najia (convert =revert to Islam)

I have been craving banana bread since moving here. I found one place (Mum's Kitchen) but she is not available for a while. I can't wait that long! Is there any place else I can buy it in Cairo, preferably somewhere close to Ain Shams.

I could not find even a mix for it in the supermarkets catering to the international community.

I was told the ingredients (such as Vanilla extract) are very hard to find in Egypt. This is required in almost all baked goods from the US, including banana bread.

I thought I heard before that one does not have to obey any orders from any in-laws.

Here is the situation. Before I came to Egypt, my husband and I discussed me going out at night by myself. He told me he has no problems with it because Egypt has a very low crime rate. He told me if I wanted to go out, I can. Well, I am 5 months pregnant with my second child and got a craving at 11 pm for Mexican food. The only place I can seem to find is Chili's, but it isn't too far, about 30 minutes in a taxi. They are open until 2 AM. I told my sister-in-law who told her mother and her mother said I am not allowed to go out this late at night. There have been many other nights where they are out until 2 AM and never seem to have any issues with it.

I am getting upset with them because they try to control everything. I am not used to this type of thing. Even in the US, my husband rarely said no if I wanted to go to a store or buy something at a restaurant even at 10 PM at night when we lived in a small town because there was almost no crime.

Can you advise me on what I should do from an Islamic perspective? Thank you.

Assalam alaykium

I subscribe to CAIR and this was the hadith of the day:

When the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was questioned about weeping following the death of his granddaughter, he said: "(Weeping) is the mercy that God has placed in the hearts of His servants. And surely God bestows mercy on those who are merciful (to others)."

Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 4, Number 21

Subhana Allah! What are your thoughts? So should men be afraid to cry since the Prophet was not and even said it is a mercy from Allah? I know there is a taboo on many cultures around the world regarding men crying.

Personally, I see it as a sign of strength, not weakness.

Someone asked today why questions are always being removed from the Ramadan section. Someone else replied it had to do with the fact that many are not actually questions. Why don't we all read this over to make sure we don't waste our time. Yahoo states, this site is for sharing knowledge and any "question" that is not for the use of gaining or sharing knowledge is in violation and will be removed.

http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/answers/abuse/gui...

This link specifically talks about "chatting". Many of the questions posted actually do fall into this, so read it carefully.

Okay, this may seem like a vent, but there is a point.

I am American. My in-laws are Egyptian. I am currently in Egypt to stay with them until my son is born in December. My husband is still in the US.

I have been having some complications with this pregnancy. Remember, I am used to American standards of health care and do not agree with many things the doctors here say. One of the medicines the doctor prescribed to me contains Paracetamol which America says do not take while pregnant because it isn't safe (a baby is twice as likely to suffer from asthma) but the doctors here insist it is safe.

My husband and I both agreed not to take this medicine although my in-laws keep trying to get me to take it.

Then I have had severe pain in my abdomen which I assume is gas. I told them I need an antacid (in America every single doctor says it is safe during pregnancy because it is not absorbed into the intestine or bloodstream). They refused saying they need to ask the doctor if it is okay.

How do I get them to stop insulting me and acting like this is their baby. This is mine and my husband's baby. I refused to take another medication due to the potential harm and then they assume I am stupid enough to take something that would harm my baby? I obviously know more about this than they do and they are really getting on my nerves that I am about to ask my husband to get me my own place and move out.

Please help before I lose all my sanity and actually explode!

I was told it is available here and was even prescribed baby Tylenol. However, every pharmacist I have talked to tells me you can only buy it in the US when I know that isn't even true. I need it because I am pregnant and it is the only pain reliever that a pregnant woman is allowed to take.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “You will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I not tell you of that which will strengthen love between you? Spread (the greeting of) salaam amongst yourselves.” (Narrated by Muslim, 81).

http://islamqa.com/en/ref/12205/jealousy

Do you see how important it is to love your brothers and sisters in Islam? You cannot be a Muslim unless you love all other Muslims.

I know that the burqa is the veil and the niqab is the entire manner of dress (I just put them together because some use them interchangeably).

How many of the sisters on the site actually believe it is an obligation rather than a choice?

For me it is hard to choose because both sides have good and strong arguments. For example, those that believe it is an obligation, use the Qur'an as proof, even though the word can be translated differently. Those that believe only hijab is obligatory refer to the authentic hadith that says women are allowed to show what appears thereof and the Prophet pointed to the hands and face.

I used to wear it and at that time I believed it was an obligation, but because of men trying to deliberately run me over, my husband told me to remove it.

Now, I am in Egypt and really want to wear it, but my husband wants me to wait until after I have the baby as this is my first summer here and I have asthma.

One of my best friends wears it and believes it is an obligation and my other best friend wears hijab because she believes only hijab is required. She actually didn't wear hijab until after she got married.

I am torn and can't decide which. I try to justify wearing only hijab, but I don't know 'cause I still feel kind of naked without the burqa.

May Allah guide us all and thank you in advance. May Allah reward you for your time and effort in trying to answer my question.

I have heard before that there those that are killed by fire are martyrs. Does anyone know if this is true? Do you have a link? If it is true, does it apply to those that die from the burns or does it refer to only those that are burned alive?

I think it was a hadith, but don't quote me. If it was, I don't know if it is saheeh or not. I thought I saw it on Islam q&a.

