scholarly journals Kafāla: The Qur’anic-Prophetic Model of Orphan Care

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-30
Author(s):  
Zainab Alwani

This article seeks to outline a Qurʾanic-Prophetic model for orphan care by presenting and analyzing some of the Qurʾanic and Prophetic concepts related to this critical topic of kafāla. By attempting to understand the Qurʾan on its own terms and tracing its words’ derivation(s), this essay proposes a Qurʾanic framework of orphan care, one that is strictly centered on kafāla and was exemplified by Prophet Muhammad throughout his life. Based on the Quranic framework of orphan care and the Pro-phetic example, which prioritize protecting the orphan’s interest, I argue that the responsibility of kafāla for orphaned and abandoned children falls on each and every one of us. This essay concludes with specific recommendations that Muslim communities can take on the community-level to fulfill our collective responsibility and alleviate the grievances of orphans. This article applies the methodology of al-waḥda al-binā’iyya lil-Qur’ān (The Qurʾan’s Structural Unity), to analyze and discuss Islam’s approach to or-phan care. The holistic method reads the Qurʾan as a unified text through its linguistic, structural, and conceptual elements. In other words, the divine text, when read in its entirety, represents an integrated whole. In addition, this approach highlights how the meaning of a specific term changes, but never to the extent that its original meaning is violated. Tracing how the relevant terms are derived from their root leads to constructing the Islamic framework for orphan care. As the Qurʾan refers to itself as al-Muṣaddiq (the confirmer or verifier of truth) and Muhaymin (overseer, protector, guardian, witness, and determiner of the truth), it, therefore, judges us by the truth. Consequently, we should seek its judgment when making a decision: “And We have revealed to you, [O Prophet], the Book in truth, confirming that which preceded it of the Scripture and as a cri-terion over it” (5:48). Therefore, applying a Muṣaddiq-Muhaymin methodology allows us to trace a term or a concept’s use, how it developed or changed over time, and how these changes impacted its implementation in a given society’s so-ciocultural, legal, socioeconomic, and sociopolitical spheres. For this discussion, the terms analyzed are, in order of appearance: insān (hu-man being), khalīfa (representative on Earth), yatīm (orphan), al-waḥda al-binā’-iyya li-l-Qur’ān (The Qurʾan’s Structural Unity), ‘umrān (cultivating our planet’s balance, peace, justice, and sustainability), tazkiya (holistic purification), taqwā (Allah-consciousness), ‘ibāda (worship), iṣlāḥ (improve, reform, and rectify), fasad (corruption, mischief, ruin, and spoil), tughyān (to go beyond the ḥudūd [limits set by Allah]), ibtilā (test), karam (dignity, honor), karāma (honor), ta‘āruf (getting to know one another), ‘urf (local custom), ma‘rūf (doing what is right, just, and fair), ‘amr bi al-ma‘rūf wa nahiy ‘an al-munkar (enjoining the right/ honor-able and forbidding the wrong/dishonorable), laqīṭ (abandoned child), kāfil (legal guarantor), tabanni (adoption), da‘īy (to be claimed as sons), āwā (a holistic de-scription of an ideal shelter with a mission to improve a displaced person or or-phan’s life), nasab (original lineage), and farḍ kifāya (communal responsibility). Reading the Qurʾan as a “unity” ensures that the divine text will remain rele-vant, for this approach enables scholars to continue developing its ability to pro-vide answers to difficult contemporary questions and challenges.

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Daniel Bergé ◽  
Tyler A. Lesh ◽  
Jason Smucny ◽  
Cameron S. Carter

Abstract Background Previous research in resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) has shown a mixed pattern of disrupted thalamocortical connectivity in psychosis. The clinical meaning of these findings and their stability over time remains unclear. We aimed to study thalamocortical connectivity longitudinally over a 1-year period in participants with recent-onset psychosis. Methods To this purpose, 129 individuals with recent-onset psychosis and 87 controls were clinically evaluated and scanned using rs-fMRI. Among them, 43 patients and 40 controls were re-scanned and re-evaluated 12 months later. Functional connectivity between the thalamus and the rest of the brain was calculated using a seed to voxel approach, and then compared between groups and correlated with clinical features cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Results At baseline, participants with recent-onset psychosis showed increased connectivity (compared to controls) between the thalamus and somatosensory and temporal regions (k = 653, T = 5.712), as well as decreased connectivity between the thalamus and left cerebellum and right prefrontal cortex (PFC; k = 201, T = −4.700). Longitudinal analyses revealed increased connectivity over time in recent-onset psychosis (relative to controls) in the right middle frontal gyrus. Conclusions Our results support the concept of abnormal thalamic connectivity as a core feature in psychosis. In agreement with a non-degenerative model of illness in which functional changes occur early in development and do not deteriorate over time, no evidence of progressive deterioration of connectivity during early psychosis was observed. Indeed, regionally increased connectivity between thalamus and PFC was observed.


Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (9) ◽  
pp. 2573
Author(s):  
Yi-Hsiu Chung ◽  
Cheng-Kun Tsai ◽  
Ching-Fang Yu ◽  
Wan-Ling Wang ◽  
Chung-Lin Yang ◽  
...  

Purpose: By taking advantage of 18F-FDG PET imaging and tissue nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) metabolomics, we examined the dynamic metabolic alterations induced by liver irradiation in a mouse model for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: After orthotopic implantation with the mouse liver cancer BNL cells in the right hepatic lobe, animals were divided into two experimental groups. The first received irradiation (RT) at 15 Gy, while the second (no-RT) did not. Intergroup comparisons over time were performed, in terms of 18F-FDG PET findings, NMR metabolomics results, and the expression of genes involved in inflammation and glucose metabolism. Results: As of day one post-irradiation, mice in the RT group showed an increased 18F-FDG uptake in the right liver parenchyma compared with the no-RT group. However, the difference reached statistical significance only on the third post-irradiation day. NMR metabolomics revealed that glucose concentrations peaked on day one post-irradiation both, in the right and left lobes—the latter reflecting a bystander effect. Increased pyruvate and glutamate levels were also evident in the right liver on the third post-irradiation day. The expression levels of the glucose-6-phosphatase (G6PC) and fructose-1, 6-bisphosphatase 1 (FBP1) genes were down-regulated on the first and third post-irradiation days, respectively. Therefore, liver irradiation was associated with a metabolic shift from an impaired gluconeogenesis to an enhanced glycolysis from the first to the third post-irradiation day. Conclusion: Radiation-induced metabolic alterations in the liver parenchyma occur as early as the first post-irradiation day and show dynamic changes over time.


1990 ◽  
Vol 80 ◽  
pp. 74-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth A. Meyer

It is now notorious that the production of inscriptions in the Roman Empire was not constant over time, but rose over the first and second centuries A.D. and fell in the third. Ramsay MacMullen pointed this out more than five years ago, with conclusions more cautionary than explanatory: ‘history is not being written in the right way’, he said, for historians have deduced Rome's decline from evidence that–since it appears only epigraphically–has merely disappeared for its own reasons, or have sought general explanations of decline in theories political, economic, or even demographic in nature, none of which can, in turn, explain the disappearance of epigraphy itself. Why this epigraphic habit rose and fell MacMullen left open to question, although he did postulate control by a ‘sense of audience’. The purpose of this paper is to propose that this ‘sense of audience’ was not generalized or generic, but depended on a belief in the value of romanization, of which (as noted but not explained by MacMullen's article) the epigraphic habit is also a rough indicator. Epitaphs constitute the bulk of all provincial inscriptions and in form and number are (generally speaking) the consequence of a provincial imitation of characteristically Roman practices, an imitation that depended on the belief that Roman legal status and style were important, and that may indeed have ultimately depended, at least in North Africa, on the acquisition or prior possession of that status. Such status-based motivations for erecting an epitaph help to explain not only the chronological distribution of epitaphs but also the differences in the type and distribution of epitaphs in the western and eastern halves of the empire. They will be used here moreover to suggest an explanation for the epigraphic habit as a whole.


2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (S367) ◽  
pp. 402-403
Author(s):  
Natalia Guevara ◽  
Rodrigo F. Haack ◽  
Victoria B. Acosta ◽  
María A. Senn ◽  
Carolina A. Silva ◽  
...  

