Keeping Your Marriage Fresh With the "Five Senses Rule"

"And among His Signs is this, that He created for you mates from among yourselves, that ye may dwell in tranquility with them, and He has put love and mercy between your (hearts): verily in that are Signs for those who reflect."

(Quran: Ar-Rum 21)

1. Sight- Always beautify yourself. Make sure your clothing is nice, your hair is done and your makeup looks just right (if you wear it).

2. Hearing- Always greet your hubby with a sweet voice and leave any bad news for later. Never speak in a loud, boisterous manner. Don't try to engage is gossip or trivial conversations. Keep positive, Islamic conversations going and things that your hubby has interest in. Leave the other stuff for your girlfriends.

3. Touch- Make sure your body, your bedsheets are nice to the touch. This could mean shaving your legs or using a nice moisturizer. Using downy softener sheets or changing to Egyptian cotton or satin.

4. Smell- Never have a bad smell in the house. While you cook, be sure to open the windows and afterwards be sure to light a candle, burn oils or incense, or spray a room freshener. Also, change your clothes if you have been cooking meat or onions. Make sure you keep up your hygiene and make a habit of brushing your teeth and spraying perfume on the back of your neck, behind your ears and any other place you can think of before bed. ;-)

5. Taste- Try new recipes for variety and master the dishes he enjoys the most. Be sure that dinner is always ready before he makes it home. No man likes to come home on an empty stomach only to find nothing waiting for him on the stove.
what things would YOU add to this? what do YOU do to keep your hubby happy???

Asalaamu alaikum

Nadira & Najwa

Handheld Bidets, Instinja and the Like...

First things first... Muslimah2Muslimah had a question from a sister who is a new revert to Islam and she was wondering how to make istinja' and what to use for it... Some people use water bottles, some use a watering can, others just have a cup near their toilets. In the states, bidets are not a common thing that you see in people's homes or even out in public areas. However, there are handheld bidets that are available at Home Depot or even Walmart for a very low price. This is my personal favorite way to make istinja'. You do not have to constantly fill a container up with water every time you need to use the restroom and you can also control the water pressure. So awesome!

Now, down to the more basic stuff: What Is Istinja'???

Istinja' is performed using pure and purifying water or a solid, dry material, like a stone or paper. It is obligatory to make istinja' from every wet material emitted from the eliminatory outlets, such as urine or feces. It can be done by using water, rocks, paper and the like.

When performing istinja' by water, cleaning oneself from feces one pours the water on the outlet and rubs with one’s left hand until the najas-filth is removed. This makes the place tahir (pure).

When performing istinja' using rocks and the like (paper), if one makes instinja' using a solid, dry material, such as a rock (or paper), one wipes the outlet three times. If the three wipes are not enough to clean the area, one wipes more until the place becomes clean. One may use three wads of tissue or the like. Without using water, it is not enough to wipe less than thrice, even if the place becomes clean.

Also, it is recommended to enter the bathroom with the left foot, and to leave it with the right foot; contrary to the way you enter your home or the masjid. It is recommended (sunnah) to enter your home or the masjid with the right foot first, and to leave with the left foot.

It is recommended (sunnah) upon entering the bathroom to say:

"Bismillah. Allahumma inni a'udhu bika minal-khubuthi wal-khaba’ith."

Which means: “[I enter the bathroom] with the Name of Allah. O Allah, I
seek refuge with you from the male and female devils.” This provides protection from the eyes of the jinn.

After leaving the bathroom, it is also recommended to say:

"Ghufranak. Al-hamdu lillahi-lladhi adh-haba annil-adha wa afani."

Which means: “I ask You (Allah) for forgiveness. Praise and thanks be to the One (Allah) Who took the harm away from me and granted me good health.”

So... what do YOU use for Istinja??? Do you live in a country where bidets are common? Do you just use a water bottle? Do you use the most common one that I have seen in Muslim homes... the watering can? This is very random, I know... but interesting nonetheless! LOL.

As-Salaamu Alaikum!

Najwa & Nadira