|
|
|
Weekly Comment |
What is Happening?
Kofi Annan, the person leading
the mediation and brokering of
peace, in Kenya, was extremely
upset when it was found that his
hotel room had been bugged.
Yesterday, Cyril Ramaphosa
returned from Kenya, despondent
at the fact that he was not able
to be a part of the process,
after being accused of being
biased by the government of
Kenya.
One would dare to ask:
What exactly is happening?
Who would want to bug Annan’s
room and why?
Why could Ramaphosa not gain the
confidence of all parties?
Who is behind who?
At the same time, the Darfur
situation continues and Somalia
is become more and more
catastrophic. The situation in
Chad is difficult to understand,
but is clearly linked to events
in the surrounds of the country.
One can only express concern and
regret at the chaos, destruction
and continuous loss of innocent
lives.
We make duaa that Allah remove
these situations of strife and
conflict, and create a situation
of peace and harmony. Aameen.
Wikipedia – Will they listen to
reason?
Followers of every faith
consider certain things sacred
and blessed. Abuse of the sacred
is sacrilegious and blasphemous.
It is a sign of the conviction
and honor of a community that
they respond to the offensive
and insulting.
It is not necessary to dwell on
the ‘Cartoon Issue’, except to
say that one would have thought
that the entire saga would have
made everyone more aware as to
how possibly volatile situations
should be approached, and that
we need to be sensitive to the
religious beliefs and views of
each other..
The Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu
`alayhi wa sallam) is the
revered Prophet of Islam and his
honor and dignity is considered
sacred, to the extent that
Muslims, without exception,
would give their lives for the
preservation of his honorable
name. Desecration, disrespect,
and misrepresentation of him,
with regard to his self,
personality or teachings, would
be considered insulting and
injurious to any Muslim.
The Prophet forbade the drawing
of pictures of living beings,
and images of the Prophet are
strongly forbidden in Islam. It
is adding insult to injury when
the images are depictions of
what someone may think the
Prophet possibly looked like.
Wikipedia has, in its article on
the Prophet Muhammad, various
images that feign to present
images of the Prophet.
Presenting these images of the
Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa
sallam) is universally proven
and accepted to be sacrilegious
and even blasphemous.
Muslims from various parts of
the world have respectfully made
submissions to Wikipedia
individually and in the form of
a petition, asking Wikipedia to
remove these images. They have
refused to do so.
Muslims should continue to
respectfully request, ask and
even insist of Wikipedia that
they remove these images since
the presentation of the images
infringe on our religious rights
and shows a total lack of
respect and sensitivity to the
religious beliefs of Muslims. It
illustrates an attitude of
acting in bad faith and without
integrity.
It is hoped that Wikipedia
listens to reason.
Catch the Taliban?
It is extremely difficult to
identify the locations of
Taliban Mujahideen. It is more
difficult to apprehend them and
it is even more difficult to
retain them in their places of
incarceration.
A recent report states that the
British government has set up a
training camp for the Taliban.
The camp was organized to
provide training for ex-Taliban
(named Community Defense
Volunteers) to fight against the
present Taliban. Apparently, the
Afghan government are not happy
because it can contribute
towards the development of
forces that are not loyal to the
central government. The camp has
been organized, funded and
directed by the British. The
British are committing more
troops and Brown has openly
pledged to increase support for
"community defense initiatives,
where local volunteers are
recruited".
On the other hand, another
reports states that the Taliban
have set-up a ‘bribery fund’ to
store funds to be used for
bribing official for the freedom
of Taliban captured by the
Afghan or Allied forces. Corrupt
officials are prepared to free
any individuals captured, for
fees ranging from US$200 to
US$2000. |
|
|
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 145.67 |
|
Mahr Faatimi |
R 7,283.57 |
|
Zakaat Nisaab |
R 2,913.43
|
|
Words of Wisdom |
|
Hadith of the Week |
|
Vicious
Wealth |
|
Ka'b Bin Malik (Radhi-Allahu
‘anhu) narrates that the
Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu
`alayhi wa sallam) said:
"Two hungry wolves let loose
in a flock of sheep do not
cause so much damage to the
flock, as does the love of
wealth and vanity to one's
Deen." (Tirmidhi,
Darimi).
|
|
|
Quotation for the Week |
|
Don't be a
Miser |
|
Miserliness is the clothing
of dishonour.
