A believer’s awareness that he is being tested leads him to look at events from the future. But what does “looking at events from the future” actually mean?
However great the troubles and difficulties confronting a person may be, the situation is definitely only temporary. Someone may be falsely accused of a crime and subjected to injustice, for example. Yet there will definitely come a time when the truth emerges. Even if the suffering of a person does not come to an end in this world, those responsible for that injustice will receive due retribution on the Day of Judgement. In the same way, the person who suffered injustice can hope for a splendid reward for his patience on that day. Time passes very quickly and, like everything else, this state of affairs will come to an end in the mere blink of an eye. In addition, the Qur’an reveals that hardship comes with ease for Muslims:
For truly with hardship comes ease; truly with hardship comes ease. (Surat Al-Inshirah, 5-6)
A believer trusts in our Lord’s infinite justice, expects the ease that will follow hardship, and never falls into despair in the face of any situation. He remembers that the difficulties he experiences will re-appear before him as delights in this world and in the next.
A Muslim knows that he is watching the destiny. One delightful aspect of this secret is that he watches everything in spirit of trusting Allah, submission and resignation.
We must not forget that this is a state of mind unique to true believers in God, one that only those who are completely submitted to destiny can fully experience. People who are heedless of religion, on the other hand, fall prey to despair, fear and stress because of their failure to submit to destiny, and imagine that there is no way out for them. Since they have no hopes or expectation for the Hereafter, they are always restless and troubled. The state of mind of such people is described as follows in another verse:
When Allah desires to guide someone, He expands his breast to Islam. When He desires to misguide someone, He makes his breast narrow and constricted as if he were climbing up into the sky. That is how Allah defiles those who do not believe. (Surat al-An‘am, 125)
This troubled state of mind described in the verse is a self-inflicted wound that stems from these people’s failure to submit to the destiny created by God. The fact that God, the Omniscient and Almighty, directs a person’s destiny and rules all things is a great blessing for a believer. However, people whose faith is weak or who have no faith at all are unable to comprehend the value of that blessing. They are therefore unable to resign themselves to destiny and are troubled at every moment of their lives. This condition is actually a spiritual reward for lack of trust in Allah imposed in the life of this world. These people merely wrong themselves.
Allah does not wrong people in any way; rather it is people who wrong themselves. (Surah Yunus, 44)
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Saturday, November 29, 2008
Friday, November 28, 2008
Hijaab is Beautiful
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Indeed, all praises are due to Allah, we praise Him, seek His Aid and beg for His Forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allah from the evil in our souls and from the bad consequences of our deeds. Whomever Allah guides, no one can lead that person astray and whomever Allah leads astray no one can guide that person. I bear witness that there is nothing worthy of worship except Allah Who is alone and without any partners and I bear witness that Muhammad ibn 'Abd Allah is His slave and final Prophet and Messenger sent to mankind (SAAWS). To proceed:
Certainly the most perfect speech is the Speech of Allah and the finest guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (SAAWS). The worst of affairs are those that are innovated into this religion as every innovation is misguidance and every misguidance is astray and every going astray leads to the Hell Fire. Again, to proceed:
It often occurs to me that many of my sisters in Islam are not properly encouraged once they begin to observe the requirements of Hijaab. It may be that a sister has been obliged to wear the Hijaab without truly pondering over its superiority. Perhaps she has reached the age of puberty and her Wali (guardian) has instructed her to wear it. Perhaps she has recently re-verted to Islam and her close sisters have told her of its obligation. Or, perhaps her husband has commanded her to wear Hijaab. A sister who does not truly know the superiority of Hijaab will always remain envious of the women of the Kuffaar. Why? Because they see these misguided women looking beautiful for all to see. Hence, the Muslim woman then compares herself to that woman which causes her to feel ashamed of her own Hijaab.
Therefore, what follows is a reminder for my sisters in Islam. It is a reminder of the true status of these so-called beautiful women. It is a reminder that Hijaab will always reign supreme and that the true man (i.e. the Muslim man), will forever be dazzled by the beauty of the Muhijaabah (woman who wears the Hijaab).
SOME EXCELLENT QUALITIES OF THOSE WHO WEAR HIJAAB
Al-Hamdulilah, it is well known that the Muslim woman is a creature of Hayaa (modesty). Allah loves for our Muslim women to be shielded by their Hijaab. It is their outer protection from the decadence of this life. Allah's Messenger (SAAWS) has said (what means):
"Verily! Allah is Hayaa (modest, bashful) & Sitteer (i.e. the One Who Shields - from disobedient acts). He loves Hayaa (i.e. He loves for one to practice modesty and bashfulness) and Siter (shielding; covering)." [Collected by Abu Dawud; An-Nissa'ee; Al-Baihaqee; Ahmad; & in Saheeh An-Nissa'ee].
Thus, as possessing Hayaa is a quality that is beloved by Allah, Ta ' Ala , our sisters must feel comfort in knowing that they have this Hayaa and not the women who show themselves to the world; hence, such women will not be shielded from Allah's Wrath. Allah's Messenger (SAAWS) said (what means):
"Any woman who takes off her clothes in other than her husband's home (to show off for unlawful purposes), has broken Allah's shield upon her." [Collected by Abu Dawud & At-Tirmidhi].
Therefore, we see that the Hijaab of the Muslim woman has a quality that comprises Hayaa (modesty). Hayaa is what proceeds from Imaan (belief). That is why when Allah commands the women to observe Hijaab, He, Ta ' Ala , says (what means):
"And say (O Muhammad SAAW) to the believing women..." [Surah An-Nur: 31].
Also (what means):
"...And the believing women..." [Surah Al-Ahzab: 59].
Furthermore, Allah's Messenger (SAAWS) said (what means):
"Al-Hayaa (modesty & bashfulness) is from Imaan (belief) and Imaan is in Al-Jannah (the Paradise )." [At-Tirmidhi - Saheeh].
Also (what means):
"Hayaa (modesty and bashfulness) and Imaan (belief) are fully associated together, if one is lifted the other follows suit." [Narrated by 'Abd Allah bin 'Umar; related by Al-Haakim in his " Mustadrak"].
My dear sisters in Islam, know that these women who beautify themselves for the world to see possess no Hayaa; thus, they are void of any Imaan. Instead of looking to the latest fashion models for guidance, you, my dear sisters, must look to the wives of the Prophet (SAAWS). Look at the extreme amount of Hayaa that our mother, Umm Al-Mu'mineen, 'Aaisha bint Abi Bakr (RAA) possessed even in the presence of the deceased:
'Aaisha (RAA) said: "I used to enter the room where the Messenger of Allah (SAAWS) and my father (Abu Bakr) were later buried in without having my garment on me, saying it is only my husband and my father. But when 'Umar ibn Al-Khattab (RAA) was later buried in (the same place), I did not enter the room except that I had my garment on being shy from 'Umar." [ As-Simt Ath'ameen Fee Maniqib Ummahat Ul-Mu'mineen by Ibn As-Sakir. Al-Haakim brings a similar narration which he says is "good according the conditions of Imaam Bukhari and Imaam Muslim"].
My dear sister in Islam, I know that it is quite difficult for you to go out wearing Hijaab in a society that mocks and torments you. I know that you, indeed, feel strange and out of place. However, if you knew the status of those who are mocked by the Kuffaar as well as the status of the strangers, you will continue to wear your Hijaab (i.e. to cover your entire body with a Khimaar as commanded [24:31], as well as with a Jilbaab [33:59], with the exception of the hands and face; however, knowing the recommendation to cover those parts as well) with dignity. Allah, Ta ' Ala , says in His Book (what means):
"Verily! (During the worldly life) those who committed crimes used to laugh at those who believed. And whenever they passed by them, used to wink one to another (in mockery); And when they returned to their own people, they would return jesting; and when they saw them, they said: 'Verily! These have indeed gone astray!' But they (disbelievers, sinners) had not been sent as watchers over them (the believers). But on this Day (the Day of Resurrection) those who believe will laugh at the disbelievers. On (high) thrones, looking (at all things). Are not the disbelievers paid (fully) for what they used to do?" [Surah Al-Mutaffifin: 29-36].
Allah's Words should serve as a support for you my dear sisters. Also, take comfort in being a stranger among these lewd and sinful women. Allah's Messenger (SAAWS) said (what means):
"Islam began as something strange, and it would revert to its (old position) of being strange, so good tidings for the strangers." [Narrated by Abu Huraira; Sahih Muslim].
AS-SUFOOR AND ITS CHARACTERISTICS
As-Sufoor means to expose or to un-cover. Therefore, instead of practicing the Hijaab (covering), the women of the Kuffaar practice As-Sufoor. As-Sufoor is sinful as it leads to At-Tabarooj (i.e. to make a dazzling display of oneself). Displaying oneself is a attribute of one who is Jaheel (ignorant). Allah says in His Book (what means):
"And stay in your houses and do not make At-Tabarooj (i.e. display yourselves) like you made At-Tabarooj in the times of ignorance." [Surah Al-Ahzab: 33].
Allah's Messenger (SAAWS) said (what means):
"The best of your women is the affectionate, the fertile (in productivity), the propitious (favorable), the consultative if they fear Allah. The most evil of your women are the Mutabar'rijat (those who do At-Tabarooj), the Mutakhayelat (who strut/swagger), and they are the hypocrites. Those who enter Al-Jannah (the Paradise ) are like the Cough Crow." [Al-Baihaqi in his "As-Sunan"].
My dear sisters in Islam, we see from the above Ayah and Hadeeth that displaying oneself is indeed Haraam. Further, it is a quality of the most evil of women! Therefore, do not be envious of the women of the Kuffaar. They only have this life to enjoy while the believing women will have Al-Jannah. There is nothing in your Hijaab whatsoever to be ashamed of as it is the garment of the righteous and pious female slaves of Allah. In order to truly show you how evil those women who make As-Sufoor and At-Tabarooj are, let us ponder over the following statement of Allah's Messenger (SAAWS), what means:
"Of the people of Hell there are two types whom I have never seen, the one possessing whips like the tail of an Ox and they flog people with them. The second one, women who would be naked in spite of their being dressed, who are seduced (to wrong paths) and seduce others. Their hair is high like the humps (of camels). These women would not get into Al-Jannah (the Paradise ) and they would not perceive its odor, although its fragrance can be perceived from such and such a distance." [Sahih Muslim].
Sisters in Islam, these women who practice At-Tabarooj are common among us today. These are women that even the Prophet (SAAWS) did not see! Look around you and you will see those women who are clothed but naked! Look at the hair styles of the women who practice At-Tabarooj - are they not high like the camel's hump? My dear sister, perhaps we are the first generation since the time of the Prophet Aadam (AS) to witness such women. If one ponders over photos taken thirty to forty years ago, one will see that the women of the Kuffaar did not make At-Tabarooj as their offspring do today. These are women who will be in the Hell Fire, save Allah has mercy upon them by guiding them to Islam! Thus, how can you envy them? My brothers, how can you desire them over your creature of Hayaa? These filthy women will not even smell the fragrance of Paradise . This Hadeeth also shows us that what the Prophet (SAAWS) came with (i.e. the Qur'an and his Sunnah) is the Haqq (truth)! This is a prophecy that has come to pass in front of our very eyes. Hence, will we continue to envy these evil women or be grateful to our Lord for your Hijaab which brings Hayaa?
Whatever I have written that is true is from Allah alone while anything that is false is from myself and shaytan. Subhanaka Allahummah wa bihamdika, ash hadu an la illaha illa anta, astaghfiruka wa atuboo ilayk.
Abu 'Abdul Fattaah Salaah bin Bernard Brooks
Pittsburgh , PA
Indeed, all praises are due to Allah, we praise Him, seek His Aid and beg for His Forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allah from the evil in our souls and from the bad consequences of our deeds. Whomever Allah guides, no one can lead that person astray and whomever Allah leads astray no one can guide that person. I bear witness that there is nothing worthy of worship except Allah Who is alone and without any partners and I bear witness that Muhammad ibn 'Abd Allah is His slave and final Prophet and Messenger sent to mankind (SAAWS). To proceed:
Certainly the most perfect speech is the Speech of Allah and the finest guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (SAAWS). The worst of affairs are those that are innovated into this religion as every innovation is misguidance and every misguidance is astray and every going astray leads to the Hell Fire. Again, to proceed:
It often occurs to me that many of my sisters in Islam are not properly encouraged once they begin to observe the requirements of Hijaab. It may be that a sister has been obliged to wear the Hijaab without truly pondering over its superiority. Perhaps she has reached the age of puberty and her Wali (guardian) has instructed her to wear it. Perhaps she has recently re-verted to Islam and her close sisters have told her of its obligation. Or, perhaps her husband has commanded her to wear Hijaab. A sister who does not truly know the superiority of Hijaab will always remain envious of the women of the Kuffaar. Why? Because they see these misguided women looking beautiful for all to see. Hence, the Muslim woman then compares herself to that woman which causes her to feel ashamed of her own Hijaab.
Therefore, what follows is a reminder for my sisters in Islam. It is a reminder of the true status of these so-called beautiful women. It is a reminder that Hijaab will always reign supreme and that the true man (i.e. the Muslim man), will forever be dazzled by the beauty of the Muhijaabah (woman who wears the Hijaab).
SOME EXCELLENT QUALITIES OF THOSE WHO WEAR HIJAAB
Al-Hamdulilah, it is well known that the Muslim woman is a creature of Hayaa (modesty). Allah loves for our Muslim women to be shielded by their Hijaab. It is their outer protection from the decadence of this life. Allah's Messenger (SAAWS) has said (what means):
"Verily! Allah is Hayaa (modest, bashful) & Sitteer (i.e. the One Who Shields - from disobedient acts). He loves Hayaa (i.e. He loves for one to practice modesty and bashfulness) and Siter (shielding; covering)." [Collected by Abu Dawud; An-Nissa'ee; Al-Baihaqee; Ahmad; & in Saheeh An-Nissa'ee].
Thus, as possessing Hayaa is a quality that is beloved by Allah, Ta ' Ala , our sisters must feel comfort in knowing that they have this Hayaa and not the women who show themselves to the world; hence, such women will not be shielded from Allah's Wrath. Allah's Messenger (SAAWS) said (what means):
"Any woman who takes off her clothes in other than her husband's home (to show off for unlawful purposes), has broken Allah's shield upon her." [Collected by Abu Dawud & At-Tirmidhi].
Therefore, we see that the Hijaab of the Muslim woman has a quality that comprises Hayaa (modesty). Hayaa is what proceeds from Imaan (belief). That is why when Allah commands the women to observe Hijaab, He, Ta ' Ala , says (what means):
"And say (O Muhammad SAAW) to the believing women..." [Surah An-Nur: 31].
Also (what means):
"...And the believing women..." [Surah Al-Ahzab: 59].
Furthermore, Allah's Messenger (SAAWS) said (what means):
"Al-Hayaa (modesty & bashfulness) is from Imaan (belief) and Imaan is in Al-Jannah (the Paradise )." [At-Tirmidhi - Saheeh].
Also (what means):
"Hayaa (modesty and bashfulness) and Imaan (belief) are fully associated together, if one is lifted the other follows suit." [Narrated by 'Abd Allah bin 'Umar; related by Al-Haakim in his " Mustadrak"].
My dear sisters in Islam, know that these women who beautify themselves for the world to see possess no Hayaa; thus, they are void of any Imaan. Instead of looking to the latest fashion models for guidance, you, my dear sisters, must look to the wives of the Prophet (SAAWS). Look at the extreme amount of Hayaa that our mother, Umm Al-Mu'mineen, 'Aaisha bint Abi Bakr (RAA) possessed even in the presence of the deceased:
'Aaisha (RAA) said: "I used to enter the room where the Messenger of Allah (SAAWS) and my father (Abu Bakr) were later buried in without having my garment on me, saying it is only my husband and my father. But when 'Umar ibn Al-Khattab (RAA) was later buried in (the same place), I did not enter the room except that I had my garment on being shy from 'Umar." [ As-Simt Ath'ameen Fee Maniqib Ummahat Ul-Mu'mineen by Ibn As-Sakir. Al-Haakim brings a similar narration which he says is "good according the conditions of Imaam Bukhari and Imaam Muslim"].
My dear sister in Islam, I know that it is quite difficult for you to go out wearing Hijaab in a society that mocks and torments you. I know that you, indeed, feel strange and out of place. However, if you knew the status of those who are mocked by the Kuffaar as well as the status of the strangers, you will continue to wear your Hijaab (i.e. to cover your entire body with a Khimaar as commanded [24:31], as well as with a Jilbaab [33:59], with the exception of the hands and face; however, knowing the recommendation to cover those parts as well) with dignity. Allah, Ta ' Ala , says in His Book (what means):
"Verily! (During the worldly life) those who committed crimes used to laugh at those who believed. And whenever they passed by them, used to wink one to another (in mockery); And when they returned to their own people, they would return jesting; and when they saw them, they said: 'Verily! These have indeed gone astray!' But they (disbelievers, sinners) had not been sent as watchers over them (the believers). But on this Day (the Day of Resurrection) those who believe will laugh at the disbelievers. On (high) thrones, looking (at all things). Are not the disbelievers paid (fully) for what they used to do?" [Surah Al-Mutaffifin: 29-36].
Allah's Words should serve as a support for you my dear sisters. Also, take comfort in being a stranger among these lewd and sinful women. Allah's Messenger (SAAWS) said (what means):
"Islam began as something strange, and it would revert to its (old position) of being strange, so good tidings for the strangers." [Narrated by Abu Huraira; Sahih Muslim].
AS-SUFOOR AND ITS CHARACTERISTICS
As-Sufoor means to expose or to un-cover. Therefore, instead of practicing the Hijaab (covering), the women of the Kuffaar practice As-Sufoor. As-Sufoor is sinful as it leads to At-Tabarooj (i.e. to make a dazzling display of oneself). Displaying oneself is a attribute of one who is Jaheel (ignorant). Allah says in His Book (what means):
"And stay in your houses and do not make At-Tabarooj (i.e. display yourselves) like you made At-Tabarooj in the times of ignorance." [Surah Al-Ahzab: 33].
Allah's Messenger (SAAWS) said (what means):
"The best of your women is the affectionate, the fertile (in productivity), the propitious (favorable), the consultative if they fear Allah. The most evil of your women are the Mutabar'rijat (those who do At-Tabarooj), the Mutakhayelat (who strut/swagger), and they are the hypocrites. Those who enter Al-Jannah (the Paradise ) are like the Cough Crow." [Al-Baihaqi in his "As-Sunan"].
My dear sisters in Islam, we see from the above Ayah and Hadeeth that displaying oneself is indeed Haraam. Further, it is a quality of the most evil of women! Therefore, do not be envious of the women of the Kuffaar. They only have this life to enjoy while the believing women will have Al-Jannah. There is nothing in your Hijaab whatsoever to be ashamed of as it is the garment of the righteous and pious female slaves of Allah. In order to truly show you how evil those women who make As-Sufoor and At-Tabarooj are, let us ponder over the following statement of Allah's Messenger (SAAWS), what means:
"Of the people of Hell there are two types whom I have never seen, the one possessing whips like the tail of an Ox and they flog people with them. The second one, women who would be naked in spite of their being dressed, who are seduced (to wrong paths) and seduce others. Their hair is high like the humps (of camels). These women would not get into Al-Jannah (the Paradise ) and they would not perceive its odor, although its fragrance can be perceived from such and such a distance." [Sahih Muslim].
Sisters in Islam, these women who practice At-Tabarooj are common among us today. These are women that even the Prophet (SAAWS) did not see! Look around you and you will see those women who are clothed but naked! Look at the hair styles of the women who practice At-Tabarooj - are they not high like the camel's hump? My dear sister, perhaps we are the first generation since the time of the Prophet Aadam (AS) to witness such women. If one ponders over photos taken thirty to forty years ago, one will see that the women of the Kuffaar did not make At-Tabarooj as their offspring do today. These are women who will be in the Hell Fire, save Allah has mercy upon them by guiding them to Islam! Thus, how can you envy them? My brothers, how can you desire them over your creature of Hayaa? These filthy women will not even smell the fragrance of Paradise . This Hadeeth also shows us that what the Prophet (SAAWS) came with (i.e. the Qur'an and his Sunnah) is the Haqq (truth)! This is a prophecy that has come to pass in front of our very eyes. Hence, will we continue to envy these evil women or be grateful to our Lord for your Hijaab which brings Hayaa?
