The determination of the sex of the baby: Science, nature and GOD

Until fairly recently, it was thought that a baby’s sex was determined by the mother’s cells. That was why, in many cultures, women were blamed when they gave birth to girls. However, this belief was negated with the arrival of the Quran where it is stated that masculinity or femininity is created out of “a drop of semen which has been ejected”.

“He has created both sexes, male and female from a drop of semen which has been ejected.” (The Quran, 53:45-46)

With the development of genetics science and molecular biology in the 20^th century, Scientists have validated the accuracy of this information given by the Quran. It is now understood that the sex is determined by the sperm cells from the male, and that the female does not play the main role in this process. 

Chromosomes are the main elements in determining sex. Two of the 46 chromosomes that determine the structure of a human being are identified as sex chromosomes. These two chromosomes are called “XY” in males, and “XX” in females, because the shapes of the chromosomes resemble these letters. The Y chromosome carries characteristics of masculinity, while the X chromosome carries those of femininity. In the mother’s egg, there is only the X chromosome, which determines female characteristics. In the semen from the father, there are sperms that includes either X or Y chromosomes. Therefore, the sex of the baby depends on whether the sperm fertilizing the mother’s egg (ovum) contains an X or Y chromosome. For example, if an X chromosome from the female unites with a sperm that contains X chromosomes, then the baby is a female. If it unites with the sperm that contains a Y chromosome, the baby is male. In other words, as stated in the verse, the factor determining the sex of the baby is the semen which comes from the father. This knowledge, which could not have been known at the time when the Quran was revealed, is evidence to the fact that the Quran is the word of God.

10 Ramadhan Tips for the Muslim Professional

So how can we best make an attempt to bring the sacred into our working lives?

1. Start your day with the right intention. Make a niyyathat you are going to be kind, hard-working and helpful, and see any hunger pangs or tiredness as a test of this niyya
2. Stay positive. Positivity attracts positivity. If you have a calm positive attitude, you will find your day sails by and people will want to be around you. Try not to grumble when your tummy rumbles because you may find your friends – and perhaps your blessings – slowly disappear
3. Let this Ramadhan be the month of change. If you are looking towards a promotion or sales goal, go for it. As a verse (At-Talaq, 65:3) says: And whosoever relies upon Allah, then He is sufficient for him. Increase your reliance upon Allah and realise where your strength comes from. You will inspire others in your office and most certainly impress your boss
4. If you are the only Muslim in your office, take the time to explain to your manager the demands of Ramadhan, and explain the rules you will be observing. Use this as an opportunity to educate

5. Talk to your colleagues about Ramadhan when they ask, and get them to hold you to account. If you tell someone you’re supposed to be watching your attitude, you’ll feel more responsible for the words that you use
6. Try to get to work as early as you can to use the energy from sahur and make the most of your morning when you will be most focused. Use this time to do your creative work and the tasks that require the most brain power. Use the afternoon to complete routine tasks and admin, when your energy might be flagging
7. Work hard. The devil makes work for idle hands, as the saying goes. The more you keep yourself occupied, the more you’ll be distracted from any physical hardship associated with fasting
8. If you are a manager of an office with several religions present, celebrate all major festivals. Put decorations up for Christmas, Diwali and so on. That way, during Ramadhan you can also celebrate with after-work iftar, reflective lunch breaks and encouraging non-Muslims to be discreet about eating during the day
9. The Prophet (pbuh) encouraged us to do charitable works and good deeds during Ramadhan. Ask your manager or HR department if you can use this time to get involved with corporate social responsibility projects, such as volunteering or mentoring
10. Make sure you clear your desk of negativity, and put up a few positive quotes and hadiths

Biohazard; Keselamatan dan kesihatan tempat kerja: basic knowledge, awareness, diciplines and actions!

10 things to do in Ramadhan

Here are 10 simple things to try for a better you and a better society:
1.Talk to God: instead of BBMing our friends for at least 6 hours a day, let’s talk to God for 10 minutes a day. It could be in the form of praying or just plain and simple talk, try it you'll feel relieved. In the end, there’s no better listener and word won’t get out.

2.Help someone: anyone. A lot of people around us need help. Whether it’s the blind man crossing the street, the old lady carrying her groceries, your mum loaded with house work, or even a poor man asking for money; always lend someone a hand, you never know when you’ll need one.

3.Share: sharing isn’t just for Facebook. Share your food with your neighbor, your car with someone who needs a ride, your time at a shelter, or even your old clothes with the less fortunate. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, keep that in mind.

