Saturday, April 30, 2011

Hack Your Car


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By Homer Ashburn

Remember the days when the car was a marvel of engineering? Pistons, carburettors, the internal combustion engine with nary a computer in sight? You stepped on an accelerator connected to several mechanical bits that opened and closed other mechanical parts and – bang – off you went.

Nowadays, while things like the engine still remains at the core of any automobile – some say the true heart of any car – practically everything that we take for granted in our well-oiled machine is made up silicon chips and transistors.

According to a recent article in the New York Times, the average family sedan has more than 30 computers that it needs to move you from A to B in some comfort and safety. Luxury vehicles apparently have as many as 100 of such electronic control units and it is said that the modern car has more lines of computer code than you would find in most modern fighter jets.

Why so many, you ask? Do we really need s many computers? It’s just a car. Actually, if you really look closely at your car in the driveway – be it a Proton or a Peugeot – you’ll find that all the things that we take for granted need some form of electronic control unit to make it work.

Like, for instance, climate control. The alarm and immobiliser is another. Throw in visible tech like parking sensors, automatic transmission, and central locking and power windows, and non-visible tech like ABS and engine management systems, and you can see why your car can’t run without computers.

Which raises the point of today’s article … a computer is a computer and, like any computer, it seems that your car’s computers can get the equivalent of a digital cold. Researches from the University of California, San Diego, and the University of Washington have found out that – thanks to all those processors – your car can get hacked.

Now, most of us, at one point or another, have experienced having our laptops or desktops hit by a virus that disables one or more of their capabilities. In extreme cases, the entire computer is rendered inoperable.  

Now, imagine that happening to your car following a virus attack or a hack. Those wonderful boffins from those two institutions of higher learning have apparently found out that – by hacking into a car’s computers – they could switch off the engine, lock the doors and even kill the brakes.

And it wasn’t some old junk they did their tests on. While they were discreet not to mention the model or make, they did say that the car in question was manufactured in …2009.

Right, at this point in time, you have to wonder how exactly the computers in your car can get hacked. After all, the last time you checked, you don’t use your car to surf the Net or to download educational stimuli of the adult variety.

Well, according to the researchers who hacked their way into that 2009 model car, there are a variety of ways of getting control of a car’s electronic processing unit. One way is via a car’s Bluetooth system. All it took the research team to hack the car was a CD with an extra code to a digital file, While you play the CD, the virus in the disc alters the firmware of the stereo system, which then provides the hacker the entry point to change all the other computers in the car.

At this point in the technical evolution of the car, a virus spread through your car stereo, can do quite a range of damage, ranging from some basic B&E (breaking and entering) right up to and including fooling around with a car’s acceleration and braking systems.

But, for now, hacking is still very much caused by having your car infiltrated by an external source, like that virus-laden CD and that diagnostic tool with the malicious software lurking in its innards.

How about in the future when cars are linked to the world wide web via WiFi? When cars start sharing information about traffic jams and accidents via ad-hoc car-to-car networks, and when the electronics help to make the hassle of driving as hassle-free as possible through things like crash mitigation software and automatic parking?

What happens then when your car of the near future starts becoming as affected by viruses, Trojans, malwares and the other nasties all too common in our home computers? When a hacker can, via a  line of code, convert your car into a murder tool?

It’s the ultimate …Criminal Minds/CSI/NCIS episode …murder by hacked automobile.
(The Star)

Friday, April 29, 2011

Glucosamine for Healthy Joints


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Are you at a stage in your life where your bones and joints are beginning to feel a bit stiff and sore? For a start, you could feel a mild stiffness in the morning followed by creaking, cracking joints. You could also find that sitting down or standing up seems to pose quite a bit of a challenge.

Well, at least you can take heart that you are not alone. It’s a fact that as we get older, our joints also age along with us. Increasing joint problems, especially those affected with loss of joint cartilage due to wear and tear and/or injury, is a key issue that affects any aging population.

Consider joint care and management earlier in life, especially from the peak age of 30, to ensure your joints do not let you down too soon as you get older.

Bones
Your bones make up the main skeletal framework of your body. Your skeletal framework not only allows you to stand and walk, but also protects your internal organs. Although bones are strong, they remain flexible because they are linked to each other at intersections called joints.

Joints
There are several kinds of joints:
  • Hinge joints – most notably in the elbows and knees. Allow the body parts to bend and straighten.
  • Ball and socket joints – the shoulder and hip. Allow twisting and turning.
The joint capsule is a tough membrane sac that holds all the bones and other joints together. Synovium is a thin membrane inside the joint capsule, while the synovial fluid lubricates the joint and keeps the cartilage smooth and healthy. Keeping the joints together and stable are the ligaments.

Pain, swelling and stiffness are likely to develop if the structure or functioning of a joint is disrupted. This could make it difficult to carry out everyday activities.

Cartilage
Covering the ends of the bones is a smooth, hard cartilage that acts as a shock absorber, and a joint protector. Tough, elastic and very durable, the cartilage allows the bones to ride smoothly and effortlessly over each other. Consisting of collagen and water molecules, the cartilage does not have a blood supply. The cartilage relies on its ability to absorb nutrients, oxygen and fluid in order to function without a blood supply.

When we move a joint, the pressure across the joint expresses fluid and waste products out of the cartilage cells. When the pressure is relieved, the fluid diffuses back, carrying a supply of oxygen and nutrients. In short, the health of the cartilage depends largely on the health of the joints.

