Peace begets Peace

Directions and packing list for SHURA council meeting - Oct 30,31- Nov 1st, 2009- 5 states' Muslim Family Camping- Ellensburg, WA .

2009-10-29T16:24:00.001-07:00

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

As-Salamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu ! Peace be unto you and the mercy of Almighty Allah and His blessings. I pray and make duas that this letter of mine finds you in the best of Iman and Taqwa,moods and spirits, health and wealth ! I love you for Allah !

The specific purpose of writing this letter is to give you the directions and packing list for tomorrow's journey. Additionally, I would like to take this opportunity to appreciate all the hard-working volunteers who have tirelessly been working for the past 60 days from 31 masjids of 5 states to make this event possible. I am also appreciative of all the people who have written to me that they decided to come for this meeting because "there was nothing that we could be doing that could be more important or having more far-reaching effects than this gathering."

My friends, we don't live in a vaccum. During the current circumstances of Islamophobia in the United States and the crises of faith in our children, we need to act synergistically in a decisive, cohesive manner. We have talked a lot about INTERFAITH; I am glad that the muslims of 5 states are coming together for INTRA-FAITH (amongst ourselves). Important networking, sharing of concrete evidence, intellectual property and strategic methods shall take place. Milestone decisions shall be made about Dawah, women's activities, youth identity, muslim cemeteries, property purchasing, insulating ourselves from lawsuits, and safe-guarding the primary interests of US as muslims ! When a 100 brains are working in various committees with synergistic energy, good things are bound to happen with the blessings of Almighty ALLAH. For those of you who are undecided, we make duas for you to kindly reconsider and fight against shaitan and come, join hands to be part of something great!

Please see the video ad for the Shoora council here - http://www.youtube.com/user/ayub359 - www.youtube.com/ayub359

With love and respect,

Ayub

Packing List:

1-Warm clothes (2 changes)

2- Sheets and blankets (Cabins are dormitory style and sheets will NOT be supplied; only beds, mattresses and pillows)

3- Friday night dinner (all other 5 meals shall be supplied and are included in the $80.00)

4- Snacks of your choices (esp. if you are diabetic)

5- Stationary for taking notes.

6- Visting cards for networking.

7- Poster board with your masjid activities.

8- Your masjid banner to display at the entrance or at other strategic locations.

9- Sports shoes / sneakers for the challenge course, rock climbing wall.

10- Cell phone charger.

11- Personal supplies, contact lens solution etc.

12- Camea and video-camera.

13- A smile and your thinking caps !

Please see the video ad for the Shoora council here - http://www.youtube.com/user/ayub359 - www.youtube.com/ayub359

Directions to Lazy F Camping & Retreat Center (http://www.lazyfcamp.org/ )

16170 Manastash Rd, Ellensburg, WA 98926. PH : (509) 962-2780
Lazy F provides services and facilities in a camp/retreat. It’s located on 110 acres of mixed forest in the heart of the Manastash Canyon in the Eastern Cascade Mountain Foothills. Click here for a map! (control + click)

From Seattle

I-90 East to Thorp Exit #101
Turn right (south)
Go 1.9 miles & turn right at Cove Road
Go 4.3 miles & turn right at Manastash Road (2nd stop)
Go 6.9 miles up the canyon to Camp

From Yakima

I-82 North to I-90 West
Take Exit #109 (Ellensburg/ Canyon Road) - Turn right
Turn left at Umptanum Road (at Subway, across from McDonald’s)
Go 1.6 miles and turn right at Manastash Road
(Schoolhouse #7 will be on right)
Go 10 miles past the hay fields and up the canyon to Camp

From Spokane

I-90 West to exit #109 (Ellensburg/Canyon Road) - Turn right
Turn left at Umptanum Road (Subway, across from McDonald’s)
Go 1.6 miles and turn right at Manastash Road
(Schoolhouse #7 will be on right)
Go 10 miles past the hay fields and up the canyon to Camp

From Portland

I-84 East for 102 miles to exit 104 for US-97 toward Yakima/Bend
Turn left at US-97 (follow signs for Yakima for approximately 65 miles)
Take I-82 West to Yakima then follow the “From Yakima” directions given above.

Camp is one mile before the paved road ends. Keep coming! You haven’t passed it yet! You will see “Lazy F” on the barn - take the second driveway (by main camp sign). The office is the first building on the left. Note: If none of the above direction routes aligns with your originating city, please use Google maps (or some other mapping tool) and the above camp address for the best way to get to the camp site.

Please see the video ad for the Shoora council here - http://www.youtube.com/user/ayub359 - www.youtube.com/ayub359

Shoora Council of the Pacific Northwest – Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington

Fri Oct 30th:

· Check in/Registration, introductions, ICEBREAKER games. [4 pm]

· Poster presentations, young Muslims’ competitions, races, challenge course. [5 – 10 pm]

· Presentation by CAIR member / Lawyers on "How the masjids can protect themselves from lawsuits and legal hassles" between Maghrib and Isha’a prayers [6:15 - 7:15 pm]

Sat Oct 31st:

· Fajr then short religious reminder (hadith) [6:45 – 7:15 am]

· Free period [7:15 – 8 am]

· Breakfast [8 - 9 am]

· Opening- Quran Recitation, then, Recap of last yr's events, intended goals of the forum, mission, ... etc. and introduction of the attendees [9 - 9:15 am] – Omer El-Amin

· Discuss bylaws (people should have already gone over them, and discussion should be on points needing alteration, further elaboration ...) [9:15 - 10:15 am] – moderated by Mohamed Ayub

· Elect/select first board of directors/executive committee [10:15-11:15am] Invitation committee retires. New board takes charge. Change of guard’s ceremony.

· Discuss details of registration, office location, potential budget and resources for money collection [11:15 am - 12 pm]

· Lunch break followed by salat [12 - 2 pm]

· Religious talk “The importance of unity in Islam and the potential role of the MFPNW in uniting muslims of the PNW region” – Sheikh Joban [2 – 3:00 pm]

· Networking/ Relaxation/ Sports/activity session [3 - 6 pm]

· Maghrib prayer [6 – 6:15 pm]

· Dinner [6:15 – 7:15 pm]

· Isha'a prayer [7:15 – 7:30 pm]

· Religious talk “Raising the next generation of Muslims, our goals as families and as a community” – Sheikh Fazl- 7:30 PM-8:30 PM

Sun Nov 1st:

· Fajr then short religious reminder (hadith) [6:45 – 7:15 am]

· Free period [7:15 – 8 am]

· Breakfast [8 - 9 am]

· Religious talk on “Future challenges for Muslims in America, and how we should prepare ourselves and the next generation for that.” – Sheikh Pasha [9 – 9:30 am]

· Brain-storming- Set a few plausible targets to be achieved by next yr and set timing for next yr's meeting [9:30 – 10:30 am]

· Adjourn [10:30 am]

· Allow time for newly selected members to meet together and set up their plans for the next yr, everyone else is free to pack up and enjoy the outdoors

· Lunch [12 – 1 pm]

· Cleaning up, Duhur and Asr prayers [1 – 2 pm]

· Return home- 2:00 PM

Camp In-charge of Logistics- Dr. Omar El-Ameen, Yakima, WA. Cell- 508-314-5000. (Your Go-to Person)

Please make duas for the Invitation Committee – Dr. Riazul Islam, Pullman, WA. (cell-509-432-9547), Dr. Naeem Abdurrahman, Tri-Cities, WA,(509) 528-4474, Shaikh Marotha Pasha, Tacoma, WA, (253) 948-8176, Dr. Ruhul Amin, Bozeman, MT (406) 587-7162, Dr. Shahriar Ahmed,Portland, OR, (503) 516- 8685, Br. Idris Elhamar (Seattle, WA), Mohammed Al- Haddad, Islamic Center of Boise, ID and Br. Imtiyaz – Masjid As-Saber, Portland, OR.

Salaams to all my buddies ! Imam Joban and 100 muslims call you to the SHOORA council meeting - Oct 30,31- Nov 1st, 2009- 5 states' Muslim Family Camping- Ellensburg, WA .

Many of us talk about unity of the muslims quite a lot- Here is a REAL opportunity to DO something concrete and show positive change amongst all the muslims of the 5 states of the pacific northwest. Please give this some serious consideration.

Attached are directions to the CAMP, Agenda, By-laws. Welcome to all the families from Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington states. Please see the video ad for the Shoora council here - http://www.youtube.com/user/ayub359 - www.youtube.com/ayub359

Please see attached invitation letter and membership form. There is a rough draft of the by-laws to peruse before you come there for ratification / modification.

Shawwal 15, 1430 October 4, 2009

Dear Brother/Sister,

Peace be upon you, and Allah’s mercy and His blessings. I pray to Allah (swt) that this letter finds you in good health and good spirit!

The Muslim Forum of the Pacific Northwest Invitation Committee is pleased to announce the Forum’s Second Inaugural Muslim Leadership Conference to take place near Ellensburg, Washington between October 30 and November 1, 2009, insha’Allah. The forum was inaugurated at last year’s meeting which occurred at the same place and similar timeframe. Muslim leaders and community members from all over the Pacific Northwest convened at that meeting and agreed upon the forum’s mission, goals and potential activities. Since then, a rough draft of the bylaws was written and memberships were filed and accepted. Currently there are 21 member organizations constituting the forum. The purpose of this year’s meeting will be to finalize the bylaws and select a board of trustees to run the activities of the Forum for the coming term.

For organizations that have not yet joined our Forum, it is our honor and pleasure to invite you and other interested members of your community to attend the conference and be part of this important milestone. For those organizations that have already joined the Forum, please ensure at least 2 representatives of your organization attend the meeting. However, let me also point out that this meeting will serve as a social gathering event with camp activities to be done in parallel with the meetings. So please bring your families along and let them enjoy the stay at the camp and make use of its leisure facilities including soccer, volleyball, table-tennis, billiards and fishing, or just enjoy the outdoors.

Please find attached to this letter a membership form (to be filled out and sent to the address shown) for the non-member organizations, and a copy of the current draft of the bylaws (for review prior to the meeting) for member organizations. The Invitation Committee sincerely hopes that you will take an active role in this noble effort at its formation stage. You will be joining your brothers and sisters from all over the Pacific Northwest to work together toward advancing the cause of Islam and Muslims in our communities and throughout the Pacific Northwest region.

May Allah (swt) guide us all to what’s in the best interest of Islam and Muslims, and honor us to be among His sincere servants who strive in his cause, Aamin!

Sincerely,

Omer El-Amin

On behalf of the MFPNW Invitation Committee

Peace be unto all of you and Allah's blessings and His Mercy !
fyi- SAVE THE DATE! Oct 31- Nov 2nd 2009- 5 states' Muslim Family Camping- Ellensburg, WA .
This is just a placeholder, more details to follow from Dr. Omar Al-Ameen of Yakima (cell- 508-314-5000) and WSU- Pullman, Dr. Riyazul Islam (cell- 509-432-9547).
Inshallah, just like last year, there shall be muslims from Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho and Alaska.
Come, refresh and rejuvenate yourselves and family ! http://www.mfpnw.org/directions/directions.htm
We shall also work on bylaws, electing a new board / president / office-bearers and future directions/ projects to undertake.
Camp facility -http://www.mfpnw.org/camp/camp.htm
Camp directions - http://www.lazyfcamp.org/

If your masjid / organization has NOT filled up a membership form to be part of the SHOORA council, please tell your board members to do so ASAP. Call to ascertain if your masjid is registered too - Dr. Omar Al-Ameen of Yakima (cell- 508-314-5000) and WSU- Pullman, Dr. Riyazul Islam (cell- 509-432-9547). Please see invitation letter from the committee below.
Attached: - Membership form to give to your Imam / Board president.

