1- Prayer Times For 6 Million Cities Worldwide:
2- Gregorian/Hijri calendar service
3- Date conversion from Gregorian to Hijri or Hijri to Gregorian
Monday, October 22, 2007
Get Prayer time, calendar, and other useful information
Take advantage of these tools, which are very handy.
1- Prayer Times For 6 Million Cities Worldwide:
2- Gregorian/Hijri calendar service
3- Date conversion from Gregorian to Hijri or Hijri to Gregorian
1- Prayer Times For 6 Million Cities Worldwide:
2- Gregorian/Hijri calendar service
3- Date conversion from Gregorian to Hijri or Hijri to Gregorian
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Sites for Islamic images and pictures
From a long age, I wanted to collect all links and resources about Islamic sites, miracle pictures, Islamic blogs, and Islam related stuff. Allah has fulfilled my wish, and now I am saving all my book mark sites, links, images at this blog to share with all. I love Arabic calligraphy and I love to draw Islamic pictures with calligraphic verses.
Here are some links and few pictures. I would be updating these posts, as I get new and more links and resources.
Islamic Finder has a good collection of pictures, which can be used as e-card also.
I liked the page with miracle pictures: Miracle pictures
Another site with miracle pictures is: Miracles of Islam To my knowledge they have the largest collection of authentic Islamic miracle pictures. You can subscribe there by entering you e-mail, to get updates at your inbox.
They say:
"This site provides you with access to Internet's largest collection of Islamic miracle pictures. Our goal and intention is not to prove Islam using these pictures, but to show the world that Allah's signs are visible all around."
Few pictures:
MOre sites with miracle pictures:
Pictures at Al-Iman
Note: This article and more article links would be updated as I get more links.
Here are some links and few pictures. I would be updating these posts, as I get new and more links and resources.
Islamic Finder has a good collection of pictures, which can be used as e-card also.
I liked the page with miracle pictures: Miracle pictures
Another site with miracle pictures is: Miracles of Islam To my knowledge they have the largest collection of authentic Islamic miracle pictures. You can subscribe there by entering you e-mail, to get updates at your inbox.
They say:
"This site provides you with access to Internet's largest collection of Islamic miracle pictures. Our goal and intention is not to prove Islam using these pictures, but to show the world that Allah's signs are visible all around."
Few pictures:
MOre sites with miracle pictures:
Pictures at Al-Iman
Note: This article and more article links would be updated as I get more links.
This is Truth- for the seekers of truth!
For the truth seekers, This is Truth is in fact a web version of a book, prepared by Abdullah M. Al-Rehaili. Brother Al-Rehaili compiled this book by transcribing a televised series by Dr. Abdul-Majeed Al-Zindani which is now on videotape.
The book shows recent scientific research, linking to Quranic verses.
In Truth seeker section of the site, importance of seeking truth is explained in a very clear way:
"Islam teaches that our Creator has given human beings the faculty of reason. Therefore, it is incumbent upon them to reason things out objectively and systematically for themselves to ponder, to question and to reflect.
Nobody should press you to make a hasty decision to accept any of the teachings of Islam, for Islam teaches that human beings should be given the freedom to choose. Even when a person is faced with the truth, there is no compulsion upon him to embrace it.
But before you begin to form an opinion about Islam, ask yourself whether your existing knowledge about it is thorough enough. Ask yourself whether that knowledge has been obtained through third party sources who themselves have probably been exposed to only random glimpses of Islamic writings and have yet to reason out on Islam objectively and systematically themselves.
Is it fair enough that one should form an opinion about the taste of a particular dish just by a mere hearsay from others who may themselves have not necessarily tasted the dish yet?
Similarly you should find out for yourself about Islam from reliable sources and not only taste it, but rather digest it very well before you form an opinion of it. That would be an intellectual approach to the truth.
In making your next move to the truth, Islam continually reassures you that your rights to freedom of choice and freedom to use that God-given faculty of thought and reason will be respected, for everyone has that individual will. No one else can take away that will and force you to submit to the true way of your Creator, you have to find out and make that decision yourself!"
What is this book about?
