Sisters in Faith

Listen to your Mother!

2008-04-15T06:45:00.000-07:00

You know I had to post this one!
Beauty advice from mothers who also happen to be doctors, models, makeup artists, cosmetics tycoons - beauty gurus of one sort or another that goes way beyond "get your hair out of your face!''
Read it here

Juha

2008-04-14T05:30:00.001-07:00

I was reading this book about Juha and some of his tales (in Arabic) and there were some jokes that were really hilarious...

here are some of them:

سأله تيمورلنك يوما : تعلم يا نصر الدين أن خلفاء بني عباس كان لكل منهم لقب اختص به فمنهم (الموفق بالله) و (المتوكل على الله) و(المعتصم بالله) و ما شابه ذلك فلو كنت واحدا منهم فماذا يجب أن أختار من الألقاب؟

فأجابه على الفور : يا صاحب الجلالة لا شك بأنك كنت تدعى بلقب: نعوذ بالله

One day, Timur Lank (Tamerlane) asked him:

You know, Nasreddin that the Khulafa' Bani Abbas (the Caliphs of Bani Abbas) had for each of them a laqab for himself, like (Al-Muwaffaq Billah) and (Al-Mutawakkil Ala' Allah) and (Al-Mu'tasam billah) and likewise, so if I was one of them what should I choose (for a laqab)?

He (Juha) answered him at once: Your Majesty, no doubt that you would have been called : Na'oothu billah (we seek refuge from Allah)

كان يأكل بأصابعه الخمس فرآه أحدهم فاعترضه قائلا: لماذا تأكل بأصابعك الخمس؟
فاجابه جحا: لأنه لم يكن لي ست أصابع

He was eating with his five fingers, and someone saw him and (scolded him) saying: Why are you eating with your five fingers?

Juha answered him: Because I don't have six fingers (in one hand:)

أعطى ابنته جرة لتملأها ثم صفعها بكفه قائلا: اياك أن تكسري الجرة فقال الذين رأوها تبكي (وهي طفلة) ياشيخ أيجدر بك أن تضرب هذه البنية بغير حق وهي لم تذنب؟
فأجابهم: إني أريد أن أريها عاقبة كسر الجرة حتى تنتبه وإلا فلا معنى للعقاب بعد كسر الجرة

He gave his daughter a jug (or any hollow vessel) to fill, and then he smacked her with his fist saying: Don't dare break this jug. The people who saw her crying (and she was a child) : Ya Shaykh, how can you beat this girl without reason and she has not done any wrong?

He answered them: I want to show her the punishment of breaking the jug so that she's careful or else there won't be any meaning of punishing her (or: it won't be any use punishing her) after she breaks the jug.

have your ice-cream and eat it :)

2008-04-09T07:56:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time since I've written, so I've decided to write something vacationy for a change...

Raspberry icecream recipe: (my favourite, after choco chips:)

INGREDIENTS:

4 cups fresh raspberries

1 and a half cups sugar

Juice of half a lemon

2 eggs

2 cups heavy cream

1 cup milk

Toss the Raspberries, 3/4 cup sugar, and the lemon juice together in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours, stirring every 30 minutes. Whisk the eggs in a mixing bowl until light and fluffy, add the remaining 3/4 cup sugar, a little at a time, then continue whisking until completely blended. Pour in the heavy cream and milk and whisk to blend.

Drain the juice from the raspberries into the cream mixture and blend. Mash the raspberries until pureed and stir them into the cream mixture. Transfer the mixture to an ice cream maker and freeze following the manufacturer's instructions.

and you can find other delicious icecream recipes here...

although maybe it's not vacation everywhere out there...

enjoy!!!

Yummy holidays...

2008-04-09T05:06:00.000-07:00

we're baaaaacckkk...
exams overrr...
a whole week's half term holiday from school...alhamdullilah

...which means, of course, that we're going to update the blog more often, In sha Allah...
only one more problem left...(although there's no end to them, Alhamdulillah)...that is the dreaded reports day...
still, I'm sure I've done better than last year, In sha Allah...

...I'm writing and reading (Enid Blyton's have been passed down to the kids)...
trying to get a new magazine get going at school...

Brothers will be boys (as usual) and...
~alhamdulillah 'ala kulli haal~

Who inspires you nowadays?

2008-02-28T10:00:00.000-08:00

You don't really get inspired by a lot of people these days...some of them aren't even worth inspiration. But in my school there's a lot of *religious* talk nowadays; hijab covers 90% of the main talk; the other issues cover the remaining 10%. There's one teacher who I really admire and like -- and get inspired by...
She's quite young, and anyone would expect her to throw her weight about and generally be like other young teachers -- but she (Masha Allah) looks like she not only talks the talk, but walks the walk. At the beginning of the year, everyone used to laugh behind her back and giggle a lot in her classes, because she talked so earnestly and make such heartfelt gestures that it was enough to make a *Binkie* go off. The thing is: she talked so solemnly the other day about Yawm Al Qiyamah that I made up my mind to start doing scores of good things quickly...

She said that whenever you hear/see an actress/singer you should think she is *such a miskeenah* ...because although she's having all the fun she wants in this life, she won't have a single hasanah on Yawm al Qiyamah...she won't be having fun then, right?