This is a good model to follow - http://shuracouncil.org/

www.mfpnw.org

info@mfpnw.org

Dear Brother/Sister
Assalaamu `Alaykum wa Rahmatu Allah wa Barakatuhu

And hold fast, all together, unto the bond with God, and do not draw apart from
one another. And remember the blessings which God has bestowed upon you: how,
when you were enemies, He brought your hearts together, so that through His
blessing you became brethren; and [how, when] you were on the brink of a fiery
abyss. He saved you from it. In this way God makes clear His messages unto you, so
that you might find guidance. 3:103
By the grace of Allah the inaugural conference of the Muslim Forum of the Pacific Northwest was
held between 31 October and 2 November in Ellensburg Washington. The Forum membership will
consist of Islamic centers and nonprofit Muslim organizations in the Pacific Northwest (Alaska,
Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington).
The conference selected an Invitation Committee with the task to contact and invite prospective
centers and organization to join the Forum. On behalf of the invitation committee, it’s my pleasure
to extend this official invitation to your center/organization to join the Forum as a founding
member. We sincerely hope that you would join us and be part in this noble effort for the good of
Islam and Muslims in the entire Pacific Northwest.
Attached to this invitation letter is a synopsis of the meeting proceedings along with the meeting
recommendations for the forum's vision, mission statement, potential programs and activities,
and the membership eligibility criteria. Also attached with this letter is the membership form to be
completed by your organization. Please fill out the form and mail it with the nominal membership
fee of $25 to the address noted on the form within six weeks from the receipt of this letter.
Finally, we pray to Allah to grant us His support and guidance to help serve our communities in
the best possible way and positively impact the status of Muslims and Non-Muslims alike.
Sincerely,
Mohammed Riajul Islam, Ph. D.
Coordinator, Invitation Committee
Muslims' Forum of the Pacific Northwest

http://www.mfpnw.org/directions/directions.htm

--
I remain,
Yours sincerely,

M. Ayub
Cell - 360-489-2830
Best Seeds - www.bountifulgardens.org
My Upcoming Trip- http://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/goingtothesunroad.htm
My Civic organizations -
http://www.rachelcorriefoundation.org/site/
http://www.cairseattle.org/
www.icna.com
http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/
http://www.peta.org/

My Professional Orgs-
http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home.html
http://physiciansforhumanrights.org/
http://www.psr.org/

I recommend this Credit Union- http://www.tulipcu.coop/

My daily news source - http://www.democracynow.org/

My website - www.youtube.com/ayub359

My diet - http://www.ravediet.com/

--
I remain,
Yours sincerely,

M. Ayub
Cell - 360-489-2830
"If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality." - Bishop Desmond Tutu.

My buddies latest music video - http://nativedeen.com/ramadan/thevideo.php

Directions for Sunday,May 4th,1:00 PM-Lunch and lecture-" DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AMONGST MUSLIMS, factors, causes and exploring solutions."

2008-05-04T01:08:00.001-07:00

Directions -

500 College St SE
Lacey, WA 98503
360-491-3860

- Take exit 109 - coming from I-5 southbound.(example- Tacoma)
Right at the light. onto MARTIN WAY.
Left onto College Street (first light)
Left onto 6th street.
Follow the signs to the Library Parking lot.
Come inside and look for the big conference room !

See you there with the friends that you want to be there with !

" I am writing/calling to cordially invite you to one of the monthly potluck parties of the Olympia Reverts' Association, which typically happens on the first sunday of every month. For the month of May, our open circle has decided to invite Sister Asma Simmons and her delegation from SOSIS - Sisters of Sunnah Islamic Services. The topic is " DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AMONGST MUSLIMS, factors, causes and exploring solutions." We shall meet for a delicious potpourri of dishes from different countries and continents at 1:00 PM on Sunday, May 4th. The gathering / open circle shall start punctually at 2:00 PM with the recitation of the Holy Quran. Do you need directions to the Lacey Library ?
It is just off of College Street and 6th Ave (near St.Martin's University entrance.)

I hope you shall find time in your busy schedule to learn, and help !

Who knows what goodness may come out of this interaction !

With regards,

your friend,

Jasmine Rosalee Khan or

Ibraheem Emory McGill.

************************************************************************************************************************

If you are emailing, you may add the following:

Directions to Lacey Timberland Library - http://www.trlib.org/lacey.htm

SOSIS website - http://www.sosislamicservices.org/

SOUNDVISION page on Domestic Violence stats amongst muslims - http://www.soundvision.com/Info/socialservice/stopdomesticviolence.asp

What does Islam say about DV ? - http://saif_w.tripod.com/questions/violence/islam_and_domestic_violence.htm

Domestic Violence in Muslim Families by - Dr. Jeremiah McAuliffe

http://www.crescentlife.com/psychissues/domestic_violence_in_muslim_families.htm

Ending Domestic Violence in Muslim Families
By Sharifa Alkhateeb

http://www.themodernreligion.com/women/dv-ending.htm

Yours Sincerely,

Muhammad "The Farmer" Ayub
Cell - 360-539-8025
Check out my new playlists here - http://www.youtube.com/user/ayub359

--
With best wishes and respect,

Muhammad Ayub, MD MPH
Cell -360-539-8025

Try with your students - Yoga in the Classroom

2008-03-31T14:24:00.000-07:00

Yoga in the Classroom
From a student's perspective
"Ooohmmm," I chant while seated in the lotus position on my desk with my index fingers to thumbs as the students arrive in class…
While this amusing mental image is what some people conjure up when I mention that I practice yoga with my students, the proven benefits of a yoga practice work well as a classroom tool.
As a public school teacher in Richmond, Texas, I have worked with students in grades 6, 7, 9, and 10. By using simple breathing techniques, students experience a decrease in hyperactivity, reduce anxiety at test-time, and regain focus. Non-threatening postures offer a break from classroom routines and re-energize students and the teacher. While I never announce, "Students, it's yoga time," I use a variety of techniques when the time is ripe.
Why do students enjoy these classroom activities? The unfamiliarity and total child involvement may be the reasons. Here's a typical 6th grade scenario to illustrate. After the stimulation of lunchtime in the roar of the cafeteria, students frequently have difficulty regaining their focus. Instead of repeating an ineffective mantra, "Sit down and get quiet!" I might try this approach: "Students, please remain standing, your spine straight, next to your desk. Bend your right leg at the knee and place your foot against your thigh. Now practice your balance by raising your arms into the air. Now we're each a graceful tree (Vrkasana) with our branches swaying in the breeze." After repeating the balancing pose on the right leg, the students' classroom poise has returned and we're ready to work.
Here are a few tried and proven academic and behavioral management techniques. Keep in mind that any of these may be changed to suit the students' age, grade and skill level.
A brainstorming activity that I've successfully used with all grade levels is a guided meditation. The classroom purpose is to provide an introductory means of getting in touch with sensory images in order to add details to student writing. Through this technique, students can mentally see, hear, touch, and smell the details of a setting. With classroom light off, I instruct students to sit with their backs upright, hands softly folded in their laps. After allowing a few moments for the breathing to calm, I ask students to mentally go to their favorite locale in nature…the beach, the mountains, a creek side. "Look around. Make a mental note of everything you see. The sky, the waves, the trees. Next listen mentally to the sounds that are part of your environment. Seagulls cawing, waves crashing, branches crackling underfoot. Now let's get in touch with surroundings. Feel the warmth of the sun or the chill in the air on your skin. Can you touch the softness of a flower's petal? Or the ridges of a seashell? Now turn your sensory awareness to the smells in your environment. Do you notice the ocean salt smell or perhaps the fragrance of new-mown hay? Kneel down to take in the delicate aroma of a wildflower." As we unhurriedly go through each sense, I allow moments of silence to pass to give students the opportunity to explore their mental surroundings. To take more time would invite the mind to wander.
After spending 10 - 15 minutes on this activity, the students are relaxed, filled with sensory images, and ready to put their descriptive ideas on paper. I next instruct the students to descriptively write about the place they mentally visited, focusing on the sensory details. My favorite feedback after this activity is, "When can we do this again?"
To settle a class after a fire drill or other disruptive event, I might ask students to stand in mountain pose (Tadasana) with feet around 8 inches apart, hands comfortably at the side of the legs, and a soft gaze forward. A minute of this pose slows and calms the heartbeat and helps bring the mind into focus.
Through practicing yoga I've experienced an increase in flexibility and endurance, a calmness of mind and spirit, and sense of harmony with my universe. Yoga in my classroom becomes another teacher tool and a way of sharing the benefits. And besides, who can resist a giggle at the sight of the teacher pointing at the chalkboard using warrior pose (Virabhadrasana2)!
Contributed by Sandra Bell

Dr. Muhammad Ayub
Olympia, Washington

www.olyyoga.com

Important Meditation to share with buddies - Forgiveness Meditation

2008-03-31T14:21:00.000-07:00

Forgiveness Meditation
Sit in a comfortable seated position and let your body calm and breathe its self.
We may wish that certain people in our lives would change, that they would perhaps apologize for something they said or did, or that they would do something to make it right.
In truth, it doesn’t really matter whether they respond – or how – for we are the ones who hold the key to healing the situation. For even if they DID apologize or correct their actions, we would still have to be willing to FORGIVE them.
So….we no longer wait for others to be responsible for creating the peace that we want to experience in our own hearts. We begin the process by releasing our expectations for others’ behavior. We extend compassion t them, as we would want compassion extended to us. As the Golden Rule states, “In everything do unto others as you would have them do unto you….”
So take a few moments now to practice forgiveness. Choose now one person in your life that has wronged your or caused you pain – someone to forgive. It might even be your self.
Allow yourself now to fully & completely accept them where and as they are.
Affirm to yourself: “As I forgive others, I experience greater peace within myself.”
Experience now the peace that comes with forgiveness.

Contributed by Mary Oppermann —Yoga Hmmm Teacher

Dr. Muhammad Ayub
Olympia, Washington.

www.olyyoga.com

Yoga meditation prayer to share- so beautiful - An Introduction Metta/Loving-kindness Meditation Practice

2008-03-31T14:19:00.000-07:00

An Introduction Metta/Loving-kindness Meditation Practice
While this beautiful practice originated in the Theravadin Buddhist tradition, it has migrated to many faiths, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and beyond. In addition to the author below, we'd like thank C. Nunnally and L. Gillan for their insights into its meaning, practice and power.
The practice may be done alone at the beginning of the day to set a marvelous tone or prior to your own regular meditation/reflective practice.
Namaste
Adapted from "Mindfulness in Plain English" by Henepola Gunaratana
Metta (Loving-kindness) Practice
May I be happy,May I be peaceful,May I be free from suffering.May no harm come to me,May no problems come to me,May no difficulties come to me,May I always meet with success.May I have the wisdom, courage and understandingTo meet and overcome the inevitable difficulties in life.
May my family……(call to mind family members, or one family member specifically)be happy, be peaceful, and be free from suffering.May no harm come to them (him) (her),May no problems come to them (him) (her),May no difficulties come to them (him) (her),May they (he) (she) always meet with success.May they (he) (she) have the wisdom, courage and understandingTo meet and overcome the inevitable difficulties in life.
May my teachers…(call to mind your teachers, or one teacher specifically)be happy, be peaceful, and be free from suffering.May no harm come to them (him) (her),May no problems come to them (him) (her),May no difficulties come to them (him) (her),May they (he) (she) always meet with success.May they (he) (she) have the wisdom, courage and understandingTo meet and overcome the inevitable difficulties in life.
May my friends…(call to mind your friends, or one friend specifically)be happy, be peaceful, and be free from suffering.May no harm come to them (him) (her),May no problems come to them (him) (her),May no difficulties come to them (him) (her),May they (he) (she) always meet with success.May they (he) (she) have the wisdom, courage and understandingTo meet and overcome the inevitable difficulties in life.
May my enemies…(call to mind your enemies, one enemy specifically, or can be used as relates to our city, state or nation)be happy, be peaceful, and be free from suffering.May no harm come to them (him) (her),May no problems come to them (him) (her),May no difficulties come to them (him) (her),May they (he) (she) always meet with success.May they (he) (she) have the wisdom, courage and understandingTo meet and overcome the inevitable difficulties in life.
May all sentient beings, seen and unseen, born and to be bornbe happy, be peaceful, and be free from suffering.May no harm come to them,May no problems come to them,May no difficulties come to them,May they always meet with success.May they have the wisdom, courage and understandingTo meet and overcome the inevitable difficulties in life.
End

Dr. Muhammad Ayub
cell - 360-539-8025

www.olyyoga.com

Camp Quixote - "FEED THE HUNGRY" PROJECT

2007-12-06T13:55:00.001-08:00

Muslims meet and befriend Unitarians

2007-12-06T13:54:00.000-08:00

Protect yourself from the bad virus going around - The Flu and Colds: Tips on Feeling Better

2007-09-26T02:50:00.000-07:00

The Flu and Colds: Tips on Feeling Better

How can I tell if I have a cold or the flu?

