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Weekly Comment |
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Sunday
Times: Book Review
Last week, the Sunday
Times published a book
review of “The Caged
Virgin”
by Ayaan Hirsi. The book
review was written by
Ben Naparstek and was
entitled “Taking the
Prophet to Task”.
In the book
review/article the
author of the article
narrates Hirsi’s views
with regard to Islam and
the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu
`alayhi wa sallam).
Among other things, she
views the Qur’aan as “a
rubber stamp for
violence against women”.
She considers Islam to
be “a religion whose God
demands blood and
mayhem”, and a “backward
religion”. She refers to
the Prophet Muhammad in
a most derogatory
manner.
Her views are altogether
slanderous, clearly
blasphemous and wholly
sacrilegious. They
demand that Muslims
react with displeasure,
disillusionment and even
anger in the protection
of the pure and noble
personage of our
Most Beloved Prophet
Muhammad (salllallahu
`alayhi wa sallam). The
author herself is a
self-confessed
non-Muslim who admits to
having a subjective
viewpoint on Islam based
on personal experiences
in her early life. In
addition, she does not
come close to qualifying
as an expert on Islam or
even a particular aspect
of Islam or Muslims. The
groups and parties that
she has aligned herself
with, and is employed
by, are so anti-Muslim
that to think
she can belong to the
same groups and still
maintain an impartial,
unprejudiced, fair and
sane view regarding
Islam and Muslims would
be foolish and obtuse.
Her history of anti
Islamic activity is also
obvious in her meeting
with people like Salman
Rushdie, as united
authors against Islam,
and in her being the
fountainhead of the
anti-Islamic film
‘Submission’ which
depicts
“four semi-naked women,
half clothed in
traditional garb”, with
verses of the Qur’an
written on their
“lacerated flesh”.
It is also a mystery and
matter of concern as to
why the Sunday Times saw
it
fit to publish a review
of a book which clearly
holds no literary, or
other value, but is
clearly aimed at
inciting Muslims in its
open, vulgar and
entirely obscene
approach and language.
The publishing of such
an article indicates a
lack of respect, and
seems to point in the
direction of their being
some type of a
deliberate and
calculated attempt to
offend and aggrieve
Muslims. The motive of
the article being
published is even more
strange considering the
history of the
deliberations and
agreements between the
Sunday Times and the
Muslim community
following the
‘blasphemous cartoon
issue’.
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The
Secret is in the Balance
In the world that we
live in, we must take
the necessary
precautions and employ
the necessary means.
Allah has made the world
a ‘dar al-asbaab’, a
place of cause and
effect, a place where we
must use the resources
provided to us. We must
put our trust in Allah,
but as the hadeeth of
the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu
`alayhi wa sallam)
states:
Anas ibn Malik narrates
“One day Prophet
Muhammad, sallallahu
alayhi wa sallam,
noticed a Bedouin
leaving his camel
without tying it and he
asked the Bedouin,“Why
don't you tie down your
camel?” The Bedouin
answered,
“I put my trust in
Allah.” The Prophet then
said, “Tie your camel
first,
and put your trust in
Allah.” (Tirmidhi)
Putting our trust in
Allah does not mean that
we are absolved of all
our responsibilities to
see to fulfilling the
needs. “Leaving it in
the ‘Hands of
Allah’ does not imply
that we must not prepare
or be prepared. Without
taking the necessary
precautions or doing our
duties, we cannot expect
the help of Allah. Allah
(azza wa jalla) says:
“And that man can have
nothing but what he
strives for.”
[An-Najm:39]
Making use of the means
and considering relevant
measures does not
contradict tawakkul or
trust in Allah. The
Prophet (sallallahu
`alayhi wa sallam) hid
in the cave when
undertaking the journey
of hijrah, he instructed
the companions to make
hijrah in small groups
and the Prophet wore
discarded
his regular clothes for
armour when going to
battle.
At the same time, it
must also be remembered
that ‘tying the camel’
is only a means. We must
not depend on the tying
of the camel. The means
are only a means. The
source of all results is
Allah.
