|
|
|
Weekly Comment |
Iraq: UK withdrawal symptoms and
US hangovers
Major-General Tim Cross, the
most senior UK officer involved
in the Iraq conflict recently
indicated that he was ‘very
concerned’ about the lack of
detail in US plans to rebuild
Iraq after the 2003 invasion.
This comes together with news
about UK military forces
withdrawing from Basra to the
outskirts of the city. At the
same time it is becoming clear
that Gordon Brown, UK premier,
will make an announcement in
October concerning the possible
withdrawal of the UK military
from Iraq altogether.
The question of Iraq will also
feature high on the US political
agenda in coming weeks. General
David Petraeus will report on
the success of the so-called
troop surge to bring stability
to Iraq. Analysts indicate that
this report will in all
likelihood not bring a major
change to the direction of US
military efforts in Iraq, but
that it will become a political
tool in the US to sway public
opinion on the relative
success/failure of the war
effort there. In his PhD
dissertation on lessons to be
learned from the Vietnam war,
General Petraeus argued that
when it comes to military
intervention, “time and patience
are not American virtues in
abundant supply.” This means
that the American public quickly
turn on political leaders who
commit American military forces
to protracted conflicts. Should
decisions about war be informed
only by fickle public opinion,
which, a few years ago gave Bush
& co. the go-ahead for its
unilateral invasion? Shouldn’t
decisions about the continued
war effort be informed by the
human cost and the need to bring
the carnage to some kind of end?
Informants
BBC reports: “A self-confessed
Muslim fundamentalist has told
the BBC about his police
informant role in helping to
stop an alleged terrorist
attack.”
The story is that of Mubin
Shaikh, a Canadian citizen who
revealed how he was secretly
recruited by the Canadian
Intelligence Service. He further
explains how he had been tasked
to befriend a group upon whom
the Canadian Intelligence had
already been spying for awhile.
He engaged in discussions with
them, gained their confidence
and even taught the men he was
spying upon mock combat
exercises and target practice.
Mubin was a cadet in the
Canadian army during his teenage
years; he has an outstanding
assault charge against him and
has officially received $300 000
(US) for his part in obtaining
the information.
Strange background and acts of a
‘self-confessed Muslim
Fundamentalist’ isn’t it?
Many would claim that the
details of the case are so
suspicious, dubious, shady,
fishy, iffy, skeptical,
irregular, and devious that they
fall way beyond the ludicrous,
in terms of credibility.
<Go to
Top> |
|
U P D A T E |
Meeting of
Muslim Broadcasters
Ml. Ebrahim I Bham of the
Jamiatul Ulama attended a
workshop of various Muslim
bodies involved in the media.
The purpose of the meeting was
to discuss the possibility of
forming a unified body or
Association of Muslim
Broadcasters. Present at the
meetings were various radio
Stations, ITV and the Jamiatul
Ulama. In principle the idea for
the formation of such an
association was accepted and it
was resolved to begin work on
setting constitutional
guidelines for how such a body
will exist and operate.
Depression and Suicidal
Tendencies
The Jamiatul Ulama will be
hosting a workshop on Depression
and Suicidal Tendencies. A
similar workshop was hosted by
the Jamiatul Ulama on the East
Rand just over a month ago. This
week’s programme is focused at
Muslim Schools in the Central
Johannesburg area. For more
information contact Ml.
Ubeidullah on 011 373 8000.
Meeting with DST’s
Public Understanding of
Biotechnology (PUB) Unit
Last week, members of the
Jamiatul Ulama and SANHA met
with a researcher from the
Department of Science and
Technology to engage in a
discussion on biotechnology.
Biotechnology in various fields
including food, agriculture,
health and other fields were
examined from scientific as well
as religious point of view. This
focus group meeting was a leg of
research exploring the
understanding of
biotechnological issues among
communities and the best ways of
reaching out on the subject.
|
|
|
C O N
T E N T S |
|
Summarised
Jumuah Bayaan |
|
Question and
Answer |
|
Update |
|
Message from the Ameer |
|
I N F
O R M A T I O N |
|
Min. Mahr |
R 103.50 |
|
Mahr Faatimi |
R 5,174.80 |
|
Zakaat Nisaab |
R 2,069.92 |
|
Words of Wisdom |
|
Hadith of the Week |
|
Graft and
Kickbacks |
|
Abdullah Ibn
`Amr ibn Al`Aas Radhi-Allahu
anhu narrated that The
Prophet Sallallahu ‘alayhi
wassalam cursed the one who
gives bribes and the one who
takes bribes.
(Sunan Abu Dawûd) |
|
|
Quotation for the Week |
|
Thought
Control |
|
"Each person
wants to make the next
person think like him."
(Maulana Maseehullah
rahmatullahi 'alayhi) |
|
|
Point of Reflection |
|
It can be Done... |
|
There is a path to the top
of highest mountain.
