~Man and his Soul~

▬▬▬▬▬▬ Story of a Man and his Soul ▬▬▬▬▬▬

It was reported that a man, travelling through the desert saw someone lying on the ground calling for help. The man dismounted his camel to give a helping hand to what seemed to him a stranded man in need. To his surprise, the man was a bandit hiding his weapon. He tied the kind man, took his money, camel and food and went away, happy with his booty.

 The man said to that thief: I have one request to ask from you. The thief said: ask what you wish. You are a dead man. The man said to him: I beg of you not to tell soul of what you have done to me. The thief said: request granted, but why? The man said: I don’t want goodness to die in the hearts of people.
The moral of the story is:▬▬▬▬▬▬Be optimistic and always spread goodness around you. Don’t allow one bad apple to stop you tasting sweetness. Don’t allow your experience to prevent people from being good to others.

Cranberry Almond Granola Parfaits

by Angie on October 26, 2012

Looking for a great way to start your day? These granola and Greek yogurt parfaits are just the thing! Lots of crunchy granola mixed with protein packed Greek yogurt is not only a delicious breakfast, but it’s also healthy.
Granola is one of my favorite ways to use Old-Fashioned oats. I also love to make oatmeal cookies and slow cooker oatmeal. My family though adores granola, so I make that most often. Granola is so versatile, and can be made with any combination of fruits and nuts.

For the granola, I used Quaker Old-Fashioned oats paired with almonds, dried cranberries, maple syrup and a touch of brown sugar. You can make a double or triple batch of this granola, and it will last for weeks. Just store the granola in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. Store granola that won’t be eaten within those two weeks in the freezer.

When I was a kid, my mother made oatmeal almost  every morning, especially during the colder months. She sweetened it with brown sugar, added cinnamon for spice, and lots of juice raisins. Her oatmeal is still one of my very favorite ways to start the day. Nothing is more warming and comforting.

Ingredients:

2 cups Old-Fashioned Quaker Oats
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 cup maple syrup
3 tablespoons vegetable or olive oil
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup sliced almonds
1 cup dried cranberries
2 cups vanilla Greek yogurt

Directions:

Heat oven to 250°. Combine all ingredients above in a large bowl. Mix well.
Spread granola evenly over a large cookie sheet. Bake until very fragrant and golden brown.
Remove from oven and let cool.
Layer Greek yogurt and granola in parfait cups. Serve!

~Hajj~

More than two million Muslims are in the city of Mecca,

Saudi Arabia, to make the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

All fit and financially able Muslims are expected to perform the

 Hajj at least once in life time:

Labbaik Allah humma labbaik

Labbaika la sharika laka labbaik

Innal hamda

Wan-ni’mata

Laka walmulk

Laa sharika laka labbaik

 

~Roast Lamb Leg~

Celebrate Eid with this recipe

WHOLE ROAST LEG OF LAMB.... WITH CUMIN MUSTARD RICE & HONEY COATED CARROTS, ROAST POTATOES & ROAST ONIONS

2 kg Leg of Lamb
2-3 tablespoon Salted butter

1 tblspn raw grated pawpaw or meat tenderizer (optional)
3-4 tablespoon Olive Oil
2 tablespoon Vegetable Oil

1 tsp chilies paste or less to your taste

1 tsp Garlic paste

1 tsp Ginger paste

2 Fresh grated tomatoes

2 tblspn tomato puree

1/2 tsp Cumin seeds or powder

1 juicy Lemon juice

Salt to taste as per your requirement
*For best flavour keep marination for 1 day in the freezer before basting*

 

FOR ROAST VEGETABLES
1 ½ kg Potatoes Peeled and cut in half or quarters
1/2 teaspoon of Salt
3-4 Onions – cut into quarters
½ Kg Carrots diced
2-3 teaspoon Chilli infused Oil
1 tblsp Honey

FOR CUMIN RICE
2 Cup Basmati Rice
2 tablespoon Cumin Seeds
1 teaspoon Mustard Seeds
2 Inch Cinnamon Stick
2-4 Bay Leaves
4-6 Cloves
4-6 Black Pepper Corns
2-4 Star Anis
Salt to taste
2-3 tablespoon Oil
2-3 tablespoon Salted Butter
Water 4 cups

