EFFECTS OF ACID RAIN ON THE ECONOMY

Because of acid rain, many fish have died. This reduces the ability of fish being caught and sold. People who rely on fishing for their income may find themselves without a job. Owners of farms may be unable to produce quality crops to be sold. With the continued deterioration of buildings, the economy will have to spend more money to repair such problems.

            It currently costs the American automobile industry sixty one million dollars each year to use acid-resistant paint on new vehicles. In turn, the cost of the vehicle will increase to compensate for the cost of the resistant paint. This inflation in automobile cost can prove to be a problem for many that rely on a car but can not afford the influx. Acid rain is also responsible for the loss of two billion to four billion dollars worth of wheat, corn, soybeans, and peanuts. This is devastating for the income of the farmers as well as the people who purchase these goods. Without these goods being readily available, the prices will increase and the products could become hard to get.

            The acid rain effects buildings and other structures, leading to increased maintenance costs. To reduce damage to automotive paint caused by acid rain and acidic dry deposition, some manufacturers use acid-resistant paints, at an average cost of $5 for each new vehicle (or a total of $61 million per year for all new cars and trucks sold in the U.S.)

EFFECTS OF ACID RAIN

Acid rain causes problems in almost every aspect of the environment. Acid rain can have a devastating effect on aquatic life, crops, forests, buildings, and also human life.

A) The human Health

The harm to people from acid rain is not direct. The pollutants that cause acid rain (sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx)) also damage human health. These gases interact in the atmosphere to form fine sulfate and nitrate particles that are inhaled into people's lungs causing  increased illness and premature death.

Nitrogen oxides  react with volatile organic compounds and form ozone. Ozone impacts on human health include a number of morbidity and mortality risks associated with lung inflammation, including lung cancer, asthma, bronchitis and emphysema.

Sulfates and nitrates that form in the atmosphere from sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions contribute to visibility impairment. Sulfate particles account for 50 to 70 percent of the visibility reduction.

B) The Human Environment.

The acid also eats through the pipes that channel water to the lakes. Far more insidious are the increasing incidents of attributed to breathing in the tiny particles of sulphur and other pollutants. Many people drink water everyday that is laced with these harmful chemicals without even knowing it.

Acid rain and the dry deposition of acidic particles contribute to the corrosion of metals (such as bronze) and the deterioration of paint and stone (such as marble and limestone). These effects seriously reduce the value to society of buildings, bridges, cultural objects (such as statues, monuments, and tombstones), and cars.

C) The Forests

Acid rain causes slower growth, injury, or death of forests. Acid rain has been implicated in forest and soil degradation. The impacts of acid rain on trees occur due to the combined effects of acid rain and other environmental stressors. A spring shower in the forest washes leaves and falls through the trees to the forest floor below. That soil may neutralize some or all of the acidity of the acid rainwater. This ability is called buffering capacity. The ability of forest soils to resist, or buffer, acidity depends on the thickness and composition of the soil, as well as the type of bedrock beneath the forest floor.

Acid rain weaken trees by damaging their leaves, limiting the nutrients available to them, or exposing them to toxic substances slowly released from the soil. Acidic water dissolves the nutrients and helpful minerals in the soil and then washes them away before trees and other plants can use them to grow. At the same time, acid rain causes the release of substances that are toxic to trees and plants, such as aluminum, into the soil.

Forests in high mountain regions often are exposed to greater amounts of acid than other forests because they tend to be surrounded by acidic clouds and fog that are more acidic than rainfall. When leaves are frequently bathed in this acid fog, essential nutrients in their leaves and needles are stripped away.

D) The Lakes and Streams

Forests aren’t alone in the devastation. It has also been found that twenty thousand lakes have been acidified through the changes in the groundwater.

When acid rain falls into water it is mixed in with the normal water and causes the pH of the entire body to be raised.  Measurements on the pH scale rise exponentially, thus, a lake with a pH of 4 is ten times as acidic as a lake with a pH of 5, and a lake with a pH of 3 is 100 times as acidic.

Acid Rain has been known to reach the acidity of pH 2, this is a drastic change as normal rain is average pH 5.6.

Salting (dropping salt, chalk, or limestone into lakes and streams) is a done to neutralize the water and counteracting the effects of the acid rain. This involves literally tons of salt. This is only a temporary solution, as putting salt into the water will not stop the acid from coming, it just neutralizes what is already there.

E)  Fish and Other Aquatic Organisms

Acid rain causes a cascade of effects that harm or kill individual fish, reduce fish population numbers, completely eliminate fish species from a waterbody, and decrease biodiversity. As acid rain flows through soils in a watershed, aluminum is released from soils into the lakes and streams located in that watershed. So, as pH in a lake or stream decreases, aluminum levels increase. Both low pH and increased aluminum levels are directly toxic to fish. In addition, low pH and increased aluminum levels cause chronic stress that may not kill individual fish, but leads to lower body weight and smaller size and makes fish less able to compete for food and habitat.

           

Some types of plants and animals are able to tolerate acidic waters. Others, however, are acid-sensitive and will be lost as the pH declines. Generally, the young of most species are more sensitive to environmental conditions than adults. At pH 5, most fish eggs cannot hatch. At lower pH levels, some adult fish die. Some acid lakes have no fish. The chart below shows that not all fish, shellfish, or the insects that they eat can tolerate the same amount of acid; for example, frogs can tolerate water that is more acidic (has lower pH) than trout.

