Kisah Sebakul Air

Selalu terjadi, kita merasakan usaha kita sia-sia. Penat lah buat, tapi langsung tiada hasil. Malas lah buat perkara sama lagi, tidak berbaloi. Begitu juga halnya dengan rutin membaca (baca: membaca Quran).Apa yang lebih mahal, usaha (effort) atau hasil (result)?

Amad dan Atuk

Seorang petani tua tinggal bersama cucunya di sebuah kawasan pedalaman. Rutin sesudah subuh sebelum bertani, Si Atuk akan membaca Quran di pangkin. Amad, cucu Si Atuk sentiasa memerhatikan gelagat atuknya, dan berusaha untuk merutinkan bacaannya seperti atuk. Suatu hari Amad bertanya, “Atuk, Amad cuba untuk baca Quran setiap hari macam Atuk, tapi Amad selalu tidak faham. Bila faham sekalipun, Amad tetap akan lupa bila Amad tutup Quran. Apa ya kebaikan baca Quran, Atuk?”

Si Atuk menutup Quran dan tersenyum, faham benar dengan pertanyaan cucu tunggalnya itu. Tidak menjawab soalan Amad, sebaliknya Atuk menyuruh Amad berbuat sesuatu, “Amad ambil bakul arang di dapur. Pergi ke sungai dan bawa balik sebakul air untuk Atuk.”

Amad hanya menurut, pergi ke sungai, mengisi air ke dalam bakul, dan berjalan balik ke rumah. Sebelum sampai ke rumah, air terkeluar melalui lubang-lubang bakul yang dibuat dari rotan. Amad berpatah balik ke sungai sekali lagi. Dari jauh Si Atuk memerhatikan gelagat Amad sambil tertawa, lalu berteriak, “Amad perlu bergerak lebih laju, supaya sempat sampai di rumah!”

Kali ini Amad berlari lebih laju, tetapi hasilnya tetap sama, bakul tetap kosong sebelum sampai ke rumah. Tercungap-cungap keletihan, Amad bilang terlalu mustahil untuk membawa air menggunakan bakul, lalu Amad mencapai baldi.

“Atuk tidak mahu air dari baldi, Atuk hanya mahu air dari bakul. Amad belum berusaha dengan bersungguh, Atuk tahu.” Lalu Amad mencapai bakul tadi dan segera ke sungai, dia ingin membuktikan kepada Atuknya yang dia telah berusaha bersungguh-sungguh. Malah semakin cepat Amad berlari, semakin cepat bakul itu bocor.

“Tengok Atuk, tidak berguna bukan? Bakul ini tetap kosong,” kata Amad kepada Atuknya, menelan rasa kecewa.

Betulkah tidak berguna?

“Tidak berguna kata Amad? Cuba Amad lihat bakul itu.” Amad melihat bakul di tangannya, dan Amad baru perasan satu perkara – bakul itu tidak lagi comot dengan kesan arang dan tanah, malah jauh lebih bersih, luar dan dalam.

“Amad, itulah yang berlaku bila kita selalu membaca Quran. Kita mungkin tidak faham, atau tidak ingat apa-apa, tetapi yakinlah bila kita membacanya, kita akan berubah, luar dan dalam”. Amad tersenyum lebar, penuh bahagia, persoalannya kini terjawab.

Usaha atau Hasil?

Seringkali kita terfokus pada hasil, sehingga kita terlupa usaha itu yang lebih utama. Tanpa usaha tiada hasil. Mulai sekarang ubahlah apa yang kita lihat. Lihat dan hargailah usaha, walau hasilnya tidak seberapa. ^_^Jika kita berupaya sekuat tenaga menemukan’sesuatu, dan pada titik akhir upaya itu hasilnya masih nihil, maka sebenarnya kita telah menemukan apa yang kita cari dalam diri kita sendiri, yakni kenyataan, kenyataan yang harus dihadapi, sepahit apa pun keadaannya.

Writing a narrative essay

THE NARRATIVE COMPOSITION
A narrative is a story with a sequence of connected events. It could be about a personal experience or an imagined event or events.

Let’s look at some typical exam questions:
1. Write a story of a man who returns to his home after many years.
2. The day I lost my temper.
3. Write a story ending with, “I shall never forget this day for the rest of my life.”
4. Write about an occasion when you got into trouble.
5. Write a story beginning with, “I could not believe my eyes….”

How do I write a narrative essay for the exam?


ACTION PLAN: (1 hour)
A. Planning = 15 minutes
B. Writing = 35 minutes
C. Checking = 10 minutes
This plan is for those who are quite weak in English. For those who are proficient, you may only need 10 minutes for planning.

This is how we do it.

A. PLANNING
Let’s say you have chosen question 3, - Write a story ending with, “I shall never forget this day for the rest of my life.”

1. Read the question carefully and underline important phrases. Pay particular attention to the ending.
2. Brainstorm for ideas and jot down notes. For exam purposes, the simplest way is to divide it into three parts:
i. ii. iii.


B. WRITING THE ESSAY

Now that you have got the skeleton of your story, it is time to begin writing. Use linkers and phrases which link the events to move your story in a chronological order. Some phrases that are suitable are:
It was very dark….
I will never forget …..
A few minutes later….
Suddenly,…
When the disaster happened, …..

Use sensory details to reveal the events and to get the reader involved. Do not merely tell but show the events through words and phrases.

Example:
a. I went into the restaurant.
b. I walked into the restaurant.
c. I sauntered into the restaurant.

Sentence a. merely states that I went into the restaurant and sentence b. gives a little more information as to how I went into the restaurant. Sentence c. uses a more specific word to show clearly the idea of how I went into the restaurant. Sentence c. allows the reader to see what I am doing. The word ‘sauntered’ means ‘to stroll’. It gives the image of a person walking slowly into the restaurant. Thus, sentence c. is more effective in narrative and descriptive writing.

C. CHECKING

Read your essay once through and check for the following things:
• Is the spelling accurate?
• Is the punctuation appropriate? Did you use too many commas in a sentence?
• Did you vary the sentence structure? Are your sentences too long?
• Does one thought follow the next in a logical order?
• Did you stick to the topic? Did you use words so that your reader could experience the incident?
• Did you use the appropriate tense of the verb throughout?
Make any corrections neatly.

WRITING BETTER PARAGRAPHS

What is a paragraph?
A paragraph can be divided into three different sections. The first section is the topic sentence which is usually at the beginning of the paragraph, the body and the closing.

The Topic Sentence
This topic sentence tells you what the paragraph is going to be about, and how it relates to the subject of the essay and the previous paragraph.

Body Sentences
Body sentences support the topic of the paragraph. There are supporting details and elaboration in these sentences.

Closing Sentence
This sentence completes the idea expressed in the paragraph. It should also set up a connection to the next paragraph.

1. A good paragraph has only one main idea and one or two supporting details.

Example:
First and foremost, I would buy a house for my parents, preferably a bungalow, in a quiet town. I would equip the house with the latest technology so that it would be a smart home. My mother would have a state-of-the-art kitchen as she loves cooking. There would also be a robot to clean and vacuum the house. I will certainly make sure that my family is comfortably settled in this house.

The main idea of the sentence is ‘buying a house for my parents’ and I go on to describe in detail what the house would be like.

