Google knows too much about you

<div>(CNN) -- If <span style="font-size:180%;">you use Google, and I know you do</span>, you may have noticed a little banner popping up at the top of the page announcing: "We're changing our privacy policy and terms.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyMZBmnliHI0XgmTkGVAKzy6y8DEejJHKIL-5dG_BDg2lIVN5iV9-MKiv1w5K85bSa23LfgSNTFctP1ShmxigosALFnRJ42qqAKNAtC9687Uj-W8yHWrOeQv3jzQpcEZ2VX4nzNHEwGIJo/s1600/google-data-story-top.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713567377952128690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyMZBmnliHI0XgmTkGVAKzy6y8DEejJHKIL-5dG_BDg2lIVN5iV9-MKiv1w5K85bSa23LfgSNTFctP1ShmxigosALFnRJ42qqAKNAtC9687Uj-W8yHWrOeQv3jzQpcEZ2VX4nzNHEwGIJo/s400/google-data-story-top.jpg" style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" /></a></div><br /><div>" It gives you the choice to "Learn More" or, another option, the one I'm betting most people followed, to "Dismiss."<br /><br />Who wants to read about what Google plans to do with all that information it has about us?<br /><br />I, too, clicked "Dismiss." That's because the very idea of considering what Google knows about me can give me heartburn. And if that happens, I may want to Google "heartburn," and then I'll wonder if my insurance company will find out that I was searching "heartburn," or, worse, that one day I will apply for a new insurance company and the side effects of having considered what Google knows will result in a denial of coverage. But I digress.<br /><br /><br />Frida GhitisWhen Google announced its new policy, lovingly explaining its reason as "our desire to create one beautifully simple and intuitive experience across Google," the authorities in Europe immediately told the Internet leviathan to put off its March 1 start date until European Union officials had a chance to review Google's new quest for beauty and simplicity.<br /><br />Europeans, it turns out, are much less trusting of invasions of our electronic privacy than Americans are. Americans have an intense aversion to government intrusion. If the FBI wanted to examine Google searches, the left and the right would come together -- the ACLU, Tea Party, liberals and libertarians would raise their fists together to fight for freedom of privacy. The Supreme Court would join in, as it did in the case of GPS surveillance, and conclude the people have a right to privacy, a right against any "unreasonable search," as the Constitution says.<br /><br />But in the case of Google's latest move to consolidate user's data, however, most Americans paid little attention.<br /><br />MacKinnon: <span style="font-size:180%;">We're losing control of our digital privacy</span><br /><br />If Americans -- or people anywhere -- decided to take up Google's offer to check out its new policy, they would discover something so troubling, so frightening, really, that it would override the national tendency to leave companies alone to make money how they see fit. At least in the case of companies such as Google -- and now Facebook -- which know more about us than even our closest friends.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Here's what Google knows about you, what it stores right there on its servers, waiting for a hacker:<br /></span></div><br /><div>Google gets new privacy policy Google has every e-mail you ever sent or received on Gmail. It has every search you ever made, the contents of every chat you ever had over Google Talk. It holds a record of every telephone conversation you had using Google Voice, it knows every Google Alert you've set up. It has your Google Calendar with all content going back as far as you've used it, including everything you've done every day since then. It knows your contact list with all the information you may have included about yourself and the people you know. It has your Picasa pictures, your news page configuration, indicating what topics you're most interested in. And so on.<br /><br />If you ever used Google while logged in to your account to search for a person, a symptom, a medical side effect, a political idea; if you ever gossiped using one of Google's services, all of this is on Google's servers. And thanks to the magic of Google's algorithms, it is easy to sift through the information because Google search works like a charm. Google can even track searches on your computer when you're not logged in for up to six months.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Facebook has even more interesting stuff: your pictures, your comments, your likes, your friends, your un-friends.<br /></span><br />Andrew Keen: We must avoid Facebook's 'creepy' cult of transparency<br /><br />You've done it, said it, clicked it, searched it, Googled it. You can never undo it or unclick it. It stays there forever. Unless the people demand that government order a stop to it.<br /><br />The European Commission has a new privacy proposal known as the "Right to be forgotten." It would allow Internet users in 27 countries of the European Union to demand Internet companies delete their personal data.<br /><br />Google's famous motto is "do no evil." I won't accuse Google of deliberately doing evil. It has done much to improve our lives. It makes no secret of the fact that it seeks to make profits, which it richly deserves. I do believe, however, that it deliberately tries to deceive us when it claims the new privacy policy seeks "to provide you with as much transparency and choice as possible."<br /><br />I followed the instructions and with some difficulty eventually downloaded pages upon pages of personal material about myself from Google. What I was looking for was a simple, shall we say beautiful, button telling Google not to save anything I don't explicitly want it to save. But there was no such button.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Google, like Facebook, owns trillions if not quadrillions-plus bits of information.</span> They mine it, use it to sell ads, algorithm it. But my real fear is not Google. My real fear is that computer technology has turned into an arms race between good guys and bad guys. Google may see itself as a jaunty white hat wearer, valiantly protecting all our information. And it may be doing it to the best of its ability. But hackers are hard at work all the time.<br /><br />Google and Facebook are profiting from our private information in ways most of us don't quite understand or would approve. But hackers may do even worse, as we have already seen in many cases around the world. Hackers have already unlocked and put on the Web reams of credit card information, private documents and all sorts of personal e-mails. Imagine your e-mails and chats on the Web for anyone to read.<br /><br />Online hoarding of our private information is not something we can afford to "dismiss." The only effective way to change the ways of these giant corporations -- and the smaller ones following the same practices -- is by pushing the government to make those practices illegal. We can start by following Europe's example.<br /><br />The obvious, ethical, default setting should affirm that our private information belongs to us and nobody else -- not to Google, not to Facebook. We should call for laws that require them to change their terms of service so users have the option of giving or denying permission to them on holding personal data in storage. </div>

