May 16, 2008
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
It’s been posted here alhamdulillah.
I’d also like to request that you make some du’aa’ for my husband, insha’Allah. We’ve been sick for a few days but now he’s feeling a little worse. La b’as tahurun, insha’Allah.
And thanks for all the cool comments in my previous post about my love for Shafi’i fiqh. I didn’t think the picture at the top would generate so much love and views (probably lots of hanafis : p )
Posted in Around-The-Net, Knowledge, Resources, Shafi'i Fiqh 
7 Comments »
May 16, 2008
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Let me tell you that I love fiqh, but I especially love Shafi’i fiqh. I’m not sure why but it has always been the madhab that I loved. There was a point in time where I was tempted by the Maliki madhab but I think that is because I’m a rebel at heart, and if you’re a maliki or know about the maliki opinions, then you may understand the connection. I also considered the Hanbali madhab for a short while because of my husband but that didn’t ever really feel right with me because many of the opinions somehow lead me back to a Shafi’i stance, so I didn’t even bother. Plus, the Hanbali madhab is hard to study in the west without a teacher due to the lack of translated resources, and then there are ‘other’ issues that to me weren’t worth it. I even considered the Hanafi madhab at one point in time but that was due to the influence of a dear Deobandi Shaykh we came across - Shaykh Mohammed Hussain Adam, may Allah bless him with firdaws.
I’ve always prayed more like a Shafi’i. I married a Shafi’i (later becoming hanbali and then not admitting to himself that he really does love the Shafi’i madhab more, masha’Allah). I got to hang out with my husband’s Shaykha who taught Shafi’i fiqh. I studied Shafi’i fiqh with my husband a lot in the early days of our marriage and we had a lot of sessions of comparative fiqh in the early days of him being a Hanbali.
Then, during my salafi days, I studied in a salafi institute online for a few months and therein studied Shafi’i fiqh where my love for the madhab grew even more. I think my husband actually remembers how I put off ironing his clothes to take notes, heh. It seemed that during those days I was always busy helping him prepare for work during fiqh class. Aww, the memories!
These past few months (actually more like over a year) have been a serious down for me and my urge to study deen in a serious manner. We had a lot of trials that I didn’t really handle very well and I allowed a way for it to affect my deen instead of allowing my deen to strengthen me, subhana’Allah. One of my biggest wishes is to one day be able to study arabic full on and fiqh full on. I would love to master the Shafi’i madhab and teach it, insha’Allah. My husband mentioned that he wants to start a Shafi’i Fiqh Series, and since then my urge has been brought back to life and I have my notebook, pen, and books ready, alhamdulillah. I don’t want to seem pushy so I’m letting him take his time (unless the wait becomes long). It seems he wants to study another book in private with me that he found access to online. So I also have that to look forward to apart from the fiqh series, insha’Allah.
I’m not sure why I love the madhab so much but Imam ash-Shafi’i - rahimahullah - totally rocks. If you’ve never read his biography you can read it here.
Thanks for reading my call to the Shafi’i Madhab.
[I respect every madhab completely. I just had to put the picture at the top to get on the hanafis nerves a bit. hehe.]
Posted in Knowledge, Resources, Shafi'i Fiqh 10 Comments »
May 15, 2008
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
I’m linking an older post my husband wrote about his grandmother, may Allah have mercy on her and bless her for every bit of patience she has had throughout her life. It’s a post that really touched me and when I found out about Blog About Palestine Day I thought to myself that there was no better time to re-share this. I admire this woman for the patience she has had during her life and continues to have, the dhikr she still holds onto, and the beauty of a woman that others have shared she was and that I was blessed to see during the time I got to meet her, alhamdulillah. Check it out if you can, insha’Allah.
Posted in Around-The-Net, Family, Muslim Women, Reflections 3 Comments »
May 14, 2008
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Sheikh Nuh Keller on Good Character and some thoughts shared by brother ‘Abdur Rahman @ MereIslam
Rhonda Jean over at Down to Earth encourages us to Dare to be Different but reminds us that we need to find what is best for each one of us, without overwhelming ourselves in living a healthier and simpler life. She also has a wonderful post called Convincing Your Partner where she offers advice to those who can’t quite seem to get their spouse to be on the same boat with better lifestyle changes.
