Healthy recipes for Ramadan Iftar : Avocado Chicken Salad

A healthy and easy recipe for your iftar it can be this really nice salad. 

It is a quick recipe and low carb, for a nice iftar even if you’re having guests in any of your Ramadan iftars. And supposing you’re having some guests then the necessary ingredients for 4 persons would be: 

  • ⅔ cup greek yogurt (190 g), plain
  • 1 tablespoon lime juice
  • pepper, to taste
  • ⅛ teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 avocado, cubed, divided
  • 2 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
  • 1 stalk celery, diced
  • 2 tablespoons red onion, diced
  • kosher salt, to taste
  • bread, low-carb, for serving, optional
  • fresh cilantro leaf, for garnish 

While the preparation is very easy, just 3 quick steps:

Step #1: In a blender or food processor, combine the yogurt, lime juice, pepper, and chili powder and pulse to combine them. Add ½ of the avocado and blend until nice and creamy.

Step #2: In a medium bowl, combine the chicken, yogurt sauce, celery, the remaining ½ avocado, onion, and salt. Mix until well combined.

Step #3: Serve on low-carb bread and garnish with cilantro, or as desired and enjoy it.

For most of our muslim sisters Ramadan can be a real strugle when deciding what to cook, cause they try to cook something nice and healthy and meantime trying to balance your time for some more worship during these special days. And this can be a real struggle especially if you’re inviting some of your relatives or friends for iftar, cause that’s one of the best things during Ramadan, enjoying iftars with our beloved ones.

So consider this recipe and add some cool stuff into your iftar table and make your family and your guests enjoy it and also make some more time for yourself. Ramadan is a lifetime event, so try to master time management during every process.

How To Persevere In Our Ibadah During Ramadan

When Ramadan knocks at our doors, we are all so excited and we start thinking in big: we always say that we want to make the most of it by reading the entire Quran, praying Taraweeh every day, and doing as much ibadah as we can. And we always want to do more than the past Ramadans, because we always think that what we did in the past was not enough. 

It is certainly a good sign, as it shows that we care about the blessed month and that we want to take advantage of the fact that devils are locked, therefore there are no excuses for us for not worshipping deeply Allah as it is meant to be done.

We are indeed high energy during the first weeks of Ramadan, but later on we start losing that perseverance that we had, how come then?

Well, because of different factors: many special tv shows like series and movies are released during this month, therefore we get distracted by them; sometimes excessive sleeping and eating for Iftar drain all our energy making us feeling tired and deconcentrated to persevere in our worship; after a while we start losing enthusiasm and motivation because our worshiping becomes automatic without reflection and understanding from the heart and mind.

These are some of the many reasons that block us from persevering in our ibadah. However, we are the ones in control of our nafs and self during Ramadan, Shaytan is not there, so we can be strong and not let external factors prevail over us. Therefore we have to be patient, determined and remember that we can keep doing good deeds through istiqama. Being steadfast in our Imaan is compulsory for us as stated in the Quran: O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient. [2:153] and we should remember that: Allah loves the steadfast. [3:146]

For some of us, it might seem hard to keep steadfast, but it is something that we can achieve and Ramadan can be our “moral training”. We always think that what counts more is the quantity of good deeds, but the Prophet (saw) said: Do as much of good deeds as you can, for Allah does not get tired (of giving reward) until you get tired. And the most beloved of deeds to Allah are those that are continuous, even if they few”.

This hadith shows us how quantity is not very important for Allah, as continuity even with few deeds is more relevant. Therefore, every time we think that we are not doing a lot, just think of this hadith and remember that Allah rewards us even if the good deeds are fewer. 

So how can we persevere in performing our ibadah equally for the whole blessed month?

