Swine Flu: Prevention & Treatment

Prevention & Treatment

What can I do to protect myself from getting sick?
There is no vaccine available right now to protect against novel H1N1 virus. However, a novel H1N1 vaccine is currently in production and may be ready for the public in the fall. As always, a vaccine will be available to protect against seasonal influenza
There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza.

Take these everyday steps to protect your health:

* Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
* Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.
* Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
* Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
* If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.) Keep away from others as much as possible to keep from making others sick.

Other important actions that you can take are:

* Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.
* Be prepared in case you get sick and need to stay home for a week or so; a supply of over-the-counter medicines, alcohol-based hand rubs,tissues and other related items might could be useful and help avoid the need to make trips out in public while you are sick and contagious

What is the best way to keep from spreading the virus through coughing or sneezing?
If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)
Keep away from others as much as possible. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. Put your used tissue in the waste basket. Then, clean your hands, and do so every time you cough or sneeze.

If I have a family member at home who is sick with novel H1N1 flu, should I go to work?
Employees who are well but who have an ill family member at home with novel H1N1 flu can go to work as usual. These employees should monitor their health every day, and take everyday precautions including washing their hands often with soap and water, especially after they cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.* If they become ill, they should notify their supervisor and stay home. Employees who have an underlying medical condition or who are pregnant should call their health care provider for advice, because they might need to receive influenza antiviral drugs to prevent illness. For more information please see General Business and Workplace Guidance for the Prevention of Novel Influenza A (H1N1) Flu in Workers.

What is the best technique for washing my hands to avoid getting the flu?
Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. Wash with soap and water or clean with alcohol-based hand cleaner. CDC recommends that when you wash your hands -- with soap and warm water -- that you wash for 15 to 20 seconds. When soap and water are not available, alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers may be used. You can find them in most supermarkets and drugstores. If using gel, rub your hands until the gel is dry. The gel doesn't need water to work; the alcohol in it kills the germs on your hands.

What should I do if I get sick?
If you live in areas where people have been identified with novel H1N1 flu and become ill with influenza-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people. CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.) Stay away from others as much as possible to keep from making others sick.Staying at home means that you should not leave your home except to seek medical care. This means avoiding normal activities, including work, school, travel, shopping, social events, and public gatherings.

If you have severe illness or you are at high risk for flu complications, contact your health care provider or seek medical care. Your health care provider will determine whether flu testing or treatment is needed.

If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs, seek emergency medical care.

In children, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

* Fast breathing or trouble breathing
* Bluish or gray skin color
* Not drinking enough fluids
* Severe or persistent vomiting
* Not waking up or not interacting
* Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
* Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

* Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
* Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
* Sudden dizziness
* Confusion
* Severe or persistent vomiting
* Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

Are there medicines to treat novel H1N1 infection?
Yes. CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with novel H1N1 flu virus. Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaled powder) that fight against the flu by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in your body. If you get sick, antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and make you feel better faster. They may also prevent serious flu complications. During the current pandemic, the priority use for influenza antiviral drugs during is to treat severe influenza illness (for example hospitalized patients) and people who are sick who have a condition that places them at high risk for serious flu-related complications.

What is CDC’s recommendation regarding "swine flu parties"?
"Swine flu parties" are gatherings during which people have close contact with a person who has novel H1N1 flu in order to become infected with the virus. The intent of these parties is for a person to become infected with what for many people has been a mild disease, in the hope of having natural immunity novel H1N1 flu virus that might circulate later and cause more severe disease.

CDC does not recommend "swine flu parties" as a way to protect against novel H1N1 flu in the future. While the disease seen in the current novel H1N1 flu outbreak has been mild for many people, it has been severe and even fatal for others. There is no way to predict with certainty what the outcome will be for an individual or, equally important, for others to whom the intentionally infected person may spread the virus.

CDC recommends that people with novel H1N1 flu avoid contact with others as much as possible. If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.) Stay away from others as much as possible to keep from making others sick.

