Wednesday, January 15, 2014

The Reality of the Recitation of the Qur’an – Shaykh Abdur-Razzaaq al-Badr

The Reality of the Recitation of the Qur’an – Shaykh Abdur-Razzaaq al-Badr

Taken from the lecture: The Quran the Book of Happiness
Shaykh Abdur Razzaaq:
Guidance and happiness are two affairs which go hand in hand; thus whoever is guided then he is happy. And whoever is misguided then he is miserable. Misery is the companion to misguidance which is not separated from it. Therefore whenever misguidance is found misery is found, and whenever guidance is found happiness is found.
SubhanaAllah!! This is an affair which the people perceive. Whoever is distant from Allah and His obedience and being upright upon His legislation and then he becomes guided, he will perceive in his heart a delight which was missing and a sweetness which was nonexistent and a joy which he was not aware of. When Allah honors him, and favors him with guidance he tastes the sweetness and experiences the joy of happiness, the coolness of the eyes, peace of mind, and tranquility of the soul; which he did not find before that.
I will narrate to you on this topic an amazing story. A few years ago a man called me after Asr prayer and he said; ‘I have a question; but before the question I want to inform you about my condition.’
He said: ‘I am twenty-seven years old and I cannot move any part of my body except for my head.’
I said: ‘How long have you been in this condition?’
He replied: ‘For two years.’
I said: ‘What caused that?’
He replied: A car accident.
I said to him: ‘Where are you living?’
He replied: ‘In such and such a place.’
I said: ‘I want to visit you.’ So I visited him the same day. He began to narrate to me his story, and it was a long story. I sat with him for an hour and a half; and most of the time I was listening and benefitting because his life contained a lesson. He said a statement to me which is the point of reference for the story and I will not be lengthy with the details.
He said to me: ‘By Allah, verily now I feel a delight which I walked for a long time on my feet in search of but did not find’. Before the accident I was negligent and after the accident I became one who turns to Allah, with remembrance, praying, and reciting the Quran.
One of the noble brothers brought for him a computer device that works by voice control; because his hands do not move. He tested it in front of me. He spoke to the computer and the Soorah he wanted opened. And he spoke to the computer and the verse he wanted opened. He spoke to the computer and the Tafseer he wanted opened. The Quran was in front of him, he read and memorized, and he read the Tafseer and he did not need to turn the pages with his hand or to call anyone to turn the pages for him. The verse he wanted he would request it directly, and if he wanted its Tafseer he would request it directly.
And he said: ‘By Allah, verily now I feel a delight which I walked for a long time on my feet in search of but did not find.’ Thus let the faithful person take a lesson and take a warning.
Guidance and happiness are only obtained by the Book of Allah the Glorified and Exalted. And whoever seeks it from other than the Book of Allah the Exalted will not attain anything except loss and he will not attain anything except destruction and ruin in his worldly life and his afterlife.
فَإِمَّا يَأْتِيَنَّكُمْ مِنِّي هُدًى فَمَنِ اتَّبَعَ هُدَايَ فَلَا يَضِلُّ وَلَا يَشْقَى
Then if there comes to you guidance from Me, then whoever follows My Guidance shall neither go astray, nor fall into distress and misery (Soorah Taha 20:123)
And pay attention to His statement here: ‘then whoever follows My guidance’; because that which is necessary as it relates to the Quran is following it, not just the mere recitation and properly pronouncing its letters. The Quran was only sent down to be implemented not merely to pronounce its letters correctly while neglecting its guidelines. For this reason He said: ‘then whoever follows My guidance’. Thus that which results in happiness is following the guidance not merely memorizing the Quran or memorizing the letters of the Quran. And following the guidance of the Book of Allah is a branch of understanding the Quran and pondering over it.
كِتَابٌ أَنْزَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكَ مُبَارَكٌ لِيَدَّبَّرُوا آيَاتِهِ وَلِيَتَذَكَّرَ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ
(This is) a Book (the Quran) which We have sent down to you, full of blessings that they may ponder over its Verses, and that men of understanding may remember. (Soorah Sad 38:29)
Thus this is an affair which is necessary in order to attain happiness; reciting the Quran, reflecting over its verses, working by it, and following its guidance.
Translated by Rasheed ibn Estes Barbee
http://mtws.posthaven.com