Here are some advices that we all can try to follow:

  1. Try to be realistic: Although it is good to aim big, we should try to start by carrying out the good acts that we know we can do daily and without struggling (for example adhkar, read a few pages after each prayer, helping people, Taraweeh prayer etc…) and if we can do extra ibadah, we should go for it but without exaggerating. We should keep our ibadah balanced, and try to do the same amount of worship every day constantly and remember to think of your niya (intention) and renew it, but also to do all the ibadah with the heart. The quantity of ibadah that we want to accomplish is an individual choice, probably it is helpful to start with a small amount and then if we feel determined and we think we can do it, then we can do more! My personal experience taught me that if we start doing a lot of good acts, then it is likely to end up doing less or doing nothing at the end of the month which is unfortunate as we all want to be compensated at the end of the blessed month. And remember that it is not a competition, do the ibadah that you can as we all have different levels of imaan and probably have other obligations. Keep in mind the hadith when A’isha (RA) said that Rasulullah (saw) said: “The deeds most loved by Allah (are those) done regularly, even if they are small.” (Bukhari, Muslim) and inshAllah you will be rewarded for your intentions and acts.
  1. Make a plan: If setting up a Ramadan program is what is best for you and if you know that you easily follow it, then go for it! 
  1. Control yourself from distractions: We should try not to be tricked by the TV, the food and the sleepiness. Certainly we need to sleep and to eat, but we should not spend the whole fasting day sleeping, and spending the whole night eating. We should remember that Ramadan is not about sleeping and eating, it is instead a spiritual journey that will increase our iman and it will make us closer to Allah. We should not lose this opportunity that Allah gave us and every time that we are tempted, we should remember what the meaning of Ramadan is and the rewards we will obtain inshAllah. Moreover, Ramadan happens once in a year, while sleeping, eating and watching TV are available the whole year. Why lose this opportunity then? So we should try to be strong and be in control. If we can, then why not lock the TV in a room?!

And to conclude, we could recite the following duas to ask Allah to help us to make the most of this Ramadan with good deeds and to let us taste the sweetness and beauty that it brings:  *Yā Muqallibal-qulūb, thabbit qalbī `alā dīnik* – “O changer of hearts, make my heart firm upon Your religion” and *Rabbana la tuzigh qulubuna ba’da idh hadaitana wa hab lana min ladunka rahmatan innaka anta alwahabo* – “Our Lord, let not our hearts deviate after You have guided us and grant us from Yourself mercy. Indeed, You are the Bestower. [3:8].

Jazaka’Allah for your time, I pray that Allah allows us to all remain steadfast on our deen and urge others to do so too. Ameen.

Written by Zaineb Tassa

How To Stay Fit And Healthy During Ramadan

Being healthy is important for any one of us, because it will help us to stay more productive and perform our worship to Allah better. Also we know that Islam tells us that we should always take care of our health and not take it for granted. During Ramdan people are more likely to somehow abuse food during iftars mostly, by consuming a lot of food. But even during suhoor, with the idea that it might ease fastening during the day. Well, it will just complicate things. Fastening overall it has a lot of benefits, but when it is done as it should. What do we mean:

Let some space for air

Don’t abuse food, but try to consume your food slowly and in small portions in order to know when you’re filled. Sometimes rushing, or just having a nice plate in front of us makes us more intrigued to want to consume more food, but that is a big mistake! It will turn into a non healthy habit, instead of learning how to control ourselves during Ramadan about food.

Plan your meals ahead

This kind of planning will help you to avoid binging. It is also a good way to make sure you’re cooking healthy food, by selecting ingredients and not just consuming something random to break fasting.

Workout

The best time to consider and train would be around 9PM(it depends from your time zone still) — after breaking your fast,when your body will have the nutrients to support your system. There are also ideas about training in the afternoon. It is a good idea so that more oxygen can be available to the muscles, rather than being required for digestion. However, workouts and training are more beneficial when your body is properly fuelled, whereas results will be diminished when you’re hungry and less focussed. Important is to really consider a workout everyday. Think of it as an investment. It will help you stay healthy and more focused during other worships.

Wake up early for suhoor

Try to wake up early every suhoor in order to consume protein based food and also get considerable amounts of water and stay hydrated during the day.Also you can take advantage of this time even for prayer but you can also find some time to cook your meal and consume it as fresh as possible.