Google knows too much about you

(CNN) -- If you use Google, and I know you do , you may have noticed a little banner popping up at the top of the page announcing: "We...

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Sean Stone converted to Islam

<div><a href="http://www.nypost.com/">New york post<br /></a><br />Sean Stone, son of controversial director Oliver Stone, converted to Islam in Iran last week and says he’s already experiencing a Hollywood backlash.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYHMgPKC_HLarOpVjuSU_7iKIfCy7BlNVM9_QLrXgPe33TDCdJLlA_FLZwCCmDtHl8zsip4bEjsOx1ntwx7d2cyXJC-TkU4y_pBFKpv8v9vyAK7l2kidwadgl__pmCS1BGQJNf0OIwjiCO/s1600/sean_stone_epa--300x300.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712228382029667618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYHMgPKC_HLarOpVjuSU_7iKIfCy7BlNVM9_QLrXgPe33TDCdJLlA_FLZwCCmDtHl8zsip4bEjsOx1ntwx7d2cyXJC-TkU4y_pBFKpv8v9vyAK7l2kidwadgl__pmCS1BGQJNf0OIwjiCO/s400/sean_stone_epa--300x300.jpg" style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 299px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br />The ceremony was held in Isfahan, where he is researching a documentary. He now goes by the name of Sean Christopher Ali Stone.<br /><br />He told Page Six: “I’ve already experienced the reverse of anti-Semitism, having people within the film industry express a reluctance to work with me now that I have said a simple prayer, ‘There is no God but God, and Mohammed is his messenger.’ I am sure I have [bleeped] off some powerful people.” Speaking over dinner at Barrio 47, Sean told us, “Having read the Koran and having been around the Islamic culture, especially in Iran, I do believe that Mohammed is a prophet of the same god worshipped by other religions.<br /><br /><br />EPA<br />Sean Stone “I am of a Jewish bloodline, a baptized Christian who accepts Christ’s teachings, the Jewish Old Testament and the Holy Koran. I believe there is one God, whether called Allah or Jehovah or whatever you wish to name him. He creates all peoples and religions. I consider myself a Jewish Christian Muslim.<br /><br />“What I am trying to do is open up a dialogue about religion. There is such Islamophobia in the West. Islam is not a religion of violence any more than Judaism or Christianity is.”<br /><br />He said his dad welcomed the move.<br /><br />“My dad said, ‘Allah be with you.’ My father understands that I am trying to bridge certain gaps and bring about peace.”<br /><br />But he has been shocked by the reaction from others. Sean, about to release his horror movie “Graystone,” said, “I didn’t realize I would be so vilified. It is almost like I am a criminal for having accepted Islam. I didn’t realize Islamophobia was that deep. People have speculated that I have done this because I am from a spoiled family or that I am lost and trying to find myself. That is ridiculous.<br /><br />“I don’t care if I get criticized. If I can open up a debate about religion and create some understanding, then it is worth it.”<br /></div>

