Showing posts with label Faith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Faith. Show all posts

11.03.2014

Cleaning up and out

Assalamu Alaikum.




I spent 6 hours yesterday organizing and cleaning on Sunday and although I was quite exhausted it felt amazing when I was done- to look at everything and feel satisfied with having completed it.

My hubby spent the 6 hours cooking for the kids and I, and appeasing them with cartoons and playing with them. It was truly amazing Alhamdulilah! He has been helping a lot lately, and we are actually working together as a team!

My 3rd child (DD* Darling Daughter) is turning 4 today (as it is 1 am ) I can not believe how the time has passed SubhanAllah!

Just got done watching "Super juice me" and I really want to change my lifestyle. Last year I was eating mostly vegan and lost 60 pounds and have kept it off Alhamdulilah (28 pounds of which was birth weight from twins )

Alhamdulilah things are going better! and Bismillah InshAllah they continue to get better


Assalamu Alaikum!

11.28.2009

Question of hijab. Supression or Liberation: An article feat video





"Why do Muslim women have to cover their heads?" This question is one which is asked by Muslim and non-Muslim alike. For many women it is the truest test of being a Muslim.

The answer to the question is very simple - Muslim women observe HIJAB (covering the head and the body) because Allah has told them to do so.

"O Prophet, tell your wives and daughters and the believing women to draw their outer garments around them (when they go out or are among men). That is better in order that they may be known (to be Muslims) and not annoyed..." [Noble Quran 33:59]

Other secondary reasons include the requirement for modesty in both men and women. Both will then be evaluated for intelligence and skills instead of looks and sexuality. An Iranian school girl is quoted as saying, "We want to stop men from treating us like sex objects, as they have always done. We want them to ignore our appearance and to be attentive to our personalities and mind. We want them to take us seriously and treat us as equals and not just chase us around for our bodies and physical looks." A Muslim woman who covers her head is making a statement about her identity. Anyone who sees her will know that she is a Muslim and has a good moral character. Many Muslim women who cover are filled with dignity and self esteem; they are pleased to be identified as a Muslim woman. As a chaste, modest, pure woman, she does not want her sexuality to enter into interactions with men in the smallest degree. A woman who covers herself is concealing her sexuality but allowing her femininity to be brought out.

The question of Hijab for Muslim women has been a controversy for centuries and will probably continue for many more. Some learned people do not consider the subject open to discussion and consider that covering the face is required, while a majority are of the opinion that it is not required. A middle line position is taken by some who claim that the instructions are vague and open to individual discretion depending on the situation. The wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) were required to cover their faces so that men would not think of them in sexual terms since they were the "Mothers of the Believers," but this requirement was not extended to other women.

The word "Hijab" comes from the Arabic word "hajaba" meaning to hide from view or conceal. In the present time, the context of Hijab is the modest covering of a Muslim woman. The question now is what is the extent of the covering? The Quran says:

"Say to the believing man that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that will make for greater purity for them; and Allah is well acquainted with all that they do. And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; and that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what must ordinarily appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands..." [Noble Quran 24:30-31]

These verses from the Quran contain two main injunctions:

A woman should not show her beauty or adornments except what appears by uncontrolled factors such as the wind blowing her clothes, and

the head covers should be drawn so as to cover the hair, the neck and the bosom.

Islam has no fixed standard as to the style of dress or type of clothing that Muslims must wear. However, some requirements must be met. The first of these requirements is the parts of the body which must be covered. Islam has two sources for guidance and rulings: first, the Quran, the revealed word of Allah and secondly, the Hadith or the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) who was chosen by Allah to be the role model for mankind. The following is a Tradition of the Prophet:

"Ayshah reported that Asma' the daughter of Abu Bakr came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) while wearing thin clothing. He approached her and said: 'O Asma'! When a girl reaches the menstrual age, it is not properthat anything should remain exposed except this and this. He pointed to theface and hands." [Abu Dawud]

The second requirement is looseness. The clothing must be loose enough so as not to describe the shape of the woman's body. One desirable way to hide the shape of the body is to wear a cloak over other clothes. However, if the clothing is loose enough, an outer garment is not necessary. Thickness is the third requirement. The clothing must be thick enough so as not to show the color of the skin it covers or the shape of the body. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) stated that in later generations of his Ummah there would be

"women who would be dressed but naked and on top of their heads (what looks like) camel humps. Curse them for they are truly cursed." [Muslim]

Another requirement is an over-all dignified appearance. The clothing should not attract men's attention to the woman. It should not be shiny and flashy so that everyone notices the dress and the woman. In addition there are other requirements:

Women must not dress so as to appear as men.

"Ibn Abbas narrated: 'The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) cursed the men who appear like women and the women who appear like men.'" [Bukhari]

Women should not dress in a way similar to the unbelievers.

The clothing should be modest, not excessively fancy and also not excessively ragged to gain others admiration or sympathy.

Often forgotten is the fact that modern Western dress is a new invention. Looking at the clothing of women as recently as seventy years ago, we see clothing similar to Hijab. These active and hard-working women of the West were not inhibited by their clothing which consisted of long, full dresses and various types of head covering. Muslim women who wear Hijab do not find it impractical or interfering with their activities in all levels and walks of life. Hijab is not merely a covering dress but more importantly, it is behavior, manners, speech and appearance in public. Dress is only one facet of the total being. The basic requirement of the Muslim woman's dress apply to the Muslim man's clothing with the difference being mainly in degree. Modesty requires that the area between the navel and the knee be covered in front of all people except the wife. The clothing of men should not be like the dress of women, nor should it be tight or provocative. A Muslim should dress to show his identity as a Muslim. Men are not allowed to wear gold or silk. However, both are allowed for women.

For both men and women, clothing requirements are not meant to be a restriction but rather a way in which society will function in a proper, Islamic manner.

III&E Brochure Series
(Published by The Institute of Islamic Information and Education (III&E) and reproduced in electronic form by Islamic Academy for Scientific Research with permission)



A more in depth look at marriage in Islam Part 1

*This article is not of my own. It belongs to this site> http://www.jannah.org/sisters/marr.html


MARRIAGE IN ISLAM.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Islam, unlike other religions is a strong advocate of marriage. There is no place for celibacy like, for example the Roman Catholic priests and nuns. The prophet (pbuh) has said "there is no celibacy in Islam.

Marriage is a religious duty and is consequently a moral safeguard as well as a social necessity. Islam does not equal celibacy with high "taqwa" / "Iman". The prophet has also said, "Marriage is my tradition who so ever keeps away there from is not from amongst me".

Marriage acts as an outlet for sexual needs and regulate it so one does not become a slave to his/ her desires.

It is a social necessity because through marriage, families are established and the family is the fundamental unit of our society. Furthermore, marriage is the only legitimate or halal way to indulge in intimacy between a man and a woman.

Islam takes a middle of the road position to sexual relations , it neither condemns it like certain religions, nor does it allow it freely. Islam urges us to control and regulate our desires, whatever they may be so that we remain dignified and not become like animals.

The purpose of Marriage.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

The word "zawj" is used in the Qur'an to mean a pair or a mate. In general it usage refers to marriage. The general purpose of marriage is that the sexes can provide company to one another, love to one another, procreate children and live in peace and tranquility to the commandments of Allah.

