Etikaf during Ramadan

Itikaf / Etikaf during Ramadan !

Itikaf is a form of worship. It is formed by staying in a Mosque for a certain time. It is Ehtiyat that one should stay with the intention to worship Allah by praying formal or informal prayers although prayer is not a condition therein. The time for this form of worship could be anytime when one is allowed to fast. The best time is the month of Ramadan, especially, the last ten days. Conditions for Etikaf during Ramadan: 1. Intention as in the rest of the worship acts. It is necessary that the intention be made at the beginning of Itikaf so that the rule, requiring the worship act to be completed with intention, be followed thoroughly from the beginning to the end. The decision made at the beginning of the night to start etikaf from the beginning of the following day will be open to objection. However, if one decides to start it from the beginning of the night it is not an offense to do so. One is not allowed to change one's mind from one Itikaf to another of the same qualities or different. 2. Belief in Islam. 3. Freedom from mental illness. 4. Fasting; thus the Itikaf of one who cannot fast for some reason is not valid. 5. Duration; which is three continuous days at least. It could be more but not less than three days. If it is started from the beginning of a day the two nights in between will be part of the duration. Less than three days is not considered Itikaf. That it must take place in one of these Mosques: (a) The holy Mosque in Makkah, (b) the holy Mosque of the Prophet in Medina, (c) the holy Mosque of Kufa, (d) the holy Mosque of Basrah, and (e) the Mosque which is assigned for the Friday prayer in any town or city. It is Ehtiyat, however, to complete it in any of the first four Mosques. The roof and basement of a Mosque is part of the same and it is valid to complete Etikaf in such places of a Mosque. Permission of the people whose permission are required such as the master for the slave, husband and parents for the wife and children if this will be against the right of the husband or causes trouble to the parents. 6. Completing it in the Mosque where it was started. Thus, going out of the Mosque without an acceptable reason will invalidate the Itikaf, regardless, one knows the rule or is ignorant or has gone out because of forgetfulness, except in the case of an emergency or one being forced or it is because of some need such as using wash room or having Taharat. One is allowed to come out of the Mosque during Itikaf to take part in the burial of a deceased or to visit an ailing one; Going out of the Mosque for a time long enough to cause the Itikaf to become as non-existing will be considered as invalidating the same, even if one has not done it out of one's own choice. If one needs to have Ghusl/bath during the Itikaf and it is possible for him to have it inside the Mosque, and is not allowed to go out unless the reason for Ghusl requires him not to stay inside the Mosque. Etikaf is originally an optional worship act but it may become obligatory because of a vow etc. Things to avoid during Itikaf: 1. Having sex and also according to Ehtiyat kissing or playing with one's wife; 2. According to a necessary Ehtiyat causing a semen discharge, 3. And smelling perfumes for enjoyment; it is not an offense if one cannot enjoy the perfume because of some defect in his smelling ability. 4. Selling or buying in the form of a business deal, according to a necessary Ehtiyat; there is no offense to be occupied with allowable activities as sewing or writing etc., although it is a Mustahab Ehtiyat to avoid them too. If one needs to buy something for food and there is no one to do the buying for him, it is not an offence for him to do it. 5. Expressing bitterness in talking about worldly or religious matters in order to prove one's ability, not the truth which is one of the best worships. The contracts of buying or selling during Itikaf invalidate Itikaf, but such contracts will be valid. If Itikaf is invalidated because of having sex even, during the night, expiation will be due; if it is invalidated by other things, there will be no expiation, although it is a Mustahab Ehtiyat in this case too. The expiation for invalidating an Itikaf is to set free a slave or if this is not possible, fast for two consecutive months or if this also is not possible, feed sixty poor people.

((Source: businessinsider))The 10 most visited cities in the world

MasterCard just released its 2015 global destination cities index. The index provides a ranking of the 132 most visited cities around the world by looking at the number of international visitors that are predicted to visit the cities in 2015. This year, Asian cities dominated the list, along with a few European cities. Here are the 10 most popular cities in the world with international visitors.

10. Hong Kong, China: 8.66 million international visitors

9. Seoul, South Korea: 10.35 million international visitors

8. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: 11.12 million international visitors

7. Singapore 11.88 million visitors

6. New York City, USA: 12.27 million international visitors

5. Istanbul, Turkey: 12.56 million international visitors

4. Dubai, United Arab Emirates: 14.26 million international visitors

3. Paris, France: 16.06 million international visitors

2. Bangkok, Thailand: 18.24 million international visitors

1. London, England: 18.82 million international visitors

(Article)Unspoken rules of courtesy that everyone should adhere to

Unspoken rules of courtesy that everyone should adhere to

Times are changing. A lot of the rules in our society, that were once very rigid, are now something that we hardly pay heed to. But while some rules and regulations, on what might be considered as good behavior, are obsolete now; there still exists a bunch of unspoken ones that one needs to adhere to. These are rules that have a lot to do with commitment, gratitude, privacy and general courtesy.

