TARIQ MAGAZINE MAJLIS KHUDDAMUL AHMADIYYA UK
JAN - MARCH 2018
FEATURE
THE WORD ON THE STREET?
HOW DOES LONDON VIEW MARRIAGE?
THE POWER OF THE HUMAN BRAIN THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY CREATION EVER BY DAMIR RAFI
IS SOCIAL MEDIA DESTROYING OUR LIVES?
TO WED
HEALTH
TRAIN YOUR BODY NOW
OR NOT TO WED THE BIGGEST DECISION OF OUR LIFE IS HARDER THAN EVER....PAGE 28
WWW.TARIQMAGAZINE.ORG.UK
MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR 10
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Welcome to the latest edition of the Tariq Magazine for the new year! I hope you find this an interesting and inspiring read. Our aim is to create a magazine which keeps you up to date, educated and motivated to take on life as an Ahmadi Muslim. The main theme of this edition is the impact of social media on our lives but we also discuss topics including marriage, the power of the brain and how to stay fit. As Ahmadi Muslims we should always keep up with cutting edge technology and modern ways of progressing whilst also increasing in our spirituality and staying connected to The Holy Quran. This was the mentality of those early Muslims who created a revolution in all spheres of life including the arts, science, medicine and technology.
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This magazine is here as a tool for the readers to broaden their knowledge of the world and deepen their understanding of faith. In all aspects of our lives we should strive to become better and never become lazy in the selfdevelopment and self-education. For any person at any level self-development is the key to improve and achieve. We all have the same 24 hours in a day but what we do with time is crucial to our success. If we use time effectively and push ourselves beyond what we have done in the past we will come out on top.
For the magazine to be a success we need to send in innovative articles, content and feedback so that Khuddam in the UK can be uplifted mentally, physically and spiritually. Huzur said that “The words and deeds of those who are rightly guided speak for themselves. They need no force to spread their faith�, which is vital today as the world is seeing the wrong message of Islam being portrayed. Therefore, with our actions we need to show the true, progressive and dynamic nature of Islam. Our words are powerful but actions speak louder and it will cause a revolution within ourselves and those around us. If each of us take this responsibility and strive with sincerity and passion to become better versions of ourselves we will all move one step closer to the true teachings of Islam that was brought down from heaven 1,400 years ago. May Allah bless us all and this publication with success and longevity. Ameen Yours faithfully, Zubair Ahmed Hayat
THE HOLY QUR’AN ON MARRIAGE
[30:1] In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful. [30:22] And one of His Signs is this, that He has created wives for you from among yourselves that you may find peace of mind in them, and He has put love and tenderness between you. In that surely are Signs for a people who reflect. Commentary: This verse gives another argument to prove the existence of God and of life beyond the grave, viz., that God has created a pair- man and woman- and has engendered love between them. This leads to procreation and continuity of human life on Earth. This continuity of life shows a design and a purpose behind it and thus it proves the existence of a Designer and a better and fuller life after the life on this Earth.
HOLY QUR’AN
HADITH
FROM THE SAYINGS OF THE HOLY PROPHETSA Narrated by Hadrat Jabir, Allah be pleased with him: Said the Prophet of Allahsa: “Best of you is one who is best in his treatment of his wife and I am the best of you in the treatment of my family.” [Tirmidhi] Short explanatory note: The emphasis on the kindly treatment of one’s wife as enjoined in this Hadith is clear and distinct. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), attached great importance to a husband’s kind treatment of his wife, and observed in this connection that after belief in God and in His Prophet and in His Faith, the deeds of a man in respect of his treatment of God’s servants shall be subject to Divine scrutiny in the light of the rights of His creatures, and that the kind treatment of one’s wife holds a place of high priority, so much so that in the eyes of God the best of Muslims is the one who is best in treatment of his wife. But as everyone is likely to feel according to his own sense of values, that his treatment of his wife is ideal, in order to dispel this likely error, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said that the standard of good treatment will not conform to the rules arbitrarily set by individuals but it will be judged by his own (the Holy Prophet’ssa) example, since by the grace of God, his treatment of his wives was really the ideal.
WISDOM
FROM THE WRITINGS OF THE PROMISED MESSIAHAS “AS FOR ME, I ONCE
ADDRESSED
MY WIFE IN A LOUD VOICE AND I FELT THAT MY TONE WAS INDICATIVE OF DISPLEASURE THOUGH I HAD UTTERED
NO HARSH WORDS. YET THEREAFTER I SOUGHT FORGIVENESS
FROM
GOD FOR A LONG TIME AND OFFERED SUPEREROGATORY PRAYERS WITH
GREAT HUMILITY AND ALSO GAVE ALMS BECAUSE I FELT THAT MY
HARSHNESS TOWARDS MY WIFE
MIGHT HAVE BEEN OCCASIONED BY SOME
UNCONSCIOUS WEAKNESS IN MY OBEDIENCE TO GOD ALMIGHTY.” [MALFUZAT, VOL. 2, P. 2]
THE ESSENCE OF ISLAM VOL. III PAGE 313
OPINION
IS SOCIAL MEDIA DESTROYING OUR LIVES? We delve into the impact social media has had on our lives and where it is heading
IS SOCIAL MEDIA DESTROYING OUR LIVES? BY WALEED AHMAD JOWAHEER FROM NORTH LONDON, WORKING IN THE VOICE OF ISLAM
F
acebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube. The list is endless. Have you ever stopped to consider how many times in a day we turn to these platforms. It’s almost instantaneous - we do it without thinking. The development of technology is no doubt an amazing thing and has allowed human beings to progress in many fields. It has made our lives easier, people are more accessible and it has contributed to social progress. However, despite the benefits, social media has become a modern plague and is an epidemic that has taken over the youth of today. The youth are spiralling out of control and have a desire for social inclusion when ironically it is contributing to their exclusion from human bases, norm and morality. We are now living in an alternate reality where we are glued to our computer screens, smart phones or tablets, and lack the basic skills and awareness of what is around us. So should we be afraid of social media or should we embrace it? As a child, 10 years ago if I wanted access to the internet I would have to dial in and wait for the line to connect, then I could access internet explorer to find answers to my homework. Either that or play solitaire. But how times have changed, children as young as three know how to navigate an iPhone! Likewise, parents are neglecting their children’s basic needs and support due to this untoward attraction to social media. Now many could say that this is allowing intellectual development however, it is no doubt leading to social isolation, anxiety and lack