2. How to elaborate or add supporting details?

To support a topic sentence, consider some of these possible ways:
• Add examples
• Supply further details or explanation
• Tell a story that illustrates the point you're making
• Discuss a process
• Compare and contrast
Example:
Most word processing software gives you several options for printing. You can print a copy or several copies of the same document with different fonts. Besides that, you can also print a range of pages. What is more, you can even preview a document before printing it out. You can finally say goodbye to the good old typewriter.

Topic sentence: word processing software – several options for printing.
Body sentences (Supporting details): print a copy, several copies, different fonts, a range of pages, preview.
Note that I have given examples and explanation to support my main idea.
Closing sentence: I end the paragraph by implying that now that you have the software, you can say goodbye to the typewriter.

3. Choice of words

i. Do not use tired words like ‘beautiful’ or ‘nice’. Use: magnificent, breathtaking, inspiring, fantastic, and so on.
i. Do not pepper your essay with words that are superfluous. If a sentence means the same thing with a word taken out, take it out. Using extra words and phrases which do not add anything to what you are saying will imply to the examiner that you are running out of things to say.
Example:
Do not write:
Ever since Mr Tan came into my class, he transformed it, changing it so that it was altogether different from what it has been like before.
Write:
Mr Tan transformed my class. (Here, give examples of how he did it.)

ii. Do not use words or phrases that are either unheard of or too bombastic.
Chin Yit, a student from Pahang wrote to ask whether using ‘beatiful words’ will gain her more marks. She had taken these words from a thesaurus. Her teacher is right. She will not gain more marks as she is testing the examiner and boring her readers.

Example: propitious (favourable), ebullient(cheerful),affray(scuffle,fight), edacious.

10 Langkah Mempertahankan Ketajaman Daya Ingat Seiring Dengan Usia - Something to share

Agar daya ingat anda tetap tajam pada berapapun usia anda, ikuti 10 langkah yang dicadangkan Paul Takahashi, M.D, specialist geriatrics (ahli penyakit yang berhubungan dengan penuaan) di Mayo Clinic, Rochester.

Langkah 1:

Latihlah pikiran anda. Seperti halnya aktiviti fizikal agar kuat dan sehat, aktiviti mental diperlukan untuk menjaga ketajaman daya ingat. Jika anda tetap terus belajar dan berfikir secara kritis, otak anda akan tetap berkembang. Tanpa memperhatikan usia, otak yang aktif akan menghasilkan sel saraf baru, yang saling terkait dan saling berkomunikasi satu sama lain. Hal ini membantu otak untuk menyimpan dan memulihkan kembali informasi secara lebih mudah, berapapun usia anda.

Bagaimana menciptakan kreativiti bagi otak anda? Cobalah:
• Belajar memainkan alat musik
• Mengisi teka teki silang pada waktu luang
• Berinteraksi dengan orang lain
• Memilih pekerjaan baru atau mulai sesuatu yang baru
• Mencoba hobi baru, seperti menulis, melukis, bersepeda atau memelihara burung
• Mengikuti berita di media massa, perkembangan dalam dan luar negeri
• Membaca


Langkah 2:

Berolahraga. Aktiviti olahraga secara teratur setiap hari dapat membantu kualiti aliran darah. Sebagian orang lebih mudah termotivasi saat berolahraga dengan teman atau keluarga untuk menemani. Anda dapat memilih untuk menggerakkan badan secara aktif, diantaranya dengan aerobik seperti jalan cepat, bersepeda atau berenang, berdampak positif bagi jantung, paru-paru dan pembuluh darah untuk mengalirkan oksigen ke otot-otot tubuh selama badan beraktiviti.

Dengan rajin bersenam aerobik, akan meningkatkan stamina dan ketahanan tubuh. Juga akan mengurangi tekanan darah tinggi, yang akan mengurangi risiko stroke, penyakit jantung, ginjal dan perkara terkait lainnya. “Dengan rajin berolahraga,”ujar Dr Takahashi, “Otak anda akan selalu berpikir positif, lebih tangkap dan lebih cermat dan akan mengalami kualiti tidur yang lebih baik.”


Langkah 3:

Makan, minum dan hidup sehat. Makan banyak buah-buahan dan sayuran, karena mengandung bahan antioksidan yang melindungi dan memberikan nutrisi yang diperlukan bagi sel-sel otak. Dan sebagai ‘bonus’, dengan makan buah-buahan dan sayuran akan mengurangi risiko terkena cancer, tekanan darah tinggi, penyakit jantung koronari, diabetes dan osteoporosis (pengeroposan tulang). Dan seperti yang anda telah dengar sebelumnya yaitu banyak minum air suam, karena ini merupakan faktor yang sangat penting bagi tubuh.

Sebenarnya, tubuh manusia 70% terdiri dari air dari keseluruhan berat badan. Kekurangan air/cairan tubuh akan mengarah pada dehidrasi, yang dapat mengakibatkan merasa kelemahan dan susah menumpukan perhatian.


Langkah 4:

Kembangkan sistem pengingat untuk diri sendiri. Informasi datang dari segala arah pada setiap saat. Usaha lebih untuk mengingatkan diri anda sendiri hal apa saja yang penting.

Anda dapat menggunakan pemicu daya ingat dengan :
• Menuliskan yang penting. Simpan dalam buku harian, gunakan tanggal dan buatlah daftar
• Buat hal-hal yang rutin. Simpanlah barang-barang yang mudah hilang / terlupakan pada tempat yang sama setiap selesai menggunakan.
• Mudah terlihat. Sebagai contoh, letakkan kunci di dekat setrika, hal ini akan mempermudah anda untuk mencabut colokan setrika listrik sebelum meninggalkan rumah.
• Melatih pengulangan. “Untuk membantu mengingat nama seseorang, saya akan menyebut namanya beberapa kali dalam percakapan setelah berkenalan untuk mengingat nama seseorang,” ujar Dr Takahashi.

“Pengulangan akan membantu anda untuk melekatkan informasi pada otak. Ini merupakan contoh yang baik untuk membuat otak mengingat sesuatu.


Langkah 5:

Luangkan waktu untuk mengingat sesuatu. Penuaan pada manusia akan mengubah komposisi otak, secara normal akan mengurangi kemampuan pikiran untuk mengolah informasi baru. Tapi Dr Takahashi berpendapat bahwa kebijaksanaan dari orang yang sudah berumur dapat mengkompensasi perubahan fizikal yang terjadi. “Adalah benar kita akan mengalami pengurangan kapasiti daya ingat untuk informasi baru,” jelas Dr Takahashi. Bagaimanapun, pengalaman akan mengkompensasi kurangnya kemampuan daya ingat. “Orang yang sudah berumur tetap dapat mempunyai daya ingat yang baik walaupun mengalami perubahan fisiologi.” Mudah lupa mungkin indikasi tak lebih dari terlalu banyak yang tersimpan di pikiran. Sebaiknya jadilah lebih rileks tapi tetap konsentrasi pada suatu beban yang dialami.


Langkah 6:

Belajar teknik untuk relaks. Stress dan perasaan khawatir berlebihan dapat mengganggu konsentrasi, jadi penting maknanya meluangkan waktu untuk lebih rileks.

