The Black Seed (Habbah Sawdaa)

Dr. Sabheen Khan enumerates the benefits of Kalonji - the black seed. Commonly sighted, stored in jars, sitting in our pantry as any other herb or spice to be added to our recipes. I am referring to the black seed, black cumin or Indian cumin, which is more commonly known as Kalonji in Urdu - an important remedy waiting to be taken advantage of from the medicine of the Prophet (sa). Abu Hurairah (rta) related that the Prophet (saw) said: “Use the black seed, because it contains a cure for every type of ailment, except death.” (Tirmidhi, Ahmad and Ibn Hibban) What impact does this Hadeeth have on our belief with regards to the true benefits of the black seed? It is a fact that many people do not benefit from prophetic medicine. We must remember that although the Quran is a cure for the diseases of the heart, the effects of the Quran will not be felt, unless it is accepted with unwavering faith. Likewise, the benefits of the prophetic medicine are only for the good and pure bodies and souls. Therefore, if no improvement is experienced after its use, it is not because the prophetic medicine does not work; rather, the negativity within the body and soul are not suitable for the prophetic medicine. The following are some of the benefits of the black seed from the medicine of the Prophet (sa): ·         It clears up and relieves cold symptoms, when ground in a cloth and later inhaled through the nose on a regular basis until the ailment is cured. ·         It will help against cold symptoms accompanied by intensive sneezing, when fried and finely ground, soaked in oil and then administered as drops in the nose. ·         Toothache resulting from sensitivity to cold is relieved by rinsing ones mouth with black seeds that are soaked in vinegar. ·         Such skin ailments as leprosy, black pigmentation and dandruff are relieved by applying black seed crushed in vinegar on the affected area. ·         Stones in the kidney and prostate are dissolved upon taking ground black seed with honey and drunk with some warm water. ·         When it is heated with vinegar and placed on the stomach, it will eliminate helminthes (worms). ·         It also acts as a diuretic increasing the flow during menstruation and the production of milk during lactation. ·         Black seed oil helps against the toxins of snake and spider bites. ·         Black seed oil also helps against facial paralysis and tetanus by eliminating their causes.   It must be stated that the black seed or black seed oil should only be taken in small quantities as larger amounts can irritate the mucosal linings of the digestive tract. Sample research conducted by modern science reveals recent benefits of the black seed: ·         Its potential for the treatment of bronchial asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory ailments. ·         Its capacity to lower excess blood pressure and improve heart function. ·         Its anti-microbial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, E.coli, Pseudomonas aerugenosa, Candida albicans, in addition to a host of other disease causing organisms. ·         One of the most promising findings is the observation by doctors that the black seed alone or in combination with garlic is a potent anti-cancer agent. Although the above mentioned scientific research may help many of us to re-confirm our belief, it is interesting to note that the companions of the Prophet (sa) never had access to any of this research, and yet they were the ones, who most adamantly adhered to his medicinal Sunnah. When the Prophet (sa) spoke, their attitude was simply “we hear and we obey.”  In the same way our attitude should not be that we accept the Prophet’s (sa) advice because science confirms it; rather, we accept his advice, because he is the Messenger of the All-Knowing and the All-Wise. If this will be our attitude then the next time science confirms another Sunnah of the Rasool (sa), there should be no amazement or surprises. It should be no more surprising than science confirming that the sky is blue or that birds fly.

Murder most casual

Sumaiya Saleem exposes the cruel reality of a less talked about murder.
 

“Mommy!” I looked up at the two-year-old, who was standing on the threshold; he was simply adorable, with his unruly black hair, deep blue eyes and red lips, which were now trembling, as if he was trying hard not to cry. A closer look made me gasp in horror: his eyes were bright with unshed tears and one of his arms was missing. His shoulder was bloody, indicating that someone had ripped off his arm. He was no more than a baby: who could have been cruel and heartless enough to treat him like this?
 

