Friday, August 24, 2012

Post Eid


 
Hope you all had a wonderful Eid!!Mine was lovely,filled with presents (!), laughter,love and family. My internet has been down of recent and I am hoping it gets sorted real soon.

In the meantime,here are the new Louboutins I am dying to get my hands on:
 
Un Bout


Cheyenne
 

Monday, August 13, 2012

Bring On The Next Bestseller


In an age where television and the world-wide-web have taken over our lives,I often get tired of been numbed,dulled and stupified by the media. One cannot argue that we all need to step back and revert to the age-old tradition every once in a while- good ol' literature.


Sure,who doesn't love curling up on that icy day with a large bowl of popcorn,a huge blanket and a good chick-flick. But there's something utterly relaxing about curling up on that icy day with a large bowl of popcorn,a huge blanket and a good BOOK.


Your imagination runs wild,images flash through your head faster than you can turn the page. Try as they may,once you have a good book,the movie/TV series will NEVER do justice (with the exception of one,more about that in another post)


Here are some of my all-time favourites:







The Kite-Runner   by Khaled Hosseini


The Observer could have not phrased it better “Shattering..devastating and inspiring”.We drift through the streets of old Kabul with young and carefree Amir and his loyal friend Hasan as they spend their days making mischief,carving their names on trees and doing what they love best- flying kites. Tragedy,however, strikes on the day that should have been the best day of Amir's life and he finds himself running from the truth,for the rest of his life.







 


A Thousand Splendid Suns   by Khaled Hosseini

A heart-wrenching tale of two women,caught under the rule of bitter Rasheed during the uncertain times of Kabul.Unable to find solace in any corner of their lives,the bond they create between them is that of sisters,inseperable and dependable,inspite of the age difference.Surrounded by misery,hopelessness and starvation,one would imagine it's an each man for himself world,'yet love can move a person to act in unexpected ways,lead them to overcome the most daunting obstacles with startling heroism.In the end it is love that truimphs over death and destruction.'









Mornings in Jenin   by Susan Abulhawa


Un-put-downable.Yet another international bestseller tells the story of fiery little Amal.The story journeys you through three generations of the Abulheja family of Ein Hod,Palestine,capturing each anguish with such power,you simply cannot hold those tears back.
Mornings in Jenin left me reeling for days after.

It was the first of the three that I read and for a long time after,western books about futile and baseless activities such shopping spree's,boyfriend trouble and a broken heel just was not doing it for me. I longed to read more about my fellow Muslims and it brought a heartache to think that,even though each of the books were not based on a true story(though I have a strong feeling that Mornings in Jenin was based on a vast amount of real-life events)it did not make it any less real,those were the kinds of sufferings our brothers and sisters in Islam were enduring.

It must be noted however,that one may have conflicting feelings about some aspects in the books. I feel that the authors were not clear in highlighting the differences between culture and religion.

Also some amazing reads:




Army of Roses   by Barbara Victor
Inside the World of Palestinian Women Suicide Bombers

From My Sister's Lips    by Na'ima Roberts
A book clearly written from the heart.A group of exceptional and strong women take you through their journey to finding Islam.




Happy reading!

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Burma Calling



As we happily prepare our Iftaar of many savouries and delights or peacefully read the Holy Quraan on our luxurious Musallahs,let us spare a thought for our Muslim brothers and sisters in Burma who are facing genocide since June.

‘Recent clashes in Arkan (Myanmar/Burma) has left more than 1,000 Muslims dead and over 90,000 have been forced out of their homes and villagers since the violence began in June…… faced with unimaginably inhumane conditions…. Arakanese Muslims are losing hope.’ Al-Imdaad Foundation reports.

Muslims are been jailed,tortured,killed,raped and burnt alive while the media is silent.

Please spare a thought for the unfortunate this Ramadhaan with your prayers and wealth. Whichever organisation you decide to generously share with, please make sure it is legit and your monies will fall into the right hands for the intended cause.
</3

the irrawaddy

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Final Destination : Jannah


I haven't blogged for a while. Ramadhaan seems to be flying and before I can get a grip on the day,I'm collapsing into bed. Apart from trying my hardest to get in extra Quraan reading and basically been a good person (“,) ,I seem to be enjoying working myself to the top (VERY unlike me) and have been making fresh savouries even though my freezer is stocked,Shukr Alhamdulillah.



My last attempt was lovely balls of mash,spaghetti,chicken mince and cheese rolled into bread crumbs and fried lightly... hmmm ,I shouldn't be typing this whilst fasting ..

Anyway,it's totally worth the smile on your loved one's face when he realises that the kebab-looking things taste devine;or that phone call from your mum saying they THOUROUGHLY enjoyed it.



It's not just about the food,it's about making the people you care about happy and gaining thawaab,Insha Allah.



