Memorable Mondays!

Assalamualaikum wa rahmatulahi wa barakatu! 

Is it already Monday? Alhamdulilah ! Yay Monday's!
This is the post where I get to share with you my great recipes that are just so memorable! Always remembering that food is truly one of the biggest blessings from Allah. We should never waste our food and if we have left overs we can either use them for homemade facial masks or feed the little animals out on our porch ( I had a entourage of friendly critters in my balcony when I had leftovers! Masha'Allah the squirrels became so chubby!) 

If we really take a moment to contemplate just how beautiful food really is! I mean, the colours of the different fruits and vegetables in all the different regions all over the world, the textures, the sweetness Subhana'Allah! The most amazing thing is how everything can be blended together to make a delicious savory meal! *sigh*, Alhamdulilah for food, what a big big blessing...and so many people take it for granted. May Allah protect us from gluttony and may we always remembering the beautiful blessings of food. Ameen!

Now for my lovely recipe for today! Homemade PIZZA!

I don't know about you, but pizza has always been an ALL-TIME favourite of mine!! I love me' a pepperoni and cheese pizza with some olives and mushrooms (but halal pepperoni  is hard to find around my 'no-man's land' of a town) So I opt for a mildly long drive to the halal market so I can have my very own personalized pizza! 

Here is what you need: 

for the crust: 
3 1/2 to 4 cups bread flour, plus more for rolling (bread flour add more texture and a crispier crust, but you can settle for all-purpose white flour, or whole wheat! It's entirely up to you!)

• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 envelope instant dry yeast
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 1/2 cups water, 110 degrees F (if the water is too hot it will kill the yeast and then the dough wont rise :( ! So becareful)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus 2 teaspoons

Combine all in one bowl (I don't have an electrical mixer so I do it old school styles, and mix it with a fork lol)

-bread flour

-sugar

-yeast 

-salt 

Then slowly add the water bit by bit and 2 tablespoons of the oil and mix until the dough forms into a ball 

(note: if the dough is sticky, keep adding flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the dough comes together in a solid ball. If the dough is too dry, add additional water, 1 tablespoon at a time. )

Knead into a ball (i usually do this in the bowl, but you can use a clean surface, up to you)

Grease the bowl with the remaining 2 teaspoons olive oil, add the dough, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and put it in a WARM area to let it double in size, about 1 hour. 

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and divide it into 2 equal pieces. Cover each with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap and let them rest for 10 minutes.

For the toppings:

- Marble cheese (or what ever kind of cheese you prefer)

- Halal pepperoni (don't forget to remove the paper casing, I realised this after I ate some lol)

- Green olives 

- Mushrooms 

- Tomatoes

*note* These are my favourite toppings, but you can definitely use your own!

- Tomato PASTE ( I've never used tomato sauce as I think it takes away from the taste of the pizza)

- Oregano spice, Rosemary spice, Basil spice (you can use fresh or dried) and some salt and pepper to taste

I personally don't measure any of these ingredients because pizza's are usually made to a person's own preference! You can go less or more! But I go more with the cheese and the pepperoni and olives!

Pizza prep: 

Preheat oven to 425C

Grease your pizza pan with oil and dust with a bit of flour so it wont stick to your pan, you can also just roll your dough out and put it on parchment paper (which makes for a better crust). 

Apply toppings generously, starting with the tomato paste then your spices & salt. Then sprinkle as much cheese as you want, and place your toppings over the cheese leaving your pepperoni for last. Finally sprinkle more cheese (mmmm !) and then sprinkle light some final spices! 

Into the oven it goes for 15-20 minutes depending how well done you want your pizza ! Let the pizza cool a bit, and then slice ( I don't have a slicer so I use a knife , lol )

This is definitely something memorable you can share with your loved ones! You can make always invite your kids, husband, or lovely sisters into the kitchen to help you out! Surely a true bonding experience! 

