Dari dulu hingga sekarang, berkerjaya dalam dunia "media" tak kiralah media cetak maupun media elektronik, pasti ada cabarannya tersendiri.Cabaran itu berubah-ubah seiring perkembangan teknologi dan juga "budaya" masyarakat yang menjadi object sekaligus subject dalam media.
Apa yang pasti, masyarakat atau secara spesifiknya adalah pembaca/penonton,terbagi dalam beberapa kelompok. Ada kelompok pembaca/penonton yang sukakan berita-berita aktual dan terkini mengenai perkembangan dunia dan segala sesuatu yang berhubung kaitnya. Ada pula yang lebih sukakan berita-berita panas penuh sensasi sekedar "penghilang stress" katanya. Ada pula yang lebih minat dengan perkembangan politik tanah air semasa...dan banyak lagi.
Apa yang pasti apabila bekerjaya dalam dunia media, seseorang itu dituntut untuk memiliki tanggung jawab moral tersendiri yaitu bahawa apa yang ditulis/ditayangkan adalah sesuatu yang bukan perkara mengada-ada,sebab lambat laun masyarakat akan mengetahui kebenarannya kelak.
Apa yang ditulis/ditayangkan juga hendaklah bersifat objektif, berpada-pada. Tak perlulah media memuji seseorang atau pihak tertentu setinggi langit kemudian di lain hari menjatuhkan air mukanya sedalam dasar lautan.
Akan tetapi, patut juga digaris bawahi bahwasanya, media tidak boleh dipersalahkan secara mutlak. Masyarakat pembaca/penonton juga mempunyai kewajiban moral untuk menilai sesuatu itu juga secara objektif. Apabila ada sesuatu berita yang diragui keshahihannya, hendaklah jangan cepat melatah.
Dengan teknologi yang serba mutakhir pada abad ini, rasanya tidaklah sukar untuk tabayyun(check and recheck) mengenai sesuatu berita. Yang perlu sekarang adalah kesedaran tiap individu baik sebagai pihak media mahupun pihak pembaca/penonton untuk melakukan cross-check sebagai satu tanggungjawab moral bersama. Wallahu'alam.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Emulsion - Emulsifier
An emulsion is a mixture of two or more immiscible (unblendable) liquids.
Emulsions are mainly used in many major chemical industries. In the pharmaceutical industry, they are used to make medicines that are more tasty, to improve value by controlling the amount of active ingredients. The most popular emulsions are Non-ionic because they have low toxicity. Cationic emulsions are also used in some products because their antimicrobial properties. Antimicrobial is a substance that kills or avoids the growth of microorganisms such as fungi and bacteria. Emulsions are also used in the making many hair and skin products such as of various types of oils and waxes.
An emulsifier (also known as an emulgent) is a substance which stabilizes an emulsion by increasing its kinetic stability. One class of emulsifiers is known as surface active substances, or surfactants. Examples of food emulsifiers are egg yolk (where the main emulsifying agent is lecithin), honey, and mustard, where a variety of chemicals in the mucilage surrounding the seed hull act as emulsifiers; proteins and low-molecular weight emulsifiers are common as well. Soy lecithin is another emulsifier and thickener. In some cases, particles can stabilize emulsions as well through a mechanism called pickering stabilization. Both mayonnaise and Hollandaise sauce are oil-in-water emulsions that are stabilized with egg yolk lecithin or other types of food additives such as Sodium stearoyl lactylate.
Detergents are another class of surfactant, and will physically interact with both oil and water, thus stabilizing the interface between oil or water droplets in suspension. This principle is exploited in soap to remove grease for the purpose of cleaning. A wide variety of emulsifiers are used in pharmacy to prepare emulsions such as creams and lotions. Common examples include emulsifying wax,cetearyl alcohol,polysorbate 20, , and ceteareth 20. Sometimes the inner phase itself can act as an emulsifier, and the result is nanoemulsion - the inner state disperses into nano-size droplets within the outer phase. A well-known example of this phenomenon, the ouzo effect, happens when water is poured in a strong alcoholic anise-based beverage, such as ouzo, pastis, arak or raki. The anisolic compounds, which are soluble in athanol, now form nano-sized droplets and emulgate within the water. The colour of such diluted drink is opaque and milky.
Oil-in-water emulsions are common in food. Notable examples include:
•Vinaigrette – vegetable oil in vinegar; if prepared with only oil and vinegar (without an emulsifier), yields an unstable emulsion
•Mayonnaise – vegetable oil in lemon juice or vinegar, with egg yolk lecithin as emulsifier
•Hollandaise sauce – similar to mayonnaise
•Crema in espresso – coffee oil in water (brewed coffee), unstable
In pharmaceutics, hairstyling, personal hygiene and cosmetics, emulsions are frequently used. These are usually oil and water emulsions, but which is dispersed and which is continuous depends on the pharmaceutical formulation. These emulsions may be called creams, ointments, liniments (balms), pastes, films or liquids, depending mostly on their oil and water proportions and their route of administration. The first 5 are topical dosage forms, and may be used on the surface of the skin, transdermally, ophthalmically, rectally or vaginally. A very liquidy emulsion may also be used orally, or it may be injected using various routes (typically intravenously or intramuscularly). Popular medicated emulsions include calamine lotion, cod liver oil, Polysporin, cortisol cream, Canesten and Fleet.
Emulsions are mainly used in many major chemical industries. In the pharmaceutical industry, they are used to make medicines that are more tasty, to improve value by controlling the amount of active ingredients. The most popular emulsions are Non-ionic because they have low toxicity. Cationic emulsions are also used in some products because their antimicrobial properties. Antimicrobial is a substance that kills or avoids the growth of microorganisms such as fungi and bacteria. Emulsions are also used in the making many hair and skin products such as of various types of oils and waxes.