Sean Stone converted to Islam

New york post Sean Stone, son of controversial director Oliver Stone, converted to Islam in Iran last week and says he’s already experiencin...

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DIY Porcelain PINS

Ok so after the las post "Spring Pins" I'm so sure you would like to know how are they made, here some ideas of how to make your own <a href="http://medhadevdas-creative.blogspot.com/2011/04/cold-porcelain-flower.html">flower </a>pins.<br /><br />you can use salt dough or Cold porcelain, also called porcelana fria,to create the flowers. you'll also need:<br />cork<br />tooth pick<br />marker used as a roller<br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710543096414953362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP3H4so1KhgdivsALCeSHphv0XAiwOZykCQK6at4PxXGTzeK3muSMO0JkK-yoZtuguPOZfOUbxvnBt8GipXsJb_hw9PvTQUwHp5GoTZpotHvMMVV-O6K-9TyXTgZ2hi1-9jhG3Og9Z6Jzu/s400/pin+flower+material" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" /><br />PROCEDURE:<br />First use a plastic sheet as a base to work,then take the salt dough or cold porcelain dough and roll it .<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710542274904455522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZZjlyq9_CmypGAJOtKPzbjCnvTkwb2N3a2TxGbKj2sHKCqeYshdzU9gR-JB58KKhy0u7ZlCCrbrwNpinKTx4W9rvn6THcIPkKOj9-ovvrK5G6Hr4Rx4PKAUInXH_mRI-kccWeg2oBbAPB/s400/DSC08810.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> <br /><div>use marker to roll the dough.then take the cork and cut the dough as shown in the pic.then take the toothpick and press it against each edge outwards,which will give it a flower look.for the center just make a small round ball and place it at the center,poke it with the toothpick several times to give a realistic pollen effect,and your flower is ready:) </div></div><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710542281927771698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ndOtdYCt-5YOGfGy-6MUv8N_3PB2plWdwvfRjfkiKOmLIdroz0J8_XufAO8euifo_eHzfQhbUHf6Mdh0ncwOv0U0kQYiRfL8-w_Y4osmR4Fosae89fmxhRHabZgKYl-90BqcDq2nGFs8/s400/pin" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 283px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710542268925034130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiHNka5iG5dQ2pBxlbDRs0DSriXY7umniCy9gCMYVU9tGXVMydLV-KW74OywbDHyPwfrgXNEjDWvDVtT_RxC-vLkoG8Qq605LeeGYEESAwY3rjBETu1qpDh0a8w1MJW5urBwiPzaW-6D_6/s400/diy+flower+4.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 283px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> once you have finished the flowers insert the pin on the back or if you want to make a brooch use a security pin and glue it on the back of each flower,let it dry and there you have a handmade pin.<br />good luck!

DIY Porcelain PINS

Ok so after the las post "Spring Pins" I'm so sure you would like to know how are they made, here some ideas of how to make yo...

