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Page 8 The Islamic Bulletin Issue 4 Page 9 The Islamic Bulletin Issue 4
Samboosa Al-M othiltha (Triangle )
(Serves 10 - 12 persons)
Dough Ingredients:
- 5 cups of flour
- 1 tablespoon gee or corn oil
- Warm water
- Pinch of salt
Stuffing Ingredients:
- 2 1/2 lbs of minced meat
- 1/2 bunch finely chopped parsley
- 4 hard-boiled eggs
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 finely chopped onions
Preparation:
1. Put flour in a large bowl, make a well, add oil and stir thoroughly.
2. Add water a little at a time and mix to a soft dough.
3. Cut dough into hand-sized pieces, and stretch dough over
back of hands.
4. Place stretched rounds on an oiled tray, cover with a damp
cloth and set aside for at least one hour.
Stuffing:
1. Sauté the meat, onions, salt and pepper.
2. Remove from heat.
3. When cool, add parsley and the chopped hard boiled eggs.
Cooking:
1. Prepare your work surface for dough by covering a table with
a large white cloth.
2. Taking one piece of dough at a time, dip in flour, roll out, then
stretch over back of hands. Repeat with each piece of dough,
ending up with thin rounds of dough.
3. Place each round of dough (separately) on the covered table
and stretch it so the dough is thin.
4. Starting with the first round, trim the uneven edges, then cut
into strips.
5. Place a tablespoon of meat mix on the top corner of the strip.
6. Formed into triangular shapes, place them on a floured tray.
7. When finished, heat oil, and fry samboosa.
Serve hot and enjoy it!!!
T he Story of Hadrat Hagar (R.A.A.)
Hadrat Hagar was the wife of Prophet Abraham and the mother
of Prophet Ishmael (peace and blessings of God be upon them).
When Ishmael was a bay, Prophet Abraham was commanded by
God to take his son to the Holy Land of Ka’bah in Mecca and
leave him there so that when he grew up, he would spread the
Word of God in that part of the world. Accordingly, Abraham
too his wife Hagar with his baby and left them in Mecca with a
bucket of water and some dates.
Hagar followed him and said, ‘O Abraham! Where are you going
leaving us in this bare and lifeless valley?’ She said this a number
of times but he did not say anything. Then she said, ‘Has God
commanded you to do so?’
In reply, he simply said, ‘Yes!’ Then she said that if that was the
case, God would not destroy them and went back to her baby.
When Ibrahim (A.S.) went behind the side of the mountain
where he could not see his wife and son, he turned towards
that place (Ka’bah) where it was to be built later and prayed to
God in these words,
“O our Lord! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in a
valley without cultivation by Thy Sacred House: In order, O
our Lord, that they may establish regular prayers. So fill the
hearts of some among men with love towards them and feed
them with fruits, so that they may give thanks.” (Qur’an 14:37)
Hagar suckled her child and drank water for some days until the
bucket was empty, then she and her baby suffered thirst. She
saw her child crying from thirst and could not help him. So she
left him there and went towards the valley to look for help but
could not find anyone.
Hagar traveled between the mountains of Safa and Marwa,
sometimes running, especially in the low ground where she
could not see her son, and sometimes walking, seven times. But
still, she could not find anyone. When she was doing it for the
seventh time and going up the mount Marwa, she heard a voice.
She said to herself, ‘be quiet’ and listened carefully. She heard
a voice again and said, “O, man! You have made your voice
heard to me. Have you got something to help us?” Suddenly,
she returned to her baby and to her amazement, she saw water
emerging beneath the foot of her baby.
Thus, Hagar began to drink water and suckle her baby. The angel
said to her, “Don’t fear death. This is God’s house which will be
built by this child and his father. And God will not destroy the
people of this House.”
Hagar was a true example of a woman who had great faith in
God. Although she was left with her baby, Ishmael, alone in the
desert without any food and water, she was still able to remain
steadfast. Hagar had no doubt that since she was being left in
the desert for the sake of God, that God would indeed take care
and provide for her and her baby son, Ishmael. And it is from
Hagar’s sacrifice of running back and forth looking for water
for her child, that Muslims do Sa’ee (running between Safa and
Marwa), when they perform the Umra and Hajj.