As I was gazing at him, a clamp appeared out of nowhere; it seized his other arm and began tugging ruthlessly. Tears spilled down the child’s face, as his blood began to flow down his shirt, dripping to the floor in silent drops. Suddenly, there was a ripping sound, and his other arm was torn away as well. Both limbs lay on the floor in a bloody mess, and I couldn’t take my eyes off them. The clamp re-appeared, and, this time, took hold of his leg. I rushed forward to save him, but it seemed as if an invisible force was pushing me back. One by one, his other body parts were ripped apart, resulting in a heap of blood-soaked limbs and pieces of flesh lying on the floor, until only the face was left.

“Who did this to you baby?” I asked, tears pouring down my face, as I struggled to go close to him. The child uttered a soft sigh before replying sadly: “You did, Mommy!” Just then, his head was crushed by a blow to the skull. I started screaming hysterically, as the impact of his final words struck me.
 

My own screams jerked me awake; I opened my eyes to see everyone staring at me in surprise and disapproval at creating such a scene in a clinic. I swiveled my head to stare at the walls that had been spattered with blood in my dreams: they were clean now, and there was no sign of any of the horrors I had witnessed. “It was just a dream,” I consoled myself.
 

Ten minutes later, I was being ushered into Dr. Khan’s room; it was my second appointment, so I was at ease with her. Sitting down, my first request to the doctor was to describe the procedure I would have to undergo for the abortion. I had been affected by my nightmare, and it was an almost desperate attempt on my part to convince myself that I wasn’t doing anything wrong.
 

To my surprise, the doctor seemed strangely reluctant to explain, and it was only after a lot of persuasion that she proceeded to inform me that since I was already five months pregnant, she would be performing a dilation and evacuation procedure on me. It included sucking the amniotic fluid out of my body and then extracting the fetus with the help of a clamp. “Do you use a clamp?” I whispered, and when she nodded in affirmation, all the blood drained from my face. “We do require a clamp because we cannot extract the entire fetus in one part. We have to detach its limbs before the evacuation procedure. But don’t worry, Mrs. Ahmed, according to all the research I have done, the fetus doesn’t register the pain.”
 

“You’re planning to rip apart my baby and you have the nerve to tell me you don’t think it will hurt?” I demanded furiously.
 

“Pardon me, Mrs. Ahmed - I was under the impression that it was your decision to have your baby aborted,” she replied.
 

“I didn’t know. I never imagined it would be this terrible, this cruel,” I whispered.

“What did you think it would be? Do you think it’s easy to extract a live human being from the uterus, where it’s clinging, and not harm it in the process? It’s not easy for me either, you know. But it’s my job, and I only perform this operation when I get a request from the parents. I did tell you that you were too far along and it was unadvisable to have an abortion at this stage, but you insisted.” The doctor’s words, uttered in an icy tone, froze me in my tracks. I was quite willing to put the blame on her and had forgotten who had set the ball rolling in the first place.
 

I was the child’s mother. I was supposed to protect him. It was my blood the baby was thriving on. This child was the flesh of my flesh, and I had carried it beneath my heart for five months. If I could so callously decide to tear it from my womb and discard it like rubbish, how could the doctor pity me? “Maybe you need time to think it over,” Dr. Khan suggested in a softer tone, but I was disgusted at the idea of thinking over whether or not I wanted to kill my child.
 

Fifteen minutes later, I was home. The ride had passed in a blur, as I stared out of the window, unconsciously wiping away the tears that were rolling down my face. The fact that I had not known of the exact procedure did not absolve me of guilt. I should have asked for more information before taking such a momentous decision. However, I was so worried about my life being disrupted by an unplanned pregnancy that I had never thought of the being in my body as a living entity, a part of both me and my husband. I had viewed it merely as an inconvenience. My dream had opened my eyes to the realization that my womb held not just a lifeless clump of cells but a baby, who might have inherited my black curls and my husband’s dimple.
 