(Afghani Proverb)
|
|
|
Q and A |
Question: Can you
give Zakaah
to a family-member who is in
debt? He is earning a steady
income, but it is being
utilised
for his household needs and
basic necessities. |
Answer:
It is
not permissible to give
Zakaah to one’s ascendants
(parents, grandparents,
etc), descendants (children,
grand-children, etc.) and
spouses.
Besides them, all other
family members (brothers,
sisters, uncles, aunts,
etc.) can be given Zakaah.
When one is indebted (and
the payment of the debt is
currently due, with the
creditor making demands of
repayment of the debt) and
the debt is such that
it exceeds the value of
one’s excess goods and
Zakaah assets, i.e. after
deducting the debt
from one’s excess goods and
other Zakaah assets such as
jewellery, etc. one is not
left
with a surplus amount that
equals the Nisaab of Zakaah,
then one will become an
eligible recipient of Zakaah.
Thus, in
the inquired case, if after
subtracting the currently
due
debt, the family member is
not
left with a surplus amount
equal
to the Nisaab of Zakaah,
then Zakaah may be given to
him. Although he is earning
a steady income, his income
is being
utilised for his household
needs
and basic necessities, hence
not leaving him with a
surplus balance equivalent
to the Nisaab
of Zakaah. In such a case,
he
may be assisted with Zakaah
funds.
In fact, discharging one’s
Zakaah
to one’s family members
holds greater reward.
<Go to
Top>
|
|
|
|
Summarised Jumu’ah
Bayaan:
|
Zakaat -
Spiritual Growth and
Purification
Allah (azza wa Jalla)
says in the Holy Qur`an:
The likeness of those
who spend their wealth
in the way of Allah, is
like a grain, it grows
seven ears, and each ear
has a hundred grains.
And Allah gives manifold
increase to whom he
wills. (2: 261)
Linguistically, the word
Zakah means purity and
growth. Allah says,
"Take from their wealth
a sadaqah, in order to
purify them and sanctify
them (with it)." As an
Islamic term, zakah is
an, ordained right to
specific wealth from a
specific group at a
specific time to achieve
Allah's pleasure and to
purify the self, wealth
and the society as a
whole'.
Therefore …
Zakah is:
* A TRANSFER OF
POSSESSIONS and not a
favor or a gift, given
by the owner of the
wealth to those who
deserve it, in
accordance with the
Qur'aan and the Sunnah.
* CONSIDERED IN A
SPECIFIED PORTION of the
wealth, determined
according to specific
principles.
* NOT DUE ON ALL TYPES
OF WEALTH There are
certain conditions that
should be fulfilled in
order not to pay zakah
on one's wealth.
* DUE ON WEALTH THAT HAS
FULFILLED THE NISAAB
(limit of exemption or
minimum amount of one's
holding that is liable
to zakah). Having this
condition ensures social
justice and reduces the
differences among social
classes. It also
guarantees sufficient
equalization.
* MONEYS COLLECTED THAT
IS DISPOSED of in a
specific way, to
specific persons.
Zakah was instituted
amongst the Muslims to
carry out a variety of
objectives. Islam
ordained zakah to
achieve, through it,
social justice and
sublime moral and
spiritual values. It is
a criterion for the
believers and a way to
success in this life and
the next. Allah says,
"Who establish worship
and spend of that we
have bestowed on them,
these are they who are
in truth believers. For
them are grades of honor
with their Lord, and
forgiveness, and a
beautiful provision."
[8:3-4]
Throughout our history,
whenever Muslims
truthfully applied the
system of zakah, as
Allah and His Messenger
have ordained, the
splendid objectives of
zakah were fulfilled and
its great effects
appeared within the
lives of individuals and
the society. We must
remember that first and
foremost, Zakah is an
act of worship. Giving
zakah is an act of
obedience to the command
of Allah, and a
fulfillment of His
Covenant. The giver
hopes that by giving it,
he will receive a good
reward in the Hereafter,
and the growth and
blessing of his wealth
in this life.
ZAKAH ALSO …
* ... IS A
PURIFICATION FROM
STINGINESS, envy and
greed. Islam recognizes
the instinctive love of
wealth and love of the
self, stinginess is a
part of what humans are,
"And human inner selves
are swayed by
stinginess." [4:128] To
deal with this, Islam
treats it
psychologically, by
attraction and
intimidation. Islam
requests that the
niggardly self be
generous and sacrifices
what is dear to it, with
the hope of attaining
something better. For
Allah says, "By no means
shall you attain
righteousness (and
reward) unless you spend
of that which you love."
[3:92] By responding to
this call, the believers
reach the peak of
spending and the noblest
of generosity, and the
side of good within the
self overcomes the side
of instinct.
