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Weekly Comment |
A-Rasheed: New
Format
The latest edition of the
Ar-Rasheed will be available at
Masaajid this Friday, insha’-Allah.
Ar-Rasheed appears in a new
format. Readers are kindly
requested to provide suggestions
and comments on the new
presentation of the publication.
Editorial: The
Ethics of Coexistence
…Today, living
together is no longer confined
to living in the same city or
country. Geographical and
political boundaries vanish when
it comes to the shared space of
thought, imagination and
feeling. Living together becomes
a threat when this space, so
dear to the heart and mind of
every human being, is ridiculed,
underestimated, attacked or
destroyed. It is at such moments
of violence that we lose our
resolve to defend the middle
path and begin to see extremism
of various kinds. This can take
the form of political,
religious, economic or cultural
extremism as a refuge and basis
of our oppositional identities.
All of our responses become a
reaction to something, almost in
all cases negatively, and rarely
does this attitude contribute to
the greater good of the Ummah,
because we are treating the
symptom and not the cause…
Read the rest of this article in
the latest edition of the
Ar-Rasheed – The Official
Quarterly Newsletter of the
Jamiatul Ulama.
Circumcision:
Sunnah of the Prophets
BBC reports that:
“The World Health Organization
and UNAIDS said circumcision
should be added to current
interventions to reduce the
spread of HIV. Three African
trials have shown that
circumcision halved the rate of
HIV infection in heterosexual
men. The recommendations largely
apply to countries where the
rate of heterosexual
transmission is high. Experts
warned that greater use of
circumcision would not replace
the need for other prevention
methods, such as condoms.”
Circumcision, a Sunnah of the
Prophets Alayhimus Salaam, is
now being hailed as an
additional way of prevention of
HIV and AIDS.
The question we should ask is:
‘Under what circumstances do we
want to stem the tide of
HIV/AIDS? Circumcision should
not be a passport to continued
permissiveness and promiscuity
in our society just because it
‘reduces the risk’ of exposure
to the virus. For a believer,
circumcision is a Sunnah to be
adhered to whether it has
obvious ‘spin-offs’ or not.
At all levels, let us promote
decency and moral values of
chastity, based on adherence to
the Divine Laws of Allah. In no
way should the fight against
HIV/AIDS ignore the Divine Laws
of the Almighty.
Somalia: Déjà
vu?
After denying a chance to the
locally-grown government of the
Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) to
hold, things have fallen apart
again in Somalia. In the last
five days, as reports have it,
over 400 people have lost their
live while scores more were left
maimed, injured and homeless.
Over 50 000 people have fled
Mogadishu over the past ten days
alone. In addition, those
fleeing have found themselves
‘between a rock and a hard
place’ stranded, because Kenya
has refused to allow entrance to
Somali refugees.
Whereas, AU forces were supposed
to be increased to assist in
peacekeeping, they have not
arrived in expected numbers. As
a result, the Ethiopians have
taken advantage by continuously
increasing troops who have
reportedly engaged in
indiscriminate shelling and
calculated, premeditated killing
on a mass scale.
The UIC was a grassroots kind of
a movement that restored law and
order in this war-ravaged state
in the Horn of Africa. Under the
UIC, residents of Mogadishu and
other major parts of Somalia
tasted peace and calm that
eluded the country for over
fifteen years.
Has the international community
not yet learnt that governments
that are cobbled up in
boardrooms and hotels with
little regard for public
sentiments on the ground are
bound to fail? Haiti,
Afghanistan and Iraq (to mention
only recent examples) should be
enough to show that you cannot
just transplant a regime and
think that all will be well! Is
it possible that maybe someone
does not want everything to go
well?
Stop Maligning
Islam
There was a recent
report that made front page news
in a leading Sunday paper about
the honesty and integrity
displayed by a cab driver in New
York, who found and returned a
fortune in diamonds to its
rightful owner. The cab driver
was incidentally a Bangladeshi,
a Muslim, but there was no
reference to his religion. This
only happens when 'bad news
events' occur. The negative
profiling of Muslims in the
mainstream media is often a
subject of heated discussion.