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Spring Pins

Assalam wa leykum dear readers<br /><br /><div>Hope you're doing good, this time I want to show you a beautiful collection of pins with flowers all inspired by the<span style="font-size:180%;"> <strong>spring</strong></span> that is coming.</div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710512611757616402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhokKvusq_z5YovX1mlIm5yaag1zutEaB3dHSta6nxqTpsMtReuMN618spiEmDGK_qzaeFONZSvbkX3uIT2RRHhZ0XVCdsb9noAdsMsRutD65VPQsIW3Sb0VNdnDYPWoz2PuIgwY7ADhhu4/s400/Spring+pins+%252B+hijab+accessories+%252B+hijab+pins+%252B+flower+pins+5.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" /> <br /><div></div><br /><div>Pins are a necessary thing we all hijabis must to have, some times we don't care more about how they look, we just want them to keep our hijab on it's place, but if we are a bit creative we can chage a whole hijab look just by adding this precious pins.</div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXznaodaMxvBDtmXaY80l1X_cwC4Kj4oFWFPK9EzFI9OvuYpEn3IsaLtBChKFAvTqytatZFSDezX44w6faUIe16qDeTfnmrgZA92azk-_zhPH_jgCwegJqSQH4J5vlckqvjx5l-Se1irgV/s1600/Spring+pins+%252B+hijab+accessories+%252B+hijab+pins+%252B+flower+pins+4.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710512603378996946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXznaodaMxvBDtmXaY80l1X_cwC4Kj4oFWFPK9EzFI9OvuYpEn3IsaLtBChKFAvTqytatZFSDezX44w6faUIe16qDeTfnmrgZA92azk-_zhPH_jgCwegJqSQH4J5vlckqvjx5l-Se1irgV/s400/Spring+pins+%252B+hijab+accessories+%252B+hijab+pins+%252B+flower+pins+4.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5fdgYZWN5GeOM8xmXgGa49suLKISNf6YxcnyOtSmY_guMgHQPqYX71xOQfw79519cbQOLKtL8sRGk80xgx_C68o_kN51bZWtwg3V8Yln9l-n26-T1DtjrVd87I_5VkuG367vqwefNqeXm/s1600/Spring+pins+%252B+hijab+accessories+%252B+hijab+pins+%252B+flower+pins+3.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710512595408600914" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5fdgYZWN5GeOM8xmXgGa49suLKISNf6YxcnyOtSmY_guMgHQPqYX71xOQfw79519cbQOLKtL8sRGk80xgx_C68o_kN51bZWtwg3V8Yln9l-n26-T1DtjrVd87I_5VkuG367vqwefNqeXm/s400/Spring+pins+%252B+hijab+accessories+%252B+hijab+pins+%252B+flower+pins+3.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> <br /><div>Most of us are not willing to pay more for just a pin, but here is when we need to stop and considerate what kind of work each piece has, we will not pay few dollars for a normal steel pin with plastic head, but for one of this beautiful handmade creations I think is deserved,we can use them too as favor for parties or weddings and I'm sure they will be very appreciated by the guests.</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipx-eos_GoEWc90Wa2NEM4S2_AXzpj2XvcrTvy0nzf32RprUa4_7Q_b_sgdPR80q8Z5P-uJgBY2EhHtGn_gfNheYNNkmLy5yhsfUg_TaAf-Bi45fXf5zF3yVOpe5HM7RP764vGK54kzE-o/s1600/Spring+pins+%252B+hijab+accessories+%252B+hijab+pins+%252B+flower+pins.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710512594401546498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipx-eos_GoEWc90Wa2NEM4S2_AXzpj2XvcrTvy0nzf32RprUa4_7Q_b_sgdPR80q8Z5P-uJgBY2EhHtGn_gfNheYNNkmLy5yhsfUg_TaAf-Bi45fXf5zF3yVOpe5HM7RP764vGK54kzE-o/s400/Spring+pins+%252B+hijab+accessories+%252B+hijab+pins+%252B+flower+pins.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdosrkU7COOUMRl6ERr7HXZ5iTvm5MY3c0VWbJiU8aYRMlYHeyLzFYxwdo7bKWA2b6SCtxooZOBc_46d1XIKmCS0vTvcXovehja0OmPFReIm4EZzWRji0EXyjMXNNaEBfwpg503apGjRU/s1600/Spring+pins+%252B+hijab+accessories+%252B+hijab+pins+%252B+flower+pins+2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710512585268081154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdosrkU7COOUMRl6ERr7HXZ5iTvm5MY3c0VWbJiU8aYRMlYHeyLzFYxwdo7bKWA2b6SCtxooZOBc_46d1XIKmCS0vTvcXovehja0OmPFReIm4EZzWRji0EXyjMXNNaEBfwpg503apGjRU/s400/Spring+pins+%252B+hijab+accessories+%252B+hijab+pins+%252B+flower+pins+2.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" /></a>Pins offer a great opportunity to be creative, if you can't or don't want to pay more for a Pin, you can make use of your imagination and make our own, there are a lot of things and methods to use but that will be the next post insh'allah :)<br /><br /><div>for now, delight your eyes with this beautiful collection of pins</div></div></div></div></div>