Salah satu teknik untuk ‘istirahat’ dari hiruk pikuk dunia:
• Berbaring atau duduk dengan santai dengan mata tertutup
• Pahami pikiran anda. Apakah dipenuhi dengan masalah yang mengganggu pikiran? Bayangkan bahwa penyebab ketidaknyamanan pikiran pergi melayang jauh.
• Alirkan rasa rileks ke seluruh tubuh. Mulai dari jari kaki dan biarkan mengalir ke seluruh tubuh. Kencangkan kelompok otot saat ‘aliran rileks’ mengalir, untuk beberapa detik sebelum anda rilekskan. Teruskan ke atas, mulai jari kaki ke atas kaki, tumit ke lutut, paha ke pinggul, punggung ke bahu, lengan ke jari tangan, leher ke kepala dan akhirnya semua otot pada muka.
• Bernafas secara perlahan, teratur dan dalam
• Sekali anda melakukan rileksasi tersebut diatas, bayangkan bahwa anda berada di tempat favorite anda atau di tempat yang sepi.
• Setelah 5 atau 10 minit, beranjaklah secara perlahan-lahan.


Langkah 7:

Selalu berpikir positif. “Kebahagiaan memainkan peranan utama dalam perspektif kehidupan,” kata Dr Takahashi. “Kebahagiaan membuat anda lebih stabil, pikiran anda akan lebih terbuka untuk menerima informasi.” Dan ada penelitian yang mendukung pernyataan itu. Penelitian menunjukkan bahwa rasa optimis cenderung memang mempengaruhi kesihatan secara keseluruhan.

Menurut penelitian yang dipublikasikan oleh Mayo Clinic Proceedings, orang yang memiliki optimisme tinggi memiliki angka 50 % lebih rendah risiko kematian mendadak daripada orang yang pesimis.


Langkah 8:

Konsultasi dengan doktor. Banyak faktor yang tidak terkait langsung dengan penuaan atau genetik ikut menyumbang masalah daya ingat. Hal ini termasuk kesan sampingan penggunaan ubat-ubatan, berkurangnya daya lihat dan pendengaran, kekurangan vitamin, kelelahan, depresi dan stress. Depresi dapat menjadi penyebab masalah daya ingat dan kurangnya daya tumpuan dan seringkali penyebab penyakit Alzheimer pada orang yang telah berumur.

Depresi atau tekanan dapat diatasi, sehingga akan memulihkan daya ingat dan konsentrasi. Jika anda atau anggota keluarga khuatir mengenai daya ingat, segera pergi membuat pemeriksaan.


Langkah 9:

Periksa tekanan darah. Kawallah tekanan darah, kolesterol dan level kadar gula darah. Ujian ini relatif, mudah dilakukan dan sebagai indikasi efektif apa yang terjadi di dalam tubuh. Orang dewasa yang selalu menjaga tekanan darah dan tidak merokok akan mengurangkan risiko terkena stroke.


Langkah 10:

Jagalah perspektif anda. Anda bukan satu-satunya orang yang lupa dimana kunci rumah yang baru saja anda letakkan. Atau ragu, apakah setrika listrik dirumah sudah anda cabut atau belum. Sebenarnya hal itu bukan hal yang perlu dikhuatirkan, apabila kekerapannya tidak tinggi. “Kita semua akan mengalami berkurangnya daya ingat seiring dengan masa,” jelas Dr Takahashi. ”Tapi dengan pengalaman selama bertahun-tahun membuat anda lebih bijak dalam menyikapi suatu informasi.”

Semua orang seringkali mengalami kesulitan untuk mengingat sesuatu pada masa2 tertentu. Jadi jangan kehilangan semangat untuk cuba ingat. Kebijaksanaan terbangun seirama dengan bertambahnya usia daya ingat.

Are We Who We Say We Are?

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Khadija Abdassalam

We all have different priorities, different opinions, and different goals. Some people want to be rich, others want to be popular, some love their own company, and a few are eager to fly to the moon. These are but a few things that people enjoy and dream about. Given the differences among people, how it is that we are all considered brothers and sisters?

Oh yes, Islam unites us all. It is the roof that covers our heads and makes us a complete family. The Qur'an and Sunnah will be our teachers. They will shape our lives as parents shape children's lives, plus a little more. Logically speaking though, we cannot expect the Qur'an to be a part of our lives if we don't even know what it says ? what Allah says.

Let's say that a person says, ?I love Allah and His Messenger. I am Muslim.? No doubt, that person has iman (faith) and that person is Muslim, but how many of us who say we love Allah and His Messenger actually know what Allah has said to us in His own words through the Qur'an? Do we love that which we do not know? This isn?t even to ask if we understand what the Qur'an speaks about, but simply to question if we are aware of what it says.

I have a sibling with whom I'm very close to. I know what she likes and dislikes. I know what?s typical of her to say and do. I feel at ease to know and feel both her happiness and her pain, lest she bear that pain alone. Her absence haunts me. She is as much a part of me as I am of myself. That?s all well and good, but when I put things into perspective I realize that that it doesn?t matter how good my relationship is with any person if my relationship with God is weak and struggling more than I think it should be. I need to know what pleases and displeases my Creator so that I may avoid the bad and strive for the good. I need to know my Lord better than I know my sister, for He created me and it is to Him I submit.

Here we are, all striving for our goals; our primary goal being to receive Allah's pleasure and to spend eternity in Heaven. We don?t actively do anything to find out what we should be doing to reach that goal and when we do learn something that will take us closer to where we say we want to be, we just never get around to doing it. More accurately, we never make the time nor the effort to do that thing that will earn us Allah's pleasure. Instead, we procrastinate and wait for it (our goal) to come to us and demand attention. It?s like a woman who says she'd like to become a doctor but she doesn't go to school, she doesn't learn about medicine, treatments, or anything to do with healthcare; yet she insists that she ?really, really, really wants to be a doctor. Would you believe that she does if you saw her. She will wait a long time (until death reaches her probably) before it registers to her that she cannot become a doctor, it's too late. The same goes for us and our love for Allah. We either become active in reaching our goal now, or we spend the rest of our lives as our chance passes us by.

Brothers and sisters, it's time to show our appreciation. There once lived three men; one of the three men is named Khaled. Khaled has two friends, both of whom he loves dearly. One day Khaled decided to buy each of his friends a gift. To one friend he gave a sweater and to the other friend he gave a jacket. His friends were shocked, surprised, and delighted by Khaled?s unexpected gift. ?Oh, thank you very much! I love it!?, they both exclaimed. The very next day, his one friend wore the sweater than Khaled gave him; the other friend hung his new coat in his closet. Days past and the one brother kept using his sweater almost as though it was the only one he owned while the other brother?s coat still hung in his closet. Khaled asked his friend, Don't you like the coat?? ?Oh yes! I love it very much!?, replied his friend. Weeks went by without the one man wearing his new coat and at last Khaled said, I guess he didn't really like it after all.

Time is precious. It?s the best gift that we have ever been given, yet we continue to keep it locked away (as in Khaled's friend's coat) only to use it for things that won?t help us reach our ultimate goal. I wonder, if it truly is our ultimate goal, wouldn?t we strive to reach it?

While it is much easier to sit and write about these things, I encourage both you and myself to put words into actions. Talk is cheap ? let?s display our appreciation.

