Donate to the DEC Gaza Appeal.

Hat-tip to Media Guy

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STROKE: Remember the first three Letters… S.T.R.

STROKE IDENTIFICATION:

During a BBQ, a friend stumbled and took a little fall – she assured everyone that she was fine (they offered to call paramedics). She said she had just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes.

They cleaned her up and fetched her a new plate of food. While she appeared a bit shaken up, Ingrid went about enjoying herself the rest of the evening.

Ingrid's husband called later telling everyone that his wife had been taken to the hospital – at 6:00 pm, Ingrid passed away. She had suffered a stroke at the BBQ. Had they known how to identify the signs of a stroke, perhaps Ingrid would be with us today.

Some don't die… they end up in a helpless, hopeless condition instead.

The sooner the condition is treated, the higher the chance of a complete recovery; however, the window of opportunity is very small – a matter of hours – which means one needs to identify the problem immediately.

RECOGNIZING A STROKE

Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:

1. S – Ask the individual to SMILE.
2. T – Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently), e.g., “It is sunny out today?”
3. R – Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.

If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call the emergency services immediately, and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

New Sign of a Stroke: Stick out Your Tongue

Ask the person to 'stick' out their tongue: if the tongue is 'crooked', that is, if it goes to one side or the other, that is also an indication of a stroke.

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SimSim also developed her own similar system named S.T.A.R.:

1. S – SPEAK a simple sentence
2. T – Stick out the TONGUE
3. A – AMBULATE – does the person have difficulty walking?
4. R – RAISE both arms

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Please memorize, and feel free to copy and paste the above, in order to forward the life-saving information on to your contacts.

Well, better late than never, eh guys? {shakes head}

Taken from a press release written by “EGYPT LET THE Scottish VAN CROSS TO GAZA NOW & End the Siege” Facebook group:

After nearly one month of waiting at the Rafah crossing for Egyptian (Israeli) authorities to give permission to take the van full of medicine to Gaza, and after countless meetings and forms, today, Friday, at 12 noon, Khalil arrived at the Rafah crossing to take the van away.

The Egyptian authorities repeatedly refused any and all suggestions regarding delivering the medical supplies, whether through the Rafah crossing, the Kerem Abu Salem crossing (Kerem Shalom), or via the Egyptian Red Crescent. That, along with the declaration by Israeli authorities, via the PA embassy representative, that there was 'no way the van would ever cross through Kerem Abu Salem' led Khalil to decide, with no other option, to take the van from the crossing and begin the journey home.

Egyptian authorities presented many and varied the bureaucratic excuses to justify their refusal to allow entrance to the medicine. The latest was that the medicine was not accounted for in an item by item list. As the medicine was donated by various generous supporters in the UK, Al Niss and Willis did not have one list with receipts to present to Egyptian authorities. Yet Egyptian authorities refused the suggestion to have a third party, like the Egyptian Red Crescent, unload and supervise the itemizing of the medical supplies.

Khalil described his huge disappointment and frustration at not even being allowed to pass the medical supplies over to Red Crescent authorities to send to Gaza. On Thursday, Khalil had met with the Rafah customs authorities, based in Al Arish, to discuss this possible hand-over of the medical cargo. He left the office with an document approved and signed by Ismail Abbas, the former General Manager of Customs in Rafah, now a Manager in the Arish branch, as well as by Khalil Attala Khalil, the Assistant to the Customs Minister. The document authorized the hand-over of the medical supplies, from Khalil al Niss to the Red Crescent, with a further stipulation that the RC would do their utmost to ensure the medicine was sent to Palestinian land, meaning Gaza.

Egytian customs authorities at the Rafah crossing itself vetoed the order flat-out, stating that Khalil was not authorized to unload the van and give its contents to anyone else. Yet Abbas countered that “if anyone has a customs paper in his/her name, he/she has the right to give the cargo to whoever is specified on that paper. Then the contents belong to the recipient.” Abbas, extremely forthcoming and helpful, was in the end no match for Egyptian bureaucracy, and Egypt's determination to show deference to Israel rather than allow humanitarian aid in through any legal means.

Following Thurday's promise and disappointment, Khalil informed Gaza-based Dr. Khamis, the doctor Linda and Khalil had coordinated with to deliver the medicine to. Khalil was again told that whenever the medicine got into Gaza, it would be very welcome, still urgently needed.

Which brings us to Friday, what seemed to be the end of the long, fruitless effort to bring aid to Palestinians in Gaza.

