Breast Milk

Allah Ta’ala has Created everything perfectly. An example is breast milk.

Some of the natural benefits are:

• It is perfectly balanced in nutrients
• It has antibodies which help baby fight infection and illness, as well as preventing allergies, eczema and asthma
• It is ready to drink any time, without preparation

The best benefit:
A Sahaabi (radhiallahu anh) inquired from the Prophet (sallallahu alahi wa sallam) about his eloquence of speech which none of them had. Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) replied, "Are you aware of which ladies’ milk I have drunk? A blessed lady from the Banu S’ad by the name of Haleemah as-Sa’deeyah. I have drunk her milk. This is the effect of her milk that Allah has bestowed this excellence to me." (Sahaabeeyaat, M Patel, P 55)

A mother’s milk brings with it her character as well. If she is pious, spiritual light flows from her to the child.

Another, natural benefit of breast milk, for free!

Poor Baby

Pictures of babies in the womb smiling, crossing their hands and making walking movements appeared in British papers.
The pictures renewed calls for abortion to be stopped. Britain allows abortion up to 24 weeks while the pictures were of foetuses much younger.
A 12-week-old foetus was seen making walking movements, a 15-week-old foetus sucks its thumb and yawns, at 18 weeks it opens its eyes, at 20 it smiles.

This Day, June 30

Health Pay-off: Sajdah

SAJDA (PROSTRATION) is a position in the prayers a Muslim has to perform five times a day. The purpose is not exercise yet there are plenty of medical advantages for the body.

In Ibn Maja there is a narration: "Prayer is a cure for many diseases". In Sajda the brain becomes lower than the heart and blood gushes to the brain with full force. In all other positions (even lying down) the brain is above the heart. Due to the increased blood supply the brain receives more nourishment and this has a good effect on the memory, vision, hearing and concentration.

Sajda also has positive effects on the back muscles as they contract actively when one goes into and out of Sajda.

These are some bonus payoffs. A Muslim is content with the fact that he is closest to Allah Ta’ala when in Sajda.

Dr Beebani, Saudi Gazette

Black Seed

Use this Black Seed regularly, because it has a cure for every disease except death. (Bukhari quoted in the Be-Tabs booklet)

Ibn Sina (Avicenna) in Qanun states: “Black Seed acts as an expectorant, it stimulates the body’s energy and helps recovery from fatigue…”

Ibn Qayyim Al Jawziyya in Medicines of the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam lists up to 50 illnesses cured by the Black Seed. Thee include - benefits bronchitis and cough, helps increase body tone, quells belching, quells colic pain, benefits some skin allergies such as acne and eczema.

Black Seed prepared in different ways cures different diseases if Allah Ta’ala Wills.

Be Happy

The Reader’s Digest of October 2004 had an article entitled 10 Keys to True Happiness. We as Muslims have held the keys to happiness for over 14 centuries. Here’s two that they got right:

FAITH
Of the dozens of studies that have looked at religion and happiness, the vast majority have found a positive link. Religion is a very powerful way of coping with adversity.
The Holy Qur’aan tells us:
Whichever (Believing) man or woman does good deeds (in the obedience of Allah) We will definitely give them a good life…

CHARITY
Several studies have found a link between happiness and giving charity.
Islam emphasises the great rewards of spending welath in charity.

We believe with complete faith that Islam in all aspects has the perfect solution for true happiness in this world and the next. Studies merely back up that faith.

Health and Fitness

Allama Suyuti in Tarikh-al-Khulafa, narrates the following incident: Abdul Jabar bin Al Wardh reported from ibn Abi Mulaika that Rasullullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) and his companions (radiyallahu anhum) entered a pool. Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said, "Let each person swim to his partner." Thereupon each person swam (to his companion) until Rasullulah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) and Abu Bakr (RA) remained in the water. Rasullulah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) swam towards Hazrath Abu Bakr (radhiallahu anhu) until he reached over his shoulder and said, "Had I chosen to take an intimate friend until I met Allah, I would have taken Abu Bakr as an intimate friend (khalil), but he is my companion."

Wonders of Wudhu

Recent studies have found that Wudhu (ablution/abdaas) is healthy:

Wudhu is a prescription of 26 washing movements, a total of 130 daily movements, an offshoot of which is optimum health. It not only cleanses vital parts of the body but also refreshes them.

Wudhu is encouraged by Islam before bed. Yoga experts say that washing important motor and sensory organs such as hands, arms, legs, etc. before sleep relaxes the body for a deep sleep.

