Ramadan Delights

Since it is Ramadan, we all like to have refreshing and healthy futoor(breaking the fast). The best things are fruits juices and fruits. Below are 2 fruit juices, which is refreshing and easy to make.

1. Peachy Delight

Apple - 1 peeled and diced
Pears - 2 peeled and diced
Bananas - 3
Milk -1 1/2 cups
Water - 1 1/2 cups
Rose Syrup - 2 tbsp
Sugar - 5 tbsp

Blend all the above ingredients in a mixer/blender and serve chilled for a refreshing and nutritious drink.

2. Purple Fusion

Plums - 6 (remember to remove the seeds)
Black Grapes - 100g or a handful
Tang (Orange Flavor) - 1 tbsp ( The tingy orange flavor is in the background)
Water - 1 1/2 Cups
Ice cubes - Some
Sugar - 5 tbsp

Blend all the above ingredients in a mixer/blender and serve chilled for a refreshing and tasty drink.

Ramadan Kareem

Dear All,

Assalamualaikum
The month of mercy is here. I would like to pay my wishes to you all RAMADAN MUBARAK. Very hearty congrats to all of you and your families for the auspicious
Ramadan Kareem, My sincere pray to Allah SWT to make us steadfast in our approach in this beautiful month, make us fast the whole month and also the six days of Shawwal, make us pray Taraweeh and grant by His Utmost Mercy "Lailatul Qadr" Ameen.
May Allah forgive all our sins, Accepts all our Fasting, Prayers etc… in this Holy month of Ramadan. May Allah forgive us, our families, fore-fathers, and all the Muslim Ummah and grant us by His benevolence the place in Jannah and a shade on the day of Qiyamah (Ameen, Ameen, Ameen Ya RabalAlameen).
Special request : Do remember me, my family & Muslim UMMA in your special Duas.
Thanks in advance and with my best wishes,

Here some guidelines for the month of RAMADAN. Please also Find attached guidelines and Duas.

RAMADAN KAREEM SPECIALITIES IN BRIEF :
· The best of Months
· Quran revealed in this month
· A month of Blessing, Mercy & Forgiveness
· Allah Himself gives rewards for one who fasts
· Doors of Heaven are opened
· Doors of Hell are closed
· Shayateen are chained
· Rewards multiplied from 10 to 700 times
· A NIGHT better than 1000 months

PLAN FOR SALAT :
· Plan for obligatory prayers in congregation (Jamat)
· Plan for Sunnah and Nafil prayers
· Don't miss the special taraweeh prayers
· Get closer to Allah by Tahajjud Prayers
· Try to achieve Khushoo (concentration)

PLAN FOR LEARN / TEACH QURAN
· Tajweed : Learn to recite correctly
· Tilawat : Read the whole Quran at least once in Holy Month of Ramadan
· Tarjuma : Read the complete translation once
· Tafseer : Plan to go through the tafseer
· Tadabbur : Take out time to ponder verses
· Tahfeez : Memorize some Surahs / Aayaats

ZIKR
· Keep your tongue wet with the remembrance (zikr) of Allah SWT
· When a group of people assemble for remembrance of Allah SWT:
- The Angels surround them (with their wings)
- (Allah's) mercy envelops them
- Sakinah (Tranquility) descends upon them
- Allah makes a mention of them before those who are near Him

DUA IS WORSHIP :
· To every Muslim is an answered supplication (due) in Ramadan"
· 3 persons dua accepted : Fasting, Oppressed, Traveller
· Memorize duas from Quran & Sunnah
· Make dua for all Muslim Umma
· Dua at : Iftar time / Tahajjud time / Fasting period

UMRAH AND ITIKAAF PLAN :
· Umrah in Ramadan equal to Haj with the Prophet PBUH (Bukhari & Muslim)
· The Prophet PBUM used to perform Itikaaf during the last 10 days of Ramadan (Bukhari & Muslim)
· Opportunity for people in Saudi Arabia
- Weekend Umrah Trips
- Itikaaf at Makkah or Madinah Mosques

FINANCIAL PLAN :
· Zakat : Purifies the wealth (2.5%)
· Infaq : Investment for the future
· Relatives in need of support

