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Weekly Comment
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Freedom IS
Sustainable in Sierra Leone!
Sierra Leone has just
concluded and election to replace President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah.
Kabbah has served a second and last constitutional five-year
term. He is to be succeeded by one of the seven contenders to
mark this historic first nationally organised elections rated as
competitive yet peaceful.
We hope that this transfer of power will remain as peaceful the
run up to the elections and the access to the polls with the
acceptance of the outcome regardless of the victor.
For a country still reeling from the civil war which saw
thousands of nationals amputated by rebel militias of Foday
Sanko in the 1990s nothing will be more important than
reconciliation for continued nation-building. The commendable
organisation of the elections in itself gives a glimmer of hope
for the future of the region well-known for strife, corruption
and military coups.
Africa, given chance, will be free!
60 Years on: What
has been achieved and whereto from here?
This week, Pakistan celebrated ‘60 years of Independence’, to
mark the 60th anniversary of its creation and independence from
British rule. Prayers in masaajid, gun salutes and carefully
planned rallies marked the cautious celebrations, with public
gatherings being limited and the general use of fireworks in
public places being banned.
The 1947 partition saw over 10 million people relocate to settle
in lands across newly defined borders.
The idea of the creation of the creation of Pakistan was couched
in the view that the need to cater for and create a separate
land for Muslims was of importance. The ideal of an Islamic
State was proposed by proponents of partition. Many, including
senior Ulama were opposed to the idea.
Whatever the circumstances, 60 years down the line, one must ask
what has been achieved and whereto for Pakistan from hereon. The
question of the extended periods of military rule (over 30
years) needs to be examined. How far down the road towards or
away from the Islamic State has Pakistan progressed or
retrogressed is a relevant question. Finally, on Independence
Day, one must ask how independent Pakistan is in light of the US
influence of Pakistani policy, decisions and actions.
Today we have a President of Pakistan who many would question
regarding his Islamic identity (or lack of it) and commitment to
establishing Islam, who has come into power through military
intervention and rules by military might, and who, many would
say, is close to inheriting the heritage the legacy of Blair – a
poodle of the US administration.
Muslim Media
Arab News has as one of its lead stories; “Israel Kills 6
Palestinians”, Al Jazeerah also has on its lead page the story,
“Deadly Israeli raids on Gaza”.
Is this news? What else has happened recently?
The ‘western’ media clearly reports on Palestine and events
taking place within Palestine and the occupied lands in a most
biased manner. Reports of ‘Israeli’s’ killed are reported in a
bold screaming style and often repeated, whereas reports of
Palestinians murdered are often hidden in the inner pages and
reported in a manner which reflects them as being guilty of
previous crimes and thus targets of ‘Israeli’ response. Most
often stories where Palestinians are wronged go unreported.
Sometimes, days on end, there exists no reports on Palestinian
issues and suddenly there appears a story of an ‘incident’. The
impression this creates is that there was nothing that took
place in the interim period. The truth is however far from this.
When ‘Muslim media’ began to react in a similar manner then one
must ask questions about the Muslim media and whether it is not
falling foul to the folly that the western media intends for it.
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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
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R 109.17
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Mahr
Faatimi
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R 5,458.64
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Zakaat Nisaab
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R 2,183.46
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Words of Wisdom
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Hadith of the Week
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Virtues of Shabaan
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Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin, Radhi-Allahu anha: ‘The month most liked
by the Apostle of Allah Sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam for fasting was
Sha'ban. He then joined it with Ramadan.’
(Sunan Abu Dawud) |
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Quotation for the Week
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Fear the Creator Only
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When you fear the creation,
you feel repelled by it and run away from it, but when you fear the
Creator, you feel close to Him and run towards Him.
(Ibn Qayyim al Jawziyyah) |
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Point of Reflection
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Perfection Process
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A gem is not polished without
rubbing, nor a man perfected without trials.
(Chinese Proverb) |
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Q and
A
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Question:
At the company
where I work, we are
compelled
to be part of the Medical Aid Scheme, contributions are
automatically
deducted
monthly from our salaries.
Is it permissible for me to
utilize
the Medical Aid facility? |
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Answer:
Medical Aid Schemes wherein one voluntarily
subscribes to become a member and thereafter benefits by receiving a
cash or cheque payment from the Medical Aid
in lieu of medical treatment
that he received, will NOT be permissible. However, if the membership is
NOT voluntary
but COMPULSORY within the framework of the company
where one is employed; in other words every employee is obliged to be
connected with the
Medical Aid Scheme of the company, then this would be similar to a
compulsory Pension Fund Scheme. Just as it would
be permissible to accept the excess returns on the Pension Fund
investment (as the excess
is considered to be a gift from one's employer) in a like manner it
would also be permissible to accept payment from the
Medical Aid for one's medical
bills (even though the payment may exceed one's contributions).