F)         The Ecosystems

Together, biological organisms and the environment in which they live are called an ecosystem. The plants and animals living within an ecosystem are highly interdependent. For example, frogs may tolerate relatively high levels of acidity, but if they eat insects like the mayfly, they may be affected because part of their food supply may disappear. Because of the connections between the many fish, plants, and other organisms living in an aquatic ecosystem, changes in pH or aluminum levels affect biodiversity as well. Thus, as lakes and streams become more acidic, the numbers and types of fish and other aquatic plants and animals that live in these waters decrease

G)        Soil

Acid Rain reacts to different types of soil and rocks in two ways: 1) Acid rain will dissolve alkaline rocks and soil, or will neutralize the alkalinity. 2) Acid rain will increase the acidity of already acidic rocks and soil, such as granite, or the soil which results from corroded granite.

HOW ACID RAIN IS FORMED

             Acid Rain is a serious problem with disastrous effects. Every day this problem increases. Many believe that this issue is too small to deal with, but if the acid rain problem is not met with head on, the effects on people, plants, animals, and the economy will only worsen. In the following paragraphs you will learn what acid rain is, the effects it has on human life, animals, the economy, the economic costs, and what is being done to help to stop this problem. This topic is very important because acid rain effects everyone everywhere all over the world.

What is acid rain?

"Acid rain" is a broad term used to describe several ways that acids fall out of the atmosphere. A more precise term is acid deposition, which has two parts: wet and dry.

Wet acid deposition refers to acid, fog and snow. It is the combination of two chemicals released into the atmosphere. These chemicals are sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (Nox). Natural sources such as volcanoes, sea spray, rotting vegetation and plankton are all contributors to acid rain, but burning fossil fuels, such as coal and oil which are referred to as dry emissions are largely to blame for more than half of the emissions into the world. Nationally, one hundred and twenty tons of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide are emitted into the air each day.

Dry deposition refers to acidic gases and particles. About half of the acidity in the atmosphere falls back to earth through dry deposition. The wind blows these acidic particles and gases onto buildings, cars, homes, and trees. Dry deposited gases and particles can also be washed from trees and other surfaces by rainstorms. When that happens, the runoff water adds those acids to the acid rain, making the combination more acidic than the falling rain alone.

A) How is acid rain formed?

When the sulfur dioxide reaches the atmosphere, it oxidizes to first form a sulfate ion. It then becomes sulfuric acid when it joins with hydrogen atoms in the air and falls back down to earth, usually in the form of rain, snow, or fog. Oxidation occurs the most in clouds and heavily polluted air where other compounds such as ammonia and ozone help to catalyze the reaction, converting more sulphur dioxide to sulphuric acid.

Nitric oxide and nitric dioxide are also components of acid rain. Its sources are mainly from electric power stations and exhaust fumes. Like sulphur dioxide, these nitrogen dioxides also rise into the air and are oxidized in the clouds to form nitric acid.

           

When the chemicals aren't absorbed into clouds, they can drift for miles and fall to the ground, resulting in Acid Deposition, or dry deposition. The generation of sulfur  dioxide in USA due to non environmental reason is depicted in under mentioned figure.

B) How Acidity of rain is measured?

Acid rain is measured using a scale called "pH." (potential Hydrogen). The pH scale measures how acidic a substance is. A pH less than 7 is acidic, the smaller the number on the pH scale, the more acidic the substance is.

           

Rain measuring between 0 and 5 on the pH scale is acidic and therefore called "acid rain".  Clean rain usually has a pH of 5.6. It is slightly acidic because of carbon dioxide which is naturally present in the atmosphere.

Acid Rain

Acid Rain is a serious problem with disastrous effects. Every day this problem increases. Many believe that this issue is too small to deal with, but if the acid rain problem is not met with head on, the effects on people, plants, animals, and the economy will only worsen. In the following paragraphs you will learn what acid rain is, the effects it has on human life, animals, the economy, the economic costs, and what is being done to help to stop this problem. This topic is very important because acid rain effects everyone everywhere all over the world.

What is acid rain?

            "Acid rain" is a broad term used to describe several ways that acids fall out of the atmosphere. A more precise term is acid deposition, which has two parts: wet and dry.

            Wet acid deposition refers to acid, fog and snow. It is the combination of two chemicals released into the atmosphere. These chemicals are sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (Nox). Natural sources such as volcanoes, sea spray, rotting vegetation and plankton are all contributors to acid rain, but burning fossil fuels, such as coal and oil which are referred to as dry emissions are largely to blame for more than half of the emissions into the world. Nationally, one hundred and twenty tons of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide are emitted into the air each day.

            Dry deposition refers to acidic gases and particles. About half of the acidity in the atmosphere falls back to earth through dry deposition. The wind blows these acidic particles and gases onto buildings, cars, homes, and trees. Dry deposited gases and particles can also be washed from trees and other surfaces by rainstorms. When that happens, the runoff water adds those acids to the acid rain, making the combination more acidic than the falling rain alone.

A) How is acid rain formed?

            When the sulfur dioxide reaches the atmosphere, it oxidizes to first form a sulfate ion. It then becomes sulfuric acid when it joins with hydrogen atoms in the air and falls back down to earth, usually in the form of rain, snow, or fog. Oxidation occurs the most in clouds and heavily polluted air where other compounds such as ammonia and ozone help to catalyze the reaction, converting more sulphur dioxide to sulphuric acid.

            Nitric oxide and nitric dioxide are also components of acid rain. Its sources are mainly from electric power stations and exhaust fumes. Like sulphur dioxide, these nitrogen dioxides also rise into the air and are oxidized in the clouds to form nitric acid.

            When the chemicals aren't absorbed into clouds, they can drift for miles and fall to the ground, resulting in Acid Deposition, or dry deposition. The generation of sulfur  dioxide in USA due to non environmental reason is depicted in under mentioned figure.

B) How Acidity of rain is measured?

