Surviving Infertility Through Hope And Patience

“Know you (all) that the life of this world is but play and amusement pomp and mutual boasting and multiplying (in rivalry) among yourselves riches and children: Here is a similitude:

How the rain and the growth from which it brings forth delight (the hearts of) the tillers; soon it withers; they will see it grow yellow; then it becomes dry and crumbles away. But in the Hereafter is a Penalty severe (for the devotees of wrong) and Forgiveness from Allah and (His) Good Pleasure (for the devotees of Allah). And what is the life of this world but goods and chattels of deception?” (Surat Al-Hadeed: Verse 20)

Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) works in mysterious ways indeed. One of the functions of creating man and woman was procreation, for the preservation and continuity of the human race. This is also one of the reasons why we as humans naturally desire to have children, to such an extent that every one of us actually yearns for parenthood at some point in our lives. Children are a blessing from Allah in this dunya just as wealth or status; being a parent is one of the greatest of blessings bestowed upon a person, whether Muslim or non-Muslim.

It was narrated by Ayesha (radhi Allahu anha) that the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: The children of a man come from what he earns; rather they are his pleasantest earning; so enjoy from their property. (Abu Dawood Hadith)

For a couple, the process of caring for a child from the time it has been decreed to be born, then the mother carrying the child in her womb, until the time when he or she is old enough to stand as an independent adult, holds some of the most beautiful experiences in life. The memories can be the best that the parents will carry along with themselves as they grow old and feeble, and surely the joy of bearing and raising a child is one of the greatest mercies and blessings of Allah (Tabaarak wa Ta’ala) upon us. Unfortunately, there are some who are chosen to be amongst those who will not feel the joy and happiness that goes into bearing or raising children.

Psychological Impact

Dealing with the harsh reality of not being able to be a mother or father is one of the most difficult challenges in an infertile couple’s life together. After all, none of us ask to be in the trying situations we often find ourselves in. Its only natural to have expectations of being a parent once one is married, even to look forward to the joy contained in something as simple as cradling your own child in your arms. But it can be different when it does not work out and finally after years of trying, you realize that being a parent may never turn out to be a reality.

Infertility affects both parents psychologically. Neither one is exempt from the anxiety and the pain. Both go through times when they feel a loss in their normal functions as a man or a woman; times when they feel somehow inadequate. Times when others with children deliberately point out that you have no children even after being married for a couple of years. Times when the couple feels almost like they are being punished for some fault of theirs, something they may have done to bring on the wrath of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) upon themselves. Times when the infertile spouse feels guilty of having let down his or her companion, because they feel they have been unsuccessful in doing their part when it comes to bearing children. Even times when they feel that they may not have been fit to be a parent and therefore have been chosen by Allah to be a childless couple. Worse yet, are the times when they stop believing in the mercy and love of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala), worst yet…. because when we as Muslims stop believing in Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala), in His Mercy, and in His Kindness and His Love, our existence is as good as void.

Being an infertile couple can be very stressful on the marriage as well, especially so when the communication between spouses breaks down due to the disappointments. If the bonds of love are weak, one blames the other, in turn hurting and scarring, when it is only Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) who has the might to grant as He (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) wishes, and there is nothing that can be done by any of us to change His decree.

There are also those couples that are destined to lose their children in premature births or miscarriages, leaving a deeper scar upon the mother, a situation that cannot be comprehended by one who hasn’t felt a similar pain. Miscarriages leave the mother haunted with the fears of another loss each time she is expecting; dealing with that situation can be very trying.

Building One’s Strength on the Higher Aspects of Life

When we are created our primary purpose is worship and obedience to Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala). Enjoyment of the various pleasures of this dunya is only part of the package. As people in Islam, we should build our strengths on the fact that we have a sacred bond with Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) as our Creator, and that we will always remain His bondmen and bondmaids until the very end of time.

We are Muslims with or without our spouses, our children even our parents, because when Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) created us, individually and as a race, He created us first and foremost with our submission unto Himself in purpose. And irrespective of the fact of whether we do fit into this society and follow the normal family pattern, we will remain His slaves, forever worshipping and cherishing Allah, and respecting the sanctity of the relationship.

We must build our lives on the strengths where we not only accept and fully comprehend the sanctity of our relationship with Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) as our Creator but also by constantly reminding ourselves of the reality that this life is ephemeral. We must understand that what really matters is how we fare in this dunya as Muslims, as we will surely be accountable for our actions. We should know that just as Allah gave us life, He (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) can and will take it away as well.

“O you who believe! Let not your riches or your children divert you from the remembrance of Allah. If any act thus, the loss is their own.”