Many of you probably already read this but I thought I’d link it again in case someone who reads my site missed it. Yursil reminds us of the importance of Being Spiritually Ambitious and it’s a needed reminder because we can compete in so many other things but we tend to fall back on this most important aspect of our lives. He also links to the harms of ultrasounds. I link this because I was encouraged with Layth to get a video of my ultrasound as a memory for me to have. I know we have so much technology that is crazy but in a way I think we get so carried away with trying to hang onto bits and pieces of life that really should remain in our minds and our hearts. None of this will be with us in our graves.
Are you Shafi’i? If so, stay tuned for the Shafi’i Fiqh Series over at SeekingIlm.com, insha’Allah. I’m very excited because my husband knows that I love learning the fiqh of salah and I always take lots of notes, alhamdulillah. Be sure to also check out The Shafi’i Ruling and Proofs upon Qunut in Salatul Fajr if you’re a Shafi’i.
My friend, Umm Muhammad, has started a new blog called Deen Quest. Masha’Allah, I’ve already enjoyed her entries and feel more spiritually ambitious and ready to come up with my own Nafs Challenge. She has also started a blog for her husband’s poetry over at Poetic Reflection. Check it out if you can, insha’Allah.
I just came across another worthy read over at brother Saifuddin’s blog called Pearls and Roses. Subhana’Allah, we all look for meaning in our lives at some point in time. It’s a real ni’ama for me to have been given this light at the young age I took my shahada. May Allah allow that light to shine in our lives. Ameen
Posted in Around-The-Net, Shaykh Nuh Keller, Simplifying, Spiritual Admonitions No Comments »
May 13, 2008
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
I came across this trailer (click trailer up at the top) over at Ross Rosen’s blog (a big thanks for linking it). I wanted to pass it around due to the importance of such a documentary. Insha’Allah spread the word and donate if you can. Also, check out the blog here.
Posted in Healthy Living, Living Green, Resources 3 Comments »
May 12, 2008
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
I’ve been given the honor of hosting the next Muslimahs Speak Up Carnival right here. Alhamdulillah, it is a real pleasure for me and I’m fired up for this occasion that will take place on June 14th, 2008, insha’Allah. If you’d like to submit something (or even if you don’t : )) ) then you can do so here. The deadline for submissions is June 8th. If for any reason you can’t submit via that link, or if you miss the deadline, you can email me at ummlayth (@) gmail (dot) com. I simply request that the subject of the email be ‘Muslimahs Speak Up’.
Why should you submit to & read the Muslimahs Speak Up Blog Carnival?
Because there are so many beautiful women online that live Islam and it is a wonderful opportunity to get to know each of them.
Because we all have something beautiful, inspiring, and beneficial, to share about life.
Because others are trying to speak for us when it isn’t their place and it is time that we continue speaking up, defending what is ours.
What can you submit to the Muslimahs Speak Up Blog Carnival?
Anything that matters to you as a Muslim woman. I encourage you to write from your heart and be inspired. If you need ideas, you can start by checking out this link and then the previous carnivals here, here, and here. Keep your mind open and I know that you will be inspired, bi’ithnillah.
I would like to encourage every Muslimah who comes across this to submit something fresh, but if you can’t (*after trying*) please don’t let it stop you from submitting something you wrote in the past. I have great hopes that we can make this one of of the best and most beneficial carnivals online. Allow yourself this opportunity to speak up and be a part of this group effort to bring Muslim women together online. Or you can atleast submit something because you saw the pretty banner I made : p masha’allah (big thanks to Umm Zahra for the tips she gave me to improve it).
I can’t wait to read your entries, insha’Allah!
Posted in Around-The-Net, Blog Carnivals, Muslim Women 5 Comments »
May 11, 2008
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
I published the previous entry and then decided to delete and realized the rss feed still updates. Oops. So I’m just password protecting it and if anyone would like to read it and share advice or just random thoughts then email me at ummlayth (@) gmail (dot) com. I just decided that I needed to delete it because I didn’t feel 100% comfortable with sharing it with everyone. It’s taken me longer to do all this than it would have taken to edit it. Alhamdulillaha ‘Ala kulli hal.
