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Weekly Comment |
When Institutions of Virtue
Become Dens of Vice
• On the 14th
August this year, a14-year-old
schoolboy appeared in the Paarl
Magistrate's Court for allegedly
stabbing a fellow pupil to
death.
• On the 23rd of August, police
dispersed about 100 pupils,
relatives and parents
brandishing knives after a fight
between a group of schoolboys
left a pupil with multiple stab
wounds at a Pietermaritzburg
school.
• On Monday, nine pupils were
arrested in a drugs search at
the Liverpool Secondary School
in Actonville, Benoni. The boys
were aged between 14 and 17 and
tested positive for "narcotic
and dagga traces". On Friday, a
Grade 10 pupil at the same
school apparently stabbed a
fellow classmate, 15, twice with
scissors in the head. Yesterday,
another incident involving two
brothers and another boy took
place.
• Yesterday, a 14-year-old boy
was stabbed by a classmate, also
14, after an argument at the
Humansdorp Secondary School.
• These are just a few examples
of the recent spate of violence
at schools in various parts of
South Africa.
The school is supposed to be an
establishment where students are
educated and their character
developed; it is supposed to be
a safe haven for those who
otherwise find themselves living
in the lair of the enemy; it is
supposed to be an institution
that promotes virtue, not one
that allows for the perpetration
of vice. The school is the
preparatory ground for the
leaders of tomorrow - such
leaders like the geniuses,
brilliant entrepreneurs,
revolutionaries and the other
select few who influenced
history and the development of
societies. These very same South
African schools that we express
concern about today, gave rise
to the movements that changed
the course of the history of our
nation.
Nowadays, schools have become
the lurking ground for criminals
that prey of the children of our
society. They have become the
market-place for the selling of
drugs, alcohol, knives, guns and
other tools of destruction. The
perverted drug-pushers and gangs
have invaded the safe-haven of
what used to be the playground
of the innocent.
The problem of violence at
schools, is not a problem of
‘violence at schools’. It is
part of a much larger problem,
and indicative of a severe rot
that is creeping into society.
In resolving the challenge that
we face, communities need to get
involved in fighting the scourge
of drugs, alcohol, raves and
other such avenues of vice. More
importantly, every individual
that makes up a community must
fight it within his own home and
family.
Interesting: Turkey’s new Leader
and His Wife
It is interesting to note that
the pictures of the new Turkish
president, Abdullah Gul saw him
accompanied by his wife - whose
head was covered by the
traditional Islamic head-garb,
scarf or burqah. Isn’t this the
same country which had made the
wearing of the scarf forbidden
in public places such as
universities, etc.?
Is this an indication of things
to come? One never knows.
On the other hand, Gul’s wife
has been publicly criticised for
wearing the headscarf and
warnings have been issued by the
military. She responded by
saying that she will show
respect to Turkey’s secular
institutions.
Muslims are often called upon to
respect the rights of women.
What about the right of the
woman to wear what she pleases?
Opium Flourishes in Afghanistan
In 1999, the UN’s drug control
agency officials declared: “The
Taliban religious militia has
nearly wiped out opium
production in Afghanistan — once
the world's largest producer—
since banning poppy cultivation
last summer.” They further
commented: "It is amazing,
really, when you see the fields
that last year were filled with
poppies and this year there is
wheat,"
The resolve and determination
that led to this restriction was
not one that was motivated by
any material gains. It was out
of the conviction that the
production of narcotics are
against the teachings of Islam!
Today, on the back of record
levels of opium production, we
are told: ‘The Taliban are
financing the resurgence with
revenues from opium. Narco-terrorism
at work!”
Is it an admission that ISAF
operations on Afghanistan have
failed? When will the occupying
powers realise that a lasting
solution for any nation cannot
be in the hands of hand-picked
minorities representing narrow
interest groups? |
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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 101.26 |
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Mahr Faatimi |
R 5,062.88 |
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Zakaat Nisaab |
R 2,025.15 |
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Words of Wisdom |
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Hadith of the Week |
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Gratitude
and Forgiveness |
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Narrated By
Mu'adh ibn Anas Radhi-Allahu
anhu: The Prophet Sallallahu
‘alayhi wassalam said: If
anyone eats food and then
says: "Praise be to Allah
Who has fed me with this
food and provided me with it
through no might and power
on my part," he will be
forgiven his former and
later sins. If anyone puts
on a garment and says:
"Praise be to Allah Who has
clothed me with this and
provided me with it through
no might and power on my
part," he will be forgiven
his former and later sins.
