Signs in the Universe – The Human Eye

Posted on January 25, 2012 by

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Reflecting on the Signs in the Universe:

THE HUMAN EYE

أَلَمْ نَجْعَل لَّهُ عَيْنَيْنِ

“Have We not made for him two eyes?”
[Al-Qur’an: Surah Al-Balad: 8]

Scientific Facts:

  • Eyes begin to develop 2 weeks after conception.
  • Eyes are always the same size from birth to adulthood, but nose and ears never stop growing.
  • The adult eyeball measures about 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter.
  • The older we are the fewer tears we produce.
  • Babies don’t produce tears in their eyes until they are one to three months old.
  • All babies are colour-blind when they are born.

  • Eyes are the most complex organs you possess except for your brain.
  • Eyes are composed of more than 2 million working parts.
  • The average person blinks 12 times per minute – about 10,000 blinks in an average day.
  • Eyes can process 36,000 bits of information every hour.
  • Only 1/6th of your eyeball is exposed to the outside world.
  • The external muscles that move the eyes are the strongest muscles in the human body for the job that they have to do. They are 100 times more powerful than they need to be.
  • Colour-blind people do see color but confuse certain colors in certain conditions. Red and Green are the most commonly confused colours among colour blind people.
  • Colour-blindness is 10 times more common in males than females.
  • Eyes are the only part of the human body that can function at 100% ability at any moment, day or night, without rest.
  • The eyelids and the external muscles of your eyes need rest, the lubrication of your eyes requires replenishment, but your eyes themselves never need rest.
  • The human eyeball weighs approximately 28 grams.
  • The human eye can distinguish 500 shades of the gray.
  • People generally read 25% slower from a computer screen than from paper.
  • The reason why nose gets runny when one cries is because the tears from the eyes drain into the nose.
  • It is impossible to sneeze with the eyes open.
  • Eyes will focus on about 50 things per second.
  • The retina in the eye contains 120 million rods for “night vision”, and 8 million cones that are colour sensitive and work best under daylight conditions.
  • Eyes contribute towards 85% of your total knowledge.
  • About half of our brain is involved in the seeing process. Humans are very much visual animals.

Reflections: 

Alhamdulillah Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) has blessed us with two of the greatest blessings: our eyes! Imagine how life would be if we couldn’t see. Imagine how is life for those who do not have the blessing of vision. Just try walking in your room with your eyes closed for a minute or try using the bathroom in the dark. We realize how much complicated life would be if we couldn’t see.

We also realize the importance of eyes and the great reward on being patient when one loses their eyesight from the following hadith:

Rasul Allah ( صلى الله علىه وسلم ) said, “Allah The Most High has said, ‘If I take away the eyesight of a slave of Mine and he shows patience and seeks My reward, then I shall reward him with nothing less than Paradise.”’  [Sahih Al-Bukhari]

Allah ( سبحانه وتعالى) says in the Qur’an:

ثُمَّ سَوَّاهُ وَنَفَخَ فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِهِ وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ السَّمْعَ وَالْأَبْصَارَ وَالْأَفْئِدَةَ قَلِيلًا مَّا تَشْكُرُونَ

“Then He proportioned him and breathed into him from His [created] soul and made for you hearing and vision and hearts; little are you grateful.”
[Al- Qur’an: As-Sajdah (The Prostration): 9]

Gratitude of the Eyes
A way in which we can show gratitude for our eyes is to use them in a way pleasing to Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) and to safeguard our eyes from all that causes Allah’s displeasure. Ways in which we can please Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) with our eyes are by reflecting on Allah’s creation, reading the Qur’an etc.

Abu Haroon said, “I entered upon Abu Haazim, and said to him: May Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) have mercy on you, what is the gratitude of the eyes? He said: If you see something good with them, you mention it, and if you see something bad with them, you conceal it. I said: What is the gratitude of the ears? He said: If you hear something good with them, you remember it, and if you hear something bad with them, you forget it.”

Ibn Rajab Al-Hanbali [May Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) have mercy on him] said, “Gratitude is of two degrees, one of which is obligatory, which is doing obligatory actions and avoiding haraam things. This is essential and is sufficient as gratitude for these blessings.”