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Swine Flu

What is novel H1N1 (swine flu)?
Novel H1N1 (referred to as “swine flu” early on) is a new influenza virus causing illness in people. This new virus was first detected in people in the United States in April 2009. This virus is spreading from person-to-person worldwide, probably in much the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread. On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) signaled that a pandemic of novel H1N1 flu was underway.

Why is novel H1N1 virus sometimes called “swine flu”?
This virus was originally referred to as “swine flu” because laboratory testing showed that many of the genes in this new virus were very similar to influenza viruses that normally occur in pigs (swine) in North America. But further study has shown that this new virus is very different from what normally circulates in North American pigs. It has two genes from flu viruses that normally circulate in pigs in Europe and Asia and bird (avian) genes and human genes. Scientists call this a "quadruple reassortant" virus.

Are there human infections with novel H1N1 virus in the U.S.?
Yes. Human infections with the new H1N1 virus are ongoing in the United States. Most people who have become ill with this new virus have recovered without requiring medical treatment.

CDC routinely works with states to collect, compile and analyze information about influenza, and has done the same for the new H1N1 virus since the beginning of the outbreak. This information is presented in a weekly report, called FluView.

Is novel H1N1 virus contagious?
CDC ( Centers for disease control & prevention ) has determined that novel H1N1 virus is contagious and is spreading from human to human.

How does novel H1N1 virus spread?
Spread of novel H1N1 virus is thought to occur in the same way that seasonal flu spreads. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing by people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something – such as a surface or object – with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

What are the signs and symptoms of this virus in people?
The symptoms of novel H1N1 flu virus in people include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A significant number of people who have been infected with this virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting. Severe illnesses and death has occurred as a result of illness associated with this virus.

How severe is illness associated with novel H1N1 flu virus?
Illness with the new H1N1 virus has ranged from mild to severe. While most people who have been sick have recovered without needing medical treatment, hospitalizations and deaths from infection with this virus have occurred.

In seasonal flu, certain people are at “high risk” of serious complications. This includes people 65 years and older, children younger than five years old, pregnant women, and people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions. About 70 percent of people who have been hospitalized with this novel H1N1 virus have had one or more medical conditions previously recognized as placing people at “high risk” of serious seasonal flu-related complications. This includes pregnancy, diabetes, heart disease, asthma and kidney disease.

One thing that appears to be different from seasonal influenza is that adults older than 64 years do not yet appear to be at increased risk of novel H1N1-related complications thus far. CDC laboratory studies have shown that children and few adults younger than 60 years old do not have existing antibody to novel H1N1 flu virus; however, about one-third of adults older than 60 may have antibodies against this virus. It is unknown how much, if any, protection may be afforded against novel H1N1 flu by any existing antibody.

How does novel H1N1 flu compare to seasonal flu in terms of its severity and infection rates?
With seasonal flu, we know that seasons vary in terms of timing, duration and severity. Seasonal influenza can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. Each year, in the United States, on average 36,000 people die from flu-related complications and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu-related causes. Of those hospitalized, 20,000 are children younger than 5 years old. Over 90% of deaths and about 60 percent of hospitalization occur in people older than 65.

When the novel H1N1 outbreak was first detected in mid-April 2009, CDC began working with states to collect, compile and analyze information regarding the novel H1N1 flu outbreak, including the numbers of confirmed and probable cases and the ages of these people. The information analyzed by CDC supports the conclusion that novel H1N1 flu has caused greater disease burden in people younger than 25 years of age than older people. At this time, there are few cases and few deaths reported in people older than 64 years old, which is unusual when compared with seasonal flu. However, pregnancy and other previously recognized high risk medical conditions from seasonal influenza appear to be associated with increased risk of complications from this novel H1N1. These underlying conditions include asthma, diabetes, suppressed immune systems, heart disease, kidney disease, neurocognitive and neuromuscular disorders and pregnancy.

