HUDA ACADEMY

As salaamu 'alaykum

Huda TV has now launched Huda Academy. Huda Academy is an Islamic Studies website where you will find FREE courses as well as certificate courses all recorded in high quality format. Ma sha Allah, I don't think it is anything like it on the internet. You be the judge...

Here is the link for <a href="http://www.hudaonlineacademy.com">Arabic Studies</a> offered at Huda Academy...

HOW RAMADAN HEALS THE HEART

I wanted to share my thoughts on Ramadan and how it has a special way of healing the heart.

Firstly for those of you who do not know what Ramadan is, Ramadan is a month in which Muslims all over the planet refrain from food, drink, and intimate acts from dawn to sunset. We also try to be patient, and avoid losing our tempers. Seeing as it is the month of July, we fast for about 18 hours here in Canada.
Ramadan is a month of self control and a struggle against ourselves and our desires.
It was also during the holy month of Ramadan that the prophet Muhammad-peace be upon him, began to receive revelation of the holy Qur'an. Hence this month is also regarded as the month of the Qur'an.
Ramadan is also a month in which we race to do as many good deeds as possible, (kindness to others, charity etc) we increase our prayers and Qur'an reading. We do all of this for the ultimate goal of our Lords Mercy and Forgiveness for past sins.

The month of Ramadan is a gift, by starving the body we are feeding the soul. The time otherwise spent on eating, or partaking in activities which would otherwise waste our time, we try to spend getting closer to our Lord. Praying to him, thanking him, contemplating on all the gifts that he has granted us. (which are too numerous to count).
I also view this month as a time to take a closer look at our lives, what is working and what is not in terms of Worship, becoming a better human being, and in distancing oneself from our desires and focusing on our true purpose which is ultimately worshiping our Creator.
Allah says in the Qur'an; "And when My servants question thee concerning Me -- I am near to answer the call of the caller, when he calls to Me". He is eagerly awaiting our call to him. All we need to do is seek his help.

God needs nothing from us. He is self sufficient. He does not "NEED" our love, or obedience or worship. We need to do those things desperately. We need him every second of every day. Our heart does not beat except that he has allowed it to do so. Each breath we take is a gift from Him. We wake up each morning because of his mercy upon us. Fasting 18 hours a day seems like such a small request or deed in comparison to His many gifts. Even fasting although dedicated to our Lord, is indeed another gift from Him to us. We need it not Him. Fasting gives our organs a much needed rest, fasting helps promote patience and compassion. Taking that first bite after a day without food, one cannot help but think about fellow human beings who are starving on a daily basis. Fasting brings us closer to our Lord, it teaches us humility and gratitude. Gratitude is much needed, in a world where we all take everything for granted on a daily basis. (I speak of myself first!)
For all of the above mentioned reasons I truly believe that Ramadan if done sincerely helps to heal the heart.

So does Ramadan make us into "perfect people"? Perfection belongs to the Creator alone, Ramadan helps us to strive for self improvement, not perfection (which was never asked of us anyways). Ramadan enables us to realize that this life, and everything we do and say should be done with one ultimate goal in mind; pleasing HIM. Ramadan is a stepping stone (so to speak) for the rest of the year. We can only hope and pray to be granted more time to improve ourselves and God willing experience another blessed Ramadan next year....

Alhamdoulilah (all praise and thanks are due to ALLAH) for this blessed month. Him alone do we worship, and him alone do we ask for help.

ALLAH is ONE, He has no partners, no son, no family. God is not like you or me, He is unlike anything we can think of or even imagine. THE MOST GRACIOUS, THE MOST MERCIFUL.

Book recommendation; The Muslim Family Guide to Successful Homeschooling

My review as posted on Amazon.Com; Rating: 5/5

I recieved this book and could not put it down. The author is honest and does not hide the complexities of homeschooling your child, She also highlights the rewards as well, Namely pleasing Allah (swt) and having children with a STRONG MUSLIM IDENTITY. One part to pay particular attention to: making your homes 100% ISLAMIC, Follow closely what your kids are reading, watching and doing. Islam first, and success will follow Insha Allah. And be ORGANISED!!!!Pray and do many Duas. (some good duas are mentionned in the book. Great book, and may Allah reward the author for her advice and perseverance. Remember do not regret whatever career you are giving up, you only get one small window of opportunity to properly educate your child! Make the right choice for thier sake. BUY THIS BOOK, YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT. Small price for such sound advice! 

I would like to add that I loved the cover of this book, the picture is so endearing.