* Marriage serves as a means to emotional and sexual gratification and as a means of tension reduction. It is also a form of Ibadah because it is obeying Allah and his messenger - i.e. Marriage is seen as the only possible way for the sexes to unite. One could choose to live in sin, however by choosing marriage one is displaying obedience to Allah.

Marriage is "mithaq" - a solemn covenant (agreement). It is not a matter which can be taken lightly. It should be entered into with total commitment and full knowledge of what it involves. It is not like buying a new dress where you can exchange it if you don't like it. Your partner should be your choice for life. One should be mature enough to understand the demands of marriage so that the union can be a lasting one. For a marriage to be valid certain conditions must be met.

1) consent of both parties.

2) " Mahr" a gift from the groom to his bride.

3) Witnesses- 2 male or female.

4) The marriage should be publicized, it should never be kept secret as it leads to suspicion and troubles within the community.

Is Marriage obligatory?

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

According to Imams Abu Hanifah, Ahmad ibn Hanbal and Malik ibn Anas, marriage is recommendatory, however in certain individuals it becomes wajib/obligatory. Imam Shaafi'i considers it to be nafl or mubah (preferable). The general opinion is that if a person, male or female fears that if he/she does not marry they will commit fornication, then marriage becomes "wajib". If a person has strong sexual urges then it becomes "wajib" for that person to marry. Marriage should not be put off or delayed especially if one has the means to do so.

A man, however should not marry if he or she does not possess the means to maintain a wife and future family, or if he has no sex drive or if dislikes children, or if he feels marriage will seriously affect his religious obligation.

The general principle is that prophet (pbuh) enjoined up in the followers to marry.

He said "when a man marries, he has fulfilled half of his religion , so let him fear Allah regarding the remaining half." This hadith is narrated by Anas. Islam greatly encourages marriage because it shields one from and upholds the family unit which Islam places great importance.

Selection of a partner:

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

The choice of a partner should be the one with the most "taqwa" (piety). The prophet recommended the suitors see each other before going through with marriage. It is unreasonable for two people to be thrown together and be expected to relate and be intimate when they know nothing of each other. The couple are permitted to look at each other with a critical eye and not a lustful one. This ruling does not contradict the ayah which says that believing men and women should lower their gaze.

- The couple, however are not permitted to be alone in a closed room or go out together alone. As the hadith says "when a man and a woman are together alone, there is a third presence i.e. shaitan.

- There is no concept of courtship in Islam as it is practised in the west. There is no dating or living in defacto relationship or trying each other out before they commit to each other seriously. There is to be no physical relationship what so ever before marriage. The romantic notions that young people often have, have proven in most cases to be unrealistic and harmful to those involved. We only have to look at the alarming divorce rate in the west to understand this point. e.g. the couple know each other for years, are intimate, live together and so on yet somehow this does not guarantee the success of the future marriage. Romance and love simply do not equal a everlasting bond between two people.

Fact: Romance and love die out very quickly when we have to deal in the real world. The unrealistic expectations that young people have is what often contributes to the failure of their relationship.

- The west make fun of the Islamic way of marriage in particular arranged marriage, yet the irony is that statistically arranged marriages prove to be more successful and lasting than romantic types of courtship.

This is because people are blinded by the physical attraction and thus do not choose the compatible partner.

Love blinds people to potential problems in the relationship. There is an Arabic saying: which says "the mirror of love is blind, it makes zucchini into okra". Arranged marriages on the other hand, are based not on physical attraction or romantic notions but rather on critical evaluation of the compatibility of the couple.

This is why they often prove successful.

Consent of parties.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

There is a halal arranged marriage and a haram one. It is OK to arrange marriages by suggestion and recommendation as long as both parties are agreeable. The other arranged marriage is when parents choose the future spouse and the couple concerned are forced or have no choice in the matter.

One of the conditions of a valid marriage is consent of the couple.

Marriage by definition is a voluntary union of two people.

The choice of a partner by a Muslim virgin girl is subject to the approval of the father or guardian under Maliki school. This is to safeguard her welfare and interests. The prophet said "the widow and the divorced woman shall not be married until she has consented and the virgin shall not be married until her consent is obtained. The prophet did revoke the marriage of a girl who complained to him that her father had married her against her wishes.

The husband/wife relationship.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

-The wifes rights - the Husbands obligations.

(1) Maintenance

The husband is responsible for the wifes maintenance. This right is established by authority of the Qur'an and the sunnah. It is inconsequen tial whether the wife is a Muslim , non-Muslim, rich, poor, healthy or sick. A component of his role as "qawam" (leader) is to bear the financial responsibility of the family in a generous way so that his wife may be assured security and thus perform her role devotedly.

The wifes maintenance entails her right to lodging, clothing, food and general care, like medication, hospital bills etc. He must lodge her where he resides himself according to his means. The wifes lodge must be adequate so as to ensure her privacy, comfort and independence.

If a wife has been used to a maid or is unable to attend to her household duties, it is the husbands duty to provide her with a maid if he can afford to do so. The prophet is reported to have said: The best Muslim is one who is the best husband.

(2) "Mahr "

The wife is entitled to a marriage gift that is her own. This may be prompt or deferred depending on the agreement between the parties. A marriage is not valid without mahr. It does not have to be money or gold. It can be non-material like teaching her to read the Qur'an. " Mahr" is a gift from the groom to the bride. This is the Islamic law, unlike some cultures whereby the brides parents pay the future husband to marry the daughter. This practice degrades women and is contrary to the spirit of Islam. There is no specification in the Qur'an as to what or how much the Mahr has to be. It depends on the parties involved.

(3) Non-material rights.

A husband is commanded by the law of Allah to treat his wife with equity, respect her feelings and show kindness and consideration, especially if he has another wife. The prophet last sermon stresses kindness to women.

The wife obligations - the Husbands rights.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

One of the main duties of the wife is to contribute to the success and blissfulness of the marriage. She must be attentive to the comfort and wellbeing of her husband. The Qur'anic ayah which illustrates this point is:

"Our lord, grant us wives and offspring who will be the apples of our eyes and guide us to be models for the righteous"

The wife must be faithful, trustworthy and honest she must not deceive her husband by deliberately avoiding contraception. She must not allow any other person to have access to that which is exclusively the husband right i.e. sexual intimacy. She must not receive or entertain strange males in the house without his knowledge and consent. She should not be alone with a strange male. She should not accept gifts from other men without his approval. This is meant to avoid jealousy, suspicion and gossip. The husband possessions are her trust. She may not dispose of his belongings without his permission.

A wife should make herself sexually attractive to her husband and be responsive to his advances. The wife must not refuse her husband sexually as this can lead to marital problems and worse still - tempt the man to adultery. The husband of course should take into account the wifes health and general consideration should be given.

Obedience.

^^^^^^^^^

The purpose of obedience in the relationship is to keep the family unit running as smoothly as possible. The man has been given the right to be obeyed because he is the leader and not because he is superior. If a leader is not obeyed , his leadership will become invalid -Imagine a king or a teacher or a parent without the necessary authority which has been entrusted to them.

Obedience does not mean blind obedience. It is subject to conditions:

(a) It is required only if what is asked from the wife is within the permissible categories of action.

(b) It must be maintained only with regard to matters that fall under the husband rights.