* ... SERVES TO HELP THE
WEAK. When one pays
zakah on one's wealth,
he fulfills his
responsibility towards
society and the needy,
he does this to comply
with his Lord's
instructions, "And those
in whose wealth there is
a known right, for the
needy who asks and for
those who are deprived
(of wealth)." [70:24-25]
* ... IMPROVES AN
INDIVIDUAL'S SOCIAL
SPIRIT. Zakah is a true
and practical expression
of Islamic brotherhood.
When Muslims pay zakah,
the society becomes like
one family. The Prophet,
sallallaahu alayhi
wasallam, said, "The
believers in their
mutual kindness,
compassion and sympathy
are just like one body.
When one of the limbs is
afflicted, the whole
body responds to it with
sleeplessness and
fever." (Bukhari and
Muslim). Zakah also
removes hatred and envy
from the hearts of the
poor for they know that
their right from the
wealthy is preserved.
The Prophet, sallallaahu
alayhi wasallam, said,
"The relationship of the
believer with another
believer is like (the
bricks of) a building,
each strengthens the
others." (Bukhari and
Muslim.)
* ... EXPIATES SINS.
Zakah brings forth the
good and Allah's Mercy,
"And My Mercy embraces
all things. That (Mercy)
I shall ordain for those
who are righteous and
give zakah, and those
who believe in Our
verses (and signs)."
[7:1561 On the other
hand, materialistic soci-
eties live a life of
chaos and loss. Within
these societies, hatred
and malice grow, crimes
are perpetrated, and
virtues are killed.
*... SPREADS TRANQUILITY
AND PEACE. Zakah is
social security for the
weak and a protection
for the society against
disintegration.
*...IMPROVES ONE'S
PERSONALITY Paying zakah
and helping other
Muslims makes the one
paying zakah more
comfortable with his
role in the community.
He feels victorious over
his weaknesses and
Satan.
... BRINGS ABOUT LOVE.
When people learn about
the wealthy paying zakah
and their willingness to
help others, they quite
naturally begin to love
them because of this.
... PURIFIES WEALTH. The
Prophet, sallallaahu
alayhe wasallam, said,
"Whenever people refrain
from paying the zakah
due on their wealth,
they will be deprived of
rain. If it were not for
the sake of their
cattle, they would not
receive rain." (Ibn
Majah and Al-Hakim) Only
by paying the right of
Allah and the right of
the poor from zakah is
the wealth purified from
decreasing, or from
destruction.
... IS A TEST FROM ALLAH
TO HIS SERVANTS. People
naturally love wealth,
but the sign of true
faith is to sacrifice
what is loved for the
sake of Allah.
Therefore, zakah is a
critical test of one's
faith.
... MOTIVATES HARD WORK.
Zakah incites people to
work and pay zakah. When
this is done, they
become loyal to their
community. This in turn
strengthens the
community and unites its
members.
(From Madrassah
In`aamiyyah)
<Go to Top> |
|
Message from the Ameer of
the Jamiatul Ulama |
Makkah Conference
As
Amir of the Jamiatul Ulama,
I was invited to attend the
meeting of the Executive
Committee of the Supreme
Coordinating Commission of
International Islamic
Organisations.
The meeting was organised by
Rabitah Al Aaalam Al
Islaamiyyah (Muslim World
League) and the invited
guests consisted of 22
delegates from various
countries and 10 local Saudi
Scholars.
The international onslaught
on Islam and the negative
profiling of Islam is an
obvious, internationally
orchestrated move by the
enemies of Islam. The
offensive against Islam and
Muslims has caused great
distress and oppression upon
Muslims but has also served
to result in an awakening
among Muslims worldwide.
Last year, the Muslim World
League took the initiative
of inviting 500 Muslim
delegates from 146 countries
to consider the serious
situation and forming a
united front. After three
days of deliberation,
discussion and debate a
coordinating council of
Islamic International
Organisations was formed.
The purpose of the Council
is to preserve and protect
the Muslim community, their
identity and dignity, and to
promote the true Islamic
perspective on issues that
impact on Islam and Muslims
around the world.
The Muslim response however
needs to be more strategic
in terms of it being more
organised, focused,
coordinated and structured.
A meeting of the Executive
of the Council took place
from the 25th to the 28th of
August at the Muslim World
League’s head office in
Makkah to discuss the
implementation of the
policies of the Supreme
Commission. The Commission
has initiated various
measures including, usage of
the international media,
organizing of conferences in
different countries (to
highlight true Islam and
dispel the effect of
negative profiling),
production of quality
Islamic literature, and the
coordination of activities
of Islamic organizations in
this respect.
This initiative by the
Muslim World League is an
important step in
strategising the Muslim
efforts and creating a
unified voice for Muslims at
a wide range of forums. It
must be commended. We make
du’aa that Allah helps us to
fulfil our duties and keep
us in the effort of the
preservation and propagation
of his Dîn. Âmîn.
<Go to
Top> |
|
|
|