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of social skills. Social media platforms create a sense of false reality; illusions and fabrications on people’s happiness which is leading to internal insecurities and complexes. Not only is this destroying their confidence, it is altering their perceptions of what ideal situations should be which ultimately is frightening. The danger attached to this is immense and sometimes leads to extreme consequences such as suicide. It’s a vicious cycle. It begins with addiction; whether it’s reading messages, watching videos or engaging in conversational platforms. These all lead to a sheer lack of concern for ones surroundings and preoccupation. This leads to obsession and a delusional insight into ones flaws and inferiority which consequently results in sadness, anxiety, depression, social exclusion and withdrawal. It’s an inevitable cycle which lights a fire which cannot be extinguished. This leads onto the next pitfall on the questionable safety of social networking. There is no denying the potential risks to vulnerable children and explicit content readily available to all. These platforms are ideal for predators ready to lure children into a false sense of security. Due to the lack of outside contact they are drawn into fantasies and inescapable situations. This is a growing dilemma which our society faces and it is getting out of hand. Those vulnerable find themselves trapped into a world of deceit and fright which spirals into long term mental health issues, traumatism and dysfunctional futures. Similarly, these platforms are being utilised to draw
in vulnerable children into extremism. Subsequent to enticing them into believing this is the correct path, they brainwash them to hold wrong, dangerous and extremist views which leads to mass terror and a broken society. Thus, it is clear that social media is potentially dangerous and is a poison which is unstoppable due to its scale and popularity. In addition to this, social media can be detrimental to personal relationships. People are living in false ideologies and skewed expectations. They are neglecting to spend time with those around them and are desiring things they supposedly don’t have. It can lead to jealousy, desire and lust for immoral things and can lead a person astray from the right path. If they were to spend more time and effort working on their relationships and towards achievable goals and targets, they would not feel the need to relish in other people’s lives and would not feel an unjustified emptiness in their own. It comes down to one point. Social media appears attractive. It draws us in and traps us. We become our own downfall because we are so enthralled by the media out there and fail to realise our true purpose and goals. Of course, technology has branched out a lot in
the last 10 years and has benefitted us in so many ways. It facilitates networking with colleagues and friends, helps to organise events and can be used as a means to gaining more information and studying. However, it is clear that this also comes with negative consequences, needless to say the privacy issues it entails. I have come to the conclusion that despite the negative outlook of social media that I have portrayed, it is not necessarily a bad thing. I think the real issue stems from misuse of these social media platforms which is escalated to more grave circumstances. Social media can be a very powerful tool to society when we take the good aspects into consideration. For example, it’s a platform where an actual representation of world news can be portrayed; as to the watered down version we are shown on news channels. So in refection, as with everything, social media should be used in moderation. We should take the benefits from the use of social media; but we must remember to be vigilant and cautious towards the hidden and apparent evils it can lead to.
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WORD ON THE STREET SOCIAL MEDIA
Do you think social media is destroying society?
Can social media make you hate your life? Social media is dangerous! An example I can give is young girls using social media apps like Insta and YouTube. This false reality is made to look attractive and these girls desire such a life to be accepted when they don’t need it to progress in life. For example on instagram 10 year olds are doing tutorials for make up products and selling brands to other youngsters who should be studying and playing. Real life and social media are two separate things. To answer your question, yes social media can make you hate your life. It can make you depressed. MJ, 26 years old, East London
Yes. There is too much rebellion. People are behaving well in front of their parents but they are doing the opposite on social media. Shah, 28 years old, Stratford
What do you think about social media In some cases it can be beneficial but for many young people these days it can be detrimental. Children as young as 10 have become addicted to social media which is having an affect on their social development. When something happens in the world, social media enhances the hatred towards Islam and the true stories are not being told. It is misleading. However, If used correctly social media can have a tremendous effect on educating the youth. Nadia, Neasden
Is social media destroying society? Yes. People take the wrong context of religion and social media can blame religion for all different types of things. Social media is not a reality- people are fake but others believe it. That is the problem. Jameel, 16 years old
We went to the streets to see what people felt about Social media and it’s impact on the way we live.
THE ART OF SELLING TERROR...
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ear. Did you know that you could sell it?
Well according to the news corporations today, this is their most valuable asset. Using fear to dominate the headlines has become a popular theme because terror makes newspaper fly off the shelves. Fear of the unknown is driving the modern man to irrational thoughts and ideologies, which is causing us to live in realm of paranoia. This is not a new phenomenon but the new uses of social media have made the issue worse and we are bombarded by negative views from every angle to be afraid of the unknown. Very afraid!
those watching, reading and listening. This showering of negativity and suspicion will penetrate the mind of those listening no matter how much you try to resist. The public cannot access the information from any other source so they cling to their TV screens waiting for the BBC to ‘enlighten’ them on the most pressing issues of the world today. This is extremely dangerous and although news reports and those in the media seem to be an authority to listen to, they are being fed one sided reports and do not care about its impact.