An emulsifier (also known as an emulgent) is a substance which stabilizes an emulsion by increasing its kinetic stability. One class of emulsifiers is known as surface active substances, or surfactants. Examples of food emulsifiers are egg yolk (where the main emulsifying agent is lecithin), honey, and mustard, where a variety of chemicals in the mucilage surrounding the seed hull act as emulsifiers; proteins and low-molecular weight emulsifiers are common as well. Soy lecithin is another emulsifier and thickener. In some cases, particles can stabilize emulsions as well through a mechanism called pickering stabilization. Both mayonnaise and Hollandaise sauce are oil-in-water emulsions that are stabilized with egg yolk lecithin or other types of food additives such as Sodium stearoyl lactylate.
Detergents are another class of surfactant, and will physically interact with both oil and water, thus stabilizing the interface between oil or water droplets in suspension. This principle is exploited in soap to remove grease for the purpose of cleaning. A wide variety of emulsifiers are used in pharmacy to prepare emulsions such as creams and lotions. Common examples include emulsifying wax,cetearyl alcohol,polysorbate 20, , and ceteareth 20. Sometimes the inner phase itself can act as an emulsifier, and the result is nanoemulsion - the inner state disperses into nano-size droplets within the outer phase. A well-known example of this phenomenon, the ouzo effect, happens when water is poured in a strong alcoholic anise-based beverage, such as ouzo, pastis, arak or raki. The anisolic compounds, which are soluble in athanol, now form nano-sized droplets and emulgate within the water. The colour of such diluted drink is opaque and milky.
Oil-in-water emulsions are common in food. Notable examples include:
•Vinaigrette – vegetable oil in vinegar; if prepared with only oil and vinegar (without an emulsifier), yields an unstable emulsion
•Mayonnaise – vegetable oil in lemon juice or vinegar, with egg yolk lecithin as emulsifier
•Hollandaise sauce – similar to mayonnaise
•Crema in espresso – coffee oil in water (brewed coffee), unstable
In pharmaceutics, hairstyling, personal hygiene and cosmetics, emulsions are frequently used. These are usually oil and water emulsions, but which is dispersed and which is continuous depends on the pharmaceutical formulation. These emulsions may be called creams, ointments, liniments (balms), pastes, films or liquids, depending mostly on their oil and water proportions and their route of administration. The first 5 are topical dosage forms, and may be used on the surface of the skin, transdermally, ophthalmically, rectally or vaginally. A very liquidy emulsion may also be used orally, or it may be injected using various routes (typically intravenously or intramuscularly). Popular medicated emulsions include calamine lotion, cod liver oil, Polysporin, cortisol cream, Canesten and Fleet.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Islamic Story 12:Everything happens for a reason
Once upon a time an African king who had a close friend that he grew with. The friend had a habit to face each situation that happened in its life (positive or negative) saying: "That is good! Almighty Allah knows more".
The king and his friend one day left for a hunt. The friend loaded and prepared the weapons for the king. Apparently, the friend had made something missed in the preparation of one of the weapons, the king shot and it took his thumb away. When examining the situation, the friend observed as always: "That is good! Almighty Allah knows more". The king answered, "No, this is not good", he commanded the soldiers who arrested his friend and put him in the prison.
After one year, the king was hunting in a region where, cannibals appeared, and captured the king and took him to their village. They tied his hands, and piled up the firewood. When the cannibals came closer to the fire they noticed that the king did not have the thumb. As they were superstitious, they never ate who had a part of his body missing.
Thus, after setting the king free, they banished him from the village. When the king arrived at its palace, remembered the incident about his thumb and felt remorse for the treatment given to his friend. Immediately, he pays a visit to the prisoner to speak with his friend. "You were right", said the king. "It was good that I lost my thumb". The king started to tell his friend everything that happened to him. "I am sorry that I have ordered you to prison for such a long period. It was a great mistake". "No", the friend said, "That was the good decision, because Almighty Allah knows more". "What do you mean by that? How it can be good decision? I ordered my best friend to prison?" The friend answered: "Remember that Almighty Allah knows more and if I was not in the prison certainly I would be with you in the hunt". Then you know what would have happened with me?
"He knows what is before them and what is behind them and to Allah are all affairs turned back". Noble Qur'an, Surah Al Hajj (22:76)
Do not judge the facts or events for the immediate results! Almighty Allah, the Highest, the Omniscient and the Wise, knows more.
When we faced by circumstances that are no good, we react quickly, "This is not good." but, perhaps we did not know the reason behind it. It can become a good thing also. Hence, from next time onward, when we face any type of situation. Let us not jump into any conclusion, always remember. This life is a test. The good and the bad, nothing happen without any reason. Our mind is not prepared to understand the reason.
The king and his friend one day left for a hunt. The friend loaded and prepared the weapons for the king. Apparently, the friend had made something missed in the preparation of one of the weapons, the king shot and it took his thumb away. When examining the situation, the friend observed as always: "That is good! Almighty Allah knows more". The king answered, "No, this is not good", he commanded the soldiers who arrested his friend and put him in the prison.
After one year, the king was hunting in a region where, cannibals appeared, and captured the king and took him to their village. They tied his hands, and piled up the firewood. When the cannibals came closer to the fire they noticed that the king did not have the thumb. As they were superstitious, they never ate who had a part of his body missing.
