25 Epsom salt uses!

1. Lawn and garden — Studies show that the magnesium and sulfur that comprise Epsom salt may help your plants grow greener, produce higher yields and have more blooms!

2. Pedicure — Combine 1/2 cup Epsom salt and warm soapy water, then soak your feet for 5 minutes to soften skin. Remove nail polish, push back cuticles, then cut and file your nails. Soak an additional 5 minutes in a warm Epsom salt bath for super soft feet.

3. Hair volumizer — Combine equal parts conditioner and Epsom salt. Work the mixture through your hair and leave for 20 minutes. The result? Hair full of va-va-voom and volume!

4. Facial scrub — This is one of my favorite Epsom salt uses. Mix 1/2 tsp of Epsom salt with your favorite cleanser; massage into skin using small circles to give your pores a deep-cleaning. Rinse your face with cool water, pat dry. This is one of the most refreshing Epsom salt uses!

5. Relax — Create the perfect detox bath salts! Add two cups of Epsom salt to your very-warm bath water and soak for 15 minutes. You can purchase Epsom salt with lavender or eucalyptus for an extra-soothing bath experience. Be careful when standing up, you’ll find that you are VERY relaxed after your Epsom salt bath.

Detox Bath Salts - This simple bath salts recipe will relax and soothe your body.

6. Sea salt texturizing hair spray — Combine 1 cup of hot water, 2 tablespoons Epsom salt, 1 teaspoon aloe vera gel and 1/2 tsp conditioner in a spray bottle. Spray salt mixture into hair and scrunch hair with your hand for pretty beachy-waves.

7. Fabric softener crystals — Mix 4 cups of Epsom salt and 20 drops of essential oil to make DIY fabric softener crystals. Use 1/4 cup per load and add at beginning of wash. What a clever way to use Epsom salt, and also a way to save money!

8. Splinter removal — Soak your finger in an Epsom salt bath for easy splinter extraction.

9. Body scrub — After showering, massage handfuls of Epsom salt over wet skin to exfoliate the body. Get a spa treatment at home! Get more facial scrub recipes here.

10. Exfoliation — For exfoliation, mix 2 cups of Epsom salt with 1/4 cup of petroleum jelly and a few drops of lavender essential oil. Gently massage into dry patches for smoother skin.

11. Mosquito bites — Epsom salt can ease the symptoms of mosquito bites. Make a compress by soaking a washcloth in cold water that has been mixed with Epsom salt (2 tablespoons per cup of water), then gently apply to the bite area. This is yet another one of my favorite Epsom salt uses.

12. Sore muscles and arthritis — If your muscles or joints ache, an Epsom salt bath is a great way to find relief. Add 2 cups of Epsom salt to your very-warm bath water, agitate the water with your hands to dissolve it then soak for 15 minutes.

13. Tile cleaner — Mix equal parts of dish soap and Epsom salt for a super easy and effective tile cleaner. Rinse with clear water. This is one of the most frugal Epsom salt uses, a great way to save on cleaning supplies and to use a natural alternative to harsh chemical cleaners!

14. Bedtime bath for kids — Add one cup of Epsom salt to your kids’ evening bath to help them sleep more peacefully.

15. Headache relief — Evidence shows that that soaking in an Epsom salt bath can relieve headache symptoms.

16. Acne — Epsom salt has antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties making it a fantastic natural treatment for acne.

17. Remove odor on hands and feet — Add 3 Tablespoons of Epsom salt to 1 quart of warm water and soak your hands or feet for 15 minutes. This will makes your skin soft, your nails shine, and also help remove foul odors.

18. Relieve constipation — Pour 8 oz. of drinking water into a glass, mix with 1 to 2 tsp. of Epsom salt and drink the mixture for immediate relief of constipation. Mixing directions are also found on most Epsom salt packages, consult your physician before trying this.

19. Sunburn relief — Dissolve two tablespoons of Epsom salt in 1 cups of water and spray on minor sunburns.

20. Draw out infection — For simple infections on hands or feet, soak in a hot Epsom salt bath for 10 minutes to help clear the area. Note, some staph infections are worsened by soaking in hot water, consult your physician.