Posted in Uncategorized 4 Comments »
May 8, 2008
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
I was looking through a small book of spiritual quotes and I came across this as I opened it randomly:
Think about the meaning of friendship. What do you value most in a friend? What would you like to give to others as a friend? Good friends are a great source of happiness and freedom.
I value so many things in a good friend but the most important thing to me in a friendship is sincerity. I have a lot of friends but I can only pick a handful of them who I feel really care about me. When they advise me, encourage me, and criticize me, I know it is because they really do want the best for me. On the other hand, I have other friends (or maybe acquaintances?) that I have a hard time understanding because they don’t show much of that. It’s difficult because I really try to give a lot of me in those relationships as well but it doesn’t seem to go both ways. I value friends who will tell me what is right and not what I want to hear. It may take me a day or two to suck it up and accept something my nafs may not have liked right on the spot but I am grateful for their insight.
I wish I could be a better friend to my friends by paying them more attention. I know that with two children it can get a little hectic but that really isn’t an excuse. I need to keep in touch better, whether it be by phone, email, or a simple letter. I want my friends to know that I treasure their friendship by making sure that I let them know that their words mean a lot to me, by sending them gifts, and calling to ask how they are doing more often.
I’ve met some really good people online. I have a few people that I wish I could get to know better but there is just a barrier I can’t seem to get through. I feel that these friendships could become real and amazing but I am still questioning the whole online network thing, and still questioning my own determination in seeking out their friendships. Am I letting them know how much I value them? Does the friendship end at the screen? Alhamdulillah, I’ve been able to meet a few friends that I met online; however, only two or three have really remained till this day. All of this leaves me with something to reflect on once I publish this post, insha’Allah.
Here is something beautiful that a brother from Canada, may Allah bless him, translated a few years ago. I hope you find benefit in it as much as I have since I first came across it.
الصـــــديــــــق
The Friend
فمن هو الصديق الحقيقي وهل يوجد صديق في هذا الزمان
Who is the true friend, and is there a true friend nowadays?
الصديق الحقيقي : هو الصديق الذي تكون معه, كما تكون وحدك اي هو الانسان الذي تعتبره بمثابة النفس
The true friend: He is the friend that when you are with, if is as if you are alone, meaning he is the person who you consider to be on the same level as yourself
الصديق الحقيقي : هو الذي يقبل عذرك و يسامحك أذا أخطأت و يسد مسدك في غيابك
The true friend: He is the one who accepts your excuses and forgives you if you err, and defends you in your absense.
الصديق الحقيقي : هو الذي يظن بك الظن الحسن
The true friend: He is the one who assumes of you the best assumptions.
و أذا أخطأت بحقه يلتمس العذر ويقول في نفسه لعله لم يقصد
And if you err in truth, he seeks an excuse and says to himself, perhaps it was not indended.
الصديق الحقيقي : هو الذي يرعاك في مالك و أهلك و ولدك و عرضك
The true friend: He is the one who cares for your wealth, and your family, and your offspirng, and your honour.
الصديق الحقيقي : هو الذي يكون معك في السراء و الضراء و في الفرح و الحزن و في السعةِ و الضيق و في الغنى و الفقر
The true friend: He is the one who is with you using ease, and hardship, and in happiness, and in sadness, and openness and in constrait.
الصديق الحقيقي : هو الذي يؤثرك على نفسه و يتمنى لك الخير دائما
The true friend: He is the one who prefers you over hisself and wishes for you good always.
الصديق الحقيقي : هو الذي ينصحك اذا راى عيبك و يشجعك اذا رأى منك الخير ويعينك على العمل الصالح
The true friend: He is the one who advices you if he sees your faults and encourages you if he sees good in you and helps you adhere to good deeds.
الصديق الحقيقي :هو الذي يوسع لك في المجلس و يسبقك بالسلام اذا لقاك و يسعى في حاجتك اذا احتجت اليه
The true friend: He is the one who makes room for you in a seating, and hurries to greet you with peace if he meets you, and hurries to help you if you are in need of help.
الصديق الحقيقي :هو الذي يدعي لك بظهر الغيب دون ان تطلب منه ذلك
The true friend: He is the one who prays for you, without you knowing, without you asking for it.
