|
|
|
Weekly Comment |
|
The
International Media
Forum
The Sandton Convention
Centre was the venue of
an ‘International Media
Forum”, last week. The
forum was sponsored by
Telkom and various media
institutes in South
Africa, as well as other
Councils and institutes.
It was attended by major
international media
groups including CNN,
CNBCS and
Al-Jazeerah as well as
other captains of the
industry and
governmental
departments.
The purpose of the
convention was to check
on the ‘readiness’ of
South Africans to house
the international media,
as a preparation for
2010 and to assess and
look at ways of
developing
telecommunications
strategy. Various
concerns were outlined
and challenges
delineated.
The convention was
attended by members of
the Jamiatul Ulama.
Significant to us, as
Muslims, is that we
should ask whether we
have any real,
structured media
strategy. We should
examine whether we are
able to
present and respond with
one voice, as a Muslim
community, in an
effective manner. We
must explore the
possibilities and
necessities of having
appointed spokespersons
for the various forms of
media. We must work
towards forging links
with the media giants.
Ultimately, Muslims must
also look into become
independent players in
the published media and
further establishing
news agencies, or at the
very least networks for
sourcing fair and
accurate news reports.
What
if the shoe was on the
other foot?
On Monday,
the Pope, at a meeting
with Muslim envoys,
emphasized his
tremendous respect for
Muslims around the
world. He said that he
would
“like to reiterate all
the esteem and the
profound respect that”
he has for Muslims. He
called for dialogue
stating that it was
“imperative that
Christians and Muslims
engage with one
another”. He further
stated that “Christians
and Muslims must learn
to work together ... in
order to guard against
all
forms of intolerance.”
The Pope, once again,
apologised to Muslims
for the Muslim
misunderstanding of his
comments and intentions.
He who grants penitence
should understand that a
person can only be
forgiven when he repents
for what he himself did.
Is it, maybe, ironic
that the very one who
maligned and slandered
is calling
for dialogue, and
emphasising the need to
work together in order
to guard
against intolerance? Why
is it that when the
wrong is ‘wronged’, the
‘wronged’ is called upon
to exercise restraint,
by the wrongdoer, who
villifies the ‘wronged’
for responding to the
wrong, while wrongdoer
is sympathized with, for
the response of the
‘wronged’?
What if the shoe was on
the other foot?
<Go to Top>
|
|
Ramadân
is Here: Where Are You? |
|
All praise is due to Allâh and may His choicest
salutations descend upon our Master and Leader
Muhammad Sallallâhu 'alayhi wasallam.
“To him who desires a harvest in the life to come,
We shall grant
an increase in
his harvest; whereas to him who
desires a harvest in this
world, We (may) give
something thereof but he will have no share in the
life to come. (Qur’ân 42:20).
“This world is the planting field of the Hereafter.”
(Hadith)
This
world is no more than the planting field of the
Hereafter. Ramadhân is a time for tilling the
land. Those who toil, plant seeds of virtue,
irrigate their lands with tears of repentance and
draw out the weeds of transgression and passion by
fasting... those who draw the clouds of mercy
through tilawah and dhikr will
eventually yield the harvest of Jannah and save
themselves from the scorching and parched terrain of
Jahannam. You will reap as you sow! It is
time to toil in earnest, it is time to
cultivate taqwa and make our hearts
fertile
and receptive to the commands of Allâh.
Ramadhân offers us an opportunity to draw
from the unlimited treasures of Allâh. It is a month
of receiving for those who are prepared to take.
“Allâh prepares and decorates a special garden in
Jannah everyday (of Ramadhân) and says to it:
‘The time is near when my faithful servants cast
aside the great trials (of the world) and come to
you...’”
RAMADHÂN IS HERE: WHERE ARE YOU?
Our fast must go beyond abstention of food and
drink. The eyes, ears,
tongue and heart must also
consciously be made to fast. The minimum requirement
of Ramadhân is to stay away from all that is
forbidden and to
fulfil all that is fardh.
The spirit of Ramadhân however requires that
we fulfil every nafl [optional] act with the
conviction that it will open the door to the love
and recognition of Allâh. Allâh runs to those who
walk towards Him and
He embraces those who stretch
their hands to Him. If we continue to be heedless
and continue committing sin even while the devil is
chained, it displays the extent to which we have
become the disciples of Shaytân.