Man’s internal organs have connections, called Biological Active Spots (BASes), with the skin which function as recharge boards. Ablution stimulates them like Chinese reflexotherapy.The majority of the BASes are washed in Wudhu. To become a doctor in reflexology takes years of study while ordinary Muslims do it everyday! As an example, BASes in the face recharge organs like the intestines, stomach and bladder.

Wudhu helps prevent skin cancer. The areas washed are parts of the body most exposed to pollution, whether internal secretions of the body or external. Ablution removes this pollution five times a day which helps cells under the skin function properly.

Washing with water invigorates the ends of blood vessels, as well as nerves that are near the skin surface, and helps them perform efficiently.

The Olive

The Olive is among the oldest known cultivated trees in the world. Those on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem are over 2000 years old. The Qur’an describes the olive tree as blessed (24:35). Studies prove its health benefits:

• Most of the fatty acids in olives and olive oil are mono-unsaturated which do not contain cholesterol. Therefore, olive oil does not raise cholesterol levels. It is recommended for patients with heart disease.
• Studies show that women who consume more olive oil have a lower risk (up to 50%) of developing breast cancer. Olive oil protects against intestinal cancer and malignant tumours like prostate.Olive oil is effective in reducing high blood pressure.
• People who consume large quantities of olive oil and cooked vegetables can have reduced risk of rheumatic arthritis.

On account of all this, olive oil has attracted a lot of expert attention in recent years. Supermarket shelves now hold olive oil and olive oil margarines. Muslims knew that olive oil was special 1400 years ago.

Seriously Stressed

Stress manifests itself while working, at home or even while engaged in Islamic services. It is the nature of life that people suffer from worries and stress. Among the things that distinguish Paradise from this world is that there is no worry or stress there: "No sense of fatigue shall touch them, nor shall they (ever) be asked to leave." (15:480)

MANAGING STRESS
1. Increase zikr (remembrance of Allah): "… without doubt in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find satisfaction." (Qur'an 13:28)

2. Increase prayers: "… Seek assistance through patience and prayer; surely, Allah is with the patient." (Qur'an 2:153)

3. Recite the Qur'an: The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said, "... Qur'an is a remedy for illnesses of the mind." (Bukhari)

4. Make the hereafter one's main concern: "Whoever has the hereafter as his main concern, Allah will fill his heart with a feeling of richness and independence; he will be focused and feel content, and this world will come to him in spite of it. Whoever has this world as his main concern, Allah will cause him to feel constant fear of poverty; he will be distracted and unfocused, and he will have nothing of this world except what was already predestined for him," said the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).

5. Think positively: Forget about the bad of the past and have hope that you can be better. Trying to change the past is a foolish waste of time: "for saying 'if only...' opens the way to Shaytan" said the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).

Eating Right

Once a Christian king sent a doctor to the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) to tend to those requiring medical help. The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) sent the doctor back (to the king) and said, we are people who do not eat unless we are hungry and we do not fill our bellies when we eat, hence we do not require the services of a doctor. (Seeratul Halbiyat)
Here we have a remedy for good health given 1400 years ago for FREE. Today we spend hundreds for health advice. One who overeats generally has digestion problems, through which various other sicknesses originate, resulting in the person spending money on medication etc.
The person who eats more spends more of his income on food. We do not eat when we are hungry. We are dictated by the availability of food and specific meal times. The previous meal has not yet digested completely and we take another. The digestive system is now under immense pressure and is unable to perform normally.

Defeating Depression

Depression as a disease is on the increase. Islam provides guidelines on dealing with this invisible monster and defeating it.

TREAT A CAUSE
SIN: The Qur’aan says that the person who turns away from the remembrance and obedience of Allah and engages in sin, shall have a very narrow and difficult life (20:123). Depression brings irritability, weight gain or loss, impaired concentration, tiredness and nothing makes one happy.
CURE: Leave out sin and the things that draw you towards it like bad company. The Qur’aan mentions that with the remembrance and obedience of Allah do people’s hearts gain contentment (13:28) and thus beat depression. The Hadith tells us that leaving out certain sins will bring enjoyment in worship, while doing certain good deeds like reading Fajr gives one energy and zest.

BANISHING THE BLUES
Be thankful to Allah for what you already have. Qur’aan: If you are grateful, then I (Allah) will most certainly increase (my favours) for you. (14:7)
Don’t brood over the past. Never say ‘Had I done it differently’ This opens the door for the Devil and depression. It was set out by Allah for you to act the way you had.
Do good to others to please Allah. The Qur’aan tells us that when a Muslim does a good act, then this guarantees him/her a beautiful life, free of depression. (16:97)
There is an end to all worry and pleasure of this world: the enjoyments of this world are but little (Qur’aan) while there isn’t a single comfort except the comfort of the Hereafter (Hadith).