Avoid caffeine

Suhoor is a time when you will obviously be extremely tired, so a cup of joe can be seriously tempting. However, caffeine is a diuretic that will make you want to urinate a lot more than usual. While water also leads to bathroom visits, it is still hydrating; while coffee makes you urinate more without offering any hydration in the first place.

Ramadan As An Attempt For Resilience

It is not easy to talk about hope, especially when our country and the region are going through successive trials: earthquakes, political crises, now even a pandemic and the extraordinary situation that follows it.

We perceive hope as an individual value, but it can also be collective, which means we can build it together. And there isn’t a better occasion than the month of Ramadan, the month of hope, the hope not only to become better people and believers, but also to build the hope needed to heal.

In his book “A book about hope”, Mark Manson explains that to build and maintain hope, we need three things: a sense of control, a belief in the value of something, and a community

Community belongingness. As believers, we as part of a community have cultivated the Islamic notion of the “Ummah.” When members of the ummah are tested or we ourselves as the ummah face various challenges, we share a common pain. This sense of connection with those we have never met, this deep sense of unity and shared pain, is a particularly prominent feature among Muslims, according to a new study.

Researchers at Sussex University found that Muslims are uniquely bonded by a shared community – an ummah. Researchers of the study dubbed this phenomena ‘vicarious trauma’, experiencing the pain that other people have faced. Professor Mark Walters, lead author of the Sussex University study, explored the impact of Islamaphobic hate crimes on British Muslims. It’s interesting, then, that Muslims should feel this way towards a group they may not be personally attached to or have had direct contact with, such as Muslims on the other side of the world. And it makes sense but also is in accordance with the hadith: Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said, “The believers in their mutual kindness, compassion and sympathy are just like one body. When one of the limbs suffers, the whole body responds to it with wakefulness and fever”.

Whereas when it comes to believing in certain values, Islam itself is a whole system of values which in turn necessarily promotes a sense of control and hope. In this case, by control we mean the belief in “qada and qadar” the notion according to which  the man is responsible for his deeds in accordance with the destiny predetermined by God. While hope comes from the “tawakkol” which is reliance on God that He is the Supervisor and regulates matters in the best way.

When we as Muslims have these three elements, why not reflect on this situation in order to benefit as much as possible from this trial / challenge / test to give our best?

What if all this is a good opportunity to return to the true essence of fasting and Ramadan? Perhaps all of us have long dreamed of experiencing “those old days” once again: a more distant Ramadan from our close friends and network, more time for meditation. Once upon a time when I started fasting the Internet was not accessible to our homes, when we had fewer distractions, fewer Ramadan events and parties, or Ramadan fairs. What if we do this Ramadan a real itikaf (self isolation during the last 10 days) by applying the prophetic advice that in times of trial our home is enough for us. What if for the first time in our lives we try not to go against the divine guidance that “And He it is Who made the night a garment for them, and the sleep a rest for them, and the day a liveliness for them?” awake and sleeping during the day?

What if all this is maybe a good opportunity to get back on the track? What if, what we call “isolation” is in fact a necessity for us to meditate mostly on our values, our priorities, our objectives, and our mission in this life? And in order to achieve this kind of mindset and awareness, we may start by stopping ourselves from spreading panic, or desperate and pessimistic complaints on how much we are suffering and similar dramas. 

In the book “Option B. Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy” there is a whole chapter dedicated to “How to Empower Each Others,” The author, Sheryl Sandberg, in this chapter tells us about resilience after different trials in life. According to her, resistance is not born together with the individual but it is created through individuals. When we get back together, we become stronger, we build communities, we can overcome obstacles, and we can overcome difficulties.

Together we must agree on a single mindset: that if God has led us to this challenge we will accept it with full conviction because we are the people of “we heard and we obeyed” And together let us spread hope and positivity in order to recover as soon as possible ready and strong enough to face many other future challenges.

