Eat Halal and Tayyib Foods

Allah subhana wata'ala wants us to eat halal and tayyib (good)foods. If you eat halal but not tayyib (good) for your body, you will get sicks easily.

The Etiquettes in Eating and Drinking

Let's teach our kids about etiquettes in eating and drinking from some of the sunnah of Prophet Muhammad sallalahu alayhi wa salam :

• Wash our hands.

• Recite doa before and after eating and drinking.

  Abu Sa'eed Khudari Radiyallahu 'Anhu says: "After eating Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam read this du'aa: "Alhamdulillaahil-ladhi at-amanaa wa-saqaa-naa wa-ja-a-lanaa muslimeen." (Imaam Tirmidhi: 182 Hadiths Number 4 )
  Translation: Praise be to Allah who fed us, and gave us drink and made us muslims".

  Aayeshah radiyallahu 'Anha says: "Rasulullah Sallallahli 'Alayi Wasallam said: 'When one eats and has forgotten to recite 'Bismillah', then when one remembers while eating, one should recite 'Bismillahi awwalahu wa aa-khirahu' ". (Imaam Tirmidhi: 180 Hadiths Number 2)

• Always use right hand to eat and drink.

  Umar bin Abi Salamah Radiyallahu 'Anbu came to Rasululah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam while food had been served to him. Rasulullah Saliallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam said: "O my Son come near, recite Bismillah, and eat with your right hand from that portion which is in front of you". (Imaam Tirmidhi: 181 Hadiths Number 3)
  

Favorite Foods of Prophet Muhammad sallalahu alayhi wasalam

This is the list of 12 Foods of Prophet Muhammad salllalahu alayhi wa salam:

• Barley: Good in fever, while use in a soup form.

• Dates: The Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasalam said that a house without dates has no food. It should also be eaten at the time of childbirth.

• Figs: It is a fruit from paradise and a cure for piles.

• Grapes: The Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasalam was very fond of grapes - it purifies the blood, provides vigour and health, strengthens the kidneys and clears the bowels.

• Honey: Considered the best remedy for diarrhoea when mixed in hot water. It is the food of foods, drink of drinks and drug of drugs. It is used for creating appetite, strengthening the stomach, eliminating phlegm; as a meat preservative, hair conditioner, eye soother and mouthwash. It is extremely beneficial in the morning in warm water.

• Melon: The Prophet sallalhu alayhi wasalam said: "None of your women who are pregnant and eat of water melon will fail to produce off spring that is good in countenance and good in character.'"

• Milk: The Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasalam said that milk wipes away heat from the heart just as the finger wipes away sweat from the brow. It strengthens the back, improved the brain, renews vision and drives away forgetfulness.

• Mushroom: The Prophet salallahu alayhi wasalam said that mushroom is a good cure for the eyes; it also serves as a form of birth control and arrests paralysis.

• Olive Oil: Excellent treatment for skin and hair, delays old age, and treats inflammation of the stomach.

• Pomegranate: The Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasalam said it cleanses you of Satan and evil aspirations for 40 days.

• Vinegar: A food Prophet Muhammad sallalahu alayhi wasalam used to eat with olive oil.

• Water: The Prophet salllalhu alayhi wasalam said the best drink in this world is water, when you are thirsty drink it by sips and not gulps, gulping produces sickness of the liver.

  
  The Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasalam took great care to distribute water, particularly on journeys. On one particular journey, for instance, he stopped somewhere and asked for water from those around him. After washing his hands and face, he drank from the water, and told his companions; "pour some of its water on your faces and chests."
  After drinking water, he prayed:
  "All praise is due to Allah Who has made it delicious and sweet by His grace and has not made it either salty or unsavory."
  Another occasion, the Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasalam said:
  "Water was created pure and nothing makes it impure except that which changes its color, taste and smell."
  

There are categories of foods which are:

• Halaal or foods that are lawful
  
• Haraam or foods that are forbidden
  
• Mashbooh or foods that are ‘suspect’ and cover a grey area between Halaal and Haraam.
  
• Makrooh meaning ‘religiously discouraged’ or ‘disliked’
  
• and Zabiha meaning ‘slaughtered according to Islamic method’.

