PARADISE

Friday, 2 March 2018

GOOD PERSONAL HYGIENE (GIRLS)

Proper personal hygiene means taking care of every aspect of your body, from keeping it clean to looking your best. Basic hygiene should be taught to children at an early age to help establish good habits. Parents can reinforce good hygienic behavior by creating routines and being good role models. Personal hygiene practices include bathing, washing your hands, keeping your hair clean and brushing your teeth. Your personal, social and professional worlds are all affected by hygiene

1. Shower

Shower or bathe every day. Bacteria feed on the sweat and skin cells that accumulate on your body throughout the day – that’s what causes body odor. Shower or bathe every day and use a mild soap to wash off the day’s dirt. Especially wash and carefully dry your feet, face, hands, armpits, and bottom.

2. Shampoo

Shampoo and condition your hair.Shampoo your hair 2-3 times a week. Washing your hair too often removes the natural oil and can make your hair dry.Choose shampoo and conditioner that’s right for you – whether your hair is dry, oily, frizzy, straight, or curly, there are many products that you can try.

Wet your hair with warm water. Pour a quarter-size amount of shampoo into your palm and massage it (not too hard) into your scalp and down to the tips of your hair. Wash the shampoo out then apply conditioner, using more for dry hair and less for oily hair. Let it sit in your hair for a few minutes while you clean your body, then rinse it out well.

If your hair gets oily near your scalp after a day or two, wash your hair daily or every other day using a mild shampoo. Use conditioner only on the tips of your hair, not on your scalp. Use “non-greasy” or “oil-free” styling products.

3. wash face

Use warm water and a gentle, non-abrasive cleanser to wash your face in the morning and before bed. Use just your fingertips to massage the cleanser onto your skin – using a washcloth or sponge can be irritating. Don’t scrub your skin hard. Rinse with warm water, and pat (don’t rub) your skin dry with a clean towel.

Avoid products that exfoliate your skin or contain alcohol. Don’t use regular soap. These products are too harsh for your face.

If your skin is flaky, itchy, or dry, apply a dime-size amount of face moisturizer. If your skin feels irritated a lot or gets oily easily, use products for sensitive skin.

Also, wash your face after working out or sweating.

4. Wear clean clothes.

You don’t necessarily have to wash your clothes every time you wear them, but always wear clothes without stains, wrinkles, and smells on them. If you get your clothes dirty or sweat in them, wash them before wearing them again. Wear fresh underwear and a fresh bra every day.

Change your bed sheets every week, or more often if you sweat a lot during the night. Change your pillowcases weekly or every 2-3 days if you have oily skin.

6. Mini-hygiene kit

Carry small products around with you.Make a mini-hygiene kit to keep in your purse or backpack. Bring a packet of breath mints, gum, or a small bottle of mouthwash for after meals. Pack a small travel mirror, hand sanitizer, deodorant, a pack of Kleenex, and a small comb for everyday use.

7. good illness hygiene

Have good illness hygiene. If you’re sick, it’s important to practice good hygiene to protect others. Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. Wash your hands a lot, especially after coughing or sneezing. If you’re vomiting or have a fever, stay home and away from others.

Method Two of Four:
Practicing Good Grooming

8. use deodorant

It’s normal to have body odor, especially under your arms. Your armpits naturally sweat more once you go through puberty, and underarm hair can trap sweat and bacteria.Wear deodorant every day to feel and smell fresh. There are lots of different kinds of deodorant – roll-on, spray, stick, and those with or without antiperspirant (decreases sweating as well as covers odor). Some are perfumed and others are unscented. It’s up to you which kind to choose.

Different deodorants are marketed towards men and women, but really the only thing that’s different is how they smell.

9. Shave

Shave, if you want to. Whether or not you want to shave underarms, and private area is completely up to you. Long hair in your armpits and groin might trap moisture and odors, but showering regularly and keeping the area clean and dry should solve that. If you do shave, do it safely and hygienically:

Use clean, new, sharp razor blades and plenty of shaving cream or gel (not just regular soap). Never dry shave!

Take your time and go slowly. Ask your mom, aunt, or older sister for help or advice.

