Beard, the Sunnah! in the light of Science and logic!

This article is a reflection on the possible wisdom behind the Islamic practice of keeping a beard. It is an attempt at exploring some of the beautiful “side effects” of following one of the commands of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

THE BEARD
I live in the West where bearded people who appear to be Muslim are sometimes viewed as being extremists, terrorists, fundamentalists, and/or violent. Given these common negative associations, what benefit is there in keeping a beard?

By having a beard, I started feeling I have to “live up to the beard.” If you live among Muslims, and you begin keeping a beard, you may hear some of the following responses “Oh mashAllah brother you decided to keep a beard!… That beard looks really good on you brother!… “My brother! Welcome to Islam!” Ok, that last one is a little extreme – but you get the picture. By growing a beard, you are complying with one of the commands of the Prophet Muhammad (as elaborately explained by Shaykh Bilal Philips in the video lecture here). Indeed, beginning to grow your beard is a big step and in some cases, an outright declaration to the world that I am a Muslim and not afraid to let it be known. At the same time, if you grow your beard and “declare that you are a Muslim” and are concurrently committing sins, it makes one feel like a hypocrite. On one hand you are outwardly practicing the sunnah, showing people that you are a follower of the Prophet Muhammad, yet on the other hand you are committing sin. This in effect adds more pressure on one NOT to sin.
Keeping a beard makes your life easier! People exert effort on a daily basis to try and remove their beard, which isn’t an easy thing to do. In fact, if you want to remain clean-shaven you have to shave regularly. Letting your beard grow, is the EASY thing to do: you don’t have to shave every single day, you don’t have to buy shaving cream and razors and shaving lotion and bandages when you cut yourself. So it saves money and blood!
Although it’s possible that non-Muslims may find the beard unattractive (depending on many factors, like how long your beard is as well as other physical qualities), most people of faith find it to be on the contrary; they see it as something beautiful. Think of it this way; for a brother who has faith and follows his deen, a sister who covers her hair can be one of the most beautiful things to behold (please see Facebook group ” I LO♥ HIJABIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!“, hundreds of members mashaAllah). For a sister of faith, it is a similar matter – a brother with a beard is a sign of faith and can be very attractive. Of course, one of the key factors to whether it is attractive or not is the faith aspect. Now the question is why is it a good thing that the faithful find the beard attractive? I can think of two reasons:1) Islam teaches us of the benefits of having good companions (please refer to the hadith mentioned in Sahih Bukhari Volume 3, Book 34, Number 314 as recorded here). If people of faith are attracted to you, this is more likely to happen.2) When you are looking for a prospective spouse, if the significant other is repulsed by your beard, then maybe their attachment to the sunnah is not as strong as you may like and that may help you sift through prospective spouses very quickly. Anyone who truly loves the Prophet, will likely love his sunnah and thereby find it easy to love those who practice the sunnah.
Going back to living in the West, keeping a beard may be a trial for you. It is not easy to grow your beard and go to airports where some people are wondering at what time you’ll explode. It’s not easy going to work and finding that some people are nervous around you even though you mean them no harm. It’s not easy being judged and harassed (which unfortunately is possible). Why is this a benefit you ask? By being patient and persevering, Allah may grant us forgiveness for our sins and shortcomings. If we have pure intentions Allah will reward us for our effort and hardships that we face in his path. One of the best reasons for keeping a beard is to please our Lord by following the Prophet. And does it really matter what people think? What is more important to us; the sunnah and our deen or the creation?
Going back to the earlier comment regarding “some people being nervous around you” – I have found that after the initial phase when a few people seemed nervous around me, people have become more comfortable. This is yet another benefit. There may have been some people who did not trust or even like me at first, but by trying to exhibit good character and trying to show kindness (which is in accordance to Islam), people can learn to accept and like our brothers and sisters in the ummah, inshaAllah.
The beard can identify you as a Muslim. There is benefit in this because if people see that there are practicing moderate Muslims around them, then they will realize that Islam isn’t something to be feared. It is human nature to fear what you don’t know or understand. Therefore, we need to be known and understood!
Another practical benefit of growing your beard is that it can cover your pimples and some facial imperfections.
I don’t mean to paint a dark picture. When I started in a new job there were people who were kind to me from the start! There are people who have already known Muslims in the past and actually sympathize with what Muslims are going through nowadays. Let’s not forget that we are not the only people to go through a tough period in the West. Our African American brothers came to this country as slaves. We must also remember how innocent Japanese people were held in detention centers in this country in World War II during this past century (one might even draw connections to the detention centers around the globe today that are being filled with Muslims). The bottom line is that with Allah subhana wa tala, we should expect the unexpected. We may expect poor treatment, discrimination, hatred, etc., yet we may find love, compassion, and sympathy. Allah provides help for His servants in ways that may not even be perceptible and in manners inconceivable. May God help me, my brothers and my sisters to put our faith in God.

