Sunday, July 13, 2014

DON'T become tired of making Du'aa...

Ibn al-Jawzee (رحمه الله) says:

“If you fall into a hardship that is hard to be free from, you can’t (do anything) but make du’aa and take refuge in Allaah, after repenting from sins, because sins necessitate punishment, so if they disappear by repentance from them, the reason (for punishment) is lifted. So if you repented and made du’aa, and did not see any trace of response, then look into your affair. Maybe the repentance was not sound, so correct it then make du’aa and don’t become tired of making du’aa. Maybe the good is in delaying the response, and maybe the good is not in responding, so you will be rewarded and responded by being referred to what benefits you, and it would be beneficial for you to not be given what you requested, but rather to be given other than it as a replacement.

So, if Iblees comes and says: ‘How much did you call upon Him and did not see any response?’ Then say: ‘I worship (Allaah) by making du’aa, and I am certain that the answer will come. But maybe its delay is due to some good, and even if it doesn't happen, worship and humility takes place.’ So take care not to ask for something except by combining it with asking for that which is good, because the occurrence of many a wish from the dunyaa was a cause for destruction.

Source: {Sayd ul-Khaatir; Chapter 249, p.343}

Wipe the dust off your Mushaf & let's start reciting!

Reading the Qur'aan during Ramadaan - (Extracts of the article)

'Abdullaah bin Saalih Al-Fawzaan

Let's turn our attention to the Qur’aan this blessed month.

شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِيَ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ

“The month of Ramadhan is that in which the Qur’aan was revealed…”

Abu Umaamah (radiAllaahu 'anhu) reported that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم)said:

"Recite the Qur'aan for indeed it will come on the Day of Judgement as an intercessor for its Ashaab (those who read, memorize & implement it)." ⁽¹⁾

This hadeeth indicates the virtues of reciting the Qur'aan, the greatness of its reward and that it will intercede for its holders on the Day of Judgement towards their entrance into Paradise.

An-Nawaas Ibn Sama'aan (radiAllaahu 'anhu) reported: "I heard the Messenger of Allaah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) say: 'The Qur'aan will be brought on the Day of Judgement as well as the people who used to act upon it. Surat-ul-Baqarah and Aali 'Imraan will then approach them.' The Messenger of Allaah (صلى الله عليه وسلم)likened them to three examples, which I have not forgotten afterwards. He (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said:

'As if they were two clouds or two dark black canopies with light between them both or like two flocks of birds stretching their wings in the air pleading for the one who recited them.'" ^[2]

'Abdullaah Ibn 'Amr (radiAllaahu 'anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allaah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said:

"The fast and the Qur'aan will intercede for the servant on the Day of Judgement. The fast will say: 'My Lord, I restricted him from food and drink, so allow me to intercede for him.' And the Qur'aan will say:

'I prevented him from sleeping at night, so allow me to intercede for him.' So they will be allowed to intercede." ^[3]

Therefore, it is essential for the person fasting to recite the Qur'aan much during these blessed days and honorable nights. For indeed, there is a special virtue for the abundance of recitation in these days, which is NOT found in any other month. He should take advantage of the nobleness of time during this month, in which Allaah revealed the Qur'aan.

There is a special merit to reciting the Qur'aan in the nights of Ramadaan. For indeed, the night brings an end to the busy daily affairs, the enthusiasm is roused and the heart and the tongue mount upon reflecting. And Allaah is the one in whom we seek assistance.

It is reported that Jibreel used to meet with the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) during each night of Ramadaan and they would study the Qur'aan together. ^[4] So if making Dhikr (remembrance of Allaah) were better than the Qur'aan or equal to it (on these nights), they would have done that all the time or at certain times along with constantly gathering for that occasion.

Thus, this hadeeth illustrates the precedence of studying the Qur'aan during Ramadaan and gathering together for that occasion as well as turning towards one who is more prominent in the memorization of it.

The predecessors of this ummah would recite the Qur'aan constantly during Ramadaan. And when they would fast, they would sit in the masaajid and say: "We will guard our fast and not backbite anyone."

The person reciting the Qur'aan must observe the proper etiquettes of recitation. Some of them are that: He makes his intention sincerely for Allaah, that he recite it whilst being in a state of purity, that he use the Siwaak and that he recite it while pondering on its meaning and observing total consciousness. Allaah says:

"A Book, which We have revealed to you in order that its verses may be pondered upon, so that the people of understanding may be reminded."