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U P D A T E
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Understanding the Palestinian Situation
The Jamiatul Ulama, Tshwane
Branch organized and hosted a conference on Palestine last week.
The conference took place on Saturday afternoon from 3 pm and
ended at 10:30 pm.
Over 300 males and approximately 70 females attended the
conference.
Guest Speakers included Ml. Ighsan Hendricks of Cape Town, Mufti
Zubair Bhayat of Kwazulu Natal, Ml. Ibrahim Bham, Ml. Ashraf
Dockrat, Ml. Sulaiman Ravat and Dr. Firoze Osman. A wide range
issues were covered.
The conference was extremely well-received and culminated in
various issues being resolved. Guidance was provided on who is
who, and who is on the path of truth as opposed to those who
have willingly or unwillingly betrayed or compromised the
struggle to free Masjid Al-aqsa and Palestine from the occupying
forces. The responsibility of the Muslim Ummah was explained.In
addition, attendees were encouraged to fulfil a number of
responsibilities, including creating awareness within
themselves, their families, friends, communities and to even
larger audiences. It was also resolved that individuals should
try to visit the Masjid al-Aqsa.
Jaami`ah Al-`Ulum Al-Islamiyyah
The Jaami`ah Al-Ulum Al-Islamiyyah h is an institute of higher
learning run under the auspices of the Jamiatul Ulama. It
conducts a six year ‘Aalim/Faadil’ course, where students study
Arabic, Hadeeth, Qur`an, Usul al-Hadeeth, Usul al-Fiqh, Aqeedah,
and various other branches of the Islamic sciences. The
curriculum comprises is the same or similar to that employed by
most other traditional institues. The Jaami`ah however also
focuses on other key aspects. Important skills such as writing,
speech, research methodology, advanced computer skills, etc are
developed. In addition, students are exposed to
current/contemporary issues and the Islamic perspectives on
these issues which are relevant to the Muslim community.
Communicative language skills in Arabic, English and Urdu are
also concentrated on. Students are also guided in a daily
reading, understanding and analysis of daily local, national and
international news items. Students are also guided in
registering and studying to obtain a qualification in a field of
their choice at a tertiary institute, so that they may obtain a
degree and specialize in that particular field from both an
Islamic and ‘secular’ perspective. Finally, time is allocated on
a daily basis for the purpose of a structured tarbiyyah
programme.
Registrations for the 2008 academic year have commenced and all
interested students are advised to call the Jaami`ah at 011 373
8040.
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Summarised Jumu’ah Bayaan:
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The Month of Sha'ban: A Preparation for Ramadaan
Adapted from an article by Mufti Taqi Uthmani Sahib (DB)
Usamah ibn Zaid reports that he asked Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon
him): "Messenger of Allah, I have seen you fasting in the month of
Sha'ban so frequently that I have never seen you fasting in any other
month." Prophet Muhammad, replied: "That (Sha'ban) is a month between
Rajab and Ramadan which is neglected by many people. And it is a month
in which an account of the deeds (of human beings) is presented before
the Lord of the universe, so, I wish that my deeds be presented at a
time when I am in a state of fasting."
We have just entered in to the eighth Islamic month i.e. Sha'ban, a
meritorious month for which we find particular instructions in the
sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
FASTING IN
THIS MONTH
It is reported in authentic ahadith that Prophet Muhammad used to fast
during most of the days of the month of Sha'ban. A few ahadith are cited
here regarding fasting in the month of Sha’ban:
1. Anas reports that Prophet (peace be upon him) was asked, "Which fast
is the most meritorious after the fasts of Ramadan?" He replied, "Fasts
of Sha’ban in honour of Ramadan."
2. Ummul Mu'mineen 'Aishah says: "Prophet Muhammad used to fast the
whole of Sha'ban. I said to him, 'Messenger of Allah, is Sha'ban your
most favourite month for fasting?' He said, 'In this month Allah
prescribes the list of the persons dying this year. Therefore, I like
that my death comes when I am in a state of fasting."
3. In another tradition, she says: "Prophet Muhammad would sometimes
begin to fast continuously until we thought he would not stop fasting,
and sometimes he used to stop fasting until we thought he would never
fast. I never saw the Messenger of Allah fasting a complete month,
except the month of Ramadan, and I have never seen him fasting in a
month more frequently than he did in Sha'ban."
