NEWSLETTER

SUBSCRIBERS' EDITION

Monday, 23 Sha' baan 1432 H / 25 July 2011

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As the dawn of Ramadhaan approaches, offering us glimpse of its golden rays of purity, every Muslim around the world prepares to experience the warm ambience which only this month can bring. From Sehri to Iftar to Taraaweeh, Ramadhaan brings together brothers, sisters, parents and children. In order to derive the utmost benefit from the sacred month of Ramadhaan, it is crucial to recognize the spiritual significance and importance of this month. Fasting during this month should be only for ALLAH TA'ALA, and that HE will give the reward for it, for the reward of ALLAH, the Bountiful and Munificent, is greater and vaster than anyone could imagine, Subhaan-ALLAH.

A Hadith so beautifully encapsulates:

"The reward for every good deed of Adam will be multiplied anywhere between ten and seven hundred times. ALLAH said: 'Except for fasting, because it is for ME and I MYSELF will give recompense for it. He gives up his food and his passion for ME.' For the one who fasts, there are two times of rejoicing, one when he breaks the fast, and one when he meets his Lord. Verily the smell that comes from the mouth of one who is fasting is more pleasing to ALLAH than the scent of musk." (Bukhari and Muslim)

Beloved Reader! This is a month which ALLAH TA'ALA has designated for the revitalization of the soul and one's spiritual ascension after a year full of sin and spiritual retrogression. However, all this will only be possible if we value this precious month and prepare for it accordingly. It is reported that Nabi Paak (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) used to commence His preparation two months prior to Ramadhaan by reciting. The following supplication at the beginning of Rajab, "O ALLAH! bless us in Rajab and Sha'baan and make us reach Ramadhaan. This shows the importance of conditioning oneself mentally and spiritually for the advent of this month. Ramadhaan is a long- awaited celestial guest; accordingly, we ought to prepare the grandest reception in appreciation for all of it's beautiful blessings and barakah. It is only through such yearning and longing that the significance of Ramadhaan will develop in our hearts serving as a catalyst to increase our good deeds and to fulfill the objectives of Ramadhaan.

Therefore, we should strike a balance, during this all-too-short blessed month, between our domestic duties and the opportunity this month brings, to draw closer to ALLAH through worship and good deeds. Do not let our household chores distract us from performing the obligatory Salaah at the appointed times, or from reading the Qur'aan Sharief or Nafl Salaah. Nor should we let traditional late-night family gatherings keep us from performing Qiyaam al-Layl and making Du'a. There are three main objectives to attain from this blessed month, namely absolution of one's sins, attainment of piety and enhancing one's communion with ALLAH TA'ALA. In regards to absolution of sin, Nabi Paak (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) mentioned, "Whoever fasts and stands for worship in Ramadhaan out of faith and anticipation of reward, all of his previous sins will be forgiven." (Ibn Majah)

The main element mentioned in this Hadith is that our effort and striving in worship throughout the month should be with the zest of Imaan and zeal of reward. The recompense of this will be a thorough effacement of sins. The veil of inhibition that impedes a person from his or her Rabb will be removed and the doors to a life of spiritual bliss, ecstacy and harmony will be flung open. ALLAH TA'ALA states,

"O you who believe, fasting has made compulsory upon you as it made compulsory upon those before you so that you may become ALLAH fearing." (2:183)

Alhamdulillah! Fasting is one of the best spiritual excercises to establish piety, patience and a perpetual consciousness of ALLAH TA'ALA. And the reward for true patience is Jannah. In this beautiful month four things you should continue to perform in great number, two of which shall be to please your Rabb, while the other two shall be those without which you cannot do. Those which shall be to please your Rabb, are that you should in great quantity bear witness that there is no diety to worship except ALLAH (i.e. recite the Kalimah Tayyibah Laa Ilaaha Illallaah) and make much Istighfaar (beg ALLAH'S forgiveness with Astaghfirullaah)." And as for those without which you cannot do, you should beg of ALLAH, entrance into Paradise and ask refuge in HIM from Jahannam." Once a person feels the bliss of being completely pardoned and relieved from the burden of sin coupled with the feelings of ALLAH'S figurative Omnipresence, he or she would have reached a very high pedestal of divine communion. This pedestal is what referred to as the stage of Ihsan; where a person worships ALLAH as if he or she is seeing HIM or with the full conviction and cognizance that ALLAH is watching him or her.

