WHY HARAM IN ISLAM LOT OF MATTER ? & USEFUL LINK

WHILE EATING USING LEFT HAND IS HARAAM IN ISLAM

DO STUDY WHAT SCIENCE TELLS ABOUT ITLeft-handed women's risk of breast cancer higher-study
Monday, September 26 @ 11:55:13 EESTwww.alnilin.com Left-handed women are more than twice as likely as right-handers to suffer from breast cancer before reaching menopause, Dutch scientists said on Monday.
More than a million women are diagnosed with breast cancer worldwide each year. Three-quarters of cases occur after menopause, which usually begins around the age of 50.
Researchers at the University Medical Center in Utrecht in the Netherlands speculate that there is a shared origin early in life for both left handedness and developing breast cancer, possibly exposure to hormones in the womb.
"Left handedness is associated with breast cancer, most specifically pre-menopausal breast cancer," said Cuno Uiterwaal, an assistant professor of clinical epidemiology at the university, in an interview.
He and his colleagues studied 12,000 healthy, middle-aged women born between 1932-1941 who were part of a breast screening program. The scientists determined their hand preference and followed up their medical history to see which women developed breast cancer.
"If we take pre-menopausal and post-menopausal breast cancer then there was a 40 percent increased risk," Uiterwaal said of left-handed women.
But when they spilled it further the scientists found most of the excess risk was in breast cancer before the menopause.
"We found that left-handed women are more than twice as likely to develop pre-menopausal breast cancer as non-left handed women," the researchers said in the report published online by the British Medical Journal.
Other risk factors such as family history of breast cancer, numbers of pregnancies, smoking habits, and social and economic status were considered.
About 8 percent to 9 percent of women are left-handed. But the scientists said the findings should not alarm them.
"What our study intends to do is focus on this area. We do not know all the causes of breast cancer, that is why we should continue. This may be one new factor that leads us to a better understanding of the aetiology (cause of the illness)," Uiterwaal added.
About 5 percent to 10 percent of breast cancers are hereditary. Most are due to mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes. The earlier the illness is diagnosed and treated, the better the prognosis is for the woman.
"Although the underlying mechanisms remain elusive, our results support the hypothesis that left handedness is related to increased risk of breast cancer," the researchers added.

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WHY PHOTO HARAM IN ISLAM

The basic principle concerning making pictures of any animate being, whether it is a human or any animal, is that it is haraam, whether the pictures are three-dimensional or are drawn on paper, cloth or walls, etc., or are photographs (taken with a camera), because of the reports in the saheeh ahaadeeth which state that that is not allowed, and threaten the one who does that with a painful torment, and because they may lead to shirk in the form of standing respectfully before them, humbling oneself before them, drawing close to them and venerating them in a manner that is only befitting for Allaah. They are also forbidden because this is a kind of trying to match the creation of Allaah, and because of the temptation inherent in some of them, such as pictures of actresses and naked women, and so-called beauty queens.

Among the ahaadeeth which state that this is haraam and that it is a major sin is the hadeeth of Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him), who said, “I heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say: ‘Whoever makes an image in this world will be told to breathe the soul into it on the Day of Resurrection, and he will never be able to do that.’” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari and Muslim). He [Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him)] also narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Every image-maker will be in the Fire, and every image that he made will be made to appear to him and will torment him in Hell.” Ibn ‘Abbaas said: “If you must do that, then make trees and things that have no soul.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari and Muslim). The general meaning of the ahaadeeth is that it is absolutely forbidden to make images of anything that has a soul.

Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 1/456-457

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said, when he was asked about pictures: making pictures for this purpose is haraam and is not permitted. That is because making pictures for memories is haraam, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “The angels do not enter any house in which there is an image,” (narrated by al-Bukhaari, Bid’ al-Khalq, 2986), and whatever the angels do not enter had no goodness in it.

Fataawa Manaar al-Islam, 3/759
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid
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UNLAWFUL SEX

Surat Al-'Isrā'

Al-Quran 17:32

Sahih International

And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse.
Indeed, it is ever an immorality and is evil as a way.

Yusuf Ali

Nor come nigh to adultery: for it is a shameful (deed)
and an evil, opening the road (to other evils).

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

And do not come [anywhere] near fornication —
this [form of expressing it] is more effective than
[saying] ‘Do not commit it’. It is indeed an indecency,
abomination, and, it is, an evil way.

TEENS AT RISK!Teenagers who watch adult movies are more likely to turn underage drinkers, suggests a new American study. The Dartmouth Medical School study into the behaviour of more than 6,250 youngsters exposed to adult films will add to the growing belief that teens involved in sex or violence are already being influenced by a diet of horror and other X-rated DVDs they watch at home.
For their study, the researchers let the children watch films that carry an R rating, which means those under 17 are not allowed to see them without parental supervision. R-rated movies contain less violent and nudity than X-rated movies in the US.

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Pickthall

O ye who believe! Strong drink and games of chance and idols and divining arrows are only an infamy of Satan's handiwork. Leave it aside in order that ye may succeed.

Yusuf Ali

O ye who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, (dedication of) stones, and (divination by) arrows, are an abomination,- of Satan's handwork: eschew such (abomination), that ye may prosper.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

O you who believe, verily wine, that intoxicates and overcomes the mind, and games of chance, gambling, and idols, and divinatory arrows are an abomination, an evil deemed vile, of Satan’s work, which he adorns; so avoid it, this abomination consisting of the things mentioned, do not do it; so that you might prosper.

