ISLAMIC SOLUTIONS FOR AIDS

ISLAMIC SOLUTIONS FOR AIDS

AIDS. What is AIDS? AIDS is the acronym for acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Based on the Wikipedia encyclopedia, AIDS is a disease of the human system caused by human immunodeficiency virus. The illness will interferes with human immune system making people with AIDS  prone to get infections and it will slowly destroys the human body’s system. This susceptibility gets worse as the disease continues.

HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. It kills an important kind of blood cell -- the CD4 T lymphocyte, or T cell. These T cells are the quarterbacks of the immune system. As they die off, the body becomes more and more vulnerable to other diseases. Germs take this opportunity to invade the body. The diseases they cause are called opportunistic infections (OIs for short). When people with HIV get these infections -- or when their CD4 T-cell levels get too low -- they have AIDS.

Symptoms of AIDS are caused by the deterioration of the immune system and the decline of CD4+ T cells, which are the immune system's key infection fighters. As soon as HIV enters the body, it begins to destroy these cells. Some common symptoms include diarrhea that lasts for more than a week, dry cough, memory loss, depression and neurological disorders, pneumonia, profound unexplained fatigue, rapid weight loss, recurring fever or profuse night sweats, red, brown, pink or purplish blotches on or under the skin or inside the mouth, nose or eyelids, swollen lymph glands in the armpits, groin or neck, white spots or unusual blemishes on the tongue, in the mouth, or in the throat. 

Because people with AIDS have weakened immune systems, they're more prone to infections, called opportunistic infections. Opportunistic infections are caused by organisms that typically don't cause disease in healthy people but affect people with damaged immune systems. These organisms attack when there's an opportunity to infect.

Deterioration of the immune system is caused by the decline in CD4+ T cells, which are key infection fighters. As soon as HIV enters the body, it begins to destroy these cells. Symptoms of opportunistic infections common with AIDS include coma, coughing and shortness of breath, difficult or painful swallowing, extreme fatigue, fever, mental symptoms such as confusion and forgetfulness, nausea, abdominal cramps and vomiting, seizures and lack of coordination, severe, persistent diarrhea, severe headaches, vision loss, and weight loss.

AIDS can be transmitted in several ways. Sexual contact. Persons at greatest risk are those who do not practice safe sex, those who are not monogamous, those who participate in anal intercourse, and those who have sex with a partner with symptoms of advanced HIV infection and/or other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). In the United States and Europe, most cases of sexually transmitted HIV infection have resulted from homosexual contact, whereas in Africa, the disease is spread primarily through sexual intercourse among heterosexuals. 

Transmission in pregnancy. High-risk mothers include women married to bisexual men or men who have an abnormal blood condition called hemophilia and require blood transfusions, intravenous drug users, and women living in neighborhoods with a high rate of HIV infection among heterosexuals. The chances of transmitting the disease to the child are higher in women in advanced stages of the disease. Breast feeding increases the risk of transmission by 10-20%. The use of zidovudine (AZT) during pregnancy, however, can decrease the risk of transmission to the baby. 

Exposure to contaminated blood or blood products with the introduction of blood product screening in the mid-1980s, the incidence of HIV transmission in blood transfusions has dropped to one in every 100,000 transfused. With respect to HIV transmission among drug abusers, risk increases with the duration of using injections, the frequency of needle sharing, the number of persons who share a needle, and the number of AIDS cases in the local population.

Needle sticks among health care professionals. Present studies indicate that the risk of HIV transmission by a needle stick is about one in 250. This rate can be decreased if the injured worker is given AZT, an anti-retroviral medication, in combination with other medication. 

HIV is not transmitted by handshakes or other casual non-sexual contact, coughing or sneezing, or by bloodsucking insects such as mosquitoes.