21. Cure for common cold — Did you know that Epsom salt baths can speed healing by detoxifying your body and increasing your white blood cell count? Try an Epsom salt bath the next time you feel those first symptoms of a cold.

22. Reduce swelling — Epsom salt baths can help the appearance of bruises and reduce swelling.

23. Deter slugs — Sprinkle a trail of Epsom salt around the area you want to be free of slugs.

24. Blackhead removal — Mix a teaspoon of Epsom salt, 3 drops iodine and half a cup of boiling water. Dab this solution to your blackheads with a cotton ball to help naturally extract them.

25. Insecticide — Mix Epson salt with water, add to a spray bottle and spray on plants to naturally deter insects.

_Beware of sadness (احذروا الحزن)_

· Ibn Al Qayyim, may Allaah have mercy on him, said the word (الحزن) – (sadness) does not appear in the Qur'aan except in the form of forbidding it (ولا تهنو ولا تحزنوا) or in the form of negating it (فلاخوف عليهم ولا هم يحزنون).

And the reason for this is because there is no benefit for having sadness in the heart. The most beloved thing to the shaytaan is to make the believing slave sad by taking him off track.

· The Prophet (ﷺ) sought refuge in Allaah Ta'aala from sadness.

(اللهم إني أعوذ بك من الهم والحزن)

· Ibn Al Qayyim said: Sadness weakness the heart and diminishes determination and wanting to go forward. And there is nothing more beloved to the shaytaan than sadness of a believer.

· For this reason, be happy, optimistic and think good about Allaah Ta'aala. Have trust in what Allaah  Ta'aala is able to do and depend on Him. You will find happiness and pleasure in all situations.

· Ibn Al Qayyim said: Don’t ruin your happiness with worry, and don’t ruin your mind with pessimism. Don’t ruin your success with deception and don’t ruin the optimism of others by destroying it. Don’t ruin your day by looking back at yesterday.

· If you think about your situation, you will find that Allaah Ta'aala has given you things without asking, so have trust in Allaah that He doesn’t prevent anything you want except that there is goodness for you.

· You could be sleeping and the doors of the heavens are being opened with dua’as being made on your behalf, SubHaan-Allaah: Perhaps from someone poor whom you helped, or someone sad whom you brought joy, or someone passing by and you smiled to him, or someone in distraught and you removed it...

So don’t ever underestimate any good deeds.

· One of the righteous predecessors said: I make du’aa to Allaah for something I want, and if He gives it to me then I’m happy once and if He doesn’t give it to me then I’m happy ten times because the first was my choice and the second was Allaah’s choice.

· As Sa’ady, may Allaah have mercy on him, said: life is short so don’t shorten it with worries, grief, and sadness.

· So be the owner of a heart that breathes happiness and satisfaction.

May Allaah Tabarakah Wa Ta'aala grant us all true happiness, contentment of heart and good Taqdeer.

Aameen.

Advise from a Medical Doctor to women in 2020

A medical doctor decided to share some words of advise to ladies via WhatsApp. The advise are simple and straightforward. Please share to every woman out there so they can get healthier and better in 2020.

1. You can not finish all the house chores in one day. Those who did are stressly sick and some are buried already.

2. Please create time to rest, it is not a sin to sit down , put up your legs on the table and pick popcorn while watching TV. 

3. Please sleep if need be that headache will go. Those who refuse to take vacation, or leave, or time out or rest time, their families are missing them because they have gone untimely to their maker.

4. Stop taking sedatives to sleep, you are destroying your brain and organs. At a point you will begin to forget things. Relax the brain , worry less, think less, laugh more , smile more. Everything will pass with time. 

5. Sometimes go and sit outside quietly on your own, do nothing say nothing , just admire Gods handiwork, breath in fresh air calmly. Hurry not.

6. Stand by your mirror smile to yourself, laugh , dance sing, that turns on positive aura around you so you can glow.

7. Go buy yourself a snack or two or drink non-Alchoholic  wine if you choose to do so. Just do something for yourself even if hubby does that for you so you off load the things in your head.