After over an hour's wait, Egyptian authorities finally produced the paper releasing the van from its parked position at the border. The release paper stipulates Khalil must drive the van back to the Nuweiba border crossing and cannot unload it at any point in Egypt.
Even without that stipulation, it would be impossible to open and unload the van, as it had been locked by Egyptian border officials upon arrival at Nuweiba nearly one month ago. The border officials also send a Police guard, to ensure Khalil drove to Nuweiba and left the country.

About 20 km away from Rafah the van stalled, technical problems. Three hours later, problems fixed, Khalil continued the drive back to Al Arish.

But, during this delay, one branch of Egyptian intelligence, the Mokhabarat, called Khalil to ask what his rush was. After 26 days at the closed Rafah crossing, and unccounted appeals to allow the medicine in, the man had the gall to imply Khalil was rushing off without due process. It need not be reiterated that he had been told by Egyptian officials he would not cross via Kerem Abu Salem.

Haithem, the Mokhabarat officer, suggested Khalil wait around another 3 weeks, as Kerem Abu Salem might open to goods going into Gaza.

This seems to be a very poor attempt by the Egyptian authorities to insinuate that Khalil and Linda aborted their humanitarian effort due to lack of interest. Nothing could be further from the truth.

In calling their bluff, Khalil will consider this dangling carrot, this false offer of the Kerem Abu Salem possibility. But I don't think he is too crazy about carrots.

Yes, blind!

His story is reproduced here with his permission – his name has been removed to respect his privacy:

Read the rest of this entry »

O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allāh is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allāh has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things). [Quran Al-Hujraat, Chapter #49, Verse #13]

The comparison of different cultures and environments is a key part of clinical study into the cause of disease – it's not all about the genes y'know. Imagine, if we didn't have Greeks, Japanese, and Scots, we wouldn't know that olive oil consumption may reduce your risk of cancer, eating small, light meals may increase your longevity, and devouring deep-fried Mars bars (as well as consuming copious amounts of alcohol and smoking your weight in cigarettes) contributes to heart disease and the general break down of your vital organs.

Truly, there is hikmah (wisdom) in all of God's creation.

'Nabiha My Love' – But a Person is With the One Whom They Love

The following article was written by Abu Shoaib Ashmead Choat, a very dear family friend of ours. He visited Houston a few years ago and gave some talks there; he's a graduate of the College of Hadith from Madinah and an active da'i in Trinidad (where he runs his own full-time Islamic school). His daughter Nabiha passed away last year, while still a teenager. She had grown up in Madinah and memorized significant portions of the Quran. She was an active tajweed teacher in her native land of Trinidad.

After her tragic death, her father Abu Shoiab wrote up this beautiful article. I've asked his permission to post it on our website.

Nabihah My Love
But a Person is With the One Whom They Love

Even before we start to write about this glimpse into the life of our dear daughter, it is necessary to purify our intentions, hence the reason for the delay. This must not be for Shuhrah or fame or some Nahiha fan club, but it must be for, as Allāh has said, “Ya ayyuha ladhina amanu itaqullaaha wabtaghoo ilayhil waseelah” (Oh you who believe fear Allāh and seek out the means of approach to him). Great effort and attention must be paid in trying to purify our intentions and knowing precisely why we are doing this. It may be a wake up call for a lazy or sleepy Muslim. It may help someone to realize how short and fleeting this life is; how precious it is that we must take every opportunity to do good, no matter how small, and we must seek every opportunity to invite people to Allāh and use all the resources available to us in that cause, even if that means the life and death of our dear baby.

How do we begin to describe the love of our life? If Allāh had given us someone for one or two years and took her away, it would have been easier because of her short life. Or if she had been married with children and away from the home it would have softened the loss. But our baby girl was in the prime of her life, just at the age of marriage, and the decision is with the Lord of the universe. As our Prophet (SAW) said at the moment of his death, when he was given the choice to go or stay, “Balir-rafeequl-'alaa, Balir-rafeequl-'alaa – certainly the highest companionship, certainly the highest the companionship.”

