Bismillah irRahman irRahem
In the Name of Allaah, The Most Gracious, The Most Kind

If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn. If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight. If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy. If a child learns to feel shame, he learns to feel guilty. If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient. If a child lives with encouragement, he learns confidence. If a child lives with praise, he learns to appreciate. If a child lives with fairness, he learns justice. If a child lives with security, he learns to have faith. If a child lives with approval, he learns to like himself. Is a child lives with acceptance and frienship, he learns to find love in the world.

ISLAMIC KNOWLEDGE: THE KEY TO RAISING RIGHTEOUS AND SUCCESSFUL CHILDREN

BUILDING CHILDREN'S CHARACTER

INFLUENCING THE BEHAVIOUR OF MUSLIM YOUTH AND THEIR PARENTS

A VISION ON EFFECTIVE ISLAMIC EDUCATION

ISLAM & CHILDREN

http://www.islamic-world.net/parenting/parenting_page/parent_child_index.htm

Bismillah irRahman irRahem
In the Name of Allaah, The Most Gracious, The Most Kind

                        CHOOSING THE DESIRED WIFE

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, the Merciful, the Hearer of supplications, and peace and blessings upon our beloved and humble prophet Muhammad,and upon his family and companions.

When marriage is spoken of during these "modern" times, Muslims become horrified, conjuring images of an arranged marriage, trying to find that "perfect" companion, how much of a financial burden it will become, and so on. The reality is that Islam came to solve these problems, not exacerbate them, yet unfortunately we have integrated our  local  traditions and customs with Islam so that marriage has become a major concern for a man rather than a delightful experience.

When living in a free, perverted and corrupt Western society, the Muslim male youth finds many temptations and tests, as a result of mixing with females, which he must face and overcome. He must constantly resist these temptations, which are thrown at him  in the streets, on the media, and at work. And so the wisdom of the Prophet (s.a.w) echoes on, when he said: "O young men, those among you who can support a wife should marry, for it
restrains the eyes from  casting (evil glances), and preserves one from immorality..."

When seriously considering marriage, you must pose the question to yourself as to just what kind of wife you want, what her qualities should be in order to establish an Islamic and peaceful household, and how you will know who she is.

As Muslims, we believe that Allah wants the best for us, and that His Prophet (s.a.w) illustrated this through his own life. So note that by following the advise of our own Creator, and that of His beloved servant, we can only be successful.


WHO TO MARRY

Islam is clear on the kind of wife you should be seeking. The Prophet (s.a.w) said: "A woman may be married for four reasons: for her property, her status, her beauty, and her religion; so try to get one who is religious, may you be blessed." This specifically defines  just what kind of a companion we are seeking, for if we marry her for anything other than her religious piety, our marriage is bound to fall into misery.

True, beauty and charm is hard to resist, yet beauty does not last forever and does not guarantee you her obedience and religiousness. Financial status is dynamic, and so is worldly status, yet religion strongly establishes a household, and it may be that through your intention of marrying her for her religion, the rest is given to you anyway.  In another hadith, the Prophet (s.a.w) said: "The whole world is a provision, and the best object of benefit of the world is the pious woman." Imagine!  Nothing in this world is as valuable as a pious woman!  This point has been stressed many times by Rasulallah (s.a.w), who  himself, when asked what three things he loved the most, mentioned  a pious woman. Once the following ayah was revealed: "They who hoard up gold and silver and do not  spend it in the way of Allah, unto  them give tidings of a painful doom.

On that day when it will (all) be heated in the fire of Jahannam, and their foreheads and flanks and their backs will be branded therewith (and it will be said to them):  'Here is what
you hoarded for yourselves, now taste of what you used to hoard' "[al-Taubah: 34-35]. Umar (r.a.a) has been quoted to say that, when this ayah was revealed, he approached the Prophet (s.a.w), submitting that the ayah weighed heavily on the minds of the Sahaba. Rasulallah (s.a.w) replied that the best  thing to be treasured is the devoted wife who causes pleasure when seen, obeys orders instantly and takes full care of herself and her husbands property when he is away. Abu Bakr once asked

Rasulallah  (s.a.w) what was the best thing to be treasured, and he (s.a.w) replied: "the tongue in remembrance of Allah, the heart filled with thanks to Allah, and a pious wife who helps in virtuous deeds".  Look at how valuable  such a woman is in the sight of Allah! How can a man live unhappily with such a person.


