Wednesday, 28 November 2012


Dec 6, '10 8:54 AM
for everyone
  
Dec 6, '10 4:44 AM
for everyone
Useful Tricks For Weight Loss Without Exercise

Losing weight without exercising is possible to a certain degree, but realistically, you should only expect to lose a small percentage of weight this way. Reaching your ultimate weight loss goal will be almost impossible without exercising at least some of the time. Also, you should keep in mind that weight loss is NOT exactly the same as fat loss. Some people can manage to lose a lot of weight in a short time but, the loss may be mostly made up of protein, water and some other nutrients, and only a small amount coming from stored body fat. If this is the case, then most of the weight will probably be regained at a later date!

Use a Food Journal to Record Everything That is Eaten

When someone tries to lose without exercise, her diet needs to be almost perfect. The best way to analyze a diet and be sure how many calories are consumed every day is to keep a food journal. Starting a food journal before the weight loss is even attempted can make it much easier for the person to start out her diet on the right path.

In the food journal everything that is eaten should be written down, no matter how small. Even a single jellybean needs to be recorded in the journal. For the first few days add up the calories and determine the starting point, then adjustments can be made from there. As the diet continues, a food journal should still be kept so that the person stays focused on the diet and keeps the diet clean and healthy.

White Foods Need To Be Replaced By Whole Grains

One of the best ways to lose weight without exercise is by substituting the “white” processed foods in a diet for whole grains. Such things as white bread, white rice, and pasta noodles should be substituted for whole grain bread, brown rice, and whole grain or whole wheat noodles.

The reason why these whole grain foods help people lose weight is because they have a lot of fiber in them and they are not full of processed, empty calories. When an individual consumes more fiber they get full faster and feel full longer, which means ultimately less food is eaten. It may take awhile to get used to the whole grain substitutes but after awhile most people don’t even miss the white foods.
Eat Smaller More Frequent Meals to Lose Weight

Instead of three large meals, try eating five small meals throughout the day or at least three medium size meals with two small snacks. This helps prevent overeating at a meal and helps to keep the metabolism stable throughout the day.

When two or three large meals are eaten in a day, the tendency to overeat due to being overly hungry is very common. Also, when the body goes hungry it slows down the metabolism and if someone is trying to lose weight without exercising, the metabolism needs to be as high as possible. On the other hand, five small meals are eaten every day the body stays fueled all day long and that prevents overeating. These five small meals should be healthy foods that are full of vitamins and nutrients and stay within a person’s allotted calorie range to help them lose weight without exercise.

When it comes to losing weight without exercise, the weight may not come off as fast as most people like it to. If someone is looking to lose weight faster, some sort of physical activity should be added into the day. It doesn’t have to be an intense hour long workout but even taking a 10 minute walk can help increase the weight loss.

Quick Fat Loss Tricks

    * A good fat burning trick is to begin with a breakfast that can help kick-start the fat burning process. Protein rich foods, such as omelettes or even a protein shake can be a great start to the day. Although, you should make sure the portion size is kept small as you won’t want to add unnecessary calories to the diet. Eating high protein foods can increase your metabolism by up to 25%, giving a great boost to results over the first few months of any weight loss program. With correct dietary tricks you won’t need to wait until the workout to start burning the fat!
    * Always try to do some form of exercise in the morning, preferably before breakfast. This is usually a good exercise time to do it because the body’s fat burning is set and readily available. Eating breakfast before exercising provides extra blood sugar which will be used during the exercise period over stored body fat. If you’re too hungry or your blood sugar is low, then maybe a banana would be a good choice as its light in calories and will give just a little sugar to help push you through the exercise session. If morning exercise is out of the question, then try for mid-afternoon.
    * Eat within half hour after exercising. Exercise causes the enzymes that process nutrients to be highly active, thus eating at this stage makes sure all nutrition and energy is utilized for recovery and replenishment purposes and less likely to be stored as fat you’ve just burnt off! This is also a great time to eat your highest calorie meal of the day.
    * Try not to eat late at night. Our metabolism slows down towards bedtime, so eating late means any calories have a greater chance for storage as fat. If you must eat, just snack on fruit or something just as light.
    * If you would like a supplement to boost your fat burning potential then think about taking L-Carnitine. This is an amino acid in protein, especially red meat. It has been shown to push body fat into the cells and prompts it to be burned as fuel. Many competitive bodybuilders use L-Carnitine when cutting up for a show. The supplement is also safe to use by anyone and does not have any side effects. Just follow the directions in the instructions.
Dec 6, '10 4:42 AM
for everyone
Helpful Skin Care Tips 

All the girls will be waiting for that day when their parents are going to allow them wear make up outside their house for the first time ever. This may be the most exiting day for you but with this comes the responsibility of taking care of your skin. When you begin wearing make up, remember that you have to take care of your skin.

One of the most essential elements for beauty enhancement is the healthy skin. So, if you want to look great and gorgeous, make sure that you maintain a flawless, healthy skin. Many teenage girls struggle with acne or pimples because of the changing hormones. So here, we listed out some of the top skin care tips that ensure to bring the best and healthy skin in you.

