Monday, 4 October 2010
Thursday, 30 September 2010
Polygyny : 19 Points for Dividing Equally and Just Between Wives
Tuesday, 6 July 2010
Avoid Four to be Protected from Shaytaan
Imam al-Hasan al-Basri (rahimahullah) stated:
If there are four things present in a person, Allah would preserve him from the Shaytaan and prevent him from entering the Fire: Whoever has control over himself during times of:
1. Raghbah - Need
2. Rahbah - Fear
3. Shahwah - Desire
4. Ghadab - Anger."
Ibn Rajab stated: These four that al-Hasan mentioned are the basis of all evil.
Raghbah is to have a need for something, is to want it and believe that it is beneficial for you. So whoever has a need for something, this need may drive him to attain it through any means possible, a lot of which could be impermissible. The object that is needed could be prohibited itself.
Rahbah is to fear something. If a person fears something he would try to repel it by any means necessary, a lot of which may be impermissible.
Shahwah is to desire something that you take pleasure from. A person may desire a lot of things that are prohibited such as fornication, theft, alcohol, disbelief, magic, hypocrisy and innovations.
Ghadab - Anger: It is the boiling of the hearts blood to repel a harm fearing that it would take place, or to take revenge from someone who has previously caused harm. A lot of impermissible things take place as a consequence of anger, such as fighting, hitting as well as other types of oppression and transgression. A lot of impermissible forms of speech also take place such as defamation, insults, and evil words. This may even reach the level of disbelief.
Author: Shaykh Zayd al Madkhalee
Reference: Al Afnaan an Nadiyyah Vol.8 p, 328
Saturday, 19 June 2010
Sunday, 13 June 2010
Friday, 11 June 2010
Always A Bounty For You
The divine decree related to the believer is always a bounty, even if it is in the form of withholding (something that is desired), and it is a blessing, even if it appears to be a trial, and an affliction that has befallen him is in reality a cure, even though it appears to be a disease!
Unfortunately, due to the ignorance of the worshipper, and his transgressions, he does not consider anything to be a gift or a blessing or a cure unless he can enjoy it immediately, and it is in accordance with his nature.
If he were only given a little bit of understanding, then he would have counted being withheld from as a blessing, and the sickness as a mercy, and he would relish the trouble that befalls him more than he relishes his ease, and he would enjoy poverty more than he enjoys richness, and he would be more thankful when he is blessed with little than when he is blessed with a lot.
Imam ibn al Qayyim rahimahullah
Madarij al-Salikin 2/215-216
Thursday, 3 June 2010
'If Allah Loves people, He tests them.
This hadith is hasan, and was reported by at-Tirmidhi (4/2396). It is
also included in 'Sahih al-Jami'' (275).
In his explanation of 'Kitab at-Tawhid,' Sulayman bin 'Abdillah bin
Muhammad bin 'Abd al-Wahhab mentioned the hadith of the Prophet: 'If
Allah Loves a people, He tests them.'
After explaining some aspects of the hadith, Shaykh Sulayman asked the
question: how is it that Allah can test those who are beloved to Him?
Summarizing the words of Ibn Taymiyyah, he answered:
'...because this forces the servant to repent.
Allah tests the servants with the punishments of this world in order
that they repent from their sins, as He Said: {'...that He may make them
taste a bit of that which they have done, in order that they may
return.'} [ar-Rum; 41] So, for whoever is granted the chance to repent
by Allah as the result of an act of disobedience, this is from the
greatest of blessings of Allah upon him, because this will result in his
invoking and supplicating to Allah with submission and humility. Because
of this, Allah has condemned those who do not lean on their Lord, and do
not invoke Him when crisis occurs: {'And indeed, We seized them with
punishment. But, they did not humble themselves to their Lord, nor did
they invoke Him with submission.' } [al-Mu'minun; 76]
And supplicating and invoking Allah with humility is from the greatest
of blessings, and this blessing is from the greatest paths by which one
can rectify his religious practice, as the rectification of one's
religious practice is in his worshipping Allah, alone, depending on Him,
and not calling upon any deity besides Him - not a du'a' of worship, nor
a du'a' of request.