"The contents of this book were originally presented in the form videotape, in which several meetings and dialogues were conducted with well-known scientists in different fields of science. This was done to examine the scientific facts mentioned in several Qur'aanic verses, and to highlight the fact that the religion of Islam encourages science and the acquisition of knowledge with absolutely no contradiction between the Qur'aanic revelation and the scientific facts.
The scientists who participated in these dialogues were all non-Muslims, most of whom were explaining some scientific facts which they have realized only very recently and after several years of research and study. When they were told that what they have just discovered recently was already referred to either directly or indirectly in the Holy Qur'aan more than 1400 years ago, they showed a great deal of astonishment. Their comments were varied, but almost all of them confessed that this Qur'aan could not have come from any human or ordinary source. Indeed, some of them were convinced and have affirmed that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is a messenger from Allah, to the point that one of them even embraced Islam by declaring the Islamic creed otherwise known as the "Shahaadah" and thus became a Muslim.
When those experts and authorities of science acclaim these facts, they actually demonstrate a proof of the truthfulness of Islam in front of their fellow scholars and to those endowed with less knowledge among their own people. They are actually opening closed doors and paving the road to the true faith in Allah, the Lord of the universe. What then, is the excuse of those who turn away from faith after these proofs and the testimonies of those scientists?"
As This is Truth is a web version of the said book, the site gives links many topics, including:
* What is Islam
* Quran
* Muhammad
* Islam and Science
* Modern Science
* Truth Seeker
More topics start from creation of man, human body, origin of earth, seas & oceans,astronomy etc. Site is easy to navigate and you can get printer friendly pages to print out the articles and pictures.
May our intellectual journey towards the truth be a pleasant and fruitful one... Amen
The book shows recent scientific research, linking to Quranic verses.
In Truth seeker section of the site, importance of seeking truth is explained in a very clear way:
"Islam teaches that our Creator has given human beings the faculty of reason. Therefore, it is incumbent upon them to reason things out objectively and systematically for themselves to ponder, to question and to reflect.
Nobody should press you to make a hasty decision to accept any of the teachings of Islam, for Islam teaches that human beings should be given the freedom to choose. Even when a person is faced with the truth, there is no compulsion upon him to embrace it.
But before you begin to form an opinion about Islam, ask yourself whether your existing knowledge about it is thorough enough. Ask yourself whether that knowledge has been obtained through third party sources who themselves have probably been exposed to only random glimpses of Islamic writings and have yet to reason out on Islam objectively and systematically themselves.
Is it fair enough that one should form an opinion about the taste of a particular dish just by a mere hearsay from others who may themselves have not necessarily tasted the dish yet?
Similarly you should find out for yourself about Islam from reliable sources and not only taste it, but rather digest it very well before you form an opinion of it. That would be an intellectual approach to the truth.
In making your next move to the truth, Islam continually reassures you that your rights to freedom of choice and freedom to use that God-given faculty of thought and reason will be respected, for everyone has that individual will. No one else can take away that will and force you to submit to the true way of your Creator, you have to find out and make that decision yourself!"
What is this book about?
"The contents of this book were originally presented in the form videotape, in which several meetings and dialogues were conducted with well-known scientists in different fields of science. This was done to examine the scientific facts mentioned in several Qur'aanic verses, and to highlight the fact that the religion of Islam encourages science and the acquisition of knowledge with absolutely no contradiction between the Qur'aanic revelation and the scientific facts.
The scientists who participated in these dialogues were all non-Muslims, most of whom were explaining some scientific facts which they have realized only very recently and after several years of research and study. When they were told that what they have just discovered recently was already referred to either directly or indirectly in the Holy Qur'aan more than 1400 years ago, they showed a great deal of astonishment. Their comments were varied, but almost all of them confessed that this Qur'aan could not have come from any human or ordinary source. Indeed, some of them were convinced and have affirmed that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is a messenger from Allah, to the point that one of them even embraced Islam by declaring the Islamic creed otherwise known as the "Shahaadah" and thus became a Muslim.