    * Knowing your skin type is one of the most important skin care tip. This is important because not every skin care product suits everyone. In fact, all the skin care products specify the type of skin they cater too.
    * Drink a lot of water’. This will not keep your skin moist but will help in overall upkeep of your health (and in turn your skin). It might seem a bit awkward to some, however, this is an important skin care tip.
    * Cleanse your skin regularly (1-2 times everyday). A very effective skin care tip that helps in getting rid of the dirt and other harsh elements from your skin. Cleansing is especially important when you have been out of your house (and hence exposed to pollutants, dust etc). This skin care tip also advocates the use of Luke warm water for cleansing (hot and cold water, both, cause damage to your skin)
    * Be gentle, after all it’s your skin. Don’t scrub/exfoliate too hard or too often. Similarly, don’t apply too much or too many skin care products. A must-to-follow skin care tip.
    * Keep your skin moist at all times. This is one of the most important skin care tip. Don’t let your skin get dry. Dryness causes the outer layer of your skin to break, leading to a rough and unattractive appearance. Use moisturisers/ emollients. Moisturisers work best when applied while the skin is still damp.
    * Avoid the use of soap on your face. Soap should only be used from below the neck. A small but important skin care tip.
    * Use sunscreen to protect yourself from sun’s harmful UV radiations. You can use day-time moisturisers that have sunscreen built into them. Use them even when it’s cloudy. UV radiations are known to cause skin cancer, so follow this skin care tip without fail.
    * A bit of exercise and good sleep are essential too, not just for skin care but for your health as a whole. Lack of sleep can lead to formation of wrinkles below your eyes and lack of exercise can cause your skin to slack. Moreover, exercise and sleep also help in beating stress. So besides being a skin care tip, this is also a health care tip.
    * Treat skin dilemmas with care. This skin care tip is about not ignoring any skin dilemmas. Consult your dermatologist before you go on to use a skin care product (lest you do end up harming your skin even more).
    * Beat the stress. The harmful effects of stress are known to everyone, however, sometimes stating the obvious is essential too (and hence this skin care tip found its place here). Yes, stress harms skin too. So, take a break or indulge in a warm bubble bath or just get good sleep.

Dec 6, '10 4:40 AM
for everyone
Helpful Tips on Managing Your Franchise Business


Just like every business, the success or failure of a franchise is very much associated with how well it is managed. Establishing a well-rounded and attentive managing strategy is the key to seeing your business arrangement flourish. So, what advice can be offered to help you find that a suitable management formula?

It all begins with the creation of a management information system (MIS). Many franchises have this within their control panels. The purpose of an MIS is to establish a collection of people, procedures and resources that will aid in effective decision making. For example, you may wish to find out your projected profit over a set period of time. You can then formulate this information by calculating income and expenditure, therefore presenting you with the data you need. This information will tell you what move you need to make next in order to maintain or increase this estimation.

You can also take into consideration the business models that your franchiser has already provided with your franchise. These guidelines will have been stated as a part of your contract and business agreement. This model will outline exactly what your franchiser is expecting from you and how often they want it delivered.

It is also important that you are interacting with your employees on a regular basis. Make sure there are clear and well-informed guidelines available across all areas of human resources. If employees have targets or goals they need to achieve, they are more likely to fully optimize their performance. Also, in establishing a strong and healthy relationship with your workforce, you are ensuring that they will communicate effectively; helping you make those crucial decisions.

Likewise, if you employ many people or deal with lots of stock, you should be looking to co-ordinate and control the operational level within your franchise. The day-to-day activity is just as important to a manager as the technical or strategic elements of decision making.

You will also benefit from conducting an environmental scan of your franchise to highlight its strengths and where it needs to improve. In doing this, you are pin-pointing areas where weaknesses are hindering performance and can therefore combat it effectively. This can then assist in gaining a competitive advantage in whatever market your franchise resides in.

Waste efficiency is another vital part in managing your franchise. In some cases, a waste management scheme will already be in place. Nevertheless, it is imperative that you are making sure your resources are being used to their maximum potential. In the event of anything needing to be discarded, you are doing it in a financially stable and eco-friendly manner.

Make sure your franchise is marketed correctly and effectively. Again, franchisers can offer you resources and examples for marketing or you can devise your own. By acquiring a graphic designer or a photographer you can try and create marketing that not only appears professional, but will correctly portray the ethos of the company. However, be sure not to over-spend on marketing or this will contradict your waste management.

Unfortunately, there is no flawless managing method that will guarantee optimum performance. However, if you are planning, organizing, co-ordinating and controlling effectively within your franchise, then you should expect to be having a positive impact on its management.

Dec 6, '10 4:16 AM
for everyone
Five Basic Daily Facial Skin Care Tips

What is the secret of a beautiful face? Proper skincare, the right beauty sleep every night, a balanced diet and an extra portion of care on a regular basis. We must also remember that the needs of our skin change: During the day, it needs protection from the environmental effects, for example. At night, it is regenerating and therefore needs care that supports this process. Also, the skin’s ability to regenerate wanes with age. So it especially then needs care and nutrients.

Great looking skin is a wonderful thing to have because it’s right there on your face, it’s kind of hard to hide. The skin also protects our bodies from the outside world. Most of us don’t think our skin is so great looking. Even if you were born with a perfect complexion, or one that is not so good, you should make an effort to take care of it correctly. When you are going through adolescence, your body is trying to adjust to changes in the hormone balance, and this affects your skin big time.

There’s tried-and-true ways to properly care for your skin, from the right way to cleanse your face, to the best moisturizers and sunscreens. Before we start with the proper daily skincare routine, you’ll need to know your skin type. How you care for your skin is utterly dependent on the type of skin you have: oily, normal/combination, dry, sensitive or sun damaged. However, healthy skin is something that is from within; eating healthy food and avoiding stress can help you the most in this. The 5 basic steps of skin and facial care are:

Cleansing:

Start your skin care with cleansing. Get a cleanser that suits your skin type. Steer clear of soaps as they make your skin dry; cleansers on the other hand contain oil, surfactants and water. Cleanser helps to remove oil, dirt and makeup from your skin effectively. However, using cleanser too often can also be harmful; at times just washing your face at night is enough. In the morning, it’s great to use a splash of lukewarm water to remove excess oils from your skin caused by nightly moisturizer.

