Facebook raises teenage drugging

Researchers say teenagers who often use social networking sites such as Facebook and Myspace are at higher risk of drinking alcohol, smoking and substance abuse.

A study of 1,037 US teenagers aged 12 to 17 and over half of their parents suggested that social network users were five times more likely to report smoking, three times more likely to drink alcohol and twice as likely to use marijuana compared to those who were not networking.

The study also suggested that about 70 percent of the pariticipants used social networking sites on a typical day, reported researchers at the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse of Columbia University.

Results showed that 26 percent of teen networkers reported drinking alcohol, 10 percent said they smoked tobacco and 13 percent confirmed using marijuana.

"The results are profoundly troubling," the researchers wrote in their report. "This year's survey reveals how the anything goes, free-for-all world of Internet expression [and] suggestive television programming ... put teens at sharply increased risk of substance abuse."

The study further showed that seeing photos of other adolescents or children drinking or lighting up a joint on social networks makes these behavior more acceptable for teens.

Findings revealed that 40 percent of teens were exposed to such images, half of them before they were 13 years old. These kids were also more able to procure weed or prescription drugs and four times more likely to smoke up.

Experts, however, say the new findings do not prove that social networks cause harmful behaviors and addiction and that many other factors can be responsible for addictive behavior in teens such as parental involvement and how much spare time the adolescents have.

The results also revealed that 89 percent of the interviewed parents did not think social networking sites increased the likelihood of drug use for teens, while 87 percent thought the same about alcohol consumption.

"Parents should be looking at what their kids are watching on television and, secondly, what they are watching on social networks," said Joseph Califano Jr., founder and chairman of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse.

"Parental engagement is a key factor to lowering teen substance abuse risk, as are frequent family dinners, religious services and consistent messages," he added.

"We know from 16 years of surveys and lots of other research that for better or worse parents have more influence over their teen's risk of substance abuse than anyone else, and it is important for parents to send a consistent and unified message to their teens about drugs and alcohol."

Ziyarat-e-Arbaeen

Imam Hasan Askari (a.s)  said that it is among the signs of momineen to recite Ziyarat-e-Arbaeen.

After 17 years of death … Ayatollah Qazwini dead body remained fresh

After 17 years of death … Ayatollah Qazwini dead body remained fresh
By: Ismail Zabeeh

HOLY CITY OF KARBALA, Iraq: On Thursday May 12, 2011, Jamadi Al-aakherah 8, deceased Ayatollah Sayyed Mohammad Kadhim Al-Qazwini, son-in-law of late Ayatollah Sayyed Meerza Mehdi Al-Husseini Ash-Shirazi, was laid to rest in the Shiraziah tomb in the holy Husseini shrine compound in the holy city of Karbala.

Large number of clerics, scholars, Husseini speakers, religious scholars and mo’minin attended the funeral.

The funeral began from the tomb of Al-Allamah Ahmed bin Fahd Al-Hilli marched towards the holy shrine of Abi’l Fadhl Al-Abbas (a.s.) where holy ziyarah was recited then the funeral culminated at the holy hrine of Al-Imam Al-Hussein (a.s.) where he was buried.

Sayyed Al-Qazwini was born in the holy city of Karbala, completed his religious education in Karbala hauzah. He wrote many books; a series of unique books titled ‘minn al-mahd eelal lahd’ about the life of Ahlil Bayt (a.s.), and similarly a writing ‘Al-Imam As-Sadeq (a.s.) consisting of 50 volumes.

He had died 17 years ago on 15 Jamadi Al-Aakherah, was buried amanatan (as a trust) in husseiniyah az-Zaynabiyah for people of Karbala in the holy city of Qom implementing his wasiyah (will) to transfer his dead body after it to holy Karbala.

Then after 17 years have been passed, on Jamadi Al-Aakherah 5, his dead body was taken out from the grave to transfer to holy Karbala.

Surprisingly, during the taking out process his dead body was safe and fresh as if he was died right now; even his coffin cloth was undamaged. Similarly the book ‘Fatimah toz Zahra minn al mahd eelal lahd’ which was put on his chest according to his will while he was buried in the grave, was safe and secure.

When Ayatollah Sayyed Muhammad Sadeq Ash-Shirazi attended his funeral he said: the reason that the body of Sayyed Al-Qazwini remained safe and secure even after 17 years is that he was mottaqi (one who preserves his self), he spent his life in the way of Allah and fourteen infallibles from the progeny of Prophet Mohammad (s).

Masjid e Sahla Pictures