A cold and the flu cause many of the same symptoms. But a cold is generally mild, while the flu tends to be more severe.

A cold often starts with feeling tired, sneezing, coughing and having a runny nose. You may not have a fever or you may run a low fever--just 1 or 2 degrees higher than usual. You may also have muscle aches, a scratchy or sore throat, watery eyes and a headache.

The flu starts suddenly and hits hard. You'll probably feel weak and tired, and have a fever, dry cough, a runny nose, chills, muscle aches, severe headache, eye pain and a sore throat. It usually takes longer to get over the flu than a cold.

Get tips for preventing the flu.

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What causes colds and the flu?

Viruses. Over 100 different viruses can cause colds. There aren't as many viruses that cause the flu. That's why there's a shot for the flu and not for colds.

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What can I do to feel better?

There's no cure for a cold or the flu. Antibiotics don't work against viruses. All you can do to feel better is treat your symptoms while your body fights off the virus (see the box below).

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Ways to treat your cold/flu symptoms

Stay home and rest, especially while you have a fever.
Stop smoking and avoid secondhand smoke, which can make cold symptoms worse.
Drink plenty of fluids like water, fruit juices and clear soups. Fluids help loosen mucus. Fluids are also important if you have a fever because fever can dry up your body's fluids, which can lead to dehydration.
Don't drink alcohol.
Gargle with warm salt water a few times a day to relieve a sore throat. Throat sprays or lozenges may also help relieve the pain.
Use saline (salt water) nose drops to help loosen mucus and moisten the tender skin in your nose.

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Should I take medicine for a cold or the flu?

No medicine can cure a cold or the flu. Medicine can, however, help relieve some of your cold or flu symptoms. Check with your doctor before giving any medicine to children.

Many cold/flu products are available without a prescription. See the box below for a guide to the common ingredients in these products.

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What's in over-the-counter cold/flu medicines?

The ingredients listed below are found in many cold/flu medicines. Read labels carefully. If you have questions, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Analgesics relieve aches and pains and reduce fever. Examples: acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, naproxen. Warning: Children and teenagers shouldn't be given aspirin.
Antitussives tell your brain to stop coughing. Don't take an antitussive if you're coughing up mucus. Example: dextromethorphan.
Expectorants help thin mucus so it can be coughed up more easily. Example: guaifenesin.
Oral decongestants shrink the nasal passages and reduce congestion. Examples: ephedrine, pseudoephedrine.

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What about prescription medicines for the flu?

Some prescription medicines can relieve flu symptoms. These medicines may help reduce the severity of symptoms if they are started soon after you begin to get sick.

These medicines come as pills or as an inhaler. The inhaled type may cause problems for some people with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

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Should I call my doctor?

In most cases, you don't need to see your doctor when you have a cold or the flu. However, if you have any of the symptoms in the box below, call your doctor.

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Emergency Cold/Flu Symptoms:

In children:

High (above 102 F) or prolonged fever
A cold that lasts for more than 10 days
Trouble breathing, fast breathing or wheezing
Bluish skin color
Not drinking enough fluids
Earache or drainage from the ear
Changes in mental state (such as not waking up, irritability or seizures)
Flu-like symptoms that improve, but return with a fever and a worse cough
Worsening of chronic medical condition (such as diabetes or heart disease)

In adults:

High (above 102 F) or prolonged fever
A cold that lasts for more than 10 days
Trouble breathing or shortness of breath
Pain or pressure in the chest
Fainting or feeling like you are about to faint
Confusion or disorientation
Severe or persistent vomiting
Severe pain in your face or forehead
Hoarseness, sore throat or a cough that won't go away

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Written by familydoctor.org editorial staff.

Source

American Academy of Family Physicians

--
With best wishes and respect,

Muhammad Ayub, MD MPH

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Common Cold

From the sniffles and sneezes to a sore throat and annoying cough, the common cold usually catches up with us at one time or another. With kids getting as many as eight colds per year or more, this contagious viral infection of the upper respiratory tract is the most common infectious disease in the United States and the number-one reason children visit the doctor and stay home from school.

Causes

Most colds are caused by rhinoviruses (the name comes from "rhin," the Greek word for nose) that are in invisible droplets in the air we breathe or on things we touch. More than 100 different rhinoviruses can infiltrate the protective lining of the nose and throat, triggering an immune system reaction that can make your child's throat sore, his or her head ache, and can make it hard for your child to breathe through the nose.

Air that's dry - indoors or out - can lower your child's resistance to infection by the viruses that cause colds. And so can being a smoker or being around someone who's smoking. People who smoke are more likely to catch a cold than people who don't - and their symptoms will probably be worse, last longer, and are more likely to lead to bronchitis or even pneumonia.

But despite what old wives' tales may have you believe, not wearing a jacket or sweater when it's chilly, sitting or sleeping in a draft, and going outside while your hair's wet do not cause colds.

Signs and Symptoms

The first symptoms of a cold are often a tickle in the throat, a runny or stuffy nose, and sneezing. Kids with colds may also have a sore throat, cough, headache, mild fever, fatigue, muscle aches, and loss of appetite. The discharge from your child's nose may change from watery to thick yellow or green.

Contagiousness

Colds are most contagious during the first 2 to 4 days after symptoms appear, and may be contagious for up to 3 weeks. Your can catch a cold from person-to-person contact or by breathing in virus particles that are spread through the air by sneezing or coughing. Touching the mouth or nose after touching skin or another surface contaminated with a rhinovirus can also spread a cold.

Prevention

Because so many viruses cause them, there isn't a vaccine that can protect against catching colds. But to help prevent them, kids should:

try to steer clear of anyone who smokes or who has a cold. Virus particles can travel up to 12 feet (3.7 meters) through the air when someone with a cold coughs or sneezes, and even secondhand smoke can make your child more likely to get sick.
wash their hands thoroughly and frequently, especially after blowing their noses.
cover their noses and mouths when coughing or sneezing.
not use the same towels or eating utensils as someone who has a cold. They also shouldn't drink from the same glass, can, or bottle as anyone else - you never know who might be about to come down with a cold and is already spreading the virus.
not pick up other people's used tissues

Researchers aren't sure whether taking extra zinc or vitamin C can limit how long cold symptoms last or how severe they become, but large doses taken every day can cause negative side effects. The results of most studies on the value of herbal remedies, such as echinacea, are either negative or inconclusive, and few properly designed scientific studies of these treatments have been done in children. Talk to your child's doctor before you decide to give your child any herbal remedy or more than the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of any vitamin or supplement.

Duration

Cold symptoms usually appear 2 or 3 days after exposure to a source of infection. Most colds clear up within 1 week, but some last for as long as 2 weeks.

Treatment

"Time cures all." That may not always be true, but in the case of the common cold, it's pretty close. Medicine can't cure the common cold, but it can be used to relieve such symptoms as muscle aches, headache, and fever. You can give your child acetaminophen or ibuprofen based on the package recommendations for age or weight.

However, aspirin should never be given to children younger than 12, and all children and teens under age 19 should avoid aspirin during viral illnesses. Use of aspirin by kids or teens with colds or other viral illness may increase the risk of developing Reye syndrome, a rare but serious condition that can be fatal.

Although you may be tempted to give your child over-the-counter (OTC) decongestants and antihistamines to try to ease the cold symptoms, there's little or no evidence to support that they actually work. In fact, decongestants can cause hallucinations, irritability, and irregular heartbeats in infants and shouldn't be used in children younger than 2 without first consulting a doctor.

Some ways you can help ease cold discomfort include:

saltwater drops in the nostrils to relieve nasal congestion (you can buy these - also called saline nose drops - at any pharmacy)
a cool-mist humidifier to increase air moisture
petroleum jelly on the skin under the nose to soothe rawness
hard candy or cough drops to relieve sore throat (for kids older than 3 years)
a warm bath or heating pad to soothe aches and pains
steam from a hot shower to help your child breathe more easily

But what about chicken soup? There's no real proof that eating this soothing, warm concoction can cure a cold, but sick people have been swearing by it for more than 800 years. Why? Chicken soup contains a mucus-thinning amino acid called cysteine, and some research shows that chicken soup helps control congestion-causing white cells, called neutrophils.

The best plan, though, is not to worry about whether to "feed a cold" or "starve a fever." Just make sure your child eats when hungry and drinks plenty of fluids like water or juice to help replace the fluids lost during fever or mucus production. Avoid giving your child caffeinated beverages, though, which can cause frequent urination and, therefore, increase the risk of dehydration.

When to Call Your Child's Doctor

Your child's doctor won't be able to identify which specific virus is causing your child's cold symptoms, but can examine your child's throat and ears and take a throat culture to make sure the symptoms aren't from another condition that may need specific treatment. (If your child's symptoms get worse instead of better after 3 days or so, the problem could be strep throat, sinusitis, pneumonia, or bronchitis, especially if your child or teen smokes.) Taking a throat culture is a simple, painless procedure that involves brushing the inside of the throat with a long cotton swab. Examining the germs that stick to the swab will help the doctor determine whether your child has strep throat and needs treatment with antibiotics.

If symptoms last for more than a week, appear at the same time every year, or occur when your child is exposed to pollen, dust, animals, or another substance, your child could have an allergy. If your child has trouble breathing or wheezes when he or she catches a cold, your child could have asthma.

You should also see your child's doctor if you think your child might have more than a cold, or if he or she is getting worse instead of getting better.

Also call the doctor if your child has any of these symptoms:

coughing up a lot of mucus
shortness of breath
unusual lethargy/tiredness
inability to keep food or liquids down or poor fluid intake
increasing headache or facial or throat pain
severely painful sore throat that interferes with swallowing
fever of 103 degrees Fahrenheit (39.3 degrees Celsius) or higher, or a fever of 101 degrees Fahrenheit (38.0 degrees Celsius) or higher that lasts for more than a day
chest or stomach pain
swollen glands (lymph nodes) in the neck
earache

Like most virus infections, colds just have to run their course. Getting plenty of rest, avoiding vigorous activity, and drinking lots of fluids - juice, water, and noncaffeinated beverages - all may help your child feel better while on the mend.

Keeping up regular activities like going to school probably won't make your child's cold any worse. But it will increase the likelihood that the cold will spread to classmates or friends. So you might want to put some daily routines aside until your child is feeling better.

Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD

Runny Nose in Children

What causes a runny nose during a cold?

A runny nose usually starts when a cold is starting to get better. When the cold virus first infects the nose and sinuses, the nose starts making lots of clear mucus. This mucus helps wash the virus out of the nose and sinuses. After 2 or 3 days, as the body fights back, the mucus changes to a white or yellow color. As the bacteria that usually live in the nose grow back, they change the mucus to a greenish color. This is normal. It doesn't mean your child has an infection that needs to be treated with medicines like antibiotics.

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Does a runny nose need to be treated?

No. Runny nose, cough, fever, headache and muscle aches may bother your child during a cold, but medicine won't make them go away faster. Using a cool mist vaporizer or giving your child an over-the-counter decongestant medicine may help. Check with your doctor to see which medicines are okay to use.

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Why not take antibiotics?

Taking antibiotics that your body doesn't really need can be harmful. After each antibiotic, your child is more likely to have resistant germs in his or her nose. If your child gets infected again, it's more likely to be with these resistant germs. Resistant germs aren't killed by the usual antibiotics. If your child gets infected with a resistant germ, it might be necessary to use more expensive and powerful antibiotics or even antibiotics that have to be given in the hospital. Since a runny nose generally gets better by itself, it's best to wait and take antibiotics only when necessary.

Chilling Out With Colds

You wake up in a cranky mood. Your head hurts. You don't have the energy to even get out of bed. And you can't breathe out of your nose. What's wrong? You have a cold!

Having a cold is the number-one reason kids visit the doctor and stay home from school. Kids get up to eight colds per year with each cold lasting an average of 5 to 7 days. Let's find out more about them.

What Is a Cold?

A cold is an infection of the upper respiratory system. This just means it affects the nose, throat, and ears. A cold virus gets inside your body and makes you sick. There are over 200 viruses that cause colds. The rhinovirus (say: rye-no-vye-rus) is the most common cold virus, but there are more than 200 viruses that cause colds. Because there are so many, there isn't a vaccination, or shot, to prevent you from getting colds.

Fortunately, your body already has the best cold cure - your immune system. The immune system defends your body against illness. White blood cells are the immune system's main warriors. They're your own private army working to help you feel better. Take that, cold viruses!

How Kids Catch Colds

Mucus (say: myoo-kus) is the wet, slimy stuff inside the nose. When someone sneezes or coughs, mucus drops float in the air. Breathing in these droplets can spread a cold from one person to another.

You can also catch a cold if you touch your eyes or nose after handling something with cold viruses on it. Video games, the doors at the mall, and your school desk are all hot spots for viruses. So be sure to wash your hands regularly.

Getting a cold works like space travel - the virus actually has docking points that stick to the inside of your nose - just like a small spaceship attaching to a mother ship! The virus takes over the cells lining the nose and begins creating more viruses.

White blood cells charge to the nose's rescue and cause cold symptoms, while also killing the virus that caused the cold. Runny noses and sneezing actually help to prevent viruses from invading other parts of your body.

You sneeze because your nerves detect the irritation in your nose and get the lungs to push a blast of air out through your nose and mouth. Your body can sneeze over 100 miles an hour (161 kilometers per hour) - faster than a car travels on the road, unless you're at a racetrack!

Cold Clues

Symptoms (say: simp-tumz) are signs or clues that tell doctors you're sick. Once you've been in contact with a cold virus, it takes 2 to 3 days for cold symptoms to begin. If you have some of the following symptoms, you probably have a cold:

low fever (100 to 101 degrees Fahrenheit or 37.2 to 37.8 degrees Celsius)
body chills
itchy or sore throat
sneezing, runny nose, and watery eyes
coughing
feeling tired and not hungry
congestion (when your nose is stuffy and it's hard to breathe)

Helping Kids Feel Better

Although medicine doesn't make colds go away faster, some medicines can help you feel better while you wait for your cold to go away. Don't take any medicine unless your parent or doctor gives it to you. They might suggest acetaminophen or ibuprofen, which helps aching heads and muscles.

Decongestants sometimes can make it easier to breathe by shrinking the swollen lining of the nose. Antihistamines (say: an-teye-his-tuh-meenz) dry up mucus and may help stop runny noses and sneezing.

Here are some other feel-better tips:

Bring on the heat. Hot drinks soothe coughs and sore throats while also clearing mucus. So eat (or drink) your chicken soup!
Get steamed up. A steamy shower helps stuffy or irritated noses. Or run a humidifier (a small, quiet machine that sprays fine cool mist in the air) to relieve your scratchy throat, stuffy nose, and itchy eyes. Humidifiers make room air moist, which loosens mucus.
Practice healthy habits. Your immune system will be ready to fight colds if you eat a balanced diet, get plenty of sleep, and keep your body fit through regular exercise.
Blow your horn. Blowing your nose is the best way to get rid of mucus.
Rest. Take a nap or go to bed a little earlier for a few nights.
De-stress. Kids who are stressed out feel worse when they have colds. Relax and use the time to read, listen to music, or watch a movie. In other words, chill out and you might prevent a cold!

Updated and reviewed by: Kevin P. Sheahan, MD

Types of OTC Medicines and How They Work

This information was developed as part of an educational program made possible by an unrestricted educational grant from McNeil Consumer & Specialty Pharmaceuticals.

In this section, you'll learn what you need to know to make wise choices about over-the-counter (OTC) medicines for you and your family. The following information has been adapted from the AAFP guide for physicians, "Appropriate Use of Common OTC Analgesics and Cough and Cold Medications."

What does OTC mean?

Do you know what's in the medicines you take?

Many OTC medicines contain the same ingredient found in prescription medicines. By combining your prescription medicine with an OTC medicine, you may be getting more than the recommended daily dose of the active ingredient. This medication chart can help you sort out what medicines have the same ingredient so you can avoid taking too much. If you have any questions, ask your pharmacist or family doctor.

A PDF version of this medication chart is available. Download PDF now (2 pages / 78 KB). About PDFs.

OTC is short for over-the-counter. These are medicines you can buy without a prescription from your doctor. Chances are, you've used OTC medicines many times to relieve pain and treat symptoms of the common cold, the flu, and allergies. In this section, you'll learn about four of the most common types of OTC products and how each works.

Pain Relievers

The OTC products that relieve your headache, fever, or muscle aches are not all the same. That's because the pain relievers you see in the aisles of your local drug store or pharmacy are either nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (called NSAIDs), which include aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen and ketoprofen, or acetaminophen. Each of these drugs has a different way of working:

Aspirin and NSAIDs relieve pain by stopping the production of prostaglandins, which are natural chemicals in the body. Prostaglandins irritate nerve endings, triggering the sensation of pain. Commonly used NSAIDs include:

Aspirin, the medicine in products such as Bayer and St. Joseph
Ibuprofen, the medicine in products such as Advil and Motrin IB
Naproxen, the medicine in products such as Aleve
Ketoprofen, the medicine in products such as Orudis KT

Acetaminophen relieves pain and reduces fever. We don't completely understand the way acetaminophen relieves pain. We do know that unlike aspirin and NSAIDs, which work in the skin, muscles, and joints, acetaminophen blocks painful sensation in the brain and the spinal cord.

Acetaminophen is in products such as Tylenol and Tempra.

Antihistamines

Antihistamines work by blocking the receptors that trigger itching, nasal irritation, sneezing, and mucus production. The three types of antihistamines are:

Diphenhydramine, the medicine in products such as Banophen, Benadryl Allergy, and Diphenhist
Brompheniramine, the medicine in products such as Dimetapp Allergy
Chlorpheniramine, the medicine in products such as Aller-Chlor, Chlo-Amine and Chlor-Trimeton Allergy

Decongestants

Decongestants work by narrowing blood vessels in the lining of the nose. As a result, less blood is able to flow through the nasal area, and swollen tissue inside the nose shrinks. Pseudoephedrine is the only decongestant used in OTC products.

Pseudoephedrine is in products such as Allermed, Genaphed and Sudafed.

Cough Medicines

Cough medicines are grouped into two types: antitussives and expectorants. Antitussives, or cough suppressants, block the cough reflex.

Dextromethorphan is a common antitussive and is in products such as Delsym, Drixoral, Pertussin CS, and Robitussin Pediatric.

Expectorants, on the other hand, are thought to thin mucus and make coughing more productive in clearing the mucus from the airway.

Guaifenesin is the only expectorant used in OTC products and is in products such as Guiatuss, Robitussin, and Tusibron.

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Timeline of Symptoms Associated with the Common Cold

There is no cure for the common cold. Medicine can only make your symptoms less bothersome until your body can fight off the virus. Medicine won't make your cold go away completely. The following are tips to help you feel better when you have a cold:

Stay home and rest, especially while you have a fever.
Don't smoke and avoid secondhand smoke.
Drink plenty of fluids like water, fruit juices and clear soups.
Don't drink alcohol.
Gargle with warm salt water a few times a day to relieve a sore throat. Throat sprays or lozenges may also help relieve the pain.
Use salt water (saline) nose drops to help loosen mucus and moisten the tender skin in your nose.

Many cold medicines are available over-the-counter (without a prescription from your doctor). If you decide to use an over-the-counter (OTC) medicine to treat your cold symptoms, consult the chart below.

Day	Symptoms	OTC Medicine
1	Fatigue, mild sore throat	Acetaminophen (some brand names: Panadol, Tempra, Tylenol) or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (ibuprofen [some brand names: Advil, Menadol, Motrin])
2	Runny nose	Antihistamine (diphenhydramine [some brand names: Benadryl Allergy, Banophen, Diphenhist], chlorpheniramine [some brand names: Aller-Chlor, Chlo-Amine, Chlor-Trimeton Allergy])
3	"Stopped up" nose	Decongestant (pseudoephedrine [some brand names: Allermed, Genaphed, Sudafed])
4	Dry cough	Antitussive (dextromethorphan [some brand names: Drixoral, Pertussin CS, Robitussin Pediatric])
5&6	Moist, productive cough	Expectorant (guiafenesin [some brand names: Guiatuss, Robitussin, Tusibron])
7	Voice "breaks" or disappears altogether	No medicine will help your voice come back sooner. Resting it is the only thing that will help.

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How to Read an OTC Drug Label

You don't need a prescription to buy OTC medicine. But like prescription drugs, OTC medicines can also cause unwanted and sometimes dangerous side effects. Before you buy an OTC medicine, it's important to read and thoroughly understand the information on the drug label. Use the following as a guide. If you have questions about a medicine, ask your pharmacist or family doctor.

Active Ingredient -- The active ingredient is the chemical compound in the medicine that works to relieve your symptoms. It is always the first item on the label. There may be more than one active ingredient in a product. The label will clearly show this.
Uses -- This section lists the symptoms the medicine is meant to treat. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must approve these uses. Uses are sometimes referred to as indications.
Warnings -- This safety information will tell you what other medicines, foods, or situations (such as driving) to avoid while taking this medicine.
Directions -- Information about how much medicine you should take and how often you should take it will be listed here.
Other Information -- Any other important information, such as how to store the product, will be listed here.
Inactive Ingredients -- An inactive ingredient is a chemical compound in the medicine that isn't meant to treat a symptom. Inactive ingredients can include preservatives, binding agents, and food coloring. This section is especially important for people who know they have allergies to food coloring or other chemicals.
Questions or Comments -- A toll-free number is provided to address any questions or comments you may have about the medicine.

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How to Get the Most from Your Medicine

OTC medicines can help you feel better. But if they are taken the wrong way, they can actually make you feel worse. To use OTC medicines correctly, follow the guidelines below.

