Qur’ānic Concept of Divine Mercy Projected through the Pairs of Divine Attributes: A Criterion for Social Amelioration

This paper intends to discuss Qur’ānic concept of Divine Mercy in the light of couples of Divine Attributes mentioned at the end of verses in order to study what standards have been given for the best human conduct and how we may extract guideline and principles for communal amelioration acquiring well-balanced social rhythm. Conversely, what are the conditions and prerequisites that are responsible to make a person deserving and worthy of Divine Mercy as advised by Qur’ānic verses from within the domain of selected pairs. This paper desires to estimate the hypothesis that Divine Mercy gives rise to the better understanding leading towards broad spectrum of the subject theme where social betterment is greatly concerned. Employing analytical method, we may be able to know multiple dimensions regarding human life and its rectification. This study concludes that from the universal message of Divine Mercy each pair demonstrates its unique communication, which may cause to find the details for social amelioration as well as practical evidences concerning the better social milieu, instead of just concentrating upon theories and revolving around the ideas in relation to the concept of mercy. This communication finds that how these pairs mutually addressed the humanity to educate them commendable conduct along with preventive measures, for praiseworthy living. It is recommended that this discourse will provide a data from Islamic weltanschauung concerning Divine Mercy projecting an exclusive comparative stance towards different thoughts and religions.

Peripheral Arterial Disease in Hiv Positive and Negative Subjects at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi

Aim: To determine the prevalence of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) amongst HIV positive patients and HIV negative subjects and associated risk factors at Aga Khan Hospital Nairobi Design:Cross-sectional descriptive study Patients and Setting:A group of 125 HIV positive and 120 HIV negative subjects aged between 40 – 70 years were included in the study. HIV negative subjects were sampled from HIV positive patients attending the HIV outpatient clinic while HIV negative subjects were sampled from blood donor unit at theAga KhanUniversityHospital. Methodology: Two separate convenient samples were selected for the study. The first sample was a group of 125 HIV positive subjects aged between 40 -70 years attending the HIV outpatient clinic. The second sample was a group of 120 HIV negative subjects aged between 40 – 70 years selected from the blood donor unit. All subjects underwent clinical evaluation and measurement of ankle brachial index (ABI). A questionnaire was also administered to all subjects. Analysis was then performed to determine the prevalence of peripheral arterial disease and for the risk factors contributing to PAD in the two populations. Results: The prevalence of PAD in the HIV study population was 19.2% and in the HIV negative population was 7.5%. In the bivariate analysis, diabetes was the only predictor of PAD amongst the HIV negative group while in the HIV positive group, the log-viral load and low CD4 count were the only statistically significant predictors of PAD. In the multivariate analysis, factors that were significantly associated with PAD in the HIV negative group were: diabetes [OR 13 (2.5 – 76.1)] and smoking-pack-years [OR 1.09 (1.01 – 1.19)]. However in the HIV positive group, body mass index [OR 1.15(1.03 -1.29)], hypertension [OR 3.3 (1.01-10.8)] and CD4 count [OR 0.995 (0.992-0.998)] were the significant associations. Conclusion:Prevalence of PAD in the HIV population was higher than has been reported in both the general population and in the HIV negative population in this study.