Also, from the etiquettes of the recitation is that one does not stop his reciting in order to speak to someone else. Indeed, when many people sit to recite the Qur'aan, and there are people sitting next to them, a majority of the time, they stop their recitation and speak to their neighbors. This is not proper since it is turning away from the recitation without a valid reason.

And it is on the one who recites, to act upon the Qur'aan, making permissible its Halaal and forbidding its Haraam, so that the Qur'aan can be a proof for him on the Day of Judgement and intercede for him in entering the gardens of bliss.

Footnotes:

[1] Saheeh Muslim
[2] Reported by Muslim (804)
[3] Saheeh Muslim (804)
[4] Al-Bukhaaree (1/30) and Muslim (2308)

The Chaining of the Shayātīn during the Month of Mercy (1)

http://ummhasna.blogspot.com/2012/07/the-chaining-of-shayatin-during-month.html

The Chaining of the Shayātīn during the Month of Mercy (1)

The Messenger of Allāh (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said,

“When Ramadhan begins, the gates of the Heavens are opened, and the gates of the Hell-fire are closed, and the Shayātīn (devils) are chained.”

The questioner may ask,
“If the Shayātīn are chained up during the blessed month of Mercy, Shahr Ramaḍān, then why does evil and sin still occur?”

First, before elucidating the meaning of the narration, using the well-known explications of the scholars of Ḥadīth, we begin by mentioning its derivation in the books of Sunnah. It is collected by Imām al-Bukhārī, [2] Imām Muslim (3), Imām al-Nisa’ī [4] and Imām Aḥmad.[5]

The great scholar of Ḥadīth Ibn Ḥajr, may Allāh bestow His Mercy upon him, says in the explication of this narration, found in his classical work Fatḥ al-Bārī: “And the Shayātīn [here] are those from amongst them who eavesdrop [on the revelation], and their being chained up takes place during the nights (of Ramaḍān), not its days, because they were forbidden from eavesdropping at the time of the Qur’ān’s revelation; so they were chained up as an additional measure of protection (for the revelation). And it is possible that what is intended is that the Shayātīn are not as determined to tempt the Muslims as they are able to outside of it (i.e. Ramaḍān), because of them (the Muslims) being busy with fasting, which suppresses the desires, recitation of the Qur’ān, and the remembrance [of Allāh]. And others have said: ‘What is intended by Shayātīn here are some of them, and they are the evil ones from amongst them…’”

After further clarification, Ibn Ḥajr continues by quoting the statement of al-Qāḍī ‘Iyāḍ: ‘…and it is possible that this alludes to the abundance of reward and forgiveness (in Ramaḍān), and that the temptation of the Shayātīn is decreased, so they become as if they are locked up.’ He (‘Iāyd) says: ‘And what supports this second view is his statement in the narration of Yūnus on the authority of Ibn Shihāb in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, ‘the gates of mercy are opened,’ and it is possible that the opening of the gates of Paradise means what Allāh has facilitated for His worshipers from the acts of obedience, and these are the reasons for entering Paradise; and the closing of the gates of the Hell-fire means a diversion from the desire to commit sins, which leads the sinner to the Hell-fire, and the chaining of the devils means the weakening of their ability to tempt and beautify desires.’”

He (Ibn Hajar) then quotes al-Qurtubī, may Allāh bestow his Mercy upon him, when he says: “If it is asked, how do we see so much evil and sin occurring in Ramaḍān? Since the Shayātīn are chained up, why does this still occur? The answer to this is that few of those who fast do so in a manner that meets these conditions, or that those intended [in the narration] are only some of the Shayātīn, specifically the evil ones from among them, not all of them, as has proceeded in some of the narrations; or that what is intended is a reduction in evil during it (Ramaḍān). And this can be felt, for indeed this (evil) occurs less during Ramaḍān than at any other time. Yet, the chaining of all of the devils would not necessitate that evil and sin would not occur, because there are other reasons for this besides the Shayātīn, like evil natures, wicked customs, and the Shayātīn from the humans.’ And others have said, ‘The chaining up of the Shayātīn in Ramaḍān points to the removal of the person’s excuse; it is as if it is said to him, ‘The Shayātīn have been restrained, so do not use them as an excuse for the abandonment of acts of obedience or the commitment of sin.’” [6]

al-Imām al-Nawawī, may Allāh bestow his Mercy upon him, says in the explication of Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, “…the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of the Hell-fire are closed and the Shayātīn are locked up. Al-Qāḍī‘Iyāḍ says: ‘It is possible that this is literal, and that the opening of the gates of Paradise, the closing of the gates of the Hell-Fire, and the chaining of the Shayātīn are signs of entering Ramaḍān and magnification of its sanctity; and that they (the Shayātīn) are chained up to prevent them from harming the believers and inciting them.’ He also said: ‘And it is possible that what is intended is a figurative meaning, and that it means an abundance of reward and forgiveness, and that the temptation and harm of Shayātīn is decreased so they become as if they are locked up; and that they are locked away from some things as opposed to others, and some people as opposed to others…’” [7]