Find the book here;The muslim family guide to successful homeschooling

MOROCCAN HARIRA SOUP WITH A CANADIAN TWIST

Photo courtesy; Moroccanfood.com/ Christine Benlafquih

Make your kitchen table a place of joyous banter. Welcome others with open arms, and delicious food. They have come to visit because they love you so love them right back!

Harira is a traditional Tomato and Lentil based soup. Harira is traditionally served alongside dates and lemon pieces. This soup is rich and flavourful and has become a staple soup in my home. I have made a few slight changes which is why I call it Moroccan Harira soup with a canadian twist. I have perfected it to my liking and most importanly it has been approved by my little picky eaters. This soup is usually made with lentils and chickpeas however my little ones prefer it without, I have also noticed that my soup stays fresh longer in the fridge without the chickpeas in it. Here is my recipe.

Ingredients

-5 Large tomatoes (peeled)
-1 large onion
- 2 celery sticks
- 1 tbsp ginger powder
- 2 tbsp sea salt
- Pepper (optional , as I do not add any)
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp tumeric
- 1 tsp ghee or smen
- 1 beef cube
- 3 tbsp tomato paste diluted in 1 cup of water
- 4 tbsp of lentils (optional)
- 1 cup of flour diluted in 2 cups of water
- 1 large handful of parsley
- 1 large handful of coriander
- total of 9 cups of water
-3 tbsp of veg oil
-A little sugar to ease the acidity (optional)
- A handful of soup noodles


INSTRUCTIONS

- Before you start prepare 3 tbsp of tomato paste in 1 cup of water- whisk and in another bowl prepare 1 cup of flour in 2 cups of water. Whisk this mixture every once in a while during cooking time.

Step one: In a large pot add 3 tbsp of veg oil, chop the onion and celery, set heat on medium. Add a dash of salt. Stir and cook for about 3 to 4 mins or until the onion and celery get soft. When done set aside to cool. In another pot boil the tomatoes in water for a few minutes. This will bring out the flavour of the tomatoes and the skin will easily fall off. When the tomatoes are done drain and let cool before taking the skin off and cutting.

I use a mixer or food processor, Add the cooled onion and celery, add the skinned and cut tomatoes. (Please note that I also seed my tomatoes to cut the acidity of my soup, for those who prefer not to seed you may add a little sugar during the cooking process instead) Add the parsley and coriander- washed but no need to chop just add whole. Mix everything well. Add to the same pot that you fried the onion in. Add 3 cups of water to your blender to get all the residue into your soup, swish around and add this water to the pot with your mix. The soup will be a greenish color in the beginning this is normal. At this point you want to add all your spices, as well as the ghee. Keep the heat on medium. Cover and let cook for 50 mins.

Step 2: After 50 mins add the tomato paste mixture and the lentils (optional). Add the beef cube as well. Add six and a half cups of water. Cover once again and bring to a boil. Then add the flour mixture- a little at a time and stir well. When you have added all the flour mixture continue to stir and add your noodles at this time. Stir continuously for atleast 15 mins to fully incorporate the flour into your soup. After this remove the pot from the heat and serve immediately and store the leftovers in the fridge for up to 5 days. 

If you should visit Morocco one day, this soup is served in every restaurant and every home. However depending on who is making it, the soup will almost always taste differently. This is the case for most of the recipes including the very popular COUSCOUS. That is the beauty of Morocco the diversity and richness of flavours and dishes is unlike any other. Stay tuned for my next recipe, Moroccan Couscous with ofcourse a canadian twist.

Dont forget to share, share, share this recipe with others. 

LOVELY TREE

Thank you lord for one of the greatest gifts in nature. The lovely Tree. (This poem was written based on fond memories of quiet walks taken with my son....Every so often we would stop, close our eyes and listen to the wind as it brushed through the leaves)

Lovely Tree Enormous is your size Quiet is your voice, soft as a whisper It is your secret language, with the wind. Eager to eavesdrop, I stop, close my eyes, and strain to hear you. Like a Chameleon, your colors change, Blinding me, with deep greens, blazing reds and bright yellows. How can mere words describe such beauty? Ethereal, such a sight leaves me short of breath. It is cold now. The world outside is hiding, cowardly under a blanket of white. Not you though, you remain stoic yet proud, and eternally beautiful. Your roots are firmly planted, You have marked your territory, with every precious breath I take. We have cut you and replaced you with metal and steel. We have replaced your warmth with coldness. We have marked our territory in error. Despite our cruelty, you continue to forgive. You still offer your brightest of colors. As you dance and whisper softly in the wind. How gracious you are as you embrace us with serenity and peace. My eyes seek your beauty, My ears strain to hear you, My fingers gently touch you as I pass you by. My heart will always love you.