QUALITIES OF THE PIOUS WOMAN

Alright, you say, you've convinced me, but what actually makes her a pious woman? The answer is simple: Allah himself has described those qualities most loved by Him in the Qur'an, and in the ahadith there are numerous accounts of the virtuous attributes of a  pious woman.

The following are some ayahs on the attributes of the wife you should be seeking, so note those fine and appreciative qualities.  The following are some ayahs on the attributes of
the wife you should be seeking, so note those fine and appreciative qualities.

"And women of purity are for men of purity, and men of purity are for women of purity"[s.24;v.26]

"Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient, and guard in (the husbands) absence what Allah would have them guard"[s.4;v.34]

"It may be, if he divorced you (all), that Allah will give him in exchange consorts better than you, who submit (Muslims), who believe, who are devout, who turn to Allah in repentance, who worship (in humility), who travel (for faith) and fast..."[s.66;v.5].

And then, in surah Ahzab, is a full list of those qualities loved by Allah, qualities which by the way should be evident in both males and females. So, my dear brother, choose her for the following attributes:

• -a Muslim woman
• -a believing woman
• -a devout woman
• -a true woman
• -a woman who is patient and constant
• -a woman who humbles herself
• -a woman who gives charity
• -a woman who fasts and denies herself
• -a woman who guards her chastity
• -a woman who engages much in Allah's praise.

Among the four known perfect women was Maryam. She was loved by Allah because of her religious qualities: "O Maryam! Worship your Lord: prostrate yourself, and bow down (in prayer) with those who bow down"[s.3;v.43].  Another was the wife of Pharaoh: "And  Allah sets forth, as an example to those who believe, the wife of Pharaoh: behold she said: 'O my Lord, build for me, in nearness to Thee, a mansion in the Garden' "[s.66;v.11].

The Prophet (s.a.w) loved his wives because of their religious qualities.  Aisha once related the fine qualities of Zainab: "(Zainab) was the one who was somewhat equal in rank with me in the eyes of Allah's Messenger (s.a.w), and I have never seen a woman more  advanced in religious piety than Zainab, more God-conscious, more truthful, more alive to the ties of blood, more generous and having more sense of self-sacrifice in practical life and having more  charitable disposition and thus more closer to Allah, the Exalted, than her."

Ahh, you think, but you'll never find such a woman! Well, if that was true, Allah would not have described her in the first place, and furthermore those qualities were emanating from the women described above. Islam deals with reality, not fiction. Sure, the  perfect woman doesn't exist, yet "if you take a dislike to them, it may be that you dislike a thing, and Allah
brings about through it a great deal of good"[s.4;v.19]. Remember also that you are not perfect  either.


KNOWING WHO SHE IS

To find that pious woman, there are two steps to be taken, and that firstone relies on your personal observation. In surah Nisaa, Allah asks the believing women that they should "lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and  ornaments," and also that they "should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments"[s.24;v.31]. If you notice a woman acting modestly, being not too obvious through her actions (by lowering her voice when around men), one who attempts to hide her attractions (which includes her external beauty as well as her internal charms), then you know she has some of those precious qualities.  When you see a woman   unashamedly flirting, unconcerned about her revealing clothes, and freely converses with males- keep far, far away. I'm sure when you get married you want your wife to devote her love to you, not to twenty other "just good friends".

Through simple observation, you can get a glimpse of her nature; for example, the way she stands when conversing, how she maintains eye-contact, her clothes, where she spends her time etc. Look for her strong points, and don't stress on her weak ones.

Yet, after all this, we still have to come to the most important topic. You can look all you want ather, set a private investigator  to track her movements, read her diaries (all of which I consider  extreme and unIslamic), yet, my dear brother, no-one knows her heart 
and intentions, no-one knows whether she will turn sour or more  religious, or whether you are suitable for each other, except for Allah.

TRUST IN ALLAH

We are choosing our wife for her permanent values; namely her religious devotions, moral integrity, character etc. But believe me, if we try ourselves to combine a marriage, we are almost sure to fail, because we have no knowledge.

Allah loves a servant when he puts his trust in Him. When we do so, it is illustrating how we rely upon Him for help, and proving our sincerity to Him, establishing that we recognise His
infinite knowledge and wisdom.