GAMBLING IS HARAM
Gambling in any form is prohibited in Islam, whether it takes place in a Casino, or it is in the form of a lottery or for a charitable organization, any game of chance is considered gambling. The reason for this being that the person who gambles, depends on his winnings to support him and in the process gives up honest, hard work. Gambling because of its addiction is also a danger to the individual, because it dulls his sense of value; and in turn he becomes a danger to society.
ALCOHOL AND DRUG IS HARAM

Any Alcohol, which causes intoxication, is forbidden in Islam. The reason for this being that intoxication has harmful effects on the individuals mind, his health, his work, every aspect of his life, in a nutshell anything that befogs the mind regardless of the quantity whether it be one teaspoon or a litre is forbidden in Islam.

Drugs such as opium, heroin, cocaine etc. like alcohol impairs the reasoning and effects sensory perception, and are therefore also prohibited.

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Islam gives guidance about all aspects of life, including matters of public decency. Islam has no fixed standard as to the style of dress or type of clothing that Muslims must wear. However, some minimum requirements must be met.

Islam has two sources for guidance and rulings: the Qur'an which is considered to be the revealed word of Allah, and the Hadith or traditions of the Prophet Muhammad, who serves as a human role model and guide.

1st Requirement: What parts of the body are to be covered: The first bit of guidance given in Islam describes the parts of the body which must be covered in public.
For women: In general, standards of modesty call for a woman to cover her body, particularly her chest. The Qur'an calls for women to "draw their coverings over their chests," and the Prophet Muhammad instructed believing women to cover their bodies except for their face and hands. Most Muslims interpret this to require headcoverings for women. Some Muslim women cover the entire body, including the face and/or hands.
For men: The minimum amount to be covered is between the navel and the knee.

2nd Requirement: Looseness: Islam also guides that clothing must be loose enough so as not to outline or distinguish the shape of the body. Skin-tight, body-hugging clothes are out, for both men and women. When in public, some women wear a cloak over their personal clothing as a convenient way to "hide their curves." In many predominantly Muslim countries, men's traditional dress is somewhat like a loose robe, covering from the neck to the ankles.

3rd Requirement: Thickness: The Prophet Muhammad once warned that in later generations, there would be people "who are dressed yet naked." See-through clothing is not modest, for either men or women. The clothing must be thick enough so that the color of the skin it covers is not visible, nor the shape of the body underneath.

4th Requirement: Overall appearance: The overall appearance of a person should be dignified and modest. Shiny, flashy clothing may technically meet the above requirements, but defeat the purpose of overall modesty.

5th Requirement: Not imitating others: Islam encourages people to be proud of who they are. Muslims should look like Muslims, and not like mere imitations of people of other faiths around them. Women should be proud of their femininity and not dress like men. And men should be proud of their masculinity and not try to imitate women in their dress. For this reason, Muslim men are forbidden from wearing gold or silk, as these are considered feminine accessories.

6th Requirement: Decent but not flashy: The Qur'an describes that clothing is meant to cover our private areas, and be an adornment (Qur'an 7:26). Clothing worn by Muslims should be clean and decent, neither excessively fancy nor ragged. One should not dress in order to gain the admiration or sympathy of others.

Beyond the Clothing: Behaviors and Manners: Islamic clothing is but one aspect of modesty. More importantly, one must be modest in behavior, manners, speech and appearance in public. Dress is only one aspect of the total being, and merely reflects what is present on the inside of a person's heart.

Is Islamic clothing restrictive?: Dress requirements are not meant to be restrictive for either men or women, and most Muslims who wear modest dress do not find it impractical. Many people continue with their activities in all levels and walks of life.
A Japanese Woman's Experience of Hijaab
by Nakata Khaula

When I reverted to Islam, the religion of our inborn nature, a fierce debate raged about girls observing the hijab at schools in France. It still does. The majority, it seemed, thought that wearing the headscarf was contrary to the principle that public - that is state-funded - schools should be neutral with regard to religion. Even as a non-Muslim, I could not understand why there was such a fuss over such a small thing as a scarf on a Muslim student's head. The feeling still persists amongst non-Muslims that Muslim women wear the hijab simply because they are slaves to tradition, so much so that it is seen as a symbol of oppression. Women' s liberation and independence is, so they believe, impossible unless they first remove the hijab.

Such naivet� is shared by "Muslims" with little or no knowledge of Islam. Being so used to secularism and religious eclecticism, pick and mix, they are unable to comprehend that Islam is universal and eternal. This apart, women all over the world, non-Arabs, are embracing Islam and wearing the hijab as a religious requirement, not a misdirected sense of "tradition."

I am but one example of such women. My hijab is not a part of my racial or traditional identity; it has no social or political significance; it is, purely and simply, my religious identity.

I have worn the hijab since embracing Islam in Paris. The exact form of the hijab varies according to the country one is in, or the degree of the individual's religious awareness. In France I wore a simple scarf, which matched my dress and perched lightly on my head so that it was almost fashionable! Now, in Saudi Arabia, I wear an all-covering black cape; not even my eyes are visible. Thus, I have experienced the hijab from its simplest to its most complete form.