{Surah Al-Munafiqun: Verse-9}

Remind yourselves of how even amongst the the mothers of the faithful, the wives of the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), were women who were not destined to bear children to Rasullallah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and they surely must have felt the pain. But the greatest of Muslimahs build their strengths on acceptance of their fate as the reality of Allah’s will, on hopes of being amongst the fortuned dwellers of eternal paradise, through their sincere submission. They built their hopes and desires in the joy that they would feel as the dwellers of paradise where they would be granted what ever their hearts desired, even if their hearts desired children. In the joy that they would feel as the loved bondmaids of Allah, being amongst those who will (InshaAllah) be destined to gaze upon His (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala)’s beautiful face.

Allah has promised to not burden us with more than our souls can bear and there is relief in these words of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) because this is not only a promise but also a constant reminder that the burden can be dealt with and it can be overcome, InshaAllah. Indeed, Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) is All Just.

“On no soul do We place a burden greater than it can bear: before Us is a record which clearly shows the truth: they will never be wronged.”

{Surat Al-Mu’minun: Verse 62}

Asking help of Allah in constant supplication

And your Lord says: “Call on Me; I will answer your (Prayer): But those who are too arrogant to serve Me will surely find themselves in Hell in humiliation!”

{Surat Al-Mu’min: Verse 60}

It was narrated by An-Nu’man ibn Bashir that the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Supplication (du’a') is itself the worship.” (He then recited:) “And your Lord said: Call on Me, I will answer you.” (Abu-Dawood Hadith)

Ask Allah for what your heart desires, ask of Him from the depth of your heart and InshaAllah, He (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) is All Merciful, All Compassionate and All Just and He will answer. Ask Him for acceptance to be placed in your heart for what is to come, along with a home in paradise.

“Is it not He who responds to the distressed one when he calls Him (better than your gods.)” {Surat An-Naml: Verse 62}

Allah has promised to answer our every prayer to Him, even if delayed. He has also promised us a reward for every prayer in the hereafter. Also, know that what Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) grants may not necessarily be what we desire but what we are given is the best for us, as Allah is All-Aware of what the future holds.

For Allah has said in His book,

“And it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allaah knows, and you do not know.”

{Surat Al-Baqarah: Verse 216}

Tribulations with a Reason

Each of us is afflicted with trials of different degrees, some more trying than others. The reasons for these afflictions vary from reaping the fruits of our own evildoing, to the need to learn a certain significant lesson, in turn making us richer in wisdom. We may even be afflicted with trials just so our souls can be cleansed of the sins that we have accumulated through time. And certainly, the inability to bear offspring is a trial in this dunya.

It was narrated by Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “A Muslim male or female, remains subject to trials (in this world) in respect of self, children and property till he or she faces Allah, the Exalted, (on the Day of Judgment) in a state in which all his or her sins have been remitted.” (Al-Tirmidhi Hadith)

It was narrated by Muhammad ibn Khalid as-Sulami that As-Sulami’s grandfather, who was a Companion of the Apostle of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: I heard the Apostle of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) say: “When Allah has previously decreed for a servant a rank which he has not attained by his action, He afflicts him in his body, or his property or his children.” (Abu Dawood Hadith)

There is Relief After Every Hardship

From the immense blessings and mercy of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) is also that after every hardship there is relief, even if not in the form we asked of Him, for Allah (Tabaarak wa Ta’ala) has said in His book,

“So verily with every difficulty there is relief:

Verily with every difficulty there is relief. “

{Surat Ash-Sharh: Verse 5-6}

Explanation of the verse:

“that is, there is one hardship with two relieves and one hardship cannot overcome two relieves.” (commentary, Noble Qur’an)

Allah informs us that with difficulty there is ease and then, He (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) reaffirms this information (by repeating it). (Tafseer Ibn Katheer)

Indeed, His (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) reaffirmation of that statement is glad tidings for the believer, because it only means we will not be forsaken, and what other news can be more reassuring.

Patience and hope

Patience and hope for Allah’s mercy are just as crucial as is acceptance of our fate. Khadijah (radhi Allahu anha), the first wife of Rasullallah, married him when she was 40 years of age. According to science today, women are less fertile even more likely not able to bear children after 40 years of age. It is interesting though how Khadijah (radhi Allahu anha) bore all her children after 40 years of age, and in that she gave birth to six children, of whom four daughters lived until adulthood. Even if she bore her children one after the other, she still gave birth to her children over a period of ten years after she got married, Allahu Alam! (This is a personal estimation and analysis on my part). Interestingly, she may have had children until she was 50 years or even over. Allahu Alam wa `Alaa! The point being, Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) is aware of what is to come, even if a doctor may judge otherwise and this is where hope and patience play a major role.