Exfoliate:

Exfoliation is the step most people skip in their weekly skincare routine. But trust me, if you start properly exfoliating your skin, you will notice an almost immediate difference. According to Berg, one of the reasons men’s skin looks more youthful than women’s is because men tend to exfoliate daily when they shave. There are several ways to exfoliate skin: Microdermabrasion, chemical peels and retinoids.

Scrubbing:

Scrubs are very useful for removing the top layer of dead skin cells that make your complexion dull. A gentle scrub with tiny grains is the best for all skin types, as big grains in cheap scrubs can tear your skin and can cause rather more harm than good. You can also use a half-teaspoon of sugar for scrubbing your face. Keep rubbing it until it melts away and then wipe off your face with a warm & wet cloth. Thrash of the flour can also be used for scrubbing. You can also find some good scrubs in the market.

Moisturizing:

Moisturizer is a must for everyone, no matter which skin type you have. Even oily skin will benefit from moisturizers. Only the skin with acne should avoid it. Your skin will tell you that how much moisturizer is needed. If your skin is tight, it means that it needs moisture, but do not over moisturize your skin as it can cause clogged pores. You can go for any of the good quality moisturizers available in the market, but make sure that you read the information written on it as for which skin type it may be used. Olive oil can also be used to give your face required moisture, but it can only be used in winters.

Apply Sunscreen:

O Magazine ran an article featuring interviews with several top skin care experts and dermatologists (check it out here). Every single one of them said sunscreen was the most important part of your skincare regimen. It was the secret they would pass on to their daughters.

The number-1 cause of wrinkles is sun damage, so it’s important to use sunscreen from your early years on even in winter and on cloudy days. A great trick is to purchase two moisturizers: One for night and one for day that includes UV protection. Don’t use moisturizers with sunscreen at night, the ingredients are not meant to be used 27/7 and can aggravate skin. When choosing a sunscreen, make sure it contains Mexoryl (found in my favorite sunscreen La-Roche Posay) or Helioplex, found in Neutrogena products.

Some Other Facial Skin Care Tips:

Along with your face, other parts of your body also need care. If your eyes look puffy or swollen, wash your face and cover your eyes with sliced potatoes or cucumbers for a few minutes. This is really effective in the morning. Clean you nails with white vinegar before applying nail polish for a smoother finish and make it last longer. Olive oil mixed with melted beeswax can serve as a great lip balm. Try all these tips suggested and get prepared for receiving bunch of compliments for your glowing & youthful skin.

Dec 6, '10 4:14 AM
for everyone
Top Ten Best Food For Healthy Hair

We all know that a well-balanced diet is healthy for our body and critical for optimal health and performance. Our hair is no different. A mixture of protein, complex carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and iron are all required for healthy, strong hair.

It’s all about balance when it comes to optimal nutrition for maintaining healthy hair. “Hair is a fast-growing tissue and it’s likely to make demands on your body,” says Brian Thompson, principal trichologist and director of product development at Philip Kingsley Trichological Centre in New York and London. “You need a mixture of protein, complex carbohydrates, and vitamins and minerals. But if you consume too much of any one thing, particularly certain vitamins and minerals, you can create problems with hair growth.”

Read on for the 10 top foods that should be the foundation of your healthy hair diet.

Carrots

Carrots are an excellent source of vitamin A, which promotes a healthy scalp along with good vision. Since a healthy scalp is essential for a shiny, well-conditioned head of hair, you’d be wise to include carrots in your diet as snacks or toppings on your salad.

Low-Fat Dairy Products

Low-fat dairy products like skim milk and yogurt are great sources of calcium, an important mineral for hair growth. They also contain whey and casein, two high-quality protein sources. For some healthy hair foods “to-go,” try throwing a yogurt or cottage cheese cup in your bag when you head out in the morning to snack on later in the day. You can even boost their hair benefits by stirring in a couple of tablespoons of ground flaxseeds or walnuts for omega-3 fatty acids and zinc.

Oysters

Oysters may be better known for their reputation as an aphrodisiac, but they can also lead to healthy hair and who doesn’t love that? The key to their love and hair-boosting abilities is zinc a powerful antioxidant. If oysters don’t make a regular appearance on your dinner plate, don’t despair. In addition to getting it from whole grains and nuts, you can also get zinc from beef and lamb.

Whole Grains

Sink your teeth into hearty whole grains, including whole-wheat bread and fortified whole-grain breakfast cereals, for a hair-healthy dose of zinc, iron, and B vitamins.

A whole-grain snack can also be a great go-to food when your energy is zapped halfway through the afternoon, and you’ve still got hours to go before dinner.

Eggs

When it comes to healthy hair, it doesn’t matter whether you like your eggs scrambled, fried, or over easy. However they’re served up, eggs are one of the best protein sources you can find. They also contain biotin and vitamin B-12, which are important beauty nutrients.

Nuts

Do you go nuts for thick, shiny hair? You should. Brazil nuts are one of nature’s best sources of selenium, an important mineral for the health of your scalp.

Walnuts contain alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid that may help condition your hair. They are also a terrific source of zinc, as are cashews, pecans, and almonds. A zinc deficiency can lead to hair shedding, so make sure nuts are a regular on your healthy hair menu.

Beans

Beans, beans, they’re good for your … hair? Yes, it’s true. Legumes like kidney beans and lentils should be an important part of your hair-care diet. Not only do they provide plentiful protein to promote hair growth, but ample iron, zinc, and biotin. While rare, biotin deficiencies can result in brittle hair. Blatner, who is also a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association, recommends three or more cups of lentils or beans each week.