Many of us do not realise there is a big business behind the headline, a billion dollar business! The media is The ability of the media to prey upon the concerns run on popularity and ratings so their main concern is of the general public is an ability that has been staying afloat, not about showing reality or depicting sharpened over the decades. News outlets understand a true picture of the world to the audience. The public that the average Joe has no clue about the true impact feel that “If I do not buy, think this way, vote this way, of ISIS or the real understanding of Ebola, so they etc, then consequences will ensue. Like news media sensationalise it to a point where it becomes mass though, advertising fear appeals use negativity to boost hysteria. Every reader of the daily news whether on TV, their income, popularity, and ratings. A threat to one’s laptops, smart phones or newspapers has an interest well-being creates a situation in which the individual in the wider world, which seems to be more accessible has no choice but to make the decision most helpful than ever before. to them. This gives the advertiser, news, or corporation complete control” (Williams, 2012). The global village that we now live in is complex but news corporations play on this to confuse and When there is a global issue, the media pounces disorientate the public. Every time there is a crisis in on it and tries to grow it into a monster, which has the news there is no clear message on what the truth enough weight to frighten the world. This has been is and this has lead to people becoming less trusting done on countless occasions and every few months of the media but also more reliant on it. This need a new monster appears and forced upon us so that to understand the world around us leads so many to we doubt everything we think we know. We begin believe these exaggerated stories with plot twists and to doubt ourselves, our neighbours, the government skewed information based on a particular agenda of and even our families because of what we read in the those in power. newspapers. It becomes a vicious cycle because the more you fear the more you need reassurance and The media has been monopolised by a few validation from the media that your fears are justified. corporations, which push a particular message whether There are so many occasions where people are told that it is about an outbreak disease, religious fundamentalist certain areas, cultures, religions and people are bad group or the next president of the United States. In and when they experience it for themselves they are all these global issues they strike fear into the hearts of shocked by the difference in what the reality is what 16
they been fed from birth through the media. The issue of using fear to gain readership and viewers is so rampant and blatant that even the huge news outlets such as ABC have said; “We at ABC are as guilty as any other media outlet of rushing out to cover every new threat that arises. And the reason we scare people is simple…. For broadcast media, eyeballs equal ratings. For politicians, eyeballs equal votes. For activists, eyeballs equal support for their causes. For corporations, eyeballs equal sales. The bottom line: Worry and fear sell.” (Stossel & Jaquez, 2007) Be honest to yourself, would you be more interested reading about how much an inner city immigrant youth has raised for charity or of how immigrants are destroying our country and taking all our jobs? Unfortunately the human mind is subconsciously being conditioned to be drawn to fears and seek out the negative in life for entertainment. Reading about the good in people does not stimulate the senses as much as highlighting evil and wondering what is out to get you. An outstanding example of this fear being sold in the media was when I travelled to America last year and came across a mosque where there was a shooting in 2015. At the Ahmadiyya Mosque there was an incident where a former Marine, Ted Hakey, shot 30 bullets at the place of worship in the night and was subsequently sent to prison. This was disturbing to hear but even more unnerving was the interview he did after being released from prison.
Before shooting at the Mosque he was angered at the Paris terror attacks, which we all were, but social media was riling him up and he was seeing headlines about how Islam teaches terrorism and all Muslims are terrorists. After learning this online he then attacked a moderate Muslim Mosque, which actually denounced terror in all forms. “What you see on social media sites,” Hakey said. “That was my education of Islam.” After the shooting he had a chance to meet the leaders of the Mosque where he realised their peaceful teachings and immediately apologised and now helps them spread the true Islam to Americans in the area. Ironically the religious leaders in the area pleaded with the Judge to lighten his sentence because of his remorse and also gave him a Holy Quran to read. So if a man can be driven to shoot a peaceful religious place of worship which could have murdered any children or women present because of the influence of social media then we have a serious problem and the media has a huge responsibility to stop spreading fear and reporting on the truth even if it does not sell as well as terror! References: Stossel , J., & Jaquez, N. D. (2007, April 28). The ‘fear industrial complex’. Retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/m/story?id=2898636 Williams, K. C. (2012). Improving fear appeal ethics. Journal of Academic and Business Ethics, 5, 1-24. Retrieved from http:// search.proquest.com/docview/1011485663?accountid=458
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FEATURE
THE HUMAN BRAIN
The most complex and extraordinary creation in the universe
THE POWER OF THE HUMAN BRAIN BY DAMIR RAFI PRESIDENT OF AMSA UK
T
he human brain: the most complex and extraordinary creation in the universe. Home to the mind and the personality, the brain houses future hopes and cherished memories. It stores the consciousness that gives each individual a sense of purpose, passion and emotion. For thousands of years, philosophers have attempted, unsuccessfully, to gain an insight into this mysterious organ, the source of all the qualities that define our humanity. Until recently, the brain has been viewed as almost completely incomprehensible. However, in the past ten years, fascinating research and new discoveries have enabled scientists to develop a greater understanding of this structure; the crown jewel of the human body, the seat of intelligence, the interpreter of the senses, the initiator of body movement and the controller of behaviour. As research continues, there is an expectation that our newly acquired depth of comprehension can not only intrigue us, but provide a means of impacting upon healthcare and technology in the near future. Brain Structure The brain consists of three main parts; the forebrain, midbrain and hindbrain. The hindbrain is located in the lower portion of the organ. It also includes the upper part of the spinal cord, the brain stem and a wrinkled ball of tissue known as the cerebellum. The hindbrain is responsible for controlling a number of important bodily processes and functions, including respiration and heart rate. The midbrain is the uppermost part of the brainstem, which controls some reflex actions and is part of the circuit involved in the control of eye movements and
other voluntary movements. It is the smallest part of the brain. The forebrain is the largest and most highly developed part of the human brain and consists primarily of the cerebrum and the structures hidden beneath it. The word ‘cerebrum’ is Latin word for ‘brain’ and is the largest part of the organ. It is here that things such as perception, imagination, thought, judgement and decision-making occur. Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) “You think, therefore, you can” As the powers of modern technology and computers have developed, as well as our knowledge of the human brain, we are now on the brink of making some spectacular science-fiction reality. With nothing more than a thought, we can now manipulate computers and machinery. This technology-the braincomputer interface-could become one of the important breakthroughs in decades. Allowing us to control computers with our minds is not only convenient for the masses, but could also prove invaluable for the severely disabled. Our brains are filled with neurons, individual nerve cells connected to one another by dendrites and axons. Every time we think, move, feel or remember something, small electrical signals zip from neuron to neuron at speeds as quick as 250mph. These signals are generated by differences in electric potential carried by ions on the membrane of each neuron. The paths the signals take are insulated by a material called myelin, however, some of the electric signal can escape. It is now possible for scientists to
