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Weekly Comment |
'Window of Hope'
Over the years
many stories have emerged of
babies thrown down toilets, or
just abandoned on the street.
Johannesburg Child Welfare
indicates that abandoned babies
have increased from 8 a month
last year to 32 a month this
year.
In order to deal with the
problem of abandoned a church in
Hillbrow initiated a project
called the “Window of Hope.” It
is a hole in the wall where
mothers can leave their unwanted
babies, and walk away. Although
it is a very slight
“improvement” on dumping a newly
born child in a toilet, the
question remains whether this
will not become an easy way out,
and whether it is really a
window of hope for children who
have to grow up parentless in
under-funded orphanages? The
parental home should be the home
of hope.
This trend correlates with other
social ills taking root in our
society such as pregnancies
among schoolgirls, alcoholism
and drug abuse, crime, HIV/AIDS
and general erosion of moral
values. Naturally, a society
wherein such things happen
cannot be healthy. Are we
reflecting on the circumstances
under which mothers are pushed
to abandon their children? As
Muslims, we have a
responsibility to look for
answers for improving conditions
that lead to such unfortunate
things happening?
Weather Havoc
Strange things
seem to be happening. The rains
that we had earlier this year,
in the middle of winter, were
peculiar. Snow on the peaks of
mountains in the Karoo during
the height of Spring are odd.
Reported sightings of an iceberg
approximately 65 kilometres of
the Eastern Cape coastline are
most bizarre… and now the
extreme storms and excessive
rain. This week, a storm wreaked
havoc in areas of Lenasia and a
man, on his way to Salaah, was
killed.
These are only examples of
curious weather exhibitions in
South Africa. On the African
continent the extreme weather
conditions in the form of
droughts and floods are glaring
examples of perplexing
developments. On the global
front similar and even worse
examples can be presented.
Should we not be taking note of
these and asking questions as to
why we see such conditions.
Scientists have explained them
in various terms. Global-warming
which is as a result of our
actions has been cited as a
reality. The blessings of Allah
are there for our use and not
abuse. We should also examine
these occurrence in terms of the
conditions that Allah brings
about upon people as a result of
their actions.
Will Jerusalem be divided?
Jerusalem, in
many respects one of the focal
points of the decades of
struggle between Zionist Israel
on the one side, and
Palestinians and Arab states on
the other, may be heading for a
division if Prime Minister Ehud
Olmert has his way. This matter
is due to come up for discussion
at a Mideast peace conference,
sponsored by the USA scheduled
to take place next month.
Observers with a keen interest
in the history of the
Palestinian conflict will note
that the part of Jerusalem the
Israeli government intends to
transfer to Palestinian control,
is also the sections of the city
it annexed from Jordan during
the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.
According to this latest plan
the section of the city to be
transferred to Palestinians will
ultimately become the capital of
the ‘Palestinian territories’.
The question is why the Israelis
are unilaterally making this
so-called ‘concession?’ Part of
the answer to this lies in the
fact that in return for dividing
the city, Israel will receive
international recognition
(including from Arab states) as
well as retaining sovereignty
over illegal Jewish settlements
in Occupied Jerusalem. What
about the basic right of return
for millions of Palestinian
refugees? |
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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 |
R106.93 |
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Mahr Faatimi |
R5346.37 |
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Zakaat Nisaab |
R2138.55 |
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Words of Wisdom |
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Hadith of the Week |
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Fasts of
Shawwal |
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Abu Ayyub al-Ansari
Radhi-Allahu anhu reported
Allah's Messenger Sallallahu
‘alayhi wasallam as saying:
He who observed the fast of
Ramadan and then followed it
with six (fasts) of Shawwal;
it would be as if he fasted
perpetually.
(Muslim)
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Quotation for the Week |
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Allah is
Sufficient |
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“In Allah,
there is no sorrow or
suffering or affliction. If
you want to be free of all
affliction and suffering,
hold fast to Allah, and turn
wholly to Him, and to
no one else. Indeed, all
your suffering comes from
this: that you do not turn
toward Allah and no one
else.”
