Meatball Noodle Soup

Salam :)

This recipe is a delicious and hearty Afghan meatball noodle soup that is perfect anytime of the year, especially for Ramadan!

Ingredients:

• 6 oz (Half Pack) of noodles (prefferably thin Chinese style)
• 2 small onions (diced into small cubes)
• 4 cloves of garlic
• 2 cups of small mix frozen vegetables
• 1 can of tomato paste
• 1 can of drained mixed beans (or plain red kidney beans)
• 1/2 pound of ground beef (flavored with some salt, powdered coriander, black pepper, 1 finely chopped onion, finely chopped cilantro, diced (de-seeded) tomato, and 2 cloves garlic)
• 1 handful of fresh finely chopped cilantro
• 8 cups of water
• 4 Table spoon of oil
• (Spices) - 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander, black pepper, oregano, and basil

Directions:

• In a pot/pressure cooker, sautay your onions and garlic in oil until golden brown.
• Add your tomato paste
• Add 8 cups of water (or fill pot till midway)
• While it comes to boil, make small round balls from your flavored ground meat
• Place the meat balls into the boiling liquid
• Add spices and cover lid
• Cook for about 20 minutes with a pressure cooker, or 45 minutes in a regular pot - so meat cooks thoroughly
• After - Add your frozen vegetables, beans and noodles, and cook for about 10-15 minutes.
• Your soup is ready

.... Best served with a dallop of plain yogurt and lemon juice....

Enjoy!

Why do we fast?

Q: Why do Muslims fast?

A: There are 3 main reasons why a Muslim fasts during Ramadan.

1) Muslims fast during Ramadan, firstly, because it is the fourth pillar of Islam, and Allah (swt) ordered us to do so. "...fasting is prescribed for you (Muslims)..." (2:183) and " Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was sent down as a guide to humanity, and to provide clear signs for guidance and judgment. So whoever witnesses the month of Ramadan should fast through it..." (2:185).

By fasting, we get to feel they way the poor and hungry feel; it reminds us, when we forget, that our brothers and sisters go through this pain much too often, and so our hearts become softened, and we become more generous.

2) We learn to control ourselves - mentally and physically. Fasting is not limited to abstaining from food and drink - we also abstain from lying, foul language, sexual activity, medicine (unless it is necessary), etc. By keeping away from these things, we learn to control our desires. We learn to be in charge of our bodies rather than to let our bodies be in charge of us. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) once remarked "Whoever does not give up lying and acting on lies during fasting, then Allah has no need of him giving up food and drink." - Bukhari

3) Fasting is healthy for the mind body and soul. When we stop over feeding our bodies, and fast, "our body initiates it's own healing mechanisms, and any ailment may show improvement." - allaboutfasting.com. We constantly over work our bodies by over eating - and just like when we get tired from over working all day then set aside small matters for another day - our body does like wise. Because it is estimated that 65% of the body's energy must be directed to the digestive organs after a heavy meal - fasting is like a vacation for our bodies! With the extra energy your body has, when it is not busy digesting a meal, it begins to heal and work on other areas of the body such as repairing cells and detoxing. Antiaging effects, weight loss, clear skin and clarity (of the mind and soul) are just some of the many benefits of fasting!

Ramadan Kareem :)

Wishing you one month of Ramadan,

4 weeks of barakat,

30 days of forgiveness,

720 hours of guidance,

43200 minutes of purification,

... and 259200 seconds of noor!"

Ramadan Kareem to everyone! May Allah forgive us and our familes and keep us on the straight path always. Alhamdullilah Allah has blessed each of us with another year of Ramadan, so let's use it to our full advantage Inshallah :)

Inshallah we will try and update the blog as much as we can during this time.

Please forgive us for any of our mistakes and short comings, only Allah (swt) is perfect.
We hope that you may attain even once piece of knowledge from our blog Inshallah.

Salam,
Aasia and Aalia

Pre-Ramadan Checklist

1) Prepare Eid Clothes (so you don't waste time in Ramadan shopping for them)

2) Prayer Clothes (Buy/ make new ones or wash, iron and perfume existing ones)

3) Prayer Place (Dedicate a space in your home for your daily worship - clean, tahhir and 'attar it, and stock it up with all you need for your ibadah)

4) Menu! (Plan meals, whose turn it is to cook, and who you will be doing iftar for on different days)

5) Ibadah schedule/ targets (plan your khitmas, your qada, your daily schedule - plan how to fit it in, so that you will fit it in)

6) Du’a List (make a list of who you need to make du’a for during the month so during those busy days you don’t forget any one)

7) Donation preparation - prepare the stuff you will donate

8) Ta’zil ie/ Super-Spring Cleaning (clean, tahhir and gut out your rooms/house before the month to make it welcoming and comfortable for the angels )

9. Plan your invitations (family, friends, inlaws) and send out the invites. Do it in the first two thirds - preferably when you don't have prayer and make it clear that you will not be accepting any invitations the last third.

10. If you are working on a khitmeh finish quickly so you can start afresh in Ramadan.

11. Tie up loose ends socially. Make up with those you are not speaking to. Get on the good side of parents, in laws and husband.

12. Start cutting down on coffee if you are a heavy drinker.

13. Prepare children, discuss Ramadan routine with family, discuss excitement and looking forward to Ramadan with those younger people you see.