            Acid rain is measured using a scale called "pH." (potential Hydrogen). The pH scale measures how acidic a substance is. A pH less than 7 is acidic, the smaller the number on the pH scale, the more acidic the substance is.

            Rain measuring between 0 and 5 on the pH scale is acidic and therefore called "acid rain".  Clean rain usually has a pH of 5.6. It is slightly acidic because of carbon dioxide which is naturally present in the atmosphere.

Environment

The environment of earth is a blessing from GOD. This environment has different environmental systems that control the variation in environment with variation of altitude, latitude, longitude and season.

How much rain fall and icing, in which region, in what season is controlled automatically by environment.

The environment also filters the air from pollutants, blocks the ultraviolent radiation coming from sun.

The different features of earth's environmental systems, how the system is being damaged and how can we protect the system is part of this article. Articles on this subject are constantly being added to the site and are provided a link through this article.

WE are a resident of earth, kindly read these articles and share with others as we have to protect the environmental system that have been protecting all kinds of animals, plant since big bang. 

• Acid Rain
• How Acid Rain is Formed
• Effects of Acid Rain
• Effects of Acid Rain on Economy

Prophet Ibrahim/ABRAHAM (A.S.)

NAMRUD CHALLENGING THE WILL OF GOD

    Namrud (Nimrod), the son of Kan'an, ruled over the city of Babylon. When he totally dominated over the people and the extent of his influence developed, he forced the people to worship him; the people, who prostrated themselves in front of idols made of wood and stone, easily obeyed Namrud and called him their god. For this reason, the people were in deviation for a long time and forgot God the Great, the One. Therefore, God willed to bring a great leader into existence from among that deviated people to guide them.

    One day, a court astrologer told Namrud:

    "The position of the stars indicates that a man will soon revolt, uproot idolatry, and invite the people to a new religion."

    Namrud asked, "In which land will this man begin his rebellion?". The astrologer replied, "In this very land; however, he is not yet born."

    To prevent this from happening, Namrud ordered that men and women be kept separate so that the fetus of such a person would not be conceived and he would not be born. Out of ignorance, Namrud thought that he could, in this way, obstruct the Will of God and prevent the Divine Decree from being executed. However, in that very atmosphere of fear and horror, Abraham (AS) was conceived and his mother became pregnant. The signs of pregnancy however, not evident in her.

    When the time of delivery drew near, Abraham's mother left the city to find a hidden and private place to deliver her baby. At last, she took refuge in a cave where she gave birth to Abraham (AS) who opened his eyes to the world in that cave. His mother wrapped him in a piece of cloth, tightly covered the opening of the cave, and returned to the city. God, the Creator of the Universe, ordered milk to flow from Abraham's thumb and, thereby, provided him with sufficient food. Far from others' watch, Abraham (AS) grew and when he reached the age of thirteen, he went secretly to the city with his mother.

    Azar, Abraham's uncle, was one of the famous idol-makers of Babylon and his sons used to sell the idols which he made. When Azar saw Abraham (AS), he sent him with his own sons to sell idols. From the beginning, Abraham (AS) disliked the idols. He would tie a piece of rope around their necks and pull them along the ground, making them dirty and muddy. He would scream, "O people, come and buy, from me, these idols which neither have life nor comprehend anything and are unable to defend themselves."

    In the eyes of the idolaters, Abraham‘s behaviour toward the idols was very offensive. At last, it reached the point that the people complained to Azar of Abraham's bad behaviour toward their idols. Azar tried to advise him, but it was of no use; so, he was compelled to imprison Abraham (AS).

ABRAHAM AND A SIGN OF RESURRECTION

    God, the Exalted, created Abraham (AS) to guide the misled people and idolaters and granted him the position of Prophet-hood. Abraham (AS) had whole-hearted faith in God and didn't allow any doubt to enter his heart. However, in order to understand the true essence of things, he asked God to show him how He raises the dead.

    There came a call from God, "Do you not yet believe in resurrection, Abraham?" Abraham (AS) replied, "Surely I have believed, but I want to see it obviously in order to reach the point of perfect certitude."

    Since Abraham's intention was to increase his knowledge and certitude, God accepted his request. He told Abraham (AS), "Hunt and kill four birds, cut them up, and mix their parts and pieces together. Then, divide the mixed flesh into several portions; put each portion on the top of a separate mountain; after that, call them one by one until, by the Command of God, they revive and come flying to you."

    Abraham (AS) did as was commanded by God. After killing, cutting up, and dividing the flesh of the birds, and putting each portion on a separate mountain, he called them; the pieces of the birds' dead bodies came together from the different places, spirit was blown into them and they became alive again. Abraham (AS) witnessed, with his own eyes, one of the great signs of the Power of God in the revival of the dead; his heart, filled with faith, reached the point of perfect certitude.

    In the eyes of the idolaters, Abraham' s behaviour toward the idols was very offensive. At last, it reached the point that the people complained to Azar of Abraham's bad behaviour toward their idols. Azar tried to advise him, but it was of no use; so, he was compelled to imprison Abraham (AS).

ABRAHAM IN THE IDOL - TEMPLE

    Abraham (AS) began his divine mission. His uncle, Azar, was the first person to receive the invitation to worship the One God. Abraham (AS) respectfully presented the proofs of monotheism, but Azar harshly rejected his words and drove him away. Abraham (AS), who had failed at the outset of his mission, sadly left his uncle. After that, he tolerated all persecutions and injuries which he received. These injuries did not lessen his will in the least; rather, he became more determined to guide his people.