O Beloved Reader! Let us embellish our Akhlaaq in this beautiful and blessed month with gifts from the Prophet of guidance (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wa Sallam). This will lead us to the doors of happiness and the paths of goodness in this World and the Hereafter, Inshaa-ALLAH!

May ALLAH TA'ALA grant us the ability to reap the beautiful benefits of Ramadhaan.

Submitted by SHANAAZ BEMATH

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1. Make peace with ur past so it doesn't spoil ur present.

2. What others think of u is none of ur business.

3. Time heals almost anything, give it some time.

4. Some1 is a reason of ur happiness, not every1.

5. Don't compare ur life with other's, u have no idea what their journey is about.

6. Stop thinking too much, it's alright not 2 know all d answers.

7. Smile ! u don't own all d problems in d world..

Submitted by HUMEIRA KOYA

Gold: $1,601.00 /oz
Platinum: $ 1,784.86/oz
Silver: R9,13 per g
Saudi Riyaal: R1.80
Oil: $117.92 / barrel
$ 6.77
€ 9.75
£ 11.04
Mahr Fatimi: R13977.11
Minimum Mahr: R279.54
Zakaah Nisaab:R5590.84
Krugerand: R11,437.86
24 carat gold: R351.18 /g
22 carat gold: R322.28 /g
18 carat gold: R263.36 /g
14 carat gold: R204.98 /g
09 carat gold: R133.06 /g

* Strike season continues in SA - Strikes have begun in the coal as well as diamond mining industry. The Chamber of Mines says about 30 000 workers have stopped working at various coal mines.

* The ANC Youth League's website has been hacked yet again this weekend. Hackers left an image of ANCYL president Julius Malema, along with text, which read: "HA HA HA I have a 16 Million Rand house And all of you don't!!!! [sic]"

* A 50-year-old asthmatic man presumed dead by his family woke up inside the morgue of a private undertaker at Libode in the Transkei region.

* Crash Raises Doubts About China's Fast Rail Plans - Doubts about China's breakneck plans to expand high-speed rail across the country have been underscored by a bullet train wreck that killed at least 36 people.

* As the United Nations prepares to host emergency talks today, to generate more aid for famine stricken East Africa, Australia has increased its contribution to the aid effort to $80 million.

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SAVOURY PANCAKES
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Marinate cubed chicken in fresh garlic, black pepper, green masala, whole jeeru and dry dhnana- arad (optional). Braise 2 onions till pink, add garlic flakes and meat and cook till done.

Once cooked add 1/2 cup garlic sauce (steer's) and leave to simmer for a while. When cool ass greens. White sauce or mushroom sauce can also be added.

Pan Cakes
1 cup flour. 1 cup milk. 2 eggs. 1/2 cup water. 3 tsps soft butter or ghee. 1 tsp baking powder. Salt to taste.

Method
Mix all ingredients together. Make pancakes to the size of a side plate. Put filling in middle, top with chutney & cheese and seal completely. Dip in egg and breadcrumbs and fry.

"Ons voel mos nie almal altyd dieselfde nie, is dit nie? Partymaal voel jy goed en ek dalk bietjie af, soos Allah wil. Kliek hier vir die nuutste Dagstukkie om jou aan te moedig. Ons het ook al die Dagstukkies wat ons nou al uitgestuur het saam op een bladsy gesit, juis vir jou gerief. As ek dus 'n Dagstukkie uitstuur en jy voel dis nou nie vandag vir jou bedoel nie, dan kan jy sommer maklik vir jouself al die Dagstukkie-opskrifte gaan deurkyk totdat jy een vind wat jou hart aanraak. Of as iets gebeur wat jou so bietjie van balans af gooi: besoek die Dagstukkies! Jy weet nooit, dalk wil Allah jou juis deur 'n besondere Dagstukkie bemoedig.

E-pos ons by sjbekker@vodamail.co.za as jy die Dagstukkies op jou rekenaar wil ontvang..."

Domestic Worker: So what is the problem? We all use our work telephones.

Submitted by ABDULLAH PANDOR

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