Memorable Monday's

Assalamualaikum wa rahmatulahi wa barakatu!

Introducing "Memorable Monday's" which I will share with you a memorable recipe worth trying and sharing with you and your loved ones. I wanted to sort of incorporate a bit more of a 'personal touch' to my blog, and food is just something that is such a blessing from Allah that I felt obliged to share with you my cooking concoctions, hoping that you will also benefit from the lovely meals as I have been blessed by Allah to enjoy. Alhamdulilah for the true blessings of food! All the different spices, herbs, vegetables and fruits from all around the world! Subhana'Allah, truly it is one of many miracles that we overlook that Allah has blessed us with (and think of all the health benefits of most!)

This Monday, I made my very first (low-fat) cheesecake and it turned out a success Masha'Allah wa'Alhamdulilah! It was memorable in every bite! 
I was a bit skeptical at first since I don't own an electric mixer but I left the cream cheese out to soften for a good half hour and applied some elbow grease and used my own arms (Masha'Allah) and blended away on low-medium speed. 

Here was the outcome & here is the recipe! ( I don't have those fancy DSLR camera's to take fancy 
food -blog styled pictures, so bare with my iPhone!)

Recipe: 

• Crust:
• 1 1/4 cups Graham Cracker Crumbs
• 1/4 cup butter, melted

Filling:

• 4 (250 g) packages (low fat) PHILADELPHIA Brick Cream Cheese, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 1 tablespoon vanilla (I use imitation, to avoid the alcohol from real vanilla)
• 1 cup (low fat) sour cream
• 4 eggs

Strawberry sauce:

1 pint (2 cups) of  fresh strawberries 

1/3 cup of sugar

some lime zest

1 tbsp imitation vanilla

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat oven to 325 degrees F if using a silver 9 inch springform pan (or to 300 degrees F if using a dark nonstick 9-inch springform pan). Mix crumbs and butter; press firmly onto bottom of pan. Bake 10 minutes.
2. Beat cream cheese, sugar, flour and vanilla in large bowl with electric mixer (or by hand if you don't own a mixer like me!) on medium speed until well blended. Add sour cream; mix well. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing on low speed after each addition just until blended. Pour over crust.
3. Bake 1 hour 10 minutes or until centre is almost set. Run knife or metal spatula around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool before removing rim of pan. Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight. Top with pie filling before serving. Store leftover in your fridge!

For the Sauce: 

Slice (washed) strawberries and remove the leaf then add sugar, a dash or two of lime (or lemon) zest and the vanilla and bring to a boil while stirring consistently. Leave aside and let it cool before topping it on the cheesecake. 

TIPS: 

- The cheesecake will come out a little bit firm but "jiggly" and the center will be more "jiggly" than the rest, this is OK! Let it cool and eventually the entire cake will set (if you over bake it will cause the cake to crack!) 

- Make sure you let the entire cake cool before you put it in the fridge otherwise it will build up moisture and taste like your fridge! 

- Make sure you enjoy it with your loved ones and second helpings are not encouraged if you have errands to run or business to take care of (may result in major relaxation and contentment, Alhamdulilah!) 

Bil3fia &  Enjoy ! 

What is "Hijama"?

Assalamualaikum wa rahmatulahi wa barakatu !

I recently just found out what Hijama was and thought it to be something that I absolutely MUST share with my dear readers (though I'm sure many of you already know more about this than I do !) . I had no idea this was Sunnah until I researched more and realised how beneficial it was/is for our bodies! I had heard about something similar to this during my non-Muslim days and I knew it was something similar if not the same as "acupuncture". Probably one of the only things I knew about the Chinese culture! Subhana'Allah.

What is 'hijamah'?

The word ‘hijamah’ is derived its origin from the word al-hajm which carries the meaning: to suck, to absorb, or to extract. It described a medical treatment whereby ‘dirty’ blood is extracted from the body by a suction cup attached to a lightly incised skin surface. Detoxification of the blood, stimulation of new blood formation.  As we age, we suffer from increased accumulation of toxins, stemming from poor diet and lifestyle, pharmaceutical drugs, pesticides, insecticides and other chemicals in our fruits, vegetables and meat, environmental pollutants and chemicals.  
Hijama helps to remove these impurities and stimulate the bone marrow to produce new, healthier blood. Increased blood circulation,  pain reduction.  Areas of chronic pain often have localized areas of blood stagnation.  Both the action of drawing a vacuum on the skin as well as the drawing of , help to improve circulation. Cupping has been used successfully for numerous diseases.

Authentic Narrations

Cupping (Hijama) Is The Best Of Remedies

Anas ibn Maalik (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger  said, "Indeed the best of remedies you have is cupping (hijama)…" [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (5371)].