How long can an infected person spread this virus to others?
People infected with seasonal and novel H1N1 flu shed virus and may be able to infect others from 1 day before getting sick to 5 to 7 days after. This can be longer in some people, especially children and people with weakened immune systems and in people infected with the new H1N1 virus.

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The whole gathering accepted Islam

One day Hadhrat Bayazid Bastami rahmatullah alayhi while in meditation, saw himself in a synagogue dressed as a Jew. At first he was confused, but when he kept on seeing the same vision over and over again, he decided to enact it. So, he dressed himself as a Jew and went to their synagogue.

When the Jews and their scholars were present, their chief Rabbi stood up to speak. But when he stood up, his tongue became stuck and he could not talk. After he had been standing quietly for some time, the Jews started to complain. The Rabbi said, "In this gathering there is a follower of the Prophet Muhammed (sallalahu alayhi wassalam) and I cannot speak because he has come to examine us."

On hearing this, their anger raged like wildfire and they asked the Rabbi to give them permission to kill this follower of the Prophet Muhammad (sallalahu alayhi wassalam). The Rabbi replied, "He cannot be killed without proof, so we must talk to him peacefully and respectfully and then we can decide."

The Rabbi then said, "Oh follower of Muhammad (sallalahu alayhi wassalam). For the sake of your Prophet please stand up in your place. If you can remove our doubt about Islam then we shall accept Islam, but if you can't, then we shall kill you." On hearing this, Hadhrat Bayazid rahmatullah alayhi stood up and gave permission for them to question him.

Rabbi: What is one and not two?
Bayazid: Allah.

Rabbi: What is two and not three?
Bayazid: Night and day.
[Qur'aan chapter 17 verse 12:
"And we made night and day two examples."]

Rabbi: What is three and not four?
Bayazid: The Throne, Chair, and the Pen of Allah.

Rabbi: What is four and not five?
Bayazid: The Torah, Bible, Psalms, and the Qur'aan.

Rabbi: What is five and not six?
Bayazid: The five compulsory Prayers.

Rabbi: What is six and not seven?
Bayazid: The six days in which the Earth, the sky, and whatever is in between them was created.
[Qur'aan chapter 50 verse 38:
"And we created the Sky and the Earth and whatever is between them in six days"]

Rabbi: What is seven and not eight?
Bayazid: The seven skies.
[Qur'aan chapter 67 verse 3,
"Who created the seven skies layer upon layer!"]

Rabbi: What is eight and not nine?
Bayazid: The bearers of the throne of Allah.
[Quraan chapter 69 verse 17:
"And they will lift their Lord's throne on themselves on that day, eight persons. "]

Rabbi: What is nine and not ten?
Bayazid: The villagers of Hadhrat Salih peace be upon him in which the mischief mongers lived.
[Qur'aan chapter 27 Verse 48:
"And in that city there were nine persons who created mischief on the Earth, and they didn't amend. "]

Rabbi: What is ten and not eleven?
Bayazid: The person who performs a minor pilgrimage along with the major one and doesn't have the capacity to sacrifice an animal, he has to keep ten fasts.
[Qur'aan chapter 2 verse 196:
"So keep the three Haj days and seven fasts when you return".]

Rabbi: What is eleven, twelve and thirteen things which Allah has mentioned?
Bayazid: Hadhrat Yusuf had eleven brothers. The twelve months in a year,
[Qur'aan chapter 9 verse 36: "The number of months, with Allah , is twelve months".]
Hadhrat Yusuf saw thirteen things prostrating to him.
[Qur'aan chapter 12 verse 4: "I saw in a dream eleven stars, the sun and the moon, I saw them (for my sake) prostrating (to me)".]