IFTAR PARTY
· For Muslim Friends : Remind about Islam
· For Non-Muslim Friends : Introduce & Invite to Islam

PLEASE TRY TO STOP BAD HABITS
· TV Serials, Cartoons, Films, Matches etc…
· Chatting with friends – useless talk
· Internet surfing – unnecessary wasting time
· Smoking – Starting of All bad habits
· Gheebat – Eating dead brother's meat
· Therefore make Niyat (intention) with Ikhlas and Dua.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST – REMEMBER
· Death is fast approaching
· Life is too short to waste in useless things
· Satan discourages one to plan
· If Satan cannot stop a muslim from doing good, then
- he tries to engage him in lesser good, or
- make him busy so that he never plans or quantifies his progress

Computer's Gender in Spanish

A SPANISH Teacher was explaining to her class that in Spanish, unlike English, nouns are designated as either masculine or feminine.

'House' for instance, is feminine: 'la casa.'

'Pencil,' however, is masculine: 'el lapiz.'

A student asked, 'What gender is 'computer'?'

Instead of giving the answer, the teacher split the class into two

groups, male and female, and asked them to decide for themselves

whether computer' should be a masculine or a feminine noun. Each group was asked to give four reasons for its recommendation.

The men's group decided that 'computer' should definitely be of the feminine gender ('la computadora' ), because:

1. No one but their creator understands their internal logic;

2. The native language they use to communicate with other computers is incomprehensible to everyone else;

3. Even the smallest mistakes are stored in long term memory for possible later retrieval; and

4. As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find yourself spending half your paycheck on accessories for it.


(THIS GETS BETTER!)



The women's group, however, concluded that computers should be Masculine

('el computador') , because:

1. In order to do anything with them, you have to turn them on;

2. They have a lot of data but still can't think for themselves;

3. They are supposed to help you solve problems, but half the time they ARE the problem; and

4. As soon as you commit to one, you realize that if you had waited a little longer, you could have gotten a better model.

The women won.

Respect your Parents: A good Story

It's your attitude and not your aptitude that determines your altitude.

A simple man tells how his booking an air ticket for his father, his first flight, brought emotions and made him realize that how much we all take for granted when it comes to our parents.

My parents left for our native place on Thursday and we went to the Airport to see them off. In fact, my father had never traveled by air before, so I just took this opportunity to make him experience the same. In spite of being asked to book tickets by train, I got them tickets on Airlines. The moment I handed over the tickets to him, he was surprised to see that I had booked them by air. The excitement was very apparent on his face, waiting for the time of travel. Just like a school boy, he was preparing himself on that day and we all went to the airport, right from using the trolley for his luggage, the baggage check-in and asking for window seat and waiting restlessly for the security check-in to happen.

He was thoroughly enjoying himself and I, too, was overcome with joy watching him experience all these things. As they were about to go in for the security check-in, he walked up to me with tears in his eyes and thanked me. He became very emotional. When he said thanks, I told him there was no need to thank me.

But later, thinking about the entire incident, I looked back at my life. As a child -- how many dreams our parents have made come true. Without understanding the financial situation, we ask for football, dresses, Toys, outings, etc. Irrespective of their affordability, they have satisfied all our needs.

Did we ever think about the sacrifices they had to make to accommodate many of our wishes - TODAY?

Did we ever say thanks for all that they have done for us - TO DATE?

Same way, today when it comes to our children, we always think that we should put them in a good school, regardless of the amount of fees. We will ensure that we will have to give the child the best, theme parks, toys, etc. But we tend to forget that our parents have sacrificed a lot for our sake to see us happy. Many times, when my parents had asked me some questions, I have actually answered back without patience.. When my daughter asks me something, I have been very polite in answering.

Now I realize how they would have felt at those moments. Let us realize that old age is a second childhood and just as we take care of our! children, the same attention and same care need to be given To our parents and elders.

Rather than my dad saying 'thank you' to me, I would want to say sorry for making him wait so long for this small dream.. I do realize how much he has sacrificed for my sake and I will do my best to give the best possible attention to all their wishes.

Just because they are old does not mean that they will have to give up everything and keep sacrificing for their grandchildren also. They have wishes, too..

*********Take care of your PARENTS********

Please pass on this to every child who loves parents and want to love them more......&…..more

Think....... - It's your attitude and not your aptitude that determines your altitude.