CONVERTED TO ISLAM-LIVING WITH THE HIJAB IN QUEBEC

                                         Photo courtesy of: Contre la Charte des valeurs





This is my story. I am not an immigrant, I am a proud Canadian. I also happen to be a muslim convert or revert as we call it. My native province is Quebec. My Grandmother on my mothers side was of native decent. Making me part Native. This is an important part of who I am as a person, and also in relation to who I am as a canadian, As the natives were the first dwellers of Quebec. I am proud of my heritage, as I am proud of my Country. This post is not meant to offend but to enlighten. I am also not a religious leader or religious speaker of any kind. I just wanted to share my story and my experience as a Muslim woman living in Quebec.

The decision to write this post was an easy one. In light of recent events in Quebec notably THE CHARTER OF QUEBEC VALUES, and a certain degree of intolerance against Muslims (particularly the women who wear the Hijab, or veil or head covering). I felt the need to write this post, partly because I feel helpless to help my fellow sisters in any other way, and partly because I would like to enlighten people as to why I myself have adopted this beautiful religion and also why I decided to wear the Hijab (because despite popular belief it was ME who decided to wear the Hijab.) I was not forced by anyone, it was of my own free will. It was a choice that I made after much thought and a choice that to this day I do not regret.

My story and my conversion to Islam

I converted to Islam about six years ago. Before Islam I was quite lost religiously speaking. I knew there was a higher being or God but that was as far as it went. I was brought up as a catholic. Praying before bed time, but very rarely visited a church. I celebrated Christmas, birthdays, Easter. Life was pretty normal, I was just like everyone else. I was a normal teenager, doing normal teenager things. As I grew older, beauty was extremely important to me. I was quite focused on how I looked and what people thought of me. If I compare then to now, despite some negativity surrounding my Hijab, I must say that I feel more respected as a person than before, by men in particular. Of course the Hijab does attract attention but it is not the same type of attention as before. The looks are different and I feel more liberated to just be me, without the help of the latest fashion or because I just got my hair done. I am sort of under the radar and it feels great. I feel less pressure to be physically appealing all the time. I also concentrate more on progressing as a person inside rather than focusing on the outside. Ofcourse Muslim women still want to look good and be beautiful but just in our own way, and our husbands are the very privileged ones who get to see all the beauty that is hidden from everyone else. 

Why did I convert to Islam?

Back to why I converted, I remember that I was in constant search of answers. Where did we come from?, why were we here?? I searched for answers in different religions or philosophies. I was lost religiously. I remember visiting a Scientology church and purchasing a book. I read a lot about Buddhism and for the first time, I felt a little peace. The one thing that bothered me, was the fact that they did not believe in GOD. My brother who was studying Islam at the time, and offered me a book, kind of laughed at me. He would say, "but if there is no GOD how did we get here, and how are we created so perfectly??" I had no argument for him. This is when I realized that while Buddhism was very peaceful, it was not the answer for me. -To be clear I am not judging anyone who does follow this way of life or any other religion for that matter-.

So I began to read about Islam, reading everything I could get my hands on. I needed to first erase all previous misconceptions that I had about Islam. You know that Muslims are terrorists, that the religion is one of violence and hate. And lastly that all Muslim women are submissive, shells that cannot think for themselves. Women who are abused and controlled by their husbands and OH MY!  men can have four wives???. Even as I write this I cringe at how I use to view Islam and Muslims. Way before I converted, one of my Muslim colleagues at work use to tease me and once said, one day I can see you as a Muslim woman with the Hijab! I remember that moment like it was yesterday. I laughed at him, and said ME A MUSLIM?? ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND??? I AM A CANADIAN AND FREE TO DO WANT I WANT. NO MAN WILL EVER CONTROL ME. I also remember thinking how violent Islam was and wanted no part of it. This of course was before I began to study Islam.

We plan and GOD plans and GOD is the BEST OF PLANNERS!!!

After much reading and contemplation and erasing my past false misconceptions of Islam I made a big decision. I wanted to become a Muslim. Now I could tell you all that I discovered in Islam, what Islam is, what our beliefs are etc....But I have decided to stick to why I wear the head scarf for the sake of this post. The one thing I will say about Islam is this; The most fundamental belief that we have is the following, We believe in ONLY ONE GOD, THE SAME GOD AS THE CHRISTIANS AND THE JEWS. WE BELIEVE THAT HE HAS NO PARTNERS, NO SON, HE IS ALONE, ONE, WE BELIEVE IN EVERY ONE OF THE PROPHETS FROM JESUS TO MOSES ETC (PEACE BE UPON EVERY ONE OF THEM). We also respect the other religions and if we didn't then we would not be Muslims. That being said after reading the Quran I also discovered many many scientific facts. and I could not deny all the answers that I found in Islam. Answers that I had been searching for for so long. I can now say that the best moment of my entire life was when I converted. I was filled with such emotion, I cannot even begin to explain it. The first time I prayed was also life changing. I had prayed before but this was different. I was truly happy and filled with love and light.

