Jamiatul Ulama (Council of Muslim Theologians), Johannesburg

Jamiatul Ulama

Online Newsletter

Vol.: 2 No.: 17

13 Rabi'al Aakhir 1428 / 2 May 2007

Read the full Newsletter from your browser:
http://www.jamiat.co.za/online_newsletter_0217.htm

Weekly Comment

Spread the Word …

Excitement is mounting about the forthcoming Youth Convention in Laudium !!!

The Union of Muslim Students Association (UMSA) and the Jamiatul Ulama jointly host an Annual Youth Convention. Last year over 3000 people attended the Convention, in Mackenzie Park, Benoni.

The convention comprises of addresses by various guest speakers, a Question and Answer Session and Interactive Breakaway Sessions which deal with various current topics, and is an ideal opportunity to educate and shape the minds of the youth regarding; the present challenges faced by them, the various solutions to current concerns and issues, the rights and responsibilities of the youth, as well as the opportunities that are presented in the contemporary world. It is also an opportunity to create a forum where youth from various regions and backgrounds can interact, share views and establish networks for the future development and progress of the Muslim Youth.

This year, the Convention will take place at the Darus Salam Center in Laudium on the 13th May 2007, commencing at 9:00 AM and concluding at 4:30 PM.

The theme for this years convention is “Muslim Youth in a Multi-Cultural Society”, and the title for the convention is “Hang in There!”.

Amongst the guest speakers expected to address the youth at the conference are:
Ml. Sulaiman Moolla (Imam –Houghton),
Ml Yaseen Mukaddam (ex-Imam from California, USA),
Ml. Abbas Hlatywayo(Imam – Soweto),
Ml. Ibrahim Bham (Imam –Newtown ,Jhb)
Hfz. Abdur-Rahman Layly (MSA),
Hfz. Irshad Vawda (MSA),
Br. Uwais Ahmad (Student from Laudium),
Sheikh Ali Yusuf (Teacher at CIS, Laudium),
Dr. R. Moosa (Comedian),
Br. Hashim Amla (South African Cricketer),

Lunch will be served.
For more information call: 012 374 2506 / 082 655 9309

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 Jamiatul Ulama, Islamic Careline and the UMSA.


Bob Woolmer Murder: Where’s the Truth?

Police believe... “Bob Woolmer, the Pakistan coach, was poisoned and then strangled as he was about to go public with allegations of corruption in international cricket, it was claimed yesterday…” (www.telegraph.co.uk)

… Jamaica Police said, with speculation rife that he was eliminated by the betting mafia as he 'knew too much'. (www.hindustantimes.com)

Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer's mysterious death took a new twist with a media report in London linking his murder to Dawood Ibrahim and Al-Qaeda… (www.hindustantimes.com)

… he was the victim of a supporter with a grudge. (sport.guardian.co.uk)

…Woolmer killing was in response to a Fatwah issued against him for his views on the religiosity of the Pakistani Cricket Team (www.bbc.co.uk/panorama/)

Which reports of Bob Woolmer’s murder should we believe in? Are these media ‘instalments’ done up to build intrigue regardless of the horror of the matter just to drive paper sales? Is it not possible for relevant authorities and agencies to handle this investigation without the showmanship we have seen so far and bring perpetrators of this crime to book as quickly as possible? The sensation brought about by the manner in which this murder has been handled so far is distasteful.


Iraq
For once George Bush was true to his word. A few weeks ago, he insisted that those intent on passing a Bill calling for the withdrawal of troops from Iraq should hurry, so that he can veto the bill. The Bill came, and he vetoed it. This at a time when the US has suffered it’s worst losses with more casualties in one month than in any other period of it’s occupation of Iraq.


Afghanistan

One would not find it queer to hear questions being asked about the infinitely long and continous presence of NATO troops in Afgahnistan.