8. Get necessary home gadgets to ease your work in order to avoid stress. Stress is the highest silent killer of women.

9. If you are not feeling well say it , do something about it, go to health centre, hospital or call a nearby nurse, do not sit around waiting for hubby to buy drugs. He may come back late , your life matters .

10. Check your blood pressure and sugar level occasionally, whether you are sick or not. It has saved a lot of women in the past. Trust me on this.

Remember to share with all the women you know. We all will enjoy 2020 in good health and abundance.

BUILDING BRIDGES

Once upon a time two brothers who lived on adjoining farms fell into conflict. After  40 years of farming side by side, sharing machinery, & trading labor & goods without any problem, they had their first serious rift. 

All their years of brotherhood & love fell apart. It began with a small misunderstanding & it grew into a major difference, & finally it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence.

One morning there was a knock on the older brother's door. He opened it to find a man with a carpenter’s toolbox. “I’m looking for a few days work,” he said.

“Perhaps u have a few small jobs here &  there, I can help u ?”

“Yes,” said the older brother. “I do have a job for u. Look across the creek at that farm. That’s my neighbor, in fact, it’s my younger brother. Last week there was an open field between us but he took his bulldozer , dug it up to the river & now there is a creek between us. Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I’ll be one better than him.  See that pile of wood? I want u to build me a fence – a high fence  – so I won’t need to see his place & his face anymore.”

The carpenter said, “I think I understand the situation. Trust me.  I’ll be able to do a job that pleases u.”

The older brother had to go to town for supplies, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready & then he was off for the day.

The carpenter worked hard all that day measuring, sawing, nailing.

Just before sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job. The farmer’s eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped.

There was no fence there at all. It was a bridge… a bridge stretching from one side of the creek to the other! A fine piece of work handrails & all – & the neighbor, his younger brother, was coming across, his hand outstretched.

“ U are a good man to build this bridge after all I’ve said & done.” The younger brother said tearfully. .....conned

The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, & then they met in the middle, taking each other’s hand. They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox on his shoulder. “No, wait! Stay a few days. I’ve a lot of other projects for u,” said the older brother.

“I’d love to stay on,” the carpenter said, “but, I have many more bridges to build.

Build bridges

Not fences.

If u are currently in a strained relationship with anyone, do away with the stress & heartache u are bringing onto urself. Be the bigger person & forgive just for the pleasure of اللّه  Subhana Ta'ala. U'l instantly feel better as if u have broken free from chains that were tieing u down..

Our Nabi Kareem sallallaahu alayhi wasallam has said ;

   " Do not hate one another, and do not be jealous of one another, and do not desert each other, and O, Allah’s worshipers! Be brothers.  It is not permissible for any Muslim to desert (not talk to) his brother (Muslim) for more than three days.” 

   [Bukhari]

*Covered in a white kaffan*

*Written by Naadira Chhipa* 

That meeting with the bank manager which you are racing to as you are eager to sign the loan papers on your new sports car. Will it matter when your lifeless body is laying on the living room floor covered in a white kaffan?

That figure hugging designer dress you ordered from Paris for your cousins wedding is   stunning and you cannot wait to show off your slim figure to all your family and friends. Will it matter when your lifeless body is laying on the living room floor covered in a white kaffan?

That argument you had with your spouse in which harsh words as well as curses haunted your hearts and minds for weeks as you stopped speaking to each other. Will it matter when your lifeless body is laying on the living room floor covered in a white kaffan?

That misunderstanding you had with your daughter in law which resulted in you making your son choose, severing family ties and ending in a divorce between your son and his wife. Will it matter when your lifeless body is laying on the living room floor covered in a white kaffan?

That heartbreak you are crying over  as your boyfriend of 5 years betrayed and upgraded you with a new girlfriend. Will it matter when your lifelessbody is laying on the living room floor covered in a white kaffan?