By the way, there're a lot of weird people nowadays who go gasping and literally *crying with joy* when they see a glamorous actress strutting about in front of them...I suppose they are all masakeen too, fussing about a worthless person who thinks she's reached the pinnacle of her would-be *dreams*...These people ARE NOT inspirations, allow me to add:)

...some people even want to take after their heroines, wanting to become singers and actresses when they grow up; they're quite mad about it. When you think about it, it's not quite an honourable job, you know -- you're *being* someone you're not, you're enjoying yourself by doing haraam things, like tabarruj, etc.
She ended it by the Prophet Salallahu 'alayhi wa Sallam's famous quote: "ألا هل بلغت؟ اللهم اشهد "

Did the Kufi script originate in Kufa?

2008-02-28T09:56:00.000-08:00

The Kufi Script: Flexible and Accurate
By Ahmed Ebeed
Many wrongly believe that the Kufi handwriting refers to its origin in Kufa. This is not true; the name refers to the special attention and interest that the Kufa paid to this kind of handwriting, not to its origin.
As stated, the Kufa paid special attention to this firm script, polishing and decorating its letters. This script was thus known as the Kufi script and it mainly goes back to Hiri or Anbari calligraphy. It was called Kufi handwriting as it spread from the Kufa to other parts of the Islamic world with the conquerors in the blooming age of Kufa.
The Kufa produced two main types of scripts:
1. Solid heavy script. This is known as the ceremonial script or al-khat al-tizkari, which was normally written on solid materials such as stone or wood. It was known for its beauty and decorative nature. Sometimes it avoided any points or association between the letters.
2. Flexible script. This script is easy to write. This style of handwriting moved away from the Madinah script to the Kufa. It was known as the editorial script because it was used for correspondence, registrations, and writings.
The combination of both kinds of handwriting brought about a third type, which was known for its beauty and elegance; this was the handwriting that was used in writing the Qur’an and it combines both firmness and flexibility. It remained the favorite script during the first three centuries of Islam. Several artistic and decorative kinds were derived from the Kufi script and were divided by the historians of Islamic art into the following types:
1. The Simple Kufi script, which is a plain script with no leaf-like ornaments, adornment, or plaiting. This script spread in the nascent Islamic world and remained the most favored style of handwriting in the western Islamic world until later ages. Chief among these examples are the writings found on the top of the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem.
2. The Vegetal script, which has leaf-like decorations, its letters ending with vertical strokes. This type blossomed in Egypt and spread to both the east and west of the known Islamic world.
3. The Connected Braided Kufi script, whose ornamentations accompanying it are highly complicated to an extent that makes it sometimes difficult to distinguish between the elements of the script and the ornamentation. Letters of the same word may be braided, and sometimes two words or more are joined in a beautiful framework of braiding.
4. The Geometric Kufi, known for its straight elements, acute angles, and geometric features. This form of Kufi script is prevalent in Iran and Iraq. It is a purely decorative kind of handwriting, and the intertwining of its letters sometimes makes it difficult to decipher the sentences.
More Links:
Arabic Calligraphy: The Essential Islamic Art
Introduction
The Origin of Arabic Calligraphy
Arabic Calligraphy: From Nomadic Experience to an Art
The Kufi Script: Flexible and Accurate
Thuluth: Mother of All Calligraphy
The Naskh Script: The Servant of the Qur’an
The Persian or Farsi Script
Riq`a Style of Handwriting: A Quick Rhythm
The Diwani Script: The Script of Eloquence
References
* Ahmed Ebeed is the head of Information Unit in IOL. He has a deep interest in Arabic calligraphy. You can reach him at ahmed.ebeed@iolteam.com

Early Islamic calligraphy

2008-02-28T05:39:00.000-08:00

last Monday I had an 'art' lesson, Kufi calligraphy...it was quite an interesting one. There were all kinds of Kufi calligraphy: Al-Muzaffar, Al-Mukhammal, Al-Baseet and Al-Handasi. The one I tried out was Al-Mukhammal. I first wrote the words in Kufi, and then I made a floral background twirling and twisting round them. There's a kind of Kufi calligraphy named Al-Muzaffar because the tops of the letters are twisted like braids. Al-Muzaffar means "The Braided."

What is Tabarruj?

2008-02-12T22:31:00.000-08:00

I found this article which is the transcript of a lecture given by Dr. Saleh Al-Saleh ِرحمه الله that gives a really clear picture of what is considered (unlawful) display of one's beauty (tabarruj) in Islam.

In sha Allah it will bring some benefit to all of us!

don't be fooled!

