New Web Site Offers Parents Video Game Info

What I am going to give will inshaAllah (God Willing) help lots of parents, I think this is one of the best sites for parents whose kids are into video games, the site it called Whattheyplay.com this site actually gives all the list of video games in the market and its rates them and it gives you the age group who it's targerting too. InshaAllah (God willing) this will help parents make good decisions as to which games they should buy and YES! the kids can't fool them, Sorry kids :( .

"What They Play (www.whattheyplay.com) is the parents guide to video games, providing expert insight into the themes and content of hundreds of today’s most popular interactive entertainment products. As the most comprehensive resource of its kind, What They Play offers succinct information within an unbiased and independent environment, along with a variety of features that encourage community participation through information-sharing, opinion and interaction amongst parents."

Check out the site and don't forget to tell them that you heard about it from us :)

The Negative Portrayal of the Islam in a Movie and Prophet Muhammad in Cartoons

Joseph Conrad: The belief in a supernatural source of evil is not necessary; men alone are quite capable of every wickedness.

Religion has been blamed for every evil, yet it is not religion that provokes or perpetuates evil. Evil is planned in the minds of men and executed by the hands of men. Religion has never been the driving force for hate. The negative depiction of the Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) in the Danish newspaper and the movie insulting Islam is a most recent example. While Muslims protest, the Danes and the Western world claim a right to Freedom of Speech.

Freedom of Speech: The Founders of America defined freedom of speech as the right of a citizen or organization to state whatever they wish without fear of punishment by government, as long as the statement doesn’t unjustly harm some other individual or the community. There are numerous laws limiting freedom of speech of expression. A man cannot shout “Fire!” in a crowded room when there is no fire. A person cannot drive at 50 mph on a road where the speed limit is 30 mph. Driving intoxicated is not permitted. Under libel laws, we cannot slander, defame or deliberately distort the character of anyone. Freedom of speech has limits and freedom is not an absolute right. A publisher has no right to propagate lies, hatred or character assassination and defamation.

1. Right to protest: Freedom of speech laws guarantees the right to protest and demonstrate displeasure over issues that affect the masses. If the publisher and artist of the cartoons or movie maker insulting Islam say they have a freedom to express hatred and inflame the masses, then the masses affected also have the right to object to the spreading of hatred. Be careful of the mob mentality.

2. Moral Laws: The Bible says in Proverbs 12:17-22 [He that] speaks truth shows righteousness: but a false witness deceit. There is that speaks like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise [is] health. The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue [is] but for a moment. Deceit [is] in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counselors of peace [is] joy. There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief. Lying lips [are] abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly [are] his delight. The Quran says in 49:11,12 – “Do not scoff at each other, nor defame each other, nor insult each other with nicknames…”and “Avoid suspicion…..Do not spy on one another….Do not backbite each other…” The Muslim or any person of goodness must follow these principles. To deface a synagogue with nazi symbols or destroy an altar in a church is classified as a hate crime. To deface the personality of the Prophet Muhammad is also a hat crime.

3. Defamation of character: The cartoonists and the director claim a right to defame Islam and the Prophet’s character, to lie and incite the masses. The law of civilized society and human morality demands that we do not defame each other. There are libel laws that provide relief for someone who is defamed. The movie & cartoons defame Islam and the character of the Prophet Muhammad and only serve to inflame the Muslim masses.

4. Lies: There is no truth in the Movie & the cartoons. What is the purpose of producing material that is untrue? The persons who are filled with hate are propagating deceit and hatred in the guise of cartoons and movie. The society today accepts a President who can go on TV to the world and tell lies (e.g. WMDs). Righteous people still need to stand up for the truth.

5. Attacking other religions/prophets: Muslims do not have a right to act in a destructive manner. In protests, we must not burn churches nor defame the personality of other Prophets like Jesus and Moses. We must preserve our own integrity and guard the honor of the respectable people all over the world.

Howard Thurman: During times of war, hatred becomes quite respectable, even though it has to masquerade often under the guise of patriotism.

Article written by Mohamed Shakur (some modification done by askmuslims.com)

One Million Londoners Will Live in a Single Tower

London has to provide housing for a million more people by 2016, taking into account new arrivals, plus old-timers who need an upgrade. Since space is limited, UK company Popularchitecture is proposing a 5,000-foot high tower that would house pretty much everybody all in one shot--and reduce four city neighborhoods to a single cylindrical building.