A continued, progressive loss of cartilage can lead to serious discomfort and eventually, reduced mobility. Two key cell factors are crucial to the process of replacing the cartilage in the joint. Special cells called chondroclasts break down old cartilage and remove it from the site, while other cells, called chondrocytes, help to replace the cartilage tissue by using essential nutrients, which include glucosamine.

Understanding Joint Diseases

Arthritis
Arthritis refers to the inflammation of a joint or joints in the body. As a person’s age increases, so does the possibility of having arthritic conditions. Scientists and doctors in rheumatology have uncovered that there are over 100 different types of arthritis.

Osteoarthritis
The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis. Also known as degenerative joint disease, osteoarthritis is most prevalent in people aged 55 and older. It also affects more women than men. Osteoarthritis describes a condition where the cartilage cushion in the joint breaks down. This causes the bones to rub together, resulting in pain, stiffness and in some cases could lead to the formation of bone growths called spurs.

Osteoarthritis can affect any joint, but it is most common in the hands, feet, spine and large weight-bearing joints such as the hips and knees.

Although osteoarthritis is often attributed to general tear and wear associated with aging, it can also be caused by other problems like obesity, injury or repeated joint stress.

Rheumatoid Arthritis
Often regarded as the most serious, painful and disabling of all forms of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis is prevalent in people between the ages of 20 and 40. Three times more likely to affect women than men, rheumatoid arthritis occurs most often in the same joints, on both sides of the body, for example, the hands, wrists, elbows, shoulders, knees, ankles and feet. Symptoms include swelling, pain, redness and warmth.

Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when the synovial membrane becomes swollen and inflamed, causing pain and stiffness. Chemicals released in the inflamed tissue increase blood flow to the joint. This causes the joint to appear red and feel warm to the touch. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis have the tendency to favour the affected joints by holding them in a fixed position to reduce pain. This, however, causes the muscles surrounding the joints to stiffen and weaken. Tendons, which attach muscles to bone or to other muscles, may also tighten. As a result, joints may contract or change shape, and patients may eventually lose mobility.

Gout
Unknown to many, gout is a form of arthritis. It is often characterised as an inflammatory form of arthritis that causes severe, and often, sudden attacks of pain in some of the joints. Usually, only one joint is affected at a time, but the symptoms can come and go. Unlike the inflammation in RA, joint inflammation in gout is caused by the deposits of sodium urate crystals from excess uric acid, a waste product circulating in the blood.

Overindulgence in alcohol consumption, excessive meat, refined carbohydrates and sugar consumption, and obesity as well as reduced renal clearance of uric acid may increase an individual’s risk of developing gout. Gout is one of the most treatable forms of arthritis. With proper treatment and care, inflammation can be prevented entirely.

Osteoarthritis
A condition that occurs most frequently among older people, osteoarthritis can strike across various age groups, sex and geographic areas. It is also known commonly as degenerative joint disease or “wear and tear arthritis” due to its association with aging and injury. It is characterised in x-ray findings by decreased joint space and bony spurs.

Over many years and with activity as well as use of a joint, the cartilage in the joint may become frayed, injured and torn. In some instances, it may even wear away entirely. This allows the bones under the cartilage to rub together, causing pain, swelling, and loss of motion of the joint.

Over time, the joint may lose its normal shape. In addition, bone spurs (called osteophytes), may grow on the edges of the joint. Bits of bone or cartilage can break off and float inside the joint space. This causes more pain, damage and even swelling.

In advanced cases, walking or regular daily activities may become difficult or impossible. Synovial fluid may accumulate in the affected joint, giving it a swollen appearance. The synovial fluid generated from the soft tissue in the knee, tries to create more lubrication to make the joint surfaces smoother. A knee may feel unsteady, stiff, or have a sensation of giving out when weight is placed on it. Additionally, a feeling of knocking or grinding may be felt in the joint.

Unlike rheumatoid arthritis which also affects other parts of the body, osteoarthritis affects only joints and not internal organs. Compared to osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis can begin at a younger age, causing swelling and redness of joints, and may make people feel sick and tired.

Osteoarthritis can be divided into:
  • Primary osteoarthritis: commonly occurs with aging, as the water content in cartilage increases while the protein portion degenerates.
  • Secondary osteoarthritis: is usually due to another disease or condition, repeated trauma, infectious disease, gout or surgery on a joint. Obesity is a contributor, as excess weight put additional stress on the cartilage, particularly the joints in the knees and hips.
What are the common areas affected by osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis most often occurs at the ends of the finger, thumb, neck, lower back, knee and hip.

What are the common causes for osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis can be caused by any or a combination of the following risk factors:

  • Being overweight
  • The aging process
  • Joint injury or fractures around a joint surface
  • Stress placed on the joint from certain jobs or sports activities
  • Hereditary
What are the symptoms of osteoarthritis?
  • Stiff and painful joints are the main symptoms. The pain tends to worsen on exercising the joint and at the end of the day. The joint may not move as freely or as far as normal, and often “creaks” or “cracks” when moved. Occasionally the joint seems to give way because of weak muscles or loss of stability.
  • Symptoms often vary for no obvious reasons, with bad spells of few weeks or months being broken by much better periods. Changes in the weather (especially damp or rainy weather) can worsen joint pain for some people. Others may find it depends on how much physical activity they do.
  • Often, the joint appears swollen, due to hard bony esteophytes or extra synovial fluid (which will feel soft) while the muscles around the joint look a little thinner.
  • In some advanced cases, more severe and constant pain may develop and occur not only with or after exercise, but even at rest or at night. Certain daily tasks and activities may then prove difficult, depending on which joint is affected. Mobility may be affected due to pain on walking. These difficulties can restrict what you can do and limit your independence.
Note: Osteoarthritis is a medical condition and should not be self-diagnosed. To find out if you are at risk, please consult your physician for a medical check-up.