E id ul-Adha
Every year, Muslims celebrate the Feast of Sacrifice (Eid ul-Adha),
on the tenth day of the last month (Zul Hijjah) of the Islamic
lunar calendar.
This festival reminds Muslims of the great sacrifice of the Proph-
et Ibrahim (pbuh) when he was about to sacrifice his only son
Ishmael for the love of God.
Every Muslim, who can afford it, is expected to sacrifice and
animal, a sheep or goat.
For bigger animals (a cow or camel), a group of five individuals
may share the cost of sacrificing one animal.
After sacrificing an animal, Muslims are to distribute the meat
into three parts: one-third to the needy, one-third to relatives,
friend and neighbors, and the remaining one-third for one’s
own family.
This tradition inculcates into the minds of Muslims the concept
of sacrificing one’s money, time, efforts, etc., all for the love
of God.
It also builds up a feeling of concern and a sense of sharing
among friends, relatives, neighbors, and the needy.
Muslims from all over the world, who can afford it, congregate
at Mecca, Arabia, for the performance of Hajj and celebrate
this occasion.
Hajj (Pilgrimage)
God the Exalted, has said: “And pilgrimage to the House
of God is a duty unto God for mankind, for him who can
find a way thither. As for him who disbelieveth (let him
know that) lo! God is independent of (all) creatures.”
(Quran 3:97)
Hazrat Abu Hurairah (r.a.a.) says: “The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) once
delivered a sermon and addressing us said: ‘O people! God has
made it obligatory for you to perform Hajj (the pilgrimage), and
as such you should perform it.’
A man asked: ‘O Messenger of God, should we perform Hajj
every year?’
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) kept quiet, till the man repeated his
question thrice. Then the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) said: ‘Had I said
‘yes’, then this Hajj would have become a yearly obligatory duty,
and this you could not have afforded.’
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) further said: ‘Leave me when I omit
something for you (i.e.) don’t pester me with such questions,
when I am not imposing anything on you. Some people who
lived before you, used to ask too many unnecessary questions,
and would disagree with their prophets. On this account they
were destroyed. As such when I call you to do something, you
must obey and carry out my direction as far as it may be within
your capacity, and when I forbid you to refrain from anything
then avoid it.’” (Muslim)
Hazrat Abu Hurairah (r.a.a.) says that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.)
was once asked: ‘Which action is the best of all?’ He (s.a.w.)
said: ‘To believe in God and his Messenger (s.a.w.).’
He (s.a.w.) was further asked: ‘And what next?’ He (s.a.w.) said:
‘Jihad (fighting) in the cause of God.’ He (s.a.w.) was asked again.
‘And what after that?’ He (s.a.w.) answered: ‘The Pilgrimage free
from vices and defects.’ (Bukhari and Muslim)
It is also reported by Hazrat Abu Hurairah (r.a.a.) that the Holy
Prophet (s.a.w.) said: ‘Umrah followed by another Umrah atones
for the sins committed between the two. The recompense for a
pilgrimage (free from vice) is nothing but the paradise.’ (Bukhari
and Muslim)
Hazrat Ayesha (r.a.a.) relates: ‘I once requested the Holy Prophet
(s.a.w.) 0’ Messenger of God, we (the women folk) consider that
Jihad (fighting) in the cause of God is the best deed, then may
we not go forth fighting in the cause of God?
He (s.a.w.) said: The best form of Jihad in the cause of God for
you is the pilgrimage, free from all vices and defects. (Bukhari)
Hazrat Ayesha (r.a.a.) relates that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) said:
‘There is no other day on which God frees the largest number
of his bondsmen from the fire of Hell than the Day of Arafat.’
(Muslim)
Hazrat Ibn Abbas (r.a.a.) says that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) said:
‘Umrah performed during the month of Ramadan is equivalent
to a pilgrimage or equals to the pilgrimage performed in my
company.’ (Bukhari and Muslim)
Hazrat Laqit bin ‘Aamir (r.a.a.) says that once he visited the Holy
Prophet (s.a.w.) and submitted: ‘My father has grown very old
and is not strong enough to undertake the journey to perform
the pilgrimage or Umrah.’
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) said: ‘You perform the Hajj and Umrah
on behalf of your father.’ (Abu Daud and Tirmizi)
Islamic Dietary L aws
T eachings of the Prophet (SAW)