Do not shave your face. Pluck stray hairs or tweezers or try a bleach, cream, or wax that is formulated for facial hair. If you have lots of facial hair, see your doctor and ask about electrolysis or laser hair removal to get rid of it for good.

Use a non-greasy moisturizing lotion after you shave to keep your skin from drying out. Never use men’s aftershave – it stings!

Manage your pubic hair. Shaving your pubic hair might make the skin in that area itchy, irritated, or prone to ingrown hairs and folliculitis (infection of the hair follicle). Remember that it’s only up to you how you want to groom down there. You can shave your “bikini area” on your inner thighs and leave pubic hair natural, keep your pubic hair (carefully) trimmed with scissors, or stay completely natural. Just be sure to wash well in the shower. If you do decide to shave, follow these guidelines:

Use clean scissors to trim long hair first to make shaving easier (do this over the toilet so you don’t make a mess). Make sure no one else uses those scissors!

Soak in a hot bath or shower for a few minutes to soften the hair and skin.

Use a safety-razor (no straight blades or disposables), preferably with moisture strips.

Pull the skin tight and smooth, and shave in the direction of hair growth – be gentle, don’t apply much pressure.

Rinse off with warm water, pat the area dry, and use baby oil, aloe, or a non-perfumed moisturizer on your skin.

8. good dental hygiene.

Brush your teeth, floss, and use mouthwash at least twice a day – after breakfast and before bed. This decreases tooth decay, gum disease, and bad breath. Try to use toothpaste or mouthwash with fluoride.If you have braces or aligners, you may want to brush after every meal.

Gently use your toothbrush to brush your tongue, too.

Get a new toothbrush every 3 months, or after you’re sick with something contagious like strep throat.

See your dentist about twice a year for checkups and cleanings.

9. keep contact lenses clean

If you wear contact lenses, it’s important to keep them as clean as possible to prevent eye infections. Don’t just rinse them with tap water and reuse them, or reuse the same contact solution day after day – this is setting you up to put bacteria in your eye! Rinse your contacts well every time you take them out, clean your contact case thoroughly, and use fresh contact solution. Be sure to replace your contact case regularly, about every 3 months.

10. maintain a healthy feet

It’s normal for your feet and shoes to start to smell, but you should try to keep this under control. Make sure your feet are dry before putting on socks and shoes. Alternate which shoes you wear, and let your shoes air out overnight somewhere ventilated (not the bottom of your closet). Wear socks with closed-toed shoes, and choose cotton socks instead of synthetic fibers.

If you have red, itchy, or scaly patches between your toes or on your feet, you might have Athlete’s foot. Avoid this by wearing flip-flops in school and locker room showers instead of going barefoot. If you need to, use an over-the-counter foot powder, or see your doctor for help.

11.Don’t overdo makeup.

If you feel self-conscious about your skin you might be tempted to go heavy on your makeup. However, wearing too much makeup can make your skin dry or oily and cause breakouts. Only apply light layers of foundation and use makeup minimally for a natural, healthy look.

There are techniques you can use to hide acne with makeup.

12. cut nails

Keep your finger and toenails trimmed and free of jagged edges. Clean underneath your nails when you wash your hands (and feet), and use an under nail scraper to get dirt out from under your nails if you need to.^[44] Use sharp clippers or small manicure scissors to cut straight across your nail, and round out the corners in a gentle curve with a nail file. Use hand lotion on your nails and cuticles.^[45]

Don’t bite your nails or pull off hangnails. This can cause an infection and look messy. Use clean nail clippers, instead.^[46]
Paint your nails if you want to! Or just apply a protective layer of nail hardener or top-coat for some shine.^[47] Only use acetone-free nail polish remover.^[48]

13.Wear some nice perfume, but not too much.

If you want to wear perfume or body spray, go for it! Just avoid wearing too much. This can be overpowering and unpleasant to some people. Spray your perfume two to three times in front of you and then walk through it – this will give you a nice smell without being overpowering.

Do not dunk your hairbrush in perfume or spray perfume directly onto your hair. This can dry your hair out.
Remember, wearing perfume does not take the place of taking a bath or shower every day.

