Imam Hussain A.S. lessons

10 Lessons from
The Tragedy of #Karbala

1. Hussain (as) stopped in the middle of the battlefield to perform his obligatory prayers with arrows shooting at him… the least we can do is perform our daily prayers on time.

2. Hussain (as) sacrificed his family including his six month old for the sake of Allah… the least we can do is sacrifice our worldly desires for the sake of Allah (swt).

3. Lady Zainab (as) prayed Salatul Layl (the night prayers) in the state of sitting down on the night of Ashura after the tragic loss of her entire family… the least we can do is pray Salatul layl in our peaceful nights.

4. Abbas (as) was sitting at the river side after not drinking water for three days but wouldn’t drink because he couldn’t bare to quench his thirst while his brother Hussain was still thirsty… the least we can do is love for our brothers like we’d love for ourselves.

5. Young children begged to fight for the cause of the religion of Islam… the least we can do is know that we are never too young to practice Islam.

6. Ali (as), son of Hussain was too sick to stand and was dragged around in chains for days from Karbala to Damascus and still found the power to give his amazing speech to Yazid and his people… the least we can do is stand up for what we believe and not pity ourselves in the face of oppression.

7. Lady Zainab watched everyone she knew killed or abused and when asked by Yazid “what did u think of what God has done to you?” She replied “I didn’t see anything but beauty”… the least we can do is learn from the patience of Zainab and dedicate the entirety of our actions solely to Allah (swt).

8. Umul Baneen (as) lost all 4 of her sons in the tragedy of Karbalaa and when being told she only cared to know for the life of Hussain… the least we can do is sacrifice all that we are attached to please the Imam of our time.

9. Al-hur who led the trap of Hussain then realised he was wrong in doing so and seeked the forgiveness of the Imam and was forgiven immediately… the least we can do is to know its never too late to repent with Allah the most merciful.

10. Hussain (as) forgave Al-hur immediately without holding a grudge or blaming him for putting himself and his family in this situation… the least we can do is learn how to be more forgiving when someone apologises for wronging us.

Imam Hussain A. S. Ashura Day

Imam Hussain A.S. on day of Ashura saving Islam and Humanity.

Imam Hussain bade his final salaam to the camp. Imam Hussain sister Zainab held the reins of his horse to proffer her final khidmat. Hussain rode into battle and fought with the valour of Haider,
Hussain is in force, Zulfiqar is in force, who has the strength - to face Hussain?!
Angel Jibraeel descended, with him were the angels of the land, the sea and the air and he submitted unto Hussain, “If you wish, these angels will vanquish your foes in an instant.”
Hussain looked at Angel Jibraeel and asked, “But what is Allah’s wish?”
And Angel Jibraeel’s eyes brimmed with tears as he replied, “It is Allah’s wish, that you lay down your life.”
Hussain sheathed his sword and the force of Zulfiqar was constrained. His steed, sensing that his lord wished to dismount knelt down its front legs and the star of The Throne descended to the ground. Hussain sat against a date palm tree.
From all sides they attacked him, with stones, with arrows, with spears. One by one they came to slay him but turned and ran back. Angrily Shimr L.A. demanded, “Why do you not kill Hussain!?”
And they responded by saying, “He looks at us with the eyes of Rasulullah!”
Shimr came. In his hand was a blunt dagger and on his feet were metal socks. He came close to Husain and kicked him violently to the ground.
Shamelessly Shimr sat across Hussain’s chest and drew his dagger across Hussain’s throat twelve times but it didn’t work.
Hussain told him. “Get up! Your sword will not work here. This is the kissing place of my grandfather Rasulullah.”
Laeen Shimr had to get up. Hussain went into sajda and prayed for all Mumineen until Qiyamat. Laeen Shimr severed the blessed head from the mubarak body. LABAIK YA HUSSAIN A.S.

*Arafa Day*

Yawm al-Arafat:

The 9th day of Dhul-Hijjah is the day of Arafat.