Ibn Abass narrated that
one day he was riding
behind Allah's Messenger
and the Prophet said,
"Young man, if you are
mindful of Allah, He
will be mindful
of you, and if you are
mindful of Allah, you
will find Him before
you. When
you ask for anything,
ask it from Allah, and
if you seek help, seek
help in
Allah. Know that if the
people were to unite to
do you some benefit,
they could benefit you
only what Allah has
recorded for you, and if
they were to unite to do
you some injury, they
could injure you only
with what Allah has
recorded for you. The
pens are withdrawn and
the pages are dry. Ahmad
and Tirmidhi (sahih).
Allah says: :
“And He provides for him
from (sources) he never
could imagine. And if
any one puts his trust
in Allah, sufficient is
(Allah) for him. For
Allah will surely
accomplish his purpose:
verily, for all things
has Allah appointed a
due proportion.”[65:3]
The secret is in the
balance. We must be
careful that, in our
attempt to give weight
to employing the means,
we do not tilt the
balance against tawakkul.
We should be careful
that we do not stumble
into the stupor of
intoxication with the
visible and forget that
the visible is only the
means and the not the
source. |
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Summarized Jumu’ah
Bayaan: |
Zakaat: Spiritual Growth
and Purification [Part I
of IV] |
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Linguistically, the word
Zakah means purity and
growth. Allah says,
"Take from their wealth
a sadaqah, in order to
purify them and sanctify
them (with it)."
As an Islamic term,
zakah is an, ordained
right to specific wealth
from a
specific group at a
specific time to achieve
Allah's pleasure and to
purify the self, wealth
and the society as a
whole'. |
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Therefore … Zakah is: |
- A TRANSFER OF
POSSESSIONS and not
a favor or a gift,
given by the owner
of the wealth to
those who deserve
it, in accordance
with the Qur'aan and
the Sunnah.
- CONSIDERED IN A
SPECIFIED PORTION of
the wealth,
determined according
to specific
principles.
- NOT DUE ON ALL
TYPES OF WEALTH -
There are certain
conditions
that should be
fulfilled in order
not to pay zakah on
one's wealth.
- DUE ON WEALTH
THAT HAS FULFILLED
THE NISAAB (limit of
exemption or minimum
amount of one's
holding that is
liable to zakah).
Having this
condition ensures
social justice and
reduces the
differences among
social classes. It
also guarantees
sufficient
equalization.
- DISPOSED of in a
specific way, to
specific persons.
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Zakah was instituted
amongst the Muslims to
carry out a variety of
objectives. Islam
ordained zakah to
achieve, through it,
social justice and
sublime moral and
spiritual values. It is
a criterion for the
believers and a way to
success in this life and
the next. Allah says,
"Who establish worship
and spend of that we
have bestowed on them,
these are they who are
in truth believers. For
them are grades of honor
with their Lord, and
forgiveness, and a
beautiful
provision." [8:3-4] |
Throughout our history,
whenever Muslims
truthfully applied the
system of zakah, as
Allah and His Messenger
have ordained, the
splendid objectives of
zakah were fulfilled and
its great effects
appeared within the
lives of
individuals and the
society. First and
foremost, Zakah is an
act of worship. Giving
zakah is an act of
obedience to the command
of Allah, and a
fulfillment of His
Covenant. |
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ZAKAH ALSO … |
- IS A
PURIFICATION FROM
STINGINESS, ENVY AND
GREED. [4:128],
[3:92]
- SERVES TO HELP
THE WEAK. [70:24-25]
- IMPROVES AN
INDIVIDUAL'S SOCIAL
SPIRIT.
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The Prophet, sallallaahu
alayhi wasallam, said,
"The believers in their
mutual kindness,
compassion and sympathy
are just like one body.