I just moved to Cairo and cannot speak Arabic yet. I am struggling with my in-laws (only 2 speak a little English) and my husband is still in the US. My husband wants me to enroll in a language school so that I can start to learn Arabic faster. My sister-in-law took me to one, but it had moved and was no longer at the location. She has been trying to reach a friend who knows the schools, but cannot seem to get a hold of her. Does anyone know of any and the addresses? I need to start as soon as possible. Thanks in advance.

I just moved to Cairo. I am pregnant and of course having cravings. Unfortunately, most of my cravings are for American foods such as french toast. I cannot find any place that is close to Ain Shams. Everything I am finding is in one place very far from Ain Shams. Any ideas?

I have a very bad allergy to all fish. I go into anaphylactic shock. Because of this allergy, I cannot take fish oil supplements per my doctor's order. How else can I get the vitamins from fish to help promote good health?

Assalam alaykium,

My mother is a Christian. I want so much to teach her about Islam. Her time is nearing to the end, I fear. I got word today the doctors are thinking her kidneys are shutting down and they are running some tests to try to confirm this. We should know tomorrow morning.

How do I approach my mother. My mother is not like my father. He is extremely strict. She believes in God and of course that Prophet Jesus is the son of God. I want her to see the truth in Islam. I know only Allah controls this, but I believe if she learned about Islam she would be able to see the truth.

I am the only Muslim in my family. Everyone else is a Christian. I find it easy to talk to people I don't really know about Islam, but my family seems to difficult for me to approach.

I don't think my mom has much time left in this life. I can't stand the idea of her being in the Hellfire. My mom has been really sick and in the hospital since February.

Do any of you brothers and sister have advice for me on how I can approach my mother and show her the truth to help her see the light before it is too late?

May Allah bless you and guide us all, Inshallah!

Here are two more questions that the kufr are going to win in vote unless we take the time to vote for the truth. Help spread the truth!

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AsPRM...

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AiSsz...

Again, another kafir believes they know all about Islam. Help spread the truth by taking a few minutes to vote. It is our duty to spread the truth about Islam.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ai4gz...

These two question should be answered by Muslims, unfortunately, the Kufr are getting too many votes and spreading lies about Islam. Will you take a few minutes to choose an answer that shows the truth about Islam.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ah4EV...

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Al1aA...

It takes only a little bit of your time. The currently leading answer is giving bad light on why Muslim women cover and men don't have to cover as much.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Agm7j...

Personally, I think this is way out of line. There is too much going on. How can one claim to be a Muslim and talk so badly about another Muslim?

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Beware of suspicion...and do not look for the faults of others. Do not spy, and do not be jealous of one another, and do not (sever your relations with) one another, and do not hate one another."

-Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 8, Hadith 90

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“neither backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it (so hate backbiting). And fear Allaah. Verily, Allaah is the One Who forgives and accepts repentance, Most Merciful”

[al-Hujuraat 49:12]

-Islam Q&A

http://islamqa.com/en/ref/23328/backbiting

This has got to stop. Any ideas how? It is bad enough that we pick on each other because of sect. I may not agree with certain sisters and brothers, but we cannot talk about them especially when they are not online to defend themselves. This is haram. You do not look for another's faults. If you believe they are misguided, then bring them the evidence, but don't attack them.

Enough is enough!

The Muslim is taught by his book, the Qur’ân, to hate falsehood, distorted beliefs, and deviance, and consequently, to hate the representation of falsehood and deviant beliefs at the hands of the unbelievers. He does not, however, hate the people themselves. In fact, he should wish for them every possible good and hope that they will attain guidance and be saved from the Hellfire. When one of the unbelievers attains guidance, the Muslim should be as joyous for his sake as our Prophet (peace be upon him) was when a Jewish boy converted to Islam just before he died. The Prophet (peace be upon him) left his home saying: “All praises are for Allah who saved him from the Hellfire.” The hatred one should have is for their deviance or sinful behavior, not for the people themselves. This is why a Muslim cannot be blamed for his affection towards his son, wife, and others, even if they are not Muslims. However, such affection should not cause him to neglect any part of his religion. That is why the Muslims who, on account of their wives and children, failed to emigrate to Madinah as they were commanded were rebuked for staying behind. Indeed, Allah describes our wives and children as a trial. In fact, the ones who encourage hatred are certain Western and other non-Muslim politicians and media personalities who seem to be doing everything in their power to instigate conflicts against Muslims in various parts of the world. By their practices, they seem to be trying to give the Muslims lessons in hatred and rancor. If there are some moderate and reasonable voices in the West and in places like India, they are being drowned out by the overwhelming clamor of extremism and anti-Islamic rhetoric. Admittedly, the same thing can be said for the Muslims as well. However, I must stress that the West is suffocating the moderate and temperate voices in the Muslim world who are on the correct Islamic methodology, the methodology that is the way of salvation for the Muslim nation.

It is clear that Islam does not allow us to hate disbelievers. Your arrogance regarding this and refusing to see the truth is quite frusterating to me. Why do you refuse to see that Islam teaches peace not hatred?

We really do need to stop poking fun at others. We (me included) may not agree with the way the Shia practice Islam, but we really do need to start sticking together. This kind of stuff is just pulling us apart more and now more than ever we need to be a united ummah.

The kafirs see us bickering and think that we are weak. They think they can defeat us. Do you not see what is going on around the world because of our division?

Can we please pull ourselves together so we can all fight for Islam and Muslims around the world?

It is really sad to see how many non-Muslims died the other day while others put their lives on the line for the sake of our brothers and sisters in Gaza. How is it that they can be more united that we?

Enough is enough.

Sources: My own irritation.