For most people with osteoarthritis, the best advice is:
  • Rest between activities
  • Decrease your speed
  • Do housework or gardening in short spells interrupted by short rests
  • Avoid sitting in one place for too long – get up and stretch the joints from time to time.
  • Break up car journeys with frequent stops to walk around
  • Avoid exercises that place excessive stress on the joints
  • Engage in a balanced fitness programme that includes walking, swimming, biking – all aimed at shorter distances – and stretching exercises.
  • Try to cut down on carrying heavy things/load.
 What mechanical aids can benefit a person with osteoarthritis?
  • Wearing shock–absorbing soles in shoes or orthopaedic shoes can help in daily activities and during gentle exercise.
  • Over the counter elastic supports can be used on affected knee and wrist joints, but it is important to check with a physician before using one.
  • A firm mattress also often proves beneficial
  • Canes, crutches, or walkers offer benefits to patients with advanced arthritis
Support Normal Joint Health with Glucosamine

Glucosamine is an amino monosaccharide derived from chitin in crustacean shells. Glucosamine is a naturally occurring substance found in cartilage that stores water. It keeps cartilage strong and flexible. As we age, natural production of glucosamine slows down, resulting in a deterioration of cartilage known as osteoarthritis. Glucosamine hydrochloride is a natural substance which stimulates the manufacture of substances necessary for cartilage repair and aids in restoring proper joint function. Thus, it helps to slow down the progression of osteoarthritis without some of the unpleasant side effects of conventional drug treatments.

The body requires the raw materials (glycosaminoglycans) which the joint cartilage requires for repairing joint cartilage tissue. The body requires these glycosaminoglycans (a polysaccharide)  to produce proteoglycans (mortar-like substances made from protein and sugar that are building blocks of cartilage that help absorb the shock of body movements and provide the joints with strength and elasticity) prior to the deposition of collagen in the joint. The availability of these glycosaminoglycans determines the rate of cartilage formation. Glucosamine provides the important glycosaminoglycans to the joints to help in cartilage formation.

Who can benefit from taking glucosamine?
Anyone who wants:
  • a relieve from joint pains and to protect the cartilage
  • to manage osteoarthritis
  • to reduce inflammation
  • an aid to  rebuild and rehabilitate damaged cartilage
  • an aid in recovery from orthopaedic surgery
How does glucosamine help athletes?
For anyone involved in sports activities, injury is a way of life. It does not matter if you engage in these activities professionally or for recreation, you are at risk all the time

Sports injuries may not just mean broken bones or sprained ankles, but also more insidious kind of injuries that can leave you with debilitating pain for the rest of your life.

For active athletes, the slightest injury can result in the development of “secondary” osteoarthritis. Athletes can lose functional capability in one or more joints very quickly, and of course may be subject to a lifetime of debilitating pain.

To perform at peak level, your joints must be at top condition. Given the availability of glucosamine hydrochloride without prescription, a smart athlete will take a proactive role in taking a glucosamine formula as a preventative measure and as an adjunct to improve joint health.

Is there any research update to substantiate the use of glucosamine in the treatment of osteoarthritis?

Positive Findings
A systematic review by the Cochrane Database found that there was evidence that glucosamine is both safe and effective in osteoarthritis.2 Glucosamine was found to be statistically superior to placebo in 12 of 13 trials in which such a comparison was made. In addition, in four trials comparing glucosamine to a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (unspecified), glucosamine was superior in two, and equivalent in two.

Safety
There is published research demonstrating that glucosamine at high intravenous doses in animals can interfere with insulin signalling. Some investigators have extrapolated these findings to suggest that glucosamine might increase risk of diabetes.14 However, development or worsening of diabetes has not been reported in clinical trials of oral glucosamine taken for up to three years, and 13 placebo-controlled, double-blind trials, each of at least 4 weeks in duration, attest to the safety of glucosamine, which was associated with no more adverse effects than placebo.2 Considered in this context, although there is no cause for concern, it is advisable for individuals on medication to consult with their physicians prior to taking glucosamine. 

Overall Conclusions
  • Research conducted on glucosamine since 1997 strengthens the evidence in favour of its efficacy for reducing inflammation and pain associated with osteoarthritis.
  • The effective glucosamine dose reported in the literature is 1500 mg per day.
  • Individuals taking medication should consult their physicians prior to taking glucosamine.

References:
2 Towheed, T. E., Anastassiades, T. P., Shea, B., Houpt, J., Welch, V., and Hochberg, M. C. Glucosamine therapy for treating osteoarthritis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2001;1:CD002946. 
14 Nakamura, M., Barber, A. J., Antonetti, D. A., LaNoue, K. F., Robinson, K. A., Buse, M. G., and Gardner, T. W. Excessive hexosamines block the neuroprotective effect of insulin and induce apoptosis in retinal neurons. J Biol Chem 2001 Nov 23;276(47):43748-55. 