What does the hijab mean to me? Although there have been many books and articles about the hijab, they always tend to be written from an outsider's point of view; I hope this will allow me to explain what I can observe from the inside, so to speak. When I decided to declare my Islam, I did not think whether I could pray five times a day or wear the hijab. Maybe I was scared that if I had given it serious thought I would have reached a negative conclusion, and that would affect my decision to become a Muslim. Until I visited the main mosque in Paris I had nothing to do with Islam; neither the prayers nor the hijab were familiar to me. In fact, both were unimaginable but my desire to be a Muslim was too strong (Alhamdulilah) for me to be overly concerned with what awaited me on the "other side" of my conversion.

The benefits of observing hijab became clear to me following a lecture at the mosque when I kept my scarf on even after leaving the building. The lecture had filled me with such a previously unknown spiritual satisfaction that I simply did not want to remove it. Because of the cold weather, I did not attract too much attention but I did feel different, somehow purified and protected; I felt as if I was in Allah's company.

As a foreigner in Paris, I sometimes felt uneasy about being stared at by men. In my hijab I went unnoticed, protected from impolite stares.

My hijab made me happy; it was both a sign of my obedience to Allah and a manifestation of my faith. I did not need to utter beliefs, the hijab stated them clearly for all to see, especially fellow Muslims, and thus it helped to strengthen the bonds of sisterhood in Islam.

Wearing the hijab soon became spontaneous, albeit purely voluntary. No human being could force me to wear it; if they had, perhaps I would have rebelled and rejected it. However, the first Islamic book I read used very moderate language in this respect, saying that "Allah recommends it (the hijab) strongly" and since Islam (as the word itself indicates) means we are to obey Allah's will I accomplished my Islamic duties willingly and without difficulty, Alhamdulilah.

The hijab reminds people who see it that God exists, and it serves as a constant reminder to me that I should conduct myself as a Muslim. Just as police officers are more professionally aware while in uniform, so I had a stronger sense of being a Muslim wearing my hijab.

Two weeks after my return to Islam, I went back to Japan for a family wedding and took the decision not to return to my studies in France; French literature had lost its appeal and the desire to study Arabic had replaced it. As a new Muslim with very little knowledge of Islam it was a big test for me to live in a small town in Japan completely isolated from Muslims. However, this isolation intensified my Islamic consciousness, and I knew that I was not alone as Allah was with me.

I had to abandon many of my clothes and, with some help from a friend who knew dressmaking; I made some pantaloons, similar to Pakistani dress. I was not bothered by the strange looks the people gave me!

After six months in Japan, my desire to study Arabic grew so much that I decided to go to Cairo, where I knew someone. None of my host family there spoke English (or Japanese!) and the lady who took my hand to lead me into the house was covered from head to toe in black. Even her face was covered. Although this is now familiar to me here in Riyadh, I remember being surprised at the time, recalling an incident in France when I had seen such dress and thought, �there is a woman enslaved by Arabic tradition, unaware of real Islam,� (which, I believed, thought that covering the face was not a necessity, but an ethnic tradition).

I wanted to tell the lady in Cairo that she was exaggerating in her dress,that it was unnatural and abnormal. Instead, I was told that my self-made dress was not suitable to go out in, something I disagreed with since I understood that it satisfied the requirements for a Muslimah. But, when in Rome, I bought some cloth and made a long dress, called khimar, which covered the loins and the arms completely. I was even ready to cover my face, something most of the sisters with whom I became acquainted did. They were, though, a small minority in Cairo.

Generally speaking, young Egyptians, more or less fully westernized, kept their distance from women wearing khimar and called them �the sisters�. Men treated us with respect and special politeness. Women wearing a khimar shared a sisterhood which lived up to the Prophet�s saying (Allah�s blessings and peace on him) that �a Muslim gives his salaam to the person he crosses in the street, whether he knows him or not.� The sisters were, it is probably true to say, more conscious of their faith than those who wear scarves for the sake of custom, rather than for the sake of Allah. Before becoming a Muslimah, my preference was for active pants-style clothes, not the more feminine skirt, but the long dress I wore in Cairo pleased me; I felt elegant and more relaxed.

In the western sense, black is a favourite colour for evening wears as it accentuates the beauty of the wearer. My new sisters were truly beautiful in their black khimar and with a light akin, to saintliness shone from their faces. Indeed, they are not unlike Raman Catholic nuns, something I noticed particularly when I had occasion to visit Paris soon after arriving in Saudi Arabia.

I was in the same Metro carriage as a nun and I smiled at our similarity of dress. Hers was the symbol of her devotion to God, as is that of a Muslimah. I often wonder why people say nothing about the veil of the Catholic nun, but criticise vehemently the veil of a Muslimah, regarding it as a symbol of �terrorism� and �oppression.�

I did not mind abandoning colourful clothes in favour of black; in fact, I had always had a sense to longing for the religious lifestyle of a nun even before becoming a Muslimah!

After another six months in Cairo, however, I was so accustomed to my long dress that I started to think that I would wear it on my return to Japan. My concession was that I had some dresses made in light colours, and some white khimars, in the belief that they would be less shocking in Japan than the black variety.