“And those who are patient, we will certainly pay them a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do.” {Surat Al-An’ am: Verse 96}

The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) also said: “The extent of the reward will be in accordance with the extent of the trial. If Allaah loves a people, He tries them, and whoever is content will have contentment, and whoever is angry will have anger.” (At-Tirmidhi Hadith).

Even those who lose their children are given glad tidings in the aakhirah (hereafter) as a reward for their patience in this life, as mentioned in the following ahadith….

It was narrated by Anas bin Malik that Allah’s Apostle (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “Any Muslim whose three children died before the age of puberty will be granted Paradise by Allah because of His mercy to them.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith)

Abu Hassan said to Abu Hurayrah: My two children have died. Would you narrate to me anything from Allah’s Apostle (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) a hadith, which would soothe our hearts in our bereavements? He said: Yes. Small children are the fowls of Paradise. If one of them meets his father (or he said his parents) he would take hold of his cloth, or he said with his hand as I take hold of the hem of your cloth (with my hand). And he (the child) would not take off (his hand) from it until Allah causes his father to enter Paradise. (Sahih Muslim Hadith)

It was narrated by Abu Said, that a woman came to Allah’s Apostle (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and said, “O Allah’s Apostle! Men (only) benefit by your teachings, so please devote to us from (some of) your time, a day on which we may come to you so that you may teach us of what Allah has taught you.” Allah’s Apostle (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “Gather on such-and-such a day at such-and-such a place.” They gathered and Allah’s Apostle (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) came to them and taught them of what Allah had taught him. He then said, “No woman among you who has lost her three children (died) but that they will screen her from the Fire.” A woman among them said, “O Allah’s Apostle! If she lost two children?” She repeated her question twice, whereupon the Prophet said, “Even two, even two, even two!” (Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith)

Hope in the hereafter

No single human can guarantee himself a single breath of air even a second beyond his present being, and no single human can guarantee himself Paradise in the after life or even mercy from Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala), nor can anyone of us guarantee himself the length of his life span, nor can he say if he will ever be a parent.

Freeing ourselves from the materialism of this dunya will help us bond stronger with Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala), constantly reminding us that nothing will last, and if we build too many high materialistic hopes and dreams on this life, as if to live for ever and ever, all of our hopes and dreams will only be in vain and no one but our own selves will be the losers.

Indeed, being able to bear children is a great blessing, but for those whom Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) has withheld this particular blessing, He has prepared much more in the hereafter in eternity – and this is the glad-tidings from Allah.

O Allah! Help me, but do not help against me; and grant me victory, but not against me; and plan for me, but not against me; and guide me and facilitate my guidance; grant me victory over those who transgress against me, Aameen. Allahumma Aameen.

Subhanaka `Allahumma wa bihamdika, wa `ash-hadu `an laa `Illaaha `illaa `anta, `astaghfiruka wa `atoobu `ilayka. (Glorified are You O’ Allah and I am in Your praise, I testify that there is no deity except You, I ask Your forgiveness and repent unto You).

Sister in Islam

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contraception is haraam

THE HARMS OF CONTRACEPTION

There are several reasons why we believe that the use of contraception harms everyone involved. The first reason is that the use of contraception leads to abortion. Several “contraceptives” are in fact abortifacients. That is, they cause early abortions. All oral contraceptives, Norplant, Depo-Provera, and IUDs cause abortions before a woman even knows she’s pregnant. According to Dr. Bogomir Kuhar, in Infant Homicides Through Contraceptives, these forms of birth control take an estimated 8.1 to 12.75 million lives each year in the US alone. Contraceptives also cause abortions through their failures. All contraceptives fail, some quite often. Even surgical sterilization has a failure rate. Each “failure” results in a new human life, a new baby, an actual woman facing an unplanned and often unwanted pregnancy. These pregnancies are at risk for abortion.

The invention of the birth control pill was revolutionary and, in fact, caused the sexual revolution. Once people thought they could have sex without the possibility of pregnancy, or with a greatly reduced risk of pregnancy, they began to disregard the traditional structures that had protected children and sex for centuries. Contraceptives pills were soon prescribed for younger and younger unmarried women. Since contraceptives fail, this led to an upsurge in the numbers of out of wedlock and teenage pregnancies, and the number of single parent families. With the increase in premarital and extramarital sex, and the number of partners one person might have, the rate of infection from sexually transmitted diseases skyrocketed. Even the number of serious sexually transmitted diseases soared, from about twelve known diseases thirty years ago to over fifty today. This plague has even struck our senior citizens as, empowered by Viagra, they have contact with multiple sex partners. Several retirement communities now report epidemics of STDs. Nature is telling them that even after fertility is naturally gone, the marriage vow is still sacred. The diseases themselves have changed, from easily treatable, known diseases, to more and more destructive ones, including the AIDS virus. Some contraceptives, especially hormonal contraceptives, even make the user more susceptible to STDs.