To listen to the lecture in its entirety please visit the following link
al-badr.net/detail/X3phBH61Zf

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Can two friends sleep in the same bed together? – Answered by Shaykh Uthaymeen


بالصوت والصورة : متن ’ تعليم الصبيان التوحيد ‘ للشيخ محمد بن عبد الوهاب - For Kids Study - Aqeedah Book for Kids

بالصوت والصورة : متن ’ تعليم الصبيان التوحيد ‘ للشيخ محمد بن عبد الوهاب

 
 
 
 
 
 
1 صوت

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
الحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وعلى آله وصحبه ومن والاه ، أما بعد ؛
فهذا تسجيل صوتي لرسالة :

تعليم الصبيان التوحيد

لشيخ الإسلام

محمد بن عبد الوهاب

ت 1206 هـ

رحمه الله

مدة التسجيل : اثنتا عشرة دقيقة .
مشاهدة :

استماع :

تحميل :
فيديو :
MP4 ( الحجم 108.1 مب )
صوت :
MP3 ( الحجم 9 مب )
AMR ( الحجم 680 كب )
كتابة :
DOC ( الحجم 55 كب )
PDF ( الحجم 7.2 مب )

Vitamix 5200 Deluxe - Complete Kitchen

Vitamix 5200 Deluxe - Complete Kitchen

Indulge your inner chef with the versatility of the Vitamix 5200 Deluxe – Complete Kitchen package. With three containers, two cookbooks, durable spatulas, and flexible cutting boards, you'll be prepared with everything you need to conveniently make entire meals with your Vitamix blender.
64-ounce and 32-ounce containers for smoothies, hot soups, and frozen desserts.
32-ounce Dry Grains container for grinding fresh, whole-grain flour and simulating the kneading process.
Also includes 2 cookbooks, durable kitchen spatulas, and flexible cutting boards.
AVAILABLE IN SELECT LOCATIONSfind locally
Your machine is designed and built for outstanding performance and unsurpassed durability. When purchasing a Vitamix, you'll enjoy:
  • Easy-to-use equipment paired with extreme versatility
  • The ability to chop, cream, blend, cook, grind, knead, churn, and more, with one machine
  • Quick and easy self-cleaning with a drop of dish soap and warm water; just run on High for 30 seconds
  • 7-year full warranty
  • Ongoing recipe ideas and community support
Special offer for current owners: Trade in your current Vitamix toward an upgrade! Learn more

In the Box:

32 -ounce Container
The Vitamix 32-ounce container is designed to pulverize whole foods for smaller quantities of smoothies, hot soups, and frozen desserts, and fits easily under most kitchen cabinets.
32 -ounce Dry Grains Container
The Vitamix 32-ounce Dry Grains container is designed for efficient processing of dry grains into flour and preparing dough for the oven.
Whole Grains Book
The Whole Grains cookbook includes recipes for use with your 32-ounce Dry Grains container, such as fresh baked goods and whole-grain breads and cereals.
Whole Food Recipes Cookbook
The Whole Food Recipes cookbook is a full-color, hard-bound, 3-ring style book with easel-back convenience and hundreds of recipes.
Getting Started Guide
Getting Started is a guide to all the basic Vitamix processes in a step-by-step format.
Let's Get Started DVD
Let’s Get Started is a tutorial DVD illustrating all the basics covered in your Getting Started guide.
Tamper
The Tamper and Mini-Tamper are included to help you process thick mixtures like peanut butter and frozen desserts. The Tamper fits securely into the 64-ounce container, while the Mini-Tamperfits into the 32-ounce and 48-ounce containers. Both have a special collar and tapered design to prevent them from hitting the blades.
cutting-boards
4 flexible cutting boards perfect for preparing your ingredients.
Spatulas
Customized 3-piece spatula set designed to maneuver perfectly around the Vitamix blades.