(Al-Ghazali)
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Point of Reflection |
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Association |
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A wise man associating with
the vicious becomes an
idiot; a dog travelling with
good men becomes a rational
being.
(Arab Saying) |
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Q and A |
Question: If I have
VAT that
has not yet been paid to the
SARS then can I deduct that
amount from my Zakaah
amount? |
Answer:
The VAT you have
does not
belong to you; you are
merely collecting it on
behalf of the SARS. It will
be classified as an Amaanah,
and as such you may deduct
it from your Zakaah amount.
And Allah Ta'aala knows
Best.
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U P D A T E |
In the Press
Moulana Ebrahim I Bham's article on Ramadan
appears today in the Cape Town's
Cape Times. He writes:
As Muslims come to the end
of the holy month of Ramadaan,
there is a need to reflect on
the reasons and spiritual
benefits of the month-long fast.
Ramadaan, the highlight of the
Islamic calendar, has a very
special spiritual meaning for
Muslims...
<Read
it here>
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.
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Summarised Jumu’ah
Bayaan:
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Eid al-Fitr: A
Celebration of Our Deen
Allah (azza wa jalla)
says in the Holy ur’an:
“alyawma akmaltu lakum
deenakum ….” - (5:3)
• Eid is a day
of celebration.
• It is a day when we
rejoice and celebrate
the end of the month of
Ramadan.
o But the end of Ramadan
is not really something
to be celebrated – is
it?
Ø Would one celebrate
the end of the month of
blessings?
Ø Would one celebrate
the end of the month of
forgiveness?
Ø Would one celebrate
the end of the month of
Mercy?
o NO - Indeed the end of
the month of Ramadan is
an occasion for sadness
and lament because the
barakah filled days and
ibaadah filled nights
are now gone.
• Nevertheless,
we rejoice and celebrate
on the day of Eid.
Ø On the day of Eid, we
celebrate the Favors and
the Mercy of Allah.
Allah Subhanahu wa
Ta’aala says:
“Qul bifadlillahi wa
barahmatihi, fabidhalika
falyafrahu, howa khayrum
mimma yajma`oon.” “Say:
In the Bounty of Allah,
and in His Mercy, let
them therein rejoice –
That is better than all
that they amass” (10:58)
Ø We celebrate our being
alive in the month of
Ramadan and the fact
that, through the Mercy
of Allah, we were able
to complete the
obligatory duty of
fasting.
Ø We celebrate the
taraweeh we performed
and the abundant
recitation of the Qur’an
we engaged in.
Ø We celebrate the dhikr
and du’aa that we
expanded our time in.
Ø We celebrate the
taqwah that we developed
throughout the month of
Ramadan.
• Eidul Fitr is
the day wherein we
celebrate the unbounded
forgiveness of our Lord.
It is related from Anâs
Radiallâhu anhu that
Rasulullâh Sallallâhu ‘alayhi
wasallam said: “When the
day of Eid appears,
Allâh proudly asks in
the presence of the
Angels regarding his
fasting servants: ‘O My
Angels, what turn is
there for such labourers
who have fully completed
their duty?’ The Angels
reply, ‘O Rabb they
should be rewarded in
full,’ then Allâh asks
the Angels, ‘O My Angels
what is the reward for
those male and female
servants who have
fulfilled My divine
command which was
compulsory upon them,
and now they have come
out to beseech Me in
Du’â?’ Allâh swears, ‘I
take oath upon My
grandeur and glory, My
generosity and
exaltation of My
elevated position, that
I will definitely accept
their Du’âs.’ Thereafter
Allâh says: ‘Disperse, I
have forgiven you and
replaced your sins with
good deeds.’ Rasulullâh
Sallallâhu ‘alayhi
wasallam says they
return forgiven.’”
• The spirit of the
celebration of Eidul
Fitr is such that we
rejoice in the knowledge
that we have completed a
command of Allah, we
have revitalized our
spiritual selves and we
will be rewarded for
this. Eid also reminds
us of the day of
Qiyaamah and the
celebrations we would
indulge in if we obey
the commands of Allah.