Whatever I have written that is true is from Allah alone while anything that is false is from myself and shaytan. Subhanaka Allahummah wa bihamdika, ash hadu an la illaha illa anta, astaghfiruka wa atuboo ilayk.
Abu 'Abdul Fattaah Salaah bin Bernard Brooks
Pittsburgh , PA
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Family Planning
The Qur'an does not prohibit birth control. The authority to forbid anything belongs only to Allah (SWT). No one can declare anything forbidden without clear evidence from the Qur'an or the Sunnah. Therefore, anyone who claims that birth control is forbidden must produce his evidence.
"Do not kill your children in fear of poverty. It is Us who feed you and the child as well." (Al-An`aam 6: 151)
We know that Allah provides sustenance for everyone of His creation. It is up to the breadwinner of the family to make use of the opportunities that Allah provides for him.
"And do not kill your children for fear of poverty: We give them sustenance and yourselves (too): surely to kill them is a great wrong." (17:31)
Muslim scholars have generally based their opinion of the prohibition of birth control on these verses. However, these verses are not related to birth control or planning a family.
A close look at these verses shall show that they refer to the prohibition of killing one's child due to the fear of poverty. Planning a family or planning the birth of a child can, by no means, be termed as "killing a child". Therefore, the directive of these verses cannot and should not be extended to the prohibition of birth control or planning a family.1
Maududi in his book "Birth control" argued against birth control being "the" policy of a state; but he said that birth control at the individual or family level is acceptable.
Birth control is permissible according to Islam. The sexual act is more than just a means of procreation and even there is a Sawab for this act when performed between married couples.
Various birth control techniques have been known since the dawn of time. Methods of contraception which are safe and do not affect the health of the mother are permissible.
During the time of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW), the most commonly practiced method of birth control was 'azl or the withdrawal method. ‘Azl is technically called coitus interruptus. According to the ulama (scholars), withdrawal is permissible but generally thought to be makruh (reprehensible), since it deprives the woman of her right to be able to have sexual satisfaction and to bear children if she so desires, so therefore the conclusion reached by most scholars is that withdrawal should not be practiced unless the woman agrees to it, in other words by mutual consultation. If repeated pregnancies have weakened the woman's body or becoming pregnant would threaten her life, such birth control may be construed as a necessity, and not makruh.
Some of Prophet's (pbuh) companions resorted to coitus interruptus, which was the only method of family planning known to them, and the Prophet was aware of what they did. He did not instruct them to stop, nor did he tell them that what they did was forbidden.
Contraception & sterilization 2
The institution of marriage and the want to have children was the custom of the best of creation, viz., the prophets and messengers chosen by Allah. Allah says about them:
"And indeed We sent messengers before you and made for them wives and offspring" (al-Raad 38)
Islam has forbidden celibacy, monasticism and castration for such purposes. The Prophet (saw) made this clear when he told those companions who were considering acetic forms of life: "I pray and I sleep; I fast and I break my fast; and I marry women. Whoever turns away from my way of life is not from me."
Birth Control: Through sterilization 3
Sterilization, which involves a surgical operation, is a special case. Unlike other methods of contraception it is permanent. Therefore it has to be viewed separately. Preventing pregnancy by surgery is known as sterilization, which can be performed for either the husband or the wife. It is perhaps more accurate to say that we cannot make a general, sweeping statement in order to say that such an operation is either forbidden or permissible. Any surgery may be considered, from the strictly religious point of view, as required, recommended, discouraged or forbidden, according to the different circumstances of its person. In the case of sterilization, what we have to look for is the effect of pregnancy on the health of the mother. If a competent doctor determines that every pregnancy is likely to pose a real threat to the life of the mother or to cause serious threats to her health and that other methods of contraception may also have a bad effect on her health, then the woman may have such an operation without any qualm of conscience. It is permissible in her case. On the other hand, for a woman who asks her doctor to perform such an operation for cosmetic purposes such as to maintain her figure or other ulterior motives, then such an operation is forbidden.
Needless to say, proper spacing between pregnancies is perfectly acceptable from the Islamic point of view, as long as it is done through legitimate means. When sterilization of either man or woman is done for compelling health reasons or to protect a person's life, then it is acceptable.
Modern scholar Shaykh Ahmad al-Sharabassi of Egypt has pronounced the following as genuine reasons for practicing contraception:
So that the woman may rest between pregnancies.
If either partner has a transmittable disease.
For the sake of the woman's health. For example if she is already breast-feeding a child it would be damaging for both her and the child to have another pregnancy.
If the husband cannot afford to support any more children.
THE CONTRACEPTIVE METHODS 4,5, 6, 7
The contraceptive methods during our time work in different ways. For the medical opinion about the reliability or any side effects of these methods, the reader must consult his or her physician.
1. Oral Contraceptives:
Birth control pills prevent conception by inhibiting ovulation. The pills alter hormonal levels and suppress the hormonal signal from the gland for the ovaries to release an ovum. These pills are taken orally on a precise schedule for 20 or more days during each menstrual cycle. Since all such pills inhibit ovulation, there is absolutely no problem in using them. However, the individual must consult the physician about possible side effects.
There are some pills, which work after the intercourse has taken place, for example, the 'morning-after pill' or the recently developed RU486 pill. Since in our definition, pregnancy begins at implantation, use of any pill, which may prevent implantation, is all right. Therefore, the pills like the 'morning-after' and RU486 may be taken after the intercourse BUT not after feeling or knowing that pregnancy has already occurred.
2. Depo-Provera:
Depo-Provera works exactly like the pills, but instead of taking it orally it is injected once every three months. This and other similar contraceptive methods by injection are also permissible.
3. Intrauterine Devices (IUD):
IUDs are plastic or metal objects, in a variety of shapes that are implanted inside the uterus. The medical experts do not exactly know how IUD works. Presently there are two opinions: one says that IUD prevents fertilization; and the other says that it prevents the fertilized ovum from implantation onto the uterus. According to the shari’ah pregnancy begins at implantation, there is no problem in using IUD as a birth control device irrespective of the above differences among the medical experts.
4. Barrier Devices:
All barrier devices prevent the sperm from entering the uterus. This is done by sheathing the penis with a condom, or by covering the cervix with a diaphragm, cervical cap, or vaginal sponge. The use of spermicidal substances, which kill the sperm before reaching the ovum, is also a barrier device. There is absolutely no problem in using these contraceptives either.
5. Abstinence During Fertile Period:
There are three basic procedures to predict ovulation so that sexual intercourse can be avoided during the approximately six days of a woman's most fertile monthly phase. These three methods are as follows:
(a) Ovulation Method: A woman learns to recognize the fertile time by checking the difference in the constitution of the cervical mucus discharge. The cervical mucus discharge signals the highly fertile period; and thus avoiding sex during the fertile days prevents pregnancy.
(b) Rhythm Method: A method similar to the first, but it depends on observing the monthly cycles for a whole year to determine the fertile days.
(c) Temperature: In this method, besides keeping a calendar record of her cycle, a woman also takes her temperature daily to detect ovulation. She can know her ovulation whenever her basal body temperature increases.
6. Withdrawal (Coitus Interruptus):
Coitus interruptus means withdrawing the penis just before ejaculation. This was the most common method of birth control before the invention of modern devices.
The majority of our mujtahids believe that coitus interruptus is allowed but makruh without the wife's consent. (Sharh Lum'a, vol. 2, p. 28; al-'Urwah, p. 628; Minhaj, vol. 2, p. 267)
All methods mentioned above do not involve surgical operation and they are also reversible. A woman (or man) using these methods can stop using them at anytime in order to have a child.
7. Sterilization:
Sterilization involves surgical operation.
Sterilization in men, known as vasectomy, means the severing or blocking of the tube in the male reproductive tract. This tube or duct passes sperm from the testes to the prostate and other reproductive organs.
Sterilization in women, known as tubal ligation, involves the blocking or severing of the fallopian tubes, which transport the ovum.
The permissibility of sterilization depends on whether or not it is reversible. At present, the rate of reversibility (40%) is not good enough to make sterilization permissible. Greater success may be achieved with improved micro surgical techniques. And until we achieve at least 80 percent reversibility, it is difficult to permit sterilization.
Abortion 4
Islam's approach to the issue of birth control and abortion is very balanced. It allows women to prevent pregnancy but forbids them to terminate it. Abortion after the implantation of the fertilized ovum in the womb is absolutely forbidden and is considered a crime against the law of God, and the fetus.
In case of rape the woman should use the morning after pill or RU486 immediately after the sexual assault in order to prevent the possible implantation of a fertilized ovum
Modern technology (like ultra sound scan) has made it possible to know whether or not a child has a defect long before he is born. Some people justify the abortion of a defective fetus.
The shari'ah allows abortion only when doctors declare with reasonable certainty that the continuation of pregnancy will endanger the woman's life. This permission is based on the principle of the lesser of the two evils known in Islamic legal terminology as the principle of al-ahamm wa 'l-muhimm (the more important and the less important). The Prophet said, "When two forbidden things come [upon a person] together, then the lesser will be sacrificed for the greater." In the present case, one is faced with two forbidden things: either abort the unborn child or let a living woman die. Obviously, the latter is greater than the former; therefore, abortion is allowed to save the live person. 4
Permissibility of Abortion 8
"And do not kill your children for fear of poverty: We give them sustenance and yourselves (too): surely to kill them is a great wrong." (17:31)
The abortion of a fetus from the mother's womb is a different issue, since the sperm and egg have already met and fertilized what could become a human being. The scholars all agree that abortion is forbidden after the first four months of pregnancy, since by that time the soul has entered the embryo but it would allow the use of RU486 (the "morning-after pill"), as long as it could be reasonably assumed that the fertilized egg has not become implanted on the wall of the uterus. Most scholars say that abortion is legal under Islamic shari’ah (law), when done for valid reasons and when completed before the soul enters the embryo. To abort a baby for such vain reasons as wanting to keep a woman’s youthful figure, are not valid.
"...And do not slay your children for (fear of) poverty -- We provide for you and for them --- and do not draw nigh to indecencies, those of them which are apparent and those which are concealed, and do not kill the soul which Allah has forbidden except for the requirements of justice: this He has enjoined you with that you may understand." (6:151)
While planning to raise a family, a man and a woman should consider all the variables in their lives that may affect the life of the mother, the child as well as that of the father.
If a person should - and must - plan sensibly for things like quality of life, then it is more than obvious that planning a child - giving life to another human being - deserves much more attention and consideration on our part. Moreover, it is not just the child, but also the mother whose health and other related conditions should be considered.
Qur’anic verses misinterpreted 9
There are, however, some Qur'anic verses which prohibit infanticide and these are used by some Muslims to discourage birth control.
"And do not kill your children for fear of poverty: We give them sustenance and yourselves (too): surely to kill them is a great wrong." (17:31)
But contraception does not amount to killing a human being. These verses in fact were revealed to forbid the pre-Islamic Arab practice of killing or burying alive a newborn child (particularly a girl) on account of the parents' poverty or to refrain from having a female child. Perhaps in those days, people did not know safe methods of contraception and early abortion.
Embryonic development was central to the Muslim arguments on abortion. According to Muslim scholars, it is lawful to have an abortion during the first 120 days, but after the stage of ensoulment (after the soul enters into the fetus), abortion is prohibited completely except where it is imperative to save the mother's life. After ensoulment, however, abortion is prohibited absolutely and is akin to murder.
The Hanafi scholars, who comprised the majority of orthodox Muslims in later centuries, permitted abortion until the end of the four months. According to them, a pregnant woman could have an abortion without her husband's permission, but she should have reasonable grounds for this act. One reason, which was mentioned frequently, was the presence of a nursing infant. A new pregnancy put an upper limit on lactation, and the jurists believed that if the mother could not be replaced by a wet-nurse, the infant would die.
Conclusion
Family planning, understood by Islam, is not opposed to marriage or to the begetting of children, nor does it's concept imply disbelief in the doctrine of fate and Divine dispensation--for Allah Almighty has bestowed reason upon man to enable him to distinguish between the useful and the harmful, and to help him follow the path that would assure him happiness in this world as well as in the world to come.
REFERENCES:
1. Birth Control on line at WWW.ISLAMICINSTITUTE.ORG
2. Birth control: Contraception & sterilization. On line at www.muslimindia.com
3. Family Planning in Islam by Alyssa http://www.unh.edu/msa/familyp.htm
4. Marriage and Morals in Islam. Chapter 4: contraceptives and Abortion. Sayyid Muhammad Rizvi, Pub. By Islamic Education and Information Center, Scarborough, Ont. Canada.
5."Contemporary Jurisprudence Research Journal," 15th Ed., 4th yr., Oct. & Nov. & Dec. 1992, pp. 57-59,
6. "Biomedical Issues Islamic Perspective," Abul Fadl Mohsin Ebrahim,
7. "The New Birth Control Book," by Howard I. Shapiro, M.D.,
8. www.understanding-Islam.com 1st March 1999
9.Family Planning and Islam: A Review by Khalid Farooq Akbar Hamdard Islamicus Vol. 17, No. 3, 1974
"Do not kill your children in fear of poverty. It is Us who feed you and the child as well." (Al-An`aam 6: 151)
We know that Allah provides sustenance for everyone of His creation. It is up to the breadwinner of the family to make use of the opportunities that Allah provides for him.
"And do not kill your children for fear of poverty: We give them sustenance and yourselves (too): surely to kill them is a great wrong." (17:31)
Muslim scholars have generally based their opinion of the prohibition of birth control on these verses. However, these verses are not related to birth control or planning a family.
A close look at these verses shall show that they refer to the prohibition of killing one's child due to the fear of poverty. Planning a family or planning the birth of a child can, by no means, be termed as "killing a child". Therefore, the directive of these verses cannot and should not be extended to the prohibition of birth control or planning a family.1
Maududi in his book "Birth control" argued against birth control being "the" policy of a state; but he said that birth control at the individual or family level is acceptable.
Birth control is permissible according to Islam. The sexual act is more than just a means of procreation and even there is a Sawab for this act when performed between married couples.
Various birth control techniques have been known since the dawn of time. Methods of contraception which are safe and do not affect the health of the mother are permissible.
During the time of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW), the most commonly practiced method of birth control was 'azl or the withdrawal method. ‘Azl is technically called coitus interruptus. According to the ulama (scholars), withdrawal is permissible but generally thought to be makruh (reprehensible), since it deprives the woman of her right to be able to have sexual satisfaction and to bear children if she so desires, so therefore the conclusion reached by most scholars is that withdrawal should not be practiced unless the woman agrees to it, in other words by mutual consultation. If repeated pregnancies have weakened the woman's body or becoming pregnant would threaten her life, such birth control may be construed as a necessity, and not makruh.
Some of Prophet's (pbuh) companions resorted to coitus interruptus, which was the only method of family planning known to them, and the Prophet was aware of what they did. He did not instruct them to stop, nor did he tell them that what they did was forbidden.
Contraception & sterilization 2
The institution of marriage and the want to have children was the custom of the best of creation, viz., the prophets and messengers chosen by Allah. Allah says about them:
"And indeed We sent messengers before you and made for them wives and offspring" (al-Raad 38)
Islam has forbidden celibacy, monasticism and castration for such purposes. The Prophet (saw) made this clear when he told those companions who were considering acetic forms of life: "I pray and I sleep; I fast and I break my fast; and I marry women. Whoever turns away from my way of life is not from me."
Birth Control: Through sterilization 3
Sterilization, which involves a surgical operation, is a special case. Unlike other methods of contraception it is permanent. Therefore it has to be viewed separately. Preventing pregnancy by surgery is known as sterilization, which can be performed for either the husband or the wife. It is perhaps more accurate to say that we cannot make a general, sweeping statement in order to say that such an operation is either forbidden or permissible. Any surgery may be considered, from the strictly religious point of view, as required, recommended, discouraged or forbidden, according to the different circumstances of its person. In the case of sterilization, what we have to look for is the effect of pregnancy on the health of the mother. If a competent doctor determines that every pregnancy is likely to pose a real threat to the life of the mother or to cause serious threats to her health and that other methods of contraception may also have a bad effect on her health, then the woman may have such an operation without any qualm of conscience. It is permissible in her case. On the other hand, for a woman who asks her doctor to perform such an operation for cosmetic purposes such as to maintain her figure or other ulterior motives, then such an operation is forbidden.
Needless to say, proper spacing between pregnancies is perfectly acceptable from the Islamic point of view, as long as it is done through legitimate means. When sterilization of either man or woman is done for compelling health reasons or to protect a person's life, then it is acceptable.
Modern scholar Shaykh Ahmad al-Sharabassi of Egypt has pronounced the following as genuine reasons for practicing contraception:
So that the woman may rest between pregnancies.
If either partner has a transmittable disease.
For the sake of the woman's health. For example if she is already breast-feeding a child it would be damaging for both her and the child to have another pregnancy.
If the husband cannot afford to support any more children.
THE CONTRACEPTIVE METHODS 4,5, 6, 7
The contraceptive methods during our time work in different ways. For the medical opinion about the reliability or any side effects of these methods, the reader must consult his or her physician.
1. Oral Contraceptives:
Birth control pills prevent conception by inhibiting ovulation. The pills alter hormonal levels and suppress the hormonal signal from the gland for the ovaries to release an ovum. These pills are taken orally on a precise schedule for 20 or more days during each menstrual cycle. Since all such pills inhibit ovulation, there is absolutely no problem in using them. However, the individual must consult the physician about possible side effects.
There are some pills, which work after the intercourse has taken place, for example, the 'morning-after pill' or the recently developed RU486 pill. Since in our definition, pregnancy begins at implantation, use of any pill, which may prevent implantation, is all right. Therefore, the pills like the 'morning-after' and RU486 may be taken after the intercourse BUT not after feeling or knowing that pregnancy has already occurred.
2. Depo-Provera:
Depo-Provera works exactly like the pills, but instead of taking it orally it is injected once every three months. This and other similar contraceptive methods by injection are also permissible.
3. Intrauterine Devices (IUD):
IUDs are plastic or metal objects, in a variety of shapes that are implanted inside the uterus. The medical experts do not exactly know how IUD works. Presently there are two opinions: one says that IUD prevents fertilization; and the other says that it prevents the fertilized ovum from implantation onto the uterus. According to the shari’ah pregnancy begins at implantation, there is no problem in using IUD as a birth control device irrespective of the above differences among the medical experts.
4. Barrier Devices:
All barrier devices prevent the sperm from entering the uterus. This is done by sheathing the penis with a condom, or by covering the cervix with a diaphragm, cervical cap, or vaginal sponge. The use of spermicidal substances, which kill the sperm before reaching the ovum, is also a barrier device. There is absolutely no problem in using these contraceptives either.
5. Abstinence During Fertile Period:
There are three basic procedures to predict ovulation so that sexual intercourse can be avoided during the approximately six days of a woman's most fertile monthly phase. These three methods are as follows:
(a) Ovulation Method: A woman learns to recognize the fertile time by checking the difference in the constitution of the cervical mucus discharge. The cervical mucus discharge signals the highly fertile period; and thus avoiding sex during the fertile days prevents pregnancy.
(b) Rhythm Method: A method similar to the first, but it depends on observing the monthly cycles for a whole year to determine the fertile days.
(c) Temperature: In this method, besides keeping a calendar record of her cycle, a woman also takes her temperature daily to detect ovulation. She can know her ovulation whenever her basal body temperature increases.
6. Withdrawal (Coitus Interruptus):
Coitus interruptus means withdrawing the penis just before ejaculation. This was the most common method of birth control before the invention of modern devices.
