wedge in the limbs of the attacker.

13. Do not open the door of your home without checking

DO NOT open the door to your home without first checking from a window, peephole or by asking and verifying who it is. Instruct children to do the same.

14. Report any suspicious activity around your home

If you see people loitering on the streets near your house, call the police on a non-emergency number and report it.

15. Invest in a cell phone

This is an invaluable safety device. Keep it charged, with you at all times, and keep emergency numbers on it. Also, keep it next to your bed before you go to bed at night. Cell phones were first popularized by women as a security device, business people came later.

16. Parking tips

Avoid parking in areas that are not well lit. Where possible, park close to a school, a work entrance or in a parking garage that has an attendant. If you see a suspicious person approaching or hanging around near your parked car, turn around and go back to an area where there are other people. Try to get an escort to your car through the campus or job security or local police.

17. Tell others about your whereabouts

Parents, spouses, and friends should know where you are going and when you will be back, so that your absence will be noticed. Arrange a call-in system with a friend if you live alone, whereby you call when you arrive home.

18. Trust your instincts

If you are walking or driving somewhere and feel strange or scared, don’t ignore this feeling. Take extra precautions by walking a little faster to get to a more populated or well-lit area or change the route you’ve been driving on.

19. If you think you are being followed, change your route and activity.

You can cross the street, change directions, or enter a populated building or store. Do whatever is necessary to avoid being alone with the person who is following you. Inform a police officer or security official about the follower.

20. Attract attention if you are in a dangerous situation.

Get others to pay attention to what's happening to you if you are under attack or being harassed. You can alert others by honking a car horn or loudly describing what is happening.

21. NEVER admit that you are alone

If someone calls your home and asks if you are alone, NEVER admit it. Ask who the caller is. If they refuse to identify themselves, calmly hang-up. Instruct children to do the same when they pick up the phone. Keep the radio on in the house so that callers will get the impression that others are in the home too.

22. Obscene phone calls

If you receive an obscene or prank call, do not talk to the caller. Hang up if the caller doesn’t say anything, or as soon as s/he shouts obscenities. Hang the phone up calmly and do not slam it down. Note down the date and time of the calls. If they are persistent, inform local police.

23. If you are a student

Avoid studying in isolated classrooms in parts of the college campus that are not regularly patrolled by the school’s security officers.

24. In large buildings take the elevator, not the stairwell

Stairwells are usually quiet and dark. Most people take the elevator. But if someone creepy gets on, don’t hesitate to get off at the same time. Or, if someone is already on the elevator who you feel strange about, do not get on and instead wait for the next elevator.

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A woman who is being forced to commit zinaa (unlawful sexual activity) is obliged to defend herself and should not give in even if she has to kill the one who wants to do that to her. This self-defence is waajib (obligatory), and she is not at fault if she kills the one who wants to force her into zinaa. Imaam Ahmad and Ibn Hibbaan reported that the Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever is killed defending his property is a shaheed (martyr), whoever is killed defending himself is a shaheed, whoever is killed defending his religion is a shaheed, and whoever is killed defending his family is a shaheed.” In the commentary on this hadeeth it says: “whoever is killed defending his family is a shaheed” refers to the one who defends the honour of his wife and female relatives.

If a man is obliged to defend his wife and fight off the one who wants to rape her - even if this leads to his own death - then this obligation applies even more to the woman herself, who must defend herself and not give in to the aggressor who wants to violate her honour, even if she is killed, because if she is killed she will also be a shaheedah, just as her husband will be a shaheed if he was killed defending her honour. Shahaadah (martyrdom, the status of shaheed) is a high status which is only achieved by the one who dies in the way of obedience to Allaah and that which He loves, which indicates that Allaah loves this kind of defence, a man's fighting to defend his wife's honour and a woman's fighting to defend herself. But if she is unable to defend herself, and the evil aggressor overpowers her and rapes her by force, then she should not be subjected to any punishment (hadd or ta'zeer); rather, the punishment should be carried out on the evil aggressor.

It says in al-Mughni by Ibn Qudaamah al-Hanbali:

"Concerning a woman who was pursued by a man, and she killed him to protect herself, Ahmad said:

‘If she knew that he wanted [to rape] her, and she killed him to protect herself, then she is not at fault.'

Ahmad mentioned the hadeeth which al-Zuhri reported from al-Qaasim ibn Muhammad, from ‘Ubayd ibn ‘Umayr, in which it said that a man had visitors from [the tribe of] Hudhayl, and he wanted [to rape] a woman, so she threw a rock at him and killed him. ‘Umar said,

‘By Allaah, there is no diyah for him ever'

i.e., she did not have to pay the ‘blood money' for him. If it is permissible to defend one's money, which one can give away, then a woman defending and protecting herself and her honour which cannot be given away, is clearly more permissible than a man defending his money. If this is clear, then she is obliged to defend herself if she can, because letting someone overpower her [rape her] is haraam, and by not defending herself, she lets him overpower her." [al-Mughni, 8/331] And Allaah knows best. (Al-Mufassal fi Ahkaam al-Mar'ah, 5/42-43)

Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in al-Turuq al-Hukmiyyah, 18:

"(Section) ... A woman who had committed zinaa was brought to ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allaah be pleased with him), and he asked her about it and she admitted it, so he commanded that she should be stoned. ‘Ali said: ‘Maybe she had a reason.' So he said to her, ‘What made you do that?' She said,

‘I had a partner who shared livestock with me; his camels had water and milk, and mine had none. I got thirsty, so I asked him to give me something to drink, but he refused unless I let him have his way with me. I refused three times, but I was so thirsty that I thought I was going to die, so I gave him what he wanted, and he gave me something to drink.'

‘Ali said:

‘Allaahu akbar! "... But if one is forced by necessity without wilful disobedience nor transgressing due limits, then there is no sin on him. Truly Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." [al-Baqarah 2:173 - interpretation of the meaning].'"

In Sunan al-Bayhaqi it says: "From Abu ‘Abd al-Rahmaan al-Sulami, who said: ‘A woman was brought to ‘Umar who had been extremely thirsty, and had passed by a shepherd and asked him to give her something to drink; he had refused to give her something to drink unless she let him have his way with her. [‘Umar] consulted with the people as to whether he should have her stoned. ‘Ali said,

‘She was forced to do it. I think you should let her go.'

So he did so.

I say: this is what should be done. If a woman is in desperate need of food and drink from a man, which he will not give her unless she lets him have his way with her, and she is scared that she will die without them, so she lets him have his way with her, then she is not to be punished. If it were asked, is it permissible for her in this situation to let him have his way with her, or does she have to suffer [her hunger and thirst] with patience, even if she dies? The answer is that her case is like that of a woman who is forced to commit zinaa, to whom it is said, ‘Either you let me have my way with you, or I will kill you.' The woman who is forced to do this should not be punished; she can save herself from being killed in this manner, but if she bears it (i.e., being killed) with sabr (patience), this is better for her. And Allaah knows best."

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Prevention Tips

These tips are designed to increase your odds against sexual assault. The more you know about rape prevention, the better your chances are of never becoming a victim.

• Know the facts about rape. Become aware of locations and situations where rape might occur and avoid them, if possible.

• Consider your alternatives if confronted by a rapist. Practice possible responses so that you can recall them even under the stress of a real encounter.

Safety at Home

Many rapes occur in or near the victim's home. One of the best ways to prevent sexual assault is to practice good home security.

• Install effective locks on all doors and windows - and USE them.

• Install a peephole viewer in your door, NEVER open your door without knowing who is on the other side. Require salespeople or repair people to show identification.

• If you live alone, use only your last name and initials on mailboxes and in telephone directories.

• If strangers telephone or come to your door, don't admit that you are alone.

• Don't let any strangers into your home - no matter what the reason or how dire the emergency is supposed to be. Offer to make an emergency phone call while they wait outside.

• If you live in an apartment avoid being in the laundry room or garage by yourself, especially at night.

• f you come home and find a door or window open or signs of forced entry - don't go in! Go to the nearest phone and call the police or sheriff.

Don't Walk Into Danger

Be alert to your surroundings and the people around you-especially if you are alone or it is dark. Know where help may be if you should need it.

• Whenever possible, travel with a friend.

• Stay in well-lighted areas as much as possible.

• Walk confidently, directly, and at a steady pace on the side of the street facing traffic. A rapist looks for someone who appears vulnerable.

• Walk close to the curb. Avoid doorways, bushes, and alleys where rapists can hide.

• If you think you are being followed, walk quickly to areas where there are lights and people. If a car appears to be following you, turn and walk in the opposite direction, or walk on the other side of the street.

• If you are in danger, scream and run, or yell "fire."

Car Safety

• Keep your car in good working order and the gas tank at least half full.

• Always lock car doors after entering or leaving your car.

• Park in well-lighted areas.

• Have your car keys in your hand and check the back seat area before entering your car.

• If you think you are being followed, drive to a public place or to a police or sheriff's station.

• If your car breaks down, turn on your flashers, open the hood, attach a white cloth to the car antenna, and wait inside your car with the doors locked. If someone stops to help, stay in your car and ask them to call the police a garage or a tow service for you.

Weapons

Carrying weapons for self-defence is controversial and sometimes illegal. Be safe--for more information, contact your local law enforcement agency.

If you are attacked...Remember, your main concern must always be your safety. No one can tell you whether you should fight back, submit, or resist. It depends on you and the situation.

Keep assessing the situation as it is happening. If one strategy doesn't work, try another. Possible options are: negotiating, stalling for time, distracting the assailant and fleeing to a safe place, verbal assertiveness, screaming to attract attention, or physical resistance. You best defense, however, is to be prepared--know your options ahead of time. Your safety may depend upon your ability to stay cool and calm.

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I am a professional, independent, Muslim woman. I give lectures internationally about self-esteem, and self-empowerment for women. I am known for educating Muslim and non-Muslim women alike on the importance of fitness and weight management for health. But for the duration of this “rant”, I mean “article”, I want you to put all that to the side. This one is purely about the aesthetics of being fit.

Okay lets be real for a minute. I don’t care how many times a day a Muslim man goes to the Masjid and prays HE IS STILL A MAN. One of the reasons we cover as Muslim women is because we know that the women’s body is alluring to men. We cover because modesty of our bodies is a way of decreasing “fitnah” between men and women in society. We cover, not just in front of non-Muslim men but we also cover in front of Muslim men. So there is no doubt that Muslim men are treated as a “regular men” with desires.

We are blessed to have men who fear Allah and restrain themselves, their gazes and their sexual desires until they get married. And to be honest, I am often irritated with Muslim women who take these God fearing men for granted. Too often we ignore their humanness to excuse our own laziness. We lay crutch on their fear of Allah and desire of the life of the hereafter, instead of trying to help make their life in this world pleasurable with beautiful women.

“The UK Telegraph reported that scientists have found that the attribute that attracts men the most strongly to a woman is her hip-to-waist ratio—meaning they like women with waists that go in, and hips that go out. The researchers who conducted this particular study said the ratio that really gets a guy worked up is a waist that measures about 70 percent of the woman’s hips. In addition, the scientists noted that women with this specific hip-to-waist ratio drew men in, regardless of her breast size. Jessica Alba, Marilyn Monroe and Victoria’s Secret model Alessandra Ambrosio were deemed to have the “perfect” body by the men participating in this particular project.”