Eid, like the day of
Judgment, is also known
as ‘Yawmul Jaa’izah’ or
the ‘Day of
Prize-Giving’.
• Eid is a celebration
in the remembrance of
Allah: “Remember me and
I shall remember you,
and be grateful to Me,
and do not be
ungrateful”.
• On the day of Eid we
thank Allah and
celebrate our Islam. We
express our joy and
happiness and pride in
the fact that we are
Muslims.
• We celebrate,
express joy and
happiness and are proud
to be Muslims for the
fact that:
Ø Allah has
chosen the religion of
Islam for us and made us
Muslims and has granted
us a most complete and
perfect deen - “alyawma
akmaltu lakum deenakum
….” (5:3)
Ø Allah has made us
among the ummah of the
Prophet Muhammad (saw),
the Best ummah, and has
given us a religion, the
Prophet of Whom is a
Mercy to the Mankind - “kuntum
khaira ummah ….” (3:110)
/ “Wa maa arsalnaka illa
rahmatullil ‘aalameen
….”
Ø Allah has granted us a
deen which has as its
constitution, the Word
of Allah, the Qur’an,
the Final Book of Allah,
a book in which there is
no doubt and a book
which Allah himself has
promised to preserve, in
it’s pristine purity - “Dhaalikal
Kittabu Laa rayba Feeyhi”
/ “Inna Nahnu
Nazzalnadhikra wa innaaa
lahu la haafizoon”
• So let us
rejoice, let us
celebrate and most of
all let us be proud to
be Muslims.
Ø Let us
rejoice, celebrate and
be proud to be a part of
that faith which is most
fair and just.
Ø Let us rejoice,
celebrate and be proud
to be a part of that
faith which is most easy
and natural to follow
Ø That faith which is
most comprehensive and
complete and is a
complete way of life.
Ø Let us rejoice,
celebrate and be proud
to be a part of that
faith which offers
solutions to the many
problems faced by the
world today, and that
faith which offers
prescriptions for
establishing society as
a safe, better and more
dignified place to live
in, by providing such
alternatives which have
the potential to
radically change the
course of destruction
that present-day man is
traveling on. Islam
offers practical
solutions to issues such
as;
AIDS, Lack of Respect
and Dignity for Women,
Destruction of the
Family Structure, Drug
Abuse and Alcoholism,
Divorce, Gambling,
Lewdness and Obscenity,
Crime, Economic
Instability and
Injustice in Financial
Practices, Lack of
Beneficial Political
Direction, and many
others.
We exist today
in a world of
anti-Islamism,
Islamaphobia and an
effort to eliminate
Islam, eradicate the
identity of Islam from
the lives of Muslims and
isolate Muslims from
true Islam. We live in a
fast paced ever-changing
world where the
structure of life-rules
continue to undergo
drastic changes on a
daily basis. Wherein:
Ø The boundaries of life
are constantly redefined
and the moral fibre and
standards of society
become less tangible and
more difficult to hold
on to.
Ø Wherein technology
brings such advances
which make it difficult
to discern the fine line
between the beneficial
and the harmful
Ø Wherein our children
are caught up in the
snares of such gadgets
which can only lead to
their destruction.
Ø Wherein the roles of
members of family and
community members have
been turned upon their
heads.
Ø Wherein there is a
concerted, intentional
and unified effort and
plan to misrepresent
Islam as oppressive and
unjust.
Ø Wherein there is an
organized plan for the
profiling of Muslims,
such Muslims who bear
resemblance to the
appearance or actions of
the Prophet Muhammad, as
terrorists,
Ø Wherein there is this
constant attack on Islam
and the blasphemy and
vilification of our
Beloved Prophet seems to
be constant
Ø Wherein we struggle to
practice our Islam and
bring our children up.
Ø Wherein we face many
challenges
In such an
environment where we are
being viciously
assaulted from every
angle, nook and corner,
our refuge lies in Islam
and the desperate need
for us to stand up
straight and be proud of
Islam. We must celebrate
our Islam and be proud
to be Muslims by:
Ø Looking within
ourselves and assessing
the condition of our
imaan and our obedience
to Allah and complying
with the requirements of
those worthy of the
promises of Allah.