When one of the limbs is
afflicted, the whole
body responds to it with
sleeplessness and
fever." (Bukhari and
Muslim). |
Zakah also removes
hatred and envy from the
hearts of the poor for
they
know that their right
from the wealthy is
preserved. The Prophet,
sallallaahu alayhi
wasallam, said, "The
relationship of the
believer with another
believer
is like (the bricks of)
a building, each
strengthens the others."
(Bukhari and Muslim.) |
- EXPIATES SINS
[7:156]
- SPREADS
TRANQUILITY AND
PEACE
- IMPROVES ONE'S
PERSONALITY BRINGS
ABOUT LOVE
- PURIFIES WEALTH
- IS A TEST FROM
ALLAH TO HIS
SERVANTS
- MOTIVATES HARD
WORK.
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I N F
O R M A T I O N |
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Min. Mahr |
R102.99 |
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Mahr Faatimi |
R5149.36 |
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Zakaat Nisaab |
R2059.75 |
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Words of Wisdom |
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Hadith of the Week |
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Sayyidina Abu
Musa Al-Ash‘ari Radhiallahu
anhu narrates
that Allah's Messenger
Sallallaahu 'alaihi
wasallam, said: "The example
of a good pious companion
and an evil
one is that of a person
carrying musk and another
blowing a
pair of bellows. The one who
is carrying musk will either
give you some perfume as a
present, or you will buy
some from him, or you will
get a good smell
from him, but the one who is
blowing a pair of bellows
will either burn your
clothes or you will get a
bad smell from him."
(Sahih Al-Bukhari Vol.7:
No. 442) |
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Quotation for the Week |
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Intention
and
True Actions |
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Intention is
the measure for rendering
actions true, so that, where
intention is sound, action
is sound; and where it is
corrupt, action is corrupt”.
Imam an-Nawawi |
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Saying of the Week |
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You have to
have three types of bones in
life: a backbone, a tailbone
and a wishbone. |
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Q and A |
Q:
Is it permissible for a man
to wear a ring made of white
gold
or platinum? |
A: In Islam, only women are
allowed to beautify
themselves with jewellery.
Men are not permitted. It is
for this reason that men are
not allowed to
wear, among other types and
forms of jewellery, platinum
or white gold. This is
irrespective whether it is
in the form of
rings, chains, bangles,
bracelets, etc.
However, he is permitted to
wear a silver ring, which is
less than one Mithqaal in
weight, since Rasulullah
Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam
wore one for the sake of
stamping or setting his seal
on important government
letters. This was done on
the basis of need and not
beauty.
The part of the stamp was
turned inwards when not
needed. It is for this
reason
that some scholars mention
that it is better for a man
not to
wear a silver ring without
any specific need.
Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi
Wasallam firmly dissuaded a
Sahaabi from wearing a ring
that was made of brass. He
told him, ‘Why is it that I
perceive
the smell of idols from
you’. Rasoolullah Sallallahu
Alaihi Wasallam also said,
‘Why is it that I see on you
the jewellery
of the people of fire’ when
he seen on another person a
ring made from steel. These
narrations emphasize the
abhorrence of wearing a ring
other than silver.
It is for this reason that
the Ulama state that
platinum ring
as well as white gold ring
and all other types of rings
besides
silver will not be permitted
for
a man to wear.
[Also see Fataawaa
Mahmoodiyyah Vol. 14 Pg.
419-421]
And Allah Ta'aala knows
best. |
Q: Is it permissible for a
person to bow to his karate
instructor? |
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A: It is the belief of
Muslims
that only Allah Ta’aala is
the being that is the
greatest and most worthy of
honour. Only He has the
right to command his
creation to bow down before
Him. This is why Islam has
made it Haraam to prostrate
to anyone besides Allah
Ta’aala.
And based on this, the
Jurists have also written
that it is Makrooh
(abominable and prohibited)
for a person to make a
bowing gesture even when
making Salaam to anyone.
As the bowing done in Karate
is close to a Ruk’u posture,
there will be no permission
for it in Shari’ah. We
should keep our Islamic
ethics and morals uppermost
and not adopt the manner of
others. Hence, the condition
of bowing must not be put
when practicing Karate.