The majority of our mujtahids believe that coitus interruptus is allowed but makruh without the wife's consent. (Sharh Lum'a, vol. 2, p. 28; al-'Urwah, p. 628; Minhaj, vol. 2, p. 267)
All methods mentioned above do not involve surgical operation and they are also reversible. A woman (or man) using these methods can stop using them at anytime in order to have a child.
7. Sterilization:
Sterilization involves surgical operation.
Sterilization in men, known as vasectomy, means the severing or blocking of the tube in the male reproductive tract. This tube or duct passes sperm from the testes to the prostate and other reproductive organs.
Sterilization in women, known as tubal ligation, involves the blocking or severing of the fallopian tubes, which transport the ovum.
The permissibility of sterilization depends on whether or not it is reversible. At present, the rate of reversibility (40%) is not good enough to make sterilization permissible. Greater success may be achieved with improved micro surgical techniques. And until we achieve at least 80 percent reversibility, it is difficult to permit sterilization.
Abortion 4
Islam's approach to the issue of birth control and abortion is very balanced. It allows women to prevent pregnancy but forbids them to terminate it. Abortion after the implantation of the fertilized ovum in the womb is absolutely forbidden and is considered a crime against the law of God, and the fetus.
In case of rape the woman should use the morning after pill or RU486 immediately after the sexual assault in order to prevent the possible implantation of a fertilized ovum
Modern technology (like ultra sound scan) has made it possible to know whether or not a child has a defect long before he is born. Some people justify the abortion of a defective fetus.
The shari'ah allows abortion only when doctors declare with reasonable certainty that the continuation of pregnancy will endanger the woman's life. This permission is based on the principle of the lesser of the two evils known in Islamic legal terminology as the principle of al-ahamm wa 'l-muhimm (the more important and the less important). The Prophet said, "When two forbidden things come [upon a person] together, then the lesser will be sacrificed for the greater." In the present case, one is faced with two forbidden things: either abort the unborn child or let a living woman die. Obviously, the latter is greater than the former; therefore, abortion is allowed to save the live person. 4
Permissibility of Abortion 8
"And do not kill your children for fear of poverty: We give them sustenance and yourselves (too): surely to kill them is a great wrong." (17:31)
The abortion of a fetus from the mother's womb is a different issue, since the sperm and egg have already met and fertilized what could become a human being. The scholars all agree that abortion is forbidden after the first four months of pregnancy, since by that time the soul has entered the embryo but it would allow the use of RU486 (the "morning-after pill"), as long as it could be reasonably assumed that the fertilized egg has not become implanted on the wall of the uterus. Most scholars say that abortion is legal under Islamic shari’ah (law), when done for valid reasons and when completed before the soul enters the embryo. To abort a baby for such vain reasons as wanting to keep a woman’s youthful figure, are not valid.
"...And do not slay your children for (fear of) poverty -- We provide for you and for them --- and do not draw nigh to indecencies, those of them which are apparent and those which are concealed, and do not kill the soul which Allah has forbidden except for the requirements of justice: this He has enjoined you with that you may understand." (6:151)
While planning to raise a family, a man and a woman should consider all the variables in their lives that may affect the life of the mother, the child as well as that of the father.
If a person should - and must - plan sensibly for things like quality of life, then it is more than obvious that planning a child - giving life to another human being - deserves much more attention and consideration on our part. Moreover, it is not just the child, but also the mother whose health and other related conditions should be considered.
Qur’anic verses misinterpreted 9
There are, however, some Qur'anic verses which prohibit infanticide and these are used by some Muslims to discourage birth control.
"And do not kill your children for fear of poverty: We give them sustenance and yourselves (too): surely to kill them is a great wrong." (17:31)
But contraception does not amount to killing a human being. These verses in fact were revealed to forbid the pre-Islamic Arab practice of killing or burying alive a newborn child (particularly a girl) on account of the parents' poverty or to refrain from having a female child. Perhaps in those days, people did not know safe methods of contraception and early abortion.
Embryonic development was central to the Muslim arguments on abortion. According to Muslim scholars, it is lawful to have an abortion during the first 120 days, but after the stage of ensoulment (after the soul enters into the fetus), abortion is prohibited completely except where it is imperative to save the mother's life. After ensoulment, however, abortion is prohibited absolutely and is akin to murder.
The Hanafi scholars, who comprised the majority of orthodox Muslims in later centuries, permitted abortion until the end of the four months. According to them, a pregnant woman could have an abortion without her husband's permission, but she should have reasonable grounds for this act. One reason, which was mentioned frequently, was the presence of a nursing infant. A new pregnancy put an upper limit on lactation, and the jurists believed that if the mother could not be replaced by a wet-nurse, the infant would die.
Conclusion
Family planning, understood by Islam, is not opposed to marriage or to the begetting of children, nor does it's concept imply disbelief in the doctrine of fate and Divine dispensation--for Allah Almighty has bestowed reason upon man to enable him to distinguish between the useful and the harmful, and to help him follow the path that would assure him happiness in this world as well as in the world to come.
REFERENCES:
1. Birth Control on line at WWW.ISLAMICINSTITUTE.ORG
2. Birth control: Contraception & sterilization. On line at www.muslimindia.com
3. Family Planning in Islam by Alyssa http://www.unh.edu/msa/familyp.htm
4. Marriage and Morals in Islam. Chapter 4: contraceptives and Abortion. Sayyid Muhammad Rizvi, Pub. By Islamic Education and Information Center, Scarborough, Ont. Canada.
5."Contemporary Jurisprudence Research Journal," 15th Ed., 4th yr., Oct. & Nov. & Dec. 1992, pp. 57-59,
6. "Biomedical Issues Islamic Perspective," Abul Fadl Mohsin Ebrahim,
7. "The New Birth Control Book," by Howard I. Shapiro, M.D.,
8. www.understanding-Islam.com 1st March 1999
9.Family Planning and Islam: A Review by Khalid Farooq Akbar Hamdard Islamicus Vol. 17, No. 3, 1974
THE NEED FOR ISLAMIC RENAISSANCE
The first word of the very first verse revealed to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was Iqra meaning “read” or recite.” Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) also said “pursuit of knowledge is a duty for all Muslim men and women.” The Prophet of Islam was an ummi or an “ultettered man.” However his greatness and influence is measured by the way he transformed and influenced his ummah to excel in every field of human endeavor and in every branch of knowledge. No wonder Michael Hart ranked Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as number one in his popular book The One Hundred- a ranking of the most influential people in history. Within 90 years of Prophet’s (pbuh) death, Islam had spread from Morocco to China. For over one thousand years the Muslims were second to none in the arts, architecture, medicine, surgery, all other sciences and technology, and even military science. During that golden age, the Islamic civilization was the most advanced civilization in the world when Europe was backward and underdeveloped. The Europeans flocked to Islamic universities to seek knowledge which they used later for their own advancement.
Today the Muslim ummah is at the bottom rung of the ladder of science and technology.
The Muslims, who once ruled the world, were under colonial rule for several centuries that did not end until about 50 years ago.
Why are the Muslims suffering all over the world today? One of the answers is to be found in the story of Bani Israel in the Qur’an. Bani Israel were the first ummah created with the specific responsibility to spread the message of God to the rest of the world. As long as they fulfilled their responsibilities the nation of Bani Israel was enormously and splendidly rewarded with honor and leadership of the world. When the same nation turned its back to the message of God it faced severe punishment in the form of humiliation and disintegration. Muslims are the second ummah created on the basis of revealed knowledge. Muslims are suffering today because they followed the footsteps of the nation of Bani Israel.
DEGENERATION OF MUSLIMS
Who is responsible for the degeneration of Muslims? There are three groups of people who are responsible: The first category of people are the kings and rulers. The second group comprises the ulema who take this world as their goal. And the last group includes the rahibs and the Sufis who profess the purification of the soul but are after the materialistic gains.
Allama Muhammad Iqbal, the great poet and philosopher of South Asia, blamed the following three groups for the corruption of the Deen:
(a) the mullahs
(b) the Sultans and
(c) the peers
Today Islam is interpreted only in terms of its five pillars, viz.: Tawhid, Salat, Siyam, Zakat and Hajj. The other important values of Islam such as: Diyanat, Sadaqat, Husn-e-Sulook, Ad’l and Ehsan have been brushed aside. Today, we attach great importance to imitate the outward aspects of Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) personality- such as wearing a beard-but do not give importance to practicing the teachings in his behavior and actions; such as, his humility, tolerance, patience, sacrifice, charity (he used to give away his possessions before sunset), and many other Islamic characteristics and virtues.
Solutions
Every one agrees that the first and the most important solution is education. It is education which transforms a casual person into a responsible citizen, accelerates socio-economic development of the masses, promotes national integration (feeling of belonging to the Muslim ummah) and upholds individual dignity.
Education has always received great importance in Islam. Islam emerged in the barren Arabian land, which was both culturally and socially backward. Thus education was put forward as the lamp to illumine darkness. In Qur'an, the word, 'Ilm is used, which means knowledge. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) asked Muslims to "Acquire knowledge from cradle to grave." The captives who were taken from the battle of "Badr" were freed on different conditions. One of the conditions was that if a prisoner could educate ten Muslims he would win his emancipation.
The acquisition of knowledge and learning, both religious and scientific is considered an act of religious merit in Islam. The followers of Islam were encouraged by the Prophet Muhammad to acquire knowledge wherever it was available. Consequently, the Muslims learned reading and writing with zeal from the very beginning. Soon the need was felt to establish educational institutions for the Muslims. During the second century of Islam, educational institutions came to be known as Madaris. Inspired by the Abbasid ruler's traditions Fatimid rulers of Egypt and Nizamul Mulk Tusi, the Wazir of Slajuq Sultans (d.1092 A.D.) founded institutions of higher learning. These institutions at Baghdad, Nishapur, Isfahan and other places were destroyed by the Mongols in the 13th Century. However, the pattern of education introduced in the Nizamia madrasa of Baghdad in 1065-67 under the guidance of Ghazzali (d. 1111 A.D.), went a long way to guide the generations of Muslim scholars the world over.
When Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) asked the Muslims to go to China to acquire knowledge or to get educated from non-Muslim prisoners obviously implied to inclination to religious teachings. Islam essentially, in several ways, directs acquiring knowledge of the world and modern education. For the past five hundred years our elders have separated the religious education from the secular education (natural sciences, medicine, technology, etc.). Religious schools or Deeni Madaris have mushroomed in all developing Muslim countries. The disadvantage of educating in Deeni Madaris is that the graduates do not receive modern knowledge and are unable to cope with the changing world where computers and technology are playing pivotal role. In a modern Madrasa, subjects such as English, Mathematics, History and Geography are taught to a comparatively lesser extent and studies in Islamic theology get the greatest share and importance.
A Student from Middle East in America
A student from a Middle Eastern country came to the United States to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree from one of the American Universities. Due to his weakness in the English language, he took English 101 course. As a final Exam, the English Professor asked him to write a paper on any book he read in the English literature. After extensive struggle and after a few weeks, he submitted the required final exam paper. The English Professor gave him 'F" grade, that means the student flunked the course. The student told the professor that he worked very hard to write that paper and wondered why the professor flunked him. The professor replied that what he wrote was the summary of the book and there was no critical analysis such as criticism of the characters, plot or theme, etc. The student said in High School, he learned how to memorize the Qur'an and Hadith and excelled in rote learning rather than criticism or critical thinking. The student failed the course and could not complete his B.A. Hence he went back to another Middle Eastern University and finally obtained the coveted B.A. degree. He returned to his home country, which has been hiring Foreign Nationals for all the jobs that were available. He applied for a job in the Government and in many private firms. He never got a single job anywhere-neither in the Government nor in a private Firm. The reason for not getting a job, he was told was that his skills were not marketable.
Deeni Madaris attract pupils of average intelligence from remote villages. One of the reasons is that here they can get free boarding and lodging and get education without paying any tution fee. The graduates of these schools have narrow and limited knowledge of Islam and do not have any understanding of the present day world. They lack self-esteem that comes with a well-rounded education. And most critical of all, because of these limitations, are unable to exercise ijtehad. Early Muslim scholars paid close attention to developing a system of jurisprudence. However, today, most traditional ulema insist on the need to blindly follow past jurisprudential precedent (taqlid), while ignoring the need to exercise independent judgment (ijtihad), based on a thorough understanding of the principles of fiqh (usul-i-fiqh), which, unfortunately, are not much stressed in the Madaris today. Such Shaykhs and ulema with their radical rhetoric are projecting a distorted image of Islam. It is futile to argue with them because they do not understand logic and rationality (the foundations of Islam), they promote obscurantism; and oppose different points of view which are the bedrock for intellectual development.
It is also not right to blame the Madaris for the current rise of terrorism in the world.
The time has come for Muslims to get together and face the reality and think loudly on issues facing them and their survival. If the Muslims cannot compete, excel and advance, then it is very easy for those in power (West) to enslave the Muslims through colonization or some other method. Should Muslims allow history to repeat itself? Or unite and work for the Islamic renaissance.
A few dedicated and deeply concerned Muslims are organizing and participating in the Second International Conference on Islamic Renaissance with the theme of Science and Technology in the 21st Century, to be held in Chicago, May 29-30, 2004. The Conference aims at finding practical and workable solutions to problems facing the ummah. We invite all concerned Muslims to participate in the important conference and share the collective responsibility of finding ways to forge the ummah forward in the path of Islam. I pray to Allah (SWT) to show us the right path and awaken to Muslim ummah from the dangers of status quo, enlighten us, and give us the strength to compete, excel, and advance. Ameen !
Today the Muslim ummah is at the bottom rung of the ladder of science and technology.
The Muslims, who once ruled the world, were under colonial rule for several centuries that did not end until about 50 years ago.
Why are the Muslims suffering all over the world today? One of the answers is to be found in the story of Bani Israel in the Qur’an. Bani Israel were the first ummah created with the specific responsibility to spread the message of God to the rest of the world. As long as they fulfilled their responsibilities the nation of Bani Israel was enormously and splendidly rewarded with honor and leadership of the world. When the same nation turned its back to the message of God it faced severe punishment in the form of humiliation and disintegration. Muslims are the second ummah created on the basis of revealed knowledge. Muslims are suffering today because they followed the footsteps of the nation of Bani Israel.
DEGENERATION OF MUSLIMS
Who is responsible for the degeneration of Muslims? There are three groups of people who are responsible: The first category of people are the kings and rulers. The second group comprises the ulema who take this world as their goal. And the last group includes the rahibs and the Sufis who profess the purification of the soul but are after the materialistic gains.
Allama Muhammad Iqbal, the great poet and philosopher of South Asia, blamed the following three groups for the corruption of the Deen:
(a) the mullahs
(b) the Sultans and
(c) the peers
Today Islam is interpreted only in terms of its five pillars, viz.: Tawhid, Salat, Siyam, Zakat and Hajj. The other important values of Islam such as: Diyanat, Sadaqat, Husn-e-Sulook, Ad’l and Ehsan have been brushed aside. Today, we attach great importance to imitate the outward aspects of Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) personality- such as wearing a beard-but do not give importance to practicing the teachings in his behavior and actions; such as, his humility, tolerance, patience, sacrifice, charity (he used to give away his possessions before sunset), and many other Islamic characteristics and virtues.
Solutions
Every one agrees that the first and the most important solution is education. It is education which transforms a casual person into a responsible citizen, accelerates socio-economic development of the masses, promotes national integration (feeling of belonging to the Muslim ummah) and upholds individual dignity.
Education has always received great importance in Islam. Islam emerged in the barren Arabian land, which was both culturally and socially backward. Thus education was put forward as the lamp to illumine darkness. In Qur'an, the word, 'Ilm is used, which means knowledge. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) asked Muslims to "Acquire knowledge from cradle to grave." The captives who were taken from the battle of "Badr" were freed on different conditions. One of the conditions was that if a prisoner could educate ten Muslims he would win his emancipation.
The acquisition of knowledge and learning, both religious and scientific is considered an act of religious merit in Islam. The followers of Islam were encouraged by the Prophet Muhammad to acquire knowledge wherever it was available. Consequently, the Muslims learned reading and writing with zeal from the very beginning. Soon the need was felt to establish educational institutions for the Muslims. During the second century of Islam, educational institutions came to be known as Madaris. Inspired by the Abbasid ruler's traditions Fatimid rulers of Egypt and Nizamul Mulk Tusi, the Wazir of Slajuq Sultans (d.1092 A.D.) founded institutions of higher learning. These institutions at Baghdad, Nishapur, Isfahan and other places were destroyed by the Mongols in the 13th Century. However, the pattern of education introduced in the Nizamia madrasa of Baghdad in 1065-67 under the guidance of Ghazzali (d. 1111 A.D.), went a long way to guide the generations of Muslim scholars the world over.
When Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) asked the Muslims to go to China to acquire knowledge or to get educated from non-Muslim prisoners obviously implied to inclination to religious teachings. Islam essentially, in several ways, directs acquiring knowledge of the world and modern education. For the past five hundred years our elders have separated the religious education from the secular education (natural sciences, medicine, technology, etc.). Religious schools or Deeni Madaris have mushroomed in all developing Muslim countries. The disadvantage of educating in Deeni Madaris is that the graduates do not receive modern knowledge and are unable to cope with the changing world where computers and technology are playing pivotal role. In a modern Madrasa, subjects such as English, Mathematics, History and Geography are taught to a comparatively lesser extent and studies in Islamic theology get the greatest share and importance.
A Student from Middle East in America
A student from a Middle Eastern country came to the United States to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree from one of the American Universities. Due to his weakness in the English language, he took English 101 course. As a final Exam, the English Professor asked him to write a paper on any book he read in the English literature. After extensive struggle and after a few weeks, he submitted the required final exam paper. The English Professor gave him 'F" grade, that means the student flunked the course. The student told the professor that he worked very hard to write that paper and wondered why the professor flunked him. The professor replied that what he wrote was the summary of the book and there was no critical analysis such as criticism of the characters, plot or theme, etc. The student said in High School, he learned how to memorize the Qur'an and Hadith and excelled in rote learning rather than criticism or critical thinking. The student failed the course and could not complete his B.A. Hence he went back to another Middle Eastern University and finally obtained the coveted B.A. degree. He returned to his home country, which has been hiring Foreign Nationals for all the jobs that were available. He applied for a job in the Government and in many private firms. He never got a single job anywhere-neither in the Government nor in a private Firm. The reason for not getting a job, he was told was that his skills were not marketable.
Deeni Madaris attract pupils of average intelligence from remote villages. One of the reasons is that here they can get free boarding and lodging and get education without paying any tution fee. The graduates of these schools have narrow and limited knowledge of Islam and do not have any understanding of the present day world. They lack self-esteem that comes with a well-rounded education. And most critical of all, because of these limitations, are unable to exercise ijtehad. Early Muslim scholars paid close attention to developing a system of jurisprudence. However, today, most traditional ulema insist on the need to blindly follow past jurisprudential precedent (taqlid), while ignoring the need to exercise independent judgment (ijtihad), based on a thorough understanding of the principles of fiqh (usul-i-fiqh), which, unfortunately, are not much stressed in the Madaris today. Such Shaykhs and ulema with their radical rhetoric are projecting a distorted image of Islam. It is futile to argue with them because they do not understand logic and rationality (the foundations of Islam), they promote obscurantism; and oppose different points of view which are the bedrock for intellectual development.
It is also not right to blame the Madaris for the current rise of terrorism in the world.
The time has come for Muslims to get together and face the reality and think loudly on issues facing them and their survival. If the Muslims cannot compete, excel and advance, then it is very easy for those in power (West) to enslave the Muslims through colonization or some other method. Should Muslims allow history to repeat itself? Or unite and work for the Islamic renaissance.
A few dedicated and deeply concerned Muslims are organizing and participating in the Second International Conference on Islamic Renaissance with the theme of Science and Technology in the 21st Century, to be held in Chicago, May 29-30, 2004. The Conference aims at finding practical and workable solutions to problems facing the ummah. We invite all concerned Muslims to participate in the important conference and share the collective responsibility of finding ways to forge the ummah forward in the path of Islam. I pray to Allah (SWT) to show us the right path and awaken to Muslim ummah from the dangers of status quo, enlighten us, and give us the strength to compete, excel, and advance. Ameen !