In summary, we discover in this narration myriad blessings and glad tidings for those who believe. Ramadhan is a month of forgiveness wherein Allaah, the Most Merciful, has opened the gates of mercy and locked shut the gates of punishment. It is therefore crucial that people of fasting seize the advantage of the shackling of the devils, the malevolent troops of al-Shaytaan, and pray that Allaah, the Granter of Favor, rewards them with entry through the gate of al- Rayyān.[8] Indeed Allaah is the Bestower of Mercy, Hearer of supplication.

Written by the one in need of his Lord’s Favor,
Abū al-Ḥasan Mālik Ādam al-Akhḍar

Footnotes:

[1] This version was revised on July 2, 2012 corresponding with 13 Sha’bān 1433 Hijrī
[2] al-Sahih (no.1899) in the “Book of Fasting” on the authority of Abū Hurayrah
[3] al-Sahīh (no. 2492-2493) in the “Book of Fasting” on the authority of Abū Hurayrah
[4] al-Sunan (no. 2104-2106) in the “Book of Fasting” on the authority of Abū Hurayrah
[5] al-Musnad (2/281) on the authority of Abū Hurayrah
[6] Fatḥ al-Bārī (4/706, 707)
[7] Sharḥ Ṣahih Muslim (7/186-187)

[8] This refers to the narration collected by al-Bukhari in his Sahih (no. 1762) in the “Book of Fasting” and Muslim in his Sahih in the “Book of Fasting” on the authority Sahl ibn Sa’d from the Messenger of Allah: “Verily, in Paradise there is a gate called al-Rayyān; the people of fasting will enter through it on the Day of Judgement, and no one besides them will be permitted entry. It will be said, ‘Where are the people of fasting?’ They will stand, and no one besides them will enter through it. Once they enter, it will be locked.”

Friday, July 4, 2014

Aromatherapy Recipes for Arthritis

Visit this LINK for the Recipes:

-> http://www.aromaweb.com/recipes/sarthrit.asp

Essential Oils for Pain

Essential Oils for Pain can
Help you Reduce pain Naturally!

Essential oils for pain are effective and do not come with negative side effects.

I personally believe that essential oils for pain are even better than the "over the counter" pain relievers such as aspirin. And I will tell you why in this section.

How do Essential Oils work as Natural Pain Relievers?

Every essential oil contains multiple medicinal properties that assist the systems of the body. As a matter of fact, many of the drugs used today were originally derived from the natural constituent first.

Once companies learned how to produce those constituents synthetically, then it was easier and less expensive for them to be produced in a chemical form rather than a natural form.

There are over 60 different essential oils for pain that have analgesic properties. Analgesic means that a substance has shown to relieve or reduce pain.

For instance, one oil that I use daily contains these properties: Analgesic, anti-spasmodic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-rheumatic. It also contains methyl salicylate the main ingredient in aspirin.

Did you guess what oil I am talking about?

If you guessed Wintergreen Essential Oil then you would be right!

Did you know that Wintergreen Essential Oil contains 85-99% of methyl salicylate, the same component of aspirin?

Yes, birch and wintergreen were considered the best essential oils for pain before synthetics were made in the early 1920s. The Native Americans used them to combat pain since before we were keeping any records!

Birch and wintergreen are the only plants in the world that naturally contain methyl salicylate. It is documented that these oils have cortisone-like effects that can relieve pain quickly.

Wintergreen is also emotionally warming and soothing. It opens the heart chakra so we are more accepting of ourselves which is also so important when we are going through any kind of pain.

Birch essential oil is no longer available because of the scarcity of the birch tree. However wintergreen essential oil is available and is one of my favorite oils to use for a variety of things.

Need, one more example?

Did you know that a 1994 study showed that peppermint essential oil was effective at blocking channels that transmit pain signals? Yes, so peppermint is definitely one of the best essential oils for pain! And there are others, just read on below.

Before we look at what other essential oils are for pain, let us look at the definition of pain.

What is Pain?

