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Weekly Comment |
Press Statement: Invitation of
Palestinian Prime Minister,
Ismail Haniyeh to South Africa
The outcry by the South African
Jewish Board of Deputies
(SAJBD), and the South African
Zionist Federation (SAZF), in
opposition to the Hon. Minister
Ronnie Kasrils’ invitation to
the Palestinian Prime Minister,
obscures many facts concerning
the plight of Palestinians and
the difficulties faced by the
Palestinian authority.
The internal political problems
Palestine has been experiencing
in the past year can by and
large be ascribed to the failure
of the Israeli government, the
USA and other international role
players to recognise the outcome
of the Palestinian elections.
The refusal to recognise the
election results did little to
promote the cause of peace and
stability in Israel, Palestine
and the greater Middle East.
Palestinians can express their
own views, elect those who they
want to lead them, but if it
does not suit the worldview of
oppressors, then the democratic
process can be undermined and
results ignored.
The Jamiatul Ulama fully
supports the South African
government in its attempt to
play a constructive role in
Palestine. Both the SAJBD, and
the SAZF do not seem to
understand the fact that, as
Minister Kasrils pointed out,
the National Unity Government
represents up to 97% of all
Palestinians. Why should the
South African government then
not invite the legitimate Prime
Minister to interact on a
governmental basis?
The SAJBD and the SAZF is in
this way undermining one of the
most constructive foreign policy
engagements the South African
government has embarked on in
recent years. South African
political history teaches one
that difference and discord can
be overcome through intense
negotiations. By denying the
Palestinian Prime Minister the
right to travel on the behalf of
the people of Palestine, the
SAJBD and the SAZF are
effectively proving themselves
to be undermining the SA
governments’ constructive
engagement in Palestine. The
position taken by the SAJBD and
the SAZF does not only undermine
the democratic rights of
Palestinians, but is also
detrimental to efforts to find a
lasting solution to the
Palestinian conflict.
E.I. Bham (Moulana)
Secretary General
Israeli Aggression
Tony Leon, at
his farewell banquet last week
intimated that he had sympathy
with the Palestinians, because
he because he knew what it was
like to live under Israeli
occupation. The statement was
said as a joke in respect of him
being married to an Israeli
woman. Her two children
apparently also live with him.
It is sad and disappointing that
any person, let alone the leader
(even the outgoing committee) of
a political party, can find it
within himself to joke about
something as serious as the
untold suffering and oppression
of the Palestinian people. Also
hidden in his joke is an
admission that he too believes
that the Palestinians live under
difficult and imposed
conditions.
A the same time, with the
Palestinians having responded to
the continued Israeli aggression
and killing through the firing
of rockets, the Israeli Defense
Minister Amir Peretz said last
Saturday that the Jewish state
is prepared for an operation in
Gaza. “We are prepared for a war
in Gaza more than we were in the
Second Lebanon War,” Peretz
said. “There is a plan.”
The
rise of the right wing in France
France has a new
president-elect. Is his being
elected significant in any way
to the Muslim population of
France and other parts of the
world.
Nicolas Sarkozy, inherits a
country steeped in tradition. As
Minister of the Interior he had
no qualms to suppress riots by
dissatisfied immigrants (mostly
of Muslim and African descent) –
people stuck for generations
with menial jobs, in slums
around Paris. His right wing
credentials include a tough
stance on immigration, and the
urgent need to create jobs while
liberalizing the economy.
Mr. Sarkozy also earned the
nickname “Sarkozy the American”
due to some of his opinions on
the relationship between France
and the USA. If these signals
are anything to go by, it may be
that Mr. Sarkozy will not only
cosy-up to American policy, but
that French citizens and
especially the Muslim and
immigrant population, will have
to face a securocrat in the
Presidential office.
Analysts have been pointing out
that there is a strong
right-wing resurgence in
European politics, but, only
time will tell what real impact
this will have on the lives of
people in Europe. |
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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 109.93 |
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Mahr Faatimi |
R 5,496.55 |
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Zakaat Nisaab |
R 2,198.62 |
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Words of Wisdom |
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Hadith of the Week |
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Virtuous Professions |
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Rafi‘ ibn
Khadij Radhiallahu anhu
narrates that Allah's
Messenger Sallallaahu 'alaihi
wa sallam was asked what
type of earning was best and
replied,
"A man's work with his hand
and every business
transaction which is
approved." (Ahmad) |
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Quotation for the Week |
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Searching
for Faults |
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Those people
who search for other
people's fault will be blind
to their own faults.
