More Die from Obesity than Malnutrition

Reading this headline in the local newspaper baffled me. How can this be so?

Many a children sleep hungry every night and compete with another just to see dawn. Outrageously we’ve joined this competition and have beaten them to the finish line.

It’s almost as if we are mocking them.

However, in this race there are no winners.


From what is apparent, the world does produce enough food to feed everyone.
World agriculture provides everyone in the world with at least 2,720 kilocalories (kcal) per person per day. An average person should consume around 2000 kcal daily.

The United Nations reports 25,000 people continue to die each day from hunger in a world with a huge surplus of food. Whereas, a billionaire is created every other day.

The richest 50 million people in Europe and North America have the same income as 2.7 billion poor people (according to a World Bank study in 2002).




How have we been so careless in letting a gap in society become a crater. A crater created by us neglecting our duties towards others and ourselves.
In a study conducted, the biggest personal factor in determining happiness is health.

Healthy people are about 20 percent happier than average while unhealthy people are about 8.25 percent more unhappy.


Happiness in english comes from the term ‘hap’; something that occured ‘by chance’ or ‘by fate’. Therefore a happy person is described as someone who is content with their fate.
Moreover happiness and pleasure tend to be used together. The word ‘pleasure’ derived from the word ‘plesure’ and its original meaning was - to please another.

Therefore happiness lies in the service of others along with ourselves, which somehow we have forgotten.


Question

Have we just been lazy?

The Holy Qur’an

Those who believe and lead a righteous life, and observe the Contact Prayers (Salat), and give the obligatory charity (Zakat), they receive their recompense from their Lord; they will have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve. (Al-Baqarah 2:277)

The term ‘zakat’ means obligatory charity and it is a duty of every single muslim to give around 2.5% of their yearly income to the poor. This is only applicable to an individual who earns above a certain yearly wage. This limits the excuse that one is lazy and helps to bridge the gap in society.

‘Zakat’ is separate from any other charity given which can be voluntary.

Those who give to charity night and day, secretly and publicly, receive their recompense from their Lord; they will have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve.
(Al-Baqarah 2:274)


Moreover it is transmitted that Ibn 'Abbas told Ibn az-Zubayr, "I heard the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, 'A man is not a believer who fills his stomach while his neighbour is hungry.'"

Ask yourselves this - if everyone was to live in such a manner, would there be a person who would endure a night on an empty stomach?


Looking at ourselves through their eyes, we would probably make us envy ourselves.
Yet some of us are still not content with what we have been given by fate.

A constant reminder is needed.

In the service of others lies true pleasure and happiness.


And Allah knows best.

The Mind of a Killer

"I had to test the atom bombs. We have wasted so much money in creating atom bombs …. I am perfectly happy that the bombs worked, and now we will be growing more into atomic technology."
The words of Harry S. Truman (May 8, 1884 - December 26, 1972) and the thirty-third President of the United States of America , who gave the order to drop the atomic bombs "Little Boy" and "Fat Man" on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, both major cities in Japan.


The actual death count may never be known.

However estimates are Hiroshima (150,000) and Nagasaki (75,000) are deemed over conservative.





“In my lifetime I have murdered 21 human beings, I have committed thousands of burglaries, robberies, larcenies, arsons and, last but not least, I have committed sodomy on more than 1,000 male human beings. For all these things I am not in the least bit sorry.”
The words of Carl Panzram (June 28, 1891 – September 5, 1930). He was an American serial killer, rapist, arsonist and burglar.




"I hate this world, I am not ashamed of my action and I am ready to die. I have no regrets. I killed 100 children."
The words of Javed Iqbal (1956 in – October 8, 2001). He was a Pakistani serial killer who was found guilty of the sexual abuse and murder of 100 children.




“I opened her breast and with a knife cut through the fleshy parts of the body. Then I arranged the body as a butcher does beef, and hacked it with the axe into pieces.. I may say that while opening the body, I was so greedy that I trembled and could have cut out a piece and eaten it.”
The words of Andreas Bichel (1760 – 1809) a.k.a 'The Bavarian Ripper'. He was a German serial killer who enticed young women to his home by promising to tell their fortunes. The victims were knocked unconscious and stripped. When they awoke they were bound and gagged. Bichel then raped and mutilated them before killing them.