AbstractThe “Right to the night sky” outreach project holds astronomy workshops for children and teens deprived of their liberty in juvenile detention centers. It is carried out by an interdisciplinary group of students, graduates, and teachers of Astronomy, Geophysics, Educational Science, Law, Psychology, Social Work, and Social Communication. It’s has been accredited and recognized by the Faculty of Astronomical and Geophysical Sciences, and the National University of La Plata (Argentina) since the year 2014. This work presents the diverse activities developed in the project, the methodologies used, and an analysis of how the project evolved, grew, and expanded over time, continuing what has already been presented by Charalambous et al. (2014) and Haack et al. (2019)


2021 ◽  
pp. tobaccocontrol-2021-056628
Author(s):  
Mônica Nunes-Rubinstein ◽  
Teresa Leão

ObjectivesTo identify proponents and opponents of the commercialisation and marketing of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products (HTPs), identify the arguments used on both sides and compare how the arguments have changed over time, we analysed three policy discussions occurring in 2009, 2018 and 2019.MethodsWe conducted a content analysis of one document and six videos from these discussions, provided on the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency website, or upon request.ResultsThe arguments most used by tobacco companies were related to claims that the use of e-cigarettes and HTPs is less harmful than conventional tobacco. Unions that support its commercialisation also argued that lifting the ban would prevent smuggling and guarantee their quality. On the other side, universities, medical and anti-tobacco institutions argued that such devices may have health risks, including the risk of inducing cigarette smoking. In 2009, most arguments belonged to the ‘health’ theme, while in 2018 and 2019 economic arguments and those related to morals and ethics were frequently used.ConclusionsThose that supported the commercialisation and marketing of e-cigarettes and HTPs first focused on arguments of harm reduction, while 10 years later the right to access and potential economic consequences also became common. Public health agents and academics must gather evidence to effectively respond to these arguments and discuss these policies, and must prepare themselves to use and respond to arguments related to moral and economic themes.


2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 96
Author(s):  
Gary Blau ◽  
John DiMino ◽  
Iris Abreu ◽  
Kayla LeLeux-LaBarge

The general purpose of this study was to examine counseling services as a correlate of institutional commitment and related variables over time on a sample of non-urgent undergraduates. Data for non-urgent clients at a University Counseling Center (UCC) were collected using on-line surveys over four time-periods. Within-time correlations generally showed that mental health concerns was negatively related to institutional commitment, while counseling help belief was positively related. Institutional commitment is defined as a student feeling that he or she selected the right institution to attend Using a smaller sample, i.e., n = 15, of complete-data clients matched-over-time, overall level of mental health concerns significantly declined, while institutional commitment significantly increased. Counseling help belief decreased from Time 1 to Time 2 but then increased over time. Scientifically demonstrating to higher-level University administration that counseling over time can positively influence undergraduates’ institutional commitment can help the UCC to increase its allocation of university-based resources to keep pace with non-urgent client demands.


2010 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiyoung Song

AbstractFor the past decade, the author has examined North Korean primary public documents and concludes that there have been changes of identities and ideas in the public discourse of human rights in the DPRK: from strong post-colonialism to Marxism-Leninism, from there to the creation of Juche as the state ideology and finally 'our style' socialism. This paper explains the background to Kim Jong Il's 'our style' human rights in North Korea: his broader framework, 'our style' socialism, with its two supporting ideational mechanisms, named 'virtuous politics' and 'military-first politics'. It analyses how some of these characteristics have disappeared while others have been reinforced over time. Marxism has significantly withered away since the end of the Cold War, and communism was finally deleted from the latest 2009 amended Socialist Constitution, whereas the concept of sovereignty has been strengthened and the language of duties has been actively employed by the authority almost as a relapse to the feudal Confucian tradition. The paper also includes some first-hand accounts from North Korean defectors interviewed in South Korea in October–December 2008. They show the perception of ordinary North Koreans on the ideas of human rights.


2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-28
Author(s):  
Fatkhul Wahab ◽  
Ahmad Bukhori ◽  
Athiyah