Abu Hurairah (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger   said, "If there was something excellent to be used as a remedy then it is cupping (hijama)." [Saheeh Sunan abi Dawud (3857), Saheeh Sunan ibn Maajah (3476)].

 

The Angels Recommending Cupping (Hijama)

Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger  said, "I did not pass by an angel from the angels on the night journey except that they all said to me: Upon you is cupping (hijama), O Muhammad." [Saheeh Sunan ibn Maajah (3477)].

Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (may Allaah be pleased with him) the angels said, "Oh Muhammad, order your Ummah (nation) with cupping (hijama)." [Saheeh Sunan Tirmidhee (3479)].

Cupping (Hijama) Is A Prevention

Anas ibn Maalik (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger  said, "Whoever wants to perform cupping (hijama) then let him search for the 17th, 19th and 21st day (of the Islamic, lunar month) and let none of you allow his blood to rage (boil) such that it kills him." [Saheeh Sunan ibn Maajah (3486)].

Anas ibn Maalik (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger said, "When the weather becomes extremely hot, seek aid in cupping (hijama). Do not allow your blood to rage (boil) such that it kills you."[Reported by Hakim in his 'Mustadrak' and he authenticated it and Imam ad-Dhahabi agreed (4/212)].

In Cupping (Hijama) There Is A Cure And A blessing

Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger   said, "Healing is in three things: in the incision of the cupper, in drinking honey, and in cauterizing with fire, but I forbid my Ummah (nation) from cauterization (branding with fire)." [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (5681), Saheeh Sunan ibn Maajah (3491)].

Jaabir ibn Abdullah (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger  said, "Indeed in cupping (hijama) there is a cure." [Saheeh Muslim (5706)].

Ibn Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger  said, "Cupping (hijama) on an empty stomach* is best. In it is a cure and a blessing..." [Saheeh Sunan ibn Maajah (3487)].

 

Cupping (Hijama) In Its Time Is A Cure For Every Disease

Abu Hurairah (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger   said, "Whoever performs cupping (hijama) on the 17th, 19th or 21st day (of the Islamic, lunar month) then it is a cure for every disease." [Saheeh Sunan abi Dawud (3861)].

The Best Days For Cupping (Hijama)

The best days for cupping (hijama) are the 17th, 19th and 21st of the Islamic, lunar month which coincide with Monday, Tuesday or Thursday.

Anas ibn Maalik (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger  said, "Whoever wants to perform cupping (hijama) then let him search for the 17th, 19th and 21st…" [Saheeh Sunan ibn Maajah (3486)].

 

Cupping (Hijama) May Be Used For:

Headaches

Salma (may Allaah be pleased with him), the servant of the Messenger of Allaah  said, "Whenever someone would complain of a headache to the Messenger of Allaah  , he   would advise them to perform cupping (hijama)." [Saheeh Sunan abi Dawud (3858)].

Magic

Ibn al-Qaiyum (may Allaah have mercy on him) mentions that the Messenger  was cupped on his head when he was afflicted with magic and that it is from the best of cures for this if performed correctly. [Zaad al Ma'aad (4/125-126)].

Poison

Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that a Jewish woman gave poisoned meat to the Messenger of Allaah   so he   sent her a message saying, "What caused you to do that?" She replied, "If you really are a Prophet then Allaah will inform you of it and if you are not then I would save the people from you!" When the Messenger  felt pain from it, he performed cupping (hijama). Once he travelled while in Ihram and felt that pain and hence performed cupping (hijama). [Ahmed (1/305) the hadeeth is hasan (good chain with all the paths)].

Strengthening One's Intelligence And Memory

Ibn Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger said, "Cupping (hijama) on an empty stomach* is best. In it is a cure and a blessing. It improves the intellect and the memory..." [Saheeh Sunan ibn Maajah (3487)].

 

Dislocation/Bruising

Jaabir ibn Abdullah (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger  fell from his horse onto the trunk of a palm tree and dislocated his foot. Waki' (may Allaah be pleased with him) said, "Meaning the Messenger  was cupped on (his foot) for bruising." [Saheeh Sunan ibn Maajah (2807)].

Cupping (Hijama) While fasting Or In The State Of Ihram

Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger   was cupped on his head for a unilateral headache while he was in Ihraam. [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (5701)].

Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger   was cupped while he was fasting. [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (5694)].

Anas ibn Maalik (may Allaah be pleased with him) was asked: "Did you dislike cupping for the fasting person?" He said, "No except for the reason of one becoming weak." [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (1940)].

This is not affected by the hadeeth, "The cupper and the one being cupped have broken their fast." [Saheeh see Irwaa al-Ghaleel (931)]. This is because the hadeeth is abrogated as Sheikh al-Albaani and ibn Hazm (may Allah have mercy upon them) showed by the following hadeeth:

Abu Sa'eed al-Khudhree (may Allaah be pleased with him) said, "The Messenger  validated cupping for the fasting person." [Saheeh see Irwaa al-Ghaleel (4/74)].