It is this day when the pilgrims gather on the mountain plain of Arafat, praying and supplicating to their Lord. The day of Arafat holds great importance in Islam since this is the Day when Allâh completed his revelation on His Messenger (Sallâhu alaihe wa-sallam). It is reported in the Sahîhayn (i.e. Sahîh al-Bukharî and Sahîh Muslim), that a Jewish man said to him:

“O Amîr al-Muminîn (O head of the Muslims)! There is a verse in the Qur’ân, which if was revealed on us, the Jews, we would have taken that day as an Eid (festival). ‘Which verse?’ He said: “This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.” [Sûrah al-Maidah (5): 3] ‘We know on which day and in which place was this verse revealed to Allâh’s Messenger (sAllâhu alaihe wa-sallam). It was when he was standing in Arafat on a Friday.’

Arafat is the day on which Allâh took the covenant from the progeny of Adam (alaihis-salâm), it was reported that Ibn Abbas (radhi Allâhu anhu) narrated: The Messenger of Allâh (sallAllâhu alaihi wa-sallam) related:

“(When Allâh created Adam (alaihis-salâm) Allâh took covenant from him in a place Na’mân on the day of Arafat, then He extracted from him all the descendants who would be born until the end of the world, generation after generation, and spread them out in front of Him in order to take a covenant from them also. He spoke to them face to face saying:“Am I not your Lord?”and they all replied: ‘Yes, we testify to it’. Allâh then explained why He had all of mankind bear witness that He was their Creator and only true God worthy of worship. He said:  “That was in case you (mankind) should say on the Day of Resurrection, ‘Surely, we were unaware of this. We had no idea that You, Allâh, were our Lord. No one told us that we were only supposed to worship You.” [(Sahîh by Shaikh al-Albanî in Silsilah al-Ahâdîth as-Sahîhah vol: 4, no: 1623]

Indeed, the day of Arafat is a blessed day and there is no other covenant greater than this covenant! Arafat is a day of Forgiveness from sins, freedom from the Hell-Fire for the people who are present in the plain of Arafat. A’ishah narrated the Messenger of Allâh (sallAllâhu alaihi wa-sallam) saying:

“There is no day on which Allâh frees more people from the Fire than the day of Arafat. He comes close and expresses His pride to the angels saying, ’What do these people (the Hajis) want?’” [Sahîh Muslim]

This Hâdîth mentions forgiveness for the pilgrims. In addition to this, fasting on the day of Arafat is a Sunnah and an expiation of sins for the residents. Hunaydah ibn Khâlid reported from his wife that some of the wives of the Prophet (sallAllâhu alaihi wa-sallam) said:

“The Messenger of Allâh (sallAllâhu alaihi wa-sallam) used to fast on the ninth of Dhul-Hijjah, on the day of Ashûrah, on three days of each month, and on the first two Mondays and Thursdays of each month.” [(Sahîh) by Shaikh al-Albanî in Sahîh Abi Dawûd vol: 2, no: 462]

It is reported in Sahîh Muslim that when the Messenger of Allâh (sallAllâhu alaihi wa-sallam) was asked about the fasting on the day of Arafat, he said:

“It expiates the sins of the previous year and that of the following year.” [Sahîh Muslim]

This fasting is Mustahabb only for the non-pilgrims and not for the Hajis (the pilgrims) because it was not the practice of Allâh’s Messenger (sallAllâhu alaihi wa-sallam) to fast on the day of Arafat during pilgrimage and in a narration he also forbade doing so.

*Valentine*

As I will be on my another trip of the world I thought of blogging this most loved occassion earlier:)

Happy Valentine Day to all my fans!!

Well here are some romantic pix with sayings to go with the mood:)

Always remind yourself that all relationships have a higher purpose. God created them to inspire us to understand and remember who we really are. After all, if you had no one to relate to, how could you know yourself?

That is why all relationships are sacred.~Michael Massaro

Date Cookies

Date cookies

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

These are the kind of cookies we serve for guests, or finish them off ourselves. We have them with Arabic coffee , but you can enjoy them with a glass of milk as well :). While I watch the tv, I remove date seeds, eat the date, or make a cake, or these cookies . In this way the task doesn't become really boring.

the date ball

Ingredients (slightly adapted from here) :

1-1 1/2 cup date (depends how much date you want in your cookies)

1 tsp cinnamon powder

200 gram salted butter

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

3 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 or 3/4 cup caster sugar

• Mix the date with Cinnamon powder and set aside
• Beat butter and sugar till light and fluffy
• Add eggs, one at a time, add vanilla
• Add flour, mix till combined
• roll small part of the dough using a rolling pin, add some rolled date, close it and cut, emm I can't explain it, but hope the photos are able to.