Learn right knowledge, do righteous good deeds, recommend one another to the truth & observe patience. (Al-Asr:03)

Poem

Well...these are 2 poems I wrote when in high school...I just get this mood and write whatever. Here it goes. Hope you enjoy it!!!

FRIENDS

In whom words are few, deeds are more
A friend who makes you bored.
Just to listen and laugh at your jokes,
A smile that comforts and never mocks.
Some friends are like this, hard to understand
But full of love and always at hand.

In whom words are more, deeds are few,
Who loosens your nuts, bolts and screw.
A friend who always makes you laugh
Laugh and laugh and make you scoff.
Easy to understand and love deep inside
Some friends are like this, always at your side.


Each friend's nature maybe different,
However they are, they are benevolent,
True friends are the greatest treasure
That one can find in nature!


DAWN

When the sun shines at dawn,
The birds begin to wake
Let's not slide back to our bed and yawn.
A new day has come. Wake up!
Wake from your sleep,
You've got lots to gather:
A quest to search for. From deep
Hearts of your mother and father,
Your friends and enemies,
Your sisters and brethren.
So let's spread peace
Through words, deeds and pen.

We've got a world to gain,
A world of our own,
Where there is no pain
But only love sown.

I hear the birds chirp,
The flowers open, the leaves tremble.
Oh dawn! How you peep
With the little sounds and mumble.
You open the new day
With a new hour
And new thoughts to make us happy.
An everlasting hope.
Oh Dawn! You are great!

A Working Woman....very well expressed

Tomorrow you may get a working woman, but you should marry with these facts as well.

Here is a girl, who is as much educated as you are; Who is earning almost as much as you do;

One, who has dreams and aspirations just as you have because she is as human as you are;

One, who has never entered the kitchen in her life just like you or your Sister haven't, as she was busy in studies and competing in a system that gives no special concession to girls for their culinary achievements

One, who has lived and loved her parents & brothers & sisters, almost as much as you do for 20-25 years of her life;

One, who has bravely agreed to leave behind all that, her home, people who love her, to adopt your home, your family, your ways and even your family ,name

One, who is somehow expected to be a master-chef from day #1, while you sleep oblivious to her predicament in her new circumstances, environment and that kitchen

One, who is expected to make the tea, first thing in the morning and cook food at the end of the day, even if she is as tired as you are, maybe more, and yet never ever expected to complain; to be a servant, a cook, a mother, a wife, even if she doesn't want to; and is learning just like you are as to what you want from her; and is clumsy and sloppy at times and knows that you won't like it if she is too demanding, or if she learns faster than you;

One, who has her own set of friends, and that includes boys and even men at her workplace too, those, who she knows from school days and yet is willing to put all that on the back-burners to avoid your irrational jealousy, unnecessary competition and your inherent insecurities; Yes, she can drink and dance just as well as you can, but won't, simply because you won't like it, even though you say otherwise

One, who can be late from work once in a while when deadlines, just like yours, are to be met;

One, who is doing her level best and wants to make this most important relationship in her entire life a grand success, if you just help her some and trust her;

One, who just wants one thing from you, as you are the only one she knows in your entire house - your unstinted support, your sensitivities and most importantly - your understanding, or love, if you may call it.

But not many guys understand this......