(`Ali radiyallahu `anhu)
|
|
|
Point of Reflection |
|
No Excuse |
|
Ignorance of the law is no
excuse for breaking it.
(Greek Saying)
|
|
|
Q and A |
Question: I would like to
know anything that is said
or
written concerning "closing
one's eyes (not sleeping)
while saying Salaah.",
because
many mussallis cannot help
closing their eyes in Salaah
as it allows them to be in
full concentration.
On the other hand there are
those who are of opinion
that
it is strictly forbidden.
|
Answer:
Salaah should be performed
with ones eyes open.
However, if a person has
difficulty in
sustaining concentration
during his Salaah then, as a
temporary measure, he will
be permitted to close them
now and then.
One should, however,
continue trying to perform
his Salaah
with concentration with his
eyes open.
And Allah Ta'aala knows best
<Go to
Top>
|
|
|
|
U P D A T E |
Sheikh Raed Salah
Sheikh Raed Salah is the
President of the Islamic
Movement in Palestine a charity
founded in the 1980s to cater
for the spiritual, medical,
social and economic needs of
Palestinians inside Israel. His
work as head of Al-Aqsa
Foundation for Reconstruction of
Islamic Sanctities ensures
Muslim presence at Masjid Al-Aqsa
at this time of increasing
threats from Zionists to destroy
this Noble Sanctuary of Islam.
Sheikh Salah has endured
detentions and harassment for
his work.
The following is the programme
of Sheikh Raed Salah in Gauteng:
• Thursday 7 Feb 2008 (After
Esha; 8:45pm): Masjid Nur-ul-Islam,
Lenasia
• Friday 8 Feb 2008 (Jumuah
Salah; 12:30pm): Mayfair Jumuah
Masjid, Mayfair
• Friday 8 Feb 2008 (After Esha;
8:45pm): Darus Salaam Centre,
Laudium
• Saturday 9 Feb 2008 (After
Esha; 8:45pm): Masjid Taqwa,
Springs
|
|
Summarised Jumu’ah
Bayaan:
|
|
Sacredness of
Masjid Al-Aqsa |
Allah Ta'ala says:
Glory to (Allah) Who did
take His Servant for
Journey by night from
the Sacred Mosque to the
Farthest Mosque whose
precincts We did Bless
in order that We might
show him some of Our
Signs: for He is the one
Who heareth and seeth
(all things). (Al-Isra’il)
In the Qur’ān there are
many verses implying
that the Land of
Palestine, the city of
Jerusalem, the entire
environs are set apart
as holy and blessed, as
they have received
special divine
blessings. The land
around Masjid Al-Aqsa is
referred to 70 times as
the blessed land in the
Qur’ān amongst which are
the following verses:
(Sūrah Bani Isra’īl/Surat
al-Isra’, 17:1), (Sūrah
al-Maidah, 5:23), (Sūrah
at-Tīn, 95:1-4), (Sūrah
al-Mu’minūn, 23:50), (Sūrah
Aal-Imran 3: 37), (Sūrah
Aal-Imran 3:5), ( Sūrah
Maryam 19:16)
The Traditions of the
Prophet Sallallahu ‘alayhi
wa sallam also refer to
the sacredness of Masjid
Al-Aqsa for various
reasons. Among them are:
It was the
first Qiblah of Muslims
See tafsir of the
following verse: “The
fools among the people
will say: "What hath
turned them from the
Qiblah to which they
were used?" (2:142)
It was the
second Masjid to be
established on Earth
Abu Dharr reported that
he asked the Prophet
(peace be upon him), "O
Prophet of Allah, which
mosque was built first
on earth?" The Prophet
(peace be upon him)
replied, "The Sacred
Mosque of Makkah." Abu
Dharr again asked,
"Which was next?" The
Prophet (peace be upon
him) said, "The Al-Aqsa
Mosque." "How long was
the period between
them?" Abu Dharr asked.
The Prophet (peace be
upon him) said, "Forty
years. Apart from these,
offer your prayers
anywhere when it is time
to pray, although
excellence is in praying
in these mosques." (Bukhari)
/(See also Hadīth: Abū
Dhar -Sahīh Muslim)
The virtues of praying
in Masjid Al Aqsa are
great.