What about the HIJAB?

Now for my hijab. While I would like to say that I wore it as soon as I converted...That is not how it happened. It took me a good year before I decided to wear it. Looking back I am happy that it took me that long. This is a life long decision and had I put it on too soon, perhaps I would not have been consistent or may have even neglected it. I can say that from the moment I put it on, I felt more like me than I ever have before. If that even makes sense. While everyone assumes that my husband forced me to wear it or that I was obliged because of my religion and therefor had no choice. It was a very personal decision and my husband actually tried to discourage me....Well of course he was very proud of me when I decided to wear it. He just asked me over and over again, are you sure??? It is a big decision and not one that you should take lightly.... I even remember some fellow sisters were telling me not to wear it right away. You see there was a marriage the next day and those girls thought that I should wait so that everyone could see just how beautiful my husbands wife was. I knew I could have arrived with my hair all done up and yes showing my beauty but I decided why wait when I had already made my decision? Should a party come before my hijab?. To me it was unthinkable, that is how important my Hijab already was to me. It had become a part of who I was. Just to be clear, there are Muslim women who choose not to wear the hijab. Does that make me better than them or any other woman for that matter? Not in the slightest. God is the only one who knows our hearts. Just like they have decided not to wear Hijab, I have chosen to wear it. This is a very personal decision. It is a choice, it is my choice. My husband has no say over how I dress nor if I wear the head scarf or not. He does not decide if I wear makeup or if I choose to cut or dye my hair. My hair and body are my own and I choose to cover them both. I also choose to not work and stay home and raise my children. This is my choice. Not my husbands mine. It is also my right. My life is my own, My choices are my own,.There are some men both Muslim or not, who do horrible acts to women and others and some behave in this manner in the name of religion. This is not religion, this is man. But the MEDIA has managed to take the two and have made them one and the same! I once heard a Muslim convert say that she was upset about all the violence that was going on and people doing horrible acts in the name of ISLAM. She said she was mad because it was like those people had hijacked her beautiful religion. That is just how I feel.

So back to our topic, why do Muslim women choose to cover their hair??? And why do we wear all those baggy clothes??? Because it is our idea of modesty. It is also mentioned in our holy book the Quran that believing women should cover themselves in such a manner. It is not so different from Mary mother of Jesus (peace be upon him) who use to dress modestly and yes even cover her hair. In the end we do it for GOD. I believe that everyone should have the right to choose how they dress, l also believe that I as a Muslim woman should have that same right. I choose to show my beauty to my husband and family only. I do not wish to impose my way of life on anyone else. I just wish to have the choice to dress and live the way I see fit for me.

It is ironic because before I converted I felt more accepted by my fellow Quebecors. I dressed just like everyone else, celebrated the same holidays etc....Yet I always felt as though something was missing. When I converted, I felt at peace and almost like I had  finally figured out who I really was. As I mentioned before I no longer worried constantly about how I looked....I began to concentrate on who I was inside, and what was important to me. The ironic part is that as soon as I put on my hijab, I was no longer easily accepted. I was looked at in a very different way. Sometimes negative and other times positive. I have been yelled at by passing cars, eyes have been rolled in my direction. On the other hand I have also been greeted very nicely, doors have been opened for me. Kind words have been said. There are very open minded and accepting people in Quebec but there is  also a lot of intolerance and ignorance. Two things that I did not know existed until I put this little piece of material on my head.