Here are some suggestions for us to gradually implement into our lives with consistency. I warn you though, it requires us to use the love that we have for our Lord and the love we have in our faith. Only by doing so can we see the flowers bloom from that love. Remember to keep your intentions sincere.

1) Never allow yourself to miss your salat (daily prayers) without a valid, and extremely good reason. Also, take all means necessary to avoid delaying your salat.

2) Read at least one page of Qur'an (in Arabic) a day. Once you are consistent in this, increase it to two pages and so on. Be sure to take it slowly lest you lose your consistency and sincerity.

3) Read at least one page of the Qur'an translation in whichever language you?re most comfortable with. Gradually increase how much you read, but don?t read it when you?re not focused and prepared to absorb the secrets and beauty that it contains.

4) Attempt to pray in jamaat (congregation) more frequently or whenever you get the chance to. Brothers, especially try to go to the masjid (mosque) for salat.

5) Eat when you're hungry and stop eating when your hunger has been fulfilled. Make it a habit to say Bismillah (In the name of Allah) when you eat. Remember it?s due to Him alone that you have that halal (permissible) food in front of you.

6) Watch as little TV as possible. It is full of wasteful and indecent things (unless you watch something like the learning channel). The television has little goodness to offer your heart. Purifying our hearts is all part of reaching that ultimate goal, insha?Allah.

7) Listen to Qur'an recitation more often. You can download it easily.

8) Listen to people more than you speak to them. Hasan Al Basri once said, ?Be just to your ears for Allah has created us with two ears and one tongue so that we may listen more than we speak.?

9) Look for ways to help in your community. Any organization that helps the poor, feeds the needy, helps clothe people, etc. is a good way to go. You can also help in places such as The Diabetes Association, Heart and Stroke Foundation, an organization helping cancer patients, etc. Help in anything that interests you. These are all examples of causes that are for the good of people, therefore they are Islamic causes. Help where you can.

10) Learn to be tolerant of people's differences. You have to love people to help them and to work with them. You can?t love a person if you?re too busy finding things to dislike in him/her.

These are few, among many things, that you can do. Whatever good you can think of doing (including the suggestions above), do it with sincere intentions to please Allah, the Most High; otherwise your efforts could be in vain.

Know that Allah loves those who love Him. So if you love Him as you say you do, prove it!

Reasons for failures in life... just sharing

1. Doubt,
2. Lack of Goal,
3. Failure to identify opportunities,
4. Lack of Knowledge,
5. Imbalance,
6. Uncontrolled Passion (Sensual Gratification),
7. Selfishness (or Inability to Share),
8. Isolation,
9. Being a victim of false reality,
10. Impatience and Anger,
11. Negative Thinking & Negative Deeds

Warna Sesuai untuk Isnin hingga Ahad

Isnin
Warna putih adalah warna perangsang Kelenjar Pineal (NW1) dan Kelenjar Pitutary (NW2). Warna putih akan diserap oleh saraf sekiranya tubuh berada dalam keadaan hening.

Salah satu cara untuk mendapatkan keheningan ialah dengan tidur awal. Mereka yang tidak mendapat waktu tidur yang betul akan menjadi lemah semangat, letih dan tidak bersedia menghadapi hari Isnin. Biasanya mereka yang tidak mendapat warna perangsang ini akan merasa malas untuk ke tempat kerja setiap hari Isnin.
Jika kita mendapat tidur yang mencukupi, hari Isnin sepatutnya ialah hari yang paling sesuai untuk mencetuskan idea baru, merangsang semangat dan melahirkan keazaman yang baru. Isnin ialah hari terbaik untuk menyelesaikan segala masalah yang tertunggak kerana penyelesaian pada hari Isnin adalah lebih kreatif dan efisyen pada hari ini.
 

Bunga warna putih jauh lebih mekar pada hari Isnin berbanding hari lain. Pokok bunga putih yang ditanam pada hari yang lain biasanya sukar untuk hidup atau berbunga tetapi masalah ini boleh diatasi sekiranya ia ditanam pada hari Isnin.
 

Rawatan yang sesuai dijalankan pada hari Isnin ialah penyakit seperti lemah semangat, kelesuan, hilang keyakinan diri, halusinasi, pelupa, epilepsi, amnesia (nyanyuk) dan beberapa penyakit lain yang berkaitan dengan Kelenjar Pineal (NW1) dan Kelenjar Pitutary (NW2). Mereka yang mendapatkan rawatan seperi yang dinyatakan di atas didapati akan lebih cepat sembuh berbanding dengan hari lain, Insya Allah.
 

Selasa

Warna pink ialah warna kasih sayang dan menyamai dengan vibration bahagian Thalamus (NW3). Mereka yang mengalami migrain akan merasa kelegaan setiap hari selasa.
 

Thalamus berperanan menjaga kasih sayang dan penghayatan. Hari ini ialah hari yang paling sesuai untuk beremosi, meluahkan perasaan kasih sayang kepada pasangan masing-masing. Ini juga adalah hari yang sesuai untuk mengembara atau bermusafir ke destinasi yang jauh kerana masalah tersesat atau keletihan setika sedang mengembara diimbangi dengan tahap penghayatan yang tinggi pada hari ini.
 

Dengan berpakaian pink, kuasa pujukkan terhadap anak atau pelajar yang degil bertambah kuat. Begitu juga pujukan terhadap pesakit atau orang yang ingin membunuh diri. Elakkan memakai pakaian merah untuk memujuk meraka kerana mereka akan menentangnya dengan serta merata dan akan meneruskan hasratnya untuk membunuh diri dengan sekelip mata. Anggota bomba perlu menukar pakaian ke warna pink sebelum memujuk orang yang mahu membunuh diri.
 

Rawatan yang sesuai dijalankan pada Selasa ialah migrain, Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder ADHD (kanak-kanak bermasalah) atau yang berkaitan dengan bahagian otak Thalamus (NW3).

Rabu

Warna biru ialah warna perangsang kelenjar Tyroid (NW9). Biru ialah warna yang menjadikan gelombang dalam bentuk bunyi lebih resonan. Pada hari Rabu didapati kicauan burung lebih merdu (resonan dan bermomentum, tidak terputus-putus garisan gelombangnya).
 

Pada hari Rabu, didapati paras hormon thyroxine (T4) yang dirembeskan oleh Kelenjar Tyroid (NW9) berada pada tahap optimum. Paras thyroxine yang optimum menjadikan segala yang dihasratkan oleh hati dapat diluahkan dengan berkesan melalui kata-kata. Oleh itu, hari rabu ialah hari yang paling sesuai untuk berucap, berkata-kata, berhujah, bersidang, bermesyurat, berpidato dan sebagainya.
 

Berbanding dengan hari yang lain, penyakit yang berkaitan dengan Tyroid (NW9) seperi goiter (beguk), tongsel, penyakit kerongkong dan sebagainya akan mudah pulih sekiranya mula dirawat pada hari Rabu.
 

Khamis
Warna kuning ialah warna rangsangan sistem penghadaman (NW12, NW13, NW14, NW15) dan warna oren ialah warna kesuburan, hormon dan sistem reproduksi (NW16, NW17).
 

