Facebook

I also have a facebook account. But I rarely check facebook depending on my lack of interest and time to spend surfing facebook.

The problem with all such utilities is that people have a tendency to abuse these.

And there are those groups in which people somehow think they have the right to publish others photos in them without their knowledge and allow all sort of comments for the people of the group.Isnt this violating the right of another?

I guess the conclusion that can be arrived from such actions is lack of Islamic knowledge and not knowing Islamic principles and values.

Freedom of speech???

Criticism, constructive criticism is something we all need………We need to hear it ; what others have to say about us and we have to give our constructive criticism to others……..This can be defined as somewhat an obligation as a human……….The higher authority a person has the scale of this should get larger…….This is for the betterment of everyone around………This rule applies to families, offices, companies, institutions, and of course government too.

When we give constructive criticism it is an action of courage, sincerity , honesty and integrity and when we can listen to our weak points which comes in a constructive manner it shows we believe in the saying no one is perfect an there is always a lot of room for improvement…It takes courage to give constructive criticism and listen to your weak points

I would like to take an example regarding politics…….It’s almost always that the opposite cannot criticize the other party in a constructive way..This creates confusion in the mind of observers, listeners or readers……They fail to realize whom to listen to…..and this gives arise to lots of confusions and hatred……..

We should question people in authorities, we have a right to…..But those rights can be or should be exercised with in certain limits….The mutual respect should exist……. Attacking political figures personally , is it what we call freedom of speech? Using abusive language when criticizing others, cannot be called constructive criticism ..

We have a tendency to blame everything around us rather than our own selves for things that happen to us……….We cannot improve our own selves if we want the world to change before us, we have to change our own selves and our own thinking as well………..Let there be criticism……..But let it come with in limits, with in Islamic principles and values…………..

“First things first”

“First things first” is a phrase used in Stephen.R.Covey books..

In simple terms it means to identify what should come first in life..

At a deeper level it means to organize things that need to be attended or prioritizing your schedule..

Whether at office or at work or at home any one who is organized makes life easier for ones own self and everyone around as well……Being organized is easier said than done…But once you get organized you will never want to stay un-organized, that is once you learn the beauty of it..

Of course one cannot be defined as an organized person unless he is organized in all spheres of life..

Religon,work, family life, house hold chores etc etc……..

Many a times we delay things or postpone things to be done later…and its not rarely that things postponed are forgotten or never attended…and further we sometimes face consequences for postponing things…which could have been avoided had we attended it in the first place…

This happens, cos we fail to identify what should come first, what is important.

I would like to present a simple example. Very recently near my computer a kid was playing with water..He was big enough, I knew he will not spill water over the computer. When he finished playing he kept the little mug of water near the computer. I thought of emptying the mug , however I rushed off to attend something else thinking I will empty the mug of water later.

After some times, what I saw was saddening. Another kid of 1 year has spilled the water mug on to the laptop….and with in a few minutes it went blank………..and of course the computer could not be opened later.Had I emptied the mug of water in time, I might not have faced the consequences….

This is just a simple example…….But this rule applies in all spheres of life..

Likewise as Muslims daily 5 obligatory prayers should come before everything in life…

If we could apply the rule”first things first" in life, life becomes organized and easier…

For us and others………..

Toddlers 'will learn nothing from TV'

The notion that young children can learn productively by watching television is widely dismissed by scientists who study the developing brain. The time between the ages of 6 months and 3 years is accepted as a critical phase for learning skills such as language, and research suggests that this is best accomplished by interaction with adults.

A study by Patricia Kuhl, of the University of Washington, in Seattle, for example, has found that children aged 10 months learn sound patterns easily by playing with an adult, but learn nothing at all by watching the same adult performing the same games and exercises on a television screen.

Similar research has shown that in young children, watching television, videos or DVDs is no substitute for real encounters with adults and other children. Sarah-Jayne Blakemore, of the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience at University College London, said that the best evidence suggested television for toddlers was a waste of time. "There is a body of research showing that, in a variety of contexts, young children learn optimally with another human, rather than with a video of a human," said Dr Blakemore, the co-author, with Professor Uta Frith, of The Learning Brain.

Dr Blakemore added: "If an infant is watching TV for an hour a day, then fine. So long as they are also playing with adults and children for most of the day, it is not going to do them any harm, though it will do no good either.

(Mark Henderson, Science Correspondent, The Times, 12.05.06)

Ten Things We Waste

1. Knowledge: Wasted when not taking action with it.

2. Actions: Wasted when we do anything without sincerity. Intentions count.

3. Wealth: Wasted when used on things that will not bring us âjr (reward). We waste our money, our status, our authority, on things that have no benefit in this life or in âkhirah (the Hereafter).