Considering the fact that they have suffered untold casualties on a continous basis; considering the fact that they have not been able to achieve success in any of their missions in Afghanistan and Northern Pakistan, considering the fact that even their loyal supporters within the Afghani ‘Governement’ have grown increasingly tired of their presence and considering the fact that the accepted death toll of civilians killed by directly by NATO forces in Afghanistan is perhaps higher than NATO can admit to in any other part of the world .
Why then, would they remain there?


Somalia

BBC reports that, “The commander of the African Union peacekeepers, Gen Edward Wamala said there was a degree of security in Mogadishu now”.

At the same time another political commentator, Salim Lone is a columnist for the Daily Nation in Kenya and a former spokesperson for the UN mission in Iraq said, “this is the most lawless war of our generation.”
He further says:
“…women are being raped, hospitals are being bombed.

. . . we are seeing the Security Council completely silent while these atrocities are going on. We are seeing Western governments completely silent. Nothing has come out of Washington. Nothing has come out of London.

… The death toll now in Somalia is greater than it was in Lebanon. And you will recall, of course, that even then, the big powers -- the US, UK, even initially the UN -- did not demand a ceasefire. But the world media was full of that story, and there were condemnations around the world for what the Israelis were doing. . .

. . . the Horn of Africa, is newly oil-rich. Kenya has some oil. Oil is the key to domination for the United States -- global domination, I mean. But it is going about, you know, the wrong way to get that oil. The US is also worried that its welcome in the Middle East is diminishing, and they need to make sure -- both they want to encircle the Middle East with the oil field, and they want to make sure they have Somalia and other countries handy for the oil.

. . . for him [UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon] to propose that the UN should now go in to do what the US and Ethiopia have been unable to do, which is basically to impose a client regime on Somalia, it's just absolutely disgraceful.”

Who do we believe?

C O N T E N T S

Summarised Jumuah Bayaan
Question and Answer
Update
Message from the Ameer

I N F O R M A T I O N

Min. Mahr

R 112.23

Mahr Faatimi

R 5,611.28
Zakaat Nisaab R 2,244.51

Words of Wisdom

Hadith of the Week

Dearer Wealth

Abdullah Radhiallahu anhu narrates that Allah's Messenger Sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam said: "Who among you
considers the wealth of his
heirs dearer to him than his
own wealth?" They replied: "O Allah's Apostle! There is none among us but loves his own wealth more."
The Prophet Sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam said: "So his wealth
is whatever he spends (in Allah's Cause) during his life (on good deeds) while the wealth of his heirs is whatever he leaves after his death." (Sahih Al-Bukhari Vol. 8 : No. 449)

Quotation for the Week

Whither Character?

Nowadays, piety is confined to the recitation of wazifahs.
Betterment of moral character is no longer accorded importance.

Point of Reflection

Certain Improvement

 There's only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that's your own self.

Q and A

Question: If a person commits a major sin, does he become a Kaafir? What if he leaves out Fardh Salaah? 
Answer: If a person commits a major sin, for example he commits Zina or drinks liquor, then he will be considered a Faasiq, i.e. an flagrant transgressor of Shari’ah. Now
as long as the commission of
such a sin is not done whilst considering it to be Halaal or/
and it is not done with the intention of contempt and
ridicule of Dînî injunctions,
his Imaan will remain intact,
in other words, he will be regarded by Shari’ah as being
a Faasiq but not a Kaafir. Yes,
if such a sin is committed considering it to be Halaal or/and it is committed out of contempt and ridicule of Dîn (May Allah Ta’aala forbid!), then such a person will lose his Imaan. May Allâh Ta’âlâ save us from such a dangerous situation. Aameen.

As for leaving the Fardh Salaah then according to Imaam Abu Hanifa Rahimahullah the person who leaves the Salaah out intentionally (May Allah Ta’aala forbid!) is a Faasiq and Faajir (open transgressor). He will not be a Kaafir. Yes, if he denies
the obligation of Salaah or/and leaves it with the intention of contempt and ridicule of Dîn,
then he will be branded a Kaafir.

Now if we ponder in the Holy Quraan-e-Kareem then we will note that in spite of a person committing a grave sin, Allah Ta’aala still uses the word “Believer” for him.