So, if you are granted the chance to perform repentance, which entails
worshipping Allah, alone, and you obey His Messengers by doing that
which you are commanded, and abandoning that from which you are
forbidden, you are from those who worship Allah. And if you are granted
the chance to supplicate to Allah - which is to ask Allah for whatever
you need, and you ask Him for what will benefit you, and you seek refugewith Him from anything that would harm you - this is from the greatest of Allah's blessings upon you.
This is usually what happens when a disaster strikes, and if such
blessings emerge when crisis strikes, it would only make sense that the
people most deserving of this are those who are beloved to Him, and it
is upon such people to thank Allah.'
['Taysir al-'Aziz al-Hamid'; p. 353-355]
Tuesday, 18 May 2010
Common Ingredient Substitutions
Ingredient | Amount | Substitution |
Allspice | 1 teaspoon | 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ginger, and 1/4 teaspoon cloves |
Arrowroot starch | 1 teaspoon | 1 tablespoon flour, OR 1 teaspoon cornstarch |
Baking mix | 1 cup | 1 cup pancake mix OR 1 cup Easy Biscuit Mixture |
Baking powder | 1 teaspoon | 1/4 teaspoon baking soda plus 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar OR 1/4 teaspoon baking soda plus 1/2 cup buttermilk (decrease liquid in recipe by 1/2 cup) |
Beer | 1 cup | 1 cup nonalcoholic beer OR 1 cup chicken broth |
Brandy | 1/4 cup | 1 teaspoon imitation brandy extract plus enough water to make 1/4 cup |
Bread crumbs | 1 cup | 1 cup cracker crumbs OR 1 cup matzo meal OR 1 cup ground oats |
Broth: beef or chicken | 1 cup | 1 bouillon cube plus 1 cup boiling water OR 1 tablespoon soy sauce plus enough water to make 1 cup OR 1 cup vegetable broth |
Brown sugar | 1 cup, packed | 1 cup white sugar plus 1/4 cup molasses and decrease the liquid in recipe by 1/4 cup OR 1 cup white sugar OR 1 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar |
Butter (salted) | 1 cup | 1 cup margarine OR 1 cup shortening plus 1/2 teaspoon salt OR 7/8 cup vegetable oil plus 1/2 teaspoon salt OR 7/8 cup lard plus 1/2 teaspoon salt |
Butter (unsalted) | 1 cup | 1 cup shortening OR 7/8 cup vegetable oil OR 7/8 cup lard |
Buttermilk | 1 cup | 1 cup yogurt OR 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar plus enough milk to make 1 cup |
Cheddar cheese | 1 cup shredded | 1 cup shredded Colby cheddarOR 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese |
Chervil | 1 tablespoon chopped fresh | 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley |
Chicken base | 1 tablespoon | 1 cup canned or homemade chicken broth or stock. Reduce liquid in recipe by 1 cup |
Chocolate(semisweet) | 1 ounce | 1 (1-ounce) square of unsweetened chocolate plus 4 teaspoons sugar OR 1 ounce semisweet chocolate chips plus 1 teaspoon shortening |
Chocolate (unsweetened) | 1 ounce | 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa plus 1 tablespoon shortening or vegetable oil |
Cocoa | 1/4 cup | 1 (1-ounce) square unsweetened chocolate |
Condensed cream of mushroom soup | 1 (10.75-ounce) can | 1 (10.75-ounce) can condensed cream of celery, cream of chicken, OR golden mushroom soup |
Corn syrup | 1 cup | 1 1/4 cup white sugar plus 1/3 cup water OR 1 cup honey OR 1 cup light treacle syrup |
Cottage cheese | 1 cup | 1 cup farmer's cheese OR 1 cup ricotta cheese |