Ø Letting the Qur’an and
Sunnah manifest itself
in our practical lives,
outwardly (through our
appearance and dress)
and inwardly and not
being ashamed to display
those signs which have
been identified by the
enemies of Islam as
representative of
Muslims that walk upon
the fundamentals of
Islam. Practicing on all
aspects of Islam –
worship of Allah, good
character, good social
interaction, fulfilling
the rights of our
counterparts and
engaging in correct
financial transactions.
Ø We must show that we
are proud to be Muslims
by maintaining the
identity of Muslims.
Ø Trusting in Allah and
Establishing taqwa in
our lives, exercising
patience and being
steadfast on deen and
not succumbing to
despair or losing hope
in the Mercy of Allah.
Ø Focusing on
establishing the family
structure method of
upbringing of children
as shown to us by the
Prophet Muhammad (sallalahu
`alayhi wa sallam).
Ø Working together,
united on the belief in
the Oneness of Allah.
Ø Interacting positively
with society on all
levels in all spheres,
educating non-Muslims
about Islam and giving
them da’wah by way of
example.
Ø Shunning all
non-Islamic practices
and removing the
materialistic drive that
has settled in our
hearts and lives.
Ø Continuing with the
spirit of Ramadan – A
spirit filled with
brotherhood, sacrifice,
sharing and caring,
focused ibaadah,
abstention from sin and
developing taqwah.
Establishing peace and
acting with justice and
ihsaan
(goodness/kindness)
We need to be proud of
our Deen by displaying
confidence in the truth
of this Deen and
practicing upon the very
Deen we preach as a cure
for the ailments of the
world; we need to become
practitioners of the
theory that we believe
is a solution; we need
to become
revolutionaries for the
Deen that can create a
revolution; we need to
become exemplars of the
Deen that can alter the
course of history. We
must practice Islam with
a spirit of devotion,
with a passion for the
spreading the truth,
with a an attitude of
unflinching loyalty and
with the identity of the
Sunnah of our Prophet
and His illustrious
companions. It is then,
and only then, that we
can be really worthy of
celebrating the Eidul
Fitr, and more than
that, proudly
celebrating the
Beautiful Deen of Islam.
<Go to Top> |
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Message from the Ameer of
the Jamiatul Ulama |
Farewell,
Ramadan
The month of Ramadan is
almost over. There are a
few days left to take
advantage of the great
opportunity that Allah
has afforded us - an
opportunity to bathe in
the Mercy of Allah, and
seize the prospect of
gaining the forgiveness
of Allah.
On the occasion of the
conclusion of Ramadan
let the inertia of the
spirit of Ramadan
transport us through the
next year – from Ramadan
to Ramadan – with the
soul of taqwa. Let the
masaajid remain full for
the Salaah times and
otherwise, let people be
conscious of their
duties to Allah; let the
spirit of brotherhood
and generosity continue
to run through our
veins.
On the occasion of Eid,
let us also remember to
maintain the spirit of
Ramadan on the Day of
Eid. The day of Eid is
presented to us as a
gift for our obedience
of the injunctions
relating to Ramadan. How
sad would it be if we
were to engage in the
disobedience of Allah on
the day of Eid.
On the eve of Eidul Fitr,
I make du’aa that Allah
accept all of our
ibaadah of Ramadan, that
Allah let us emerge from
Ramadan cleansed of our
sins, that Allah is
pleased with us, that we
may enjoy the day of Eid
in the manner it is
meant to be enjoyed and
that we continue to
uphold the spirit of
Ramadan throughout the
year and through the
course of our lives.
On the occasion of Eid,
let me also convey the
appreciation and thanks
of the Jamiatul Ulama
South Africa to all of
you for your continued
support and assistance.
Your understanding and
cooperation in the
matter of the change of
our name to Jamiatul
Ulama South Africa is
also highly valued.
Remember that the
Jamiatul Ulama South
Africa is there to serve
you.
May Allah accept us all
in the service of His
Deen. Aameen.
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