As-salaamu'alaykum wa Rahmatu Llahi wa Barakatuh

Unfortunately, Canada has a vast number of people living in poverty. Those suffering the most, are our Aboriginal children. It is heart breaking to see anyone suffer, moreover when it's a child in our own 'backyard.'

Details of project: Help put together Care Bags for our Aboriginal children living in poverty. Our goal is to put 48 bags together.

Can you sew? Please help make totes. You may make them however you wish, I just ask you keep the handle small (for safety reasons), and make the bag big enough to fit a standard size colouring book. Pattern suggestion: Basic Tote

48 x totes - collected 48 Yaay!

Can you shop? These are the NEW items we need:

48 x Crayons boxes - 48

48 x Stuffed toys - 48

48 x colouring books - 48

48 x (toy) tops - 48

48 x Ducky Sticker - 50

48 x Smile Face Eraser - 1 pk (122pack)

48 x Alphabet stencil ruler - 50

48 x Multicultural notebook - 50

48 x Toothbrush (child size) - 48

48 x Toothpaste - 48

48 x Soap - have 48

48 x Pencil Sharpeners - 48

48 x Eraser top pencils - 48

48 x Face towels -48

You are welcome to suggest other items.

Other ways to help:
:: Know someone who can sew? Buy them some fabric to sew a few bags.
:: Ask businesses if they'll donate items.
:: Please post the banner (on my side bar) on your site, linked to this post.
:: Inform family, friends, co-workers, and classmates about this project.
:: Pray for those who are less fortunate.

How they will be delivered: These will be personally delivered by me to an organization here (in Canada) that helps Aboriginal children.

Participants allowed: International.

Ages allowed: All ages.

Young participants: Encouraged to send in cards/drawings to include in the bag.

Cost Limit: None.

Due Date: Monday July 13, 2009 - or until all items are collected. I will update the site as items are donated.


If you would like to help, please email (amtullah79@yahoo.ca) me for an address where you can mail the items.

Labels: help

As-salaamu'alaykum wa Rahmatu Llahi wa Barakatuh

Umm Hibaat and Adikbongsu, here is the seascape I mentioned.


27" x 19" Pastel painting
This was done for my sister. It's not my usual work, as in.. it doesn't have much detail, and I felt pretty free to just layer on the colours without much thought, and so.. it was an enjoyable piece to work on. AlhumduliLlah, my sister is happy with it.

Now to work on something else!

Labels: art

As-salaamu'alaykum wa Rahmatu Llahi wa Barakatuh

Here it is,
.... as promised: Hajar, Adikbongsu and Asiyah.


30" x 20" Charcoal painting. Because of all the detail it took a lot of time and patience. (Don't look too close, or you'll spot all the lovely flaws..haha)

This is Masjid Ubudiah. It's located in Kuala Kangsar, Malaysia. If you see pictures, it's the beautiful Masjid with gold domes. Built in 1917 it was commissioned on the orders of the Sultan, who vowed that he would build a mosque of great beauty as thanksgiving for recovery from an illness which plagued him in those early days.

The construction of the mosque was not without difficulties (just like trying it in charcoal!). Work was interrupted several times, once when two elephants belonging to the sultan's and Raja Chulan were fighting and ran over and damaged the imported Italian marble titles. The second time when the World War 2 broke out, by the Japanese Invasion.

... all that's left is me going there! ahh.. one day, insha'Allah - and framing it.

Labels: art

As-salaamu'alaykum wa Rahmatu Llahi wa Barakatuh

Thank you to all the sisters who never fail to remind me "it's time for another swap!" I'm going to be a little selfish here, and combine my two loves for this swap. Reading and creating. Suprisingly, it's something I noticed a lot of my readers like as well... so here it is:



Details of swap: This is a two part swap.
1) You will send your favourite book (this can range from a childhood story to whatever you enjoy reading now - Religious/Craft/ Mystery/ - anything) to your swap partner.
2) Once you receive your swap partner's favourite book, you'll read it, and send her a gift that reflects what you just read. Use your imagination, and have fun with it. It can be bought or handmade.

Participants allowed: International. I will email you in back if you qualify to join this swap.

Ages allowed: All ages.

Cost Limit: None.

Rules:
1) Sent out book - email me and your swap partner.
1a) Received book - email me and your swap partner.
2) Sent out gift - email me and your swap partner.
2b) Received gift - email me and your swap partner.
2c) Blog about it - email me the url: so I can make a list of them (if you don't have a blog.. we'll figure something out)

Sign up due date: Friday, March 20, 2009
Partners will be emailed to you on: Saturday, March 21, 2009

Book must be mailed out before: Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Gift must be sent out before: Monday, April 27, 2009


If you would like to participate, I will need to know the following information. (amtullah79@yahoo.ca) note: .ca NOT .com
Please email me the answers even if you have participated in a previous swap.

QUESTIONNAIRE TO ANSWER
Name of swap: Double Swap
Blog url:
Email address:
Your real name:
Mailing address:
Do I and your swap partner have your permission to post pics of your gift:
How did you hear about this swap:
Comments:


Participants:

Part 1

Umm Bilal (book received) & Yaney (book received)

Umm Obaidah (book received) & Razzberry (book received)

Umm Nassim (book received) & Umm Salihah (book received)

Teeya (book received) & Hijabi Apprentice (book received)

Farhana (book received) & Hajar (book received)

Mommy2h (book received) & Sarah (book received)

Part 2
Umm Bilal (gift received) & Yaney (gift received)
Umm Obaidah & Razzberry (gift sent)
Umm Nassim (gift received) & Umm Salihah (gift received)
Teeya (gift sent) (gift received) & Hijabi Apprentice
Farhana (gift received) & Hajar (gift received)
Mommy2h & Sarah (gift sent)

Labels: swaps

As-salaamu'alaykum wa Rahmatu Llahi wa Barakatuh

Jazaki'Allahu khair Sister Hajar for this tag and those in the past. Hopefully my readers aren't sick of knowing more about me!
1. Six names you go by: .. do I really want to share this..
- Farhana
- Farh
- Farhy-warhy (you are not allowed to use this)
- Banana (neice who can't pronounce my name)
- Farhee
- ?