I was right. The Japanese reacted rather well to my white khimars, and they seemed to be able to guess that I was of a religious persuasion. I heard one girl telling her friend that I was a Buddhist nun; how similar a Muslimah, a Buddhist nun and a Christian nun are! man who would not normally be accustomed to talking about religion.

My father was worried when I went out in long sleeves and a head-cover even in the hottest weather, but I found that my hijab protected me from the sun. Indeed, it was I who also felt uneasy looking at my younger sister� s legs while she wore short pants.

Muslims are accused of being over-sensitive about the human body but the degree of sexual harassment which occurs these days justifies modest dress. Just as a short skirt can send the signal that the wearer is available to men, so the hijab signals, loud and clear: �I am forbidden for you.�

The Prophet once asked his daughter Fatima, "What is the best for a woman?� And she replied: �Not to see men and not to be seen by them.� Having married, I left Japan for Saudi Arabia, where it is customary for the women to cover their faces outdoors. I was impatient to try the niqab (face cover), and curious to know how it felt. Of course, non-Muslim women generally wear a black cloak, rather nonchalantly thrown over their shoulders, but do not cover their faces; Non-Saudi Muslim women also often keep their faces uncovered.

My first niqab left my eyes uncovered. But in winter I wore a fine eye-covering as well. It is an error of judgment to think that a Muslim woman covers herself because she is a private possession of her husband. In fact, she preserves her dignity and refuses to be possessed by strangers. Observing the hijab from outside, it is impossible to see what it hides. The gap, between being outside and looking in, and being inside and looking out, explains in part the void in the understanding of Islam. An outsider may see Islam as restricting Muslims. Inside, however, there is peace, freedom, and joy, which those who experience it have never known before.

Practising Muslims, whether those born in Muslim families or those reverted to Islam, choose Islam rather than the illusory freedom of secular life. If it oppresses women, why are so many well-educated young women in Europe, America, Japan, Australia, indeed all over the world, abandoning �liberty� and �independence� and embracing Islam?

A person blinded by prejudice may not see it, but a woman in hijab is as brightly beautiful as an angel, full of self-confidence, serenity, and dignity.

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ALCOHOL HARAM IN ISLAM

Alcohol use by mom-to-be ups baby's infection risk
Wednesday, June 15 @ 12:37:33 EEST
ÇáãæÖæ? Alnilin
A woman who drinks alcohol during pregnancy increases the chances of her newborn acquiring an infection soon after birth, according to a new report. "Despite the well publicized risk of drinking during pregnancy,

there continues to be a significant number of women who drink during pregnancy," Dr. Theresa W. Gauthier from Emory University, Atlanta, told Reuters Health. "It remains unknown," she explained, "how even a small amount of alcohol exposure can affect the newborn infant in terms of infection, particularly before or early in the pregnancy, prior to its recognition." Gauthier and her associates examined the effects of alcohol use by mothers on the development of infection in their babies, using data from the Maternal Lifestyles and Development Study that included information on 11,656 infants delivered between 32 and 42 weeks gestation. Increasing amounts of maternal alcohol consumption at any point during pregnancy -- or indeed during the three months before pregnancy -- significantly increased the risk of neonatal infection, the team reports in the medical journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. Heavy drinking (at least seven drinks per week) during the second trimester increased the risk of infection in the newborn nearly seven-fold compared with abstaining from alcohol, the report indicates. Binge drinking during the second or third trimester more than quadrupled the risk of infection. "To our knowledge," the researchers say, "the current study provides the first large clinical analysis suggesting a link between neonatal infection in the nursery with excessive maternal alcohol use during pregnancy." In comments to Reuters Health, Gauthier said: "All women of child bearing age, including teenagers, must be counseled by health workers, educators, and family that drinking any amount of alcohol before or during the chance they may become pregnant is dangerous not only for themselves but for their developing baby."Some Important Link

Alcohol

Alcohol consumption most strongly associated with risk of lobular breast cancer>>>>

Alcohol and Cancer >>>>>
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Alcoholism Statistics and Information

Alcoholism statistics are generally based on solid research. This research is usually performed by sociologists, educators, or those who are simply interested in knowing how alcoholism affects society and the world. Statistics that are based on drug and alcohol use are never 100 percent accurate because there is no way to accurately determine how alcoholism affects each individual in the world. However, we can use statistics to gain a good understanding of the social and societal impact that alcoholism has on individuals of all ages, from babies to the elderly.
Over 14 million people in the United States have an alcohol addiction. However, you do not have to be an alcoholic to be impacted by alcoholism. Just as with most drugs, alcohol does not only impact the individual who is suffering from alcohol dependence. Alcoholism also impacts a person’s spouse, relatives, friends and children. Alcoholism can also affect total strangers, as many individuals lose their lives yearly at the hands of drunk drivers. Exploring common alcohol abuse statistics and researching information about alcoholism is a great way for individuals to educate themselves on the dangers of alcohol.

Children and Alcoholism

There are countless statistics available on the effects that alcoholism has on children. Kids that grow up in a home with one or more parents who are alcoholics often have emotional problems. One in five children live with at least one adult who is an alcoholic, and these children often see themselves as the cause of the alcoholic behavior that surrounds them. Children who live with alcoholics also have a higher likelihood of becoming alcoholics themselves, and they will likely try their first drink before or during their teenage years.