Rabbi: Which is that nation which lied and went in to paradise and which is that nation which said the truth and entered hell?
Bayazid: Hadhrat Yusuf's brothers lied but they went to paradise.
[Qur'aan chapter 12 verse 17: "Oh father! We went out to run and we left Yusuf with our belongings, then he was eaten by the wolf."]
The contradiction between the Christians and the Jews was true but they went to hell.
[Qur'aan chapter 2 verse 113: "And the Jews said that the Christians are not on any path, and the Christians said that the Jews are not on any path, even though they all read the book."]

Rabbi: What is that thing which has no soul nor any connection with breathing, yet it breathes?
Bayazid: It is the dawn, for it has no soul but it still breathes.
[Qur'aan Chapter 81 verse 18: "And the morning, when it breathes."]

Rabbi: What are those fourteen things to which Allah talks with honour?
Bayazid: The seven earths and the seven skies,
[Qur'aan chapter 41 verse 11: Then He said to it and to the Earth, come both of you with happiness or hardly, They said we will come happily.]

Rabbi: Which is that grave which moves the person in it around?
Bayazid: The fish of Hadhrat Yunus alayhi salaam.
[Qur'aan chapter 37 verse 142: "Then the fish took him as a morsel".]


Rabbi: Which is that water which neither came up from the earth nor down from the sky?
Bayazid: The water which Hadhrat Sulaiman alayhi salaam sent to Bilqis, Queen of Sheeba, for it was the sweat of a horse.


Rabbi: What are those four things which had no father nor were born from a mother's stomach?
Bayazid: The sheep of Hadhrat Ismail, the she camel of Hadhrat Salih, Hadhrat Adam and our mother Eve alayhi salaam.

Rabbi: Whose blood flowed first on the Earth?
Bayazid: It was Habil's (Abel) when Qabil (Cain) killed him.

Rabbi: What is that thing which Allah created and then bought?
Bayazid: A believers soul.
[Qur'aan chapter 9 verse 11: "Allah bought from the Muslim's their souls."]

Rabbi: What is that voice which Allah created and then spoke ill of?
Bayazid: The donkey's voice.
[Qur'aan chapter 31 verse 19: "Without doubt the worse voice is of a donkey."]

Rabbi: What is that creation that Allah created and from it's greatness created fear?
Bayazid: Women's scheming.
[Qur'aan chapter 12 verse 28: "Truly, mighty is your scheming."

Rabbi: What is that thing that Allah created and then asked about?
Bayazid: The staff of Hadhrat Musa.
[Qur'aan Chapter 20 verse 17: "And what is that in your right hand, Oh Musa? He said "This is my staff."]

Rabbi: Who are the most pious of the women and what are the blessed rivers?
Bayazid: The most pious women are Hadhrat Eve, Hadhrat Khadija, Hazart Aisha and Hadhrat Fatima. The most blessed rivers are the Oxus, Simwon, Tigris, Euphrates and Nile.

Rabbi: Which is the most blessed mountain and the most blessed animal?
Bayazid: Mount Toor in Makkah and the horse.

Rabbi: Which is the best of all months and the best of all nights?
Bayazid: The month of Ramdhan and the Night of Power.
[Qur'aan Chapter 2 verse 185: "The month of Ramdhan in which the Qur'aan was revealed."
Qur'aan chapter 97 verse 3: "The night of power is better than a thousand months."]

Rabbi: There is a tree which has twelve twigs, each twig has thirty leaves, and each leaf has five fruits, two in the sun and three in the shade. What is the meaning of this tree?
Bayazid: The tree means one year, the twigs mean the twelve months, the leaves represent the thirty days, and the fruits are the daily prayers, two of which are prayed in the day and the remaining three which are prayed at dawn, at dusk, and in the night time.

Rabbi: What is that thing that circled around the Ka'abah in Makkah even though it had no soul?
Bayazid: The boat of Hadhrat Nuh alayhi salaam. In the time of the flood it arrived in Arabia and circled around the Ka'abah.

Rabbi: How many prophets did Allah send as Messengers?
Bayazid: Only Allah knows, but in narrations it is said that Allah created 126,000 prophets from which 313 were Messengers.

