3 things you could do on 'Eid

1. Make lots and lots of duaaas (including some special ones for some people in R family who have coughs and colds and are recovering from surgery)

2. Go through the Hajj quiz and the other Islam quizzes (Levels 1 to 8) on the BBC Religion and Ethics website to see how much you really know about Islam and the Hajj.


3. Read Sultan Baybars' rare copy of the Qur'aan online using The British Library's amazing 'Turning the Pages' technology.

Hope everyone has a blessed 'Eid and an accepted Hajj (all those who went), in shaa Allaah.

something's cooking

given that some people in our house are still fasting, not all out feasting, I thought I'd share a recipe of something I'm cooking for the evening today: Chinese Chilli Chicken, via India.

Tastes nice, smells appetising, not too many spices and easy to make.

I love that recipe website too btw, it has scores of desi recipes which magically turn out right if you just follow the instructions on there.

Nice!

e-'Eid cards

so, we've been sending out e-'Eid cards the last couple of days and were wondering whether some of the readers of this blog might like to check out our new, revamped card service.

alternatively, if you scroll down the page, you'll see the pale blue bravenet e-card service box sandwiched somewhere among the host of other boxes on our sidebar.

suggestions on improving the service/sketches/gifs are always welcome.
jazaakumullaah khayr.

Our first (and possibly last) cable car adventure!

(pic: saudiembassy.net)

On the first, chilly day of Eid, (this is to give a picturesque beginning to the post) Rida and I actually ventured to sit in a cable car -- a REAL one! Really, I'm not exaggerating... ask Ed if you want to confirm this amazing fact:)
Not that I enjoyed it much when we started... the thing zoomed forward -- and I screamed so loud that the passengers of the cable car were almost deafened. Rida backed me up with a louder roar of terror... you really should've seen us...screaming our heads off!!
I could hear my brothers RSenior-RJunior screaming too... junior R was crying and saying that he wasn't a scaredycat, but we were all going to DIE!! And senior R was on the floor of the car with his face in his lap!!!...hahaha...
OOOppss.... not good of me to laugh now, huh?
I must admit there was a terrible uproar in the cable car... and most of the screams were mine...
When I looked behind or should I say beneath me, I could see the valley of Rijal-al-Ma' ... it was so terribly steep that I was ready to faint. Rida's eyes were clamped shut... junior R was screaming as the car rocked to-and-fro, senior R was now crouching on the seat with his and ears shut... so were mine...
...and each time it went lower and lower, the thing went slower and slower... and when it felt as if it had decided to stop, over the steep, moss covered valley, I screamed loudly: 'IS IT GOING TO STOP?!' and junior R would collapse into a wild fit of loud sobs and cries:)!
Senior R would crouch upon his seat uncomfortably in a quiet fear. Rida had stopped yelling; I had decided that the scene was really beautiful, and I was sort of feeling ashamed of my loud screams:P No use screaming, you know. When we at last arrived at the cable car station, I couldn't believe I had actually sat in that DEATH car that was hanging on a 'rope' as junior R calls it... we had just had a ride in a 'little box stuck on a long rope tied to poles between the two stations'.
Still... Rida and I are always cribbing there're no adventures around for us...
... and guess what Ed remarked when we got back? -- 'Never again-- once is ENOUGH!'
after all... that's why cable cars were made, right?

May Allaah accept!

Ed: Our Imaam calls the day of 'Eid 'Yawm al Jawaa-iz', the Day of Prizes, where everyone's efforts in Ramadhaan are evaluated and awarded. He calls Ramadhaan a 'madrassah' from where people graduate with different scores and at different levels.

This is why my 'Eid greeting of choice is: Taqabbal Allaah minna wa minkum; may Allaah accept from us and from you, for without His acceptance all one's efforts and intentions are reduced to nothing...and there is no real happiness without earning His pleasure.

***

P.S: : If you haven't seen the sisters-in-faith blog 'Eid makeover, you don't know the meaning of 'festooned in festivity' yet.

No really, it's the most exciting 'Eid template, complete with an incandescent crescent and colourful fireworks...good work, Rasha-Rida!

***

P.PS: For people like me, who like seeing new places through other people's eyes, this is a real site for sore eyes: MuslimPhotos.

It has pictures of masaajid and other places of historical interest from around the world. I especially liked the gallery section called 'Prophets were Here' which has pictures of places which were actually visited by several Prophets. There's Makkah and various sites in Madeenah, Jerusalem, Damascus and even a picture of the ruins of the church in Syria where the Christian monk Bahira saw the Prophet صلىالله عليه وسلم as a young child and recognised the signs of Prophethood in him.

Very interesting pictures, maa shaa Allaah. Look them up!

eid in the life of muslim kids

...may Allaah accept from us and them and from you!
Aaaaaaaaaameen!!!!

(pic source:cageprisoners.com)

all pics: yahoo news photos