Bil3afia & Enjoy! 

DIY : Fruitful Fridays!

Assalamualaikum wa rahmatulahi wa barakatu !

Friday is such a special day as we Muslimah's all know . It is a day full of blessings. I wanted to add another addition to my blog and include "DIY Fruitful Fridays" where I will be suggesting some of my own "creative" ideas to help us with our Deen and remembering Allah at ALL TIMES.

We as humans, tend to forget easily and become oblivious to the smallest things around us, even if we remind ourselves once or twice we tend to forget shortly after.

The first Fruitful Friday suggestion(s): 

1. Take some post-it notes and a Sharpie permanent marker (or any thick tip marker)
2. Search for the following duaa's " before entering the bathroom" , " after leaving the bathroom" , "before starting Wudu", "after finishing Wudu" and "when looking in the mirror"
3. Write down on the post-its (try to make it fit and legible) these duaa's and for the Arabic speakers, you can add Arabic and for the English readers, write down the transliteration & meaning.

4. After, place the post-its according to the duaa. (i.e- place the post-its on the bathroom door etc..)
5. Now every time before you enter the bathroom you can say the duaa (unless you eager Muslimah's have already memorized them Masha'Allah) and when you look in the mirror you can now say the duaa!

It's always important to say these duaa's, we can't see what Allah sees, and we don't want to be envied by the Jinns, also it's always good to remember Allah at all times (since we go to the bathroom and make wudu, and look in the mirror often this is a great way to earn reward and following the Sunnah of Rasulullah (sallahu aleyhi wasselum))!



Second Fruitful Friday (which I hope to try myself insha'Allah) :

1. Grab your phone (by now we should all have a SMART phone, if not I'm sure your family member has one)
2. Go to Voice Memo or your recording application
3. Click record
4. Place the recorder near you and whoever you are with, even if you are alone
5. Record for an hour, or longer (but remember you are being recorded)
6. After an hour has lapsed, listen to your recording

This is a good way to listen to yourself and to see if you have been saying or doing anything inappropriate. This is a GREAT way to remind yourself that Allah is recording your deeds and actions at ALL times. Recording yourself for one hour, seems like a long time but imagine Allah records every single second, minute, hour? Also, this is a great way to help you become more cautious of yourself and your deeds.

Hope you try these out, and Insha'Allah it can help us all improve for the sake of Allah!

p.s- please do check out the post below and share!

Which CATEGORY do you fit under?

“And let not the worldly life delude you and be not deceived about Allaah by the chief deceiver (Satan). Indeed Satan is an enemy to you; so take him as an enemy. He only invites his party to be among the companions of the Blaze.” (Faatir: 5-6)

Prior to my Islam, the lifestyle I was leading was very heavy. If you know anything about Toronto, it is similar to that of New York. I call Toronto "the mini NY". The lifestyle of a Torontonian is busy, social, eclectic, and very materialistic. You typically work a 9-5 job on the weekdays and the weekend is reserved for social brunches, parties and much intoxications (in any and every way possible). Torontonians also work hard to look aesthetically pleasing. Most city dwellers own a gym membership and are still paying off their last membership from another gym and any 'add-ons' ( hair extensions, acrylic nails, and breast augmentations) to your body are the latest accessory.

In Toronto you will find categories of, lets say, 3 types:

The Douchebag: Men and Women who fake-tan religiously, the men look like a cast off of Jersey Shore (do they still have that show ? I wouldn't know, Alhamdulilah), the women have fake nails, extensions, fake lips, fake everything and their most prized possession: augmented breasts. They are basically, as I'd like to put it, "trash with a little bit of class". The class being that they only dine in expensive restaurants and dress themselves with designer brands but other than that, their attitude, personality and morals is a whopping 0 out of 10. They can similarly be compared to a painted wall. Fun to stare at but never has anything (good) to say at ALL.