JUDGEMENTAL PEOPLE

A judgmental person is like a porcupine. If you get too close, you could get hurt! Judgmental people have three common traits: They are overly critical, they show no respect for the person they criticize, and they justify what they say because they believe it is the truth. People can become judgmental due to their pride, their hurt and anger at being wronged, and a lack of love for others. Three ways to overcome being judgmental include self-reflection, forgiveness, and seeing the whole person.

The word judgmental is defined as “having or displaying an excessively critical point of view.”¹ The first trait of a judgmental person is they criticize too much.

No one can handle being criticized all the time. It puts a strain on a relationship because the person being criticized feels unloved. Further, when someone is too critical, it is human nature not to like them. A judgmental person repels others, and will have a hard time forming long-term relationships.

Judgmental people repel people not only because of their words, but also their tone. They will speak to (or about) a person with hatred, contempt, or disrespect. Instead of speaking calmly and rationally, they can be highly emotional—hurling insults, or using profanity.

A judgmental person will often justify the things they say because they believe it is the truth. However, the truth should not be used as a weapon to hurt someone, or destroy their self-worth.

Every human being has value and worth because they are a human being, not because they are good or bad, a success or a failure. A judgmental person often bases an individual’s worth on their character traits, or some other criteria. They are unable to separate a person from their actions.

A person’s outward actions

Right now, all we see are the actions that the person has done so far in their life. We do not know later on what they will be doing, or that in secret they might be giving away lots of charity (for instance) which pleases Allah, and maybe they will be much better than us.

Hadith #4 of Imam Nawawi

Prophet Muhammad said:

[…] I swear by Allah – there is no God but He – one of you may perform the deeds of the people of Paradise till there is naught but an arm’s length between him and it, when that which has been written will outstrip him so that he performs the deeds of the people of the Hell Fire; one of you may perform the deeds of the people of the Hell Fire, till there is naught but an arm’s length between him and it, when that which has been written will overtake him so that he performs the deeds of the people of Paradise and enters therein.”

[Al-Bukhari & Muslim, Narrated by Abu ‘Abd al-Rahman ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud]

The lesson to be taken

We may see someone not acting in accordance with Allah’s actions and judge them to be a bad person. Only Allah knows their Niyyah (Intention) and later on in life they may be more succesful than us. We should focus on sharpening ourselves and strengthening ur good deeds rather than bickering with other people about details of their life.

The One Who Judges

Perhaps the greater harm of harboring negative thoughts and feelings about another believer is to one’s own self. It tarnishes the soul and according to traditions, is a sign of lack of ‘aql (intellect). On a side-note, it is important to realize here that the ‘aql (reason or intellect) is not synonymous with intelligence and smartness of an individ8ual. One may be the most intelligent and accomplished individual (in the worldly sense) but may or may not possess ‘aql (intellect): a higher merit thoroughly described in the Holy Quran and traditions of the Ahlulbayt. We can seek explanations from our respected scholars on this subject.

In an important and famous tradition, Imam Baqir (as) has said, “For God’s worship there is nothing superior than the reason (‘aql). A believer is not wise until and unless he possesses the following ten characteristics.” The tenth and final characteristic pertains most to this topic,

“The tenth characteristic which is more important than all is that while seeing others he must say: ‘He is much better and more pious than me.’”

There are several scenarios that come to mind when reflecting on this tradition. For example, if someone sins openly, how can we consider them to be pious? However, the bottom-line and spirit of this tradition is that humility is the goal when it comes to how we think of one another. Without this type of humility, one cannot reach wisdom and true servitude towards the Creator!

The Fear of Being Judged

Sometimes, when a person tries to perform the obligatory duty of advising against evil or bad actions, people take it to mean that they are being judged. Thereby they get offended and upset. There is a fine line between judging someone and advising them to do the right thing – however they are not the same. We are not allowed to judge, however we are also obliged in Islam to counsel one another! This obligation is not something exclusively assigned to the scholars but is expected to be fulfilled by everyone in the community. It is in fact also one of the rights of a Muslim upon his believing brother or sister (as defined by the Holy Prophet (saw) in his famous tradition of thirty rights of a believer).

