Dairy & Egg Free Baking: Date & White Chocolate Cookies / Biscuits

As-Salamu Alaikum Sisters / Greetings Dear Readers,

I originally eyed a version of these cookies/biscuits on The English Kitchen and was immediately drawn to them not only because they looked scrummy but the way Marie described them was oh so tempting!

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Islām’s Prohibition of Taking Lives Unjustly and Causing Fear in the Earth

As-Salamu Alaikum / Greetings dear reader,

After recent events in Woolwich,  Birmingham, UK and elsewhere in the world, I came across the following piece of true Islamic knowledge which will benefit anyone muslim and non muslim to read, In sha Allah / God willing.

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Islām’s Prohibition of Taking Lives Unjustly and Causing Fear in the Earth

From the Tafsīr of al-Allāmah ‘Abd al-Raḥmān ibn Nāṣir al-Sa’dī

Translated by Abū al-Ḥasan Mālik Ādam al-Akhḍar

Relating the story of the Prophet Mūsā (alaihissalam), Allāh (Subhanahu wa ta’aala) says in His Noble Book:

“And he entered the city at a time of inattention by its people and found therein two men fighting: one from his faction and one from among his enemy. And the one from his faction called for help to him against the one from his enemy, so Mūsā struck him and [unintentionally] killed him. [Mūsā] said, ‘This is from the work of Satan. Indeed, he is a manifest, misleading enemy.’He said, ‘My Lord, indeed I have wronged myself, so forgive me,’ and He forgave him. Indeed, He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.’” [al-Qaṣaṣ 28:15-16]

Until the verse:

“And when he wanted to strike the one who was an enemy to both of them, he said, ‘O Mūsā, do you intend to kill me as you killed someone yesterday? You only want to be a tyrant in the land and do not want to be of the amenders.’” [al-Qaṣaṣ 28:19]

In his Tafsīr [commentary] of these verses, al-Allāmah ‘Abd al-Raḥmān ibn Nāṣir al-Sa’dī (rahimahullaah) says:

“And from them (i.e. the benefits of these verses): The killing of a non-Muslim who has a compact [of security] by treaty or customary law is impermissible,[1] for indeed Mūsā(alaihissalam) considered his killing of the disbelieving Copt a sin, and he sought Allāh’s (Subhanahu wa ta’aala) Forgiveness for it.

Also from them: Whoever takes a life unjustly is considered from the oppressors, those who cause corruption in the earth.

And from them: Whoever takes a life unjustly and claims that he desires to rectify the land and to cause fear in the people of sin, then he is indeed a liar in this [claim] and is instead one who causes corruption, just as Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’aala) has related in the Copt’s statement (You only want to be a tyrant in the land and do not want to be of the amenders) by way of affirmation, not negation.”[2]

References:

[1] This has also been explicitly stated by the Messenger of Allāh (sallallaahu alaihi wa sa in the ḥadīth collected by Imām al-Bukhārī in his Ṣaḥiḥ (no. 2929 and 6524) on the authority of ‘Abd Allāh ibn ‘Amr (radhi Allaahu anhu) who related that Allāh’s Messenger (Sallallaahu alaihi assalam) said: “Whoever killed a Mu’ahid (a non-Muslim who is under the pledge of protection by the Muslims) will not smell the fragrance of Paradise though its fragrance can be smelled at a distance of forty years (of traveling).”

[2] Taysīr al-Karīm al-Raḥmān (pg. 678)

Posted from : http://rahmaniyyahpublishing.wordpress.com/

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Copied and pasted above article from: http://salaf-us-saalih.com/2013/05/24/islams-prohibition-of-taking-lives-unjustly-and-causing-fear-in-the-earth-imaam-as-sadee/

Treacle Tart

As-Salamu Alaikum / Greetings Reader,

Today I present you with Treacle Tart: a rich and buttery short crust pastry tart shell which is first blind baked and then filled with a mixture of Golden Syrup (tus folk in north of England know it as Treacle), bread crumbs, lemon juice (to cut just some of the sweetness) and a pinch of ground ginger and then baked again for until the mixtures thickens and sets.

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'Easy' 2 Layer Mille Feuille

As-Salamu Alaikum Sisters / Greetings Reader,

I know, i know...i said i was taking a blogging break BUT i just couldn't keep myself out of the kitchen (never thought i would be saying that) and so sharing this easy 2 layer mille feuille recipe was inevitable.

As you may be aware from previous posts, i have struggled recreating mille feuille - one of my most favourite bakery staples.

I discovered a while ago that most premade pastry contains alcohol (Haram/Unlawful to consume in islam) and while one may argue until the cows come home that the alcohol evaporates upon cooking i wanted to make sure i was using a completely halal product from the start.

So i got on my 'high horse' that would be me sat on the sofa writing an email to 'Jus-Rol' and i am pleased to report their frozen puff pastry blocks at the time of response and me writing this post (you never know things can change in an instance so please please always read the indredients list before purchasing) don't contain alcohol and are suitable for vegetarians, yippeeee!

On to my rough around the edges recipe/guide to making easy 2 layer mille feuille.

Easy 2 Layer Mille Feuille

Ingredients

500g frozen jus-rol(can be any brand of choice) puff pastry block - defrosted in fridge overnight
Jam of choice
400ml  double cream (i used 500ml and had some leftover) - whipped

Method

1. Pre-Heat Fan Oven to 200C
2. On a lightly floured surface roll out your puff pastry block until it's about 50 x 35cm 1/4cm thick.
3. Divide in half (a ruler and sharp knife come in handy for this) and place each half on it's own lined baking sheet and bake for on 2 middle racks your oven for 15-20minutes or until light golden in colour (you may wish to rotate the baking sheets half way through so you get even cooking and colouring)
4. Remove puff pastry halves from oven, prick each, all over with a fork and place on a wire rack to cool completely.
5. To divide up equally, place one puff pastry half on top of the other, trim any curvy edges and divide up (ruler and serrated knife) into 6 pairs each puff pastry pair being about 4-5cm wide and 15cm in length.
6. To fill, spread jam of choice on each pastry 'bottom' half, pipe or spoon on whipped cream and place second pastry half on top. Dust with icing sugar and keep chilled until ready to serve.

Note: Make sure the flat side of bottom pastry half is on face down i.e. touching serving plate, so you top the rough side with jam and then make sure the flat side of top pastry half is facing up so it can get a nice dusting of icing sugar and this way the mille feuille not only look prettiest but they are more stable.

I'm Taking A Blogging Break & Black Tea Cupcakes With Honey Buttercream

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Algerian Cooked Carrot Salad

As-Salamu Alaikum Sisters / Greetings Reader,

I found this recipe a while ago and as with most recipes that I pin this got put to the back of my mind, for a time I think I forgot about it altogether!

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