Nada Dosti

How To Stay Motivated During Ramadan

If you’re trying to stay productive this Ramadan, but you often lose focus here’s what you should do:

  • Review your goals

Before starting Ramadan, we all had some goals. We want to please Allah and have our sins and mistakes forgiven. And that reminder should help you to stick with your productive routine and goals. Review your goals again, and remember why you’re doing all this. Think of your priorities and aims you have for both, this and next world.

  • Think about the end.

Think of how time runs so fast. Think of how we always are amazed by how fast Ramadan ends and many of us even cry. So take into consideration every single day and work hard to get the best from it. Think about the end, you don’t want to feel regret for not working hard during this unique month, for not fulfilling your goals. For not performing the daily reading, dhikr, prayer and meditation. Focus more and don’t lose motivation, but reflect and give your all for reaching what has no price. Think of the Rayan door, how cool would feeling entering there be. It should motivate you to stay more organised.

  • Take a rest

If you’re tired, it’s normal. Take a break, maybe a sleep, take some time to reflect or just meditate. It helps you to feel better and more relaxed. Maybe pray, a voluntary prayer which can help you sort out a lot of things. It is the amazing feeling of being in front of Allah, asking from Him motivation and inspiration to help you stick on His path.

  • Talk to someone

Talk to friends, family members, maybe. It would be great if you compete with each other about reading the Quran, reading a book or memorizing a surah. Talk to your competitor, they might inspire you and don’t let you go down. Listen to someone maybe, who inspires you. You can also listen to our livestreams on youtube having special guests just to make sure to connect with you and keep you inspired during this Ramdan. Virtuality is a great way, so it can be a livestream, or you can even whatch a YouTube video from reminders shared in there from the Muslim community.

  • Read 

Read something. It can be the Qur’an in your language. Read something that you can understand. Something motivational and inspiring to you. You’ll feel better and more focused. 

Motivation is a state that we often lack, and it comes with ups and downs. It really requires moments of reflection to take it back under control, but you can still control it as long as you never stop thinking about the end and the concept of limited time. You can still make this Ramadan great, just remember these techniques if you lose motivation for a moment.

Ramadan During The Lockdown

We all know that this Ramadan will be different from the previous Ramadans, as some of us are in lockdown and some of us are working in the frontline. This year, there are not going to be big Iftar gatherings and  Taraweeh prayers in mosques. It might be very strange for those who usually spend this blessed month in mosques and surrounded by many people. Many of us will spend Ramadan at home, alone or with our families, others will be working in hospitals, supermarkets, house cares and in every place where they are needed. We are all going to live Ramadan differently this year. Some of us might be sad, thinking that many opportunities of performing ibadah will be missed as we will either be at home or working outside; however let be positive and see our situation as a blessing. 

A blessing, why then you might think?

Well, we are always busy spending most of our days living and thinking in speed, that we forget to stop and ponder over ourselves, particularly over our imaan, deeds, our relationship with Allah and over our spiritual journey. Therefore experiencing Ramadan at home this year is going to be a blessing: although some of us will be working from home, we will not be running to go for work, and we can use the time we have to reflect and understand better our imaan and our relationship with Allah (i.e Are we following the right path? Have we sincerely repented and asked for forgiveness to Allah? Are our deeds sincere? Are we doing enough? If we would die, are we ready to meet Allah?). 

We can use the situation we are in our favor and try to become better Muslims.We should not despair and we should use the opportunity given by Allah to strengthen our knowledge in deen and imaan and inshAllah we will all get out of it better and stronger. Remember that Allah is everywhere and He is always with us.

The key workers should not despair as well if they think that they will have less time for ibadah. They are doing an important job, helping people and taking care of them and inshAllah they will be rewarded for that.

To conclude we should keep positive, optimistic, have faith and remember that “Verily, with every difficulty there is relief” [94:6] and that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “If the Resurrection were established upon one of you while he has in his hand a sapling, then let him plant it.”