Extension of Halal Concept to the Personal Habits of the Muslims
Islam is a universal religion. Islam is submission to the Will of God. This implies doing right, being an example to others to do right, and having the power to see that the right prevails. One should set an example to others to eschew wrong and have the power to see that wrong and injustice are defeated.
Islam disciplines the human being so that a Muslim can do good and ward off evil. Islam brings out the best in a human being, exalts him/her to the highest position on earth. Therefore by following the word and spirit of Islam one can strive to become a perfect human being. This statement is supported by the fact that our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was the most perfect human being ever lived on earth (See Dr. Ahmad Deedat's Video Tapes).
One should have the knowledge to distinguish between what is good and what is bad or evil. Anything that produces harm, injury or death is bad, by definition. Also anything that deviates or distracts a Muslim from performing his Islamic obligations or duties is also bad or harmful. Halal means lawful, permissible. The acts of Halal are made by Allah (SWT) and revealed to man through Al-Qur'an. If one examines Halal in detail one sees that Halal is designed for the benefit and welfare of mankind. It is designed to be for the "good" of mankind. Therefore Halal can be construed as good and could be synonymous with "good". Similarly Haram could be interpreted to mean bad or evil. Whenever the word Halal is mentioned we invariably understand that it applied to meat and other foods.
In this paper the personal habits of Muslims are examined and analyzed to find whether they conform to Halal or Haram. Some of the personal habits of the Muslims are: Caffeine consumption, bottle-feeding the babies, tobacco consumption.
Some Items such as Alcohol and Gambling are forbidden by the Qur'anic Commands; hence they will not be discussed here.
Let there arise out of you
A band of people inviting to all
That is good, enjoining what is right
And forbidding what is wrong:
They are the ones to attain felicity.
— Al- Qur'an, 3: 104
Commenting on this verse Allama Yusuf Ali says " the root idea is attainment of desires, happiness, in this world and the next; success; freedom from anxiety, care or disturbed state of mind;..... The ideal Muslims community is happy, untroubled by conflicts or doubts, sure of itself, strong, united, and prosperous: because it invites to all that is good; enjoins the right; and forbids the wrong. "
Al Qur'an is guidance for all of mankind and for all times, present and future. The concept of Halal to the personal habits of Muslims is extended based on the arguments given initially and on the following verses taken from the Noble Qur'an:
Enjoin ye righteousness upon mankind.
…… Surah, Baqara, 2: 44
Eat and drink of that which Allah hath provided, and do not act corruptly, making mischief in the earth.
…………… Surah, Baqara, 2: 60
Those who believe and do good works: such are rightful owners of the Garden (Jannah). Surah Baqara, 2: 82
0 mankind! Eat of that which is lawful and wholesome in the earth, and follow not the footsteps of the devil. Lo! he is an open enemy for you. ……..Surah, Baqara 2: 168
0 ye who believe! Eat of the good things wherewith We have provided you.... . 2: 172
The righteous man is he who wardeth off (evil). Surah, Baqara, 2: 189.
The best provision is to ward off evil. .. Surah, Baqara, 2: 197
Allah loveth those who have a care for cleanness… Surah Baqara, 2: 222.
0 Ye who believe! Strong drink (intoxicants) and games of chance (gambling) and idols and divining arrows (superstition) are only an infamy of Satan's handiwork. Leave it aside in order that ye may succeed (prosper). …Surah, Al-Ma'ida, 5: 90
Satan seeks only to cast among you enmity and hatred by means of strong drink (intoxicants) and games of chance (gambling) and to turn you from remembrance of Allah and from (His) worship. Will ye then not abstain?
………Surah, Al-Ma'ida,. 5: 91
... So be mindful of your duty (to Allah) and do good works, and again: be mindful of your duty, and believe; and once again: be mindful of your duty, and do right. Allah loveth those who do good………Surah, Al-Ma'ida……5: 93
CAFFEINE INTAKE
Caffeine is a habit-forming drug. One develops addiction and dependence on this drug. A look at Table I shows that some of the sources of caffeine are the ones everyone consumes everyday such as beverages, prescription drugs, non-prescription drugs. Let us see the benefits and disadvantages of caffeine.
Benefits: Caffeine is a powerful stimulant of the Central Nervous System at all levels. Cortex stimulation results in more rapid and clear flow of thought and to allay fatigue and drowsiness. Caffeine stimulates medullary, respiratory, vasomotor and vagal centers. This action is therapeutically utilized for treating medullary depression caused by morphine and other drugs. Caffeine gives a false feeling of well being and good aroma.
Disadvantages:
Caffeine is a habit-forming drug. Just as cigarette smokers are addicted to nicotine, caffeine consumers are addicted to caffeine. Overindulgence leads to chronic poisoning. Caffeine intake results in irritability, inability to work effectively, nervousness, restlessness, disturbed sleep, lethargy, and headache on missing coffee in the morning. Children are more susceptible than adults to excitation by caffeine and these result in hyperactivity. Consumption of caffeine results in prolonged augmentation of gastric secretion; therefore it should be avoided by the peptic ulcer patients. It should also be avoided by patients with hypertension because of the action on the cardiovascular and nervous systems. Myocardial stimulation is reflected in cardiac irregularities, especially premature systoles, palpitation and tachy cardia.
Table 1: SOME SOURCES OF CAFFEINE
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRODUCT
Beverages Caffeine (mg)
Brewed coffee (5 oz) 100 - 150
Instant coffee (5 oz) 86-99
Decaffeinated (5 oz) 2 - 4
Cola drinks (12 oz can) 33 - 60
Tea (5 oz) 33 - 75
Cocoa and chocolate (6 oz) 10 - 35
Prescription Drugs
Cafergot 100 mg per tablet
Darvon compound 32 mg per tablet
Fiorinal 40 mg per tablet
Migral 50 mg per tablet
Tri-Aqua 99 mg per tablet
Non-Prescription Drugs
Stimulants (Standard dose)
Caffedrine Capsules 200
NoDoz tablets 200
Vivarin tablets 200
Pain relievers (Standard dose)
Anacin 64
Excedrin 130
Midol 65
Plain aspirin (any brand) 100
Diuretics:
Aqua-Ban, Permathene 200
Cold remedies 30 mg per tablet
Weight Control aids (daily dose)
Dexatrim, Dietac, Prolamine 200 - 280
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There is an association between coffee drinking and cancer of the lower urinary tract and cancer of the pancreas. Several deaths have occurred after the ingestion of caffeine. The lethal dose of caffeine is 10 grams (100 cups of coffee).
BOTTLE FEEDING VS. BREAST FEEDING
"Mothers shall suckle their children for two whole years; (that is) for those who wish to complete the suckling………………." …………Al Qur'an, Surah, Baqara, 2: 233
There is a dramatic decline in breast-feeding in the United States Canada, Europe, and even in the third world countries, including Muslim countries. Bottle-feeding has many disadvantages for the child, mother, society, and the nation. The liberated women think bottle-feeding is natural and normal, and that breast-feeding is old-fashioned, animal like, primitive, and obsolete. They treat breast-feeding as a sign of backwardness, low social status, ignorance and poverty. On the contrary, none of these is true. They are being exploited by self-interested, profit making commercial enterprises, which manufacture bottles, nipples, baby foods, milk powder, formulas, pacifiers, etc.
Breast-feeding is a very natural and normal way designed by God. The only disadvantage of breast-feeding in a developed country is one needs privacy and cannot be done in public, as is the case in a developing country. However, if all mothers start breast-feeding then it becomes a natural thing.
Benefits to the Child:
Breast-fed babies grow healthy with mental and physical development and also survive longer than bottle fed babies. Human milk is the best food for the human infants. It contains more than 100 separate constituents of which few of them are available to the bottle fed infant. A mother can breast feed her baby even under unhygienic conditions without fear of infection due to the presence of lysozomes. Fewer infections, absence of food allergy, and many immunological benefits are derived from breast milk.
The first milk secreted by the breast (colostrum), which no formula can duplicate, contains natural antibodies against measles, polio, mumps, and a host of other diseases. Breast milk protects a child from obesity, staph, and other infections. Breast fed babies have less diaper rash and require less care.
God has designed baby's facial structures, such as flat nose, sucking pads in the cheeks, in such a way, as is best fit for breast-feeding. The ridged edge of the gums helps the baby to grasp and to hold on to the nipple while sucking. In Western countries, a dentist will point out the frequent problems of bottle fed babies, such as lip and finger sucking, tongue thrusting, tooth decay, bite deformities, incorrect swallowing and mouth breathing. The tongue and jaw muscles of a breast fed baby show better muscular development, as he has to suck harder with his lips, tongue, and jaw muscles. The breast is nature's pacifier for the baby. It calms the infant. The baby finds security and warmth at the mother's breast.
Benefits to the Mother:
The American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute of United States, report that cancer of the breast is more apt to develop in those breasts that do not give milk (among Nuns, unmarried women, married women with no children, mothers who bottle-feed) and scientific studies confirm the fact that long-term breast-feeding lowers the breast cancer risk.
If the infant is allowed to suck immediately after birth, the sucking causes a strong uterine contraction, which helps to expel the placenta, and also prevents post-partum (after birth) hemorrhage. With continued ' nursing, the uterus involutes rapidly without shots and pills. Many times a third-degree prolapse of the uterus after the birth of a child virtually disappears without surgical correction in cases of breast-feeding mothers. It has been well established that breast-feeding has a contraceptive effect by delaying the return of ovulation. As a result of this, the return of menstruation is delayed anywhere from eight to eighteen months.
This is good for the mother as her body's iron is conserved. A lengthy absence from menstrual periods following childbirth is called lactation amenorrhea. Lactation amenorrhea is a health asset to the mother in her childbearing years. Breast-feeding eliminates the need for drugs and prevents breast cancer.
Nursing provides brief rests during the day and gives relaxation for a mother who tends to be tense and nervous or gives a break for a busy mother. Bottle feeding mothers don't have prolactin, a "mothering" (Manila in Urdu) hormone, whereas prolactin in a nursing mother produces the mood and a feeling of a good mother. The personal satisfaction that a woman can experience only through breast feeding, the total giving of herself to her baby, and a deep feeling of pride in her motherly accomplishments cannot be found in bottle feeding mothers. A nursing mother learns that true fulfillment comes in the giving and not the taking.
Breast feeding not only helps satisfy the baby's nutritional and emotional needs, but satisfies the emotional needs of the mother— not only in that it is restful for her, but she derives satisfaction in doing what is best for her baby and from having a contented and quiet baby as a result. Baby and mother thrive on each other. Physical contact generates warm feelings of being loved and appreciated. The baby feels secure in the mother's arms or bosom.
For a traveling mother, nothing can match the conveniences of breast feeding without the problems of baby stops, warming the bottle, or running short of formula.
Benefits to the Family, Society and Nation:
Breast-feeding saves money for the family. Money not spent on bottles, nipples, brushes, sterilizer, formula, juice, foods, food and bottle warmers, and the gas, electricity or fuel wood required in the preparation, is money saved for the family. In the years to come, less money will be spent on doctor's fees, hospital fees, and probably fewer drugs and fewer dental bills. Except the tender loving care, breast-feeding costs nothing. In case of bottle fed babies, the artificial foods and juices stain baby's and mother's clothes and require frequent washing and dry-cleaning.
When all infants are breast fed, then the society will have mentally and physically healthy and active children. When these children grow the nation will be proud of its great leaders and admirable citizens. Such a nation will be strong in character and a model nation to emulate.
Breast-feeding never pollutes a country's air or water, nor does it detract from the environment. It was mentioned earlier that prolonged lactation protects against pregnancy mainly by delaying the return of ovulation. In a country where the practice of birth control is not widespread, breast-feeding can check population growth to some extent.
TOBACCO
Tobacco can be used in the form of cigarette smoking, snuffing and chew. The latter two come under smokeless tobacco.
Cigarette smoking is the most widespread example of drug dependence in the United States and it is America's worst drug addiction problem. It involves addiction to the drug nicotine found only in tobacco. Cigarette smoking is the largest preventable cause of death in America. As important a cause of death as were the great epidemic diseases that affected previous generations. A major and certainly removable cause of ill health and premature death.
The moment cigarette smoke touches the lips, it begins to attack living tissues and continues to do so wherever it goes; mouth, tongue, throat esophagus, air passages, lungs, stomach, and its breakdown products eventually reach the bladder, pancreas, and kidneys. Cigarette smoking is a major cause of cancers of the lung, larynx, oral cavity and esophagus, and is a contributory factor for the development of cancers of the bladder, pancreas. Kidney and uterine cervix in women.
Nicotine, an alkaloid poison found in nature only in tobacco, is a powerful stimulant to the brain and central nervous system; later doses have a depressant effect. Nicotine causes blood pressure to rise and increases heart rate by as many as 33 beats a minute. The first daily dose of nicotine stimulates the large bowel, while curbing appetite and slowing digestion. It also lowers skin temperature and reduces blood circulation in the lees and arms. Sixty milligrams of nicotine taken at one time will kill the average adult human being by paralyzing breathing. It is about as lethal as cyanide. The reason it doesn't kill smokers quickly is that they take it in tiny doses, which are quickly metabolized and excreted by the body.
Cigarette smoke 'tar' (smoke condensate) is made of more than four thousand solid chemicals. Among the chemicals in cigarette smoke are acids, alcohols, volatile hydrocarbons, phenols, and such corrosive gases as hydrogen cyanide, and nitrogen oxide, as well as a heavy dose of poisonous carbon monoxide (CO). Heart and circulatory disease, lung and other cancers, emphysema and chronic bronchitis have been experimentally linked with certain of these substances. All these conditions are disabling and potentially lethal. While nicotine causes the heart to work harder, CO deprives it of the extra oxygen this demands. CO also promotes cholesterol deposits in arteries, reduces the normal flow of blood and can easily trap blood clots, resulting in stroke and heart attacks. CO impairs vision, and judgment, and reduces attentiveness to sounds. Thus, CO Is dangerous to drivers, reduces athletic performance, and poses particular hazards to flight crews.
Dental diseases particularly inflammation of the gums, destruction of the supporting bony tissue and loss of teeth, are much frequent among smokers than among non-smokers. Smoking causes vitamin C and B deficiency besides destroying minerals like zinc in the body.
Smoking damages sexual ability of both male and female.
Smoking During Pregnancy
Cigarette smoke contains 2000 components. Some of the most harmful for pregnant women and their babies is thought to be nicotine, carbon monoxide and cyanide. These substances have been found to cross the placenta and reach the baby. One of the most concerning effects of smoking during pregnancy is that the baby’s growth is restricted. A baby of a woman who smokes weighs on average 170 to 200 grams lighter. The more a woman smokes the greater the weight reduction. Having a smaller baby is not a positive thing. The reason babies are smaller is that cigarette smoking restricts blood vessels, therefore reducing the amount of nutrients and oxygen reaching the baby. This leads to a lower birth weight and a baby more prone to becoming ill after birth. Pregnant woman who smoke not only have babies with reduced birth weights but also have greater risks of stillbirths or death during labor and in the first week after birth. They deliver babies prematurely or have spontaneous abortions. Children of parents who smoke risk developing bronchitis or pneumonia in the first year of life.
Potential effects of smoking during pregnancy include an increased chance of genetic abnormalities. There has been associations made between pregnant women smoking and increased chance of cleft lip, cleft palate, problems with bowel, eyes, ears and spinal cord. There have been links made between women smoking during pregnancy and their children developing respiratory problems, such as asthma, later in childhood.
In the West, around 20 per cent of pregnant women smoke. Of these women, over half smoke more than 10 cigarettes per day. Only about four per cent of women who smoke manage to stop smoking in the second half of their pregnancy. It is known that if a pregnant woman stops smoking in the first half of her pregnancy that by the time of birth the baby will be close to normal size. However there is no safe level of smoking. If a pregnant woman is unable to stop smoking completely - it is important to remember ‘the less she smokes, the less effects on her baby’.
Smoking can affect pregnancy. Smoking increases heart rate increases blood pressure and depresses the nervous system. This not only affects the baby but also causes increased complications for the mother. The increased rate of chest infections and blood clotting disorders is of particular concern.
Smoking during pregnancy also increases the risk of ectopic (outside uterus) pregnancy, miscarriage, stillbirth, problems with the placenta, vomiting requiring hospitalization, bleeding during pregnancy, polyhydramnios (too much amniotic fluid), thrush, urinary tract infections and premature birth. Again the more the woman smokes, the higher the risk of complications.
It is very difficult to stop smoking, however the family physician or Obstetrician can help.
The risk Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is increased if the mother smokes during her pregnancy. There is also evidence to show that if the father smokes while the mother is pregnant, SIDS also is increased. Ideally both parents would stop smoking during pregnancy, but the less one smokes the less the risk of SIDS.
After birth it is important to keep babies in a smoke free environment. Stop people from smoking in the house, car or anywhere near the baby. By following these simple steps it helps to reduce the incidence of SIDS.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
(1) I. B. Syed.: THE EFFECTS OF CAFFEINE, the Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association, Vol. 16 (No .10) : 568-572, October 1976.
(2) I. B. Syed.: BREAST FED IS THE BEST FED. Published by the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America. 1986.
(3) I. B. Syed.: SMOKING IS UNLAWFUL IN ISLAM, the Journal of Islamic Medical Association of North America. Vol. 15: 110-112, October 1983.
(4) I. B. Syed.: SMOKING AFFECTS SEX. Caravan Magazine, pp.31-32, August (Second) 1975.
(5) J. H. Jaffee.: DRUG ADDICTION AND DRUG ABUSE (Ch.l6). In: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. Goodman LS and Gilman A (Editors), Macmillan Pub. Co. Inc., New York, 1975
(6) J. Palmer.: Smoking During Pregnancy www.prgnancy.com.au/ 27th November 2000
(7) Ceida.: Smoking during pregnancy. Handout. Australia, 1997
(8) National SIDS Council. Reducing the risk of sudden infant death Syndrome (SIDS). : Melbourne, Australia, 1997.
(9) J. Palmer.: Maternal cigarette smoking: The effects. Midwifery Matters, 9 (2), 18-21, 199
Islam disciplines the human being so that a Muslim can do good and ward off evil. Islam brings out the best in a human being, exalts him/her to the highest position on earth. Therefore by following the word and spirit of Islam one can strive to become a perfect human being. This statement is supported by the fact that our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was the most perfect human being ever lived on earth (See Dr. Ahmad Deedat's Video Tapes).
One should have the knowledge to distinguish between what is good and what is bad or evil. Anything that produces harm, injury or death is bad, by definition. Also anything that deviates or distracts a Muslim from performing his Islamic obligations or duties is also bad or harmful. Halal means lawful, permissible. The acts of Halal are made by Allah (SWT) and revealed to man through Al-Qur'an. If one examines Halal in detail one sees that Halal is designed for the benefit and welfare of mankind. It is designed to be for the "good" of mankind. Therefore Halal can be construed as good and could be synonymous with "good". Similarly Haram could be interpreted to mean bad or evil. Whenever the word Halal is mentioned we invariably understand that it applied to meat and other foods.
In this paper the personal habits of Muslims are examined and analyzed to find whether they conform to Halal or Haram. Some of the personal habits of the Muslims are: Caffeine consumption, bottle-feeding the babies, tobacco consumption.
Some Items such as Alcohol and Gambling are forbidden by the Qur'anic Commands; hence they will not be discussed here.
Let there arise out of you
A band of people inviting to all
That is good, enjoining what is right
And forbidding what is wrong:
They are the ones to attain felicity.
