sanction this!

Both Canada and the united states are talking about "strong measures" against the elections that took place this past week in Zimbabwe. In fact the US is pushing for sanctions at the security council in the UN. While the election in Zimbabwe was clearly a joke, I question the intention of any organization or body of authority when they say they want to impose sanction on a country whose inflation rate is beyond imagination. What I question goes for the countless citizens who have to secure their family and feed them. Remember the sanction that took basic health necessities away from millions of Iraqi children, and the sanction that is still in effect on Cuba. How can we go on in the name of democracy by defying the very definition of it, or the very intention of "protecting the people"? By denying them the right to better needs? It would do less harm to the government on power, to those corrupt leaders who can still afford to fly a private jet and live lavish lives. However, it does great damage to Humanity, to those mothers who are forced to see their child die on their arms and the fathers whose sense of dignity is ripped. What good is it to blow a horn for all these people about "democracy" while it is their humanity that is raped?! History will testify against all these injustices ...
so then what do they sanction, but deny humanity?!

The Sacred Months: Part I

In the Name of God the Most Gracious Most Merciful:

It is almost amazing but Ramadan is upon us once again (Insha’allah) in about 2 months. The purpose of this post is two. First I would like to remind myself, brothers and sisters about consistency in deeds and second talk a little bit about the next two sacred months: Rajab and Sha’ban.

It is always important that we try and work hard towards achieving our goals. We all hope for the best out comes even at times when we gave in very little. But it is no good to beat ourselves down for failed attempt to do better, become better and the like. One makes resolutions every time, and whenever that becomes futile the person lowers the standards and aims for an achievable one. For the past few months I have been trying a few things to see myself at another level than I used to be. Alhamdulilah it is working, but it takes so much effort and prayer. So here are a few practical things I was able to do:

1. make a practical plan. Instead of making an abstract goal such as I will write my essay or pray Nawafil, make sure you make it compatible in your daily routine. This can simply mean I will write a summary of my resources and find out for a theme or say 10 Tahlil, Tekbir and Tahmid evertime you’re at the bus stop. Some people may say “hey you’re not supposed to fit your lord according to your convenience”, which is absolutely right and that is why the obligatory prayers are spread through out the day. Besides, by making such a simple move, one is able to alleviate the guilt of not fulfilling an effort. Remember, the easier things are, the better they are to stick around.
2. do something new every week if not everyday. This can be walking in a different route than you used to, practice writing with your left hand, try making yourself/family a new recipe, bike around in the park, go swimming, anything. This will help one have better insight every time. Most importantly it will provide one with the opportunity to find something of interest that he/she never knew existed in their nature.
3. make time for yourself. This is the most important part of anything else we’ll talk about. It is amazing how we know ourselves the least of all things. We need to find out how many hours of sleep we need, what foods make us lethargic, what our interests are, what time of the day we’re most productive, what time of day/week/month do we tend to get irritable? happier? Such knowledge lays a pragmatic and unique framework for each of us to develop a better strategy. More over it gives one the basic knowledge of what is happening in them before they start laying the blame either on themselves or on others for things that went wrong. For example I have found out that every time my period approaches I become very emotional and irritable and my body temperature fluctuates dramatically (which by the way is true for most women, due to the hormonal changes). Thus now, I would bake baklava, eat ice-cream, go out walking and sleep more.
4. last, and most important is that we seek help from those around us and most importantly from Allah Subhanahu Wa’Ta’ala. Make sure that you have very good network of friends, family who are there to help you move forward with your goals. This could be anything from seeking the comment of a trustworthy mentor or taking criticism to make things better next time. Make sure you pray every time and seek for “strength from the lower self and protection from Shaitan” from Allah.

The above points might seem rather mundane and nothing of spiritual, but trust me, it is everything spiritual. We might have read countless self-help books heard inspiring lectures about becoming better muslims, but I believe that the simplest and most essential knowledge of who we’re in everyday life makes resolutions and goals attainable. They will give us reality checks about our abilities and weaknesses so we may be able to work through them with strategies that are synched with our nature—so when we next listen to the Khutba or tune to our ipods, we are more qualified to say, “hey I can totally do that…”. And that is exactly the main purpose of Ramadan. So we may check upon ourselves, and know who we’re as a human being.

Tune in for the next update with the rest of this series insha’allah until Ramadan. Make sure you leave your comments, ideas, questions, anything.

Allahuma A’uzu Bika Minal Ajzi Wal Kasl

Ameen

?

i'm an irony
example of oxymoron
run head on.

a two line meeting place
yet parallel
this soul.

lost in the daylight
composed at twilight
unstoppable mind.

war and peace
happen at once
like that holy land.

i carry with me
a shadow, of not one
but two.

Oh this soul...


(Hikmet_

Barley-n-Yogurt soup

Alright, here is one of those recipes where with its straight forward steps, yet vital and irresistible taste would make you feel like a pro-cook.