The tower, which at this point remains simply a novel idea, would take up little actual ground space and run like a proper democracy. It is literally broken up into municipal areas--the "neighborhood" is a singe floor of 600; the village is 20 floors and houses 6,000. There are also three super-districts that house 33,000 people each.

Elected reps serve in a local government and have regular meetings to decide what to do with common areas, which would include an ice skating rink, a botanical garden, an open-air theater, and tennis courts.

Circular openings in sections of the tower will provide nature-y parks and gardens for citizens. Five circulation cores with massive elevators--think the Tube, except it goes up and down instead of weaving underground--transport residents from neighborhood to neighborhood. Water and waste will be recycled, and fresh water harvested from the clouds, which pretty much start right around where the tower's peak ends.

Since your workplace, your local movie theater, and all your friends will be in the same building, you'll ever have to leave.

How convenient/scary!

Source: io9.com & Images by Popularchitecture

The Media's Double-Standard Regarding Islam

The worst computer viruses of all time

Here is the list of worst computer viruses of all time, I hope you were not hit by anyone of them but if you were let us know how you manage to fix it and what are the steps you are taking not to get attack again but first go through the list.

Brain, 1986 It all started here: Brain was the first "real" virus ever discovered, back in 1986. Brain didn't really hurt your PC, but it launched the malware industry with a bang and gave bad ideas to over 100,000 virus creators for the next 2 decades.

Michelangelo, 1991 The worst MS-DOS virus ever, Michelangelo attacked the boot sector of your hard drive and any floppy drive inserted into the computer, which caused the virus to spread rapidly. After spreading quietly for months, the virus "activated" on March 6, and promptly started destroying data on tens of thousands of computers.

Melissa, 1999 Technically a worm, Melissa (named after a stripper) collapsed entire email systems by causing computers to send mountains of messages to each other. The author of the virus was eventually caught and sentenced to 20 months in prison.

ILOVEYOU, 2000 This was notable for being one of the first viruses to trick users into opening a file, which in this case claimed to be a love letter sent to the recipient. In reality, the file was a VBS script that sent mountains of junk mail and deleted thousands of files. The results were terribly devastating- one estimate holds that 10 percent of all computers were affected, to a cost of $5.5 billion. It remains perhaps the worst worm of all time.

Code Red, 2001 An early "blended threat" attack, Code Red targeted Web servers instead of user machines, defacing websites and later launching denial-of-service attacks on a host of IP addresses, including those of the White House.

Nimda, 2001 Built on Code Red's attack system of finding multiple avenues into machines (email, websites, network connections, and others), Nimda infected both Web servers and user machines. It found paths into computers so effectively that, 22 minutes after it was released, it became the Internet's most widespread virus at the time.

Klez, 2001 An email virus, Klez pioneered spoofing the "From" field in email messages it sent, making it impossible to tell if Bill Gates did or did not really send you that information about getting free money.

Slammer, 2003 Another fast spreader, this worm infected about 75,000 systems in just 10 minutes, slowing the Internet to a crawl (much like Code Red) and shutting down thousands of websites.

MyDoom, 2004 Notable as the fastest-spreading email virus of all time, MyDoom infected computers so they would, in turn, send even more junk mail. In a strange twist, MyDoom was also used to attack the website of SCO Group, a very unpopular company that was suing other companies over its code being used in Linux distributions.

Storm, 2007 The worst recent virus, Storm spread via email spam with a fake attachment and ultimately infected up to 10 million computers, causing them to join its zombie botnet.
Source: Christopher Null & Symantec

Moon God?

The most fundamental belief that a Muslim has is that "There is only One God" the Creator, the Sustainer -- known in the Arabic language and by Muslims as Allah. Allah is not a foreign god, nor an idol. Millions of Arabic-speaking Christians use the same word for the Almighty. Open up the Arabic bible and see for yourself; the word 'Allah' is mentioned many times on the first page!

The fundamental pillar of faith in Islam is to testify that "there is no deity worthy of worship except the One True Almighty God" (in Arabic: "La ilaha ill Allah").