Many people are unaware that they are infected with HIV. Less than 1% of the sexually active urban population in Africa has been tested, and this proportion is even lower in rural populations. Furthermore, only 0.5% of pregnant women attending urban health facilities are counseled, tested or receive their test results. Again, this proportion is even lower in rural health facilities. Therefore, donor blood and blood products used in medicine and medical research are screened for HIV.

HIV tests are usually performed on venous blood. Many laboratories use fourth generation screening tests which detect anti-HIV antibody (IgG and IgM) and the HIV p24 antigen. The detection of HIV antibody or antigen in a patient previously known to be negative is evidence of HIV infection. Individuals whose first specimen indicates evidence of HIV infection will have a repeat test on a second blood sample to confirm the results.

The window period (the time between initial infection and the development of detectable antibodies against the infection) can vary since it can take 3–6  months to seroconvert and to test positive. Detection of the virus using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) during the window period is possible, and evidence suggests that an infection may often be detected earlier than when using a fourth generation EIA screening test.

Positive results obtained by PCR are confirmed by antibody tests. Routinely used HIV tests for infection in neonates and infants (i. e., patients younger than 2 years) born to HIV-positive mothers, have no value because of the presence of maternal antibody to HIV in the child's blood. HIV infection can only be diagnosed by PCR, testing for HIV pro-viral DNA in the children's lymphocytes. 

AIDS is a fatal disease that weakens the resistance of the body and makes it defenseless against all kinds of infections such as pneumonia, diarrheas, Kaposi's Sarcoma, etc. Anyone who develops AIDS will die within a few years and the death is likely to be horrible. Until today there is still NO CURE for it. AIDS is spread mainly due to indiscriminate sexual activity, homosexuality & drug abuse. So escapism or running away from the facts will not help in finding a solution.... rather it is time that we reflect upon the following warning given by the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wassallam): "Whenever sexual permissiveness spreads among the people until it becomes declared, infections and killing diseases, as well as illnesses not previously found in their ancestors will spread among them"(Sunan Ibn Majah).

Sex is a natural’s inborn, biological urge that must find expression. Allah put it there to ensure propagation of mankind; as clearly seen from the following verse in the Qur'aan:

"Your wives are a tilth for you, so go to your tilth (have sexual relations with you wives), when or how you will, (and ask Allah to bestow upon you pious offspring." [The Noble Qur'aan 2 : 223] 

And the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaih wassallam) advised the young generation, saying: “O Young People! Whoever among you can marry, should marry, because it helps you to lower your gaze and guard your modesty (i.e. keeps you away from adultery), and whoever is not able to marry, should fast, as fasting is a means of suppressing sexual desire." Saheeh al-Bukhari and Saheeh Muslim 

Note: The above two sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wassallam) give by their wisdom, both the cause of the AIDS problem as well as its cure. 

Sex outside of marital bonds is termed as "Zina" (fornication / adultery) and Allah says in the Qur'aan : "And come not near to Zina (fornication). Verily, it is a Fahisha (i.e. a great sin) and an evil way." [The Noble Qur'aan 17 : 32] 

The ill effects of Zina (fornication) can clearly be seen in the Western countries where indiscriminate sexual activity seems to be the rule rather than the exception. The direct consequences of which being a high rate of divorce, the alarming increase of 'single mothers' and the breakdown of the family, as the most basic unit of the society. 

It is therefore not difficult to realize the divine wisdom behind the strict punishments for Zina (fornication / adultery) in Islam, as Allah says: "Verily, those who like the crime of Zina (fornication) should be propagated among those who believe, they will have a painful torment in this world and in the Hereafter. And Allah knows and you know not." [The Noble Qur'aan 24:193] 

  In the process of "so-called modernization", we have moved further and further from the teachings of Islam. We think we can get away with anything and have ignored the admonition: "Verily, the punishment of your Lord is severe." [The Noble Qur'aan 85:12] 

Such was also the case of the people of the time of Prophet Lut, "And Remember Lut, when he said to his people - Do you commit the worst sin such as none preceding you have committed among the mankind and jinn ? Verily, you satisfy your lusts on men instead of women! Nay but you are a people transgressing beyond bounds (by committing great sins)." [The Noble Qur'aan 7 :80-81]  