Three things you are wearing right now:
- A silver ring
- Pink abaya
- Claw hair-clip

3. Two things you want very badly at the moment:
- A little artistic talent
- Fries

4. Three people who will do this: ... humm, this one is tough
- Washi
- Umm Omar
- Adikbongsu

5. Two things you did last night:
- Read (The Tales of Despereaux - yes, I know it's a kids book..haha)
- Draw

6. Two things you did today:
- Clean the bathroom.. (yaaay..urgh)
- Wash dishes

7. Two Things you ate today:
- Cheese sandwich
- Ginger cookie

8. Two people you last talked to on the phone:
- Asma (niece)
- Abdullah (nephew)

9. Two things you are going to do tomorrow:
- Judge an art competition for highschoolers
- Read (The Gift of Rain)

10. Favourite beverage:
- Tea

Labels: me

As-salaamu'alaykum wa Rahmatu Llahi wa Barakatuh

My dearest readers, here is a recipe definitely worth making, eating.. and not sharing..ha!



I like recipes that let you use your imagination a little.. and this is one of them. From what you put in, to what you want to do with it after.. the list is exhausting.

You can eat it as a cereal, with a cereal, with ice-cream, as trail-mix, with fruit (as shown in the image.. that's apples baked with some cinnamon, brown sugar and butter), and my favourite... with fruit bottom yogurt! yummy.


Makes approx. 5 cups

4 cups oats
1/2 cup pecans - chopped
1/2 cup almonds - chopped
3/4 cup dried cranberries

1 cup dates - chopped (I add this after it's done)

3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup water
2 tsp vanilla essence
1/2 tsp salt

:: Combine all the dry ingredients in a large bowl. (Optional: You may want to add the dates in after everything is cooked, if you want them to stay chewy - as I do)
:: Microwave the last four ingredients for approximately 1min, just to dissolve the sugar.
:: Add the wet to the dry, and mix enough to combine - don't separate the chunks so much.
:: Cover a tray with parchment paper, and add the mix.
:: Bake at 275F for 45mins, or until it's golden.
:: Allow to cool and store in an airtight container.


There are variety of granola recipes out there, but this one is mine. You can also add, coconut, sunflower seeds, honey, different types of nuts, different kinds of dried fruit, sesame seeds, oil, cinnamon. Once cooled you can add in, different cereals, chocolate chips, etc.

Enjoy! Let me know how it goes. Another recipe good for kids to help with. Allow them to brainstorm what to add!

Labels: recipes

As-salaamu'alaykum wa Rahmatu Llahi wa Barakatuh

Now this is a book everyone should read! Really.. I can't stress that enough.. and I don't mean you should read because it's so good, but because as a Muslim you should be well versed in its contents; it could make the difference between true belief in Allah and disbelief.

Something to think about, "Thus, it is the duty of every sincere believer in God to put aside his or her cultural experiences and emotional ties to family, tribe or nation, and acquire a working knowledge of Tawhid, the foundation of faith. For it is only in the application of that knowledge that man may achieve salvation."




Title: The Fundamentals of Tawheed
Author: Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips
Available: IIPH
Ebook: PDF file

Have I learned anything from it, or was it all review? Definitely! It's very well written, short but very concise.

Does the author use Qur'anic and authentic hadith texts? Yes, throughout the book. And this is one of the few books I've come across that are so well sourced. The Qur'anic text is in both Arabic and English, with where you can find each verse. Ahadith all have footnotes on who it's narrated by, and who it's collected by, as well as if it's weak, etc.

Is the book easy to understand? I was very impressed with how easy it was to understand because of the nature of the topic(s), like those directly related to Allah.

Notable pages? Abu Musa (radiAllahu anhu) said:

"One day Allah's Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wa-salaam) delivered a sermon, saying, 'O' people, fear shirk for it is more hidden than the creeping of an ant.' Those whom Allah wished asked, 'And how do we avoid it when it is more hidden than the creeping of an ant, O' Messenger of Allah?' He (salAllahu alayhi wa-salaam) replied,

'Say:'Allahumma inna na'oodhu bika an nushrika shay'an na'lamuh, wa nastaghfiruka lima la na'lamuh.' (O' Allah, we seek refuge in You from knowingly committing shirk with You, and we ask Your forgiveness for what we do not know about)." [Ahmad]

Extra: AlhumduliLlah, I was able to skim through Kitaab At-Tawheed (by Shaikh Abdul-Wahhaab) with Shaykh Feiz, and found it very beneficial. You can catch the recorded lectures here:
Lesson 1 Lesson 2 Lesson 3 Lesson 4 Lesson 5 Lesson 6 Lesson 7 Lesson 8

Out of 5: Definitely 5 and above. AlhumduliLlah, another book I'm happy I read, and regret not reading earlier in life.

Alright, you know the drill people.. let me know what you think? Did you find it as easy to understand? Has anyone read Kitaab At-Tawheed (by Shaikh Abdul-Wahhaab)?...how does it compare?

Labels: review