Spring Pins

Assalam wa leykum dear readers Hope you're doing good, this time I want to show you a beautiful collection of pins with flowers all insp...

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How The Quran Shapes The Brain

<div>by <a href="http://mohamedghilan.com/2012/01/12/how-the-quran-shapes-the-brain/">mohamedghilan </a></div><br /><div><br />“If it wasn’t for their political problems and constant fighting between each other, the Muslims would have been on the moon by the 1400’s” was the statement made by a non-Muslim professor in a 400-level undergraduate class on the history of science. It seems that the rate of discovery and advancement in science achieved by the Muslims was quite impressive and has yet to be replicated. What was it that they were doing that allowed for their fast progress?<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA3649kQXlap6RDSDZm8TLyBl6cqoWyMfANilWBOHbxa451BAlofrRunfGhni-Vs_NLym11CA4uw4TmX-9A7CMk38ctwDDXK7igu5ghtJFvNt4qDN7ZpqjqCmrFE6TFYoiyz14HosY3Xum/s1600/human+brain-+how+the+quran+affect+the+brain.bmp"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706963977033838466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA3649kQXlap6RDSDZm8TLyBl6cqoWyMfANilWBOHbxa451BAlofrRunfGhni-Vs_NLym11CA4uw4TmX-9A7CMk38ctwDDXK7igu5ghtJFvNt4qDN7ZpqjqCmrFE6TFYoiyz14HosY3Xum/s400/human+brain-+how+the+quran+affect+the+brain.bmp" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 399px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><br />The teacher in me immediately thinks about their education system, and the neuroscientist in me wants to examine the factors involved in shaping the brains of such a civilization. Interestingly, many Muslim religious scholars will say something about how the Muslims were the leaders when the Quran was the center of their education, and only when they abandoned the Quran that they lost their reign. The amazing thing about this is that while Muslim religious scholars are typically talking about spiritual and moral realities, there is actually a material reality to what they’re saying, which takes place in the brain.<br />A quick disclaimer here: The list of all that is affected in the brain by the Quran and how that can influence other functions is quite exhaustive. But in the interest of keeping it short, I chose some major areas to present in this article.<br /><br />Before getting into the brain and how the Quran changes it, one should be familiar with how traditional Muslim education took place. In case you’re wondering where I’m getting this from, it’s from reading the biographies of major figures of scholarship in the traditional Muslim world such as Ibn Rushd, Ibn Sina, and others. This is also based on my personal experience and what I have been told by some of my teachers.<br /><br />The very first thing taught to an aspiring student was the Quran, which had to be memorized completely. Unlike anything else encountered in spoken Arabic, Quran recitation is a very specific science. Local dialects of Arabic or different ways of pronunciation are not permitted when reciting the Quran. In fact, part of learning the Quran is learning what is called in Arabic taj’weed, which means elocution. The very first thing the student must do is replicate exactly how the teacher is reciting the verse. This refers to where individual letter sounds are being generated in the mouth and throat and where the tongue is to be placed exactly. Once this is done, the student writes the verse on a wooden board in the Othamni script, which follows different spelling rules than regular Arabic writing. The student then takes his board and goes away to memorize the verse. A typical memorization session for a beginner starts with repeating one verse multiple times as it is read on the board to also memorize how it is spelled using the Othmani script. The next day the student reviews the verse several times before returning to the teacher to receive the following verse. After repeating it with the teacher to ensure exact replication of sound and pronunciation, the student writes the new verse and goes away to begin a new memorization session. The third day begins with reviewing the first verse one final time, followed by the second verse several times before going to receive the third verse. On the fourth day the first verse is not reviewed anymore as it would have taken hold in memory, and the second verse takes its place for being reviewed while the third verse is repeated several times before going to receive the fourth verse. At the end of the week is a complete review session for everything that was memorized in the previous days.