Hence one of the salaf said, “Gratitude means giving up sin.”

And one of them said, “Gratitude means not using any blessing to help one to disobey Him.”

Lowering The Gaze
A very specific hukum (command) in the Qur’an is that of lowering the gaze. This has been said to both men and women separately to emphasize it’s importance to both parties.

قُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ ذَلِكَ أَزْكَى لَهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ30

وَقُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَى جُيُوبِهِنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَائِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَاء بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَائِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَاء بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ إِخْوَانِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِي إِخْوَانِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِي أَخَوَاتِهِنَّ أَوْ نِسَائِهِنَّ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُنَّ أَوِ التَّابِعِينَ غَيْرِ أُوْلِي الْإِرْبَةِ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ أَوِ الطِّفْلِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يَظْهَرُوا عَلَى عَوْرَاتِ النِّسَاء وَلَا يَضْرِبْنَ بِأَرْجُلِهِنَّ لِيُعْلَمَ مَا يُخْفِينَ مِن زِينَتِهِنَّ وَتُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ 31

“Tell the believing men to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what they do.”“30
“And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their head-covers over their chests and not expose their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands’ fathers, their sons, their husbands’ sons, their brothers, their brothers’ sons, their sisters’ sons, their women, that which their right hands possess, or those male attendants having no physical desire, or children who are not yet aware of the private aspects of women. And let them not stamp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment. And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed.” 31

[Al-Qur'an - Surah An-Nur(The Light): 30-31]

Whatever Qur’an advocates as a command has always been proven and will always be proven in the future by scientific facts based on studies and experiments done. It is amazing how true the findings are, Subhan Allah!

In two studies, subjects induced to exchange mutual unbroken gaze for 2 min with a stranger of the opposite sex reported increased feelings of passionate love for each other. In Study I, 96 subjects were run in the four combinations of gazing at the other’s hands or eyes, or in a fifth condition in which the subject was asked to count the other’s eye blinks. Subjects who were gazing at their partner’s eyes, and whose partner was gazing back reported significantly higher feelings of affection than subjects in any other condition. They also reported greater liking than all subjects except those in the eye blink counting condition. In Study II, with 72 subjects, those who engaged in mutual gaze increased significantly their feelings of passionate love, dispositional love, and liking for their partner. This effect occurred only for subjects who were identified on a separate task as more likely to rely on cues from their own behavior in defining their attributes.  (Source: “Looking and loving: The effects of mutual gaze on feelings of romantic love” from Journal of research in personality, Vol. 23, No. 2. (June 1989), pp. 145-161.)

Du’a For Protection of the Eyes
We learn the following dua from Rasul Allah ( صلى الله علىه وسلم ) for the preservation of our eyesight:

اللَّهُمَّ عَافِنِي فِي بَدَنِي، اللَّهُمَّ عَافِنِي فِي سَمْعِي، اللَّهُمَّ عَافِنِي فِي بَصَرِي، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْت

Allaahumma ‘aafinee fee badanee, Allaahumma ‘aafinee fee sam’ee, Allaahumma ‘aafinee fee basaree, laa ilaaha illaa Anta

“O Allah, make me healthy in my body. O Allah, preserve for me my hearing. O Allah, preserve for me my sight. There is none worthy of worship but You.”

May Allah ( سبحانه وتعالى) preserve our eyesight and give us the taufeeq (ability) to use them in a way pleasing to Him. Ameen.

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The Month of Safar … Not of Superstition

Posted on January 9, 2012 by

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

by Ruhaifa Samir

All praise is to Allah (سبحانه وتعالى), the Exalted who has given us life, enabled us to spend the month of Muharram in peace and to witness the new moon of the month of Safar with health and iman (faith).

Following the sacred month of Muharram, Safar is the second month of the Islamic or the lunar calendar. However, it is a month that is greeted with caution and fear in many circles of our Muslim ummah (community). It is considered a month of bad omens, bad luck and has been linked with many superstitions.

One wonders why Safar has been singled out so in this manner? We all know that our deen of Islam is a practical way of life. Superstition and belief in irrational omens does not fit in with the way of life defined by Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) and our Prophet (صلي اللهُ عليهِ وسلم). A quick look at history clears up not only the root causes behind many superstitions but also clears many misconceptions that people may have regarding the month of Safar.