“Mommy, I is here,” the baby announced, and I turned to the door with a welcoming smile on my lips, throwing out my arms so that Ammar could run into them. I held him close, smelling the clean baby scent of him; it had been almost two years since my visit to Dr. Khan and my decision not to abort my child. Now, he was eighteen months old, a laughing child with ebony curls, flashing blue eyes, the cutest dimple and the ability to wind me around his little finger. He was the exact replica of the baby I had seen in my dream; as I listened to his gurgles and baby talk, I shuddered to think what might have happened, if I had not had that nightmare. It was Allah’s (swt) blessing that my son was here and not in a heap of bloody limbs in some gutter.
 

Every night since that horrific vision, I had thanked Allah (swt) that he had saved me from the Kabira (major) sin of killing my own child. The Ayat of the Quran flashed in my mind:
 

“And kill not your children for fear of poverty. We provide for them and for you. Surely, the killing of them is a great sin.” (Al-Isra, 17:31)
 

Mother Teresa had once remarked: “In every abortion, there are two victims: a dead baby and a dead conscience.” I had been saved from murdering both my baby and my conscience.

Food Matters: You are what you eat!

Allah (swt) has instructed us to take care of our bodies the best way we can. In fact, on the day of resurrection, our body parts will testify, as to how we have treated them. Thus, it is of utmost importance for Muslims to care for their health and meet the needs of their bodies adequately. 

Don't miss the opportunity to watch for free online "Food Matters" film about the problems of modern nutrition and healthcare. The free viewing is available only from November 21st to 30th, 2012.

Follow the link to watch the film: http://foodmatters.tv/screening-event-cinema

Visit also Food Matters official website (http://www.foodmatters.tv/) for more information on how to stay fit and healthy the natural way.

Treating influenza the herbal way

Amber Saleem enumerates the herbal remedies, which will help you fight the flu in the cooler season.

Influenza, or flu, is caused by a virus that causes an upper respiratory infection. Influenza mainly affects the upper airways and can be transmitted easily in airborne droplets from the coughs and sneezes of infected people. However, the influenza virus is usually transmitted from person to person through direct contact.

The symptoms of influenza develop 24-48 hours after infection. Most common symptoms may include headache, fever, chills, dry cough, extreme tiredness, runny nose, sore throat, aches and pain.

For the sake of our health, it is necessary for us to know how to treat the flu. Natural herbal remedies in the light of the Quran and Ahadeeth can help comfort a person who has the flu.

“There is no disease that Allah has created, except that He also has created its treatment.” (Bukhari)

Olives have been mentioned seven times in the Quran, and their health benefits have been propounded in Prophetic medicine. The Prophet (sa) said: “Eat the olive and massage it over your bodies, since it is a holy tree.” (Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah)

The Quran says: “Allah is the light of the heavens and the earth. The parable of His Light is as (if there were) a niche and within it a lamp, the lamp is in glass, the glass as it were a brilliant star, lit from a blessed tree, an olive, neither of the east (i.e. neither it gets sun-rays only in the morning) nor of the west (i.e. nor it gets sun-rays only in the afternoon, but it is exposed to the sun all day long), whose oil would almost glow forth (of itself) , though fire touched it. Light upon Light! Allah guides to His Light whom He wills. And Allah sets forth parables for mankind, and Allah is All-Knower of everything.” (An-Nur 24:35)

Taking one tablespoon of olive oil before sleep will cure your flu within a week, Insha’Allah.

Muslims have been using the black seed (Kalonji) for hundreds of years. However, many of us do not realize that the black seed is not only a prophetic herb, but it also holds a unique place in the medicine of the Prophet (sa). Black seed is mentioned along with many other natural cures in the Quran and Ahadeeth.