Thus, after setting the king free, they banished him from the village. When the king arrived at its palace, remembered the incident about his thumb and felt remorse for the treatment given to his friend. Immediately, he pays a visit to the prisoner to speak with his friend. "You were right", said the king. "It was good that I lost my thumb". The king started to tell his friend everything that happened to him. "I am sorry that I have ordered you to prison for such a long period. It was a great mistake". "No", the friend said, "That was the good decision, because Almighty Allah knows more". "What do you mean by that? How it can be good decision? I ordered my best friend to prison?" The friend answered: "Remember that Almighty Allah knows more and if I was not in the prison certainly I would be with you in the hunt". Then you know what would have happened with me?
"He knows what is before them and what is behind them and to Allah are all affairs turned back". Noble Qur'an, Surah Al Hajj (22:76)
Do not judge the facts or events for the immediate results! Almighty Allah, the Highest, the Omniscient and the Wise, knows more.
When we faced by circumstances that are no good, we react quickly, "This is not good." but, perhaps we did not know the reason behind it. It can become a good thing also. Hence, from next time onward, when we face any type of situation. Let us not jump into any conclusion, always remember. This life is a test. The good and the bad, nothing happen without any reason. Our mind is not prepared to understand the reason.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Orthorexia: another type of eating disorder
Orthorexia, or orthorexia nervosa is a term coined by Dr. Steven Bratman, a Colorado MD, to denote an eating disorder characterized by a fixation on eating what the sufferer considers to be healthful food, which can ultimately lead to early death.
Bratman coined the term in 1997 from the Greek orthos, "correct or right", and orexis for "appetite". Literally "correct appetite", the word is modeled on anorexia, "without appetite". Bratman describes orthorexia as an unhealthy obsession (as in obsessive-compulsive disorder) with what the sufferer considers to be healthy eating. The subject may avoid certain foods, such as those containing fats, preservatives, or animal products, and suffer malnutrition.
A person with orthorexia nervosa is obsessed with what they believe is healthy eating. They may take a healthy diet to extremes. For instance, someone with orthorexia may begin following the Atkins diet, which restricts carbohydrates. They may then cut all carbs from their diet. While a diet of limited carbs may be healthy (and that’s debatable), a diet with no carbs is definitely not healthy.
Orthorexics often avoid processed foods, which are considered “artificial,” and preserved products, which are believed to be “dangerous.” Animal products are often avoided as well. The diet may be limited to only a few “safe” foods, for instance fresh fruits and vegetables.
The problem is that it’s impossible to live on only fruits and vegetables. People with orthorexia nervosa are often unhealthily thin. They are malnourished. They believe they are eating a healthy diet but in reality, they are not. Their diet is lacking in many key nutrients, such as protein, iron, and B vitamins. They suffer many of the health problems suffered by people with anorexia, and the condition can even be fatal.
Symptoms of orthorexia nervosa may include obsession with healthy eating, emaciation, and death by starvation. Orthorexic subjects typically have specific feelings towards different types of food. Preserved products are described as "dangerous", industrially produced products as "artificial", and biological products as "healthy". Sufferers demonstrate a strong or uncontrollable desire to eat when feeling nervous, excited, happy or guilty.
Orthorexia nervosa has a higher prevalence in men and in those with a lower level of education.
People with orthorexia are often unhealthily thin. They may suffer from dizziness and fainting, weakness and fatigue, anemia, hypotension (low blood pressure), and more serious medical problems. In severe cases, heart problems can occur, which can be fatal.
Treatment for orthorexia nervosa must begin with stabilizing any medical problems, if existent.
Education about proper nutrition is an important part of treatment. People with orthorexia are often resistant to this part of treatment because they believe they know what a healthy diet is, and that their diet is healthy. They are proud of their dietary choices.
Counseling is also recommended. It can help orthorexics increase self-esteem and set more realistic expectations for themselves.
People with orthorexia are often socially isolated by their condition. Their obsession with food and their eating habits leave them little time to develop social relationships. Their eating habits prevent them from going out to dinner with friends. As this changes, increasing social support is an important component of treatment.
Bratman coined the term in 1997 from the Greek orthos, "correct or right", and orexis for "appetite". Literally "correct appetite", the word is modeled on anorexia, "without appetite". Bratman describes orthorexia as an unhealthy obsession (as in obsessive-compulsive disorder) with what the sufferer considers to be healthy eating. The subject may avoid certain foods, such as those containing fats, preservatives, or animal products, and suffer malnutrition.
A person with orthorexia nervosa is obsessed with what they believe is healthy eating. They may take a healthy diet to extremes. For instance, someone with orthorexia may begin following the Atkins diet, which restricts carbohydrates. They may then cut all carbs from their diet. While a diet of limited carbs may be healthy (and that’s debatable), a diet with no carbs is definitely not healthy.
Orthorexics often avoid processed foods, which are considered “artificial,” and preserved products, which are believed to be “dangerous.” Animal products are often avoided as well. The diet may be limited to only a few “safe” foods, for instance fresh fruits and vegetables.
The problem is that it’s impossible to live on only fruits and vegetables. People with orthorexia nervosa are often unhealthily thin. They are malnourished. They believe they are eating a healthy diet but in reality, they are not. Their diet is lacking in many key nutrients, such as protein, iron, and B vitamins. They suffer many of the health problems suffered by people with anorexia, and the condition can even be fatal.
Symptoms of orthorexia nervosa may include obsession with healthy eating, emaciation, and death by starvation. Orthorexic subjects typically have specific feelings towards different types of food. Preserved products are described as "dangerous", industrially produced products as "artificial", and biological products as "healthy". Sufferers demonstrate a strong or uncontrollable desire to eat when feeling nervous, excited, happy or guilty.
Orthorexia nervosa has a higher prevalence in men and in those with a lower level of education.
People with orthorexia are often unhealthily thin. They may suffer from dizziness and fainting, weakness and fatigue, anemia, hypotension (low blood pressure), and more serious medical problems. In severe cases, heart problems can occur, which can be fatal.