I have often come across this message/email and each time I read it, an amazing feeling takes over me, making me realise, yet again,that we are here for a higher purpose and makes me strive to do my best (atleast until it fades from my memory and the next time I read it).



I thought I should share it with you, and please remember to pass it on,via twitter, Facebook, email,or even by mentioning it to someone. The rewards are endless.It is long,but so worth it.Please take the time to read.


When Mu'min will enter into Jannah, it will be announced

1. You will remain healthy forever, disease will never come.
2. You will remain alive for ever, death will never come.
3. You will remain in bounties which will never be finished.

Jannat is made with

Bricks of Gold and Silver.
Its cement is of perfumed Musk.
Its chips are pearls and Yaqoot.
Its sand is Zafraan.

There are eight doors of Jannah. These are eight grades of Jannat

1. Jannatul Mava
2. Darul Maqaam
3. Darul Salaam
4. Darul Khuld
5. Jannat-ul-Adan
6. Jannat-ul-Naeem
7. Jannat-ul-Kasif
8. Jannat-ul-Firdous

Food of Jannah

They will eat foods and fruits continuously up to 40 years.
Every bowl will have a new taste.
They will take eructation which will digest the food and there will be perfumed sweating for the digestion of water.
There will be no urine and stool.

Place Name

There will be gardens in Jannah.
Every garden will have the length of about 100 year's journey.
The shadow of these gardens will be very dense.
Their plants will be free of thorns.
The size of their leaves will be equal to ears of elephants.
Their fruits will be hanging in rows.

Jannatul Mava is in the lowest,
Jannat-ul-Adan is the middle &
Jannat-ul- Firdous is on the highest.

Those who love each other for the sake of Allah will get a pillar of Yaqoot,
On which there will be seventy thousand (70,000) rooms.
These will shine for the residents of Jannah as the sun shines for the residents of Duniya.

There will be rooms in Jannah in such a way that every room will have seventy thousand (70,000) dinning sheets.
On every dinning sheet 70,000 types of foods will be served.
For their service 80,000 young boys will be moving around looking like beautiful scattered pearls.

One bunch of dates will be equal to the length of 12 arms.
The size of a date will be equal to the big pitcher.
These will be whiter than milk, sweeter than honey and softer than butter and free
Of seeds.
The stem of these plants will be made up of gold and silver.
There will also be gardens of grapes. The bunches of grapes will be very big.
The size of a single grape will be equal to a big pitcher.

Someone asked, ya Rasulullah (Sallalahu alaihi wasallam):
will it be sufficient for me and my family. It was answered, it will be sufficient for you and your whole tribe.

The Dresses of Jannat

The dress of Jannah will be very beautiful.
One will wear 70 dresses at a time.
These will be very fine, delicate, weightless, having different colors.
These dresses will be so fine that the body even the heart will be visible.
And the waves of love in the hearts will also be visible.
These dresses will never become old, never be dirty and will never tear.


There will be four canals in every Jannah.

1 Water
2. Milk
3. Honey
4. Sharabun Tahoora.

There will also be three fountains in Jannah:

1. Kafoor
2. Zanjabeel
3. Tasneem

Qualities of People of Jannah

In Jannah, height of every Mo 'min, will be equal to the height of

Hazrat Adam (Alaihissalaam) 60 arms (90 feet).
Beauty will be like that of Hazrat Yousuf (Alaihissalaam)
Age of youth will be like that of Hazrat Esa (Alaihissalaam) 30-33 years).
Sweetness of voice will be like that of Hazrat Dawud (Alaihissalaam).
Tolerance will be like that of Hazrat Yaqoob (Alaihissalaam)
Patience will be like that of Hazrat Ayyub (Alaihissalaam.)
Habits will be like that of Sayyaduna Muhammad (Sallalahu alaihi wasallam)

NOTE:

If a person makes Du'a for Jannah three times,
Jannah requests Allah that O, Allah; make his entry into Jannah.
And if a person makes Du'a for safety from Jahannum three times,
The Jahannnum requests Allah that, O, Allah; save him from Jahannum.

Please pass on and may Allah grant the entire Ummah of Nabi sallalahu alayhi wasallam Jannat ul Firdous Ameen!

Every good act is charity

JAZAK ALLAHU KHAIR-
May Allah Forgive our sins...Ameen
Remember the Prophet PBUH said if u have knowledge pass it on
Even if it is just one verse. So Forward this message and help us in our
Mission to keep the Muslim Youth on the right path, ISLAM."



Inspiring, no? I think my favourite part (varying on when I read it i.e now is during the fast) is about the dates.. Whiter than milk, sweeter than honey, softer than butter...........I think we should all read this or something like it every once in a while to give us that reminder and give ourselves a re-boot.
 

Ma' Asalaam