Islam is likened to being as a house, and in my estimation nothing cements that house together as well as putting our trust in Allah.

It is related on the authority of Jabir ibn 'Abdullah that the Prophet (s.a.w) used to teach his companions to seek, through a special du'a (known as an istikharah), the guidance of Allah in all matters which affected them.  Rasulallah (s.a.w) said: "When you are confused  about what you should do in a certain situation, then pray two rak'at of nafl salaat and read the following du'a (du'a of istikharah)."

I am surprised at the criticisms thrown at this du'a, and of its negligence.  We are humans, powerless in this sphere of life, knowledgeable only enough to survive.  So why shouldn't we turn to Allah and seek His perfect help whenever we require it? Allah responds to the  call of His servant when he asks for guidance, and we are after all seeking to do something in order to please Him.

Many wrong notions exist concerning istikharah. Many Muslims will pray, read the du'a, and run to bed expecting to see a dream showing them their future wife, what her favourite colour is, and some other weird fantasy. That is not the purpose of this salaat.

The results of an istikharah can take many forms. Basically, you go by your feelings, whether you now feel more favourable or not. Also, you may notice events have changed, either for or against you. Finally, as a wonderful gift from Allah, you may be blessed with a  dream. Note that you must follow the results of  an istikharah, because  not doing so is tantamount to rejecting Allah's guidance once you've asked for it. Also, you should firstly clear your mind, not have your  mind already decided, and then afterwards follow the results willingly.

The  Prophet (s.a.w) once sent Zainab a proposal of marriage. She refused to accept the proposal straight away, expressing her intention to refer the matter to Allah: "I do not do anything until I solicit the will of my Lord." Allah, the Responsive, answered her plea for  help and revealed an ayah approving of the marriage. We may seem shocked at her refusal to accept a proposal from what is the best husband any woman can have, yet
she was just recognising that it is Allah who  knows how successful such a marriage will be, and as a sign of appreciation, that reply is now preserved in our Holy Book: al Qur'an.

The  Prophet (s.a.w) once said to Aisha: "I saw you in a dream for three nights when an angel brought you to me in a silk cloth and he said: 'Here is your wife', and when I removed (the cloth) from your face, lo, it was yourself, so I said: 'if this is from Allah, let  Him carry it out' ".

Marriage is a serious step, and requires the right attitude. If marriage completes half our faith, shouldn't that half be the best half? A woman married for the wrong reasons can only weaken the Muslim household.  Consider that she will be your life-long companion, the rearer of your children. Don't marry her for her worldly wealth, but for her wealth in Islamic wisdom and knowledge. Her status in this life is but illusionary, so choose her for her status in the sight  of Allah. Beauty is but superficial, but the beauty of Iman is transcendent.

When asking Allah for a wife, call upon Him by His beautiful names, as He has commanded us: "For Allah are certain and dignified names: therefore call upon Him by  them"[s.7;v.189]. Ask for a companion who is devout, pious, patient and so on. Be among  those who say: "Our Lord, may our spouses and our offspring be a joy to our eyes and make us leaders of the righteous"[al-Furqan,74].

I cannot provide a better conclusion than saying that you must put your trust in Allah. You must have trust in His concern for us, and His ability to help us. Allah says: "Put your trust in Allah, for Allah loves those who put their trust in Him"[s.3;v.159].

May Allah help us in our sincere efforts in following His commandments and the way of His beloved servant, and provide us with wives whom He loves.

"When my servants ask you concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them): I respond to the prayer of every supplicant when he calls on Me: let them also, with a will, listen to my call, and believe in Me: that they may walk in the right way"[al-Baqarah,v.186].


By: IBRAHIM ABU KHALID

http://www.islamawareness.net/Wife/choosing.html

Bismillah irRahman irRahem
In the Name of Allaah, The Most Gracious, The Most Kind

Some Responsibilities of the Husband and Rights of the Wife in Islam.

Dr. G. F. Haddad
Damascus

Q: I have frequently read what, according to Islamic teachings, a husband may or may not do in a dispute with his wife if he attributes it to disagreement with or misbehavior of his wife. I almost never read anything about the opposite situation: if the wife has a disagreement with her husband or *he* misbehaves. Things are nearly always told from the man's point of view! What are the wife's rights in the case of bad behavior of her husband?