In the Qur'an, we read that Allah is Compassionate and Merciful. He is Kind, Loving, and Wise. He is the Creator, the Sustainer, the Healer. He is the One who Guides, the One who Protects, the One who Forgives. There are traditionally ninety-nine names, or attributes, that Muslims use to describe Allah's nature.

Some non-Muslims mistakenly believe that Allah is an "Arab god," a "moon god," or some sort of idol. Allah is the proper name of the One True God, in the Arabic language used by Muslims all over the world. Allah is a name that is neither feminine nor masculine, and it cannot be made plural (unlike god, gods, goddess, etc). Muslims believe that there is nothing in the heavens nor on earth that deserves worship except Allah, the One True Creator.

Islam is based on the concept of Tawhid, or Unity of God. Muslims are strictly monotheistic, and fiercely reject any attempt to make God visible or human. Islam rejects any form of idol worship, even if it is an attempt to get "closer" to God, and rejects the Trinity or any attempt to make God human.

"Say, 'He is Allah, the One;
Allah, the Eternal, Absolute;
He begets not, and neither is He begotten;
And there is nothing that can be compared to Him."
Qur'an 112:1-4

In Muslim understanding, God is beyond our sight and understanding, yet at the same time "nearer to us than our jugular vein" (Qur'an 50:16). Muslims pray directly to God, with no intermediary, and seek guidance from Him alone, because "...Allah knows well the secrets of your hearts" (Qur'an 5:7).

"When My servants ask thee concerning Me,
I am indeed close (to them).
I respond to the prayer of every suppliant when he calls on Me.
Let them also, with a will, Listen to My call, and believe in Me,
that they may walk in the right way."
Qur'an 2:186

In the Qur'an, people are asked to look around them for the signs of Allah in the natural world. The balance of the world, the rhythms of life, are "signs for those who would believe." The universe is in perfect order: the orbits of the planets, the cycles of life and death, the seasons of the year, the mountains and the rivers, the mysteries of the human body. This order and balance are not haphazard nor random. The world, and everything in it, has been created with a perfect plan, by the One who knows all.

Islam is a natural faith, a religion of responsibility, purpose, balance, discipline, and simplicity. To be a Muslim is to live your life remembering God and striving to follow His merciful guidance.

Turn-signal jacket gives cyclists direction

I thought this innovation is very interesting and if you own a bike you would love this, specially if you bike at night time. Leah Buechley is the Innovator and Creator of this jacket, this innovation of her is a turn signal biking jacket.

Safety and visibility while cycling in low light and night condition is a cause of great suffering around the world. The lights on the back of it are arranged in arrow patterns — a great way for cyclists to let cars and bikes behind them know if they're turning

Evidance Of The Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon him)

The Bible is the sacred scripture of Judaism and Christianity. The Christian Bible consists of the Old Testament and the New Testament, with the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox versions of the Old Testament being slightly larger because of their acceptance of certain books not accepted as scripture by Protestants. The Torah includes only the books known to Christians as the Old Testament. Furthermore, the arrangements of the Jewish and Christian canons differ considerably. Prophet Muhammad has been prophesized in both the Old Testament and the New Testament.

Jesus and the Apostles are believed to have spoken Aramaic. Aramaic continued in wide use until about AD 650, when it was supplanted by Arabic. The present day Bible is not, however, based on the Aramaic manuscripts, but on Greek and Latin versions.

Quoting the Bible prophecies does not entail that Muslims accept the present day Bible in its entirety as God's revelation. For the Islamic belief on previous scriptures.

It is not a pre-condition of acceptance that a prophet be foretold by an earlier prophet. Moses was a prophet to Pharaoh even though he was not prophesized by anyone before him. Abraham was God's prophet to Nimrod, yet no one prophesized his coming. Noah, Loot, and others were true prophets of God, yet they were not foretold. The evidence of a prophet's truth is not limited to old prophecies, but it includes the actual message brought by him, miracles and more.

Discussing prophecies is a delicate matter. It requires sifting through Bible versions and translations, recently discovered manuscripts and searching out Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic words and investigating them. The task becomes especially difficult when: prior to the printing press (15th century), all copies of Bibles show textual variations. This is not an easy subject for the people. For this reason, the best testimony comes from ancient and modern experts in the area who acknowledged the prophecies.

We have records of early Jews and Christians, both monks and rabbis, who witnessed that Muhammad was the fulfillment of specific Bible prophecies.