Dark Green Vegetables

Popeye the Sailor Man didn’t eat all that spinach for healthy hair, but he could have. Spinach, like broccoli and Swiss chard, is an excellent source of vitamins A and C, which your body needs to produce sebum. The oily substance, secreted by your hair follicles, is the body’s natural hair conditioner. Dark green vegetables also provide iron and calcium.

Water

If you have dry hair or just want to prevent straw-like strands drink more. “Hair is one-quarter water,” White says. He recommends the typical eight glasses a day. Bring a water bottle to work so you don’t spend the entire day refilling your mug at the fountain.

Beef

If you don’t have high cholesterol, Thompson recommends eating red meat twice a week for optimal hair health. Not only does beef have the protein you need, but also B vitamins, iron, and zinc, important minerals for healthy hair.
Do not make haste to do a thing before its time, nor put it off when the right moment arrives. Do not insist on doing a wrong thing, nor show slackness in rectifying a wrong thing. Perform everything in its proper time, and let everything occupy its proper place. 

When the people as a whole agree upon a thing, do not impose your own view on them and do not neglect to discharge the responsibility that rests on you in consequence. For, the eyes of the people will be on you and you are answerable for whatever you do to them. The slightest dereliction of duty will bring its own retribution.

 Keep your anger under control and keep your hands and tongue in check whenever you fall into anger, try to restrain yourself or else you will simply increase your worries.

It is imperative on you to study carefully the principles which have inspired just and good rulers who have gone before you. Give close thought to the example of our prophet (peace be upon him), his traditions, and the commandments of the Book of God and whatever you might have assimilated from my own way of dealing with things. Endeavor to the best of your ability to carry out the instructions which I have given you here and which you have solemnly undertaken to follow. By means of this order, I enjoin on you not to succumb to the prompting of your own heart or to turn away from the discharge of duties entrusted to you.

I seek the refuge of the might of the Almighty and of His limitless sphere of blessings, and invite you to pray with me that He may give us together the grace willingly to surrender our will to His will, and to enable us to acquit ourselves before Him and His creation; so that mankind might cherish our memory and our work survive. I seek of God the culmination of his blessings and pray that He may grant you and me His grace and the honor of martyrdom in His cause. Verily, we have to return to Him. I invoke His blessings on the Prophet of God and his pure progeny.
Beware! Fear God when dealing with the problem of the poor who have non to patronize, who are forlorn, indigent and helpless and are greatly torn in mind -victims of the vicissitudes of Time.




Among them there are some who do not question their lot in life not withstanding their misery, do not go about a begging. For God's sake, safeguard their rights; for on you rests the responsibility of protection. Assign for their uplift a portion of the state exchequer (Baitul-mal), wherever they may be, whether close at hand or far away from you. The rights of the two should be equal in your eye.



 Do not let any preoccupation slip them from your mind; for no excuse whatsoever for the disregard of their rights will be acceptable to God. Do not treat their interests as of less importance than your own, and never keep them outside the purview of your important considerations, and mark the persons who look down upon them and of whose conditions they keep you in ignorance.



Select from among your officers such men as are meek and God fearing who can keep you properly informed of the condition of the poor. Make such provision for these poor people as shall not oblige you to offer an excuse before God on the Day of Judgment; for, it is this section of the people more than any other which deserves benevolent treatment. 

Seek your reward from God by giving to each of them what is due to him and enjoin on yourself as a sacred duty the task of meting the needs of such aged among them as have no independent means of livelihood and are averse to seek alms. And it is the discharge of this duty that usually proves very trying for ruler, but is very welcome to societies which are gifted with foresight. It is only such societies or nations who truly carry out with equanimity their covenant with God to discharge their duty to the poor.
Dec 5, '10 8:54 AM
for everyone

I.M.A.M. | Ascent TV | My Orphans | Reflections Khums Services | Financial Services
MUHARRAM 1432
I.M.A.M.'s Message of Muharram 1432 A.H.
In the Name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful
"...That. And whoever venerates the sacraments of God  - indeed that arises from the piety/awareness of hearts." 
(The Holy Quran 22:32)

 With the coming of Muharram this year, 1371 years have passed since the event which witnessed the martyrdom of Imam Husain (peace be upon him) along with a little over seventy of his close family members and companions in Karbala. As the years of commemoration pass by, the spirits of many worldwide continue to interact with even greater fervor, awaiting the opportunity to venerate this sacrament. The passion is so lively that it extends to the far reaches of the Earth, touching even those souls who one would never have expected to be mindful regarding the family of God's Messenger (may the peace and blessings of God be upon them).....
For the entire message please click on the desired language.

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Dec 5, '10 8:10 AM
for everyone

Tawbah isnot accepted from one who merely declares, “I repent.” There are a number of conditions that must be fulfilled before the acceptance of Tawbah. These are mentioned below in the following hadith:

       It is narrated that someone said: Astaghfirullah (I seek God's forgiveness) before Imam ‘Ali (a). He said to him. "May your mother mourn for you! Do you know whatistighfar is? Verily istighfar is a degree of the 'illiyyun(people of high station) and it is a word that means six things. First is remorse over the past. Second, the resolution not to return to it ever. Third, to return to creatures their (formerly usurped) rights so that you meet God Almighty in a state of purity in which no one has any claim against you. Fourth,that you fulfil every duty that you neglected in order to satisfy your obliga­tion in respect to it.Fifth,that you attend to the flesh of your body that has grown on unlawful nourishment so that it melts away as a result of grief and mourning and your skin adheres to your bones, after which new flesh grows in its place. Sixth,that you make your body taste the pain of obedience in the same way as it earlier tasted the pleasure of sins.When you have done these things then say Astaghfirul­lah! [Nahj al‑Balagha, saying # 417]

This noble tradition mentions two prerequisites for Tawbah(remorse and resolution), two important conditions for its acceptance (returning the rights of creatures and of the Creator), and finally two points for the perfection of repentance.

