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Weekly Comment |
A
Time to Take Stock
One may choose to put a spin.
One may say Pervez is a
collaborator against Islam.
Others may point to a myriad
other things to defend the
protagonists of the Lal Masjid
affair in Islamabad. However,
not many sober minds will deny
the fact that the whole saga has
far damaging consequences for
the House of Islam we all want
to build.
Establishment of the sovereignty
of Allâh on Earth remains the
sole ideal of any believer. How
we will achieve that is an issue
scholars are grappling with.
However, when events such as the
recent bomb scares in London and
the Lal Masjid disaster play
out, intuition informs us that
such tactics will not help the
Cause of Islam much.
Civil strife among Muslims and
failure to adapt strategies to a
fast-changing world are bigger
and vivid enemies of Islam and
Muslims than the forces ‘out
there trying to destroy Islam.’
After the body-count is over in
Pakistan, what will we have
achieved? Far too long, we are
playing into the hands of those
perceived to be our enemies.
They remain in power and
control, reminiscing their
puppeteering skills ... we are
perhaps exceeding their
expectations with our penchant
of destroying ourselves!
Worsening conditions in
Mogadishu
A report from the UN Integrated
Regional Information Network
published this week indicates
that restrictions on the
movement of people, and
conditions of insecurity have
forced the city’s largest market
to close down. This is the first
time since the civil war of 1991
that the market has been forced
to close down because of
conditions in the city. In
recent months tens of thousands
of Mogadishu citizens had to
flee the city as a result of
violent clashes with Ethiopian
occupying forces.
Since the 22nd of June, a
government imposed curfew, has
not had much of an impact on
bringing violence in the city
under control. The closure of
the market is affecting the
livelihoods of thousands of
people who depend on trade at
the market. Some Mogadishu
residents are putting blame on
the Transitional Federal
Government (TFG), claiming that
the TFG is in this way choking
the life out of ordinary
citizens.
Whatever the reason may be for
the decision to close the
market, the fact remains that
the conflict in Somalia is
dragging on with no solution in
sight. Somali leaders have
repeatedly called for the
withdrawal of Ethiopian forces,
while the TFG, AU, and the UN
are unable to put any clear
plans on the table to stop the
carnage. The conflict in Somalia
remains one of the biggest
current problems on the African
continent, but also the issue
that most people choose to
ignore at their own peril.
Justify Your Presence
Under pressure from
within his own ranks, US
President George Bush refused to
review his stance on the
continued and forced occupation
of Iraq, by the US, and its
allies saying that “We just
started”. According to him, the
US troops were necessary "for
the security of the United
States and the peace of the
world".
Senior Republicans have moved
from skeptical to definitely
opposed to Bush’s stance and
have joined many Democrats in
the move to push for a
withdrawal. Even the America
public are growing increasingly
weary and frustrated with USA
today/Gallup poll released on
Tuesday showing that more than
seven in 10 Americans favour
withdrawing nearly all US troops
from Iraq by April. The same
poll showed 62 per cent thought
sending US troops to Iraq was a
mistake - the first time that
number has topped 60 per cent in
that poll.
The boost in troop levels in
Iraq has increased the cost of
war there to nearly
half-trillion dollars,
congressional analysts say. But
the estimates call into question
the Pentagon's estimate that the
increase in troop strength and
intensifying pace of operations
in Baghdad and Anbar province
would cost only $5.6 billion
through the end of September. If
Congress approves President
Bush's pending request for
another $147 billion for the
budget year starting Oct. 1, the
total bill for the war on terror
since Sept. 11 would reach more
than three-fourths of a trillion
dollars, with appropriations for
Iraq reaching $567 billion.
And…
While all this takes place, the
death toll is mounting.
The Records speak for
themselves. The following is a
short record of the death toll
for the first nine days of July
this year. These are, however,
deaths through actual killing
and fighting and do not reflect
the many that die as a result of
conditions imposed through the
forced occupation.