Pre-Islam Jews and Christians of Arabia were awaiting a prophet. Before the appearance of Muhammad, Arabia was home to Jews, Christians, and pagan Arabs who, on occasion, went to war with each other. The Jews and Christians would say: The time has come for the unlettered prophet to appear who will revive the religion of Abraham. We will join his ranks and wage fierce war against you. When Muhammad (peace be upon him) actually appeared, some of them believed in him, and some refused him.

[Quran] And when there came to them a Book [Quran] from God confirming that which was with them although before they used to pray for victory against those who disbelieved but [then] when there came to them that which they recognized, they disbelieved in it; so the curse of God will be upon the disbelievers. (Quran 2:89)

The first witness was Buhaira, the Christian monk, who recognized Muhammad's prophethood (peace be upon him) when he was still young and told his uncle: a great fortune lies before your nephew, so take him home quickly).

The second witness was Waraqah bin Nawfal, a Christian scholar who died soon after a solitary meeting with Muhammad. Waraqah attested Muhammad was the Prophet of his time and received revelation exactly like Moses and Jesus.

The Jews of Medina were anxiously awaiting the arrival of a prophet. The third and fourth witnesses were their two famous Jewish rabbis, Abdullah bin Salam and Mukhayriq.

The sixth and seventh witnesses were also Yemeni Jewish rabbis, Wahb ibn Munabbih, and Kab al-Ahbar (d. 656 CE). Kab found long passages of praise and the description of the Prophet prophesized by Moses in the Bible.

The Quran states:
Is it not a sign to them that the learned men of the Children of Israel knew it (as true)? (Quran 26:197)
_________________________________________________________________ By: Brother Gary S. From Australia Volunteer of AskMuslims.com _________________________________________________________________

Spring cleaning for gadgets

In addition to doing those other things you ought to take care of twice a year (like changing your toothbrush and replacing your furnace air filter), spring is a good time to clean your gadgets and computers to ensure they keep running well and looking good.

It doesn't have to take hours and hours. Here are some tips for cleaning your gear efficiently.

Blast it out
Anything you can physically open (primarily your desktop PCs) should be cleared of dust. Unplug your computer, remove the case, and take it outside. Get a can of compressed air and blow out all the dust bunnies, paying special attention to any fans in the case. Use quick, short bursts to avoid condensation.

Cleaning your laptop is especially important, as laptops have far less room for airflow and can overheat if they aren't kept free from dust. Use the compressed air's straw attachment to blow out the laptop's vents. Use it on your keyboard as well, to keep crumb buildup to a minimum.

Shine it up
I hate it when people touch my laptop screen or TV, because of the smudges their filthy fingerprints leave. Fingerprints can quickly turn from a mere annoyance to a permanent problem if they're left there for long, as the oils have an uncanny habit of setting in and eventually becoming impossible to remove. (Nothing will ruin your HDTV experience faster than a bunch of kids' handprints overlaying your video, forever.)

I've yet to find anything better than Purosol, which I've recommended in the past, for cleaning off LCD screens, but any store-bought LCD screen cleaner should work, as long as it's alcohol-free.

Don't forget to clean your camera displays and cell phone screen, too. Those touchscreens (like the iPhone's) can get especially nasty, riding around in your pocket all day.

Repair your media
Scratched CDs and DVDs can be mended. A variety of solutions are available on the market, but the cleaning-paste-and-towel method has always provided the best results for me.

Clean the surface of your CD with dish detergent and water. If scratches remain, use a commercial scratch repair kit that includes a thick paste that you rub into the media, and a microfiber cloth to wipe it clean.

I've never tried the motorized solutions that spin your disc around electronically while cleaning it, but users have reported mixed results on how well these really work. More expensive units seem to get better reviews, but maybe readers can offer feedback on their experiences with these devices in the comments below.

Source: Christopher Null

To learn more you can also visit Clean your computer by Microsoft

What does Islam say on the preservation of environment?

Many people express their concern these days about the preservation of the environment, so much so that this has become a trend worldwide. It is interesting to indicate here that an increasing number of people in the West ask about the position of Islam toward the environment. Here are a few thoughts on the subject:

First of all, Islam makes it incumbent on every Muslim to contribute his/her share in improving greenery. Muslims should be active in growing more trees for the benefit of all people. In one tradition the Prophet says: "If the Hour is about to take place while any one of you has a sapling in his hand, which he can cultivate before it takes place, let him cultivate it for he will be rewarded for it."

