Be Not Wasteful!!

As a Muslim wife and mother we must not waste. Allah(SWT) does not like the one who is wasteful. We must watch what we throw away and what we save and do more saving than throwing. I struggle with this a lot and am trying myself to perfect this in my life as a Muslim.

I think when we have leftovers we can do so many different things with that food. Many times we have leftovers in our home. I will most of the time use it for lunch or dinner the next night. This way I get a free night of NO COOKING!!! :)

I ALWAYS have leftover bread. Well, there are so many things you can do with leftover bread. Use it for toast the next morning for breakfast. I have even broke mine into small pieces and put it in the freezer to add to meatloaf or meatballs. You can also break your bread drizzle it with olive oil and sprinkle it with some garlic salt and bake it in the oven for some homemade chips. Then dip it in some salsa. A very nice treat. You have to do this with leftover pita bread, though, not regular bread. However, you can make your own croutons for salad with regular bread. Just cut it into cubes and bake it or fry it and there ya go!!

Leftover meat can be used in a soup or stew. I do this often. I will take my leftover meat and throw it into my crock pot and add some veggies,pot, and spices and set it on low and let it cook the day away. Again another free day of no cooking for me. You can also take leftover chicken and make chicken salad for the next days lunch.

I will often give my husband whatever we had for dinner for his lunch the next day. This way he can have a hot meal for his mid day meal and keeps him going.

I also like to freeze soups when I make them and have them ready for a night when I am not in the mood to cook. All I have to do is pull out my frozen soup in the morning an let it thaw and then when it's time for dinner just make a pot of rice and dinner is served.

We need to please Allah even with our food. Save and use it. Not only will you save money but you will be doing what Allah has asked for you to do.

Good Afternoon Everyone!!

We are going into another week and thought I would share this with you all. This comes from the book " You Can Be The happiest Woman In The World." It says"Man finds happiness in a word that comes from the lips of a woman." Do you speak kind words to your husband? Or does your husband wish you wouldn't even open your mouth? Are you gentle when you speak to him? Or are you harsh and mean? Do you speak words that draw him closer to you? Or do you speak words that has made him loose his love for you? Do you speak words that make him think of you all day? Or do you speak words that makes him think of someone else all day? Be a wife that your husband finds happiness in the way you speak and makes him want to hear more from you. Have a great week everyone and be the best wife you can for Allah and your husband. Remember he is your Jenna!!

Rising Early Or Sleeping Late?

Do you get up early or sleep late? Part of living a Muslim life we MUST get ourselves into the practice of getting up early and observing the Fajr salah.

In Al Bukhari and Muslim Abu Musa(ABPH) reported that the Messenger of Allah(SAS) said" He who observes Al-Bardan(Fajr) and Asr will enter Jenna. Knowing this hadith why wouldn't you want to get up and preform this Salah? Knowing that it will protect you from the hell fire?

In Muslim Jundub Bin Sufyan(ABPH) reported that the Messenger of Allah (SAS) said" He who offers the Fajr salah will come under the protection of Allah. O son of Adam! Beware, lest Allah should call you to account in any respect from(for withdrawing) His protection. We should show energy when we perform our Fajr salah. Getting up a little before the athan and performing wudu. This in itself will wake you up and get you ready to show that energy that Allah wants from you and not to be half asleep. Taking this time while everything is quiet and starting your day with Allah. I don't know how more of a beautiful way to start the day than in bowing before your Creator. We also will gain Allah's protection for that day. What better way to be protected from all harm. 

In Al-bukhari and Muslim Abu Hurairah(ABPH) reported that the Messenger of Allah (SAS) said "There are Angels who take turns in visiting you by night and by day and they all assemble at the dawn(Fajr) and Asr salah. Those who have spent the night with you,ascend to the heaven and their Rubb,who knows better then them, asks"In what condition did you leave my slaves?" They reply " We left them while they were performing salah and we went to them while they were performing salah." Isn't this how you want the Angels to speak of you? I know I do. During this early morning time is a time to reflect on your day and read or learn a surah, which will allow you to gain even more reward from Allah.)

Also during this time take a little time for yourself and sit quietly and be still. Have a cup of tea alone and quiet. Make dua to your Rubb.

This is also a time you as a mother can take some time and have a meal alone. Without always hearing "MOM!" I know I like to have a meal here and there alone when it's only me and I can eat and have a quiet moment. Also, I think it's so special that Allah has allowed for us many ways to enter Jenna. This is one of them. Going to bed at a time when you know you will get plenty of rest and able to rise early to give to Allah. InshAllah if you don't get up early and start your day with Allah you will change after reading this.

Islamic Library

Do you have an Islamic library in your home? I am starting one and have been working on mine for awhile now. I think it's very important to have one in your home. One that adults and children can read from.

I am working on Islamic books for children. I have books that I can give away to new Muslims and books that I can lend out to people who are wanting to know more about Islam.

I have a few Qurans in my home. Small ones that children can hold and follow along with while an adult reads. I have hadiths books and the book about Chief Sins. I have books on death and dua books. I have daily devotional books. One of my favorite is "Don't Be Sad." I love this book and have reread it many times. I also have books on issues dealing with women. I also think it's good to have a few web sites so that adults and children can learn from. One that I follow is www.islamquestionsandanswer.com. I also listen to lectures on YouTube. What do you have in your library? Happy reading!!  