[Note: What is the true intended wisdom by Allah to keep a beard? Allahu alim, Allah and His Messenger know best. This list is a compilation of the benefits as seen by a practicing Muslim.]

I want to end with a request – please make dua for me that God forgives my sins, beautifies my character and grants me Jannat-al-Firdous.

Importance of Internet in Each Individual's life.

Computers and internet came in our life with many comforts in different aspects of life. Let me tell you importance of computer in our life first. Before computer there was many problems related to different things. For example, you have to store information on papers, and it was very difficult for storing thousand of papers. But on computer you can store information with lots of ease and you can manage those with comfort. It was very difficult for a person to store thousands of papers with this guarantee that no one can read this while you can protect your documents on computer.

When computer was not indulged in our life then we were used to play video games in market though there were other video games available on Atari, Sega, which we can play in our homes by connecting these machines with computer but quality of these games was not good and many people were not able to buy these expensive game machines.

Before computer, we were performing many tasks on different machines and there was not a single machine which can do all tasks for us for example, we had to buy Cassette Player for listening songs on cassette, We had to buy VCR for watching any movie, we had to buy a type writer to write something on paper, we had to watch Different channels on TV but now you can watch on a monitor by using TV device, but now we can do all these tasks and many more on a computer.

Now come to the importance of internet in our life. Before internet, it was very difficult for a person to get information about a particular thing. Suppose you want to get information about different plants and their advantages and you don't use internet. Then definitely you will buy books about plants and read all those books but it will take lot of money to buy many books and it will be time consuming for you to search books. Even you will find many books but you will be not sure which books are on the top list.


  Internet usage is important as internet are the biggest source of all aspect.Internet covers the world happenings everyday.Internet includes a variety of current issues and developments about the world.One of the benefits is internet gives lots of information to us.Students could even use the internet as a replacement of textbooks and reference books as it contains an endless source of knowledge.Students can also check the latest scientific knowledge and research.Scientist nowadays have been experimenting and discovering a lot of intriguing and new things.This type of stream is very suitable for students who are interested to further their studies in science stream.

Furthermore,internet facilitate students to enter universities.This is because students can register through some of the website according to the university of their choice.Besides,internet also contain various type of social sites.We can get new friends and even meet our old friends through these social sites.Moreover,by interacting and chatting with pen pals from overseas, we can strengthen the relations between foreign countries thus enlighten us to a better community.

 Last but not least,internet help us to keep abreast on latest issues and developments.Students and teenagers can understand the causes and solutions based on the headlines given. this will make them aware of the danger that lurk that can cause a lot of bad effects to the environment and surroundings.

In a nutshell, internet is very beneficial to students who use it wisely and effectively.

Dates- the blessed fruit!

Dates are sweet, delicious fruits from the tropical oasis, brimming with much-needed minerals and energy to help you stay fit and healthy. 

 they are the fruits grow on the palm tree belonging to the family of Arecaceae in the genus:Phoenix and scientifically named as Phoenix dactylifera. The tree is believed to originate in the lands on the banks of Nile and Euphrates Rivers of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. Date palm is now grown extensively for its edible fruits under warmer climates across all the continents.

The date fruit is a "drupe" in which outer fleshy part (exocarp and mesocarp) surrounds a shell (the pit or stone) of hardened endocarp with a seed inside. The fruit is oval to cylindrical in shape, 3–7 cms long, and 2–3 cms diameter, and when ripe, range from bright red to depending on the variety.

There are many varieties of date palm cultivated. ‘Amir Hajj’, ‘Saidy’, 'Khadrawy' and 'Medjool' is some of the important varieties that are popular for their superior quality.


Benefits of dates:


1. Wonderfully delicious, dates are one of the most popular fruits packed with an impressive list of essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that are required for normal growth, development and overall well-being.

2. Fresh dates compose of soft, easily digestible flesh and simple sugars like fructose and dextrose. When eaten, they replenish energy and revitalize the body instantly. For these qualities, they are being used to break the fast during Ramadan month since ancient times.