Dec 5, '10 8:06 AM
for everyone
Tawbah means return to the soul's initial spirituality after the light of its human nature (fitrah) and its spirit has been covered by the darkness of sins and disobedience. The human soul in its initial state has neither any spiritual virtues nor any vices. It is capable of reaching any station, but in its original state it is pure, sinless and has an intrinsic luminosity.

The perpetration of sins causes obscurity within the heart, and the light of intrin­sic nature is extinguished and converted into darkness. However, before total darkness envelops the heart, if a person awakens from the slumber of negligence and makes repentance, the soul gradually returns from the darkness to the light of its original nature and essential spirituality.

This is mentioned in the famous hadith from Imam Baqir (a):“One who repents from sin is like the one who has not sinned..” [Al‑Kulayni, al‑Kafikitab al‑'iman wa al‑kufr, babal‑Tawbah, hadith #10]
Dec 5, '10 7:11 AM
for everyone
Our Holy Prophet Muhammad [s] said:
"Whoever makes unlawful deeds lawful, never believed in the Qur'an."
Al-Harrani, Tuhaf al-Uqool an aali al-Rasool, p. 39
The Holy Qur'an is Allah's message revealed to Prophet Muhammad [s] through His angel Gabriel [a]. Allah, the Almighty, ordered the Prophet [s] to convey it to all people, to guide them towards peace and goodness, to instruct them in useful actions and to teach them to abstain from evil actions and corruption.
Thus, the Qur'an teaches us issues and matters related to our religion. Among them are:
  1. To believe in Allah, His angels, His prophets and the Day of Judgement.
  2. To develop good manners and behaviour like telling the truth, love, co-operation, respect of parents, etc.
  3. To show us what is lawful (permitted) and what is unlawful (forbidden), urging us towards lawful deeds and forbidding us from unlawful ones. For instance, Allah made the following deeds unlawful (forbidden): robbery, suicide, gambling, lying, injustice, theft, wronging our neighbours, helping oppressors and those guilty of wrongdoing, eating dead animals or the flesh of swine (pork), and drinking alcohol.
It is obligatory for us, as Muslims, to give up these forbidden deeds and others that the Holy Qur'an specifies as forbidden haram. This is so because we believe that everything which is forbidden is useless and fruitless for us and for other people.
Therefore it does not please us to be beaten or have our property stolen or to be deceived or oppressed. We abstain from such forbidden deeds. We realize that every forbidden act is useless to us and if we indulge in them we will suffer Allah's displeasure. It becomes obligatory for us to give them up.
Indeed, whoever gives up deeds forbidden by the Holy Qur'an is a truthful believer of the Qur'an as Allah's word and he always follows it during his life. Whoever does not give up these forbidden actions and does them as if they are lawful is one who does not believe that the Qur'an is Allah's word revealed to His Prophet ...because he does not give up what Allah, the Most High, has forbidden. Hence, we should think, whether a certain act is lawful or unlawful, before saying or doing anything. If it is lawful we may do it, but if it is unlawful we must abstain from doing it. Our Prophet Muhammad [s] says: Man is never a true believer unless he gives up deeds forbidden by the Qur'an.
Most Surely it is an Honoured Qur'an, in a Preserved Book 
Dec 5, '10 3:48 AM
for everyone
How To Prevent and Treat Eye Strain

Eye strain is an extremely common eye disorder, each person has different symptoms when they experience eye strain but it can broadly be defined as anything that causes discomfort or pain to your eyes while viewing something. Eye strain is caused by your eye muscles becoming fatigued due to the overuse of your eye muscles during intense tasks such as driving a car, working on the computer or even reading a book.

You might have been out on a long drive, probably spanning many hours. Or, you might have just picked up an interesting novel at the library, and could not leave it aside until you came to the very end, even though this involved many hours of reading. Or, your job might involve hours of staring at a computer monitor. All the three scenarios mentioned above involve considerable effort on the part of your eyes and could easily result in eye strain. Your eyes become sore, tired, and even itch at times.

They might water and become sensitive to light. Worse still, you might experience sporadic headaches and a sore neck as the day progresses. Eye strain treatment is not complicated, and most of these symptoms can be eased by following a few simple tips that would take you a few minutes at the most. However, if there is a noticeable change in vision, extreme eye discomfort or prolonged double vision, you might need to visit an ophthalmologist to get your eyes thoroughly checked. Read on to explore tips on how to treat strain.

Symptoms of Eye Strain:

   1. Headache
   2. Neck/back pain
   3. Twitches/Spasms around the eyes
   4. Lightheadedness
   5. Dizziness
   6. Nausea
   7. Car sickness
   8. Blurred vision
   9. Sore or tired eyes
  10. Double vision
  11. Itchy eyes
  12. Dry eyes
  13. Watery eyes
  14. Burning eyes
  15. Heaviness on the forehead/eyelids
  16. Lack of concentration
  17. Fatigue
  18. Reading problems

Causes of Eye Strain:

   1. Excess use of computer
   2. Fluorescent lighting
   3. Low levels of light
   4. Brightness
   5. Glare
   6. Low levels of screen contrast.
   7. Bad viewing angle
   8. Fatigue
   9. Poor posture
  10. Tiredness
  11. Excessive intake of drug and alcohol
  12. Stress

Eye Strain Treatment:

    * Work the muscles that have become strained, by relaxing your eyes and allowing them to shift focus from the object on which you are concentrating.
    * Gently massage your eyes, around the eyeballs, for 5 minutes. Do this once every hour, especially if you are doing some work that requires a lot of reading or focusing on a computer monitor.
    * If you find that your eyes are susceptible to strain, make it a practice to splash your face with water as cold as you can stand, the first thing each morning. This will help soothe the eye muscles.
    * Soak two tea bags in water, for around 15 minutes. Remove the tea bags and wring out any excess water. Place them in the refrigerator to chill, for around 5 minutes, before taking them out again. Place the tea bags over your eyes and relax for 15 minutes.
    * Rest your eyes. Place slices of raw potato or cucumber on your eyes and relax for 15 minutes.
    * If raw potato or cucumber is not available, you can make do with a cool, wet cloth. Place this over your eyes and relax for 15 minutes.
    * Drink a lot of liquids. Dehydration can cause eye strain and is often associated with headaches as well. Increased intake of liquids will help flush out excess salt from your body and will reduce eye strain and puffiness.
    * Get sufficient sleep. This will help rest your eyes and ease eye strain.
    * Even the tiniest blood vessels are known to be affected positively by grape seed extract. In fact, it is used as a supplement to fight cataracts and macular degeneration. Studies have proven that if 300 milligrams of grape seed extract is taken for 60 days, there will be a long-term positive impact on eye strain and there will be improved contrast vision as well.

Advice:

If after trying these methods you still suffer from discomfort of your eyes, contact your eye Doctor and make an appointment for an eye examination.

Dec 5, '10 3:45 AM
for everyone

Safi Qurashi's open letter from Dubai jail cell

Two years ago I shot to fame as the man who bought "Little Britain" in UAE. This is my story of how my Dubai dream became a nightmare.

Safi, right, receiving an award for 'Trusted Real Estate Partner' from Sheikh Manea Bin Hasher Al Maktoum
Safi, right, receiving an award for 'Trusted Real Estate Partner' from Sheikh Manea Bin Hasher Al Maktoum 
Dubai's property boom had just begun, when I set up a property business, Premier Real Estate Bureau LLC.
We employed five staff and business went so well that within two years we were employing 100. Our name was trusted and our reputation was excellent. We won a business award from Sheikh Manea Al Maktoum - the first in Dubai. All the hard work paid off. We sent our kids to the best school in Dubai and had amazing holidays with our families.
We specialised in beach front properties so when the island of Great Britain became available we snapped it up. We knew that the market was overheated and that a crash was inevitable, so we planned for that. When the Dubai markets did crash in 2009 we were still in a strong position and our business turnover was $1billion.

My life took a dramatic turn on Friday 15th January 2010, when two plain clothed officers arrested me for bouncing a cheque and took me to CID headquarters. I was held for eight hours in a cell, handcuffed like a criminal. No phone calls. No lawyer. Then I was transferred to Jebel Ali police station.
There I was kept handcuffed to a chair for another 8 hours. No-one spoke English. I was asked two questions: my name and whether I signed two cheques. When I answered yes, I was sent to Port Rashid jail at 4am. The prison was built to house 80 prisoners; there were over 200 people inside. There were only four showers and three toilets. People were sleeping on the floor and in the kitchen. At night it resembled a refugee camp. For the first few days I slept on a concrete floor. I had no access to lawyer or phones. When I saw the prosecutor he asked about a cheque to a Russian investor. I told him everything and asked about bail. He said no bail was allowed and he would see me two weeks after he spoke to the Russian.
Just like that, two weeks in jail. Finally, on the fifth day, I was allowed to make a five minute call to my wife. She arrived next day with a solicitor who said don't worry, you will get bail in two or three days. These days were the most difficult. I was in the same clothes for a week, with no place to wash, no soap or shampoo. For a month I slept on the bare floor.
Then the second shock. My solicitor turned out to be the defence lawyer in a (civil) case I had filed earlier against a friend of his. His offer to me was simple: drop all charges against my friend and I will help you. My lawyer and the prosecutor were college buddies and good friends. Suddenly the Dubai I knew - trustworthy, clean, crime free, non-corrupt - vanished.
Then my wife suffered a miscarriage. That was a particularly difficult thing. Nights were lonely. Trying to suppress the anger and frustration was difficult. However, human nature and the sheer will to deal with problems makes you discover qualities you sometimes think you never had. I got a new lawyer who spent five minutes with me. When I said surely he needed input from me, he responded "this is not England, we do things our way". I didn't understand then, what he meant, but now I do. There were two hearings – each one a minute long. Two questions were asked and I was sentenced: a seven year jail term. I realized that the judge had neither read nor reviewed any of the evidence. He did not establish whether I actually broke the law. A cheque bounced. Nothing else was considered. I kept on thinking this is a modern country, it has laws, it depends on foreign citizens and investment, surely its legal system cannot be so backward? Surely they are not this unjust?
I was three months in Port Rashid jail. By the time I left, more than 300 prisoners were being held in that tiny place. I was allowed three phone calls a week each lasting only three minutes. I had to, in these nine minutes, manage my business and my legal affairs, speak to my wife and worry about the wellbeing of her and my children. I had not spoken to my children for three months. The hardest thing was telling my mum, my brothers and my sister where I was.
My wife visited every week but I couldn't bear my mum and children seeing me there. Sometimes you have to put the biggest stone on your heart and carry on with life. This is what I did. I spent my 41st birthday, my wife's 40th, my son's fourth birthday and my 20th wedding anniversary in jail. My children cried for days. They wrote me great letters of encouragement, although some days it was very hard to read them through all the tears that would flow.
But my kids' faces remained strong in my eyes; what are they doing? How are they coping? How will they survive? On April 1 I was moved to the central prison - with murderers, rapists, armed robbers and drug dealers. These are not the people I belong with, I kept on thinking. But at least I had a place to sleep and it was clean. There were only six to a room and we had to share a bathroom. But it was better than sharing with 350.
I hated the indignity of court: being handcuffed and strip-searched. All of your respect and dignity trodden over. Seeing your family in the court room, paraded in front of a full court room in prison uniform. The court of appeal was no better. Dubai boasts that it has a very fast judicial process. That's right. In a one hour court session a judge hears 30-40 cases. The same judge will hear a murder case, drug case, fraud, theft, drink and cheque case all in one hour and decide the outcome of each in only 90 seconds.
There are lots of British and foreign nationals whose businesses and families are struggling. People should see it's dark side beneath the glitz and glamour. I was surrounded by businessmen whose dreams of Dubai were turned into a nightmare as they had been labeled criminals.
My mum is my biggest worry. She is an old lady and suffered a heart attack in the Summer. I had to close my company and people lost their jobs. What took 6 years to build was destroyed in less than 6 months. You feel like screaming, shouting, crying – why will no one listen to me? Where is the British Government? There are over two hundred Brits in jail, most in the same situation. They all came to Dubai to start a new life, 99 percent never had any criminal record. Dubai has branded them criminals. Why is our government allowing this farce to happen?
I hope and pray that someone out there hears our pleas. We are not criminals. All we want is justice.