Yeah, yeah,yeah, our husbands should love us for our inner beauty. But when he makes love to you he’s not loving your inner beauty, he’s making love to your body and that my dear is all about the pleasures of the flesh. And I don’t mean the extra amount hanging on your belly.

Now I don’t claim to be an expert on men, but I do know this. If you have a husband (or want a husband) who is from a western country, ever spent time in a western country, or even a watching American TV and movies then he’s been exposed to the western idea of beauty. That is a woman who is hourglass shape with smooth, toned body. That doesn’t mean she has to be a size zero. That means no matter what size she is she needs to maintain a healthy weight and keep her body fit. Even men who like “big girls” don’t want “sloppy fat”.

If you live in a western country and your husband ever leaves the house for any reason then he sees, half dressed non-Muslim women every single day, who are attractive and seductive. Then he comes home to a beautiful Muslim wife...in a sweat suit claiming she has to be comfortable to vacuum the floor and change a diaper. And like a God loving man, he probably doesn’t say anything because we have somehow perpetuated this myth that a Muslim man is somehow less holy if he wants to see his wife in something sexy. Even worse, we have perpetuated an even bigger myth that wanting to be sexy is somehow haram, or imitating the non-Muslim. “HOGWASH, HOGWASH, HOGWASH”

Being sexy is an essential part of being a woman. There is nothing haram about embracing your femininity, feeling desired, and wanting to be wanted. These things are not contradictory to be a Muslim woman, they are in fact the very foundation of our principles of modesty. We teach our girls to cover because “Allah said so” when in fact the commandment to cover is not without reason or foundation. Once a Muslim woman understands and embraces the beauty, sexual power and strength of her femininity then she better understands why covering her physical beauty is that much more important. She knows that withholding the power of her sensuality, allows the power of her mind and her personality to shine that much brighter. You cannot know the full essence of being a Muslim woman until you get to know all the powers we hold.

In the privacy of our home we should be the epitome of our husbands’ desires, satisfying his spiritual, emotional AND physical needs. We need to get off our butts and make the effort to lose weight and get in shape to make his life easier and more pleasurable.

We quote all these aHaadeeth about pleasing our husbands when they suit us. But when we want to pass by the Hogendaz aisle then we have selective memory. We want to please our husbands until it means we don't have to sacrifice our time, energy or effort on anything that we don’t want to do, like exercise or diet. I for one feel sorry for the man who has to come home everyday to find his wife in a sweat suit, Abaya or her “comfortable” clothes. I feel even sorrier for the woman he’s coming home to, because she has not gotten over herself to think about her husband.

The bottom line is this. All Muslim women need to get in shape for their husbands or future husbands. Because it is with this that we will help our husbands lower their gaze and guard their modesty even more. Yes every Muslim woman should have a pair of “skinny” jeans because they are a reminder how fit or fat you are. And every Muslim wife should treat her husband to watching her fold clothes, vacuum the floor and washing dishes in her skinny jeans. — And if it’s a girl, name her Mubarakah.

May Allah forgive me if I said anything wrong and guide us all to the Straight Path – Aameen.

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Are you overweight? Then you probably want to lose some weight. It is obvious that you’ll burn body fat by increasing your metabolism. But be sure that what you burn is fat, not muscles.

Some Statistics

After age 25, the average person in America gains one pound or more a year, which means at the age of 50 an average person is 25 pounds or more heavier than he or she was 25 years ago.

As you age your metabolism is slowing down, causing your body to burn less fat.

Without exercising regularly, the average American loses a pound of muscle each year.

A minority of Americans exercise in a significant way, which means less than 50 minutes of exercise per week. Two out of five Americans do not exercise at all.

Motivations for weight loss

Most people’s primary motivation for weight loss is to improve their appearance.

Other motivational factors are the many health benefits of proper nutrition and regular exercise.

Why obesity is dangerous

Reduction of excess body fat plays a vital role in maintaining good health and avoiding disease.

Medical evidence shows that obesity poses a significant threat to health as well as to longevity:

Excess body fat is connected to:

• heart disease
• cancer
• diabetes
• gall bladder disease
• gastro-intestinal disease
• sexual dysfunction
• osteoarthritis
• stroke

Why is excess body fat linked to heart disease?

About 4/5’s of deaths caused by heart disease and cancer, are linked to life-style factors, inactivity included.

Your heart has to work harder to pump blood to the lungs and to the extra fat throughout your body. Therefore it takes more energy for you to breathe. This extra workload might cause your heart to become enlarged and high blood pressure and life-threatening erratic heartbeats might be the consequences.

Overweight people often also have high cholesterol levels, making them more likely to develop arteriosclerosis. When blood vessels are so narrow that vital organs like the heart, kidneys or brain don’t get enough blood, this becomes life-threatening.

It might go without saying, but the narrower the blood vessels become, the harder your heart has to pump, which results in increased blood pressure… High blood pressure itself poses several health risks, like heart attack, stroke and kidney problems.

Does excess body fat cause cancer?

In general, research has linked cancer-causing chemicals (carcinogens) to excess, actually as a storage place for these.

Excess fat has been linked to a higher rate of breast and uterine cancer for women

Excess fat has been linked to colon and prostate cancer for men.

How is excess body fat related to diabetes?

There is a delicate balance between the relative amount of body fat, the level of blood sugar and the hormone we call insulin.

Excess blood sugar is stored in the liver and other vital organs, and converted to fat as soon as these organs have got what they need of it.

The pancreas of overweight people often produces more and more insulin. The problem is however, that the body is not able to utilize this to regulate it’s blood sugar levels.

This poor regulation of blood sugar and insulin causes an inbalance in the system, which results in diabetes. This disease may in it’s turn cause heart disease, kidney failure, blindness, amputation, and death.

How Reducing Body Fat Reduces Disease Risk

At an American University, researchers studied a sample of people following a certain weight management program. This study showed

• decreased HDL cholesterol levels
• decreased triglyceride levels,
• decreased blood pressure.
• increased waist-to-hip ratio,
• an active lifestyle can slow or stop the disease process for most people, even those with a history of heart disease in the family.

Other studies have shown that programs that includes

• regular physical activity,
• low-fat diets
• stress reduction
• reverse heart disease processes.

while other studies shows that reducing body fat through an active lifestyle and low fat diets mean reduced risk for

• prostate cancers for men,
• breast and uterine cancers for women
• non-insulin dependent diabetes for both genders.

So, what shall I do?

You have to change to a new lifestyle, by committing yourself to a long term process that gradually will lead you to a healthier life. This process requires persistence and patience, especially in the beginning. If you stay persistent, your new lifestyle will automatically take over, and it will become natural for you. This process will contain

• moderate, long term fat loss
• aerobic exercise
• strength exercise

Here is the benefits 90 percent of overweight people following this advice has gained:

• improved heart function,
• improved blood pressure,
• improved glucose tolerance,
• improved cholesterol levels,
• lowering requirements for medication,
• eight times less likely to die from cancer than the unfit,
• 53 percent less likely to die from other diseases than the unfit
• eight times less likely to die from heart disease than the unfit people.

But, how can I get started?

The first phase in such a process has shown to be the hardest – it is here most people drop out. The longer you stay in the process, the more likely you are to succeed. And trust me; after you – by means of persistency and patience – have passed this critical start phase, the fun and excitement you gradually will experience will make the change well worth the effort.

You must make the decision to commit to this lifestyle changing process.

If you ever feel tempted to skip it for a day or even give up, confront yourself with your commitment, and go on.

How to stay motivated?

Allow plenty of time for the changes. You should give yourself several years for the changes to take place. If you do so, your body will adjust comfortably and the probability of maintaining this healthy lifestyle permanently, will be higher.

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Following these steps at your own pace will help you lose weight, get healthier and be ready for spring when those jackets come off!

Step#1: Drink Up!You’ve heard it before: we should all be drinking at least 8-10 cups a day. But are you doing it?

Are you spacing your water out through the day?

Water will keep you filled up, energized and running efficiently. Lack of water can slow the metabolism and make you confuse thirst for hunger. If there’s one step that’s easy to make on the road to weight loss, it’s to drink more water.

Step#2: Move, Move, Move

We all know we should probably log more minutes on the treadmill or elliptical machine. But what about building more exercise into your daily life?

What about taking the stairs at work or at the mall? Or taking five minutes to dance to your favorite song? Every little bit helps with weight loss so get out there and move!

Step#3: Eat Dessert

We love dessert. In fact, dessert is usually our favorite part of the meal. It’s logical and natural to want something sweet to balance off that extra cheese lasagna or that chicken and broccoli casserole.

But what about having a bowl of sweet red strawberries instead of those brownies? What about sliced apples with cinnamon instead of chocolate chip cookies?

Look for ways to build in fruit for dessert instead of sugary snacks and you’ll save a load of calories without feeling deprived of that sweet taste.

Step#4: Cut down where you can

Ok, so you don’t want to deny yourself the cheesecake or your favorite burger. You have to eat that birthday cake or sample your Aunt Mathilda’s famous chicken pot pie.

But do you really need to finish it?

Start cutting back on portion sizes now, not denying yourself, but doing what you can – and you’ll find it makes a big difference calorie-wise in the long run.

Step#5: Challenge yourself

There are some days where the universe is with you. You can go without that chocolate bar, you can drinks lots of water and you actually want that salad for lunch.

Recognize these days for what they are – a chance to leap ahead in your weight loss goals and make up for the times you feel you’ve blown it.

Run with it for as long as you can. Challenge yourself to make the healthiest choices possible and soon you’ll be feeling so good about these choices, you’ll want to make more.

So there they are: 5 Steps Towards a Better Body. While you may not lose ten pounds in one week following these steps (on the other hand, you might…), they’ll definitely get you started on the road to weight loss, without feeling deprived or hungry.

Following these steps at your own pace will help you lose weight and get healthier.

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1. Keep your face clean. Whether or not you have acne, it's important to wash your face daily to remove impurities, dead skin cells, and excess oil from the skin surface. Use warm, not hot, water and a mild facial cleanser. Using a harsh soap (like deodorant body soap) can injure the already inflamed skin and cause more irritation.

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Today's topic is about something we don't really want to talk about. It's about.... PLUCKING EYEBROWS

Plucking of women's eyebrows is not permissible. The Messenger of Allaah (pbuh) cursed the one who does it. It is haraam and is not permitted.

It is not permissible to remove the hair of the eyebrows  because this is the plucking for which the Messenger of Allaah (pbuh) cursed  those who do it, and it is a kind of changing the creation of Allaah, which is  the action of the Shaytaan. If a woman's husband tells her to do it, she should  not obey him,because it is a sin, and there is no obedience to any created being if it involves disobedience towards the Creator. Rather obedience should  only be with regard to things that are good and proper, as the Prophet (pbuh) said.

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An ingrown hair is a hair that curls back on itself and starts growing back into the follicle, or a hair that fails to grow out of the follicle and stays embedded in the skin. Ingrown hairs can affect the face, neck, legs, or any part of the body. They are usually just minor irritations, but can be painful or unsightly. Moreover, if they are left untreated, ingrown hairs can become infected. Unfortunately, while ingrown hair is more common with people having curly hair, almost everybody will get one at some time, and if you shave regularly, you may have to deal with ingrown hairs quite frequently. Got one now? Follow these instructions to get rid of it, and keep it from coming back.