— Al- Qur'an, 3: 104
Commenting on this verse Allama Yusuf Ali says " the root idea is attainment of desires, happiness, in this world and the next; success; freedom from anxiety, care or disturbed state of mind;..... The ideal Muslims community is happy, untroubled by conflicts or doubts, sure of itself, strong, united, and prosperous: because it invites to all that is good; enjoins the right; and forbids the wrong. "
Al Qur'an is guidance for all of mankind and for all times, present and future. The concept of Halal to the personal habits of Muslims is extended based on the arguments given initially and on the following verses taken from the Noble Qur'an:
Enjoin ye righteousness upon mankind.
…… Surah, Baqara, 2: 44
Eat and drink of that which Allah hath provided, and do not act corruptly, making mischief in the earth.
…………… Surah, Baqara, 2: 60
Those who believe and do good works: such are rightful owners of the Garden (Jannah). Surah Baqara, 2: 82
0 mankind! Eat of that which is lawful and wholesome in the earth, and follow not the footsteps of the devil. Lo! he is an open enemy for you. ……..Surah, Baqara 2: 168
0 ye who believe! Eat of the good things wherewith We have provided you.... . 2: 172
The righteous man is he who wardeth off (evil). Surah, Baqara, 2: 189.
The best provision is to ward off evil. .. Surah, Baqara, 2: 197
Allah loveth those who have a care for cleanness… Surah Baqara, 2: 222.
0 Ye who believe! Strong drink (intoxicants) and games of chance (gambling) and idols and divining arrows (superstition) are only an infamy of Satan's handiwork. Leave it aside in order that ye may succeed (prosper). …Surah, Al-Ma'ida, 5: 90
Satan seeks only to cast among you enmity and hatred by means of strong drink (intoxicants) and games of chance (gambling) and to turn you from remembrance of Allah and from (His) worship. Will ye then not abstain?
………Surah, Al-Ma'ida,. 5: 91
... So be mindful of your duty (to Allah) and do good works, and again: be mindful of your duty, and believe; and once again: be mindful of your duty, and do right. Allah loveth those who do good………Surah, Al-Ma'ida……5: 93
CAFFEINE INTAKE
Caffeine is a habit-forming drug. One develops addiction and dependence on this drug. A look at Table I shows that some of the sources of caffeine are the ones everyone consumes everyday such as beverages, prescription drugs, non-prescription drugs. Let us see the benefits and disadvantages of caffeine.
Benefits: Caffeine is a powerful stimulant of the Central Nervous System at all levels. Cortex stimulation results in more rapid and clear flow of thought and to allay fatigue and drowsiness. Caffeine stimulates medullary, respiratory, vasomotor and vagal centers. This action is therapeutically utilized for treating medullary depression caused by morphine and other drugs. Caffeine gives a false feeling of well being and good aroma.
Disadvantages:
Caffeine is a habit-forming drug. Just as cigarette smokers are addicted to nicotine, caffeine consumers are addicted to caffeine. Overindulgence leads to chronic poisoning. Caffeine intake results in irritability, inability to work effectively, nervousness, restlessness, disturbed sleep, lethargy, and headache on missing coffee in the morning. Children are more susceptible than adults to excitation by caffeine and these result in hyperactivity. Consumption of caffeine results in prolonged augmentation of gastric secretion; therefore it should be avoided by the peptic ulcer patients. It should also be avoided by patients with hypertension because of the action on the cardiovascular and nervous systems. Myocardial stimulation is reflected in cardiac irregularities, especially premature systoles, palpitation and tachy cardia.
Table 1: SOME SOURCES OF CAFFEINE
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRODUCT
Beverages Caffeine (mg)
Brewed coffee (5 oz) 100 - 150
Instant coffee (5 oz) 86-99
Decaffeinated (5 oz) 2 - 4
Cola drinks (12 oz can) 33 - 60
Tea (5 oz) 33 - 75
Cocoa and chocolate (6 oz) 10 - 35
Prescription Drugs
Cafergot 100 mg per tablet
Darvon compound 32 mg per tablet
Fiorinal 40 mg per tablet
Migral 50 mg per tablet
Tri-Aqua 99 mg per tablet
Non-Prescription Drugs
Stimulants (Standard dose)
Caffedrine Capsules 200
NoDoz tablets 200
Vivarin tablets 200
Pain relievers (Standard dose)
Anacin 64
Excedrin 130
Midol 65
Plain aspirin (any brand) 100
Diuretics:
Aqua-Ban, Permathene 200
Cold remedies 30 mg per tablet
Weight Control aids (daily dose)
Dexatrim, Dietac, Prolamine 200 - 280
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There is an association between coffee drinking and cancer of the lower urinary tract and cancer of the pancreas. Several deaths have occurred after the ingestion of caffeine. The lethal dose of caffeine is 10 grams (100 cups of coffee).
BOTTLE FEEDING VS. BREAST FEEDING
"Mothers shall suckle their children for two whole years; (that is) for those who wish to complete the suckling………………." …………Al Qur'an, Surah, Baqara, 2: 233
There is a dramatic decline in breast-feeding in the United States Canada, Europe, and even in the third world countries, including Muslim countries. Bottle-feeding has many disadvantages for the child, mother, society, and the nation. The liberated women think bottle-feeding is natural and normal, and that breast-feeding is old-fashioned, animal like, primitive, and obsolete. They treat breast-feeding as a sign of backwardness, low social status, ignorance and poverty. On the contrary, none of these is true. They are being exploited by self-interested, profit making commercial enterprises, which manufacture bottles, nipples, baby foods, milk powder, formulas, pacifiers, etc.
Breast-feeding is a very natural and normal way designed by God. The only disadvantage of breast-feeding in a developed country is one needs privacy and cannot be done in public, as is the case in a developing country. However, if all mothers start breast-feeding then it becomes a natural thing.
Benefits to the Child:
Breast-fed babies grow healthy with mental and physical development and also survive longer than bottle fed babies. Human milk is the best food for the human infants. It contains more than 100 separate constituents of which few of them are available to the bottle fed infant. A mother can breast feed her baby even under unhygienic conditions without fear of infection due to the presence of lysozomes. Fewer infections, absence of food allergy, and many immunological benefits are derived from breast milk.
The first milk secreted by the breast (colostrum), which no formula can duplicate, contains natural antibodies against measles, polio, mumps, and a host of other diseases. Breast milk protects a child from obesity, staph, and other infections. Breast fed babies have less diaper rash and require less care.
God has designed baby's facial structures, such as flat nose, sucking pads in the cheeks, in such a way, as is best fit for breast-feeding. The ridged edge of the gums helps the baby to grasp and to hold on to the nipple while sucking. In Western countries, a dentist will point out the frequent problems of bottle fed babies, such as lip and finger sucking, tongue thrusting, tooth decay, bite deformities, incorrect swallowing and mouth breathing. The tongue and jaw muscles of a breast fed baby show better muscular development, as he has to suck harder with his lips, tongue, and jaw muscles. The breast is nature's pacifier for the baby. It calms the infant. The baby finds security and warmth at the mother's breast.
Benefits to the Mother:
The American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute of United States, report that cancer of the breast is more apt to develop in those breasts that do not give milk (among Nuns, unmarried women, married women with no children, mothers who bottle-feed) and scientific studies confirm the fact that long-term breast-feeding lowers the breast cancer risk.
If the infant is allowed to suck immediately after birth, the sucking causes a strong uterine contraction, which helps to expel the placenta, and also prevents post-partum (after birth) hemorrhage. With continued ' nursing, the uterus involutes rapidly without shots and pills. Many times a third-degree prolapse of the uterus after the birth of a child virtually disappears without surgical correction in cases of breast-feeding mothers. It has been well established that breast-feeding has a contraceptive effect by delaying the return of ovulation. As a result of this, the return of menstruation is delayed anywhere from eight to eighteen months.
This is good for the mother as her body's iron is conserved. A lengthy absence from menstrual periods following childbirth is called lactation amenorrhea. Lactation amenorrhea is a health asset to the mother in her childbearing years. Breast-feeding eliminates the need for drugs and prevents breast cancer.
Nursing provides brief rests during the day and gives relaxation for a mother who tends to be tense and nervous or gives a break for a busy mother. Bottle feeding mothers don't have prolactin, a "mothering" (Manila in Urdu) hormone, whereas prolactin in a nursing mother produces the mood and a feeling of a good mother. The personal satisfaction that a woman can experience only through breast feeding, the total giving of herself to her baby, and a deep feeling of pride in her motherly accomplishments cannot be found in bottle feeding mothers. A nursing mother learns that true fulfillment comes in the giving and not the taking.
Breast feeding not only helps satisfy the baby's nutritional and emotional needs, but satisfies the emotional needs of the mother— not only in that it is restful for her, but she derives satisfaction in doing what is best for her baby and from having a contented and quiet baby as a result. Baby and mother thrive on each other. Physical contact generates warm feelings of being loved and appreciated. The baby feels secure in the mother's arms or bosom.
For a traveling mother, nothing can match the conveniences of breast feeding without the problems of baby stops, warming the bottle, or running short of formula.
Benefits to the Family, Society and Nation:
Breast-feeding saves money for the family. Money not spent on bottles, nipples, brushes, sterilizer, formula, juice, foods, food and bottle warmers, and the gas, electricity or fuel wood required in the preparation, is money saved for the family. In the years to come, less money will be spent on doctor's fees, hospital fees, and probably fewer drugs and fewer dental bills. Except the tender loving care, breast-feeding costs nothing. In case of bottle fed babies, the artificial foods and juices stain baby's and mother's clothes and require frequent washing and dry-cleaning.
When all infants are breast fed, then the society will have mentally and physically healthy and active children. When these children grow the nation will be proud of its great leaders and admirable citizens. Such a nation will be strong in character and a model nation to emulate.
Breast-feeding never pollutes a country's air or water, nor does it detract from the environment. It was mentioned earlier that prolonged lactation protects against pregnancy mainly by delaying the return of ovulation. In a country where the practice of birth control is not widespread, breast-feeding can check population growth to some extent.
TOBACCO
Tobacco can be used in the form of cigarette smoking, snuffing and chew. The latter two come under smokeless tobacco.
Cigarette smoking is the most widespread example of drug dependence in the United States and it is America's worst drug addiction problem. It involves addiction to the drug nicotine found only in tobacco. Cigarette smoking is the largest preventable cause of death in America. As important a cause of death as were the great epidemic diseases that affected previous generations. A major and certainly removable cause of ill health and premature death.
The moment cigarette smoke touches the lips, it begins to attack living tissues and continues to do so wherever it goes; mouth, tongue, throat esophagus, air passages, lungs, stomach, and its breakdown products eventually reach the bladder, pancreas, and kidneys. Cigarette smoking is a major cause of cancers of the lung, larynx, oral cavity and esophagus, and is a contributory factor for the development of cancers of the bladder, pancreas. Kidney and uterine cervix in women.
Nicotine, an alkaloid poison found in nature only in tobacco, is a powerful stimulant to the brain and central nervous system; later doses have a depressant effect. Nicotine causes blood pressure to rise and increases heart rate by as many as 33 beats a minute. The first daily dose of nicotine stimulates the large bowel, while curbing appetite and slowing digestion. It also lowers skin temperature and reduces blood circulation in the lees and arms. Sixty milligrams of nicotine taken at one time will kill the average adult human being by paralyzing breathing. It is about as lethal as cyanide. The reason it doesn't kill smokers quickly is that they take it in tiny doses, which are quickly metabolized and excreted by the body.
Cigarette smoke 'tar' (smoke condensate) is made of more than four thousand solid chemicals. Among the chemicals in cigarette smoke are acids, alcohols, volatile hydrocarbons, phenols, and such corrosive gases as hydrogen cyanide, and nitrogen oxide, as well as a heavy dose of poisonous carbon monoxide (CO). Heart and circulatory disease, lung and other cancers, emphysema and chronic bronchitis have been experimentally linked with certain of these substances. All these conditions are disabling and potentially lethal. While nicotine causes the heart to work harder, CO deprives it of the extra oxygen this demands. CO also promotes cholesterol deposits in arteries, reduces the normal flow of blood and can easily trap blood clots, resulting in stroke and heart attacks. CO impairs vision, and judgment, and reduces attentiveness to sounds. Thus, CO Is dangerous to drivers, reduces athletic performance, and poses particular hazards to flight crews.
Dental diseases particularly inflammation of the gums, destruction of the supporting bony tissue and loss of teeth, are much frequent among smokers than among non-smokers. Smoking causes vitamin C and B deficiency besides destroying minerals like zinc in the body.
Smoking damages sexual ability of both male and female.
Smoking During Pregnancy
Cigarette smoke contains 2000 components. Some of the most harmful for pregnant women and their babies is thought to be nicotine, carbon monoxide and cyanide. These substances have been found to cross the placenta and reach the baby. One of the most concerning effects of smoking during pregnancy is that the baby’s growth is restricted. A baby of a woman who smokes weighs on average 170 to 200 grams lighter. The more a woman smokes the greater the weight reduction. Having a smaller baby is not a positive thing. The reason babies are smaller is that cigarette smoking restricts blood vessels, therefore reducing the amount of nutrients and oxygen reaching the baby. This leads to a lower birth weight and a baby more prone to becoming ill after birth. Pregnant woman who smoke not only have babies with reduced birth weights but also have greater risks of stillbirths or death during labor and in the first week after birth. They deliver babies prematurely or have spontaneous abortions. Children of parents who smoke risk developing bronchitis or pneumonia in the first year of life.
Potential effects of smoking during pregnancy include an increased chance of genetic abnormalities. There has been associations made between pregnant women smoking and increased chance of cleft lip, cleft palate, problems with bowel, eyes, ears and spinal cord. There have been links made between women smoking during pregnancy and their children developing respiratory problems, such as asthma, later in childhood.
In the West, around 20 per cent of pregnant women smoke. Of these women, over half smoke more than 10 cigarettes per day. Only about four per cent of women who smoke manage to stop smoking in the second half of their pregnancy. It is known that if a pregnant woman stops smoking in the first half of her pregnancy that by the time of birth the baby will be close to normal size. However there is no safe level of smoking. If a pregnant woman is unable to stop smoking completely - it is important to remember ‘the less she smokes, the less effects on her baby’.
Smoking can affect pregnancy. Smoking increases heart rate increases blood pressure and depresses the nervous system. This not only affects the baby but also causes increased complications for the mother. The increased rate of chest infections and blood clotting disorders is of particular concern.
Smoking during pregnancy also increases the risk of ectopic (outside uterus) pregnancy, miscarriage, stillbirth, problems with the placenta, vomiting requiring hospitalization, bleeding during pregnancy, polyhydramnios (too much amniotic fluid), thrush, urinary tract infections and premature birth. Again the more the woman smokes, the higher the risk of complications.
It is very difficult to stop smoking, however the family physician or Obstetrician can help.
The risk Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is increased if the mother smokes during her pregnancy. There is also evidence to show that if the father smokes while the mother is pregnant, SIDS also is increased. Ideally both parents would stop smoking during pregnancy, but the less one smokes the less the risk of SIDS.
After birth it is important to keep babies in a smoke free environment. Stop people from smoking in the house, car or anywhere near the baby. By following these simple steps it helps to reduce the incidence of SIDS.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
(1) I. B. Syed.: THE EFFECTS OF CAFFEINE, the Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association, Vol. 16 (No .10) : 568-572, October 1976.
(2) I. B. Syed.: BREAST FED IS THE BEST FED. Published by the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America. 1986.
(3) I. B. Syed.: SMOKING IS UNLAWFUL IN ISLAM, the Journal of Islamic Medical Association of North America. Vol. 15: 110-112, October 1983.
(4) I. B. Syed.: SMOKING AFFECTS SEX. Caravan Magazine, pp.31-32, August (Second) 1975.
(5) J. H. Jaffee.: DRUG ADDICTION AND DRUG ABUSE (Ch.l6). In: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. Goodman LS and Gilman A (Editors), Macmillan Pub. Co. Inc., New York, 1975
(6) J. Palmer.: Smoking During Pregnancy www.prgnancy.com.au/ 27th November 2000
(7) Ceida.: Smoking during pregnancy. Handout. Australia, 1997
(8) National SIDS Council. Reducing the risk of sudden infant death Syndrome (SIDS). : Melbourne, Australia, 1997.
(9) J. Palmer.: Maternal cigarette smoking: The effects. Midwifery Matters, 9 (2), 18-21, 199
HUMILITY
TAWADU 1
In Arabic Tawadu means modesty and humility. Humility is the quality or state of being humble. The virtue of tawadu is the opposite of arrogance, pride and haughtiness. Humbleness means not assuming, not pretentious, insignificant, and lowly. We must put all our pride away. We must always thank Allah when we pray. All of us are equal to one another, and no one's better than anyone. What distinguishes us from others is the faith we have which Allah sees, deep inside our hearts. One should try hard to simply be humble and never act too proud. It's always best to be modest and keep our feet on the ground. Because pride will eat us up inside if we're arrogant and loud.
One can sincerely confess, "Everybody else is good but I am bad; everybody else is wheat but I am chaff", and then those of the highest stature in the heavens are kissing him on the head. Prophet (pbuh) said: "Whoever is humble, God exalts him, and whoever is haughty, God humiliates him." This means that being really great is inversely proportional to behaving as being small. This could be discerned from the lives of Prophets, Sahaba (companions of the Prophet (pbuh), Saints, great scholars, great men and women, Noble laureates.
Humility in the Companions
A Companion sees Caliph ‘Umar (RA- may God be pleased with him), carry water in a pitcher on his shoulder and asks him: ‘What are you about, O Caliph of God’s Messenger?’ Hadrat ‘Umar (RA), who is one of the foremost in nearness to God, answers: ‘some envoys have come from other countries. I have felt some conceit (excessively high opinion of oneself, one's appearance or ability: vanity) in my heart and wanted to suppress (subdue) it.’ ‘Umar (RA) used to carry flour on his back. Once he accused himself while giving sermon from the pulpit and he did not respond to those who criticized him. Like ‘Umar, Abu Hurayra (RA) carried wood for some time while he was the deputy governor of Madina. When he was the chief judge in Madina, Zayd ibn Thabit kissed the hand of Ibn ‘Abbas, and Ibn ‘Abbas, known as the Interpreter of the Qur’an and the Scholar of the Umma, helped Zayd get on his horse. Imam Hasan (RA), the Grandson of the Prophet, upon him be peace and blessings, sat together with some children who were eating bread crumbs and ate with them. Once Abu Dharr (RA) offended Bilal Habashi (RA) and in order that Bilal might forgive him, put his head on the ground and said: ‘If the blessed feet of Bilal do not tread on this sinful head, it will not rise from the ground.’ All these events and many similar others are instances of humility.
Both God Almighty and His Messenger emphasized humility so much that one who knows of it feels no doubt that servanthood consists in humility. The Qur’anic expression, "the servants of the All-Merciful are they who walk on the earth in modesty, and if the impudent (rude people) offend them, they continue their way saying ‘Peace!’ (25:63). The Qur'an praises humility, and the Divine statements; Allah loves a people who are "humble toward believers" (5:54) and merciful among themselves. Allah (SWT) says, "You find them bowing down and falling prostrate (48:29)". These are expressions of praise for their ingrained humility reflected in their conduct.
Concerning humility, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) declares: " God has ordered me that you must be humble and that no one must boast to another. Shall I inform you of one whom Hellfire will not touch? Hellfire will not touch one who is near to God and amiable (agreeable) with people, and mild and easy to get on with. God exalts one who is humble. That one sees himself as small but he is truly great in the sight of people. O God! Make me see myself as small. "
Nabi Kareem (pbuh) lived as the most humble of people.
He stopped at the places where children were, greeted them and played with them.
If someone held him by the hand and wanted to lead him somewhere, he never objected.
He helped his wives with housework.
When people were working, he worked together with them.
He mended his shoes and clothes, milked sheep and fed animals.
He sat at the table with his servant.
He always welcomed the poor warmly.
He looked after widows and orphans.
He visited the ill, followed funerals and answered the call of the slaves in the community.