(Sunan Abu Dawûd) |
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Quotation for the Week |
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Reputation |
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"Do not be
mislead by someone's
reputation."
(Umar Radhiallahu
Anhu) |
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Point of Reflection |
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Don't
Give Up |
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Fall down
seven times, get up eight.
(Japanese Proverb) |
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Q and A |
Question:
I would like to find out
what should be done with
regard to my daughter who
has severe asthma. As
prescribed by her doctor,
she needs to use her asthma
pump thrice daily.
What advice can you give us
with respect to her fasting? |
Answer:
In this case she
should consult with a pious
Muslim doctor. If
the doctor confirms the need
for the asthma pump due to
the severity of her
condition, then she will be
permitted not to
fast. Inhaling of medicine
nullifies the fast.
Therefore, when she gets
well, she will be required
to keep the qadhaa of those
missed fasts. However,
if the condition is chronic
such that she will not be
able to fast
at all in future, she may
give fidyah for the fasts
that she
could not keep. The amount
of fidya is the same as that
of sadaqatul fitr.
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U P D A T E |
Parenting in the Information Age
On Friday 24 August 2007, the
Jamiatul Ulama hosted a workshop
presented by Riyaad Minty, a
senior analyst (new media) with
a Doha-based news network.
Riyaad highlighted the need for
parents and instructors in
information technology to be
conversant with emerging
platforms attracting the youth
around the world such as the
Internet and mobile phones.
Focus was on ‘social networking’
portals which can prove to be
the proverbial good-servant yet
vicious if let to control. The
workshop underscored the need
for scholars, parents and
teachers to facilitate and guide
the usage of technology for
beneficial ends.
Madrasah Arabia Islamia
Madrasah Arabia Islamia in
Azaadville will be holding its
annual Jalsah. The series of
events lined up as part of the
Jalsah will take place from
Friday, 31 Aug. until Sunday, 2
Sep. 2007
Included on the programme are
speeches of senior Ulama from
South Africa as well as overseas
such as Moulana Shabbier
Saloojee, Moulan A Rahman
Lambat, Moulana Ayyub Surtee,
Mufti Goolam Hussain and Moulana
Junaid Hassim.
The final ceremony of Bukhari
Khatam will start at 10:15 on
Sunday 2 Sep. 2007 when students
under the tutelage of Moulana
Fadhlur Rahman Azmi will
graduate, insha-Allah. |
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Summarised Jumu’ah
Bayaan:
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TAUBAH
(Repentance from Sin)
O ye who believe! turn
to Allah with sincere
repentance: It is very
close that your Lord
will remove from you
your ills and admit you
to Gardens beneath which
Rivers flow; on the Day
that Allah will not
permit the Prophet and
those who believe with
him to be humiliated.
(66:8)
(6.54, 7.153, 8.38,
9.104, 11.3, 4.110)
Anas Ibn Malik (ra)
narrates that Allah's
Apostle said, "Allah is
more pleased with the
repentance of His slave
than anyone of you is
pleased with finding his
camel which he had lost
in the desert." (Bukhari
8:321)
Abu Hurairah (ra) says
that he heard Allah's
Apostle saying, "By
Allah! I ask for
forgiveness from Allah
and turn to Him in
repentance more than
seventy times a day." (Bukhari
8:319)
• When reading the most
Glorious Qur'an, we note
the major difference
between Nabee Adam
Alayhis Salaam and Iblis
in that, upon making a
mistake, Nabee Adam (Alayhis
Salaam) asked for
Almighty Allah's
forgiveness, but Iblis
asked Allah for respite
during which he could
continue doing evil and
take most of mankind
with him. In this story,
Almighty Allah
demonstrates the
haughtiness and pride to
which we can all
succumb; yet, the
inability to repent is a
trait of fundamental
evil, or one without
faith. The
characteristic of
righteousness is being
able to ask for
forgiveness.