2008-02-12T20:37:00.000-08:00

Before you next head to your bathroom to cleanse your skin, shampoo your hair, or apply your make-up, you might want to take a gander at the ingredients in your beauty products. Additives, fillers and chemicals are more common in commercially bought brands than we might realize. These common ingredients can dry out the skin and hair, clog the pores and accelerate the aging process.
Many beauty, skin and hair care products contain ingredients that are actually harmful to our hair and skin (not to mention our overall health). What’s worse, some of these ingredients, due to clever marketing campaigns and buzz words, are actually thought to be harmless– sometimes even thought to be good for us. The truth is, they are not. Because of shrewd advertising tactics, the general public is sadly misinformed.
If you are concerned about harmful effects of common beauty products, you may want to avoid products that contain the following ingredients:
Mineral Oil– This product is typically found in lipsticks, lotions, make-up removers, liquid foundations, and is usually the main ingredient in baby oil. The word “mineral” makes this product sound like a nutrient, but in fact it is a crude oil derived from petroleum. Mineral oil literally coats the skin like a film, preventing the pores from doing their job. The skin cannot breath or rid itself of toxins through the substance.
Petroleum– Another like mineral oil, this product can clog the pores and smother the skin. You may find petroleum in your face creams, lotions and lipsticks.
Paraffin– Derived from coal or petroleum, paraffin is a wax filler; the same kind of wax found in cheap candles. It is used to solidify products such as bath bars (they aren’t even allowed to be called soap), and liner pencils. It can be a skin irritant and clogs the pores.
Alpha-Hydroxy Acids (AHA)– AHA is organic and generally thought to be a desirable moisturizing ingredient and natural exfoliant. It is found in skin cleansers, masks and moisturizers. It does exfoliate, but so powerfully that it removes not just dead skin cells, but the skin’s natural protective layer as well. It can make the skin up to 50% more susceptible to harmful UV rays, leaving one vulnerable to the sun’s aging effect, and even skin cancer.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)– This ingredient is commonly found in cosmetics, toothpastes, shampoos, garage floor cleaners and engine de-greasers. Not only is SLS bad for your skin, as it is a detergent that dries the skin out, but when combined with other common chemicals it can form carcinogenic compounds. This chemical is actually used in labs to cause skin irritations on which other products can be tested, but since it is cheap and creates foam, many commercial cosmetic companies use it in their products.
Formaldehyde (formalin)– Yes, the same substance used in labs to preserve dead bodies can often be found in our nail polish, shampoos and skin creams. This substance can be irritating and cause allergic reactions when in contact with the skin. Its fumes are linked to asthma and cancer.
Alcohol or Isopropyl Alcohol– This petroleum-derived chemical found in perfumes, hair sprays, after-shave lotions, body lotions, and hair color products can also be found in products such as anti-freeze and solvents. It is a toxic substance. Its fumes can cause nausea, headaches, dizziness and depression. It has a drying/aging effect when used directly on the skin.
Talc– found in loose and pressed powders, such as blushes, powdered foundations, and baby powder. This mineral is a potential carcinogen when inhaled.
Laquer– Generally added to water-proof mascara to make lashes look full and keep color from running, prolonged use of this hardening chemical will eventually lead to the loss and thinning of eye lashes.
Collagen– Many of us are under the impression that collagen is good for our skin. And indeed, the body’s naturally produced collagen keeps our skin healthy and elastic. Unfortunately, the collagen added to cosmetic creams, moisturizers and other skin care products are extracted from animal skins and ground chicken feet. The protein cannot penetrate the pores by rubbing it on the skin; it only serves to clog the pores and keep the skin from functioning properly.
Lanolin– Another product we are often under the impression is healthy for our skin, it is a fat derived from wool and is known as a skin sensitizer which causes irritations and rashes.
This is by no means an exhaustive list of the harmful ingredients found in many products we use daily. If you are concerned about the effects such additives will have on your beauty and health, you may want to make yourself aware of just what you are putting on your body by reading ingredients before making purchases.
Don’t let catch words like “natural” or “organic” fool you; just because something is natural doesn’t mean it won’t harm you. Manure is natural, but you wouldn’t rub it all over your body, would you?

Into the Mind of a Mum (2)

2008-02-11T21:18:00.000-08:00

Why I won't let you fool around with your hair /face

Yes, I know a lot of girls in your school are experimenting with cosmetics and 'hairdos' and hair

colours and it makes you feel like a plain Jane if you don't do something with your hair like the others, but I have plenty of really good reasons to discourage you from monkeying around with what Allaah has blessed you with.

1. Read this article: Hair colour to dye (die) for.

Basically, what the article is saying that hair colour is full of toxic stuff that can cause you a whole host of harm -- from making your hair fall out in clumps to cancer. I don't want you to expose yourself to such a health hazard. If everyone else is doing so, I want you to tell them in a nice, polite way that this is harmful and by starting so young, they're setting themselves up for trouble: horrible hair or (laa qaddar Allaah) something worse very early in life.

Natural hair colour is the way to go, and I'm not the only one who thinks so.

2. Okay, this is not a fatwa or anything, but I really believe that you are changing Allaah's creation (your natural hair colour) by changing your hair colour to an extent that it becomes completely different from your original hair or by doing other things like wearing coloured contact lenses.

Just think about it for a second: Who are you trying to look like? Some actress / model or some such character who is indulging in tabarruj?

Are these people really worthy role-models, whom you should emulate?

In my opinion, it looks obviously fake and very tacky.

Mind you, that's only my opinion, but as long as you are a minor and you're under my jurisdiction, I'm going to coerce you into following my opinion until you are old enough to make ijtihaad and make an informed choice of your own (this would be like when you are really oooold 30 + or something ... (j/k.)

No seriously, I've seen too many sisters who in their late twenties or early thirties wish that they hadn't messed up their hair by frequent colouring...they've lost their original hair colour, length and texture. I don't want that for you, in shaa Allaah.

3. I don't want to follow the crowd, I want you stand out from it. I want you to be your own person, not a mindless, unthinking clone or follower of 'fads'. I want you to develop your own style based on your personality and what's right for you, rather than try and fit in with someone else's perception of what would look good on you.

