Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "He who desires ample provisions and his life be prolonged, should maintain good ties with his blood relations". [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Commentary: One who is benevolent and compassionate towards one's own relatives, stands to gain at least two definite advantages in this world besides the reward in the next. These two advantages are the increase in his subsistence and longevity of life.

Increase in subsistence means that Almighty Allah will increase the quantity of his worldly goods or his means of subsistence will be blessed by Him. Similar is the case of longevity of life. The life of such person is either actually increased (in terms of years) or his life is graced with the Blessings of Allah. Both interpretations are correct.

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Muqtada al-Sadr has ordered his al-Mahdi Army fighters to withdraw from the streets of several provinces. This comes six days after Iraqi forces mounted a crackdown against fighters deanding the release of their detained members.

Sixty-five miners are missing and feared dead after tanzanite mines were flooded following heavy rains in northern Tanzania. Search teams say six bodies have been recovered so far, but it's feared that none of the miners who were underground have survived.

Zimabawe’s Broadcasting Corporations reports that the MDC has taken an early lead winning four of the six parliamentary seats. The other two parliamentary seats were reportedly won by the ZANU-PF party of President Robert Mugabe.

The Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) remains tight-lipped over its meeting with the ANC today. However it is widely believed that the recent public altercations between the ruling party and the labour federation will be discussed.

Power outages were expected to resume across the country today. However, Eskom says that there is a delay and they are assessing the situation. Eskom says the cuts are necessary to allow maintenance work, and expects them to continue until June.

CHICKEN PILLOW
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1 cup Water - 1 cup flour - ¼ lb butter - 4 eggs.

Bring water & butter to a boil when boiling mix in the flour & eggs add a pinch of Sah, when the mixture leaves the sides of the pan and forms a lump then remove from heat. When cold, roll out into 2 big rotis on top of 1 roti, add mixture of your choice then put the other rolled out roti on top. Then cut with cutter roll in eggs & breadcrumbs fry in deep oil.

FEMALES
Ghusoon - Branches (tree)
Maisa - Walking with proud swinging gait

WHEN I WAS ILL
----------------
One day when I was feeling ill
a sparrow flew on to my window sill.
He didn't see me tucked up in bed
as he pecked away at a piece of bread.

I thought of how he could fly
when I, in bed could only lie.
I thought how Allah had made him small
and then of dinosaurs, and giraffes so tall.

I thought of many, many things
some with four legs, others with wings.
I thought how wonderful Allah is
because everything around me is really His.

Being a clever sort, he started shouting loudly, "Let me through! Let me through! I am the son of the victim."

The crowd made way for him.

Lying in front of the car was a donkey.