Contraceptives can help destroy marriages. Only four years after contraceptives were first tested, researchers found that marriages in which contraceptives were used were twice as likely to end in divorce than marriages in which there was no contraceptive use¹. Why this huge difference? Well, using contraceptives means that a couple’s fertility is suppressed, and treated like a disease. They are no longer able to share themselves with each other totally in the sex act. There is a barrier not just physical, but also emotional, erected between them. They are closing one part of themselves off from each other, and from God. Often the couple begin to be dissatisfied. The wife starts to feel that the husband does not desire her, only her body. The husband begins to feel that his wife doesn’t really want to have sex with him, that she is cold and tired. These attitudes can poison their whole relationship. With this crucial part of their marriage gone bad, soon other problems develop. Before they know it, the couple is in divorce court, dividing up their mutual property.

Contraceptives treat children like a disease. We take medicine or have surgery done to prevent them. When a couple does become pregnant in our modern culture, it may be seen as an occasion for condolences rather than congratulations. A pregnancy after a couple has one or two children may be treated as an unfortunate mistake. As Christians, we know that this attitude is wrong. The Bible tells us that children are a gift from God. They are His blessings. An abundance of children is an expression of God’s special favor. What right do any of us have to refuse a gift from God? Instead of the world’s attitude that children are bothersome nuisances that prevent us from enjoying our hard-earned wealth, we need to see each child as a marvelous assist to full human life. We believe that all children are good and beautiful. Although some pregnancies may occur under tragic circumstances, each child is an occasion for celebration.

Contraceptives degrade women. From the day in junior high when a woman menstruates for the first time, a woman’s fertility is a huge part of her life. If her constantly changing hormones were not enough, for five to ten days every month she gets powerfully reminded again and again that this body of hers was designed to conceive and bear children. When a woman uses contraceptives, she and her partner are actively rejecting this essential fact about herself. Her ability to become pregnant, one of the greatest blessings of her life, becomes unacceptable and a burden. Because most contraceptives are designed to be used by women, when they fail, and a pregnancy occurs, it is “her fault.” She is expected to “deal with” her mistake, usually by having an abortion. The father of the child, although he is as responsible for this child as the mother, feels free to abandon both of them. After all, since the contraception wasn’t his responsibility, why should he be responsible for the result of the contraceptive failure?

Hormonal contraceptives, besides being abortifacient, have horrific side effects for the women who use them. From high blood pressure to blood clots², to heart attacks³, to migraine headaches, to menstrual problems after you quit taking the drug, hormonal contraceptives (the pill, Norplant, and Depo-Provera etc) can wreak havoc on a woman’s body. It is no coincidence that the rise in breast cancer followed ten to fifteen years after hormonal contraceptives first became readily available⁴. It is also no coincidence that many women who have been on the pill for years and now want children, find they are now infertile⁵. Infertility has become a national epidemic, with couples spending hundreds of thousands of dollars trying desperately to conceive. Unethical doctors continue to become wealthy prescribing contraceptives and then treating the side effects.

Finally, we believe that the use of contraception is wrong, because that is what our Church teaches. Although it has come under serious fire both from within and without, the Roman Catholic Church has never changed its centuries-old teaching that contraception is morally wrong, and that its use is immoral. Many Catholics have been deceived into believing that the Catholic Church has changed its teaching, or that it doesn’t matter anymore. The truth is that the Church cannot change the Creator’s design. What is intrinsically immoral will always remain so. We challenge all believers to find out the truth, examine their own consciences, and live up to the standard that our Church has set for us. It’s never too late to make a change.

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¹Grant MD, Ellen Sexual Chemistry: Understanding Our Hormones, The Pill, and HRT. Mandarin Paperbacks, London, 1994.

²Demulen (1993). Physicians Desk Reference, 2254

³Thorogood M, Mann J, Murphy M, Vessey M (1991). Is oral contraceptive use still associated with an increased riskof fatal myocardial infarction? Report of a case control study. Br J Ob Gyn 98, 1245-1253

⁴‘RCGP Breast Cancer and oral contraceptives: Findings in Royal College of General Practitioners’ study.’ BMJ 1981; 282:2089-93.

⁵Rowland, R. Living Laboratories. Lime Tree, London 1992.

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The Dangers of Prenatal Ultrasound

Ultrasound, sonograms, and dopplers use high frequency sound waves to produce an image of the baby on a viewing screen or amplify the baby’s heartbeat so it can be heard more easily.  NO STUDIES have been done which prove the safety of these devices, and the American Medical Association recommends AGAINST unnecessary exposure.