A Glance at the History Behind the Month of Safar

The Arabs were a warring nation. Small arguments and disputes would turn into feuds and wars that lasted not only for years, but sometimes spanned over even generations. However, even in the days of jahiliyya (Pre-Islamic ignorance), the Arabs observed the sacred months of Rajab, Dhul Q’ada, Dhul Hijja, and Muharram, wherein there was a ban on fighting and battles. However, as soon as the month of Muharram would end, the Arabs would resume their feuds and the men would proceed to settle scores with their rivals, thus leaving their houses empty, while they headed out to battles or skirmishes. Hence, the month of Safar derives its name from this event of Safar-al-Makaan (or empty houses). The literal meaning of the word ‘safar ‘ is empty or vacant.

Another opinion holds that fighting the enemies and leaving them empty handed after taking away their possessions, may have been another reason for the name Safar (Sifran-min-Almata’) – i.e. they would leave their enemies’ coiffeurs empty and take all their belongings away. (Reference: Lisan Al-‘Arab)

Famous muhaddith (writers of hadith) and historian Sakhawi states in his book, Al Mashoor Fi Asma-il Ayam Walshahoor that due to this resumption of killings and fighting in the month of Safar, many people started regarding it as a month of ill-fate and bad luck.

Sadly, history has revealed that man has never been able to accept what he has done himself as the cause for his own unhappiness, and instead has always blamed others for his misfortune. Safar was no exception. Instead of realizing that they themselves were responsible for the lootings and killings in Safar, the Arabs blamed the month itself to be that of misfortune and despair.

The Truth about Superstitions

Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) tells us in the Qur’an that every person is responsible for what happens to him:

وَكُلَّ إِنسَانٍ أَلْزَمْنَاهُ طَآئِرَهُ فِي عُنُقِهِ وَنُخْرِجُ لَهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ كِتَابًا يَلْقَاهُ مَنشُورًا

 And [for] every person We have imposed his fate upon his neck, and We will produce for him on the Day of Resurrection a record which he will encounter spread open.
[Al-Qur'an-Surah Al-Isra (The Night Journey): 13]

No person, animal or object, nor day, month or year can cause harm to anyone. All such superstitions and beliefs have no basis in Islam what so ever. How can any particular day or month be unlucky or be a portent of bad omens when in fact months and years are formed by the alternation of days and nights which Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) has appointed for our convenience and to help us organize ourselves?

وَجَعَلْنَا اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ آيَتَيْنِ فَمَحَوْنَا آيَةَ اللَّيْلِ وَجَعَلْنَا آيَةَ النَّهَارِ مُبْصِرَةً لِتَبْتَغُواْ فَضْلاً مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَلِتَعْلَمُواْ عَدَدَ السِّنِينَ وَالْحِسَابَ وَكُلَّ شَيْءٍ فَصَّلْنَاهُ تَفْصِيلاً

“And We have made the night and day two signs, and We erased the sign of the night and made the sign of the day visible that you may seek bounty from your Lord and may know the number of years and the account [of time]. And everything We have set out in detail.”[Al-Qur'an-Surah Al-Isra (The Night Journey): 12]

Considering any time, hour, day, month or year to be ‘unlucky’ is also disliked as Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) the Exalted says: “ The son of Adam hurts me for he abuses Time though I am Time: in My Hands are all things, and I cause the revolution of day and night.” (Sahih Bukhari)

The Prophet (صلي اللهُ عليهِ وسلم) also negated all superstitions and beliefs of the period of jahiliyah (Pre-Islamic Ignorance) concerning the month of Safar.

Abu Hurayrah (رضى اللهُ عنهُ) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (صلي  اللهُ عليهِ وسلم) said: “(There is) no ‘Adwa (contagious disease conveyed without Allah’s permission), nor is there any bad omen (from birds), nor is there any Haamah, nor is there any (bad omen in the month of) Safar… ” (Sahih Bukhari and Muslim).

Superstitions Regarding Safar Existing in Society Today!