“They say it's the number of people I killed, I say it's the principle.”
The words of Aileen Wuornos (February 29, 1956 – October 9, 2002). She was an American serial killer who killed seven men in Florida in 1989 and 1990. Wuornos claimed that her victims had either raped or attempted to rape her while she was working as a prostitute, and that all of the killings were committed in self-defense.




Some people may condemn these people downright and slap the strictest punishment offered by man upon them.
Others may label them to be a victim of social norms and their circumstances.

However the masses express their disapproval of such sadistic and merciless viewpoints.




Question
Have these individuals lost the value and worth for the living because they’ve lost the value and worth of their own life?


The Holy Qur’an

“”For that cause We decreed for the Children of Israel that whosoever killeth a human being for other than manslaughter or corruption in the earth, it shall be as if he had killed all mankind, and whoso saveth the life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind. Our messengers came unto them of old with clear proofs (of Allah's Sovereignty), but afterwards lo! many of them became prodigals in the earth.
Surah Mai’dah (5:32)


"Again and again will those who disbelieve, wish that they had bowed (to God's will) in Islam. Leave them alone, to enjoy (the good things of this life) and to please themselves: let (false) hope amuse them: soon will knowledge (undeceive them).
Surah Al-Hijr (15:2-3)


The above cases are extreme, but they highlight the grotesque levels human beings can twist towards when one loses a sense of direction and purpose in their life.

Let’s not lose our purpose.

And Allah knows best.

The Quest to Avoid Death

The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time - Mark Twain


Qin Shi Huang

King of the Chinese State of Qin from 247 BCE to 221 BCE and then the first emperor of a unified China from 221 BCE to 210 BCE. As the ruler of the Great Qin, he was known for the introduction of Legalism and also for unifying China.

His Quest

He died of swallowing Mercury pills, made by his court scientists and doctors, which contained too much of the liquid metal. The "theory," devised by alchemists, was that if mercury could even absorb gold, then if eaten, it would give that person its own powers, making him immortal. Mercury compounds were mixed with some food so as to make it edible. Ironically, these pills were meant to make Qin Shi Huang immortal. He was reportadly buried in a river of Mercury.



Charles-Édouard Brown-Séquard

Also known as Charles Edward (8 April 1817 – 2 April 1894), he was a Mauritian physiologist and neurologist.

His Quest

He recommended the dried and ground testicles of guinea pigs and dogs as a tonic to extend youthfulness and virility. Injected himself and his patients with the extracts from the testicles, and then declared that the treatments had restored his physical vigour and mental acuity.





Morarji Ranchhodji Desai

The fourth Prime Minister of India from 1977–79.

His Quest

Morarji Desai is most often remembered for his championing of Urine Therapy (drinking one’s own urine for medical benefits). He told journalist Khushwant Singh that he was advised to try drinking his own urine when in his 40s to cure piles (haemorrhoids), and he got immediate results.

As the prime minister he caused discomfort to millions of Indian by proclaiming the efficiency of his urine drinking. On the occasion of his ninety-ninth birthday in 1995, Desai attributed his longevity to drinking urine - which he called the ``water of life'' - at least twice every day.





Question

Is the life of this world so dear that one may lose the integrity of being human, just to hold onto it?

The Holy Qur’an

Every soul will taste death, and you will only be given your [full] compensation on the Day of Resurrection. So he who is drawn away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise has attained [his desire]. And what is the life of this world except the enjoyment of delusion.
(Ale-‘Imraan 3:185)


Beautified for those who disbelieve is the life of this world, and they ridicule those who believe. But those who fear Allah are above them on the Day of Resurrection. And Allah gives provision to whom He wills without account.
(Al-Baqarah 2:212)

Sincerely search for the purpose of life for such an endevour will prepare you for death.



And Allah knows best.