“Unnecessary Exposure” includes the use of ultrasound to:

1.  Confirm the sex of the baby.

2.  Assess gestational age (how many weeks old the baby is).

3.  Assess fetal size and growth.

4.  Confirm multiple pregnancy.

5.  Determine fetal presentation (the position of the baby in the womb).

Many health care professionals still use ultrasound for these purposes anyway, even though the American Medical Association has not approved its use for these purposes.  With the exception of confirming the sex of the baby, all these pieces of information can be obtained with hands-on skills.  A fetoscope or stethoscope can detect the baby’s heartbeat without the dangers of ultrasound.

According to the World Health Organization and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services report, “It is not clear at this time whether ultrasound fetal monitoring is beneficial to the mother or fetus in terms of pregnancy outcome…If there is no generally acknowledged benefit to the monitoring, there is no reason to expose patients to increased cost and risk.  The question of benefit has not yet been resolved…and the potential for delayed effects has been virtually ignored.”

In other words, Ultrasound technology carries potential risks that have not yet been evaluated, yet many doctors are telling women that there is no risk.

Having an ultrasound is NOT essential to a healthy pregnancy.  However, most doctors are trained to use expensive technology and NOT trained to use hands-on skills.

Before you allow an ultrasound to be done on you, do some research, thoroughly question your healthcare provider about safety as well as the value of the information that would be received.  Don’t be afraid to refuse the test if you are not comfortable with the information you have discovered.  It is your constitutional right to refuse any tests you do not want.

To give you some means of comparison, I offer this analogy.  Have you seen a woman with an extremely high voice break a glass by singing an extremely high pitched note?  That is an example of what just ONE relatively slow sound wave can do.  Ultrasound technology is based upon ultra high-frequency sound waves, which bombard the child in the womb at an extremely high rate of speed.  If one slow sound wave from a woman’s voice can break a glass, what can super high frequency sound waves do to your child?  Ultrasound waves in laboratory experiments have been known to damage chromosomes, produce internal cellular heat which damages cells, retard the normal development of cells, and many other phenomenon.

Research That Has Been Done On Ultrasound Technology

Newnham, J.P., Evans, S.F., Michael, C.A., Stanley, F.J., & Landau, L. I. (1993). Effects of Frequent Ultrasound During Pregnancy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.  The Lancet, 342(Oct.9), 887-891.

A study of over 1400 women in Perth, Western Australia compared pregnant mothers who had ultrasound only once during gestation with mothers who had five monthly ultrasounds from 18 weeks to 38 weeks. They found significantly higher intrauterine growth restriction in the intensive ultrasound group. These mothers gave birth to lower weight babies.

The researchers concluded that prenatal ultrasound imaging and Doppler flow exams should be restricted to clinically necessary situations. This recommendation comes at a time when ultrasound during prenatal visits has become increasingly popular and serves as a kind of entertainment feature of office check-up visits.

Campbell, J.D., Elford, R.W. & Brant, R.F. (1993).  Case-Controlled Study of Prenatal Ultrasound Exposure in Children with Delayed Speech. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 149(10), 1435-1440.

Delayed speech is not a pathological or organic syndrome but developmentally defined symptom complex. Clinicians have noted an increased incidence of delayed speech in pediatric patients.

This is a matched-case control study of 72 children 2 to 8 years old presenting with delayed speech of unknown cause. The children were measured for articulation, language comprehension, language production, meta-linguisticskills, and verbal memory. When checked for ultrasound exposure, the speech-delayed children were about twice as likely to have been exposed to ultrasound than the matched controls.

The authors believe that delayed speech is a sensitive measure reflecting sub-optimal conditions for development. If ultrasound can cause developmental delays, the authors are concerned about the routine use of ultrasound and they warn against it.

Devi, P.U., Suresh,  R., & Hande, M.P. (1995). Effect of fetal exposure to ultrasound on the behavior of the adult mouse. Radiat Res (QMP),  141(3), 314-7.

Pregnant Swiss albino mice were exposed to diagnostic ultrasound. There were significant alterations in behavior in all three exposed groups as revealed by the decreased locomotor and exploratory activity and the increase in the number of trials needed for learning. These results indicate that ultrasound exposure during the early fetal period can impair brain function in the adult mouse.

Hande, M.P., & Devi, P.U. (1995). Teratogenic effects of repeated exposures to X-rays and/or ultrasound in mice. Neurotoxicol Teratol (NAT), 17(2), 179-88.