You might not understand / agree with me right now, but in shaa Allaah, one day you'll know.

Top 8

2008-02-08T05:40:00.000-08:00

Dishes I'd like to learn to make / bake / cook (not exactly very healthy but YUMMY all the same)

1. CHEEEEEEEEEESE CAKE {Look up tons of cheesecake recipes here}

2. Apple pie (all kinds of apple pie recipes here)

3. Beans and Rice (Rajma-Chawal)

4. Kabsa and coleslaw salad

5. Chilli chicken and Chinese fried rice

6. Gooooey Chocolate Fudge Cake

7. Fudge

8. Macaroni and cheese

sweet!:honey zaps more spots than vinegar

2008-01-31T00:41:00.000-08:00

since maybe last month I've been plastering my face all over with honey... and whenever Rida passes by she'll go 'Eww' and 'Ugh' and 'Rasha, you're disgusting!'...
it's just the thing to make and keep your skin clear
Try it!

The Latest Buzz: Beauty Treatments Using Honey
By: The National Honey Board
Can’t spend the day at a beauty spa? You can still get a sweet treatment. All-natural honey has been used as a beauty product since the days of Cleopatra and it continues to be used today in manufactured and homemade products for skin and hair care. Honey is a natural humectant, which means it has the ability to attract and retain moisture. The skin’s ability to stay moist (or hydrated) is an important factor in its ability to maintain softness, suppleness and elasticity. As skin ages, or as it is exposed to environmental stresses and chemical agents, it loses its ability to retain water; it becomes dry and appears wrinkled. Honey’s natural hydrating properties make it ideal for use in moisturizing products. Because is also suitable for sensitive skin products.
Studies have also revealed that honey has significant natural antioxidant properties. Antioxidants play a role in protecting the skin from the damage of UV rays, and aiding in skin rejuvenation. Prolonged exposure to the sun’s UV radiation can cause skin damage, premature aging and even skin cancer. The Cosmetics, Toiletries and Fragrance Association reports that, because chemical and physical barrier sunscreens can cause skin irritation, companies are researching the use of antioxidants, anti-irritants and moisturizers in sun care products. Honey has potentialfor use in these products.
A recent review of medical research documents honey’s effectiveness as an antimicrobial agent. Antimicrobial agents inhibit the growth of certain bacteria. According to Janice Cox, author of Natural Beauty at Home, "Honey’s antimicrobial properties make it useful for the treatment of minor acne flare-ups. Also, unlike some acne treatments, honey doesn’t dry the skin." Honey is antimicrobial for many reasons, including its high sugar content, which limits the amount of water available to bacteria for growth; its relatively high acidity (low pH); and its low protein content, which deprives bacteria of nitrogen needed for growth. The presence in honey of hydrogen peroxide, and the antioxidants honey contains, also inhibit bacterial growth.
Honey’s prospects in skin care are looking even sweeter; research is currently underway to develop a process using honey to create alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs). AHAs are an important ingredient in many skin creams and moisturizers because they help exfoliate the skin. Exfoliation increases the renewal of the skin cells and gives skin a younger, more vibrant look. Exfoliation can also cause skin irritation, so honey’s natural moisturizing ability makes it a perfect fit for AHA products.

Soothing Skin Clarifier (for minor acne flare-ups)
Mix 1/2 cup warm water with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Using a cotton ball, apply directly to blemish. Maintain pressure with cotton ball for several minutes, to soften blemish. Using a cotton swab, dab honey on blemish; leave on 10 minutes. Rinse and pat dry.

Firming Facial Mask
Whisk together 1 tablespoon honey, 1 egg white, 1 teaspoon glycerin (available at drug and beauty stores) and enough flour to form a paste. Smooth over face and throat. Leave on 10 minutes. Wash off with warm water.

Hair Conditioner
Mix 1/2 cup honey with 1/4 cup olive oil. (Use 2 tablespoons oil for normal to oily hair.) Using a small amount at a time, work mixture through hair until coated. Cover hair with a shower cap; leave on 30 minutes. Remove shower cap; shampoo well and rinse. Dry as normal.

unacceptable throwback or a step in the right direction?

2008-01-22T08:31:00.000-08:00

Compulsory cooking lessons for teenagers
By Tim Ross, PA
Published: 22 January 2008
Teenagers will be given compulsory cooking lessons at school for the first time, under government plans to ensure all pupils know how to make a healthy meal.
The Schools Secretary Ed Balls is asking the public to come up with ideas for the classic English dishes and international cuisine that children should learn to cook.
But the emphasis will be on making sure pupils can master simple, healthy recipes using fresh ingredients, the Department for Children, Schools and Families said.
From this September, every 11-14 year-old in the 85% of schools currently offering food technology classes will be taught practical cookery.
The remaining 15% of secondaries will be expected to teach the compulsory classes by 2011.
Mr Balls wants members of the public to suggest the dishes to be taught. They must be healthy, easy to prepare and the kind of meals that teenagers will want to eat.
He is asking anyone with suggestions to email the Government.
The announcement comes as part of the Government's obesity strategy, Mr Balls will launch with Health Secretary Alan Johnson tomorrow (Wednesday).
Mr Balls told the Daily Mirror: "Teaching kids to cook healthy meals is an important way school scan help produce healthy adults.
"My mum was passionate about all this and bought me my first Delia Smith book."
The 15% of schools that do not offer food technology classes tend to be all-boys' schools and former boys-only schools.
But ministers believe this is an unacceptable throw-back to the days of gender stereotyping.
The new secondary curriculum strongly emphasises practical cooking skills, and will also include diet and nutrition, hygiene and safety and wise food shopping.
From 2011, this will be introduced for all children in state state secondary schools.
Pupils will learn to cook a variety of dishes, including a "top 8", officials said.
Cookery is currently compulsory in primary schools and ministers have already announced an entitlement for all pupils to learn cooking from September this year.
The Government began an overhaul of school dinners three years ago after TV chef Jamie Oliver campaigned against the poor quality ingredients being served in canteens.