4.Read: I know the book of God isn’t exactly “Eat, Pray, Love” but if you read 4 pages after each sala, by the end of Ramadan you would’ve read the whole book. Remember, what's more important than reading the Quraan, is understanding it and taking interest in what it says.

5.Smile: spread love, you never know who could be breaking down and waiting for you to cheer them up. A simple smile to someone you don't necessarily know (and I'm not encouraging flirtatious, hair-flipping smiles at the hot boy at the gym) will uplift their mood almost instantly.

6.Be useful: donations don't have to be just money. You can donate your time at a shelter or an orphanage to help teach less fortunate kids something useful. There must be at least one subject you’re good at that you can pass on to someone else. You can also help plant fruitful trees in your neighborhood, hand out ice-water bottles to traffic police, paint a discolored wall in your area, or compliment the garbage collector on how important his job is.

7.Feed someone: carry dates in your bag and hand them out at Eftar time. On a much bigger scale, help cook meals and pack food bags to be sent to poor villages in your area. It’s great to feed someone in Ramadan, but it’s 10 times greater if you do that all year long.

8.Keep your mouth shut: That kind of applies all year round. If you have something nice to say about someone say it, if you don't be quiet.

9.Hold your horses: easy on the F-word. Not just because Eftar time came and you’ve broken your fast means you’ll be swearing at every person you see till the next morning. Words are very powerful, use them correctly.

10.Share this article :or any article that helps people understand that good behavior is just a gesture away and should be all year round rather than 1/12th of a year.
Think outside the box, help people, talk to God, and just create an over-all better life for those who surround you. At the end of the day, what goes around comes back around.

Ebola Outbreak Prompts Ugandans to Stop Kissing. Animal transmitted diseases: Things You Should Know About Ebola

Here are five things you should know about this virulent and often deadly infection:

What is Ebola?

Ebola, officially known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever, is a severe disease caused by the Ebola virus that was first recognized in Africa in 1976.

Early symptoms can include fever, headache, joint and muscle aches, sore throat and weakness, followed by diarrhea, vomiting and stomach pain, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In some cases, the disease causes rashes, red eyes, hiccups and internal and external bleeding, the CDC says.

Up to 90 percent of people who are infected with Ebola die from it, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Outbreaks have occurred in African countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Sudan, the Ivory Coast, Uganda and the Republic of the Congo, the CDC says.

How is it transmitted?

Humans are not the natural hosts of the Ebola virus, and it's believed that the first person in any outbreak became infected through contact with an infected animal, the CDC says. Animals that are reported to have spread disease to humans include chimpanzees, gorillas, forest antelopes and cynomolgus monkeys, according to the World Health Organization. Once one person has become infected, the disease can spread from person to person through contact with the blood, saliva, mucus or other secretions. In the countries where Ebola has occurred, the disease is frequently spread in health care settings to workers who have had contact with patients and do not wear protective clothing or masks, the CDC says. Re-use of contaminated needles can also spread the disease.

Researchers still do not know where Ebola naturally resides. Studies have shown bats can be infected with the virus and survive without symptoms of disease, according to the WHO. Some have speculated bats play a role in maintaining the virus in nature, the WHO says.

Local traditional food also can go far at par with western food. BUT it must keep at low prices so that its sustain and for all!

Its the holy month of Ramadhan where traditional Malay cuisine can never go wrong. If you’re into piping hot soups, grilled fish, sambal prawns and those mouth watering desserts then check out these Ramadhan buffets that will surely sooth your cravings.

Another example of public awareness and NGO support on nature conservation. We cannot let greedy business people clear all forest for development. We still need nature and healthy life.

Hentikan pembinaan di taman awam Bukit Kiara

KUALA LUMPUR 31 Julai - Kementerian Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan (KPKT) mengarahkan kerja-kerja pembinaan pagar keluli oleh Jabatan Landskap Negara (JLN) di Taman Awam Bukit Kiara dihentikan serta-merta.
Menterinya, Datuk Seri Chor Chee Heung berkata, arahan itu dibuat selepas menimbang bantahan seluruh persatuan penduduk dan persatuan pencinta alam sekitar yang mendakwa pembinaan pagar berkenaan telah merosakkan ekologi dan hutan seluas 466.8 ekar di taman awam itu.
"Kerja-kerja pembinaan pagar setinggi 3.5 meter dan sepanjang 4.7 kilometer yang sudah 80 peratus siap perlu dihentikan sekarang.
"Malah, JLN telah diarahkan supaya melihat cara terbaik untuk memulihkan semula kerosakan yang berlaku di hutan taman itu dengan segera," katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian pada sidang akhbar selepas menghadiri sesi perbincangan bersama wakil-wakil persatuan penduduk Bukit Kiara dan p