Rabbi: What are those four things whose roots are one but their colours and tastes are different?
Bayazid: Eyes, ears, mouth and nose.
The wetness of the eye are sour, the wetness of the ears is acid, that of the noses is also acid and the wetness of the mouth is sweet.

Rabbi: What is the voice of the donkey called?
Bayazid: It is the curse on the tax takers.

Rabbi: What is the voice of the dog called?
Bayazid: Doom on the dwellers of Hell by the anger of Allah.

Rabbi: What is the remembrance of the ox?
Bayazid: SubhanAllah wa bihamdihi, subhanAllah il adheem.

Rabbi: What is the remembrance of the camel?
Bayazid: HasbunAllahu wa ni'mal wakeel.

Rabbi: What is the remembrance of the peacock?
Bayazid: Huwal wadud, dhul 'arsh il-adheem.

Rabbi: What is the beautiful recitation of the nightingale?
Bayazid: So remember the pure Allah when it is morning and evening.

Rabbi: What is that thing which Allah sent revelation on, but it was not human, Jinn or Angel?
Bayazid: The honey bee.
[Qur'aan chapter 16 verse 68:
"And your lord gave order to the honey bee."]


After this the Rabbi couldn't ask any more questions and became quiet. Hadhrat Bayazid rahmatullah alayhi said, "Now you give me the answer to my one question. What is the key to paradise?" The Rabbi replied, "If I give the answer to this question, this gathering will kill me."

The gathering shouted in one voice "We shall not do anything. Now tell us the true answer!"

The Rabbi then said, "Listen! the key to paradise is:

There is no God worthy of worship except Allah and Muhammad peace be upon him is His Messenger!"

On hearing this the whole gathering accepted Islam and Hadhrat Bayazid rahmatullah alayhi returned giving thanks to Allah.

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Islamic Wallpapers -1

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Fasting in Ramadan - Hadees (Hadith)

Hadees (Hadith) on Fasting in Ramazan

Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported: Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: When there comes the month of Ramadan, the gates of mercy are opened, and the gates of Hell are locked and the devils are chained.

Ibn 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with them, reported: Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said in connection with Ramadan: Do not fast till you see the new moon, and do not break Fast till you see it; but if the weather is cloudy, calculate the month to be thirty days.
Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported: Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Observe Fast on sighting the new moon and break it on sighting it. But if (due to cloud) the actual position of the month is concealed from you, you should then count thirty days.

Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported: Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Do not observe Fast for a day or two days ahead of Ramadan except a person who is in the habit of observing a particular Fast; he may fast on that day.

Umm Salamah, Allah be pleased with her, reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) took an oath that he would not go to some of his wives for the whole month. When twenty-nine days had passed he (the Holy Prophet) went to them in the morning or in the evening. Upon this it was said to him: Messenger of Allah, you took an oath that you would not come to us for a month, whereupon he said: The month may also consist of twenty-nine days.

Abu Bakrah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) had said: The two months of 'Id, Ramadan and Dhul-Hijjah, are never incomplete.

'Adi bin Hatim, may Allah be pleased with him, reported: When (this verse) was revealed: until the white thread (light) of dawn appears to you distinct from the black thread (darkness of night) 'Adi bin Hatim said: Messenger of Allah, verily I keep underneath my pillow two strings, one white and the other black, by which I distinguish night from dawn. Upon this the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: Your pillow seems to be very large. For the word string (khait) implies the blackness of the night and the whiteness of the dawn.

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Fasting (Siyaam)

Fasting, or siyaam, has two meanings.