Pregnant Swiss mice were exposed to ultrasound, x-rays, and combinations of the two.  Effects on prenatal development, postnatal growth and adult behavior were studied. U + U group showed an increase in percent growth retarded fetuses. The postnatal mortality was significantly higher only in the U + U group. In the X + U group, the exploratory activity was affected at 6 months of  age. There was a significant change in the locomotor activity with a reduction in the total activity as 3 and 6 months of age in the U + U group. Latency in learning capacity was also noticed in this group. The results indicate that repeated exposures to ultrasound or its combination with X-rays could be detrimental to the embryonic development and can impair adult brain function when administered at certain stages of  organogenesis.

There are many other studies that have been done, but no one seems to be paying attention to them.

Don’t allow yourself to be the next guinea pig.

All the studies above address the issue of physical safety of ultrasound procedures.  Ultrasound also has some very serious emotional and psychosocial side effects.

When an ultrasound is done, and the results are questionable, it can be an emotional rollarcoaster. Ultrasound technicians are wrong as often as they are right, and when a family is told that their unborn baby has some kind of defect, they will spend the rest of the pregnancy worrying, crying, and in some cases, may abort the baby because they are assured it has an abnormality.

Try to read an article called “Mother Rails Against Ultrasound” which chronicles one family’s terrible experience with the inaccuracy of this test. In 1993, the results of the largest study ever done on ultrasound were published. It was called the RADIUS study. The original results were reported in these publications if you would like to get a copy of the study and read it for yourself.

Ewigman, B., Crane, J.P., Frigoletto, F.D., et al. Impact of prenatal ultrasound screening on perinatal outcome. N Engl J Med 1993 Sept 16;329:821-7.

LeFevre, M., Bain, R., Ewigman, B., et al. A randomized trial of prenatal ultrasound screening: Impact on maternal management and outcome. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1993 Sept 15;169:483-9.

Basically, the study, the largest of its kind to date, states that routine ultrasound does not benefit mothers or babies in terms of pregnancy outcome. It did not reduce the number of infant or maternal deaths, and it did not lead to better care for the newborn. The only thing it did was expose the families to increased cost and risk.

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Breastfeeding Improves IQ

A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that breastfed infants tested 5.2 IQ points higher than formula fed infants, for a comprehensive study involving 11 different studies and over 7000 children.

The study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and was performed by University of Kentucky nutritionist James Anderson.

“Our study confirms that breast-feeding is accompanied by about a five-points higher IQ than in bottle-fed infants,” Anderson said.

Within that increase, Anderson and associates were able to separate the benefits from mother-infant bonding from the purely nutritional benefits of human milk.

“Our best estimates are that maternal bonding and the decision to breast-feed account for about 40 percent of that increase, but that 60 percent — 3.2 points — are related to the actual nutritional value of the breast milk,” he said.

The link between breast-feeding and brain development has been well established in recent years, but the reasons for it remain controversial. Some researchers believe the link is based on the fact that well-educated, wealthier women breast-feed far more than poor and less educated women. Consequently, breast-fed children will be found to test better for all the reasons that wealthier children from high social classes test better on standardized tests.  But others believe there are chemicals in breast milk that encourage brain development, and that those chemicals are now absent in formula. In particular, extensive research is under way into the effects of several Omega-3 fatty acids – docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (AA) – that are prevalent in breast milk but absent in infant formula.

Therefore Anderson’s group weighed and subtracted 15 factors from their study, such as maternal smoking and education, birth weight, birth order and family income.  After all these factors were removed, the researchers still found that breast-fed babies tested 3.1 IQ points higher than formula-fed babies!

Among the rights of infants is that the mother breast-feeds her baby. Breast-feeding her baby is incumbent. It is not permissible for a mother to deny her baby this Allah-given right without a valid reason. Bottle-feeding does not compensate for this violation of the baby’s haqq. Now we see from the above article the benefits of following Allah’s commands. There is Divine Wisdom in all of the commandments of Allah. It is just for us to follow and obey

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Haraam Broiler Industry – Bewarewhat you eat!!

BROILER CHICKENS

PORK-BEEF WASTE INJECTED IN THE CHICKENS YOU DEVOUR

MASSIVE FRAUD AND FILTH UNCOVERED IN THE HARAAM CHICKEN INDUSTRY

MUSLIMS AND Jews conned into eating meat bulked out with cow and pig products

By Mart in Hickman, Consumer Affairs Correspondent Thursday, 4 June 2009

Cafes and restaurants across Britain have been selling chicken secretly injected with beef and pork waste, The Independent can reveal today.