detect these signals, interpret their meaning and use them to direct a device of some kind. It could also work the other way round. For example, researchers could work out what signals are sent to the brain by the optic nerve when someone sees a certain colour. They could then rig a camera that would send those exact signals into someone’s brain whenever the camera saw the colour, allowing a blind person to ‘see’ without eyes. A set of electrodes, which are able to read brain signals, are attached, either to the scalp or into the grey matter of the brain itself or on the surface of the brain. The electrodes measure minute differences in the voltage between neurons. The signal is then amplified and filtered, and can then be interpreted by a computer
program. Using this technology, not only could we have the ability to control a video game by thought, or be able to change TV channels with our minds, but disabled people would be able to function independently. Early research used monkeys with implanted electrodes in multiple areas of the cortex, including the motor cortex from which movement is controlled. These monkeys used a joystick to control a robotic arm. Scientists measured the signals coming from the electrodes. They then translated these biological recordings into the language of the computer. Eventually, the robotic arm was being controlled only by the signals coming from the electrodes, not the joystick. The brain was freed from the body, and its
electrical activity alone could produce movement. The monkeys were operating the robotic arm as though it was their own limb. More recently, a further advance has been made. Interpreting the brain signals for movement in someone who can’t physically move their own arm is a more difficult task. With a task such as this, the subject must ‘train’ to use the device. With the electrodes in place, the subject must visualise closing his or her right hand. After many trials, the software can learn the signals associated with the thought of hand-closing. Software connected to a robotic hand is programmed to receive the ‘close hand’ signal and make the robotic hand close. Now, when the subject thinks about closing the hand, the signals are sent and interpreted, and the robotic hand closes. The
more useful technological function, manipulating a computer cursor, uses a similar method. The subject thinks about moving the cursor forward, left, right and back. With enough practice, users can gain enough control over a cursor to even draw complex shapes. In theory, with even more advanced technology, this could be expanded to allow users to ‘type’ with their thoughts. The technological advancements that could be made are almost limitless once the basic mechanism of converting thoughts to computerized or robotic action is perfected and brought into the mass market. However, more importantly, the healthcare advances that could be made are even more staggering. Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
“Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people” Eleanor Roosevelt Medical technology has come so far nowadays that it is possible for scans to form incredibly accurate, detailed images of organs and so be able to diagnose diseases. However, a relatively new type of scan takes the technology one step further. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) can not only help diagnose diseases of the brain, but it could enable doctors to get inside our mental processes to discover our thoughts and feelings. Normal MRI scans use a strong magnetic field and radio waves to create detailed images of the body. fMRI however looks at blood flow in the brain to detect areas of activity. Changes in blood flow, which are captured on a computer, can help doctors understand more about how the brain works. Scientists know that more active areas of the brain receive more oxygenated blood. The fMRI picks up this increased blood flow to pinpoint greater activity, using a powerful magnetic field (as oxygenated blood and deoxygenated blood have a different magnetic resonance). The MRI machine aims radio waves at protons in the area of the body being studied. As the magnetic field hits the protons, they line up. Next, the machine releases a short burst of radio waves, knocking the protons out of alignment. When the burst has ended, the protons fall back into line and as they do, they release signals that the MRI picks up. The protons in areas of oxygenated blood produce the strongest signals. The most basic use of fMRI is similar to that of MRIspotting injured or diseased tissue. For example, it can be used to monitor the growth of brain tumours, diagnose Alzheimer’s disease and find out where in the brain seizures are originating. Furthermore, fMRI can help to understand emotions. By using fMRI, scientists are able to monitor brain activity in different areas of the brain and determine the emotions that the subject is feeling. In one experiment, a woman who had recently lost a close relative was scanned and found significant differences in brain activity when the woman looked at pictures of the deceased relative. In this instance, the woman had greater activity in areas of the brain associated with pleasure, addiction and rewards, suggesting that the pictures triggered feelings of both pain and pleasure, rather than simply having activity in areas of the brain that process emotional pain. In one market research study, an advertising agency
showed six male whiskey drinkers various images while scanning their brains, to get an idea of how they might react to a new Jack Daniels advertising campaign. This method, though expensive, provides a whole new insight into consumer behaviour. The major disadvantage with fMRI, however, is that it can only look at blood flow in the brain, unable to hone in on the activities of neurons, which are critical to mental function and might have a completely unique story to tell. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, affecting around 465000 people in the UK. Symptoms include loss of memory, mood changes and problems with communication and reasoning. However, scientists are still unable to pinpoint exactly what causes this devastating illness. fMRI scans, as well as another type of brain scan known as Diffusion Imaging MRI, however, can help to track Alzheimer’s at an early stage. When we absorb new information, the human brain reshapes itself to store this newfound knowledge. This phenomenon is known as Cortical Plasticity, and means that the brain is able to adapt quickly to new circumstances. As a child, the brain is more flexible and malleable, which is why children are able to pick up language so quickly. Diffusion Imaging MRI scans can enable scientists to investigate the microstructure of the tissue without actually cutting into it. A quantifiable measure of the plasticity of each individual brain can be deduced. The theory is that before a person experiences any memory loss, the plasticity is affected- that is, the ability of one’s brain to adapt to change. A lack of plasticity could mean susceptibility to dementia. Memory is rapidly changing the structure of the cells, and that may lead to a lasting effect on the brain. Since these scans can measure plasticity, those with low plasticity could be put on drugs early, to prevent the disease from actually talking shape. Despite our recent advancements, unfortunately scientists are still a long way away from discovering all of the secrets of the brain and the mysteries that this miraculous organ contains within it. However, our knowledge has considerably progressed since we first started wondering. Furthermore, the future looks bright, both technologically and medically. Because of our imagination and creativity, our interaction with computers could become a lot simpler and userfriendly, to such an extent that even the completely disabled could control a cursor on a screen. What is exciting is not just what we know, but how much more there still is to find out.