    Abraham (AS) went to his people in order to make them understand that idolatry is a wrong path and a deviation. First, he asked them, "What do you worship?" They said, "Our idols are objects of worship. We worship them; ask them all our needs; and, at the time of calamities, we seek refuge in them."

    Abraham (AS) asked, "Do the, idols hear your words and accept your requests? Are they able to harm or benefit in any way?" They said, "No, but we follow our fathers who worshipped idols."

    Abraham (AS) said, "You and your fathers have been in manifest error. These stone and wood idols, which are your own handicrafts and cannot have any benefit or harm, are not worthy of being worshipped. Worship belongs to God the one who has created us all and is the Creator of the heavens and the earth and all creatures; He has power over all things." Then, Abraham (AS) went on to explain the Power of God: he said, "The Great Creator is the One Who created me. He guides me; gives me sustenance; when I become ill, cures me. It is He Who destines me to die and brings me back to life. I hope He will forgive me on Resurrection Day."

    With these words, Abraham (AS) invited the people to worship God The One. They disputed with him and refused to stop worshipping their idols and worship God the One instead. Abraham (AS) therefore, decided to break the idols and make the ignorant people see for themselves that these lifeless idols are incapable of doing anything and do not deserve to be worshipped.

    Every year, the people of Babylon celebrated a feast in which they observed special ceremonies. On that day, they would all go out of the city and spend the day in the countryside. That year, when the day of the festival arrived, all the people left the city except Abraham (AS) who pretended to be ill in order to remain alone in the city.

    When Abraham (AS) found the city deserted and the idol-temple without guards, he entered the temple. In a large, decorated room, the idols were placed in order according to their rank. Abraham (AS) began looking at the idols; then, mockingly and scornfully, he offered them the food that he had with him, saying, "Would you like some food?" He received no reply from the idols. Once again, he mockingly asked, "Why don't you say anything? Why don't you speak? Don't you want to eat anything?" But, again, he didn't hear any answer. He then took an axe and began breaking the idols. Soon, all of Namrud's followers' beautiful and orderly idols turned into little pieces of broken wood and stone. He spared only the biggest idol, which he left to be the base for his further argument to awaken and inform the people.

    The idolaters returned to they city after their festivities. When they saw that their temple was in disarray and the idols were broken, they became very distressed and furious. While searching for the guilty person, they asked each other, "Who has committed such a crime and treated our gods in this way; surely he is among the oppressors." Some of them said, "We heard a young man speak badly of our idols. His name is Abraham (AS). He considers idolatry foolish. He might have done this."

    Abraham (AS) was soon identified as the criminal and was summoned to trial and punishment. They asked him, "Was it you who broke our idols?" Abraham (AS) firmly answered, "Perhaps the big idol has brought this damage on your idols. If the idols can speak, ask them." Namrud's followers were confounded in the face of this logic. Being unable to deny it, they said, "Idols are unable to speak."

    Abraham (AS) immediately began an argument which would destroy the foundations of idolatry and would uncover the incorrectness of their belief. He said, "Do you worship instead of God the One something that has no benefit or harm for you? Damnation upon you and what you worship."

    In this way, Abraham's trial came to an end, and according to the existing evidence, he was found guilty. Everyone demanded his punishment by shouting, "Assist the gods; burn Abraham (AS) in fire! Burn the guilty!"

ABRAHAM IN THE FIRE

    To assist their gods and to take revenge on Abraham (AS), Namrud's followers decided to burn him in fire. Since, in their view, Abraham's crime was of a social nature, all should participate in taking revenge on him and share in the reward of their act. To put their intention into action, they all began gathering firewood. After only a few days, they had gathered a pile of wood as huge as a hill. Then, they lit the fire; little by little, the fire rose and its flames reached to the sky. There was so much wood that a great and terrifying fire was set in the desert. The heat of the fire was so much that it could burn a person from a distance.

    Using a catapult, they threw Abraham (AS) into the fire and, thereby, extinguished the flames of their anger and hatred. Abraham (AS) disappeared from the sight of the people into the middle of the flames. The people exclaimed and cried out with joy, because they thus had taken revenge on the enemy of their gods.

    Jibra'il, the esteemed angel, descended to Abraham (AS) and said, "O Abraham! Do you have any need? Tell me; I will bring it to pass." Abraham (AS) said, "I am not in need of you; I am in need of my Lord." Then he asked God to save him from the fire. By God's Will, the fire became cold and safe, and Abraham (AS) was saved from being burned in it.

    Namrud and his followers, who were looking at Abraham (AS) from around the fire, saw that, much to their surprise, such a horrifying and burning fire did not harm him at all; he was sitting comfortably in the middle of it. They were all staring at him with wonder and admiration. Namrud told those around him, "If someone worships a god, it must be such an able and powerful god like Abraham‘s God."

    The people, who saw this great and Divine sign, realized the legitimacy of Abraham ‘s invitation. It was proven to them that the right and just path is the very one to which Abraham (AS) invited them; however enmity, stubbornness, ignorance and the love of wealth and position prevented them from accepting Abraham’s invitation. Most of the people remained idolaters, and only a small group of them joined Abraham (AS).

ABRAHAM'S DISPUTATION WITH NAMRUD

    Abraham's deliverance from that terrifying fire caused much surprise and wonder among Namrud's followers. Namrud, himself, was also much surprised and astonished. He, therefore, summoned Abraham (AS) into his presence and asked him, "Who is this God to whom you invite the people? And why have you broken our idols?

    Tell me, who is your God?" Abraham (AS) replied, "My God is the One Who gives life and death. The life and death of all living creatures are under His Will and Power." Namrud attempted to cover the truth with fallacy and to confute Abraham (AS); therefore, he said, "I am also able to give life and death, in that I release a prisoner who is sentenced to death and kill another prisoner; thus, I have given life to the first one and have taken the life of the second."