really beneficial stuff

2008-01-20T12:15:00.000-08:00

I know the word ''beneficial'' brings up visions of force-fed cod liver oil or raw-egg-in-your-hair or a really boring lecture that someone makes you sit through...but honestly, this is the most beneficial cosmetic (if it can be called that) I've discovered in recent times.

means what it says on the crimp...try it if you're seeing spots (in the mirror that is):P

MCQs R Us: The Hijri Calendar

2008-01-11T04:36:00.000-08:00

Here are some Q's and A's about the Hijri Calendar...let's see how many of them are going to be right!
(check out the blog later for answers,in sha Allah!)

1. The Islamic Calendar began ----- years ago.
a. 1400
b. 1500
c. 2000

2. The Hijri calendar is a .............calendar
a. solar
b. lunar
c. stellar

3. The Hijri calendar consists of ..........days
a. 365
b. 364
c. 354

4. Because the Hijri year is shorter than the solar year, Islamic holy days, although celebrated on fixed dates in their own calendar, usually shift .............each successive solar year.
a. 14
b. 10
c. 11

5.Islamic years are also called Hijra years because the it is counted from the first year of Prophet Muhammad's emigration from ........to ..........
a. Makkah to Jerusalem
b. Makkah to Madeenah
c. Makkah to Damascus

6. ................was the Khalifa who formally used the Hijri Calendar
a. Abu Bakr as-Siddeeq
b. Umar bin AlKhattaab
c. 'Ali bin Abi Taalib

7. The Hijri calendar begins with the month:
a. Ramadhaan
b. Rajab
c. Muharram

8. The Hijri calendar has ........months
a. 10
b. 9
c. 12

Happy New Islamic Year 1429 AH !!!

2008-01-11T01:29:00.000-08:00

Top 10 Days

2007-12-11T04:49:00.000-08:00

First Ten Days of Dhul Hijjah: Days of Virtue And Righteous Deeds
By JIMAS

Ibn 'Abbas says about the Aayah, "Remember Allaah during the well known days," that it refers to the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. [This is related by al-Bukhari]
Allaah swears an oath by them, and swearing an oath by something is indicative of its importance and great benefit. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): "By the dawn; by the 10 nights" [al-Fajr 89:1-2]. Ibn Abbaas, Ibn al-Zubayr, Mujaahid and others of the earlier and later generations said that this refers to the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. Ibn Katheer said: "This is the correct opinion." [Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 8/413]

Praise be to Allaah Who has created Time and has made some times better than others, some months and days and nights better than others, when rewards are multiplied many times, as a mercy towards His slaves. This encourages them to do more righteous deeds and makes them more eager to worship Him, so that the Muslim renews his efforts to gain a greater share of reward, prepare himself for death and supply himself in readiness for the Day of Judgement.

This season of worship brings many benefits, such as the opportunity to correct ones faults and make up for any shortcomings or anything that one might have missed. Every one of these special occasions involves some kind of worship through which the slaves may draw closer to Allaah, and some kind of blessing though which Allaah bestows His favour and mercy upon whomsoever He will. The happy person is the one who makes the most of these special months, days and hours and draws nearer to his Lord during these times through acts of worship; he will most likely be touched by the blessing of Allaah and will feel the joy of knowing that he is safe from the flames of Hell. [Ibn Rajab, al-Lataaif, p.8]

Ibn 'Abbas reports that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these days [meaning the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah]." The companions asked, "O Messenger of Allaah, not even jihad in the way of Allaah?" He said, "Not even jihad, except for the man who puts his life and wealth in danger [for Allaah's sake] and returns with neither of them." [This is related by the group except Muslim and an-Nasa'i]

Ahmad and at-Tabarani record from Ibn 'Umar that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "There is no day more honorable in Allaah's sight and no acts more beloved therein to Allaah than those in these ten days. So say tahlil (There is no deity worthy of worship but Allaah : Laa ilaaha illallaah), takbir (Allaah is the greatest : Allaahu Akbar) and tahmid (All praise is due to Allaah : alhumdulillaah) a lot [on those days]." [Reported by Ahmad, 7/224; Ahmad Shaakir stated it is saheeh]

Abu Hurairah relates that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "There are no days more loved to Allaah for you to worship Him therein than the ten days of Dhul Hijja. Fasting any day during it is equivalent to fasting one year and to offer salatul tahajjud (late-night prayer) during one of its nights is like performing the late night prayer on the night of power. [i.e., Lailatul Qadr]." [This is related by at-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, and al-Baihaqi]

Ibn 'Umar narrated that at Mina, the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "Do you know what is the day today?" The people replied, "Allaah and His Messenger know it better." He said, "It is the forbidden (sacred) day. And do you know what town is this?" They replied, "Allaah and His Messenger know it better." He said, "This is the forbidden (sacred) town (Mecca). And do you know which month is this?" The people replied, "Allaah and His Apostle know it better." He said, "This is the forbidden (sacred) month." The Messenger added, "No doubt, Allaah made your blood, your properties, and your honour sacred to one another like the sanctity of this day of yours in this month of yours in this town of yours."