All you need is an organic pearl barley, fresh celery, home-made yogurt, or any yogurt (sour cream) cilantro and a few dry herbs-such as mint and dill- and salt to taste.

One thing you need to do the night before you plan to make the soup is soak it in some water. If you happen to forget or in a hurry, it is also ok, except that it would take longer on the stove. So now that you have your barley soaked for at least 4 hours, change the water and set it on the stove to boil. Meanwhile, you can start cutting the celery in small cubes-about 2 sticks would be just fine. Once you're done chopping the celery you can put it in the boiling water and let it cook with the barley. you can start chopping the cilantro, but that would be the last thing you'll put to finish this entry. Add a little bit of olive oil, mint and dill while the mixture is boiling. You can check on the barley to see if it is fully cooked. (Some people like it a little hard some people like it well cooked). If you find that it is cooked to the degree you like, then you can go ahead and put some yogurt in it. I like the thickness of the soup a little on the medium side, so I put a bit more yogurt. Keep stirring until the soup comes to a boil. Let it boil for about 2 minutes and turn off the heat. Now put the freshly chopped cilantro in the pot and set the lid back. Wait 5-10 minutes and enjoy this filling and healthy meal.
Tip: when the barley is boiling it tends to make a foam (the same way pasta would), so watch out for that if the lid is closed or else, you can open the lid slightly so there is some air going in.


^^ B-n-Y soup with Persian Lavash bread and cheese ^^

Peace Be Unto You,

"A fine line"

Ahh the moon,

Such a beautiful night out! Looking up at the sky took me back to the days when I used to camp at the veranda lying back, staring at the sky endlessly. It seemed, to family, rather pointless to do the same thing over and over again_watch the stars. Of course you've got to have imagination, stories, hopes and dreams in your mind or you'd fall asleep. I wish I can do that once more Insha'Allah_lay back and keep watching the beauty of the dark sky, the secrets and aspirations unfold.

I miss gardening, especially taking care of the mint plant and waiting patiently for the pomegranate to ripe. The tricky bit about vital mint is that you don't over or under water it. If over watered it gives you nice large leafs, but the mintyness wouldn't be the same. But those that have been watered right would summon one with their unmistakable fragrance and nice flavor when made into, my most favorite, tea. As for the pomegranate, I must admit that my picking was most disastrous -at first- that I was told not to pick anymore. But of course time polishes one into a better gardener, so eventually I learned how not to pick unripe fruits. My mom had taught me to look first into the top part where it seems to be 'wearing a crown' and feel the little 'seeds', she also taught me the rather hard to explain, "you'd just know when you touch it" cues.

My sister used to love taking care of 'her' roses which she would allow me to weed but hardly enjoy the flowers. That was mainly because of my impatience with some of the irresistible buds. I would have cut it when the buds just start to open, but since it was my sister's she wouldn't allow me, for a reason that has ever since left me with an awe for her. I remember her telling me "if you cut it now, what will we enjoy later on? you must leave it so that it can in its own time open-up and allow us enjoy its beauty and fragrance. Life, also, the same way..."

Learning small things here and there... until recently, to be precise, Friday when I talked to my "partner in crime" aka, my sister, I haven't thought of this issue in such a way. Having broken her tibia and fibula from a "minor" car accident, she is now lying with a huge cast. When I asked her how she is feeling, reassuringly she answered that she hasn't been better in a long time, now that she is being served for everything she's in need. And she added that she even have visitors far and wide...she likes joking around about almost everything so when I didn't take her seriously she turned into her usual 'now imma dead serious' sound and said "it is a thin line, this thing we call being alive...you blink and next thing you know you might even be dead on the ground".

Nothing more to add to that, just simple; any moment you might be gone...

Stirring sweetness

Assalamu Aleykum,

After having taken some break from the internet (except for important deals, such as class notes and the the like) I have come to break the silence with some irresistible easy-to-do recipes. WARNING: my recipes don't have set measurements.

Strawberry Jam:

Cut strawberry into four vertical pieces and store in a pot
put some lemon zest (or thin slices of lemon peel)
and finally add some sugar, add as much as you want, just don't over do it

now leave the mixture as is for another 24 hours. No need to add water, as you will see the sugar will melt and the fruit will give-up its juices. After the 24 hour period, you can now put the pot on a stove and heat it at a medium power and let it simmer for a while. After about 10 minutes or so, you can take it off the stove and transfer your jam into a container where you'd see it cool before you enjoy.

Further recipes with this yummy jam can be created, such as a phillo bake in the oven with butter. (I still haven't tried this, but will let you know how that goes) ;)

Are you craving for some irresistible soup? Then make sure you tune in for the next update with one of my favorite recipe: Barley-n-yogurt soup.

"Cooking is like love. It should be entered with abandon or not at all."
Harriet Van Horne

Peace Be Unto you.