A Chinese Story

A long time ago in China, a girl named Li-Li got married & went to live with her husband and mother-in-law. In a very short time, Li-Li found that she couldn't get along with her mother-in-law at all. Their personalities were very different, and Li-Li was angered by many of her mother-in-law's habits. In addition, she criticized Li-Li constantly. Days passed, and weeks passed. Li-Li and her other-in-law never stopped arguing and fighting. But what made the situation even worse was that, according to ancient Chinese tradition, Li-Li had to bow to her mother-in-law and obey her every wish. All the anger and unhappiness in the house was causing Li-Li's poor husband great distress. Finally, Li-Li could not stand her mother-in-Law's bad temper and dictatorship any longer, and she decided to do something about it! Li-Li went to see her father's good friend, Mr. Huang, who sold herbs. She told him the situation and asked if he would give her some poison so that she could solve the problem once and for all. Mr. Huang thought for a while, and finally said, "Li-Li, I will help you solve your problem, but you must listen to me and obey what I tell you." Li-Li said, "Yes, Mr. Huang, I will do whatever you tell me to do." Mr. Huang went into the back room, and returned in a few minutes with a package of herbs. He told Li-Li, "You can't use a quick-acting poison to get rid of your mother-in-law, because that would cause people to become suspicious. Therefore, I have given you a number of herbs that will slowly build up poison in her body. Every other day prepare some delicious meal and put a little of these herbs in her serving. Now, in order to make sure that nobody suspects you, when she dies, you must be very careful to act very friendly towards her. "Don't argue with her, obey her every wish, and treat her like a queen." Li-Li was so happy. She thanked Mr. Huang and hurried home to start her plot of murdering her mother-in-law. Weeks went by, and months went by, and every other day, Li-Li served the specially treated food to her mother-in-law. She remembered what Mr. Huang had said about avoiding suspicion, so she controlled her temper, obeyed her mother-in-law, and treated her like her own mother. After six months had passed, the whole household had changed. Li-Li had practiced controlling her temper so much that she found that she almost never got mad or upset. She hadn't had an argument with her mother-in-law in six months because she now seemed much kinder and easier to get along with. The mother-in-law's attitude toward Li-Li changed, and she began to love Li-Li like her own daughter. She kept telling friends and relatives that Li-Li was the best daughter-in-law one could ever find. Li-Li and her mother-in-law were now treating each other like a real mother and daughter. Li-Li's husband was very happy to see what was happening. One day, Li-Li came to see Mr. Huang and asked for his help again She said, "Dear Mr. Huang, please help me to keep the poison from killing my mother-in-law. She's changed into such a nice woman, and I love her like my own mother. I do not want her to die because of the poison I gave her. "Mr. Huang smiled and nodded his head. "Li-Li, there's nothing to worry about. I never gave you any poison. The herbs I gave you were vitamins to improve her health. The only poison was in your mind and your attitude toward her, but that has been all washed away by the love which you gave to her. "HAVE YOU REALIZED that how you treat others is exactly how they will treat you? There is a wise Chinese saying: "The person who loves others will also be loved in return." God might be trying to work in another person's life through you.

Send this to your friends and spread the POWER OF LOVE. Remember, if you delete this mail nothing will happen. No one will die or fall sick. But... If you send it to others you may change their lives. After all you have got nothing to lose but a lot to gain." A candle loses nothing if it is used to light another one"

Two Angels: Things are not Always what they seem to be

Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family.


The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the mansion's guest room. Instead the angels were given a space in the cold basement.


As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it. When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied... " Things aren't always what they seem".


The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his wife.


After sharing what little food they had the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good night's rest. When the sun came up the next morning the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears. Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income, lay dead in the field.


The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel "how could you have let this happen!? The first man had everything, yet you helped him," she accused. "The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and you let their cow die."


"Things aren't always what they seem," the older angel replied. "When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall.


Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall so he wouldn't find it. Then last night as we slept in the farmers bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I gave her the cow instead. Things aren't always what they seem."


*********


Sometimes this is exactly what happens when things don't turn out the way they should. If you have faith, you just need to trust that every outcome is always to your advantage. You might not know it until some time later.

Good Thoughts

Good thoughts: A fwd Message

Don't compare yourself with any one in this world.
If you compare, you are insulting yourself.

Don't complain about others;
change yourself if you want peace.

It is easier to protect your feet with slippers than
to cover the earth with carpet.

No one can go back and change a bad beginning,
but anyone can start now and create a successful ending.

Easy is to judge the mistakes of others.
Difficult is to recognize our own mistakes.

If a problem can be solved, no need to worry about it.
If problem cannot be solved what is the use of worrying?

"Changing the Face" can change nothing.
But "Facing the Change" can change everything.

Be bold when you loose
and be calm when you win.

No one will manufacture a lock without a key.
Similarly god won't give problems without solutions.


Every successful person has a painful story.
Every painful story has a successful ending.
Accept the pain and get ready for success.

Heated gold becomes ornament. Beaten copper becomes wires. Depleted stone becomes statue. So the more pain you get in life you become more valuable.