• bake in oven set to 175 degrees Celsius for ten minutes
• keep in tight container

Vibibi ~ African Pancakes

Recipe of #Vibibi/Rice #Pancakes:
Pix credit Whosayna....

Amended by me.

3 cups Rice
2 cups Coconut (thick) Milk
1 tsp Yeast
1/2 cup Sugar
Few Saffron Strands
1 tsp Cardamon Powder
1 Egg


Soak rice in water overnight or for two hours. 
Liquidize the (drained off water) rice with coconut milk using blender into smooth batter.  Then add yeast and just give pulse mix,  remove in bowl and let it rise till double in size.
When batter has doubled beat the egg, sugar, saffron strands, cardamon powder and salt together, add into rice mixture and mix well with whisk.

Fry in small nonstick pan, put a teaspoon of oil,  pour one serving spoon of batter, check thickness if thin add more then cover to get the sponge effect on vibibi.

When one side done turn it over and cook the other side.
Serve with coconut cream.

Coconut cream:
1 cup thick Coconut Milk
1/2 cup milk
Nestle Cream (Optional)
2 tbsp Sugar or sweet condense milk
1 tspn custard powder
Pinch of Cardamon Powder
Saffron Strands

Boil all till it thickens, use whisker to whisk.  Remove from heat and can add fresh cream or nestle cream to it, keep in fridge to set.
Serve drizzle the sauce on Vibibi Pancakes and enjoy.

Kari Masalla Curry

#Kaari Masalla curry by M.S.

Pix credit via Onelifetreat:

Very yummy curry of Bohra specialty to be eaten with Rice.

Ingredients:

mutton /chicken with bones cut into small pieces.  Marinate with 2 tbsp green masala paste (green chillies+ garlic+ginger), 1 onion cut like samosa in meat when cooking  and 1 grated tomato.
Pressure cook the meat or cook chicken till tender.

In a pot add little oil and add kaari masala & kari patta nd saute till the aroma of the kaari masala fills the kitchen.  Mix the coconut milk and add it to the kaari masalla stirring continuously so that no lumps are formed & does not separate & curdle.
Add the cooked meat and let the kaari cook on slow flame.  Add the tamarind paste into the kaari,  and cook the kari till the meat is cooked.  If you find the curry thick add little water or if watery add the masala to thicken.  Last add the thick coconut tui.  If u don't have tamarind you can add lemon juice.

Serve kaari curry with jeera rice,  Garnish with coriander

Kaari Masala mixture if done at home by Chef Juzer:

Kaari Masala
About 1 Kg of Kaari Masala will be making from this recipe.
INGREDIENTS
For Gravy Mixture
350 gms Daria (Roasted Chana Dal)
350 gms Kaju (Cashew Nuts)
150 gms Roasted Peanuts (Unsalted)
75 gms Pumpkin Seeds (Magaj)
75 gms White Sesame Seeds (Tal)
For Whole Spices (Garam Masala)
½  tsp Loong
½  tsp Aniseed (Sauf or Varyali)
½  tsp Black Pepper Corn
½  tsp Dry Ginger Powder
½  tsp Haldi Powder
2 inch Cinnamon Stick 
4 Star Anise (Badiyan Phool)
4 Dry Kashmiri Chilli
METHOD
Dry roast all the garam masala until a mild aroma arise and keep it aside for cooling. Similarly dry roast the gravy mixture until a mild aroma arise and keep aside for cooling. Grind both garam masala and gravy mixture to fine powder and mixing thoroughly. If the powder is light coarsely ground it fine.


Keep it in a air tight jar in a cool dry place for further use. Enjoy!!

NAANIZZAS ~~ PIZZA VARIATION

#Naanizzas.
Credit:  Azra.

Make dough for naan.

1 cup white flour
1 tbsp sooji
Salt
1tbsp ghee
A little pepper and if u like dry oregano.

Knead into a smooth, firm dough.
Leave to rest for 20 mins.
Break into portions, roll into oval shape n roast on tawa in little oil or ghee.


Sauce.

Grind fresh tomatoes.
Heat oil in a pan. Add the tomatoes, garlic paste, salt and chillies. Let it boil n dry. When dry completely add a little lemon juice. You can also add a tbsp or two of tomato sauce.

