Scrumptious foooood.

FOOD.FOOD.FOOD.

Fooooood. Yummayyyy.

Kibbeh

Shish Taouk

Shawarma

Mansaf

Arabic ice cream

Mandi rice

Kabsa lahm

The Dead Sea

At 410m below sea level, the Dead Sea is the lowest place on earth. Jordan’s Dead Sea coast is one of the most spectacular natural and spiritual landscapes in the world, and it remains as enticing to international visitors today as it was to kings, emperors, traders, and prophets in antiquity.

A large amount of investment in the area has provided the Dead Sea with new roads making the new and luxurious 5 star hotels like the Movenpick Hotel and Resort, the Jordan Valley Marriott, the Kempenski Ishtar Hotel, and the 4 star Dead Sea Spa Hotel easily accessible. 

The main attraction of the Dead Sea is of course the soothing, abnormally salty water itself. The salt content of the water is 31.5% making the water so buoyant that it is impossible for the visitor to sink. The water also contains 21 minerals including high levels of magnesium, sodium, potassium, and bromine and 12 of these minerals are found in no other body of water in the world.

Studies have shown the combination of the Dead Sea water and the rich black mud found along the shoreline to have significant health benefits including increasing circulation, easing discomfort from arthritis, healing allergies, and revitalizing skin.

A trip to the Dead Sea would not be complete without a visit to one of the first class health spa facilities of the luxury hotels. Here the visitor can enjoy year-round a massage, Dead Sea mud bath, use the excellent fitness facilities, or just spend the day relaxing on their beautiful private beaches.

Taubah

Allah Ta'ala says:

"O Believers.' Make taubah unto Allah Ta'ala a pure taubah. "

Rasulullah Sallallahu alayhi wasallam said:

"O people! Make taubah unto Allah. "

                                               (Riwayat Muslim)

The Nature of Taubah

Taubah (repentance) is the regret and sadness which arise in the heart when remembering a sin. For the validity of the taubah, shunning the sin, firmly resolving to abstain from it in future and controlling the nafs when it urges for the sin, are necessary.

The meaning of taubah is to return and to return from the far side to the near side. It has a beginning and an end. The beginning (Ibtidaa) of taubah is the spreading of the rays of Noor-e-Ma'rifat (the Light of Divine Recognition) of the heart which thus realizes that the sin committed is a fatal poison which wroughts great spiritual disaster. This realization induces regret and fear which result in a true and sincere yearning to compensate for the sin. This yearning is to such a degree that shunning of the sin is immediate. 

Further, a firm resolve and intention are made to totally abstain from the sin in future. Along with this intention a full effort is made to compensate for the past shortcoming. When the result is this fruit of taubah pertaining to the past, present and future, then perfection of taubah has been acquired. This then is the end (Intihaa) of taubah.

 

The Need for Taubah

It should be clear that taubah is Wajib (compulsory) upon every person because Allah Ta'ala addresses all Muslims in the Ayat:

"O Believers! Make taubah unto Allah, a pure taubah."

Since the reality of taubah is to regard sin as a fatal poison and disaster for the life of the Hereafter, and to firmly resolve to shun sin this much of taubah is part of Iman it being wajib and necessary are apparent to every Mu'min. 

Hence, Allah Ta'ala says:

"He who makes taubah after his transgression arid reforms, verily Allah turns towards him." 

The meaning of this Ayat is:

Allah Ta'ala will forgive, have mercy upon and aid the person who after having sinned renders taubah according to the rule of the Shari'at and reforms his acts for the future, i.e. he abstains from all evil, practices in conformity with the Shari'at and remains firm on his taubah.

The Way of Making Taubah

Taubah or repentance is to confess to Allah Ta'ala one's sins and to regret such commission. Resolve firmly to discharge all Huqooq-ul-Ibaad (rights of others) and other duties which are obligatory, but which have not been rendered. This intention should be immediately made and thereafter the actual fulfillment of such rights and duties put into motion. Alternatively, the pardon of those whose rights were usurped should be obtained. 

When a sin has been committed, immediately perform two Rak’ats Salaat with the intention of Taubah. One then has to offer repentance with both the tongue and heart. The taubah should be made fervently and vigorously. If one is unable to shed tears, then one's face should take on the appearance of a concerned and crying person while making taubah.

For the purpose of making taubah, recall your sins and then offer repentance in profusion. However, do not meditate about the sins committed or do not make vigorous attempts in a bid to remember what sins had been committed, for this attitude will create a barrier between the repenter and Allah Ta'ala. This constitutes an obstacle in the path of love and progress. After having made a sincere taubah, if previous sins come to mind then renew the taubah. Do not be too much concerned about sins for which taubah has already been made.

While making taubah there should be a degree of moderation in mentioning the sins. There is no need to recite a whole list of sins while making taubah. Seek forgiveness for all sins in general. According to the Hadith Shareef one should say:

"And, I repent of even such sins which you are more aware of."

"I repent of such sins which l am aware of and of such sins which I am unaware."

Pondering about sins is in actual fact destruction of time and diversion from the remembrance of Allah. 

However, one should make special taubah for sins which one recalls automatically. The real Goal is Allah Ta'ala and not the remembrance of sins neither the remembrance of acts of obedience. The purpose of remembering sins is to offer repentance. Hence, once taubah has been made, one should not deliberately and consciously ponder over sins thereby making such remembrance a definite purpose because this will engender the idea that Allah Ta'ala is displeased with one, and this is a dangerous idea.