“Use the black seed, because it contains a cure for every type of ailment, except for death.” (Tirmidhi, Ahmad and Ibn Hibban)

For treatment of flu, a combination of black seed and olive oil has an effective impact. For this, add eleven tablespoons of olive oil in one tablespoon black seed powder, heat it, bring it to boil and then strain the oil. Placing one drop of this oil in the nostrils will relieve your flu.

Also, mix one teaspoon of black seed oil in a cup of hot water and add lemon and honey to it; drink it three times a day.

When it comes to natural remedies, honey is one of the best. Take one to two tablespoons of honey twice or thrice a day. The Prophet (sa) said: “You have cure in two things: honey and the Quran.” (Ibn Majah)

Drinking hot liquids is an extremely effective home remedy for treating the flu, whether it is tea or simple water. Add one tablespoon honey in hot water or in tea and take it at the time of Asr Salah for good result. Not only does it help the body replenish fluids, but also provides heat that aids the body’s response and helps clear nasal congestion.

Lemon juice also has healing properties. The juice of one lemon has 80% of vitamin C, which can help you boost your immune system. If you take it, when the flu has started, it will help shorten the length of your symptoms. For a sweeter taste, mix lemon juice with honey.

Food Revolution: teach your kids to cook!

Do your kids know how to cook? Jamie Oliver suggests that the time is ripe to start teaching them. To find out why, watch the video and visit Jamie's website for more information.

Why you should listen to him:

Jamie Oliver has been drawn to the kitchen since he was a child working in his father's pub-restaurant. He showed not only a precocious culinary talent but also a passion for creating (and talking about) fresh, honest, delicious food. In the past decade, the shaggy-haired "Naked Chef" of late-'90s BBC2 has built a worldwide media conglomerate of TV shows, books, cookware and magazines, all based on a formula of simple, unpretentious food that invites everyone to get busy in the kitchen. And as much as his cooking is generous, so is his business model -- his Fifteen Foundation, for instance, trains young chefs from challenged backgrounds to run four of his restaurants.

Now, Oliver is using his fame and charm to bring attention to the changes that Brits and Americans need to make in their lifestyles and diet. Campaigns such as Jamie's School Dinner, Ministry of Food and Food Revolution USA combine Oliver’s culinary tools, cookbooks and television, with serious activism and community organizing -- to create change on both the individual and governmental level.

Join Jamie's Food Revolution: Sign the petition >>
Jamie's website: http://www.jamieoliver.com/ 

The Wondrous Qualities of Dates

Dr. Sadaf Sheikh explores the medical and spiritual healing preserved in dates

There are many edible palm fruits and the most widely found and favoured are dates. Dates were cultivated in ancient lands, from Mesopotamia to prehistoric Egypt, possibly as early as 6000 B.C. Then, as now, dates were a staple for the natives of those dry regions. Much later, Arabs spread dates around northern Africa.

Dates are classified according to their fleshiness:

• soft dates (Barhee, Halawy, Khadrawy, Medjool),
• semidry dates (Dayri, Deglet Noor, Zahidi),
• dry dates (Thoory).

Dates are rich in natural fibers and, therefore, help against many ailments. They also surpass other fruits in the sheer variety of their constituents. They are the most wholesome food among fruits because of their hot and moist substance. Eating dates in the morning on an empty stomach kills intestinal worms and other parasites, for dates have an antidotal potency, which inhibits their growth.

Dates were the food that Allah (swt) provided for Maryam (as), when she felt labor pains and after she gave birth to Isa (as) under the palm tree. The great worth of dates is also indicated in a famous and beautiful passage of the Quran: "Shake the trunk of the palm tree, and it will drop ripe dates on you, so eat, drink, and comfort your eyes with what Allah gave you." (Maryam 25-6)

Experiments have also shown that dates contain some stimulants, which strengthen the muscles of the uterus in the last months of pregnancy. This helps the dilation of the uterus at the time of delivery and reduces post-natal bleeding. Dieticians consider dates the best food for breast-feeding mothers. This is because they contain elements that assist in alleviating depression and enrich the breast milk with the nutrients needed to make the child healthy and resistant to disease.

