Since tomorrow is the bite the bug event insh’Allah, I’d figured I share some facts about Malaria.

What is Malaria?

Malaria is a life-threatening parasitic disease transmitted by mosquitoes.

Top ten facts about Malaria

1. Just one mosquito bite is all it takes for the malaria virus to be transmitted and potentially kill an innocent child or pregnant mother.
2. Their are over 3 billion people at risk today, most of them in the African region
3. Although some are under development, no vaccine is currently available for malaria that provides a high level of protection
4. Five percent of African children are killed by Malaria, about 3,000 a day.
5. Approximately half of the world’s population is at risk of malaria, particularly those living in lower-income countries.
6. An African child has on average between 1.6 and 5.4 episodes of malaria fever each year.
7. Every 30 seconds a child dies from malaria.
8. The initial symptoms are malaise (not feeling well), low grade fever, body pain or cold like symptoms followed by intermittent high fever.
9. Malaria costs Africa more than $12 billion in lost GDP every year
10. The first time Muslims will be united for Malaria in the U.S.A. will be tomorrow insh’Allah =)

What are you waiting for? Go BITE THE BUG!

See you there insh’Allah!

I didn’t do anything bad to you.  Smile, It’s a charity and it’s free! But make sure you use the miswak or brush your teeth 3x a day, ha.

Anyhow, alot of Muslims often look at you like you stole something, so here is a Hadith we should all reflect on.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Charity is prescribed for each descendant of Adam every day the sun rises.” He was then asked: “From what do we give charity every day?” The Prophet answered: “The doors of goodness are many…enjoining good, forbidding evil, removing harm from the road, listening to the deaf, leading the blind, guiding one to the object of his need, hurrying with the strength of one’s legs to one in sorrow who is asking for help, and supporting the feeble with the strength of one’s arms–all of these are charity prescribed for you.” He also said: “Your smile for your brother is charity.” – Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 3, Number 98

Their are also health benefits to smiling (courtesy of about.com)

1. Smiling Makes us Attractive

We are drawn to people who smile. There is an attraction factor. We want to know a smiling person and figure out what is so good. Frowns, scowls and grimaces all push people away — but a smile draws them in.

2. Smiling Changes our Mood

Next time you are feeling down, try putting on a smile. There’s a good chance you mood will change for the better. Smiling can trick the body into helping you change your mood.

3. Smiling is contagious

When someone is smiling they lighten up the room, change the moods of others, and make things happier. A smiling person brings happiness with them. Smile lots and you will draw people to you.

4. Smiling Relieves Stress

Stress can really show up in our faces. Smiling helps to prevent us from looking tired, worn down, and overwhelmed. When you are stressed, take time to put on a smile. The stress should be reduced and you’ll be better able to take action.

5. Smiling Boosts Your Immune System.

Smiling helps the immune system to work better. When you smile, immune function improves possibly because you are more relaxed. Prevent the flu and colds by smiling.

So next time you get the chance….

Not the shatan smile like this though… .Astaghfirullah!

I end with one last hadith, our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

“Do not abuse anyone…Do not look down upon any good work, and when you speak to your brother, show him a cheerful face.” (Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 1889)

Scientists are always making new discoverys, their latest one?

New research has shown that those who take personal insults while upright exhibited brain activity linked to attacking but this urge disappeared when they took the same insults lying down.

Basically they figured out that if you are insulted in different positions other than standing your reaction or degree of anger wouldn’t be as high.

Jazaku’Allah to brother Shakil for making this amazing correlation, this recent discovery and advice being given by scientists goes back to the 7th century. Yup it’s not new at all and it wasn’t just discovered! Our beloved Propeht Muhammad (s) understood the psychology of humans which is why he said long ago in a hadith

“When one of you becomes angry while standing, he should sit down. If the anger leaves him, well and good; otherwise he should lie down”.

(Sunan of Abu Dawood, Narrated Abu Dharr, r.a.)

Peter Bandettini, a brain imager at the National Institute of Mental Health in Bethesda, Maryland, said: “It never occurred to me that body position might influence behavioural or neuronal activity in the context of aggression – but it makes sense.

These scientists are mad late, well you can’t blame them, they don’t read the seerah. We should go out and give more dawah that way these new so called “discoverys” wouldn’t be suprising to people.

May Allah (swt) guide us all to the straight path and give us more knowledge of his final messenger Prophet Muhammad (s), Ameen.

Source

Also check out my previous article called “Anger Management”

Mashallah a great article from the Reader’s Digest

One Step at a Time

To get your heart pumping hard enough to provide cardiac benefits, all you need is a decent pair of walking shoes.

According to the Harvard Nurses’ Health Study, which followed 80,000 women for more than 20 years, just a half hour of brisk walking a day — that’s 30 minutes, or the time it takes to watch one sitcom — can slash your risk of a heart attack by 30 to 40 percent.

There are many reasons why walking is ideal for the core of your exercise plan. Among them:

Walking is safer than jogging. Because a walker lands with just one-fifth the force of a runner, walking is much easier on your joints and ligaments.

Anyone can walk. It’s a good option even for people who are pregnant, have arthritis, have heart disease, or are just recovering from a heart attack.

It’s inexpensive. A pair of shoes and socks are all you need. (Well, you should wear clothes.)

You’ll stick with it. Only 25 percent of people who walk for exercise quit, compared to 50 or 60 percent of those who start other exercises.

You can do it anywhere, anytime. Bad weather? Walk in the mall. On vacation? Walking is a great way to see the sites. Overdue for an outing with friends? Schedule a scenic hike.

It’s easy to vary the intensity. To work harder, walk faster or walk up and down stairs or hills. Feeling tired or recovering from an illness? Slow it down.

In order to lower your risk of heart attack, gradually start walking at least 30 minutes a day (60 if you need to lose weight) on most days. On top of that you’ll look for opportunities to fit walking into the rest of your day.

What are you waiting for? Cut the Chicken Biryani and hamburgers out of your diet and start walking to the Masjid. =)

Oh and I wanted to share one Ayah from the Quran that talks about how we should walk, a little random but it’s all good.

“the servants of God the Most Gracious”. These are the people “who walk gently on earth, and who, whenever the ignorant address them, say: Peace ( Chapter 25, verses 63)

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