• Tawbah elevates us, it
does not lower us. It
disciplines and trains
the soul because the
soul must endure a
certain kind of
humiliation - and
injury- because the soul
has developed a logic,
or illogic, that it does
not want to be exposed.
But shaythaan deceives
us and tells us that we
do not have to apologize
because we are better or
because we are more
knowledgeable.
• There are certain
essentials and
requirements of a
thorough repentance [Tawbah]
without whose
materialization an
authentic Tawbah is not
attained. The most
essential one is regret
and remorse for one's
past sins and faults.
Another is resolving not
to commit the sin ever
again. These two, in
fact, constitute the
essential reality of
Tawbah and comprise its
essential constituents.
• When any intelligent
person becomes aware of
these facts, he/she
would certainly abstain
from sin and distance
himself from sin; and
if, Allah forbid, he/she
commits any sin, he/she
would be filled with
remorse. The result that
this remorse produces is
something great and its
effects are very
beneficial. The
determination to quit
disobedience and sin is
a consequence of this
remorse.
• Almighty Allah's
Graceful succour becomes
his or her lot, and, in
accordance with the
explicit meaning of
verse 222 of Surah Al-Baqarah:
".....Verily Allah loves
the repentant."
• Woe to us! After
having spent years in
disobedience and after
prolonged disloyalty to
such an Exalted Creator,
Who has provided all the
means of our comfort and
ease - having violated
His sanctities and taken
shamelessness to its
extreme - now that we
are remorseful, Almighty
Rabbul Ala'meen still
regbards us as His loved
ones. What plentitude of
Bounty and Mercy!
• Almighty Allah's Mercy
is greater than
everything and
encompasses all things,
and Almighty Allah's
Justice is not bound by
conditions. If we cannot
make amends for the
return of His rights, He
will overlook our
failures. If we cannot
satisfy the rights of
others, He will
compensate for it.
• The Path of Almighty
Allah Subhanahu Wata'ala
is easy and simple. All
that it requires is some
attentiveness.
Postponement, delay,
neglect and allowing the
sins to pile up day by
day is what makes the
matter difficult. But
resolute action and
decision to set aright
the affairs of the soul
makes the path shorter
and the task easier.
• Openly and secretly,
mournfully and
pleadingly, in solitude,
with lamentation, tears
and wails of woe, we
should implore the
forgiveness of His
Sacred Essence to cover
our sins and wipe out
their consequences.
• We must always
meditate upon the
consequences of sin, the
severity of Almighty
Allah's Might, the
precision of the Balance
of Deeds, and the
intensity of the
chastisement of Barzakh
and Resurrection. It is
hoped that after this
knowledge and reflection
the soul will loath sins
and detest them with a
complete and total
hatred.
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Message from the Ameer of
the Jamiatul Ulama |
Preparation for
Ramadan
Ramadan is
on our doorstep. It is an
occasion wherein a person is
invited to take full
advantage of the Favour,
Blessings and Mercy of
Allah.
Our dear and beloved
Prophet, Muhammad Sallallahu
'alayhi wa sallam emphasised
the importance of preparing
oneself for Ramadan. He
began making people aware of
Ramadan through his
du'as, from two months
prior to Ramadan. He fasted
excessively in Sha`ban, the
month preceding Ramadan, and
he continuously reminded
people about the virtues of
Ramadan.
We have barely two weeks to
go before we enter into the
month of Ramadan. Let us use
these two weeks to prepare
ourselves for Ramadan. Let
us: try to follow the
example of the Prophet by
fasting more; perform more
nafl salah; recite
more Qur’an; and make as
much du'aa as
possible. Let us prepare
ourselves spiritually. In
addition, let us prepare the
mindset of ourselves, our
wives and children to such a
mindset where we anticipate
and look forward to Ramadan
– for the purpose of making
as much ibadah as
possible in Ramadan.
May Allah (azza wa jalla)
make it possible for us to
see Ramadan and more
importantly to benefit from
it. Aameen.
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