Glucosamine is derived from shellfish? What is the exact source of the glucosamine?
Glucosamine is derived from shrimp

What potential beneficial effects do active ingredients have in the body?
Glucosamine offers a way to supplement the diet with compounds that may help improve range of motion and flexibility and improve joint and cartilage health.

Glucosamine is a precursor for glycosaminoglycans, which are the major component of joint cartilage that serves as a "cushion" between the bones of the joints. Glucosamine is the main building block for semi-fluids that lubricate joints.

Are there any other physical states/conditions for which use of this product is contraindicated?
There is no evidence of any contraindications with use of this product.  However, as with any supplement, those under medical care should consult with their personal physician before using this product. Anyone with a medical condition, including diabetes and hypoglycemia, should consult with a physician before using this product.

Are there any potential side effects from taking this product?
There is no evidence of any potential side effects from taking this product.  However, as with any supplement, anyone should consult with his/her personal physician before using this product.

What would be the consequences of consuming over 2000mg of glucosamine per day?
Glucosamine appears to be safe and well tolerated. However, consuming over 2000mg of glucosamine per day is not recommended. Extremely high levels of glucosamine can cause gastric fluctuations such as soft stools, diarrhoea or nausea. Recommended dosage is 1500mg.

When should this product be taken?  With meals?  Empty stomach?   Can it be taken with other dietary supplements?  How many capsules/tablets are recommended to be taken at one time?
This product should be consumed as two capsules twice daily, preferably first thing upon waking in the morning and again in the afternoon or early evening. The directions call for Glucosamine to be taken  wice a day because of its pharmacokinetics. If it were taken only once a day, for a good part of each day there would be very low concentrations of glucosamine in the body, undermining the cumulative health benefits.  Thus the usual recommended dosing schedule for all glucosamine products is two or three times a day. 

The direction to take it first thing in the morning stems from the pattern of joint stiffness and pain peaking in the morning: it makes sense therefore to take it as early as possible. 

The second dose would ideally be 8-12 hours later. At this time there is no information available to discourage use of this product with other dietary supplements.

What environmental conditions may decrease the active ingredients potency?
Environmental conditions such as heat, exposure to air, open cap allowing oxidation to occur can decrease the nutrient activity and potency stated on the label.

    Research citations used to support this document.

Ingredient
Research Citations
Glucosamine
Towheed TE, Maxwell L, Anastassiades TP, Shea B, Houpt J, Robinson V, Hochberg MC, Wells G.  Glucosamine therapy for treating osteoarthritis.  [Update of: Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2001;(1):CD002946.]  Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2005 Apr 18;(2):CD002946.
Glucosamine
Reginster JY, Bruyere O, Fraikin G, Henrotin Y.  Current concepts in the therapeutic management of osteoarthritis with glucosamine.  Bull Hosp Jt Dis. 2005;63(1-2):31-6.
Glucosamine
Anderson JW, Nicolosi RJ, Borzelleca JF.  Glucosamine effects in humans: a review of effects on glucose metabolism, side effects, safety considerations and efficacy.  Food Chem Toxicol. 2005 Feb;43(2):187-201.
Glucosamine
Dodge GR, Jimenez SA.  Glucosamine sulfate modulates the levels of aggrecan and matrix metalloproteinase-3 synthesized by cultured human osteoarthritis articular chondrocytes.  Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2003 Jun;11(6):424-32.

Keeping the joints healthy
Being proactive goes a long way in overall bone and joint health. This also enables us to reduce the risks of joint diseases like arthritis, and slow down wear and tear or degeneration of the joints.

It can range anywhere from a  degeneration or “wear and tear” of joint surface cartilage, accompanied by an overgrowth of bone (osteophytes), narrowing of the joint space or hardening of the bone at the joint surface and deformity of joints – broadly under the category of “arthritis”. Whether someone already has arthritis or not, it is important to try and keep the joints in good working order with regular exercise and a healthy diet.

Why exercise?
Exercise keeps the supporting muscles and ligaments strong and relieves pain. Furthermore, combined with a healthy diet, exercise helps keep weight under control, thus lessening the impact and load placed on the legs and the joints by the upper part of the body. Losing weight also helps relieve damaging pressure on the joints. And, contrary to popular belief, regular exercise, for example swimming, is beneficial for osteoarthritis since it improves the function of the joints and helps reduce pain. So the negative cycle of joint pain, inactivity, weight gain and worsening joint pain can be reversed to become:

More Activity ð Weight Loss ð Less Joint Pain
Because cartilage has no blood supply of its own, exercising the joint is important to ensure it receives adequate levels of nutrients. As the joint is moved, it compresses the spongy cartilage material, expelling the fluid it contains and allowing new, richer nutrient-containing fluid to enter. This is the reason that mild to moderate exercise is important to help maintain joint health and mobility.

Will exercises help?
Exercise is one of the best treatments for osteoarthritis. Exercise can improve mood and outlook, decrease pain, increase flexibility, improve the heart and blood flow, maintain weight, and promote general physical fitness.

Exercise is also inexpensive, and , if done correctly, has few negative side effects. The amount and form of exercise will depend on which joints are involved, how stable the joints are, and whether a joint replacement has been done.So if you want to move better, move often.