Allah Ta’aala mentions in the
Holy Quraan-e-Kareem:
O you who believe! Turn to Allah with sincere repentance! (i.e. even after having committed a major sin, if you turn to Allâh Ta’âlâ, He is always willing to forgive the transgression).

A Hadîth of Rasulullâh sallallâhu alaihi wasallam further substantiates this as can be
noted below:-
“That person of my Ummah who dies without having ascribed partners to Allâh Ta’âlâ (i.e. he dies with Imaan), will enter Jannah, even if he had
committed Zina and even if he had committed theft.” [Sahih Muslim, Vol. 1, Pg. 66].
{Mahmudiyya (vol. 1 pg. 125-
126 & vol. 6 pg. 111 & vol. 16
pg. 84)}, {Sharhe-Aqa’ed-Nasafe (pg. 107)}, {Az-Zawajir (vol.
2 pg. 212 & 242)}

May Allah Ta’aala grant us the correct understanding of Dîn; Aameen.

And Allah Ta'aala knows best
.
<Go to Top>

Summarised Jumu’ah Bayaan:

Youth
The Holy Qur’ân states:
“O Allâh! Grant that our spouses and offspring be the coolness of our eyes and cause us to be a model for the righteous.”
"Say (O Prophet) "Come so that I may cite to you what Allah has forbidden for you: that you do not associate partners unto Him, that you be kind to your parents, …., and approach not any indecency…"

The Holy Qur’ân speaks of the youth who opposed a value system based on kufr and vanity, in the following words: "Behold, the youth betook themselves to the Cave, they said: "Our Lord, bestow on us mercy from Thyself and dispose for us our affair in the right manner … Indeed they were a group of youth who believed in their Lord, and We increased them in guidance".
The Prophet Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
“Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said, "Grasp five things before five others: your youth before you become old , your health before your illness, your riches before your poverty, your leisure before your work, and your life before your death."

“There are seven whom Allah will shade in His shade on the day on which there is no shade except His shade: a just imam, a youth who grows up worshipping Allah, a man whose heart is attached to the mosque when he leaves it until he returns to it, two men who love each other in Allah and meet for that and part for that, a man who remembers Allah when he is alone and his eyes overflow with tears, a man who refuses the approaches of a noble, beautiful woman, saying "I fear Allah," and a man who gives sadaqa and conceals it so that his left hand does not know what his right hand gives.' "
 Nabî Sallallâhu 'alayhi wasallam ‘Every child is born on Fitrah (a natural inclination towards Islam). It is his parents who turn him towards Judaism, Christianity or fire-worship’. (Mishkât). Every child is born in a state of pure innocence. It is his social upbringing, the values that his/her parents display that impact and influence his identity.

 Parents thus have an enormous responsibility in moulding the character of their children. If they build a strong, trusting, and loving relationship with their children before the teenage years, their children will be less likely to go astray.

  As with all blessings of Allah, children can be either a joy or a source of grave concern, a blessing or a curse – depending on how we mould and guide them. Children can be a source of enormous tranquility and self -fulfillment yet they can become the root of the greatest heartbreak, pain and sorrow. The very child that provides joy and happiness can also produce the greatest hurt and sorrow. Our great dreams for our children could suddenly turn into unimaginable nightmares. One of the most challenging and daunting tasks parents face today is that of developing a meaningful relationship with their children, especially teenagers who often rebel against their society and parents. According to a recent survey, 20% of children living in western society have not had a 10-minute conversation with a parent in a month. Their conversation is with TV, which acts as their mother, father, baby-sitter, and teacher. By the time they are teens, they have seen an estimated 18 000 violent murders on TV.

 Alcohol, drugs, frequenting of movie houses and rave clubs and illicit sexual activity are but some of the hazards youth encounter in their quest for independence, joy, and adventure.

 Teenagers are idealists, they want to change the world, and make it a better place. These are not bad ideals, and it is a great pity that adults have forgotten their own ideals in the rat race of daily life. It is up to the parents to point them in the right direction.