When those experts and authorities of science acclaim these facts, they actually demonstrate a proof of the truthfulness of Islam in front of their fellow scholars and to those endowed with less knowledge among their own people. They are actually opening closed doors and paving the road to the true faith in Allah, the Lord of the universe. What then, is the excuse of those who turn away from faith after these proofs and the testimonies of those scientists?"
As This is Truth is a web version of the said book, the site gives links many topics, including:
* What is Islam
* Quran
* Muhammad
* Islam and Science
* Modern Science
* Truth Seeker
More topics start from creation of man, human body, origin of earth, seas & oceans,astronomy etc. Site is easy to navigate and you can get printer friendly pages to print out the articles and pictures.
May our intellectual journey towards the truth be a pleasant and fruitful one... Amen
Saturday, October 20, 2007
How addiction of Watching TV is affecting our lives?
This is a fact that we spend a large amount of our lives watching T.V. And beside work, sleep and eating, main activity of our life revolves around T.V programmes.
But how much time of our life, we are watching TV?
* An opinion of a participant at a message board:
"According to the TV Turn Off Network (formerly TV-Free America) people watch an average of 4 hours and 35 minutes a day. If you watch just 4 hours of television every day (not an outlandish estimate), and live to be 70, it will amount to 11.6 years of continuous television watching."
Link:We spend 11 years our lives
How much T.V is effecting our health,lives, cultures, latest studies show a clear picture of it.
As to a report where watching T.V is considered "Electric Herion" and is called a serious addiction. And effects of this addiction are analyzed very clearly here:
"Not unlike drugs or alcohol, the television experience allows the participant to blot out the real world and enter into a pleasurable and passive mental state. The worries and anxieties of reality are as effectively deferred by becoming absorbed in a television program as by going on a 'trip' induced by drugs or alcohol. And just as alcoholics are only vaguely aware of their addiction, feeling that they control their drinking more than they really do ('I can cut it out any time I want—I just like to have three of four drinks before dinner'), people similarly overestimate their control over television watching. Even as they put off other activities to spend hour after hour watching television, they feel they could easily resume living in a different, less passive style. But somehow or other, while the television set is present in their homes, the click doesn't sound. With television pleasures available, those other experiences seem less attractive, more difficult somehow.
"Finally it is the adverse effect of television viewing on the lives of so many people that defines it as a serious addiction. The television habit distorts the sense of time. It renders other experiences vague and curiously unreal while taking on a greater reality for itself. It weakens relationships by reducing and sometimes eliminating normal opportunities for talking, for communicating." [p.p. 23-25, Marie Winn, THE PLUG IN DRUG; Penguin, 1977. ISBN - 0-14-007698-0]
Washington Post, Terence McKenna's FOOD OF THE GODS says, "television is emotionally equivalent to electronic heroin"
Link for the article: Report
I have given more information about how TV affects our brain at one of my article:
You-watch-tv-to-turn-your-brain-off/
More articles:
- Why-You-Want-to-Keep-Your-Baby-Away-From-the-TV--12053.aspx
- tv-is-not-the-truth-even-if-you-think-it-is.htm
- parents_arent_limiting_kids_tv_media_time
- tv-does-more-damage-to-your-children-than-you-ever-imagined.htm
- tv_be_gone.htm
- TV and Games Linked to Antisocial Behavior
* The children's communication charity I CAN has conducted further research to find out why language skills are declining.
Its poll of 1,000 Britons suggests that parents are so caught up with their daily routines - including TV viewing - they are neglecting to find time to chatter to their children.
According to the survey, a third of parents spend less than two hours a day engaged in conversation with their children.
However 38 per cent spend more than two hours a day in front of the television and 47 per cent spend at least two hours on domestic duties.
The findings sparked warnings that busy parents are failing to realise the importance of conversation in the home.
Scientific studies have shown that talking to children, especially under-fives, is crucial for brain development.
Article link: 'Parents spend more time watching TV than talking to their children'
* A site dedicated for screen time awareness( About turning off the TV): TV Turn Off
Few words about the site:
"Center for SCREEN-TIME Awareness( TV Turn Off.org) provides information so people can live healthier lives in functional families in vibrant communities by taking control of the electronic media in their lives, not allowing it to control them."
