|
|
|
Weekly Comment |
Talkshop Deluxe
The longest and
most expensive talkshop in the
world kicked off this week with
world leaders addressing the UN
General Assembly. At this talk
festival every nation
represented in the UN General
Assembly gets an opportunity to
speak.
Daniel Ortega from Nicaragua
chose to courageously call a
spade by calling on the USA to
remove all its nuclear weapons
seeing that it is the only
country that ever used nuclear
weapons on innocent civilians.
President Bush, who just two
weeks ago sent the media into a
flurry when he announced that
Saddam Hussein ‘wiped out all
Mandelas’ rolled out his usual
verbal pre-emptives by calling
for “regime change in Zimbabwe”.
Interestingly, he also found the
time and need to say that Israel
was being unfairly criticised by
the UN.
Iranian President Ahmadenijad
said that terrorism is one of
the biggest threats the world
faces today.
Anyone interested in empty
political rhetoric and pledges
of peace, such as the UN
Secretary General promising to
bring peace to the Middle East
in a year’s time, should tune in
to the high-rhetoric being spun
out, to the sleepy audience of
ambassadors with one thought on
their minds: what’s for lunch? …
Or, in the spirit of imperialist
politics one should say: who and
which country is for lunch
today?
Gaza Update
Israel's declaration that is
considers the Gaza strip to be a
hostile entity is really nothing
new. Statements declaring a
similar view have already been
made.
US Secretary of State, Rice's
statement that the US also
considers the Gaza to be a
hostile entity is not
unexpected. Israel has always
made certain noises, and the
noises have always been echoed
by the US. The US has always
been there at Israel's side.
They have supported Israel
financially and in every other
way possible. The US's obvious
bias is open. Their blind and
pre-disposed patronage and
support of Israel is so
notoriously well-known and
expected that even they do not
realize the how foolish it makes
them look. Ironically, Rice's
statement on the Gaza came a day
after she arrived in the Middle
East to 'restart' the peace
process.
Israel's declaration was also
accompanied by its insistence
that it would stop the supply of
basic humanitarian necessities
such as fuel and power and limit
the free movement of people..
This too is nothing new. The
Gaza has been denied such things
on a continuous basis, with the
allowance of passage of basic
needs being the exception rather
than the rule. As for the free
movement of people, when, in the
recent past, did this ever
exist.
The declaration of the West Bank
as a hostile entity has far
reaching implications. Hamas has
rightfully identified it, and
would consider it, as a formal
declaration of war.
BBC quotes an Israeli government
official who states that Israel
considers its decision to be
fully legal in respect of
Israeli Law, which Israelis
"correlate with international
law".
On the other side, UN Secretary
General Ban Ki-moon feebly urged
Israel to reconsider its
decision. This after he insisted
at the UN General Assembly that
peace in the Middle East was
vital to the stability of the
region and the world.
On the issue, a group of senior
and prominent Israeli writers
and academics made a strong plea
to Israel to engage in
discussions with Hamas. The
petition was rejected publicly
by the Israeli authorities.
Interestingly, Haaretz reports
that "right-wing activists are
planning to set up five new
settlement nuclei throughout the
West Bank this Sunday".
At the same time, the Israeli
Prime Minister is to face an
official probe that can result
in criminal charges for
corruption.
Regime Change a la Pheko
A week and a half ago, Mohao
Pheku made certain statements in
her Sunday Times column. The
Jamiat Media Desk responded to
the contents of the column by
means of a letter to the Editor.
Unfortunately, the response was
not published. Hereunder follows
the response from the Media
Desk:
To: Editor, Sunday Times,
Johannesburg
I refer to Mohau Pheko's Sunday
Times column instalment of 16
Sep 2007.
I surely hope the future of an
integrated, peaceful, and
culturally diverse continent
does not depend on the political
analysis of Mohau Pheko.
Why choose to describe the
government of Omar al-Bashir as
Islamic fundamentalists, and ask
why they should be welcomed in
the AU? One could also ask why
the Ethiopian regime is allowed
to host the headquarters of the
AU while it is dishing out
suffering and human rights
abuses in the Ogaden and
destroying Somalia with its
invasion? Is the Ethiopian case
then to be described as
Christian Orthodox military
violence unleashed on Muslims?