A Peaceful Home

What kind of home do you create for your family? Is it a comfortable one or one where there is loud noises,kids screaming,a wife who is always in a bad mood,and the house out of order?

InshaAllah it is a place that is peaceful, quiet,and joyful. Doesn't this home look quiet and peaceful? It is surrounded by beauty. Even if your home is not surrounded by beauty like this we can make our home just as beautiful.

How about starting off with a clean home.A home that is clean allows you and your family the rest they need and a place where things are under control. This means we as wives must work hard at keeping it that way. This doesn't mean that there will be times when things get a bit out of whack. Sometimes members of our family will get sick and it will put us off track but if things are in order it will not take us long to get things back on track.

I love having a good smell in my home. I love oil warmers. I have them all over my home. It just makes me happy and alert when I have a good smell all over my home. Have you ever had a bad smell in your home before? We all have, I know I have. It just puts you in a bad mood.

Candles can also bring smell to your home and a cozy,warmth to the atmosphere. I love it when I have candles going in my home. In the evening I will light a bunch of candles and turn all the lights off. It's so warm and cozy and brings a peaceful calm to my home.

How about a pie that you yourself baked earlier that day. I love the smell of an apple pie that has been baking that day. The smell of apples and Cinnamon just warms my heart and puts a smile on my face not to say makes my husband VERY happy. He LOVES sweets. So I can do two things with one item. I can create a warm atmosphere and make something for my family to enjoy that evening.

Having family dinners together. Setting the table nice and a setting that is warm and calming. One that is inviting and makes you want to sit down to enjoy that meal. Even if all it is, is soup and sandwiches. :)

How about a romantic evening meal for just you and your husband? I know many times we have not been able to go out and spend money on a nice dinner just me and my husband. So I create one right at home. Put the kids to bed and you and hubby sit down for a nice warm meal. A home where mom and dad get along and really love each is key to a peaceful home. I believe that one of the ways to have that is for mom and dad to spend time together ALONE!! Away from kids. My husband and I have one night every week that we watch our favorite show on TV and we have LOTS of snacks and drinks. The kids know bedtime for that one night a week is early because that is mom and dad's time. My husband and I have so much fun on that night. Laughing and eating our favorite snacks and just being together.

A home where mom takes time out for herself and put some makeup on. We as Muslim wives know that we cannot wear make up outside of our homes but that shouldn't stop us from wearing it in your homes and looking nice for our husbands.

Put on his favorite perfume and smell good while he is at home. Not only are you doing something for your husband you are also teaching your children how a wife should act. Your teaching your boys and your daughter the proper way of Islam.

InshaAllah you will take the time to create a peaceful home for your family. One they want to be in and want to come home to. One where there is order and calmness. One where there is a good smell and you as a wife enjoy being in your home serving your family and others around you. Enjoy your home and family today. :)

Beauty VS Ugly

In the book I am reading( You Can Be The Happiest Woman In The World) it reads this....Before you look at the thorns of the rose, look at its beauty.

Before you complain about the heat of the sun, enjoy its light.

Before you complain about the blackness of the night, think of its peace and quiet. Why look at things in such a pessimistic and negative manner? Why look only at the bad in our husbands or children. Look at the good in them and praise them for it. You will start to love them better. Be a wife that truly loves her husband because of who he is not for what he is not. Everyone has bad things. Like the rose has its thorns, the sun has its heat, and the night can be scary. Even we wives have bad in us yet we want our husbands to think we are the world. So goes the same for our husbands. They want us to think they are the BEST thing in this life to us. Instead of always seeing the bad in our children see the good they do and start praising them for it. They will want to please you and start to do good just so they can hear "great job." Looking at the good will take a bit of work on your part because you will have someone standing next to you trying to get you to see the bad,the Shaytan! Ask Allah to help you and guide you to see the beauty around you, the good in others. It's the Shaytan who wants you to see the bad and ALWAYS complain. So when you are complaining to your husband he is his happiest. See the beauty and the good today. 

Hadith

Prophet Muhammad(SAS) said "Allah most high is pleased when a man eats something and praises Him for it,or drinks something and praises Him for it."(Muslim) When we eat or drink ANYTHING even if it is a piece of candy we should thank Allah for it. We must teach our children this act. We should ALWAYS be thankful to our Creator for EVERYTHING He has given us even the little things. Always have a grateful heart.

Prophet Muhammad(SAS) said" Two persons' food is enough for three and three persons' food is enough for four."(Bukhari and Muslim) As homemakers we should not forget about the people that sometimes need to eat but can't. As homemakers we should be willing, at times, to open our home and serve the poor and needy. We may think that we have only made enough food for our family but really it can stretch. Ask Allah to make the food you have prepared to be enough for the people you are wanting to help.

Taking a plate of food to a neighbor you know has been hit with loosing their job or someone who has lost a loved one. Inviting someone over who hasn't had a hot meal in days. Serve them and make them feel special in your home, for the sake of Allah. We will not only be doing something for someone else but we will be an example to our children and showing them about this WONDERFUL religion,ISLAM!