• 52 Iraqis Killed on Sunday,
July 1, 2007
• 39 Iraqis, 5 US Soldiers
Killed on July 2, 2007
• 45 Iraqis, 3 US Soldiers
Killed on July 3, 2007,
Including 19 Executed by Death
Squads
• 28 Iraqis, 2 US Soldiers
Killed on July 4, US Helicopter
Downed in Mosul, 2007
• 60 Iraqis Killed in Various
Attacks on July 5, 2007,
Including 16 Executed by Death
Squads
• 101 Iraqis, 7 US Soldiers
Killed on July 6, 2007, on July
6,
• On July 7, 100 Iraqis Killed
in One Explosion, 8 US Soldiers,
British Soldier Killed
• On July 8, 2007, the death
Toll Reached 234 and 339
Injuries
• 80 Iraqis, US Soldier, British
Soldier Killed, on July 9, 2007,
Including 29 Executed by Death
Squads
Do your sums, 639 Iraqis killed
in nine days. The dead bodies
scream out the negation for
Bush’s justifications. |
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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 105.56 |
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Mahr Faatimi |
R 5,277.77 |
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Zakaat Nisaab |
R 2,111.11 |
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Words of Wisdom |
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Hadith of the Week |
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Virtues of
Predecessors |
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The Prophet Sallalahu
‘alayhi wa sallam said: “The
best of mankind is my
generation, then those who
come after them, then those
who come after them.”
(Bukhari, Muslim)
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Quotation for the Week |
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Personal
Accountability |
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“It is incumbent on every
person who believes in Allah
and the Last Day that he
should not be oblivious of
auditing himself.”
(Imam Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali)
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Point of Reflection |
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Nature of Hate |
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He who hates, hates himself.
(Zulu Proverb)
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Q and A |
Question:
Should Azaan and Takbeer be
given when reading Salaah
alone?
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Answer:
If a person has to
perform his Salaah alone for
some valid reason in
Shari’ah then the following
would apply:
Scenario 1:
If he is situated
in such a place that there
is a Masjid in close
proximity to him and the
Azaan
of that particular Masjid
would normally be able to
reach him
and five times Azaan and
Salaah does take place there
with regularity; then the
preferred method for him
would be that
he should then too call out
both the Azaan and Iqaamah
when performing Salaah
alone. However, if he left
out either
one or both then too it
would be totally in order
and there would
be no shortcoming therein as
the Azaan and Iqaamah of the
Masjid would suffice for
him.
Scenario 2:
If he is situated
in an area
where there is no Masjid to
be found in the immediate
vicinity; then he should
certainly carry
out both. This is the
preferred method in this
case. However,
if he only carried out one,
i.e.
the Iqaamah, then too it
would suffice. But, if he
merely called out the Azaan
and left out the Iqaamah,
then this method
would be Makrooh (disliked)
and should be abstained
from.
And Allah Ta’aala Knows
Best.
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U P D A T E |
Drug Awareness
Programmes
Through the counselling work
done at the Islamic Careline, we
have seen an increase in drug
cases. We have found varying
reasons for why people use
drugs; peer pressure, stress,
family problems, wanting to
belong, amongst others. This
highlighted the need for the
Muslim AIDS Programme (MAP) to
extend the Lifeskills Programme
to include more in-depth
information on drug awareness.
Map and the Islamic Careline are
now running drug awareness
programmes at schools as well as
youth groups. The programme
covers the following: definition
of drugs, different types of
drugs, peer pressure and its
relation to drugs, reasons
people use drugs, short and long
term effects of drugs, and the
various resources available. The
programme aims at making
children aware of the effects of
drugs, and empowers them to make
the right choices!
Contact the Islamic Careline on
011 373 8080 for more
information. |
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Summarised Jumu’ah
Bayaan:
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The Noble
Personality of the
Beloved of Allâh
Sallallahu Alayhi wa
Sallam
Allah (azza wa jalla)
says:
"We have not sent you
except as a Mercy unto
the Worlds." (21:107)
“You have indeed in the
Messenger of Allah a
beautiful example (of
conduct) …” (Al-Ahzab
33: 21)
Aaisha (radiyaahu anha)
said concerning the
Prophet (sallallahu
`alayhi wa sallam): “His
character was the
Qur’an.” (Ahmad)
The Beautiful
Features of Nabi
Sallallahu Alayhi wa
Sallam
Nabi sallallahu
alayhi wasallam was
neither tall nor short
but of medium stature.
His hair had a slight
wave in it (neither
straight nor curly). His
eye lashes were long and
his eyes extremely
black. He had a broad
chest with a well
developed body. His
palms were soft and
fleshy. He had a thick
beard, with a line of
hair running from the
chest to the navel. His
teeth were like a set of
pearls, beaming white.
He always had a smiling
countenance. His
perspiration emitted a
fragrance sweeter than
musk. Ayesha radhiallahu
anha would frequently
say "The women cut their
hands off when they were
enchanted and captivated
by the beauty of Yusuf
alayhis salâm, had they
seen my beloved, they
would have cut out their
hearts".