The call for Africans to topple
Sudan's Arab government is not
only simplistic, but does very
little to promote a cause of
dealing with historical and
racial divisions that may plague
the continent. If anything this
call perpetuates the racism, and
she makes herself guilty not
only of racism, but Islamophobia
at the same time. Historically
there are many examples of
peaceful co-existence between
Arabs and Africans. Just look at
the Swahili civilisation that
grew into a unique culture as a
result of the intermingling of
Arab and African peoples.
Please, wouldn't it be possible
to find commentators that look
for alternatives, or the third
way, when dealing with the
complex conflicts on the
continent? |
|
|
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 109.17 |
|
Mahr Faatimi |
R 5,458.66 |
|
Zakaat Nisaab |
R 2,183.46 |
|
Words of Wisdom |
|
Hadith of the Week |
|
The
Unfortunate One |
|
Messenger of Allah
Sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam
says, "Ramadan has come to
you. (It is) a month of
blessing, in which Allah
covers you with blessing,
for He sends down Mercy,
decreases sins and answers
prayers. In it, Allah looks
at your competition (in good
deeds), and boasts about you
to His angels. So show Allah
goodness from yourselves,
for the unfortunate one is
he who is deprived in (this
month) of the mercy of
Allah, the Mighty, the
Exalted."
(Tabarani)
|
|
|
Quotation for the Week |
|
Thinking |
|
People do not like to think.
If
one thinks, one must reach
conclusions. Conclusions are
not always pleasant.
(Helen Keller)
|
|
|
Point of Reflection |
|
Speak Out! |
|
The word that remains in the
belly does not mean
anything. (Kikuyu
Proverb)
|
|
|
Q and A |
Question: If I am
going to be travelling more
that 77 km
then can I leave out my
fast? |
Answer:
Since one’s travelling 77km
or more renders one Musaafir
in the Shari’ah, and a
Musaafir is allowed to defer
his fast until after
Ramadhaan, it would still be
preferable to keep the fast
in Ramadhaan if one
can manage, although if a
Musaafir defers his fast
till
after Ramadhaan he will not
be sinning.
AND ALLAH TA’AALA KNOWS BEST
<Go to
Top>
|
|
Sadaqatul Fitr |
The minimum amount
determined for this year’s
Sadaqatul Fitr is:
Hanafi:
R11.00 per person, and
Shafi’i:
R14.00. per person
Timely Payment of Fitra will
facilitate distribution
before Eid in Accordance
with the Sunnah.
Please pay your
Sadaqatul Fitr
without delay.
<Go to
Top> |
|
|
|
U P D A T E |
I’tikaaf
Sunnah I'tikaaf commences on the
evening of the 20th of Ramadan.
Brothers and sisters will
therefore commence the sunnah
I’tikaaf for this year on
Tuesday
(2nd October 2007) before Maghrib
Salah.
(Note that we earlier on
erroneously indicated that sunnah
I’tikaaf starts on Monday
October 1st. Jazakumullah
khairan to those who brought
this to our attention. (28 Sep
2007))
Brothers should enquire from the
responsible people in their
masaajid and make the necessary
prior arrangements so that they
can be accommodated adequately.
Sisters should enquire from
local Aalims and Aalimahs and
make the necessary arrangements
in their homes accordingly.
Jamiat Appeal for Funds
The Jamiatul ‘Ulama, South
Africa - the oldest ‘ulama
organization of South Africa -
has been serving the community
for the past 84 years. It has 7
provincial branches.
The Jamiatul Ulama has various
departments such as education,
relief, hilaal notification,
halaal supervision, social
welfare, da’wah, ifta and
counseling. It also responds to
local and international crises.
The Jamiatul Ulama ensures that
all zakaat monies are spent in
accordance with the laws of
shariah. All of our activities
are made possible by your
continuous generous
contributions.
We appeal, in this blessed month
of Ramadaan, for donations
towards the activities of the
Jamiat. You will, insha Allah,
share in the reward of all the
activities.
Kindly deposit your
contributions in to the
following account: Jamiat Ulama
Transvaal, Nedbank Fordsburg,
A/c No. 1953 285 937; Branch
code:195305, and fax your
deposit slip to (011) 373 8022,
clearly stating whether the
contributions are Lillah or
Zakaat. |
|
Summarised Jumu’ah
Bayaan:
|
The Mercy of
Allah
Allah (azza wa jalla)
says:
“Say: 'O My slaves who
have transgressed
against themselves (by
committing evil deeds
and sins)! Despair not
of the Mercy of Allah,
verily Allah forgives
all sins. Truly, He is
Oft-Forgiving, Most
Merciful.” (Surah
Az-Zumar : 53]
"… My Mercy embraces all
things …" (Surah Al-
A’raaf : 156)
The Prophet Sallallahu ‘alayhi
wa sallam said:
"When Allah completed
the creation, He wrote
in His book which is
with Him on His throne,
"My mercy has overcome
My anger."" (Bukhari)
"Allah has divided mercy
into one hundred parts,
and He kept ninety-nine
parts with Him and sent
down one part on the
earth, and because of
that, one single part.