4. Hearts: Wasted when empty from the love of Allah, and the longing for Him/Her, and devoid of peace and contentment.

5. Bodies: Wasted when we don't use them in ibâdah (worship) and service of Allah in serving humankind.

6. Love: Wasted when our emotional love is misdirected, not towards Allah, but towards something/someone else.

7. Time: Wasted when not used properly, by not doing what is righteous.

8. Intellect: Wasted on things that are detrimental to society and the individual, not in contemplation or reflection.

9. Service: Wasted when in service of someone who will not bring us closer to Allah.

10. Dhikr: Wasted when it does not effect our hearts.


( Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah)

Honey.

Introduction...

Honey is a sweet and viscous fluid produced by honeybees from the nectar of flowers. "The definition of honey stipulates a pure product that does not allow for the addition of any other substance. This includes, but is not limited to, water or other sweeteners," according to the United States National Honey Board 2003 and other nations' food regulations. Honey is significantly sweeter than table sugar and has attractive chemical properties for baking. Honey has a distinctive flavor which leads some people to prefer it over sugar and other sweeteners.

Liquid honey does not spoil. Because of its high sugar concentration, it kills most bacteria by crenation. Natural airborne yeasts cannot become active in it because the moisture content is too low. Natural, raw honey varies from 14% to 18% moisture content. As long as the moisture content remains under 18%, virtually no organism can successfully multiply to significant amounts in honey, though, importantly, enough bacteria survive to make honey dangerous for infants (especially Clostridium botulinum).

The study of pollens and spores in raw honey (melissopalynology) can determine floral sources of honey. Because bees carry an electrostatic charge, and can attract other particles, the same techniques of melissopalynology can be used in area environmental studies of radioactive particles, dust, or particulate pollution.

A main effect of bees collecting nectar to make honey is pollination, which is crucial for flowering plants.

Islam and honey More than 1400 years ago Allaah and His messenger told us that honey can heal a variety of medical problems.

Allaah Says (what means): "And the Lord inspired the bee, saying: Take your habitations in the mountains and in the trees and in what they erect. Then, eat of all fruits and follow the ways of your Lord made easy (for you)'. There comes forth from their bellies a drink of varying colors wherein is healing for men. Verily in this is indeed a sign for people who think." [Quran 16:68-69]

The Prophet has also told us of the healing found within honey for a variety of medical problems, including stomach ailments. It is reported by Al-Bukhaari that a man came to the Prophet because his brother had a stomach disorder. The Prophet said: "Let him drink honey." The man returned a second time complaining that no improvement happened in his brother’s case, and again the Prophet responded: "Let him drink honey." The man returned again, and said: "I have done that but to no avail." Thereupon the Prophet responded: "Allaah has said the truth, but your brother's stomach has told a lie. Let him drink honey." He drank it and was cured.

It is also reported that the Prophet said: "Make use of the two remedies: honey and the Quran." (At-Tirmithi)

Modern medicine has only recently discovered the fact that honey is a remedy to many diseases. Traditional uses of honey have included honey mixed with lemon for sore throats. Honey coats the throat and reduces throat irritation. Research has already shown that honey blocks the growth of oral bacteria.

Honey has also been used for stomach pains and problems. Modern research shows that honey is effective when used in the treatment of gastric or peptic stomach ulcers. Research has also revealed that honey is effective in the treatment of various wounds and infections because of its antimicrobial (antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal) properties.

Researchers are not absolutely sure why honey heals but they are learning new things about honey everyday. As mentioned in the beginning, honey contains a variety of sugars and minerals. Honey is also considered an antioxidant. This means it allows the blood to circulate better and provide more oxygen to areas of the body such as the brain.

Honey can also be used externally to promote healing when applied to wounds, even postoperative wounds. Honey has also been effective in its use to treat burns. It has even been shown to be low in calories and useful as a sweetener for diabetics, people with heart disease or those overweight.

Although there is healing in honey for a variety of medical disorders, certain precautions should be taken:

1- Children under the age of one year should not be given honey due to the possibility of infant botulism. This type of food poisoning can be deadly, however, it only seems to affect infants under one year of age.

2- If you have any known allergies to specific plants, then you should make sure the honey you are using is not produced from that plant.

3- People with allergies to bee stings should be careful when using other bee-related products such as propolis or royal jelly.

However, if these precautions are followed, then honey may, Allaah willing provide healing for you.

Conclusion

Muslims acknowledge and accept that Allaah and His Prophet know better and that our Creator Has revealed the truth. Therefore, we study the research that is available, not to confirm or deny the truth that has been revealed by Allaah and his Prophet but to learn of new ways we can use honey.

source - http://www.islamweb.net