In a hi-tech fraud run by firms in three EU states, food manufacturers are making bulking agents out of porcine and bovine gristle and bones that help inflate chicken breasts, so that they fetch a higher price. The swindle was only detected by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) using new scientific techniques because the non-chicken material had been so highly processed it passed standard DNA tests. Thousands of restaurateurs and cafe owners are likely to have been conned into buying chicken containing the powder – which binds water into chicken breasts – while diners have been unwittingly consuming traces of other animals when eating out.

Britain’s two million Muslims, Jews and Hindus are forbidden from eating either pork or beef. Muslims would ordinarily eat halal chicken and Jews kosher chicken sold through approved caterers and butchers. The Hindu Forum of Britain described news of the adulteration, which will be confirmed publicly today, as “shocking and potentially very distressing”. Its secretary general, Bharti Tailor, said: “Eating beef is expressly forbidden, even unknowingly. The fact that the protein powders injected into chickens served in restaurants and cafes contain even traces of beef or pork is horrific. And [the fact] that Hindus will have been eating beef contaminated chickens will be mentally agonizing. Many will feel that they have broken their religious code of conduct.”

The food regulator acknowledged the serious consequences of its findings. “… it is important that people are given accurate information about their food,” the FSA said. The fraud has been taking place for at least the past two years, and still continues because of inaction by the authorities in three EU states, believed to be Germany, Netherlands and Spain. The European Commission rebuffed British demands to ban beef and pork proteins from being added to chicken when first detected in the UK and Ireland in 2001 and 2003. Then, action was taken against a chicken company in the Netherlands and the authorities thought the problem had gone away. When complaints began to surface again last year, the FSA launched a secret investigation to ascertain whether chicken – the most eaten meat in the UK – was being adulterated again. At first , scientists could not find any non-chicken protein because the meat had been “denatured” (made unrecognizable). The Central Science Laboratory in York and York

University developed special DNA market tests. “It ‘s like Olympic drug tests; they stay one step ahead of the testers,” said a source close to the investigation. Manufacturers in Germany and

Spain are thought to be making the protein powders; Dutch firms inject them into chickens sold on to UK wholesalers supplying the catering trade. Using a new DNA marker technique, the FSA tested five protein powders from three companies. All five were found to contain a non-poultry material identified as bovine collagen. Further tests found the presence of porcine material in two powders. Tests picked up traces of beef in one of three chicken breasts.

In a report passed to The Independent, the FSA noted: “The study of a small number of injection powders used in chicken breast products has indicated the presence of undeclared, mammalian peptides, i.e., from a non-poultry source in the samples analyzed. The analyses applied indicate the presence of bovine collagen in all the powders sampled and suggest the presence of porcine collagen in some of the powders.” It added: “Certification accompanying the powders claim they are produced only from a poultry source, however, the analytical results suggest this claim could not be substantiated.” Manufacturers can legally add water to chicken, for instance to improve succulence, but must declare water content of above 5 per cent. Fresh chicken meat sold by supermarkets or butchers cannot have any added ingredients. Some chicken products state on the label whether they contain hydrolyzed (chicken) proteins. The FSA advised consumers that they “may wish” to avoid such chicken. “If you are eating food from a restaurant or takeaway you should ask if the chicken served contains hydrolyzed animal proteins,” the F SA will say today. “Restaurants and catering establishments will have this information available to them.” Sue Davies, chief policy adviser at the consumer group Which?, said: “It ‘s bad enough that when you think you’re buying chicken what you’re paying for is an awful lot of water and other animal proteins but if you want to avoid beef or pork for religious reasons it ‘s going to be particularly shocking and annoying. There’s a need for better enforcement action, or people will carry on doing this.”

Contaminated chicken

2001

The Food Standards Agency finds chicken with as little as 54 per cent meat and undeclared protein. The FSA urges the Netherlands and Belgium to tackle exporters.

2003

The FSA and the Food Safety Agency of Ireland find beef and pork in Dutch chicken. The FSAI warns that the EU and the Dutch are failing to police labeling rules. The European Commission rejects a call to ban beef and pork proteins, saying the matter is “primarily an infringement of food labeling legislation”.

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Miracles of the Qur’aan

Reflections on the Medical Miracles of the Holy Quran

Dr. Sharif Kaf Al Ghazal

September 2004

Acknowledgement : I would like to acknowledge the great help that Mr. M A H Madi * provided into the English translation of this article .

Introduction and significant points

Fourteen centuries ago, Allah (SWT) sent down the Quran to mankind as a book of guidance. He called upon people to be guided to the truth by adhering to this book. From the day of its revelation to the day of judgement, this last divine book , the Holy Quran, will remain the sole guide, faith and a methodology of life for humanity.

