Animal Sacrifice on Eid

Eid-al-Adha or Id-ul-Zuha or "Festival of Sacrifice" is an important day to celebrate the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son Ishmael as an act of obedience to Allah. People around the world sacrifice millions of animals during the month of Eid-ul-Adha to please God.

Sacrifice literally means “enduring the loss of something/somebody”. The act of Abraham can be seen as a spirit of true sacrifice as Ishmael was very dear and close to Abraham and there was certain degree of pain Abraham went through in this act.

Pleasing God by giving up something, which we are not attached to, is merely a joke. Slitting the throat of an animal, bought for few bucks, cannot be a sacrifice, as there is no love and attachment to that animal. It was bought/raised for slaughtering only!

Barbarous killing in the name of Sacrifice

How can Allah, whom we regard as compassionate and merciful, finds pleasure watching a helpless animal being slit with jaws and all four legs tied? Prophet has stated “La taqtolu bil-la iza’a” - if you must kill, kill without torture. He has also said: "There is no man who kills [even] a sparrow or anything smaller, without its deserving it, but Allah will question him about it [on the judgment day]," and "Whoever is kind to the creatures of God, is kind to himself".

Holy scriptures mention love and kindness to animals at numerous places:

Quran 22:37 – "Their meat will not reach Allah, nor will their blood, but what reaches Him is piety from you…"

Ibn Hajar al-'Asqalani (4:40) – "For each creature which has a wet heart there is a reward (for showing charity)."

Al-'Ajluni 1:458 - "All creatures are God's dependents and the best among them is the one who is most useful to God's dependents."

Ruthless Transport for Slaughtering

Even if people interpret the holy books and cherry pick the words for their self enjoyment, one of the main consideration of Halal meat is that the animal should be laid on the ground with ease and should not be mercilessly dragged to the place of slaughter. Representatives from PETA have observed the loading, unloading, transport, and slaughter of cows and buffaloes used for meat in India and they found that most meat produced under current standards is Haram and is against the Islamic teachings of kindness to animals. All conscientious Muslims must avoid this because proper adherence to halal methods is blatantly ignored.

Animal slaughter must be prohibited and meat eating should not be practiced in the name of religion. Let's celebrate this holy festival in the true spirit of peace and kindness.

We pray for mercy from God by showing no mercy to others...Disgusting!

Toothpaste Ingredients Reality

This is the long awaited article in order to understand our daily toothpaste ingredients. I could write only on the famous international and Indian brands like Pepsodent, Colgate, CloseUp, Babool, Meswak, Neem, Sensodyne and Signal (click to see photo). They should cover majority of the global toothpaste market. If your toothpaste is not one of these, simply check ingredients on the tube and know the possible hazards.

Surprisingly, the brand names like Babool, Neem, Meswak also have lots of chemicals. Only thing is they additionally got extract of some herbs which is not going to reduce the harms from other added chemicals. Some toothpaste only describe the herbal content but not the other chemicals used in the paste.

My aim is not to de-motivate oral hygiene. Neither am I trying to promote/demote any particular brand nor am I claiming that the used chemicals are not beneficial at all. I’m attempting to bring forward the possible risks hidden behind the strong marketing campaigns of modern toothpastes. The list below is not all inclusive and for indication purpose only. The RISKS mentioned vary between persons, doses, method of injection, concentration and various other factors.

Why should dentifrice have harmful chemicals obtained from poor animals? Companies would never declare the unhuman source of the ingredients. Therefore, tooth powder with natural constituents is always better and healthier alternative because use of finger additionally offers massage to the gums which can never be achieved by toothbrush.