The beloved servants of God, from Rasoolullah (SAS), to Caliph ‘Umar (RA) and the Umayyad Caliph ‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-’Aziz and from him to numerous saints, purified and perfected scholars, and those honored with nearness to God, have held that the sign of greatness in the great men and women is humility and modesty, while the signs of smallness in the small is arrogance and vanity, and they aimed thereby to guide people to the way of becoming perfect men. For those who have realized their nothingness before God Almighty are always balanced in both their religious lives and their relations with people. They have no problems with either the revealed truths of religion or in matters related to human reason. If Qur’anic revelations appear to them as contradictory to human reason or established rational or scientific facts; instead of objecting to them, they try to learn the truth of the matter. Those who have achieved humility are completely convinced of the superiority of the revealed truths. They are certain that it is impossible to be prosperous in the Aakhirah (other world) by following the ways that oppose the Qur’an and the Sunnah. They find the greatest source of power is to become an Abdullah (in servanthood to God). In reality, one who worships God never lowers himself to adore anybody else. Sa'id Nursi Bediuzzaman 1 said: " Do not boast of yourself in a way to see yourself as greater than others. Those who are truly humble do not attribute to themselves the fruits of their work and efforts, nor do they regard as a cause of superiority over others. They give credit to Allah (SWT) for their successes."
In short, just as humility is the portal (entrance) to good conduct or being characterized with the qualities of God (such as generosity, merciful, helpful, forgiving, etc.), it is also the first and foremost means of being near to both the created and the Creator. The time when a believer is nearest to God is when he is prostrate (Sajada) before Him.
Humility of Abu Bakr
Hadrat Abu Bakr (RA) was very humble. When he would see a bird, he would sigh that he were like such a bird. He would often say that he would prefer to be a hair on the body of a Muslim. When he went to perform the 'Hajj', and some people walked in his train (caravan), he asked them not to follow him, but to go their own way. Before becoming the Caliph he used to milk the goats in the neighborhood. After becoming the Caliph when Abu Bakr passed the street, one of the women remarked
"he has become the Caliph and he would no longer milk the goats." Abu Bakr heard these remarks and said that the caliphate made no difference to him, and that he would continue to milk their goats. If any one praised him, he would say, "O Allah, You know me more than myself, and I know myself more than these people who praise me. Make me better than what they think of me, and forgive those sins of mine of which they have no knowledge, and do not hold me responsible for what they say."
Ali’s humility 2
Hadrat Imam Ali (RA) was humble, detested showiness (pretension) and conceit (haughtiness, pride, superiority, vanity, and self-importance). Even as Caliph he used to sweep the floor of his own house, chop wood for fuel, carry water on his shoulders, mend his own shoes, wash his own clothes and milk his goat. Ali's (RA) wife Fatimah (R.Aa) did similar domestic jobs with her own hands, grinding wheat in the hand-mill, baking bread, lighting the oven, washing the dishes and tending to her children.
One day with when he was returning home with a bag of dates from the bazaar, he received many offers from people anxious to carry the bag for him. Hadrat Imam Ali (RA) refused them all, saying, "Whosoever is responsible for looking after his children, has the bigger responsibility of carrying the burden himself." Ali (RA), was often seen walking barefooted and on one occasion when he happened to be riding a horse he was distressed to find people following him on foot. When he asked them what they wanted, he was told that they felt elated by walking in his retinue (entourage, followers). To this Ali (RA) replied, "Go back to your business. By walking behind a rider, you will breed feelings of inferiority in yourselves and infect me with arrogance (conceit)."
On another occasion when Ali (RA) was discussing the essential qualities of a ruler in a sermon, a member of the congregation rose and praised Ali (RA) for his eloquence. Ali (RA) said that his subjects ought not to praise him, for he wanted no flattery, being all too conscious of his own unworthiness. Concluding his sermon he said, "To a person who has been influenced by the superb Majesty of God, everything else appears petty (little, trivial, insignificant) and frivolous (playful). He looks upon all other things as shallow and trivial. The worst ruler is one who is given to pride and arrogance and hears flattering words from others. All praise is due to God. You should not praise me because I herewith declare before God and all of you that are here, that I have many responsibilities, which still lie undischarged. In the face of this how can any one applaud me and consider me praiseworthy? You should not accord me that treatment which is only befitting to tyrants. Neither become afraid of me nor ever hesitate to tell the truth. Do not show any consideration to me if you feel that I am wanting in justice, and never conceal the truth from me. I cannot trust any flatterer (one who praises too much, toady) because he might mislead his tempting talk and me might beguile (entice) me into vainglory (vacuum, vagabond). I pray to God to save me from an erroneous path. We men are all alike and there is no other Master than God."
Sayings of Imam Ali (RA) 3
"Humility is your best friend in Life. If you are humble, your humility shall help you in your difficult time. Anyone who falls into the grip of an unkind person, and then talks to him with humility, his humble talk shall give relief to him. By humility he shall always be respected. Humility is a light in your life. Your life shall be enlightened with humility. People who come across you and find you humble, shall be delighted to meet you. All people will mark your good behaviour and humility, and they will be satisfied with your humble nature. Humility therefore, is the beauty of life. If you are humble, ALL people shall respect you and offer you a better seat and position. If you prefer to take a lower seat, you will be liked by all. Be humble and you will be very much respected by people who love those who are humble. Remember, everyone desires to take the side of the scale that stays downwards (the scale that is heavy). Man is upgraded by his humble nature. You always respect and salute people with your hand and that hand is called ‘THE RIGHTHAND'. The right hand is liked by people. You also eat meals with your right hand. You will be greatly benefited if you will not keep arrogance in your mind. Your life shall be happy, and you can live a long and happy life. If you have peace and happiness in your heart anyone who will come across you will be delighted and happy.
O Momins do not be harsh to anyone in your life and always be humble. Be soft as silk, since silk lasts long. Keep your heart humble and delicate.
O Momins, you have seen how green and tender the grass is. Keep your heart soft, tender, and delicate like the grass. Do not be hard and tough like a big tree in the jungle. When there is a storm, a big and hard tree collapses soon but the tender and delicate grass stays safe and sound. Even the wind and storm cannot harm the tender and delicate grass.
O Momins, be soft hearted; keep your heart tender and soft like butter. You know that pure butter is excellent. When food is cooked with pure butter, it tastes delicious.
Similarly, a delicate heart and mind gives happiness to all. It gives peace and contentment to our body, mind and heart. A narrow-minded person is hard and tough to others. Thus he has lots of enemies.
O Momins, if you will talk politely to others, you will be able to capture the hearts of people. A king can tie the hands and legs of people who live in his country, but he
cannot tie the hearts of the people. Anyone who knows how to speak politely and sweetly will make all people his friends, and is liked by one and all. Thus he gains immense benefits in life. The Almighty ALLAH blesses anyone who speaks politely and humbly. Talk politely with all people and you will please all. Remember there is Almighty ALLAH in the hearts of all. Therefore, if you will please their hearts, the Almighty Allah will shower His Choicest Blessings upon you. Be kind and polite to all and you will experience, that all will become your good friends. In your daily life you always come across your fellow brothers and sisters, so always be humble, polite and soft to them. A merchant who knows how to talk sweetly finds that his trade increases, his business expands and he can do good business. This world is like a bazaar. Speak politely to capture the hearts of people. In the hearts of all people Our Lord, is seated and if you have the desire to meet our Lord you have to be humble, soft and polite with all your fellow brothers and sisters.
O Momins, treat others as the elders. Think yourself as being small. Anyone who understood this high and great principle of LIFE has known the Truth and has expressed the beauty of RELIGION.
THE MODESTY OF GOD’S MESSENGER 4
In social life each man has a window called status through which he looks out to see others and be seen. If the window is built higher than his real stature, he tries, through
vanity and stretches himself up to be seen taller than he really is. If the window is set lower than his real stature, he must bow in humility in order to look out, to see and be seen. Humility is the measure of a man’s greatness; just as vanity or conceit is the measure of low character.
God’s Messenger had a stature as high as to touch the ‘roof of heavens’, so he had no need to be seen. He lowers himself to stay in the world for a while so that people might find the way to God. Since he is the greatest of mankind, he is the greatest in modesty - the greater one is, the more modest he/she is.
Rasoolullah (SAS) never regarded himself as greater than anybody else. No one could distinguish him among his Companions except for his radiant face and attractive personality. He lived as the poorest of them, dressed like them, sat among them and ate with them, as he did with slaves and servants. Once, a woman saw him eating and remarked: ‘He is eating as if he were a slave.’ Rasoolullah (SAS) responded to her, saying: Could there be a better slave than me? I am a slave of God. He was once serving his friends, when a Bedouin came in and shouted: ‘Who is the master of this people?’ The answer of Rasoolullah (SAS) was such, that, besides introducing himself, it also expressed a substantial principle of Islamic leadership and public administration: The master of the people is the one who serves them. In the words of Imam ‘Ali (RA), ‘among people, he was one of them’. When he reached Quba accompanied by Abu Bakr (RA) during Hijra, some people of Madina, who had not seen him before, tried to kiss the hands of Abu Bakr, because outwardly, there was no sign to distinguish the Prophet from Abu Bakr.
In the construction of the Mosque in Madina after the Hijra, he carried two sun-dried bricks while everybody else carried one. In the digging of the ditch around Madina to defend the city in the Battle of the Ditch, the Companions bound a stone around their bellies because of hunger, but God’s Messenger himself bound two, because he was hungrier than anybody else. Once, a man saw him and, due to his awe-inspiring appearance, began to tremble out of fear. Rasoolullah (SAS) calmed him, saying: ‘Brother, don’t be afraid! I am a man, like you, whose mother used to eat dry bread.’ Again, a woman suffering from insanity pulled him by the hand and said: ‘Come with me and do my housework.’ God’s Messenger went with the woman and did the housework. As reported by ‘A’isha (RAa), mother of believers, God’s Messenger patched his clothes, repaired his shoes and helped his wives with the housework.
Although his modesty elevated him to ‘the highest of the high’, he regarded himself as an ordinary servant of God. Once he said: No one can enter Paradise by his deeds. When asked whether he could not either, he answered: I cannot either, but for the Mercy of God. His Companions attempted to do nothing without consulting him or getting his permission or approval. Once, Hadrat ‘Umar came to him and asked his permission to go for (Umra) minor pilgrimage. Rasoolullah (SAS) gave him permission and made this request: Brother, include me in your Du'as (supplications). ‘Umar rejoiced so much at that one day he was to say later: ‘If the worlds had been granted to me that day, I would not have felt the same happiness.’
In addition to the other virtues of the Prophet (SAS), his humility was one of the greatest qualities. As he attained a higher rank each and every day, he increased in humility and servanthood to God. His servanthood is prior to his Messengership, as we mention in the declaration of faith: I bear witness that there is no god but God; I also bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. He preferred being a Prophet-slave to being a Prophet-king (Prophets David (AS) and Solomon (AS)).
God praises his servanthood and mentions him as a servant in several verses of the Qur’an:
When the servant of God stood up in prayer to Him, they (the jinn) were well nigh upon him in swarms (to watch his prayer). (Al-Jinn, 72:19)
"And if you are in doubt concerning that which We have sent down on Our servant, then bring a Surah of the like thereof, and call your witnesses beside God if you are truthful. (Al-Baqara, 2:23)
After the death of Khadija and Abu Talib, Rasoolullah (SAS) became convinced that he could no longer stay in Makkah with any hope of victory or security. Before things became too critical, he went to Ta’if in search of a new base for his faith, but he received there the worst kind of welcome. At a time when he felt himself without support and protection, God manifested His Mercy perfectly and honored him with the Ascension (Meraj), raising him to His Presence. While narrating this incident in the Qur’an, God mentions him, again, as His servant to show that God’s Messenger deserves Ascension through his servanthood:
"Glory be to him, Who carried His servant by night from the Holy Mosque to the Furthest Mosque, the precincts of which We have blessed, that We might show him some of Our signs. He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing. (Al-Isra’, 17:1)
Humility is the most important aspect of the servanthood of God’s Messenger, who declared: "Whoever is humble, God exalts him, and whoever is haughty, God abases him."
Hadrat Imam ‘Ali (RA) describes the Prophet (pbuh), " God’s Messenger was the most generous of people in giving out and the mildest and the foremost of them in patience and perseverance. He was the most truthful of people in speech, the most amiable (agreeable) and congenial (friendly, pleasant) in companionship and the noblest of them in family. Whoever sees him first is stricken by awe of him but whoever knows him closely is attracted to him deeply, and whoever attempts to describe him says: ‘I have, either before him or after him, never seen the like of him, upon him be peace and blessings’.
REFERENCES:
1. Fethullah Gulen, Tawadu. On line at www.Islamic-Paths.Org
2. Yousef N. Lalljee. Ali the Magnificent. Published by Tahrike Tarsile Qur'an, Elmhurst, NY 11377-0115, 1981
3. Ibid
4. Modesty of God's Messenger. On line at http://www.thewaytotruth.org/prophetmuhammad/modesty.html
In Arabic Tawadu means modesty and humility. Humility is the quality or state of being humble. The virtue of tawadu is the opposite of arrogance, pride and haughtiness. Humbleness means not assuming, not pretentious, insignificant, and lowly. We must put all our pride away. We must always thank Allah when we pray. All of us are equal to one another, and no one's better than anyone. What distinguishes us from others is the faith we have which Allah sees, deep inside our hearts. One should try hard to simply be humble and never act too proud. It's always best to be modest and keep our feet on the ground. Because pride will eat us up inside if we're arrogant and loud.
One can sincerely confess, "Everybody else is good but I am bad; everybody else is wheat but I am chaff", and then those of the highest stature in the heavens are kissing him on the head. Prophet (pbuh) said: "Whoever is humble, God exalts him, and whoever is haughty, God humiliates him." This means that being really great is inversely proportional to behaving as being small. This could be discerned from the lives of Prophets, Sahaba (companions of the Prophet (pbuh), Saints, great scholars, great men and women, Noble laureates.
Humility in the Companions
A Companion sees Caliph ‘Umar (RA- may God be pleased with him), carry water in a pitcher on his shoulder and asks him: ‘What are you about, O Caliph of God’s Messenger?’ Hadrat ‘Umar (RA), who is one of the foremost in nearness to God, answers: ‘some envoys have come from other countries. I have felt some conceit (excessively high opinion of oneself, one's appearance or ability: vanity) in my heart and wanted to suppress (subdue) it.’ ‘Umar (RA) used to carry flour on his back. Once he accused himself while giving sermon from the pulpit and he did not respond to those who criticized him. Like ‘Umar, Abu Hurayra (RA) carried wood for some time while he was the deputy governor of Madina. When he was the chief judge in Madina, Zayd ibn Thabit kissed the hand of Ibn ‘Abbas, and Ibn ‘Abbas, known as the Interpreter of the Qur’an and the Scholar of the Umma, helped Zayd get on his horse. Imam Hasan (RA), the Grandson of the Prophet, upon him be peace and blessings, sat together with some children who were eating bread crumbs and ate with them. Once Abu Dharr (RA) offended Bilal Habashi (RA) and in order that Bilal might forgive him, put his head on the ground and said: ‘If the blessed feet of Bilal do not tread on this sinful head, it will not rise from the ground.’ All these events and many similar others are instances of humility.
Both God Almighty and His Messenger emphasized humility so much that one who knows of it feels no doubt that servanthood consists in humility. The Qur’anic expression, "the servants of the All-Merciful are they who walk on the earth in modesty, and if the impudent (rude people) offend them, they continue their way saying ‘Peace!’ (25:63). The Qur'an praises humility, and the Divine statements; Allah loves a people who are "humble toward believers" (5:54) and merciful among themselves. Allah (SWT) says, "You find them bowing down and falling prostrate (48:29)". These are expressions of praise for their ingrained humility reflected in their conduct.
Concerning humility, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) declares: " God has ordered me that you must be humble and that no one must boast to another. Shall I inform you of one whom Hellfire will not touch? Hellfire will not touch one who is near to God and amiable (agreeable) with people, and mild and easy to get on with. God exalts one who is humble. That one sees himself as small but he is truly great in the sight of people. O God! Make me see myself as small. "
Nabi Kareem (pbuh) lived as the most humble of people.
He stopped at the places where children were, greeted them and played with them.
If someone held him by the hand and wanted to lead him somewhere, he never objected.
He helped his wives with housework.
When people were working, he worked together with them.
He mended his shoes and clothes, milked sheep and fed animals.
He sat at the table with his servant.
He always welcomed the poor warmly.
He looked after widows and orphans.
He visited the ill, followed funerals and answered the call of the slaves in the community.
The beloved servants of God, from Rasoolullah (SAS), to Caliph ‘Umar (RA) and the Umayyad Caliph ‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-’Aziz and from him to numerous saints, purified and perfected scholars, and those honored with nearness to God, have held that the sign of greatness in the great men and women is humility and modesty, while the signs of smallness in the small is arrogance and vanity, and they aimed thereby to guide people to the way of becoming perfect men. For those who have realized their nothingness before God Almighty are always balanced in both their religious lives and their relations with people. They have no problems with either the revealed truths of religion or in matters related to human reason. If Qur’anic revelations appear to them as contradictory to human reason or established rational or scientific facts; instead of objecting to them, they try to learn the truth of the matter. Those who have achieved humility are completely convinced of the superiority of the revealed truths. They are certain that it is impossible to be prosperous in the Aakhirah (other world) by following the ways that oppose the Qur’an and the Sunnah. They find the greatest source of power is to become an Abdullah (in servanthood to God). In reality, one who worships God never lowers himself to adore anybody else. Sa'id Nursi Bediuzzaman 1 said: " Do not boast of yourself in a way to see yourself as greater than others. Those who are truly humble do not attribute to themselves the fruits of their work and efforts, nor do they regard as a cause of superiority over others. They give credit to Allah (SWT) for their successes."
In short, just as humility is the portal (entrance) to good conduct or being characterized with the qualities of God (such as generosity, merciful, helpful, forgiving, etc.), it is also the first and foremost means of being near to both the created and the Creator. The time when a believer is nearest to God is when he is prostrate (Sajada) before Him.
Humility of Abu Bakr
Hadrat Abu Bakr (RA) was very humble. When he would see a bird, he would sigh that he were like such a bird. He would often say that he would prefer to be a hair on the body of a Muslim. When he went to perform the 'Hajj', and some people walked in his train (caravan), he asked them not to follow him, but to go their own way. Before becoming the Caliph he used to milk the goats in the neighborhood. After becoming the Caliph when Abu Bakr passed the street, one of the women remarked
"he has become the Caliph and he would no longer milk the goats." Abu Bakr heard these remarks and said that the caliphate made no difference to him, and that he would continue to milk their goats. If any one praised him, he would say, "O Allah, You know me more than myself, and I know myself more than these people who praise me. Make me better than what they think of me, and forgive those sins of mine of which they have no knowledge, and do not hold me responsible for what they say."
Ali’s humility 2
Hadrat Imam Ali (RA) was humble, detested showiness (pretension) and conceit (haughtiness, pride, superiority, vanity, and self-importance). Even as Caliph he used to sweep the floor of his own house, chop wood for fuel, carry water on his shoulders, mend his own shoes, wash his own clothes and milk his goat. Ali's (RA) wife Fatimah (R.Aa) did similar domestic jobs with her own hands, grinding wheat in the hand-mill, baking bread, lighting the oven, washing the dishes and tending to her children.
One day with when he was returning home with a bag of dates from the bazaar, he received many offers from people anxious to carry the bag for him. Hadrat Imam Ali (RA) refused them all, saying, "Whosoever is responsible for looking after his children, has the bigger responsibility of carrying the burden himself." Ali (RA), was often seen walking barefooted and on one occasion when he happened to be riding a horse he was distressed to find people following him on foot. When he asked them what they wanted, he was told that they felt elated by walking in his retinue (entourage, followers). To this Ali (RA) replied, "Go back to your business. By walking behind a rider, you will breed feelings of inferiority in yourselves and infect me with arrogance (conceit)."