Although the Prophet (صلي اللهُ عليهِ وسلم) negated the superstitions the Arabs had associated with Safar in his time, unfortunately those sentiments have crept back into our society. Some of these superstitions are:

  1. This month is full of misfortune and calamities and one must recite Surah Muzammil 313 times in order to be saved from them.
  2. To commence any important venture, business etc. during this month will bring bad luck. One must instead make 365 balls of flour and toss them into the sea or rivers in order to counter bad omens and to increase rizq (provision).
  3. The first to the thirteenth of Safar are days of ill-fortune and evil.
  4. The person who distributes food or money on the 13th of Safar will be saved from its ill-fortune.
  5. The last Wednesday of Safar should be celebrated and regarded as a holiday due to the incorrect belief that the Prophet (صلي  اللهُ عليهِ وسلم) recovered from his illness on this day. Unfortunately, recourse into history reveals that it was in the latter days of Safar that the Prophet (صلي اللهُ عليهِ وسلم) fell ill, and this was the same illness that became the cause of his death.
  6. A nikah (marriage) performed in this month would not be successful. Again, history reveals to us that Ali (رضى اللهُ عنهُ) married Fatima (رضى اللهُ عنهما) in the latter days of Safar. Would the Prophet (صلي  اللهُ عليهِ وسلم) have allowed the marriage of his beloved daughter in a month which could have brought bad luck?

What We Should Do in the Month of Safar!

Although specific ibadaat (acts of worship) for certain months of the Islamic calendar have been defined for us, there is no such special instruction given regarding the month of Safar. However, we must realize that every minute given to us on Earth is a blessing in which we can gain Allah (سبحانه وتعالى)’s Pleasure and amass good deeds for our hereafter. Whether it is the month of Safar or any other, we must do our utmost to do as many good deeds as we possibly can.

Due to the association of Safar with superstitions, we as Muslims, should also make it a point to shun all superstitions that we come across and direct others to do so too. We should shun all superstitions not only regarding the month of Safar but also otherwise. We must understand that all conditions which befalls us, good or bad, favourable, or unfavourable are from Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) (as a result of our actions as proven in the ayah mentioned above). Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) says in the Qur’an:

وَمَا أَصَابَكُم مِّن مُّصِيبَةٍ فَبِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِيكُمْ وَيَعْفُو عَن كَثِيرٍ

“And whatever strikes you of disaster – it is for what your hands have earned; but He pardons much.”
[Al-Qur'an - Surah Ash-Shuraa (The Consultation):30]

We must remember that the most unfortunate person is actually he who disobeys Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) commandments such as one who does not perform the five daily salawaat (prayers), not someone who has his path crossed by a black cat or one who weds in the month of Safar. We must not let unimportant and baseless matters of superstitions occupy us so much that we forget to do what Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) has commanded us. Rather, we should remember to keep things in perspective and follow and believe only that which has been revealed by Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) and taught by our Prophet, in order to gain success in this world and the next.

May Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) grant us the courage and fortitude to follow His commands and to follow the guidance given by his Prophet  (صلي  اللهُ عليهِ وسلم). Ameen!

مَّا أَصَابَكَ مِنْ حَسَنَةٍ فَمِنَ اللّهِ وَمَا أَصَابَكَ مِن سَيِّئَةٍ فَمِن نَّفْسِكَ وَأَرْسَلْنَاكَ لِلنَّاسِ رَسُولاً وَكَفَى بِاللّهِ شَهِيدًا

“What comes to you of good is from Allah , but what comes to you of evil, [O man], is from yourself. And We have sent you, [O Muhammad], to the people as a messenger, and sufficient is Allah as Witness.”
[Al-Qur'an-Surat An-Nisa' (the Women): 79]

About the Writer:

Ruhaifa Samir is a freelance journalist who writes for Hiba Magazine and Perceptions – the blog. Also a creative writing coach for younger children, she believes the “pen is mightier than the sword” and is a great form of Da’awa. She holds a degree in Nutrition, International Relations, and the Montessori methodology of teaching. She is currently training as a remedial specialist for children with learning difficulties, more specifically dyslexia.