Kemuncak warna kuning ialah sepanjang siang hari. Pada hari ini dinasihatkan agar kita tidak makan terlalu banyak pada waktu siang untuk memberi peluang sistem penghadaman menjalankan fungsi dengan sepenuhnya.

Sistem penghadaman yang amat bertenaga pada hari ini sesuai untuk menghadamkan segala sisa makanan di dalam tubuh untuk menjadi zat dan tenaga yang amat diperlukan. Pada hari Khamis, asid folik yang amat sukar dihasilkan pada hari biasa didapati dapat dihasilkan dengan banyak dalam tubuh. Bagi mereka yang berdiet pada hari Khamis, didapati kandungan urik asid, lemak dan protein dipecahkan dan ditukar menjadi tenaga dalam kuantiti yang banyak.
 

Warna oren merangsang sistem kesuburan lalaki dan wanita. Oleh itu, hari khamis ialah hari yang terbaik untuk merancang zuriat yang sihat.
 

Pada hari Khamis, penyakit yang berkaitan dengan sistem penghadaman dan sistem reproduksi mudah dirawat dan mencapai tahap penyumbuhan yang pantas berbanding apabila ia dirawat pada hari yang lain.
 

Jumaat
Hijau ialah tahap vibration yang menyamai tenaga yang merangsang fungsi Jantung (NW11) dan Paru-paru (NW10).
 

Pada hari Jumaat, didapati aktiviti klorofil sangat aktif dan membebaskan oksigen pada tahap yang paling maksumum. Kemuncak aktiviti klorofil berlaku pada waktu tengah hari iaitu sejam setelah matahari tergelincir ke barat (sejam setelah solat Jumaat).
 

Hari Jumaat ialah hari yang sesuai untuk menjalankan senaman pernafasan, bersenam dan beriadah di taman-taman bunga. Senaman pernafasan yang dijalankan pada hari Jumaat akan memeri kesan menakjubkan pada hari ini berbanding hari-hari yang lain.
 

Biasanya pada hari-hari yang lain kita akan merasa lemas apabila berada dalam himpunan orang ramai. Tetapi amat menghairankan kerana setika di dalam masjid pada waktu solat Jumaat didapati kita tidak merasa lemas atau rimas walaupun saling berhimpit-himpit dengan kesesakkan.
 

Hari Jumaat ialah hari yang paling sesuai untuk menjalankan rawatan berkenaan penyakit kardiovaskular (Jantung NW11) dan respirasi (Paru-paru NW10) kerana paras oksigen dalam atmosfera berada pada tahap yang tertinggi pada hari ini.
 

Sabtu
Merah ialah warna yang menyamai vibration bahagian Usus (NW19), Otot, Darah (NW18), Tulang dan Saraf (NW20). Organ yang berwarna merah ini banyak menjalankan aktiviti fizikal tubuh.
 

Hari sabtu ialah hari yang paling sesuai untuk keluar bersosial, berjumpa rakan-rakan dan saudara mara di samping menjalankan pelbagai aktiviti seperti bersukan, menjalankan aktiviti lasak dan sebagainya.
 

Bagi mereka yang mengalami penyakit yang berkaitan dengan Usus (NW19), Darah dan Otot (NW18) atau Tulang dan Saraf (NW20), amat sesuai memulakan rawatan pada hari sabtu. Memulakan rawatan bagi penyakit yang berkaitan dengan organ merah ini pada hari yang lain selain sabtu biasanya akan memberi implikasi kesan pembongkaran di mana pesakit akan merasa kesakitan dalam proses penyembuhan.
 

Ahad
Tenaga spektrum pada hari Ahad adalah menyamai pada hari Isnin. Perbezaannya ialah gerakkan zarah pada hari ahad didapati lebih tertumpu kepada sesuatu kawasan berbanding dengan semua hari yang lain di mana pergerakan zarah adalah rawak. Gerakkan zarah dalam atmosfera amat pelik kerana menyamai keadaan zarah dalam air.
 

Gabungan semua warna dalam udara akan membentuk warna putih, tetapi gabungan semua warna dalam air akan membentuk warna kegelapan atau hitam. Hari Ahad adalah gabungan semua warna dalam keadaan zarah yang menyamai sifat air.
 

Gabugan semua warna akan mempertenagakan seluruh tubuh. Tetapi kewujudannya dalan keadaan zarah yang hanya bergerak dalam kawasan setempat menjadikan tenaga ini separa matang (magnitud) dan masih belum mampu mempertenagkan mana-mana bahagian tubuh.
 

Oleh itu, hari Ahad ialah hari yang sesuai untuk beristirehat. Sebaik-baiknya bercutilah pada dari Ahad. Hari rehat ini ialah hari terbaik untuk bersama keluarga tercinta. Menjalankan sebarang aktiviti teruatamanya aktiviti lasak hanya akan mendatangkan kemudaratan terhadap tubuh.
 

Memandangkan hari Ahad mempunyai penyerakkan zarah yang tidak stabil, pakaian berwarna hitam mengelakkan dari daripada terdedah kepada golombang asing yang boleh memudaratkan. Pengamal seni mempertahankan diri yang mengenakan mengenakan tali pinggang hitam dan pakaian hitam akan merasa bebas dari kongkongan atau pengaruh gangguan tenaga asing.

Defisini Resonan Warna Hari
Resonan bermasuk mach, sepasang, mematuhi Hukum Keseimbangan atau sealiran dan serasi. Sesuatu yang dijalankan ketika resonan menjadikan hasil kerja tersebut berjalan lancar dan mendatangkan hasil yang banyak.
 

Setiap hari terdapat sesuatu warna yang resonan dengannya. Oleh itu, segala aktiviti yang dijalankan hendaklah diresonankan dengan warna setiap hari.
 

Kaedah terbaik untuk mendapatkan resonan hari ialah dengan mengenakan pakaian yang sama dengan getaran warna yang mendominasi hari. Hari Isnin kenakan pakaian Putih. Hari Selasa pakaian Pink atau Violet. Hari Rabu pakaian Biru. Hari Khamis pakaian Kuning atau Oren. Hari Jumaat pakailah Hijau. Hari Sabtu pakaian Merah dan hari Ahad pakailah Hitam. Pakaian tidak semestinya perlu satu warna. Boleh dikenakan pelbagai warna tetapi dominankan warna yang resonan pada setiap hari tersebut. Bagi kaum wanita, tudung yang menyamai warna hari juga telah memadai. Begitu juga lelaki, warna baju sahaja yang menyamai warna hari juga telah memadai.
 

Semoga anda bergembira dengan pakaian kegemaran yang dikenakan mengikut warna yang resonan terhadap hari.

Don't Follow the Crowd - be Yourself!

[Shaykh Aaid Al-Qarni]

Do not transform yourself into someone else: do not mimic others. Many are those that feign to forget their own voices, movements, idiosyncrasies, and habits, in order to imitate others in their ways. Among the consequences of such behaviour are artificiality, unhappiness, and a destruction of one's own entity.

From Adam to the last born baby, no two people are exactly the same in appearance. Why then should they be the same in mannerisms and tastes?

You are unique - none have been like you in the past and none shall be like you in the future.

You are totally different from Zayd and `Umar, Amina and Sumayyah, so do not force upon yourself the blind following and imitation of others.