Narrated Ibn 'Umar: On the Day of Nahr (10th of Dhul-Hijja), the Messenger (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) stood in between the Jamrat during his Hajj which he performed (as in the previous Hadith) and said, "This is the greatest Day (i.e. 10th of Dhul-Hijjah)." The Messenger (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) started saying repeatedly, "O Allaah! Be Witness (I have conveyed Your Message)." He then bade the people farewell. The people said, "(This is Hajjat-al-Wada)." [Bukhari 2.798]

Fasting Day of Arafat
Abu Qatadah reported that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "Fasting on the day of 'Arafah is an expiation for two years, the year preceding it and the year following it. Fasting the day of 'Ashurah is an expiation for the year preceding it." [This is related by "the group," except for al-Bukhari and at-Tirmidhi]
Hafsah reported, "There are five things that the Messenger (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) never abandoned: fasting the day of 'Ashurah, fasting the [first] 10 [days of Dhul-Hijjah], fasting 3 days of every month and praying two rak'ah before the dawn prayer." [This is related by Ahmad and an-Nasa'i]
'Uqbah ibn 'Amr reported that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "The day of 'Arafah, the day of sacrifice, and the days of tashreeq are 'ids for us--the people of Islam--and they are days of eating and drinking." [This is related by "the five," except for Ibn Majah. At-Tirmidhi grades it sahih]
Abu Hurairah stated, "The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) forbade fasting on the day of 'Arafah for one who is actually at 'Arafah." [This is related by Ahmad, Abu Dawud, an-Nasa'i, and Ibn Majah]
At-Tirmidhi comments: "The scholars prefer that the day of 'Arafah be fasted unless one is actually at 'Arafah."

Takbeer
It is Sunnah to say Takbeer ("Allaahu akbar"), Tahmeed ("Al-hamdu Lillaah"), Tahleel ("La ilaha ill-Allaah") and Tasbeeh ("Subhaan Allaah") during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, and to say it loudly in the mosque, the home, the street and every place where it is permitted to remember Allaah and mention His name out loud, as an act of worship and as a proclamation of the greatness of Allaah, may He be exalted. Men should recite these phrases out loud, and women should recite them quietly.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"That they might witness things that are of benefit to them (i.e., reward of Hajj in the Hereafter, and also some worldly gain from trade, etc.), and mention the name of Allaah on appointed days, over the beast of cattle that He has provided for them (for sacrifice)..." [al-Hajj 22:28]
The majority of scholars agree that the "appointed days" are the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, because of the words of Ibn Abbas (may Allaah be pleased with him and his father), "The appointed days are the first ten days (of Dhul-Hijjah)."
The Takbeer may include the words "Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, la ilaaha ill-Allaah; wa Allaahu akbar wa Lillaahil- hamd (Allaah is Most Great, Allaah is Most Great, there is no deity worthy of worship but Allaah; Allaah is Most Great and to Allaah be praise)," as well as other phrases.
Takbeer at this time is an aspect of the Sunnah that has been forgotten, especially during the early part of this period, so much so that one hardly ever hears Takbeer, except from a few people. This Takbeer should be pronounced loudly, in order to revive the Sunnah and as a reminder to the negligent. There is sound evidence that Ibn Umar and Abu Hurairah (may Allaah be pleased with them) used to go out in the marketplace during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, reciting Takbeer, and the people would recite Takbeer when they heard them. The idea behind reminding the people to recite Takbeer is that each one should recite it individually, not in unison, as there is no basis in Sharee'ah for doing this.

I'm sort of a fan...!!!

2007-12-06T10:26:00.000-08:00

with people as *occupied* as we are, one would wonder how we get time for amusements like reading a bit of Sherlock Holmes or watching an episode of Detective Conan (no relation to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle). I'm very intrigued by crimes and law, I must say I'm awfully impressed aka am a fan of any detective.

The three stories that I especially liked in The Return of Sherlock Holmes are The Adventure of the Dancing Men, The Adventure of Black Peter, and The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist. Sherlock Holmes has a remarkable resemblance to Ed, . Dr. Watson's nice, warm and kind, and reminds me vaguely of Rida. Lestrade could do as senior R; he's the most pi and irritating person in the books, and Stanley Hopkins can exchange his identity for our junior R.

In most of the Sherlock Holmes stories, the victims are usually the culprits! It's rather unexpected to discover that the person who's asking you for help turns out to be a criminal/a sidekick for a criminal:)
also, the more persons there are in a crime mystery, the more suspects there are, like in Detective Conan. And the trick is to pile up wrongs on someone who's innocent but mysterious, so that eveyone who's reading/watching starts believing in that person's guilt. How typical...!!!

anyway... look out for another series of cool detective stories... this time I'll be author inshallah:) it'll be sudden!!!

the virtues of reading

2007-12-05T22:33:00.000-08:00

source: Collected by Ibn 'Abd al-Barr in 'Jami' Bayan al-'Ilm wa Fadlih,' the chapter titled: 'The Virtue of Looking Through Books and the Praiseworthiness of Tending to Them'

2414: Abu 'Abdullah Muhammad bin Isma'il al-Bukhari was asked: "What is it that strengthens one's memory?" He replied: "Constantly looking through books."