Talk to your family doctor

If there is something you don't understand about a medicine you're taking or are planning to take, ask your doctor or pharmacist. If you still don't understand, ask him or her to explain things more clearly. If you are taking more than 1 medicine, be sure to ask how the medicines will work together in your body. Sometimes medicines cause problems when they are taken together (called a drug interaction).

Below is a list of questions you can ask your doctor to learn how to use each medicine correctly and safely:

What does the medicine do?
When and how should I take the medicine?
What are the possible side effects (reactions your body may have to the medicine)?
Will the medicine react to any other medicines, foods or drinks?
Should I avoid any activities while I'm taking the medicine?
How will I know if the medicine is working?

Know about the medicine you take

You should know the following things about each medicine you take:

Name (generic name and brand name)
Reason for taking it
How much to take and how often to take it
Possible side effects and what to do if you have them
How long to continue taking it
Special instructions (taking it at bedtime or with meals, etc.)

Know what to avoid while taking the medicine

Some foods can cause side effects, such as stomach upset, if you are taking medicine. Drinking alcohol is generally not a good idea while you are taking medicine. Some medicines cause reactions such as sun sensitivity (getting a sunburn or sun rash), so you may have to limit your outdoor activities or protect your skin from the sun.

Read the label to see what to avoid while you are taking an over-the-counter medicine. Follow the instructions just as you would with a prescription medicine. If you have questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Follow these dos and don'ts:

Do read the label carefully.
Do take your medicine exactly as your doctor tells you to.
Do make sure that each of your doctors (if you see more than one) has a list of all of the medicines you're taking.
Do make sure everyone you live with knows what medicine you're taking and when you're supposed to take it.
Don't combine prescription medicines and OTC medicines unless your doctor says it's OK.
Don't stop taking a medicine or change how much you take or how often you take it without first talking to your doctor.
Don't take someone else's medicine.
Don't use medicine after its expiration date.
Don't crush, break or chew tablets or capsules unless your doctor tells you to. Some medicines won't work right unless they are swallowed whole.

Understand generic vs. brand name

Just like foods, some medicines come in both brand names and generics. Generic medicines are generally cheaper. Compare the list of ingredients. If the generic has the same ingredients as the brand name, you may want to consider using it. But be careful: The generic may contain different amounts of certain medicines. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about which medicine to choose.

Follow these tips for choosing medicines

If you have questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Although it can seem overwhelming, take the time to look at all the choices.
Read the label carefully and note what symptoms the medicine will treat.
Look for a medicine that will treat only the symptoms you have. For example, if you only have a runny nose, don't pick a medicine that also treats coughs and headaches.
Note how much medicine you should take, and what side effects it may cause.
Note what medicines or foods you should not take with the medicine.
Check to see if the medicine causes problems for people with certain health problems (such as asthma or hypertension).

Know when to call your doctor

If you're taking an OTC medicine and it doesn't seem to be helping, call your doctor. Your sickness can get much worse if you wait too long to get treated by your doctor.

You should also call if you have side effects or any concerns about the medicine you're taking

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Potential Side Effects of OTC Medicines in Adults

While OTC medicines have a low risk of side effects when used occasionally by healthy adults, they can pose risks for very young children, the elderly, people with kidney problems, and people taking more than one medicine. These people have an increased risk of side effects when they take OTC medicines. Potential side effects are described below.

Aspirin and NSAIDs

The main side effect associated with aspirin and other NSAIDs is gastrointestinal (GI) problems. These problems can range from upset stomach to GI bleeding, a serious event that is more likely to occur in older people. The chances of experiencing GI problems from NSAIDs or aspirin increase the larger the dose you take and the longer you take them.

NSAIDs can cause a variety of side effects related to kidney function. These side effects range from reversible inflammation to permanent kidney damage.

Aspirin and NSAIDs may make high blood pressure worse or interfere with blood pressure medicines.

High doses of aspirin pose a risk of liver damage for people who have liver disease, juvenile arthritis, or rheumatic fever.

Acetaminophen

Although safe in the majority of users, long-term use of high doses of acetaminophen, especially in products that also contain caffeine (such as Excedrin) or codeine (such as Tylenol with Codeine), has been shown to cause a form of kidney disease called analgesic nephropathy. This serious condition may develop after years or decades of daily use.

Antihistamines

Antihistamines can cause sedation or drowsiness and, therefore, can significantly impair a person's ability to drive or operate machinery. The sedative effects of antihistamines may increase the risk of falling. Antihistamines can also cause temporary dry mouth or eyes.

Decongestants

Pseudoephedrine can temporarily cause nervousness, dizziness and sleeplessness. It can make you lose your appetite or retain urine. It can also cause heart palpitations, high blood pressure, or high blood sugar levels.

Cough Medicines

Codeine, when used as a cough suppressant, can temporarily cause nausea, sedation and constipation. Dextromethorphan, the medicine in Drixoral, Pertussin CS and Robitussin, has a lower risk of sedation and GI side effects. It can, however, cause feelings of confusion, agitation, nervousness, or irritability.

Drug-Drug Interactions

The body processes -- or metabolizes -- every drug differently. If drugs are used together, their metabolism and effect on the body can change. When this happens, the chance that you will have side effects for each drug may become greater.

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Alcohol and OTC Medicines

Pain Relievers

If you drink more than 1 alcoholic beverage per week and use NSAIDs, including aspirin, you may be at increased risk of GI bleeding. People who consume 3 or more alcoholic beverages each day should consult their physician before using any pain reliever.

Acetaminophen is much less likely than NSAIDs to be associated with GI problems, including bleeding. But to minimize the risk of serious liver injury, you should never take more than the recommended daily dose (4g per day).

Antihistamines, Decongestants, and Cough Medicines

The combination of OTC antihistamines and alcohol can increase drowsiness, especially in elderly people. In addition, alcohol makes the drowsiness, sedation and impaired motor skills associated with the cough suppressants dextromethorphan (in products such as Drixoral, Robitussin) and codeine worse.

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Special Groups

Some groups of people may be particularly liable to have the side effects associated with OTC products. The sections below include tips for using OTC medicines in the following special populations:

Children

When used properly, OTC medications pose little risk to children. However, children metabolize drugs differently than adults. You should know how OTC drugs will affect your children before you use them. Talk with your family doctor if you have any questions about giving your child OTC medicines.

Acetaminophen is generally considered the treatment of choice for children's pain relief.
Children who are allergic to aspirin are also likely to have problems using ibuprofen. Ibuprofen can make your child's asthma worse, for example.
Avoid using aspirin in children under the age of 18 because of the risk of Reye's syndrome (a drug reaction that can lead to permanent brain injury).
It's very easy to accidentally give too much of a decongestant to a young child. Use these medicines with extreme care, if at all, and talk with your doctor first.
Don't use cough suppressants that contain codeine in young children. Talk to your doctor before using other cough medicines.

It can be helpful for parents and other caregivers to keep track of the medicine a child is taking. One way to do that is with a medication log. Using a log can help avoid "double dosing" -- giving too much medicine or giving it too often. It can also provide important information to your family doctor if there is a problem.

A PDF version of the medication log is available. Download PDF now (1 page / 15 KB). About PDFs.

Medicine and Your Child: How to give the right dose

Here are some tips on giving the right dose:

When your doctor says to give the medicine "every 6 hours" that generally means the medicine is taken 4 times a day (for example, at breakfast, lunch, supper and bed time). It doesn't generally mean to wake the child up in the night to take medicine. And "take every 8 hours" generally means the medicine should be taken 3 times a day.
Pay close attention to the dosage given on the label. Labels for liquid medicines give measurements in both teaspoons (tsp) and in milliliters (mL). Your pharmacist can give you a measuring device -- a spoon that's made especially for measuring medicine, a syringe or a cup -- that's labeled with both tsp and mL. Your pharmacist should also show you how to use it. One tsp is not the same as 1 mL -- read the label carefully and make sure you give the right amount of medicine to your child. An ordinary kitchen teaspoon may not hold the right amount of medicine.
Measure the medicine carefully. If you're using a measuring cup, set it on a level surface such as a countertop and then pour the medicine in it.
"If a little medicine is good, a lot is better (or will work quicker)" is wrong. Giving too much medicine can be harmful. Be sure you only give the recommended dose of each medicine.
If you use a syringe-type measuring device to give liquid medicine to your child, first throw away the small cap of the syringe. Children can choke on these caps.
If your child has a bad reaction to a medicine or is allergic to a medicine, tell your doctor right away. Also, keep a record of the following information at home: the name of the medicine, the dosage directions, the illness the medicine was used for and the side effects the medicine caused.

Older Adults

The elderly use a number of medications at the same time and therefore need to pay careful attention to drug-drug interactions between OTC medications and prescription medications. See the drug-to-drug interaction chart. (PDF file: 3 pages/ 32 KB; More information about PDF files). Older adults talk with their doctor about the medications they take and potential interactions with OTC medicines.

There is a relatively high risk of kidney disease and GI bleeding in elderly patients who use NSAIDs. Discuss this risk with your family doctor.
Pseudoephedrine can increase blood pressure and the pressure in your eye that can lead to glaucoma. It can also make existing blockages in the urinary tract worse. Pseudoephedrine interacts negatively with many other drugs such as beta-blockers, antidepressants, insulin, and some medications that treat low blood sugar.
If you use a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), a type of prescription antidepressant, or take any medication for a seizure disorder, you should avoid using pseudoephedrine. Pseudoephedrine can change the way these drugs work in your system. Some common MAOIs include Marplan (generic: isocarboxazid), Nardil (generic: phenelzine sulfate) and Parnate (generic: tranylcypromine sulfate).
If you use a MAOI, you should not use dextromethorphan. Dextromethorphan interferes with the way MAOIs work.

Pregnant or Breastfeeding Women

Pregnant or breastfeeding women should talk with their doctor before using any medicine. Some can affect your baby. The following are some general guidelines.

Pregnancy

Acetaminophen is generally considered safe for short-term pain relief during pregnancy.
Avoid using aspirin during pregnancy. It can cause abnormalities in the baby or problems during delivery.
Avoid using other NSAIDs, especially during the third trimester of pregnancy. They can cause heart abnormalities in the baby.

Breastfeeding

Acetaminophen and NSAIDs such as ibuprofen provide safe pain relief for women who are breastfeeding.
Avoid using aspirin because is excreted in breast milk and can cause rashes and bleeding problems in nursing infants.
Limit long-term use of antihistamines. Antihistamines are excreted in breast milk, and may cause side effects such as sedation, irritability, crying, and sleep disturbances in nursing infants. Antihistamines may also interfere with the production of milk.

General Tips

These steps can help minimize the risk of side effects during pregnancy and breastfeeding:

Talk to your doctor about possible alternatives to medicine.
Avoid the use of medications during the first trimester.
Take oral medications after nursing or before the infant's longest sleep period.
Avoid the use of extra-strength, maximum-strength, or long-acting medications.
Avoid "combination" products.
Watch your infant for possible side effects, such as a rash, difficulty breathing, headache or other symptoms that your child didn't have before taking the medicine.

Other Groups

People with health problems such as kidney disease, heart disease, diabetes, asthma, blood clotting disorders, or gout may be at increased risk of side effects associated with OTC medicines.

The chart contains detailed information on use of OTC pain relievers in patients with these and other medical conditions.

