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Weekly Comment |
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Darfur
The
mainstream media
reporting of the
conflict in Darfur
leaves much to be
desired. The Sudanese
government was
continuously badgered by
the West
for their ‘religious
discrimination’ against
the population of the
‘Christian South’. Now
they are being accused
of ‘genocide’ based on
‘tribal and
ethnic’ lines. The
facts, when they emerge
– if they emerge- will
tell that this was not a
fight based on
religious, racial or
ethnic distinctions.
Other facts feature in
the evolution of the
discord. The
pre-existing struggle
for the control of power
and resources in the
specific area remains a
crucial source of
dissention. In addition,
feelings of
dissatisfaction were
fuelled by rebel groups
who subtly presented
military support in
their own continuous
battle to revolt against
the Sudanese government.
Where these rebels
obtain the backing and
resources to sustain
their insurgent
activities from, is an
entirely different
issue.
Notwithstanding the
above comments, the
standoff, clashes and
fighting must be
condemned, without
reservation. It is
innocent human-beings
who bear
the brunt of these
futile actions. The
senseless and pointless
killings, the
displacement of large
groups of families, and
the loss of vital
resources is absurd and
must come to an end. The
Sudanese government and
the rebel factions need
to see sense and come to
realistic and
sustainable agreements.
In the face of the
ever-increasing attacks
on Islam, do we really
need to expand our
energies in battle
against one another, or
should we – those that
are united on the Qur’an
and Sunnah – unite to
fight against the common
enemy?
Similar questions need
to be asked of the
recent developments in
Palestine.
At the same time, it
must be pointed out
that, it is not entering
into the
realm of conspiracy
theories to suggest that
it is very probable that
the
events sowing seeds of
disunity amongst the
Muslim population, are
being manipulated by the
enemies of Islam.
Muslims are being
watched
UK Muslims
complain about being
spied upon in masaajid,
especially during
the taraweeh salah
reported Islam
Online.net. “We are fed
up with scrutiny and
repeated visits by
strangers," said Hasan
Ali, the curator of of a
mosque
in Upton Park. "Scotland
Yard elements are among
the worshippers," Ali
said. "They perform the
Tarawih from the first
rakaa till the very end
merely to watch the
worshippers' moves." Ali
further said, "Similar
situations have been
reported to us by
friends in other mosques
in eastern and southern
London."
This is nothing new.
Muslims are being
watched in masaajid
around the world for a
long time now, and they
will continue to be
watched.
It is sad that, in many
cases, the very people
doing the ‘watching’ on
behalf
of the enemies of Islam
are Muslims, who are
paid exorbitant and
ridiculous amounts of
money to spy on their
brothers. The low level
to which the enemies of
Islam will stoop is
evident.
In recent months many
South African Ulama -
some with valid visas
and some with US
residence status - have
been ‘deported’ from the
US for no real reason.
These acts clearly
infringe the
international Human
Rights of the respective
individuals. In the
unmistakable and obvious
knowledge that such acts
are taking place, it is
disappointing that no
government or world
organization can find it
in their courage or
strength to stand up and
oppose or, at the very
least, state their
position on the
injustice and illegality
of
such practices.
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Summarized Jumu’ah Bayaan:
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Taubah:
Repentance from Sin |
O ye who believe! turn
to Allah with sincere
repentance: It is very
close that your Lord
will remove from you
your ills and admit you
to Gardens beneath which
Rivers flow; on the Day
that Allah will not
permit the Prophet and
those who believe with
him to be humiliated.
(66:8);
(6.54, 7.153, 8.38,
9.104, 11.3, 4.110)
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Anas Ibn Malik
Rahimatullah alayhi
narrates that Allah's
Apostle said, "Allah is
more pleased with the
repentance of His slave
than anyone of you is
pleased with finding his
camel which he had lost
in the desert." (Bukhari
8:321)
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Abu Hurairah (ra) says
that he heard Allah's
Apostle saying, "By
Allah! I ask for
forgiveness from Allah
and turn to Him in
repentance more than
seventy times a day." (Bukhari
8:319)
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When reading the most
Glorious Qur'an, we note
the major difference
between Nabee Adam
Alayhis Salaam and Iblis
in that, upon making a
mistake, Nabee Adam
(Alayhis Salaam) asked
for Almighty Allah's
forgiveness, but Iblis
asked Allah for respite
during which he could
continue doing evil and
take most of mankind
with him. In this story,
Almighty Allah
demonstrates the
haughtiness and pride to
which we can all
succumb; yet, the
inability to repent is a
trait of fundamental
evil, or one without
faith. The
characteristic of
righteousness is being
able to ask for
forgiveness.