MUSLIM CONTRIBUTORS TO THE MEDICAL SCIENCE BY HAZRAT MIRZA BASHIRUDDIN MAHMOOD AHMAD
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nlike other religions, Islam has ever remained a great champion of the acquisition and the diffusion and dissemination of learning and knowledge. In one of the Muslim expeditions, the prisoners of war were told by the orders of the Holy Prophet that they could purchase their freedom by teaching a fixed number of the young Muslims of Medina how to read and write. The Arabs were complete strangers to all branches of knowledge, especially to the science of medicine. Charms and amulets had more attraction for them and appealed more to their undeveloped minds than scientifically prepared medicines. They made use of the former in preference to the latter. But this strangeness to the medical science was not confined to the Arabs alone. The medical science did not seem then to have progressed very much. Even the most eminent physicians in the then civilized countries in which Greek and Vedic medicines were in vogue believed many diseases to be incurable. It was at such a time that the Prophet of Islam prophetically declared that for every disease except death God had created a cure, a remedy, a medicine. This saying of their Master which embodied a great scientific truth led the Muslims to take special interest in the development and diffusion of this science and its present
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highly advanced and progressive state is deeply indebted to Muslim endeavour. But it is to be very much regretted that in the day of their all-round degradation and decline the Muslims sadly neglected this, one of the most respectable of all human occupations and professions, with the result that it has now been completely monopolised by non-Muslim peoples. To Omar, the Prophet’s great successor, most probably, goes the credit of introducing the wholesome innovation of sending physicians and surgeons with the armies. When the Muslim armies invaded Persia, on account of the fact that they had to march through marshes and places infested with epidemics, Hazrat Omar ordered that some physicians and surgeons should accompany them. In the reign of Walid bin Abdul Malik, the third Omayyad, Caliph in the year 88 (A. H.), only 78 years after the death of the Holy Prophet, were laid the foundations of a magnificent government hospital in a country to which the science of medicine was a totally foreign thing. It was included in the duties and obligations of the government to establish hospitals and dispensaries in the country under its control. The services of the most eminent and successful phy-
sicians and medical practitioners of the time were secured for this hospital and interpreters were appointed to translate into Arabic, Greek books on medicine and thus popularise this science among the Arabs. It was at the instance of the government that a Jew, named Fasurjuia, translated from Syriac into Arabic the Greek Ihran Qus’s well-known book no medicine which was accepted as a respectable addition to the royal library. In the time of the Omayyad Caliph, Omar bin Abdul Aziz, many copies of this book were made and distributed among the students of medicine. During the brief space of a few years government and charitable dispensaries and hospitals became established throughout the length and breadth of the Muslim countries and in 108 A. H. within a century of the death of the Holy Prophet the monumental works of such eminent Greek physicians as Hippocrates and Galen (Jalinus) came to be translated into Arabic. Before the advent of Islam, the science of Chemistry was yet in its infancy. A few chemical prescriptions were known only to those who wanted to manufacture gold. But Chemistry as a science was yet to be born. It was due to the great advancement and progress made by the Muslims in this department of man’s knowledge that it acquired the status of a science. The Muslim physicians made far-reaching discoveries in this connection which raised Chemistry to the position of a great science. Its present very advanced state
owes a great deal to the interest the Muslims took in it and the valuable contributions they made to it. They discovered the properties of the different minerals and their various changes and in this way opened a new avenue for the progress and development of medicine. The disease of small-pox with which the Hindus were to a certain extent familiar but which was absolutely unknown to the inhabitants of other countries was fully investigated into by a Muslim physician of Alexandria, Haroon by name, who made very useful researches into its nature, causes, development and cure. The Muslim monarchs appointed regular incharges of government hospitals. The hospital at Jandiapur was reputed far and wide during the Abbaside regime. This hospital was, in its initial stages, in the charge of a Christian named Georges which fact demonstrates that the Muslims did not at all hesitate to seek the assistance and co-operation of foreigners and non-Muslims in the matter of learning and knowledge and appoint them to very responsible posts. This Georges wrote an exhaustive materia medica in the Syriac language which was translated into Arabic by Haneen bin Ishaq who was a physician of great eminence and reputation, at the court of the Abbaside Caliph, Mamun. Besides this, Haneen translated into Arabic some important books of Aristotle and Plato. In the beginning, Greek medicine was only used and became popular in Muslim countries but gradually the 25
Vedic system also attracted attention and in the time of Haroon-ur-Rashid government envoys were sent to India to investigate into the Vedic system of cure and to secure for the Abbaside Court the services of some very distinguished physicians. These envoys succeeded in taking with them three Vaids of great fame, knowledge and experience, Mankey, Saley and Dhan by name. Mankey translated many Sanskrit books on medicine into Arabic and Dhan was made the director of that famous charitable hospital which the house of Baramika whose members held the most important ministerial and administrative posts under the Abbaside Caliphs, had established for providing free medical advice and medicine to the destitute and the needy. Besides this hospital, there were many other government and private hospitals at that time in Baghdad, the seat of government of the Abbaside Princes. Sushrat was a well-known physician of India. His book is acknowledged as an indisputable authority on the Vedic system of cure. Yahya Barmaki, who was the Prime Minister of Haroon-ur-Rashid, entrusted to Mankey the translation of this book into Arabic. When it was over he ordered that the book be used in all government hospitals as materia medica. Under the Abbaside regime the medical department had become a regular and recognised institution. An inspector-general was appointed by the government who was the administrative head of all government hospitals, dispensaries and medical institutions. In the time of Haroon-ur-Rashidw hospitals were established in all parts of the country. Every hospital was placed in the charge of an experienced physician and all hospitals and physicians were again under the control of a yet higher official who was known as Rais-ul-Atibba. This exhalted post was first given in 174 A. H. to a Christian physician named Yashu. After him his son, Gabriel was elevated to this post. Ahmad bin Tolun, that famous Abbaside governor, established a hospital in Egypt in 261 A. H. which should be regarded as a model hospital. A very distinctive feature of this hospital was that it was divided into different wards which were named after specific diseas-
es. A patient suffering from a certain disease was treated in a ward set apart for the treatment of that very disease. Thus separate wards were established for all important diseases which were put in charge of physicians of very vast and varied knowledge and experience and of acknowledged reputation and authority. There was a special ward for the lunatics in which worked physicians well versed in knowledge about lunacy. This arrangement led to the production of specialists in different departments of medicine who did not exist before. Before that time scholars used to boast that they knew all sciences and according to the technicality then in vogue they were known as Hakims. This boasting about the possession of knowledge of all sciences was so much in fashion at that time that a man of Ibn Sina’s (Avicenna) very vast and deep learning wrote that he was only physician and not a Hakim because he did not know music quite well as if nobody was entitled to be known as an Hakim unless he knew music. And it is quite apparent that when there exists a general tendency among the members of a community to acquire proficiency in all the departments of different sciences, the delicacies and subtleties of those sciences would fail to attract their attention. It is the specialists who can find out these niceties because they devote their undivided attention to the investigation of only a few things. The one very substantial result of this change in the attitude of scholars was that in place of the essentials of sciences on finding out which the greatest stress was laid, their details and particulars also began to be known. Each physician selected a certain disease and gave his whole attention to investigating its nature, causes, cures, etc. The science of medicine in this way reached the acme of its development and progress and the different diseases, their kinds and peculiarities, their cures and remedies and the complications they develop after they pass the first stage, all began to be known in full details and their treatment became based on scientific foundations while it was founded before on mere guesses and conjectures. In some future article on the same subject we shall endeavour to show to what wonderful extent the Muslims developed the science of medicine. From The Review of Religions July 1933 27
MARRIAGE
The biggest decision of our lives is now harder than ever to make, why is that?