الصديق الحقيقي :هو الذي يحبك بالله و في الله دون مصلحة مادية او معنوية
The true friend: He is the one who loves you for the sake of Allah, and not for the benefit of material goods or support.
الصديق الحقيقي : هو الذي يفيدك بعمله و صلاحه و أدبه و أخلاقه
The true friend: He is the one who benefits you with his actions, and excellence, and morals and manners.
الصديق الحقيقي : هو الذي يرفع شأنك بين الناس و تفتخر بصداقته و لا تخجل من مصاحبته و السير معه
The true friend: He is the one who raised your esteem between the people and boasts his friendship and is not embarrased with his friendship and his walking with you.
الصديق الحقيقي : هو الذي يفرح اذا احتجت اليه و يسرع لخدمتك دون مقابل
The true friend: He is the one who is happy if you need him, and rushes to serve you, not wanting anything in return.
الصديق الحقيقي : هو الذي يتمنى لك ما يتمنى لنفسه
The true friend: He is the one who wishes for you what he wishes for himself.
Posted in Reflections 11 Comments »
May 5, 2008
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
I’ve known about Dr. Weston A. Price for a few months now, but I did not know about the research he did on different native groups and their traditional diets. His goal was to find out why many of these natives had the ‘perfect’ teeth; no signs of tooth decay, and all the problems that we are dealing with on a regular basis in our time. His research is phenomenal from the few bits I’ve come across online thus far and has really thrown me off the edge, once again. I’m hoping to order his book here, which is the 2008 Expanded Version.
There is a site called the Price-Pottenger Nutrition Foundation that I came across which is very beneficial.
Here are some of the conclusions of Dr. Price’s research:
- Dental decay is caused primarily by nutritional deficiencies.
- Although radically different, 14 tribal diets provided almost complete immunity to tooth decay and resistance to disease.
- The diets contained no refined or devitalized foods.
- Laboratory analyses revealed that all of these diets were unusually high in protein, vitamins, minerals and especially in fat soluble factors found in animal fats.
- Contact with civilization, followed by adoption of the “displacing foods of modern commerce,” was disastrous for all groups studied.
- Rampant dental caries were followed by progressive facial deformities in children born to parents consuming refined and devitalized foods.
Read more here.
He compared the traditional diets of different groups and these were some of the similarities that he found:
- In general, all the native foods were found to contain two to six times as high a factor of safety in the matter of body building materials as did the displacing foods brought in by civilization.
- All groups studied consumed minerals and fat-soluble vitamins from high vitamin butter or from sea foods, cod liver or seal oil, or animal organs with their fat.
- Foods were grown on soil which was naturally high in minerals, and no chemical fertilizers or pesticides were used.
- All food was eaten liberally in the natural season in which it grew.
- Sweets (even good, natural sweets) were used rarely or sparingly, only for occasions of ritual, celebration or special feasting.
- In each diet there was some daily source of raw, unaltered protein from sources such as meats, sea foods, nuts, cheeses, eggs, milk, or high quality sprouted seeds. (Foods containing essential amino acids must be included in the food choices for each meal, or it will be impossible to assimilate the total values of the incomplete proteins. It is important to balance the amino acid patterns when vegetable proteins are eaten.) Some sort of sea plant or mineral was a part of most diets. Inland sea deposits were treasured and used thriftily.
More here.
Here are some other beneficial articles on the website that I’ve found very beneficial.
Now, for some random thoughts of mine on nutrition.
I remember that during my first Ramadan I felt extremely energetic when I had a bigger suhur (pre-dawn breakfast) and a lighter dinner. I noticed on the days that my mom gave me a plate of beans, rice, and meat, for iftar (evening meal), I had less energy the next morning, and I felt too full to continue with any attempt at night prayers. I also remember asking why it was that certain cultures had a heavier meal for their breakfast. It never quite made sense why I’d start my day out with a weaker meal, when I was in need of foods to energize me for at least 12 hours.
Fasting always re-energized me. Sure, I felt weak in the day but I could probably contribute that to many different things; I wasn’t used to fasting, I was anemic. I didn’t know what proper nutrtition meant, and I had a lot of processed foods like cereal that I thought were part of good breakfast foods. No wonder I was weak.