    Abraham (AS) replied, "If you are truthful, give life to the one whom you have caused to die. Furthermore, my God is the One Who causes the sun to rise from the East every day; if you are a god and have power, cause the sun to rise from the West."

    Namrud was confounded in the face of Abraham's reasoning. Signs of weakness and distress became evident in him, but he didn't leave off his obstinacy and enmity. Since he realized that Abraham (AS) is backed by a Divine power and that a human is unable to destroy him, Namrud released Abraham (AS) out of fear of becoming disgraced. He ordered, however, that Abraham (AS) be expelled from the city lest the people might follow him and convert to his religion.

    Abraham (AS) - who was unhappy with Namrud, his followers and their land, prepared to depart. He gathered his sheep and began his journey with his family. Because Abraham (AS) had many sheep, Namrud ordered that all be confiscated.

    Abraham (AS) said, "I have spent all my life in this land and I have worked hard, so that I could save these properties; if you want to take my sheep from me, you must return to me the time I have spent for this". He then went to the judge and complained before him. After listening to Abraham (AS), the judge pronounced judgment in his favour. Abraham (AS) won his case; he took his sheep and emigrated from that land toward Syria and the city of Jerusalem together with his nephew, Lut (AS).

ANOTHER EMBARRASSMENT

    Abraham (AS) was an ardent man. To conceal his wife, Sara (AS), from the sight of others during the journey, he put her in a trunk, closed the lid, and loaded it onto a camel. When they reached a land which was under the reign of an Arab king, the king's agents stopped them at the border to search their belongings in order to evaluate the appropriate taxes. They searched all his belongings. When they got to that trunk, they asked Abraham (AS) to open it. Abraham (AS) said, "Suppose that this trunk is filled with gold and silver; take whatever tax you want, but do not open the lid."

    The chief agent didn't accept; Abraham (AS) was obliged to open the trunk. When the chief beheld Sara's astonishing beauty, he said, "I will not permit you to leave here until I inform the king of your story and of this woman." He then sent someone to inform the king.

    The king summoned them. When they came into his presence and the king beheld Sara (AS), he involuntarily stretched his hand toward her to take hold of her arm. Abraham (AS) became very upset; he turned his face away and said, "O my Lord, keep the hand of this stranger away from my wife." The king's hand withered up. The king said, "Did your God wither up my hand?"

    Abraham (AS) answered, "Yes, my Lord is strict and hates forbidden acts." The king said, "Ask your God to heal my hand and I won't bother your wife anymore." Abraham (AS) prayed and his hand was healed.

    The oppressive king again looked at Sara (AS) and stretched his hand toward her. Again, his hand withered up. Once again, he sought help from Abraham (AS). Abraham (AS) said, "I will pray on the condition that you do not aggress anymore." The king agreed not to disturb them anymore; so, Abraham (AS) prayed, "O my Lord, heal his hand if he is telling the truth." The king's hand was healed.

    A fear of Abraham (AS) entered the king's heart. He honoured Abraham (AS) and to Sara (AS), he gave a maidservant by the name of Hajra (AS). He told them, "Go anywhere that you want now."

ABRAHAM AND THE STAR - WORSHIPPERS

    On the way from Babylon to Palestine, Abraham (AS) met a group of people who worshipped stars instead of God the One. Having knowledge of the deviation of those people, Abraham (AS) wanted to guide them to the worship of God and save them from depravity.

    As it is the way of the prophets to use kindness, gentleness, and tolerance in guiding ignorant and misled people, Abraham (AS) used a special method in this instance. He first agreed with their religion while, in the meantime, he shattered the foundations of their beliefs.

    When night fell and darkness covered every place and the shining stars appeared in the sky, Abraham (AS) said, in agreement with those people, ‘This star is my god. "After some hours, the stars set and disappeared from sight. Abraham (AS) said, "I don't like a god that sets."

    After a while, the moon rose from the horizon and threw light everywhere. Abraham (AS) took a look at the moon and, since he realized that the people were staring at him, he said, "This is my god because it is bigger than that star." The moon also set after some time, and Abraham (AS) said, "If my Lord guides me not, certainly I will be among those who go astray."

    That night ended and the shining sun rose, in perfect beauty, from the East. Abraham (AS) looked at the splendour and radiance of the sun and said, "This is my god; this is bigger than and superior to all the stars."

    When the day ended, the sun, like the moon and the stars, disappeared from sight. Abraham (AS) expressed his aversion to polytheism and idolatry, saying, "I am weary of these beings which constantly change and are subject to different states. I turn to God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth and all the creatures. I worship only Him, and I am not among the polytheists."

    In this way, Abraham (AS) completed his reasoning and directed the people toward the True Deity. The ignorant people, instead of welcoming his guidance and accepting it whole - heatedly, began to argue and dispute with him. Abraham (AS) said, "Do you dispute with me about God? God has guided me to the right path."

    When the people saw that their altercation had no effect on Abraham (AS), and that Abraham (AS) didn't stop worshipping God, they threatened him with the wrath of the stars. Abraham (AS) looked upon these threats with scorn, because it was clear to him that there is no god but God the One, that the stars are beings lacking will and are under the Command of the God of the heavens and the earth.

Prophet Huud (A.S.)

Huud was the Prophet sent to the Bani Aad for their reformation. His lineage genealogy joins with the Prophet Nuh (peace be upon him) and his sons. The Prophet Huud (peace be upon him) belonged to the Bani Aad. They were the descendants of Sam.