Go forth according to your own nature and disposition.


Be as you were created and do not change your voice or modify your walk.
Cultivate your personality by following what is found in revelation, but do not render your existence void by imitating others and by depriving yourself of your individuality.

Your tastes and preferences are specific to you and we want you to stay as you are, especially because this is the way you were created and this is how we know you to be.

The Prophet Sallalahu Alayhi Wasallam said:

'And let not one of you be an imitator of others.'

In terms of characteristics, people are like the world of trees and plants: sweet and sour, tall and short, and so on. Your beauty and value is in preserving your natural state.

Our varied colours, languages, talents, and abilities are signs from our Creator, so do not disbelieve in them.

----
"... Allah never changes the condition of the people until they intend to change it themselves.. ." 
[Al-Quran 13:11] 
How perfect You are O Allaah, and I praise You. I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except You. I seek Your forgiveness and turn to You in repentance.



'Our Lord, give us good in this world, and good in the hereafter, and safeguard us from the punishment of the Fire.'

(Qur'an, 2:200-201)

Adab Minum Rasulullah

Wahai Tuhanku, ilhamkanlah daku supaya tetap bersyukur akan nikmatmu yang engkau kurniakan kepadaku dan kepada ibu bapaku dan supaya aku tetap mengerjakan amal soleh yang Engkau redai; dan jadikanlah sifat-sifat kebaikan meresap masuk ke dalam jiwa zuriat keturunanku. Sesungguhnya aku bertaubat kepadamu dan sesungguhnya aku dari orang-orang Islam (yang tunduk patuh kepadamu).
(Surah Al-Ahqaaf, Ayat: 15).


ADAB MINUM

Rasulullah SAW amat menyukai minum madu yang dicampur dengan air sejuk. Amalan ini untuk tujuan amalan kesihatan. Rasulullah SAW juga suka minum air sejuk dan mencicip madu sebelum makan apa-apa diwaktu pagi.

Antara khasiat amalan-amalan ini ialah:

1. Menghilangkan balqham (kahak/lendir)
2. Mencuci perut
3. Membuang sisa-sisa makanan yang tertinggal didalam perut yang tidak dicernakan dengan sempurna dan menolaknya ke usus besar
4. Menghapuskan sukatan dalam usus, menghilangkan senak perut dan sedu
5. Memperbaiki fungsi buah pinggang, limpa dan hati. Rasullah SAW suka minum air yang telah disimpan semalaman didalam suatu bekas

Minuman Manis dan Sejuk

Aisyah (ranha) meriwayatkan bahawa: " Diantara banyak-banyak jenis minuman, Rasulullah saw suka minuman manis dan sejuk"

Hadis bermaksud, baginda mengemari minuman manis dan sejuk, campuran madu atau nabiz (rendaman buah tamar).

Didalam suatu doa Rasullah ada menyebut " Ya Allah kurniakanlah aku dengan cintaMu yang lebih besar dari cintaku kepada nyawa, harta,anak dan cintaku kepada air sejuk"

Ini memberi isyarat bahawa sudah tentu minuman air sejuk itu mempunyai khasiat yang lebih besar. Adapun minuman jika terkumpul didalamnya kemanisan dan kesejukan akan menjadi asbab yang paling bermanfaat untuk penjagaan kesihatan tubuh badan. Ini sekali gus berperanan bahan pemakanan dan mencernakan makanaan yang masuk kedalam tubuh lalu menyalurkannya keseluruh anggota badan.


Ringkasan adab minum

1. Gelas atau cawan hendaklah dipegang dengan tangan kanan
2. Bacalah " Bismillah"
3. Minum dengan tiga nafas
4. Minum dalam keadaan duduk
5. Jangan bernafas kedalam air. Setiap kali berhenti minum arahkan pernafasan ketempat lain.
6. Setiap kali berhenti minum (pada setiap penafasan) bacalah Alhamdullilah

7. Jika tidak ada tempat untuk duduk adalah diharuskan minum sambil berdiri
8. Minum dari baki air yang telah diminum oleh orang lain Hadis menyatakan bahawa saki baki air minuman seseorang Islam adalah ubat untuk penyakit
9. Jangan terus minum selepas dari melakukan persetubuhan ataupun setelah selesai mengerjakan kerja-kerja berat.

25 Ways to Deal with Stress and Anxiety

1. Ask Him. He Listens: DU`A

Turn each anxiety, each fear and each concern into a Dua (supplication). Look at it as another reason to submit to God and be in Sajdah (prostration), during which you are closest to Allah. God listens and already knows what is in your heart, but He wants you to ask Him for what you want.

The Prophet said: Allah is angry with those who do not ask Him for anything
(Tirmidhi).

The Prophet once said that in prayer, he would find rest and relief (Nasai). He would also regularly ask for God's forgiveness and remain in prostration during prayer praising God (Tasbeeh) and asking for His forgiveness (Bukhari).

Allah wants you to be specific. The Prophet advised us to ask Allah for exactly what we want instead of making vague Duas. Dua is the essence of worship (the Prophet as quoted in Tirmidhi).

"Call on your Lord with humility and in private: for Allah loveth not those who trespass beyond bounds. Do not make mischief on the earth, after it hath been set in order, but call on Him with fear. And longing (in your hearts): for the mercy of Allah is (always) near to those who do good" (Quran 7:55-56).

2. Tie your Camel: DO YOUR PART

One day Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, noticed a Bedouin leaving his camel without tying it. He asked the Bedouin, "Why don't you tie down your camel?" The Bedouin answered, "I put my trust in Allah." The Prophet then said, "Tie your camel first, then put your trust in Allah" (Tirmidhi).

Muslims must never become fatalistic. Although we know only Allah is in control and that He has decreed all things, we are each responsible for making the right choices and doing the right thing in all situations of our lives. We must take action (link to planning articles on SV). We must work to alleviate the hardships we, our families and our communities face.

Ask yourself the following questions if you are worried about the state of the world: are you part of the peace movement? Is your Masjid part of the peace movement? Are you part of an interfaith group with an agenda of peace and justice? Are you working with a group fighting discrimination? If your answer is no, it is time that you sat down to plan your share of time and money in finding solutions to the problems you face.

"Verily Allah does not change men's condition unless they change their inner selves" (Quran 13: 11).

Turn each worry into a Du`a and each Du`a into an action plan. That will show your commitment to your request and will focus your energy in the right direction.

3. Remember that human responsibility is limited

While we need to carry out our duty to the best of our abilities, always remember that you don't control the outcome of events. Even the Prophets did not control the outcome of their efforts. Some were successful, others were not. Once you have done your duty, leave the results to Allah. Regardless of the results of your efforts, you will be rewarded for the part you have played.

However, never underestimate your abilities. Understand the concept of Barakah (blessings from Allah) and remember that Allah can and Insha Allah will expand them if you are sincerely exerting your energies for the right path.

4. Leave the world behind you FIVE TIMES A DAY
Use the five daily prayers as a means to become more Hereafter-oriented and less attached to this temporary world. Start distancing yourself as soon as you hear Adhan, the call to prayer. When you perform Wudu, keep repeating Shahada, the declaration of faith, as water drops slip down your face, hands, arms, and hair. When you stand ready to pray, mentally prepare yourself to leave this world and all of its worries and stresses behind you.