Regarding the Messenger of Allah (saw) breaking his fast with fresh dates, dried dates or even water, there is, of course, a subtle reason. Since dates, particularly if they are moist, travel faster to the liver and are converted more quickly than other nutrients, the liver accepts their contents more readily and hastens their distribution to the rest of the body, which is thirsting for energy. Another factor making dates the ideal food is their digestibility. Within half an hour of eating them, the tired body regains new vigor. The reason for this is that low blood sugar is the main cause of hunger, not an empty stomach, as is often assumed. When the body absorbs the nutritional essence of a few dates, the sensation of hunger is abated. It would seem that taking dates after fasting helps one avoid overeating.

Aishah (rta) used to prescribe dates to those suffering with giddiness. It is now well known that low blood sugar and low blood pressure are among the causes of giddiness. She was also reported to have used dates combined with cucumber to treat her over-slim condition. She said: "They fed me with every type of food to gain weight, yet I did not put on any. Then they added cucumber and fresh date to my diet and that did it."

As dates are rich in calcium, they contribute to healthy bones. For this reason, it is recommended that children and older adults, especially women, eat plenty of dates to strengthen their bones.

Dates are also important in maintaining good vision and are effective in guarding against night-blindness. In the early years of Islam, dates were served as food for Muslim soldiers, as they stimulate muscles and give energy for physical exercise. They also help heal stomach ulcers. Modern medicine has shown that eating dates prevents abdominal cancer.

There are said to be at least eight hundred uses for dates. It is used as a fresh or a dry fruit with excellent storage properties and is commonly used in the confectionery trade. One possible industry that is currently unexploited is the use of dates for crude sugar.

People often ask: "Do all these dates really taste different?" The answer is a resounding: "Yes!" Each variety of date not only has its own distinctive taste but also its own distinctive texture, sweetness and size. When properly stored, dates keep exceedingly well. Stored in airtight containers and kept in the refrigerator, dates will stay moist and delicious for as long as 30 days. Dates can also be kept frozen for up to a year with no loss of taste or quality.

Nutritional Facts

A serving of five or six average dates contain about 20 calories each and are a good source of fiber, potassium, vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates, without the sodium or fat found in other snacks. A serving of dates helps fulfill the "2 to 4 servings of fruit and vegetables a day" guideline of the USDA's food pyramid.

Fiber

A serving of dates provides approximately 14% of the USDA recommended daily allowance (RDA) of fiber, which has been shown to reduce the risk of certain cancers.

Potassium
Eating dates and drinking water is an ideal, natural way to replenish the body's need for potassium. One serving of dates contains about 240 milligrams of potassium, or 7% of the RDA, of this essential nutrient.

Vitamins and Minerals
Dates contain a variety of B-complex vitamins. They contain thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B-6 and pantothenic acid. Dates also contain 2.2% protein, vitamin A, vitamins B1, B2 ad nicotinic acid (which fights against Pellagra); they also have traces of minerals needed for the body such as potassium, sodium, calcium, iron, manganese and copper.

Carbohydrates

A serving of dates contains about 31 grams of carbohydrates, making them a powerhouse of energy. The carbohydrates found in dates include about 3 grams of dietary fiber and about 3 grams of naturally occurring sugars, such as sucrose, fructose and glucose. Dates have about 1430 calories per pound and for that reason are not recommended for anyone on a diet.