Treatment for orthorexia nervosa must begin with stabilizing any medical problems, if existent.
Education about proper nutrition is an important part of treatment. People with orthorexia are often resistant to this part of treatment because they believe they know what a healthy diet is, and that their diet is healthy. They are proud of their dietary choices.
Counseling is also recommended. It can help orthorexics increase self-esteem and set more realistic expectations for themselves.
People with orthorexia are often socially isolated by their condition. Their obsession with food and their eating habits leave them little time to develop social relationships. Their eating habits prevent them from going out to dinner with friends. As this changes, increasing social support is an important component of treatment.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Tercabar iman kah ego?
Sebut saja...muallaf.....ada beragam pendapat mengenainya.
Bagi yg berfikiran negatif...ala mualaf ni, bukan boleh percaya.....awal-awal memanglah,sungguh-sungguh...lepas tu ..angat2 tai ayam....silap-silap murtad pulak...
Bagi yg berfikiran positif pula...alhamdulillah...Allah berikan hidayah padanya...moga-moga makin kukuhlah Dinul Islam kita....
Hm, apapun komen orang-orang di sekeliling kita, secara jujur, seringkali saya merasa kita sebagai umat Islam, apalagi yang terlahir dari ibu bapa yg memang beragama Islam, berasal dari generasi nenek moyang yang juga penganut Islam.....secara sedar atau pun tidak, justru menganggap Islam sebagai sesuatu yang mudah....sesuatu yang hanya diwarisi dari satu generasi ke generasi...amat jarang diantara kita yang memahami konsep "iman tak dapat diwarisi dari seorang ayah yang bertakwa".
Kita seringkali beranggapan, meski tak selalu dan tak semua, kalau ibu bapanya ustadz/alim 'ulama, si anak mestilah begitu juga. Tak salah kalau beranggapan demikian kerana ibu bapa yg baik, yg soleh akan berusaha sedaya upaya untuk mendidik anak-anaknya agar menjadi hamba Allah yang soleh dan solehah...tapi tak juga dinafikan, berapa ramai di luar sana...ibu bapa yang mempunyai latar belakang pendidikan agama yang baik.
Bukanlah saya nak kita semua mengaji bab akhirat saja, tapi anak-anak kita, generasi muda kita perlukan ilmu akhirat sebagai bekalan di masa hadapan mereka agar tak terpesong ke jalan yang salah, jalan yg tak diredhoi Allah.
Kembali kepada muallaf.....justru seringkali orang yang baru memeluk Islam, begitu bergairah untuk memahami Islam, sehingga pada akhirnya kefahaman dan praktek Islam mereka dalam hidup keseharian justru amat luar biasa, melebihi standard orang Islam "sejati" yang hanya mendapatkannya secara "warisan".
Pabila benda serupa ini berlaku, mari sama-sama kita renungkan...samada kita rasa tercabar iman atau tercabar ego. Pabila kita tercabar iman, kita akan lebih termotivasi untuk menjadi muslim yang lebih baik...... pabila tercabar ego, kita cuma mampu memberikan senyuman sinis dan pandangan melecehkan pada saudara baru kita. Jadi, pikir-pikirkanlah.....
Bagi yg berfikiran negatif...ala mualaf ni, bukan boleh percaya.....awal-awal memanglah,sungguh-sungguh...lepas tu ..angat2 tai ayam....silap-silap murtad pulak...
Bagi yg berfikiran positif pula...alhamdulillah...Allah berikan hidayah padanya...moga-moga makin kukuhlah Dinul Islam kita....
Hm, apapun komen orang-orang di sekeliling kita, secara jujur, seringkali saya merasa kita sebagai umat Islam, apalagi yang terlahir dari ibu bapa yg memang beragama Islam, berasal dari generasi nenek moyang yang juga penganut Islam.....secara sedar atau pun tidak, justru menganggap Islam sebagai sesuatu yang mudah....sesuatu yang hanya diwarisi dari satu generasi ke generasi...amat jarang diantara kita yang memahami konsep "iman tak dapat diwarisi dari seorang ayah yang bertakwa".
Kita seringkali beranggapan, meski tak selalu dan tak semua, kalau ibu bapanya ustadz/alim 'ulama, si anak mestilah begitu juga. Tak salah kalau beranggapan demikian kerana ibu bapa yg baik, yg soleh akan berusaha sedaya upaya untuk mendidik anak-anaknya agar menjadi hamba Allah yang soleh dan solehah...tapi tak juga dinafikan, berapa ramai di luar sana...ibu bapa yang mempunyai latar belakang pendidikan agama yang baik.
Bukanlah saya nak kita semua mengaji bab akhirat saja, tapi anak-anak kita, generasi muda kita perlukan ilmu akhirat sebagai bekalan di masa hadapan mereka agar tak terpesong ke jalan yang salah, jalan yg tak diredhoi Allah.
Kembali kepada muallaf.....justru seringkali orang yang baru memeluk Islam, begitu bergairah untuk memahami Islam, sehingga pada akhirnya kefahaman dan praktek Islam mereka dalam hidup keseharian justru amat luar biasa, melebihi standard orang Islam "sejati" yang hanya mendapatkannya secara "warisan".
Pabila benda serupa ini berlaku, mari sama-sama kita renungkan...samada kita rasa tercabar iman atau tercabar ego. Pabila kita tercabar iman, kita akan lebih termotivasi untuk menjadi muslim yang lebih baik...... pabila tercabar ego, kita cuma mampu memberikan senyuman sinis dan pandangan melecehkan pada saudara baru kita. Jadi, pikir-pikirkanlah.....