Of course, Shaytan will try to distract you during prayer. But whenever this happens, go back and remember Allah. The more you return, the more Allah will reward you for it. Also, make sure your Sajdas (prostrations) are talking Sajdas, in which you are really connecting to God and seeking His Mercy, praising Him, and asking His forgiveness. (link to Sajda article...ramadan page)

5. Seek help through SABR (patience)
Seek help through Sabr and Salat (Quran 2:45).

This instruction from Allah provides us with two critical tools that can ease our worries and pain. Patience and prayer are two oft-neglected stressbusters. Sabr is often translated as patience but it is not just that. It includes self-control, perseverance, endurance, and a focused struggle to achieve one's goal. Unlike patience, which implies resignation, the concept of Sabr includes a duty to remain steadfast to achieve your goals despite all odds.

Being patient gives us control in situations where we feel we have little or no control. 'We cannot control what happens to us but we can control our reaction to our circumstances' is the mantra of many modern-day self-help books. Patience helps us keep our mind and attitude towards our difficulties in check.

6. Excuse Me! You are Not Running the World, HE is.
It is important to remind ourselves that we don't control all the variables in the world. God does. He is the Wise, the All-Knowing. Sometimes our limited human faculties are not able to comprehend His wisdom behind what happens to us and to others, but knowing that He is in control and that as human beings we submit to His Will, enriches our humanity and enhances our obedience (Uboodiah in Arabic) towards him. Read the story of the encounter of Moses with the mysteries behind God's decision (Quran: 18:60-82). Familiarize yourself with God's 99 Names, which are also known as His Attributes. It is a powerful way of knowing Him.

"God-there is no deity save Him, the Ever-Living, the Self-Subsistent Fount of All being. Neither slumber overtakes Him, nor sleep. His is all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth. Who is there that could intercede with Him, unless it be by His leave? He knows all that lies open before men and all that is hidden from them, whereas they cannot attain to aught of His knowledge save that which He wills them to attain. His eternal power overspreads the heavens and the earth, and their upholding wearies Him not. And He alone is truly exalted, tremendous." (Quran 2:255).

The Prophet recommended reading this verse, known as Ayat al kursi, after each prayer, Allah's peace and blessings be upon him. Once Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, approached the Prophet during a difficult time and he found the Prophet in Sajda, where he kept repeating "Ya Hayy Ya Qayyum", words which are part of this verse.

7. Birds Don't Carry their Food
Allah is al Razzaq (the Provider).

"How many are the creatures that carry not their own sustenance? It is Allah Who feeds them and you, for He hears and knows all things (Quran 29:60)."

By reminding yourself that He is the Provider, you will remember that getting a job or providing for your family in these economically and politically challenging times, when Muslims are often the last to be hired and the first to be fired, is in God's Hands, not yours. As Allah says in the Quran:

"And He provides for him from (sources) he never could imagine. And if anyone puts his trust in Allah, sufficient is (Allah) for him. For Allah will surely accomplish His purpose. Verily, for all things has Allah appointed a due proportion (Quran 65:3).

8. God controls Life and Death

If you fear for your physical safety and security, remember that only Allah gives life and takes it back and, that He has appointed the time for it. No one can harm you except if Allah wills. As He says in the Quran:

"Wherever you are, death will find you out, even if you are in towers built up strong and high!" (Quran 4:78).

9. Remember that life is short
It's easy to get caught up in our own stress and anxiety. However, if we remember that our life is short and temporary, and that the everlasting life is in the Hereafter, this will put our worries in perspective.

This belief in the transitory nature of the life of this world reminds us that whatever difficulties, trials, anxieties, and grief we suffer in this world are, Insha Allah, something we will only experience for a short period of time. And more importantly, if we handle these tests with patience, Allah will reward us for it.

10. Do Zikr, Allah, Allah!

"... without doubt in the remembrance (Zikr) of Allah do hearts find tranquility"
(Quran 13:28).

If you commute, use your time in Zikr. Pick any Tasbeeh and do that instead of listening to the radio or reading the newspaper. Maybe you can divide it up between Zikr and planning. Personally, I recite the Tasbeeh of "Subhana Allahe wa be hamdihi, subhan Allahil Azeem" 100 times as I drive. The Prophet taught us these two short phrases which are easy to say but will weigh heavy on our scale of good deeds in the Hereafter.

When your heart feels heavy with stress or grief, remember Allah and surround yourself with His Zikr. Zikr refers to all forms of the remembrance of Allah, including Salat, Tasbeeh, Tahmeed, Tahleel, making supplication (Dua), and reading Quran.

"And your Lord says: 'Call on Me; I will answer your (prayer)..." (Quran 40:60)

By remembering Allah in the way He has taught us to, we are more likely to gain acceptance of our prayers and His Mercy in times of difficulty. We are communicating with the only One Who not only Hears and Knows all, but Who can change our situation and give us the patience to deal with our difficulties.

"Remember Me, and I shall remember you; be grateful to Me, and deny Me not"
(Quran 2:152).

11. Relying on Allah: Tawakkul

When you awaken in the morning, thank Allah for giving you life after that short death called sleep. When you step out of your home, say 'in Your Name Allah, I put my trust in Allah, and there is no power or force except with Allah' (Bismillahi Tawakal to al Allah wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah). At night, remember Allah, with His praises on your lips.

Once you have established a plan you intend to follow through on to deal with a specific issue or problem in your life, put your trust in the most Wise and the All-Knowing.

"When you have taken a decision, put your trust in Allah" (Quran 3: 159).

Rely on Allah by constantly remembering Him throughout your day. When you
lay down to sleep, remember that sleep is death. That is why one of the recommended supplications before going to sleep is "with Your (Allah's) Name I die and become alive".

12. Connect with other human beings

You are not alone. Muslims are not alone. We are not suffering in silence. There are millions of good people who are not Muslim with beautiful hearts and minds. These are people who have supported us, individually and collectively, post-9/11, by checking up on us and making sure we are safe. These are individuals and organizations who have spoken up in defense of Muslims as we endured harassment and discrimination.

We must think of them, talk to them, connect with them, and pray for them. Through our connections, we will break the chain of isolation that leads to depression and anxiety.

13. Compare your dining table with that of those who don't have as much as you do

The Prophet said: Whenever you see someone better than you in wealth, face or figure, you should look at someone who is inferior to you in these respects (so that you may thank Allah for His blessings) (Bukhari, Muslim).

Next time you sit down to eat, eye the table carefully. Check out the selection of food, the quality, the taste, the quantity, and then think of the millions of others who don't have even half as much. The Prophet's Hadith reminds us of this so that we can appreciate and thank God for all that we have.

Also remember that the Prophet only encouraged us to compare ourselves to others in two respects: in our Islamic knowledge and level of belief in God (Deen). In these two areas, we should compare ourselves with those who have more than what we do.

14. Say it Loud: Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar: Takbirat & Adhan
Find a corner of a lake, go out in the wilderness, or even stand on your lawn at your home and call the Adhan with your heart. While driving, instead of listening to the same news over and over again, say Allahu Akbar as loudly as you can or as softly as you want, based on your mood. Year ago, I remember calling Adhan on a Lake Michigan shore in Chicago after sunset as the water gushed against my knees. I was calling it for myself. There was no one else accept the waves after waves of water with their symphony. It was relaxing and meaningful. Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar.