2415: Ahmad bin Abi 'Imran said:"I was with Abu Ayyub Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Shuja', and he was staying in his house. So, he sent one of his sons to Abu 'Abdillah bin al-A'rabi to invite him over. The boy returned, saying: "I asked him this, and he said to me: "I am with a group, and when I am done being taught by them, I will be over," and I did not see a single person at his house. Rather, he had in front of him books that he was looking through. He would look in this book for some time, and then look in another book for some time."Shortly thereafter, he arrived. So, Abu Ayyub said to him: "O Abu 'Abdillah! Glory be to Allah, the Mighty! You stayed behind and prevented us from your presence, and my son said that he did not see anyone with you, and that you said you were with a group, and that you would come as soon as you were done being taught by them!"
So, Ibn al-A'rabi said:
"We have company who sit with us and do not bore us
Loyal ones who can be trusted while they are present or away;
They benefit us from their knowledge of what happened in the past
* And intelligence, manners, and opinions that are correct;
With no fear of conflicts or bad companionship * And one does not fear from their tongue or hand;
So, if you say that they are dead: nay! You are a liar *
And if you say they are alive, you are not far from the truth... ''
Translator's note: He did not lie, as he was referring to his books as his companions, and this is from the ma'arid (metaphoric speech) that do not count as lies, as was narrated authentically from 'Imran bin Husayn, 'Umar bin al-Khattab, and Ibn 'Abbas.

2416: It was said to Abi al-'Abbas Ahmad bin Yahya (Tha'lab):"The people have greatly missed you. If only you could leave your house for just a bit and show yourself to the people so that they could benefit from you, and you could benefit from them."
So, he stayed silent for an hour, and said:
If we accompanied the kings, they would act arrogantly with us *
And would belittle the rights of those they were accompanying;
Or if we accompanied the merchants, we would become sorrowful *
And would become mere counters of money;
So, we remained in our homes, extracting knowledge *
And filling with it the stomachs of these pages...

ِ2419: From what was memorized in the past:
What a great speaker and companion the book is! * You can seclude yourself with it if your friends bore you;It does not reveal your secrets, and is not arrogant * And you can gain from it wisdom and uprightness...

2420: Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Ahmad recited to me:
And the sweetest that a youth can desire after piety * Is knowledge that is beautified for him to seek it;And for every seeker, there is a pleasure that he desires * And the pleasure of the scholar is his books...

2421: And he asked me to add to the above, and I immediately followed up with this in his presence:
The book relieves the concerns of its reader * And when he reads, his exhaustion disappears;What a great companion it is if you seclude yourself with it * You do not fear it plotting against you, or causing commotion...

2424: Abu 'Amr bin al-'Ala' said:"I never entered upon a man or passed by his door - seeing him with a book in his hand, and his companion doing nothing - except that I judged him to be the more intelligent one."

2425: 'Abdullah bin 'Abd al-'Aziz bin 'Umar bin 'Abd al-'Aziz said:"I never saw a better admonisher than the grave, or anything more satisfying than a book, or anything safer than lack of socialization."

2426: al-Hasan al-Lu'lu'i said: "Forty years of my life have passed in which I never awoke or went to sleep except that a book was resting on my chest."

thoughts on my little brothers' birthdays

2007-11-21T05:58:00.000-08:00

Sorry we didn't write for so long, but we were very BUSY...

...of course, the older we get, the more work there is: (that's Abba:)

We began by coming into the world as babies, and whenever I look at our youngest R (who's incidentally the only one in R family whose name begins with I not an R) , I'm eaten up with envy.
There he is lying peacefully in his cradle, looking up with an innocent grin, while the rest of us are either toiling with enormous quantities of H.W, or fighting through passages to memorize, or being assigned to some long errand or the other...

There's some reason in that famous, often-repeated motto of Abba's...
When I was younger, I always thought birthdays were the best days in our lives... now they're not quite so... as I understood about three years ago every birthday of yours only means you get bigger, and that's accompanied by more and more work:)

These days I don't like others' birthdays also b/z it only means they're increasing in their capacity to trouble and bug us elders . For example, younger brothers, as they become bigger, their slang knowledge increases as well as other undesirable things like snoopiness, pi-ness etc. etc. etc...

As the eldest, I must admit that I very much envy the other girls in my class... almost all of them are either the youngest or the middle range. Being the eldest means that all blames are traced to you, something like 'he/she is saying rude words, it's your fault' or 'you taught them this or that'... and also, the bigger sisters are usually victims to younger sisters, as a very annoying and infuriating series of cupboard ransacking or snooping can occur.

I distinctly remember our youngest female R being a hopeless enemy of my precious belongings; sooner or later I'd remember (when I was still at school, too late) that a particular drawer or cupboard of mine had been carelessly left unlocked, and I'd return from school in a fit of rage, only to find junior R innocently trying on jingling bracelets or admiring a set of glitter pens. I went for her, of course, but there was little consequence in that, and usually no amount of scolding, pleading or coaxing would stop her raids.

