APPEAL TO ALL MEN
In support of the 16 Day of Activism Against Abuse, Radio Islam, is conducting a series of programmes high-lighting this plight in all its forms. If you are a man experiencing any type of abuse, or know of some-one in this situation please contact us. Any contributions are extremely valuable and will be kept strictly private and confidential. E-mail; tasneem@radioislam.co.za. This is in an effort to bring awareness to an abuse that has been over-looked and has had its seriousness played down.

THE MOTHER
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For those who are lucky to still be blessed with your Mum, this is beautiful. For those who aren't, this is even more beautiful.

The young mother set her foot on the path of life. "Is this the long way?" She asked. And the guide said: "Yes, and the way is hard. And you will be old before you reach the end of it. But the end will be better than the beginning." But the young mother was happy, and she would not believe that anything could be better than these years. So she played with her children, and gathered flowers for them along the way, and bathed them in the clear streams; and the sun shone on them and the young mother cried. "Nothing will ever be lovelier than this."

Then the night came, and the storm, and the path was dark, and the children shook with fear and cold, and the mother drew them close and covered them with her mantle, and the children said, "Mother, we are not afraid, for you are near, and no harm can come."

And the morning came, and there was a hill ahead, and the children climbed and grew weary, and the mother was weary. But at all times she said to the children," A little patience and we are there." So the children climbed, and when they reached the top they said, "Mother, we would not have done it without you." And the mother, when she lay down at night looked up at the stars and said, "This is a better day than the last, for my children have learned fortitude in the face of hardness. Yesterday I gave them courage. Today, I have given them strength."

And the next day came strange clouds which darkened the earth, clouds of war and hate and evil, and the children groped and stumbled, and the mother said: "Look up. Lift your eyes to the light." And the children looked and saw above the clouds an everlasting glory, and it guided them beyond the darkness. And that night the mother said, "This is the best day of all, for I have shown my children Allah." And the days went on, and the weeks and the months and the years, and the mother grew old and she was little and bent. But her children were tall and strong, and walked with courage. And when the way was rough, they lifted her, for she was as light as a feather; and at last they came to a hill, and beyond they could see a shining road and golden gates flung wide.
And mother said: "I have reached the end of my journey. And now I know the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk alone, and their children after them." And the children said, "You will always walk with us, mother, even when you have gone through the gates." And they stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates closed after her. And they said: "We cannot see her, but she is with us still. A mother like ours is more than a memory. She is a living presence."

Your mother is always with you. She's the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street; she's the smell of bleach in your freshly laundered socks; she's the cool hand on your brow when you're not well. Your mother lives inside your laughter. And she's crystallized in every tear drop. She's the place you came from, your first home; and she's the map you follow, with every step you take. She's your first love and your first heartbreak, and nothing on earth can separate you. NOT TIME, NOT SPACE... NOT EVEN DEATH!

PASS THIS ON TO ALL THE MOTHERS AND CHILDREN YOU KNOW. MAY WE NEVER TAKE OUR MOTHERS FOR GRANTED.

Contact: ML. M. Yacoob
Tel: (031) 207 6348 A/H / Fax: 086 657 5056 / Cell: 083 786 0491

BANKING DETAILS: BANK: STANDARD BANK - ACC. NO.: 250580810 - REFERENCE: NAME & TEL. NUMBER - Fax names and confirmations to 086 657 5056.

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Method
1. Heat oil in a large pot and add the onions and braise until golden brown and soft.
2. Add the meat, spices and cook covered over medium heat until meat is tender
3. Add potatoes and water and cook for another 10 mins.
4. Pour over rice, add enough water to cook the rice, Fast boil rice without stirring.
5. When settled stir well and steam covered for 20/30 minutes or until the rice is done.
6. Garnish with dhunya and serve with atchar and salads.

A man brought up a wolf's whelp.
When it was brought up it tore him up. [SADI]

"We're new here," says the second one. "It's dark out, and we don't know where to look. We'd better wait until the other bats go with us."

The first bat replies, "Who needs them? I can find some blood somewhere." He flies out of the cave.

When he returns, he is covered with blood.

The second bat says excitedly, "How did that happen to you?"

The first bat takes his buddy to the mouth of the cave. Pointing into the night, he asks, "See that building over there?"

"Yes," the other bat answers.

"Well," says the first bat, "I didn't."