Rightly so, but we also need to
ask if the actions, behaviour,
speech and standards of Muslim
individuals and institutions
contributes to this malaise. |
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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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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 |
R 112.46 |
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Mahr Faatimi |
R 5,623.12 |
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Zakaat Nisaab |
R 2,249.25 |
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Words of Wisdom |
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Hadith of the Week |
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Legitimate
Claims |
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Abu Hurairah Radhi-Allahu
anhu reports that The
Prophet Sallallah ’alayhi
wasallam said: “One should
not take a span of land
without having legitimate
right to it, otherwise Allah
would make him wear (around
his neck) seven earths on
the Day of Resurrection.”
(Muslim, No. 3924) |
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Quotation for the Week |
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Devilish
Extravagance |
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Islamic law [shariah] firmly
opposes extravagance. The
extravagant has been called
the brother of the Devil
[al-Shaytan]. Ml. Rasheed
Ahmad Gangohi |
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Point of Reflection |
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In the
Same Boat |
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One camel does not make fun
of the other camel's hump.
(An African Proverb
from Guinea) |
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Q and A |
Question:
What is the situation where
a doubt arises in the mind
of a person performing wudhu,
as
to whether he had washed a
certain limb or not?
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Answer:
If, while making wudhu, a
person becomes doubtful as
to whether a particular limb
or part of that limb has
been washed or not, then
only that part should
be washed.
However, if the doubts crops
up after completing the
wudhu, he should not worry,
and his wudhu will be
considered to be
complete.
The latter will apply if he
merely develops a doubt. If,
on the
other hand, he is certain
that a particular limb or
part of a limb, that is
compulsory to wash in wudhu
has been left out, then
it will become necessary to
wash it. If he is in Salaah,
too, and
he remembers for certain
that
he had left out the washing
of that part, he will have
to
discard his Salaah, wash
that
part and then repeat his
Salaah.
And Allah Ta'aala knows
best.
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Summarised Jumu’ah
Bayaan:
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Somalia:
Reasons For Allâh's
Anger And Ways For Its
Remedy |
On the 10th January this
year, the Jamiatul Ulama
issued a press statement
on Somalia. (To read the
Jamiatul Ulama press
statement of the 10th
January click on the
link). The situation in
Somalia has not changed.
In fact, it has become
increasingly worse and
the last ten days have
been sheer agony and
torment for the people
of Somalia. The Jamiatul
Ulama requests Ulama to
highlight the situation
in Somalia in their
Jum`ah Bayaan, this
Friday.
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It is often asked why it
is that the Muslim Ummah
find themselves in
distress and suffering
around the world. It
seems as if it is open
season on the Ummah,
with attacks from all
sides raining down upon
Muslims in all areas.
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Mufti Abdur Raheem
Lajpuri, in a talk,
explained why. Among
other aspects, he said:
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There are several
reasons for this sad
state of affairs in the
Ummah. Among the more
prominent ones are the
following:
• Lack of true faith in
Allâh Ta'âla.
• Increased disobedience
towards Him.
• Increasing timidity
among us.
• Love of the
materialistic world [Hubb-e-Dunya
wa Mâl].
• Open disobedience of
the Sunnah of Rasulullâh
Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa
sallam.
• Following our own
innovated [bid'ah]
practices and customs.
Neglecting the rights of
Allâh [Huqûq-Allâh], and
the rights of creation [Huqûq-ut-Ibad].
• Our complete
ingratitude towards the
innumerable blessings
showered upon us by our
Benefactor, despite
being totally unworthy
of these blessings.
• Disregard for the
selfless advice given to
us by our noble Ulamâ in
relation to our
religion.
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Almighty Allâh sums up
the reasons for our
suffering in Surah 42,
Âyah 30 of the Holy
Qur'ân:
"Whatever misfortune
happens to you, it is
because of the things
your hands have wrought,
and for many of them he
grants forgiveness…". A
further elaboration on
this point is found in
Surâh 30, Âyah 4 1:
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The companion, Hadhrat
Thawbân Radhiallahu Anhu
narrated that Muhammad
Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa
sallam is reported to
have said:
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"A period will come when
the non-believers will
come closer by calling
one another for annexing
the nations of the
believers just like how
people call one another
for eating food when it
has, been prepared.