Maimunah bint Sa’d asked
the Prophet Sallallâhu 'alayhi
wasallam, ‘Tell us about
Bait al-Maqdis.’ He
said, ‘It is the land of
gathering and
resurrection. Go there
and offer prayer. Your
prayer will be
considered as a thousand
prayers.’ (Abū Dawūd)
Jabir (radiyallahu `anhu)
reports that the
Messenger of Allah said:
"Prayer in the
inviolable mosque [in
Makkah] is like 100,000
prayers [elsewhere]. And
prayers in my mosque [in
Madinah] is like one
thousand prayers
[elsewhere]. And a
prayer in Bait al-Maqdis
[in Jerusalem] is like
five hundred prayers
[elsewhere]. This is
related by alBaihaqi,
and as-Sayuti says it is
hasan.
It is one of
only three Masjids where
specific travel could be
made to.
Sa'id bin Al-Musayyib
reported from Abu
Hurairah that the
Prophet (peace be upon
him) said, "You should
not undertake a special
journey to visit any
place other than the
three Mosques: the
Sacred Mosque of Makkah,
this mosque of mine, and
Al-Aqsa Mosque (of
Jerusalem)." This is
reported by Bukhari,
Muslim, and Abu Daw'ud.
Abu Huraira narrated:
The Prophet said, "Do
not set out on a journey
except for three
Mosques, i.e. Al-Masjid-Al-Haram,
the Mosque of Allah's
Apostle, and the Mosque
of Al-Aqsa (Mosque of
Jerusalem)." (Bukhari)
Performing
Hajj or Umrah from
Masjid Al-Aqsa is
meritorious
Umm Salamah, Umm al-Mu’minin,
relates that the Prophet
said, “If anyone puts on
ihram for Hajj or ‘Umrah
from Masjid al-Aqsa and
then proceeds to the
sacred Masjid, his
former and latter sins
will be forgiven, or he
will be guaranteed
Paradise”. Sunan Abu
Dawud.
There is
virtue in donating to
Masjid Al-Aqsa
‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar
relates, I asked the
Prophet, “Apostle of
Allah, tell us the legal
injunction about
(visiting) Bayt al-Maqdis
(Jerusalem).” The
Apostle of Allah said,
“Go and pray there. If
you cannot visit it and
pray there, then send
some oil to be used in
the lamps”. Sahih al-Bukhari
It’s land is
Blessed
Zaid ibn Thabit reports
that the Prophet said,
“How blessed is
al-Sham”! The companions
around asked: “Why is
that”? The Messenger
replied, “I see the
angels of Allah
spreading their wings
over al-Sham”. Ibn ‘Abbas
added, “And the Prophets
lived in it. There is
not a single inch in al-Quds
(Jerusalem) where a
Prophet has not prayed
or an angel not stood”.
Tirmidhi and Imam Ahmad
Among other virtues of
Masjid Al-Aqsa are that
it is:
the station of al-Isra’
and al-Mi‘raj;
the place where hundreds
of Messengers of Allah
are buried;
the place where many
Companions are buried;
a place where miracles
were shown by Allah’s
Will;
a place which Allah
Himself calls a ‘blessed
place’;
the place where angels
have descended with
Allah’s message;
the only place on earth
where all the Messengers
of Allah prayed at the
same time led by the
Prophet Muhammad;
the only Masjid
mentioned by name in the
Holy Qur’an apart from
the Ka’bah.
<Go to Top> |
|
Message from the Ameer of
the Jamiatul Ulama |
Palestine
The
international Muslim
community is often
considered to be a community
that is largely reactive. It
is also considered to be a
community that acts in
bursts and spurts, with a
soda water mould and
prototype. It is also known
to react to the insinuations
and intimations of the world
media.
Let us take note that events
of oppression and injustice
against innocent Muslims
around the world are
continuously taking place.
The injustices in Palestine
do not slow down or let up.
It is a slow process of
genocide that is more often
than not un-reported in the
mainstream media.
Muslims must not be lulled
into allowing the conditions
of their brothers and
sisters around the world to
be subtly removed from their
radar. They must also work
hard and fast to establish
their own authentic sources
of reliable and accurate
news.
Alhamdulillah, visits by
persons such as Sheikh Raed
Salah, who is presently in
South Africa, go a long way
toward informing and
educating the Muslim Ummah
about the true situation on
the ground.
His programme should be a
must-attend for all.
<Go to
Top> |
|
|
|