We need to make sure we realize the difference between judging versus advising and not deter growth in the society through refraining from counseling and helping one another spiritually. If a person tries to advise a brother or sister to correct a certain fault, provided the right rulings and etiquettes in doing so are abided by, this act should be taken as a blessing and not a sign of being judged.

If we find ourselves sometimes judging others negatively, we can help ourselves to get rid of this habit through focusing more closely on our own deficiencies. With practice and strong will, it will become possible to be one of those who the Imam (as) describes as owners of ‘aql and wisdom!

The ultimate change that we like to see within our Ummah must start right from within each one of us. We have the most excellent examples and ethical role models in the Ahlulbayt (as) and have no other path of reaching ultimate perfection save through them.

Allah and His Messenger (saws) have guided the believers to absolutely abstain from bad-mouthing or back-biting others,and those who do will be committing a sin in the sight of Allah Subhanah and will have a severe accounting on an Inevitable Day.

We must clarify here that speaking ill of other people behind their backs, or back-biting, means that one says the truth about the person, his actions, or character, or deeds. That is what is termed gheebah or back-biting; and the believers are commanded to abstain from it. If one invents or speaks a lie about a person, his actions, or his character, or his deeds, behind his back, that will be called bohtaan or slander; and that is indeed a grave sin which has a punishment prescribed for it in the life of this world, and a very severe accounting in the Hereafter!

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 49 Surah Hujuraat verse 12: O ye who believe! Avoid suspicion as much (as possible): for suspicion in some cases is a sin: and spy not on each other, nor speak ill of each other behind their backs. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? Nay ye would abhor it...but fear Allah: for Allah is Oft-Returning Most Merciful.

Allah Subhanah has enjoined and commanded the believers in the above aayah to abstain from back-biting and compared it to the heinous crime of eating the flesh of ones own brother. Just as one would hate to eat the flesh of ones own brother, one should hate the act of speaking ill of someone behind his back, even though it be the truth! If one back-bites by inventing lies and falsehood,he will be guilty of a much more serious sin; bohtaan or slander.

statement: Are people/muslimsallowed to judge fellow muslims based on their clothes, hair, make-up, piercings, tattoos? Or is that up to God.

All decisionsand judgments are uptoAllah Subhanah Alone; for He Alone knows the Absolute Truth about every matter.

It would not be considered good manners or etiquettes in Islam, that a believer,simply by looking at the outward apprearance of a person, his clothes, his hair, his make-up, his piercings, his tattoos, etc. makes a judgmental decision about the person and his faith! It is only natural that a human being would make a judgment in his mind by looking at the appearance and the character of a person he is dealing with; but to openly declare his judgment about the person and his faith, or speak ill about the person behind his back would definitely not be appropriate.

Its obvious that a woman walking the streets in scanty revealing clothing, with made-up hair and full make-up, and having piercings on her lips, and tongues,and eye-lids (and elsewhere), and displaying tattoos all across her body will not be considered a righteous God-consious woman! But to start spreading rumours about this woman, and calling her names behind her back, or declaring her character to others in public, would definitely not be appropriate. Allah Subhanah Alone is the One Who knows even the secrets of the hearts, and He Alone Will Judge every person according to his/her own deeds on an Inevitable Day.

But, if one is a sincerely well-wisher, and sincerely wants to advise and help his believing brother from committing a sin;there is absolutely no harm if one believer goes to his believing brother and advises him that such and such a deed or act he is doing is against the teachings and guidance of Allah and His Messenger (saws).

The basic guidance in such matters that Islam has given to the believers is that if one has a fault, he should speak to him alone and as a sincere well-wisher and brother; and advise him to fear Allah and amend himself. But if one is righteous and has done great deeds, Islam has guided the believers never to praise a person on his face, but rather praise is considered true praise only when done behind ones back.

Monday, 26 February 2018

STUDY SKILLS IN ISLAM

1. Intention

Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Verily, deeds depend upon intentions. Indeed, every person will be rewarded based on their intentions…” (Bukhari and Muslim).

On the surface, studying for exams may seem like a necessary chore, its purpose murky and meant only to move on to the next level of education. It’s easy to fall into auto-pilot and not really think about why we’re doing it.