1. Exfoliate the area. Twice a day, scrub the ingrown hair gently. This will help to remove any dead skin cells, dirt, and oils that might be trapping the ingrown hair. It can also physically nudge the tip of the hair out of your skin. You want to exfoliate enough to achieve this effect, but not so much that the ingrown hair starts to bleed. It's very difficult to remove an ingrown hair from under a scab. When in doubt, exfoliate more gently but for a longer period of time. Try to hit the ingrown hair from a variety of directions.

2. Apply a dab of acne medication. Ingrown hairs are pretty similar to pimples, especially when the ingrown hair is accompanied by pus. Apply benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid several times a day for a few days. This, combined with daily exfoliation, is often enough to remove the ingrown hair, since swelling will be reduced, giving the hair more room to grow out (rather than in).

3. Apply a warm, moist compress to the area for a few minutes to soften the skin. Just wet a washcloth with hot water, wring it out, and press it against the ingrown hair. When the washcloth cools down, run it under hot water again. If you can see the ingrown hair embedded in the skin, this treatment will soften the hair and bring it closer to the surface. If you can't initially see the hair, leave the warm compress on until it rises to the skin's surface. If you apply the compress for ten minutes and you still can't see any sign of hair, you're not going to be able to remove it yourself, or it might be something else altogether.

4. Use a sterile needle, tweezers or a rotable medical device for ingrown hairs to gently tease the hair out of the skin. The warm compress should have brought the hair to the surface--don't dig for the hair if you can't easily get at it. Don't pluck the hair out completely if you can avoid doing so; just make sure that the ingrown end is out of the skin. It may take a little time to coax the hair out: be patient, and do not cut the skin.

• Sometimes you'll see a loop of the hair close to the surface of the skin. This means that the tip of the hair has begun growing down into the skin. If you get a needle in the loop and tug lightly, the end will often come loose.
• If you choose to use tweezers, remember that tweezers can be bought either pointy or flat-tipped. A pointy-tipped pair may cause less damage to the skin around the hair if used carefully. Another choice might be to use a rotable medical device for ingrown hairs which does not damage the follicle or the surrounding skin.

5. Wash the area around the (formerly) ingrown hair with warm water and a moisturizing soap. Apply an antiseptic to provide extra protection against infection. Avoid wearing tight clothing on that area, and exfoliate regularly to prevent new ingrown hairs. You may wish to apply a daily topical solution to prevent any further ingrown hairs from developing.

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I've tried them, and I'm here to share my experience!

Shaving

This is how I began eighteen years ago. Ah, thirteen...wanting to use Dad's razor and shave cream. Of course, I already had soft, smooth legs -- I just didn't realize it. I had no idea that young that shaving hair actually makes it thicker, courser, and darker. And so, shaving is a vicious cycle. You want smooth legs, so you shave. But then it just grows right back worse than before, and you have to shave it again the next morning. Ever hear of 5 o'clock shadow? Women who shave get that on their legs, too.

I didn't know any of this for years, so I just kept shaving, and shaving, and shaving. Years of nicks and cuts. Although, the worst was at first -- in my first few years of learning how to master shaving. (Beware, teens -- if you're not careful, you will shave skin off your ankle bones and knees!) I still have a few scars. But I thought this was the only way...so it was part of my daily routine.

Out of all the razors I've tried (everything from plain old Bic, to Venus, to my boyfriend's Mach 5), my favorite was always Daisy pink disposable razors (made by Gillette). They are very affordable, and despite their "disposable" status, they can be used many times. They are very sharp, but made well enough that I can shave quickly without cutting myself. Essentially, I get a very close shave for a great price.

After you have a great razor, the next vital item is a great shaving medium (gel, cream, etc.). There are tons of options out there, but the ones I always liked best were the gels. I've used, and liked, almost all scents and types of shave gels by Edge, Gillette, and Skintimate -- though my favorites are always the ones for sensitive skin. I've never tried Aveeno, but I hear they make a good one, too.  I would have gone with an organic option (like Aubrey Organics), but I had not yet discovered the importance of organic-living back when I was shaving.

Now, if you have never shaved...good for you! Your leg hairs are probably soft, light, and not-so bothersome. If you have shaved, you know what if feels like to go to bed at night with sandpaper legs that poke each other because you went one day without shaving...and so you have to shave every day to keep stubble down, which is a royal pain. Are you sick and tired of shaving every day? Have you considered other options? Are there other options? Yes.....there are!

Waxing

I've only done this once, at a "professional" salon. But once was enough for me -- because I spent like $50, and the girl did a crappy job! Not only did she rip my hair out SUPER fast (which didn't provide me a chance to breath off the pain between rippings), but she left tons of little hairs scattered all over my legs. She was supposed to tweeze any remaining hair...and she did tweeze a few...but then she said, "OK, you're done!" And when I got to my car (after paying $50), I noticed all the leftovers and spent the next 20 minutes tweezing them out myself.

You can buy waxing kits and do this yourself at home, too. I've never tried it because I heard it was very messy and hard to clean up, so I can't offer any advice on this one. But I can tell you about sugaring at home, which is very similar to waxing.

Sugaring

Have you heard of Nads? That's what I'm talking about. Sugaring is when you put a super-sticky substance on your legs (instead of wax), rub a cotton strip over it (just like you do with waxing), hold the skin taught, then RIP the cotton strip off really fast in the opposite direction of hair growth (just like with waxing). Opposite direction of hair growth simply means, if your hair grows pointing down, then you rip the cotton strip in an upward motion. On the contrary, when you apply the sticky substance (using a tongue depressor, or plastic spatula) you apply it in the direction of hair growth (if hair grows downward, apply it with a downward swipe). Recap: Apply sticky stuff in downward motion, rub on cotton strip, hold skin taught, and rip off fast in an upward motion.

I tried Nads. It worked great, but I always needed more cotton strips than they provided -- so I bought some similar cotton fabric at my local fabric store and cut it into strips. It worked just fine.

One day, while researching homemade beauty products, I encountered a recipe for "homemade Nads" (homemade sugaring substance). It was so easy to make: 1 cup sugar, 1/4 cup honey, 1 Tablespoon lemon juice -- microwave for 1 minute, stir well, then 30 seconds more, stir well, and another 30 seconds, stir well (2 minutes total). Allow to cool enough so it won't burn you! But not enough that it gets so thick and sticky that you can't even apply it (if it cools that much, just re-heat it for another 20 seconds and stir). It will take a while to cool down...try 5-10 minutes, then test it.

Some tricks with sugaring are:

1) Find a good consistency (not runny, but not overly thick... just perfectly spreadable). It will be too runny if it's too hot, and it will be too thick if it's too cool.

2) Don't apply too much. You want a semi-thin layer, but not too thin, and definitely not too thick. If it's too thick, it won't rip out any hairs...you'll just rip off the cotton strip and leave a mess on your leg. And if it's too thin, you won't efficiently rip out many hairs. You will have to experiment at first to find the perfect balance, but you'll figure it out quickly.

3) Don't rip the strip off too fast after applying. In my experience, if you wait at least 10 seconds while firmly rubbing the strip on, it gives the substance a little time too cool down, which I think better grasps the hairs. For me, it's more effective this way. But don't wait too long, because if actually hardens, you may rip off a layer of skin.

Once I discovered sugaring, I did it for a while. But the downfalls are that it's very messy, time-consuming to prepare, very time-consuming to clean-up, and worst of all -- you have to allow your legs to get hairy again in order to sugar (because the hair needs to be long enough for the substance to grab on to, just like with waxing). The results of sugaring are by far better than shaving -- legs are smooth and hair-free for weeks! After you rip the hair out, it grows back much slower, softer, thinner, and lighter in color. But I didn't like having to let my legs get hairy in order to sugar again. That is why I was extremely happy to discover epilating.

Epilating

This is my current FAVORITE method for hair removal. I had heard about it here-and-there, but wasn't really sure about it. Then one night, I was watching Late Night with Conan O'Brien and I heard guest Heidi Klum talking about epilating her legs with a Braun SoftPerfection epilator (I think she's a spokesmodel for it). I was interested, and I ended up buying one on eBay for like $50. (I have since learned that they sell on amazon.com for cheaper). I received it, I tried it, I LOVED it.

It hurt really bad the first few times (no different than waxing or sugaring). But the good thing about epilating is you can do it any time you want. You don't have to wait for your hair to get long! And it has the same effects as waxing and sugaring, where your hair stays gone for weeks! Basically, you epilate. Then maybe a week later, you epilate again...just to get any of the hairs that were too short to get the first time, which have now grown longer.

If you want to maintain your perfectly hair-free legs, you just epilate every week (or even every few days, if you'd like...it's really up to you). And the more you epilate, the less and less it hurts because you totally get used to it -- unlike waxing and sugaring, which you can only do every month, so you had a month to get not used to it.

Now, when I researched epilators (and I did...I did not just run out and buy the Braun Silk-Epil SoftPerfection epilator just because Heidi Klum uses it), I learned that some people have had bad experiences with epilators, such as getting loose skin stuck, or ripped off. There are some epilators that come with a "reverse" feature for this reason. My Braun Silk-Epil doesn't have that as a "feature," but it does simply move both directions manually (when you move it with your finger), so I'm not worried about getting anything stuck. I read that it's mostly common to get skin stuck when you have loose skin. I learned to avoid this by holding the skin taught, to get rid of flaps and wrinkly areas -- such as around the bikini area, or in the armpit. I would suggest that even if you think you don't have loose skin, still hold your skin taught...just in case.

I have never gotten anything stuck, but I have irritated my armpit by epilating when it was too hairy. What happened was, I used my boyfriend's electric hair buzzer to simply "buzz" my thick armpit hair short -- but that still left me with a thick patch of short hairs. Because I had so many hairs so close together, I should have shaved first -- because when you shave, not all of your hairs grow back at the same rate. So this way, I would have less hairs to epilate the first week, and then I could've epilated the rest of the hairs (the slower-growing hairs) as they continued to grow in the next week, and the next week after. So...shaving can still come in handy at times -- like when you are epilating for the first time, of perhaps neglected epilating for a month or two.

I have now used my epilator many times since I bought it nearly a year ago. Personally, I have not had any problems (except when I didn't pre-shave my bushy armpit that one time). I got used to the pain in one month, and can epilate in a matter of minutes. To mainting hair-free legs, armpits, and bikini area, I only need to epilate once a week. And if I forget? No problem, because the hairs now grow back so soft, thin, and light in color that even if I do have hair, you can't easily see it! It's awesome.

Depilatory Creams or Lotion

I have tried this, too -- but only Nair brand. You simply rub it on, wait 10 minutes, then wipe it off with a washcloth. And it works OK, but it burned, made me itch, left my skin irritated, and furthermore -- it only gets rid of surface-level hair, so you can still see little black dots where the hair shafts are. That alone should be reason enough. But the reason I refuse to use this stuff is the CHEMICAL SMELL...and thus, the chemicals. I feel toxic when I use this stuff. I've tried three kinds by Nair -- Nair regular depilatory lotion, Nair sensitive depilatory lotion, and Nair Pretty depilatory cream (which was supposed to be peach scented, and supposed to be gentler on skin). Well, they all stunk bad -- even the one with supposed peach scent -- and they all irritated.

Now, if you like the smell of chemicals and you don't mind them soaking into your body, then this might be worth a try. I knew a man who swore by depilatory lotion. Personally, it just isn't for me. The chemical smell, and knowing it's soaking into my body, is too much to handle.

Overall, I think epilating is the best option because:

It's super easy! Just plug in, and start epilating.