A healthy diet
A healthy diet emphasising fruit, vegetables, and whole grains can help you control your weight and maintain your overall health, allowing you to have better bone and joint health in the long run

Important nutrients to note would be:
Nutrient
Function
Sources
Calcium
Keeps the bones strong
Skim or low fat dairy products, fish with edible bones like sardine, nuts, seeds, whole grains and cereals.
Essential fatty acids like omega 3
Believed to reduce the process of inflammation and subsequent joint damage
Fish like Salmon omega, Tuna, Mackeral, Cod Fish, Flax seed, pumpkin seeds and walnuts
Antioxidant vitamins like A,C and E
Beneficial through their antioxidant function. May help tissue damage from inflammation
Yellow, orange and green coloured fruits and vegetables, nuts, cereals and whole grains. Vegetable oils, and low fat dairy products
Vitamin D and Magnesium
Plays a pivotal role in nutrition by  facilitating absorption of calcium , thereby helping to support strong and healthy bones and joints.
Also important in promoting bone mineralization in conjunction with other vitamins , minerals and hormones
Vitamin D : Fortified low fat fat or skim milk, fortified cereals, butter, margarine, liver and egg yolk.
Magnesium: Green, leafy vegetables, legumes, whole grain cereals, seafood, nuts and seeds.
Protein
Essential to form collagen which is fibrous protein found in bones, ligaments, cartilage, tendons and connective tissue
Protein rich foods include low fat dairy products, sea food, poultry, and eggs.
B vitamins
For overall nerve health and for healthy blood circulation
Whole grains, cereals, fortified breads, legumes, fruits and green leafy vegetables, lean meats, poultry, low fat dairy products, liver, seeds and nuts

What other ingredients can also be combined to have a synergistic effect with glucosamine?
Ingredients that can work synergistically with glucosamine to help rebuild cartilage, ease pain, reduce inflammation and increase mobility include vitamins C, A and E, omega 3 fatty acids, B vitamins , protein and minerals like calcium, magnesium and vitamin D.

Additionally, bioflavonoids (from acerola cherry, lemons, limes, oranges and grapefruits) that have been referred to as vitamin P are good sources of antioxidants that can neutralise free radicals damage. They also help to strengthen the capillaries that are so essential for healthy blood circulation

Note: If one does not have an adequate dietary intake of the above nutrients, then it is advisable to consider supplementation to complement one’s diet.

Control your weight
Excess weight puts stress on your joints, in your back, hips, knees and feet – the places where joint pain is commonly felt. Excess weight can also make joint surgery more difficult and risky.

Apply heat
Heat will help ease your pain, relax tense, painful muscles and increase regional flow of blood. One of the easiest ways is to take a hot shower or bath for 15 minutes. Other options include using a hot pack, an electric heat pad set on its lowest setting or a radiant heat lamp with a 250-watt reflector heat bulb to warm specific muscles and joints. If your skin has poor sensation or you have poor circulation, don’t use heat treatment.

Practice relaxation techniques
Muscle relaxation and deep breathing techniques can all be used to help ease joint pain or relax tenses muscles and joints.

Coffee
Coffee consumption of more than two cups a day may contribute to accelerated bone loss.

Medications
Certain medications, such as steroids and anticonvulsants contribute to bone demineralization.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Offline Dari Syaitan


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Segala puji bagi Allah, Tuhan semesta alam. Selawat dan salam ke atas Rasul junjungan.

Di sini, saya ingin berkongsi ilmu yang saya timba dari buku Offline Dengan Syaitan tulisan Zulkifli Khair dan diterbitkan PTS Islamika Sdn Bhd. Buku ini menceritakan  perkara penting yang wajib diketahui oleh semua muslim beriman. Ia memperincikan usaha iblis dan anak pinaknya, syaitan menyesatkan manusia.

Azazil adalah makhluk yang taat pada Allah. Bagaimanapun keengganannya sujud kepada Nabi Adam yang dicipta daripada tanah sedangkan dia dicipta dari api menyebabkan Allah murka lantas menggelar dia, Iblis (Penderhaka) dan menghalaunya turun ke bumi. Sejak itu Iblis bersumpah akan terus menyesatkan anak cucu Adam sehingga hari Kiamat.

Iblis menghasilkan lima keturunan: Tsabar(penghasut), Dasim (pemisah suami isteri), Al-A’war (penggalak zina dan liwat), Miswath (pencetus fitnah) dan Zaknabur (penggalak pembaziran masa). Syaitan pula merupakan anak pinak Iblis dari kalangan jin dan manusia yang disebut sebagai al-Khannas (penyerang hendap) dalam Surah an-Nas.

Syaitan yang mendampingi setiap manusia, termasuk Rasulullah s.a.w sendiri bernama Qarin dan dia mampu meniru perangai, suara, bahasa dan loghat manusia yang didampinginya. Roh manusia yang mati kembali ke alam barzakh, tetapi Qarin yang tidak mati sering merasuki tubuh orang hidup yang lain.

Iblis dan Syaitan menggelincirkan hartawan dan ilmuan dengan menghasut mereka supaya tamakkan harta dan ilmu. Keikhlasan pejuang dan sukarelawan amal kebajikan digugat dengan sifat riak. Penonton konsert amal yang melibatkan persembahan artis dilekakan sehingga meninggalkan solat dan bergaul bebas lelaki perempuan. 

Syaitan yang berpesta di waktu senja memujuk manusia turut bersantai di luar rumah sehingga terlepas solat maghrib. Rasulullah s.a.w pernah menasihatkan supaya pintu dan tingkap ditutup menjelang senja dan anak-anak dipanggil masuk ke rumah, serta segera berwuduk dan menyebut nama Allah (termasuk azan, bersolat dan membaca al-Qur’an).