A:

Praise belongs to Allah the Lord of all the worlds. Blessings and Peace on the Messenger of Allah, and on his Family and all his Companions.

Allah ordered the believers to "consort with women in kindness" (4:19) and He said: "And of His signs are this: He created for you helpmeets from yourselves that ye might find rest in them, and He ordained between you love and mercy. Lo, herein indeed are portents for folk who reflect" (30:21).

A Wife's Basic Rights Regarding Her Husband's Behavior

NOTE: This is distinct from her other rights regarding living expenditures, housing, clothing, and education of children. And from Allah comes all success.

1. The first and worthiest condition of marriage to be fulfilled by the husband is to "keep the promise or promises he made to the wife at the time he married her." This is an order of the Prophet [salla Allahu `alayhi wa alihi wa sallam, abbr. (s)] according to the hadith: "ahaqqu al-shuruti an tufu bihi ma astahlaltum bihi min al-furuj"

2. He cannot order her to do anything that is against religion. The Prophet (s) said: "No obedience is due to creatures in disobedience of the Creator" (la ta`atan li makhluqin fi ma`siyat al-khaliq).

3. He must exercise patience and be prepared to listen to her advice in every situation. The Prophet (s) listened to the advice of his wives in matters ranging from the smallest to the greatest.

4. If she invites him to wake up and perform the late night prayer, it is praiseworthy for him to do so and vice-versa. The Prophet (s) prayed for such people: "May Allah grant mercy to a man who gets up at night and prays, and wakes up his wife, and if she refuses, he sprinkles water in her face; may Allah grant mercy to a woman who gets up at night and prays, and wakes up her husband, and if he refuses, she sprinkles water in his face."

5. He must respect her and pay attention to her needs so that she will respect him and pay attention to his.

6. He must control his passions and act in a moderate manner especially in the context of sexual intercourse. Remember that Allah has placed between you and her "friendship and mercy" (mawadda wa rahma), not the gratification of your every lust; and that the Prophet (s) advised young men to marry "because it casts down the gaze and walls up the genitals," not in order to stimulate sexual passions.

The husband should habitually seek refuge in Allah before approaching his wife and say: "O Allah, ward off the satan from us and ward him off from what you have bestowed upon us in the way of children" (allahumma jannibna al-shaytana wa jannibhu ma razaqtana).

Allah has called each spouse a garment for the other (2:187), and the purpose of garments is decency. The Prophet (s) further said that he who marries for the sake of decency and modesty (`afaf), Allah has enjoined upon Himself to help him.

7. He must never ever divulge the secrets of the household and those of the married couple.

8. He must strive with sincerity to acquire her trust, and seek her welfare in all the actions that pertain to her.

9. He must treat her generously at all times. The Prophet (s) said that the best gift or charity (sadaqa) is that spent on one's wife.

10. If she works outside the house, it is praiseworthy for the husband to hire house help to relieve her from too heavy a burden. The wife's duties do not require her to feed her child, nor even to nurse it, nor to clean nor cook. It is the husband's duty to provide a nursemaid, food for older children, and servants to clean and cook. However, if the wife does those things out of mercy and love, it is a gift to the husband on her part.

11. He must avoid excessive jealousy and remember that Allah is also jealous that he himself not commit. The Prophet (s) said: "Do not be excessively jealous of your wife lest evil be hurled at her on your account" (la tukthir al-gheerata `ala ahlika fa turama bi al-su'i min ajlik) and he said: "Allah is jealous and the believer is jealous; and Allah's jealousy is that the believer should not go to that which Allah has forbidden for him" (inna Allaha yagharu wa al- mu'minu yagharu wa gheerat Allahi in ya'tiya al-mu'minu ma harrama `alayhi).

12. He must protect her honor and not place her in situations where it is compromised or belittled. The Prophet (s) said that Allah will not ever let him enter Paradise who cares little who shares his wife's privacy. This includes the husband's brother, uncle, and nephew, let alone non-related friends, neighbors, and complete strangers.

13. He must exercise patience and forgiveness in the case of disagreement or dispute, and not rush to divorce. The declaration of divorce is a grave matter indeed, and the Prophet (s) said: "Of permitted matters the most loathesome before Allah is divorce" (abgh`ad al-halal `ind Allah al-talaq).