You can do it as often as you want to keep legs 100% hair-free (unlike waxing and sugaring), but

You don't have to do it every day! (unlike shaving)

Your hair stays gone for weeks! (unlike shaving)

One epilator costs as much as one professional waxing (cost effective)

One epilator costs as much as a nice razor with refills cartridges and a few bottles of shave gel (cost effective)

You don't have to worry about nicks and cuts! (unlike shaving)

You don't put chemicals on your body! (unlike depilatory lotions and creams)

After a few uses, epilating starts to become less-and-less painful (unlike waxing and sugaring)

It's quick! You can epilate in a matter of minutes, and usually no longer than 10 (unlike waxing and sugaring)

And there's practically no clean-up! (Unless you want to vacuum real fast, because the hairs get pulled out and fall to the ground). You should blow/brush the hairs off the epilator, and wipe it with an alcohol wipe to keep oils and bacteria off, but that only takes a minute.

With regular use (once a week), the epilator works just fine!

I hope this helps! Take care.

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I wanted to tell you about my first attempt at epilation. If you've never heard of epilation, let me explain...

Epilation is a method of hair removal which removes hair at the root, for example waxing or plucking. I'm going to try using an epilator. This is a machine which looks rather like a ladies' electric razor, but instead of the hairs being sliced off, they are plucked out, usually by a system of rotating discs.

Sounds painful? Hmm, let's see. I've always shaved my legs, usually with a wet razor, and I've never been brave enough to try waxing. I avoid pain whenever I can. But I am fed up with shaving. Even one day after shaving, I feel stubbly and horrible. There's got to be a better way.

Which Epilator?

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You will need:

Method:

• Cook until mixture reaches 250° F on candy thermometer.
• Wait until cool enough to put on skin (test carefully...).
• Tear a cotton bedsheet into strips 3 inches wide or so, and about the length of your leg.
• Spread sugar very thinly (back of a flat butter knife works well) in a stripe down your leg.
• Press a fabric strip firmly over the sugar, down your leg. Run your hands down it a few more times.
• Pull fabric off, from bottom to top of leg.

Note: make a batch of sugar ahead, store in fridge, and reheat when needed.

Fabric strips are washable and reusable, of course.

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Not caring for your teeth could lead you to suffer - along with three out of four adults - from gum disease. September is National Oral Health month, and we mark the occasion with our DIY oral health routine.

With three out of four adults suffering from gum disease in the UK, coupled with the current shortage of NHS dentists, brushing, flossing and rinsing with an antiseptic mouthwash is vital to keep your teeth in top condition.

Oral hygiene at home

"Whether you've had professional treatments or not, caring for your smile at home is important," advises Dr Andrea Ubhi, Dentist of the Year 2005/6.

"First of all, you need to brush your teeth twice a day morning and night for around three minutes, using a fluoride toothpaste. Definitely don't scrub or you will wear the surface of your teeth away, so brush in circles or shuffles, or use an electric toothbrush which will do that for you - you should aim to clear away 100% of the plaque from your teeth twice a day for best results," says Dr Ubhi.

After brushing, you should clean between your teeth. Dr Ubhi recommends using either dental floss, dental tape, or interdental brushes once or twice a day to ensure that you are removing the maximum amount of food debris and plaque.

"The best way to floss is to get a length of floss or tape and roll it up between your two middle fingers, then use your thumb and your first finger as pincers so that you actually control it really well and don't slip and damage the gums.

"Between those two hands leave about two inches of floss free, pull it to one side and slide it slowly between your teeth, making a C-shape on each side of each tooth," she recommends.

"After flossing you need to be rinsing your teeth and gums with antibacterial mouthwash for around 30 seconds. Some clients ask me whether or not they should use alcoholic mouthwash but it really doesn't matter. For me it's about the efficiency of the mouthwash, and it is in contact with the teeth and gums for such a minimal amount of time that I don't think that it's a big deal - certainly not compared to drinking alcohol."

If you suffer from bleeding gums or gingivitis, Ubhi says one of the best treatments is the Chlorhexidine group of mouthwashes, although she warns that they should only be used for short periods of time.

"They can stain your teeth brown so you should only really be using them for a 30 day course, preferably just when your dentist prescribes it," she says.

Teeth trends

While no one wants a mouthful of stained yellow fangs, the dazzling smile beloved by minor celebrities is also on its way out.

"Many clients looking for a brighter smile are now requesting a more natural shade of white," Dr Ubhi says.

"Last year in the world of cosmetic dentistry, we witnessed a definite trend towards the LA power smile or, as it was termed in the States, 'West Coast White'. Celebrities like Halle Berry and Jessica Simpson are typical examples.

"We're now seeing a move away from this look as people opt for a more natural shade. In the US it's being described as 'East Coast White' in honour of the New York stars leading the trend - think Uma Thurman or Scarlet Johansson.

"But whichever look you opt for, the most important process for maintaining the brightness and whiteness of your smile actually takes place in your own bathroom rather than the dental surgery," she adds.

Some common myths

STOP FLOSSING IF YOUR GUMS BLEED: "If people start bleeding from their gums they often stop flossing or brushing because they think that it's bad for them," Dr Ubhi says. "In fact, bleeding gums means that you should actually do it more often, so make sure that your routine is really thorough and the bleeding should stop within a few days."

BRUSH YOUR TEETH BEFORE BREAKFAST: "Some people say that you should brush your teeth before breakfast to remove any bacteria that has built up overnight but, in my opinion, you're definitely better off brushing them after breakfast to make sure that you remove all of the debris," Dr Ubhi advises.

BRUSH YOUR TEETH STRAIGHT AFTER EATING: "The worst thing that you could do is to brush your teeth straight after eating or drinking something acidic such as citrus fruit or fruit juice, because the acid actually softens the top layer of your teeth and by brushing you are actually scrubbing that bit off. Always wait half an hour before brushing so that your teeth have remineralised," Dr Ubhi says.

GUM DISEASE UNCOVERED: Gum disease is caused by plaque and symptoms include swelling, soreness or infection of the gums and tissues supporting the teeth. If left untreated it can cause teeth to become loose and fall out.

Most people suffer from some form of gum disease, and it is the major cause of tooth loss in adults. However, although it can never be cured, the disease develops very slowly in most people, and it can be slowed down to a rate that should allow you to keep most of your teeth for life.

To prevent and treat gum disease, you need to make sure you remove all the plaque from your teeth every day by brushing, flossing and rinsing with an antiseptic mouthwash. If you begin to notice blood on your toothbrush when you clean your teeth, you should visit your dentist for a thorough check-up as soon as possible.

Smile statistics

• Nearly half of all adults have moderate periodontal disease, with 5-10% of cases being severe.
• Smoking is responsible for 50% of all cases of gum disease in the UK.
• Nearly three-quarters of adults in the UK have visible plaque and calculus.
• The average time spent brushing is 46 seconds.
• Only 2-10% of patients floss regularly and effectively and most cannot or will not floss on a daily basis.

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Have you ever wondered why so many people who were bright and beautiful as children, however, as they grew older their innocence and beauty eluded them? Well, wonder no more – Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullaah) explains this phenomena to us:

“The person who is righteous and honest, his honesty is manifest from the radiance on his face, and his honesty can be known from the glow that is on his face, likewise the (opposite for the) sinful one and the liar. The older a person gets, the more this sign becomes apparent. Thus a person as a child would have a bright face, however if he becomes a sinful person, adamant on committing sins, at the older stages in his life, an ugly face would manifest that which he used to internalise, and the opposite is also true. It has been narrated that Ibn Abbaas (radiyallaahu ‘anhu) said,

‘Indeed righteousness illuminates the heart, radiates the face, strengthens the body, increases provision, and produces a love in the hearts of the creation for that person. Whereas sinfulness darkens the heart, greys the face, weakens the body, and produces hatred in the hearts of the creation for that person.’

It is possible that a person may not intentionally lie; he may even be a person who makes great effort in 'Ibaadah (worship) and has Zuhd (abstains from pleasures of this life that are lawful). However he has false, incorrect ‘Aqeedah regarding either Allaah, His religion or His Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) or His righteous servants. And what is on the inside affects what is on the outside. Thus, this false, incorrect ‘Aqeedah that he thought was true and correct reflects on his face, and his face would be dark in accordance with the level of falsehood he possesses. As it has been narrated that ‘Uthmaan ibn Affaan (radiyallaahu ‘anhu) said,

‘No one ever hides evil within themselves except that Allaah makes it manifest from his facial outlook and the statements his tongues utters.’

Hence some of the Salaf (pious predecessors) used to say,

‘If a person of innovation were to dye his beard every day, the dye of innovation would remain on his face.’

On the day of judgment this would be very clear as Allaah says, “And on the Day of Resurrection you will see those who lied against Allaah their faces will be black. Is there not in Hell an abode for the arrogant ones?” [Sooratuz-Zumar, 39:60]

He ta’ala also said, “On the Day when some faces will become white and some faces will become black; as for those whose faces will become dark (to them will be said): "Did you reject Faith after accepting it? Then taste the torment for rejecting Faith.” [Soorah Aali-Imraan, 3:106]

Ibn Abbaas and others have said regarding this verse,

‘The bright faces will be of the ahlus-sunnah (people of the Sunnah), and the dark faces will be of the people of bid’ah (innovation) and division.’”

Reference: Aj-Jawaab as-Saheeh’ (Vol.4, pg. 306-307).

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1- To beautify your eyes, lower your gaze towards strange men, this will make your eyes pure and shiny.

2- To beautify your face and make it shiny, keep doing Wudhoo' minimum five times a day.

3- To have attractive lips, always mention Allah and remember to speak the truth.

4- As for blush and rouge, "Modesty" (Hayaa') is one of the best brands.

6- Now about your hair, if any of you has a problem of hair split ends, then I suggest "Islamic Hijab" which will protect your hair from damage.

7- As for jewelry, beautify your hands with humbleness and let your hands be generous and give charity to the poor.

8- To avoid heart disease, forgive people who hurt your feelings.

If you follow these advices given to you by the Creator, you will have a beautiful and attractive inner and outer appearance.

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As if our youth didn’t have enough distractions and bad habits readily available to pick up, we now have the hookah fad. Step aside cigarette smoking, there’s something cooler in town (for our youth to destroy their bodies with)! Different flavors, different settings, a “Muslim export”… how cool is that? Actually not cool at all. And what’s worse is that some Muslims are actually promoting this lifestyle.

First the ground rules: Most scholars now agree that cigarette smoking is haram, i.e. prohibited for Muslims due to its harmful effects on the human body, which directly go against an injunction in the Qur’an:

“And do not kill yourselves. Surely, Allah is Most Merciful to you. And whoever commits that through aggression and injustice, We shall cast him into the Fire and that is easy for Allah” [Qur'an 4:29]

“And do not throw yourselves into destruction.” [Qur'an 2:195]

So, this post is not going to detail issues about cigarette smoking, because not only is cigarette smoking far less socially acceptable, but many Muslims recognize that it is haram (forbidden), even if some are stuck at the makruh (disliked) mistake. Initially, when the harmful effects of smoking were not proven scientifically, scholars hesitated on giving the haram ruling, and instead considered it makruh. However, one would have to be sitting in a cave not to now KNOW and RECOGNIZE the direct link that exists between cigarette smoking and extremely harmful effects to the body, including lung cancer.

