Jamiatul Ulama South Africa (Council of Muslim Theologians), Johannesburg

Jamiatul Ulama South Africa

Online Newsletter

Vol.: 2 No.: 46

10 Dhu al-Qadah 1428 / 21 November 2007

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Weekly Comment


Sudan

The details that have been fed to the public about the situation in Darfur cause them to view the situation through lenses coloured by the knowledge of this information. A little investigation reveals, however, that this data is not entirely factual.

The fighting is often portrayed as a fight based on an Aran African based conflict and a discord based on an Muslim North and Christian South. It is often presented as a Muslim oppression against a Christian population. The truth is that the population of Darfur was up until the latter portion of the last century almost 100% Muslim. At present it is still more than 90% Muslim.

There are other facts that feature in the evolution of the discord. The history of the relationship between the recently dismantled Sultanate of Darfur and Sudan is a significant consideration, and the pre-existing struggle for the control of power and resources in the specific area remains a crucial source of dissention. The dynamics of who the rebels actually are, the pastoralists and the agriculturalists and the state of constant tension, the Janjaweed and their origins from beyond the borders of Sudan and where the funding of the arms comes from are all questions that guide one’s understanding of the real situation.

Without doubt there is dispute, conflict, clashes and grave injustices in the loss of human life. And, where wrong is committed, the wrong must be criticized in the strongest possible terms. The standoff, clashes and fighting must be condemned, without reservation. It is innocent human-beings who bear the brunt of these futile actions. The senseless and pointless killings, the displacement of large groups of families, and the loss of vital resources is absurd and must come to an end. The Sudanese government and the rebel factions need to see sense and come to realistic and sustainable agreements.


ANC Leadership

The ANC leadership ‘battle’ is an important issue. It is the leadership of the single, most powerful organisation in the country. The leadership of this organisation will decide the position of the leader of the country, whichever way one wants to look at it.

The ‘race’ for the position is indeed strange. Senior members of the ANC will insist it is not a ‘race’. From the perspective of the media, any member of the ANC who responds with loyalty to the question of whether they would serve, if elected, is automatically thrust into the assembly of possible contenders.

The ANC itself will admit that there is great uncertainty as to who would emerge as the president of the organisation. It will also confess that this issue has become a cause of great discussion and even dissension within the ranks of the faithful supporters of the organisation.

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 113.85

Mahr Faatimi

R 5,692.27
Zakaat Nisaab R 2,276.91

Words of Wisdom

Hadith of the Week

The Right of Allah

Hadhrat Hanzalah Radhi-Allahu anhu narrates that he heard Muhammad Sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam say: "Whoever guards the five Salaat while believing that the Salaat is the Right of Allah, will enter Jannat."
(Musnad of Ahmad)

Quotation for the Week

Eat a Cake; Have it

 Some people desire to acquire Allah's pleasure but refuse to sacrifice any of their pleasures and desires.
Hazrat Hakeem Akhtar (DB) 

Point of Reflection

Mark of Good Friends

The winner has many friends, the loser has good friends. (Mongolian Proverb) 

Q and A

Question: Please advise if you
go for Umrah does Hajj becomes compulsory on you. What is the masla regarding this?
Answer: Performing Umrah does not make Haj obligatory. Haj
will be obligatory when a person has sufficient wealth to go for Haj during the season of Haj
and all other requirements such as a woman having a mahram male to accompany her, etc.
are also met.

AND ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST
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U P D A T E

Jamiatul Ulama Regional Workshop
The North West Branch of the Jamiatul Ulama, based in Klerksdorp, hosted a regional Jamiatul Ulama Workshop for Jamiatul Ulama members from the North West, Northern Cape and Free State.

Alhamdulillah, almost 200 persons attended and the delegates were from places as far as Bloemfontein, Mafikeng and Zeerust, Rustenburg and Brits, Kimberley and Warrenton, and a host of other places.

Jamiatul Ulama members from Laudium, Johannesburg, Lenasia, Benoni, Roshnee, Middelburg and other areas also attended.

The Programme was well received and healthy discussions were engaged in during the Q and A sessions after each presentation.