Among Muslim communities, love of the Prophet Muhammad embodied in a religious tradition known as shalawāh tradition. Shalawāh is an expression of deep gratitude for the guidance to Muslims on the right path. Sufism that emphasizes reading Shalawāh of the Prophet Muhammad as dhikr primarily is Shalawāh Wāhidiyah. The main purpose of Shalawāh Wāhidiyah is to alleviate people from the shirk and return to the straight and true that by pleasing Allah. The focuses of this study are: (1) how do the precepts and values of Sufism in the Jamaat Shalawāh Wāhidiyah? (2)  How do the precepts and values are promoted and practiced by Jamaat Shalawāh Wāhidiyah? (3)  How does the experience of spirituality Jamaat Shalawāh Wāhidiyah? This study is a qualitative study by using a naturalistic paradigm and phenomenology approach. The data were collected by in-depth interviews, participant observation, and documentary in the form of journals, magazines and so on. While the data analysis techniques include data reduction, presentation of data, the validity of the data and drawing conclusions. The results of this study indicate that: (1) Shalawāh Wāhidiyah precepts include: a. li Allāh, bi Allāh; b. li al-RasÅ«l, bi al-RasÅ«l; c. li al-ghauts bi al-ghauts; d. yu'thÄ« kull dzÄ« ḥaqq; e. taqdÄ«m al-hamm tsumm al-hamm, fa al-fa’ tsumm al-fa'. The values contained in Shalawāh Wāhidiyah Sufism, among others: taubah, ikhlāsh, syukr, mahabbah. (2) Socialization Shalawāh Wāhidiyah precepts are done by 1. individual, 2. packaged in a formal form as mujāhadah nishf al-sanah and mujāhadah kubrā, 3. through dreams, 4. implemented in the form of books, magazines, newsletters, and CDs. While this practice Shalawāh Wāhidiyah carried out in different ways mujāhadah usbÅ«'iyyah, mujāhadah syahriyyah, mujāhadah rub’ al-sanah, mujāhadah nishf al-sanah, and so forth. Keywords: The values of Sufism, Shalawāh Wāhidiyah


2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 32-36
Author(s):  
O. Bodnar

Pyrrhic disease is a congenital anomaly that occurs during embryogenesis due to the fixation of the splenic angle of the colon by a short and highly located left transverse-diaphragmatic ligament, creating a sharp bend and forming a "wellbore". In this case the passage of feces on a cross colon becomes difficult, there is also its sagging to a small pelvis. This pathology is characterized by paroxysmal pain (aggravated by exercise and after eating) and prolonged constipation, which progresses over time. Hilaiditis syndrome is a rather rare pathology in which there is an interposition of the hepatic angle of the colon between the liver and the diaphragm. There are permanent and intermittent localizations. The work generalizes the experience of evaluation of clinical manifestations and remote results of treatment of children with chronic colostasis caused by fixation abnormalities of the colon. 58 children were detected to have Payre’s disease, with Cyilaiditi’s syndrome – 3 children. 24 patients with Payre’s disease and 2 Cyilaiditi’s syndrome were operated on. To assess the effectiveness of surgery, children were divided into two groups: I group – comparative and II group - experienced. In I group (n=12 children) – the analysis of surgical treatment was performed traditionally. In II group (n=14 children) – the analysis of surgical treatment was conducted by means of the methods proposed. Traditional surgical treatment of Payre’s disease in children was followed by relapse of chronic constipation in 45,45%, pain in 50%, flatulence in 33,33% and failure of the ileocoecal closing apparatus in 100% of children. Unsatisfactory outcomes of surgical treatment of Cyilaiditi’s syndrome was observed in a child from the comparative group. Relapse of clinical symptoms to a lesser degree than before the surgery was found in 1 child from the experienced group. To treat Payre’s disease the following operation is proposed: intersection of the left diaphragm-colon ligament, resection of transverse colon and colofixation of the left bending of the colon. To treat Cyilaiditi’s syndrome (in case of dolichoascendocolon) the following operation is suggested: hepatopexy, resection of the right bending of the colon with ascending transversal anastomosis “end to end”, fixing of right bending of the colon. Their reasonability is being proved.


2020 ◽  
pp. 106-110
Author(s):  
Anastasia S. Dobychina ◽  

The paper examines letters patent and edict charters granted by the Russian Tsar Ivan IV (the Terrible) to the Serbian Hilandar community of monks at Athos and Rila monastery in Bulgaria. The majority of the sources were lost over time and they are available only in copies from the so-called Ambassadorial book of 1517–71 or in copies from the 17th century. The letters patent of Ivan IV (original and the so-called “word-for-word copy”) to Hilandar monastery are unique. They confirm its right to have its own metochion in Kitai-gorod near the Kremlin. The edict charters to the community of monks are of special interest, as they allowed the right of tax-free and unchecked passage through Russian territory together with the privilege of collecting donations.


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