Sunday 29 December 2019

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]

Tuesday 17 December 2019

*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

Tuesday 10 December 2019

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!

Sunday 8 December 2019

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.

Thursday 5 December 2019

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

Sunday 1 December 2019

🏷 *6 Rights Of A Muslim Woman*.



*1*. The right to accept marriage proposal: The Prophet Phub said:" if there comes to you one with whose character and religious commitment you are pleased, then marry (your daughter or female relative under your care) to him."{al- Tirmidhi 1084}.

*2.* The right to Mahr (Dowry):"And give the women [upon marriage] their bridal gifts graciously. But if they give up willingly to you anything of it, then take it in satisfaction and ease."(Qur'an 4:4)

*3.* The right to considerate and kind treatment:" The most complete of the believers in faith, is the one with the best character. And the best of you are those who are best to their women." {At- Tirmidhi}.

*4*. The right to "privacy" of all confidential matters:" A believing man doesn't despair a believing woman. If he finds something in her character he dislikes, he will be pleased by something else". (Sahih Muslim 1469).

*5*. The right to a peaceful home environment:" The most complete believers are those with the best characters, and the best of you are those who are best to their womenfolk." (At-Tirmidhi).

*6*. The right to financial support:" But the father of the child shall bear the cost of the mother's food and clothing on a reasonable basis" *(Qur'an 2:233)*.

THE EXTRA TEASPOON OF SUGAR: THE STRUGGLE OF SINGLE MUMS


BY Ayesha Desai

Moral of this story:
👜👜 Please go out of your way to support home industries, single mums and those who sell something on the side to make ends meet 

Her hands grasped onto the cool metal bars, and she unwillingly remembered the cool feel of her long-removed wedding band. A memory flashed through her mind, of the day he had placed it on her finger. She remembered the henna designs her sister had patiently applied to her hands. She remembered the way her mother had lovingly helped her adjust her hijab...

And then she remembered the day she angrily pulled the ring off her finger. She remembered how she desperately thrust it towards the landlord, begging he take it in return for a month of rent. She remembered how she pleaded with the jeweler to please, just please give her an extra R100, and then she remembered the tears of anger and frustration as she resigned herself to his offer and shoved the crumpled notes into her coat pocket as she walked out.

"Mama..." The little voice asked. She hurriedly wiped away at the tears threatening to spill, "Yes lovey?" Little arms reached up, wanting to be carried, and she lifted her child onto her hip. The face that looked so like his turned into her neck, chubby fingers twirling strands of her hair, and the soft breath getting deeper as her child fell asleep. She lay him on the mattress on the floor, and returned to her work.

Her hands, once soft and pampered, now expertly measured, cut, stitched and draped fabric. She turned the plain flat sheets into exquisite works for other young brides. She was well known now, and her work sought after. She never made so much as to be considered rich, but Alhamdulillah it was enough to keep the landlord away from her door. It was enough to keep food in their bellies.

When Allah called him home, she felt the earth move, and it was not just a loss of a husband to contend with, but the fear that gripped her. How? How can she survive? For the first time with no man to rely on, and too much pride to return to her parents home, she was on her own.

At first, relying on meager savings, then pawning off the belongings they so carefully chose together to turn their little apartment into a cosy home. Then, when there was very little left even of that, it was finally a choice between 2 gifts that he given her. Sentimentality or practicality... And in exchange for it, she bought determination. She bought strength, she bought resolve, she bought a backbone!

Yes, on that decisive day, it looked a lot like bags of fabric, in different colours. But those bags soon turned into longer lenght burkas, in a range of colours from sky blue to crimson to emerald green. Standing with a plastic packet containing her work, a dua and a prayer in every stitch, she looked heaven wards and prayed her carefully rehearsed pitch would be positively received by the manager of the abaya store.

With a strenght she never she had and a desperation she had never before felt, she summoned every fibre of courage, and walked into the store with a sales talk ready. To her complete amazement, that first batch of burkas was sold, and the profit was enough to hold her landlord off for another week, and another and another.

Then one day for the first time in months there was enough left over for a meal that was more than plain pasta, or scrambled eggs. She even had an extra teaspoon of sugar in her tea, and the sweetness of her small success would linger for weeks.

👇👇👇👇
Never look down on single mothers doing their best to survive financially. It takes a certain kind of strenght and resilience to take all the disappointments in life and keep working through them, to make a life for your children. All home industry entrepreneurs, but especially widows and divorcees, should be commended for their efforts, and as consumers, let us try to remember that these are not the ones we should be 'price bargaining' with.

 It astounds me at times, that people have no issues paying for designer handbags with extravagant dollar bill pricetags and wouldnt even for a second, think about asking for a discount, yet they make it an absolute sport to haggle a price with a small stall owner or the aunty making samoosas. Remember the home industry is where you should be happy to pay fair price for fair products. Dont play off peoples desperation.

May Allah grant us all barakah in our income, and grant us the ability to earn halaal rizq. Ameen.