It appears that cupping (hijama) is allowed but disliked as Anas ibn Maalik (may Allaah be pleased with him) mentioned because the fasting person becomes weak if they perform cupping (hijama) and Allah knows best.

Areas of Cupping (Hijama)

Anas ibn Maalik (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger  was treated with cupping (hijama) three times on the two veins at the side of the neck and the base of the neck. [Saheeh Sunan abi Dawud (3860), ibn Maajah (3483)].

Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) was cupped on his head. [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (5699)].

Abdullah ibn 'Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger  used to cup his head and would call it (the place at the top of the head) "Umm Mugheeth." [Saheehah (753), Saheeh al-Jaami' (4804)].

Jaabir ibn Abdullah (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger  was treated with cupping (hijama) on his hip for a pain in that area. [Saheeh Sunan abi Dawud (3863)].

Anas ibn Maalik (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger  was treated with cupping (hijama) when he was in Ihram, on the top of his foot, for a pain in that area. [Saheeh Sunan abi Dawud (1836)].



Sources:
http://www.salafitalk.net/st/viewmessages.cfm?Forum=6&Topic=1615
http://www.zhijama.co.uk/?page_id=235
http://www.alhijama.co.uk/home/hadith
http://www.simplyhijama.com/#/what-is-cupping/4545422585

Sister, who are you striving to be like?

Kim Kardashian, Kate Middleton, Lady Gaga, and (again) Britney Spears. What do these women have in common besides spreading nonsense in the world?

They are the Western society's role models.

I find it quite humorous that such clowns are known as "the leading ladies of the future."
Kim Kardashian who really has nothing going for her, is famous for her money and life which consists of shopping and drowning her face with makeup. Kate Middleton, a very wealthy "commoner", famous for her marriage to Prince William. Lady Gaga, who promotes same-sex relationships, and making extremely haram things seem halal and of course Britney Spears, who is just as ridiculous as the others and can't even take care of herself. These are the women who are making a difference in the youth's lives. Parading around half-naked, gallons of make-up, intoxicated, and pretty much useless individuals who are famous for unknown reasons. I mean, Kate Middleton is slightly better than the others, but nonetheless she is still nonsense.
The importance of raising children in this generation to make a difference in the future has been heavily ignored. The media has become the new fastest growing religion. This used to be my religion, and I was a very devoted practisor. I have lost count with the amount of "role models" I looked up to and tried so hard to mimic.

I want to share with you who my role model is today, why I chose the name Khadijah, and why I look up to her:

She was one of the greatest leaders of humanity known to mankind
She was the most respected lady of her time
She was the most noble
She was a humble wealthy businesswoman
She was most loyal
She was most intelligent
She had a strong persona and a soft heart
She was beautiful and pious
She was known as the "pure woman"
She was the Prophet Muhammad's (pbuh) first wife
She was the first one to accept Islam
She was the mother of the believers
She was Khadijah.

Wow, what a woman.
Allah chose the perfect woman for the perfect man, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
The only words I can think of to describe such a woman is, "absolutely amazing". She was the only woman who was greeted with a "Salam" by Allah and the Angel Jibril. The first wife of the Prophet (pbuh), and he did not take on another wife during his marriage with Khadijah. She was the most supportive wife of the Prophet (pbuh) and sacrificed all the comforts of life. The Prophet had such high regards for Khadijah and spoke of her in the most dearest way:

" I have no yet found a better wife than her. She had faith in me when everyone, even members of my own family and tribe did not believe me, and accepted that I was truly a Prophet and a Messenger of Allah. She converted to Islam, spent all her wealth and worldly goods to help me spread this faith, and this too at a time when the entire world seemed to have turned against me and persecuted me. And it is through her that Allah blessed me with children"(Narrated by Aisha). She was the ideal mother and wife. She is a true representation of not only the ideal Muslim woman, but she is what every woman should strive to become. Could you imagine if all women had Khadijah (May Allah be pleased with her) as a role model what the outcome of society would be like today?

Women wouldn't think that walking around half-naked is beautiful, women wouldn't think that caking on a pound of makeup on her face was what defines her beauty, women wouldn't think that being intoxicated was the way to enjoy life, women wouldn't think the materialistic things in life were important, women wouldn't have to stray away from religion to gain their independence and freedom.
Most importantly, women would believe in Allah.

Why it is so hard to find a woman like Khadijah these days?
I would really like to hear what you have to say.

You gotta read this,

I never liked exams, in fact I detested them!
I was never the top student of my class, in fact I was terrible at exams. I had exam anxiety and had to separate from another room so I could have extra time to finish (not that it helped my amazing marks *sarcasm*)

Why must one spend so much dedication and time towards studying for a topic while only to be tested on it after?
We learn all we can and some even cram and leave a years worth of knowledge to the last minute hoping to absorb as much information as possible before the final exam. Subhana'Allah.