(sent by sis Mariam R. Jiwa)
Dec 5, '10 3:29 AM
for everyone
LEARN CHINESE IN 5 MINUTES

(You MUST read them out loud or it doesnt make as much sense)...to catch the pun........

1) Thats not right........ Sum Ting Wong
2) Are you harboring a fugitive................... Hu Yu Hai Ding
3) See me ASAP............. Kum Hia Nao
4) Stupid Man...................... Dum Fuk
5) Small horse... Tai Ni Po Ni
6) Did you go to the beach?... Wai Yu So Tan
7) I bumped in to a coffee table... Ai Bang Mai Fa Kin Ni
8) I think you need a face lift... Chin Tu Fat
9) It's very dark in here... Wao So Dim
10) I thought you were on a diet... Wai Yu Mun Ching
11) This is a tow away zone... No Pah King
12) Staying out of sight... Lei Ying Lo
13) He's cleaning his automobile... Wa Shing Ka
14) Your body odor is offensive... Yu Stin Ki Pu


For the losers who didnt get it..... ur dumb
 
Dec 5, '10 3:24 AM
for everyone
How To Get Out Of A Traffic Ticket!

A police officer pulls a guy over for speeding and has the following exchange:

Officer: May I see your driver's license?
Driver: I don't have one. I had it suspended when I got my 5th DUI.

Officer: May I see the owner's card for this vehicle?
Driver: It's not my car. I stole it.

Officer: The car is stolen?
Driver: That's right. But come to think of it, I think I saw the owner's card in the glove box when I was putting my gun in there.

Officer: There's a gun in the glove box?
Driver: Yes sir. That's where I put it after I shot and killed the woman who owns this car and stuffed her in the trunk.

Officer: There's a BODY in the TRUNK?!?!?
Driver: Yes, sir.

Hearing this, the officer immediately called his captain. The car was quickly surrounded by police, and the captain approached the driver to handle the tense situation:

Captain: Sir, can I see your license?
Driver: Sure. Here it is.

It was valid.

Captain: Who's car is this?
Driver: It's mine, officer. Here's the owner's card.

The driver owned the car.

Captain: Could you slowly open your glove box so I can see if there's a gun in it?
Driver: Yes, sir, but there's no gun in it.

Sure enough, there was nothing in the glove box.

Captain: Would you mind opening your trunk? I was told you said there's a body in it.
Driver: No problem.

Trunk is opened; no body.

Captain: I don't understand it. The officer who stopped you said you told him you didn't have a license, stole the car, had a gun in the glovebox, and that there was a dead body in the trunk.

Driver: Yeah, I'll bet the lying s.o.b. told you I was speeding, too!
 

Dec 5, '10 3:08 AM
for everyone
I AM CONFUSED.......
This is just a hoax and has no foundation in logic. The only reasons for heart attacks are

  • Narrowing of the arteries due to plague deposit
  • Weak heart muscles
  • Acute dehydration causing the blood to become thick
  • Heart starved for oxygen
Drinking warm water does nothing to the heart. Its like saying drinking cold water can cause cancer. Warm water is better than drinking cold water as it does not upset the stomach temperature or shock it. In fact more practioners of natural hygiene stay away from eating cold food for this very reason.

How does heart attack take place?

Arteries can get narrowed down through plague deposits. The usual causes of plague are smoking, eating high fat foods and excess cholesterol in the blood stream due to improper functioning of liver.
Heart pumps bloods to various parts of the body using arteries as the pipeline. Narrowed down arteries will cause the heart to push blood with higher pressure. The heart weakens through such effort. Sometimes an artery can get completely clogged leading to a huge hike in blood pressure leading to a stroke or heart attack.
It is also possible to experience a heart attack when the oxygen supply to heart is thwarted. Several people who get trapped in smoke filled rooms have been known to die of heart attack. Smoking cigarettes excessively can also lead to increase of carbon dioxide in the blood, exhausting the heart as it is depraved of oxygen.