 If we get teenagers involved in helping those in need, community projects, participating in Islamic programmes and camps and in working for important causes, their zeal could make a tremendous impact on their future and the shape of the world to come.
 Youth have great potential. Remember:
• That the resistance of the youth served as a catalyst for the eventual demise of the oppressive regime in South Africa,
• That the youth of Afghanistan liberated their country from the Soviet Union and the Taliban have yet again revolted against corruption and civil strife,
• That the lonely defendants of Masjidul Aqsa are no more than the youth of Palestine,
• That the archenemy of Islam, Abu Jahl was killed by two youths barely in their teens.
• That the first male to believe in Nabi sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam was a ten old boy named Ali bin Talib Radiyallahu ‘anhu
• That Nabi sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam assigned a number of positions and responsibilities to the youth. He appointed a young man of twenty-one, Itab Ibn Usayd as the first governor of Makkah.
• That Muhammad ibn Qasim conquered Sind in India when he was only seventeen.
• The Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam appointed Zaid ibn Harithah as the Amir of a Jamaat that included Abu Bakr and Umar Radiyallahu ‘anhu.

The Union of Muslim Students Association (MSA) and the Jamiatul Ulama jointly host an Annual Youth Convention. Last year over 3000 people attended the Convention, in Mackenzie Park, Benoni.

The convention comprises of addresses by various guest speakers, a Question and Answer Session and Interactive Breakaway Sessions which deal with various current topics, and is an ideal opportunity to educate and shape the minds of the youth regarding; the present challenges faced by them, the various solutions to current concerns and issues, the rights and responsibilities of the youth, as well as the opportunities that are presented in the contemporary world. It is also an opportunity to create a forum where youth from various regions and backgrounds can interact, share views and establish networks for the future development and progress of the Muslim Youth.

This year, the Convention will take place at the Darus Salam Center in Laudium on the 13th May 2007, commencing at 9:00 AM and concluding at 4:30 PM.

<Go to Top>

U P D A T E

Annual General Meeting
The Jamiatul Ulama will hold its Annual General Meeting on Sunday 17 Rabi’al Aakhir 1428 (6 May 2007) at the Jamiatul Ulama offices, 2nd Floor, 32 Dolly Rathebe Road, Fordsburg starting from 9:00am, insha-Allah.
 
Death Notice
With sadness with break the news of the demise of Brother Khaleel Hassim. Brother Khaleel was until his death an untiring member of the community sensitising the Ummah about the dangers of drug abuse. He worked with Crescent of Hope’s Rehabilitation Centre at Magaliesburg helping patients to end the habit.

Brother Khaleel was laid to rest on Tuesday night, 1 May 2007 after a long battle with cancer. He’s survived by a wife and two children. May the Almighty accept his efforts and grant him Jannatul Firdaus and also grant his family sabr. Aameen.

Message from the Ameer of the Jamiatul Ulama

Youth

The Youth are our future and their future lay in the mindset that they develop, the attitudes that they employ and the approaches they enlist in dealing with various issues.

They will face challenges that may sometimes seem insurmountable, they will confront new subjects and concerns, they will deal with unique problems, and they will also be presented with astounding possibilities and opportunities.

It is of utmost importance to acquaint the youth with possible issues, or genres of issues, that they may confront and discuss potential ways and manners of resolving issues and taking advantage of opportunities.

The Jamiatul Ulama, UMSA Annual Youth Convention is a step in the direction of providing guidance to our youth in this regard. Ulama and community leaders are urged to encourage the youth from their communities to attend the conference.

<Go to Top>
http://www.islamsa.org.za

http://www.radioislam.co.za

If you are experiencing any problems with this newsletter or have any comments, please contact us.

Jazakum-Allaah khairan for reading Jamiatul Ulama's Online Newsletter. To unsubscribe, please click here or send a blank email to jamiat@islamsa.org.za with the subject: Unsubscribe.