Allah (SWT) says in Quran :

“Surely this Quran guides to the way that is straightest and gives good tidings to the believers who do deeds of righteousness, that theirs shall be a great wage.” (18:9)

(إن هذا القرآن يهدي للتي هي أقوم ويبشر المؤمنين الذين يعملون الصالحات أن لهم أجرا كبيرا)  الإسراء ( 9 ).

The matchless style of the Quran and its superior wisdom are definite evidence that it is the word of God. In addition, the Quran has many miraculous attributes proving that it is a revelation from God. One of these attributes is the fact that a number of scientific truths that we have only been able to uncover by the technology of the 20th century were stated in the Quran 1,400 years ago.

Of course the Quran is not a book of science. However, many scientific facts that are expressed in an extremely concise and profound manner in its verses have only been discovered with the technology of the 20th century. These facts could not have been known at the time of the Quran’s revelation, and this is still more proof that the Quran is the word of God.

In order to understand the scientific miracle of the Quran, we must first take a look at the level of science at the time when this holy book was revealed.

In the 7th century, when the Quran was revealed, Arab society had many superstitious and groundless beliefs where scientific issues were concerned. Lacking the technology to examine the universe and nature, these early Arabs believed in legends inherited from past generations. They supposed, for example, that mountains supported the sky above. They believed that the earth was flat and that there were high mountains at its both ends. It was thought that these mountains were pillars that kept the vault of heaven high above.

However all these superstitious beliefs of Arab society were eliminated with the Quran. In Surat Al Ra’ed (Chapter 13) , verse 2, it was said: “Allah is He who raised up the heavens without any pillars, that you can see ” (The Quran, 13:2).

(اللّهُ الَّذِي رَفَعَ السَّمَاوَاتِ بِغَيْرِ عَمَدٍ تَرَوْنَهَا) سورة الرعد : 13

This verse invalidated the belief that the sky remains above because of the mountains. In many other subjects, important facts were revealed at a time when no one could have known them.

Few points need to be highlighted :

- Quran’s principal objective is to form a righteous man and establish a virtuous community …
- Quran is not a book of astrology, or medicine.
- Quran’s words need not reflect the norms of the present time, or have connotation to recent theories and knowledge…
- Quran’s words are very well-contrived and accurate, as they are composed by Allah, Who has perfected everything.
- Quran’s purposes of medical and scientific references, and miracles are numerous, of which the most significant are:

1-     Reinforcing and strengthening the faith in Moslems through motivation of admonition, deliberation and meditation.
2-   Giving non-Moslems conclusive evidences of the genuineness of Islam, as Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) was not to get acquainted
with such scientific issues, which were not revealed except in the recent decades, unless told of by Allah the Almighty.
“Soon will We show them our signs in the furthest horizons, and in their own souls, until it becomes manifest to them that this
is the Truth…” (41: 53)

(‏سنريهم آياتنا في الآفاق وفي أنفسهم حتى يتبين لهم أنه الحق أوَ لم يكف بربك أنه على كل شيء شهيد ) ‏ سورة فصلت (53)

Let’s take for example this verse “O mankind!  If ye have a doubt about Recreation ,” (22:5)

(يا أيها الناس إن كنتم في ريب من البعث) الحج : 5

here is the evidence: “surely We created you out of dust, then of a sperm-drop, then of a leech-like clot, then out of a lump of flesh,  formed and unformed, that We may make clearer (Our signs) to you; and We establish in the wombs what We will, till a stated term, then We deliver you as infants, then that you may come of age; and some of you die, and some of you are kept back unto the vilest state of life, that after knowing, they may know nothing…” (22: 5)

(فإنَّا خلقناكم من تراب ثم من نطفة ثم من علقة ثم من مضغة مخلقة وغير مخلقة لنبين لكم، ونقر في الأرحام ما نشاء إلى أجل مسمى، ثم نخرجكم طفلاً، ثم لتبلغوا أشدكم، ومنكم من يُتوفى ومنكم من يرد إلى أرذل العمر لكي لا يعلم من بعد علم شيئاً)  الحج (5) .

The verse goes on; “and you see the earth barren, but when We send down water upon it, it quivers, and swells, and puts forth of every delightful pairs.” (22: 5),

(وترى الأرض هامدة فإذا أنزلنا عليها الماء اهتزت وربت وانتبت من كل زوج بهيج) الحج (5)

Quran encourages all that helps reveal the secret of the universe and existence, and strengthens faith to Allah .

“Say; ‘Journey in the land, and see how Allah did originate creation; so will Allah produce a later creation: for Allah has power over all things.’” (29: 20)

( قُلْ سِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَانظُرُوا كَيْفَ بَدَأَ الْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ اللَّهُ يُنشِئُ النَّشْأَةَ الْآخِرَةَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ) العنكبوت (20)

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