Sekarang ini khurafat dan tahyul berleluasa – susuk dan tangkal pendinding diguna, kisah sihir, jin dan hantu diperbesar-besarkan di TV dan pawagam, buku cerita hantu berlambak di pasaran, surat fitnah dan emel berantai, ramalan nujum berterbangan di ruang siber dan amalan dari agama lain turut ditiru.

Bomoh menjadi perantara di antara manusia yang terdesak dengan syaitan. Manusia mencari bomoh kerana ingin mendapatkan kekayaan, kemenangan dalam pilihanraya dan perlawanan bolasepak, menghilangkan rasa gemuruh, menahan hujan turun di majlis perkahwinan dan di padang bola, menceraikan suami isteri, menundukkan pasangan dsb.

Jin dan syaitan sebenarnya tidak berkuasa. Semuanya berlaku dengan izin Allah jua, terutama bagi manusia cetek iman. Namun, terkadang manusia keliru bila amalan sihir itu bertopengkan al-Qur’an. Lebih buruk lagi  bila bomoh tampil dengan berjubah dan serban.

Pengamal sihir membaca jampi mantera tidak bersumber dari al-Qur’an. Terkadang dia memulakan jampi dengan ayat al-Qur’an tetapi kemudian jampinya dibaca dalam bahasa  tidak difahami. Ada yang membaca ayat al-Qur’an secara songsang, dan berada dalam keadaan tidak sedarkan diri ketika memberi perkhidmatan. Mereka tidak solat dan jarang dilihat mendatangi masjid.

Ramai dari kalangan kita terlupa filem magis dan seram seperti Harry Potter dan animasi Avatar mampu meninggalkan kesan ke atas akidah penonton. Tauke wayang dan syarikat televisyen menayangkannya atas dasar keuntungan kerana genre ini diminati ramai. Penonton yang tidak sedar unsur bertentangan agama di dalamnya mudah terpengaruh dengan kuasa sihir yang kelihatan lebih hebat daripada kuasa Tuhan. Jiwa penonton kanak-kanak yang mentah turut diracuni dengan kepercayaan terhadap kuasa jahat dan magis. 

Kupasan komprehensif terhadap sihir dalam filem Harry Potter menurut perspektif Islam telah dibuat oleh Abul Abbas Moosaa Richardson dalam syarahan berjodol The Evils of Harry Potter and the Kufr of Magic. Syarahan ini boleh dimuat turun di laman web www.troid.org.

Novel Harry Potter merupakan buku sihir yang digilai peminat sehingga diterjemahkan ke dalam 40 bahasa dunia. Harus diingat bahawa mengamalkan sihir hukumnya haram, tidak kira sihir baik (white magic) atau sihir jahat (black magic). Mereka yang mengamalkan isi kandungan buku Harry Potter terkeluar daripada agama Islam.

Syaitan menjerat kanak-kanak dengan filem kartun, animasi dan komik sehingga terlupa solat dan membantu kerja rumah. Pakaian watak kartun menampakkan aurat, dan pergaulan watak lelaki dan perempuan juga bebas. Anak-anak yang mentah tidak mengerti bahawa tindakan itu salah.

Syaitan juga menggunakan teknik Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) yang mencirikan rasa waswas melampau mengenai kesahihan wuduk, bilangan rakaat dalam solat, bilangan tawaf, saei dan lontaran ke atas jamrah dalam ibadah haji, dan yang lebih dahsyat kerasulan Nabi Muhammad s.a.w, kebenaran al-Qur’an, dan keEsaan Allah.

Syaitan menyebabkan manusia bertangguh-tangguh dalam bertaubat, mengerjakan solat, melakukan kebaikan seperti bersedekah dan amal soleh. Paling rugi bila mereka mati dalam keadaan kufur kerana tidak sempat memeluk agama Islam meskipun sudah yakin  kebenarannya.   
 
Syaitan memang sukakan pergaulan bebas, zina, liwat dan pembuangan bayi, yang  dijuarai oleh Melayu Islam. Begitu juga kewujudan rumah urut dan pusat pelacuran. Walau digempur berkali-kali oleh pihak berkuasa namun si pelaku yang dikuasai syaitan tidak pernah serik.

Syaitan memujuk manusia yang dilanda musibah dan lemah kepercayaan kepada Allah supaya mengakhiri derita dengan membunuh diri. Pun begitu, kita kagum dengan ketabahan masyarakat Aceh mengharungi keperitan dan kesedihan akibat bencana tsunami. Mereka tidak membunuh diri kerana kuat berpegang pada agama.

Peradaban Barat menjatuhkan martabat kaum hawa dengan memperdagangkan wajah, tubuh dan suara wanita dalam iklan menjolok mata, semata-mata kerana hendak melariskan barangan. Terkadang tiada kaitan langsung di antara model dengan barangan yang diiklankan. Tubuh seksi dipaparkan hanya untuk memuaskan nafsu mata.

Ejen syaitan ada dalam kalangan orang Islam dan bukan Islam. Kerja mereka ialah mengajak kepada kemungkaran dan mencegah kebaikan. Ayah Pin pernah menggegarkan Malaysia dengan ajaran sesat Kerajaan Langit. Ajaran itu  mencampur adukkan berbagai fahaman agama lain. Konon mengaku Islam, tetapi kata-kata, ajaran dan perbuatannya bertentangan dengan syariat Islam.