Return to top

Bibliography

Montauk SL, Rheinstein PH. Appropriate Use of Common OTC Analgesics and Cough and Cold Medications. American Family Physician Monograph. Leawood, KS: American Academy of Family Physicians, 2002. Available at www.aafp.org/afp/otcmonograph.
OTC Labeling Questions and Answers. FDA Web Site. Available at: www.fda.gov/cder/otc/label/quesanswers.htm. Accessed February 27, 2002.
Aspirin PI (RxList). Available at www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/asa_wcp.htm . Accessed: March 18, 2002.
Dextromethorphan drug information. Available at www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a682492.html. Accessed: October 20, 2003.
Diphenhydramine PI (RxList). www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/dihydram_wcp.htm. Accessed: March 18, 2002.
Guaifenesin PI (RxList). www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic2/guaifen_wcp.htm . Accessed: March 18, 2002.
Ibuprofen PI (RxList). www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/ibup_wcp.htm. Accessed: March 18, 2002.
Naproxen sodium PI (RxList). www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/naproxsod_wcp.htm. Accessed: March 18, 2002.

Note: by clicking these links you will be leaving the AAFP Web site familydoctor.org. These links are provided as a service. Links are neither a guarantee nor an endorsement by the AAFP of the products or services offered on other Web sites. The AAFP is not responsible for the content on other Web sites.

Ummah Films - Pursuit of Cleanliness

2007-05-28T01:05:00.001-07:00

Cindy Corrie Adds Voice to Call to Action - JUNE 11-12 WA DC

2007-05-28T01:02:00.000-07:00

Heal the World -

2007-04-16T13:11:00.000-07:00

Challenging Ignorance on Islam: a Ten-Point Primer for Americans

2007-03-31T19:30:00.001-07:00

Challenging Ignorance on Islam: a Ten-Point Primer for Americans

by Gary Leupp

"We should invade [Muslim] countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity."

Columnist Ann Coulter,

National Review Online, Sept. 13, 2001

"Just turn [the sheriff] loose and have him arrest every Muslim that crosses the state line."

Rep. C. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA),

chairman of the House Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland security and Senate candidate, to Georgia law officers, November 2001

"Islam is a religion in which God requires you to send your son to die for him. Christianity is a faith where God sent his Son to die for you."

Attorney General John Ashcroft,

interview on Cal Thomas radio, November 2001

"(Islam) is a very evil and wicked religion wicked, violent and not of the same god (as Christianity)."

Rev. Franklin Graham, head of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, November 2001.

"Islam is Evil,Christ is King."

Allegedly written in marker by law enforcement agents on a Muslim prayer calendar in the home of a Muslim being investigated by police in Dearborn, Michigan, July 2002.

People with power and influence in the U.S. have been saying some very stupid things about Islam and about Muslims since September 11. Some of it is rooted in conscious malice, and ethnic prejudice that spills over into religious bigotry. But some is rooted in sheer historical and geographical ignorance. This is a country, after all, in which only a small minority of high school students can readily locate Afghanistan on the map, or are aware that Iranians and Pakistanis are not Arabs. As an educator, in Asian Studies, at a fairly elite university, I am painfully aware of this ignorance. But I realize it serves a purpose. It is highly useful to a power structure that banks on knee-jerk popular support whenever it embarks on a new military venture, at some far-off venue, on false pretexts immediately discernable to the better educated, but lost on the general public. The generally malleable mainstream press takes care of the rest.

I don't mean to suggest that the academic cognosenti, as a "class," habitually counter this ignorance and protest the imperialist interventions that Washington routinely undertakes. Some of them may indeed support the venture, cynically asserting that the advertised pretext fulfills some sort of valid function, regardless of the lies and distortions that surround it. (I think of the depiction in the media of the "Rambouillet Accords" concerning Yugoslavia in 1999 as "the will of the international community," when one Contact Group member, Russia, rejected the U.S.-dictated plan for Kosovo outright, and several European states only signed on after their arms were twisted nearly out of their sockets. I think of the calculated, extreme exaggeration of the number of Kosovar victims of Serbian forces as the bombing of Yugoslavia began. The lies surrounding that bombing were obvious to anyone studying the situation, but even some rather progressive academics were all for "Operation Allied Force.") American academe is---unfortunately--- whatever its right-wing critics may contend, not particularly left or anti-imperialist. In any case, such ignorance is not just a national embarrassment; it's really dangerous. Raw material for a made-in-USA version of fascism.

To understand the contemporary world, we all need to know something about Islam-beyond the inane contribution of the Attorney General cited above. So I have prepared this little primer on Islam for Americans (suitable for ages 13 and above, so appropriate for high school use), dealing not with its theology so much as its general character as an important force in the world, presently encountering unprecedented, unprincipled attack from various quarters. (Oh, and by the way, I'm not a Muslim, but what those on the Christian right revile as a "secular humanist.")

1. Islam has been around for approximately 1400 years. Established on the west coast of Arabia 900 years before European settlement in America, and spreading rapidly throughout Southwest Asia and North Africa soon thereafter, it was not designed as an anti-U.S. movement!

The basic teachings or requirements of Islam are not difficult to grasp. They constitute the "Five Pillars of Islam": (1) profession that there is no God but God ("Allah," in Arabic), and his Prophet (the last of the prophets, the "seal of the prophets") is Muhammad; (2) daily prayer; (3) fasting during the month of Ramadan; (4) charity; and (5) the pilgrimage to Mecca. Whatever you may think of this package, it's not terribly threatening to the non-Muslim.

2. Islam's teachings are contained in a fairly compact book, the Qur'an, which Muslims believe was dictated to the Prophet Muhammad by the archangel Gabriel. They believe of it precisely what Jews and Christians believe of their scriptures: that is, it's the Word of God. This book, like the Bible, demands belief in monotheism; refers to Adam, Noah, Abraham, Jesus, etc. (far more space is given to Mary, mother of Jesus, in the Qur'an than in the New Testament); has a substantial legalistic component reminiscent of the Old Testament Book of Leviticus, and poetic content as beautifully uplifting as the Book of Psalms. For religious and secular scholars alike, it is absolutely clear that Islam stems from the Judeo-Christian tradition. Indeed, we should think in terms of the "Judeo-Christian-Islamic tradition."

(Some fundamentalist Christians, of course, see Islam as the work of Satan, and medieval Christians in Europe saw it as a heresy rather than as "paganism. The point is---for better or worse---Muslims have a whole lot more in common with the dominant religious trends in the U.S. than do, say, Buddhists or Hindus.)

3. Muslims are about 20% of the world's population; Christians, about 30%. (The U.S. Muslim population is estimated between 5 and 8 million; U.S. Jews between 5 and 6 million). The global Jewish population is statistically quite small, so one can say the Judeo-Christian-Islamic population is roughly half the world's total. The consequences of a protracted religious war, pitting Christians and Jews against Muslims, are highly unpleasant to consider.

4. The Qur'an depicts Jews and Christians as "People of the Book," meaning that they have their own scriptures bestowed upon them by God (Allah is simply the Arabic world for God, related to the Hebrew Elohim; we should see it as analogous to the German word Gott, the French Dieu, or the Spanish Dios. It's not the personal name of a deity within a pantheon, like Thor, Aphrodite or Siva.)

Muslim scripture counsels respect for these communities, and indeed, in the history of Islam, within Islamic societies Jews and Christians have fared FAR better than non-Christians in Christendom. Muslims ruled all or part of Spain from around 800 to the late 15th century, when Columbus' great patrons, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella "drove the Moors (Muslims) out of Spain," forced everybody to embrace Catholic Christianity (or be killed), and promoted the exquisite Christian tortures of the Inquisition. Under Muslim rule, Christian and Jewish communities generally flourished from Spain to Iraq. On the other hand, until recent times, Christian intolerance prevailed throughout Europe.

5. The Qu'ran does NOT call upon Muslims to KILL all non-Muslims. It calls for the destruction of "infidels," meaning principally Arabs who, during the time of Muhammad, practiced idolatry and polytheism. Again: this is a seventh-century book, produced in a specific historical context! It, and the Muslim religion, should be studied and understood objectively, dispassionately. Islam emerged very quickly, and within decades united under its banner-the banner of monotheism---the various tribes of Arabia. Its violent rejection of idolatry, however offensive to the modern, secular, humanist mind, is hardly unique. It can be compared to the ferocious suppression in Christian Europe of paganism (often associated with witchcraft).

And for perspective, while the Qu'ran does call for the extermination of "infidels," the Old Testament is replete with its own exhortations to genocide. According to the Biblical narrative (of dubious historicity, but believed by hundreds of millions), the Hebrews under Joshua's leadership, invading Canaan from Egypt, killed twelve thousand "men and women together" in the town of Ai-because God wanted them to (Joshua 8:25). The Hebrews put all the people of Hazor to the sword (they "wiped them all out; they did not leave one living soul." Judges 11:14). The poetics of hatred are as conspicuous in the Bible as in the Qu'ran. A personal favorite of mine, from Psalm 137, refers to the Babylonians: "A blessing on him who takes and dashes your babies against the rock!" Such references are characteristic of Judeo-Christian-Islamic literature, and are best examined in historical perspective.

6. Islamic "fundamentalism" is not a species apart from other fundamentalisms, including the Christian, Jewish, and Hindu varieties. They are all anti-modern, anti-science, anti-intellectual, rarely harmless and potentially (if not necessarily) fascistic. They demand belief in received dogma, inscribed in texts, rather than open-ended scientific inquiry. They either legitimate the existing order, or call for a return to a past social order in which class and gender relations were properly sorted out in line with the Divine Will.

Some (including non-religious people in or from Muslim countries) criticize Islam (appropriately, in my view) for what they consider backward and reactionary features. This is not the place to deal with such criticisms, nor am I the right person to do it. I will merely observe what many others have observed: Christendom underwent the Enlightenment-an evolution towards secularism, rationalism, and scientific thought in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries-which the Islamic world, in general, has not yet experienced. To become "modern" (more specifically, to become capitalist), the West had to become more ideologically tolerant (i.e., less religious), and allow a freer market in ideas than had been possible when the Church monopolized learning. If mullahs monopolize education in much of the Muslim world, they serve a function identical with that of Europe's medieval Catholic clergy.

But our own Enlightenment is not irreversible. Top U.S. officials reject the theory of evolution in favor of the ludicrous "theory" of "creationism,"and seek to criminalize abortion on the grounds that a fetus is a human being created by God. Recent changes in U.S. law (allowing the use of vouchers to support religious schools at taxpayer's expense), and the failure of the courts to prosecute behavior which plainly violates the constitutional separation of church and state, demonstrate that medieval thinking and fundamentalism retain a strong hold in sections of U.S. society, and are well represented in the Bush administration. The American people are, I submit, far more threatened by Christian fundamentalism than its Islamic counterpart. And for a Pentecostalist Christian like John Ashcroft, who believes every word of the Bible literally, to inveigh against Islam (as he has) is (to use the English proverb) the "pot calling the kettle black."

7. Islamic fundamentalism (or what some, including CNN Moneyline's Lou Dobbs calls "Islamism," meaning a specifically political Islam) has NOT, historically, posed a great threat to Western interests (by which I mean corporate, oil, and geopolitical interests) but rather been exploited to SERVE those interests. Remember Lawrence of Arabia? What was his objective other than to forge a British alliance with the Hashemites, who would certainly qualify as "Islamists" by Lou Dobb's standards, during World War I? Later, the British boosted the Saudi royal family (patrons of the Wahhabi school of Islam, usually described as among the most conservative, embraced by Osama bin Laden as well as the Saudis in general) into power. The U.S. inherited Saudi Arabia as a client state after World War II, and we all know how well U.S. oil companies have done there ever since. (Aramco alone, prior to its nationalization in the mid-1980s, yielded some $ 3 trillion from the Arabian reserves.)