It was late 2004 when Nabiha discovered a non-healing ulcer on her tongue which became exceedingly painful and was preventing her from eating. In March 2005, she had her first operation for the removal of the ulcer and a biopsy, which showed a presence of malignancy. In retrospect, when a Muslim is faced with the news of cancer, he begins to think of the options available to him. Seeking treatment and medical care is encouraged in the Sunnah (called: “at-tadaawee – seeking treatment”). So over the next two years, we followed the full gamut of treatment of up to seven or eight surgeries together with radiotherapy in far away India, a return there for a review, then on to chemotherapy back in Trinidad. Despite huge setbacks, we were to see the Hand of Allāh in everything that challenged us. He tested us but walked us through to the very end. Allahumma laka wa minka; O Allāh to you and from you. Laa malja'a minallahi illa ilayhi; There is no refuge from Allāh, except in Him. (more…)

Let Us Sit Down and Believe For A While: Sr. Anam

So `Abdullah ibn Rawahah (RAA), whenever he met one of the Companions of the Prophet (PBUH), used to say, “Come, let us believe in our Lord for a while.” When the Prophet (PBUH) heard about this, he said, “May Allāh have mercy on Ibn Rawahah, for he loves the gatherings that the angels feel proud to attend.”

Let us sit down and believe for a while…

In the dappled sunlight of this June afternoon

Amongst the swaying leaves and the violet bloom

I promise not to ramble on about economic pacts

I will not bore you with depressing trade facts

And partake neither in vain babble nor pretension-

But instead marvel at the exquisite surface tension,

Of a single drop of tender dew

Serenely dripping into view.

(more…)

[Photo credits: Sadness by WPL Photos; Sunflowers by RDV]

I encourage you to watch the video and make up your own minds. Unfortunately, it is not in English… in fact, if someone can translate and write a brief summary in the comments, I would be most grateful.

The thing that got to me most is the fact he looks so much like the son of one of my closest friends, whom I consider as a nephew. I pray that they have already raised enough money for the operation, though I guess there will be post-op costs to consider too. It's so sad to think he has to remain in such a state for a second longer. :(

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Did Allāh give you healthy children who don't suffer from any physical pain, that you can watch playing, eating and sleeping in peace?

If so, prostrate before Him in thankfulness, and remember that we will be asked about each ni'ama [blessing] He granted us from His immense Bounty.

Mounib, 2 years old, suffers from a rare kind of spina bifida. The tumour on his back is has become so large that the only position he can be in is prostration. He is in perpetual pain. He cannot eat or sleep, as the pain he suffers from gives him no respite.

Mounib lives in Algeria and his family cannot afford the operation he needs. Of course, if he was the son of an influential person in this country ruled by corrupt people, he would have been operated already. How can you leave a child in that state without doing anything?

His country did nothing for him, but brothers and sisters all over the world have already made donations up to 40 000 euros alhamdulillah, to help him to be taken to a hospital in Europe or Canada where he could have the operation.

Please join them, or at least find out about this story and make dua.

The video YOU HAVE TO WATCH with Mounib is at
http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=YOVIc3u723Y

For sadaqat [donating charity] BE GENEROUS see http://www.sosmounib.com/

Call Ilyes (London) on 0750 245 5411

Click here to view the embedded video.

A very quick request that you please pray for my uncle in India, who has been taken seriously ill. He has suffered from major heart problems in the recent past, and his general health has been deteriorating over the past few years.

His daughter (my cousin) called us with the news this morning, and my mother has booked a flight to Bombay that leaves in a few hours. Subhanallah, the blessing of modern day transportation. Please also pray that she reaches her destination safely, and in good health – she suffers from travel sickness, as well as other chronic conditions.

Jazakallah khair in advance.

Discovering this “common ground” between five very different religions, made me realise that, as a Muslim, I've never really thought much about the idea of becoming an organ donor before. I had some inkling that it was permissible in Islam, but had not yet embarked upon a serious quest to decide whether or not I should carry a donor card. In light of this recent debate, and the fact that I don't know how long I have left on this Earth, I think it is about time that I did.

Hafsa of Me Me has posted a sweet idea, that we should all get in on. Pass it on!

Humairah of Odd-Wisdom wrote to me:

Subhanallah, we feel so helpless seeing our mothers suffer with pain because of some physical illness or the other. Sometimes the pain is so bad, the medicine doesn't work. I suggest, if you all are up for it, to wake up for tahajjud this Thursday and Friday, and make special duas for our mothers with utmost sincerity.
We really need it..

I call all bloggers to do the same – this Thursday and Friday – September 6th and 7th. Let's wake up one night for the numerous nights she was up for us.

Feel free to post the same on your blog – so you encourage others to do the same. May Allāh accept our sincere and not-so-sincere deeds, and forgive us for our shortcomings.