METHOD1.
1.  Preheat oven to 150 degrees
2. Wash leg of lamb thoroughly
4. Place a few cuts on it – not deep
5. Add all the merination masala with your hand and press into the cuts
6. Pour vegetable oil on the tray which you will use to bake this meat.
8. Place the merinated leg on top and cover the tray with aluminium foil
9. Place in oven to bake on 180 degrees
10. Cook for approx 1 1/2 hr.
11. Half way of cooking this ~ baste with the oil/juices in the pan and turn over the meat
12. Once the meat is tender open the foil and baste to get a nice golden coat all over the leg – repeat process if you haven’t got that golden colour on the meat
13. Put potatoes in a pan with cold water and salt, bring to boil and lower the heat, simmer for 7-10minutes
14. Remove to a non stick roasting pan, top with a good helping of olive oil and mix so the potatoes are coated well.
15. Place in oven and roast for 45mins – 1hr turning occasionally
16. Peel and chop carrots in long sticks
17. Place in non-stick roasting pan, top with a good helping of olive oil and place in oven for 25-35minutes
18. Approx 5-10minutes before removing the carrots put a good gulp of fresh runny honey mixed.
19. Marinate onions with chilli infused olive oil and leave for 15-20minutes and then add to a non-stick roasting pan and cook for 15-20minutes.
20. Soak the rice for at least 1 hour in water
21. Add minimum 2 litres of water to a big pan and next add oil and all the dry spices.
22. Bring to boil and add the rice.
23. Once rice is ¾ cooked, drain water from rice in a colander
24. Place pan back on fire
25. Add half the butter and straight away put half the rice in
26. Next break the remainder butter into small pieces and palace on top of the rice and then add the next layer
27. Close lid and lower the heat to minimum
28. Steam for 10-15minutes
29. Remove lid and fluff before serving
30. Check on lamb – put a knife through the deepest part of the meat, if the juices will run clear it done – please cook to your personal preference, this is how I like it
31. Close the foil and let it stand in the oven for 5-7minutes
32. Arrange all items on a serving plate, top carrots and parsnips with sesame seeds

Options:  Add ~  Rosemary, orange slices or tandoori masala etc to meat when baking to get your different flavours.  Be creative.

ENJOY..... THE FRUITS OF YOUR LABOUR!!!!

~Thanxgiving Table Decor Pg2~

Thanksgiving Harvest Table Decor Ideas

~Thanxgiving table decor - Pg1~

Thanksgiving is a seasonal holiday that comes with the warmth of fall season. Why not warm up your holiday table with a sensational centerpiece of autumnal decorations richly created and host your holiday guests with your sensible uncomplicated, unforgettable entirely new table look. Your favorite items from colorful napkins and attractive looking candles can inspire the overall look and set the table and mood. Here are several ideas to help you to create an inviting and sophisticated table without spending too much time or money. Enjoy the holiday.

~Coconut & Vanilla Balls~

Coconut & Vanilla Balls – A great recipe from Arabic Bites.

The original recipe called "Almond Balls

I will make them at Eid time :) with variations.

Serve with arabic coffee or tea.

For Coconut & Vanilla Balls:

Makes 100 cookie balls:
1 cup unsalted butter
3 Tbs. granulated sugar
1 1/4 cups shredded Coconut
1 tsp. pure Vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups unbleached flour
2 cups confectioners sugar for coating
In a mixing bowl, cut the butter into pieces and let sit at room temperature.Chop the shredded Coconut into a coarse meal and set aside.When the butter is softened, beat in 3 tablespoons of granulated sugar with an electric mixer and cream together well.
Add the vanilla extract to the creamed mixture and blend in completely. Then, stir in the Coconut until evenly blended.
Use a blender attachment for the mixer or by hand with a wooden spoon , to stir in the flour, 1 cup at a time. Put the dough in a large bowl and continue mixing for a minute or
two with hands until all the flour is blended into the dough.
Shape the balls, by pinching a small piece and rolling gently in hands into a 3/4 inch ball. Place
on a ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake for about 15 minutes, until bottom is golden(Oven Temperature 325°F).
Remove tray from the oven and let cookies sit on tray for a few minutes.

Put the confectioners sugar in a bowl and slowly add the warm cookies to the sugar and gently
toss and turn in the sugar until coated. Place on a large tray to continue cooling for 5-10mins, then return to the bowl with the sugar and coat again. Set on tray to cool completely.
Store in an air tight tin.

Roll the cookies into the powdered sugar while still warm, to glaze and again when slightly
cool for a beautiful white coating.

Optionals:

*To make Almond Balls use blanched almonds and almond extract instead of Coconut & Vanilla.

*You can add any fruit inside the filling in the centre and roll the balls as well.

*You can add cocoa powder to the flour mixture and make varities in brown and white as well.