Meat.
Chicken or beef.
Boil in ginger garlic paste, salt, lemon juice, tomato paste and yogurt. Dry completely and shread.

Veggies.
Cut veggies n peppers of ur choice n keep ready.
Onion rings
Green, red n yellow bell peppers
Corn kernels
Olives
Mushrooms

Cheese.
Grate mozarella cheese and keep ready.


Now take the naans. Spread the tomato sauce on top. Sprinkle some freshly chopped corriander leaves then place the meat, veggies n assortments, topping with cheese as desired.

Grill in the oven until cheese melts.

Enjoy as it is or with tomato ketchup.

Potatoes Patties

#PATTIES WITH DIFFERENCE BY NISRIN FROM ZANZIBAR

Take potatoes boil mash  them put salt n  black pepper and 1 teaspoon butter. Mix it keep aside.   

Filling:     
In a pan put oil and heat and do wagaar with Rai, fresh lassan, green chillies, limro & salt 
You can add corn as u like and paneer crumbled into very small pieces.  Before adding paneer first in very little oil saute it a little than add into mixture than last add Naryal khurchelu  (Grated coconut - khaman).  Mix all and taste to your liking how to adjust it.
Add lots curry leaves when sauteing, then remove them when mixture get cool (as you don't want curry leaves in your mouth) put lots coriander and mix well the mixture. 

Fill the above mixture into boiled potatoes into patties. Fry in beaten eggs or chana atta mixture choice is yours.                         
Try these the taste is awsome.  One of my best recipes.   😍

Mixture Pix:

Visheti - African bites

#Visheti

Recipe of Visheti:
Whosayna Zyaka Whattsapp group

2 cups All Purpose flour (maida)
1 tsp Yeast
2 tsp Cardamon powder
2 tbsp Butter or Ghee
1 tbsp Dessicated coconut
Coconut milk (for binding)

Bind using coconut milk into soft dough and let it rise.
Punch back the dough make 2 balls and roll thick roti cut in any shapes you like or (fold) roll into long pipe and cut one and half inches tube like. Lay them on greased trays and let it rise for 10mins. Deep fry into golden brown color and keep aside.

Syrup
2 cups Sugar
1 cup Water
few Saffron strands
Boil into 1 string consistency, remove from flame. Dip each fried kisheti in syrup, coat it well and keep in platter. Sprinkle deasicated coconut on top of each kisheti

NB: for bow ties, roll dough ball into thicker roti then cut two by one inches rectangles or bigger keep aside. Make long thin tube, cut one and half inches long straps to tie the bow in centre. Keep the strap in centre and seal by pinching from behind, it will form a tie. Lay the pinched side on the tray so it sticks as it rises

#Strawberries & Yogurt Ice~cream

From Global Whattsapp Group:     
               
#Strawberry Icecream/ Yogurt.

 Easy and delicious.

Set strawberry jelly in a flat dish. I used a 100ml pkt.
For the cream-
500ml vanilla ice cream
1 cup curd
1 cup Nestle cream or any thick cream
I pkt strawberry jelly
Chocolate biscuit pieces (remove any cream and break biscuit into pieces by hand)

Let the vanilla icecream thaw and mix the cream and curd into it using a hand beater. Make sure it's fully liquid. Add the strawberry jelly pkt and beat again making sure all jelly Crystals dissolve. Add chocolate biscuit pieces and mix using a spoon. Do not beat. Pour onto the set jelly. Make sure the jelly is fully set.

Refrigerate till it sets. Garnish with chocolate shavings/chips/sprinkles.
Feel free to omit the chocolate note in this recipe but I feel chocolate and strawberry
go together very well.

Kheema rotis.
From:  Thoughts over Chai Whattsapp Group by Tasneem Hussain from Tanga:

*Tin measurement is of empty condense milk tin*
1 tin Maida flour.
Add  salt.
Knead with water to form dough.
Make 7 Luvas (Pcs)
Deep luvas in oil covered completely for apprx 2 hrs.
Take 7 samosa patti in square shape.
Filling as you desire.

4 eggs whisked thoroughly pour this onto cooked kheema.

Stretch one luvo on working plank or patlo
On middle keep samosa pati.

On top lay feeling of cooked kheema.

