<p class="MsoNormal">On the 1st of December, the whole world celebrates World AIDS Day to express their solidarity with the victims of this vicious disease.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">This disease was discovered in 1981.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It has turned into the punishment of Almighty Allah and is sweeping millions of people into the abyss of death.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The majority among those affected by AIDS is of women.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">AIDS spreads through a virus which destroys the immunity of the human body.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Whatever disease enters the body after that becomes very dangerous for the body.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This virus is called HIV i.e. human immunodeficiency virus or in other words that destroys or affects the immunity of the human body.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This virus is found in blood and genital fluids.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It is also found in other body fluids like saliva, tears, urine, etc., but these do not spread the virus as easily.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This virus is spread mainly through blood and genital fluids.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">This virus can be easily transferred from an affected person to his/her sexual partner i.e. from man to women, vice versa, between homosexuals and from the affected mother to the baby.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Learn a lesson from deadly diseases</i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Science and technology is progressing with the speed of light itself.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>No day passes without any astonishing discovery.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Through the flight of his own intellect, man has found the traces of water on the moon.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Seeing all this, nobody should think that we do not need Allah Most High anymore (May Allah protect us from this) and become heedless about the hereafter.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">These deadly diseases bring a lesson with them and make human beings realize their powerlessness in spite of their progress.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>They throw a challenge to mankind that if they dare to, they can find the cure for such diseases.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Thus, they are numerous diseases of this kind, whose cure has not yet been discovered.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Reasons for epidemic diseases</i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has described the reasons for diseases like AIDS:</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Translation: It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat ‘Abdullah Bin ‘Umar (May Allah be well pleased with them), he said that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) graced us with His presence.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He said: ….. when immodesty becomes rampant in a nation to the point that they start committing indecency openly, then deadly diseases like plague and the like will spread among them which were not present in the time of their predecessors.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>(Sunan Ibn Majah, Abwabul Fitan, Pg. No. 290, Hadith No. 4009)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">How to save oneself from epidemics</i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">As these diseases spread because of immodesty, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has declared modesty to be a part of Iman (faith):</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Translation: It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be well pleased with him) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: Iman has 70 and some parts and modesty is a part of Iman.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith No.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>9)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Moment of reflection</i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">When on occasion of World AIDS Day, solidarity is expressed with the millions of people who have AIDS, then arrangements should also be made to save the millions of people who are free from AIDS.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Immodesty, which is the common cause for all epidemics, should be checked.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Every path which leads to immodesty and indecency should be blocked, so that people may act upon the pure and timeless teachings of Islam as the felicity and success of this world and the hereafter is dependent o this.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Islam is the only religion with rules that are comprehensive and universal and at the same time protect the whole humankind and grant peace to the society as well.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Dua for protection against epidemics</i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Allahumma Innee A‘aoodhubika Minal Barasi Wal Jununi Wal Juzami Wa Min Sayyil Aqsaami</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>(Sunan Abu Dawood, Hadith No.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>1392; Sunan Nasai, Hadith No.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>5398, Musnad Imam Ahmed, Hadith No.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>12534)</p>