Curtains are drawn!!

Posted on by irutarts

As the curtains are drawn at the end of the month, nothing seemed to have changed. The number of cases in my country seems to rise at an alarming rate and the condition do not seem to relax, but, severe. 

A month ago, we were in a fix as to how Ramadan will be spent, and now we ponder over ways to honour our Eid festival.  

Commonalty ciphering means to break the shell and muster, while the perceptive ministry, speeded up and declared a 24-hour lockdown right on the festive day. So, curtailed is EID to our homes and backyards. 

Withal, Eid deluged with blessings, serenity, good sleep, family time, cooking, praying and deepened gratitude is anticipated.

Eid – Ul – Fitr, celebrated after a month full of fasting from dawn to dusk. By fasting and serving the purpose of the holy month, we are accoladed in the form of Eid.

30 days of fasting, customs being observed while bevelling our line of daily routine towards faith and sanctity, embody marvellous perks.

Foremost, to discern the ache of person, enduring his pain is fundamental. Thus, fasting eminently bolsters us with the required understanding. 

Repudiating the driblets and the crumbs gush the sense of reaching out. 

Hence, fasting intensifies the empathy towards the needy leading to an escalation in charity and donations. 

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A man praying at night

Secondly, fasting is paired with worship, prayers and invocations. Late-night prayers (Qayam-ul-Layl), Qayam refers to standing, Layl denotes night. So, standing in the night for prayers has premium benefits. 

Research shows that one reason staying up all night worked was because sleep inhibits the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) that helps control our metabolism and, indirectly, our levels of energy. An estimated 25% to 35% of depressed patients have low TSH levels. Recent research has shown that while sleep inhibits the release of TSH, staying awake through the night and the early morning hours boosts it. This “new” scientific research is completely following the habit of the prophet (saws), which was to sleep shortly after Eisha prayer (by 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm), and wake in the very early morning hours (by 2:00 am – 3:00 am) again to pray.

Many health benefits are backed up with mental peace, serenity, tranquillity and calmness. When a soul is calm and at peace, he loves the life he is blessed with, hence increasing him in gratitude. 

Thirdly, fasting has proved to be associated with a wide range of potential health benefits, including weight loss, as well as improved blood sugar control, heart health, brain function and cancer prevention. Also, fasting can help lower cholesterol, improve glucose control, reduce liver fat and improve blood pressure. Studies have also shown that fasting, which leads to caloric restriction, increases the lifespan of even healthy people.

While fasting, taking short naps are also said to be rewarded. 

Apart from this, Muslims also practice the famous “5:2 whole day fasting” along with the other ways of intermittent fasting all round the year.

Prophet Mohammad SAW used to fast every week on Mondays and Thursdays, and now science has been proving its health, mental and emotional benefits. 

Fourth, another obligation during the month is reciting as much Quran (holy book of Muslims) as possible. Surprisingly, even recitation and memorization of the Quran gets numerous gain with it. 

“And We send down of the Qur’an that which is healing and mercy for the believers, but it does not increase the wrongdoers except in loss.” (Al-Quran, 17:82)

Science has proved that by reducing our brainwave frequencies to alpha and theta, we can enjoy loads of benefits:

  • We are more spiritually connected, and more at peace. This makes us enjoy life more.
  • We are healthier due to lower stress levels
  • We can control our mind to focus completely on the present
  • We can remain calm even while under pressure
  • We can accelerate our learning
  • We can go into the state of deep relaxation, which is important to our health and emotional wellbeing

And the mind that is operating at alpha waves is also linked with creative and lateral thinking. Lateral thinking is the ability to look at a problem from many angles instead of tackling it head-on. Additionally, an alpha level mind can memorise up to 1500 words a day, as is the case with small children.

We know that mediation, which the recitation of the Quran is similar to, helps us to bring down our brain waves to this beneficial alpha and theta waves.

The conclusion of the research shows that reciting just a page of the Quran reduces our brain waves to alpha, thereby leading to a rested and calmed mind. Subhanallah!

Along with all the other benefits, the major benefits above bring emotional stability, helps practice patience, inculcates empathy and sympathy, draws each one closer to their loved ones and community. Erases our differences brings all to a common ground. 

As the month-end gets closer, we are at the benefitting end at all aspects of Ramadan, yet we are rewarded with festive days of EID-Ul-Fitr.

However, before the night of Eid – Ul – Fitr, global Muslims are obliged to buy basic commodities, groceries and goods; distribute among the poor of the locality (Fitra), assuring an ecstatic Eid celebration not stays limited to your homes. However, Zakat due can be paid out before the next Ramadan arrives. 

As considered the holiest month out of all the months, it also is a disciplinary month for all the believers. The Muslims all over the world observe and adhere to the obligations of the month. A training period for all followers with a habit-forming routine to be followed all around the year.