Alcoholism and Pregnancy

Fetal alcohol syndrome is one of the most common birth defects in children. This condition develops when pregnant mothers binge drink throughout their pregnancies. Over 50,000 children in the United States alone are born with severe cases of fetal alcohol syndrome each year. If babies suffering with this syndrome are not cured, they can suffer from mild to severe mental retardation and other birth defects. When babies are born addicted to alcohol, they must undergo the process of detoxification, and a medical practitioner must closely supervise them throughout this process. Mothers who drink excessively during their pregnancies also have a higher likelihood of delivering a stillborn baby. For these reasons, most health practitioners encourage mothers to stop drinking immediately after learning they are pregnant.

Alcoholism and the Elderly

Alcoholism does not only affect young and middle-aged individuals, as the elderly population accounts for a large portion of individuals who abuse alcohol. Over three million individuals who abuse alcohol in the United States are over age 60. In addition, there has been a great increase in the number of “baby boomers” becoming addicted to alcohol. Alcoholism is also common among elderly individuals who are single and have limited incomes. It is also common for elderly individuals to turn to alcohol after the loss of a long-time spouse.

Alcoholism and Illness

Alcoholism can lead to a host of illnesses, many of which can cause irreversible damage to the body. Cirrhosis of the liver is a common disease that many individuals who suffer from alcoholism obtain, primarily if they have been consuming large amounts of alcohol for many years. Excessive alcohol consumption also doubles a person’s chances of developing colon, kidney, throat, rectal, and esophageal cancer. Alcoholism also compromises the immune system severely, making it easier for alcoholics to contract bacterial and viral diseases.

Alcoholism and Genetics

Science has proven that genetics play a significant role in the development of alcoholism. Statistics show that over 40 percent of individuals suffering from alcoholism were genetically predisposed to this disease. However, not all individuals with a genetic predisposition to alcoholism become alcoholics. In those who either never drink or drink occasionally, these genes will lay dormant, but heavy drinkers who are predisposed to alcoholism can become addicted to alcohol rather quickly.

Mortality

The mortality rate in individuals who consume excessive amounts of alcohol is quite high. Driving accidents, alcohol poisoning, damaged organs and decreased immunity are just some of the problems that alcoholics face. Many also face a host of psychological problems as well, and many are depressed and contemplate suicide. The majority of alcoholics need some form of psychological counseling.

Getting Help

Those suffering from alcoholism are often crying out for help. Family members and loved ones are often available, but most often, professional help is necessary. The majority of individuals suffering from alcohol dependence must undergo detoxification. They must also learn to cope without using alcohol consistently, which is why there is a great deal of support available to individuals who struggle with alcohol abuse. Alcoholics Anonymous is the most popular group available to individuals with alcohol addictions, but there are many other support groups available as well. These alcoholism statistics show that alcoholism is a very serious disease, and it is important for those suffering from this disease to seek professional help.
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Underage Drinking Statistics

Underage drinking statistics tell the story of America’s battle with alcoholism. Knowing how many young people are drinking encourages governments and communities to step up their efforts for prevention and treatment.

At the same time, each alcohol abuse situation is unique and deserves individualized attention. If you believe you may have a drinking problem or if you suspect a friend or family member may be abusing alcohol, you can find help. The following statistics reveal the ways youths are harming themselves and what can be done to recognize the signs of an underage drinking problem.

Extent of Underage Drinking in the United States

“Despite age 21 being the legal drinking age, children as young as 12 years old have engaged in under-age alcoholism.”Approximately one out of every ten alcoholic drinks in the U.S.A. is consumed illegally. Despite age 21 being the legal drinking age, children as young as 12 years old have engaged in under-age alcoholism. In fact, more than 70 percent of teens have consumed at least one alcoholic beverage by the time they reach age 18, which is still under the legal age.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention presents some alarming underage drinking statistics for 2009. When high school students were asked about their behaviors during the previous 30 days:

• Four out of ten had drunk beer, wine, spirits, or liquor (before their 21st birthdays)
• One of those four people had driven after drinking alcohol
• One out of four had engaged in binge drinking, which is having five or more drinks during the same occasion
• Just as many, approximately one out of four, had ridden in a vehicle with a drunk driver

“Approximately one out of every ten alcoholic drinks in the U.S.A. is consumed illegally.”Binge drinking, in particular, is a problem for teens. Studies on underage drinkers reveal that teenagers do not drink as frequently as adults, but they do tend to drink more in a single setting. More than 90 percent of under age alcoholism is related to binge drinking.
If you fall into any of these categories, you may be unaware of the consequences or you may be afraid of what will happen if you stop drinking. By calling 1-800-928-9139, you can speak with a knowledgeable counselor who can evaluate your situation confidentially and suggest treatment options.

What Happens When Teens Drink Too Much?

Many children and young adults do not understand the consequences of drinking too much. The social aspects of drinking, whether for rebellion, self-medication, or peer acceptance, often mask the underlying damage caused by alcohol.
Underage drinking leads to numerous physical, mental, and social issues. Because children and teens are still maturing, even one alcoholic drink can stunt or prevent crucial development within the brain and body. Ongoing drinking episodes and binge drinking can lead to large-scale problems and lifelong consequences. Some of the most common potential issues include:

• Trouble remembering specific events or whole periods of time
• Physical assault
• Sexual assault, as a perpetrator or a victim
• Pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases from unplanned and unprotected sex
• Failing grades and absences from school
• Social isolation and rejection
• Hangovers, liver disease, and alcohol-related cancers
• Legal prosecution and jail time
• Car crashes, burns, falls, or drowning
• Abuse of other illegal or prescription drugs for a bigger high
• Suicide, manslaughter, or murder
• Death from alcohol poisoning

Approximately 190,000 people visited hospital emergency rooms in 2008 due to injuries and conditions linked to underage drinking.