They are variously classified as food, drink, fruits, sweets, nutrients and medicine. Cured dates are called Ajwah in Arabic. Aishah related the saying of Allah's Messenger (saw): "Ajwah date is an excellent remedy." (Bukhari, Muslim) Dates are also among the fruits of Paradise, as noted in the following Hadeeth: "Ajwah is from Paradise and contains an antidote against poison." (At-Tirmidhi) The Prophet (saw) said: "He who eats seven Ajwah dates (the dates which he sow himself) every morning, will not be affected by poison or magic on the day he eats them." (Bukhari)

Dates and date palms have been mentioned in the Holy Quran twenty times, thus showing their importance. The Prophet (saw) likened a good Muslim to the date palm, saying: "Among trees, there is a tree like a Muslim. Its leaves do not fall." (Bukhari)

It is also a custom among Muslim parents to put a piece of well-chewed date (or other available sweet fruit) in the mouth of a newborn baby. An interesting scientific medical study, published in the “British Medical Journal” (No. 6993, 10 June 1995), proved the benefit of giving a new-born child sugar to reduce the feeling of pain during procedures, like heel pricking for a blood sample, or circumcision. This reduced the crying time, compared to babies, who got water. Also, their heart rate returned to normal more quickly.

Finally, we hope that Muslim medical scientists and researchers will take this new discovery on board; and that many more Islamic ideas and practices needing investigative research and scientific study will get the attention they deserve, Insha Allah.

Health Benefits of Fasting and Taraweeh

Misplaced discipline in our eating lifestyles must be harnessed to discover the true joys of health and harmony, writes Dr. Sarah Shahab

Just as lack of food in many parts of the world causes misery and malnutrition, an excess of it poses the most common problems of the modern world. The relationship between diet and disease has long been established. Excess consumption of energy rich foods (containing fat and sugar) combined with physical inactivity can lead to such chronic diseases as obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, certain cancers and arthritis in weight bearing joints (spine, hips and knees).

A balance between energy intake and energy expenditure can be achieved through moderate physical activity (such as thirty minutes of brisk walking five or more times a week) and by limiting the amount of saturated fat.

A diet rich in fiber, fruits, vegetables, fish, beans, low-fat dairy and whole grains increases longevity and reduces the risk of overall mortality. A large number of anti-carcinogenic agents are found in fruits and vegetables. It has been observed in many studies that persons with low fruit and vegetable intake experience about twice the risk of cancer, compared with those with high intake.

Body Mass Index

Health professionals consider the body mass index (BMI) as a reliable means of identifying health risks in people due to obesity. BMI takes into account an individual's weight and height. It can be calculated by dividing ones weight in pounds by the height in inches squared multiplied by 703. A person with a BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight, while someone with a BMI of 30 or more is obese.

Benefits of Fasting and Taraweeh

It takes motivation and commitment for a permanent change in eating habits. Just like animals can be tamed by planned feeding and hunger intervals, much self-control can be developed in human beings through fasting. Fasting nurtures not only the soul but also the body through a voluntary control of physical desires. Depending on the correct and consistent choice of food consumed at dawn and dusk, fasting prevents formation of atheroma, lowers serum cholesterol and triglycerides. Serum magnesium also increases during fasting - it has a cardio-protective role.

Studies reveal that underfed animals live longer and suffer less from disease than overfed ones. Just a few of the many diseases that benefit from fasting are hypertension, diabetes, obesity and osteo-arthritis. There is enhanced secretion of growth hormone by the pituitary gland during fasting. Besides stimulating erythropoeisis, increased insulin response, etc., GH stimulates protein and collagen synthesis, hence preventing the skin of those who fast regularly from wrinkling. Opiods or narcotic-like substances are released during fasting, producing tranquility and elation. 

The benefits of the five times Salah, as well as the optional Taraweeh Salah, help each and every muscle in the body contract. This increases blood flow and improves physical strength. Gentle exercise, as in prayer and in the Taraweeh prayer, increases bone mineral density at sites of maximal stress (for example, during Ruku and Sujood), thus reducing osteoporosis. When blood sugar levels begin to rise after Iftaar, the Taraweeh helps oxidise the circulating glucose to carbon dioxide and water during prayer.

The Prophet (saw) said: "Food for one man is enough for two, and that for two is enough for three, and that for three is enough for four." (Bukhari)