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Tawbah elevates us, it
does not lower us. It
disciplines and trains
the soul because the
soul must endure a
certain kind of
humiliation - and
injury- because the soul
has developed a logic,
or illogic, that it does
not want to
be exposed. But
shaythaan deceives us
and tells us that we do
not have to apologize
because we are better or
because we are more
knowledgeable.
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There are certain
essentials and
requirements of a
thorough repentance [Tawbah]
without whose
materialization an
authentic Tawbah is not
attained. The most
essential one is regret
and remorse for one's
past sins and faults.
Another is resolving not
to commit the sin ever
again. These two, in
fact, constitute the
essential reality of
Tawbah and comprise its
essential constituents.
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When any intelligent
person becomes aware of
these facts, he/she
would certainly abstain
from sin and distance
himself from sin; and
if, Allah forbid, he/she
commits any sin, he/she
would be filled with
remorse. The result that
this remorse produces is
something great and its
effects are very
beneficial. The
determination to quit
disobedience and sin is
a consequence of this
remorse.
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Almighty Allah's
Graceful succour becomes
his or her lot, and, in
accordance with the
explicit meaning of
verse 222 of Surah Al-Baqarah:
".....Verily Allah loves
the repentant."
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Woe to us! After having
spent years in
disobedience and after
prolonged disloyalty to
such an Exalted Creator,
Who has provided all the
means of our comfort and
ease - having violated
His sanctities and taken
shamelessness to
its extreme - now that
we are remorseful,
Almighty Rabbul Ala'meen
still regards us as His
loved ones. What
plentitude of Bounty and
Mercy!
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Almighty Allah's Mercy is greater than everything
and encompasses all things, and Almighty Allah's
Justice is not bound by conditions. If we cannot
make amends for the return of His rights, He will
overlook our failures. If we cannot satisfy the
rights of others, He will compensate for it.
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The Path of Almighty Allah Subhanahu Wata'ala is
easy and simple. All that it requires is some
attentiveness. Postponement, delay, neglect and
allowing
the sins to pile up day by day is what makes the
matter difficult. But resolute action and decision
to set aright the affairs of the soul makes the path
shorter and the task easier.
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Openly and secretly, mournfully and pleadingly, in
solitude, with lamentation, tears and wails of woe,
we should implore the forgiveness of His Sacred
Essence to cover our sins and wipe out their
consequences.
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We must always meditate upon the consequences of
sin, the severity of Almighty Allah's Might, the
precision of the Balance of Deeds, and the
intensity of the chastisement of Barzakh and
Resurrection. It is hoped that after this knowledge
and reflection the soul will loath sins and detest
them with a complete and total hatred.
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C O N
T E N T S |
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Summarised
Jumuah Bayaan |
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Question and
Answer |
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Update |
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Question and
Answer |
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Message from the Ameer |
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I N F
O R M A T I O N |
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Min. Mahr |
R103.59 |
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Mahr Faatimi |
R5179.35 |
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Zakaat Nisaab |
R2071.74 |
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Words of Wisdom |
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Hadith of the Week |
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Fasting |
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Rasulullah Sallallâhu
'alayhi wasallam said:
"There is no
servant who fasts even a day
in the way of Allah, except
that Allah removes his face
from the Fire by the
distance of seventy years
because of this fast" (Bukhari/Muslim) |
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Quotation for the Week |
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A Wise Man |
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“A wise man is one who sees
his own faults, fights
against them
and tries to overcome them.
A fool ignores them because
he has little knowledge and
discernment and his thoughts
are feeble, possibly because
he takes his faults to be
good qualities and there is
nothing on earth worse than
this.”
(Ibn Hazm in his
Kitab al-Akhlaq
wa al-Siyar fi Mudawat al-Nufus) |
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Point of Reflection |
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Bitter
Heart |
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The bitter
heart eats its owner.
(West African Proverb) |
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Q and A |
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Question:
If a
person forgets to say the
du’a when breaking the fast,
will his fast still hold? |
Answer:
Yes, even
though a
person forgets to say the
du’a when breaking the fast,
his fast
will still hold and be
regarded as valid.