That beautiful Moroccan theme idea and decor  you hired for your wedding was the same choice your cousin had for her wedding a week before yours. This made you postpone your wedding so you can choose a better theme. Will it matter when your lifeless body is laying on the living room floor covered in a white kaffan?

That huge argument you had with your brother about inheritance, you have not spoken or seen him in two years. Will it matter when your lifeless body is laying on the living room floor covered in a white kaffan?

That business deal you are working day and night to finalise, often not coming home to your family and missing out on precious time with your children. Will it matter when your lifeless body is laying on the living room floor covered in a white kaffan?

That platinum jewellery set your heart desired for your birthday was not gifted to you by your husband even though you mentioned how much you wanted it. You have been giving  him the silent  treatment for over a month.Will it matter when your lifeless body is laying on the living room floor covered in a white kaffan?

That new sea facing mansion your brother  and sister in law purchased is burning your heart as envy engulfs you in its disastrous flames. Will it matter when your lifeless body is laying on the living room floor covered in a white kaffan?

That picture you uploaded which got a hundred 'likes'. Will it matter when your lifeless body is laying on the living room floor covered in a white kaffan?

Will anyone or anything in this temporary life matter when your lifeless body is laying on the living room floor covered in a white kaffan? No! Nothing matters once your soul is extracted from your body besides your good deeds. Nobody matters once your eyes close forever. Everything and everyone that was so important to you suddenly ends. Your  misunderstandings, your battles, your difficulties, your problems, your fears and your tears will all come to an abrupt end, an eternal  end from this world. Be happy, grateful and present in every moment of your life irrespective of what storms you are weathering, what battles you are fighting, what struggles you are enduring and what trials you are facing as nothing will matter once your lifeless body is laying on the living room floor covered in a white kaffan. 

Your kindness, your generosity, your forgiveness, your smile, your patience, your goodness, your Salaah, your ibadaah and ultimately your character is what matters in this world and once your lifeless body is laying on the living room floor covered in a white kaffan.

That heartbeat you feel against your chest as it echoes love and gratitude for Allah that matters as you live in this world and also once your lifeless body is laying on the living room floor covered in a white kaffan. 

Start preparing  now for when your lifeless body is laying on the living room floor covered in a white kaffan!-Naadira Chhipa

How to survive through load shedding

1. Fill a few 2L bottles with water and freeze them. When the power goes off, move 2 or 3 into your fridge and limit opening and closing the door. 

Leave the other frozen bottles in the deep freeze and only take them out once the others are down to about 25% ice. Swap them out for more frozen ones. This should keep your fridge cold enough to preserve your food for at least 8 hours. The ones in your deep freeze should stay frozen at least 12 hours. Remember, don’t open and close the doors unless entirely necessary! 

2. Keep your power bank charged up and ONLY use it when the power is off. If you know you’re in for a few hours down time in a day, put your phone on low power mode ASAP to preserve battery life. 

3. Invest in decent rechargeable camping lights from a place like Cape Union Mart. They last a few hours and are bright enough to read/play board games/shower by. 

4. A car phone charger is a necessity! 

5. Keep groceries in the pantry/fridge that don’t require cooking (if you have an electric stove/oven.) Tapas anyone? If you’re desperate, a little camping gas stove is a good idea for easy meals like scrambled egg, 2 min noodles etc. 

6. When the electricity is on, boil the kettle and fill a flask or two to use for babies bottles/tea/coffee. 

7. Plan outings for your scheduled load shedding time. During the day it’s not so bad, but at night it can get real depressing sitting in the dark night after night. A movie, a date night, a meal out, late night Christmas shopping, hanging with friends on a different schedule to you - all do wonders at boosting your mood and reducing the effect load shedding actually has on you. Don’t be scared to call on your community! 

8. If it’s within your budget, look at getting an inverter system, or generator. Even the most basic system will give you a few hours of the minimum: lights, chargers, tv maybe a fan. 

I know it sucks, and is frustrating and makes you shake your head and swear and rage. But try remember the many wonderful things that you do have as a result of living in SA. And enjoy all the candle lit bubble baths you want!

look up...