T.E. Lawrence a.k.a Lawrence of Arabia juga sering online dengan syaitan. Arkeologis, pemberita, perisik dan pakar bom zionis ini memimpin pemberontak Arab yang lemah iman dan buta sejarah agama untuk merampas Palestin dari penguasaan Empayar Uthmaniah Turki demi menubuhkan negara Israel, dengan bantuan Winston Churchill, mantan perdana menteri Britain.

Ejen syaitan dari Turki, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk dianggap `dajal kecil` dan `diktator yang disucikan` dalam sejarah. Berketurunan Yahudi Islam Doenmeh, dia licik merancang peningkatan kedudukannya di mata rakyat sehingga digelar `ghazi` (mujahid). Konspirasi perjanjiannya dengan Jerman menyebabkan kejatuhan Empayar Uthmaniah  Turki.

Sejak 1919, visinya ialah menghapuskan sistem khalifah dengan sistem republik, melarang wanita bertudung dan lelaki bertopi tarbus. Sebaliknya rakyat dipaksa berpakaian ala barat. Dia menggantikan tulisan Arab dengan tulisan Latin, mengubah masjid menjadi muzium, menggalakkan minum arak, zina, pelacuran dan rasuah wanita termasuk para isteri serta membakar perkampungan bangsa Kurdis Turki (bangsa  keturunan Salahuddin al-Ayoubi), dan memperkosa serta menyeksa wanita mereka. Sebelum mati, Mustafa Kemal sempat berwasiat supaya mayatnya tidak disembahyangkan.

Dalam sejarah kerajaan Islam Mughal di India, Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar yang dianggap wira oleh Barat sebenarnya mencipta Din al-Ilahi dengan mencampur adukkan ajaran Islam dengan ajaran Hindu. Ahli sejarah Pakistan menganggapnya kafir.  

Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, lahir pada 1839 adalah pengasas ajaran sesat Ahmadiah atau Qadiani. Mendakwa menerima wahyu daripada Allah menerusi Jibril, dia disanjungi pengikutnya seperti nabi. Kata-katanya diutamakan berbanding al-Qur’an dan hadis. Golongan Ahmadiah mempercayai Allah bersifat sama seperti makhluk, Nabi Muhammad s.a.w bukan nabi terakhir, Nabi Isa sudah wafat, roh manusia kononnya boleh berpindah kepada kucing dan anjing seperti hukum karma dalam ajaran Hindu.  

Di Malaysia, ajaran Ahmadiah muncul pada 1906 di Kampung Nakhoda, Batu Caves, Selangor. Walau diisytihar sesat oleh Majlis Fatwa Kebangsaan, mereka masih  berkembang di Malaysia Timur, Singapura dan Indonesia menerusi perkahwinan dan dakyah berterusan.

Salman Rushdie, warga India yang terkenal dengan novel kontroversi Satanic Verses, pernah menerima ancaman bunuh dari pemimpin Iran, Ayatollah Khomeini yang menawarkan hadiah wang tunai US$1juta ke atas nyawanya. Novel yang menghina Rasulullah s.a.w. dan al-Qur’an itu juga menerima anugerah berprestij antarabangsa Booker Prize. Seorang yang berfahaman mulhid (ateis – tidak mempercayai kewujudan Tuhan), kreativitinya membinasakan iman pembaca. 

Rasulullah s.a.w. pernah menganjurkan umat Islam menulis bagi menegak kebenaran dan  menangkis tulisan karut seperti ini. Baginda menganggapnya sama seperti  `lemparan panah yang tajam.`

Ejen syaitan paling utama masa kini ialah para pembangun laman porno, permainan Internet dan pengunjung yang seronok dengan chatting. Kunjungan ke chatroom memungkinkan pertukaran gosip sampah, denyutan `zina hati` dan seterusnya ke jurang maksiat, manakala permainan Internet pula hanya membuang masa. Sepatutnya masa itu diguna untuk menambah ilmu yang bermanfaat di samping mengetahui perkembangan berita yang penting lagi besar impaknya kepada masyarakat, negara dan dunia. 

Syaitan juga menyesatkan manusia dengan arak yang merupakan ibu segala kejahatan. Bila arak menguasai fikiran, banyak perkara buruk boleh berlaku, termasuk zina, liwat, malah pembunuhan dan syirik. Bagi mengelakkan diri daripada menjadi mangsa al-khannas (syaitan bertopengkan manusia), wanita tidak patut menjadi hamba fesyen serba seksi. Batas aurat mesti dijaga. Ketebalan dan labuh pakaian serta tudung mesti mengikut ketetapan Allah. 

Meskipun Barat menuduh Islam meletakkan wanita di kelas dua, sebenarnya Islamlah yang memuliakan wanita sehingga dikatakan “syurga berada di bawah tapak kaki ibu.” Khadijah binti Khuwailid, isteri pertama kesayangan Rasulullah s.a.w. amat berjasa dalam membela Islam di peringkat awalnya. Sementara itu, Asiah yang mengasuh Nabi Musa ketika bayi sangat dimuliakan oleh Allah sekalipun dia bersuamikan Firaun, lelaki ejen syaitan.