3. The fruit is rich in dietary fiber, which prevents LDL cholesterol absorption in the gut. Additionally, the fiber works as a bulk laxative. It, thus, helps to protect the colon mucous membrane by decreasing exposure time and as well as binding to cancer-causing chemicals in the colon.

4. They contain health benefiting flavonoid polyphenolic antioxidants known as tannins. Tannins are known to possess anti-infective, anti-inflammatory, and anti-hemorrhagic (prevent easy bleeding tendencies) properties.

5. They are moderate sources of vitamin-A (contains 149 IU per 100 g), which is known to have antioxidant properties and essential for vision. Additionally, it is also required maintaining healthy mucus membranes and skin. Consumption of natural fruits rich in vitamin A is known to help to protect from lung and oral cavity cancers.

6. They compose antioxidant flavonoids such as ß-carotene, lutein, and zea-xanthin. These antioxidants found to have the ability to protect cells and other structures in the body from harmful effects of oxygen-free radicals. Thus, eating dates found to offer some protection from colon, prostate, breast, endometrial, lung, and pancreatic cancers. 
Zea-xanthin is an important dietary carotenoid that selectively absorbed into the retinal macula lutea, where it thought to provide antioxidant and protective light-filtering functions. It thus offers protection against age-related macular degeneration, especially in elderly populations.

7. Dates are an excellent source of iron, contains 0.90 mg/100 g of fruits (about 11% of RDI). Iron, being a component of hemoglobin inside the red blood cells, determines the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.

8. Further, they are very good in potassium. 100 g contains 696 mg or 16% of daily-recommended levels of this electrolyte. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that help controlling heart rate and blood pressure. They, thus, offers protection against stroke and coronary heart diseases.

9. They are also rich in minerals like calcium, manganese, copper, and magnesium. Calcium is an important mineral that is an essential constituent of bone and teeth, and required by the body for muscle contraction, blood clotting, and nerve impulse conduction. Manganese is used by the body as a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase. Copper is required for the production of red blood cells. Magnesium is essential for bone growth.

10. Further, the fruit has adequate levels of B-complex group of vitamins as well as vitamin K. It contains very good amounts of pyridoxine (vitamin B-6), niacin, pantothenic acid, and riboflavin. These vitamins are acting as cofactors help body metabolize carbohydrates, protein, and fats. Vitamin K is essential for many coagulant factors in the blood as well as in bone metabolism.

Cars and Global Warming!

Everyone knows that transportation is one of the leading causes of global warming pollution in the world, and especially in United States America and other developed nations. NASA actually reported in February that motor vehicles are the largest net contributor to global warming pollution.

A new scientific finding in the journal Environmental Science & Technology shows that, counter to what most of us believe, driving a car causes more global warming pollution than flying the same distance in a plane.


The study, “Specific Climate Impact of Passenger and Freight Transport,” finds that, in the short run, planes cause more global warming because they create more short-lived warming processes at high altitudes.

However, when you take ‘everything’ — long- and short-lived gases, aerosols and cloud effects from transportation around the world — into account, an average car trip increases global temperatures more than an average flight the same distance.

Furthermore, passenger trains and buses cause even four to five times less global warming pollution than automobiles per passenger mile.

Of course, there are a lot of intricacies (i.e. the specific car or plane or bus used), but this is the general finding.

“As planes fly at high altitudes, their impact on ozone and clouds is disproportionately high, though short lived. Although the exact magnitude is uncertain, the net effect is a strong, short-term, temperature increase,” lead author of the study, Dr. Jens Borken-Kleefeld, said. “Car travel emits more carbon dioxide than air travel per passenger mile. As carbon dioxide remains in the atmosphere longer than the other gases, cars have a more harmful impact on climate change in the long term.”

The point that you probably wouldn’t take such long trips by car that you take by plane was not a part of the study and is an important matter to bring up as well.

So to stop Global Warming, it is everyone's duty to get out of their car and start riding bicycle or carts or other pollution free Ride to stop Global Warming.

3%Muslims in Indian Army! (Are we not citizen of India?)

Muslim soldiers praying in Indian Army.

Indian Army's Muslim headcount: 3% or just 29,000 persons.

A lot of hue and cry was raised over the so-called census of Muslims in Indian Army. After the Sachar panel had hinted that the number of Muslims in the armed forces could be sought, there was opposition from several sections against the proposed headcount on basis of religion.