TO WED OR NOT TO WED THAT IS THE QUESTION
TO WED OR NOT TO WED
W
e are aware of the power of memes and slang words that go viral. Without wanting to know about their source, every cool kid wants to be associated with them. “I’ll be back!” by Arnold is an example of phrases that go viral. It should be no surprise then that even concepts go viral. People go on repeating and believing in them without ever thinking about the impact such concepts have in their daily lives. Successive generations repeat them like parrots. Even far off cultures, desiring to be modern and cool, adopt them mindlessly. It is as if repetition by the majority renders such concepts as true and beneficial. An example is the American sitcom called Friends, which is one of the top five most watched series in television history. It started in 1994 and ran for 10 years and was acclaimed as one of the most popular television shows of all time. Since then it is always playing somewhere in the world. Most people who are now in their 40’s or above watched it almost religiously. Friends was based around some very specific concepts that today have gone viral. Let me list some of these concepts: (1) One idea was that one’s family can be substituted by friends and work colleagues, who will always selflessly sacrifice themselves in caring for your welfare. (2) That a person cannot just marry just any person, they must find ‘the One’. (3) That searching for ‘the One’ was an excruciating and prolonged task, battling all manner of inner doubts, insecurities and ticking endless boxes regarding any prospective partner. (4) That it would be so boring to tie oneself to just one person for life when there was so much choice ‘out there.’ (5) That the experience of a stream of multiple partners with
its associated ups and downs was regarded as living the trendy life leading to wisdom about the world. (6) That a person should not marry too soon as marriage is a form of handicap and one should first build a career, achieve one’s dream or one should experience the world before going into the ‘retirement’ of marriage and children. (7) That one’s future partner was judged not as a human being but as an object, in the same way as you would buy a mobile phone. You would ask, how flashy would I look with this phone or will people laugh at me? What choice of colours do I have? What are the phone’s features? Just go and discuss marriage and choosing a good partner with your family and friends. You may be amazed to hear them parrot-like repeat one, many or all the above concepts and passionately defend them as valid truths. These viral conceptual memes have not been invented by them but are adopted blindly by them in an attempt to appear modern and wise. It is noteworthy that throughout human history, in every culture, no society as a whole has ever held these views. In fact any individual advocating such concepts was regarded as a deviant, a pervert, a rebel to society, an insane or a debauched person. For the first time the Western societies began promoting, through the media, an alternative trendy lifestyle of rebellion using sex, drugs and rock and roll. The contraceptive Pill had just been invented and the youth were now not answerable to anyone or anything (as long as no crime was committed). The 1960’s revolution of sexual and moral rebellion gave birth in the 1990’s to the above concepts attacking marriage and its value to an individual or to a society. These concepts quickly went global.
Selection of just one loving mate, staying faithful forever and having children was converted into a fake intellectual exercise. Intellectually marriage is ridiculed as if putting a ball and chain around one’s leg and being restricted from the true life. The reality actually is that the requirement to marry, have a loving companion and reproduction of progeny is nothing more than any other human social or biological need. It is as urgent but yet as ordinary as eating, sleeping and socialising. Getting married early and even having children becomes an irreplaceable means for a youth to achieve an adult’s mental, emotional and social maturity. Without such interaction and responsibility an adult would have a part of his or her mentality resembling that of a teenager or child. This is exactly what we observe in today’s society where adults in their 30’s and 40’s are addicted to ramped up kid’s computer games, comic books like manga, movies about children’s superheroes like Superman, Spiderman and various Fairy Tales. All this is lampooned in the current biggest global TV sitcom The Big Bang Theory. The sitcom portrays highly intelligent adults (nerds and geeks with PHD’s) who are addicted to children’s leisure pursuits or sex and are engulfed by intellectual and emotional insecurities that render them incapable of dealing with day to day realities. It portrays the men as weak and constantly in need of the support of sharp, clear-headed women. The women may have their flaws but they are still more driven and clear-headed then any of the men. The gender role-reversal is presented as the solution to gender equality and an intellectual model of political correctness. Today Islam is a living system which can be seen being implemented by the majority of the Ahmadiyya Muslim youth in their daily lives in nearly every country in the world. The young Ahmadi men and women are proud and eager to wear the yoke of personal and social responsibility. They stand up straight and boldly challenge everything that life throws at them. They always emerge successful and become competent to take on ever bigger burdens and
responsibilities, not only for their own welfare but for the welfare of society. These intelligent, tough and determined young men and women meet their own basic human needs of eating, sleeping, studying, working, etc. They also marry early, they take care of themselves, their spouses, their children, their relatives, their neighbours and the deprived – it’s all a day’s work for them. How much further advanced and seasoned are their minds in comparison to the mind of the fully grown man or woman who is struggling to look after his own self? A struggling adult engulfed by the darkness of insecurity and doubt simply because he or she unthinkingly accepts every trending concept. The Holy Prophet of Islam, Muhammadsa gave a very simple, clear and concise instruction regarding marriage. He said: Marriage is my way, he who turns away from my way does not belong to me. Such a simple command should make every youngster and young adult eager to view marriage with positive feelings and thoughts. Negative views about marriage are always held and advertised by those who have no love for the Holy Prophetsa. To show the world that one is enormously successful in some necessary things and a complete failure in other necessary things is not the aim of religion nor is it anything to be proud of. This is why many successful celebrities and billionaires (like Trump) flaunt their positives but when their negatives are revealed the whole society turns against them in disgust. Islam aims to give a human being, man or woman, the tools to make himself or herself an all-round personification of success. Samples of that all-round success are the Prophetsas, their Khalifas and the believers. You are the best people raised for the good of mankind [Holy Quran, 3:111]