7.26.2009

What Nullifies Ones Faith? Fatwa: Islamonline.net

Own PhotographImage via Wikipedia



All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Dear brother in Islam, thanks for your question. May Allah safeguard us against the nullifiers of faith.

Beliefs dwell in the heart, but undeniably appear in one's practices. Thus, Iman (the Islamic faith) manifests itself in the Muslim's practices which usually reveal the degree of his faith. There are many inward and outward factors that contribute to its increase or decrease. Certain beliefs and acts contradict Islamic faith and thus a Muslim has to be aware of and totally estrange himself from being involved in them.

Responding to this question, AMJA online Jurisprudence Section, stated:

The nullifiers of faith (nawaqid al-iman) are those things that invalidate, falsify and negate it. Apostasy nullifies faith just as ablution (wudu') is nullified by ritual impurity.

The most important nullifiers of faith are:

1 – Associating partners with Allah in Lordship

2 – Associating partners with Allah in worship

3 – Associating partners with Allah in His Divine Names & Attributes

4 – Objecting to, looking down to or denial, rejection or making mockery of the rules of Shari`ah.

A person who nullifies his faith exits the fold of Islam, if he insists on his attitude after being informed and after the proof has been made clear to him.

Consequently, his marriage contract becomes annulled, and therefore, his wife becomes no longer lawful for him after his apostasy. If he dies on disbelief, all his deeds will be in vain as Allah the Most High said, (And whosoever of you turns back from his religion and dies as a disbeliever, the deeds of these people will be lost in this life and in the Hereafter, and they will be the dwellers of the Fire; they will abide therein forever.)(Al-Baqarah 2:217)

Moreover, his repentance will not be accepted once death has approached him, as Allah the Most High said, (Verily, for those who disbelieved after their belief, and then went on increasing in their disbelief – never will their repentance be accepted [because they repent only with their tongues, not with their hearts]. And they are those who are astray.)(Aal-Imran 3:90)

Furthermore, there is no inheritance between such a person and his Muslim family and relatives as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said; "A Muslim does not inherit from a disbeliever, nor does a disbeliever inherit from a Muslim." (Bukhari and Muslim) He also deserves the Divinely-ordained punishment for the apostate if there is a Muslim state that applies such penalty.

The Prayer of the one who has nullified his faith is also invalid for the same reasons.

However, these aforementioned rules and consequences of nullifying the faith do not apply – as we have said – until the textual proofs has been made clear to the apostate, he has been asked to repent, the misconceptions which have driven him to nullify his faith have been removed, it has been checked that the conditions are applicable and there is absolutely nothing to prevent this specific person from being declared a disbeliever.

The factors preventing a specific Muslim from being declared a disbeliever are many. Among them are: ignorance, falling under compulsion, holding improper interpretation, error and lack of intent.

Furthermore, establishing the proof against him is quite relative. The proof may be established against one person but not against the other. It may be established by one person and not by the other. It is not necessary when the proof has been established against a particular person that it will automatically be established against each and every Muslim in the world.

The basic rule in terms of establishing the proof is that this should be done by someone in authority, such as a scholar qualified to make ijtihad, or an a Muslim ruler, such as a Shari`ah judge in Islamic societies, and the like.

It is necessary to be highly careful in this respect, for it is less serious for a Muslim to err in judging an apostate to be a Muslim than to err in expelling a Muslim from the fold of Islam.

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7.05.2009

How To Make A Husband Happy

How to Make your Husband Happy

Sited From: http://www.themoder nreligion. com/women/ happyhubby. html

To help strengthening the Muslim families and spread the teachings of Islam in building families, the Muslim Students' Association at the University of Alberta prepared a extremely summarized translation for two books. The books are Arabic by Sheikh Mohammad Abdelhaleem Hamed. An Egyptian scholar, who graduated from the Islamic University of AlMadinah Al-Munawwarah in Saudi Arabia. The two books are:
1- How to make your wife happy
2- How to make your husband happy

These books exceed the traditional presentation of stating rights and duties to the 'Adab (good manners) and extend into application of these rights in daily life. The following summary highlights mainly the responsibilities or examples of what could or should be done. Every single item mentioned by the author is supported by evidences from Qur'an, Sunnah or the actions of the companions, but evidences are omitted in this translation. The following is the translation of the SECOND book.

This translation is copyrighted to MSA at University of Alberta. Feel free to repost it or reprint it by all means, provided that you do not make any changes, additions, or omissions without permission.

1. Beautiful Reception. After returning from work, school, travel, or whatever has separated you, begin with a good greeting

Meet him with a cheerful face.
Beautify and perfume yourself
Start with good news and delay any bad news until he has rested
Receive him with loving and yearning sentences
Make hard efforts for excellence of the food & having it ready on time.

2. Beautify and Soften the Voice

For your husband only, it shouldn't be used in front of non-mahram men (men who can marry you if you were unmarried)

3. Smelling Good and Physical Beautification

Taking good care of your body and fitness
Put on nice and attractive clothes and perfumes
Bath regularly and, after the monthly period, remove any blood traces or bad smells
Avoid that your husband observes you in dirty clothes or rough shape
Avoid prohibited types of ornamentation, e.g. tatoo
Use the types of perfumes, colors, and clothes that the husband likes
Change hair style, perfumes, etc. from time to time
However with these things you should avoid excessiveness and, of course, only act as such in front of mahrem men and women.

4. Intercourse

Hasten for intercourse when your husband feels compulsion for it.
Keep your body clean and smelling good as possible including cleaning yourself of released fluids during intercourse.
Exchange loving phrases with your husband.
Leave your husband to fully satisfy his desire.
Choose suitable times and good occasions for exciting your husband, and encouraging him to do intercourse, e.g. after returning from a travel, weekends, etc.

5. Satisfaction With What Allah (SWT) Has Allotted

You shouldn't be depressed because your husband is poor or works in a simple job.
You should look at poor, sick, and handicapped people and remember Allah (SWT) for all that was given to you
You should remember that real wealth lays in Iman and piety.

6. Indifference to Worldly Things

You should not consider this world as your hope and interest
You should not ask your husband for many unnecessary things
Asceticism does not mean not to enjoy what is good and permissible (Halal), but it means that one should look forward to the hereafter and utilize whatever Allah SWT gave them to achieve paradise (Jannah).
Encourage your husband to reduce expenses and save some money in order to give charity and feed poor and needy people.

7. Appreciation

By the saying of the prophet, the majority of people in hell were women because they were ungrateful and deny the good done to them.
The result of being grateful is that your husband will love you more and will do his best to please you in more ways
The result of being ungrateful is that your husband will be dissappointed and will start asking himself: Why should I do good to her, if she never appreciates?

8. Devotion and Loyalty

In particular in times of calamities in your husband's body or business, e.g. an accident or a bankruptcy
Supporting him through your own work, money, and properties if needed.