Ramadhân is a time for introspection. A time
to look within and re-evaluate
our faith and
commitment. “During every day and night of Ramadhân,
Allâh sets free a great number of souls from
Jahannam. Certainly every Muslim’s du’âs are
accepted during the nights and days of Ramadhân.”
RAMADHÂN IS HERE: WHERE ARE YOU?
Ramadhân is also a time for generosity,
compassion and charity— not only in terms of wealth
but also in terms of our character. Lend a helping
hand, use your skills to benefit the needy, and
forgive those who may have hurt you, if you hope to
enjoy Allâh’s help and forgiveness. Allâh’s mercy
rains upon
those who are merciful to others. Allâh’s
forgiveness pours upon those who forgive others.
“Whoever feeds the hungry, clothes the naked and
grants shelter to the traveller, Allâh shall save
him from the terrors of Qiyâmah.”
RAMADHÂN IS HERE: WHERE ARE YOU?
Ramadhân is an exercise in sabr.
Sabr at the time of temptation; sabr in
fulfilling the commands of Allâh; and sabr in
trying and testing circumstances. Sabr breeds
yaqîn [conviction in Allâh]. It entrenches
our belief in taqdîr and infuses humility
into our character. If we become heedless, lethargic
and intolerant it will be a sign that we have lost
sabr.
“This is indeed the month of
patience, and the reward for true patience is
Jannah.”
RAMADHÂN IS HERE: WHERE ARE YOU?
“This is the month the first part of which brings
Allâh’s mercy, the middle of which brings His
forgiveness and last of which brings freedom from
the fire of Jahannam.”
The doors of Jannah are open while the doors of
Jahannam are shut. Allâh’s mercy abounds. He calls
out every day and night.
“Is there anyone begging
of Me so that I may grant him his heart’s desire?”
RAMADHÂN
IS HERE: WHERE ARE YOU?
MAKE HASTE BEFORE THE REFRAIN CHANGES TO:
RAMADHÂN
WAS HERE: WHERE WERE YOU? |
|
|
|
C O N
T E N T S |
|
Ramadân
is Here: Where Are You? |
|
Summarised
Jumuah Bayaan |
|
Question and
Answer |
|
Update |
|
Message from the Ameer |
|
I N F
O R M A T I O N |
|
Min. Mahr |
R100.40 |
|
Mahr Faatimi |
R5019.77 |
|
Zakaat Nisaab |
R2007.91 |
|
Words of Wisdom |
|
Hadith of the Week |
|
Fasting |
|
Abu Hurairah
Radiallahu anhu related that
the Prophet (peace and
blessings be upon him) said:
"Whoever fasts during
Ramadan with faith and
seeking his reward from
Allah will have his past
sins forgiven. Whoever prays
during the nights in Ramadan
with faith and seeking his
reward from Allah will have
his past sins forgiven. And
he who passes Lailat al-Qadr
in prayer with faith and
seeking his reward from
Allah will have his past
sins forgiven.
(Bukhari, Muslim).
|
|
|
Quotation for the Week |
|
Many
Friends? |
|
“A learned
man who has many friends may
be a fraud, because if he
were to tell them the truth,
they would no longer remain
his friend.” (Sufyan al-Thawri)
|
|
|
Point of Reflection |
|
Words are
like bullets... |
|
Words are
like bullets; if they
escape, you can't catch them
again. (Wolof, Senegal)
|
|
|
Q and A |
Question: Besides the
first two fasts of last
Ramadaan, I was unable to
fast the remainder, due to
health reasons. Please
advise as to the rate for
Sadaqah payments in this
instance.
|
Answer: After a sick person
is cured, it will be Fardh
to keep
the Qadha for the fasts
he/she missed when sick.
However, if there is no hope
of being cured and he
remains despondent, till
death, of regaining enough
strength to fast and even in
the short winter days he
does not have the strength
to fast then there he will
be required to pay
a monetary compensation
known as Fidyah.
{Ahsanul-Fatawa (vol. 4 pg.
442)}
Fidya will be given for each
fast separately - either
half Sa’a of wheat or one
Sa’a of barley or
its equivalent value will be
given to the poor. The
weight
of half Sa’a is 1,63296 kg
and
the weight of a Sa’a is
3,26592 kg.