His creatures are
merciful to each other,
so that even the mare
lifts up its hoof away
from its baby animal, so
that she would not
trample on it." (Bukhari,
Muslim)
"When Allah created the
heavens and the earth,
he created one hundred
mercies, each one can
cover what is between
the earth and the
heaven. He allocated to
the earth only one, with
which the mother is
compassionate with her
child; the beast and the
bird are compassionate
with their babies. When
the Day of Judgment
comes, Allah will
complete His mercy."
(Muslim)
In every rak’aat of
every salah, we recite
Surah Al-Faatihah, which
begins by praising Allah
and then mentions a
special characteristic
of Allah; the Mercy of
Allah as embodied in
Ar-Rahman, Ar-Raheem.
We are instructed to
begin whatever we do in
the Name of Allah, with
Bismillahir Rahmanir
Rahim, and here too the
characteristic of Mercy
in Ar-Rahman, Ar-Raheem
is mentioned.
The Mercy of Allah is
all encompassing and
overpowering. It
supersedes all else. It
is such that it cannot
be compared and it is
all-embracing.
The Prophet Sallallahu ‘alayhi
wa sallam said, "Some
sabi (war prisoners,
children and woman only)
were brought before the
prophet Sallallahu ‘alayhi
wa sallam and behold, a
woman amongst them, her
chest was full of milk,
and she found her baby
boy amongst the
captives, she took him
over her chest and
nursed him. The prophet
said to his companions,
"Do you think that this
lady would throw her
baby boy in the fire?"
They replied, "No, if
she has the power not to
throw him in the fire."
The prophet said, "Allah
is more merciful to His
servants than this lady
to her son." (Bukhari,
Muslim)
"If a disbeliever knows
of all the mercy which
is in the hand of Allah,
he would not lose hope
of entering Paradise…" (Bukhari,
Muslim)
The mercy of Allah
Subhanahu wa Ta’aala is
evident in many ways:
The mercy of Allah
Subhanahu wa Ta’aala is
evidesnt in the way
Allah has created man as
the best of creations.
Allah says in Surah Al-Isra’,
(verse 70), "…And We
have preferred them
(human being) above many
of those whom We have
created with a marked
preferment." In Surah
At-Teen, Allah says: "We
have created man in the
best of forms". Allah
has created man in a
most complete and
perfect manner, with all
organs fulfilling
specific functions to
ensure that man is not
deficient in any way.
The mercy of Allah
Subhanahu wa Ta’aala is
evident in the fact that
Allah has created
everything for the use
and benefit of man.
Allah says in Surah
Baqarah: It is HE who
has created for you
(man) everything that is
in the earth" Allah also
says in Surah Jaathiyah,
"And (He) has subjected
to you all that is in
the heavens and all that
is in the earth; it is
all as a favor and
kindness from Him."
The mercy of Allah
Subhanahu wa Ta’aala is
evident in what Allah
has given man. Allah has
granted man the
abilities to acquire
knowledge and science
and gave him a mind that
can lead him to
different sciences.
The mercy of Allah
Subhanahu wa Ta’aala is
evidesnt in the fact
that Allah has made man
His khalifah on earth.
The mercy of Allah
Subhanahu wa Ta’aala is
evidesnt in the fact
that Allah overlooks the
sins of the sinners when
he unknowingly commits
the sin then repents.
Allah’s mercy is even
beyond that; Allah
Subhanahu wa Ta’aala
changes the sins of the
sinner, after his
sincere repentance
followed by righteous
deeds, to good deeds (hasanat).
Allah Subhanahu wa
Ta’aala says in surat
Al-Furqan, : "…Those who
repent and believe, and
do righteous deeds, for
those, Allah will change
their sins into good
deeds…" All this is to
prevent the sinners from
feeling hopeless of the
mercy of Allah Subhanahu
wa Ta’aala.
The mercy of Allah
Subhanahu wa Ta’aala is
evident in the manner
that Allah counts the
sin of the sinner as one
sin, whereas He rewards
the doer of good deeds
ten times what every
good deed is worth and
Allah Subhanahu wa
Ta’aala multiplies his
reward even more than
ten times to whom He
wants from His servants.