9. Compliance to Him

In all what he commands you, unless it is prohibited (Haram).
In Islam, the husband is the leader of the family, and the wife is his support and consultant

10. Pleasing Him If He Is Angry

First off, try to avoid what will guarantee his anger.
But if it happens that you can't, then try to appease him as follows:
1- If you mistaken, then apologize
2- If he mistaken then:
# Keep still instead of arguing or
# Yield you were right or
# Wait until he is no longer angry and discuss the matter peacefully with him.
3- If he was angry because of external reasons then:
# Keeping silent untill his anger goes
# Find execuses for him, e.g. tired, problems at work, some one insulted him
# Do not ask many questions and insist on knowing what happened, e.g.
1) You should tell me what happened?
2) I must know what made you so angry.
3) You are hidding something, and I have the right to know
11. Guardianship While He is Absent

Protecting yourself from any prohibited relations
Keep the secrets of the family, particularly intercourse and things that the husbands don't like other people to know
Take care of the house and children
Take care of his money and properties
Do not go out of your house without his permission and put on full hijab
Refuse people whom he does not like to come over
Do not allow any non-mahram man to be alone with you in any place
Be good with his parents and relatives in his absence

12. Showing Respect for his Family and Friends

You should welcome his guests and try to please them, especially his parents
You should avoid problems as much as you can with his relatives
You should avoid putting him is a position where he had to choose between his mother and his wife
Show good hospitality for his guests by arranging a nice place for them to sit in, perfection of food, welcoming their wives, etc.
Encourage him to visit his relatives and invite them to your home.
Phone his parents and sisters, send letters to them, buy gifts for them, support them in calamities, etc.

13. Admirable Jealousy

Jealousy is a sign for wife's love for her husband but it should be kept within the limits of Islam, e.g. not insulating or backbiting others, disrespecting them, etc.
You should not follow or create unfounded doubts.

14. Patience and Emotional Support

Be patient when you face poverty and strained circumstances.
When you face calamities and disasters that may happen to you, your husband, your children, relatives or properties, e.g. diseases, accidents, death, etc.
When facing hardships in Da'wah (imprisonment, getting fired, arrested, etc.), be patient and encourage him to keep on the path of Allah and remind him of paradise.
When he mistreats you, counteract his ill-treatment by good treatment

15. Support in Obedience to Allah, Da'wah and Jihad

Cooperate with your husband and remind him of different obligatory and voluntary worships.* Encourage him to pray at night.
Listen and reciting the Qur'an individually and with your husband.
Listen to Islamic tapes and songs individually and with your husband.
Remember Allah SWT much, particularly after Fajr and before Maghrib.
Share in arranging Da'wah activities for women and children.
Learn Islamic rules (ahkam) and good manners ('adab) for women.
Support your husband's activities by encouraging him, offering wise opinions, soothing his pains, etc.
Yielding some of your rights and a part of your time with your husband for Da'wah.
Encourage him to go for Jihad when needed and remind him that you and children will be in the preservation of Allah SWT.

15. Good Housekeeping

Keep it clean, decorated and well arranged.
Change house arrangements from time to time to avoid boredom.
Perfect of food and prepare healthy foods.
Learn all the necessary skills for managing the house, e.g. sewing.
Learn how to raise children properly and in an Islamic way.

17. Preservation of Finances and the Family

Do not spend from his money, even for charity without his permission unless you are sure that he agrees on this.
Protect his house, car, etc. while he is absent.
Keep the children in good shape, clean clothes, etc. Take care of their nutrition, health, education, manners, etc. Teach them Islam and tell them the stories of the Prophets and companions.

Finally, please make Du'a for the writer; Sheikh Mohammad Abdelhaleem Hamed, for the translator brother Abu Talhah and for reviewer Br. Adam Qurashi. Remember this is not a perfect translation so forgive us our faults and correct our errors.

Beauty 101:Tips For Muslimahs

Sited from :

http://sisters.islamway.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=175


For attractive lips

Speak words of kindness.

For lovely eyes,

Seek out the good in people.




For a slim figure,

Share your food with the hungry.

For beautiful hair,

Let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day.

For poise,

Walk with the knowledge that you will never walk alone.

People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived,

reclaimed, and redeemed;

Never throw out anybody.

Remember, If you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of your arm.

As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears,

The figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair.

The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes,

Because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.

The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole,

But true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul.

It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows.

And the beauty of a woman, with passing years, only grows!

Fiqh: Hair Dyes and good news for those who would like to dye their hair black for their husbands!!

Fiqh of Hair Dyes

Q:Is it permissible to use hair dyes, and which ones?

In the Name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,

It is permissible, rather recommended (mandub) to dye the hair of the head (and beard for men) provided the ingredients used in the hair dye are Halal.

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) said:

“Change the old age (white/grey hair), and do not imitate the Jews” (Sunan Tirmidhi & Sunan Nasa’i).

He (Allah bless him & give him peace) also stated:

“The best dye to change your old age is Henna (a red plant dye) and Katm (type of grass)” (Narrated by many Hadith Imams).

There is a difference of opinion between the scholars on whether the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) himself dyed his hair. However Sayyiduna Abu Bakr and Sayyiduna Umar ibn al-Khattab (Allah be pleased with them) did dye the hair of their head and beard, thus it will be classed as recommended (mandub), if not Sunnah.

The great Hanafi Imam, Ala' al-Din al-Haskafi states in his Durr al-Mukhtar:

“It is recommended for men to dye their hair and beard, even outside war”. (Durr al-Mukhtar 5: 271)

It is stated in the famous Hanafi Fiqh Reference book al-Fatawa al-Hindiyyah:

“The scholars have all unanimously agreed that it is a Sunnah for men to dye the hair of their head and beard with red colour. It is also considered a sign for Muslims” (5/329).

Pure black dye

The foregoing explanation was regarding using dye other than the colour of pure black. The ruling on using pure black hair dye will defer according to the reason one uses it for.

a) If a warrior (mujahid) used black hair dye in order to create awe and fear into the heart and mind of the enemy, then all the scholars agree that it is permissible (al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya, 5/329).

b) To use pure black dye in order to deceive somebody, e.g. a prospective fiancée or in order to get a job, then this (according to all) is impermissible.

The Companion Ibn Mas’ud (Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah said:

“Whosoever deceives us is not from us” (Sahih Ibn Hibban)

c) The third situation is when pure black dye is used for adornment, meaning the husbands or the wives use it in order to please the spouse. The scholars have differed with regards to its ruling.

Many Hanafi scholars have said that to use pure black dye is not permissible, even for the purpose of adornment and pleasing the spouse.

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) said:

“There will be people who will come later (in my Ummah) and apply black dye. They will not even smell the fragrance of paradise” (Sunan Abu Dawud, 2/578).

In another Hadith, the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) said: “Abstain from using black dye” (Sahih Muslim).

However other scholars including the great Hanafi jurist and student of Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam Abu Yusuf (Allah have mercy on him) permitted the use of black dye for adornment, especially the wife, to adorn herself for her husband. It has also been narrated from some of the companions such as: Sayyiduna Uthman, Sayyiduna Hasan, Sayyiduna Husain & others (Allah be pleased with them all) that they used black colour dye.

Imam Abu Yusuf also permitted it for men in order to adorn themselves for their wives. His words are:

“As I desire my wife to adorn herself for me, she also desires that I adorn my self for her” (Radd al-Muhtar).

Imam al-Haskafi states in Durr al-Mukhtar:

“It is recommended for men to dye their hair and beard, even outside war according to the sounder opinion. The sounder opinion is that the Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him) did not do it. It is disliked with black, though some said it is not”

My respected teacher, Shaykh Mufti Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) says:

“The final word regarding the using of black dye is that, it will not be considered unlawful (haram), although disliked (makruh). The prohibition in the Hadith will be understood to be confined in the situation when one uses it to deceive others”. (Taqrir Tirmizi, 2/354).