Cracker crumbs | 1 cup | 1 cup bread crumbs OR 1 cup matzo meal OR 1 cup ground oats |
Cream (half and half) | 1 cup | 7/8 cup milk plus 1 tablespoon butter |
Cream (heavy) | 1 cup | 1 cup evaporated milk OR 3/4 cup milk plus 1/3 cup butter |
Cream (light) | 1 cup | 1 cup evaporated milk OR 3/4 cup milk plus 3 tablespoons butter |
Cream (whipped) | 1 cup | 1 cup frozen whipped topping, thawed |
Cream cheese | 1 cup | 1 cup pureed cottage cheese OR1 cup plain yogurt, strained overnight in a cheesecloth |
Cream of tartar | 1 teaspoon | 2 teaspoons lemon juice or vinegar |
Cr�me fraiche | 1 cup | Combine 1 cup of heavy cream and 1 tablespoon of plain yogurt. Let stand for 6 hours at room temperature |
Egg | 1 whole (3 tablespoons or 1.7 oz) | 2 1/2 tablespoons of powdered egg substitute plus 2 1/2 tablespoons water OR 1/4 cup liquid egg substitute OR 1/4 cup silken tofu pureed OR 3 tablespoons mayonnaise OR half a banana mashed with 1/2 teaspoon baking powder OR 1 tablespoon powdered flax seed soaked in 3 tablespoons water |
Evaporated milk | 1 cup | 1 cup light cream |
Farmer's cheese | 8 ounces | 8 ounces dry cottage cheese OR8 ounces creamed cottage cheese, drained |
Fats for baking | 1 cup | 1 cup applesauce OR 1 cup fruit puree |
Flour--Bread | 1 cup | 1 cup all-purpose flour plus 1 teaspoon wheat gluten (available at health food stores & some supermarkets) |
Flour--Cake | 1 cup | 1 cup all-purpose flour minus 2 tablespoons |
Flour--Self-Rising | 1 cup | 7/8 cup all-purpose flour plus 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon of salt |
Garlic | 1 clove | 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder OR1/2 teaspoon granulated garlicOR 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt--reduce salt in recipe |
Gelatin | 1 tablespoon, granulated | 2 teaspoons agar agar |
Ginger--dry | 1 teaspoon | 2 teaspoons chopped fresh ginger |
Ginger--fresh | 1 teaspoon, minced | 1/2 teaspoon ground dried ginger |
Green onion | 1/2 cup , chopped | 1/2 cup chopped onion, OR 1/2 cup chopped leek OR 1/2 cup chopped shallots |
Hazelnuts | 1 cup whole | 1 cup macadamia nuts OR 1 cup almonds |
Herbs--fresh | 1 tablespoon chopped fresh | 1 teaspoon (chopped or whole leaf) dried herbs |
Herring | 8 ounces | 8 ounces of sardines |
Honey | 1 cup | 1 1/4 cup white sugar plus 1/3 cup water OR 1 cup corn syrupOR 1 cup light treacle syrup |
Hot pepper sauce | 1 teaspoon | 3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper plus 1 teaspoon vinegar |
Ketchup | 1 cup | 1 cup tomato sauce plus 1 teaspoon vinegar plus 1 tablespoon sugar |
Lard | 1 cup | 1 cup shortening OR 7/8 cup vegetable oil OR 1 cup butter |
Lemon grass | 2 fresh stalks | 1 tablespoon lemon zest |
Lemon juice | 1 teaspoon | 1/2 teaspoon vinegar OR 1 teaspoon white wine OR 1 teaspoon lime juice |
Lemon zest | 1 teaspoon | 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract OR 2 tablespoons lemon juice |
Lime juice | 1 teaspoon | 1 teaspoon vinegar OR 1 teaspoon white wine OR 1 teaspoon lemon juice |
Lime zest | 1 teaspoon | 1 teaspoon lemon zest |
Macadamia nuts | 1 cup | 1 cup almonds OR 1 cup hazelnuts |
Mace | 1 teaspoon | 1 teaspoon nutmeg |
Margarine | 1 cup | 1 cup shortening plus 1/2 teaspoon salt OR 1 cup butterOR 7/8 cup vegetable oil plus 1/2 teaspoon salt OR 7/8 cup lard plus 1/2 teaspoon salt |