In reality, seeking knowledge can be a way for us to grow in closeness to God by better understanding the world He has created. Making this intention will give us the motivation we need at difficult times when we want to put off studying. It will also help when we become discouraged trying to understand a difficult topic.

With good intentions, routine things which may not look religious otherwise become sources of reward in the eyes of God, the Merciful.

Since time immemorial we’ve learned that the purpose of life is to worship:

And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me. (51:56)

Surprise of the century: This relates to everything in student life too. Every boring assignment, every 8:30 AM class with a less-than-articulate professor, every sleepless night—there’s a reason for the madness. As students, our habits define our experiences. Take a moment to step back and dream big. Why are you here? This is one question that won’t be asked in any multiple choice exam, but one that you should ask yourself often.
Islam encourages you to dream big. School tells you what the world can give you, Islam asks you what you can give to the world. Dream big and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise, as your rewards are based on the audacity, ambition and depth of your dreams.

2. seek knowledge

Related image

Allah tells us in the Qur’an to get extra help from our teachers, TAs, RAs, or anyone else:

And ask the people who remember, if you do not know yourself (16:43)

Pro Tip: To really test the depth of your knowledge, ask deeper questions. ‘Rattle the cages’ of assumptions, test the limits of theories and contemplate on alternative approaches.
Now if you don’t need to ask others for help, know that you should help out others. A fundamental goal of Islam and Muslims is service. Help others and make the world a better place.

And Allah will help those who help Him. Indeed, Allah is Powerful and Exalted in Might. (22:40)

Pro Tip: If you’re intention is to help others for the sake of Allah, as part of being a good Muslim and for the sake of Islam—then Allah will help you out. (Now don’t be helping a sister at 10pm alone on campus, just to show how righteous Muslims really are!)

3. Hard Work, Dedication, and Patience

We learn from Muhammad

what it means to struggle and persevere for a mission. When you’re on a mission you hustle, you exert yourself, you put all that you have into reaching the finish line.

One of the earliest revelations:

Spend the night awake in prayer, except for a little bit of sleep. (73:2)

Allah is teaching the Prophet

that when you have a purpose, you must be dedicated, sleeplessly striving for your vision. When you’re driven with intention, Allah tells us we don’t have time to sleep. You’re living to make your dreams a reality, while others are sleeping to glimpse at dreams during the night.

We also learn dedication from the story of Nuh

He said, “My Lord, indeed I invited my people [to truth] night and day.” (71:5)

When studying is worship, when you have a goal, when you have a mission—Islam teaches us through the stories of the Prophets that we must persevere and sleeplessly struggle for our dreams.
Pro Tip: Whatever your level of dedication, hustle to commitment: raise your bar higher. Ask, what can you do (or not do) to make yourself more successful? Maybe taking 45 minute showers isn’t that productive? Or maybe you can survive on 5-6 hours of sleep?

4. Silence

Sometimes when you learn and have studied you are tempted to make your tongue loose, and you sometimes like to talk more than you like to listen.
“Whoever believes in the last day let him say what is good or remain silent” [Bukhari]
Imam Shafi’ee said if you wish to say something, let him think, if you conclude that there is no harm, speak. If you conclude that your words will bring about harm, do not speak.
Luqman (may Allah be pleased with him) was asked “How did you become so wise? He replied: I do not ask for what I don’t need, and I don’t speak about what does not concern me.” [Excerpts taken from book ‘The Manners of the Knowledge Seeker’]

5. Eliminate Your Ego and Arrogance

Allah teaches us intellectual humility:

https://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/uploads/12_76.png

Above every knowledgeable person, is someone with more knowledge. (12:76)

Your mind, your memory, your marks, your GPA, your whatever—it’s all from Allah. Just as you didn’t choose to be born with a nose on your face and not on your toes, you didn’t select your inborn talents.

Is not hell the [proper] abode for all who [thus] deny the truth (29:68)

Pro Tip: Know your place and don’t get arrogant with what you know.

EAT HEALTHY

Eating healthy isn’t always easy, but committing to a healthy diet can be one of the smartest decisions you ever make. Why? Not only can eating well make you look and feel better, it can also save you money on future health costs.