It should also be remembered here that the above discussion is when the dye is pure black. However, if it is not pure, rather it is dark and black-inclined; it would be permissible to apply it.

Also, the dying of hair will not affect the validity of ablutions (wudu) or obligatory bath (ghusl), because the coating is not considered a perceptible barrier.

In conclusion, it is recommended to dye the hair (for men and women) with other then pure black colour. To use pure black dye in order to deceive others is unlawful (haram), and totally permissible for a Mujahid engaged in Jihad. As far as using it for adornment purposes, it will be somewhat disliked (makruh tanzihan), although some have declared to be reprehensible.

And Allah Knows Best

Muhammad ibn Adam
Darul Iftaa
Leicester, UK

Foods Of Nabee Mohammed SAWS

Foods of the Prophet (s.a.w.s.)

And the earth hath He appointed for His creatures
Wherein are fruit and sheathed palm trees,
Husked grain and scented herb.
Which is it of these favors of your Lord
that ye deny?
Qur'an 55:10-13

The Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) was once reported to have said, "There are two kinds of knowledge: knowledge of religion and knowledge of the body." The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) frequently commented upon the nature and value of various foods and spices. These comments were noted by his wives and companions (r.a.) and remain available to us today.

Before presenting a selection of the Hadith specifically relating to health, it is necessary to reflect for a moment on the nature of some of these recommendations. To some people, the advice which follows may seem quaint, old-fashioned, or simply bizarre. Some may feel that a particular statement has not been or cannot be confirmed by scientific knowledge. However, all of the statements and actions of the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) are woven upon the nucleus of divine inspiration, and so do not admit of any error, inaccuracy, or amendment. A few illustrations will make this clear.

There is a Hadith that says that if a fly falls into a liquid while one is preparing to drink it, the person should first dip the fly completely under the surface of the water and submerge the fly totally before removing it. This advice seems very strange, if not dangerous.

Medically it is known that a fly carries some pathogens on some parts of its body (this was mentioned by the Prophet Muhammad [s.a.w.s.] 1,400 years ago, when there was practically no formal medical knowledge). But Allah has said that He created no disease without also creating its remedy, except death (meaning the decline of old age). Therefore, in modern times penicillin has been discovered, which is used to counteract harmful organisms such as staphylococci. However, Dr. Muhammad M. el-Samahy, director of the Department of Hadith at al-Azhar University at Cairo, Egypt, has written an article revealing the astute medical genius of this apparently mysterious advice.

Dr. el-Samahy relates that microbiologists have discovered that there are longitudinal cells living as parasites inside the stomach of the fly. These yeast cells, as part of their own reproductive cycle, protrude through the respiratory tubules of the fly. When the fly is dipped completely into a liquid, the resulting change in the osmotic pressure causes the cells to burst. The contents of those cells is an antidote for pathogens which the fly carries on its body. Thus, the latest research in microbiology confirms what has been known from Prophetic knowledge for 1,400 years.

Another example concerns the advice to take a small amount of salt before beginning a meal. This in particular seems to be contradicted by modern medical wisdom, which stresses the harmful effects of excess salt consumption. However, a knowledge of the metabolism of the body illustrates the wisdom of this suggestion as well.

Salt is composed of two chemicals: sodium and chloride. The chlorides present in salt constitute the only readily available source of chlorides with which the body can manufacture hydrochloric acid, vital for proper digestion in the stomach. Thus, taking in a small amount of salt prior to the meal allows any deficiency of hydrochloric acid to be made up just before introducing new food.

It should be added that the harmful effects of excess salt are primarily associated with raised levels of sodium, not chlorides. In fact, persons who eliminate salt entirely from their diet may be subject to further disease caused by lack of proper levels of hydrochloric acid.

These two examples prove that there is indeed intelligent medical reason-ing for following the recommendations of these Hadith. It is true that not all of these Hadith have been submitted to scientific confirmation. It must be pointed out, however, that even if scientific experiments were done to confirm each and every statement, the fact that science did not, or could not, confirm its value would not negate the truth of the statement.

For scientific knowledge is constantly changing, and too often experiments have been found to be done incorrectly, and even intentionally falsified. For the Sufi, it is sufficient that Allah has mentioned, or inspired His Prophet (s.a.w.s.) to advise, a practice. Human knowledge or experience can never contradict or amend the divine knowledge and commandments.

Once these words of advice are integrated into dietary habits, one will discover that every action is perfectly in accord with human nature, and immense health benefits will accrue to anyone applying them with sincerity.

Not only can various recipes be gleaned from the commentaries that follow, but also individual foods and herbs are often prescribed as medicines.

It is impossible to state with finality which food or herb would be given in a particular case, because the person must be present before the healer or physician, in order for him to make a correct diagnosis of the imbalance. Nonetheless, the foods discussed in the following sections should be preferred over others, and the suggestions for combining them adhered to.*

It must be remembered that it is not simply the eating of one or more foods that marks the Sufi's behavior. There are many other aspects of behavior that bear upon health--fasting, prayer, giving of alms, and other practices--and these other factors may have a greater total impact on health than any foods.

Sayings Of The Prophet (S.A.W.S.)

Before proceeding to the listing of foods, it is worthwhile to provide the statements of the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) relating to manners, hygiene, prevention, and similar topics, bearing on health.

Said the Prophet of Allah (s.a.w.s.):

Allah did not create any illness without also creating the remedy, except death [old age]. Allah said that he who lives according to the Qur'an will have a long life.

The origin of every disease is cold. So eat when you desire and refrain when you desire.

The stomach is the home of disease and abstinence the head of every remedy. So make this your custom.

In the sight of Allah, the best food is a food shared by many.

To eat the morning meal alone is to eat with satan; to eat with one other person is to eat with a tyrant; to eat with two other persons is to eat with the prophets (peace be upon them all).

*In my judgment, the cuisine of Afghanistan provides the best recipes for applying all of these foods in proper proportion, and in that country, at least, the foods are eaten in light of availability by season. Unfortunately, there are few easily obtainable books on Afghan cooking. It is also a fact that the men and women of Afghanistan are probably among the most vigorous and hearty and pious on earth.

Allow your food to cool before eating, for in hot food there is no blessing.

When you eat, take your shoes off, for then indeed your feet have more rest. This is an excellent advice.

There is blessing in the middle of a dish. So commence from the side and not from the middle.*

There is blessing in three things: in the early morning meal, in bread and in soup.

Brush your teeth with a miswak [a wooden toothpick usually made from a twig of the pelu tree] after a meal and rinse out your mouth. For these two practices are a safeguard for the eyeteeth and the wisdom teeth.

Use miswak, for this practice comes from cleanliness, and cleanliness comes from faith, and faith takes its practitioner to heaven.

The dish pleads for mercy for the one who takes up the last morsel [i.e., do not be wasteful].

Eat together and then disperse, for a blessing resides in groups.

Less food, less sin.

To horde in these things is unlawful: wheat, barley, raisins, millet, fats, honey, cheese, walnuts, and olives.

Let no one drink while standing up, except one who is suffering from sciatica.

Eat your meal at dawn, for there is blessing in a meal at dawn.