Generally, siyaam or sawm, is derived from the root sama, to restrain from normal things, such as eating, drinking, and talking. If an individual refrains from these things, he is considered saaim, the observer of fast. Al-Qur'an uses the word generally when it revealed the conversation between the angel and Mary, the mother of Jesus, as the angel instructed her:
“...And if you do see any man, say, ‘I have vowed to remain silent for Allah.’ ” (Al-Qur'an 19:26)

The phrase “to remain silent” is the interpretation of the Arabic word, “sawm.” The reason for this interpretation is that “sawm” cannot mean fast, i.e. restraint from food, because Mary had just been told to eat from the palm tree. This general meaning is common in the Arabic language.

In the Shari'ah, Islamic law, the word “sawm” means and im­plies a specific act, that, is, “to worship Allah, abstaining, with intention to please Him from fast breakers, such as physical nourishment, food, drink, and sexual intercourse or a lustful discharge of semen from the period between the break of dawn until sundown.

As this definition implies, the Islamic fasting is total abstinence from any food particles passing through the mouth or nose, as well as drinks of any kind -water, milk, juices, etc. -along with abstinence from sexual association during the day that commences from the break of dawn till sunset.

Although the definition indicates restraining the stomach and private parts, the tongue, eyes, ears and other limbs are equally obligated to be restrained if the faster wants to gain the total rewards of fasting. This is why the Messenger of Allah (saas) has been reported as saying in a hadith by Abu Hurairah:

“He who does not desist from obscene language and act­ing obscenely (during the period of fasting), Allah has no need that he did not eat or drink.” (Bukhari Muslim)

In another hadith by Abu Hurairah (raa), the Prophet (saas) said:
“Fasting is not only to restrain from food and drink, fasting is to refrain from obscene (acts). If someone ver­bally abuses you or acts ignorantly towards you, say (to them) ‘I am fasting; I am fasting.’” (Ibn Khuzaimah)

Indeed, these two reports imply fasting will not be complete until one observes three elements:
1. Restraining the stomach and the private parts from the breakers of the fast - food and drink,

2. Restraining the jawarih, the other body parts, which may render the fast worthless despite the main factors of hunger and thirst; so the tongue, for instance, must avoid backbiting, slan­der, and lies; the eyes should avoid looking into things consid­ered by the Lawgiver as unlawful; the ears must stop from lis­tening to conversations, words, songs, and lyrics that spoil the spirit of fasting; and,

3. restraining of the heart and mind from indulging themselves in other things besides dhikir Allah (remembrance of Allah.)

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The special night - Laylat al-Bara’ah

Laylat al-Bara’ah : The special night

On this auspicious night, you should perform fresh Ghusal and Wudhu and perform the two Rakaat of Tahhiyatul Wudhu. In every Rakaat, after the Suratul Fatiha, you should read Ayatul Kursi once and Surah Ahad 3 times. Also perform eight Rakaats of Salah with four Salaams.In each Rakaat after the Surah Fatiha, you should read the Ayatul Kursi (once) and Surah Ahad fifty times.

Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (Salla Allahu alayhi wa Sallam) has stated: “Verily! Almighty Allah directs His Special Grace on the world on this Night. He forgives my Ummah more than the number of wool that is found on the sheep of the Bani Kalb”. We should remember that in those days the Bani Kalb possessed the most number of sheep that any other tribe.

How great is the Mercy of Almighty Allah on this night that He forgives millions of Muslims. We also realise from this that these numbers can only pertain to the Ahl as-Sunnah Wah Jama’ah collectively, for the righteous followers of the Hanafi, Shafi’i, Maliki and Hanbali indeed number millions of Muslims.

Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (Salla Allahu ta’ala alayhi wa Sallam) said: “Almighty
Allah forgives all Muslims on this night, besides the fortune tellers, the
magicians, the alcoholics, those who disrespect their parents and those
who take part and encourage adultery”.