In another hadith he said that divorce is so grave that because of it Allah's throne is made to shake. He said: "The best intercession [i.e. intervention of a third party] is that which brings back together the husband and the wife." Womanizing -- divorce for the purpose of marrying another woman out of sexual attraction incurs Allah's curse according to the hadith: "Allah's curse is on the womanizing, divorcing man" (la`ana Allahu kulla dhawwaaqin mutallaaq). Finally, even in the midst of and after divorce, Allah has prescribed kindness upon the man: "(After pronouncing divorce) she must be retained in honor or released in kindness" (2:228).

For the above-mentioned reason (i.e. to prevent the quickness of divorce), in his time, Ibn Taymiyya gave the ijtihad (juridical opinion) by saying that three talaqs in one sitting constituted only one. He did this to interdict the prevalent custom of suddenly giving three talaqs, which in his time was on everyone's lips, (i.e. had become so commonplace as to be a habit). However the other four schools of fiqh had the opposite opinion in this matter.

14. He must not dwell on what he dislikes in his wife, but on what he likes.

15. The husband is not to stay away from his wife or keep his wife in a state of suspense, whether at home or abroad, for a protracted period of time except with her consent.

Allah said: "Turn not away (from your wife) altogether, so as to leave her hanging. If you come to a friendly understanding and practice self-restraint, then Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Merciful" (4:129). Protracted separation (6 months or more in the Shafi`i school) without prior or subsequent arrangement with the wife, whether the husband is away willingly or unwillingly (for example due to war, imprisonment, or illness) is sufficient grounds for her to obtain divorce from the judge.

16. The Prophet (s) said: "Do not beat your wife." He also said: "Do not strike your wife in the face." The expiation for striking one's slave in the face is to set him or her free on the spot, but what expiation is there for striking one's wife? The Prophet (s) condemned the man who beats his wife in the day and then approaches her at night. And to beat her to the extent of inflicting serious injury is enough grounds for her to obtain divorce from the judge.

17. Caring for one's wife's sexual fulfillment is an obligation of religion. The Prophet (s) warned against rushing to gratify one's pleasure and forgetting that of one's wife. He also disliked that the husband should quickly withdraw from his wife afterwards, as it is a strain upon the wife. If she asks for intercourse, he should not refuse.

Conclusion

These are only some of the basic duties of the husband in Islam. The state of marriage is part of one's adherence to the Sunna and an exalted state of life indeed. In the words of the Prophet (s), it permits one to meet Allah "pure and cleansed" (tahiran mutahharan).

One's behavior towards one's wife is the measure of the perfection of one's belief as the Prophet (s) said: "The most complete of the believers in his belief is he who perfects his manners, and the best of you in manners are those who act best towards their wives." Marriage must be approached with utmost seriousness, entered with the purest intent, and cultivated religiously as it does not come cheaply and it carries immense reward.

The Prophet (s) called it "his way" (al-nikahu sunnati) and "half of religion" and he also said: "Two rak`at (prayer-cycles) of the married person are better than seventy rak`at of the unmarried." He also warned that among the greatest of responsibilities that had been placed upon men is that pertaining to the treatment of their wives.

And may Allah's blessings and peace be upon Muhammad,
his Family and all his Companions,
and praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.

http://www.sunnah.org/msaec/articles/responsibilities_husband.htm

Assalamu’alaikum Warohmatullohi Wabarakatuhu...
Bismillaahirrohmaanirrohiim ....

Family Diet In Islam: The Importance of Food and

Correct Nutritional Habits

By: Amina Mohammed

Food is an essential prerequisite for life and as such the primary goal of eating and drinking is to enable the body to function normally. With food, or the lack of it, the destinies of individuals are greatly influenced. We should "eat to live", and "not live to eat". The Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) recommended even for pious man the quantity of food "which is just sufficient to keep his back-bone erect".

Nutrition is a matter of life-long eating habits which become set with age. Dietary patterns also vary from one person to another according to the difference of cultural and geographic environment to another. To ensure a proper supply of the essential nutrients, we must combine food sources of these nutritients in the right amounts. This results in a healthy well-balanced diet.