Written by Zaineb Tassa

Make This Ramadan Unique

Living the most of Ramadan days at home seems to be a little bit worrying for most of us who love going to the mosque, praying together, and enjoying together iftars. That seems so amazing and so much love around. But still, everything happens for a reason and we can transform different circumstances in good ones, with just a little bit of effort. Having a home Ramadan can be turned into something unique and very beneficial. Avoiding daily distractions and once in a lifetime we’re havin a great chance to stay totally Rmadan focused. Here’s what you can do and benefit from:

  • Organise your time

You don’t have to worry any more about missing the bus or the taxi when going to work or in a meeting. We might even think that we have so much time that we don’t even know what to do.Well, that is not always right. Time is money, and Ramadan is a lifetime experience. We never know if we can reach it again, so organise your time to get the best from it. Set some goals, what do you want to work more with and build some nice habits. You can now work and always pray at time, and Allah loves praying at time for us. You can also set some time to always read the Quran and pray dhikr daily in the morning and in the evening. Time management is one of the greatest things you can deal with and the worthiest, because if you can master time, you can master everything. Especially during Ramadan. Don’t let unnecessary distractions steal your Ramadan, but set some goals for yourself and family and work together to reach them.

  • Set Qur’an goals

The Qur’an often is the book we neglect. Give your best reading it all, not just once, maybe even more and try daily to memorise some ayah. The benefits of reading the Quran daily and sticking with it, are endless. And those who stick with it will have a great reward in the hereafter for them and their parents will be honoured too. If you’re not able to translate it from arabic, also you  can set some time for reading it in your language to meditate and reflect on its meaning. Ramadan is the month when the Qur’an was revealed, so this is the main thing you should stick with mostly.

  • Think in long term

Mastering these habits for 30 days can be beneficial in the long term also. You will be more likely to keep it up with the same routine even when Ramadan ends. And all activities that you will be dealing with during this month are beneficial for you in this dunya and the akhirah. So is a win-win situation. Give you best now and keep it up even when Ramadan is gone. Be the best of you always!

  • Take a nap

Fasting can be tiring at some point, especially if you’re truly working hard to stay productive or even if you’re working remotely at the same time for your job. Then take a nap at lunch after prayer. It will help you to recharge your energies and then become more focused, feel better and more available to move on with your to do list.

  • Connect more

You might not be having the lovely iftars with friends and community, but your family is there. Something we often take for granted. Eat together, cook together, pray together and have some more time together. What a great time to worship God and grow together, boostin and inspiring each other. Family is a great thing so connect and give your main focus to them!

  • Change your life

May Eid el Fitr find you a better version of yourself, a more dedicated person to Allah and a better Muslim. Work hard this Ramadan and improve yourself. And don’t ever stop being better and pleasing Allah!

FEMYSO Statement on Earth Day 2020

Today, on the 22nd April FEMYSO joins the global community in observing Earth Day.

As an organisation sustainability and looking after our earth has remained a priority campaign. With this being the 50th edition of Earth Day we call upon all global citizens to reflect upon their own impact on our planet. 

Earth day is not only a day, it is a movement which aims to raise awareness around environmental issues that strongly impact communities across the globe. What must not be forgotten is that the biggest victims of climate change are not those in the developed world, but those in fragile climates where extreme weather as a result of human impact like that of drought has caused untold damage.

“Nature is our first source of life, first source of care and the first source of education. Humans are the only living beings on earth that have the freedom to choose to consciously destroy it. Disconnect yourself from nature, and you’ll disconnect yourself from your humanity, it is written in our scriptures that we have to protect what maintains us in life, therefore taking care of the earth is literally taking care of yourself” FEMYSO Green-Up Campaign Lead, Florence Pouilly 

Young people across the globe when asked about political priorities mention climate change on every single occasion, therefore we call upon policy-makers and decision-takers to the concerns of youth seriously in this regard, not only acting upon their asks but empowering them to lead in the protection of their own futures. 

As FEMYSO, we hope years from now the leaders of this organisation look back and applaud the significant steps taken by individuals and governments to save our planet – there simply is no other option.