On another occasion when Ali (RA) was discussing the essential qualities of a ruler in a sermon, a member of the congregation rose and praised Ali (RA) for his eloquence. Ali (RA) said that his subjects ought not to praise him, for he wanted no flattery, being all too conscious of his own unworthiness. Concluding his sermon he said, "To a person who has been influenced by the superb Majesty of God, everything else appears petty (little, trivial, insignificant) and frivolous (playful). He looks upon all other things as shallow and trivial. The worst ruler is one who is given to pride and arrogance and hears flattering words from others. All praise is due to God. You should not praise me because I herewith declare before God and all of you that are here, that I have many responsibilities, which still lie undischarged. In the face of this how can any one applaud me and consider me praiseworthy? You should not accord me that treatment which is only befitting to tyrants. Neither become afraid of me nor ever hesitate to tell the truth. Do not show any consideration to me if you feel that I am wanting in justice, and never conceal the truth from me. I cannot trust any flatterer (one who praises too much, toady) because he might mislead his tempting talk and me might beguile (entice) me into vainglory (vacuum, vagabond). I pray to God to save me from an erroneous path. We men are all alike and there is no other Master than God."
Sayings of Imam Ali (RA) 3
"Humility is your best friend in Life. If you are humble, your humility shall help you in your difficult time. Anyone who falls into the grip of an unkind person, and then talks to him with humility, his humble talk shall give relief to him. By humility he shall always be respected. Humility is a light in your life. Your life shall be enlightened with humility. People who come across you and find you humble, shall be delighted to meet you. All people will mark your good behaviour and humility, and they will be satisfied with your humble nature. Humility therefore, is the beauty of life. If you are humble, ALL people shall respect you and offer you a better seat and position. If you prefer to take a lower seat, you will be liked by all. Be humble and you will be very much respected by people who love those who are humble. Remember, everyone desires to take the side of the scale that stays downwards (the scale that is heavy). Man is upgraded by his humble nature. You always respect and salute people with your hand and that hand is called ‘THE RIGHTHAND'. The right hand is liked by people. You also eat meals with your right hand. You will be greatly benefited if you will not keep arrogance in your mind. Your life shall be happy, and you can live a long and happy life. If you have peace and happiness in your heart anyone who will come across you will be delighted and happy.
O Momins do not be harsh to anyone in your life and always be humble. Be soft as silk, since silk lasts long. Keep your heart humble and delicate.
O Momins, you have seen how green and tender the grass is. Keep your heart soft, tender, and delicate like the grass. Do not be hard and tough like a big tree in the jungle. When there is a storm, a big and hard tree collapses soon but the tender and delicate grass stays safe and sound. Even the wind and storm cannot harm the tender and delicate grass.
O Momins, be soft hearted; keep your heart tender and soft like butter. You know that pure butter is excellent. When food is cooked with pure butter, it tastes delicious.
Similarly, a delicate heart and mind gives happiness to all. It gives peace and contentment to our body, mind and heart. A narrow-minded person is hard and tough to others. Thus he has lots of enemies.
O Momins, if you will talk politely to others, you will be able to capture the hearts of people. A king can tie the hands and legs of people who live in his country, but he
cannot tie the hearts of the people. Anyone who knows how to speak politely and sweetly will make all people his friends, and is liked by one and all. Thus he gains immense benefits in life. The Almighty ALLAH blesses anyone who speaks politely and humbly. Talk politely with all people and you will please all. Remember there is Almighty ALLAH in the hearts of all. Therefore, if you will please their hearts, the Almighty Allah will shower His Choicest Blessings upon you. Be kind and polite to all and you will experience, that all will become your good friends. In your daily life you always come across your fellow brothers and sisters, so always be humble, polite and soft to them. A merchant who knows how to talk sweetly finds that his trade increases, his business expands and he can do good business. This world is like a bazaar. Speak politely to capture the hearts of people. In the hearts of all people Our Lord, is seated and if you have the desire to meet our Lord you have to be humble, soft and polite with all your fellow brothers and sisters.
O Momins, treat others as the elders. Think yourself as being small. Anyone who understood this high and great principle of LIFE has known the Truth and has expressed the beauty of RELIGION.
THE MODESTY OF GOD’S MESSENGER 4
In social life each man has a window called status through which he looks out to see others and be seen. If the window is built higher than his real stature, he tries, through
vanity and stretches himself up to be seen taller than he really is. If the window is set lower than his real stature, he must bow in humility in order to look out, to see and be seen. Humility is the measure of a man’s greatness; just as vanity or conceit is the measure of low character.
God’s Messenger had a stature as high as to touch the ‘roof of heavens’, so he had no need to be seen. He lowers himself to stay in the world for a while so that people might find the way to God. Since he is the greatest of mankind, he is the greatest in modesty - the greater one is, the more modest he/she is.
Rasoolullah (SAS) never regarded himself as greater than anybody else. No one could distinguish him among his Companions except for his radiant face and attractive personality. He lived as the poorest of them, dressed like them, sat among them and ate with them, as he did with slaves and servants. Once, a woman saw him eating and remarked: ‘He is eating as if he were a slave.’ Rasoolullah (SAS) responded to her, saying: Could there be a better slave than me? I am a slave of God. He was once serving his friends, when a Bedouin came in and shouted: ‘Who is the master of this people?’ The answer of Rasoolullah (SAS) was such, that, besides introducing himself, it also expressed a substantial principle of Islamic leadership and public administration: The master of the people is the one who serves them. In the words of Imam ‘Ali (RA), ‘among people, he was one of them’. When he reached Quba accompanied by Abu Bakr (RA) during Hijra, some people of Madina, who had not seen him before, tried to kiss the hands of Abu Bakr, because outwardly, there was no sign to distinguish the Prophet from Abu Bakr.
In the construction of the Mosque in Madina after the Hijra, he carried two sun-dried bricks while everybody else carried one. In the digging of the ditch around Madina to defend the city in the Battle of the Ditch, the Companions bound a stone around their bellies because of hunger, but God’s Messenger himself bound two, because he was hungrier than anybody else. Once, a man saw him and, due to his awe-inspiring appearance, began to tremble out of fear. Rasoolullah (SAS) calmed him, saying: ‘Brother, don’t be afraid! I am a man, like you, whose mother used to eat dry bread.’ Again, a woman suffering from insanity pulled him by the hand and said: ‘Come with me and do my housework.’ God’s Messenger went with the woman and did the housework. As reported by ‘A’isha (RAa), mother of believers, God’s Messenger patched his clothes, repaired his shoes and helped his wives with the housework.
Although his modesty elevated him to ‘the highest of the high’, he regarded himself as an ordinary servant of God. Once he said: No one can enter Paradise by his deeds. When asked whether he could not either, he answered: I cannot either, but for the Mercy of God. His Companions attempted to do nothing without consulting him or getting his permission or approval. Once, Hadrat ‘Umar came to him and asked his permission to go for (Umra) minor pilgrimage. Rasoolullah (SAS) gave him permission and made this request: Brother, include me in your Du'as (supplications). ‘Umar rejoiced so much at that one day he was to say later: ‘If the worlds had been granted to me that day, I would not have felt the same happiness.’
In addition to the other virtues of the Prophet (SAS), his humility was one of the greatest qualities. As he attained a higher rank each and every day, he increased in humility and servanthood to God. His servanthood is prior to his Messengership, as we mention in the declaration of faith: I bear witness that there is no god but God; I also bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. He preferred being a Prophet-slave to being a Prophet-king (Prophets David (AS) and Solomon (AS)).
God praises his servanthood and mentions him as a servant in several verses of the Qur’an:
When the servant of God stood up in prayer to Him, they (the jinn) were well nigh upon him in swarms (to watch his prayer). (Al-Jinn, 72:19)
"And if you are in doubt concerning that which We have sent down on Our servant, then bring a Surah of the like thereof, and call your witnesses beside God if you are truthful. (Al-Baqara, 2:23)
After the death of Khadija and Abu Talib, Rasoolullah (SAS) became convinced that he could no longer stay in Makkah with any hope of victory or security. Before things became too critical, he went to Ta’if in search of a new base for his faith, but he received there the worst kind of welcome. At a time when he felt himself without support and protection, God manifested His Mercy perfectly and honored him with the Ascension (Meraj), raising him to His Presence. While narrating this incident in the Qur’an, God mentions him, again, as His servant to show that God’s Messenger deserves Ascension through his servanthood:
"Glory be to him, Who carried His servant by night from the Holy Mosque to the Furthest Mosque, the precincts of which We have blessed, that We might show him some of Our signs. He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing. (Al-Isra’, 17:1)
Humility is the most important aspect of the servanthood of God’s Messenger, who declared: "Whoever is humble, God exalts him, and whoever is haughty, God abases him."
Hadrat Imam ‘Ali (RA) describes the Prophet (pbuh), " God’s Messenger was the most generous of people in giving out and the mildest and the foremost of them in patience and perseverance. He was the most truthful of people in speech, the most amiable (agreeable) and congenial (friendly, pleasant) in companionship and the noblest of them in family. Whoever sees him first is stricken by awe of him but whoever knows him closely is attracted to him deeply, and whoever attempts to describe him says: ‘I have, either before him or after him, never seen the like of him, upon him be peace and blessings’.
REFERENCES:
1. Fethullah Gulen, Tawadu. On line at www.Islamic-Paths.Org
2. Yousef N. Lalljee. Ali the Magnificent. Published by Tahrike Tarsile Qur'an, Elmhurst, NY 11377-0115, 1981
3. Ibid
4. Modesty of God's Messenger. On line at http://www.thewaytotruth.org/prophetmuhammad/modesty.html
NOTES ON THE EDUCATION OF MUSLIM CHILDREN
Foundation of Education
Education is the birth right of every Muslim and Muslimah. Investment in education is the best investment one can make, because it eventually leads to intellectual property. Intellectual property is the intangible property, which no one can steal or destroy. This is the property on which no Government can levy a tax. Hence, the foundation for education should start from childhood. It becomes imperative that the education of children be given the utmost importance as the prime duty to every parent, society, Government and nation.
Islamic Traditions
To the Muslims a child is a trust from Allah (SWT) in the hands of the parents. The heart of a child can be compared to a fine and clean slate without any writing on it. Hence the child could be developed into any type of human being depending on what type of environment he or she is exposed to. If a child is educated in the traditions of goodness including the Noble Qur'an and the Seerah of the Prophet Muhammad (SAS), he or she will surely follow the truth when grown up and will attain health, happiness, and success both in this world and the hereafter. The reaching of great heights by the child gives the greatest pleasure both to the parents and the teachers. Even the community and the nation share in the child's achievements. On the other hand, lack of proper education destroys the bright future of the child. The blame and responsibility for this unpleasant and sad deed has to be shared both by the parents and the teachers, as well as the community and the nation. Therefore parenting is not any easy task. In some societies people literally spit on the faces of the parents whose children have gone astray. Right from the beginning parents should impart good conduct to their children and discourage them from bad company. Children should be taught to exercise control in self-adornment, extremes of pleasure and comfort.
The care of the child starts from the time of birth. Bottle-feeding should be kept away unless the mother has problems in breast-feeding. The virtues of breast-feeding to the child and the mother have been elaborated elsewhere by the author. The mother's milk not only nourishes the body and immunizes it but also builds up the mind and strengthens the emotional bonds of love and affection.
Teaching Manners
When the child reaches an age enabling him or her to distinguish things, greater care should be taken to teach good manners and respect for others. This is the time to teach table manners particularly Islamic traditions - recitation of Bismillah ("In the name of Allah"), using the right hand to eat, to eat from the plate the items near to him or her, not getting greedy at other's eating, to chew food thoroughly and slowly, avoiding haste, preventing of smearing one's hands on clothes. Mothers should be careful not to inculcate the habit of overeating. Parents should emphasize eating plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits, reducing salt intake, discourage consumption of chocolates, sweets, candies, coffee, tea, soft drinks and encourage drinking of skim milk, fruit juices, low calorie, cholesterol-free, fat-free ice creams, yogurts.
Children must be complimented for moderate eating and for sharing food and toys with other children, so that they can learn sharing and self-sacrificing, as these qualities will lead to success in their married and professional lives. Children should be taught to develop simplicity and humility in their actions and behavior.
Teaching the 3 Rs
Children should attend schools to learn reading, writing and arithmetic, in addition they should be taught the Qur'an, Seerah of Prophet Muhammad (SAS), Islamic history and stories of the Muslim Heroes and Heroines, so that the values and virtues in these things may take root in their hearts. Apart from sciences and mathematics children must be allowed to read world history, poetry, literature, art, fiction, etc.
Child Discipline
Children should be praised for their good actions and behavior and rewarded but seldom monetarily. This will make the children pleased and encouraged to repeat their good deeds. Whenever children commit mistakes or undesirable acts for the first time, they should be forgiven and their acts or misdeeds should be corrected in a loving and affectionate way without any harshness. Children should not be scolded frequently, particularly in front of their playmates or other adults. Scolding makes them insensitive and they continue the bad acts and may acquire undesirable habits. However the parents should communicate with their children and the father should not only talk to them but also discipline them without any physical harm. The mother should show her love and affection and at the same time remind them of their father's warnings and tell them to keep away from evil things.
During the day time children should be allowed to study and also to play otherwise their intellect will be dulled, and their physical bodies will not be in good shape. At night they must go to bed early. "Early to bed and early to rise make one healthy, wealthy, and wise." Children should not be allowed to do anything in secret, as it may encourage them to bad things and hide them from parents, teachers and friends. Openness, frankness and honesty are great virtues of leadership. At the same time, the children must be taught not to boast to their friends about parents' possessions, their living conditions, and family matters. Children must be taught to respect others and to show gentleness and humility.
Teaching by Action
If parents are wealthy, their children should be exposed to the acts of Zakah, Sadaqah, fitrah charities towards the poor, kith, and kin, and other deserving poor people. If the parents are poor, their children should be taught to live within their means, to strive and work hard for a better life, but never to steal, rob, or cheat others for a living.
Children must be taught to respect parents and elders and to make room for them. Children should not swear in order to speak the truth. Their habit of taking oaths should be avoided. They should be taught good manners of sitting and speaking. They should be encouraged to ask questions, but should not become chatterboxes. They should distinguish the bad habits from good habits. They should avoid the company of those who have bad habits. They should keep away from children who smoke, drink alcohol, abuse drugs, violate morality, and ethics.
Education is the birth right of every Muslim and Muslimah. Investment in education is the best investment one can make, because it eventually leads to intellectual property. Intellectual property is the intangible property, which no one can steal or destroy. This is the property on which no Government can levy a tax. Hence, the foundation for education should start from childhood. It becomes imperative that the education of children be given the utmost importance as the prime duty to every parent, society, Government and nation.
Islamic Traditions
To the Muslims a child is a trust from Allah (SWT) in the hands of the parents. The heart of a child can be compared to a fine and clean slate without any writing on it. Hence the child could be developed into any type of human being depending on what type of environment he or she is exposed to. If a child is educated in the traditions of goodness including the Noble Qur'an and the Seerah of the Prophet Muhammad (SAS), he or she will surely follow the truth when grown up and will attain health, happiness, and success both in this world and the hereafter. The reaching of great heights by the child gives the greatest pleasure both to the parents and the teachers. Even the community and the nation share in the child's achievements. On the other hand, lack of proper education destroys the bright future of the child. The blame and responsibility for this unpleasant and sad deed has to be shared both by the parents and the teachers, as well as the community and the nation. Therefore parenting is not any easy task. In some societies people literally spit on the faces of the parents whose children have gone astray. Right from the beginning parents should impart good conduct to their children and discourage them from bad company. Children should be taught to exercise control in self-adornment, extremes of pleasure and comfort.
The care of the child starts from the time of birth. Bottle-feeding should be kept away unless the mother has problems in breast-feeding. The virtues of breast-feeding to the child and the mother have been elaborated elsewhere by the author. The mother's milk not only nourishes the body and immunizes it but also builds up the mind and strengthens the emotional bonds of love and affection.
Teaching Manners
When the child reaches an age enabling him or her to distinguish things, greater care should be taken to teach good manners and respect for others. This is the time to teach table manners particularly Islamic traditions - recitation of Bismillah ("In the name of Allah"), using the right hand to eat, to eat from the plate the items near to him or her, not getting greedy at other's eating, to chew food thoroughly and slowly, avoiding haste, preventing of smearing one's hands on clothes. Mothers should be careful not to inculcate the habit of overeating. Parents should emphasize eating plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits, reducing salt intake, discourage consumption of chocolates, sweets, candies, coffee, tea, soft drinks and encourage drinking of skim milk, fruit juices, low calorie, cholesterol-free, fat-free ice creams, yogurts.
Children must be complimented for moderate eating and for sharing food and toys with other children, so that they can learn sharing and self-sacrificing, as these qualities will lead to success in their married and professional lives. Children should be taught to develop simplicity and humility in their actions and behavior.
Teaching the 3 Rs
Children should attend schools to learn reading, writing and arithmetic, in addition they should be taught the Qur'an, Seerah of Prophet Muhammad (SAS), Islamic history and stories of the Muslim Heroes and Heroines, so that the values and virtues in these things may take root in their hearts. Apart from sciences and mathematics children must be allowed to read world history, poetry, literature, art, fiction, etc.
Child Discipline
Children should be praised for their good actions and behavior and rewarded but seldom monetarily. This will make the children pleased and encouraged to repeat their good deeds. Whenever children commit mistakes or undesirable acts for the first time, they should be forgiven and their acts or misdeeds should be corrected in a loving and affectionate way without any harshness. Children should not be scolded frequently, particularly in front of their playmates or other adults. Scolding makes them insensitive and they continue the bad acts and may acquire undesirable habits. However the parents should communicate with their children and the father should not only talk to them but also discipline them without any physical harm. The mother should show her love and affection and at the same time remind them of their father's warnings and tell them to keep away from evil things.
During the day time children should be allowed to study and also to play otherwise their intellect will be dulled, and their physical bodies will not be in good shape. At night they must go to bed early. "Early to bed and early to rise make one healthy, wealthy, and wise." Children should not be allowed to do anything in secret, as it may encourage them to bad things and hide them from parents, teachers and friends. Openness, frankness and honesty are great virtues of leadership. At the same time, the children must be taught not to boast to their friends about parents' possessions, their living conditions, and family matters. Children must be taught to respect others and to show gentleness and humility.
Teaching by Action
If parents are wealthy, their children should be exposed to the acts of Zakah, Sadaqah, fitrah charities towards the poor, kith, and kin, and other deserving poor people. If the parents are poor, their children should be taught to live within their means, to strive and work hard for a better life, but never to steal, rob, or cheat others for a living.
Children must be taught to respect parents and elders and to make room for them. Children should not swear in order to speak the truth. Their habit of taking oaths should be avoided. They should be taught good manners of sitting and speaking. They should be encouraged to ask questions, but should not become chatterboxes. They should distinguish the bad habits from good habits. They should avoid the company of those who have bad habits. They should keep away from children who smoke, drink alcohol, abuse drugs, violate morality, and ethics.
Benefits OF BREAST FEEDING
The Muslims read the following verse in the Qur'an with regard to breast-feeding the infants:
And mothers suckle their children full two years; it is for one who wants to complete the (period of) suckling. And on him, to whom the child is born, falls the provision of food and clothing for them (the mothers) with fairness. Nobody is obligated beyond his capacity. No mother shall be made to suffer on account of her child, nor a man to whom the child is born, on account of his child. And on the heir it falls likewise. Now, if they want to wean, with mutual consent, and consultation, there is no sin on them. And if you want to get your children suckled (by a wet-nurse), there is no sin on you when you pay off what you are to give, as recognized. And fear Allah and be sure that Allah is watchful of what you do. …..The Qur'an, Surah Al-Baqara, 2: Verse 233)
There is a dramatic decline in breast-feeding in the United States and European countries, which are all Industrialized countries. It is disheartening to note the abandonment of breast-feeding in developing countries, such as India and others in Asia, Africa, and South America. This is particularly true in tire urban and periurban areas. In both Europe and United States, the shift from breast milk to artificial means of infant feeding was both recent (since 1930*s) and rapid. Bottle-feeding has many disadvantages for the child, mother, society, and the nation. The liberated women think bottle feeding is natural and normal, and that breast-feeding is old-fashioned, animal-like, primitive, and obsolete. They treat breast-feeding as a sign of backwardness, low social status, ignorance and poverty. On the contrary, none of these is true. They are being exploited by self-interested, profit making commercial enterprises, which manufacture bottles, nipples, baby foods, milk powder, formulas, pacifiers, etc.