OUTSTANDING QUALITIES OF THE ADITES

The Aadites quarreled with the children of Ham and left Babylon. They peopled a district in southern Arabia contiguous to Oman, Yemen and Hadramaut. There they built palaces, erected temples and worshipped deities and stars. The names of their chief deities were Saqi'ah, Salimah, Raziqah and Hafizun. The people belong to the Bani Aad were tall in stature and were skilful masons. Allah had given them abundance of wealth, cattle, children and gardens. They had attained a considerable degree of civilization.

Among them flourished the famous king Shaddad. He built a magnificent palace near Adal. It was known as the Garden of Iram. He was mighty king and his conquests extended to Syria, Iraq and the frontier of sub-continent of Indo-Pakistan. These people were proud of their achievements and considered themselves to be invincible. They were indulged in sins and committed acts of injustice and violence. Instead of expressing a deep sense of gratitude to the Almighty Allah for the favors He had bestowed upon them, they became transgressors and showed disobedience to Him.

THE PROPHET HUUD APPEARS AND PREACHES

The Prophet Huud (peace be upon him) appeared among them for their guidance. He tried his best to bring them back to the worship of One God. He directed them to give up evil practices. He advised them to abstain from committing sins. They paid no heed to the teachings and warnings of their Prophet.

The Holy Qur'an says:

"And to the Aad We sent their brother Huud. He said: 0' my people! Serve Allah, you have no god other than Him. Will you not then keep away from evil and be mindful of your duty to Him. The Chiefs of those who disbelieved from among his people said: Most surely, we see you in folly and indeed we think you to be of the liars. He said: O' my people! There is no folly in me but I am an Apostle of the Lord of the Worlds. I convey to you the message of my Lord and I am a sincere adviser to you." (Surah 7: Verses 65-68)

THE DELUGE IS DESCENDED

The people did not listen to him and disobeyed the Commandments of Allah. For this disobedience the wrath of Allah came down upon them. A drought of unusual severity and a violent storm nearly annihilated the majority of the people of the Bani Aad. The Holy Qur’an describes: 

"As to the Aad, they were destroyed by a roaring violent blast which He made to prevail over them for seven nights and eight days un-intermittingly so that you mightiest have seen the people therein prostrate as if they were hollow trunks of palm tree." (Surah 69: Verses 6-7)

This storm had such a devastating effect as all the proud and disobedient people were completely destroyed but the Prophet Huud (peace be upon him) and his followers remained safe and sound. The Holy Qur’an says:

"So We delivered him and those with him by mercy from Us and We cut off the last of those who treated Our Signs as lies and were disbelievers" (Surah 7: Verse 72)

Afterwards the remnant who survived established themselves in Yemen. The grave of the Prophet Huud (peace be upon him) is in Hadramaut. It is visited by the Arabs in the month of Rajab.

Prophet Aadam/ADAM (A.S.)

Adam is an Arabic word for man. He was the progenitor of human race. He is the first prophet. He was also the first man whom Almighty Allah had created from the elements of clay. The Holy Quran affirms:

"O' mankind! Surely We created you from dust." (Surah 30: Verse 20)”

The gradual process of man's physical development has been referred to in the following Verses of the Holy Quran:

"He began the creation of man from dust. Then He made his progeny of an extract of water held in light esteem. Then He made him complete and breathed into him of His spirit and made for you ears and eyes and heart." (Surah 32: 7-9)

According to the latest scientific researches the man has been created from clay with all its element and their inherent properties. It is discovered by a chemical analysis of the human body that a defect occurs in its normal functioning when the quantity of any of these element gets diminished. In such case vitamins are used to supplement the deficiency and restore normal health.

THE CREATION OF PROPHET ADAM

Before the creation of mortal, Almighty Allah directed all the Angels to assemble. Thousands upon thousands of Angels (created from light) and Jinns (created from fire) gathered in groups. They bowed respectfully in the presence of Almighty Allah. The Creator of the universe declared that He intended to create the man and sought their counsel. The Angels and Iblis (Satan) disapproved the idea and pointed out that human beings would cause disorder on the earth. They would make mischief and shed blood indiscriminately. The Holy Quran gives a description of this event in the following Verses:

"And when your Lord said to the angels: I am about to appoint a vicegerent in the earth. They said: Will you place therein such as will cause disorder in it or shed blood ? We celebrate your praise and extol your holy names. He answered: I know what you know not." (Surah 2: Verse 30)

ANGELS WERE ASKED TO MAKE OBEISANCE TO ADAM

Allah taught Adam (AS) the names of all things and inculcated into his mind the knowledge of their properties. The Holy Quran says:

"And He taught Adam the names of all things; then presenting them to the angels, He said: Tell Me the names of these if you are right." (Surah 2: Verse 31)

The Angels did not know their names and said:

"Glory be to You. We have no knowledge except what You have taught us. Surely, You are Knowing, the Wise." (Surah 2: Verse 32)

After that Allah questioned Adam (AS) in the presence of all Angels about the names of different objects. He gave correct answers on the basis of this superiority. Allah asked all the Angels to bow as a mark of respect to Adam (AS) who was created so miraculously. The Holy Quran affirms:

"O' angels! Fall down making obeisance to Adam" (Surah 15: Verse 29)

ANGELS PROSTRATED BUT SATAN (IBLIS) REFUSED

When the Angels heard the Commandment of Almighty Allah, they all complied without hesitation. They bowed with respect and admiration to the new creation and that was Adam. However Iblis (Satan) did not surrender on various pretexts and stood still. The Holy Quran says:

"And when We said to the angels: Make obeisance to Adam, they did obeisance, not so Iblis, he refused and was haughty and he was of the: rejecters." (Surah 2: Verse 34)

CHALLENGE OF SATAN (IBLIS)