A Balanced Diet A BALANCED DIET

A balanced diet consists of food from the five basic food groups in the correct proportions. That is:

 * Bread and cereal group - (bread, breakfast cereals, pasta, rice - important nutrients 

   CHO, vitamin B, dietary fibre)

* Fats and oils group - (margarine, oils, mayonnaise, salad dressing) - important nutrients

  - essential fatty acids, vitamin A.D.E.)

* Meat and meat alternatives - (meat, chicken, fish, eggs, legumes, including
* Soya - important nutrient -protein, iron, vitamin B)
* Milk and milk products - (milk, cheese, yoghurts - important nutrients -
* calcium, phosphorus, vitamins)
* Fruit and vegetables - (all types - important nutrients include vitamin &
* minerals especially vitamin A & C. and fibre)

Having food from the five basic food groups during the day ensures that the diet consists of varieties of nutrients.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. A great number of adults and children eat an inadequate breakfast or skip it altogether. A good breakfast should emphasize complex carbohydrate and should provide between 25-30 % of the energy requirements recommended daily, and vitamins, minerals and fibre. For example; wholewheat bread, low-fat spread, cheese/tomato, yoghurt or milk with muesli, all-bran flakes, weetbix or cooked oats and fruit. Here the emphasis is on dietary fibre.

The old view point was that food fibre is only necessary for regular movement of the bowels. Nowadays researchers are investigating the connection between food fibre and several typical western diseases such as coronary heart disease, diabetes, cancer of the colon, overweight, hypertension, diverticulosis etc. Surveys show that these conditions are less common among groups of people following a high-fibre diet.

According to the following Hadith Sahl bin Sa`d (r.a.) said: "I did not see the Prophet (S.A.W.S.) take sifted flour ever since Allah sent him till Allah took his breath".

And then he went on to explain this: "We used to grind it and blow it off. So what was blown off, went away, and what was remained, we cooked and then we ate."


Islamic Perspective On The Diet ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE ON THE DIET

Islam enjoins us to have a balance diet in order to have a variety of nutrients. When we look at verses from the Holy Qura'n, the recommended foods indicate nutrient density. It states:

"O you people! Eat of what is on earth lawful and good!" (2:168)

"So eat of (meats), on which Allah's name hath been pronounced if ye have faith in his signs." (6:118)

"The game of the sea and its food are permitted to you." (5 :99)

"Pure milk, easy and agreeable to swallow for those who drink." (16:66)

"He it is who produceth gardens with trellises and without, and dates, and tilth with produce of all kinds and olives and pomegranetes, similar and different, eat of their fruit in season." (16:141)

These recommended foods mentioned in the Holy Qur'an, will certainly fulfill daily protein, carbohydrates, fat and vitamins requirements.

Nutrition During The Life Cycle NUTRITION DURING THE LIFE CYCLE

The diet of a pregnant woman has an effect on the development of the foetus and the course of pregnancy and confinement.

Eating a sensible well-balanced diet of protein (meat, fish, cheese) milk, fresh fruits and vegetables, increased amounts of carbohydrates, especially fibre, reducing fat, will help to provide the pregnant woman with energy needs, over-come nausea, constipation, anemia, control weight gain, provide the necessary calcium intake for calcification of bones and teeth of baby and also provide additional protein and vitamin B complex.

The nutrition status of the pregnant woman will largely determine the nutritional requirements during lactation when her nutritional requirements are even higher especially the calcium intake which should be increased.

When we look at infant nutrition where breastfeeding is recommended at least for the first two years, we find reference made to this in the Holy Qur'an (31:14).

Human milk is the most balanced food for an infant. Human milk forms fine flocculent curds in the stomach of the infant, thus enhancing digestion and leading to more rapid emptying of the stomach, reduces the likelihood of allergies and other illness. And of course from the psychological point, breast-feeding provides bonding between mother and child.

Food continues to be a major factor in the development of the whole person throughout the growing years.Pre-school children require the same basic nutrients as teenagers and adults, but in smaller quantities. A selection of a variety of foods from the milk and meat group, fruit and vegetables and bread and cereals groups provides a sound basis for the child's diet.

The teenage years involves social, physical and physio-logical development. All these facets of the adolescent influences his nutritional status and food habits, and stresses of various kinds during this period also have an effect on nutrition. Here again, milk, meat and its alternatives, wholegrains, cereals, breads, fruit and vegetables are recommended.