Overeating and not exercising can lead to unhealthy weight and body conditions . Obesity is defined as having 20% more than the "ideal" body weight for someone your age and height. If you think that you may be overweight or obese, talk to your parents or doctor about ways to become healthier.

Breakfast idea

CHANGE YOUR EATING, CHANGE YOUR LIFE

It's easy to get sucked into the lure of the restaurant menu when you're hungry and everything looks good. You don't have to order the plain grilled chicken breast with steamed veggies—that would be boring. Order what you'd like, but balance the meal out with the rest of the day, says Zied. If you know you're going out for a steak and potatoes dinner, go easy on the meat and starch at lunch. Make sure you're also fitting in healthy fare like whole grains, fruit, veggies, and nuts and seeds in the other meals and snacks that day. That way a hunk of steak won't derail your diet and you'll leave happy.

Ditching the habit and instead focus on good-for-you foods, says Frank Lipman, MD, integrative and functional medicine physician, founder of Eleven Eleven Wellness Center and author of The New Health Rules. Instead of how many calories, ask yourself where the food came from and if it's nutritious. "Healthy, nutrient-rich foods will keep hunger at bay, help maintain stable blood sugar levels, minimize cravings, and help your brain signal your belly when you're full," he says. In other words, you don't have to go through all the trouble of counting.

Nutritionists are always saying to eat more vegetables, so cook them in a way that takes them from ho-hum to yum. "I even think that steamed veggies can be very boring!" says Ilyse Schapiro, a greater New York City-area registered dietitian. Always incorporate high-flavor add-ons to jazz up veggies, like sautéing with olive oil and garlic, or spraying them with olive oil before throwing them in an oven with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. That way, you don't equate "healthy" with "tasteless," a mindset that will knock you off the veggie bandwagon fast. Another tip: buy a spiralizer and make zucchini noodles. Topped off with a rich tomato sauce, you'll feel like you're eating pasta.

Even more important than shopping for healthy foods: actually eating them. When you get home from the store or farmer's market, bounty of fruits and veggies in tow, wash and chop them right away and store in a pretty glass container in your fridge. "Studies show that spending more time on food prep is linked to better eating habits," says Dr. Lipman. It's all about convenience—if they're ready for you, you'll grab them in a pinch. If not? It's chips and dip time. You can also do this with other foods, like making a batch of quinoa for the week or roasting a bunch of veggies to throw together for quick lunches.

You've heard to make breakfast the biggest meal of your day, but you may not be thathungry when you wake up. In fact, "your biggest meal should be around noon when your digestion is at its peak and you can feed your body when it actually needs fuel," says Dr. Lipman. That means you don't need a huge meal at dinner only to sit and catch up on True Detective and then go to bed. But "big" doesn't mean burger and fry big. At lunch, emphasize protein and greens, like a hearty bowl of lentil soup and kale salad. Another bonus: after dinner you won't have the feeling you need to unbutton your pants.

It's trendy to think "food should be fuel" or that food is something that helps you lose (or, ahem, gain) weight. But thinking only in terms of number on the scale takes away a huge part of what eating is about: pleasure. "If you think of eating as something enjoyable and something you do without guilt or without judging yourself, and you stay active, you're less likely to overeat, have a better diet, and maintain any weight loss for the long haul," says Zied. It's true: feeling guilty about your food choices can undermine weight loss—and even pack on the pounds—while a celebratory mindset gives you more control over your diet and can thwart weight gain, found a 2014 study in the journal Appetite.

Greens, oranges, reds, purples, yellows...you get the picture. Eating the rainbow will supply your body with a range of disease-fighting phytonutrients, and will naturally fill you up to help you cut back on unhealthy foods, says Dr. Lipman. Plus, most adults struggle with getting the recommended five servings a day (though some say seven servings). A worldwide study in 2014 found 58 to 88% of adults don't hit that mark. Aiming for a diverse intake of produce from all colors of the rainbow will help you boost your intake. In another study, adults who were offered a variety of vegetables ate more of them without increasing the calories at the meal, found a 2012 study.