Friday, April 23, 2010
Seven Habits
Here are at least seven habits indispensable for highly successful Muslim youth, derived entirely from the Qur'an and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad and Ahlul Bayt (peace and blessings be upon them).
1. Be Truthful
Being truthful is not always easy, especially when we make a mistake. We fret over whether or not to disclose exactly what happened. We sweat, we are afraid, we feel nervous and anxious. We are often afraid that if we tell the truth about what we have done or said, we will be in trouble with our parents or friends. What we forget is that whether we tell the truth or not, Allah Most High knows exactly what took place, even those things that were never manifest or visible to people around us. Despite how burdensome telling the truth might seem, all of us are aware of the feeling of relief we experience when we tell the truth, even if the consequence of telling the truth is punishment. Casting the telling of truth and the fate of the truthful in terms of profit and loss, Allah Most High tells us in the Qur'an
[This is a day on which the truthful will profit from their truth: theirs are gardens, with rivers flowing beneath - their eternal Home: Allah well-pleased with them, and they with Allah. That is the great salvation, (the fulfillment of all desires).] (Al-Ma'idah 5:119)
So much is to be gained from being truthful as opposed to escaping punishment or blame because of not being truthful. Not being truthful, in fact, leads us down a slippery slope, guaranteeing that with one lie, more lies must be told. Being truthful is not an option for Muslims, but rather an obligation, because our goal in being truthful is Paradise. The beloved of Allah, Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), said, Truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. And a man keeps on telling the truth until he becomes a truthful person. Falsehood leads to al-fujur [wickedness, evil-doing], and al-fujur leads to the (Hell) Fire, and a man may keep on telling lies till he is written before Allah, a liar." (Sahih Bukhari)
Ultimate success is therefore achieved by living one's entire life - the youthful years, the adult years, and the elderly years - being truthful.
2. Be Trustworthy
Who do you rely on? Of course, Allah (SWT). He is indeed the Most Trustworthy. But among humans, who do you rely on? Who can you trust to come through for you all the time? Do people rely on you? Are you considered trustworthy? Moving ahead in life, achieving ultimate success, requires that people consider you trustworthy and reliable. Being trustworthy should not be an arbitrary activity but rather a habit so that you can be relied upon in all instances, big or small, convenient or inconvenient, easy or difficult.
In colloquial terms, we often hear "I've got your back," implying, in the most literal sense, that people cannot see what is behind them so they need to rely on their friends to cover that angle, just in case a threat occurs from the back. Just imagine what it would be like if a friend were climbing a tree and was heading out onto a very thin branch to get a kite that got stuck there. He asks you if you "have his back." In this instance, he is relying on you entirely to hold on to him in case the branch breaks. There is no room for joking around or for being distracted: your friend is trusting you with his life.
When we say Allah is the Most Trustworthy, we are coming to terms with the fact that Allah Most High will never let us down, will never leave our side. He, Most High, says about someone who willingly accepts Islam,
[Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from error: whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah Heareth and Knoweth all things.] (Al-Baqarah 2:256)
Practice daily developing the habit of being trustworthy. Accept responsibility and then fulfill it. When others trust you, do not betray their trust.
You can read in the beautiful biography of our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) how people used to entrust him with their valuables, knowing that upon their return they would find their valuables safe and unharmed. His personal and business practices were commendable to the degree that he was known for it in his community, even before he became aware that he was the Prophet of Allah, literally one who is most truthful and trustworthy.
3. Have Self-Restraint and Be God-Conscious
Perhaps the most difficult challenge while navigating adolescence is to restrain oneself from falling victim to one's desires - especially one's lower desires.
Our success in life depends to a great extent on how well we are able to restrain ourselves and to be moderate in what is permissible, as well as how capable we are of distancing ourselves from what is impermissible.
Why is self-restraint so critical? Satan's goal is to make you a slave of your desires to the extent that you eat until you are actually uncomfortable; that you consume without restraint beverages made of caffeine, sugar, and artificial flavors; that you find yourself longing for sleep more than prayer; and that you yearn to satisfy your sexual desires. Developing self-restraint as a habit entails making self-restraint your second nature - something which is done almost without thought, without too much effort. We are reminded by Allah Most High,
[And no one will be granted such goodness except those who exercise patience and self-restraint, none but persons of the greatest good fortune.] (Fussilat 41:5)
In seeking to be highly successful Muslim youth, that is, youth deserving of the greatest fortune, it is imperative that you develop self-restraint. How awesome will it be if you can look back at your life and say to yourself, all praise is due to Allah that I did not succumb to my lower desires and instead exercised self-restraint consistently!
4. Be Thorough
Look around your room. How many unfinished projects do you have? When you work on homework, are you likely to rush through the assignment just so you can be done with it or are you more likely to take your time, to check your work, and most importantly, to be thorough?
Often teachers will grade a report based on how well and to what extent the student covered the topic at hand. Being thorough is not a habit that is developed overnight. The opposite of being thorough is being incomplete, being rushed, and working in haste without any regard for accuracy or quality. The most perfect is Allah Most High, Who perfected creation, Who perfected our religion, and Who guided His Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) to be the most perfect among humans in behavior and in character.
Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'I was sent to perfect good character'.
To be thorough stems from a desire to be perfect to the extent that this is humanly possible. Seeking perfection in our actions and speech from an early age helps us to develop a keen eye, not only for thoroughness in our own life, but also for thoroughness in the lives of those around us. Being thorough in prayer, for example, teaches us to be patient and to concentrate upon the words we are reciting and the different positions of the prayer.
5. Be Focused
One thousand ideas go through your head the moment you stand up for prayer. Is that you? Really? What do you make of those ideas? Do you process them? What about when you are sitting in class? Do you find your mind wandering, daydreaming, and unable to focus on the lecture at hand? Are you likely to use any excuse whatsoever to leave what you are doing?