Muslim scholars in the past differed in opinion regarding smoking because of lack of evidence relating cigarette smoking to disease. Those who considered Makruh (a hated act) regarded this lack of evidence. But since 30 years ago the evidence clearly demonstrates that smoking is injurious to health. The majority of Ahl Sunnah wal-Jama’ahJumhur (majority) have clearly stated that smoking is Haram.

Muhammad Afifi also provides a collection of statements of scholars from a wide spectrum of methodologies and madahibs. In this online booklet, Muhammad Al-Jibaly describes many of the reasons for its forbidden status.

We all know that Satan is such a wonderful con artist. He loves to deceive people. If he can’t get things one way, he uses another. Since cigarettes were becoming harder to sell, Satan is now selling hookah smoking full-force.

Folks, read my words carefully: hookah smoking is in fact MORE dangerous and harmful than cigarette smoking, because you inhale more nicotine via this method. Don’t believe me? Then read what this lung specialist from the prestigious Mayo Clinic has to say:

There is a myth that hookah smoking is safer than smoking cigarettes because the hookah smoke is filtered through water before it is inhaled. But recent studies have found that hookah smokers actually inhale more nicotine than do cigarette smokers because of the massive volume of smoke they inhale…

According to a recent World Health Organization (WHO) advisory, a typical one-hour session of hookah smoking exposes the user to 100 to 200 times the volume of smoke inhaled from a single cigarette. Even after passing through the water, the tobacco smoke produced still contains high levels of toxic compounds, including carbon monoxide, heavy metals and cancer-causing chemicals (carcinogens). [More info here]

Here is more information from American Cancer Society:

Hookah is also called narghile (nar-guh-lee) smoking. It started in Asia and the Middle East and involves burning tobacco that has been mixed with flavors such as honey, molasses, or dried fruit in a water pipe and inhaling the flavored smoke through a long hose. Charcoal is usually used to heat the tobacco mixture, which is known as shisha. Hookah smoking is usually a social event which allows the smokers to spend time together and talk as they pass the pipe around. It has recently become popular among younger people in Western countries.

Hookahs are marketed as being a safe alternative to cigarettes. This claim is false. The water does not filter out many of the toxins. In fact, hookah smoke has been shown to contain concentrations of toxins, such as carbon monoxide, nicotine, “tar,” and heavy metals, that are as high or higher than are seen with cigarette smoke. Several types of cancer, including lung cancer, have been linked to hookah smoking. Hookah is also linked to other unique risks not associated with cigarette smoking. For example, infectious diseases including tuberculosis (which can infect the lungs or other parts of the body), aspergillus (a fungus that can cause serious lung infections), and helicobacter (which can cause stomach ulcers) may be spread by sharing the pipe or through the way the tobacco is prepared.

BOTTOM LINE: If smoking cigarettes is harmful and haram, then hookah smoking is only worse.

So, whoever is thinking that they are safe with hookahs as opposed to cigarettes are only fooling themselves. It is especially sad to see this trend catching on fire in the Muslim world. In my trip to Pakistan, I noticed how this has become the “cool” alternative thing to do!

Let’s do whatever it takes to halt this phenomenon, especially in preventing our youth from picking up this harmful/haram habit. Spread the word!

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Category: Introduction to Fiqh and Technical Terms

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A Mujtahid is someone qualified to exercise ijtihad, which literally means striving and technically means juridical endeavor and competence to infer expert legal rulings from foundational proofs within or without a particular school of law.

Requirements of a Mujtahid:

Firstly the Mujtahid must be a Muslim and a person of sound mind and intellectual competence.

*Knowledge of Arabic such than he can understand the Qur'an and Hadith correctly.

*Knowledge of the Qur'an which includes Makki/Madani; Occasions of Revelation; Incidences of Abrogation; LEGAL TEXTS (aayaatul ahkaam). (In short all the requisites of Tafsir)

*Knowledge of the Sunnah specifically the legal texts (ahaadeethal ahkaam). He most know where to find the Hadiths and be able to distinguish the reliable narrations from the weak.

*Knowledge of the substance of the Furu` works and the points on which there is Ijma`.

*Knowledge of Qiyas (Analogical Deduction)

*Knowledge of the Maqasid (objectives) of the Shari`ah

*Knowledge of the General Maxims of Fiqh. eg. Certainty prevails over Doubt.

Another description can be found in Shaykh `Ali Hasabullah's 'Usul al-Tashri' al-Islami' (5th ed. 1976) p. 94-95:

The Mujtahid is he who possesses, together with complete soundness of mind and of Religion, three necessary traits:

1. Knowledge of the Arabic language and the ways in which its signifies meanings. This knowledge does not come except to one who has frequented its various disciplines and read much of the works of its masters of eloquence until he knows how to differentiate between the specific and the general, the literal and the figurative, the explicit and the ambiguous, and other aspects upon knowing which depends his ability to infer rulings.

**He does not have to reach the mastery of language of a Khalil or a Sibawayh or al-Asma`i and others of the Imams of Arabic. It suffices that he attains the rank necessary to understand texts in the right way.

2. Knowledge of Qur'an and Sunna and whatever is in them of rulings, those that were abrogated and those that were not, together with the linking up of the universal with its particulars, the absolute with its restricted sense, and the general with the specific. He does not, in this, have to have memorized all that is related.

It suffices that he has to be able to gather up all that is connected with the topic he is investigating and to know what the experts of hadith have said concerning sound or weak gradings as well as what they said concerning the narrators with regard to discreditation and commendation.

3. Knowledge of the objectives of the Law and of the living contexts of people as well as the customs they share and whatever harms or benefits them, and the ability to know the minute defects of legal rulings and to compare and contrast their similarities so as to better understand facts and infer the rulings that most precisely correspond to the objectives of the Lawgiver and implement the welfare of those under consideration.

Taken from: "PRINCIPLES OF ISLAMIC JURISPRUDENCE" by M Kamali p. 374-377,

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Since Fiqh has been defined as,

"Knowledge of the rulings of the Shariah by its specific evidences from the Qur'an and Sunnah."

Then it would be clear that a Faqeeh (scholar of fiqh) is thus : One who has knowledge of a great amount of rulings of the Shar'iah by its specific evidences from the Qur'an and the Sunnah.

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Fiqh, according to the Arabic language, means 'understanding'. We find this meaning used in the Qur'aan: "Take away the knot from the tongue, so that they would understand what I say". {Surah Taha, verses 27-28}

And according to Islamic law, the definition of 'Fiqh' is:

'Ma'rifah (knowing) the rulings of the Shariah (which are acted upon) from specific evidences.'

The meaning of our saying:

"...Ma'rifah..." is: certain knowledge as well as Dhann (meaning that when one things that what he has is correct but it doesn't reach the level of certainty). This is because knowledge of the rulings of fiqh can be with certainty or with Dhann as occurs in many of the issues in fiqh.

And the meaning of our saying:

"...Rulings of the Shariah..." means: The rulings that are taken from the Shariah, in terms of matters being compulsory or forbidden. What is outside of this is the rulings of the intellect like knowing that a whole is more than a fraction...

And the meaning of our statement:

"...Which are acted upon..." means that it has nothing to do with belief; rather, it refers to matters like Salaat, and Zakaat. Therefore what is outside of this is what is ascribed to beliefs: like belief in the oneness of Allah and knowledge of his names and attributes. According to the Islamic law terminology this is not called 'Fiqh'.

And the meaning of our saying:

"...from specific evidences." means that the evidences of fiqh, with the issues of fiqh, are specific. What leaves this definition is Usuul Ul Fiqh, because Usuul Ul Fiqh looks into the general evidences of fiqh (principles).

N.B: Some scholars have added to the end:

"...By the book and the Sunnah." Because of the fact that the sources of Fiqh should not come except from the Qur'an and the Authentic Sunnah. Or from the principles derived from the Qur'an and the Sunnah.

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Category: The Etiquettes of Differing

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Islaam has laid down lofty standards for how the Muslim, who traverses the methodology of the Prophetic Sunnah, should deal with his brother who has differed with him in an issue of Ijtihaad. Indeed, how outstanding is the statement of the merciful gift [i.e. the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam]:

"Indeed I have been sent to perfect noble manners." [Reported by al-Bukhaaree in al-Adabul-Mufrad (no.273). It was declared to be saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaanee in as-Saheehah (no.45).]

From these etiquettes (Aadaab) are:

1 - To have an open heart in accepting what comes to you by way of clarification of the mistakes that you have made, and to know that this is from the sincere advice which your brother for Allaah's sake is giving to you as a gift. So know that your refusal of the truth and your becoming angry for your own self is actually from pride; may Allaah protect us. Indeed, the most eminently truthful, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said:

"Pride is to reject the truth and to scorn other people." [Reported by Muslim (no.91)]

There are many examples of this noble mannerism that our Pious Predecessors have demonstrated to us; from them is what al-Haafidh Ibn Abdul-Barr said:

"A number of people informed me that Aboo Muhammad Qaasim ibn Asbagh said: 'When I travelled to the east, I stopped of at al-Qayrawaan and I took the hadeeth of Musaddad from Bakr ibn Hammaad. I then proceeded to Baghdad and met the people. When I left, I returned to him [i.e. Bakr] to complete the hadeeth of Musaddad, so one day I read to him the hadeeth of the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam: "That a people from Mudar came in stripped woolen shirts (mujtaabee an-nimaar)" He said to me: It is: 'mujtaabee ath-thimaar'. So I said: 'Mujtaabee an-nimaar' is how I read it out to all those I read it to in Andalus and Iraq. So he said to me: 'You have, by entering Iraq, contradicted us and become arrogant against us.' Then he said: 'Stand with us and let us go to that Shaykh - a Shaykh who was in the Masjid - for he has the likes of this knowledge.' So I went with him and we asked him about this, so he replied: 'It is: 'mujtaabee an-nimaar,' just as you said. They used to wear stripped clothing, with pockets at their fronts. And nimaar is the plural of nimrah.' Bakr ibn Hammaad then said whilst holding his nose:

"My nose debases itself to the truth, my nose humbles itself to the truth, [and] he then departed." [Mukhtasar Jaami` Bayaanul-`Ilm wa Fadlihi (p.123); abridged by Shaykh Ahmad ibn `Umar al-Mumasaanee.]

O my brother for the sake of Allaah - may Allaah safeguard you - do you not see this amazing sense of justice. How much are we in need of it today?! However, this is not possible except for those who purify their intentions for Allaah's sake. Indeed here is Imaam Maalik, may Allaah have mercy upon him, saying:

"There is nothing in our time more scarce than justice." [Mukhtasar Jaami` Bayaanu1-`Ilm wa Fadlihi (p.120)]

So what is the case in our present time; a time in which false desires are plentiful? We seek refuge in Allaah from the misguiding trials.

2 - That you should use the finest and most appropriate words when discussing and debating with your brother, for Allaah the Exalted has said:

"And speak good to the people." [Soorah al-Baqarah 2:83]

Abud-Dardaa relates that the Prophet, 'alayhis-salaam, said:

"There is nothing that will be heavier in the Believer's scales, on the Day of judgement, than good character. Indeed Allaah hates the wicked and the ill-mouthed person." [Reported by Aboo Daawood (no. 4799), it was declared to be saheeh by al-haafidh Ibn Hair in Bulooghul-Maraam (no.1523).]

