Cigarette smoking and heavy alcohol use cause epigenetic changes to DNA that reflect accelerated biological aging in distinct, measurable ways, according to research presented at the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) 2015 Annual Meeting in Baltimore. Using data from the publicly available Gene Expression Omnibus, Robert A. Philibert, MD, PhD and colleagues at the University of Iowa and other institutions analyzed patterns of DNA methylation, a molecular modification to DNA that af

With the beginning of each Islamic year, our scholars and Imams remind us of the story of the momentous Hijrah (migration) of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his companion Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) from Makkah to Medina which they undertook over 1400 Years ago. This Migration was a very special journey and a turning point for Islam and Muslims in that it was chosen to mark the beginning of the Islamic calendar. Although there are many lessons that one

This is Part 4 of UmmahHub’s series on Being Your Own Boss that reveals the keys to help you become a successful entrepreneur and be the best you can be in business and in life, In sha Allah. In part 3, we ventured into writing your business plan, by answering a set of questions. In this part, we will go forth by discussing the next step. When starting your business, you most likely will have these top 3 as priorities: finding capital, building a product and getting customers. After you

This is Part 3 of UmmahHub’s series on Being Your Own Boss that reveals the keys to help you become a successful entrepreneur and be the best you can be in business and in life, In sha Allah. In Part 2, we’d discussed how you can find a business idea that will serve the market and your personal goals and included a real life case study to show you how. In this part, we’ll explore how to write a business plan based on your answers to a set of 14 questions. Once you have a business idea, wha

This is Part 2 of UmmahHub’s series on Being Your Own Boss that reveals the keys to help you become a successful entrepreneur and be the best you can be in business and in life, In sha Allah. In Part 1, we’d discussed the fundamental importance of developing an entrepreneurial mindset for the success of any business. In this part, we’ll explore how to identify and narrow down on the right business idea: one that will serve the market and your personal goals. When beginning your entrepreneu

LONDON:  A commonly used over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drug and a herbal product may provide alternative options for treating urinary tract infection, one of the most common conditions in adult women which is currently treated with antibiotics, say researchers. With antibiotic resistance rising, reducing the use of antibiotics where possible is one of the top priorities among health professionals. To assess the effectiveness of the anti-inflammatory drug and the herbal product called

By Dr Mohammad Manzoor Alam, I am returning to this column after a long while. The occasion for writing this piece is the coming Eid al-Azha within the next few hours in our part of the world. This is the time to renew our commitment to Islam, which respects the Abrahamic tradition so much that it has adopted the day of Abraham’s (PBUH) intended sacrifice of his son Ismail (PBUH), also known as Ishmael in other Semitic religions, for celebration and remembrance of God. Briefly, Abraham (PB

Note: This article presents a summarized version of the steps involved in Hajj. More details are available at the end of the article. Hajj pilgrimage is one of the five pillars of Islam – i.e. one of the five obligatory duties of a Muslim. Allah (SWT) says in the Quran: “And Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah) to the House (Ka’bah ) is a duty that mankind owes to Allah, those who can afford the expenses (for one’s conveyance, provision and residence); and whoever disbelieves [i.e. denies Hajj (p

LONDON:  Eating a Mediterranean diet or other healthy dietary pattern, comprising of fruit, vegetables, legumes and nuts, is associated with preventing the onset of depression, according to s new large study. The study of 15,093 people suggests depression could be linked with nutrient deficits. The researchers compared three diets; the Mediterranean diet, the Pro-vegetarian Dietary Pattern and Alternative Healthy Eating Index-2010. Participants used a scoring system to measure their adh

Quick question to refresh our minds: who was Prophet Muhammad ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)? As Muslims, we believe he was the last and final messenger of the Creator to mankind. His life is an example for generations after generations until the end of time on how to live in a pure and humble way, with the worship of Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) the Creator as our purpose and pivotal role. The word “sunnah” is used to descri

Have you missed some of the precious time of the previous Ramadan? Do you feel you could have done more in that blessed month? Are you disappointed with your performance during the last ten days of Ramadan and feel an overwhelming yearning for the spirituality of Laylat Al Qadr? Well, you have another chance! It is out of Allah’s mercy that He bestows upon us blessed times in which rewards are multiplied. These seasons of goodness recur time after time, so that we can recharge our spiritual

The following hadith by the prophet provides the background of how Makkah and Kaa’ba came into existence. Narrated Ibn ‘Abbâs [On the authority of the Prophet (See Fath Al-Bari, Vol. 7, Page 210)]. “…(Prophet) Ibrâhîm (Abraham) brought her (Hajar) and her son Ismail (Ishmael) while she used to nurse him at her breast, near the Ka‘bah under a tree on the spot of Zamzam, at the highest place in the mosque. During those days there was nobody in Makkah, nor was there any water. So he made them

[Being Your Own Boss – Part 1] How to Develop an Entrepreneurial Mindset This is Part 1 of UmmahHub’s series on Being Your Own Boss that reveals the 10 keys to help you become a successful entrepreneur and be the best you can be in business and in life, In sha Allah. To be an entrepreneur and be involved in business consists of exerting significant effort and hard work, which is highly encouraged in Islam; as the Prophet  said: “No doubt, it is better for a person to take a rope and p

by Shaikh Muhammad As-Salih Al-Uthaimeen  In The Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful     Preface Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Universe. May peace and blessings be upon Muhammad, the last of the prophets and messengers, and upon his family and esteemed companions. Hajj is one of the best forms of worship and is one of the most sublime deeds because it is one of the pillars of Islam that Allah sent Muhammad(may the peace and blessings of Allah be

Here are the habits most successful people have in common. 1. They have a definite purpose. "The majority of people in this world could be very successful if they would just make up their minds how much success they want and on what terms they want to evaluate success," Hill writes. 2. They know their motives. Becoming a consultant at a big firm after two years at a top business school is a great goal for some people, but it means nearly nothing if the motive is simply that it's a we

In less than a month, millions of Muslims will be assembling to fulfill one of the five fundamental pillars of their faith: the hajj. It is the largest annual gathering of people that has continued to take place across centuries, and draws people from every corner of the earth, as Allah  states in the Qur’an: “And proclaim to mankind the Hajj (pilgrimage). They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel, they will come from every deep and distant (wide) mountain highway (to perform Hajj

We all know the drill when it comes to losing weight, don't we? All you need to do is take fewer calories and burn more. Simple as it may sound, the trick is to make wise and healthy decisions. #MyFit100Days team of experts suggest the following tips and tricks which one should follow in order to lose weight in a healthy and efficient manner. 1. Stay Hydrated - A few simple steps can go a long way to make today healthier than yesterday and pave the way for a fitter tomorrow. Make sure to i

Once the believers are rewarded with paradise (Jannah) by Allah, they would have achieved a state of unbounded happiness. But that will only be the beginning of their happiness as that day they will hear a caller who will call: ‘O People of Paradise! Your Lord – Blessed and Exalted – requests you to visit Him, so come to visit Him!’ So they will say: ‘We hear and obey!’ Until, when they finally reach the wide valley where they will all meet – and none of them will turn down the