Mayonnaise | 1 cup | 1 cup sour cream OR 1 cup plain yogurt |
Milk--whole | 1 cup | 1 cup soy milk OR 1 cup rice milkOR 1 cup water or juice OR 1/4 cup dry milk powder plus 1 cup water OR 2/3 cup evaporated milk plus 1/3 cup water |
Mint--fresh | 1/4 cup chopped | 1 tablespoon dried mint leaves |
Molasses | 1 cup | Mix 3/4 cup brown sugar and 1 teaspoon cream of tartar |
Mustard--prepared | 1 tablespoon | Mix together 1 tablespoon dried mustard, 1 teaspoon water, 1 teaspoon vinegar and 1 teaspoon sugar |
Onion | 1 cup, chopped | 1 cup chopped green onions OR1 cup chopped shallots OR 1 cup chopped leeks OR 1/4 cup dried minced onion OR 1/4 cup onion powder |
Orange juice | 1 tablespoon | 1 tablespoon other citrus juice |
Orange zest | 1 tablespoon | 1/2 teaspoon orange extract OR1 teaspoon lemon juice |
Parmesan cheese | 1/2 cup, grated | 1/2 cup grated Asiago cheeseOR 1/2 cup grated Romano cheese |
Parsley | 1 tablespoon chopped fresh | 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chervil OR 1 teaspoon dried parsley |
Pepperoni | 1 ounce | 1 ounce salami |
Raisin | 1 cup | 1 cup dried currants OR 1 cup dried cranberries OR 1 cup chopped pitted prunes |
Rice--white | 1 cup, cooked | 1 cup cooked barley OR 1 cup cooked bulgur OR 1 cup cooked brown or wild rice |
Ricotta | 1 cup | 1 cup dry cottage cheese OR 1 cup silken tofu |
Rum | 1 tablespoon | 1/2 teaspoon rum extract, plus enough water to make 1 tablespoon |
Saffron | 1/4 teaspoon | 1/4 teaspoon turmeric |
Salami | 1 ounce | 1 ounce pepperoni |
Semisweet chocolate chips | 1 cup | 1 cup chocolate candies OR 1 cup peanut butter or other flavored chips OR 1 cup chopped nuts OR 1 cup chopped dried fruit |
Shallots, chopped | 1/2 cup | 1/2 cup chopped onion, OR 1/2 cup chopped leek OR 1/2 cup chopped green onion |
Shortening | 1 cup | 1 cup butter OR 1 cup margarine minus 1/2 teaspoon salt from recipe |
Sour cream | 1 cup | 1 cup plain yogurt OR 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar plus enough cream to make 1 cup OR 3/4 cup buttermilk mixed with 1/3 cup butter |
Sour milk | 1 cup | 1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice mixed with enough milk to make 1 cup: Let stand 5 minutes to thicken |
Soy sauce | 1/2 cup | 4 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce mixed with 1 tablespoon water |
Stock--beef or chicken | 1 cup | 1 cube beef or chicken bouillon dissolved in 1 cup water |
Sweetened condensed milk | 1 (14-ounce) can | 3/4 cup white sugar mixed with 1/2 cup water and 1 1/8 cups dry powdered milk: Bring to a boil and cook, stirring frequently, until thickened, about 20 minutes |
Vegetable oil--for baking | 1 cup | 1 cup applesauce OR 1 cup fruit puree |
Vegetable oil--for frying | 1 cup | 1 cup lard OR 1 cup vegetable shortening |
Vinegar | 1 teaspoon | 1 teaspoon lemon or lime juiceOR 2 teaspoons white wine |
White sugar | 1 cup | 1 cup brown sugar OR 1 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar OR 3/4 cup honey OR 3/4 cup corn syrup |
Wine | 1 cup | 1 cup chicken or beef broth OR 1 cup fruit juice mixed with 2 teaspoons vinegar OR 1 cup water |
Yeast-active dry | 1 (.25-ounce) package | 1 cake compressed yeast OR 2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeastOR 2 1/2 teaspoonsrapid rise yeast |
Yogurt | 1 cup | 1 cup sour cream OR 1 cup buttermilk OR 1 cup sour milk |