3 - That you should discuss with your brother with that which is better, for that which is even more appropriate. Your guiding principle in this should be the truth and its clarification; it should not be to seek victory for your ego or your soul that invites towards evil. Your character in that which you utter should be one of sincerity (ikhlaas). If however, the affair with your brother reaches the level of speculative argumentation, then give him the greeting of salaam and remind him of the saying of the Messenger, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam:

"I am a guarantor for a house on the outskirts of Paradise for the one who leaves of arguing, even if he is in the right." [Reported by Aboo Daawood (no.4800). It was declared to be hasan by Shaykh al-Albaanee in as-Saheehah (no.273).]

Al-Haafidh Ibn 'Abdul-Barr mentioned that Zakariyyah ibn Yahyaa said:

"I heard al-Asma'ee saying that `Abdullaah ibn Hasan said:

"Argumentation corrupts friendship and unties the strongest of bonds. The least harm it contains is strife, and strife leads to severing relations."

Ja'far ibn 'Awf said: I heard Mis'ar saying, whilst addressing his son Kidaam:

"I present to you my advice, O Kidaam;
So listen to a father, compassionate to you.
As for joking and argumentation, then leave them;
They are traits I do not approve of for a friend.
Having tried them, I did not found them praiseworthy,
Neither for a close neighbour, nor for a close friend.
[Mukhtasar Jaami` Bayanul-`Ilm wa Fadlihi (p.278)]

The Pious Predecessors have left us splendid examples about the etiquettes of differing; amongst them is:

What al-Bukhaaree (no.5704) and Muslim (no.220) report from Husain ibn 'Abdur-Rahmaan who said:

I was with Sa`eed ibn Jubayr when he said: "Who amongst you saw the shooting stars last night?" I replied: "I did." Then I said: "Not because I was praying at that time, but because I had been stung by a scorpion." He said: "So what did you do?" I replied: "I used an incantation (ruqyaa)." He said: "Why did you do that?" I said: "Because of a hadeeth related to me by ash-Sha`bee." He said: "What did he relate to you?" I replied: "He related from Buraydah ibn al-Husain who said:

"There is no incantation, except for the evil eye or a sting."

Sa'eed said: He has done well in halting at what he has heard [of knowledge]. However Ibn 'Abbaas related to us ... [and he went on to narrate the hadeeth]."

Look at this sublime mannerism from one of those who inherited knowledge from Ibn 'Abbaas, may Allaah be pleased with him. He was not severe, rather he was kind to him because he was acting upon what he had of the evidence.

Then he explained to him what was better, but with a gentle rectification supported by proof.

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Difference of opinion is one of mankind's natures, "And if your Lord had willed, He could have made mankind one community, but they will not cease to differ. Except whom your Lord has given mercy..." (Surah Hud:118-119) Doubtlessly, differences in opinion occur due to differences in intentions and purposes, differences in the strength of minds and perceptions, and differences in knowledge. Dealing with these differences requires a firm footing in the shariah.

Some du'aat invite to the unity of the rank and file in order to forget conflict, without defining as to whom to unify with and who to be separated from due to misguidance and deviations. On the other hand, there is one who exaggerates about the conditions, to the point that he wants people to agree with him in everything, even in his personal ijtihaad and his own opinions. And if anybody disagrees with him, he turns away from him, takes the attitude of resistance towards him, and becomes careless and disrespectful to him! Justice is accepting the difference in that in which difference is permissible. Like the means of da'wah, secondary matters, those rulings in which scholars of the past differed..., that which is based on the Shari'ah Ijtihaad in understanding of the texts, not simply on desires. As for leniency towards the people of innovation concerning 'Aqeedah, and fundamental deviations under the pretext of unifying the ranks, this is a false procedure that does not relate to reason nor to the shar'.

As for asking people to agree in everything, and not to differ in anything at all, this is impossible and unreal.

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Category: The Etiquettes of Differing

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If someone comes to debate with you, beware of him. For debating involves argumentation, disputing, seeking to overcome, wrangling and anger. You have been forbidden from all of this. It diverts you both away from the truth. It has not reached us that any of our scholars or people of knowledge argued, debated or disputed. Al-Hasan (al-Basree) said,

"The wise man does not argue or seek to overcome with stratagem rather he propagates his wisdom. If it is accepted he praises Allaah and if it is rejected he praises Allaah." (Reported by Abu Nu`aim ibn Hammaad in his Zawaa'id `alaz-Zuhd libnil Mubaarak (no. 30) and Ibn Battah in Ibaanatul-Kubraa (no. 611). Its isnaad is weak, since it contains an unnamed narrator.)

A man came to al-Hasan (al-Basree) and said, "I wish to debate with you about the Religion." Al-Hasan replied,

"I know my Religion. If you have lost your Religion go out and look for it." (Reported by al-Aajurree in ash-Sharee`ah (p. 57), al-Laalikaa'ee in as-Sunnah (no. 215) and Ibn Battah (no. 586) and it is saheeh.)

The Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) heard some people arguing outside his apartment, one of them saying, 'Did not Allaah say so and so?' and the other saying, 'Did not Allaah say so and so?' So he came out angry and said,

"Is this what I have ordered you, or is this what I was sent with, that you should set one part of the Book of Allaah against some other parts?" (Reported by Ahmad (2/178, 181 and 196), Ibn Maajah (no. 85), `Abdullaah ibn Ahmad in as-Sunnah (no. 86) and al-Baghawee in Sharhus-Sunnah (1/260). Al-Boosayree declared it saheeh in Zawaa'id Ibn Maajah (1/4) as did al-Albaanee in Sharh `Aqeedah at-Tahaawiyyah (p. 218))

So he forbade them from argumentation.

Ibn `Umar used to hate disputation as did Maalik ibn Anas and those greater and lesser than him right up to this day.

The Sayings of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, is greater than the sayings of His creation. Allaah, the Most High says:

"None dispute in the Aayaat (signs, proofs) of Allaah except those who disbelieve." [Soorah Ghaafir (40):4]

A man asked `Umar ibn al-Khattaab:

What is: "Those (angels) who gently take out (the souls of the believers)?" [Soorah an-Naazi`aat (79):2]

He said,

"If your head were shaved, I would have beheaded you." [Shaving his head was the sign of the Khawaarij. The man who asked `Umar was called Sabeegh. His story is well-known and authentic. It is reported by ad-Daarimee (1/51), Ibn Waddah in al-Bida`h (p.56), al-Aajurree in ash-Sharee`ah (p. 73), al-Laalikaa'ee in as-Sunnah (pp. 634-636) and Ibn Battan (1/414-415)

The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said, "The Believer does not dispute and I will not intercede on the Day of Resurrection for those who dispute, so leave arguing for its lack of good." [This hadeeth is very weak, as declared by al-Haithumee in Majma` uz-Zawaa'id (1/156, 725). Reported by at-Tabaraanee in al-Kabeer (8/178-179) and al-Aajurree in ash-Sharee`ah (pp. 55-56)].

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It was related that a man said to Haatim al Asam: “You are a non-Arab who cannot speak fluently, but no one has debated you except that you silenced him, so how do you defeat your opponents?”

He said:

“With three:

1.    I am pleased when my opponent is correct,
2.    I am sad when he is incorrect,
3.    And I preserve my tongue from saying anything that offends him."

Al Imaam Ahmad stated: “What a wise man he is.”

Al Khateeb al Baghdaadee stated:

“A person’s intention should be to clarify the truth when debating, not to defeat his opponent.”

Al Imaam ash Shaafi’ee said:

“I did not debate anyone while hoping that he would err.”

He also said:

“I never spoke to anyone except that I hoped that he would be granted success and supported. I never spoke to anyone except that I didn’t mind whether Allaah clarified the truth upon my tongue or his.”

Al Hafidh ibn Rajab comments:

“This indicates that he did not have any intention except the clarification of the truth, even if it were from the person who is debating and contradicting him. Whoever is of this state would not dislike it when his opinions are refuted and when his contradiction to the Sunnah is clarified, not while alive or after his death. This is also what we think of the other Imaams of Islaam, those who defended Islaam and supported it whether they were from the Salaf or those who came after them. They also never used to dislike those who contradicted them as long as they were following evidence, even though the evidence was not strong enough for them to follow or leave their own evidence for.”

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References:

The Difference between Advising and Degrading by Ibn Rajab al Hanbalee.

Al Faqee wal Mutafaqih by al Khateeb al Baghdaadee.

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The Salaf-us-Saalih (the Pious Predecessors) hated that a person should put himself forward to give religious verdicts (fataawaa) and to crave them, and to hasten to it, and to do it in excess.

Ibn Lahee`ah reports from`Ubaydullaah ibn Abee Ja`far in mursal form from the Prophet (saw) that he said,

"He who is boldest from you in giving religious verdicts, will be the boldest in proceeding to the Fire"

[It is reported by ad-Daarimee 1/57 and its chain of narration is weak since it is mursal (i.e. there is a missing link or links between the last narrator and the Prophet (saw)].

`Alqamah said, "They used to say,

'The boldest of you in giving religious verdicts is the one having the least knowledge.'"

Al-Baraa' said,

"I met a hundred and twenty of the Ansaar from the Companions of Allaah's Messenger (saw) and when one of them was asked about a matter there was not a single man amongst them except that he wished that his brother would suffice him (by answering)."

[This saying is reported by ad-Daarimee (1/53) and Ibn `Abdul-Barr in Jaami` (2/163).However it is the saying of `Abdur-Rahmaan ibn Abee Laylaa and not the saying of al-Baraa`, and its chain of narration is saheeh.

As for the saying of al-Baraa`, then it is,

"I saw three hundred of the people of Badr, there was not a single one of them except that he loved that someone else should take his place in answering."

It is reported by Ibnul-Mubaarak in az-Zuhd (no. 58), ibn Sa`d (6/11) and others and its isnaad contains Aboo Ishaaq as-Sabee`ee who is acceptable (sadooq) except that he was mudallis and reports it without stating that he heard it directly.]

In a narration there occurs the addition,

"...so this one would refer it to another, and he would refer it to someone else until it would eventually return to the first one."

From Ibn Mas`ood, (ra), who said,

"The one who gives a religious verdict to the people about everything that he is asked is indeed insane."

[Reported by Ibn `Abdul-Barr (2/164-165), al-Khateeb in al-Faqeeh wal-Mutafaqqih (2/197-198) and Aboo Khaithamah in al-`Ilm (no. 10) and its chain of narration is saheeh.]

`Umar ibn `Abdul-`Azeez was asked about a question and replied,

"I am not one who is bold about giving religious verdicts."

He also wrote to one of his governors,

"By Allaah! I am not one who craves after giving religious verdicts, as long as I can find a way to avoid it."

Ibn Yameenah said,

"This affair is not for those who love that the people should have need of them, rather this affair is only for those who love that someone can be found to take their place."

It is also reported from him that he said,

"The most knowledgeable of people concerning religious verdicts is the one who is most often silent, and the most ignorant of people about them is the one who speaks the most with regard to them."

[Reported by al-Khateeb in al-Faqeeh wal-Mutafaqqih (2/166) and its isnaad is weak.]

Sufyaan ath-Thawree said,

"We reached the scholars and they used to hate answering questions and giving religious verdicts until they could find no way out except to give a verdict, but if they were relieved of having to do so then that was more beloved to them."

Imaam Ahmad said,

"He who puts himself forward to give religious verdicts has put himself forward to something very serious, unless he is forced through necessity."

It was said to him,

"Then which is better: for him to speak or to remain silent?"