The believers are expected to pursue this constant behaviour throughout the year. Sadly, we struggle for consistency and persistence, keeping it limited only to this month. 

This year on wards, doing my best to follow the same practice throughout the year and as you know the benefits as well, hope you will too. 

Glittercut.com wishes its phenomenal virtual family a Wonderful, Blessed and an Auspicious Eid with your loved ones, Eid Mubarak.

#stayhome #staysafe

Do add in your viewpoints and feedback on the benefits and perks of Ramadan in the comments below.  

Service to humanity!

Posted on by irutarts

All over the world regardless of the ongoing season or the weather conditions, our desires, our wants and needs pay no heed. Rising with passing time, quenching the craves becomes a task. Feasible at a click of the button for some, while, regulating for the vital supply itself gets crippling for some.

The ratio of the crippling is way more than the haves. 

Instances of both classes are spotted in our vicinity. At times, the contrast is distinct, but, many times to differentiate the indigent is confusing. 

Shielded amour-propre refrains the impoverished from imploring, while expectations soaring their speculation of acquiring aid.

While the secret desire of the deprived remains cloaked, the glare of the leisure blocks the effluent from spotting the needful.

On the contrary, the benevolent irrespective of their financial holding selflessly reach out to the needy with available means, winning the ‘philanthropist’ title. 

Helping comes with the pleasure of its own, the realization of the wonders every good deed can do. 

Various channels of approaching the unfortunate are accessible. Charitable organizations or charitable events, they all aim to provide for the needy and deal with poverty one man at a time. 

However, we don’t need to bank on such events or organizations entirely for helping the deprived. 

Apart from dropping a dime in the charity box at the mall, or spending on a charity coupon, ways like feeding the poor, giving old clothes, distributing blankets or other essentials, setting up a water cooler in the neighborhood add to the list of admired charitable ways. 

At times, the deserving may be contiguous to us in relation or distance. Mindfulness to their needs is what it requires to make the first step forward to provide support.

Upon giving alms, the giver is not helping the needy, but, instead is helping himself to become a better person, to be more empathetic, and helps himself to be more generous while expecting null in return. However, the sanctification of giving charity and the elation of easing the misery of a soul is indescribable. Yet, some boastful individuals brag about their blessed cause and let the value of the deed go in vain.

Negligent of the scar left on the hearts of the receiver by their hurtful act.

The mortified receiver strained by the circumspect acceptance of funds, already burdened by the affliction and compromising their dignity, generally, expect the giver to be attentive of their emotions.

All form of charity is a component of many religions and culture. Hence, being taught and inculcated in the young minds from an early age, building a sense of service to humanity.

Similarly, in Islam, charity throughout the year is instigated while in the holy month of Ramadan, charity by the name of Zakat has been made obligatory. Zakat, the third out of five pillars of Islam, is a term used for the 2.5% of the wealth, investment or savings to be paid to the poor and needy. (to know more about the Zakat and its terms and rulings, click here). Economists have confirmed the fact that if each believer makes the due payment of zakat and does not withhold it, poverty will surely be eradicated from the face of the Earth. Sadly, that is not the case yet. 

There are various types of people in need depending on their situation, hence, broadening our opportunities for charity. 

Generosity could be in the form of giving wealth, clothing, essentials, groceries and many other desired objects which eases the gainers’ situation to some extent. 

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A man helping a dog.

However, it does not remain restricted to the same. If you possess knowledge of any kind, sharing it is charity. Helping any seeker in any manner without expecting any returns while not boasting is also a form of charity. To smile at someone is charity. Clearing the pathway of any obstacle to ease the passage for others is charity. Charity is also when you help a blind man cross the road. Showing directions to the lost is as well a form of charity. Helping out animals is also charity. planting trees as well is charity and the list goes on.

So, for reaching out and helping, you need not be rich or have a huge bank balance. Without these also you can be charitable and earn the rewards and be blessed. 

Abu Dharr narrated that the Messenger of Allah said :

“Your smiling in the face of your brother is a charity, commanding good and forbidding evil is a charity, your giving directions to a man lost in the land is a charity for you. Your seeing for a man with bad sight is a charity for you, your removal of a rock, a thorn or a bone from the road is a charity for you. Your pouring what remains from your bucket into the bucket of your brother is a charity for you.” Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1956, In-book reference: Book 27, Hadith 62, English translation: Vol. 4, Book 1, Hadith 1956

No good deed is small. A deed which may be minuscule for us might make an enormous difference in the life of the beneficiary. So, never belittle any act of help and seize every opportunity which comes your way, doing your part in making a life lead to a better future.

What are your thoughts on charity, and is there anything you would want to add to our post, let us know in the comments below? 

Like and share & continue to spread the sparkle.