Avocado Pesto Sauce (Nut-Free, Vegan)

Avocado Pesto Sauce (Nut-Free, Vegan)

Surprisingly, I’ve never been a huge fan of avocados.
Yes, avocados are incredibly healthy. They provide essential nutrients, including fiber, folic acid, potassium, vitamin E and B-vitamins. Not to mention their abundance of heart-healthy fats, which may help lower cholesterol and aid in the absorption of certain vitamins and minerals in our bodies.
The only problem is that their taste and texture have always been a little off-putting to me. (I didn’t even grow to like guacamole until I was well into college!)
Which is why I tend to sneak avocados into all sorts of things, like smoothies,puddings and dressings.
And now, into sauces like this one.
Free of nuts, dairy and oils, this pesto sauce can be enjoyed quite liberally over your favorite noodles and veggies. A ripe avocado lends its smooth and creamy texture to this rich sauce, completed with fresh basil, garlic and lemon juice.
The result is a light, but decadent-tasting dish–> one that is ready in less than 10 minutes!
–
Avocado Pesto Sauce (Nut-Free, Vegan)
serves 1
Ingredients:
1 ripe avocado
1/2 cup fresh basil, tightly packed
1 1/2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice (about 1 lemon)
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1/4 teaspoon sea salt, or more to taste
Directions:
To get started, add the fresh basil, lemon juice and garlic into a mini food processor, and process until the basil is broken down a bit.
Add the flesh of the ripe avocado, and the 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and process again until smooth and creamy, stopping to scrape down the sides, as necessary.
Taste the pesto, and adjust seasonings, if necessary.
Serve over your favorite pasta and/or veggies, and enjoy!
5.0 from 8 reviews
Avocado Pesto Sauce (Nut-Free, Vegan)
Author: 
Prep time:  
Total time:  
Serves: 1
 
Free of nuts, dairy and oils, this pesto sauce can be enjoyed quite liberally over your favorite noodles and veggies. A ripe avocado lends its smooth and creamy texture to this rich sauce, and is complimented with fresh basil, garlic and lemon juice. The result is a light, but decadent-tasting dish–> one that is ready in less than 10 minutes!
Ingredients
  • 1 ripe avocado
  • ½ cup fresh basil, tightly packed
  • 1½ Tablespoons fresh lemon juice (about 1 lemon)
  • ½ teaspoon minced garlic
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt, or more to taste
Instructions
  1. To get started, add the fresh basil, lemon juice and garlic into a mini food processor, and process until the basil is broken down a bit.
  2. Add the flesh of the ripe avocado, and the ¼ teaspoon of salt, and process again until smooth and creamy, stopping to scrape down the sides, as necessary.
  3. Taste the pesto, and adjust seasonings, if necessary.
  4. Serve over your favorite pasta and veggies, and enjoy!
–