~Hajj Pix~

Labbaik Allah humma labbaik

Labbaika la sharika laka labbaik

Innal hamda

Wan-ni’mata

Laka walmulk

Laa sharika laka labbaik

And Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah) to the House (Ka’bah) is a duty that mankind owes to Allaah, those who can afford the expense (for one’s conveyance, provision and residence); and whoever disbelieved [i.e. denies Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah), then he is a disbeliever of Allaah], then Allaah stands not in need of any of the ‘Aalameen (mankind, jinn and all that exists).”  Qur’an 3:97

Enjoy the blessed places pix:

Waiting For The Call

(One of Irfan Makki’s song) 

Miles away, oceans apart
Never in my sight always in my heart
The love is always there it will never die
Only growing stronger a tears rose down my eye

I am thinking all the time
When the day will come
Standing there before you
Accept this Hajj of mine

Standing in ihram, making my tawaf
Drinking blessings from your well
The challenges that I have suffered
And might were rekindles my imaan

O Allah! I am waiting for the call
Praying for the day when I can be near the Kabah wall
O Allah! I am waiting for the call
Praying for the day when I can be near the Kabah wall

I feel alive and I feel strong
I can feel Islam running through my Veins
To see my muslim brothers, their purpose all the same
Greeting one another, exalting one True Name
I truly hope one day that everyone’s a Muslim.
That they remember you in everything they say

Standing in ihram making my tawaf, making my tawaf
Drinking blessings from your well
The challenges that I have suffered
And might were rekindles my imaan

O Allah! I am waiting for the call
Praying for the day when I can be near the Kabah wall
O Allah! I am waiting for the call
Praying for the day when I can be near the Kabah wall

Oh, Allah, I am waiting for the call

The Hajj Route

1910 Mecca Saudi Arabia » Al-Masjid Al-Haraam

Means of travelling for Hajj in olden days

Hajj pilgrims on the road to Mecca, 1953

 Ottoman travelers pray in a ship while going to Jeddah for Hajj. 

Many of Ottoman sultans and saints would first ask the Beloved Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him) via prayer for permission to enter Mecca and Medina and only after a spiritual sign of affirmation would they proceed with their journey. This is the level of respect they had for the Beloved Prophet (peace be upon him)- that even after his death, they would seek permission.

The recent pix of Makkah Mukarramah

Small boys in Ehraam - Mashallah

Medina Saudi Arabia The Prophets Mosque

Pictures are from Arafat and Mina. Noor of all hearts

All praying side by side

The circumambuletion of the Kaaba 7 times is

One Tawaaf

I’m sleepy mommy it’s okay son, we’re on the last round. -

sa’i between safa & marwah.

Mecca now

~ Minaret from Abyar Ali Mosque, is a miqat mosque in Dhul Hulayfa, Saudi. It is one of the mosques where pilgrims coming from Medina wishing to perform Umrah or Hajj enter into Ihram before they set off for Makkah ~

I had come to the Centre of the Universe, where the physical and metaphysical worlds meet, I was floating in that wonderful sea of humanity, turning like stars in a galaxy, around the house of God..

I had at last found that dimension where human existence ceases to be held by the gravitation of sensual and worldly desires, where the soul is freed in an atmosphere of obedience and peaceful submission to the

Divine Presence.

Aerial View ~ Mashallah

Pilgrimage to Makkah is the fifth pillar of Islam and it collects the attributes of all other pillars within itself.

  It is the only pillar of Islam that has a surah named after it.  The purpose behind hajj is great and its wisdom is immense. 

Salaah is the first level of purification and elevation, to remind us of our slavery and our eventual standing in front of Allah SWT.  Fasting is the second level of purification for those who might get rusty through the year and need an intensive routine of devotion and self sacrifice in order to renew their spiritual drive. 

 Zakah is an even higher level of purification by cutting off the love of material wealth from the heart by giving a portion of it to the needy of humanity.  Hajj is the culmination of all these.

The main purpose of hajj is to go back to Allah SWT,
to detach one’s heart from everything
and devote oneself completely to Allah!

The magnitude of this journey can only be understood when one realizes who he is going to visit:  The house of Allah SWT himself, on this earth. 

As seen from space

~Madinah Al Munawara~

Hajj is not complete without going to Madina by Praying and giving your Salaams to Prophet Muhammad (SAW) resting Abode and his progeny and family. 

With the Hijra – the migration of the Prophet Mohammed from Mecca to Medina in 622.

This date marks the beginning of Islam and the Muslim era.

Medina – “city of the Prophet”

After Muhammad’s (SAW) revelations he began to preach with great zeal. This was still in the area of his home town, Mecca. Some 100 or so followers joined Muhammad, however, there was also great opposition to him. Unable to make any progress in Mecca, Muhammad (SAW) decided to move to Yathrib, a city some 450 kilometers or 280 miles north of Mecca. The city was later named Medina meaning,

“city of the Prophet”.