One may give the grain
itself or the equivalent
value. It is better to give
the value rather than
the grain itself. One can
calculate the value of the
wheat and barley in his area
according to the price of
wheat and barley. This
generally works out to the
same amount as Sadaqatul.
The rate at the time of
paying
will be taken into
consideration.
And Allah Ta'aala knows
best.
|
Question: To whom should
fidya be discharged?
|
Answer: This money should be
given to the recipients of
Zakaah. Those people who are
considered as worthy to
accept Zakaat, the poor and
needy.
And Allah Ta'aala knows
best.
<Go to
Top>
|
|
Sadaqatul Fitr |
|
Minimum
Amount:
Hanafi: R10.50 per
Person
Shafi’î: R21.00 per
Person
|
|
“Allâh Ta’âla
has made
obligatory upon you the
Sadaqatul Fitr as a means of
cleansing your fasts from
idle
and lewd talk and also in
order that it provides food
for the
poor and destitute.”
(Sunan Abû Dawûd)
Rewards are multiplied in
the month of Ramadan.
Ramadan is a month for being
kind to those less-
fortunate.
It is a month of giving.
Many people discharge their
religious obligation of
zakah in the month of
Ramadan.
Sadaqatul Fitr is also
obligatory upon every
Muslim. |
|
|
|
Summarized Jumu’ah Bayaan:
|
|
The
Proper Aadaab when
reciting the Qur'an
|
|
Ramadan is a month which
has a special connection
to the Qur’an. The
Qur’an was revealed in
this month (2:185). |
|
Imam An-Nawwawi (may
Allah be Merciful to
him) said: Crying when
reading the Qur’an is a
characteristic of those
who know Allah (know Him
through His names and
Characteristics) and the
feelings of the
righteous. |
Especially in this
month, every person
should endeavour to
recite the Qur’an in
abundance, and also
fulfil all relevant
rights of the Qur’an.
Among the rights that
the Qur’an has over us
are: |
- Respect the
Qur’an, Recite the
Qur’an, Understand
the Qur’an,
- Practice upon
the injunctions of
the Qur’an, Preach
the message of the
Qur’an
- Aadab related to
the Qur’an
- There are two
types of aadaab
(etiquette) one
needs to observe
when reciting the
Qur’an: internal and
external.
- Manners of the
Heart
|
A. Understand the
origin of the words
This is an
indication to the
greatness of the words
being read, and the
bounty of Allah;
Glorified is He, to His
creation when He
addressed His creation
with these words. |
B. Put into the heart
the understanding that
these are not the words
of man.
Through this the
reader should think
about the
characteristics of Allah
the Exalted. |
C. Have a presence of
heart while reading
Through this the
reader should throw away
other thoughts while
reading the Qur’an. |
D. Ponder over the
meaning
There is less reward in
reciting the Qur'an
without understanding
the meaning. The Qur'an
was revealed for
guidance and this can be
achieved through
recitation accompanied
with pondering. |
E. Understand the
meaning
This means interacting
and reacting to every
verse according to what
is proper for it. |
F. Individualise the
message
This means that the
reader feels that every
message in the Qur’an is
meant especially for him
personally. |
|
External Manners when
reading the Qur’an |
- Ensure the
purity of the body,
clothes and place.
- Use the siwak.
- Face the Qiblah.
|
|
Seek refuge from
rejected Satan and read
the basmalah. |
- Do not read and
yawn.
- Avoid cutting
off reading to talk
with people.
- Stop after
verses of warning
seeking the
protection with
Allah, and stop
after verses of
mercy asking The
Merciful Allah for
His Bounty.
- Be Humble and
cry when reading.
|
May Allah grant us all
the ability of reciting
in the correct manner.
Aameen.
<Go to Top> |
|
Advertise Here. We are Well Read! |
|
U
P D A T E |
Tarbiyyah
Camp in Japan
Ml. Ibrahim Bham of the
Jamiatul Ulama attended as
the guest speaker a
tarbiyyah camp organized by
the Japan Islamic Trust. The
camp focused on equipping
Muslims on how to live their
life as Muslims in the
context of the society and
world that they live in. It
was attended by Muslims from
Japan as well as Muslim
migrant workers from around
the world. |
| |
Tsunami
Relief – Haafun, Somalia
Haafun is a
semi-island/mini-peninsula
just off the coast of
mainland Somalia. People are
extremely poor and survive
off income earned from
fishing. As with Indonesia
and other areas the Tsunami
damage was major here too.
