Rules of a Muslim Home (#14) – Leaving the Home

A woman should strive to remain at home and not emerge unless there is a valid need to do so (e.g. to visit her parents or relatives, or to visit the sick, or to console the bereaved, etc.).

When leaving home, one should recite the following du‘aa:

بِسْمِ اللهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى الله لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلاَّ بِالله​

In the name of Allah Ta‘ala. I place my reliance upon Allah Ta‘ala. There is no power (to do good) nor any ability (to refrain from evil) except with Allah Ta‘ala.

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) has said that when a person leaves his home and recites the above du‘aa, the Angels say to him, “You have been guided, your needs have been taken care of and you have been protected.” On account of reciting this du‘aa, Shaitaan then moves away from this person. (Sunan Abi Dawood #5095)

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Equality between One’s Children

Allah Ta‘ala has instilled a deep love within every parent’s heart for their children. This love manifests itself in many ways. At times, the parents may hug and kiss their children, at other times they may show them kindness and affection, while sometimes they give them gifts.

Love is an emotion over which a person does not have complete control. Hence, it is possible for a parent to naturally have more love for one child than he has for the other. Since this increased love is something over which he has no control, Allah Ta‘ala will not take him to task for having more love for one child than the other. However, our behaviour is something which we do have control over, and thus Allah Ta‘ala will take us to task for showing more favour to one child than the other.

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Best Chocolate Brownies

These brownies are easy to make and have a perfect almost marshmallowy texture and deep chocolate flavour.

Melt together – 310 g of dark chocolate, 225 g butter and 1 tsp espresso powder/instant coffee.

Mix in – 1 ½ cup white sugar and ½ cup brown sugar.

Mix in till just combined – 5 eggs and 2 tsp vanilla essence.

Sprinkle over – 1 ½ cup flour and 2 Tbsp cocoa powder.

Fold the flour and cocoa into the mixture. Do not over mix at any stage as this will lead to cakey brownies.

Line a 9 by 13 inch oven tray. Spread mixture into the tray evenly.

Bake on 180 degrees for 30 – 40 minutes, till a skewer comes out with a few crumbs sticking to it. Cut when cool.

This recipe can be halved. Bake in an 8 by 8 inch square pan for the same amount of time.

A Partnership of Improvement

There are many different partnerships in this world, and each has its own purpose. The purpose of a business partnership is to make money, while the purpose of a political partnership is to gain dominance, power and rulership.

Similarly, nikaah is a life-long partnership which has multiple objectives. If raising the Muslims of tomorrow and gaining financial and social security are considered as objectives, then one of the primary objectives of nikaah, without a doubt, is definitely that of the imaan and Deen of the spouses to become complete and remain protected. Hence, a marriage in which each passing day finds the Deeni condition of the spouses better than it was the previous day is a successful marriage.  Conversely, a marriage in which the husband and wife invite, tempt and encourage one another to engage in sin is an unsuccessful marriage.

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Peri Peri Chicken Skewers

Marinate 1 kg cubed chicken fillet in:

5 tsp crushed garlic

1 tsp red chilli powder

1 tsp salt

2 tsp lemon pepper

1 tsp cayenne pepper/paprika/chilli powder

1 tsp sugar

¼ cup peri peri oil (spillers)

1 cup mayonnaise

¼ cup lemon juice

4 Tbsp tomato sauce

2-3 Tbsp Maggi chilli sauce

Skewer the chicken cubes. Bake in an oven tray, uncovered at 220 degrees celcius for around 20 minutes or braai.

Boil any leftover marinade with a few tablespoons cream if desired and pour over the cooked chicken.