The Simplicity
of Nabi Sallallahu
Alayhi wa Sallam
• Ânas radhi allahu anhu
states that Nabi
sallallahu alayhi wa
sallam frequently
visited the sick,
followed the janaza,
responded to the
invitation of (even) a
slave and rode on a
mule... (Ibn Majah)
• Hazrat Ayesha radhi
allahu anha reported
that Nabi sallallahu
alayhi wa sallam used to
mend his shoes, sew his
cloth and work in the
household just as any of
you would do in your
households. He was a man
among men who patched
his clothes, milked his
goats and served
himself. (Tirmizi)
His Concern and
Sacrifices
The Holy Qur’ân states
"You are very nearly
going to kill yourself
out of grief that they
do not believe." (Surah
26 âyat 3)
Nabi sallallahu alayhi
wa sallam said "I have
been subjected to harm
(and suffering) in the
cause of Allah, as no
one else had been." The
brutal tortures and
relentless persecutions
reached such levels that
the pathway of Nabi
sallallahu alayhi wa
sallam was secretly
laden with thorns,
refuse and the
intestines of animals
was flung at him. He and
his group of devout
companions were denied a
home, denied food, water
and medicine for three
years. The cry of
infants and children
echoed through the
valleys of Arabia. Yet,
he never relented in
spreading the message of
Islam, because of his
concern for the complete
success of the people.
The Mission of
Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi
wa Sallam
The mission of Nabi
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam is eloquently
portrayed in a speech
which Ja’far (radhi
allahu anhu) made to the
ruler of Abyssinia in
Africa. He said : "O
king! We were a people
of ignorance,
worshipping idols,
eating the flesh of dead
animals, committing
abominations, neglecting
our relations, doing
evil to our neighbours
and the strong amongst
us would oppress the
weak. We were in this
state when Allah Ta’ala
sent to us a messenger
from amongst us, whose
descent and sincerity,
trustworthiness and
honesty were known to
us. He summoned us to
the worship of one true
Allah and to divest
ourselves of the stones
and idols which we and
our forefathers had been
ascribing to Allah. He
ordered us to be
truthful in speech, to
fulfill all that is
entrusted to us, to care
for our relatives, to be
kind to our neighbours,
to refrain from unlawful
food and the consumption
of blood. He forbade us
from engaging in
shameful acts and false
speech..."
The Fundamental
Principles Expounded by
Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi
wa Sallam at the
Farewell Pilgrimage
1. Belief in one object
of worship
2. Equality of men,
irrespective of colour
or nationality.
3. Superiority based
solely on piety.
4. Sanctity of life,
property and honour.
5. Abolition of interest
and usury.
6. The rights and fair
treatment of women.
7. The concept of
accountability and
personal responsibility.
8. Importance of the
pillars of religion i.e.
prayer, fasting, charity
and pilgrimage.
9. The Qur’ân and sunnah
as the only source of
salvation.
10. The obligation of
conveying the message.
Conclusion
The Prophet sallallahu
alayhi wasallam said:
"None of you has perfect
faith until I am more
beloved to him than his
parents, his children
and all the people".
Real love for him will
induce us to follow him
in all walks of life.
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Message from the Ameer of
the Jamiatul Ulama |
Umrah
This column has
repeatedly spoken on the
importance of sincerity.
Every action of a
Believer must be devoted to
seeking the Pleasure of
Allah. Otherwise, the action
loses its value.
Alhamdulillah,
hundreds of South African
Muslims undertake the
journey to engage in the
ibaadah of `umrah, and July
is a especially preferred
for this because of the
school holidays and other
factors.
It is important that
the `umrah does not become a
trip, a holiday or an
outing. It is an ibaadah
worth great value if done
correctly and with the
correct intention.
Insha’Allah I leave
for umrah today.
I request the du`aas
of all brothers and sisters,
that::
Allah make my journey
easy
Allah make my umrah
easy
Allah keep my
intention clean and pure –
solely for His pleasure
Allah accept my umrah
Allah accept my
du`aas during umrah
Allah grant me the
opportunity to visit the
Masjid an-Nabawi and give
salam to His Most Beloved
Prophet, Muhammad (sallallahu
`alayhi wa sallam).
That Allah keep me
with imaan, take me with
imaan and raise me, on the
Day of Qiyaamah, with imaan.
May Allah (azza wa
jalla) accept the same du`aa
for each and every ummati of
Muhammad (sallallahu `alayhi
wa sallam). Aameen.
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