When I was taken up into Heaven, I did not pass one angel who did not say to me: "O Muhammad, tell your people to make use of scarification [allowing out a small amount of blood from an incision]. The best treatment that you have is scarification, coriander, and costus [an East Indian herb].

Whoever is sick for seven days, thereby he expiates before Allah the sins of seventy years.

There is no pain like pain in the eye, and no worry like the worry of a debt.

When the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) came before a sick person, he used to say: "Get rid of evil delusions. Strength is with Allah the Almighty. Cure and be cured. There is no healing but Yours."

*The implication here is that one should exhibit a selfless reserve and allow another to obtain the blessing, not hog it for oneself.

Qualities Of Foods

(From Traditional Sources)

Aniseed (anisun)--Among its many properties, the seed of anise soothes internal pains, increases menstrual flow, promotes secretion of milk and semen, and dissolves intestinal gas. It may be applied in tea form to the eyes to strengthen eyesight. In nature, snakes coming out of winter hibernation seek out the anise plant and rub their eyes against it, because their vision becomes weak over winter.

Apple (tuffah)--Sour apples are more cooling than sweet ones. It is claimed that apples strengthen the heart.

Asparagus (hiyawn)--Hot and moist, asparagus opens obstructions of the kidneys and eases childbirth. It is said that asparagus will kill dogs that eat it.

Banana (mawz)--Hot in the first degree, banana has little use as a food, except for people with a very cold intemperament, who should eat it with honey.

Barley (sha’ir)--Barley ranks below only wheat as a desirable food. It is the first recommendation for hot intemperament diseases. Barley is soaked in water, which is drunk for coughs and sore throats. The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) always gave a soup made from barley to anyone suffering from the pain of fever. '

Basil, Sweet (rayhan)--Smelling basil strengthens the heart. Sleep is promoted by rubbing the head with basil and water.

Bread (khubz)--The best bread is made of the finest whole grain flours and is baked in a circular stone oven. Bread should be allowed to cool somewhat before being eaten, or it will make one excessively thirsty. Stale bread clogs the bowels. Bread containing substantial bran is digested quickly, but is very nourishing. The softer the bread, the easier the digestion and the greater the nourishment. Bread crumbs produce gas. Breads made from barley and pea flours are slow to be digested and must have salt added to them. Said the Prophet (s.a.w.s.): "Do not cut bread with a knife, but give it due honor by breaking it with the hands, for Allah has honored it."

Butter (zubdah)--Butter is mildly hot and moist. Useful to alleviate constipation, butter is also mixed with honey and dates to make a food that removes the food cravings of pregnant women.

Cauliflower (qunnabit)--This vegetable is hard to digest, and it is said to harm the vision.

Chamomile (babunaj)--Hot in the first degree, chamomile is mild. Its main use is to promote urination and menstrual flow.

Carrot (jazar)--Sexual urges arise from eating carrot, which is hot in the second degree. It also is used to increase menstrual flow and urination.

Coconut (narjil darja'i)---The best type is very white, which is hot and moist. The nature of coconut is that it increases sexual powers and relieves pain in the back.

Coffee Bean (qahwah)--Coffee is a corrective for dysentery, relieves thirst, and is said to produce wisdom. It should be used sparingly.

Coriander Seed (habb al-suda)--The most respected books of traditions state that the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said, "Make yours the seeds of coriander, for it is a cure of all diseases except swelling [cancer], and that is a fatal disease." It is also reported that Allah informed the Prophet, "She has been given every-thing." And then Allah revealed that "she" is coriander. Coriander alleviates flatulence and resolves fevers. It is effective in the treatment of leukoderma, and it opens the subtlest networks of the veins. Excess moisture in the body is dried up by coriander, and it increases milk flow, urine, and menses. It is particularly useful when a person has a cold. The oil of coriander is a treatment for baldness and scalp problems, and prevents gray hair. The smoke of the burning seeds is an insect repellent.

Chicken (dajaj)--Light on the stomach and easy to digest, chicken is the best of fowl meats. It corrects and balances all the essences, is a food that is good for the brain, and improves the complexion. However, overconsumption of chicken leads to gout. The best chicken is a hen that has never laid an egg.

Cinnamon (darchini)--Cinnamon is hot in the third degree. Its volatile oil is a great medicine for indigestion. It forms an ingredient in spice blends used as the basis of cooking in almost three-fourths of the world.

Citron (utrujj)--The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) is reported to have said, "The citron is like a true believer: good to taste and good to smell." Citron strengthens the heart, dispels sadness, removes freckles, satisfies hunger, and slows the flow of bile. The wife of the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) used to treat blind persons with citron dipped in honey. Citron is best taken about ten minutes after the conclusion of meals.

Cucumber (qitta')--Ripe cucumbers dispel heat and are diuretic. Eating dates with green cucumber is said to cause weight gain.

Cumin (kammun)--Cumin is very hot. It is reported to be the only spice or herb that travels through the stomach unaffected by digestion, until it reaches the liver. Cumin soaked in water, which is then drunk, is excellent for colic.

Dates, Dried (tamr)--The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) is reported to have said, "A house without dates has no food." Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) used to plant date trees himself. Dates should be eaten with almonds to annul any adverse effects. Fresh dates were the food eaten by Mary (r.a.), at the time of her delivery of the infant Jesus (a.s.). Said the Prophet (s.a.w.s.), "He who finds a date, let him break his fast on that. If he finds no date, let him break it on water. For verily that is purity."

Eggplant (badhinjan)--The dark variety of eggplant causes production of bile. Small amounts of it help piles. Eggplant's tendency to produce bile is corrected by eating it with meat dishes.

Eggs (baydah)--The best eggs are those of chickens, eaten soft, not hard-boiled. Egg white relieves pain of sunburn, aids healing of burns, and prevents scarring. Eggs are aphrodisiac.

Endive (hindiba')--The effects of endive change according to the season. Endive at the earliest time is best, and at the end of the growing season, virtually useless. The Hadith states: "Eat endives and do not belch, for verily there is not one day that drops of the water of Paradise do not fall upon them [endives]."

Fenugreek (hulbah)--It is reported the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) once said: "If my people knew what there is in fenugreek, they would have bought and paid its weight in gold." Fenugreek is hot and dry. As a tea it aids menstrual flow and is useful in colic and as a cleansing enema. Fenugreek strengthens the heart.

Fig (tin)--Fresh figs are preferred to dried. Although quite nourishing, they are very hot. The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) is reported to have said, "If you say that any fruit has come from Paradise, then you must mention the fig, for indeed it is the fruit of Paradise. So eat of it, for it is a cure for piles and helps gout."

Fish (samak)--Fresh-water fish are best, and those which feed on plant life, not mud and effluvia. Uncooked fish is hard to digest and produces imbalance of phlegm.

Garlic (thawm)--Garlic is hot in the third degree. It is used to dispel gas, promote menses, and expel afterbirth. It is excellent to correct cold intemperament, for dissolving phlegm, and the oil is used to treat insect bites. The eating of raw garlic and then visiting the mosque has been forbidden by the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.).

Ghee (clarified butter) (samn)--Ghee is the most fatty of all condiments. It is to be considered a medicinal additive to foods. Mixed with honey, ghee is said to be an antidote to poisons.

Ginger (zanjabil)--Ginger is mentioned in the Holy Qur'an (76:17). It is hot in the third degree, and is best for softening phlegm. It also aids digestion and strengthens sexual activity.