He said,

"It is more beloved to us that he should withhold."

It was said,

"But if there is a necessity?" So he started saying,

"Necessity! Necessity!"

And he said,

"It is safer for him to withhold."

So those who give religious verdicts should realise that they are transmitting Allaah's orders and prohibitions and that he will be made to stand to account and be questioned about it.

Ar-Rabee` ibn Khaitham said,

"O giver of religious verdicts! Look and see how you are giving verdicts."

`Amr ibn Deenaar said to Qataadah when he sat to give religious verdicts,

"Do you realise the affair that you have fallen into? You have come between Allaah and His worshippers and say, 'This is correct and this is not correct.'" [Reported by al-Khateeb in al-Faqeeh wal-Mutafaqqih (2/168)]

From Ibnul-Munkadir who said,

"The scholar enters between Allaah and His creation, so let him look and see how he enters between them." [Reported with variations in wording by ad-Daarimee (1/53), and al-Khateeb in al-Faqeeh wal-Mutafaqqih (2/168) and its isnaad is saheeh.]

When Ibn Seereen was asked about anything pertaining to the permissible and forbidden his colour would change and he would alter so that he would not seem to be the same person. [Reported by ibn Sa`d (7/195), al-Khateeb in al-Faqeeh wal-Mutafaqqih (2/167) and its isnaad is saheeh].

When an-Nakhaa`ee was asked about something then hatred would be seen upon his face and he would say,

"Could you not find someone else to ask other than me?"

He also said,

"I spoke and if I had found any way out I would not have spoken, and indeed a time when I am the scholar of Koofah is an evil time." [Reported in meaning by Aboo Khaithamah in al-`Ilm (no. 131).]

It is related that Ibn `Umar, (ra), said,

"You ask us for religious verdicts in such a manner that it is as if we are people who are not going to be questioned about the verdicts that we give you." [Reported by al-Fasawee (1/490) and al-Khateeb in al-Faqeeh wal-Mutafaqqih (2/168) and its isnaad is weak.]

Also from Muhammad ibn Waasi` who said,

"The first of those who will be called to account are the scholars."

It is reported about Maalik, (ra), that when he was asked about a matter it was as if he were standing between the Paradise and the Hell-Fire. [Reported by al-Khateeb in al-Faqeeh wal-Mutafaqqih (2/167) and its isnaad is weak.]

One of the scholars also said to a person who used to give religious verdicts,

"When you are asked about a matter then do not let your concern be to release and find a way out for the questioner, but rather to release and save your own self."

[The one who said this was `Umar ibn Khaldah az-Zurqee and he was speaking to Rabee`ah ibn Abee `Abdir-Rahmaan. This narration is reported with very close wordings by al-Fasawee (1/556-557), Aboo Nu`aym in al-Hilyah (3/260-261) and al-Khateeb in al-Faqeeh wal-Mutafaqqih (2/169) and its isnaad is saheeh.]

Another said,

"If you are asked about a matter then consider - if you find a way out of it then speak, otherwise remain silent."

The sayings of the Salaf about this are too many to quote and gather.

If they were like this, then what about us???

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Category: Schools of Thought (Madhaahib)

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In this 4-part series lecture, Under the Shade of Scrolls, Muhammad Alshareef gives us snap shots of the lives of the four imams and the recurring themes in their lives. The lecturer encourages us to model ourselves after them so that we may also come close to their legacy.

PART 1

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PART 2

PART 3

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PART 4

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Category: Schools of Thought (Madhaahib)

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The Dhaahiri madhhab is well known. It is the madhhab followed by Dawood ibn ‘Ali al-Zaahiri and Abu Muhammad ibn Hazm and those who follow their line of thought.

What it means is following the apparent meaning of the texts and not looking at the basis of rulings, and they do not believe in making analogies. Rather they go by the apparent meaning of commands and prohibitions and they do not pay attention to the basis and reasons behind these rulings. They are called Dhaahiris (literalists) for this reason, because they go by the apparent meaning and do not pay attention to shar’i bases, wisdom and analogies which are indicated by the Qur’aan and Sunnah. But in general their way is better than the way of those who only refer to reasoning, analogy and arguments, and who do not pay much attention to the shar’i evidence of the Qur’aan and Sunnah.

Although they are falling short and are to be criticized for focusing only on the apparent meanings of the texts and not paying enough attention to the bases, wisdom and reasoning which the Lawgiver referred to and the objects which sharee’ah aimed to achieve, hence they made mistakes with regard to many issues which are referred to by the Qur’aan and Sunnah.

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Category: Adab in Khalaa'

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One of the fatal consequences of leaving the guidance of the Prophet [sallallahu a’lyhi wa sallam] is that we find people facing many problems which are metaphysical and which many a time result in bringing about severe and tragic physical consequences. One such problem is the problem of jinn-possession and black magic. Although this is a matter encompassing various dimensions, in this article I wish to highlight one of the places inhabited by the jinn with the hope of bringing about awareness and precaution for which there is a dire need. Indeed Allah is the One from Whom help is sought.

For many, the Islaamic etiquettes pertaining to the lavatory may seem trivial and of little consequence if neglected. In fact, such heedlessness could result in fatal consequences as the lavatory is a place inhabited by the jinns and a Muslim should not go into this demonic habitation unarmed and unprotected. A sister has given me her kind permission to share with all of you how she was possessed by a jinn:

She says that it started with her seeing a woman who looked just like her [the difference being that her hair was untidy and puffed-up],  sitting on the kitchen surface  staring at her whilst she was in her kitchen. The strangest thing is that this sister didn’t tell anyone about what she saw, since she herself was possessed and therefore the abnormal for her became the norm. Strange occurrences began and she started losing herself as the days continued to pass. In her lavatory she would often see stains of blood, this was surprising to her since no one was in her home nor had anyone been injured or hurt etc, so where on earth was this blood coming from? Her worries increased and her condition continued to worsen. In fact, many people witness blood in their bathrooms, for example, another family saw recurring blood on their bathroom window…

Let’s turn to the words of Allah [azza wa jall] and al Mustafaa, Muhammad [sallallahu a’lyhi wa sallam] for an answer and to relieve such fearful hearts from their confusion.

Allah [azza wa jall] says:

{Verily, he [Shaytaan] and Qabeeluhu (his soldiers from the jinn or his tribe) see you from where you cannot see them.} [Qur’aan: 7:27]

This verse of the Qur’aan clearly elucidates a dimension of this temporal and transient abode which many are sadly ignorant and unaware of. Yes, there is a creation that sees us, yet in ordinary circumstance we do not see them.

This verse and the hadeeth quoted are an evident and sufficient proof that

1. The jinn can see us, even if under normal circumstances we can’t see them.
2. They inhabit places in which humans relieve themselves.

‘Certainly these toilets are visited by the jinn.’ [Abu Dawood [6] and Ibn Maajah [296]]

In this hadeeth the term ‘Hushoosh’ refers to toilets and the term ‘Muhtadharah’ means that they are haunted and therefore inhabited by the jinn. The Prophet [sallallahu a’lyhi wa sallam] very clearly and emphatically has described for us the reality of the lavatories we regularly visit. The scholars say that the reason why devils frequent such places where humans relieve themselves is to do them harm.  That is why it is not befitting for a person to stay in the place in which he relieves himself more than the time needed; since this is a place one should exercise caution as satan loves places which are filthy and dirty. The lavatory is not visited by the angels because the angels run away from places where the evil jinns are present, just like the evil jinns run away from pure places where the angels are present. As a matter of fact, staying in the lavatory without need brings about waswaas [satanic whispers] and suspicion [in the deen]. Therefore a person may be struck and inflicted with a type of matter, the end of which is not praised.

This does not mean that a person runs away from such places, or stops going to answer the call of nature! Without a doubt, it is a blessing from Allah, that we are able to find a hidden and decent place to relieve ourselves, and to be able to hide our awrah [private parts] from the eyes of others. Keeping that in mind it is of utmost importance that we do not forget about the on-lookers, who may be watching you as the minutes fly by. Sadly, the magazines and newspapers present next to the toilet seat, or on the toilet’s window ledge, tell a story of ignorance or even worse, purposeful negligence. In fact, they act as red lights flashing the signal of a possibility of imminent danger which can threaten the peace of mind and sanity of those who spend unneeded procrastinated periods of time in the toilet. If they knew what was watching them, I’m sure they would find a more suitable place to read their monthly magazines.

The following are some etiquettes pertaining to the usage of the lavatory:

1. Enter the toilet with the left foot first. Ibn Hajar in Fathul Baaree says that "…it may be understood by some by the Prophet's love of beginning good and pure things with the right hand/side that this (entering the toilet) falls into the opposite category.”
2. Say the Basmalah [i.e. Bismillah] before entering the toilet. The Prophet [sallallahu a’lyhi wa sallam] said: "To put a barrier that will prevent the jinn from seeing the 'awrah of the sons of Aadam, let any one of you say 'Bismillaah' when entering the toilet." [Reported by al-Tirmidhi, 551; Saheeh al-Jaami', 3611] and also: Al-Tirmidhi (no. 606) narrated from ‘Ali ibn Abi Taalib (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “A screen will be placed between the eyes of the jinn and the ‘awrah of the sons of Adam when one of them enters the toilet, if he says ‘Bismillaah (in the name of Allaah).” [Al-Tirmidhi (no. 606].
3. Read the following du’a:

[Narrated by Anas bin Maalik and collected in Saheeh al-Bukharee (Volume 1, Book 4, Number 144) and Saheeh Muslim (Book 003, Number 729).]

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

“The benefit of saying Bismillaah is that it conceals a person. The benefit of seeking refuge with Allaah is that one is turning to Allaah from evil and from the male and female devils, for this place is filthy (khabeeth) and a filthy place is the abode of those who are evil (khubatha’).  So it is the abode of the devils. Thus it is appropriate if one wants to enter the toilet to say “A’oodhu Billaah min al-khubthi wa’l-khabaa’ith (I seek refuge with Allaah from evil and from the male and female devils)” so that he will not be harmed by evil or by the evil souls.” [Al-Sharh al-Mumti’, 1/83.]

So, maybe it’s time to listen to the ipod in another place...