The Gym 'hoe' (excuse my frankness but no need to sugarcoat is there? ) : These men and women 'work out' religiously at the gym, have dated practically every or most members of the gym (hence why they switch gyms), they think that they are 'gods gift to mankind' (AstughfurAllah) and the mirror is their best friend. They have no personality. These men are more high maintenance than the women often plucking their eyebrows and waxing their legs, oh and they spend minutes in the tanning booth as well. The women are usually wearing layers of makeup and their bronzer paints their towel brown. They usually go to the gym to socialise and stand around trying to look "sexy" (lol!). Modesty is foreign to their vocabulary. (the Douchebags can and do fall under this same category as well) 

The Fashionista: The name says it all. These men and women "wine", dine, and party in the hottest restaurants, and clubs. They think they are the socialites of Toronto and that they run the show. Every day is a runway for them and they walk around with their nose in the air expecting VIP treatment everywhere they go. Their intellect is often low and they have no soul or morals, life revolves around themselves. Intoxication is the way to their hearts as well as clothes, money, and 2 week relationships. They post explicit photos of themselves on the internet and their personality only gets along with people who share the same lifestyle, otherwise you are considered "plebeians."

I can make this accurate assumption mainly due to the fact that I was in one of the three categories and as well I associated myself with each group of people . 

Why am I writing about this? Because half of the world seems to be falling into these three categories these days. Doesn't matter if you are from Toronto, New York, or Paris. This epidemic is sweeping the nation by storm and it's hitting the Muslims all around us. Many Muslims today are giving up their beautiful religion for this ugly wordly life.

At what expense is one trying to sell their religion for the love of this worldly life? Selling your soul and your religion to look like someone you are not? The term "fake" nails, " fake" hair and "fake" breasts simply means NOT REAL, NOT AUTHENTIC, NOT GENUINE. I guess the IQ is so low these days, that one thinks that being fake will make them more real??

Oh' Muslims, who have sold their religion for temporary "fame", you should be ashamed of yourselves. You are the lowest of the lows, the trashiest of the trash, verily you are of the losers. Allah had blessed you with guidance but you chose to follow your LOWLY desires and sell your religion for such disgusting lifestyles. Who do you think you are? How dare you disobey Allah like this!? Walking around the streets, parading yourselves on the internet to gain who's attention? To show off to who? To attract people who have no intellect, no class, no soul? Subhana'Allah, these men and women are a disgrace, not only to society, but to Islam. I witness so many of these 'cheap' Muslims each and every day and it angers me, saddens me, and depresses me. The lollipop wrappers have all been unwrapped and the ants all get a taste, modesty has become extinct in many Muslims. 

I just want to ask them, WHY? FOR WHAT? WHAT IS IT THAT YOU GAIN FROM THIS? 
They probably couldn't even answer me.

Just remember this :

“And fear a day when you will be returned to Allaah. Then every soul will be compensated for what it earned and they will not be wronged (i.e. treated unjustly).” (Al-Baqarah: 291)

what have you earned so far O' Muslims?

and remember :

The Messenger  of Allaah sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said: “The life of this world is sweet and green (i.e. as tempting as fruits) and Allaah makes you  succeed one another in it, so that He may observe what type of deeds you will do therein. Beware of this life and beware of (the temptation of) women.” (Muslim). 

He also said: “If this world was worth a mosquito’s wing in the sight of Allaah, He would not have given a disbeliever a single gulp of water.” (Al-Tirmidhi)


We all need a REALITY CHECK these days as everyone seems to be stemming further and further away from reality. Reality isn't the life of this world, but in actuality it is that tomorrow, next week, next month could be your last breath you breathe. 
So make it last, and Fear Allah. 

“So as for he who transgressed. And preferred the life of this world, Then indeed, Hellfire will be (his) refuge. But as for he who feared the position of his Lord and prevented the soul from (unlawful) inclination, Then indeed, Paradise will be (his) abode”. (An-Naaziaat: 37-41).

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