And so I ask myself, how do I deal with myself? I'm trying to hold on to Allah and make Him my best friend but I long also for dunya love. How can I reconcile depending on Allah alone and yearning from someone to rely on here? We have friends but it's not the same. I feel such a detachment from everyone. How do I reach the place where I don't want anyone or is this unrealistic expectations? One thing is for sure,I need to help myself. The only problem now that I'm overwhelming myself trying to get back to where I once was Allahu musta'an

As Salamu alaykum. I see the only way to live a good life is by putting Allah first.for the last few years I've been putting my nafs first. I guess in a way trying to block out reality and force life to be how I want it to be. I wanted the happiness I thought I had and SubhanAllah how I was tested. Part of me feels empty but I know I have to fill this gap with the remembrance of Allah. I do wish to find support in the dunya but I feel comfort in not depending on people. I have patience and I hope my Lord rewards me for this. I need to trust Him and rely on Him more. I feel like I tainted myself by having weak emaan. Embarrassed even SubhanAllah, may Allah forgive me for being more embarrassed in front of the people than I am in front of Him. I want to be proud of myself again,but proud without pride.i want to be proud that I'm trying my best to please Allah but in a way that my intention is that it's for Allah alone. May Allah help me and us all ameen. I keep forgetting I will be accountable, this scares me. May Allah guide my children also ameen

As Salamu alaykum, SubhanAllah I got so lost.i come and see this site now and all the reminders which I should have heeded. But how we love our nafs,and how our nafs destroy us. All I can do is thank Allah for holding onto me. SubhaNAllah I never purposely wanted to be bad but we get caught up in life and lose all sense of direction. I wanted dunya and dunya surely distracted me. I guess one conclusion I came to is that dunya plays its part too. dunya can't be ignored as we have to live and in this life we will get tested. I really do love Allah because SubhanAllah all I have to do is ask his forgiveness sincerely. I find myself when I Find Him. Being alone isn't a good place to be. We can try to be strong and think we are ok but slowly slowly emaan will weaken without reminders. I have to fight myself now and also make time. I live like there will be no consequences, I tried to ignore but you can't hide from the truth. I'm so grateful Allah never let me go, I pray HE never lets me go. May Allah help us ameen

Alhamdulillah

If you find yourself lazy upon obedience to Allah then be afraid that Allah ...

The following is a summary translation taken from sahab.net Link: http://www.sahab.net/forums/showthread.php?t=351059 If you find yourself lazy upon obedience to Allah then be afraid that Allah is averse to your obedience By Sheik Uthaymeen (rahimahullaah) Translated by Rasheed Barbee Sheik Muhammad ibn Salih ibn Uthaymeen may Allah have mercy upon him said in his explanation of the book, Aqeedah of Ahlus Sunnah wa Jamaat in tape number seven… وَلَكِن كَرِهَ اللهُ انبِعاثَهُمْ فَثَبَّطَهُمْ وَقيلَ اقْعُدوا مَعَ القاعِدينَ …but Allah was averse to their being sent forth, so He made them lag behind, and it was said (to them), "Sit you among those who sit (at home)." (Chapter 9 verse 46) Oh Allah save us…this verse is extremely dangerous and the scale is in His saying, ‘but Allah was averse to their being sent forth’ meaning in battle. {…and it was said (to them), "Sit you among those who sit (at home)} So beware and examine yourself, and if you see yourself being lazy upon doing good deeds then be afraid that Allah is averse to you putting forth good deeds. Then look at yourself a second time, and make yourself patient and compel yourself upon obedience. So today you do acts of obedience and you are averse to it but tomorrow you do it willingly and effortlessly. The important point is that this is a severe warning for the one who finds himself hindered from doing good deeds, so perhaps Allah the Exalted is averse to this man being from His obedient slaves therefore He hindered him from obedience. We ask Allah to assist us upon His remembrance and upon thanking Him, and upon good worship. Another point in this verse, {…but Allah was averse to their being sent forth, so He made them lag behind, and it was said (to them), "Sit you among those who sit (at home).} It was not said … (وقال) and He said (to them), "Sit you among those who sit (at home)} Because Allah does not order with evil, rather (قيل) it was said to them sit at home. Who said stay at home? The soul (says this), no, it wasn’t Allah that said it, but rather it was the soul. The person’s soul speaks to him saying, ‘Sit at home, don’t go this time go another time. And satan hinders from good And evil companions hinder from good So for this reason the doer of the action was removed from this sentence, meaning the one who said the statement so that it would be more comprehensive. Therefore those who say, ‘Sit you among those who sit (at home) are numerous and we mentioned three of them; the soul, satan, and evil companions. (Explanation of the book, Aqeedah of Ahlus Sunnah wa Jamaat, in tape number seven, second side of the tape from minute 3:16 to 5:22) (editing: writing 'rahimahullaah' after the name of the shaykh)0j

sahih...