The Diamond Necklace

Once there was a king who had presented his daughter the princess with a Beautiful diamond necklace. The necklace was stolen and his people in the kingdom searched everywhere but could not find it. Some said a bird may have stolen it. The king then asked them all to search for it and put a reward for $50000 for anyone who found it.

One day a clerk was walking home along a river next to an industrial area. this river was completely polluted and filthy and smelly. As he was walking the clerk saw a shimmering in the

river and when he looked he saw the diamond necklace. He decided to try and catch it so that he could get the $50000 reward. He put his hand in the filthy dirty river and grabbed at the necklace but some how missed it and didn't catch it.

He took his hand out and looked again and the necklace was still there. He tried again this time he walked in the river and dirtied his pants in the filthy river and put his whole arm in to catch the necklace. But strangely he still missed the necklace! He came out and started walking away feeling depressed.

Then again he saw the necklace right there. This time he was determined to get it no matter what. He decided to plunge into the river although it was a disgusting thing to do as the river was

polluted and his whole body would become filthy. He plunged in and searched everywhere for the necklace and yet he failed. This time he was really bewildered and came out feeling very depressed that he could not get the necklace that would get him $50000.

Just then a saint who was walking by saw him and asked him what was the matter. The clerk didn't want to share the secret with the saint thinking the saint might take the necklace for himself so he refused to tell the saint anything. But the saint could see this man was troubled and being compassionate again asked the clerk to tell him the problem and promised that he would not tell

anyone about it.

The clerk mustered some courage and decided to put some faith in the saint. He told the saint about the necklace and how he tried and tried to catch it but kept failing. The saint then told him that perhaps he should try looking upwards toward the branches of the tree instead of in the filthy

river. The clerk looked up and true enough the necklace was DANGLING on the branch of a tree. He had been trying to capture a mere reflection of the real necklace all this time.

Moral of the story:

Material happiness is just like the filthy polluted river because it is a mere reflection of the TRUE happiness in the spiritual world. We don't achieve the happiness we are looking for no matter how hard we endeavor in the material life. Instead we should look upwards toward ALLAAH  who is the source of real happiness and stop chasing after the reflection of this happiness in the material world. This spiritual happiness is the only thing that can satisfy us completely.

May ALLAAH help us LOOK UP TO HIM.

Eating food brought with haram money

In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful.

Answer

Eating Halal is a fundamental aspect for one’s worship being accepted by Allah.

Saiduna Abu Hurayah (RA) narrates that the Prophet of Allah (SAW) said: “Allah is pure and accepts only that which is pure. Allah has commanded the faithful to do that which he commanded the messengers.” And Allah (SAW) has said: “o you who believe! Eat of the pure things and do right.” Allah (SAW) has said: “oh you who believe! Eat of the pure things we have provided you.” Then the Prophet of Allah (SAW) mentioned a man who journeyed far and dishelved and dusty and spends out oh his hand to the Heavens: “O lord! O Lord! While his food is unlawful, and he is nourished unlawfully, so how can his dua be answered!” (Sahih Muslim)

From this Hadith we can understand that unlawful income does have an effect on ones worship and acceptance of ones duas.

Saaiduna Abu Bakr Radiallahu Anhu narrated that the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam said “That body will not enter Paradise which has been nourished with Haram” (Sunan Baihaqi)

Saaiduna Ka`b Bin Ujrah narrates that the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam said, “A body nourished with Haram will not enter Jannah”. (Sunan Tirmizi)

Saaiduna Jabir Bin Abdullah Radiallahu Anhu narrates that the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam said, “That flesh will not enter Paradise which has grown from Haram, and all that flesh which has grown from Haram, the fire (of hell) is more worthy of it.” (Musnad Ahmad, Sunan Darimi & Sunan Baihaqi)

With regards to your question, if a person’s majority income is lawful and less than half is unlawful, it would be permissible to eat from the food purchased with such income. However, if a person’s majority income is unlawful even though the food itself is halal, but because it was purchased with haram money that food will also be considered haram. (Ahsanul Fatawa p.104 v.😎

Only Allah Knows Best