Snacking makes up about 25% of the energy requirement of most teenagers. But snacking is acceptable provided the snacks furnish an equivalent amount of the days allowance for protein, vitamin and minerals.

If good nutritional habits are not inculcated at the beginning of young adulthood as part of the lifestyle, poor eating habits become a risk factor for a number of diseases for the middle-aged and elderly.

Most modern affluent homemakers are forced to seek ways of acquiring time due to having jobs outside home and therefore regularly make use of convenience foods, processed foods, and fast foods. These foods are often high in kilojoules, high in fat content, especially high in saturated fats and cholesterol, high in sodium, low in nutritional value and contain liberal amounts of food additives.

The individual who has had poor food habits throughout life is not likely to be in as good health as the one who has enjoyed the benefits of a good diet.

Some Diet-Related Health Problems SOME DIET-RELATED HEALTH PROBLEMS

Many diet-related health problems affect many individuals, like: high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, and coronary heart disease.

Some of the risk factors of coronary heart disease are: High blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, stress, lack of exercise, overweight, and diabetes.

Diet plays a decisive role in the control of blood fats that is, cholesterol and triglycerides and other risk factors, like hypertension and diabetes, and hence in the development of cornonary heart disease.

The prudent dietary guidelines for coronary heart disease, are:

    * food low in fat, especially saturated fats
    * to substitute saturated fat with polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats
    * limit the intake of foods high in cholesterol
    * eat more complex carbohydrates especially rich in fibre
    * control your weight
    * use less salt

High blood cholesterol is a risk factor which can easily be controlled by making changes to our eating habits. The body can manufacture all its cholesterol needs from fat in the foods we eat. The westernized diet is high in fat and cholesterol and our bodies are becoming overloaded. Therefore, cut out many risks as you can.

This can be achieved by improving our lifestyle, and eating habits.

* eat less fat (30% of total energy requirement should be fat)
* reduce saturated fat (animal fat, full-cream dairy products, brick margarine, coconut and

  palm kernel oils)
* reduce dietary cholesterol (egg yolk and organ meats -brains, liver, as well as prawns

   and shrimps)
* stop smoking
* control hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
* control diabetes
* exercise regularly
* reduce weight
* reduce stress and
* eat a wide variety of foods (refer to the 5 food groups)
* eat more carbohydrates especially rich in fibre (fruit, veg, legumes, oats)
* eat regular meals (don't skip meals)
* reduce salt intake (to control Hypertension)
* eat moderately (to avoid ooverweight)

Moderation is the keyword as far as eating habits are concerned. As with all our divine obligations moderation in terms of the quantity of the food we eat is essential. The Holy Qur'an mentions this: "Eat and drink and be not immoderate." (7:31)

Hypertension - the elevation of the blood pressure above normal is a major risk factor and a symptom that accompanies many cardiovascular and renal diseases.

Obesity is often associated with hypertension, so there seems to be a strong correlation between weight and blood pressure and between increases in weight and increases in blood pressure.

Sodium restriction is effective in lowering blood pressure in some persons. Many food contains salt, like convenience food, processed food and preserved food, examples are: Sodium benzoate, a preservative used in relishes, sauces, margarine. Sodium propionate in cheese and breads to retard mould formation. Sodium alginate in ice cream to give the smooth texture. Monosodium Glutamate in processed foods. Natural sodium content of animal food is relatively high (meat, fish, eggs, cheese) although nutritionally essential must be used in moderate amounts.

Organ meats contain more sodium than muscle meats. Shellfish of all kinds are especially high in sodium than fresh water fish.

All in all we can put it as that:

    * weight control - highest priority in dietary management of diabetes
    * eat regular meals - a delay in eating may produce hypoglycaemia
    * eat moderately
    * reduce simple sugars
    * increase foods rich in carbohydrates
    * eat more dietary fibre
    * eat less fat or cut them from your diet


3 Essential Components in Good Food CONCLUSION

Good food must contain three essential components:

    * nutritional benefits and efficientcy in producing the needed energy.
    * lightness for the stomach
    * ease of digestion

Allah (SWT) says in the Holy Qur'an:

    "O you who believe, do not forbid the good things which Allah has made lawful for you and do not exceed limits. Surely Allah does not love those who exceeds the limits." (5:90)

And then defining moderation, the Prophetic guidance on the best of common diets is: "one third food, one third water and one third air." Because, when the stomach is saturated with food, it will not be able to take in water, and when food and water exceed their recommended level, one may suffer from pulmonary difficulties, resulting in stress and exhaustion from lungs being unable to easily deliver oxygenated blood to the left atrium of the heart.