Fold all for sides make sure no space left,
Else egg will drip off.
Shallow fry in oil on Tawa on low flame till light brown.

#Kababs A.T. Dsm shop style

Recipe of Kebabs:
Credit by:  Whosayna

Amended by me.
Half kg Kheema (Beef).  Kheema should be dry squeeze out of water.
Salt (as required)
4-5 Green chillies or as u like hot to your taste
few Mint leaves chopped
1/2 bunch Coriander leaves (chopped)
Half tsp Garam masala powder
1/4 tspn haldi powder
1 tspn Ginger Garlic paste
1 tsp dhana jeera powder
5 slices of Bread (soaked in water and then squeezed dry)
1 Eggs
1 Onion chopped small
2 tbsp hung thick Yogurt
1 tblspn Butter or Margarine

In Chopper put all spices, ginger garlic, egg, yogurt, butter, coriander and mint leaves with chillies.
Soak the slices of bread in water and take out by squeezing out water. Add in the above  mixture and mix well now add raw kheema and blend well till everything is blended in. 

You can even mix all above with hand if you don't have chopper machine.

Make either balls or oblong shapes and deep fry on medium flame till done.
Serve with coconut and red hot chutney.

#Ramadhan Mabrook

Ramadan Mabrook to all my loved ones across the Globe. My first fasting starts from Friday. I'm so excited to finally meet my loved visitor, and there's only a little while left!!
As the dawn of Ramadhan approaches, offering us glimpse of its golden rays of purity, every Muslim around the world prepares to experience the warm ambience which only this month can bring. From Suhoor to Iftaar to Night Salaah, Ramadhan brings together brothers, sisters, parents and children. In order to derive the utmost benefit from the sacred month of Ramadhan, it is crucial to recognize the spiritual significance and importance of this month. 

First it'll be the most glorious of all months. It's such an exciting time for all Alhamdulillah.
For some the wait for moon is on….Muslims All over are waiting for the silver line crescent hiding in the clouds to bring in the news that Ramadan has come….

The month of glory, the month of benefits, the month of holiness, the month of prayers, the month of rewards…..So everyone are desperately waiting for the pious month to begin.

A time to let go of things, just let it go, it’s time to weed out all those all unnecessary things, get your physical, mental and spiritual garden ready for the rain of Ramadhan blessings. Lets welcome it with much happiness and grandeur and pray to Allah(S.W.T) to keep us all healthy and wise and to perform all the Salaah, Fasting and Good Deeds in this blessed coming month Inshallah.

I always remember my childhood days in Zanzibar where i used to hear at night a man singing in a melodius voice "UTHO YAARO MUSALMANO" waking all for Sehri. I was always curious to see who this person was, but was a scare crow at that time & would peep from the window and see him carying a lantern and a stick and singing and walking on everyday rain or shine he will do his duty. People would throw or give him some money.  Those were the days which were very different than now.

*************

Nahjul Balagha Quotes

Beautiful quotes from *MAULA ALI,* from the Peak of Eloquence book! Worth reading and following

1. Hate no one, no matter how much they've wronged you. Live humbly, no matter how wealthy you become. Think positively, no matter how hard life is. Give much, even if you've been given little. Keep in touch with the ones who have forgotten you, forgive who has wronged you, and pray for the best for those you love.

2. Awaken your heart to kindness and mercy for the people and love and tenderness for them, because  people fall into two categories: they are either your brothers/ sisters in faith or your equals in humanity.

3. Never look down on someone unless you’re helping them up ie don't make eye contact and lower your eyes

4. The nourishment of the body is food, while the nourishment of the soul is feeding others.

5. Be like a flower that gives its fragrance even to the hands that crushes it.

6. Speak only when your words are more beautiful than silence.

7. If the eyes of a female cry over a man that oppressed her, Angels will curse him with every step he walks. 

8. Do not use the sharpness of your speech on the mothers who taught you how to speak.

9. A moment of patience in a moment of anger prevents a thousand moments of regret.

10.  Life consists of two days, one for you one against you. So when it's for you don't be proud or reckless, and when it's against you be patient, for both days are test for you.

11. The best deed of a great man is to forgive and forget.

12. Live amongst people in such a manner that if you die they weep over you and if you are alive they crave for your company.

Book of *Nahjul Balagha*: Peak of Eloquence!