Chemical	Claimed Purpose	Toothpaste Brands	Possible Health Hazards	Also used in/as	Usually obtained from/by
Benzyl Alcohol	Fragrant	Pepsodent	Irritating to the upper respiratory tract, Headache, Nausea, Vomiting, Dizziness, Drop in blood pressure, CNS depression, and death in severe cases due to respiratory failure	Inks, Paints, Lacquers, Perfume, Cologne, Soap, Shampoo, Nail enamel remover, Air freshener, Laundry bleach, Detergent, Vaseline lotion, Deodorants, Fabric softener	Fruits, Teas, Oils, Hydrolysis of benzyl chloride using sodium hydroxide
Calcium Carbonate	Abrasive	Pepsodent, Signal, Babool, Meswak, Neem	Kidney stones, Stomach or bone pain, Constipation, Headaches, Nausea or Comas	Cement, Chalk, Emulsion paints, Adhesives, Sealants, Decorating fillers, Ceramics	Chalk, Mining or quarrying
Calcium Gluconate	Anti Poisonous	Signal	Nausea, Constipation, Stomach upset, Renal plasma flow, Diuresis, Natriuresis, Vasodilation, Cardiac arrhythmias, Decreased blood Pressure, Bradycardia	Mineral supplement, Hypocalcemia, Treatment of HF burns, Hyperkalemia	Calcium salt of gluconic acid
Carrageenan	Stabilizer	Colgate, Babool, Meswak, Neem	Suppressing immune function, Probable Carcinogen	Shoe Polish, Beer, Processed meat, Shampoo	Seaweeds
Cellulose Gum	Binder	Pepsodent, Signal, Babool, CloseUp, Meswak	Hypoallergenic	Paints, Detergents, Textile sizing	Cellulose and chloroacetic acid
Cocamidopropyl Betaine	Surfactant	Colgate, Sensodyne	Allergic reactions	Shampoos, Hair conditioners, Hand soap, Bubble bath, Shower gels, Industrial cleaning Formulations	Coconut oil and dimethylaminopropylamine
Formaldehyde	Anti-Bacterial	Signal, Babool, Meswak	Carcinogen, Highly toxic to humans, Ingestion of as little as 30 mL of a solution containing 37% formaldehyde has been reported to cause death	Resins, Disinfectant and biocide, Tissue fixative and embalming agent, Photography	Catalytic oxidation of methanol
Glycerin	Humectant	Colgate, Sensodyne, Neem	Low toxic, Anal irritation, Burning sensation, Diarrhea, Gas, Nausea,  Stomach cramps	Liqueurs, Snus, Pharma, Soaps, Shaving cream	Byproduct of soap-making
Hydrated Silica	Abrasive, Thickener	Pepsodent, Colgate, Signal, Sensodyne, Babool, CloseUp, Meswak, Neem	Persistent, Bioaccumulative in wildlife and humans, Can damage tooth enamel	Paints, Varnish, Beer	Natural ore
Limonene (Orange Flavor)	Flavorants	Signal	Skin and respiratory irritant, treated as hazardous waste for disposal	Cosmetics, BioFuel	Hydrocarbon
Methylparaben	Preservative	Signal, Neem	When applied on the skin may react with UVB leading to increased skin aging and DNA damage	Cosmetics, Personal care products, Food preservative (E218), Fungicide	Blueberries
PEG-32	Binder, Humectant	Pepsodent, Signal, CloseUp	Contains toxins that affect reproduction, Probable Carcinogen	Toiletries	Synthetic
PEG-600	Thickener	Colgate	Carcinogen and contains toxins that affect reproduction. Slightly hazardous in case of skin contact (irritant, permeator), of eye contact (irritant), of ingestion, of inhalation.	Lubricant in tyre manufacturing, Plasticiser for sponges and synthetic leather, Paper softner,  Anti curl agent, Flux for soldering, Intermediate in resin manufacturing	Synthetic
Potassium Nitrate	Dentine hypersensitivit	Sensodyne	Coughing and shortness of breath, Skin or eye contact may result in irritation such as redness, itching and pain. If ingested, can cause Blue lips and Fingernails, Abdominal pain, Dizziness, Nausea, Vomiting and Diarrhea	Fertilizers, Rocket propellants, Fireworks, Gunpowder, Fire extinguisher	Combination of ammonium nitrate and potassium hydroxide
Propylene Glycol	Absorbant, Stabilizer	Colgate	Low chronic oral toxicity, Can produce slight transient conjunctivitis, Exposure to mists may cause eye irritation, as well as upper respiratory tract irritation	Toiletries, Pharmaceuticals, polyester compounds, Deicing solution, Artificial smoke, Paintballs, Coolant, Solvent	Propylene oxide
Propylparaben	Preservative	Signal, Neem	Hormone mimicking properties, Carcinogen (may cause breast cancer), Itching, Burning, Scaling, Hives and Blistering of skin in sensitive individuals	Cosmetics, Personal care products, Food preservative (E216), Fungicide	Plants, Insects
Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose	Thickener	Colgate, Neem	Hypoallergenic	Ice cream, Explosives, Paints, Plywood, K-Y Jelly, Laxatives, Detergents, Textile sizing, Welding electrodes	Alkali-catalyzed reaction of cellulose with chloroacetic acid
Sodium Fluoride	Anticaries agent	Pepsodent, Colgate, Signal, Sensodyne, CloseUp	Carcinogen, Developmental/reproductive toxicity, Endocrine disruption, Thyroid disease, Fluoride is more toxic than lead (5-10 gm dose for a 70 Kg person is lethal)	Pesticides, including fungicides and insecticides, Laundry scour, Desilylation, Glass frosting, Stainless steel pickling	Neutralizing the byproduct of superphosphate fertilizer