Imam Buhkari and Muslim
reported that the
prophet Sallallahu ‘alayhi
wa sallam said, "Allah
ordered (the appointed
angels over you) that
the good and the bad
deeds be written, and He
then showed (the way)
how (to write). If
someone intends to do a
good deed and he does
not do it, then Allah
will write for him a
full good deed; and if
he intends to do a good
deed and actually did
it, then Allah will
write for him (its
reward equal) from ten
to seven hundred times
to many more times. And
If someone intends to do
a bad deed and he dose
not do it, then Allah
will write for him a
full good deed (in his
account) with Him, and
if he intends to do a
bad deed and actually
did it, then Allah will
write for him one bad
deed." In addition,
Allah erases sins with
good deeds. Allah
Subhanahu wa Ta’aala
says in Surah Hud:
"…Verily, the good deeds
remove the evil deeds…"
Allah's mercy is evident
in the fact that it will
only be through the
Mercy of Allah that
people will be granted
access into the gardens
of paradise. The prophet
Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa
sallam said: "None of
you will enter Paradise
with his deeds", They
said: "Not even you, oh
messenger of Allah?!",
He said: "Not even me
unless Allah bestows His
Mercy upon me."
Allah has also
instructed the Believers
to show mercy and
thereby obtain the Mercy
of Allah. The prophet
said:
"The merciful people
will have mercy bestowed
upon them by Allah
Subhanahu wa Ta’aala. Be
merciful with those on
earth, so He who in the
heaven (Allah) will have
mercy on you." (Abu
Dawud, Tirmidhi)
: "Allah will not have
mercy on the one who
does not have mercy on
people." (Bukhari,
Muslim, Tirmidhi)
The prophet Sallallahu ‘alayhi
wa sallam taught us that
mercy must be extended
to include animals. The
prophet Sallallahu ‘alayhi
wa sallam mentioned that
Allah Subhanahu wa
Ta’aala forgave a
sinning man, and a
fornicating woman for
their mercy and kindness
with a thirsty dog, so
they gave it water to
drink. (Bukhari, Muslim)
Once, while the
companions were
travelling with the
prophet Sallallahu ‘alayhi
wa sallam, they noticed
a bird that had two
chicks, so they took
away the two chicks,
then the bird came and
started to flap its
wings. When the prophet
Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa
sallam came back, he
asked: "Who has deprived
this (bird) of its
chicks? Return its
chicks to it."
Afterwards the prophet
Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa
sallam saw an ant colony
had been burnt by some
of his companions, he
said: "Who has burnt
this?" They replied, we
did. Then he said: "No
one has the right to
torture with fire except
the One who created the
fire." (Abu Dawud,
Ahmad)
May Allah the Most
Merciful, bestow His
favours and Mercy on us
in this life and the
next. Ameen.
<Go to Top> |
|
Message from the Ameer of
the Jamiatul Ulama |
Ramadan: Came... Going...
Time passes by. Ramadan will
come and Ramadan will go.
Ramadan comes with great
favors and benefits from
Allah. The choice is ours as
to whether we wish to take
advantage of the great
benefits or not. Ramadan is
here for the taking; we can
either live it or leave it.
The hadeeth of the Prophet (sallallahu
`alayhi wa sallam) tells us
of the occasion when the
Beloved Prophet (sallallahu
`alayhi wa sallam) ascended
the mimbar and on each step
(three steps) he said Aameen.
When he was asked about this
action he responded by
explaining that Jibra`il (`alyhis
salam) came to him on the
command of Allah and made
three prayers. The Prophet
was aked to say 'Aameen' to
each of these. One of the
three of these prayers was,
"Woe upon such a person who
finds himself in the month
of Ramadan, but does not
manage to obtain the
forgiveness of Allah".
Judging from this hadeeth,
the person who does not use
Ramadan to obtain the
forgiveness of Allah is
indeed most unfortunate.
The first ten days of
Ramadan has passed. We are
already halfway through the
second ten days. Not many
days remain. Let us take
advantage.
The time for i`tikaaf is
also close. Brothers and
sister should be encouraged
to engage in i`tikaaf.
May Allah (azza wa jalla)
guide us to avail ourselves
of the great opportunity in
front of us, and may He
afford us the prospect of
witnessing many more. Aameen.
<Go to
Top> |
|
|
|