Every country in the world worries about wasting water. This applies even to Canada, one of the richest states in water resources. Look how Islam deals with this issue. A Muslim is recommended to save water in his ceremonial washing for Prayer even if he has a river at his disposal, according to one tradition of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Furthermore, a Muslim is warned against urinating in still water. Islam's care of the environment is not limited to times of peace. This also applies to behavior in wars where Muslims are required to avoid cutting trees which are useful to people in general.

Islam's mercy is not restricted to human beings but is extended to animals and birds. Game hunting of birds or animals just for the pleasure of the sport and not for a real need is forbidden in Islam.

Even when a Muslim slaughters an animal or a bird for eating, he has to sharpen his knife and to treat the animal gently and never cut its meat until it becomes completely senseless and lifeless.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) once saw a mother bird flying over the heads of a group of Muslims as if seeking for its little one which they had taken. Seeing this, the Prophet ordered them to return the little bird back to its mother.

Even insects, Islam gives a special attention to them; it considers them signs and miracles of Allah. That is why insects like flies, spiders and bees, ants, etc. are mentioned in the context of being miracles of Allah in the Qur’an.

Once the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "One woman is qualified to enter Hell fire just because of her behavior towards a cat. She imprisoned it, and neither did she feed it nor did she release it to seek for its food from the open land.”

The Prophet warned us against cursing animals which we ride, and which carry our burdens. He, on the contrary, commands Muslims to treat them gently and with kindness.

All games and sports harmful to animals and birds are forbidden in Islam because of their cruelty.

In no other religion, philosophy or ideology except Islam do we find a unique attitude toward nature i.e. the universe. Time and again we find Allah swearing in the Qur’an by various elements of nature, His creation. Several chapters in the Qur’an begin with an oath like: By the Heavens, by the moon, the sun, the stars, the night, the day, the trees, animals, vegetation, etc.... This is to indicate, among other things, the great value of these elements.

Islam considers all creatures to be Almighty Allah’s slaves. They surrender to His laws, and every creature has his form and method of worship. They all glorify Allah, each in his own way. Thus, Islam establishes a relationship of true love and harmony between man and all creation.

Again, Islam has in fact introduced a more comprehensive meaning of environment or nature. It considers man the major factor in this universe and defined for him a course of action and behavior that makes him an ideal model. In this context, Islam enjoins the protection of human nature. Human life is sacred in the sight of Islam. No one is permitted to take the life of another person except as life for life. Suicide is a crime in Islam.

As for personal hygiene, Islam recommends a weekly bath at least every Friday for Muslims especially those who attend Friday congregational Prayer, which is an obligation on all Muslim men, and an option for Muslim women. Thus, cleanliness can prevail among people.

Islam is not only keen on outward cleanliness but has its own guidelines in inward cleanliness. The Prophet said: "Five things are in harmony with nature: cutting one's mustache, removing hair of the armpit, shaving the pubic region, trimming one's nails and circumcision." It enjoins avoiding eating onions or garlic before attending public meetings to prevent bad odor.

It is the duty of Muslims to remove dirt and obstacles from roads and streets. This is an act of worship in Islam. Cleanliness of front and back yards is encouraged also. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) says: "Allah is beautiful and He loves the beautiful."

Islam commands Muslims to avoid all bad habits that are harmful to their bodies and to other people, like smoking, drug addiction, alcoholic drinks, etc...

Life clock

This is a interesting clock, it doesn't count the minutes or hours but it counts the years. People have told me its depressing to see it but its the reality of life thats why I am posting it and who know you want might be looking for one :). The funny part of this clock is ends at 77 yrs, I guess this people don't want us to leave longer or die between 77 - 80 yrs :). Any way here is the info about it: Artist Bertrand Planes slowed the mechanism down 61320 times, so the year hand will make just one revolution in your lifetime. Click here to get more info

Western Thought

The Christian idea of happiness was based on a reported saying of Jesus, "Now is your time of grief, I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy" (John 16:22)The Christian idea of happiness was developed over the centuries and, in turn, rested on a theology of sin, which, as St. Augustine explained in The City of God, taught that because of Adam and Eve?s original transgression in the Garden of Eden, true happiness was (unattainable in our present life.)