The Method of Acquiring Taubah

Remember and reflect about the warnings sounded in the Qur'aan and Hadith in regard to sins. The pang of regret which enters the heart as a result of such reflection is in actual fact taubah.

The lens of the Heart

"If you’re facing a difficult situation or decision, be careful not to try to see with the eyes. To move only by what is seen of the outer world is the greatest deception and cause for ruin and misguidance. Close your physical eyes. And ask Allah to move your heart. It is only by the heart that you will *really* see. It is only with the heart that you will be able to see through the illusions created by pain or pleasure or fear. It is only with the lens of the heart that you will see through the creation and all created circumstance. It is only with the lens of the heart that you will see Allah in everything. But know that only the lens that is clean can see anything at all."

.::Yasmin Mogahed::.

*see with your heart..

its purifies your heart..

^_^

Don't just 'Feel' it,Fill it!

The placebo effect in the world of dakwah and tarbiyah. Catchy? You see, we're often found saying this: "I feel like this ayat really makes me feel something ...it hits me hard on my face" or "I feel like my heart trembled when I heard this ayat."

True. But the problem is sometimes there is a point in our lives where that 'evoking' feeling can just be a "made up" as a consequence of habits. Placebo is a 'paste' medicine. It is a fake medicine to replace the actual one purely for psychological reasons. In a simpler word, it acts as a control to test whether a medicine really works or that the patient is actually "making up" a report to state that the medicine works or otherwise.

Placebo effect is a phrase coined to define: 'improvement in the condition of a patient that occurs in response to treatment but cannot be considered due to the specific treatment used' (Merriam Webster Dictionary).

Still not getting it? Let's assume that Cik C says she needs to take pill A daily so that she can stop herself from having runny nose (yeah, yeah, I know absurd this might sound...). Then one day, her doctor decides to replace her medication with a placebo (of course, this happens without her knowledge).

This is to see whether the improvement of her condition is due to the medication or that her body is recuperating on its own. It turns out that even after few days of taking the placebos, her nose is just fine. No runny nose. Alhamdulillah, her nose is perfectly ok just like when she was taking her medication.

Cik C can now take a walk or dance, and do whatever she wants to do freely with no attachment to the medication. Free as a bird. She's cured and the best is that it's not because of the pills but due to her immune system. Subhanallah!

Why does this matter? Ok, let's refer to this ayat. Who are the believers?:

"The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, their hearts become fearful, and when His verses are recited to them, it increases them in faith; and upon their Lord they rely."
(Surah al-Anfal, ayat 2)

Indeed, we want to be those believers mentioned in the Quran.

In dakwah and tarbiyah, the placebo effect exists too but it is too discreet and hardly noticeable. "I can feel that this ayat seeps down into my very veins..." Really? That is a question that we need to ask ourselves. It is not enough just to have that "feel" Instead, we need to internalize it. Reflect it.

Heart it. Recheck. Is it reverberating hard enough?

"The bedouins say, "We have believed." Say, "You have not [yet] believed; but say [instead], 'We have submitted,' for faith has not yet entered your hearts. And if you obey Allah and His Messenger, He will not deprive you from your deeds of anything. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful." The believers are only the ones who have believed in Allah and His Messenger and then doubt not but strive with their properties and their lives in the cause of Allah . It is those who are the truthful. Say, "Would you acquaint Allah with your religion while Allah knows whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth, and Allah is Knowing of all things?" They consider it a favor to you that they have accepted Islam. Say, "Do not consider your Islam a favor to me. Rather, Allah has conferred favor upon you that He has guided you to the faith, if you should be truthful." Indeed, Allah knows the unseen [aspects] of the heavens and the earth. And Allah is Seeing of what you do."
(Surah al-Hujurat, ayat 14-18)

That was really 'ouch' isn't it?

Islam. Has it reached to our hearts yet? Or is it merely sweeping against the surface of our hearts? ...that our hearts are merely being coated and wrapped with Islam.

In actuality, the essence of our hearts should be Islam - that is to say we have absorbed and digested Islam. It's not only about 'feeling' but we need to believe entirely in Allah and Rasulullah SAW. We need to recheck it. Keep the zouk (vibrating feeling) true on the same momentum. Keep the faith (as what most TVXQ's fans will say).

Don't let our hearts only 'feel' the tremor of the qalamallah but at the same time, our hearts are no less like empty vessels. Fill them. Keep 'filling' them. So that we would not even have the slightest doubt in Him and strive steadfastly in His path.

Let's work hard to abstain ourselves from falling into this placebo effect. How? Recharge our iman constantly. Tajdid (renew) our niats every minute. Hearts are no less like metals. They shall rust. The only ways to polish them are by reading the Quran and constantly remembering death.

credit to : iluvislam

The Values And Tradition of Jordan

Jordan can be regarded for a typically Arab country for its people are very warm and friendly. Jordanians are typically happy to forgive foreigners who break the rules of etiquette. 

 

Joining local people for a cup of tea or coffee can be a wonderful way to learn more about local culture. If you are invited yet are unable to attend, then it is perfectly acceptable to decline. Place your right hand over your heart and politely make your excuses.

Many families, particularly in rural areas, are very traditional and, if you visit their house, you may well find it is divided between the men and women. Foreign women are often treated as "honorary" men.

 

Local women in Jordan enjoy considerable freedom when compared with many other countries in the region. Women are entitled to a full education, they can vote, they can drive cars, and they often play significant roles in business and politics. Arranged marriages and dowries are still common.

click here to read more about Jordan ! :)