Breast-feeding is a very natural and normal way designed by God.
BENEFITS TO THE CHILD
Breast fed babies not only grow healthy with mental and physical development, but their chances of survival is substantially higher compared to the bottle fed babies. In a study conducted in the Khanna district of the rural Punjab, it was found that 19 of the 20 infants (95%) who were artificially fed from birth, died before reaching age one. But only 12 percent of the breast-fed infants died before reaching age one.
Human milk is the best food for the human infants. An analysis of human milk shows it consists of more than 100 separate constituents of which few of them are available to the bottle fed infant. Human milk is easily assimilated by the infant with quick emptying of the stomach with almost 100% protein utilization. Lactose (primary sugar) helps in the absorption of calcium, increases protein efficiency, and creates an acid medium in the child's intestines. The growth of putrefactive bacteria is inhibited by the presence of pure culture of Lactobacillus bifidus in the baby's intestines. This prevents diarrhea too! A mother can breast feed her baby even under unhygienic conditions without fear of Infection due to the presence of lysozomes. Fewer Infections, absence of food allergy, and many immunological benefits are derived from breast milk. One study showed that the bottle-fed children had a higher incidence of gastrointestinal diseases, respiratory, middle-ear diseases (chronic ear infection-), anemia, allergic and autoimmune diseases compared to the traditionally breast fed youngsters.
As the infant grows, his increasing need for milk is met by stronger sucking which in turn stimulates more milk production. Sucking in the first 24 to 48 hours after birth causes the breasts to secrete colostrums. Colostrum is the name given to the first milk secreted by the breast; it is much richer and creamier than the milk that soon follows. This first milk has been reported as being valuable to the infant's health, for cells present in colostrum have been known to ingest and destroy bacteria. It has also been reported that no formula can duplicate the gradual changes that occur in the colostrum and milk following childbirth. Colostrum contains natural antibodies against measles, polio, mumps, and a host of other diseases. Colostrum acts on bacteria (E. Coil) that are notorious for causing infant diarrhea the first month of life and may cause infantile meningitis, and offers the baby protection against respiratory infections, such as flu and pneumonia. Breast milk protects a child from obesity, staph and other infections. Cow's milk causes allergy in some children. It may manifest itself by mild wheezing (asthma), eczema or persistent colds. Breast fed babies have less diaper rash and require less care.
God has designed baby's facial structures, such as flat nose, sucking pads in the cheeks, in such a way, as is best fit for breast-feeding. The ridged edge of the gums helps the baby to grasp and to hold on to the nipple while sucking. In Western countries, a dentist will point out the frequent problems of bottle fed babies, such as lip and finger sucking, tongue-thrusting, tooth decay, bite deformities, incorrect swallowing and mouth breathing. The tongue and jaw muscles of a breast fed baby show better muscular development, as he has to suck harder with his lips, tongue, and Jaw muscles.
The breast is nature's pacifier for the baby. It calms the Infant. The baby finds security and warmth at his mother's breast.
BENEFITS TO THE MOTHER
The American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute in United States, report that cancer of the breast is more apt to develop in those breasts that do not give milk (among Nuns, unmarried women, married women with no children, mothers who bottle-fed) and scientific studies confirm the fact that long-term breast-feeding lowers the breast cancer risk.
If the infant is allowed to suck immediately after birth, the sucking causes a strong uterine contraction, which helps to expel the placenta, and also prevents post-partum (after birth) hemorrhage. With continued nursing, the uterus involutes rapidly without shots and pills. Many times a third-degree prolapse of the uterus after the birth of a child virtually disappears without surgical correction in cases of breast-feeding mothers. Breast-feeding may help restore the sagging sinews and muscles to original condition.
It has been well established that breast-feeding has a contraceptive effect by delaying the return of ovulation. The underlying mechanism is believed to operate through an ovulation effect of prolactin and other hormones secreted in response to the infant's suckling. The high levels of prolactin in the mother's body stimulate the ovaries to maintain a high progesterone level. As a result of this, the return of menstruation 1s delayed anywhere from eight to eighteen months. This is good for the mother as her body's iron is conserved. A lengthy absence from menstrual periods following childbirth 1s called lactation amenorrhea. Not having periods during pregnancy is termed pregnancy amenorrhea. Many mothers have relied successfully on breast-feeding during amenorrhea as a method of natural child spacing, and some mothers have experienced some infertile cycles after the return of menses. However, some nursing mothers have conceived without a return of menses. Present research seems to indicate that the risk of pregnancy during lactation amenorrhea (prior to the first menses after childbirth) is about 6 percent. Thus, lactation amenorrhea is a health asset to the mother in her childbearing years. Breast-feeding eliminates the need for drugs and prevents breast cancer.
Nursing provides brief rests during the day and gives relaxation for a mother who tends to be tense and nervous or gives a break for a busy mother. Bottle feeding mothers don't have prolactin, a "mothering" (Mamta in Hindi/Urdu) hormone, whereas prolactin in a nursing mother produces the mood and a feeling of a good mother. The personal satisfaction that a woman can experience only through breast feeding, the total giving of herself to her baby, and a deep feeling of pride in her motherly accomplishments cannot be found in bottle feeding mothers. A nursing mother learns that true fulfillment comes in the giving and not the taking.
Breast-feeding saves time of the mother. She need not spend the time in the kitchen preparing bottles, nipples, and formula, or spend the time in cleaning up afterwards. Nighttime feedings are no bother when mothers generally nurse in bed and fall asleep while doing so. This also doesn't disturb the sleep of other members of the family. Breast feeding not only helps satisfy the baby's nutritional and emotional needs, but satisfies the emotional needs of the mother — not only in that it is restful for her, but she derives satisfaction in doing what is best for her baby and from having a contented and quiet baby as a result. Baby and mother thrive on each other. More and more emphasis is being placed on the importance of skin-to-skin contact between parent and child. Physical contact generates warm feelings of being loved and appreciated. The baby feels secure in the mother's arms or bosom. With breast-feeding, the child is guaranteed frequent contact with his mother. The child needs to receive much skin stimulation from his mother (nursing a baby, rubbing a child's back. or rocking a child to sloop) In order to survive physically and emotionally. Breast-feeding is a very satisfying and enjoyable experience for the nursing mother. It gives a mother a feeling of satisfaction, security, and trust in herself, which she needs in the future care of her child. Ashley Montague in his book, Touching: The Human Significance of the Skin, says, "tactile failure in infancy results only too often in estrangement, uninvolvement, lack of identity, detachment, emotional shallowness and Indifference -- all marks of the schizoid or schizophrenic personality."
For a traveling mother, nothing can match the conveniences of breast-feeding without the problems of baby stops warming the bottle, or running short of formula.
BENEFITS TO THE FAMILY, SOCIETY AND NATION
Breast-feeding saves money for the family. Money not spent on bottles, nipples, brushes, sterilizer, formula, juice, foods, food and bottle warmers, and the gas, electricity or fuel wood required in the preparation, is money saved for the family. In the years to come, less money will be spent on doctor's fees, hospital fees, and probably fewer drugs and fewer dental bills. Except the tender loving rare, breast-feeding costs nothing. In case of bottle fed babies, the artificial foods and juices stain baby's and mother's clothes and require frequent washing and dry-cleaning.
When all infants are breast fed, then the society will have mentally and physically healthy and active children. When these children grow the nation will be proud of its great leaders and admirable citizens. Such a nation will be strong in character and a model nation to emulate.
Breast-feeding never pollutes a country's air or water, nor does it detract from the environment. With bottle-feeding, our environment will be polluted with broken or unbroken bottles, bottle liners, nipples, pacifiers, baby jars, cereal boxes, sterilizers, formula, and powder milk cans, bottle brushes, so on and so forth. With natural breast-feeding, there will be a decrease in the usage of sanitary napkins because mothers would be averaging one year or more without menstruating after childbirth.
It was mentioned earlier that prolonged lactation protects against pregnancy mainly by delaying the "return of ovulation. The problem of population growth is a very serious and urgent, problem of developing countries. If unchecked or uncontrolled, it will be detrimental to the country. The abandonment of breast-feeding among the urban people in the developing countries will have a significant demographic impact resulting in increased birth rates because the practice of birth control is not universal. It is recognized that although lactation is not highly reliable as a contraceptive for individual women, it can have a large effect at the societal level, especially where the practice of birth control is not widespread. The developing countries should give more attention to the role of breast-feeding in decreasing the birth rate as a natural child spacer. A slogan like "Breast-fed is Best-fed" should be popularized.
CONCLUSIONS:
In the foregoing it was shown that breast-feeding humanizes a child whereas bottle-feeding tends to mechanize him. The advantages of breast-feeding are promotion of infant survival; breast milk is nutritionally ideal at least for the first six months, provides some immunity from disease and is clean. Breast feeding benefits include mental and physical development of the infant and economic advantages for the parents.
Natural mothering is not going to cure all of the problems of the world, but it does have some far-reaching effects. At the family level, it contributes to the physical and emotional health of both mother and baby. At the larger community level, it results in less pollution in a number of ways, and, at the level of both the individual family and the nation, it provides a natural form of birth regulation. With all these benefits for natural mothering, it would seem more than appropriate that it would be encouraged at every level.
And mothers suckle their children full two years; it is for one who wants to complete the (period of) suckling. And on him, to whom the child is born, falls the provision of food and clothing for them (the mothers) with fairness. Nobody is obligated beyond his capacity. No mother shall be made to suffer on account of her child, nor a man to whom the child is born, on account of his child. And on the heir it falls likewise. Now, if they want to wean, with mutual consent, and consultation, there is no sin on them. And if you want to get your children suckled (by a wet-nurse), there is no sin on you when you pay off what you are to give, as recognized. And fear Allah and be sure that Allah is watchful of what you do. …..The Qur'an, Surah Al-Baqara, 2: Verse 233)
There is a dramatic decline in breast-feeding in the United States and European countries, which are all Industrialized countries. It is disheartening to note the abandonment of breast-feeding in developing countries, such as India and others in Asia, Africa, and South America. This is particularly true in tire urban and periurban areas. In both Europe and United States, the shift from breast milk to artificial means of infant feeding was both recent (since 1930*s) and rapid. Bottle-feeding has many disadvantages for the child, mother, society, and the nation. The liberated women think bottle feeding is natural and normal, and that breast-feeding is old-fashioned, animal-like, primitive, and obsolete. They treat breast-feeding as a sign of backwardness, low social status, ignorance and poverty. On the contrary, none of these is true. They are being exploited by self-interested, profit making commercial enterprises, which manufacture bottles, nipples, baby foods, milk powder, formulas, pacifiers, etc.
Breast-feeding is a very natural and normal way designed by God.
BENEFITS TO THE CHILD
Breast fed babies not only grow healthy with mental and physical development, but their chances of survival is substantially higher compared to the bottle fed babies. In a study conducted in the Khanna district of the rural Punjab, it was found that 19 of the 20 infants (95%) who were artificially fed from birth, died before reaching age one. But only 12 percent of the breast-fed infants died before reaching age one.
Human milk is the best food for the human infants. An analysis of human milk shows it consists of more than 100 separate constituents of which few of them are available to the bottle fed infant. Human milk is easily assimilated by the infant with quick emptying of the stomach with almost 100% protein utilization. Lactose (primary sugar) helps in the absorption of calcium, increases protein efficiency, and creates an acid medium in the child's intestines. The growth of putrefactive bacteria is inhibited by the presence of pure culture of Lactobacillus bifidus in the baby's intestines. This prevents diarrhea too! A mother can breast feed her baby even under unhygienic conditions without fear of Infection due to the presence of lysozomes. Fewer Infections, absence of food allergy, and many immunological benefits are derived from breast milk. One study showed that the bottle-fed children had a higher incidence of gastrointestinal diseases, respiratory, middle-ear diseases (chronic ear infection-), anemia, allergic and autoimmune diseases compared to the traditionally breast fed youngsters.
As the infant grows, his increasing need for milk is met by stronger sucking which in turn stimulates more milk production. Sucking in the first 24 to 48 hours after birth causes the breasts to secrete colostrums. Colostrum is the name given to the first milk secreted by the breast; it is much richer and creamier than the milk that soon follows. This first milk has been reported as being valuable to the infant's health, for cells present in colostrum have been known to ingest and destroy bacteria. It has also been reported that no formula can duplicate the gradual changes that occur in the colostrum and milk following childbirth. Colostrum contains natural antibodies against measles, polio, mumps, and a host of other diseases. Colostrum acts on bacteria (E. Coil) that are notorious for causing infant diarrhea the first month of life and may cause infantile meningitis, and offers the baby protection against respiratory infections, such as flu and pneumonia. Breast milk protects a child from obesity, staph and other infections. Cow's milk causes allergy in some children. It may manifest itself by mild wheezing (asthma), eczema or persistent colds. Breast fed babies have less diaper rash and require less care.
God has designed baby's facial structures, such as flat nose, sucking pads in the cheeks, in such a way, as is best fit for breast-feeding. The ridged edge of the gums helps the baby to grasp and to hold on to the nipple while sucking. In Western countries, a dentist will point out the frequent problems of bottle fed babies, such as lip and finger sucking, tongue-thrusting, tooth decay, bite deformities, incorrect swallowing and mouth breathing. The tongue and jaw muscles of a breast fed baby show better muscular development, as he has to suck harder with his lips, tongue, and Jaw muscles.
The breast is nature's pacifier for the baby. It calms the Infant. The baby finds security and warmth at his mother's breast.
BENEFITS TO THE MOTHER
The American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute in United States, report that cancer of the breast is more apt to develop in those breasts that do not give milk (among Nuns, unmarried women, married women with no children, mothers who bottle-fed) and scientific studies confirm the fact that long-term breast-feeding lowers the breast cancer risk.
If the infant is allowed to suck immediately after birth, the sucking causes a strong uterine contraction, which helps to expel the placenta, and also prevents post-partum (after birth) hemorrhage. With continued nursing, the uterus involutes rapidly without shots and pills. Many times a third-degree prolapse of the uterus after the birth of a child virtually disappears without surgical correction in cases of breast-feeding mothers. Breast-feeding may help restore the sagging sinews and muscles to original condition.
It has been well established that breast-feeding has a contraceptive effect by delaying the return of ovulation. The underlying mechanism is believed to operate through an ovulation effect of prolactin and other hormones secreted in response to the infant's suckling. The high levels of prolactin in the mother's body stimulate the ovaries to maintain a high progesterone level. As a result of this, the return of menstruation 1s delayed anywhere from eight to eighteen months. This is good for the mother as her body's iron is conserved. A lengthy absence from menstrual periods following childbirth 1s called lactation amenorrhea. Not having periods during pregnancy is termed pregnancy amenorrhea. Many mothers have relied successfully on breast-feeding during amenorrhea as a method of natural child spacing, and some mothers have experienced some infertile cycles after the return of menses. However, some nursing mothers have conceived without a return of menses. Present research seems to indicate that the risk of pregnancy during lactation amenorrhea (prior to the first menses after childbirth) is about 6 percent. Thus, lactation amenorrhea is a health asset to the mother in her childbearing years. Breast-feeding eliminates the need for drugs and prevents breast cancer.
Nursing provides brief rests during the day and gives relaxation for a mother who tends to be tense and nervous or gives a break for a busy mother. Bottle feeding mothers don't have prolactin, a "mothering" (Mamta in Hindi/Urdu) hormone, whereas prolactin in a nursing mother produces the mood and a feeling of a good mother. The personal satisfaction that a woman can experience only through breast feeding, the total giving of herself to her baby, and a deep feeling of pride in her motherly accomplishments cannot be found in bottle feeding mothers. A nursing mother learns that true fulfillment comes in the giving and not the taking.
Breast-feeding saves time of the mother. She need not spend the time in the kitchen preparing bottles, nipples, and formula, or spend the time in cleaning up afterwards. Nighttime feedings are no bother when mothers generally nurse in bed and fall asleep while doing so. This also doesn't disturb the sleep of other members of the family. Breast feeding not only helps satisfy the baby's nutritional and emotional needs, but satisfies the emotional needs of the mother — not only in that it is restful for her, but she derives satisfaction in doing what is best for her baby and from having a contented and quiet baby as a result. Baby and mother thrive on each other. More and more emphasis is being placed on the importance of skin-to-skin contact between parent and child. Physical contact generates warm feelings of being loved and appreciated. The baby feels secure in the mother's arms or bosom. With breast-feeding, the child is guaranteed frequent contact with his mother. The child needs to receive much skin stimulation from his mother (nursing a baby, rubbing a child's back. or rocking a child to sloop) In order to survive physically and emotionally. Breast-feeding is a very satisfying and enjoyable experience for the nursing mother. It gives a mother a feeling of satisfaction, security, and trust in herself, which she needs in the future care of her child. Ashley Montague in his book, Touching: The Human Significance of the Skin, says, "tactile failure in infancy results only too often in estrangement, uninvolvement, lack of identity, detachment, emotional shallowness and Indifference -- all marks of the schizoid or schizophrenic personality."
For a traveling mother, nothing can match the conveniences of breast-feeding without the problems of baby stops warming the bottle, or running short of formula.
BENEFITS TO THE FAMILY, SOCIETY AND NATION
Breast-feeding saves money for the family. Money not spent on bottles, nipples, brushes, sterilizer, formula, juice, foods, food and bottle warmers, and the gas, electricity or fuel wood required in the preparation, is money saved for the family. In the years to come, less money will be spent on doctor's fees, hospital fees, and probably fewer drugs and fewer dental bills. Except the tender loving rare, breast-feeding costs nothing. In case of bottle fed babies, the artificial foods and juices stain baby's and mother's clothes and require frequent washing and dry-cleaning.
When all infants are breast fed, then the society will have mentally and physically healthy and active children. When these children grow the nation will be proud of its great leaders and admirable citizens. Such a nation will be strong in character and a model nation to emulate.
Breast-feeding never pollutes a country's air or water, nor does it detract from the environment. With bottle-feeding, our environment will be polluted with broken or unbroken bottles, bottle liners, nipples, pacifiers, baby jars, cereal boxes, sterilizers, formula, and powder milk cans, bottle brushes, so on and so forth. With natural breast-feeding, there will be a decrease in the usage of sanitary napkins because mothers would be averaging one year or more without menstruating after childbirth.
It was mentioned earlier that prolonged lactation protects against pregnancy mainly by delaying the "return of ovulation. The problem of population growth is a very serious and urgent, problem of developing countries. If unchecked or uncontrolled, it will be detrimental to the country. The abandonment of breast-feeding among the urban people in the developing countries will have a significant demographic impact resulting in increased birth rates because the practice of birth control is not universal. It is recognized that although lactation is not highly reliable as a contraceptive for individual women, it can have a large effect at the societal level, especially where the practice of birth control is not widespread. The developing countries should give more attention to the role of breast-feeding in decreasing the birth rate as a natural child spacer. A slogan like "Breast-fed is Best-fed" should be popularized.
CONCLUSIONS:
In the foregoing it was shown that breast-feeding humanizes a child whereas bottle-feeding tends to mechanize him. The advantages of breast-feeding are promotion of infant survival; breast milk is nutritionally ideal at least for the first six months, provides some immunity from disease and is clean. Breast feeding benefits include mental and physical development of the infant and economic advantages for the parents.
Natural mothering is not going to cure all of the problems of the world, but it does have some far-reaching effects. At the family level, it contributes to the physical and emotional health of both mother and baby. At the larger community level, it results in less pollution in a number of ways, and, at the level of both the individual family and the nation, it provides a natural form of birth regulation. With all these benefits for natural mothering, it would seem more than appropriate that it would be encouraged at every level.
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