This is an amazing letter from the Amir ul Mu’mineen, Umar ibn Al-Khattab (ra) to to his commander Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas, (ra) who was the commander of the Muslim Army in the conquest of Persia: 

It is very famous and i am sure everybody knows it very well, it is great to be reminded though isn’t it?

“…Then after, I order you and all troops that are along with you to be obedient to Allah in all circumstances, as this is better than the weapons against the enemy and a strong stratagem in the war. I order you and the soldiers who are with you to be more cautious and afraid of your own crimes and sins than your enemy, as the crimes and sins of the soldiers are more dangerous to them than the enemy.

The Muslims are victorious only because their enemies are disobedient to Allah , and had it not been so, we have no power over them, because neither our number is equal to their number, nor are our weapons like theirs. If we commit crimes and sins as they do, then they (our enemies) will have superiority over us in power and we will not gain victory over them. WE DO NOT OVERPOWER THEM WITH OUR STRENGTH.

And you should also know that in this marching of yours, there are guards upon you from Allah and they all know what you do. So be shy from them and do not commit Allah ’s disobedience while you are going in Allah ’s Cause and do not say: ‘ Our enemy is worse than us, so they will not overpower us.’ Perhaps some people who are worse than the others may overpower the others as the (disbelievers) Magians overpowered the Children of Israel when they (the latter) involved themselves with Allah ’s disobedience. So they (disbelievers) entered the very innermost parts of their homes and it was a promise fulfilled.

And ask Allah the assistance over your own selves, just as you ask Allah for the victory over your enemies. I ask Allah for that, both for you and for us.”

…………………

Our beloved Prophet Muhammad said ‘ Among the nation of Bani Israel who lived before you, there were men sent who used to be inspired through guidance though they were not Prophets, and if there is any of such persons amongst my followers, it is Umar.’

Abu Hurayra

Listen to the nasheed

download mp3 here

Mashallah Shaykh Habib Ali al Jifri speaks very well and attacks some of the behaviour and mentality of the wahabis.

I feel that this subject is very important so I have listed below non permitted E Numbers for you to look out for

Food additives are added to food to make it safer, keep it longer, stop the growth of bacteria, mould, and stop food going stale. They also aid processing as emulsifiers, raising agents, preservatives and improve food in terms of colour, taste, texture and nutritional value. Additives increase the variety of food available to consumers keeping prices down, allowing safe delivery of food to urban populated areas and create alternatives to traditional food like meat substitutes for meat, low fat products for butter and yoghurt and sugar free drinks for diabetics. The ‘E’ numbers were introduced to make it easier for EEC countries to come to a uniform system of regulating the additives industry.

The E Numbers are divided into 9 categories

Permitted Colours Numbers 100-180

Preservatives Numbers 200-290

Permitted Anti-oxidants Numbers 300-321

Emulsifiers and Stabilisers Numbers 322-494

Sweeteners Numbers 420-421

Solvents Numbers 422

Mineral Hydrocarbons Numbers 905-907

Modified Starches Numbers 1400-1442

Miscellaneous Additives Numbers 170-927

The use of additives is strictly controlled by law. They may not be used in food unless they are on a approved Government supervised list, proving their safe and effective usage. Once approved by the EC it is then given an ‘E’ number and is constantly monitored by local Government and the EEC. EEC directives require all food to list ingredients of the various products used because additives being so complicated by way of understanding leave alone pronouncing would have ingredients look like a chemist’s dictionary. We are publishing a list of numbers, some of which are Haraam and some of which are doubtful, because of its doubtful nature Muslims have to refrain from them as well.

E120 Cochineal (Carmine of Cochineal Carminicago, C.I.75490

Derived from the cochineal beetle, Dactilopius Coccus.

E160a Alfa-Carotene, Beta-Carotene, Gamma-Carotene.

E471 Mono and Di-Glycerides of fatty acids.

When Glycerol is used one has to find out the source whether animal or synthetic.

E472[a-e] Lactic acid esters of Mono-and Di-glycerides of fatty acids. Prepared from esters of Glycerol.

E473 Sucrose esters of fatty acids prepared from Glycerol and Sucrose.

E474 Sycroglycerides prepared by reaction of Sucrose on natural triglycerides Derived from palm oil, lard, etc.

E475 Polyglycerol esters of Fatty acids. Prepared in the laboratory.

E476 Polyglycerol esters of polycondensed fatty acids of castor oil [polyglycerol polyricinoleate] Prepared from Castor Oil and Glycerol esters.

E477 Propane-1,2-idol esters of fatty acids [Propylene Glycol esters of Fatty acids] Prepared from Propylene Glycol.

E478 Lactylated fatty acid esters of glycerol and propane-1,2-idol. Prepared from esters of glycerol and Lactic acid.

E542 Edible Bone Phosphate Degreased steam extract of animal bone. Used as an anticaking agent preventing particles sticking together.

E570 Stearic Acid Naturally occurring fatty acid found in animal fats and vegetable oils. Used as anticaking agent.

E572 Magnesium Stearate Prepared synthetically from commercial stearic acid.

E631 Insine [Disodium Phospate, Sodium and Inosinate] The Disodium Salt of Inosinate Acid which can be prepared from insect or fish extract.

E635 A mixture of disodium guanylare and disodium inosinate. Same source as 631.

E640 920 L-Cysteine Hydrochloride and L-Cysteine hydrochloride mono hydrate. A naturally occurring amino acid manufactured from animal hair and chicken feathers.

All other ‘E’ number additives at the time of publication are Halaal, because of the ruling of Tabdeel-e-Mahiyat, except the following:

E473 E474 E475 E476 E477 E478 E542 E570 E572 E631 E635 E640 E920

E904 Shellac. a substance obtained from the resin produced by the Lac insect, mainly found in India. The secretions are bleached and dried before usage on confectionary, chocolate panning, ice creams latter and the shining of fruit, mainly apples

This E number is also under investigation regarding whether its secretion falls under the category of being Taahir [pure] or Najas [impure].

(Originally From the Muslim Food Guide By Shaykhayn Yusuf Sacha and Fahim Mayat)

I have a habit of reading the ingredients of virtually all food that i eat, this can be very annoying to some people (well, my non Muslim family mostly)

Looking at ingredients has served me well over the years as i have been offered all kinds of things from cakes, chocolates, sweets to ready cooked meals and, in some cases i have found haram ingredients.

I learned something recently on a Radio 5 Live discussion about Vegetarianism and was surprised to find out that many of the E numbers in sweets contain animal products. I was about to dive into a packet of M&M’s last night, as i have in the past, and thought i would have a quick look at the ingredients, that is where i found E120.

E120 comes from the crush insect, Dactylopius which, as you can see, is a lovely looking cactus feeding scale beetle, that offers its red shell for us to dye our food.

I am sure many of you enjoy M&M’s as i did but knowing that you will be eating this beetle or many of these beetles in the process may change your mind.

The effect of eating haram unintentionally does has its spiritual effect, especially on your dua’s, so in order to safeguard ourselves we must stay away from this E Number and M&M’s

here is a list of E numbers from animal origin