Creamy Almond Butter Freezer Fudge

Creamy Almond Butter Freezer Fudge

Meet my latest obsession.
We all know how much I love my dark chocolate, but sometimes even my sweet tooth gets a little adventurous.
This creamy, almond butter-based fudge is raw, naturally sweetened with a touch of honey, and has an incredibly buttery flavor… without using a drop of actual butter. The secret? Coconut oil and sea salt! Please, don’t be tempted to omit these very important ingredients. The coconut oil is what makes this fudge hold together!
In fact, that maybe the only problem with this fudge… it won’t last long at room temperature. It’s one of those treats that melts in your mouth, and in your hand.
Not much of a problem for me, as it tends to go directly from the freezer to my mouth, but it may not be the type of fudge you want to bring to a potluck.
It’s really not the type of fudge you’ll want to share, period. It’s too good!
–
Creamy Almond Butter Freezer Fudge
makes about 20 1″ squares
Ingredients:
1 cup raw creamy almond butter (unsalted)
1/4 cup coconut oil, softened
1 1/2 Tablespoons raw honey*
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
*For a sugar-free option, just use a few drops of liquid stevia instead.
Directions:
This recipe couldn’t be easier. Simply mix all the ingredients together in a bowl, until smooth and creamy.
Tip: It helps if everything is at room temperature, to keep the coconut oil soft!
Transfer the mixture to a square baking dish, or container, lined with plastic wrap, then smooth with a spatula, and freeze until solid. (about an hour)
Remove the fudge by lifting the plastic wrap out of the pan, then cut into squares. (the weird edges make perfect taste-testing pieces!)
Return the fudge to a sealed container, and store in the freezer until ready to eat!
After tasting this, I think you’ll agree–> traditional fudge is so overrated.
Enjoy!
5.0 from 34 reviews
Creamy Almond Butter Freezer Fudge
Author: 
Prep time:  
Cook time:  
Total time:  
Serves: 20
 
This creamy, almond butter-based fudge is raw, naturally sweetened with a touch of honey, and has an incredibly buttery flavor!
Ingredients
  • 1 cup raw creamy almond butter (unsalted)
  • ¼ cup coconut oil, softened
  • 1½ Tablespoons raw honey
  • ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
Instructions
  1. Simply mix all the ingredients together in a bowl, until smooth and creamy. (note: It helps if everything is at room temperature, to keep the coconut oil soft!)
  2. Transfer the mixture to a square baking dish, lined with plastic wrap, then smooth with a spatula, and freeze until solid, about an hour.
  3. Remove the fudge by lifting the plastic wrap out of the pan, then cut into squares.
  4. Return the fudge squares to a sealed container, and store in the freezer until ready to eat!
Notes
Please, don’t be tempted to reduce the amount of coconut oil in this recipe– it’s what makes this fudge hold together! Also, be sure to serve chilled, as the fudge will melt if left at room temperature for too long.
–
Reader Feedback: What’s your favorite non-chocolate dessert?

Japanese Restaurant-Style Carrot Ginger Dressing

Japanese Restaurant-Style Carrot Ginger Dressing

This dressing is the result of a recent take-out dilemma.
SONY DSC
Our out-of-town guests were debating over several take-out options for a lazy dinner at home, when one of our friends decided she was ultimately craving a salad. Specifically, the type from a Japanese restaurant. We have yet to find a suitable delivery option in that department, so I offered to try my hand at making the carrot ginger dressing she was craving. Luckily, it was a success!
This tasty combination of carrots and ginger is hard to beat, and tastes surprisingly authentic, even without the traditional soy-based ingredients, like miso and soy sauce. (Which I didn’t happen to have on hand at the time.) If you’re anything like me, you might already have all of these ingredients in your kitchen and can enjoy this salad dressing tonight! I hope you enjoy it as much as we have.
–
Japanese Restaurant-Style Carrot Ginger Dressing
makes about 1 1/2 cups
Adapted from The Food Network
Ingredients:
1 cup shredded carrots (about 2 medium carrots)
2 tablespoons fresh chopped ginger
1/2 cup chopped onion
3 tablespoons raw coconut vinegar
2 tablespoons raw honey
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons water
3/4 teaspoon salt
Directions:
Combine all of the ingredients in a blender, and blend until completely smooth. (If using a high-powered blender like the Vitamix, there’s no need to shred the carrots beforehand!)
Like most dressings, the flavor gets better over time, so I recommend chilling it in the fridge for an hour or two before serving. Store leftovers in a sealed glass jar in the fridge for up to 4 days.
SONY DSC
5.0 from 1 reviews
Japanese Restaurant-Style Carrot Ginger Dressing
Author: 
Prep time:  
Total time:  
Serves: 6-8
 