"Someone then asked as
to whether the Muslims
will be few in number
then? Rasulullah
Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa
sallam is reported to
have replied, "You will
be large in numbers, but
will like hay before a
flood of water. Your
enemies will not fear
you because you will be
so weak and timid. "One
companion then asked the
reason for this decline,
and Rasulullah
Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa
sallam said, "Life (and
its luxuries) will
become more dearer to
you and you will dislike
death, (and facing
Allâh) Abû Dawûd
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Allâh Ta'âla has warned
of dim punishment for
those who do not order
people to perform
virtuous deeds and
prevent them from
committing evil and
disobedient acts. He
states in the Qur'ân:
The Sahâbi, Hadhrat
Hudhaifah Radhiallahu
Anhu, has narrated that
the Nabî Muhammad
Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa
sallam said, "I swear by
Allâh, the One in whose
hands my life is,
continue to order and
guide people towards
virtuous deeds and
prevent people from
immoral acts and sins.
Otherwise, Almighty
Allâh will surely send
His severe punishment
upon you. If you then
turn to Allâh and pray
your prayers will not be
accepted. - Mishkât
Sharîf, p.436. Chapter
on Amr-Bil -Marûf.
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The following saying of
Rasulullah Sallallaahu
‘alayhi wa sallam is
food for thought:
"My followers will also
face incidents of
sinking in the ground,
disfigurement and the
raining of heavy stones
from the heavens. One of
the companions asked
when these incidents
would manifest. To this
Rasullullah Sallallaahu
‘alayhi wa sallam
replied "When the evils
of singing, dancing,
music and drinking
liquor will be common.
Tirmidhi Sharîf
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The disobedience of
Allâh and the rejection
of the Sharî'ah will
create a very dangerous
situation calling for
severe punishment, as
has happened to past
nations which
transgressed. Allâh has
described these events
in the Qur'ân at various
locations. One such
verse is:
"Each one of them We
seized for their crime,
against some of them We
sent a violent tornado;
some were caught in a
blast; some We caused
the earth to swallow up;
and some we drowned, it
was not Allâh who
injured them; but they
injured their own
souls... Surah 19 Âyah
40
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What should Muslims
do in Such a Situation? |
Allâh has said:
"And never give up hope
of Allâh's truly
soothing mercy, no-one
despairs of Allâh's
soothing mercy except
those who have no
faith." Surah 12 Âyah
87. |
In another Âyah Allâh
Ta'âla states:
"So lose not heart and
do not fall into
despair, for you must
gain mastery if you are
true in faith." Surah 3.
Âyah 139.
o Turn to Allâh
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Allâh has emphasized in
the Qur'ân as follows:
"Oh, ye who believe!
Seek help with patient
perseverance and prayer
for Allâh is with those
who observe patience."
Surâh 2 Âyah 153.
o Need for Istighfâr and
Taubah: We must make a
point to offer
repentance for our sins
and seek Allâh's
forgiveness regularly.
Hadhrat Abû Mûsa Ash'ari
Radhiallahu Anhu
narrates Rasulullâh
Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa
sallam as saying,
"Surely Allâh has
blessed my followers
with two symbols of
peace, firstly, myself
and, secondly, the act
of seeking forgiveness [Istighfâr],
Remember! When I will no
longer be in this mortal
world, I will be leaving
behind the act of
seeking forgiveness. It
will help you all to
save yourselves from
Allâh's punishment."
o Encourage the Giving
of Charity
o Increase the Tilawat
of the Qur'ân and Durud
upon Rasulullah
Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa
sallam
o Stop the Disobedience
of Allâh
o Implement Proper Dîni
Education
o Reconcile Disputes and
Differences and Unite as
Muslims
o Seek Guidance only
from the Ulama.