(Sheikh Zun Noon
Misri) |
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Point of Reflection |
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Incompatibles |
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Fire and
gunpowder do not sleep
together. (African
Proverb) |
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Q and A |
Question:
Presently there are
different methods adopted by
various masaajid in South
Africa for the Jumu’ah
Salaat. Which method is the
closest to the sunnat of
Nabi Sallallaahu 'alaihi wa
sallam? |
Answer:
With regards to the
second athaan, (athaan just
before the khutba) khutba
and the actual Jumu’ah
Salaat, there is no
scope of any change in its
order. It has to be done in
the said order, however with
regards to the first athaan,
bayaan and sunnats there is
no hard and
fast sequence that needs to
be adhered to. It could be
set to accommodate the
musallien of the area. Many
masaajid are found in the
CBD and most of
the musallien are working
people and have limited
amount of time at their
disposal, so the schedule
could be adjusted to
suit their times and needs.
Faqhihul Ummat Hadhrat Mufti
Mahmood Gangohi saheb
rahmatullâhi alaih mentions
that the bayaan could be
terminated 5-10 minutes
before the second athaan to
allow the congregation to
perform the sunnats
undisturbed. Basically
the best tarteeb would be
that which accommodates the
greater part of the
congregation. See Fatawa
Mahmoodiya 2/318.
And Allah Ta'aala knows
best.
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Summarised Jumu’ah
Bayaan:
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The same
Jum`ah Bayaan published
last week is being
re-produced this week,
with the request for
Ulama to please use it
for encouraging youth to
attend the youth
convention this week
Sunday. |
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Youth |
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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.
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U P D A T E |
Countdown: Thursday,
Friday, Saturday …. Sunday –
Youth Convention
Excitement is
mounting about the
forthcoming Youth Convention
in Laudium !!!
People from as far
and wide as Klerksdorp and
Ventersburg in the South,
Bela Bela and Polokwane
(Pietersburg) in the North,
Nelspruit and Barbeton in
the East, Durban, Cape Town,
Johannesburg, Soweto,
Azaadville, Kagiso, Benoni,
Heidelburg, Lenasia,
Elodorado Park, Vereeniging,
Mabopane, Shoshanguve,
Rustenburg, Atteridgeville,
Lotus Gardens, Eldoraigne,
Eersterust, Mamelodi, Brits,
and the list goes on and on
– they’re all coming.
Approximately 30 busses are
expected and hundreds more
will travel on their own. Be
there and participate in a
programme that is bound to
enrich one all, insha’Allah.
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.
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.
On the same day, 13th
May 2007, a 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.
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 Boys
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. Riyadh Moosa
(Comedian),
Br. Hashim Amla
(South African Cricketer),
Lunch will be served
at both conventions.
For more information
on the Boys Convention call:
012 374 2506 / 082 655 9309
For information on
the Sisters Convention call:
011 373 8081 |
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AGM: Report
The
Jamiatul Ulama held its
Annual General Meeting on
Sunday 17 Rabi’al Aakhir
1428 (6 May 2007). The
meeting comprised of the
presentation of various
reports and involved
discussion of various issues
of importance. Nearly 300
Ulama from various parts of
Gauteng, North-West,
Northern, Free Sate,
Kwazulu-Natal and Cape
Provinces attended the
meeting. |
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SAHUC: Online Haj
Applications
As
mentioned in previous issues
of the Online Newsletter,
the South African Hajj and
Umrah Council has revised
its system of accepting
applications from
prospective haajis for this
year’s hajj. Only online
applications processed via
the SAHUC website will be
considered.
It is important to
note that the closing date
for registering is the 31
May 2007. Any person who is
even remotely considering
going for hajj this year
must ensure that he
registers.
The address for the
SAHUC website is:
www.sahuc.org.za. |
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Message from the Ameer of
the Jamiatul Ulama |
Youth
Alhamdulillah, the AGM of
the Jamiatul Ulama took
place last week.
The turnout was excellent.
It was encouraging to see
the increased attendance as
well as the number of the
younger Ulama.
Alhamdulillah, the meeting
proceeded according to
agenda and all issues were
dealt with to the
satisfaction of the house,
with sufficient time
allocated for discussion
after each report.
Ulama are thanked for their
support and urged to
continue their active
participation in the various
programmes organized by the
Jamiatul Ulama, especially
those aimed at upgrading the
skills and expertise of the
young Ulama.
Any suggestions would also
be most welcome.
Finally, please be reminded
that the Jamiatul Ulama/MSA
Annual Youth Conventions
will take place this week.
The Convention for the
Brothers will take place in
Laudium (Darus Salam
Centre), whereas the Sisters
Convention will take place
at the Lenasia Muslim School
in Lenasia.
A separate smaller Sisters
Convention for the Sisters
of Laudium area will take
place in Laudium (Darus
Salam Centre) on Saturday.
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