When you borrow someone’s car- return it with a full tank of gas, or at least fill it up more than what you got it as a way to saying thank you

Don't smoke when someone around you in visibly uncomfortable

If someone buys you a coffee - Or any other drink, snack, food etc, you should return the favor within a week or so, if you don’t get around to it by that time, get them a small treat and leave them it by the desk

If you ask your friends to help you with something - Mooving, yard work or whatever, you feed them as payment

When you borrow money from a friend - Pay them back as soon as possible, it doesn’t matter the amount, don’t assume they don’t need it, never make them ask you for it

Don’t let your arguments escalate in public - if you feel you can’t control your language or volume then go somewhere else where to continue where other people won’t feel uncomfortable

When someone else cooks for you - offer to help with the dishes

Turn the volume down - If you are sharing a video with a friend or playing a game in public, turn the volume down or use headphones

don’t use speaker phone to have a 2 person call - unless your hands are tied and you are unable to hold the phone, this is really rude

Always leave the last piece - of something to the person who bought it, unless they really insist they won’t eat it

When using someone else's phone or compute, don't go through their stuff without permission

In case you miss a call, drop a message as soon as possible if you're unable to call

Make sure that you don't forget to return that book you borrowed

Pakistan As You Have Never Seen It Before – Some Photos From Bird’s Eye View

Do you ever wonder what your favorite place in the world would look like if you were a bird? Here is your chance to see your homeland from the skies. The following aerial pictures of different landscapes of Pakistan will leave you stunned.   Faisal Mosque, Islamabad   Damo Dim Mud Volcano, Balochistan   Sulaiman Mountains, Balochistan   Memon Masjid, Karachi    Gawadar   Handrap Valley, Ghizar, Gilgit Baltistan   Jinnah Stadium, Islamabad   Minar-e-Pakistan and Badshahi Mosque, Lahore   Port Qasim, Karachi   Masoom Shah Jo Minaro, Sukkur    M2 Motorway, Punjab   Muzaffarabad Cricket Stadium, Azad Kashmir   Nanga Parbat   Pakistan Monument, Islamabad   Phandar Valley   Galyat, Islamabad   National Hockey Stadium, Lahore    Hunza Valley

Heatstroke: Symptoms and treatment

                                           Spaicaly For Sindh Lovely People

Heatstroke is the most serious form of heat-related illness and is a medical emergency. If you suspect that someone has heatstroke - which some people refer to as sunstroke .Heatstroke can kill or cause damage to the brain and other internal organs. Although heatstroke is most common in babies, the elderly and those with long-term medical conditions, it also takes a toll on healthy young physically active people such as athletes. Heatstroke often occurs as a progression from milder heat-related illnesses such as heat cramps, heat syncope ( fainting) and heat exhaustion. However, it can strike even if you have no previous signs of heat injury. Heatstroke results from prolonged exposure to high temperatures - usually in combination with dehydration - which leads to failure of the body's temperature control system. The medical definition of heatstroke is a core body temperature greater than 41°C, with complications involving the central nervous system that occur after exposure to high temperatures. Other common symptoms include nausea, rapid heartbeat, muscle cramps, seizures, confusion, disorientation, cessation of heavy sweating and sometimes loss of consciousness or coma.

Risk factors for heatstroke Heatstroke is most likely to affect older people who live in flats or homes lacking good airflow and with inadequately shaded south-facing windows. Other high-risk groups include babies and young children, and people of any age who don't drink enough water, have chronic diseases, have mental disabilities or who drink excessive amounts of alcohol. People who spend a lot of time being physically active in hot weather are also at greater risk. The risk of heat-related illness dramatically increases when the heat index climbs to 26°C or more. So it's important - especially during heatwaves - to pay attention to the maximum temperature reported in your local weather forecasts and to remember that it will be hotter in the sun than in the shade. If you live in an urban area, you may be especially prone to develop heatstroke during a prolonged heatwave, particularly if there are stagnant atmospheric conditions and poor air quality. In what is known as the "heat island effect," asphalt and concrete store heat during the day and only gradually release it at night, resulting in higher night-time temperatures. Other risk factors associated with heat-related illness include: Age. Infants and children up to age four, and adults over 75 years old, are particularly vulnerable because they adjust to heat more slowly than other people. Health conditions. These include heart, lung or kidney disease, being obese or underweight, having high blood pressure, diabetes, mental illness, sickle cell trait, alcoholism, sunburn and any conditions that cause fever. Medications. These include antihistamines, diet pills, diuretics, sedatives, tranquillizers, stimulants, seizure medications (anticonvulsants), heart and blood pressure medications such as beta-blockers and vasoconstrictors, and medications for psychiatric illnesses such as antidepressants and antipsychotics. Illegal drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine also are associated with increased risk of heatstroke. People with diabetes - who are at increased risk of emergency hospital visits, hospitalisation and death from heat-related illness - may be especially likely to underestimate their risk during heat waves.