Sodium Hydroxide (Caustic Soda)	pH Regulator	Colgate, Sensodyne	Neurotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Irritation of the respiratory tract, Pulmonary edema, Severe skin burns with deep ulceration and permanent scarring	Detergents, Drain cleaning, Aluminium production, Caustic washing of crude oil, Paper making	Electrolytic chloralkali process
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SDS, NaDS)	Detergent, Surfactant	Pepsodent, Colgate, Signal, Sensodyne, Babool, CloseUp, Meswak, Neem	Eczema, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)	Garages as engine degreaser and to mop the oil strained floors, Shampoo, Shaving foams	Lauryl alcohol with sulfur trioxide gas and then neutralized through sodium hydroxide or sodium carbonate
Sodium Monofluorophosphate	Anticaries agent	Pepsodent, Signal, Neem	Developmental/reproductive toxicity	Osteoporosis, Fluorination for drinking water, Bactericide medicine and Flushing agent for metal surface	Hydrolysis of difluorophosphate ions with dilute sodium hydroxide
Sodium Saccharine	Sweetner	Pepsodent, Colgate, Signal, Sensodyne, Babool, CloseUp, Meswak, Neem	No food energy, leads to an increase in cell proliferation of the urothelium. Studies in laboratory rats during the early 1970s linked saccharin with the development of bladder cancer. Later studies could not find such evidence with humans. Who knows what comes next?	Canned fruit, Flavored gelatin, Dessert toppings, Diet sodas, Baked goods, Jams, Chewing gum, Candies	Anthranilic acid reacting with nitrous acid, sulfur dioxide, chlorine, and then ammonia
Sodium Silicate	Anticorrosive	Babool, Meswak, Neem	Irritation of mucous membranes, Burning sensation, Coughing or shortness of breath, Nausea, Vomiting, Can cause severe gastrointestinal irritation that presents with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea	Adhesive, Cements, Passive fire protection, Refractories, Textile and lumber processing, Automobiles, Drilling fluids, Detergent auxiliaries	Sodium carbonate and silicon dioxide react
Sorbitol	Humectant	Pepsodent, Colgate, Signal, Sensodyne, Babool, CloseUp, Meswak, Neem	Irritable bowel syndrome, Severe abdominal pain, Gas, Severe diarrhea	Sugar substitue, Laxative, Cosmetics, Chewing gums	sorbitol-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase, sorbitol dehydrogenase
Specially Denatured Alcohol 38 B	Solvent, Thinner	Pepsodent	Unpalatable but otherwise seems to be non-poisonous	Cosmetic Astringent, Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent	Mixing ethanol with a denaturing agent
Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate	Tartar controlling agent	Colgate	Toxicity is approximately twice that of table salt when ingested orally	Food additive as palatability enhancer, Detergents, Instant puddings	Sodium tripolyphosphate and a sodium salt
Titanium Dioxide	Dye, Opaque	Pepsodent, Sensodyne	IARC has determined that titanium dioxide is possibly carcinogenic to humans based on inadequate evidence in humans and sufficient evidence in experimental animals.	Sunscreen and UV absorber, Photocatalyst, Electronic data storage medium	Naturally occurring oxide of titanium
Triclosan	Antibacterial/Antifungal	Colgate	Endocrine disruption, Allergic, Reacts with the chlorine in the tab water to form chloroform gas and chlorinated dioxins, both known carcinogens	Pesticide, Deodorants, Shower gels	2,4,4'-trichloro-2'-methoxydiphenyl ether with aluminium chloride in benzene under reflux
Trisodium Phosphate	Detergent	Pepsodent	Chronic Toxicity is known but is not believed to be significant for low concentration	Automatic dishwashing soaps, Toilet bowl cleaners, Stain remover and degreaser, Flux for hard soldering	Sodium hydroxide with the filtrate of phosphoric acid and soda ash
Wintergreen	Flavorants	Pepsodent	30 ml of oil of wintergreen is equivalent to 55.7 g of aspirin, or about 171 adult aspirin tablets. This illustrates the potency and potential toxicity of oil of wintergreen even in small quantities. 7.07 gm can be a lethal dose for a 70-kg adult.	Rubefacient, Chewing Gum, Candies, Root beer, Glacial acetic acid, Antiseptic	Plants
Xanthan Gum	Binder	Sensodyne	Respiratory symptoms, Necrotizing enterocolitis, Allergen	Cosmetics, Drilling operation, Salat dressing, Suace, Frozen food, Ice creams	Corn, Wheat, Dairy, Soya
Zinc citrate trihydrate	Whitener	Pepsodent	Side effects include nausea, vomiting and upset stomach. Taking high doses may result in headaches, drowsiness, dizziness, hallucinations, sweating, lack of coordination, anemia, intolerance to alcohol, weakened immune system functioning and increased cholesterol	Dietary supplement, Oral care products	Zinc compounds