Water regulates the temperature of the body and helps the heart

The rate at which heart pumps blood increases the temperature of a human body. The only way to cool it is through the use of water circulation. It does not matter if the water is warm or cold but its true that cold water can do some harm as it shocks the stomach for a moment and disturbs the temperature equilibrium.
Water is removed from the body through perspiration. It stays on the surface of the skin and cools the body temperature. If the body temperature were allowed to fluctuate even by a few degrees it can have fatal consequences.
People who are dehydrated in deserts usually end up dying of heart attack as the blood becomes too thick to pump.

Dec 5, '10 3:00 AM
for everyone
It's better to keep your mouth shut and give the impression that you're stupid than to open it and remove all doubt. 

Have you ever wondered which hurts the most: saying something and wishing you had not, or saying nothing, and wishing you had?
 

Someday your prince charming will come. Mine just took a wrong turn, got lost, and is too stubborn to ask for directions. 

Today I caught myself smiling for no reason... then I realized I was thinking about you 

If I could be any part of you, I’d be your tears. To be conceived in your heart, born in your eyes, live on your cheeks, and die on your lips. 

Sometimes people put up walls, not to keep others out, but to see who cares enough to break them down. 

Did you ever fall for someone you know you shouldn't?
Try hard to fight your feelings, but you just couldn't?

You fall deeper with each passing day,
But try to hide it in every possible way.
He's only a friend, and nothing else--
That's the lie you keeping telling yourself.
You keep on saying he's just a bud,
But deep inside, you're falling in love.
You get so giddy when you meet his eyes,
But keep reminding yourself it isn't right.
A simple glance turns into a stare,
But you pretned that you don't care.
It's "not right" for you two to be.
Is that why you hide it so no one can see?
But how long will you pretend?
Keep lying that he's just a friend?
Perhaps your feelings you can never show.
Perhaps it's "wrong" for him to know.
Your friendship can't be risked over this,
So being his girl is an impossible wish...
 

Should I smile because we are friends? Or cry because we'll never be anything more?

There are three types of people in this world: those who make things happen, those who watch things happen and those who wonder what happened. 

Nobody is worth your tears, and the one who is won't make you cry. 

Work like you don't need the money, love like you've never been hurt and dance like no one is watching. 

Work like you don't need the money, love like you've never been hurt and dance like no one is watching. 

"I always knew looking back on the tears would make me laugh, but I never knew looking back on the laughs would make me cry." 
Dec 5, '10 2:35 AM
for everyone
Pencil: I'm sorry

Eraser: For what? You didn't do anything wrong.
Pencil: I'm sorry cos you get hurt bcos of me. Whenever I made a mistake, you're always there to erase it. But as you make my mistakes vanish, you lose a part of yourself. You get smaller and smaller each time.
Eraser: That's true. But I don't really mind. You see, I was made to do this. I was made to help you whenever you do something wrong. Even though one day, I know I'll be gone and you'll replace me with a new one, I'm actually happy with my job. So please, stop worrying. I hate seeing you sad. 
=================

I found this conversation between the pencil and the eraser very inspirational.
Parents are like the eraser whereas their children are the pencil. They're always there for their children, cleaning up their mistakes.

Sometimes along the way... they get hurt, and become smaller (older, and eventually pass on).

Though their children will eventually find someone new (spouse), but parents are still happy with what they do for their children, and will always hate seeing their precious ones worrying, or sad
 
Dec 4, '10 1:54 PM
for everyone
Be it known to you, O, Malik, that I am sending you as Governor to a country which in the past has experienced both just and unjust rule. Men will scrutinize your actions with a searching eye, even as you used to scrutinize the actions of those before you, and speak of you even as you did speak of them. The fact is that the public speak well of only those who do good. It is they who furnish the proof of your actions. Hence the richest treasure that you may covet would be the treasure of good deeds. Keep your desires under control and deny yourself that which you have been prohibited from, for, by such abstinence alone, you will be able to distinguish between what is good to them and what is not.

Develop in your heart the feeling of love for your people and let it be the source of kindliness and blessing to them. Do not behave with them like a barbarian, and do not appropriate to yourself that which belongs to them. Remember that the citizens of the state are of two categories. They are either your brethren in religion or your brethren in kind. They are subject to infirmities and liable to commit mistakes. Some indeed do commit mistakes. But forgive them even as you would like God to forgive you. Bear in mind that you are placed over them, even as I am placed over you. And then there is God even above him who has given you the position of a Governor in order that you may look after those under you and to be sufficient unto them. And you will be judged by what you do for them.

Do not set yourself against God, for neither do you possess the strength to shield yourself against His displeasure, nor can you place yourself outside the pale of His mercy and forgiveness. Do not feel sorry over any act of forgiveness, nor rejoice over any punishment that you may mete out to any one. Do not rouse yourself to anger, for no good will come out of it.

Do not say: " I am your overlord and dictator, and that you should, therefore, bow to my commands", as that will corrupt your heart, weaken your faith in religion and create disorder in the state. Should you be elated by power, ever feel in your mind the slightest symptoms of pride and arrogance, then look at the power and majesty of the Divine governance of the Universe over which you have absolutely no control. It will restore the sense of balance to your wayward intelligence and give you the sense of calmness and affability. Beware! Never put yourself against the majesty and grandeur of God and never imitate His omnipotence; for God has brought low every rebel of God and every tyrant of man.

Let your mind respect through your actions the rights of God and the rights of man, and likewise, persuade your companions and relations to do likewise. For, otherwise, you will be doing injustice to yourself and injustice to humanity. Thus both man and God will turn unto your enemies. There is no hearing anywhere for one who makes an enemy of God himself. He will be regarded as one at war with God until he feels contrition and seeks forgiveness. Nothing deprives man of divine blessings or excites divine wrath against him more easily than cruelty. Hence it is, that God listens to the voice of the oppressed and waylays the oppressor.

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