Consult with your doctor or healthcare provider to see if your health conditions and medications are likely to affect your ability to cope with extreme heat and humidity. Preventing heatstroke When the temperature is high it's best to stay indoors in a cool room. If you must go outdoors, you can prevent heatstroke by taking these steps: Wear lightweight, light-coloured, loose-fitting clothing and a wide-brimmed hat. Use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or more. Drink extra fluids. To prevent dehydration, it's generally recommended to drink at least eight glasses of water, fruit juice or vegetable juice per day. Because heat-related illness also can result from salt depletion, it may be advisable to substitute an electrolyte-rich sports drink for water during periods of extreme heat and humidity. Take additional precautions when exercising or working outdoors. The general recommendation is to drink 750ml (1.25 pints) of fluid two hours before exercise and consider adding another 225ml (8floz) of water or sports drink right before exercise. During exercise, you should consume another 225ml (8floz) of water every 20 minutes, even if you don't feel thirsty. Reschedule or cancel outdoor activity. If possible, shift your time outdoors to the coolest times of the day, either early morning or after sunset. Other strategies for preventing heatstroke include: Monitoring the colour of your urine. Darker urine is a sign of dehydration. Make sure you drink enough fluids to maintain very light-coloured urine. Measuring your weight before and after physical activity. Monitoring lost water weight can help you determine how much fluid you need to drink. Avoid fluids containing caffeine or alcohol. Both substances can make you lose fluids and worsen heat-related illness. Also, do not take salt tablets unless your doctor has told you to do so. The easiest and safest way to replace salt and other electrolytes during heat waves is to drink sports drinks or fruit juice. Check with your doctor before increasing liquid intake if you have epilepsy or heart, kidney or liver disease, are on fluid-restricted diets, or have a problem with fluid retention. If you live in a flat or house without fans, try to spend at least two hours each day - preferably during the hottest part of the day - in an air-conditioned environment. Avoid rooms with south-facing windows, which get the most sunlight. At home, draw your curtains or blinds during the hottest part of the day. If you can, open windows at night on two sides of your building to create cross-ventilation.

Symptoms of heatstroke The hallmark symptom of heatstroke is a core body temperature above 41°C. But fainting may be the first sign. Other symptoms may include: Throbbing headache Dizziness and light-headedness Lack of sweating despite the heat Red, hot and dry skin Muscle weakness or cramps Nausea and vomiting Rapid heartbeat, which may be either strong or weak Rapid, shallow breathing Behavioural changes such as confusion, disorientation or staggering Seizures Unconsciousness First aid for heatstroke If you suspect that someone has a heatstroke, call 999 immediately or bring the person to a hospital. Any delay in seeking medical help can be fatal. While waiting for the paramedics to arrive, initiate first aid. Move the person to an air-conditioned environment - or at least a cool, shady area - and remove any unnecessary clothing. If possible, take the person's core body temperature and initiate first aid to cool it to below 40°C. If no thermometers are available, don't hesitate to initiate first aid. You may also try these cooling strategies: Fan air over the patient while wetting his or her skin with water from a sponge or garden hose. Apply ice packs to the patient's armpits, groin, neck and back. Because these areas are rich with blood vessels close to the skin, cooling them may reduce body temperature. Immerse the patient in a shower or tub of cool water, or an ice bath. If emergency response is delayed, call the hospital Accident & Emergency department for additional instructions. After you've recovered from heatstroke, you'll probably be more sensitive to high temperatures during the following week. It's best to avoid hot weather and heavy exercise until your doctor tells you that it's safe to resume your normal activities.

Things That Prove You Are A True Pakistani

(Just Fun) There are some special things that make us Pakistani. You might be very well aware of it, and couldn’t agree more right? There are endless things, but here are a few that we loved.

When you collect tissues, ketchup, sugar from the restaurants

You never wear a seat belt

Your parents drink more than 4 cups of tea a day

When you always get to hear ” hum jab tumhari umar k thay”

When you find frozen veggies in an icecream box

When you find sewing equipments in a cookie box

When your parents buy you clothes two size bigger, so you can grow into them

When you store plastic bags in a plastic bag, or in a drawer

When you arrive late at a destination, oh that’s totally normal

When all you eat is spicy food

When you’re sick everyone starts giving you remedies

You hit the remote control countless times when the battery dies

When your clothes are turned into pochas

You get angry when a guest enters the house wearing shoes

You have to use that bar of soap until it you don’t see it