In 1776, Thomas Jefferson, summarizing a good century of reflection on the subject in Europe and America, deemed the (pursuit of happiness a self-evidenttruth).

By this time, the truth of happiness had been declared so often and so confidently that, for many, it scarcely needed evidence. It was, as Jefferson said, self-evident. To secure the greatest happiness for the greatest number had become the moral imperative of the century. But just how self-evident was the pursuit of happiness?

Was it, in fact, so obvious that happiness was our naturally intended end? Christians confessed that human beings pursued happiness during their earthly pilgrimage, but remained skeptical about its attainment. Elsewhere, Jefferson himself was pessimistic whether the chase would ever be brought to a satisfying conclusion. (Perfect happiness...was never intended by the Deity to be the lot of one of his creatures,) he specified in a letter of 1763, adding soberly that even the most fortunate of us, in our journey through life, frequently meet with calamities and misfortunes which may greatly afflict us. To fortify our minds against these attacks, he concluded, should be one of the principal studies and endeavors of our lives.

Whereas in the fifth century, Boethius could claim that God is happiness itself, by the middle of the 19th century, the formula was reversed to read (Happiness is God). Earthly happiness emerged as the idol of idols, the locus of meaning in modern life, the source of human aspiration, the purpose of existence, the why and the wherefore. There were those ready to alter the handiwork of the Maker to put it there by manufacturing, consuming, and exporting it as democracy and free-market economy (materialism). As the philosopher Pascal Bruckner observed, (Happiness is the sole horizon of our contemporary democracies.) As a surrogate religion, materialism relocated God to the shopping mall.

In our culture, it is commonly believed that happiness is achieved when you become rich, powerful, or popular. The young want to be that popular pop idol, the old dream of winning the jackpot. We often seek happiness by removing all stress, sadness, and irritations. For some, happiness lies in mood-altering therapies. Eva Moskowitz, a historian, gives some idea of the American obsession with the gospel of therapy: (Today, this obsession knows no bounds)

One reason we have so much trouble attaining happiness is that we have no idea about what it is. Consequently, we make poor judgments in life. An Islamic tale illustrates the relationship of judgment with happiness.

Oh, great sage, Nasrudin, said the eager student, I must ask you a very important question, the answer to which we all seek: What is the secret to attaining happiness? Nasrudin thought for a time, then responded. The secret of happiness is good judgment.Ah, said the student. But how do we attain good judgment? From experience, answered Nasrudin. Yes, said the student. But how do we attain experience? Bad judgment. An example of our good judgment is knowing that materialistic comforts by themselves do not lead to lasting happiness. Having reached that conclusion by our good judgment, we do not retreat into our comforts. We continue to crave a happiness that seems out of reach. We make more money thinking that is the way to become happy, and in the process neglect our family. Most big events we dream of yield less sustained happiness than we hoped for. In addition to getting less happiness than we expected or hoped for, we frequently do not know exactly what we want, what will make us happy or how to get it. We misjudge.

Enduring happiness does not come from ?making it.? Imagine someone could snap their fingers and give you fame, fortune, and leisure. Would you be happy? You would be euphoric, but in the short run. Gradually you would adapt to your new circumstance and life would return to its normal mix of emotions. Studies show that big lottery winners after a few months are no happier than the average person! To recover the joy, you would now need an even higher high.

Consider, how we have made it. In 1957, our per-person income, expressed in today's dollars, was less than $8,000. Today it is $16,000. With doubled incomes, we now have double the material goods that money can buy - including twice as many cars per person. We also have microwave ovens, color TVs, VCRs, answering machines, and $12 billion a year worth of brand-name athletic shoes.So are the we happier? No. In 1957, 35 percent told the National Opinion Research Center they were (very happy.) In 1991, only 31 percent said the same. Meanwhile, depression rates have soared.