If a man is wise and fears Allah, This will keep him too busy to concern himself with the faults of others, Just as the weak and sick person is too concerned with his own pain, To think of the pain of others

"The slave is not afflicted with a punishment greater in severity then the hardening of the heart and being distant from Allah...

ibn al Qayyim al Jawziyyah’s al Fawaaid (p 111-112) "The slave is not afflicted with a punishment greater in severity then the hardening of the heart and being distant from Allah. For the Fire was created to melt the hardened heart. The most distant heart from Allah is the heart which is hardened. If the heart becomes hardened, the eye becomes dry. If four matters are exceeded in quantity, beyond what is necessary, the heart shall become hardened: Food, sleep, speech and sexual intercourse. A body afflicted by disease does not derive nourishment from food or water, similarly a heart diseased by desire does not benefit from admonishment and exhortation. Whosoever desires to purify his heart, then let him prefer Allah to his desires. The heart which is clinging to its desires is veiled from Allah, commensurate to the degree that it is attached to them, the hearts are the vessels of Allah upon his earth, hence the most beloved of them to him, are the ones most compassionate, pure and resistant to deviation. They (the transgressors) preoccupied their hearts [in the pursuance] of the Dunya, would that they preoccupied them with Allah and the hereafter, then surely they would have reflected upon the intended meaning of his poignant words and verses. Their hearts would have returned to their masters with wisdom, marvelously curious and [in possession] of the rarest of precious gems. If the heart is nourished with remembrance, its thirst quenched with contemplation and cleansed from corruption, it shall witness remarkable and wondrous matters, inspiring wisdom. Not every individual who is endowed with knowledge and wisdom, and assumes its character is from amongst its people. Rather the people of knowledge and wisdom are those who infused life into their hearts by slaying their desires. As for the one who slays his heart and vitalized his desires, then knowledge and wisdom is naked upon his tongue. The destruction of the heart occurs by security [in this Dunya] and negligence, its fortification occurs by fear and remembrance. If the heart renounces the pleasures of the Dunya, it settles upon the [pursuance of] pleasures of the Hereafter, and amongst those who call towards it. Should the heart become content with the pleasures of the Dunya, those pleasures [of the hereafter] cease [to continue]. Yearning for Allah and his meeting is like the gentle breeze blowing upon the heart, extinguishing the blaze of the Dunya. Whosoever caused his heart to settle with his Lord shall be in a state, clam and tranquil, and whosoever sent it amongst the people shall be disturbed and excessively perturbed. For the love of Allah shall not enter a heart, which contains the love of this world, except as a camel, which passes through the eye of a needle. Hence, the most beloved servant before Allah is the one whom He places in His servitude, whom He selects for His love, whom He causes to purify his worship for Him, dedicates his objectives for Him, his tongue for His remembrance, and his limbs for His service. The heart becomes sick, as the body becomes sick, and its remedy is al-Tawbah and protection [from transgression]. It becomes rusty as a mirror becomes rusty, and its clarity is obtained by remembrance. It becomes naked as the body becomes naked, and its beautification is at-Taqwa. It becomes hungry and thirsty as the body becomes hungry and thirst, and its food and drink are knowledge, love, dependence, repentance and servitude.”

"And remind, for indeed the reminder benefits the believer." [Al Qur'an 51:55]

Shaykh Salih al-Fawzan about those who Count and Spread the Mistakes of the Du'at!

Sheikh Salih Al Fawzan Those Who Count and Spread the Mistakes of the Du'at!

Polygyny : 19 Points for Dividing Equally and Just Between Wives

 Polygyny     19 Points for Dividing Equally and Just   Between Wives   It’s permissible to visit any one of your wives, whether day or night regardless if it’s not her time ; out of necessity. It’s recommended to give women their own home, and it’s permissible to place them in the same house. However, each woman must have her own apartment inside, including own kitchen and bathroom. The husband has the right to have his own home and have his wives visit him on their time. On the other hand, he mustn’t stay with only one wife and have his other wives visit him at her home. If a man travels with one wife after having drawn lots then he doesn’t have to make  up the time for the other wives. Now if he didn’t draw lots between his wives, he must make up the time. It’s not permissible to divorce one of your wives during her time you owe her. If a man leaves his wife during her time for something normal (in his affairs) he doesn’t have to make this time up. If a man leaves his wife during her time for something normal during the day or with a valid excuse, he doesn’t have to make up the time. Although if he does it during the night without an excuse to leave or reason, he must make up the time. Nonetheless, it’s possible as well, that he won’t have to make it up based on the reason for leaving. If a man is always on the road he must draw lots between the wives, who didn’t travel the first trip. The division of time is at night for the person who works during the day and during the day for the person who works nights.   The person incarcerated doesn’t have to divide his time between wives.   If a man visits one of his wives and it isn’t her day, he doesn’t have to spend that same period of time with the other wife. Then again, he should compensate his other wife/wives by doing the same thing. i.e visit them when it’s not their day  If a man visits his wife and it isn’t her time, he can enjoy her, without sex. And if he  has relations with her, he must do the   same thing with his other wife, while it isn’t her time.   It is Haraam to have relations with one wife in the presence of the other.  The man must place his stuff, odds and ends, clothing, etc between houses equally with his wives.   If the wife travels with or without her husband’s permission, this time doesn’t have to be made up.   The sick man must still divide his time justly. If it is difficult for him he must ask permission from the other sisters to remain at the one of their homes. If they refuse, he must draw lots and consequently remain with the woman who drew the lot.     It is an obligation in Islam to divide time and be fair between the wives. This includes maintenance and gifts, but not in relations.      The woman has the right to forfeit her division of time. 19.    If a man travels at the beginning of a woman’s time, when he returns he lets that woman have the full share of her time. Taken from “The Verdicts of Division between Wives” By The Department of Scientific Research in Umul Qura University in Makkah 2009 Translated by Abu Aaliyah Abdullah ibn Dwight Battle Doha, Qatar 1431 © http://www.abuaaliyah.com/2014/10/16/polygyny/

Polygyny : 19 Points for Dividing Equally and Just Between Wives

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Avoid Four to be Protected from Shaytaan

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

Knowing One's Priority

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Islam's Treatment for Depression.

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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

'If Allah Loves people, He tests them.

'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]

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

http://allrecipes.com/HowTo/Common-Ingredient-Substitutions/Detail.aspx