Henna (hinna)--One Hadith reports that nothing is dearer to Allah than henna. The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) recommended it for many conditions: bruises, pain in the legs, infection of nails, burns, and to beautify the hair. Henna is noted for its great heat and its ability to excite the passions of love. The perfume made from henna flowers is considered to be one of the finest in the world. The dyeing of hands, nails, and feet is a common practice in the East, especially for weddings and feasts.

Honey ('asal)--Allah has said: "There comes forth, from within [the bee], a beverage of many colors in which there is a healing for you." Mixed with hot water, and taken in several small doses, honey is considered the best remedy for diarrhea.

The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) once said, "By Him in whose hand is my soul, eat honey. For there is no house in which honey is kept for which the angels will not ask for mercy. If a person eats honey, a thousand remedies enter his stomach and a million diseases will come out. If a man dies and honey is found within him, fire will not touch his body [i.e., he will be immune from the burning of hell]." The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) himself used to drink a glass of honey and water each morning on an empty stomach.

Honey is considered the food of foods, the drink of drinks, and the drug of drugs. It is used for creating appetite, strengthening the stomach, and eliminating phlegm; as a meat preservative, hair conditioner, eye salve, and mouthwash. The best honey is that produced in the spring; the second best is that of summer, and the least quality is produced in winter.

Lentils ('adas)--All lentils produce dryness. Small amounts should be eaten, as a side dish, for in quantity they are generally bad for the stomach. Hadith say that the eating of lentils produces a sympathetic heart, tears in the eyes, and removes pride.

Lettuce (khass)--Although cold, lettuce is considered the best nourishment of all vegetables. It softens a hard constitution and helps those who suffer delirium. It contradicts the sexual energy and dries up semen. Excess consumption of lettuce weakens the eyesight.

Marjoram, Sweet (marzanjush)--The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) is reported to have said that sweet marjoram is most excellent for anyone who has lost the sense of smell.

Meat (lahm)--Allah has said in the Qur'an (52:22): "And we will aid them with fruit and meat, such as they desire." The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) reportedly said that one who does not eat meat for forty consecutive days will waste away, whereas to eat meat for forty consecutive days will harden the heart. In other words, one should moderate the intake of meat.

The most desirable of all meats is mutton, which is hot and moist in temperament. The best mutton is that of a male yearling; the best cut is a shoulder roast. Mutton should be cooked in some liquid, or it tends to dry out.

Beef fat mixed with pepper and cinnamon acts as a tonic medicine. The meat of pigs is forbidden to eat. The consumption of horse flesh as a food is disputed. Avicenna said the flesh of camels, horses, and asses are the worst of all meats. Also prohibited for human consumption are beasts of prey, animals that possess canine teeth, and birds with hooked talons.

Said the Prophet (s.a.w.s.): "Do not cut up meat with a knife upon the dish, for that is the way of non-Muslims. But grasp it in your fingers and so it will taste better." And, he said: "One sheep is a blessing; two sheep are two blessings; three sheep are wealth."

Melon (battikh)--Said the Prophet (s.a.w.s.): "Whenever you eat fruit, eat melon, because it is the fruit of Paradise and contains a thousand blessings and a thousand mercies. The eating of it cures every disease." Generally, the sweeter a melon, the greater its heat. Green varieties tend to be cold; the yellow, hot. The Prophet took melons with fresh dates. Melon purifies the bladder and the stomach, and improves the spinal fluid and eyesight. Melons should not be eaten first in a meal. Said the Prophet (s.a.w.s.): "None of your women who are pregnant and eat of watermelon will fail to produce offspring who are good in countenance and good in character."

Milk (laban)--Allah has mentioned milk to us, saying, "Rivers of milk the taste whereof does not change" (Qur'an 47:15). And again He said, "Pure milk, easy and agreeable to swallow for those who drink" (Qur'an 16:66). The Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) is said to have remarked that milk is irreplaceable and that he himself loved milk.

Milk is composed of fat and water and milk solids (cheese). Together, these components are well suited to the constitution of humans. However, we should not take the milk of animals whose pregnancy lasts longer than that of humans. The milk of cows is best, for they feed off grasses.

Said the Prophet (s.a.w.s.): "Drink milk, for it wipes away heat from the heart as the finger wipes away sweat from the brow. Furthermore, it strengthens the back, increases the brain, augments the intelligence, renews vision, and drives away forgetfulness."

A milk diet is the best treatment there is for dropsy; however, anyone with fever must avoid milk.

Mint (nana)--The most subtle and refined of pot herbs, mint is heating and drying. Mint strengthens the stomach, cures hiccups, and encourages sexual activity. Placed in milk, mint will prevent it from turning to cheese.

Myrtle (as)--Cold in the second degree, myrtle is most used to stem diarrhea. Smelling the oil will cure headache caused by overheating. Myrtle tea with quince added is used for coughs.

Narcissus (narjis)--One Hadith says, "Smell a narcissus, even if only once a day or once a week or once a month or once a year or once a lifetime. For verily in the heart of man there is the seed of insanity, leprosy, and leukoderma. And the scent of narcissus drives them away."

Olives and Olive Oil (zayt and zaytun)--The older olive oil is, the hotter it becomes. Olive oil is an excellent treatment for the skin and hair, and it delays old age.

Allah has said of the olive tree: "And a tree that grows out of Mount Sinai which produces oil and a condiment for those who eat. For olive oil is the supreme seasoning." Allah has also called it the Blessed Tree (Qur'an 24:35).

Green olives are the most nourishing, and counteract autointoxication. Black olives cause the spleen to overproduce bile and are hard on the stomach. Olive leaves can be chewed as treatment for inflammation of the stomach, skin ulcerations, and eruptions of herpes and hives.

Onion (basal)--Quite hot, the onion is a good corrective for all excess wetness. Onion improves the flavor of foods and eliminates phlegm. Raw onions cause forgetfulness. An excess of cooked onions causes headache and forgetfulness.

Parsley (karafs)--A Hadith states that eating parsley just before sleep will cause one to awaken with sweet breath and will eliminate or prevent toothache. Parsley stimulates sexual activity.

Peach (khu'kh)--Peaches generate cold, relax the stomach, and soften the bowels. A good laxative, peaches should be eaten before, rather than after, a meal.

Pistachio (fustaq)--It is said that to eat the heart of a pistachio nut with egg yolk will make the heart grow strong. The reddish skin stems diarrhea and vomiting.

Pomegranate (rumman)--Sweet pomegranates are preferred over the sour. The juice stems coughs. All kinds of pomegranates settle palpitations of the heart. Hazrat Ali (r.a.) said that the light of Allah is in the heart of whoever eats pomegranates. It is also reported that one who eats three pomegranates in the course of a year will be inoculated against ophthalmia for that year.

Said the Prophet (s.a.w.s.): Pomegranate "cleanses you of Satan and from evil aspirations for forty days."

Quince (safarjal)--It is said that to eat quince on an empty stomach is good for the soul. Cold and dry, quince is astringent to the stomach, and it checks excessive menstrual flow. A few seeds placed in water will, after a few minutes, form a mucilage which is an excellent remedy for cough and sore throat, especially in the young. Quince is also excellent for pregnant women, gladdening their hearts. The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: "Eat quince, for it sweetens the heart. For Allah has sent no prophet as His messenger without feeding him on the quince of Paradise. For quince increases the strength up to that of forty men."