The U.S. helped create, recruit, and finance the fundamentalist Mujahadeen, including some 30,000 young volunteers who came from throughout the Muslim world to fight "godless Communism" in Afghanistan in the 1980s. The U.S. encouraged them to view their war as a jihad (in the sense of a "Holy War," a meaning the term usually does NOT carry), and put many in contact with young Osama bin Laden, then an ally. The Reagan administration was in love with fundamentalist Islam, so long as it served its purposes.

The California-based company Unocal was cordially negotiating right up to Sept. 11 with Afghanistan's Taliban for an oil pipeline through Afghan territory, State Department official and oilman Zalmay Khalilzad was arguing up through 1998 that the Taliban were friendly, potential business partners who did "not practice the anti-U.S. style of fundamentalism practiced in Iran."

8. Muslims of the world have many thoroughly LEGITIMATE reasons to resent U.S. policy. Nearly absolute support for the settler state of Israel in its relationship with the indigenous Palestinian people. Imposition of brutal sanctions on Iraq, contrary to logic and morality. Maintenance of bases throughout the Persian Gulf, in defiance of local sensibilities and interests. Support for brutal regimes, including that of the Shah of Iran and that of Indonesia's Suharto (who unquestionably has more blood on his hands than even that arch-villain and former U.S. buddy Saddam Hussein).

9. Muslims typically DO NOT hate the U.S. as an abstract concept, reject U.S. culture in toto, or seek the destruction of American civilization. Many are, indeed, uncomfortable with some aspects of American behavior, as are most people in the world, from Central America to Japan. But a Zogby International poll, released June 11 of this year, shows that in nine Muslim countries, including Bangladesh and Malaysia, the most admired foreign country is the U.S.

10. Muslims and Jews in Palestine/Israel have NOT always hated one another, and the current Middle East conflict does NOT go back many centuries. Rather, it began with the influx of foreign Jews into the region after World War I, which became a flood as a result of the Holocaust, and with international support resulted in the formation of Israel as a specifically Jewish state in 1948. Jewish settlement and terrorism (well-documented by the Jewish Israeli historian Ilan Pappe) resulted in the displacement of 750,000 Palestinian Arabs (including both Christians and Muslims). The Arab-Israeli conflict is not, fundamentally, about Islam, or a clash between Islam and other faiths, but about this-worldly land grabbing, settlement, dispossession and oppression that has enraged the Muslim world, as it should enrage any thinking, moral human being. Unfortunately, fundamentalist Christians in this country tend to depict this history of injustice as the fulfillment of Biblical prophecy, and they will brook no dissent when it comes to the Zionist cause that they have embraced as their own. ("God gave them the land, so don't bother me with historical details. End of discussion.") Hard to imagine a delusion more injurious to world peace and to the cause of justice.

Finally: In understanding Islam, Americans should give some thought to one of the pivotal episodes in world history, the Crusades, or Wars of the Cross, that ripped up the Holy Land between 1096 and 1291. During these two centuries, European Christians seeking to "win back for Christendom" territory that had fallen to the Muslim Turks-territory that had been ruled by Muslims since the early seventh century anyway, on terms generally agreeable to Jews and Christians as well as Muslims-committed unspeakable atrocities. In July 1099 Jerusalem was conquered, the Roman Catholic soldiers massacring all the Muslim and Jewish inhabitants, including women and children. Nor was the Crusaders' zeal exhausted upon non-Christians; frustrated at lack of success in Palestine in 1204, they instead sacked Constantinople (modern Istanbul), then the center of Eastern Orthodoxy. In comparison, the behavior of the Muslim armies was chivalrous, the twelfth-century Kurdish leader Saladin in particular winning high praise from Christians and Muslims alike for his humanity.

The Islamic world remembers the Crusades; George Bush, like many Americans, is clueless about them. Hence his amazingly dim-witted reference to the "War on Terrorism" as a "Crusade" last September 16-a statement that produced immediate, widespread outrage in the Muslim world. No offense intended, no doubt. But such ignorance, in action, in a world where religious prejudice generates idiotic action from Belfast, to the Balkans, to Gujarat, to the Moluccas, is perilous ignorance indeed.

Gary Leupp is an an associate professor, Department of History, Tufts University and coordinator, Asian Studies Program

He can be reached at: gleupp@tufts.edu

Muslims and Jews: a historical perspective that reveals surprises

2007-03-31T19:25:00.000-07:00

Muslims and Jews: a historical perspective that reveals surprises

Once upon a time, a widely circulated Jewish document described Islam as "an act of God's Mercy".

Also, Jews in the near East, north Africa and Spain threw their support behind advancing Muslim Arab armies.

No, these aren't fairy tales or propaganda. The relationship between Muslims and Jews really was that cooperative and marked by peaceful coexistence.

Just ask Khalid Siddiqi of the Islamic Education and Information Center in San Jose, California where he also teaches Islamic Studies and Arabic at Chabot College and Ohlone College.

Siddiqi notes that the first quote above is from S. D. Goitein's book Jews and Arabs. The second is from Merlin Swartz's 'The Position of Jews in Arab lands following the rise of Islam' (reprinted from The Muslim World. Hartford Seminary Foundation LXI1970).

Swartz also says the Muslim Arab conquest marked the dawn of a new era. Those forces that had led to the progressive isolation and disruption of Jewish life were not only checked they were dramatically reversed.

In an interview with Sound Vision, Siddiqi gave numerous examples of Jews flourishing under Muslim rule in places like Spain, Morocco, North African in general and various parts of the Middle East.

Siddiqi points out that Islam as a religion has given specific guidelines for the followers of Islam to base their relationship with any non-Muslim. These include People of Scripture, like the Jews, people who belong to other religions, and even atheists. Non-Muslims must be treated on the basis of Birr (kindness) and Qist (justice), as referred to Surah 60 verse 8 of the Quran.

It started at the time of the Prophet Mohammad (peace and blessings be upon him)

The peaceful coexistence of Muslims and Jews began at the time of the Prophet.

Siddiqi notes that the Jews welcomed the Prophet when he arrived in Madinah at the time of Hijrah (migration), along with the rest of the city's inhabitants.

But the Prophet had begun the step towards good relations with Jewish and other communities in Madinah even before getting there.

After receiving an invitation to Madinah from one of the city's tribes that had accepted Islam, the Prophet signed treaties with the city's Jewish, Christian and polytheist tribes before he arrived there.

These treaties clearly laid out responsibilities of each of the parties. It was based on these that the Prophet established the Mithaq al Madinah, the constitution of Madinah.

Siddiqi says this was the first constitution of the world and one of the greatest political documents ever prepared by any human being. It is the oldest surviving constitution of any state.

Under this constitution, any Jew who followed the Muslims was entitled to their assistance and the same rights as anyone of them without any injustice or partisanship.

It said the Jews are an Ummah (community of believers) alongside the Muslims. The Jews have their religion and the Muslims theirs. As well, it noted that each will assist one another against any violation of this covenant.

Jews during the Muslim era

Despite this early breach of contract, there are still numerous examples from Muslim history of Muslim-Jewish cooperation and coexistence.

Siddiqi gave examples of how Muslim Spain, which was a "golden era" of creativity and advancement for Muslims was also one for Jews.

While Europe was in its Dark Ages and Jews were reviled there, Muslims in Spain during the same period worked side by side with Jews in developing literature, science and art.

Together, they translated classical Greek texts into Arabic. This task later helped Europe move out of the Dark Ages and into the Renaissance.

Jews flourished under Muslim rule in Egypt as well, where they achieved very high positions in government.

Siddiqi quotes some lines from an Arab poet of that time, to illustrate: 'Today the Jews have reached the summit of their hopes and have become aristocrats. Power and riches have they and from them councilors and princes are chosen'.

Today: the forced expulsion of Palestinians from their homeland has destroyed good Muslim-Jewish relations

So what happened?

Although not the only cause, a large part of the deterioration in Muslim-Jewish relations comes from the emergence of Zionism, the forced expulsion of Palestinians from their homeland by Zionist Jews and British colonizers, as well as their continuing oppression.

Siddiqi says, "while this reaction results in anti-Jewish feeling it must be seen in its proper historical context. It must be remembered that anti-Jewish sentiments in so far as it is to be found in the contemporary Arab world is strictly a modern phenomenon and one that runs counter to the time honored Islamic tradition of fraternity and tolerance.

"The very widespread popular notion that present day Arab-Jewish hostility is but another chapter in a long history of mutual animosity is totally false. If there is one thing the past makes clear it is precisely that Arabs and Jews can live together peacefully and in a mutually beneficial relationship. History also makes it very clear that they are the heirs to the Islamic tradition of openness and tolerance."

The key to reestablishing good relations between Muslims and Jews again is justice, notes Siddiqui. This principle is foreign to neither Islam nor Judaism.

In Islam, standing up for justice, he points out, must be done even if it is against ourselves, our parents, our kin, the rich or the poor. This is clearly mentioned in the Quran (4:135).

Siddiqi points out that the emphasis on justice is also mentioned in Jewish scripture in the prophecies of Michael in chapter three: "Zion shall be redeemed with justice and by those who will come to her with righteousness."

6 tips on how to relate to people of the Jewish faith

2007-03-31T19:15:00.000-07:00

6 tips on how to relate to people of the Jewish faith
by Sound Vision Staff Writer

The forced expulsion of Palestinians, their oppression and the attacks on Masjid al-Aqsa: these are things Muslims cannot bear to see or tolerate. In their anger and disgust, some Muslims mention individual Jews, people as a whole or their faith in a way that is not in line with Islamic teachings.

How can we relate to Jews on a personal level, without compromising our rights and sense of justice and fair play? Here are some ideas:

1. Be just

Remember that justice is a fundamental part of Islam. On a daily level, a person of the Jewish faith who is not harming you or attacking you must not become a target of attack, physical or otherwise.

Islam is a religion of peace and justice and we must demand justice for our brothers and sisters in Palestine, as well as our right to Jerusalem and the right of return for Palestinians.

We must also be just in our treatment of Jews. There are examples from the life of the Prophet Mohammad (peace and blessings be upon him) as well as from the lives of his Companions, especially Umar, who conquered Jerusalem as the second Khalifah that show us how they dealt with Jews in a just manner.

2. Remember your history

Keep in mind that Muslims have, overall, had a much longer history of cooperation and peaceful coexistence with Jews than probably any other group of people.

While Jews were reviled and executed in Europe at different points in time, Muslims have no equivalent of this kind of hatred.

Remind not just Muslims, but also Jews of this history in the next discussion you have with them whether it's in class, at work or elsewhere.

3. Properly understand verses of the Quran and Hadiths about Jews

It is important to get a correct understanding of a number of verses of the Quran as well as sayings of the Prophet on Jews.

Some Muslims take one verse or a few, without looking at when they were revealed or why, as well as the historical circumstances relating to them, as an excuse to mistreat Jews. This is not correct.

Allah does criticize Jews in the Quran. He also criticizes Christians, polytheists, and Muslims. Our Creator has the perspective and the perfect knowledge which none of us can claim.

The purpose of the God's criticism is to invite people to reaffirm their faith in the original teachings brought by the all Prophets and to correct the group's behavior or respond to a question they raised.

Criticism of a people by their Creator though, is not a license to stereotype them, and certainly not an excuse to mistreat them individually or collectively with bad attitudes or behavior.

4. On Palestine

When discussing Palestine know the Muslims' position and state it clearly, confidently and respectfully. Don't compromise on the truth, but don't be rude, verbally abusive or insulting. There is no place for that kind of behavior in Islam, even when discussing an issue as important to Muslims and Jews as Palestine and Jerusalem.