The purpose of the exam is to test our knowledge and to see if we can correctly apply what we have been taught from what we learnt throughout the year. The one who puts in the hours and the efforts usually succeeds with a higher-than-passing mark. The one who crams all night and leaves everything to the last minute usually fails or barely passes.
I used to be the latter. I would leave my studying to the last minute and hoping that by fluke I would some how pass, and the joke here is, I would be praying to my wooden deities to pass me (lol!! but seriously, astughfurAllah). I concluded that exams (and tests) just weren't "my thing".

Writing an exam or a test requires so much preparation and focus (and SO much effort). That feeling of successfully passing and moving ahead in life is just SO rewarding. We spend so much time working hard to become the best student, earning that killer degree, and giving ourselves the head honcho titles but what about successfully preparing for our final exam? What about focusing on our daily tests we are put through every day by our Creator? Are we going to cram until the last minute hoping to pass THE final exam (our death, the grave, The Day of Judgement)?

Aha, but this final exam is different. There is no re-take. You can't erase and re-write the right answer. You can't separate yourself into another room and be allotted more time. This exam is limited on time. This is the exam that we have been preparing for all our lives. Wouldn't it be a shame to know that cramming for this exam will not grant you a passing grade? Wouldn't it be a shame to know that failing this exam will enter you into an eternal punishment with torture and pain that you couldn't even imagine? Wouldn't it be a shame to know that you were given all this extra time and credit to your advantage yet you decided to study other subjects? Failing each chapter of your tests will not help you with THIS final exam.

Just imagine, taking THE final exam that will determine your destiny for eternity (Paradise, or the Hellfire).

Would you then continue to slack off , or would you start studying and preparing ahead of time?

Exams and tests used to be a joke to me.
But there is nothing funny about this test I'm taking, and this final exam is definitely not a laughing matter.

Are we ,Muslims, really oppressed?

I had often wondered in my past life, living in a Western society, why religion oppressed people. I had this preconceived notion that religion was only for people who were oppressed and had no sense of direction in life. Often I made such ludicrous judgments and never really bothered to do my research. I thought that religion had way too many rules and regulations and that learning the playbook of football or the NBA would be easier than to learn the teachings of a religion, hence why I was never religious for the right reasons.

But enter Islam.

For some reason, which only Allah knows, I began to see things in a different light. I actually wanted to RESEARCH Islam and the different "rules and regulations" such a religion had in store for me. Something triggered my interest and I wanted to find out more. Perhaps it was because I was sick of the Western world, where a simple greet and smile was almost as hard to find as a diamond in the red sea, where globalization and consumerism was the primary focus in everybody's life, and where sex, drugs, partying was the only known pastimes.

Money made and will always make the world go round and I never really thought this was how I wanted to live my life. Women dressing like men or with barely nothing on is considered a movement of freedom for the women's revolution.

Women dating women, men dating men are becoming more popular in the world. The crime rate is skyrocketing and more economic depression is sweeping the world by storm. Perhaps all these things were making me sick and disgusted and I wanted nothing to do with this. The ironic thing is that this revolution of the 21 st century is supposed to be the century of opportunity, growth, technology, and more freedom. But is this really considered freedom? When all you see is violence and casualties , free sex everywhere, economic oppression of slave wages, high divorce rates, pornography in many homes, women dressing like "whores" on television, people using vulgar language, and many mistreating their parents and elders. The women we see walking around in malls, on television half naked, these women are mothers, wives, and daughters of yours!!!

Is that really freedom? Who is really oppressed ? Is it really us Muslims?

Are we, Muslims, oppressed just because we, women, cover up our adornment from strange men we don't know because our beauty is only for our Lord and for our husband? Are we oppressed because we cover up properly and we are actually respected instead of being looked at as sex objects ? Are we oppressed because we remember our Lord, our Creator five times a day ? Because we prostrate before our Creator and submit to Him? Are we oppressed because we are treated like a delicate flower from our husbands instead of a woman who is easily disposable at any moment ? Are we oppressed because we greet and smile at every Muslim out of respect for one another? Are we oppressed because we stay away from violence and crime because in the Qur'an it STRICTLY prohibits such acts ? Are we oppressed because we know the destruction that the media and music have on people? Are we oppressed because we have a book that teaches us how to live our lives as decent, well mannered, loving human beings?

If all these things ( and they are just a few of the many) seem to you to be why Muslims are oppressed, than by all means continue living in your Western world "bubble" as I, amongst millions of born Muslims and reverts want to live their life with true freedom and that's why we choose Islam any day over all the other religions, and especially the religion of the consumer society.