The homes of the people were
destroyed as was the masjid
and various other
structures. With the kind
contributions of the Muslim
Community of South Africa,
the Jamiatul Ulama has
rebuilt the masjid as well
as a school/madrassah. Funds
have also been provided to
build 24 houses. In addition
water-works in surrounding
areas on mainland Somalia
have also been provided for.
Iftaar for large sectors of
the community has also been
arranged. The Jamiat
delegation that recently
returned from a trip to
assess progress on relief
projects reported that,
notwithstanding all the
effort, there is still a
desperate need for providing
for the basic needs of the
people.
|
| |
Distribution of Zakah,
Sadaqah, Sadqatul Fitr
The Jamiatul Ulama
facilitates the distribution
of Zakah, Sadaqah, Sadqatul
Fitr and all other optional
contributions. Distribution
of funds are done in
accordance to the rules of
shari`ah.
The Jamiatul Ulama strives
to serve the needs of
Muslims. It engages in
various activities which aim
to provide the basic
education, guidance and
assistance to the Muslim
Community and it endeavors
to protect their rights. The
Jamiatul Ulama operates on
the generous donations of
the Muslim community.
Contributions can be made by
depositing your funds into
the relevant accounts listed
below:
ADMIN (LILLAH ONLY)
Name: Jamiatul Ulama
Transvaal
Bank: Nedbank - Fordsburg
Branch Code: 195 305
Account Number: 1953 534327
ZAKAAT/SADAQAH ACCOUNT:
Name: Jamiatul Ulama
Transvaal Relief Account
Bank: Nedbank - Fordsburg
Branch Code: 195 305
Account Number: 1953 285937
Kindly fax/e-mail details of
transfer/deposit to: 011 373
8022/
jamiat@islamsa.org.za
<Go to
Top> |
|
Message from the Ameer of
the Jamiatul Ulama |
Controlling the Tongue
One of the biggest and most
evil destroyers of
compassion, love and
brotherhood is backbiting.
In Ramadaan, the opportunity
is presented for this evil
habit become more popular
becomes, as people have much
free time at hand. We should
guard against this evil
trait as much as possible.
The word used for
backbiting, in Arabic, is
Gheebah. Gheebah is Haram in
Islam. It is one of the
major sins and repentance
must be sought for this sin.
Imam Al-Qurtubi said, “There
is a consensus (Ijmaa’) that
backbiting is a major sin
and that it is Fard that a
person do Towbah from it.”
Rasulullah (sallallahu
alayhi wa sallam) himself
had defined backbiting when
he once said to his
companions, “Do
you know what Gheebah is?”
They said, “Allah and His
Messenger know best.” He
said, “It is to mention
something about your brother
(in his absence) that he
would hate.” It was said,
'What if what I say about my
brother is true?’ He (sallallahu
‘alaihi wa sallam) said: “If
what you said about him is
true then you would have
made gheebah of him, and if
it is not true, then you
would have slandered him (buhtaan).”
[Muslim]
Rasulullah (sallallahu
alayhi wa sallam) said, “O
ye who have believed with
(only) their tongues, yet
faith has not yet entered
their hearts! Do not
backbite the Muslims. And do
not search out their faults.
For verily, he who follows
the private matters of his
Muslim brother, Allah shall
follow his private matters.
And whoever has his private
matters followed by Allah,
Allah shall expose them even
if they were (hiding) in the
belly of their home.” (Ahmad
and Abu Dawud)
Allah addresses us in this
regard by saying: “[O you
who believe! Avoid suspicion
as much (as possible): for
suspicion in some cases is a
sin: and spy not on each
other, nor speak ill of each
other behind their backs.
Would any of you like to eat
the flesh of his dead
brother? Nay, ye would abhor
it...But fear Allah, for
Allah is Oft- Returning,
Most Merciful.” (Surah Al-Hujuraat,
12)
If there is one resolution
to be made for this Ramadaan,
it should be to control our
tongues as much as possible
– AND MAY ALLAH GRANT US ALL
THE STRENGTH.
<Go to
Top> |
|
|
|