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Category: Wudhoo' (Ablution)

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Category: Wudhoo' (Ablution)

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Wudhu is one of the greatest aspects of our Deen in that it is purification for the Muslim and because it has a relationship with our Imaan. Rasulullah (peace be upon him) said in the well-known Hadith, “Purification is half of Imaan.” (Muslim)

Allah (az) says: “Allah does not want to lay any hardship upon you; rather He wants to purify you and complete His favours upon you so that you may give thanks.” (Surah Ma’idah 5:6)

Benefits of Wudhu:

1) Expiation of sins:

“He who performs the Wudhu perfectly (i.e., according to Sunnah), his sins will depart from his body, even from under his nails.” (Muslim)

“He who performs Wudhu like this, his previous sins will be forgiven and his Salaat and walking to the masjid will be considered as supererogatory acts of worship.” (Muslim)

“When a Muslim, or a believer, washes his face (in the course of Wudhu), every sin which he committed with his eyes, will be washed away from his face with water, or with the last drop of water; when he washes his hands, every sin which is committed by his hands will be effaced from his hands with the water, or with the last drop of water; and when he washes his feet, every sin his feet committed will be washed away with the water, or with the last drop of water; until he finally emerges cleansed of all his sins.” (Muslim)

2) Rasulullah (peace be upon him) will recognize his Ummah from their traces of Wudhu:

Abu Hurairah (RA) reported: Rasulullah (peace be upon him) went to Baqi` and said, “May you be secured from punishment, O dwellers of abode of the believers! We, if Allah wills, will follow you. I wish we see my brothers.” The Companions said, “O Messenger of Allah! Are we not your brothers?” Rasulullah (peace be upon him) said, “You are my Companions, but my brothers are those who have not come into the world yet.” They said: “O Messenger of Allah! How will you recognize those of your Ummah who are not born yet?” Rasulullah (peace be upon him) said: “Say, if a man has white-footed horses with white foreheads among horses which are pure black, will he not recognize his own horses?” They said: “Certainly, O Messenger of Allah!” Rasulullah (peace be upon him) said: “They (my followers) will come with bright faces and white limbs because of Wudhu’; and I will arrive at the Al-Kauthar ahead of them.” (Muslim)

3) The Believers will be recognized by their traces of Wudhu on the Day of Judgment:

“On the Day of Resurrection, my followers (or Ummah) will be summoned ‘Al-Ghurr Al-Muhajjalun’ from the traces of Wudhu’.” (Al-Bukhari)

Imam Nawawi [r] explains this name:

“The word “Ghurr” is the plural of “Agharr” which means shining or white. It is used for animals (like a horse), i.e., a white mark on its face. Here, it refers to that radiance which will issue from the brows of the believers on the Day of Resurrection and which will make them prominent. Muhajjalun is from Tahjil which also means whiteness but it is used for that whiteness which is found on all the four or at least on three legs of a horse. Here, it refers to that light which will shine through the hands and feet of the believers because of their habit of performing Wudhu’. This means that the believers among the Muslims will be distinguished from other communities by virtue of the radiance issuing from their faces, hands and feet on the Day of Resurrection in the same way that a horse with a white forehead is easily distinguished from other horses.”

4) Wudhu is radiance and the Believers are encouraged to increase in it:

Abu Hurairah (RA) said:

“Whoever can increase the area of his radiance should do so.” (Al-Bukhari)

5) The adornment of a Believer in Jannah will reach up to where the water reached his body:

“The adornment of the believer (in Jannah) will reach the places where the water of Wudhu reaches (his body).” (Muslim)

6) Saying the supplication after Wudhu is a means of entering Jannah:

“Whoever of you performs Wudhu carefully and then affirms:

the eight gates of Jannah are opened for him. He may enter through whichever of these gates he desires (to enter).” (Muslim)

7) Preserving Wudhu is a sign of Imaan: “… and no one preservers their Wudhu except a Believer.” (Ibn Majah, Sahih)

8) Performing Wudhu in hardship effaces the sins and elevates the ranks:

Rasulullah (peace be upon him) said: “Shall I not tell you something by which Allah effaces the sins and elevates ranks (in Jannah)?” The Companions said: “Certainly, O Messenger of Allah.” Rasulullah (peace be upon him) said: “Performing the Wudhu thoroughly in spite of difficult circumstances, walking with more paces to the Masjid, and waiting for the next As-Salaat (the prayer) after observing Salaat; and that is Ar-Ribat, and that is Ar-Ribat.” (Muslim)

Imam Nawawi (rahimahullah) says:

“Hardship and unpleasantness here stand for the uneasiness that one feels while performing Wudhu’ in severe cold. To wait for the next Salaat after offering a Salaat is regarded as Ribat for the reason that by so doing, a person who is particular in offering Salaat keeps himself constantly engaged in the obedience and worship of Allah to keep Satan away from him.”

With these benefits in mind, let's make it our habit to constantly be in a state of Wudhu, Allah Willing. We should try and remember these ahaadeeth during even cold days to motivate us to keep up this Sunnah and with Allah is the greatest reward.

O Allah! Make us among those who constantly purify themselves, inwardly and outwardly. Aameen Thuma Aameen.

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Category: Wudhoo' (Ablution)

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One of the conditions of tahaarah (purification) being valid is that the water must touch the skin. If there is any barrier such as grease, paint, wax or glue that prevents water reaching the skin, then the tahaarah is not valid and prayers offered in that case are not valid.

The evidence for that is the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) to Abu Dharr (may Allaah be pleased with him): “If you find water, then let it touch your skin, for that is good.” [Narrated by Abu Dawood (332); classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood.]

Imam al-Shaafa’i (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

'If there is on him any mastic or anything thick that will prevent the water from reaching the skin, his washing of that part for wudoo’ is not valid, unless he removes it or removes enough so that he knows that there is no barrier to the water touching the skin.' [Al-Umm (1/44).]

Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

'If there is wax, dough, henna and the like on one of his limbs, which prevents water from reaching any part of it, then his tahaarah is not valid, whether the amount is large or small. If there are traces of henna and its colour left on the hand, without there being any solid material left, or elsewhere, or traces of liquid grease whereby water flows over the limb but does not stay there, his tahaarah is valid.' [Al-Majmoo’ (1/529).]

It says in Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah (5/218):

'If the colour is impermeable, then wudoo’ is not valid unless it is removed before doing wudoo’. If it is not impermeable, then wudoo’ is valid, as is the case with henna.'

And Allaah knows best.

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Category: Miswaak

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The Sister walks down the aisle and to her amazement, she sees the racks full of various items for oral hygiene, ranging from mouth- fresheners to teeth-whiteners…she smiles as she thinks back in time, when the Prophet [saws] said:, “Siwaak [1] is a way of purifying the mouth and satisfying the Lord”[2]. As women grapple to find a solution for their debilitating oral condition, she has learnt that the Siwaak [which is also referred to as Miswaak] not only contains an immediate antimicrobial effect on bacteria [3] but most importantly it is a means by which to satisfy her Lord, the Most High.

As she sits, vigorously using the Miswaak to clean her teeth [starting from the right side to the left [4]], many raise their eyebrows, conveying inaudible questions of both worry and dismay. She smiles towards them politely, and makes excuses for them; she wonders whether it’s because they don’t know what the Miswaak is or whether they think it’s only for brothers? If she gets a chance, she speaks to them with wisdom, although confidently continuing to use her Miswaak. By Allah it’s well worth it! Since her intention is to please the Lord of the heavens and the earth and tread the path of the Prophets.

Such was Allah’s Messenger’s love for the Miswaak that he said: “Had I not feared burdening my Ummah [followers], I would have commanded them to use Siwaak before every Salaat."[5] In this hadeeth we find the pertinent mention of Ummah [followers], which includes both brothers and sisters. Further, we see the love the Prophet [saws] had for the Miswaak, as well as his desire for his Ummah [followers] to use it with every wudhoo’ [ablution] before their prayers.

The Anbiyaa’ [Prophets] were people who Allah [az] chose from amongst mankind, endowing them with the best of manners and characteristics by which to propagate this deen [religion] and please their Lord - to whom they were sincere.  My dear Sister, let’s ask Allah to make us strong in following the way of the Prophets [may the Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon all of them] and to permeate in our hearts the strong conviction of adopting the usage of the Miswaak, since the Prophet [saws] said: “Miswaak is from among the practices of the Anbiyaa' [Prophets].”[6]

Indeed this life is short; let’s seek our Lord’s pleasure, even in things which may seem minute to us, yet on the scales are heavy. Let’s join the ranks of Sisters who, in the past as well as in the present, adopted this Sunnah of the Prophets - especially during the various recommended timings, such as: before the prayer, after eating, when awaking from sleep and before reciting the Qur’aan. Let our days and nights not pass without using the Miswaak, since even during the darkness of the night the Prophet [saws] was seen using the Miswaak. Ibn Abbas said:

“I stayed overnight in the house of my aunt Maymoonah. Allah's Apostle spoke with his wife for a while and then went to bed. When it was the last third of the night, he got up and looked towards the sky and said: "Verily! In the creation of the Heavens and the Earth and in the alteration of night and day, there are indeed signs for men of understanding."[7] Then he stood up, performed ablution, brushed his teeth with a Siwaak, and then prayed eleven Rakat [units of prayer].”[8]

In fact, when the last day of the Prophet [saws] came on this earth even during his last moments as he was preparing to meet his Lord, he used the Miswaak in a way that he had never used it as he did that day, Aishah [rah] said:

'Abdur-Rahman bin Abu Bakr entered upon the Prophet while I was supporting the Prophet on my chest. 'Abdur-Rahman had a fresh Siwaak then and he was cleaning his teeth with it. Allah's Apostle looked at it, so I took the Siwaak, cut it (chewed it with my teeth), shook it and made it soft (with water), and then gave it to the Prophet who cleaned his teeth with it. I had never seen Allah's Apostle cleaning his teeth in a better way. After finishing the brushing of his teeth, he lifted his hand or his finger and said thrice, "O Allah! Let me be with the highest companionship," and then died. 'Aisha used to say, "He died while his head was resting between my chest and chin."[9]

Let’s help our husbands also adopt the Miswaak, as did A’ishah [rah], the righteous and beloved wife of Rasoolullah [saws]. Let it be that when our last moments come in this world – as were the Prophet’s [saws] – we also prepare to meet our Lord with mouths that are fragrant due to the Miswaak. Ameen.

______________

[1] Siwaak, or what is also referred to as Miswaak, is a soft twig-like tooth-stick used for brushing the teeth and gums.

[2] Related by Imam Ahmad and others.

[3] A Clinical Study on the Miswaak: ‘The Immediate Antimicrobial Effect of a Toothbrush and Miswak on Cariogenic Bacteria’, which can be accessed here.

[4] It is Sunnah to start noble and good actions with the right. Aishah [rah] reports: “The Prophet always used his right hand for purification and eating, but he used his left hand in the toilet and to remove anything dirty.” (Related by Abu Dawood, while Al-Bukhari and Muslim relate a Hadith with similar meaning but in different wording).  She also said: “The Prophet loved to start with his right side in all matters: Ablution, walking and wearing his shoes.” (Related by Al-Bukhari, Muslim and others.)

[5] Reported by Maalik, Ahmad and an-Nasaa’i.

[6] Related by Ahmad (23470) and at-Tirmidhi (1081)

[7] Surah Aal Imraan [3]: 190

[8] Related by Al Bukhari: Volume 6, Book 60, Number 93

[9] Related by Al Bukhari: Volume 6, Book 60, Number 93

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Category: How to Perform Salah

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Do you ever think about what you do when you pray Sunnah prayers? I mean, after you just prayed Maghrib for an example, what is it you do? Or specifically, why is it that everyone in the Masjid always take a few steps to the side and prayer their Sunnah prayers (some might even switch places with others)?

"It is so that you make more sujud on different places on the earth" some of you might reply, yes that’s all fine and good but do you not have some clear evidence to justify why you insist on changing the place of prayer? If a person asked you what evidence do you have to support your action? What do you respond?

Well, the answer is quite simple (and yes it is actually from the Sunnah!) lets read Saheeh Muslim and check, shall we?

Mu'aawiyyah bin Abee Sufyaan said:

The Messenger of Allaah commanded us not to pray a Salah straight after another Salah unless we would [separate it with] talk or leave [our place].

And Imaam an-Nawawee explains this saying:

In this hadeeth there is evidence for what the scholars say [i.e.] that it is preferred to pray the optional prayers in another place than where one prayed their obligatory prayer. And the best place for that is the house, but any other place inside the masjid is still valid. [Taken from Saheeh Muslim The book of Jumu'ah p. 409-410]