This is because Homosexuality is against nature (Fitrah), against common sense, against anatomy, against physiology, against logic, against aesthetics; and yet we find the Western media portray homosexuality as "Freedom of Choice" as if it is an acceptable form of social behavior. Muslims Beware! Do not let such an attitude develop in your society. As for those homosexual men from among the nation of Prophet Lut - the Qur'aan says: "Verily, they were a people given to evil and were the Fasiqun (disobedient) [The Noble Qur'aan 21:74] 

And their punishment was: "And we (Allah) rained down on them a rain (of stones). And see what the end of the Mujrimun (sinners) was."[The Noble Qur'aan 7 : 84]  

Drug Abuse. All substances which cause damage to a person's health or those that cause intoxication are totally forbidden (Haram) to be used by Muslims. As the following authentic Hadith clearly state: ‘Every intoxicant is Khamr and every intoxicant is Haram (forbidden)’[Saheeh Muslim] ‘There are two things that many people waste: health and free time.’ [Saheeh al-Bukhari]

Besides what drives people to begin using drugs? Escapism, the inability to cope with life or a lack of emotional support. The only solution can be the strengthening of family ties and the remembrance of Allah, for it is "in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find tranquility." [The Noble Qur'aan 13:28] 

Parents! Teachers! Social Workers! Concerned Citizens! Remember! It is now up to you to stop this degradation of social values. Islamic morals and manners have to be revived. Prostitution, Pornographic literature/films and all other forms of immorality must be done away with completely. 

The real danger is mainly to adolescents and teenagers in high-school, college or university; who while away from homes experiment with sex ... unaware of the dangers. Then the only thing that will protect them from AIDS is their faith in Allah and a firm belief that all forms of illegal sexual expression (outside marital bonds) are totally forbidden to the believing Muslims. 

Those Muslims in the AIDS awareness program should remember that during the annual 'December' celebration of the 'World AIDS Day", when the slogan is "SAFE SEX" (i.e. the compulsory use of the condom); your slogan should be "NO SEX OUTSIDE OF MARRIAGE" 

Research on AIDS, while promoting the use of condoms, unanimously agrees that the only sure way to avoid exposure to HIV is to abstain from sexual intercourse entirely and too have a mutually faithful relationship with an uninfected person.

Amazing to see that modern research is but an echo of the advice given by our Prophet Muhammed, 1400 years ago. Therefore let us learn from the pain and devastation of AIDS the lesson that the Hudud (limitations) set up by Allah, the Almighty must be followed strictly and let us also use the following Hadith in our fight against AIDS "Fear Allah wherever you may be" Sunan at-Tirmidhi and Musnad Ahmed bin Hambal. 

In the year 1978, The World Health Organization passed a resolution at Alma Ata, "Health for all by 2000 CE". Efforts begin in the elimination of small pox and successful control is gained over other contagious diseases and viral infections, brightening the hope of achieving the goal. In 1981 all the hopes are shattered by the discovery of a new disease called AIDS. By December 1995 the total number of AIDS cases world-wide reached 6.8 million and there seems to be no hope of finding a cure before 2000 CE. AIDS is currently the world's most frightening killer disease. The Noble Laureate Dr. Hoshua Lederberg, President of Rockefeller University, said that AIDS would become the world's third-leading killer disease that would kill 10 percent of the world's population over the next 20 years. [ArabNews,Jan29,1990].

In India the worst affected states are Maharashtra (1286 cases), Tamil Nadu (492), Manipur (104), Punjab (100), Delhi (100), Pondicherry (100), Kerala (96), MP (65), UP (56), Karnataka (51), Bengal (44) and Gujarat (25). Overall India has about 2574 registered cases, that means that everyone in two patients are from Maharashtra and Bombay, the pride of Maharashtra has 962 patients.