Developing the habit of being focused ensures that you are awake, alert, and totally motivated to work on and complete the task at hand, whatever it may be. Being distracted early on in childhood by video games or constantly changing scenes on television shows contributes to an inability to concentrate, to focus. Among the best ways to develop focus is to practice praying with deep concentration to the extent that you are almost unaware of your surroundings. Allah Most High tells us in the Qur'an that the believers are
[those who humble themselves in their prayers] (Al-Mu'minun 23:2)
The humility referred to here results from total focus and concentration on the fact that one is in the presence of Allah, standing before Him, Most High. Do your best to develop focus, no matter what activity you are engaged in - whether in prayer, in academics, in athletics, or some other pastime.
6. Be Punctual
Stop saying over and over again that you are late because of "Muslim standard time," or the "standard time" of your particular ethnicity. The last thing we should attribute to Islam is the notion that its teachings somehow make us late, slow, slugging, and anything but punctual. What a sad state of affairs, indeed, that we attribute our own weaknesses to our religion or ethnicity!
Highly successful individuals, be they Muslim or not, understand and appreciate the value of not only their time but the time of everyone else with whom they interact. Keeping people waiting for hours on end is neither something to be proud of nor a habit that has a place in the mindset of a person who tries to be successful.
One of the central pillars of Islam is prayer, and Allah and the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) have given us clear reminders that we are to establish prayers at their due times.
When Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) asked "which deed is the dearest to Allah?" the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) replied, "To offer the prayers at their early stated fixed times." (Sahih Bukhari).
If indeed your day is to be considered successful, you must have prayed all the obligatory prayers at their established times and as many voluntary prayers as possible. If your day is planned around the times of prayer, you should not pray exactly at the time when you are to pray but then come late to all other appointments. Being punctual is a habit which, when perfected, demonstrates to others the tremendous value that Islam places on time - not only ours but that of everyone else with whom we interact.
7. Be Consistent
Apart from all the habits listed above, perhaps the one that is sure to help you become a highly successful Muslim youth is that of being consistent. One cannot be truthful one day and a liar the next; one cannot be trustworthy in one instance and totally unreliable in the next; and so on for each of the other habits. A Muslim understands from an early age that it is easier to do something once or whenever we feel like it but much harder to do something regularly and consistently.
Indeed, the Mother of the Believers A'ishah narrates that "the most beloved action to Allah's Apostle was that which is done continuously and regularly" (Sahih Bukhari).
Regular and consist actions show that a person has thought about it, has intended to do it, has planned to do it, and therefore does it.
We urge you to be as consistent as possible, especially in those areas of your life which need constant improvement, such as your prayers, your fasting, your manners, your studying habits, etc. Do not say, I am going to pray all day every day, or fast voluntarily all of the days of every month, or study all night every night, because such actions cannot be humanly sustained over a long period of time. Say on the other hand, I am going to be sure to read at least one part of the Qur'an every day, or I will strive to help my parents with at least one household chore every day, or I will try to study at least one new item every week so that I can be ahead of the lesson plan.
1. Be Truthful
Being truthful is not always easy, especially when we make a mistake. We fret over whether or not to disclose exactly what happened. We sweat, we are afraid, we feel nervous and anxious. We are often afraid that if we tell the truth about what we have done or said, we will be in trouble with our parents or friends. What we forget is that whether we tell the truth or not, Allah Most High knows exactly what took place, even those things that were never manifest or visible to people around us. Despite how burdensome telling the truth might seem, all of us are aware of the feeling of relief we experience when we tell the truth, even if the consequence of telling the truth is punishment. Casting the telling of truth and the fate of the truthful in terms of profit and loss, Allah Most High tells us in the Qur'an
[This is a day on which the truthful will profit from their truth: theirs are gardens, with rivers flowing beneath - their eternal Home: Allah well-pleased with them, and they with Allah. That is the great salvation, (the fulfillment of all desires).] (Al-Ma'idah 5:119)
So much is to be gained from being truthful as opposed to escaping punishment or blame because of not being truthful. Not being truthful, in fact, leads us down a slippery slope, guaranteeing that with one lie, more lies must be told. Being truthful is not an option for Muslims, but rather an obligation, because our goal in being truthful is Paradise. The beloved of Allah, Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), said, Truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. And a man keeps on telling the truth until he becomes a truthful person. Falsehood leads to al-fujur [wickedness, evil-doing], and al-fujur leads to the (Hell) Fire, and a man may keep on telling lies till he is written before Allah, a liar." (Sahih Bukhari)
Ultimate success is therefore achieved by living one's entire life - the youthful years, the adult years, and the elderly years - being truthful.
2. Be Trustworthy
Who do you rely on? Of course, Allah (SWT). He is indeed the Most Trustworthy. But among humans, who do you rely on? Who can you trust to come through for you all the time? Do people rely on you? Are you considered trustworthy? Moving ahead in life, achieving ultimate success, requires that people consider you trustworthy and reliable. Being trustworthy should not be an arbitrary activity but rather a habit so that you can be relied upon in all instances, big or small, convenient or inconvenient, easy or difficult.
In colloquial terms, we often hear "I've got your back," implying, in the most literal sense, that people cannot see what is behind them so they need to rely on their friends to cover that angle, just in case a threat occurs from the back. Just imagine what it would be like if a friend were climbing a tree and was heading out onto a very thin branch to get a kite that got stuck there. He asks you if you "have his back." In this instance, he is relying on you entirely to hold on to him in case the branch breaks. There is no room for joking around or for being distracted: your friend is trusting you with his life.