Iblis (Satan) disobeyed Allah and became defiant. He arrogantly refused to accept the authority of a creature who was made of rubbish. Iblis thought himself superior to human being. As a result, God expelled Satan from the Garden of Bliss and deprived him of all Divine favors. Satan requested Almighty Allah to allow him to exist until the Day of Judgment. I would bring most of the descendants of Adam under my sway. I would lead them astray from the Right Path. Allah gave him respite. The conversation between God and Iblis has been narrated in the Holy Quran as follows:

"Iblis said: Give me respite till the Resurrection Day. Allah said: Be you among those who are given respite. He said: Because You have thrown me out of the way, I will certainly lie in wait for them on Your Straight Path. Then will assault them from before them and behind them, from their right and from their left, nor will You find most of them grateful." (Surah 7: 14-18)

Devil is, in fact, an evil spirit which temps the man to indulge in sins. It invites the heart to do bad deeds and disobey Allah. It tries to weaken our sense of morality but if we are spiritually too strong to yield to its temptations, we become immune from all sins. Those who follow the Commandments of Allah, invite God's grace to protect them. On the other hand those who deliberately follow the wrong way, are responsible because they put themselves into the hands of Evil Spirit.

HAWA (EVE) CREATED

In order to remove the lonesomeness of Adam, a female mate named Hawa (Eve) was created. The Prophet Adam (peace be upon him) and his wife Hawa (Eve) were given a place in the Garden (of Bliss) to reside. The Holy Quran affirms:

"And O' Adam! Dwell you and your wife in the Garden (of Bliss) and eat there from wherever you will but approach not this tree lest you should be: among the wrong-doers." (Surah 7: Verse 20)

TRIAL OF PROPHET ADAM

The Prophet Adam (peace be upon him) and his wife Hawa (Eve) continued enjoying each others company and carefully avoiding that specific prohibited tree. Iblis became very jealous when he saw the favors of the Almighty Allah on the Prophet Adam (peace be upon him) and he began to devise ways and means to humiliate them. He kept on making evil suggestions to the couple in a sneaky way. He tried to persuade them to approach the prohibited tree. One day the Iblis sympathetically said to them:

"Your Lord has only forbidden you this tree lest you should become angels or immortals, and he swore to them saying: Surely, I am a sincere counselor unto you. So he beguiled them by deceit." (Surah 7: Verse 22)

On hearing this both Prophet Adam (peace be upon him) and Hawa (Eve) became curious. They started wondering as to why God did not want them to approach the specific tree. This temptation gradually became stronger but Allah guided them alright and warned that not to be taken in by the evil suggestions of Iblis. The Holy Quran says:

"Then We said: O' Adam! Verily, this Iblis is an enemy to you and your wife, so let him not get you both out of the Garden so that you are landed in misery." (Surah 7: Verse 117 )

The Prophet Adam (peace be upon him) and his wife used to live happily in the Garden of Bliss. They were endowed with the knowledge to discriminate between good and evil. They were also warned of the power of evil. They overpowered all sorts of evil temptations at first and tried hard to ward off the influence of Satan. But he made numerous attempts to misguide them off and on. Finally Satan succeeded in his mission and made them approach that specific tree. Instantly evil consequences appeared. The Holy Quran says:

"When they both tasted of the tree, their private parts became manifest to each other and they both began to cover themselves with the leaves of the trees (in the garden), and their Lord called them saying: Did I not forbid you both from that tree and tell you that Satan was your avowed enemy. They said: Our Lord! We have wronged ourselves. If you forgive us not and bestow not upon us Your mercy, we shall surely be of the losers." (Surah 7: Verse 23-24)

THE PROPHET ADAM AND HAWA FEEL PENITENCE

The Prophet Adam (peace be upon him) and Hawa (Eve) followed the temptations of Iblis and were deprived of the heavenly bliss. They were, however, overflowed with grief. They requested Almighty Allah to forgive them. Allah, the Most Merciful accepted their repentance and chose them for His mercy. At the same time He dispelled them from the Garden of Bliss. They became ordinary people. They had to live like us for only a certain span of life on this earth. They would be recreated again to be judged for their actions on the Day of Judgment.

ALLAH GIVES DIRECTIONS

They lived for many years. Allah sent directions and guidance to the Prophet Adam (peace be upon him). He taught others about the religion of Allah. He advised his followers to do good and avoid evils. He told the people to act upon the Commandments of Allah and follow his guidance. It would serve the purpose of shield to do away with the attacks of the devil. Allah says:

"Whoso shall follow My Guidance, on them shall come no fear, nor shall they grieve. But those who will disbelieve and treat Our Signs as lies, they shall be the inmates of the fire and they shall abide therein." (Surah 2: Verse 39)

Prophet Aziz (A.S.)

The lineage genealogy of the Prophet 'Aziz (peace be upon him) linked with that of Harun bin 'Umran. The name of his father was Khalqiyah. The Holy Qur'an has made mention of him in the Surah Tawbah (Immunity). The Jews regarded him as the son of Allah as the Christians thought 'Esa (Christ) as His son. The Holy Qur'an:

"The Jews say: 'Aziz is the son of Allah and the Christians say: The Messiah is the son of Allah. Such they say in their mouth! These resemble the sayings of the infidels of old. Allah do battle with them. How are they misguided?" (Surah 9: Verse 29)

He was the son of Sharahya, the Scribe. He was in his teens when Nebuchadnezzar attacked Jerusalem and put it to rout. When he attained the age of forty years the crown of Prophet Hood was conferred upon his head. He began to perform the duty of showing the path of righteousness to the depraved humanity. He was held in high esteem among his followers. When the Israelites planned to reconstruct the Bait-ul-Muqaddis, he exercised his influence to gain co-operation of the Government officials. He assisted the Jews to carry out their plan.