There is no official report. However, the strength of Muslims is roughly around 3 % and the figure comes around 29,000 in the million-strong Indian army, according to news channel CNN IBN's programme titled Minority Report.

If the number of Muslims serving in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) infantry that has over 50% Muslims and those in other wings not directly dealing with warfare are excluded, the proportion is definitely too low. So out of a Muslim population of nearly 150 million (15 crore), barely 29,000 Muslims were found suitable for Army.

There has been a lot of controversy but these figures don't surprise or sadden me. The fact remains that if competent, a Muslim can rise in India to the highest position in any services including army, and has more chances than any other country.

This is my belief despite all the charges of discrimination, communal riots and experiences of bias. There are Muslim officers serving in Indian army at senior levels. IH Latif rose to the position of Air Chief Marshal 

Air Chief Marshal, I.H.Latif

Question to be Asked is "are muslims not fit to be in Indian Army? 
or government doesnt have faith in Muslims?" 
In any case, it is minority muslims who has to suffer of unemployment! And government has to take full responsibility of alienating Indian muslims from serving their country.

muslim Soldiers.

In any type of violence like communal riots, army has always been welcomed by Hindus and Muslims alike, as the local police is often charged of biases. But army's neutrality remains undisputed. Lately there have been efforts to increase the strength of Muslims and other minorities in army, paramilitary forces and police. These steps will hopefully change the situation.

Can Pervez Musharraf save Pakistan from the destruction he started!

Pakistan's Pervez Mussharaf with American President George W Bush.

  Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan's former president, is back home after more than four years in self-imposed exile. Musharraf touched down in Karachi on Sunday morning, despite the possibility of arrest, and a threat from the Taliban to kill him.

"I have put my life in danger by coming back to Pakistan. I was thinking that the government would call me back, and would say 'Save Pakistan' but that did not happen. Today my nation ordered me to come back. I came back, putting my life in danger, to save Pakistan," he said.

Pakistan ex President Pervez Musharraf.

"He believes that he is a man of destiny, that he has a purpose in life, but his return to Pakistan is more to secure himself and get to do something inside Pakistan. He is facing some very serious challenges here, he has not returned as an ex commando or ongoing commando, because commandos always remain commandos, he is returning as the head of a political party, which doesn't quite exist on the ground ... he plans to contest an election, so he is returning primarily to take refuge in the protection of politics, and trying to legitimise himself."

Musharraf left Pakistan in 2009, a year after being forced to step down. He has experienced the highs - and lows - of being one of Pakistan's most powerful politicians. 

General Pervez Musharraf as Army Chief.

In 1998, General Musharraf was appointed army chief by then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. But the two fell out.Musharraf seized power the following year, a day after Sharif sacked him. Musharraf was later sworn in as president, but retained his position as army chief.

Musharraf Supports Bush on War on Terror.

Then came the events of 9/11, and Musharraf's support for George Bush's War on Terror made him deeply unpopular at home. The year 2007 proved a tumultuous period for Musharraf when he took on the judiciary, sacking judges and Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry.

He ordered security forces to storm the Red Mosque in Islamabad, resulting in the killing of more than 100 people. 2007 also saw the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, with Musharraf's government accused of "willful failure" over her protection. And with pressure mounting over events during his time in power, Musharraf resigned, going into exile in 2009. He is wanted by Pakistani courts over the deaths of Bhutto, and Akbar Bugti, a Baluch rebel leader in the southwest. The former leader believes these and other charges - which he describes as "trumped-up and politically motivated" - will be thrown out. Musharraf returned to Pakistan on Sunday after a four year self-imposed exile, during which he spent most of his time in England and Dubai and speaking tour in the United States.

But with all these political, legal and security issues at stake, is returning to Pakistan a gamble worth taking? And how will Musharraf fare in the upcoming elections?

The White House has said the return of Pervez Musharraf, the former dictator of Pakistan, is an "internal matter" of the country, even as a top US diplomat in Islamabad said that the event is unlikely to have much impact on the results of the May 11 general polls.  "I don't see this as a terribly large or significant event. I could be surprised, but I don't see this as terribly consequential," the US Ambassador to Pakistan, Richard Olson, told a Washington audience on Monday while responding to questions on the return of the former Pak General, who ruled the country for a decade. 

Fault of Myanmar’s Muslim minority!

Mosque burnt down. 