Ways to Recognize a Drinking Problem

Most people have trouble admitting they have an alcohol problem. Whether they are adults, teenagers, or children, they either do not see the signs themselves or they are in denial about the situation. The following signs can help detect whether you or someone you love has an underage drinking problem:

• Unusual changes in mood, including irritability, sudden flares of temper, and defensive words or actions
• Slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, stumbling, forgetfulness, and difficulty concentrating
• Rebellion against school rules, family rules, or social conventions
• Sudden switch to friends who are unknown to the parents or guardians
• Abnormal problems in school, such as low grades, attendance and tardiness issues, and disciplinary actions
• Low energy, lack of involvement, and a general sloppy appearance
• Presence of alcohol in a child’s room, backpack, locker, vehicle, or other places of importance
• Smelling alcohol on the person’s breath

The appearance of a single warning sign may be no cause for alarm, but a person meeting several of the criteria may benefit from a professional evaluation. To speak with an advisor about your unique situation, please call 1-800-555-5555. A simple phone call can prevent another person from becoming an additional victim in underage drinking statistics 
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Alcohol advertising may lead to underage drinking

Alcohol advertising and marketing may lead to underage drinking. A large systematic review of more than 13,000 people, reported in the open access journal BMC Public Health, suggests that exposure to ads and product placements, even those supposedly not directed at young people, leads to increased alcohol consumption

            

Lesley Smith and David Foxcroft from Oxford Brookes University collated information from seven rigorously selected studies, featuring information on 13,255 participants. This systematic review, funded by the Alcohol and Education Research Council (AERC), is the first to study the effects of advertising, product placement in films, games, sporting events and music videos, depictions of drinking in various media, and exposure to product stands in shops. As per Smith, "Our work provides strong empirical evidence to inform the policy debate on the impact of alcohol advertising on young people, and policy groups may wish to revise or strengthen their policy recommendations in the light of this stronger evidence".

The authors observed that exposure to TV alcohol advertisements was linked to an increased tendency to drink, as were magazine advertisements and concession stands at sporting events or concerts. Hours spent watching films, playing games and watching music videos also correlated with young peoples' tendency to consume alcoholic beverages. Smith said, "All seven studies demonstrated significant effects across a range of different exposure variables and outcome measures. One showed that for each additional hour of TV viewing per day the average risk of starting to drink increased by 9% during the following 18 months. Another observed that for each additional hour of exposure to alcohol use depicted in popular movies there was a 15% increase in likelihood of having tried alcohol 13 to 26 months later".

The authors recommend that counter-advertising, social marketing techniques and other prevention options such as parenting programmes, price increases and limiting availability appears to be useful to limit alcohol problems in young people.


Posted by: Janet    Source

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WHY PORK IS HARAM IN ISLAM?

PORK IS SIN AND SICKNESS

Author Uknown

Muslims' abstention from pork eating is in adherence to the Qur'anic Law which states: "Forbidden to you for (food) are: dead meat, blood and the flesh of the swine and that which hath been invoked the name other than Allah." Holy Qur'an 5:4

Such prohibition is also found in the Bible: " The pig also because it is a splitter of the hoof but there is no cud. It is unclean for you. None of their flesh must you eat and carcass you must not touch. " Deuteronomy 14:8 (Bible)

Islam (an Arabic word which means submission to the will of the Almighty God) has laid down the foundation for the best approach in keeping good health. In the Holy Qur'an (The Last Testament ) God exhorts the believers to select the best food and to stay away from any harmful food to maintain good health: " Let him find out which is the best food (to be had) ... Eat of the best foods We have provided for you . " ( Holy Qur'an 18:19;7:160 )

The main purpose of a True Religion must be to build an ideal community in this world ; a religion that promotes moral, political and economic well; social harmony and peace, as well as good health of its believers or followers. Health means the physical and mental well-being and freedom from diseases and pain.There are several passages in the Bible, articulating that because of sin (a transgression of the law of God) God afflicted human beings with maladies (Ps.103:3;Exodus 15:26 and Psalms 107:16-20). Islamic instructions and teachings espousing health consciousness have scriptural and scientific support

MEDICAL ASPECT OF THE PROHIBITION Abstention from eating pork is a measure to safeguard health. Of all the domestic animals, pig is the most avaricious, eating anything including human excreta. It is the cradle of harmful germs and parasites. Its meat is carrier of diseases to man, thus making it unfit for human consumption.

CHARACTER OF PIG

All types of animals are lawful to be eaten whether those living on land or in the water except those animals specifically forbidden in the Holy Writings revealed by the Almighty Creator and the sayings of the Prophet with clear and well defined injunctions. Pig belong to the forbidden animals, and not allowed to be eaten by the believers. Pig eats almost anything dirty and they are very lazy animals. It is the most avaricious of all domestic animals. Amongst all animals, pig is the cradle of harmful germs. It's meat serves as carrier of diseases to mankind. It is this very reason that made it unfit for human consumption consumption

DISEASES CAUSED BY PORK

The following lists show germs or parasites that are found in pork and some diseases caused by them. Many of these diseases are contagious while some are proven fatal.This proves that the more science advances the more Islam is shown correct as a religion of God.