*Mark Stibich, PhD, is a behavior change expert, over 10 years of experience in helping individuals make health changes and increase their wellness. His opinion about watching tv:
From Mark Stibich, Ph.D.,
1. Television Eats Your Time
2. Television Makes You Stressed
3. Television Makes You Overweight
4. Television Makes You Uninteresting
5. Television Ruins Your Relationships
6. Television is Not Relaxation
7. Television Loses Opportunities
8. Television is Addictive
Television can become addictive. Signs of TV addiction include:
-using the TV to calm down
-not being able to control your viewing
-feeling angry or disappointed in how much TV you watch
-feeling on edge if kept from watching
-feeling a loss of control while watching
9. Television Makes You Buy Things
10. Television Costs Money
Article link: Turn off TV
* A parents suggestion to limit watching tv
But how much time of our life, we are watching TV?
* An opinion of a participant at a message board:
"According to the TV Turn Off Network (formerly TV-Free America) people watch an average of 4 hours and 35 minutes a day. If you watch just 4 hours of television every day (not an outlandish estimate), and live to be 70, it will amount to 11.6 years of continuous television watching."
Link:We spend 11 years our lives
How much T.V is effecting our health,lives, cultures, latest studies show a clear picture of it.
As to a report where watching T.V is considered "Electric Herion" and is called a serious addiction. And effects of this addiction are analyzed very clearly here:
"Not unlike drugs or alcohol, the television experience allows the participant to blot out the real world and enter into a pleasurable and passive mental state. The worries and anxieties of reality are as effectively deferred by becoming absorbed in a television program as by going on a 'trip' induced by drugs or alcohol. And just as alcoholics are only vaguely aware of their addiction, feeling that they control their drinking more than they really do ('I can cut it out any time I want—I just like to have three of four drinks before dinner'), people similarly overestimate their control over television watching. Even as they put off other activities to spend hour after hour watching television, they feel they could easily resume living in a different, less passive style. But somehow or other, while the television set is present in their homes, the click doesn't sound. With television pleasures available, those other experiences seem less attractive, more difficult somehow.
"Finally it is the adverse effect of television viewing on the lives of so many people that defines it as a serious addiction. The television habit distorts the sense of time. It renders other experiences vague and curiously unreal while taking on a greater reality for itself. It weakens relationships by reducing and sometimes eliminating normal opportunities for talking, for communicating." [p.p. 23-25, Marie Winn, THE PLUG IN DRUG; Penguin, 1977. ISBN - 0-14-007698-0]
Washington Post, Terence McKenna's FOOD OF THE GODS says, "television is emotionally equivalent to electronic heroin"
Link for the article: Report
I have given more information about how TV affects our brain at one of my article:
You-watch-tv-to-turn-your-brain-off/
More articles:
- Why-You-Want-to-Keep-Your-Baby-Away-From-the-TV--12053.aspx
- tv-is-not-the-truth-even-if-you-think-it-is.htm
- parents_arent_limiting_kids_tv_media_time
- tv-does-more-damage-to-your-children-than-you-ever-imagined.htm
- tv_be_gone.htm
- TV and Games Linked to Antisocial Behavior
* The children's communication charity I CAN has conducted further research to find out why language skills are declining.
Its poll of 1,000 Britons suggests that parents are so caught up with their daily routines - including TV viewing - they are neglecting to find time to chatter to their children.
According to the survey, a third of parents spend less than two hours a day engaged in conversation with their children.
However 38 per cent spend more than two hours a day in front of the television and 47 per cent spend at least two hours on domestic duties.
The findings sparked warnings that busy parents are failing to realise the importance of conversation in the home.
Scientific studies have shown that talking to children, especially under-fives, is crucial for brain development.
Article link: 'Parents spend more time watching TV than talking to their children'
* A site dedicated for screen time awareness( About turning off the TV): TV Turn Off
Few words about the site:
"Center for SCREEN-TIME Awareness( TV Turn Off.org) provides information so people can live healthier lives in functional families in vibrant communities by taking control of the electronic media in their lives, not allowing it to control them."