This is from the Merriam-Webster Medical Dictionary:

Pain is a state of physical, emotional, or mental lack of well-being. Or physical, emotional, or mental uneasiness that ranges from mild discomfort or dull distress to acute, often unbearable agony may be generalized or localized.

It is the consequence of being injured or hurt physically. Or mentally or of some derangement of or lack of equilibrium in the physical or mental functions (as through disease), and that usually produces a reaction of wanting to avoid, escape, or destroy the causative factor and its effects.

I find this so amazing! How often do we forget, or minimize, the fact thatphysical pain comes with emotional pain. They are intertwined!

So, when we think of pain in these terms, then to reduce pain, we must look at all the parts of the equation: physical, emotional, and spiritual. And, I am sorry to say, but synthetic substances only address the physical portion of the problem. And that is a where a big part of the problem begins.

If we add up the equation, we then can see that essential oils for pain are one of natures perfect solutions to reducing and minimizing pain. Because they address all the components.

I realize that there are many types of pain. And in the next section I will attempt to categorize them as best I can so you can easily select some oils to work with. Because essential oils for pain have many properties, there will always be some overlap, so you may see them in more that one category.

Also keep in mind, that everyone's body chemistry is different. So what may work best for one person, may not work best for another. My suggestion is, as always, select one or two oils (or a blend) to use and find out what oils are right for you. Write down your experiences so you can remember and recognize any changes.

Click on the individual oil to learn more about how and what to use it for. And check out the Essential Oil Uses Section to learn how to use the oils.

What Oils do I use for Bone Pain?

These are the top essential oils for bone pain. All oils that are from trees are great for this application!

These are the best professionally made blends:

Personally, my top choices are Wintergreen and PanAway for this application. I often select PanAway first because it contains three of the single oils listed above: helichrysum, wintergreen and peppermint. I usually alternate it with Relieve It, another very powerful pain controlling blend.

Massage several drops diluted 50:50 on location as needed. Massage oils do not require dilution.

What Oils do I use for Chronic Pain?

Chronic pain is frustrating so make sure you also choose an oil that addresses the anxiety and stress that comes with it.

The best oils for chronic pain are listed below.

These are the best professionally made blends:

Massage several drops diluted 50:50 onto location as needed.

I personally am fortunate and do not have chronic pain. However, I would probably start with PanAway and continue to try different oils until I found a combination that was effective for me. I would add several drops of wintergreen oil to the PanAway first for added strength.

What Oils do I use for Joint Pain?

The best oils for joint pain are listed below.

These are the best professionally made blends:

Massage several drops diluted 50:50 onto location as needed.

What Essential Oils for Pain do I use for Toothache?

Teething pain or pain from a toothache can be minimized with essential oils for pain:

These are the best professionally made blends:

Dilute 50:50 and apply on affected tooth and gum as needed.

I had a tooth that had a root canal that still ached and bothered me for years. I asked my dentist about it, put he really never had an answer. I started putting clove essential oil on it first and it definitely helped with the pain, but then it would come back.

I started using Thieves Blend and the discomfort went away for good in the next 24-48 hours. Thieves also has pain and anti-infectious properties.

About a month after that I went to the dentist for a check up and I told him that my tooth wasn't bothering me anymore. He checked the tooth and said he was surprised because the cap had come loose and needed to be replaced!

He was very concerned about infection and thought the tooth may have to be removed. But when he removed the cap, he said that I was extremely lucky. Despite some decay on the edges, he found no infection present and I could keep my tooth!

Clove and Thieves are definitely great natural toothache remedies!

What Oils do I use for Muscle Pain?

Muscle pain usually results form injury (sprains, strains, ligaments or torn muscles) or extreme overuse!

Please note, that muscle pain affecting your whole body can also result from infections (flu), autoimmune disorders (lupus, fibromyalgia), or a smooth muscle condition (cardiovascular, colon, gallbladder and kidney stone pain).

We want to choose oils that have a cooling effect and are analgesic (pain relieving). There are over 40 different oils listed in various sources for this application. So I have chosen the top 20 oils and blends below that I have personally used.

These are the best professionally made blends:

Massage several drops diluted 50:50 onto sore muscle at least 3 times per day. Remember to apply ice for 24 to 72 hours after injury. Then heat may be applied to relax and bring circulation into the area. Massage oils do not have to be diluted.

I tend to rotate the oils throughout the healing process if I am in a lot of pain. But my oil of choice is always PanAway. My second choice is Relieve It. Relieve It has black pepper and spruce and really helps with deep tissue pain. Rotate back and forth as needed for pain.

