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Weekly Comment |
Hats off to Tshwane
The intended ban
on the advertising of alcohol in
public places in Tshwane is
definitely a move in the right
direction.
The ban is a part of a much
larger plan by authorities to
stop the spread of the scourge
of drug and alcohol abuse.
Tshwane has proposed the
establishment of a ‘Local Drug
Action Committee’ which would be
made up of various
law-enforcement agencies and
broad range of community
representatives. The ‘Local Drug
Action Committee’ would be
empowered with various powers,
including restricting the
erection of any outdoor
advertising for alcohol
products. Also included in their
powers would be things such as;
disconnecting the water and
electricity at homes or business
identified as dealing in illegal
drugs as well as conducting
random drug tests at schools,
universities and places of
entertainment.
The by-laws are to be presented
to the community and business
this week, and will, after
feedback from the public, be
implemented in July this year.
In light of the fact that the
advertising of tobacco products
are banned and the laws
regarding the advertisement of
tobacco products managed to
retain its position in the face
of strong opposition from the
tobacco giants, one wonders why
alcohol advertising in public
places was not subjected to
restrictions or bans a long time
ago.
Alcohol and drug abuse is
without doubt a major cause of
road accidents, murders, rapes,
women and child abuse and other
conditions that arise out of a
persons judgment and senses
being clouded.
As expected, those with their
own interests at heart will rise
up to oppose the by-laws, and
SAB has already threatened to
take the authorities to take
legal action.
It is hoped that reason and
justice will triumph, and that
genuine efforts such as these,
which consist of real solutions
and empower authorities to take
actual action will be supported
in an effort to establish a free
and peaceful society.
‘Check this Anti-Islamic
Website!’
What is the best
way to respond to anti-Islamic
websites?
From time to time at the
Jamiatul Ulama we are referred
to anti-Islamic websites. What
we have realised is that such
sites die on their own if they
are not able to generate visits.
Through more visits, more and
more Muslims are angered and
pushed to react in certain ways
that fit stereotypes which have
been created by enemies of
Islam. This fits in with the
adage, ‘Who angers you, controls
you.’ Hence their objective is
met at the expense of our
greatest asset: time. Our time
could be better spent on
something positive.
There are cases in which we do
react by way of protest to
websites that are anti-Islamic.
However, the success in these
situations is limited due to the
nature of the Internet:
anonymous hosts,
pseudo-authorship, ease of
duplication (mirror sites),
sheer size of cyberspace, etc.
It appears, the more you make
noise about it, the more
curiosity is built around the
site, and the more visits are
registered, hence, in the eyes
of the mischief-makers, success!
Where authors/webhosts have been
identified, different methods
can be used which may include
but not limited to engagement
through direct contact
(phone/fax/email) and recourse
to relevant legal instruments.
In the case of South Africa,
there are constitutional rights
bodies which may also be
approached by filing a complaint
against such crude websites.
Let us reconsider the sending
out of ‘alerts’ and ‘warnings’
of any existing or emerging
websites against Islam since
this would tantamount to
promoting those websites.
World Bank: Corruption at the
top
Paul Wolfowitz will be
leaving his position as head of
the World Bank at the end of
June. The US President announced
that he will be replaced by Mr.
Robert Zoellick, a former Deputy
Secretary of State and staunch
Bush ally.
Mr. Wolfowitz was forced to
resign after he broke World Bank
rules by giving his girlfriend a
pay increase and promotion.
Strange that no-one cares to
note that the World Bank is one
of the main proponents of
anti-corruption programmes in
Africa, and now one of the
World’s best known
neo-conservative ideologues has
been brought down in this
“undignified” manner. Strange
also is the choice of
Wolfowitz’s successor.
Not so strange, is who appointed
the incumbent and how he was
appointed, considering that he
was Deputy Secretary of State in
the US until about a year ago. |
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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 109.22 |
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Mahr Faatimi |
R 5,460.91 |
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Zakaat Nisaab |
R 2,184.37 |
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Words of Wisdom |
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Hadith of the Week |
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Cloak of
Greatness |
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Pride is my cloak and
greatness, My robe; and he
who competes with Me in
respect of either of them I
shall cast into Hell-fire.
Abu Dawud (also by Ibn Majah
and Ahmad)
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Quotation for the Week |
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Real
Progress |
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All progress is dependent
upon remaining steadfast on
the Shariah.
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Point of Reflection |
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Seeking
Cure |
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He who conceals his disease
cannot expect to be cured.
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Q and A |
QUESTION:
Can I give biscuits and
candy containing Haraam
ingredients to a non-Muslim?
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ANSWER:
It is not permissible to
give Haraam food to a
non-Muslim. In fact, the
Shari’ah
has instructed us that
Haraam food cannot be given
to any creation, not even to
animals. One should totally
discard and dispose of such
items. If a
Kaafir (non-Muslim) eats
Haraam on his own account,
obviously we are not
responsible for that.