Rakan sekutu syaitan ialah dajal. Menurut salah satu hadis Imam Muslim, dajal akan muncul dengan 70,000 Yahudi Isfahan. Dia yang dianggap `penyelamat` orang Yahudi merupakan ancaman bagi orang Islam. Dia bakal menguasai seluruh dunia, kecuali Makkah dan Madinah (yang dikawal malaikat), dengan proksinya yang terdiri dari kalangan jin dan manusia.

Harga makanan yang melambung dan kadar pengangguran yang tinggi membolehkan dajal menguji orang beriman dengan tawaran makanan dan pekerjaan, asal sahaja sanggup menjadi pengikutnya. Demi menyelamatkan diri daripada ancaman dajal, Rasulullah s.a.w menganjurkan pembacaan 10 ayat pertama Surah Al Kahfi setiap hari.

Orang Islam mesti menjaga diri dengan perisian anti syaitan berupa doa perlindungan yang dibaca sebanyak mungkin, tidak kira di mana sahaja kita berada. Buatlah permohonan mengenai apa sahaja secara langsung dengan Allah, bukan melalui pihak ketiga seperti bomoh dan ahli astrologi.

Di sisi Allah tidak ada manusia yang hina atau kotor. Sesiapa sahaja boleh berkomunikasi dengan-Nya. Yang dipentingkan-Nya hanyalah hati yang jujur, bukan keadaan jasmani manusia itu sendiri.  Berbeza keadaannya dengan manusia yang ditunggangi syaitan. Mereka berakal lemah dan melihat semua kejahatan itu nikmat belaka.

Sentiasa online dengan Allah setiap hari menerusi solat Tahajud, doa, bacaan al-Qur’an, zikir dan wirid, istighfar, selawat, sedekah dan solat fardu pada awal waktu walau di mana jua kita berada dengan penuh khusyuk dan konsisten. Solat mesti ditunaikan walaupun berhadapan kesukaran. Selain itu, refresh setiap tahun dengan puasa bulan Ramadan dan pembayaran zakat yang ikhlas. Sekali seumur hidup, jika berkemampuan refresh keimanan dengan ibadah haji.        
 
Jika mahu berjaya dalam kerjaya, lakukan tugas dengan bersungguh-sungguh dan selebihnya berserah pada Allah. Solat fardu tidak boleh ditinggalkan kerana ia merupakan  tunjang kehidupan. Tanggungjawab ke atas ibu bapa harus juga dipikul di samping bersedekah.

Nafsu, terutama nafsu amarah dan syahwat sering dipergunakan oleh syaitan bagi menyesatkan manusia. Kerana itu nafsu perlu ditundukkan dengan mujahadah berpuasa sunat, solat berjemaah, dan bersahabat dengan mereka yang baik agamanya. Akal pula dirawat dengan menghadiri majlis ilmu, tazkirah dan membaca buku.

Sebenarnya terdapat banyak laman web ilmu di Internet. Dr. Yusuf Estes, seorang bekas paderi Kristian dan ahli muzik yang kini menjadi pendakwah dan sarjana Islam, membina lebih daripada 100 laman web mengenai Islam. Beliau melakukan demikian demi  menangkis dakyah musuh Islam yang menyeleweng, sesat lagi menyesatkan seperti yang dilakukan oleh www.answering-islam.org. Antara laman web yang diusahakan oleh Dr. Yusuf Estes ialah:
http://www.yusufestes.com dan banyak lagi.    

Orang berilmu membina laman blog taqwa di dalam hati. Mereka bersikap kritis terhadap apa jua yang kelihatan `luar biasa, ajaib dan ilmu kebal`. Kelebihan luar biasa yang dapat diulang secara sengaja lazimnya adalah sihir, sekalipun keupayaan luar biasa itu dilihat ada pada orang yang berperawakan seperti tuan guru, ataupun pak kiyai. Oleh itu delete sihir dan klik pula zikir. 

Nabi Adam dan isterinya terkeluar dari syurga dan diperintah turun ke bumi akibat termakan pujuk rayu `penasihat kelas pertama` iaitu Iblis. Oleh itu kita mesti melindungi diri dan keluarga daripada gangguan anak pinaknya, syaitan dengan mengamalkan ayat Kursi, dan `melontarkan jamrah` di permulaan setiap urusan dengan ucapan Bismillah dan doa perlindungan.

Kemuncak gangguan syaitan ialah ketika manusia sedang nazak berhadapan dengan maut. Orang sedang nazak yang sepanjang hidupnya sentiasa online dengan Allah dan melakukan perkara baik, pasti menerima rahmat Allah dan secara automatik dapat offline dari pujukan syaitan yang ingin menggelincirkannya dari landasan Islam. 

Sebaliknya, orang nazak yang selalu online dengan hantu syaitan akan mengikuti seruannya dan mati secara Nasrani atau Yahudi.

Ketika di Padang Mahsyar, semua catatan amalan, sama ada baik atau buruk dapat ditonton oleh seluruh manusia, sejak dari Nabi Adam hingga ke akhir zaman. Catatan itu cukup lengkap dalam bentuk audio dan video, malah mungkin lebih hebat daripada itu.

Bagi mengelakkan diri daripada menghadapi keadaan yang memalukan itu, maka setiap mukmin patut saling ingat memperingatkan supaya kita dimatikan dalam keadaan beriman. Dengan itu kita akan merasai kebahagiaan ketika hadir face-to-face dengan Allah yang serba Sempurna.