Where did these 3 meals come from? Why can’t I just snack all day on different healthy meals? I love cutting an avocado in half and just eating it with a spoon that way. I love eating an entire apple (literally). I enjoy water. I can do fine for dinner on a piece of cheese, a slice of bread, and a complete natural fruit smoothie. I like oats with cut up apples or strawberries instead of sugar. I also enjoy boiled eggs and poached eggs, or raw eggs in my smoothies - though I wouldn’t ever touch non-organic raw eggs for nothing.
I like natural remedies. I like the idea of buying oatmeal in bulk, beans in bulk, and eating by season. I like the idea of eating some raw. I want to get raw milk so bad. I may not like the taste but it sure beats pasteurized. And who knows, it may grow on me.
Why do our children have so many dental problems? My oldest is an example. The kid brushes his teeth, but I know his diet hasn’t been good for a long time. But why all the problems? Why must I get fillings in when his teeth will be falling out in the first place? He hasn’t gone to the dentist since that episode. And who can afford holistic dentists when most don’t accept Medicaid? Or do they?
The toothpaste has finally gone. Me and my oldest started using baking soda and some salt to clean our gums and teeth. I started doing oil pulling yesterday morning. I’ve also abandoned my miswak and I’m going to try to get a hold of some good quality ones for my family so we can start using them again. I think somewhere along the road I was discouraged to use it and more encouraged to use a normal toothbrush, but I know that there are more benefits to using that brush. Plus, I can always use both, right?
I’m a mother and I have two children. My parents didn’t instill the best eating habits in me. We went out to eat a lot, we drank lots of things with sugar (agua de sandia, agua de limon, agua de horchata, etc.), and then we started drinking lots of soda. My mom did manage to cook a lot of homemade meals but the nutrition just was not there. I wasn’t taught how to take care of my teeth properly, and just yesterday when my dad heard I had a toothache for 3 days now he told me to go to a dentist. I don’t think that will solve the problem, papi! I need to give my children better tools in life than simply a run to the dentist!
I think I am really liking the new eating style I am putting into place. I just eat something that fills me up enough to go on and gives me energy, after my oil pulling, in the morning. That may be 2 apples and 2 eggs or something. I snack for a whole part of the rest of the day on fruits. I’m eating salads with boiled eggs, and fresh avocado, some olive oil, vinegar, and other fresh things I may have around. I’m trying to avoid rice for a while, which for me means a lot of curries eaten like a soup. I’ve already lost 2 pounds doing this the past 2 days. It feels really good. Plus, we walk a lot more often now, alhamdulillah. Yesterday, my kids and I went to walk around the park for about an hour and then we tried to do other harder exercises but failed pretty badly (pullups.. yikes). It just feels so wonderful to exercise, alhamdulillah.
I’m so grateful for all I have discovered, alhamdulillah, alhamdulillah, alhamdulillah. I can’t thank the brother who first made us question things enough. Jazak Allahu khairan! And please thank your wife for all the help she has provided, too.
Some advice for mothers
If you are a mother or a father please read some of these links at the top. Take a hold of your health and the health of your family. Fathers, please pay attention if you are in charge of grocery shopping. And mothers, pay attention if you are the one that is in charge of feeding. We have no choice but to encourage good lifestyle habits. If we don’t we may regret it later when our children are suffering all types of health problems, or when we have a hard time (like me with my toothache) taking care of our families because our own health is down the drain.
Remember this hadeeth:
“Each of you is a shepherd and is responsible for his flock. The ruler who is in charge of people is a shepherd and is responsible for them. The man is the shepherd of his household and is responsible for them. The woman is the shepherd of her husband’s house and child and is responsible for them. The slave is the shepherd of his master’s wealth and is responsible for it. Each of you is a shepherd and each of you is responsible for his flock.”
Nourish Your Children
May Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala aid us all in taking care of our bodies so that we can worship Him till the last moment in good health. Ameen
Posted in Alternative Medicine, Around-The-Net, Books & Excerpts, Fasting, Healthy Living, Homemaking, Living Green, Motherhood, Nourishing Our Children, Resources 12 Comments »
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