PARASITIC DISEASES

a) TRICHINELLA SPIRATIS ( Trichina worms )

It is the most dangerous parasite to man ( Rheumatism and muscular pain). The infected persons shown no symptoms, recover very slowly some die, some reduced to permanent invalids. No one is immune from this disease and there is no cure.

b) TAENIA SOLIUM ( Pork tape worm )

The worm causes malnourishment of the person leading to amenia, diarrhoea, extreme depression melancholia and digestive disturbances. Cysticercosis means that larva enter the blood stream then settle down in one or more of the vital organs of the body, for example: brain, liver, lungs or spinal cord. They grow and encapsulate, inducing pressure to the system around, resulting in dangerous diseases (diarrhoea, digestive disorder, amenia, chronic invalidation).

c) ROUND WORMS

Examples: Ascaris, which may lead to digestive disturbances, appendicitis, obstructive jaundice.

d) HOOK WORMS

Examples: Ancylostomiasis, which may lead to amenia, oedema, heart failure or retarded growth ( mental and physical), tuberculosis, diarrhoea and typhoid.

e) SCHITOSOMA JAPONICUM

Bleeding, amenia and other syndromes. If ova are settled in the brain or spinal cord, paralysis and death may occur.

f) PARAGOMINES WESTERMAINI

Infestation leading to bleeding of the lungs ( endenve haemoptysis)

g) PACIOLEPSIS BUSKI

Digestive disturbances leading to persistent diarrhoea; generalized oedema.

h) CLONORCHIS SINENSIS

chlonorchiasis-obstructive jaundice, liver enlargement.

i) METASTRONGYLUS APRI

Causes bronchitis, abscess of the lungs.

j) GIGANTHORINCHUS GIGAS

Cause amenia and digestive disorders.

k) BALATITIDIUM COLI

Causes acute dysentery and general weakness

BACTERIAL DISEASES

1. Tuberculosis

2. Fusiformis necrofurus: causing foot-rot which is very difficult to heal.

3. Salmonella Cholera suis: causing cholera

4. Paratyphoid

5. Bruceellosis: Acute, sub acute and chronic. It may lead to permanent disabilities.

6. Swine Erysipelas: causing Erypelas in man.

Viral Diseases

1. Small pox: is was a source of infection to man.

2. Japanese B-encepphalitis: It is the source of infection

3. Influenza, foot mouth disease, gastroenteritis of the new born babies.

Protozoal Diseases : Toxo plasma goundii- It is a very dangerous diseases. A new born baby of an infected woman may die within few days or weeks after delivery. But if he survives he may develop blindness or deafness. In adult chronic exhaustive fever with enlarged liver and spleen may occur. Pneumonia, or celebro- spinal meningitis which may lead to death or madness. The patient may become blind and deaf too.

Fats In Pigs:

Pork contains more fats than other meats. Therefore, people who are fond of pork are more obese than others. Cholesterol is higher in their blood thus making them more prone to asthereosclerosis cardiovascular accidents and sudden death.

Other Diseases :

Flesh of the pork is hard to digest and may lead to chronic digestive disturbances. Pimples, boils, cysts are common in pork eaters. These are some of the parasites and diseases found in pork and/ or the skin of pigs and certainly there are many more. There is still no means of killing these parasites, in the tissues, neither has anyone found a method of expelling them, even produced any specific treatment for the diseases.

BIBLICAL ASPECT OF THE PROHIBITION

Old Testament

The Jews and the different Christian sects and denominations believe in the Old Testament. Adherents of other religions alleged that the prohibition was already superseded by the New Testament. This cogent argumentation is inconclusive. No one can specifically point out that Jesus Christ (PBUH) lifted the prohibition. On the contrary, he upheld it he declared: " Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets: I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them." (Matthew 5:17 RSV)

Jesus Christ (PBUH) was obviously referring to the existing Law of his time , the Mosaic Law !- in which the Law prohibiting pig as article of food is mentioned. (Leviticus 11:7-11)

" As for any beast that is a splitter of the hoof but is not a former of the cleft and not a chewer of the cud, they are unclean for you. Everyone touching them will be unclean. " Leviticus 11:26

In addition, the book of Prophet Isaiah said: " Who sit in tombs, and spend the night in secret places who eats swine's flesh and broth of abominable things is in their vessels;... These are a smoke in my nostrils, a fire that burns all the day. " ( Isaiah 65:4,5b RSV)

The New Testament

Despite the Biblical injunction prohibiting pork as food, still people of other religious persuasions insist on finding ways and reasons to justify their consumption of prohibited animals arguing that said Biblical prohibition was already superseded in the New Testament when in certainly, no one can specifically point out that Jesus Christ (PBUH) indeed lifted the prohibition. On the contrary, Jesus (PBUH) declared: " Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill them. " ( Matthew 5:17 ) The fact is, we will find in Mark 5:1-20 that Jesus (PBUH) even permitted the foul spirits (evil spirits) possessing a man to enter into the herb of swine. Since the flesh of pig is unlawful for the Jews, to eat and since it is considered unclean, (Leviticus 11:7-8) consequently, the Jews are not to keep or raise them. This Biblical account states that Jesus (PBUH) punished the owners of the swine; destroyed their unlawful livelihood and at the same time showed that pig is the habitat of unclean spirits.