When we say Allah is the Most Trustworthy, we are coming to terms with the fact that Allah Most High will never let us down, will never leave our side. He, Most High, says about someone who willingly accepts Islam,
[Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from error: whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah Heareth and Knoweth all things.] (Al-Baqarah 2:256)
Practice daily developing the habit of being trustworthy. Accept responsibility and then fulfill it. When others trust you, do not betray their trust.
You can read in the beautiful biography of our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) how people used to entrust him with their valuables, knowing that upon their return they would find their valuables safe and unharmed. His personal and business practices were commendable to the degree that he was known for it in his community, even before he became aware that he was the Prophet of Allah, literally one who is most truthful and trustworthy.
3. Have Self-Restraint and Be God-Conscious
Perhaps the most difficult challenge while navigating adolescence is to restrain oneself from falling victim to one's desires - especially one's lower desires.
Our success in life depends to a great extent on how well we are able to restrain ourselves and to be moderate in what is permissible, as well as how capable we are of distancing ourselves from what is impermissible.
Why is self-restraint so critical? Satan's goal is to make you a slave of your desires to the extent that you eat until you are actually uncomfortable; that you consume without restraint beverages made of caffeine, sugar, and artificial flavors; that you find yourself longing for sleep more than prayer; and that you yearn to satisfy your sexual desires. Developing self-restraint as a habit entails making self-restraint your second nature - something which is done almost without thought, without too much effort. We are reminded by Allah Most High,
[And no one will be granted such goodness except those who exercise patience and self-restraint, none but persons of the greatest good fortune.] (Fussilat 41:5)
In seeking to be highly successful Muslim youth, that is, youth deserving of the greatest fortune, it is imperative that you develop self-restraint. How awesome will it be if you can look back at your life and say to yourself, all praise is due to Allah that I did not succumb to my lower desires and instead exercised self-restraint consistently!
4. Be Thorough
Look around your room. How many unfinished projects do you have? When you work on homework, are you likely to rush through the assignment just so you can be done with it or are you more likely to take your time, to check your work, and most importantly, to be thorough?
Often teachers will grade a report based on how well and to what extent the student covered the topic at hand. Being thorough is not a habit that is developed overnight. The opposite of being thorough is being incomplete, being rushed, and working in haste without any regard for accuracy or quality. The most perfect is Allah Most High, Who perfected creation, Who perfected our religion, and Who guided His Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) to be the most perfect among humans in behavior and in character.
Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'I was sent to perfect good character'.
To be thorough stems from a desire to be perfect to the extent that this is humanly possible. Seeking perfection in our actions and speech from an early age helps us to develop a keen eye, not only for thoroughness in our own life, but also for thoroughness in the lives of those around us. Being thorough in prayer, for example, teaches us to be patient and to concentrate upon the words we are reciting and the different positions of the prayer.
5. Be Focused
One thousand ideas go through your head the moment you stand up for prayer. Is that you? Really? What do you make of those ideas? Do you process them? What about when you are sitting in class? Do you find your mind wandering, daydreaming, and unable to focus on the lecture at hand? Are you likely to use any excuse whatsoever to leave what you are doing?
Developing the habit of being focused ensures that you are awake, alert, and totally motivated to work on and complete the task at hand, whatever it may be. Being distracted early on in childhood by video games or constantly changing scenes on television shows contributes to an inability to concentrate, to focus. Among the best ways to develop focus is to practice praying with deep concentration to the extent that you are almost unaware of your surroundings. Allah Most High tells us in the Qur'an that the believers are
[those who humble themselves in their prayers] (Al-Mu'minun 23:2)
The humility referred to here results from total focus and concentration on the fact that one is in the presence of Allah, standing before Him, Most High. Do your best to develop focus, no matter what activity you are engaged in - whether in prayer, in academics, in athletics, or some other pastime.
6. Be Punctual
Stop saying over and over again that you are late because of "Muslim standard time," or the "standard time" of your particular ethnicity. The last thing we should attribute to Islam is the notion that its teachings somehow make us late, slow, slugging, and anything but punctual. What a sad state of affairs, indeed, that we attribute our own weaknesses to our religion or ethnicity!
Highly successful individuals, be they Muslim or not, understand and appreciate the value of not only their time but the time of everyone else with whom they interact. Keeping people waiting for hours on end is neither something to be proud of nor a habit that has a place in the mindset of a person who tries to be successful.
One of the central pillars of Islam is prayer, and Allah and the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) have given us clear reminders that we are to establish prayers at their due times.
When Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) asked "which deed is the dearest to Allah?" the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) replied, "To offer the prayers at their early stated fixed times." (Sahih Bukhari).
If indeed your day is to be considered successful, you must have prayed all the obligatory prayers at their established times and as many voluntary prayers as possible. If your day is planned around the times of prayer, you should not pray exactly at the time when you are to pray but then come late to all other appointments. Being punctual is a habit which, when perfected, demonstrates to others the tremendous value that Islam places on time - not only ours but that of everyone else with whom we interact.
7. Be Consistent
Apart from all the habits listed above, perhaps the one that is sure to help you become a highly successful Muslim youth is that of being consistent. One cannot be truthful one day and a liar the next; one cannot be trustworthy in one instance and totally unreliable in the next; and so on for each of the other habits. A Muslim understands from an early age that it is easier to do something once or whenever we feel like it but much harder to do something regularly and consistently.
Indeed, the Mother of the Believers A'ishah narrates that "the most beloved action to Allah's Apostle was that which is done continuously and regularly" (Sahih Bukhari).
Regular and consist actions show that a person has thought about it, has intended to do it, has planned to do it, and therefore does it.