15. Pray in congregation (Jamat)

Pray with other people instead of alone. If you can't pray all five prayers in congregation, at least find one or two prayers you can pray with others. If you are away, establish Jamat in your own family. During the Prophet's time, even though the Muslims endured great persecution, including physical beatings, they would sometimes meet on the side of a mountain or valley and tried to pray together. This is a great morale booster.

16. How is your Imam's Dua?

Does the Imam at your local mosque make Dua silently or out loud? Ask him to supplicate with the whole congregation. Suggest Duas for him to make. Ask him to make Dua for other people.

17. Work for the Unity of Muslims

Bringing Muslims together will not only help the Muslims, but it will also encourage you to focus your energies on something constructive versus zeroing in on and consistently fretting about difficulties you are going through.

Invite Muslims from other ethnic groups to your functions. Visit Masjids other than yours in your city. When you meet a Muslim leader, after thanking him for his efforts, ask him what he is doing for Muslim unity. Ask Imams to make Dua for this. These are just small ways you can help yourself and the Muslim community.

18. Sleep the way the Prophet slept

End your day on a positive note. Make Wudu, then think of your day. Thank Allah for all the good things you accomplished, like Zikr and Salat. Ask yourself what you did today to bring humanity together and what you did to help Muslims become servants of humanity. For everything positive, say Alhamdu lillah (Praise be to Allah). For everything negative say Astaghfirullah wa atoobo ilayk (I seek Allah's forgiveness and I turn to You [Allah]). Recite the last two chapters of the Quran, thinking and praying as you turn on your right side with your hand below your right cheek, the way the Prophet used to sleep. Then close your day with the name of Allah on your tongue. Insha Allah, you will have a good, restful night.

19. Begin the Day on a Positive Note
Get up early. Get up thanking God that He has given you another day. Alhamdu lillahil lazi ahyana bada ma amatana, wa ilaihin Nushoor (Praise be to Allah Who gave us life after death and unto Him will be the return). Invest in an audio tape driven alarm clock so you can get up to the melody of the Quran. Or Let Dawud Wharnsby's joyful notes put you in a good mood. Sing along if you like. Develop your to do list for the day if you didn't do it the night before. Begin with the name of Allah, with Whose name nothing in the heavens or the earth can hurt you. He is the Highest and the Greatest.

(Bismillahillazi la yazurru maa ismihi shaiun fil arze wa la fis samae, wahuwal Alee ul Azeem).The Prophet used to say this after every Fajr and Maghrib prayers.

20. Avoid Media Overexposure: Switch from News to Books

Don't spend too much time checking out the news on the radio, television or internet. Spend more time reading good books and journals. When you listen to the persistent barrage of bad news, especially relating to Muslims nowadays, you feel not only depressed, but powerless. Cut down media time to reduce your stress and anxiety. It's important to know what's going on but not to an extent that it ruins your day or your mood. (similarly, when you are in a sad mood, refrain from wallowing and listening to sad songs)

21. Pray for Others to Heal Yourself.

The Prophet was always concerned about other people, Muslims and non-Muslims, and would regularly pray for them. Praying for others connects you with them and helps you understand their suffering. This in itself has a healing component to it. The Prophet has said that praying for someone who is not present increases love.

22. Make the Quran your Partner

Reading and listening to the Quran will help refresh our hearts and our minds. Recite it out loud or in a low voice. Listen to it in the car. When you are praying Nafl or extra prayers, pick it up and use it to recite portions of the Quran you are not as familiar with. Connecting to the Quran means connecting to God. Let it be a means to heal your heart of stress and worries. Invest in different recordings of the Quran and their translations.

"O humanity! There has come to you a direction from your Lord and a cure for all [the ills] in men's hearts - and for those who believe, a Guidance and a Mercy" (Quran 10:57).

23. Be thankful to Allah

"If you are grateful, I will give you more" (Quran 14:7).

Counting our blessings helps us not only be grateful for what we have, but it also reminds us that we are so much better off than millions of others, whether that is in terms of our health, family, financial situation, or other aspects of our life. And being grateful for all we have helps us maintain a positive attitude in the face of worries and challenges we are facing almost daily.

24. Ideals: ONE STEP AT A TIME

Ideals are wonderful things to pursue. But do that gradually. Think, prioritize, plan, and move forward. One step at a time.

25. EFFORTS not Results Count in the Eyes of Allah

Our success depends on our sincere efforts to the best of our abilities. It is the mercy of Allah that He does not demand results, Alhamdu lillah. He is happy if He finds us making our best sincere effort. Thank you Allah!

The punishment for a sin committed by a believer is removed in ten ways

Shaykh ul Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, said:

The punishment for a sin committed by a believer is removed in ten ways:

1.. He repents to Allah (taubah), so Allah accepts his repentance, for the one who repents from sin is like the one who has no sin.
2.. He seeks forgiveness from Allah (istighfar), so Allah forgives him.
3.. He does good deeds that erase his sin for good deeds erase bad ones.
4.. His believing brethren pray for him or seek forgiveness for his sins during his life or death.
5.. Or they [ask Allah] to bestow on him as gift from the reward for their deeds, with which Allah benefits him.
6.. His Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, intercedes for him.
7.. Allah tests him with trials in this world which expiate his sin.
8.. Allah tests him in al-Barzakh (the intermediate life in the grave, between the death and the Day of Judgment) which expiates his sin.
9.. Allah tests him in the various stages of the Day of Judgment which expiates his sins.
10.. Or the Most Merciful of those who have mercy has mercy on him.
Whoever, then, is missed by these ten cannot blame anyone but himself.

Wassalam

Facts About Hair-Loss

Many Muslim women and many converts to Islam in particular claim to experience hair loss after adopting hijab (Islamic dress). Their normal reaction is to assume that hijab is the reason for this difficult condition and wonder how they may avoid losing their hair and still wear hijab

Fortunately, it is unlikely that hijab is the cause for any woman to lose her hair. In fact, hijab is a great protection for your hair as it never gets exposed to outside elements such as the sun, wind, air, rain, smog and other forms of pollution. In addition, women who wear hijab are much less likely to use excessive amounts of hairspray or to curl their hair regularly, both of which damage the hair and may cause it to break and fall out.

If you began losing your hair after you adopted hijab, it is most likely a coincidence since there are many health conditions which can contribute to hair-loss in women. For example, it is common to lose large amounts of hair after giving birth, especially if you are breastfeeding. This usually begins 4-6 months after the birth of a baby and grows back soon after that. Illnesses such as thyroid diorders and iron-deficiency anemia may also cause hair to thin and fall out while certain types of medications and even stress can do the same. Whether the hair loss is permanant or temporary depends on many factors, and these are best discussed with a qualified physician.

Older women in particular should realize that hair thinning is a natural part of the aging process although the process is gradual and should not result in large clumps of hair falling out all at once.

To reduce stress on the hair and scalp, do not style your hair in tight braids. Allow your hair to air dry after shampooing and do not brush it while it is wet. Avoid hot curlers and harsh chemicals such as dyes, perms and styling products. In addition, do not make it a habit to leave your hair wet under the hijab.