WISDOM
HUZUR SAID IF
A HUSBAND AND
WIFE CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER, ARE
RESPECTFUL TOWARDS EACH OTHER’S RELATIVES THEN THOSE WHO SEEK TO
CREATE SPLITS IN RELATIONSHIPS WILL NEVER BE SUCCESSFUL. IF THEY FOLLOW
TAQWA THEN THE INCITER, NO MATTER
HOW CLOSE THEY ARE TO THEM, WILL NOT
SUCCEED. BOTH HUSBAND AND WIFE
SHOULD STAY FIRM ON TAQWA, PRAY FOR THE
MUTUAL RELATIONSHIP TO GROW STRONGER AND TO HAVE REGARD FOR THE
RESPECTIVE RELATIVES. IF THERE IS
HAZRAT KHALIFATUL MASIH VABA ON MARRIAGE
AN ISSUE THE HUSBAND AND WIFE SHOULD CLEAR IT ALL UP BY TALKING TO EACH
OTHER WITH LOVE AND AFFECTION RATHER THAN LET IT FESTER WHICH CREATES NOTHING BUT HATRED. FRIDAY SERMON, 10TH NOVEMBER 2006
WORD ON THE STREET MARRIAGE
Why are people going away from Marriage?
How have times changed in terms of marriage and how do you think it has affected the youth? I think marriage is regarded as less important these days because it’s a more secular society. This has affected people because they don’t have the responsibility of marriage anymore such as looking after children and getting a job. Society is making people less responsible as a whole. There is less incentive for people to get married and they may be scared to commit. Marriage helps with stability and society makes marriage less important. For some people marriage can be seen as boring and they don’t want to be tied down. Sadia, 15 years, North London
Marriage is important, being married myself, it has given me stability and purpose in life. I feel much more responsible and I think it’s sad that people are being drawn away from marriage. In my opinion, the new generation perceive marriage as unnecessary and they feel that having multiple relationships is fun and ideal. I have seen people at the age of 40+ regretting the fact that they didn’t get married but now it’s too late for them. They are so particular in their ways that they don’t see anyone as a match for them. This is sad! Anon, London
Is there a difference between generations regarding marriage? Society has generally changed because moral values have been lost. The moral grounding had prevented us from doing that but marriage is no longer seen as something sacred and that’s because people have drifted from religion. It is because of faith that people honour marriage, the sacredness of marriage is now lost. Long distance relationships are made easy through social media which is part of the problem. S, 29 years old, South London
We went to the streets to see what people felt about Marriage and it’s impact on the youth.
INTERVIEW GETTING INTO OXBRIDGE....
R
izwan Mohammad, a student in his 3rd Year of Natural Sciences (Physics) in Cambridge University, highlighted the importance of getting into Oxbridge institutions. He said that while having other aspects of prime importance, these institutions are significant in terms of job opportunities. Studying from these institutions impresses recruiters; it increases the likelihood of job prospects, in comparison to other candidates with similar qualifications from other institutions. During the application process, he advised that those seeking admission in such institutions should keep a close eye on the deadlines on UCAS as they are usually set earlier than other institutions. One thing to also note is when completing the applications through UCAS, there are usually five choices with the exception of medicine, which has less college options to apply for.
lege. Some of these courses require online bookings and thus those interested should check beforehand. At this point during the UCAS application, the two main prominent factors are the grades and personal statement. Mohib Nadeem, a 2nd year Cambridge student, advised young Khuddam that grades should not be undermined. Good grades are essential in this step so one should strive harder for that in their respective schools.
Rizwan Mehmood further supported the fact that good grades and excellent personal statements play a vital role at this stage of the application. Applicants should consider the following questions: ‘Why do you want to choose this institution and why are you best suited for this?’ and this should be reflected in the personal statements. Writing a good personal statement, is something that each young khuddam should master and it is adWhen deciding on which university to choose, for a visable that is started early and can be the hardest part particular subject, it is important to understand that of the UCAS process. Creating drafts and amending as the core learning in every college is the same, as is the necessary is crucial. Another imperative factor regarding lecture content and the teaching methods. This may be- a good personal statement is seeking advice and opincome confusing when choosing which colleges to apply ions from others such as teachers, students in Oxbridge for and thus his advice was that Khuddam should at- institutions and AMSA. In order to excel in this part, tend open days, free lectures, tours and workshops that it is important to keep writing and rephrasing it until would give them some insight into that particular col- everything is explained in a satsifactory manner. 12
Subsequent to the UCAS process, applicants must take tests set for the applied institution. Rizwan Mohammad speaks from experience and warned these tests can be challenging but the questions do not veer far from what is taught at school. Khuddam applying for these institutions should ask their teachers for practice interview questions, which may also be found on the Cambridge website and YouTube. Khuddam can familiarise themselves with the pattern of the questions that would benefit them in their tests. However, these practice questions will not suffice, Khuddam should invest time in private study and continually updating themselves with their taught material.
Rizwan Mohammad advised applicants to keep interacting with the interviewer. It is better to be honest and ask for help if it is needed. A lack of interaction may come across as a lack of knowledge or crumbling under pressure. Instead of saying “I don’t know”, speak your mind freely and give your opinion on the topic and to explain the question in a different manner. It will be a test of intelligence and adapatabilty.