We urge you to be as consistent as possible, especially in those areas of your life which need constant improvement, such as your prayers, your fasting, your manners, your studying habits, etc. Do not say, I am going to pray all day every day, or fast voluntarily all of the days of every month, or study all night every night, because such actions cannot be humanly sustained over a long period of time. Say on the other hand, I am going to be sure to read at least one part of the Qur'an every day, or I will strive to help my parents with at least one household chore every day, or I will try to study at least one new item every week so that I can be ahead of the lesson plan.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Dialogue between Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) and a Traveler
A traveler once came to the mosque to see Prophet Mohammad (pbuh). After greeting Prophet Mohammad (pbuh), he was asked where he was from. The traveler replied that he came from very far just to get a few questions answered. Following is the dialogue between the traveler and Prophet Mohammad (pbuh).
Traveler: I do not want punishment (Azaab) to be written in my account.
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Behave well with your parents.
Traveler: I want to be known amongst people as an intelligent person.
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Fear Allah (SWT) always.
Traveler: I want to be counted amongst Allah's (SWT) favorites.
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Recite Noble Qur'an every morning and evening.
Traveler: I want my heart to always be enlightened (Roshan and Munawar).
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Never forget death.
Traveler: I never want to be away from Allah's (SWT) blessing.
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Always treat fellow creatures well.
Traveler: I never want to be harmed by my enemies.
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Always have faith in Allah (SWT) only.
Traveler: I never want to be humiliated.
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Be careful of your actions.
Traveler: I wish to live long.
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Always do good towards blood relations (Sile Rahm).
Traveler: I want my sustenance to increase.
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Always be in ablution (Wudu).
Traveler: I wish to stay free of punishment (Azaab) in the grave.
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Always wear pure (Paak) clothes.
Traveler: I never want to burn in hell.
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Control your eyes and tongue.
Traveler: how do I get my sins forgiven?
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Always ask forgiveness from Allah (SWT) with a lot of humility.
Traveler: I want people to respect me always.
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Never extend your hands of need at people.
Traveler: I want to always be honored.
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Never humiliate or put down anyone.
Traveler: I don't want to be squeezed in the grave (Fishar-e-Qabr).
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Recite Sura-e-Mulk often.
Traveler: I want my wealth to increase.
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Recite Sura-e-Waqia every night.
Traveler: I want to be safe and at peace on Day of Judgment.
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Do remembrance (Zikr) of Allah (SWT) from dusk to night.
Traveler: I want to be in full attention and concentration during prayer (Namaaz).
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Always do ablution (Wudu) with concentration and attention.
Note: The reward for Sile Rahm has been described by Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) in one of his traditions. Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) says: "When a person goes towards his relatives so that he can fulfill his rights with his life and his wealth, Allah (SWT) bestows upon him the reward of a martyr at every step he takes. He (Allah) writes down forty thousand Hasana (the unit of Divine rewards) and He erases forty thousand of his sins and He elevates him by forty thousand grades. The person achieves the position of one who has worshipped Allah (SWT) for a hundred years."
At another place Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) says, regarding the rewards for Sile Rahm: "The reward for Sadaqah in the way of Allah (SWT) is ten times, whereas the reward for giving a loan is twelve times (because in giving a loan the dignity of the Loaned is maintained). The reward for the good behavior to the believing brothers is twelve times and the reward for Sile Rahm is twenty four times."
Traveler: I do not want punishment (Azaab) to be written in my account.
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Behave well with your parents.
Traveler: I want to be known amongst people as an intelligent person.
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Fear Allah (SWT) always.
Traveler: I want to be counted amongst Allah's (SWT) favorites.
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Recite Noble Qur'an every morning and evening.
Traveler: I want my heart to always be enlightened (Roshan and Munawar).
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Never forget death.
Traveler: I never want to be away from Allah's (SWT) blessing.
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Always treat fellow creatures well.
Traveler: I never want to be harmed by my enemies.
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Always have faith in Allah (SWT) only.
Traveler: I never want to be humiliated.
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Be careful of your actions.
Traveler: I wish to live long.
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Always do good towards blood relations (Sile Rahm).
Traveler: I want my sustenance to increase.
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Always be in ablution (Wudu).
Traveler: I wish to stay free of punishment (Azaab) in the grave.
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Always wear pure (Paak) clothes.
Traveler: I never want to burn in hell.
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Control your eyes and tongue.
Traveler: how do I get my sins forgiven?
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Always ask forgiveness from Allah (SWT) with a lot of humility.
Traveler: I want people to respect me always.
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Never extend your hands of need at people.
Traveler: I want to always be honored.
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Never humiliate or put down anyone.
Traveler: I don't want to be squeezed in the grave (Fishar-e-Qabr).
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Recite Sura-e-Mulk often.
Traveler: I want my wealth to increase.
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Recite Sura-e-Waqia every night.
Traveler: I want to be safe and at peace on Day of Judgment.
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Do remembrance (Zikr) of Allah (SWT) from dusk to night.
Traveler: I want to be in full attention and concentration during prayer (Namaaz).
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Always do ablution (Wudu) with concentration and attention.
Note: The reward for Sile Rahm has been described by Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) in one of his traditions. Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) says: "When a person goes towards his relatives so that he can fulfill his rights with his life and his wealth, Allah (SWT) bestows upon him the reward of a martyr at every step he takes. He (Allah) writes down forty thousand Hasana (the unit of Divine rewards) and He erases forty thousand of his sins and He elevates him by forty thousand grades. The person achieves the position of one who has worshipped Allah (SWT) for a hundred years."
At another place Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) says, regarding the rewards for Sile Rahm: "The reward for Sadaqah in the way of Allah (SWT) is ten times, whereas the reward for giving a loan is twelve times (because in giving a loan the dignity of the Loaned is maintained). The reward for the good behavior to the believing brothers is twelve times and the reward for Sile Rahm is twenty four times."
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