Blog Archives
The Procrastination Doom Loop—and How to Break It
Source: theatlantic.com
By: Derek Thompson
When I woke up this morning, I had one goal: Finish this article by 11 a.m.
So, predictably, by the time it was 10 a.m., I had made and consumed two cups of coffee, taken out the trash, cleaned my room while taking a deliberately slow approach to folding my shirts, gone on a walk outside to clear my head, had a thing of yogurt and fruit to reward the physical exertion, sent an email to my aunt and sister, read about 100 Tweets (favorited three; written and deleted one), despaired at my lack of progress, comforted myself by eating a second breakfast, opened several tabs from ESPN.com on my browser … and written absolutely nothing.
What’s the matter with me?* Nothing, according to research that conveniently justifies this sort of behavior to my editors. Or, at least, nothing out of the ordinary for writers, as Megan McArdle has explained on this site. I’m just a terrible procrastinator.
AskZeyara: “How do I break up with my Girlfriend??” (Video)
“Here is a Question and Answer video replying to some of your questions with my friend Wesam . I also talk about the Inspiration series.“
Why Deporting Central American Children Might Break The Law (Video)
By the end of this year, between 60,000 and 90,000 Central American children will be at the U.S.-Mexico border, many of them seeking asylum. These child migrants have sparked pro- and anti-immigration protests around the country. So what obligations does the U.S. have toward them? Dr. Barbara Harrell-Bond, OBE, a foremost name in global refugee movements and rights and the founder of the co-founder of Oxford University’s Refugee Studies Center, talks to AJ+.
Mufti Ismail Menk: Non Muslim confirmed benefits of fasting (Video)
Fasting is a unique moral and spiritual characteristic of Islam. Literally defined, fasting means to abstain “completely” from foods, drinks, intimate intercourse and smoking, before the break of the dawn till sunset. But if we restrict the meaning of the Islamic Fasting to this literal sense, we would be sadly mistaken.
10 Tips for Maintaining Your Health After Ramadan
By: Nadine Kamal
Source: http://productivemuslim.com/
Every year, the Holy month of Ramadan provides us with the opportunity to eliminate unhealthy eating patterns and gives our overburdened digestive systems a much needed break. During this sacred month, the rituals of fasting, night prayer and reading the Holy Qur’an on a daily basis can have a transformational effect on our overall sense of well-being and contentment.
However, now that the blessed month of Ramadan has passed and the Eid ul-Fitr festivities are over, here are 10 tips for maintaining the incredible health benefits and habits that you worked so hard to gain in Ramadan.
10 Tips to Fight Depression
Source: http://islamgreatreligion.wordpress.com
Assalam O Alaykum,
I would like to share this article,which is very usefull for everyone.
Well,from last few days,i’m xtrmly depressed,so,I was looking for some solution.and i found this article.
Feeling down in the dumps, depressed, having the blues: these are just some of the terms used to describe a feeling of hopelessness and despair that can hit even the most optimistic of us at some point in our lives. While clinical depression requires proper professional treatment, the occasional feeling of sadness due to factors ranging from economic difficulty to harassment and discrimination can be helped through some simple spiritual practices. Here are a couple that can help:
1. Look at those below you
The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, 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” (Bukhari, Muslim). If you are reading this article online, consider this: you are one of the lucky set of human beings on the planet who can afford a computer and internet connection or at least have access to one. The United Nations Development Program’s 2007 Human Development Report notes that there are still around 1 billion people living worldwide at the margins of survival on less than $1 a day, with 2.6 billion living on less than $2 a day. Also consider that in the Quran (14:7), God says that if you are thankful to Him for what you have, He blesses you with more.
2. Serve your fellow human beings
The best way to thank God is to serve humanity, especially those who have less than you. Serving others is uplifting and rewarding. It helps us gain a better perspective on life’s challenges, making us realize how very often, are problems seem so small compared to the awesome difficulties others face. That’s why when the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, and the Muslims were a small, poor and persecuted community, they used to give to the poor even more. They understood that when you are generous when you have less, you achieve the perspective of a winner. You are focused on the bigger picture.
3. Read Surah Ad Duha
According to one report, after the Prophet had begun receiving revelation from God, at one point a long period of time passed with no such communication from Allah. As a result, the Makkans ridiculed the Prophet and he became severely depressed. That’s when this chapter was revealed (Quran 93: 1-11). The chapter is a beautiful reminder to us to see life in the greater scheme of things, to be grateful for what we have and to never give up striving for what is right. This chapter of the Quran can be considered a direct recipe from God for depression.
4. Turn to God in all situations
Remember that nothing can harm you without the consent of God. While you must take care of yourself, rely on God and know that He is always with you and only He can give you strength in difficult times. Also remember that He will help you can come out of a trying situation as a better person if you deal with it positively.