Hmmm... I really must add a good word for the juniors, which mostly means that they're cute/plump/adorable, but certainly they're not as cute as they look. Sure they've got innocent looks, and they're sort of imploring, but honestly I really can't get along with kids... I usually lose patience when they start an endless series of crying, and I can't stand their all-day-long demands. When the cranky, whiny bussiness starts, I really get impatient. The only time I like kids is when they're not crying (although of course there's no kid on earth who's not like that) and when they're sleeping. :P

Coming to younger brothers ...those rascals. I do get rather senti on R-R's birthdays... junior R was once no more high than my knee, and senior R once wore diapers:P
but R-R keep up an active level of slang, and that's what gets me.
Abba's philosophical conclusion that 'the way we treat our elders, our juniors shall treat us the same way' really makes me go up in smoke... I don't want to sort of praise myself, but I really don't remember being extra out spoken during ages 5-8...

... Anyway, that's that... kids are like that... (not all of them) my only birthday wish for R-R is that they should PLEASE STOP trying to be funny... that's what they do half the time:P
that's when they think they're real SMART when rudeness is included...

cool new blog links

2007-11-10T08:03:00.000-08:00

cool new blog link picked up from Ijtema: Chill Yo Islam Yo , which has a collection of articles and other interesting/entertaining stuff.

The link above is for an article on the use of Miswaak, the Miracle Brush.

excerpt:

"How many times do you brush your teeth in one day, hopefully at least once. Alot of times I’ll speaking to brothers and their breath be kicking like soccer. I mean check it you gotta smile its sunnah, but if your teeth ain’t clean then how can you give dawah, besides that some brothers smoke so their teethare yellow, i hate cigarettes period. But anyhows back to the topic, do you use a miswak or toothbrush?
Now we all know why the miswak is the best thing to use, not only did our beloved Prophet Muhammad recommend it but the health benefits are never ending, see the sunnah doesn’t have to be technology advanced but all the scientists now doing research feel weak because for all the effort thats being put into making the dream toothbrush, the miswak is already doing all that."

do Muslim girls use their brains?

2007-11-05T23:23:00.000-08:00

What are little girls made of?

Sugar and spice and all things nice.

Sure, this is a non-Muslim ditty dating waaay back, but it constantly appalls/astounds me how prevalent such views are among Muslims, practising, pillar-of-the-community types to boot too!

I've had people asking me why I'm putting the daughters through the "rigours" of tahfeeth school, when later they definitely won't be able to "maintain" what they've memorised .

I've had people ask me why I'm so worried about my daughters' college education when they're still of school-going age...and why bother at all when eventually they're going to do what all good Muslim girls ought to do: "settle down."

I'm thinking, why did Allaah give us brains if we're forever going to be precluded from using them/fruitfully occupying them in anything other than house-work?

It scares and saddens me that people (read your average Joe and Jane Muslims) happily confess to feeling intimidated/irritated by girls who show signs of having a working brain. Sadly, most people's comfort zone extends to only those Muslimahs who show every sign of having candyfluff instead of grey matter between the ears.

Yes, I know I'm stressing about this several years too soon.

But when the times show no signs of changing, it depresses and disturbs me that several years down the line, the very girls whose minds and spirit we're trying to nurture will face rejection and an unspoken pressure to dumb down to the least common denominator in order to be deemed "acceptable".

PS: read a somewhat similar (almost telepathic post) by AnonyMouse at MuslimMatters, which proves that this is not a solitary or isolated concern.

forget the gym, just remember 50261

2007-11-05T22:56:00.000-08:00

Housework can help you burn 50,000 calories a year

source: dailymail.co.uk

If you're struggling to motivate yourself to do the dishes or dust the shelves, then just remember the number 50,261.
That's the average number of calories burned off each year simply by doing household chores, according to a poll.

Researchers found that we walk more than 22 miles a year while cleaning our homes: that's the equivalent of strolling the distance across the English Channel or completing 89 laps of an Olympic running track.

More good news for the fitness-conscious is that keeping the house tidy annually burns the same number of calories found in 192 bars of chocolate, 369 cans of fizzy drink, 146 cheeseburgers or 394 packs of crisps.

The study of 3,000 Britons found that housework gives us more of a workout than spending an hour a week at the gym.
Domestic chores were found to provide the same amount of exercise as spending 57 hours running at 8.5 miles an hour, or cycling 477 miles.
Almost two-thirds of those polled for electrical goods giant Philips said they cleaned more thoroughly to try to get some exercise, while 94 per cent said they worked up a sweat while doing the chores and half could feel their muscles burning afterwards.

Dr Gary O'Donovan, a lecturer in sport and exercise medicine at the University of Exeter, said: "To prevent weight gain, most adults need to expend around 400 calories per day in physical activity, which is equivalent to around two hours of dusting and cleaning or 82 minutes of vacuuming and mopping."
Vacuuming was the most popular chore in the survey, with 35 per cent indicating a preference for it, followed by doing the laundry and washing-up.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, women questioned were more likely to clean regularly than men.

change is good!

2007-11-01T10:38:00.000-07:00

So howd'you like the new new look?

Eid Mubarak!

2007-10-16T11:47:00.000-07:00