However, we as
Muslims have been commanded
not to eat Haraam ourselves,
nor feed Haraam to any
creation (non-Muslim or even
an animal).
If you had purchased the
food then you should return
it to the supplier and
recover your money. If the
company does not accept
returns on goods bought,
then,
if you are not financially
constrained, the food items
should be disposed off and
not sold or given to any
other creation. If someone
gave the items to you as a
gift, then too, you should
discard them and not give
them to anyone.
And Allah Ta'aala knows
best.
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Summarised Jumu’ah
Bayaan:
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Zina |
The Holy Qur’ân
states:
"And do
not go near zina. It is
indeed a shameful and an
evil path." (Surah Al
Isrâ’, Ayah 32)
"The woman and
the man guilty of
fornication - lash each
of them with a hundred
lashes. Let not
compassion move you in
their case, in a matter
prescribed by Allâh, if
you believe in Allâh and
the Last day and let a
group of believers
witness their
punishment". (Surah Al-Nûr,
Ayah 2)
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The Holy Prophet
Sallallahu ‘alayhi
wasallam said:
"…adultery of the eyes
is when it looks at that
which is Harâm; adultery
of the ears is when it
listens to that which is
Harâm; adultery of the
tongue is when it utters
Harâm; adultery of the
hands is when it touches
Harâm; adultery of the
feet is when it walks
towards Harâm; adultery
of the heart is when it
desires and hopes for
that which is Harâm;
adultery of the private
parts is when it
succumbs to that which
is Harâm."
From the above
Hadîth it is clear and
apparent that Islam
forbids not only the act
of adultery but all acts
that invite and
encourage the act of
zina. Islam shuts the
door to the root of
every evil.
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Touching a
Strange Woman with Lust
It has
been reported that the
person who touches a
strange woman with lust,
on the day of
resurrection his hands
will be shackled to his
neck. If he kissed her,
his lips will be cut off
and thrown in the fire
of Jahannum. If he
committed adultery then
his thighs will bear
witness to it and
testify against him on
the Day of Qiyâmat. It
will say to him, "I was
mounted for something
impermissible." Allâh
will look at him with
anger. The flesh of his
face will fall off and
he will proclaim "What
did I do?" His tongue
will testify and say, "I
spoke to whom it was not
permissible for you to
talk to." His legs will
testify, "I walked
towards something
unlawful." His hands
will testify "I held
something which was
prohibited for you." His
eyes will testify "I
gazed at unlawful
things." His private
parts will testify "I
committed the act." An
angel will say, "I heard
it" while another will
say, "I’ve written it
down." Allâh will say "I
was aware of it and I
concealed it." Then
Allâh will say to the
angels "Let him taste of
my punishment. My anger
has increased on one who
has no shame." (Kitâb-ul-Kaba’ir)
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Hadîth Warns
Parents
Rasûlullah Sallallahu
‘alayhi wasallam has
said: "When he attains
maturity get him
married. If he attains
maturity and his father
does not get him
married, (and as a
result commits a sin,)
this sin falls upon the
father."
Rasûlullah Sallallahu
‘alayhi wasallam Speaks
to Youth
Rasûlullah Sallallahu
‘alayhi wasallam said:
"O young men, who
amongst you can afford
to get married, should
marry, for this will be
a means of restraining
the eyes from casting an
evil glance and keeping
one pure and chaste." (Mishkât)
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The Harms of
Zina
[Adultery/Fornication]
are Manifold
1. Allâh
Ta’âla becomes very
angry.
2. The reckoning
in the hereafter will be
very severe.
3. The person
will enter Jahannam.
4. The barakâh
(blessing) of his rizq
is lost.
5. He is deprived
from doing good.
6. He becomes
hated and cursed in the
eyes of the common
people.
7. The nation
involved in Zina will be
afflicted with droughts.
8. The spreading
of diseases and plagues.
9. The
destruction of the
locality.
10. The cause of
earthquakes.
11. The birth of
illegitimate children.
It is reported
that once Nabî
Sallallahu ‘alayhi
wasallam said, "O
Muslims, fear adultery
as it has six
consequences. Three in
this world and three in
the hereafter. As for
the worldly
consequences; spiritual
light from the face
vanishes, life is
shortened and a person
becomes
poverty-stricken. As for
the hereafter; it causes
Allâh’s displeasure,
difficult reckoning and
it obligates the
punishment of Jahannam."
(Kitâb-ul- Kabair.)
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The Result of
Young People of
Marriageable Age who Do
Not Get Married
When
there is no taq’wa (fear
of Allâh) in an
unmarried person’s life,
the passions of such a
person are fulfilled in
one of the following
ways:
1. Having
unlawful relationships
with men or women.
2. Having
mistresses.
3. Visiting
escort agencies and
prostitutes.