God's Prophet of Mercy said: True enrichment does not come through possessing a lot of wealth, but true enrichment is the enrichment of the soul. (Saheeh Al-Bukhari)_________________________________________________________________

By Br. Gary s. From Australia. Volunteer of AskMuslims.com ___________________________________________________________________

Floating Eco-Homes In The Netherlands

I don't know if this is extreme but it does sounds interesting story. "Small and densely populated, the Netherlands is one of the countries most at risk from climate change and rising sea levels. One Dutch construction company, Dura Vermeer, has developed homes that can float with rising waters. Thirty-seven of these homes line the waterfront at Maasbommel, panelled in blue, yellow and green. They have a hollow concrete cube at the base to give them buoyancy. The next time the Meuse river bursts its banks, the house will rise with it (see video). Electricity and water are pumped in through flexible pipes. In all, the houses can withstand a rise in the water table of up to 13ft. At a starting price of 260,000 euros (£180,000 or $310,000), the houses are not a cheap option, but demand is high . :: Gouden Kust via BBC News"

What do you think about it and will you consider buying home like this one or you would just move another place, which is easy to say then done. Once again if you notice the hot cake in busniess now a days is Global Warming so if you have an creative idea this is the time to do present it and earn big time and don't be too greedy :).

Prophet Muhammad, a Simple Man

Despite his position as leader, the Prophet Muhammad never behaved as if he was greater or better than other people. He never made people feel small, unwanted or embarrassed. He urged his followers to live kindly and humbly, releasing slaves whenever they could and giving in charity, especially to very poor people, orphans and prisoners, without any thought of reward.

The Prophet Muhammad himself was never greedy. He ate very little and only simple foods. He preferred never to fill his stomach. Sometimes, for days on end, he would eat nothing but raw food. He slept on a very simple mattress on the floor and had almost nothing in the way of home comforts or decorations.

One day, Hafsah, his wife, tried to make him more comfortable at night by folding his reed mat double - without telling him - to make it softer for him. That night he slept peacefully, but he overslept and missed the pre-dawn prayers. He was so distressed when he found out that he never slept like that again.

Simple living and contentment were the key teachings in the Prophet's life: "When you see a person who has been given more money and beauty than you, look then to those who have been given less." In so doing, we will thank Allah for His blessings, rather than feel deprived.

People used to ask his wife, 'Aishah, the daughter of his first and most loyal Companion Abu Bakr, how he lived at home. "Like an ordinary man," she would answer. "He would sweep the house, stitch his own clothes, mend his own sandals, water the camels, milk the goats, help the servants at their work, and eat his meals with them; and he would go to fetch what we needed from the market."

He seldom had more than one set of clothes, which he washed himself. He was a home-loving, peace-loving human being. "When you enter a house, ask God to bless it," he would say. He greeted others with the phase: As-salamu alaykum - which means: "May peace be upon you" - for peace is the most wonderful thing on earth.

He was a firm believer in good manners, always greeting people kindly, and showing respect to elders. He once said: "The dearest of you to me are those who have good manners."

All his recorded words and actions reveal him as a man of great gentleness, kindness, humility, good humour and excellent common sense, who had a great love for animals and for all people, especially his family.

Above all, he was a man who practiced what he preached. His life, both private and public, was a perfect model for his followers.

The Prophet Muhammad did not have many children. His two sons by Khadijah died when they were very small, and another baby boy, whom he had later on, also died. However, he had four daughters, all of whom married and had children. Of them, the most famous, was his youngest daughter, Fatimah, who married his (Prophet's) nephew 'Ali and gave him two grandsons, Hasan and Husayn, and two granddaughters, Zaynab and Umm Kulthum.
Written by : Saniyasnain Khan

The world's first positive energy building

Well we have been talking about environmentally friendly cars now lets see environmentally friendly building, yes that's true environmentally friendly building. It's good that people are getting in this thing now, its better to start now then never. OK! let's get some info about this building "While most eco-friendly buildings try to cut down or supplement their power consumption, there have yet to be any buildings that go so far as to generate more power than they consume. Not so with the Masdar Headquarters in Abu Dhabi, the world's first positive energy building. It will even generate power for its own assembly, as the first thing to go up will be a solar roof pier that'll gather juice as the rest of the structure goes up.

Costing $300 million to construct and sporting 1.3 million square feet of space, the building will be the centerpiece of the eco-friendly Masdar City, which is a $22 billion development outside of Abu Dhabi. The techniques it uses are pretty radical, but hopefully we'll see more positive energy buildings sprouting up soon enough."Source: Adam Frucci

Talking about all this environmental stuff we will inshaAllah (God Willing) look into what Islam has to say about it. It will interesting to see religion point of view too, don't you agree.