And Allah Ta’aala knows
best.
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Question:
I traveled
to Syria
and commenced my fast for
Ramadhaan there. When I
have returned to South
Africa the Ramadhaan had
commenced one day later.
What do I do? Do I fast 31
days, if in SA, the
Ramadhaan is 30 days of
fasting? |
Answer:
Since
Ramadhaan commenced one day
earlier in
Syria than in South Africa
and you have commenced your
fast in Syria and together
with that you have kept the
remainder of the Ramadhaan
fasts in South Africa where
the Ramadhaan is 30 days
then you shall also fast
(your 31st fast) on the 30th
day of Ramadhaan together
with the
local residents. The extra
one
fast shall be considered as
Nafl
and not the Fardh of
Ramadhaan.
In the opposite case, where
fasting commenced in the
country of your travel one
day later then upon your
return to South Africa
during the month of
Ramadhaan
you find out that the day of
Eid is on such a date that
will allow you to fast only
28 days then in that case
you shall keep Eid with the
local residents and after
Eid keep Qadhaa for the
missed fast of day Ramadaan.
And Allah Ta’aala Knows
Best.
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Question:
Does putting lotions and
cream break your fast
when you have severe eczema
and your hands crack without
any cream? |
Answer: The fast does not
break
by applying these creams to
the hands, etc.
And Allah Ta’aala Knows
Best.
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Sadaqatul
Fitr |
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Minimum
Amount:
Hanafi: R10.50 per
Person
Shafi’î: R21.00 per
Person
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“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. |
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Advertise Here. We are Well Read! |
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U
P D A T E |
Hajj
Classes/Seminars
With Ramadan here, many
Muslims are beginning to
prepare for hajj. The
Jamiatul Ulama will be
hosting a number of Hajj
classes and seminars at
various venues. Lenasia and
Johannesburg will be hosting
day-long seminars in the
weeks soon after Ramadan.
The Jamiatul Ulama Branch in
Laudium will be hosting Hajj
Classes on the 8th and the
15th of October (Sundays)
between 10AM and 12:30 AM. |
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Jamiat
Appeal for Funds
The Jamiatul
‘Ulama, formerly known as
Jamiatul ‘Ulama Transvaal -
the oldest ‘ulama
organization of
South Africa - has been
serving the community for
the past 83 years. It has 7
regional branches.
The Jamiat has various
departments such as
education, relief, hilaal
notification, halaal
supervision, social welfare,
da’wah, ifta and counseling.
The Jamiat also responds to
local and international
crises. We also ensure that
all zakaat monies are spent
in accordance with the
shariah. All of our
activities are made possible
by your continued generous
contributions.
We appeal, in this blessed
month of Ramadaan, for
donations towards the
activities of the Jamiat.
You will – Insha Allah -
share in the reward of all
the activities. Kindly
deposit your contributions
in to the following
account(s):
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
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Message from the Ameer of
the Jamiatul Ulama |
Muhaasabah
Progress and
success is dependant upon
constant reflection and
introspection.
A person needs to, at
regular intervals, reflect
as to where he is going, how
far he has progressed on his
journey and as to exactly
why is on the journey to a
specific destination.
Ramadan has come and Ramadan
will pass by. Ten days have
lapsed and we have now
entered into the
middle third of Ramadan. It
is important for us to take
stock and examine whether we
have effectively utilized
the time of these blessed
days and nights of Ramadan.
We need to look as to
whether we have
really dedicated ourselves
towards abundant ibaadah,
whether we have abstained
from sins and whether we
have acted in the spirit of
this glorious month. It is
also imperative to question
why we did what we did.
This reflection should spur
us on to take greater
advantage of the opportunity
that avails itself to us.
Let it not be that we
include ourselves in those
that are cursed because they
did not obtain the
forgiveness of
Allah, in this month. Let us
not regret and find
ourselves among those that
on the Day of Qiyaamah plea
to Allah to ‘send us back to
the earth, so that we may do
good deeds’.
In this month, let us also
remember to make du`aa for
the alleviation of the
suffering of the peoples of
the world, for the
restoration of the honor and
dignity of the Muslims, for
the guidance of the Muslim
Ummah, for ourselves, our
family and friends. We, at
the Jamiatul Ulama, also
request of you to make
du`aa for the success and
acceptance of the Jamiat, as
well as all those associated
with the service of deen, in
whichever way.
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