A sweet and spicy dressing similar to the popular dressing served at Japanese restaurants.
Ingredients
  • 1 cup shredded carrots (about 2 medium carrots)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh chopped ginger
  • ½ cup chopped onion
  • 3 tablespoons raw coconut vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons raw honey
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
  • ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
Instructions
  1. Combine all of the ingredients in a blender, and blend until completely smooth. (If using a high-powered blender like the Vitamix, there’s no need to shred the carrots beforehand!)
  2. Like most dressings, the flavor gets better over time, so I recommend chilling it in the fridge for an hour or two before serving. Store leftovers in a sealed glass jar in the fridge for up to 4 days.
The great thing about making salad dressings is that they are highly adaptable to suit your personal taste. I happen to love ginger, and the spicy kick that it adds to this dressing, but if you prefer a more mild flavor, you can always start off with less, then add more to taste. The same goes with any other ingredient! Since there’s no cooking or baking involved, you can always keep adding and adjusting the ingredients until the dressing tastes “just right” for you.
Hope you enjoy!
–
Reader Feedback: Are you a fan of ginger-flavored dressings? I could drink this stuff with a spoon!

Healthy Hot Chocolate Recipe

Healthy Hot Chocolate Recipe

Healthy Hot Chocolate Recipe
January is the perfect month for hot chocolate! It’s so nice to come in from the cold and relax with a nice warm cup of hot chocolate by the fire. We just got 6 inches of snow in New England, so I was out enjoying it and doing some cross country skiing. When I was done, I was thinking how nice it’s going to be to go inside and make a cup of delicious healthy hot chocolate!
This hot chocolate is a lot better than the instant packets for hot chocolate. The instant hot chocolate, that you buy in the store, typically contains artificial flavors, carrageenan, artificial sweeteners, and it also may contain corn syrup. I checked the label of one major brand and it contained the artificial sweeteners, sucralose and acesulfame potassium, which may be carcinogenic.

What’s Wrong with Artificial Sweeteners in Instant Cocoa?

According to Dr. Mercola, artificial sweeteners can “wreak havoc on your body”. He cited one recent study that found individuals consuming sucralose, experienced adverse health effects, specifically: a 50% reduction of good bacteria in the intestines, increased intestinal pH level, and an increase in intestinal p-glycoprotein, which affects some medications. Another study which is pending, linked the consumption of sucralose to leukemia in mice. Due to the health concerns regarding sucralose, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) changed the safety rating of this ingredient from “safe” to “caution”. The other common sweetener, acesulfame potassium contains methylene chloride, a known carcinogen. This has been linked to causing headaches, nausea, and detrimental effects on the liver and kidneys (1). For these reasons, we should try to avoid artificial sweeteners as much as we can.

How to Make Healthy Hot Chocolate

For this recipe, I used organic raw honey as a natural sweetener. Raw honey has numerous health benefits such as, antiviral and antibacterial properties. It also aids in boosting the immune system! You can make this recipe using 100% organic ingredients. To make this healthy hot chocolate, you can use raw cacao or cocoa powder. I used raw cacao because it has more health benefits, is not as processed and contains a higher amount of antioxidants. For the milk, I used almond milk, but any kind should work just fine, such as coconut milk or raw milk.

How Does this Healthy Hot Chocolate Taste?

This is the most delicious hot chocolate…so yummy! I tend to make my hot chocolate not super chocolaty, but you can add more cacao/cocoa powder to your taste.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup milk (almond, coconut, raw, or any kind)
  • 3/4 tablespoon raw cacao powder or cocoa powder (see it here)
  • 1 tablespoon organic raw honey (see it here)

Instructions:

1. Pour the milk into a sauce pan and heat on low to medium heat. You want to heat it, but don’t let it boil.
2. Once the milk is heated, add the honey and raw cacao to the pan.
3. Stir until it is thoroughly mixed and then remove from heat.
4. Pour into mug and enjoy!