<br /><br />As the days pass the capacity for memorization increases and the student is able to take on several verses or even pages at a time instead of only one or two verses. The writing using Othmani spelling continues, as well as the review sessions. Eventually, the whole Quran having more than 6,200 verses is memorized word for word with their specific pronunciation and Othmani spelling. Now the hard task begins as the student works to review all the verses on a monthly basis so as to not forget them. This usually means taking the 30 parts of the Quran as it has been divided to facilitate memorization, and reviewing one part everyday until all 30 have been recited by the end of the month.<br /><br />It should be mentioned here that the Quran has 10 different modes of recitation. This refers to the placement of diacritical marks on the words and how certain words are pronounced. Some students take this task on and memorize the Quran in all the different modes of recitation, which requires a very careful attention to where the pronunciations are different so they’re not confused with each other given how subtle they sometimes can be.<br /><br />There are a couple of important qualities about the Quran that relates to how it sounds. Verses in the Quran rhyme and change rhythm often, which gives a pleasurable effect to the listener. Furthermore, as one recites, they’re supposed to sing it rather than simply read it. In fact, the very practice of Taj’weed (elocution) forces the reciter into a singing tone as they enunciate the words of each verse.<br /><br />A final note to bring up is in regards to the Arabic language and writing in Othmani script. Part of studying the different modes of recitation requires the student to write not only in an unusual spelling, but also to exclude the diacritical marks from the words. This would allow the student to learn the variations of recitation without having the diacritical marks visually interfere with their memorization of different modes of recitation. Moreover, the grammar of the Arabic requires the proper use of diacritical marks in pronunciation so as to not confuse things such as the subject and predicate. This means that the one learning the Quran must always keep track of how the words are enunciated so as to not alter the overall meaning of the verse.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgljhBPgCKjUd1wIjWCDIAZYE_4T7VKX_fE2AMUQzfFP4Ey99jHZSeFr2FqOZcVRTDc3FOKQ2cakLXpQjcts1fXojKybrlWWULIZcMHrUYx2chu84kXicLAYKT0gM5TclnudwkSUCcPeNqi/s1600/brain-regions.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706963974909761362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgljhBPgCKjUd1wIjWCDIAZYE_4T7VKX_fE2AMUQzfFP4Ey99jHZSeFr2FqOZcVRTDc3FOKQ2cakLXpQjcts1fXojKybrlWWULIZcMHrUYx2chu84kXicLAYKT0gM5TclnudwkSUCcPeNqi/s400/brain-regions.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><br /><br />How all of this relates to the brain is quite impressive. The brain is recognized to be a malleable organ that can change its connections and even its size of certain areas based on how active they become. Understanding how involved the brain is of someone learning the Quran using the traditional Muslim method can explain how they were able to achieve such success in their knowledge endeavours.<br /><br />While learning the Quran, the careful attention to listening and pronunciation of verses stimulates an area of the brain located in the temporal lobe. The temporal lobe is also where the hippocampus is located, which is the memory consolidation center. It’s also the brain region activated for processing of musical sounds such as the case when the Quran is recited. Moreover, it becomes involved when the student engages in handwriting exercises similar to the ones on the wooden board. Where this matters is that this is the part of the brain whose activity levels and capacities have been correlated with a person’s aptitude for learning new information. The more activation this area receives, and the more involved this activation is such as the case with the Quran, the better and more efficient it becomes in its functions for learning and memory.