*Mark Stibich, PhD, is a behavior change expert, over 10 years of experience in helping individuals make health changes and increase their wellness. His opinion about watching tv:
From Mark Stibich, Ph.D.,
1. Television Eats Your Time
2. Television Makes You Stressed
3. Television Makes You Overweight
4. Television Makes You Uninteresting
5. Television Ruins Your Relationships
6. Television is Not Relaxation
7. Television Loses Opportunities
8. Television is Addictive
Television can become addictive. Signs of TV addiction include:
-using the TV to calm down
-not being able to control your viewing
-feeling angry or disappointed in how much TV you watch
-feeling on edge if kept from watching
-feeling a loss of control while watching
9. Television Makes You Buy Things
10. Television Costs Money
Article link: Turn off TV
* A parents suggestion to limit watching tv
Friday, October 19, 2007
Ready Web-- A resource for parents and educators
A very impressive and easy to navigate site "
Ready Web" is an electronic collection of resources for early childhood and school rediness. So for parents and teachers this site is a valuable source of inforamation, research based studies, tips and advices.
Founded at: December 9, 2006
ReadyWeb provides a Virtual Library of the full text of documents and articles, and hyperlinks to documents and articles, on various topics related to school readiness.
"ReadyWeb" also provides bibliographies of documents and journal articles from the ERIC database.
Link to virtual library where you can find 4 catagories:
1-Tips for Parents
2-Research, Statistics, and Definitions
3-Getting Schools Ready for Children
4-Public Policy Issues and Initiatives
Virtual library
For parents: There is a long list of articles which take you to other sites or information sources.
Check here: Tips for Parents
I am giving here few article links, rest of the articles, or research reports are also a source of information.
** Tips to Help Children Adjust for both parents and teachers
** Preventing Reading Difficulties Before Kindergarten
ReadyWeb is a project of the Early Childhood and Parenting (ECAP) Collaborative, College of Education, at the University of Illinois.
It was originally funded, at least in part, with Federal funds from the U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences.
Achievements:
* ReadyWeb has been awarded the Parenting Q&A Seal of Approval.
* ReadyWeb has received the LookSmart Editor's Choice award.
* ReadyWeb has been rated in the Top 5% of all Web sites by Lycos.
* ReadyWeb has received the
* "RECOGNIZED BY 4therapy.com AWARD" as a Web site that provides a useful public service to consumers and/or professionals seeking information on the Internet.
* ReadyWeb was featured in the July 20-September 20, 2004, issue of Parents' Source as a great resource for the whole family!
Ready Web" is an electronic collection of resources for early childhood and school rediness. So for parents and teachers this site is a valuable source of inforamation, research based studies, tips and advices.
Founded at: December 9, 2006
ReadyWeb provides a Virtual Library of the full text of documents and articles, and hyperlinks to documents and articles, on various topics related to school readiness.
"ReadyWeb" also provides bibliographies of documents and journal articles from the ERIC database.
Link to virtual library where you can find 4 catagories:
1-Tips for Parents
2-Research, Statistics, and Definitions
3-Getting Schools Ready for Children
4-Public Policy Issues and Initiatives
Virtual library
For parents: There is a long list of articles which take you to other sites or information sources.
Check here: Tips for Parents
I am giving here few article links, rest of the articles, or research reports are also a source of information.
** Tips to Help Children Adjust for both parents and teachers
** Preventing Reading Difficulties Before Kindergarten
ReadyWeb is a project of the Early Childhood and Parenting (ECAP) Collaborative, College of Education, at the University of Illinois.
It was originally funded, at least in part, with Federal funds from the U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences.
Achievements:
* ReadyWeb has been awarded the Parenting Q&A Seal of Approval.
* ReadyWeb has received the LookSmart Editor's Choice award.
* ReadyWeb has been rated in the Top 5% of all Web sites by Lycos.
* ReadyWeb has received the
* "RECOGNIZED BY 4therapy.com AWARD" as a Web site that provides a useful public service to consumers and/or professionals seeking information on the Internet.
* ReadyWeb was featured in the July 20-September 20, 2004, issue of Parents' Source as a great resource for the whole family!
A beautiful site for parents and teachers!
