ISLAM

Prostration on the ground the solution

Modern day problem of electromagnetic waves:

Our body receives a huge amount of electromagnetic waves daily from electrical equipment which have become indispensable part of our lives. These also include equipment such as street lights over which we have no control. As result we are charged with electromagnetic waves round the clock causing problems such as headache, feeling of uncomfortable, laziness and at times pain. The question is how we overcome this inevitable modern day problem. A non Muslim scientist in Europe who had done extensive research into this issue concluded that the best way to remove the positive electromagneticcharge which hurts the body is by placing the forehead on the ground. This helps discharge the harmful positive electromagnetic charges.

In fact this is somewhat similar to the grounding of the buildings where any positive electromagnetic signals such as thunder discharged through the ground. According to this research and findings the best way to put the forehead on the ground is by positioning to the centre of the earth.

Thus the prostration in prayer is not only regarded as the best way to discharge harmful electromagnetic signals from the body, but also the ideal way to get close to Almighty who created the universe. During the daily prayers Muslims throughout the world prostrate. However so far they did not know by doing so they were discharging electromagnetic waves. Thus they were not aware of this benefit. They prostrated only to obey the Almighty as they believe that there is always some wisdom behind what was told by the creator.

Meanwhile explaining the benefits of prostration Kalabooshanam M Y M Meeadh writes; the pineal gland in the brain plays an important part in directional sense. Damage to the pineal gland causes defective sense of direction, perhaps by altering the intrinsic intracranial electro-magneticenvironment and thus affecting the magnetic response mechanism. Mosque signifies a place of prostration and prayer in Islam comprises certain bodily positions.

Prostration, is the culminating point of complete submission to Allah. Prostration is an act of humility symbolizing total abandonment of oneself to the will of Allah. All the Prophets of the past prostrated. The Quran says, “Whatever beings there are in the heavens and in the earth, do prostrate themselves to Allah.” (Q. 13:15) Man becomes nearer to Allah’s attributes when he constantly strives for perfection. “It is not your wealth, nor your children that shall bring you nearer unto us.” (34:37) Imam Gazzali says: “There are qualities which will draw a man near God. They include Spiritual knowledge of duties, Self control 4 and Justice. We prostrate in the direction of the Qibla, Makka, which is the spiritual compass of the Muslim world. The central region of the earth encompasses Macca, the centre of the Muslim world and the point where for Muslims; the heavenly axis touches the terrestrial plane. Makka is also called themother of cities (Ummul Qurah) in the Holy Quran and in the popular literature the navel of the earth.

The Kaa’bah is now not only placed in the centre of the earth, but it also forms the central point of the whole universe. It is difficult to determine the real nature of the black stone (Hajar al Aswad) of the Ka’abah whether it was originally a meteorite or not, and if so, whether any electromagnetic waves are emitted from it in a radial direction. The pineal gland in the brain is also called the third eye. It plays an important part in directional sense. Damage to the pineal gland causes defective sense of direction, perhaps by altering the intrinsicintracranial electro-magnetic environment and thus affecting the magnetic response mechanism. There is a high concentration of magnetic (a magnetic oxide of iron) in man, in the bones of the base of the skull.

The billions of red blood cells circulating in the body contain iron, and could form a magnetic flux. It has not been worked out as to what effects these iron containing red blood cells produce when they come near the base of the brain and in turn, normalize the sense of direction through a neutral or numeral path way the pineal gland. Added to this, by putting our forehead to the ground during prostration, Sajda,so many times daily, it is not impossible to imagine that some electro magnetic waves radiating from the Kaa’ba through the earth would reach the pineal gland of the prostrated person and help to straighten the sense of direction (Sirathul Musthaqeem).

It is likely that the uprightness of a practicing Muslim is the result of the normalization of this sense of direction by the electro-magnetic waves radiating from Hajar al-Aswadthrough the earth to the pineal gland during prostration. Allah commands you to ‘Proclaim the Lord’s praise in the night and after the (prescribed) prostrations.” (Q. 50:40). There are those who spend the night in adoration of their Lord, prostrating and standing.” (25:64 ) Prophet Muhammad (Sal) said: “A man becomes near God at the time ofprostration.” Nearness to God does not mean nearness of place but nearness to the attribution of Allah.

Courtesy: This article is based on the research by

Dr. Ebrahim Kazim

Compassion and kindness to women

The Compassion and Kindness shown to women by Allah and the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was particularly remarkable that He also granted them various concessions in regard to many religious injunctions. He elevated their status and was gravely concerned about guarding them against everydegree of adversity.

He ruled that the rewards of their modest religious endeavors were equivalent to the rewards of tremendous efforts and sacrifices made by men. Just as Allah created women as delicate beings, at the same time He placed their responsibility onto the shoulders of men. Men are constrained to earn a livelihood and to feed and clothe them.

In addition to this, they have been instructed to approach them with compassion and kindness, prohibiting them from being harsh towards women. The women too have been gifted by Allah with a tender heart and He instilled within them overwhelming sentiments of love and affection. He commanded them to actcompassionately and kindly towards their womenfolk.

Rights of wives and leniency and kindness towards them. Hadhrat Jabir, RA, reports that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) instructed during his farewell Haj at Arafât that “O people! Fear Allâh in regard to your wives. You have taken them in marriage under Allah’s protection.” In spite of their leadership over women, this Hadith cautions men not to exercise this superiority without due concern and they should fear the reckoning of Allah.