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWJFDgKS3r_TlCJtbkSBQAcE8eUUQK8gQwHjUA0DYhf3IRMxPVNnbeuf4Gbsb8Nn4Oi-Bjm82YMrmPDG2IDK0N6Rziby_zUWv_b1lZ_IcVmEMa3uhRL858Jbc8cPLqO8gQSb0V8OJAv3Mk/s1600/brain.png"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706963975125704722" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWJFDgKS3r_TlCJtbkSBQAcE8eUUQK8gQwHjUA0DYhf3IRMxPVNnbeuf4Gbsb8Nn4Oi-Bjm82YMrmPDG2IDK0N6Rziby_zUWv_b1lZ_IcVmEMa3uhRL858Jbc8cPLqO8gQSb0V8OJAv3Mk/s400/brain.png" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 229px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><br />The parietal lobes are also quite heavily engaged as one learns the Quran. The left parietal lobe deals with reading, writing, and functions in speech. It’s also the part whose activity is important for math and logic problems. The right parietal lobe handles speech tone, which is related to elocution. It’s also responsible for visuospatial relationships and understanding facial expressions. The front part is responsible for the sense of touch discrimination and recognition, which is active during handwriting. The back part plays an important role in attention. Both lobes are also activated during skill learning tasks. Overall, having parietal lobes that have been well activated translates to better logic and math-solving skills, eloquence in general speech, better ability at reading emotional states from facial cues, improved attention, and enhanced capacity for understanding visuospatial relationships. This last one can explain why Muslims were so good at astronomy.<br /><br />Other brain regions the activity of Quran recitation strongly activate are the frontal lobes and the primary motor cortex. The frontal lobes activity deals with higher order functions, including working memory, memory retrieval, speech production and written-word recognition, sustained attention, planning, social behavior, in addition to others. For example, as the student is reading the Othamni script, his brain must quickly decide on the proper pronunciation of the word, which without the diacritical marks means it must be distinguished from other possibilities that include not only wrong words, but also wrong enunciation depending on the specific recitation he’s using out of the 10 valid ones. The amazing thing about this is that the brain after practice will do these things without conscious control from the student. This trains the area of the brain responsible for inhibition, which is important for social interaction. Children with ADHD have been shown to have this area to be under-developed.<br /><br />Given the Quran’s content that for example includes descriptions of individuals and places, it activates the occipital lobes, which are involved in generating mental imagery. This brain region is also important in visual perception. Becoming active as a result of generating mental imagery indirectly improves visual perception capacities since the area activated is within the same region. The Quran is also rich in its content for history, parables, and logical arguments, all of which recruit different areas that become more efficient and better connected as they are continually activated due to the consistent review sessions.<br /><br /><br /><br />Putting all this together, it’s no wonder Muslims were able to make such vast contributions to human knowledge in a relatively short amount of time, historically speaking. After the aspiring student during the height of Muslim rule has mastered the Quran, his education in other sciences began by the time he was in his early teenage years. Given the brain’s malleable nature, the improved connections in one region indirectly affect and improve functions in adjacent locations. The process in studying the Quran over the previous years has trained his brain and enhanced its functions relating to visual perception, language, working memory, memory formation, processing of sounds, attention, skill learning, inhibition, as well as planning just to name a few. Now imagine what such an individual will be able to do when they tackle any subject. It makes sense how someone like Imam Al Ghazali can say he studied Greek philosophy on the side during his spare time and mastered it within 2 years.<br /><br />What was the Muslims’ secret for their exponential rise in scientific advancement and contribution to human knowledge? Literally, the Quran when it was the centre of their education system.<br /><br />Mohamed Ghilan </div></div>

How The Quran Shapes The Brain

by mohamedghilan “If it wasn’t for their political problems and constant fighting between each other, the Muslims would have been on the moo...

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