Sr.Shehnaz Karim

Ramadan Mubarak!

Asalamualaikum,

Yesterday, August 11 2010, was the first official day of Ramadan Alhamdullilah! As a Muslim you see your home go into a wonderful transition for Ramadan, everyone prepares themself and their homes in their own way. You feel much closer to Allah, and your love for Islam grows. Dinners are even more joyous than ever and going to the Masjid for Taraweeh is like sealing every day of your fast.

During this month we need to remember that fasting is not only abstinence from food and water, but it is much more. During this month Muslims all over the world practice self control, over their desires and physical needs during the daylight hours. The eyes must restrain from seeing bad things, the ears must restrain from hearing bad things, the tongue must restrain from saying bad things, and the hand must restrain from doing bad things.

By doing this, we learn to have control over our bodies and our desires. We put these things aside to become closer to Allah. And our bodies and desires, no longer have control over us.
We also learn how it feels to be not able to eat and drink for long periods of time like poor people. And we learn to respect them and willingly give our share of zakat (charity) or even more.
During this month we also go through a cleanse, a bodily and spiritual cleanse. We spiritually go through a cleanse because we restrain from bad things and we strive to become better Muslims. We let go of our worldly desires to be closer to Allah. We are also cleansed from our toxins when we fast.

We got this from the article Benefits of Fasting, by Rukhsana Badr
"In Fasting and Eating for Health, Joel Fuhrman, M.D., states that an important element of fasting detoxification is mobilizing the toxins from their storage areas. He notes that superfluous tissue such as fat, abnormal cells and tumors are broken down and these toxic materials are released into the circulation for elimination."

These acts of sacrifice and self control help strengthen our mind, body, soul and Iman.

Narrated Abu Huraira(r.a): The Prophet said:"... whoever fasts during Ramadan out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah's rewards, then all his past sins will be forgiven." (Sahih Al-Bukhari).

"Oh you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you many learn piety and rightousness" (Qur'an, al-Baqarah, 2:183)

There is no month in comparison to Ramadan. This is a month where you can be rid of all your past sins, a month where you can be promised paradise, and a month where you become closest to Allah. So please take full advantage of it and do anything that makes you feel like a better Muslim.

Salam and Ramadan Mubarak,

MYGA

Hadith: Importance of Sha'ban

The blessed companion Usama ibn Zaid, Radi-Allahu anhu, reports that he asked Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam: "Messenger of Allah, I have seen you fasting in the month of Sha'ban so frequently that I have never seen you fasting in any other month." Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, replied: "That (Sha'ban) is a month between Rajab and Ramadan which is neglected by many people. And it is a month in which an account of the deeds (of human beings) is presented before the Lord of the universe, so, I wish that my deeds be presented at a time when I am in a state of fasting."

Training Season: Ramadan

Athletes train hard to win. They base their entire schedule - including sleep, meals and social life - around their training.

Getting up early mornings and forgoing get-togethers with friends and family due to the demand of their sport becomes a routine sacrifice for them. All of this stems from the burning desire to win, to succeed, to surpass. An athlete knows well that winning is not usually a matter or working hard; it is a matter of working harder. Thus every devote athlete strives to reach above and beyond the limits of his or her competitors, knowing that this extra exertion will bear fruit at the finish line.

When someone signs up to participate in a race, they know that they have to prepare well ahead of time. Let's say there is a race participant who does not practice during the training season, when asked how he expects to win the race without training and practising like other competitors, he says that when the race begins he will exert more energy and run harder than everyone else, and that is how he plans to win.
This person needs to be explained that training and practice is what enables a person to work harder at the time of the competition. To dream about running faster without training accordingly is fruitless.

Ramadan is the ultimate season of competition for beleivers - The Spiritual Olympics, if you will. The competition is global and the stakes are high. But the bar of excellence set by Islam is much higher and far more noble than the standard maintained in worldly competitions. This competition is based on attaining spiritual perfection, which is much higher an achievment than mastering the feat of jumping, throwing, or the like.

Seocndly, the aim of a Muslim is not to achieve recognition of his or her devotions in this world, but to receive acknowledgment of his or her success at the ultimate and absolute awards ceremony held on the Day of Judgment.

With such a noble event drawing near, it makes sense for all registered participants (Muslims) to start limbering up their spiritual muscles and working on the speed, endurance, and technique with which they preform their deeds.

Aisha (ra) narrates: I never saw the Prophet (pbuh) fasting more frequently in any month than the month of Sha'ban - Bukhari.

The Prophet (pbuh) - also used to pray: O Allah! Bless the months of Rajab and Sha'ban for us, and enable us to reach Ramadan.

These Prophetic actions and prayers indicate the importance of due preparation for the month of Ramadan before it arrives.
Let us start our own preperations from now by paying attention to our religious obligations. We need to assess the condition of our Salat, Zakat, recitation of Quran, dealings and behaviour. Sincere repentance for our short comings throughout the year (or throughout our lives in general), and the resolution to gain the nearness and friendship of Allah for once and for all is the minimum training required to acheive a winning position in this great event.

Let us train hard today, and be ready to compete when the time comes (Inshallah).

- Mufti Aasim Rashid (As seen in Al Ameen newspaper)