Myanmar's Army regained control of a Meikhtila, ruined central city on Saturday after several days of clashes between Buddhists and minority Muslims that killed dozens of people, mainly muslims and left scores of homes and mosques in flames in the worst sectarian bloodshed to hit the Southeast Asian nation this year.

President Thein Sein declared a state of emergency in Meikhtila, which is about 550 km north of the main city of Yangon, on Friday afternoon, yesterday in a bid to stop the violence from spreading. Soldiers could be seen patrolling Meikhtila and taking up positions at intersections and banks as some residents, who had cowered in their homes for days since the riot began on Wednesday.

Myanmar Muslim.

Terrified Muslims, who make about 30 per cent of Meikhtila's 100,000 inhabitants, stayed off the streets yesterday as their shops and homes burned and some angry Buddhist residents and monks tried to stop firefighters from dousing the blazes. Riot police crisscrossed town seizing machetes and hammers from enraged Buddhist mobs. Hundreds of Muslim residents have fled their homes to take shelter at a sports stadium.

Buddhist trying to stop firefighter.

Mosque being burnt by buddhists.

The unrest comes amid heightened tensions between the two sides which have left hundreds of Muslims dead and more than a 100,000 others displaced since June 2012. On October 21, 2012, at least 11 Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar were killed after extremist Buddhists set fire to their houses in two Muslim villages in the city of Sittwe in the western Rakhine state. It also underscored the government's failure to reign in anti-Muslim sentiment in the predominantly Buddhist country, where even leading monks have staged anti-Muslim rallies that critics say have set the stage for further violence.

Myanmar’s government refuses to recognize Rohingya Muslims as citizens and labels the minority of about 800,000 as “illegal” immigrants from neighboring Bangladesh.

Muslims living along the coast of Rakhine State can be traced back to the eighth and ninth centuries when Arab traders settled in the area. Muslims and Buddhists have historically lived on both sides of the Naaf river, which marks the current border with Bangladesh. The British annexed the region after an 1824-26 conflict and encouraged migration from India, including that of labourers, merchants and administrators. Since independence in 1948, successive Burmese governments have considered this migration illegal. 

Without citizenship, Rohingya cannot legally leave the townships of Rakhine State and, since 1994, must request special permits (often available only through bribes) to marry, which restricts Rohingya couples to having two children, a limitation other ethnic groups do not face. Common-law couples are vulnerable to prosecution. The government includes the Rohingya in official family registries and gives them temporary registration cards. However, such documents do not mention place of birth and are not considered as evidence of birth in Myanmar. 

As a result of statelessness, suspicion, and deep-seated hatred, the Rohinyga continue to face persecution and are subject to discrimination through targeted restrictions (like family size) and requirements (unpaid forced labour for security forces). 

Aung San Suu Kyi at Rakhine State.

So divisive is their status in Myanmar that even pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi remains largely silent on their plight, out of fear of losing popular support, while the government of the reform-minded Burmese president could well face a major public backlash if it were unilaterally to grant them citizenship, experts warn.

Muslim Player in "Secular" South Africa Cricket Team.

Hashim Amla

South Africa has been one of the most Secular country in the world and its Cricket Team reflects the same. The great beardman Hashim Amla, who has held the number position in both test and ODI ranking is a devoted and practising muslim.  Batsman Farhaan behardien, pakistani born leg spinner Imran Tahir and pacer Wayne Parnell are the other muslim player in South African team.

South African Cricket Captain Greame  Smith!

Parnell who converted from christianity to Islam in 2012 has changed his name to 'Waleed Parnel' from Wayne Dillon Parnell . In his interview, he said,“I have considered the name 'Waleed' which means Newborn Son". It is also reported that he will discontinue to respect the team’s endorsement of alcoholic beverages.

The South African cricket team manager, Mohamed Moosajee said that Parnell’s Muslim teammates – Hashim Amla and Imran Tahir – did not influence his decision to convert from Christianity.

Waleed 'Wayne' Parnell celebrating with team mates

Parnell’s fellow players, said they believed that wayne is very serious about the conversion and had not ‘touched a drop of alcohol’ ever since he converted to Islam.

AR Rahman on Islam

 

ISLAM GIVES ME PEACE.

A.R. Rahman (ALLAH RAKHA RAHMAN) IS A OSCAR WINNER MUSIC DIRECTOR CONVERTED TO ISLAM OFFICIALLIAY HAS REVEALED IN HIS LATEST INTERVIEW THAT ISLAM GIVES HIM PEACE.