One will also feel heaviness in his body, his heart and spirit will experience languor and drowiness and his limbs will fail to obey him in performing his basic religious duties. Hence a filled stomach is damaging to one's body, heart and spirit. Moderation is the path of good health and the body benefits from moderate and nutritious meals.

http://www.islamic-world.net/sister/h23.htm

Bismillah irRahman irRahem
In the Name of Allaah, The Most Gracious, The Most Kind

                      Is Family Planning allowed in Islam ?

by Jamaal Zarabozo

The question of family planning and birth control was discussed in detail by the Majma al-Fiqh al-Islaami. They had twenty three scholars research this topic and present their findings on this matter. The participants involved represented many different trends and schools of thought.

Among the participants were Muhammad Ali al-Baar, Ali al-Saaloos, Muhammad Saeed Ramadhan al-Booti, Abdullah al-Basaam, Hasan Hathoot and Muhammad Sayid Tantaawi. Their proceedings, papers and discussions may be found in Part One of the Fifth Volume of Majallah Majma al-Fiqh al-Islaami (1988/1409 A.H.). These proceedings are 748 pages all about the question of birth control and related issues.

The following are important points related to the issue of birth control in Islam. These were mentioned by some of the participants in the above program:

The institution of marriage and the want to have children was the custom of the best of creation, the prophets and messengers chosen by Allah. Allah says about them:

"And indeed We sent messengers before you and made for them wives and offspring" (al-Raad 38)

The best example for the believers is the example of the prophet Muhammad (saw), who married and had children. These prophets and messengers are the people whom Muslims should look to emulate. Allah says:

"They are those whom Allah has guided. So follow their guidance" (al-Anaam 90)

They should be emulated and not the disbelievers of the West, whose new lifestyles - mostly out of concern for enjoying this life or obtaining as many worldly goods as possible - discourage women from having more children.

Islam has forbidden celibacy, monasticism and castration for such purposes. The prophet (saw) made this clear when he told those companions who were considering acetic forms of life: "I pray and I sleep; I fast and I break my fast; and I marry women. Whoever turns
away from my way of life is not from me."

The prophet (saw) not only encouraged marriage but he encouraged marrying those women who are child-bearing. He stated: "marry the loving, child-bearing women for I shall have the largest numbers among the prophets on the day of Resurrection." (Recorded by Ahmad and ibn Hibban.)

From the Islamic perspective, children are a gift and a blessing from Allah. Allah mentions some of the bounties that He has bestowed upon mankind in the following verse:

"And Allah has made for you spouses of your own kind and has made for you, from your wives, sons and grandsons, and has bestowed upon you good provisions." (al-Nahl 72)

Allah also said:

"Wealth and children are the adornment of the life of this world." (al-Kahf 46)

The only true provider for all mankind is Allah. If Muslims follow what Allah has prescribed for them, Allah will provide for them. Allah has warned about killing one's children out of fear of poverty for either parents or the child. Allah says:

"Kill not your children because of poverty - We provide sustenance for you and for them" (al-Anaam 151)  Allah also says:

"And kill not your children for fear of poverty. We shall provide for them as well as for you. Surely, the killing of them is a great sin" (al-Isra 31)

Hence, Muslims should never abort or kill their children out of fear of poverty. It is Allah who provides for them.

Based on the above points and numerous others, the scholars who participated in the research on this question came up with the following resolution:

It is not allowed to enact a general law that limits the freedom      of spouses in having children.
   
It is forbidden to "permanently"      end a man's or a woman's ability to produce children, such as by     having a hysterectomy or vasectomy, as long as that is not called      for by circumstances of necessity according to its Islamic      framework.

It is permissible to control the timing of births with      the intent of distancing the occurrences of pregnancy or to delay      it for a specific amount of time, if there is some Shariah need      for that in the opinion of the spouses, based on mutual      consultation and agreement between them. However, this is      conditioned by that not leading to any harm, by it being done by      means that are approved in the Shariah and that it not do      anything to oppose a current and existing pregnancy.

http://www.jannah.org/sisters/famplan.html