Honor Killing from an Islamic Perspective

Q: What does Islam say about honor killings? Does Islam really have a concept of honor killings, most of the victims here are females; so does Islam really order to kill females in the name of honor?

A: “There is no such concept in Islam that is called “honor killing”. Islam holds every soul in high esteem and does not allow any transgression upon it. It does not allow people to take the law in their own hands and administer justice, because doing so will be leading to chaos and lawlessness. Therefore, based on this, Islam does not permit such killings.

First of all, in order to sanction killing, it must be through a binding verdict issued by an authoritative law court. Individuals themselves have no authority either to judge cases or pass judgments. Therefore, a Muslim should not sanction such killing because doing so will be leading to the rule of the law of the jungle. A civilized society cannot be run by such laws.”

answered by Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and an Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states

Shedding more light on it, Sheikh `Atiyyah Saqr, former head of Al-Azhar Fatwa Committee, states:

“Like all other religions, Islam strictly prohibits murder and killing without legal justification. Allah, Most High, says, “Whoso slayeth a believer of set purpose, his reward is Hell for ever. Allah is wroth against him and He hath cursed him and prepared for him an awful doom.” (An-Nisa’: 93)

The so-called “honor killing” is based on ignorance and disregard of morals and laws, which cannot be abolished except by disciplinary punishments.

It goes without saying that people are not entitled to take the law in their own hands, for it’s the responsibility of the Muslim State and its concerned bodies to maintain peace, security, etc., and to prevent chaos and disorder from creeping into the Muslim society.”

Moreover, the eminent Muslim scholar, Sheikh Muhammad Al-Hanooti, member of the North American Fiqh Council, adds:

“In Islam, there is no place for unjustifiable killing. Even in case of capital punishment, only the government can apply the law through the judicial procedures. No one has the authority to execute the law other than the officers who are in charge.

Honor killing could be a wrong cultural tradition. It is unjust and inhumane action. The murderer of that type deserves punishment.”

Fold-up cubicle

It's called Trunk Station, it lets you squeeze an office cubicle right into your bedroom. Imagine in few years companies might be using them especially the companies which have day and night shifts and can't afford to pay for space. Once you are done with your shift pack it and move :). Well this will be good for big cities like New York, Hong Kong, Calcutta etc were the same is limited and every inch in the apartments counts, its good for home office setup that you can simply fold in half and roll to the side when not needed. Well its not too techy but I thought to share with you since some people in big cities might appreciate this product. source

The Most Influencial Human Being To Have Ever Lived

It's a must see video, its a 4 minute video and you won't regret watching it.

Beijing Olympics' Water 'Cube' Aquatic Center Now Open

Beijing Olympics' Water 'Cube' Aquatic Center Now Open it's very interesting structure.

The technological and engineering feats to get this building made are numerous and impressive, but the main attraction is the unparalleled design that looks like a cube (ok, more like a rectangular prism) without borders. In order to get the 3D cell-like appearance, engineers created a skeleton made out of 22,000 interconnected beams, leading to 57 million different design constraints, where every beam is supported by each other.

The building is supposed to be energy efficient, and the best example of this is its role as an active greenhouse, where its bubble-panel skin takes in solar energy to heat the swimming pools and the air within the building. Each bubble includes a filter inside it that can also control the temperature when it gets really hot and releases heat when it needs to dissipate from the building.

Watch the video

Did you know Allah is not the 'God of Muslims'?

Many non-Muslims have come to incorrectly believe that Allah is the ‘God of Muslims’ – A deity somehow different from the God of the other faiths. It should be emphasized that the term “Allah” has no implied meaning at all of an Arabian god, a Moon god or even a Muslim god. Muslims are not claiming any exclusiveness when they say "Allah". However Allah is simply the Arabic Name of the one Almighty God; the same name by which Arabic-speaking Jews and Christians, refer to God. The Allah comes from the term ‘al-ilaah’. Al is the definite article in Arabic, equivalent to ‘the’ in English, while ilaah means ‘a deity or god’. So Allah means The God. This is beautifully articulated in the first pillar of Islam which is to believe that God is One, in Arabic it would be, "La ilaha illallah" meaning "There is no god but God"