These reports indicate that fasting in the month of Sha'ban, though not
obligatory, is so meritorious that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
did not like to miss them.
In our context, it will not cause undue difficulty on most of us if we
were to observe only a few fasts in Sha’ban so as to get accustomed to
the idea of fasting after a whole year. In Ramadaan, everyone finds
observing the first few fasts difficult, but if we are accustomed to it
already, we will be able to embrace Ramadaan better.
LIST OF
BIRTHS AND DEATHS, ETC PRESCRIBED
The Ahaadeeth mentioned above also make mention that “in this month
Allah prescribes the list of the persons dying this year”. Some scholars
hold that this takes place on the night of the 15th Sha`ban. Scholars
also mention that together with the list of the dead, lists of births
and other events are also prescribed.
DEEDS
PRESENTED TO ALLAH
The Ahaadeeth also mention that “it is a month in which an account of
the deeds (of human beings) is presented before the Lord of the
universe, so, I wish that my deeds be presented at a time when I am in a
state of fasting”
THE NIGHT
OF BARA'AH
Another significant feature of the month of Sha'ban is that it contains
a night which is termed as "Laylatul Bara'ah" (The night of freedom from
Fire). This is the night occurring between 14th and 15th day of Sha'ban.
There are certain traditions of Prophet Muhammad, (peace be upon him) to
prove that it is a meritorious night in which the people of the earth
are attended by Divine mercy:
1. Ummul Mu'mineen 'Aishah is reported to have said, "Once Prophet
Muhammad performed the tahajjud salah and made a very long sajdah until
I feared that he had passed away. When I saw this, I rose (from my bed)
and moved his thumb (to ascertain whether he is alive). The thumb moved,
and I returned (to my place). Then I heard him saying in sajdah: 'I seek
refuge in Your forgiveness from Your punishment, and I seek refuge of
Your pleasure from Your annoyance, and I seek Your refuge from Yourself.
I cannot praise You as fully as You deserve. You are exactly as You have
defined Yourself.' Thereafter, when he raised his head from sajdah and
finished his salah, he said to me: 'Aishah, did you think that the
Prophet has betrayed you?' I said, 'No, O Prophet of Allah, but I was
afraid that your soul has been taken away because your sajdah was very
long.' He asked me, 'Do you know which night is this?' I said, 'Allah
and His Messenger know best.' He said, 'This is the night of the half of
Sha'ban. Allah Almighty looks upon His slaves in this night and forgives
those who seek forgiveness and bestows His mercy upon those who pray for
mercy but keeps those who have malice (against a Muslim) as they were
before, (and does not forgive them unless they relieve themselves from
malice).'"
2. In another Tradition Aishah has reported Prophet Muhammad to have
said, "This is the middle Night of Sha'ban. Allah frees in it a large
number of the people from Fire, more than the number of the hair growing
on the sheep of the tribe, Kalb. …" Kalb was a huge tribe the members of
which had a very large number of sheep. Therefore, the last sentence of
the hadith indicates the big number of the people who are forgiven in
this night by Allah Almighty.
3. Mu'adh ibn Jabal reports that Prophet Muhammad said: "Allah Almighty
looks upon all those created by Him in the middle Night of Sha'ban and
forgives all those created by Him, except the one who associates
partners with Him or the one who has malice in his heart (against a
Muslim)".
WHAT SHOULD
BE DONE IN THIS NIGHT?
In order to achieve the blessings of the Night of Bara'ah, one should
remain awake as much as one can. If it is possible, one should spend the
whole night in worship. However, if one cannot do so, one can select a
considerable portion of the night, preferably the second half of it, and
perform the following acts of worship:
(a) Salaah
(b) Tilawah.
(c) Dhikr & Durood.
(d) Du‘a.
(e) Those Muslims who cannot perform any additional worship should at
least perform the Maghrib, 'Isha' and Fajr in congregation in the Masjid.
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Message from the Ameer of the Jamiatul Ulama
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Shabaan
The month of Rajab has passed. We have just entered into the month of
Shabaan quickly moving into the radar of the Blessed Ramadan.
Our Beloved Prophet Sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam made great efforts to
use the month of Shabaan as a period of preparation for Ramadan. He
fasted excessively, made abundant du`aa and continuously reminded the
companions of the forthcoming month.
We too, must follow the example of the Prophet. Sallallahu `alayhi wa
sallam.
Let us prepare ourselves spiritually for the onset of this most Blessed
Month.
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to Top>
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