Our Writers

http://quranreflections.com/about-us/about-our-writers/

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It is Better Than What They Gather

Posted on December 29, 2011 by

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Safia Kemal

The Qur’an, undoubtedly, is a powerful kalam (speech). To recite it, even without the meaning, is a source of strength and drawing closer to Allah (سبحانه وتعالى), but to understand the meaning while recitation, is a feeling that cannot be put down in words. Most definitely it is:

قُلْ بِفَضْلِ اللّهِ وَبِرَحْمَتِهِ فَبِذَلِكَ فَلْيَفْرَحُواْ هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِّمَّا يَجْمَعُونَ

Say, “In the bounty of Allah and in His mercy – in that let them rejoice; it is better than what they accumulate.”
[Al-Qur'an: Surah Yunus:58]

Having been blessed by the fact that my birth place was Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) gave me several opportunities to visit the haramain (two Holy Mosques). To listen to the qari (recitor of Qur’an) recite Qur’an especially during taraweeh (The night prayers of Ramadan), was a beautiful feeling even though I was young. The recitation of the Qur’an especially in a congregation, facing Kabah always had a deep impact. Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) knew I would one day be blessed to even understand what I hear in a language foreign to me. Alhumdulillah.

Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) has blessed me with an understanding of the Arabic of the Qur’an through this Tafheem-e-Deen course, when I listen to the Qur’an now, I literally stop in my tracks to listen to it wherever I am. I tell myself, “Here is an ayah that Allah  (سبحانه وتعالى) is bringing to my ears or making my eyes see.” I feel I have to pay attention to it. This is the message of Allah  (سبحانه وتعالى)! How can I ignore it. This is the condition of my heart as I hear the Qur’an after the haqq (truth)  has come to me.

When I hear the Qur’an, I know this can be my only friend when all have left me in my grave.

When I hear the Qur’an, it leaves me with mixed emotions.

It leaves me happy where Jannah is mentioned, but also very anxious: “Will I enter it?”

The ayahs on Jahannum, bring fear to my heart – a terror that leaves me restless and I seek forgiveness for all that I have done wrong.

“O Allah! Forgive me and save me from the Hellfire”, I plead, tears flowing down.

I listen closely to hear what Allah  (سبحانه وتعالى) is saying to me.

Is He giving me an advice that I need at the time?

Or is He providing me with the admonition to get my act together!

Hearing the Qur’an reminds me of Allah (سبحانه وتعالى)’s Magnitude. It connects me to Him and the world at the same time.

I am reminded of the blessings around me, and I thank Him for all that He has given me.

I fear if He is angered, blessings will be taken away from me.

I fear, my fear of Him will be taken away and that is the biggest fear!

I love listening to the Qur’an. It has encompassed my entire life.

I thank Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) for the understanding of it. I cannot thank Him enough for it.

Qur’an is a source of peace and harmony even when the world seems to be collapsing around me.

Qur’an is my strength when I feel weak at heart and feel I cannot go on.

Listening to the Qur’an gives me hope; yes there is hope for those who believe in it.

Hearing the Qur’an affirms: “Oh! this life is so temporary. It will soon end and to Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) is the final return.

Qur’an is not for yesterday, today or just for tomorrow.

Qur’an is for life!

It is for every hand and for every heart!

It is definitely better than what they gather.

Safia Kemal Rafi
Education:
MBA: University of Scranton, PA. Majoring in MIS and Marketing
BBA: Greenwich University, Karachi Campus, Marketing Major
High School: Marymount International School, Kingston, UK
Interests: Reading, Writing, Networking, Social Media

Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) has blessed me with three sweet children, Alhumdulillah. I love being a mother and now enjoy their upbrining even more in light of the Qur’an and Sunnah. Qur’an has become my support system in life. It has given me a realization of life like one I never had before. It is not just an experience but one that leads to finding peace, tranquility and a connection with our Creator. Qur’an has not only given me insight about who Rabb is but also taught me to be aware of my biggest enemy, Shaitan. Alhumdulillah, I am learning to live a conscious life.

I pray that everyone should come to the Qur’an to understand the beauty and real essence of Allah  (سبحانه وتعالى)’s kalam (speech). My contact is safiakemal@yahoo.com.

 Our Writers
http://quranreflections.com/about-us/about-our-writers/

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Ahadith: Excellence in Dealings- Repel Evil with Good

Posted on December 24, 2011 by

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Gentleness

Patience

Anger

Speech

Mercy

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