Mistakes are painful when they happen.
But year's later collection of mistakes is called experience, which leads to success.

Life laughs at you when you are unhappy...
Life smiles at you when you are happy...
Life salutes you when you make others happy...

If you miss an opportunity don't fill the eyes with tears.
It will hide another better opportunity in front of you.

What was there before Allah?

Many years ago, during the time of the Taabi'een (the generation of Muslims
>after the Sahabah), Baghdad was a great city of Islam. In fact, it was the
>capital of the Islamic Empire and because of the great number of scholars
>who lived there, it was the center of Islamic knowledge. One day, the ruler
>of Rome at that time sent an envoy to Baghdad with three challenges for the
>Muslims. When the messenger reached the city, he informed the Khalifah
>that he had three questions which he challenged the Muslims to answer.
>
>The Khalifah gathered together all the scholars of the city and the Roman
>messenger climbed upon a high platform and said, "I have come with three
>questions. If you answer them, then I will leave with you a great
>amount of wealth which I have brought from the king of Rome.
>As for the questions, they were:
>
>'What was there before Allah?'
>
>'In which direction does Allah face?'
>
>'What is Allah engaged in at this moment?'"
>
>
>The great assembly of people were silent. (Can you think of answers to
>these questions?) In the midst of these brilliant scholars and students of
>Islam, there was a man looking on with his young son. "O my dear father!
>I will answer him and silence him!" said the youth.
>
>So the boy sought the permission of the Khalifah to give the answers and
>he was given the permission to do so.
>The Roman addressed the young Muslim and repeated his first question,
>"What was there before Allah?" The boy asked, "Do you know how to count?"
>"Yes," said the man.
>"Then count down from ten!" So the Roman counted down, "ten, nine,
>eight,
>.." until he reached "one" and he stopped counting. "But what comes
>before
>'one'?" asked the boy.
>"There is nothing before one- that is it!" said the man. "Well then, if
>there obviously is nothing before the arithmetic 'one', then how do you
>expect that there should be anything before the 'One' who is Absolute
>truth, All-Eternal, Everlasting the First, the Last, the Manifest, the
>Hidden?"
>
>
>Now the man was surprised by this direct answer which he could not
>dispute.
>
>So he asked, "Then tell me, in which direction is Allah facing?"
>"Bring a candle and light it," said the boy, "and tell me in which
>direction the flame is facing."
>"But the flame is just light- it spreads in each of the four directions,
>North, South, East and West. It does not face any one direction only,"
>said the man in wonderment.
>The boy cried, "Then if this physical light spreads in all four directions
>such that you cannot tell me which way it faces, then what do you expect of
>the Nur-us-Samawati-wal-'Ard: Allah - the Light of the Heavens and the
>Earth!? Light upon Light, Allah faces all directions at all times."
>
>The Roman was stupefied and astounded that here was a young child answering
>his challenges in such a way that he could not argue against the proofs.
>
>So, he desperately wanted to try his final question. But before doing so,
>the boy said, "Wait! You are the one who is asking the questions and I am
>the one who is giving the answers to these challenges. It is only fair that
>you should come down to where I am standing and that I should go up where
>you are right now, in order that the answers may be heard as clearly as the
>questions.
>
>"This seemed reasonable to the Roman, so he came down from where he was
>standing and the boy ascended the platform. Then the man repeated his final
>challenge, "Tell me, what is Allah doing at this moment?" The boy proudly
>answered, "At this moment, when Allah found upon this high platform a liar
>and mocker of Islam, He caused him to descend and brought him low. And as
>for the one who believed in the Oneness of Allah, He raised him up and
>established the Truth. Every day He exercises (universal) power (Surah 55
>ar-Rahman, Verse 29)."
>
>The Roman had nothing to say except to leave and return back to his country,
>defeated. Meanwhile, this young boy grew up to become one of the most
>famous scholars of Islam. Allah, the Exalted, blessed him with special
>wisdom and knowledge of the Deen (religion). His name was Abu Hanifah
>(rahmatullah alayhi- May Allah have mercy on him) and he is known today as
>Imam Abu Hanifah (Imam-e-Azam), the Great Imam and scholar of Islam.
>
>
>May God bless our youngsters to get islamic knowledge.

--A forward message