The time for Ramadan is here again, so once more we will be actively involved in Ibadat, or acts of devotion, including fasting, prayers, Taraweeh, late night prayers, Quran recitation, and other forms of worship. However, before we become too engaged in our Ibadat, let’s remember our larger goals for this month so that we can make the most of the coming days and weeks. Therefore, as part of our Ibadat and obedience to Allah this Ramadan, let us seek to improve our relationship with Allah by ask

London: Fasting for as little as three days can regenerate the entire immune system, even in the elderly, scientists have found in a breakthrough described as “remarkable”. Although fasting diets have been criticised by nutritionists for being unhealthy, new research suggests starving the body kick-starts stem cells into producing new white blood cells, which fight off infection. Scientists at the University of Southern California say the discovery could be particularly beneficial

Honey is a new approach to fighting antibiotic resistance: How sweet it is!  Honey, that delectable condiment for breads and fruits, could be one sweet solution to the serious, ever-growing problem of bacterial resistance to antibiotics, researchers said here today.Medical professionals sometimes use honey successfully as a topical dressing, but it could play a larger role in fighting infections, the researchers predicted. Their study was part of the 247th National Meeting of the American Che

During the centuries of the crusades, all sorts of slanders were invented against the Prophet Muhammad (p)2. However, with the birth of the modern age, marked with religious tolerance and freedom of thought, there has been a great change in the approach of Western authors in their delineation of his life and character. The West, however, has yet to go a step forward to discover the greatest reality about Muhammad (p); that is his being the true and the last Prophet of God for all humanity.

If you find yourself in a creative slump, scientists have a suggestion: Take a walk. People generate more creative ideas when they walk than when they sit, according to new research published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory and Cognition. “Everyone always says going on a walk gives you new ideas, but nobody had ever proved it before,” said Marily Oppezzo, a professor of psychology at Santa Clara University and the lead author of the study. In fa

This is one of the Duas that most Muslims recite daily in their prayers and outside their prayers. This Dua is not only mentioned in the Quran but Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.S.) advised us of the many merits of this Dua. Ibn Al-Kathir also mentions in his tafsir that the Sunnah encourages us reciting this Dua (i.e., in the Ayah about gaining a good deed in this life and the Hereafter). Al-Bukhari reported that Anas bin Malik narrated that the Prophet used to say: (O Allah, our Lord! Giv

This is not the first time that the Congress has been decimated, getting only 44 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha.  The party met more or less a similar fate in the 1977 election held after the emergency. Mrs Indira Gandhi, the architect of the emergency and her extra-constitutional son, Sanjay Gandhi, too lost in the polls. Yet the Congress retained the three southern states—Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala. Even the overall tally was around 150. It was, indeed, a defeat but not a rout as

Researchers in the United States say their studies suggest that greater consumption of fruits and vegetables may reduce the risk of developing heart diseases in women. These women are less likely to have plaque build-up in their arteries 20 years later compared with those who consumed lower amounts of these foods in their adulthood, the study noted. Build-up of plaque can lead to heart disease, heart attack and stroke. Surprisingly, the findings of the research showed that the same benefit di

Robert Paxton argues that fascism is “a form of political behavior marked by obsessive preoccupation with community decline, humiliation, or victimhood and by compensatory cults of unity, energy, and purity, in which a mass-based party of committed nationalist militants, working in uneasy but effective collaboration with traditional elites, abandons democratic liberties and pursues with redemptive violence and without ethical or legal restraints goals of internal cleansing and external expansion

A new research says it has found evidence that the Ajwa date from Madinah contains active elements useful in the prevention of diseases like cancer. The research was carried out in Riyadh-based King Saud University (KSU) to discover the health benefits of Ajwa dates, which resulted in the finding that thefruit has anti-inflammatory properties similar to commercially available drugs like ibuprofen and aspirin. The study found that the inhibition rate in Ajwa was equal to existing commercial

Sir Muhammad Iqbal (9th November 1877 - 21st April 1938) also known as Allama (Scholar of Highest Rank) Iqbal was a philosopher, poet, politician, and a social reformist. He is widely acclaimed to have inspired millions of Muslims to demand a separate homeland from the British Empire in India. Religious scholar and Sufi Master, Iqbal’s literary works in Urdu and Persian are largely based on teachings of the Holy Quran.  He propagated self-respect and self-realization and reiterated the need t

The supermarket may contain everything under one roof, but if you spend a little time comparing prices, you will find that local shops carry items of the same, or better quality, and at better prices. You're also assured of freshness if you go to the market. Where does your monthly salary go? Do you allocate a certain amount to be spent on the house, or is it a case of buying things as you need? Did you know that there are huge savings to be had from maintaining a budget, and not just in term

On one end, we have big brand names, big MNCs, big turn overs, big employment generators and what not. But on the other hand their greed has led them to earn profit by exploiting the resources of the country by bribing the governments. These companies are filthy rich but the greed to earn more and more money does not die. Ethics in business has only become a matter of discussion on in class rooms. The million dollar question is, when will it become a reality? Tata Motors’ Nano plant at Sanand

(In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.) Bismillah – The First Verse of the Quran (Mushaf) “Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim” is the first verse of the first chapter (Surah Al-Fatihah) of the Quran. The fact that the word of Allah, the Quran, starts with this first verse, alone signifies the importance of this verse and further emphasizes the need to start all our tasks in the name of Allah (God). Amongst the many benefits that Sheikh Modudi states in his Qurani

Praful Bidwai "Modi moves centre-stage!" "Modi storms in as the BJP’s PM candidate." "It's Narendra Modi vs Rahul Gandhi!" "Modi wants to serve the nation" (read, become prime minister). Thus scream the headlines in leading Indian publications and TV channels. At work is a systematic corporate blitzkrieg to build up Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as a messiah of ‘development’ and ‘dynamism’, who is destined to lead India. This replicates the Big Business’s pitch for Atal Bihari Vajpa

These verses from the Quran sketch the Profile of a Muslim (Mu’min). Success for a Muslim doesn’t automatically follow belief. It requires fulfillment of certain conditions.  1. Successful indeed are the believers. 2. Those who offer their Salat (prayers) with all solemnity and full submissiveness. 3. And those who turn away from Al-Laghw (dirty, false, evil vain talk, falsehood, and all that Allah has forbidden). 4. And those who pay the Zakat. 5. And those who guard

Islam has enjoined upon the husband duties towards his wife, and vice versa, and among these duties are some which are shared by both husband and wife. We will mention – by the help of Allaah – some of the texts of the Qur’aan and Sunnah which have to do with the duties of the spouses towards one another, quoting also from the commentaries and views of the scholars. Firstly: The rights of the wife which are hers alone: The wife has financial rights over her husband, whi

You can try your best to keep the flu away, but you end up with a runny nose anyway. With the onset of the flu season, it's time to stock up on food and drinks that can keep you healthy. Here are some of the best immunity-boosting food items, reports huffingtonpost.com: Broth-based soup: Chicken noodle soup can actually help soothe a cold. The chicken contains an amino acid called cysteine, which helps thin mucus in the lungs, and the hot broth helps to keep nasal passages moist, prevent dehy