They should fear and be aware of the fact that Allah is a party between them and their wives because it was His commandments and permission that rendered them lawful for men and it is through His orderthat they have entered into marriage with them.

Hence they are under Allah’s protection and His refuge is always available to them. If the husbands are cruel and maltreat them, they will be guilty of breaching the trust they contracted with Allah. What a majestic honor for women and how severe is the warning for their guardian husbands in a sense that they should bear in mind that women are under the divine protection of Allah.

An Important Admonition in Prophet Muhammad said in His farewell message that “takes heed of my farewell advice in regard to doing good towards women.” Just reflect over the fact that doing well towards everyone is imperative but Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) stressed upon good behavior to women in particular.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “From amongst the believers, the one who has the most perfect Iman, faith, is he who conducts himself and deals with everybody excellently, and he who deals with love and mercy particularly towards his wife.”

He also said that “amongst the believers, the one who has the most perfect faith is he who has good character and the best amongst you are those whoare the best with their wives.”

For the benefit of those believers He portrayed the following example to enhance the effectiveness of his injunctions. He said: “And I am the best towards my wives.” In another Hadith, it has been reported: “If women dies in a condition that her husband is pleased with her, she will enter paradise.” In another Hadith, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) instructed to spend as much as possible on house folk.”

Reflect over the extent of encouragement extended to spend upon women. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “domestic chores within the house raise the status of a woman to the level of those who wage Jihad. Insha Allâh.” How great a bounty this is! In another Hadith, Prophet Muhammad(PBUH) stated that: “Helping the wives in their domestic activities entitles men to the reward of Sadaqah (charity).”

What lengths of encouragement have been extended for the comfort of women?Further, in another Prophet Muhammad stated: “The woman who performs her five daily prayers, observes fasting during the month of Ramadhân, guards her chastity and obeys her husband, may enter paradise from whichever door she pleases (in other words, all eight doors of paradise will be opened forher).”

This implies that if she is mindful of the compulsory injunctions of religion, there is no need for her to toil hard in pursuing taxing exercises of worship.

This little effort will earn her the same ranks asthose who perform exerting acts of worship. These are amongst the bounties of the Creator.

Trials and tribulations - Soul’s Burden

Trials and tribulations are a part of life. We do not like them; we do not like to go through them; but eventually we accept them. Even if we pray, fast, pay our compulsory charity and do all different forms of good deeds we are still tested. Sadness sometimes fills our hearts. We could be the best of practicing

Muslims, yet poor and unable to put food on our table. We could be rich yet lonely, or young yet unhealthy. It is in these instances that shaytan starts toying with our head. We look at what othershave and our core gets rattled.

The shaytan ignites a fire that gets our blood boiling, hopelessness and frustration set in, and we ask “Oh Allah, why me?! Why am I being punished?” Psychologists tell us that human beings go through five stages of emotion when struck with a calamity.

Understanding the different stages of grief minimizes the first four stages (which are denial, anger, bargaining and depression) and gets us to the final stage - which is acceptance. I went through these stages on many different occasions, as I am sure you have.

I am not a psychologist nor am I trying to refute the works of psychology, but I would nonetheless like to offer a different view, a Qur’anic view, on how to deal with life’s trials. Though we do not have a say in when we are born nor in when we die, life has a clear beginning and a clear end. What is sometimes unclear is the journey between the two points. For Muslims, however, the journey could not be any clearer. Allah says in Surat Adh-Dhariyat:”And I (Allah) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone)” (Qur’an, 51:56). Now think back to the first paragraph of this article. You might think to yourself, “I pray five times a day, I fast during Ramadan and pay my zakat, yet I have an ill child, or still can’t find a job, or this stressor or that.” You begin to wonder why you are going through this and why you are being “punished.” Before you know it, shaytan takes the helm and you are on a slippery slope of anger and denial. Before falling down that slope, one must take a deep breath and ponder the following question: is it punishment or is it a manifestation of what Allah has told us in Surat Al-Ankabut:”Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: “We believe,” and will not be tested?” (Qur’an, 29:2)Allah tells us that through this journey we call life we will be tested. In Surat Al-Baqarah, He says:”And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits…” (Qur’an, 2:155)Tribulations are a part of life but that doesn’t make them easy. We still grieve - but how could we not? We are, after all, a very emotional creation. So how does one cope with adversity? There are many verses in the Qur’an that talk about different mechanisms of coping such as patience, faith, prayer and acceptance. But what I find the most profound and the most comforting is what Allah says in Surat Al-Baqarah: “Allah does not burden a soul beyond that it can bear…” (Qur’an, 2:286). If you stand back and take a look at the whole picture, you will realizethat what you have when faced with a tragedy is a choice. Will you go through the stages of grief, denying Allah’s destiny and the wisdom of His plan for you? Or will you realize that what you are going through is something you know you can handle? Whatever trial comes your way is something that Allah has planned and which He has guaranteed you can handle. This verse is comforting because I, as a faithful Muslim who believes in Allah and His wisdom, know deep in my heart that although the sadness is cumbersome it will not be overwhelming;that although the times might be tough, I am tougher; and that whatever comes my way will go away; and that eventually I will face my Lord whom, I hope, will be pleased with me as I am pleased with Him.

So when you go through a difficult situation, be it the inevitable death ofa loved one or the loss of a job or just a flat tire on the side of the highway, take a deep breath and say: “Say: ‘Nothing shall ever happen to us except what Allah has ordained forus…’” (9:51).