5. Invite them to teaching brought by all of the Prophets

The Quran refers to the Jews as Ahl al-Kitab (People of the Book). There status is exactly the same as of Christians. Allah also gives Muslims this instruction about them:

Say: 'O People of the Book! come to common terms as between us and you: that we worship none but God; that we associate no partners with Him; that we erect not, from among ourselves, lords and patrons other than God.' If then they turn back, say ye: 'Bear witness that we (at least) are bowing to God's Will.' (3: 64)

6. Don't forget to use Islamic communication skills

To be able to effectively put into practice the previous tip, we have to have the necessary Islamic communication skills. We must speak and deal with all in the nicest possible manner.

We can remember the example of Prophets Moses and Aaron, who are respected by Muslims and Jews alike, and how they approached Pharaoh with Allah's message. Allah's peace and blessings be upon them.

Allah instructed these prophets to address this tyrant and oppressor in the nicest possible manner despite the fact that he had rebelled against the Creator. Moses and Aaron were to help him with their nice talk to rethink his position, become fearful of God and change his ways. (see Quran 20:43-44)

This is a basic principle of Islamic communication and cannot be forgotten, whether the recipients are atheists, Muslims or Jews.

Dear Elder Cousins of the Jewish Community,Thankyou very much for your help, support and solidarity.

2007-03-31T12:47:00.000-07:00

Dear friends and Elder Cousins of the Jewish Community,
Thankyou very much for your help, support and solidarity.
I have been running an ACLU office from my home and returning calls without sleep. I was thinking of waiting till tommorrow to write this flowery, eloquent "thankyou" letter. But, my conscience wanted to thankyou and tell you how I felt from the bottom of my heart without any sham or drama. So, I will write a short note to tell you " I love you all and I love OLYMPIA !"

It was very touching and moving to see that y'all sacrificed your precious evening to sit through the dirty propaganda. Specifically, what was deploring was the invocation of the holocaust images to justify their hate propaganda. I am very sorry that you all had to sit through those terrible images, that were playing with emotions, for the vilification and dehumanization of the muslims. The healing soft words that you used to try to close the wounds opened by the nasty images were very much appreciated. The FRIDAY SERMON today included a special reference and prayer for all of you who helped so much and have so much sensitivity and sensiblity.

We would like to re-iterate that we hate violence, have condemned it and shall continue to do so. The Muslim community is committed to participating in all non-violent, pacifist actions and with some encouragement, and providing of a safe place to talk , shall be happy to participate en masse in your meetings, conversations and dialogues.

Many of y'all echoed what we felt- that it is time to have a "Jewish Muslim Compassionate Listening group" meeting just to talk about how we felt during and after this wretched, miserable piece of hate propaganada of the neo-nazi, right-wingers. What do you say ? When ? Where ? (masjid is okay this time or the synagogue; wherever, just soon enough !)

In closing, I would like to have a quote from each of you who attended, to include in a collage of pictures and reporting- (amongst many that I met and hugged- forgive me if I don't enumerate all the names, but be sure to send me your quote about the movie, or how you felt at the end, any flaws that you saw etc. )
Bob Reuben, Larry Hildes, Karen Weill, Toby and Jim Shulruff, Eden and many many more !
I have so many pictures to share with you all ! They have come out so good !

Y'all are the good -guys ! You are troopers !
You know what - PEACE ROCKS !
--
I remain,
Yours Sincerely,
Muhammad Ayub
http://www.compassionatelistening.org/
http://www.peta.org/
http://www.nonviolence.org/
http://olyfor.org/wordpress/about-us/
http://www.codepink4peace.org/
http://www.veteransforpeace.org/
http://www.womeninblack.net/

Reminder- Jews and Muslims gathering- Sunday, March, 25th, 2007. 1:00 pm - Temple Beth Hathfiloh Synagogue

2007-03-23T17:28:00.000-07:00

Directions- http://www.bethhatfiloh.org/

Sisters and Brothers,
Salaams to all of you
As you all know that the Jewish - Muslim Compassionate listening group meets every other week, regularly for the past several years. This is part of a national movement to demonstrate a template for our children to follow.
Now, it is the time for a larger gathering- Our Jewish neighbors and elder cousins are calling us, with warmth, friendship and hospitality !
You are respectfully invited to a Jews and Muslims gathering- Sunday, March, 25th, 2007. 1:00 pm - Temple Beth Hathfiloh Synagogue.
Plz. see attached flier.
For many of us, it will be the first ever guided tour in a synagogue. Bring your children, your cameras, your smiles and your goodwill.
Allah bless you for helping to promote peace and build bridges ! This is a safe place for you to speak, talk to , mingle with and express your religion without being judged or stereo-typed.
WORLD PEACE begins at home !
Previous successes have included annual gatherings, co-operation at times of crises (Neo-Nazis in Olympia) and table-talks / pot-lucks.

Ayub
http://www.bethhatfiloh.org/

PS- If your children want to do a school paper about "Visit to a Synagogue", make sure they have a note book or something to jot down all the names and new words that shall be added to their vocabulary.

http://www.btvshalom.org/chapters/olympia/
http://www.bethhatfiloh.org/

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: pmausa
Date: Mar 21, 2007 5:43 PM

Salamalaikum, Brother Ayub, could you please forward this to everyone. Thanks

Please join us for:

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A MUSLIM OR A JEW IN AMERICA

Sunday March 25TH, 1:00 PM

at

Temple Beth Hatfiloh: Located at 8th and Washington in downtown Olympia

The Jewish-Muslim listening group invites you to join the Muslims and Jews
of Olympia area to share your thoughts and listen to others about how one
feels to be a Muslim or a Jew in America and more specifically in Olympia
area, WA.

Please bring a vegetarian snack to share at the event.

Free Registration:
Nina Berenfeld 360-701-3949
jewishmuslimolympia@yahoo.com

SPONSORED BY THE OLYMPIA
JEWISH-MUSLIM LISTENING GROUP

http://www.bethhatfiloh.org/

--
I remain,
Yours Sincerely,
Muhammad Ayub
http://ayub2008.blogspot.com/
http://www.btvshalom.org/chapters/olympia/

Learn more about our Jewish neighbors and their religion - Understanding and education about each another promotes friendship !

"Temple Beth Hatfiloh is a 160 member-household congregation in Olympia, Washington dedicated to fulfilling the spiritual, educational, social and cultural needs of Jews in the South Puget Sound region. We serve as a Jewish resource for Thurston and surrounding counties. "

http://www.bethhatfiloh.org/aboutus.html

Learn more about the Sabbath - http://www.bethhatfiloh.org/spirituallife.html

Learn more about Judaism - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judaism

Learn more about Jewish Culture around the world - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish

Reminder- Friday evening- Hear the author of "Darfur Diaries"-Friday, 7PM, Orca Books- DO NOT MISS THIS ! Jen Marlowe

2007-03-23T17:27:00.000-07:00

Reminder- Friday evening- Darfur Diaries-Friday, 7PM, Orca Books- DO NOT MISS THIS !
Bring your camera and autograph book !
Jen is an excellent speaker, with a clarity that is rare !
Incidentally, (by fluke) I met her at the Rachel Corrie Foundation office; she has a gift of sifting through lots of things and getting to the essence quickly !
Plz. prepone or postpone your errands and other engagements - this is a very important program !

Ayub

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Cindy Corrie < cindy@rachelcorriefoundation.org>
Date: Mar 21, 2007 7:37 AM
Subject: [olympiaandrafah] FW: Darfur Diaries-Friday, 7PM, Orca Books
To: olympiaandrafah@lists.riseup.net

Darfur Diaries, Stories of Survival with author and filmmaker Jen Marlowe

Jen Marlowe
Friday, March 23rd, 7PM at Orca Books
509 E. 4th Ave, Olympia

My good friend, Jen Marlowe writes...

I am thrilled to be coming to Olympia on March 23 for a book talk

about "Darfur Diaries: Stories of Survival".

I hope you will be able to come to the event at Orca Books.

Refugees and displaced peoples, civilians and fighters resisting the

Sudanese government, teachers, students, parents, children and

community leaders provide the heart of "Darfur Diaries". Their

stories and testimonies, woven together with the personal experiences

of the filmmakers/authors, and conveyed with political and historical

context, provide a much-needed account to understand Darfur.

Alice Walker, author of The Color Purple, wrote about the book and

film "…Do not resist seeing and reading their story, thinking it

another violent assault on the heart. It is rather a gentle if

persistent knock upon the door of every living human soul. Brother,

sister, we are still here, holding this space for you, for humanity,

are you still there? I left the book and the film feeling a great

deal more hope for us all."

Deborah Scroggins, author of Emma's War says that the book "is the

most fresh and engaging account of the Darfur tragedy yet to come out."

Books will be sold and signed—and I am happy to

personalize inscriptions for those purchased as gifts for others.

A percentage of all proceeds from "Darfur Diaries" goes towards our

efforts to fund schools in the destroyed villages we visited in Darfur

—an initiative that has now resulted in the funding of two schools in

northern Darfur, providing an education to over 900 children.

Please forward this email to friends/family

members and colleagues!

I hope to see you at Orca Books!

Warmly,

Jen Marlowe

Darfur Diaries

www.darfurdiaries.org

ORCA BOOKS "DARFUR DIARIES"

Friday, March 23, 7pm

Book talk and reading with author Jen Marlowe, followed by book signing

Orca Books

509 E. 4th Ave

Olympia, WA 98501

360.352.0123

>

>

If you know someone interested in joining the "olympiaandrafah" listserv, please have him or her send an email to
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--
I remain,
Yours Sincerely,
Muhammad Ayub
http://ayub2008.blogspot.com/
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=ayub359
http://www.omjp.org/Port2007.html

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jen Marlowe < donkeysaddle@hotmail.com>
Date: Mar 20, 2007 1:23 PM
Subject: Coming to Olympia March 23 with Darfur Diaries

ORCA BOOKS "DARFUR DIARIES"

Friday, March 23, 7pm
Book talk and reading with author Jen Marlowe, followed by book signing

Orca Books
509 E. 4th Ave
Olympia

Dear friends,

I am thrilled to be coming to Olympia on March 23 for a book talk
about "Darfur Diaries: Stories of Survival".

I hope you will be able to come to the event at Orca Books.

Refugees and displaced peoples, civilians and fighters resisting the
Sudanese government, teachers, students, parents, children and
community leaders provide the heart of "Darfur Diaries". Their
stories and testimonies, woven together with the personal experiences
of the filmmakers/authors, and conveyed with political and historical
context, provide a much-needed account to understand Darfur.

Alice Walker, author of The Color Purple, wrote about the book and
film "…Do not resist seeing and reading their story, thinking it
another violent assault on the heart. It is rather a gentle if
persistent knock upon the door of every living human soul. Brother,
sister, we are still here, holding this space for you, for humanity,
are you still there? I left the book and the film feeling a great
deal more hope for us all."

Deborah Scroggins, author of Emma's War says that the book "is the
most fresh and engaging account of the Darfur tragedy yet to come out."

Books will be sold and signed at the screening—and I am happy to
personalize inscriptions for books purchased as gifts for others.

A percentage of all proceeds from "Darfur Diaries" goes towards our
efforts to fund schools in the destroyed villages we visited in Darfur
—an initiative that has now resulted in the funding of two schools in
northern Darfur, providing an education to over 900 children.

Please forward this email (with the attached flyer) to friends/family
members and colleagues!

I hope to see you at Orca Books!

Warmly,
Jen Marlowe
Darfur Diaries
www.darfurdiaries.org

ORCA BOOKS "DARFUR DIARIES"

Friday, March 23, 7pm
Book talk and reading with author Jen Marlowe, followed by book signing
Orca Books
509 E. 4th Ave
Olympia, WA 98501
360.352.0123