Al-Baizawi says: During the Babylon’s captivity the Torah was lost and there was none who remembered it. Allah raised up Aziz (peace be upon him) from the dead one century after his burial. He dictated to the scribes from his memory the whole Jewish law (Torah). He would have been fully worthy of having been the law-giver if Musa (Moses) had not preceded him. History bears testimony to this fact that the Prophet 'Aziz (peace be upon him) guided the Israelites during the period which lasted from the destruction of Jerusalem to the reconstruction of Bait-ul-Muqadis.

It has been narrated that a person rode upon an ass and passed near a city called Jerusalem. He possessed a basket of figs and a vessel of the juice of grapes. He wondered at the power of Allah and said: How will Allah re-build and populate it again?

Aziz (peace be upon him) was much shocked at the sight of dilapidated dwellings. When he was under the sway of utter disappointment, Allah caused him to die for a hundred years. Then He raised him to life and said: "How long have you tarried here?"

He replied: I have tarried for a day or a part of it. He slept in the first part of the day and was deprived of his life. He was reanimated at sunset.

Allah, the Exalted said: "You have tarried a hundred years. Look at your food and drink. They are as fresh as you have left them. They have remained unchanged even after the passage of century. Look at the ass. It has been decomposed and reduced to skeleton of bones. I have wrought this miracle to make manifest to you that I have the power to immune or destroy anything." The Holy Qur’an narrates this miracle in the following Verses:

"And how He demeaned him who passed by a city which had been laid in ruins. He said: How shall Allah give life to this city after it had been destroyed. And Allah caused him to die for a hundred years and then raised him to life. He said: How long have you waited? He said: I have waited a day or part of a day. Allah said: look on your food and your drink; they are not corrupted. Look on your ass, we would make you a sign for men and look on the bones of your ass, how we will raise them, then clothe them with flesh and when this was shown to him, he said: I acknowledge that Allah has power to do all things." (Surah 2: Verse 259)

Allah commanded the Prophet 'Aziz (peace be upon him) to go to Jerusalem to render services to the cause of religion. He passed away at Sa'irabad near 'Iraq. He was buried there. Some historians say that his grave is in Damascus.

Prophet Ayub (A.S.)

The Prophet Ayub (peace be upon him) was one of the descendants of the Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and a nephew of Prophet Ya'qub (peace be upon him). He was sent to reform the people who lived in the desert situated in the north eastern corner of Palestine. When Ayub (peace be upon him) was chosen to be the Prophet, he started to teach the people about God and His religion. He advised the people to do good and shun evil. As usual with all the Prophets very few people believed in him in the beginning but gradually the number of his followers began to increase.

The Prophet Ayub (peace be upon him) was Well Off

The Prophet Ayub (peace be upon him) was a prosperous man with firm faith in Allah. He possessed vast farms, enormous wealth, many cattle and valuable property but these things did not make him arrogant. His wealth provided him with a medium by means of which he sought Allah's grace.

The Prophet Ayub (peace be upon him) Displays Patience

The Prophet Ayub (peace be upon him) was a pattern of humility and faith in Allah. He was very patient. He suffered from a number of calamities but did not utter a single word of complaint. One day his big farm was attacked by the thieves. They killed many of his servants and carried away forcibly all his cattle. The Prophet Ayub (peace be upon him) did not feel sorry at this loss and thanked Allah.

After some time the roof of the house fell down and many members of his family were crushed. The Prophet Ayyub (peace be upon him) was much shocked but he held fast to his faith in Allah. He neither shed a tear nor heaved a sigh. He prostrated before the Almighty. He remarked that possessions and children were the gifts from Allah. If He had taken His things, it was useless to lament over their loss.

After a few years Prophet Ayub (peace be upon him) suffered from skin disease. His parts of body were covered with loathsome sores. He had many ugly looking ulcers on his face and hands. The sores were full of worms. It is narrated that he picked up those worms which fell from his abscess and praised Allah for creating them.

Above all, his false friends attributed his calamities to his sins. They ridiculed and looked down upon him. All the persons deserted him with the exception of his faithful wife, Rahima. She also grew tired of him in the long run and prayed for his death. She cursed her husband for retaining integrity in Allah. When Prophet Ayub (peace be upon him) was in an extremely pathetic condition he prayed:

"Truly adversity has afflicted me and You are Most Merciful of all who show mercy." (Surah 21: Verse 83)

Allah accepted his prayer. The Holy Quran affirms:

"Then We heard his prayer and removed that adversity from which he suffered, and We gave him his household and the like thereof along with them, a mercy from Our store and remembrance for the worshippers." (Surah 21: Verse 84)

The Prophet Ayub Recovers and Prospers

Allah turned to him with mercy. He was commanded to strike the earth with his foot. He complied with the order and water from the spring gushed forth. He took a bath with the water and got cured from his evil disease. After this he was restored to prosperity. The Prophet Ayub (peace be upon him) knelt and prayed expressing a deep sense of gratitude to Allah. He never forgot His favours, mercy and love.

The Prophet Ayub (peace be upon him) was one of the celebrated Prophets. His example illustrates: that those who remain patient under the stress of all circumstances, are never deprived of high rewards. The Holy Quran affirms:

"And surely we try you with something of fear and hunger, and loss of wealth and crops, but give glad-tidings to the steadfast, who when a misfortune befalls them, say lo! we are Allah's (possession of Allah) and to Him shall we surely return. · Such are they on whom are blessings from their Lord, and mercy. Such are the rightly-guided." (Surah 2 : Verse 155-157)