Most definitely we should be
appreciative to the one who
does good to us, whether
that good be by way of
Karate instruction or other.
The one
who is not appreciative to
people is in reality not
appreciative to Allah
Ta’aala. Hence appreciation
can be
shown to the Karate
instructor
by way of verbally thanking
him. There is no need to
show the appreciation by way
of bowing. The pupil
normally pays a fee for the
Karate lessons, so he should
at least have the
prerogative of refusing to
do any such act (such as
bowing) that is against his
religious beliefs and
teachings.
May Allah Ta’aala grant us
the correct understanding of
His
Deen and make everything
easy for us with safety;
Aameen.
And Allah Ta'aala knows
best. |
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Advertise Here. We are Well Read! |
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U
P D A T E |
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School for Physiccaly and
Mentally Challenged
The Jamiatul Ulama
facilitated a meeting of
individuals concerned with
establishing a school/madrassah
for physically and mentally
challenged children. The
meeting was attended by over
60 persons and culminated in
the formation of various
committees including a
committee for creating
awareness in the community
regarding the current
situation and needs; a
committee to study the
feasibility of setting up a
fully-fledged school/madrassah;
a committee to examine
programs and methods of
training teachers/asaatidha
in teaching children with
special needs.
Darul Uloom
Zakariyyah Jalsah
The Darul Uloom Zakariyyah
will be holding it’s 16th
Graduation and Khatm al-Bukhari
Jalsah on Saturday
the 16th Shabaan 1427 / 9th
September 2006. The Jalsah
will take place at the Darul
Uloom after 'Asr Salah
(4:45 Jamaat) and supper
will be served after Ishaa
Salah.
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Message from the Ameer of
the Jamiatul Ulama |
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As Ramadaan Approaches
Ramadan is truly a blessed
month because Allah, the
Provider, through his
Infinite Mercy gives us this
wonderful opportunity to
gain paradise by promising
us that our sins will be
forgiven. The prophet (SAW)
said:
“Whosoever observes fast
during the month of Ramadan
with sincere faith, and
hoping to attain Allah’s
Rewards, then all his past
sins will be forgiven. (Al-Bukhari).
REMEMBER we will stand
before Allah and answer for
what we have done.
Therefore, we should pray
all the time as Allah, the
most High, the Responsive
One, listens to the
distressed person when he
calls upon him and Allah
relieves him of his
suffering. Allah says:
“ And your lord said; Invoke
me (ask me for anything) I
will respond to your
(invocation) Verily! Those
who scorn My worship (do not
invoke Me, and do not
believe in My Ones), they
will surely enter Hell in
humiliation’ (Ghafir,
Verse:60)
Let us pray to our Lord!:
“Take us not to task if we
forget or fall into error.”
(2:286)
Let us remember what Allah
reminds us in the Qur’an:
“O you who believe! Keep
your duty to Allah, fear
Him, and speak (always) the
truth. “He will direct you
to do righteous good deeds
and will forgive you your
sins. Moreover, whosoever
obeys Allah and his
Messenger he has indeed
achieved a great
achievement”. (Surat Al-Ahzab:
Verses 70-71)
In Ramadaan, fasting is a
way of demonstrating our
faith. When we fast we show
that we know that Allah can
see us, and only our love
and fear of Allah the
Generous One keeps us on the
straight path. Together with
this, we must not forget
that refraining from food
and drink is not enough. We
have to question ourselves
as to why it is that we are
fasting; is it to lose
weight, is it to fit in with
the crowd or are we doing it
because Allah the Most High,
has commanded us to do so.
Action is as important as
our intention. If we refrain
from food, spending our
nights in prayer and making
dua’s but yet continuing to
engage in the haram then our
fast has little meaning. The
prophet (SAW) said,
“ If one does not abandon
falsehood and indecent
actions Allah has no need
that he should abstain from
his food and his drink” (Al-Bukhari) |
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