Rhubarb (rawand)--Rhubarb is hot and dry, and best when picked fresh. It opens blockages of the liver and resolves chronic fever.

Rice (aruzz)--Next to wheat, rice is the most nourishing of whole grain foods. It is said eating rice increases pleasant dreams and the production of semen. Eating rice cooked in fat from sheep's liver is better and more effective than a major purging.

Saffron (zafaran)--Hot and dry, saffron is excellent for the blood and strengthening to the soul. It eases pains in the joints, but can cause great increase in the sex drive of young men.

Salt (milh)--Hot and dry in the third degree, salt, when taken moderately, is beautifying to the skin, giving it a soft glow. Salt causes vomiting when purging, and stimulates the appetite. Excessive use causes the skin to itch.

The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) recommended beginning and ending each meal with a pinch of salt. He said: "From the one who begins a meal with salt, Allah wards off three hundred and thirty kinds of diseases, the least of which are lunacy, leprosy, bowel troubles, and toothache. The rest is pre-scribed in the supreme knowledge of Allah."

Senna (sana)--The best species of henna is that from the blessed city of Medina, where it grows plentifully. The chief property of senna is that it strengthens the heart without harshness. Its nobility has caused it to be referred to by the hakims as the Glory of Drugs. Its uses are many--in purgative infusions, decoctions, pills, enemas, and powders. Senna causes the bile to flow, and reaches to the very depths of the joints to balance the essences therein. The most effective use is as a tea, which can be made even more efficacious by adding violet blossoms and crushed red raisins. The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) recommended senna most highly, making a statement similar to the one about coriander: that it cures every disease except death itself.

Spinach (asfanakh)--Spinach is cold and moist, causing irritation to the chest and throat. Still, it softens the bowels.

Sugar (sukkar)--Sugar is cold and moist. It is most often used in combination with other medicinal herbs, which carry the effects to the furthest point of an organ. Eating too much sugar creates disease of moisture.

Thyme (sa'tar)--In the time of the Prophet (s.a.w.s.), it was customary to fumigate houses by burning frankincense and thyme. Thyme is cold and dry in the third degree. An excellent digestive aid to heavy foods, thyme beautifies the complexion, annuls intestinal gas, and benefits coldness of the stomach and liver. When drunk as an infusion, it is said to kill tapeworms.

Vermicelli (itriyyah)--This food is hot and excessively moist, thus hard to digest. For those with very strong constitution, it provides excellent nourishment.

Vinegar (khall)--The Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) was reported to have once remarked that vinegar was the seasoning of all the prophets who came before him. Vinegar is both cold and hot, nearly balanced between the two. Mixed with rose water, it is an excellent remedy for toothache and headache. Vinegar dissolves phlegm. Another Hadith states that a house containing vinegar will never suffer from poverty.

Walnut (jawz)--Walnut is the hottest of nuts. Although hard to digest, when eaten with raisins it is the best remedy for winter cough. Avicenna said that walnuts cure the effects of poisons.

Water (ma')--The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) reportedly said: "The best drink in this world and the next is water." Water is moist and, because of this, slightly cooling. It extinguishes thirst and preserves the innate moisture of the body. It assists digestion of foods and absorption of nutrients. Said the Prophet (s.a.w.s.): "When you have a thirst, drink [water] by sips and do not gulp it down .... Gulping water produces sickness of the liver."

Wheat (hintah)--Wheat is somewhat hot, and balanced between dryness and moisture. The eating of raw wheat produces intestinal worms and gas. Wheat flour should be ground during the daytime.

So praise be upon this Prophet who produced for us this marvelous knowledge which makes us see and understand and dazzles the wisest minds. Herein are proofs of Allah's kindness and benevolence upon His creatures, for He is the most kind and all-loving. May we serve Him with true vision.

Al-hamdu li-Lahi Rabb il-Alamin!
So all praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds! Amin!

6.23.2009

Hob BiLaah SWT/ Love Of Allah SWT

Assalamu Alaikum All
I thought this was a nice poem. It didn't have a author's name, so I
don't know who wrote it. Inshallah ta'ala this reaches you in the
best way. and may Allah SWT reward you who spread knowledge of Islam,
love, and compassion for one another, and truly want for another as
you want for yourself

When I say, I am a Muslim,
I am not shouting "Down with the Christians and Jews."
I am whispering: I seek peace, and Islam is the path I choose.
When I say, I am a Muslim, I speak of this with pride.
And confess that sometimes I stumble, and need Allah to be my guide.

When I say, I am a Muslim, I know this makes me strong.
And in those times when I am weak, I pray to Allah for strength to
carry on.

When I say, I am a Muslim, I am not boasting of success.

I am acknowledging that Allah has rescued me and I can not ever repay
the dept. When I say, I am a Muslim, I am not claiming to be perfect.

My flaws are indeed visable, but Allah forgives, because His
followers are worth it.
When I say, I am a Muslim, it does not mean I'll never feel pain.
I still have my share of heartaches, which is why I invoke Allah's
name.
When I say, I am a Muslim, I do not wish to judge.
I have no such authority. My duty is to submit to Allah's all
encompassing love.

6.22.2009

Fashion? I Dont Really Care..

So i see my post got your eye, huh? Well let me explain. Other than being in the home i have no reason, nor desire to attract attention. My husband buys me the best of everything when he can, and takes me shopping at such stores like Macy's, Saks, and the like.. but i refuse to let him spend his hard earned money on material things like clothes when i can find almost the exact same thing at an outlet store, target, or wherever else they have sales.. besides i have 2 kids.. Every now and then i will let him buy me something expensive (at least to me) and he gets so excited, that i will actually let him spoil me.. and he tells me he cant wait to see it on me at home..

I'd rather the money be spent on things for the house like candles,incense, cleaners ( Yes i love cleaning and making the house smell good),new things for my daughters room (comforters, sheets etc.)

I get happiness from life's simple pleasures. But i can say that if there was/were particular thing/things that i loved.. it would be good perfume (that i only wear in the house for my hubby.. *not with company and not outside) makeup, and lingerie. (yeah didnt you know your supposed to "dress up" for your hubby) besides if you don't maybe he will seek to look outside ( i dont mean cheating silly i mean LOOKING)
used to have problems in that area.. but since dressing nice for hubby EVERY night, putting on perfume, and makeup i havtn noticed him "LOOKING"..

Yeah there are times i see certain things that are in fashion such as this seasons maxi dress and i think wow, how cute i want that.. BUT they HAVE ALWAYS been out every spring/summer.. and i ALWAYS buy them because you can buy them 1 size bigger for a looses flowy fit, and put a loose cardigan over top and voila perfect outfit for those hot days.. and actually that is what i wore last March for my wedding.. a nice maxi dress, dressy cardigan, and sandals.. and i didnt hear people raving about it then. so fashions come and go.. and sometimes i become interested.. but i dont try and take something like skinny jeans and "hijabify them" but i guess that may beacuse i am a thicky thick girl.. and i want to cover up my curves.. not show them off.. hard to do when you got a bum, and legs like me (frowns a little)

Oh Well Alhamdulilah.. My hubby loves me just then way i am.. and really thats the only thing that matters!!!

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