Establish Links with
Them
o Create an Atmosphere
of Brotherhood
o Make the World Aware
of the Beautiful
Teachings of Islâm
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U P D A T E |
Palestine: The Status Quo
There will be a lecture
with an aid of a PowerPoint
presentation as follows:
Speaker: Bro Ismail Adam
Patel, Chairman, Friends of
Al Aqsa (United Kingdom)
Author of: Palestine:
Beginner’s Guide,
From Madina to Jerusalem
and The Virtues of
Jerusalem
Date: Wednesday,
4 April 2007
Venue: Jamiatul
Ulama, 2nd Floor, 32 Dolly
Rathebe Road, Fordsburg 2092
Time: 8:00pm |
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Ijtima
The Annual Ijtima
for KwaZulu Natal will take
place in Durban on the 6th,
7th and 8th of April.
Brothers are urged to
attend. In addition, the
Ijtima will be followed by
an advice programme for
those brothers who have been
involved in the work of
da`wah and tabligh. |
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Youth
Convention
The Annual Youth
Convention hosted by the
Jamiatul Ulama and the UMSA
(Union of Muslim Students
Associations) will take
place at Darus Salam Centre
in Laudium on the 13th May
2007.
The conference has been
taking place annually for
the last three years and has
grown from strength to
strength. Last year over
three thousand people
attended.
This year’s theme is ‘Muslim
Youth in a Multi Cultural
Society’, and the convention
has been titled “Hang in
there!”
Volunteers are requested to
contact the Laudium Jamiatul
Ulama Office on 012 374
2506.
On the same day, 13th May
2007, a similar Youth
Convention for Sisters only,
will take place at the
Lenasia Muslim School in
Lenasia. The Sisters
conference is being
coordinated by the Islamic
Careline. |
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Message from the Ameer of
the Jamiatul Ulama |
Our Dear
Beloved Prophet Muhammad
Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa
sallam
Records of the life of the
Prophet Muhammad (peace be
upon him) make him
conspicuous in the
exceptional nature of his
universal impact - limited
resources did nothing to
deter and prevent him, his
influence traversed
boundaries of gender, race
and nationality, stretching
beyond the domains of time
and his authority navigated
through the realms of the
spiritual and material. His
contribution to the history
of the development of
mankind is recognized by all
and sundry, and his life
provides the practical
dismantling of the
generalizing maxim ‘power
corrupts and absolute power
corrupts absolutely’, with
the humility and sincerity
of the Prophet being beacon
lights for those in power,
always.
However, the true greatness
of a man can be judged
through reflections of the
character, traits as well as
the personal feelings and
interactions of the man. If
this is the true criterion
for greatness and success
then one can only stand in
awe of the reports of the
Prophet Muhammad in this
regard.
The Prophet Muhammad did not
consider menial tasks to be
beyond him. The traditions
bear testimony where it is
reported that the Prophet
used to mend his shoes,
patch his own clothes, milk
the goats, serve himself and
work in the household. He
visited the sick, Muslim and
non-Muslim, attended
funerals, even entering the
grave to personally lay the
body of a youth to rest. The
Prophet never turned anyone
away and responded to the
invitations of even slaves.
He was kind and considerate
to his servant to the extent
that a companion stated that
in ten years of service to
the Prophet, the Prophet
never uttered a word of
dissatisfaction or
questioned his reason for
not doing anything. He stood
among the ranks of the
soldiers in battle and
marshalled the forces of the
army himself, and descended
into a trench selflessly
working as one of the rest
in the digging of the
trench, even singing with
the group as menial laborers
may do while engrossed in
their work. In his private
quarters, in the mosque,
with his wives, his
children, beggars and
students he showed utmost
care, consideration and
kindness. The Prophet was
never one to consider
revenge and responded to the
difficulties thrust upon him
with kindness and wisdom.
When he returned to the city
of Makkah, he pardoned those
that had cast grave
difficulties upon him and
the Muslims. He did not view
himself as a conqueror but
rather an advocate of divine
faith and guidance and light
to all the people of the
world. He worked tirelessly
inviting people to all that
was good and cried profusely
in his prayers to the
Almighty for the guidance of
man. Most importantly, the
Prophet led by example.
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