This is one of my favourite sites, which provides free learning and reading skill guide for parents and teachers. Kids can also enjoy the stories and other activities at the site.
"Their mission is helping parents and teachers build children's learning skills."
This site was launched on October 31, 1995.
* Chateau Meddybemps is named as one of the seven best language arts sites for elementary teachers.
More achievements:
* An average of more than 64,000 unique visitors view the site during typical months. Just under 200,000 visited during October. The numbers also jump around Easter. That's a lot of children, not counting the parents, siblings or teachers looking over their shoulders.
* The site is well respected by parents and educatiors. Close to 6,000 other sites (many from far corners of the world) provide links to meddybemps.com.
* Reviewers for the International Reading Association (IRA) named Chateau Meddybemps the third best phonics site for children. A book called 101 Best Sites for Elementary Teachers placed our site among the top seven language arts sites.
http://www.meddybemps.com/aboutmission.html
Purpose of this site: (In their own words)
"Chateau Meddybemps was created for two reasons:
1. (The serious reason) To enable parents and teachers to help young children strengthen learning skills in unique and playful ways.
Rather than provide level after level of a particular type of activity, we simply encourage parents to use our site to explore the fun in learning. Discuss this. Play with that. Answer a riddle. Learn about letters of the alphabet. Count, color and create. Write a story.
In all these activities, skills overlap. A child builds self-confidence, develops new abilities and enjoys learning.
By using this site, you can participate, guide and share in the pleasures of discovery. By following this model, you can build skills using all sorts of materials in your child's environment. You will also strengthen the bond between you by sharing experiences.
We recommend that you read the Parent's Guide or Teacher's Guide. These guides:
1. Explain how children learn
2. Describe the sequence of skills development
3. Compare a variety of skill-building tools
4. Tell you how to make learning fun
When you have appropriate expectations, working with your child will be a rewarding experience for both of you. Building skills takes time, but you will see progress and your child will be much more likely to succeed in school.
2. (The playful reason) To share the characters and stories of the island of Meddybemps - because they're just too much fun to keep all to ourselves."
Bed time stories link: Bed time stories
Teacher's guide:
Teacher's Guide Topics:
* Use Language
* Listen
* Write
* Read
* Develop Social Skills
* Think
* Develop an Understanding of Math Concepts
Teacher's guide
Parent's guide:
Parent's guide
Few useful posts for teachers, parents and kids!
It is a collection of useful posts and links for every teacher,parent and kids.
I have plan to add more links and posts, so please check often this blog for more useful stuff.
** keep-your-kids-protected-online/
** food-for-thought-seeds-of-wisdom/
** How-to-keep-our-children-protected-online/
** come-and-read-a-parable/
** You-watch-tv-to-turn-your-brain-off/
** Review-of-an-interesting-and-inspirational-site-the-truth-campaign/
** Review-of-a-site-giving-you-advice-on-good-habits-zen-habits/
** Do-you-have-a-trouble-tree?/ (I think everybody should have it!)
** Are-you-happy-with-your-life?/
** Change-our-world-for-the-better/
I have plan to add more links and posts, so please check often this blog for more useful stuff.
** keep-your-kids-protected-online/
** food-for-thought-seeds-of-wisdom/
** How-to-keep-our-children-protected-online/
** come-and-read-a-parable/
** You-watch-tv-to-turn-your-brain-off/
** Review-of-an-interesting-and-inspirational-site-the-truth-campaign/
** Review-of-a-site-giving-you-advice-on-good-habits-zen-habits/
** Do-you-have-a-trouble-tree?/ (I think everybody should have it!)
** Are-you-happy-with-your-life?/
** Change-our-world-for-the-better/
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Few interesting sites for parents and kids
For some great tools to work with your children on being good neighbors and getting along with others.
National Georaphic's websites:
http://www.mywonderfulworld.org/games.html
National Georaphic's websites:
http://www.mywonderfulworld.org/games.html
Get tools and tips for parents http://www.mywonderfulworld.org/parents_welcome.html
Find classroom resources for educators http://www.mywonderfulworld.org/educators_welcome.html
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