List of food ingredients which is Haraam/Mushbooh categories:

• Haraam (forbidden)
  
  • Alcohol
    
  • Animal fat
    
  • Animal shortening
    
  • Bacon
    
  • Collagen (pork)
    
  • Gelatine/Kosher gelatine
    
  • Lard
    
  • Pork
    
  
  
  
• Mushbooh (grey area/suspect and so best avoided)
  
  • Cholesterol
    
  • Di-glyceride/Mono-glyceride
    
  • Enzymes
    
  • Fatty acids
    
  • Glyceride
    
  • Glycerol/glycerine
    
  • Glycerol stearate
    
  • Glycogen
    
  • Hormones
    
  • Hydrolyzed animal protein
    
  • Pepsin
    
  • Phospholipid
    
  • Rennin/rennet
    
  • Shortening
    
  • Whey
    
  
  

Useful links to learn at home:

• US FDA for Kids
  
  
• To learn more about Food Pyramid
  
  
• Nutrition
  
  
• Prinout Food Pyramid
  
  
• Food Pyramid Games
  
  
• Quiz Printout
  
  
• Nutrition Webquest
  
  
• Cheerios Playroom
  
  
• Powerful Bones
  
  
• Fun Worksheet
  
  
• Learn How the Body Works
  
  
• Science for Kids
  

Homeschool Conference and Other Events

The 2009 CHN Conference will be held on Saturday, June 6th, 2009.
The place will be in Crosby High School, 300 Pierpont Rd, Waterbury, CT.
And the time is 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
To see more information, please click here

To see other homeschool events in US, please click here.

Annual Quiz Competition on Islamic Knowledge

On Saturday, May 9, 2009, We went to "Annual Quiz Competition on Islamic Knowledge" in New Jersey.

I told my kids that they're going to have fun, meeting new muslim friends, and learning Islamic knowledge. Alhamdulillah, all the kids were trying their best to answer all the questions. I think this contest is good for the Muslim kids.

Insha Allah next year, we are going again.

Educational Resources II - May 2009

Islamic Study

• Islamic Quizzes
  Please choose your kid's level.
  

Math

• Math Quizzes: Integers, Concept, Fraction, and Geometry
  You can choose what language do you want: in English and in Spanish.
  There are also quizzes for Vocabulary and Geography.
  
• Another Quizzes for Basic Fact Maths
  
• SAT Type test
  

Language Arts

• Language Arts Games
  

Science

• Science Quizzes for big kids
  

Social Study

• Online Quizzes: Social Study and other subjects
  

Educational Resources I - May 2009

Arabic

• Learn surah Ad-Dhuha
  
• Arabic Reading Tree
  

Math

• Videos: Math Tutorials
  

English

• Learn English - with Audios
  

Social Study

• Quiz Online: Pick a subject, a grade and how many questions you want to see

Science

• Chem Web Online
  

Educational Resources - End of April 2009

Islamic Study

• Preview: Time for Pray with Zaky
  
  
• Preview: Story of Prophet Ibrahim alayhi salam (with Zaky)
  

Math

• Math Practice for grade Pre-K to Grade 5
  Please choose your state or your country.
  

Language Art

• Language Art for Elementary
  

Science

• Let's teach our kids about this: Solar Power Facts: A Brighter, Cleaner Future For Our Children
  

Youth Retreat 2009

Alhamdulillah, the Youth Retreat on April 17-19, 2009, went very well with alot of new faces coming to the retreat. The kids came from different states in the US: Connecticut, Massachusset, Vermont, New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia.

This youth retreat were gathering because they were all Muslim regardless their culture. The kids have to understand that Muslim were from all over the world.
They have to respect other culture that were different with their culture at home.

On Friday night, there were about 70-80 kids gathering in masjids. After praying Isha, one of the organizer was giving short lecture to the kids.
He said that "What is the best worship after all obligatory worship?"
All the kids tried to answer. The kids answered, "It's Tahajjud or Qiyammul Layl."
He also told the kids what they will learn to night.

• Tahajjud or Qiyamul Layl.
  
• Straight line in salah and no making gap of the saff (row).
  
• Manner in sleep.
  
• Waking up and Taking wudhu after short sleep.
  "The best thing was taking wudhu in difficult time such as in cold water."
  
• etc.
  

Alhamdulillah.

The kids were also:

• learning how to be good muslim.
  
• meeting new friends, young and old.
  
• watching story of prophet Ibrahim alayhi wa salam.
  
• watching the fun movie, too. It's about "Panda Kung Fu."
  
• other fun activities on Saturday, all day long until at night.
  
• etc.
  

On Saturday morning, there were more youths joining the retreat for the day.

This Youth Retreat was very good for youth Muslim in this country where majority was not Muslim. The Youths need to continue learning about Islam religion at home or in masjid. We have to remember that the best teacher for our kids are their parents at home.

Insha Allah, next year there will be Youth Retreat with more new faces for the participants and the organizers.
Special Thanks for the organizers. Jazakum Allah Khair.

May Allah give all the rewards for all you have done to the youth. I think the kids will always remember this useful and fun experience in their life time.