5. Remember God’s Names
God has many beautiful Names which describe His attributes and powers. These are reminders of His Love, Mercy, Forgiveness, Justice, Strength and much, more. Supplicating to God using these Names reminds us that God has these attributes more than any other being and that we can and must rely on Him during good and bad times.
Apartheid Explained (Video)
Nelson Mandela is remembered for his legacy in fighting apartheid and helping South Africa seek healing and forgiveness. But what exactly was apartheid? We break down its roots and what it was like for South Africans living under the discriminatory policies.
What Are the Inner Dimensions of Fasting?
Source: http://www.onislam.net/
By: Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali
It should be known that there are three grades of fasting: ordinary, special and extra-special.
Ordinary fasting means abstaining from food, drink and sexual satisfaction.
Special fasting means keeping one’s ears, eyes, tongue, hands and feet-and all other organs-free from sin.
Extra-special fasting means fasting of the heart from unworthy concerns and worldly thoughts, in total disregard of everything but God.
See Not What Displeases God
| The Treasures of Ramadan
– Are We Patient Enough in Ramadan? – Last Ten Nights of Ramadan: Don’t Miss – How to Optimally Benefit From Ramadan |
A chaste regard, restrained from viewing anything that is blameworthy or reprehensible, or which distracts the heart and diverts it from the remembrance of God. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
“The furtive glance is one of the poisoned arrows of Satan, on him be God’s curse. Whoever forsakes it for fear of God, will receive from Him, great and gracious is He, a faith the sweetness of which he will find within his heart.” (Al-Mundhiri)
Jabir relates from Anas that Prophet Muhammad said:
“Five things break a man’s fast: lying, backbiting, scandal mongering, perjury and a lustful gaze.” (Al-Albani)
Speak No Evil
Guarding one’s tongue from twaddle, lying, backbiting, scandal mongering, obscenity, rudeness, wrangling and controversy; making it observe silence and occupying it with remembrance of God and with recitation of the Quran.
The Prophet said:“Fasting is a shield; so when one of you is fasting he should not use foul or foolish talk. If someone attacks him or insults him, let him say: “I am fasting, I am fasting!” (Muslim)
Hear No Evil
Closing one’s ears to everything reprehensible; for everything unlawful to utter is likewise unlawful to listen to. That is why God equated the eavesdropper with the profiteer “(They like to) listen to falsehood, to devour anything forbidden:
{Listeners to calumny and consumers of unlawful gain. If they come to you, then judge between them or turn away from them. If you turn away from them, they cannot harm you at all; and if you judge, then judge justly between them; God loves the just.} (Al-Maidah 5: 42)
Do No Evil
“It is meaningless to fast, to abstain from lawful food, only to break one’s Fast on what is unlawful“
Keeping all limbs and organs away from sin: keeping the hands and feet from reprehensible deeds, and the stomach from questionable food at the time for breaking fast.
It is meaningless to fast, to abstain from lawful food, only to break one’s Fast on what is unlawful.
The object of Fasting is to induce moderation. The Prophet said:
“How many of those who fast, get nothing from it but hunger and thirst!” (Al-Albani)
Avoid Overeating
Of what use is the fast as a means of conquering God’s enemy and abating appetite, if at the time of breaking it not only makes up for all one has missed during the daytime, but perhaps also indulges in a variety of extra food?
It has even become the custom to stock up for Ramadan with all kinds of foodstuffs, so that more is consumed during that time than in the course of several other months put together.
It is well known that the object of fasting is to experience hunger and to check desire, in order to reinforce the soul in piety.
If the stomach is starved from early morning till evening, so that its appetite is aroused and its craving intensified, and it is then offered delicacies and allowed to eat its fill, its taste for pleasure is increased and its force exaggerated; passions are activated which would have lain dormant under normal conditions.
It is therefore essential to cut down one’s intake of what one would consume on a normal night, when not fasting. No benefit is derived from the fast if one consumes as much as he or she would usually take during the day and night combined.
Look to God with Fear and Hope
After the fast has been broken, the heart should swing like a pendulum between fear and hope. For one does not know if one’s fast will be accepted, so that one will find favor with God, or whether it will be rejected, leaving one among those He abhors. This is how one should be at the end of any act of worship one performs.
Syrian refugees are suffering in Ramadan (Video)
Source: http://www.aljazeera.com/
Syrian refugees across the Middle East are having to spend another Ramadan away from the festivities and extravagant meals associated with the month.
Many say they feel abandoned during a month when Muslims are meant to remember the less fortunate.
At one camp in Lebanon, charities are only able to provide meals for families to break their fasts every other day.
Al Jazeera’s Rula Amin reports from Sabra refugee camp just outside of Beirut.
PASS THE KNOWLEDGE (LIGHT & LIFE) 