In another narration, the following people have also been mentioned:

1. One who deals in usury (Riba),

2. One who wears his trousers below his ankle with pride and arrogance )In Arabia, people displayed their wealth and boasted in this manner),

3. One who creates disunity among two Muslims,

4. The person who unjustly takes away the right and property of another Muslim and has not yet rectified himself.

Hadrat Ghawth al-A’zam, Shaykh Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani (radi Allahu anhu) has mentioned in his famous”Gunyat-ut Talibeen” that the month of Shaban according to some narrations is related to Rasoolullah (salla Allahu alayhi wa Sallam). So, it is our duty, as the Ummat of Rasoolullah (Salla Allahu ta’ala alayhi wa Sallam) to love and respect this month more than any other month (besides Ramadan). We should also offer abundantly salutations (Salaat-o-Salaam) upon the Most Beloved Prophet (Salla Allahu ta’ala alayhi wa Sallam).

Also read:

• Shab-e-Baraat : Night of Salvation
• Prayers for Shab-e-Baraat
• Nafil Salaah on Shab-e-Baraat

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Telling the Truth

Once a man came to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and said, “Oh prophet of Almighty God, I have many bad habits. Which one of them should I give up first?” The Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said, “Give up telling lies first and always speak the truth.” The man promised to do so and went home.

At night the man was about to go out to steal. Before setting out, he thought for a moment about the promise he made with the prophet. “If tomorrow the prophet asks me where have I been, what shall I say? Shall I say that I went out stealing? No, I cannot say that. But nor can I lie. If I tell the truth, everyone will start hating me and call me a thief. I would be punished for stealing.”

So the man decided not to steal that night, and gave up this bad habit.

Next day, he felt like drinking wine, when he was about to do so, he said to himself, “What shall I say to the prophet if he asks me what did I do during the day? I cannot tell a lie, and if I speak the truth people will hate me, because a Muslim is not allowed to drink wine.” And so he gave up the idea of drinking wine.

In this way, whenever the man thought of doing something bad, he remembered his promise to tell the truth at all times. One by one, he gave up all his bad habits and became a good Muslim and a very good person.

Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: “No Man can attain a firm faith, unless he develops strength of character and that can not be achieved unless one acquires the habit of speaking truth.”

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COURAGE AND VALOR

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was second to none in Almighty God’s creation, beginning from
Prophet Adam (pbuh) till eternity. He was an excellent example of the noblest manners and merits including courage and bravery. His valor was a byword among his contemporaries, for he stood up gallantly against the heaviest odds, endured pain and injuries a victoriously fought, overcame and showed mercy to the stone hearted infidels of ignorant Arabia. Magnanimity is the finest form of valor and the Prophet excelled in this particular field, forgiving enemies and freeing multitudes from injustice, oppression, and servitude and ignorance.

Some of the glimpses of his many gallant deeds:

He endured pain and sufferings for thirteen long years in Makkah, inviting people to Islam, without once being over-awed by the sheer force and numbers of arrogant Jahiliyya. And all these single handedly without any group or supporters except his few weak but devoted followers.

After migrating to Medina he organized an army to defend against the idolaters and he himself led the faithful in many a battle against overwhelming odds, always coming out victorious. The Battles of Badr, Uhud, Khaibar, Khandaq, Hunayn and the conquest of Makkah were some of the epoch-making events.

His faithful and equally brave cousin Imam Ali (pbuh), who was the standard bearer in several decisive battles and who while defending Islam and the Prophet, sent many obstinate bullies of ignorant Arabia to the eternal fire, describes the Messenger’s bravery as follows:

“You have beheld me on the day of Badr, all of us took refuge with the Prophet (pbuh), and he was the nearest one to the enemy ranks. He was on that day, the bravest of us all.”

Anas bin Malik (RA) , a companion, describes the Prophet as the bravest and the most generous of all men. Anas citing an example say that one night Muslims heard loud noises coming from outside the town. Thinking it to be enemy forces they rushed out to the place from where the noises were coming but to their surprise found the Prophet of Islam at the spot well ahead of them. The incident indicates Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) valor and courage; how he sallied forth in the dark night alone to trace the source of those strange sounds, without once being scared of the enemy or whatever that lurked around.

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