THE CHARTER OF QUEBEC VALUES

As for this Charter of Quebec values, I do NOT agree with it!. I worked in customer service for several years both with and without the hijab and it was never an issue. I performed just as well with my Hijab as I did without it. I still greeted everyone with the same courtesy and smile as I had before. Clients still joked around with me, and after a period of adjustment realized that I was the same person as before. My religion had changed but that had nothing to do with the service that I was offering them. The Government says they want everyone to be the same, well I agree to some extent. Everyone should be the same, treated equally, have equal job opportunity and be judged not by their appearance or clothing but by how well they can perform their duties. Whether this Charter passes or not, the employment opportunities for all Muslims (particularly Muslim women) will decrease. The intolerance will increase. This bad seed has been planted into everyone's mind already. All to distract from the real problems in Quebec; EDUCATION, FRAUD, and the ECONOMY. Let us not forget that there have already been several incidents against Muslim women since talks of the Charter have started. . The government says they are all isolated incidents but when there is more than one, I would hardly call them isolated. The Charter is giving the ignorant people a free pass to spurt hateful comments to fellow human beings. While they say that intimidation is not tolerated here in Quebec, the Charter is in contradiction with their words! Life is now uncertain for Muslims here in Quebec. I am sure of one thing, my Hijab is a part of me, a part of who I am. Just like my native heritage here in Quebec. The Hijab is a very sacred piece of material upon my head. As it is to all Muslim women. If it comes down to making a choice between the Hijab and a career here in Quebec, the choice will be a very easy one to make.

This post was meant to enlighten people about the head scarf and my reasons for wearing it. I hope I have taught just one person something new that they did not know before, about Islam and the hijab. I also hope that Quebec will again become a province that I can be proud of living in. I hope that Quebec will follow the rest of Canada`s lead and become more tolerant and open minded, and concentrate on real problems instead of creating false ones.
The charter states that Quebec wants to be Neutral. They are banning all religious symbols including the HEAD SCARF. However, the cross around the neck can stay as long as it is small. The cross in parliament can stay because it is part of the Quebec haritage. They will keep Christmas and Easter also part of the Quebec heritage. A neutral state that will be keeping not so neutral religious signs and refusing others. Leave well enough alone, because these changes will only invite conflict and intolerance.

I SAY NO TO THE CHARTER OF QUEBEC VALUES.

Update: The Charter did not pass, and in a recent election the prime minister (Pauline Marois) lost by a landslide. With only 30 seats in the 125 seat National Assembly. April 8th 2014.


For all those interested in learning more about Islam I invite you to check out this great website.  ISLAM GUIDE

Peace to ALL!! 

TASTY LEMON SPONGE CAKE

Photo courtesy of; "Cake" by Danilo Rizzuti. Freedigitalphotos.net

Make your kitchen table a place of joyous banter. Welcome others with open arms, and delicious food. They have come to visit because they love you so love them right back!



Are you looking for the perfect lemon cake recipe? Look no farther, this recipe is so simple to make and is sure to impress your family and guests. It is a staple cake in my home. My husband loves a piece with his coffee in the morning. It is also very popular when we have guests for tea in the afternoon. I originally learned about this cake in Morocco.  Over there it is called `Meskouta`. I have tweaked the Moroccan way of making it just a bit. The essence of the cake has remained the same though. It is very moist, delicious and matches perfectly with a nice cup of tea or coffee. So here is the recipe....And feel free to make small changes so that it becomes your own perfect and unique recipe.

INGREDIENTS

-1 1/2 CUPS OF FLOUR
-4 EGGS
-1 CUP OF SUGAR
-4 1/2 TSP OF BAKING POWDER
-1 PACKET OF DRY INSTANT RISING YEAST (I use the "Ideal" brand found in a red box)
-3/4 CUP OF VEG OIL
-3/4 CUP OF PLAIN OR VANILLA YOGURT
-2 LEMONS GRATED
 -1 TSP OF VANILLA (optional)

Set your oven at 325-350
Grease a bundt pan or a 8x11 glass pan (I prefer the glass pan, as it requires less baking time.)

Start by whisking (or mixing with a hand mixer) the eggs, slowly add the sugar (a little at a time). Add the oil. Mix very well. Add the yogurt. add the vanilla. Mix well. On the side mix the flour and baking powder Add this to the wet ingredients and mix well. Add the grated lemon, mix. Mix everything very well. Lastly add your yeast packet and mix slightly so that it is incorporated into the mix. Add mix to your greased & floured pan. Depending on your oven the cake should take about 20 to 30 minutes to bake. When ready it should be a light golden brown color. Try not to open your oven too often as this will prevent the cake from rising.

I have experimented quite a bit with this recipe. Be sure to mix your eggs and sugar really well. This technique makes the finished cake really light and fluffy. Add less sugar if the cake is too sweet. Or just stick to the plain yogurt instead of the vanilla. Looking for a sweeter cake? Add a frosting, anything from a mixture of sugar and lemon juice to a light sprinkle of powdered sugar.

This is really just a general recipe, you can tweak it to your liking and the possibilities are endless.

So enjoy and share this great recipe with others.

The calories of a piece of this cake may vary between 160 and 284. This all depends on if you add frosting, more or less sugar, vanilla or plain yogurt, etc.