MUSLIMS FOLLOW THE DIVINE LAW

Islam means" submission to the will and command of God " and a person who embraced this religion is called " Muslim " which means " one who accepts and submits himself to the will of God. A Muslim is obliged to be clean both spiritually, mentally and physically. Abstention from eating flesh of swine is one of the obligation a Muslim must observe to attain purity of the soul and of the human nature. The believers in Islam, sincerely believe in the Holy Qur'an as the Word of God, revealed to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) which says: " Allah has forbidden you only what dies of itself and blood and the flesh of swine and that over which any other name than that of Allah has been invoked; but whoever is driven to (it), not desiring nor exceeding the limit, then surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. " ( 16:115 )

We should bear in our mind that the abstention from eating pork by the Muslims is based on hygienic grounds and of the cultivation of purity of character. Pork is not poisonous as to kill people right on the spot but latent. It will destroys slowly. It is certainly not as nourishing as any other meat and it causes prolonged sufferings. Pondering on the wisdom of this saying: "Health is wealth " will lead you to better living and prosperity. The last Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: " There are two blessing which many people lose: health and the free time for doing good ...The stronger believer (in health) is more blessed and more beloved to Allah than the weak believer. "

It is not required of the believer to always find a scientific justification for the divine prohibitions. However, if they look and find it, they must share the information, that will increase their faith. To the contrary, lack of confirmation should not question the authenticity of the Qur'an. We believe that all Qur'anic statements are true, and if science has not confirmed some of them yet, it will do so in the future,

Eight medical reasons to prohibit swine (PIG)flesh

Why did Islam prohibit eating the flesh of swine?

The answer to this question has remained debatable among Muslims and those of other religions who eat the flesh of swine and breed pigs, as they were unconvinced of the reasons for which Islam forbade eating the flesh of swine until they were panic-stricken by the epidemic outbreak of swine flu that overwhelmed the world.

Let Dr. Hassaan Mustafa, a member of the World Union of Health in Canada, enumerate to us the diseases transmitted by the flesh of swine to man:

1. The pig cannot get rid of the entire quantity of uric acid that is formed in its body, given that it is the main element of urine. It gets rid of only 2% and 98% remains in its flesh. That simply means that the flesh of swine is saturated with the main element of urine, which the bodies of all living beings on the surface of the earth endeavor to get rid of through the urinary system, due to the poisonous substances it contains. This is why those who eat the flesh of swine have high rates of arthritis, due to the high rate of uric acid in their blood.

2. The flesh of swine is hard to digest; and it takes four complete hours in order to be digested, given that the amount of digested protein that is absorbed after that process does not exceed 14%. For this reason, the flesh of swine is nutritiously bad and unworthy of the money paid for it, given that the flesh of swine, in many countries, is more expensive than the flesh of other animals whose flesh is edible with no similar problems.

3. The flesh of swine contains high rates of the growth hormone, which accelerates the proliferation of cancer cells if there are any.

4. The fat of swine is hard to digest and emulsify in the digestive system. The greatest portion of it is formed of harmful saturated fats. It is absorbed from the intestines into the blood in the form of huge molecules, that might possibly sediment on the walls of blood vessels and block them, causing blood clot, let alone sclerosis and noticeable high rates of cholesterol and saturated fats (triglycerides) in the blood.

5. The fat of swine sediments in the human body in the same place it comes from in the pig; and this is indeed strange!!! If the fat comes from the belly of the pig, it would settle in the belly of the person who eats it. In this way, the fat of swine helps distort the human body.

6. Eating the flesh of swine paves the way for many ailments and skin problems and diseases, like pimples, sores, fat sacks, and itching, for it contains a high rate of histamine.

7. Pigs and their flesh are the source of more than 57 parasitic, germ-caused and virus-caused diseases transmitted to man, of which a mention may be made of Trichinella, from which the flesh of swine could hardly be free. Trichinella parasites remain in the muscles of man, causing severe pains that might probably paralyze their movement. They might also remain in the diaphragm, causing breathlessness and consequently death. Moreover, those parasites might remain for more than thirty years in the muscles after encasing themselves in a calcic sac.

It is quite interesting to know that an American researcher published on the Archives of Internal Medicine website in 11/6/2001 that the renowned German musician Mozart (d.1791) likely died because of eating uncooked flesh of swine 44 days before the beginning of his 15-day fatal ailment. He was infected by Trichinella, which had not yet been known at that time.

8. The body of the pig in itself is regarded as a biological factory that has the potential to produce virus-caused diseases and epidemics that might affect man due to the genetic resemblance of pig cells to those of man. The world pandemic called swine flu which we are witnessing now is a result of the metamorphosis and merging of the viruses of bird flu, human flu and swine flu, together inside the body of the pig. They have been metamorphosed into a new deadly virus that is transferred from pigs to people and from man to man. In Canada, a case has been recently recorded where that disease was transmitted from an infected person to a herd of pigs, thus making that pandemic enter a dangerous integrated cycle.
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