Haj by Land
Three Ulama members of the Jamiatul Ulama, a student of the Jaami`ah al Ulum al-Islamiyyah (Darul Ulum at the Jamiat) and one other brother are embarking on a journey to travel for Hajj by land. They departed from Johannesburg on the 19th of November and hope to reach Jeddah in the first week of December.

Alhamdulillah, the group left on the third leg of the journey this morning, departing from Livingstone to Lusaka and should continue on their journey to reach Darus Salam on Friday.

We make du`aa that Allah make their journey easy and grant them, together with all other hujjaaj, a Hajj Mabroor. Aameen.

Library Project
The Tshwane Branch of the Jamiatul Ulama has set in motion a project to build and set-up a library in an underprivileged area. The project is being run under the name of Muslims Serving Humanity – Library Project. The library is being built in the Shoshanguve/Mabopane area in the precincts of a well-established school. For more information on the project as well as for contributions, call the Tshwane Office on 012 374 2506 or 082 655 9309.

Summarised Jumu’ah Bayaan:

 (Continued from last week)
Combating the AIDS Pandemic

 Allah says in the Qur’an: “Say to the believing men that they restrain their eyes and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Surely, Allah is well aware of what they do.” (24:31)

 The Prophet Muhammad Sallallâhu 'alayhi wasallam said: “Whenever unlawful sexual conduct prevails with a society to the point that they feel no shame in disclosing it and doing it openly, then they shall suffer from plagues and such painful illnesses that their ancestors have never experienced.” (ibn Majah)

• Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) often referred to as the plague of the twentieth century.

• More than 10 million people worldwide have been affected by AIDS.

• South Africa, according to the UN, has the highest rate of AIDS in the world. Second comes India with an HIV population of 4.4 million.

• Of all the 21 Muslim countries in the Middle East, the total population is close to half a billion and only 366 AIDS cases have been reported (many imported from the West) until 2002. Thus, a healthy Islamic lifestyle does help. Our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has said, "When sin afflicts people and they publicize it, then Allah subjects them to ailments unknown in their fore- fathers." (Tirmizi)

• An FDA study says that one out of five condoms have failed the test to hold back the AIDS virus. That is because the AIDS virus is one-fifth the size of the sperm and, therefore, it is permeable.

• Instead of promoting ‘safe-sex’ (use of the condom), let us rather promote ‘save-sex (no sex before or out of marriage).

• The Solution to the problem of AIDS lies in observing Islamic teachings. When we look at the causes of AIDS, it becomes absolutely clear that it is the un-Islamic practices that are responsible for this disease.

• It must however be noted that AIDS is spreading so fast, that it is possible for a person to acquire AIDS for a reason other than an untoward lifestyle. There are many Muslims working as doctors, dentists, scientists or in hospitals where they are likely to come in contact with AIDS patients or AIDS-infected blood. Blood transfusion during an operation may be source of transmission. Today, one finds children, mothers, teachers and people in other groups and professions carrying the disease.

It must also be noted that Islam does not allow persons to discard members of the community on the basis of their afflictions.

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Message from the Ameer of the Jamiatul Ulama

Muslims in Bangladesh

Islam requires that Muslims associate with their brothers and sisters around the world as single Ummah. The relationship between the Believers has been described by Allah Azza wa jalla in the Qur’an as that of a single brotherhood. The Prophet Sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam has explained it to be like that of a body where the entire body is affected when even a portion of the body feels pain or is afflicted in any particular manner.

Muslims around the world have and still are continuously undergoing a range of challenges, difficulties and oppressions and testing situations. Some of them relate to conditions being cast upon the Muslims by those bent on harming Islam and Muslims, and some of the circumstances result out of natural disasters brought down upon through the Will of Allah, either as a test or as means of cleansing the people of their wrongs.

When difficulties come down upon a sector of the Muslim community, it is the religious responsibility of Muslims from other parts to render assistance to those that are afflicted.

The current situation in Bangladesh is of extreme proportions. with the conventional media reporting that at least 3500 people have been confirmed dead, thousands injured and hundreds of thousands displaced and homeless.

Insha’Allah, the Jamiatul Ulama is in the process of sending assistance to Bangladesh for the purpose of helping the distressed in their hour of need.

Kindly forward your contributions to any of the Jamiatul Ulama Offices.

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