I tend to go with the massage oils because they are convenient as well. Ortho Sport has many of the single oils mentioned for sore, inflamed and tired muscles. And it does not require dilution. It has wintergreen, peppermint, and lemongrass, three of the oils I just love!

A Personal Note

Well, I can't say that I have been without joint, bone and muscle pain, but I have learned to minimize the pain very effectively.

After all, I have competed in sports my whole life, and still do. Preventing everyday overuse and injury at this point is the key for me. As well as using essential oils for pain on a daily basis.

I use Ortho Sport and PanAway everyday on my body before I ride, especially my knees. If I take a shower later in the day, I will use them then as well. I also take a bone and joint supplement that contains balsam fir, wintergreen and clove essential oils and MSM that I find helpful.

I had a very bad finger and hand injury in January 2009. The tendons, ligaments and everything else attached to my ring finger was black and blue down to my wrist. It was extremely painful and ugly to see.

Although the orthopedic wanted to prescribe pain killers and an anti-inflammatory, I chose not to take the prescription. As a matter of fact, I didn't even take an aspirin. But if I didn't have essential oils for pain, I couldn't have made it through without the scrip.

You see,

Wintergreen, Relieve It, PanAway, Palo Santo and Lavender Essential Oils became my best friends for life after that injury, along with some others. I was so thankful that I had the knowledge of the essential oils for pain to help me through the most painful physical and emotional injury of my life.

Want to try a Supplement with Essential Oils that will help reduce Pain and Inflammation?

Try BLM (Bones, Ligaments and Muscles) with Essential Oils, MSM and glucosamine. Or Omega Blue Essential Oil Supplement with fish oils.Sulfurzyme also has MSM, FOS and Ninxgia wolfberries.

I hope you have enjoyed this section on essential oils for pain. And you will try some oils to help manage all your physical and emotional pains. I am with you!

Saturday, June 28, 2014

31 Healthy And Delicious Ways To Cook With Chia Seeds

There, in your pudding, look: It’s a poppy seed… it’s a lentil… no, it’s a SUPERFOOD!posted on Jan. 3, 2014, at 10:46 a.m.

Rachel SandersBuzzFeed Staff

The tiny and humble chia seed, despite being truly old-school (it was an important part of the Aztecs’ diet), has started to hit the culinary big-time in the last few years, transitioning from novelty plant beard producer to bona fide superfood. And signs point to it trending harder than ever before in 2014.

This renaissance is thanks to people catching on to chia’s many nutritional perks (it’s packed with fiber, fatty acids, protein, and minerals) and unique physical properties: It looks like a poppy seed but acts more like tapioca, swelling up and turning gelatinous when you soak it. That sounds weird, but is great for making no-cook pudding, jelling low-sugar jams, replacing eggs, and more tricks that come in especially handy in raw and vegan cooking.

If you want to know more about the nitty-gritty of chia seeds, check out this handy guide on Nutrition Stripped. But above all, know this: no other plant in history has done so much to vastly increase the amount of pudding recipes on the internet. And for that, we should all be grateful.

Here are some excellent ideas for how to start incorporating chia power in into your own eating routine.

1. Lemon Chia Seed Scones with Sweet Lemon Glaze

margaretsdish.blogspot.com

It’s over, poppy seeds. What did YOU ever do to up my daily fiber intake? Get the recipe.

2. Raspberry Chia Seed Jam

thehonoursystem.com

Soak, blend, and commence eating by the spoonful. Get the recipe.

3. Grain-Free Chia Buckwheat Pizza

nyoutritious.com

Buckwheat: not actually a type of wheat (in case you were wondering). Get the recipe.

4. Vanilla-Almond Chia Breakfast Pudding

dailyburn.com

Get the recipe.

5. Kale & Farro Salad with Lemon Chia Dressing

conveganence.com

Chia adds body and creaminess to this Caesar-esque (but vegan) dressing without adding fat. Get the recipe.

6. Banana-Peanut Butter Chia Seed Muffins

tablespoon.com

You can toss a couple tablespoons of chia seeds into lots of different baking recipes to add a little crunch and a significant nutrition boost. Get the recipe.

7. Vegan Peach, Oat & Chia Smoothie

minimalistbaker.com

Get the recipe.

8. Tomato Chia Jam BLT

thewholesomepursuit.com

Chia seeds are a great way to thicken jam without using pectin or a ton of sugar, which means you can make a tomato jam that’s not too sweet to be a great sandwich condiment. Get the recipe.