A further vital piece of advice imparted was to be fully aware of what is written in the personal statement. Know it inside out and be sure to know how to elaborate on each sentence written. For example, if you wrote that you have studied a particular book then they might The final stage comprises of an interview which usu- ask you questions from it to test you. ally commences in the beginning of December. There could be 2 or 3 interviews of around 30 minutes each (it The last advice that Rizwan Mehmood gave to young depends on the institution and the subject you are ap- Khuddam was to attend open days by the institutions plying for). This interview would take place in the ap- which can also be faciltated by AMSA. Always aim high plied college. This interview would be a test of ability of and never lose confidence! comprehension and can be quite challenging. However, the interviewer will often offer hints and gauge each individual’s understanding of the questions. 37
TRAIN YOUR BODY
FITNESS
“If you have a body you are an athlete.” - Bill Bowerman
TRAIN ANYWHERE AND EVERYWHERE E
ver thought that you did not have time to go to the gym, or it was too expensive? Ever thought that getting into peak physical condition meant lifting weights and taking crazy amounts of supplements? Well that is not the case! For thousands of years our ancestors were muscular, fast, strong and fit. How could they be if they didn’t have gyms or whey protein to ingest every 4 hours? Here’s how you can be too. In the past a man’s primary function was to hunt which would lead him out into the wild. He had to run fast, jump, move, fight and protect his family. This made him very agile yet built. They had very high testosterone and their bodies would respond and adapt to their constant activity building solid muscle so that could remain “King of the Jungle”. However, fast forward to modern day society and men do not have a present threat which they must conquer everyday and most of their lives is spent in front of computer or the television. This causes their testosterone levels to go down and their general motivation to be active to decrease heavily. The key is to get back to our roots and do full body and overall fitness activities. If you’re getting started, look to master all things related to pushing, pulling, lower body, balancing and core stabilisation. There are 5 essential moves that will boost your testosterone and give you a ripped look whilst building a solid physique.
38
BODYWEIGHT SQUATS Stand with your feet shoulder width apart. Start the movement by bending your knees and sitting back with your hips. Go down as far as you can and quickly reverse the motion back to the starting position. Keep your head up and back straight throughout the move.
Get in a press-up position but rest on your forearms rather than your hands. Make sure your back is straight and tense your abs and your glutes. Hold without allowing your hips to sag.
PRESS UPS
HANDSTAND WALL WALK
Set up with your weight supported on your toes and hands beneath your shoulders, body straight. Take care to keep your core locked so a straight line forms between your head, glutes and heels. Lower your body until your chest is an inch from the ground then explosively drive up by fully extending your arms.
Position yourself in a handstand position with your feet planted against a wall. Move your hands forward and walk down the wall until you reach the bottom.
The press-up is a classic exercise, good for beginners and P.E. lessons because it requires no equipment and is almost too easy to perform. Or so you thought: we’ve got a few variations on this fat-burning, musclebuilding staple that will challenge even serious lifters. PULL-UPS (ASSISTED) Grab the bars with your palms facing away from you and a shoulder-width grip. Rest both knees on the pad and hang with your arms extended. As you breathe out, pull your torso up until your head is level with the pull-up bar. Slowly lower your torso back to the starting position. PLANK
With these 5 moves your body will feel the burn and you will be doing the basics of bodyweight training. Once you perfect these moves your body will be lean, strong, fit and fast. You will be good at sports, healthy and not out of breath if you need to catch a train. When you think about fitness you should think about logevity and if you can sustain your level of exercise until you’re old. This will ensure that you can always benefit from the fruits of good health and be there for your children and future grandchildren rather than suffering from ill health which can be easily avoided. In the modern era this type of bodyweight training has been coined as Calisthenics where men and women are seen doing endless pull ups in the local parks and press ups for eternity. They have awesome physiques because they are using their bodies as leverage to put their muscles under tension. This is key to gaining strength and power.
Many athletes use Calisthenics or body weight training to gain the strength they need without putting on excess body weight or size which is not functional. One of the main advocates of training for strength and not size was Bruce Lee as he would ensure in his regime that he was not gaining size for the sake of it but was actually gaining fuctional power which he could use in his martial arts. Many boxers such as Floyd Mayweather use this technique which means they are not huge bodybuilders but their muscle is dense and ripped which is a look that is more desirable, functional and healthy as compared to those who are 220 pounds and can barely walk without being out of breath. So if you are a beginner or a seasoned athlete you need to ditch the weights and start using your God given body to train. You will see extreme benefits and progress after only a few weeks and you will be happier and healthier training wherever you want and getting results. Get back to your roots and start today!
39
ADMISSION TO JAMIA AHMADIYYA UK 2018
Jamia Ahmadiyya UK will be holding entry tests and interviews on the 11th and 12th of July 2018 for this year’s intake of students. The following conditions apply: Qualifications: Minimum qualifications for the candidates are six GCSE’s, three A-Levels or equivaleng with C grades or 60% marks. Age on Entry: Maximum age of 17 years old for students with GCSE’s or 19 years old for students with A-Levels or equivalent qualifications. Medical Report: The applicant MUST submit a detailed medical report from the GP with whom they have been registered. Written Test and Interview: The applicants will take a written test and will appear before a Selection Board for interview. Only those who pass the written test will be invited for an interview. The written test and interview will be based on the recitation of The Holy Qur’an, the Waqfe Nau Syllabus, and proficiency in reading, writing and spoken English and Urdu languages. However, candidates will be judged for their inclination towards learning and reading the translation of The Holy Qur’an and the books of The Promised Messiah (as). Procedure: Application will ONLY be accepted on the prescribed admission form available from the Jamia UK office. It must be accompanied by the following documents: - Application must be endorsed by the National Ameer. - A detailed medical report from the GP. - Photocopies of the GCSE or A-Level results. If the results are awaited, the candidate must include a letter from his school/sixth form tutor about his predicted grades. - Copy of applicant’s passport. - Two passport size photographs. - The spellings of the name must be the same as the passport. Any change must be accompanied by the certification for that change. Last Date: The application for the 2018 entry MUST arrive by 30th May 2018.
WWW.TARIQMAGAZINE.ORG.UK