4. Frequenting
clubs or discos.
5. Reading
pornographic material.
6. Gazing at
women with lust.
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The Solutions
To make
nikâh. Nikâh in Islâm is
very simple, easy and
full of barakâh.
If one cannot
make nikâh due to some
shar’î reason, he/she
should resort to the
following:
1. Keep fast.
2. Protect the
eyes from looking at
strange men/women.
3. To avoid mixed
gatherings.
4. To have the
thought that Allâh is at
all times watching and
aware of your actions.
5. To refrain
from sitting and working
in privacy with strange
women.
6. Males should
fulfill the rights of
their wives i.e. looking
after them. This will
prevent women from
treading the wrong path.
7. To be wary of
the dictates of the nafs.
8. Women should
fulfill their husband’s
rights and should not
make excessive demands
on them.
9. To ask Allâh
for protection from
disobedience.
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A Youth Seeks
Permission to Commit
Adultery
A youth
(from the outlying
regions) came to Nabî
Sallallahu ‘alayhi
wasallam and said:
"Please permit me to
commit adultery." The
Companions of the Nabî
Sallallahu ‘alayhi
wasallam took this very
ill and were enraged at
his words; but Nabî
Sallallahu ‘alayhi
wasallam said to him:
"Come nearer to me.
Would you like anyone to
commit adultery with
your mother?" He said:
"Not at all." Nabî
Sallallahu ‘alayhi
wasallam said: "Then
other people will also
never tolerate such a
shameful act with their
mothers." Then Nabî
Sallallahu ‘alayhi
wasallam asked him the
same question about his
sister, aunt, etc. And
he answered each time in
the negative. Then Nabî
Sallallahu ‘alayhi
wasallam put his hand on
his chest and prayed: "O
Allâh! Purify his heart,
forgive his sins and
guard him against
adultery." The reporters
say that, after this,
nothing was more hateful
to him than adultery.
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U P D A T E |
Medical Ethics
Workshop
The Jamiatul
Ulama takes pleasure in
inviting all young Ulama to
attend a Workshop on Medical
Ethics, which is scheduled
for Saturday, 6th Jumaadal
Ukhra 1428 / 23 June 2007 at
Baitul Hamd, 32 Dolly
Rathebe (Avenue) Road,
Fordsburg. It will commence
at 9:15am and end at 1:00pm,
insha-Allah.
The workshop will
address amongst others the
following issues:
1. Introduction:
Scope and Sources of Medical
Jurisprudence and Islamic
Medical
Jurisprudence
2. Fertility Control
- family planning
3. Assisted
Reproduction - overcoming of
infertility
4. Termination of
Pregnancy
5. Organ
Transplantation
Your presence will be
greatly appreciated.
Kindly confirm your
participation by the 1st
June 2007, to ensure that
adequate arrangements can be
made. RSVP to Ml. Abdul
Hamid Varachia or Ml.
Obeidullah Bhoja on tel:
(011) 373 8000.
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Madam and Eve
A unique
programme organised by
Jamiatul Ulama Lenasia
Branch and Islamic Helpline
took place last week in
Lenasia. Entitled ‘Madam’
and ‘Eve’ it was a function
for ladies from Lenasia, and
those employed by them as
maids in their homes. The
aim of the programme was to
bring employer and employee
together in a casual
non-work related environment
where they could interact
more personally with each
other, thereby creating a
platform for establishing a
better understanding and
improve relationship between
the two. Approximately 300
hundred people attended. The
programme was welcomed by
all and culminated in the
‘Madam’ and ‘Eve’ sitting
together at the table for a
sumptuous meal. |
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Cape Town Visit
A team from
the Jamiatul Ulama Talimi
Board visited Cape Town last
week. Their visit was part
of a process of monitoring
the progress of the Jamiatul
Ulama project with regard to
providing ta’leem and
assistance in the Boland
area. The Jamiat oversees
the running of 14 madaaris
in the area. A full-time
supervisor is employed by
the Jamiatul to ensure that
taleem is of a high standard
and also engage in
programmes for the
development of teachers. |
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Message from the Ameer of
the Jamiatul Ulama |
The
Importance of
Self-Reflection
Man is constantly involved
in various activities.
Some of the activities are
focused on earning of a
livelihood for the purpose
of providing for himself and
his family; some aimed at
strengthening the
relationships that are
important to him as well as
fulfilling the rights of his
close and extended family,
and some activities that
center solely around
fulfilling the injunctions
of Allah.
Sometimes man becomes so
involved in the activities
that preoccupy him that he
loses sight of what exactly
he is doing and why he is
doing it.
Sometime man loses track of
what needs to be given
priority in the mountain of
tasks he has to complete.
It is important to
constantly and consistently
reflect upon one’s actions
and question one’s own
intentions.
Anything done only for the
pleasure of Allah will
ultimately bring real and
true blessing and reward.
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