Page 144 - Allah's Miracles in the Qur'an

Allah's Miracles in the Qur'an

According to researchers, anger and hostility can also trigger the
production of proteins linked to inflammation in the blood. The journal
Psychosomatic Medicine suggested that the emotion triggers the produc-
tion of inflammatory proteins, which may in turn be causing the hard-
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ening of the arteries, causing heart disease and stroke. According to
Associate Professor Edward Suarez of the Duke University Medical
Centre in North Carolina, the protein interleukin 6 (or IL-6) is much

higher in men who are angry and depressed. High blood levels of IL-6
lead to atherosclerosis, the build-up of fatty deposits in the lining of the
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walls of arteries. According to Suarez, as well as factors such as smok-
ing, high blood pressure, obesity and high cholesterol, heart disease is
also linked to psychological states such as depression, anger and hos-
tility. 82
Another article, titled "Anger Raises Risk of Heart Attack," pub-
lished in The Times, stated that a short temper might be a short cut to a
heart attack, and that young men who reacted to stress by becoming
angry were three times more likely to develop premature heart disease,
and were five times more likely to have an early heart attack. 83
Scientists at John Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, found
that quick-tempered men are at risk of heart attack even if there is no

family history of heart disease. 84
All the available research shows that anger is a state of mind that
seriously damages human health. Forgiveness, on the other hand, even
if it comes hard to people, is pleasing, an aspect of superior morals, that
eliminates all the harmful effects of anger, and helps the individual to
enjoy a healthy life, both psychologically and physically. Forgiveness,
of course, is one of a form of behaviour by which a person can stay
healthy, and a positive virtue everyone should live by. However, the
true aim of forgiveness-as in all else-must be to please Allah. The fact
that the features of this sort of morality, and that the benefits of which
have been scientifically identified, have been revealed in many verses

of the Qur'an, is just one of the many sources of wisdom it contains.

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