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Weekly Comment |
Iraq: The House that America
Built
Almost
coinciding to the day with the 5
years of Iraq invasion was a
report of a 4000th American
soldier killed in Iraq. While
America laments about her fallen
and the yet to be secured oil
reserves, the world does not
hear much about the continuing
suffering of Iraqis. Who will
tell us how many Iraqis have
lost their lives due to this
misadventure?
Renewed violence in the capital
Baghdad in the last fortnight
has seen a mortuary receiving an
average of 15 corpses a day. The
conservative estimate places the
toll of those killed in
sectarian violence (alone) at
about 90,000.
On the social scene, Islamonline
has recently reported about
Iraq's once high-calibre
educational system which is now
on the verge of collapse.
Schools and universities lack
essential materials such as
books and labs while students
and teachers are traumatised by
violence.
The same can be said about the
health services and basic
amenities of life which are
lacking in this once prosperous
nation.
With acknowledgement of
Western-based think tanks, the
gains women had made living in
the Iraq society and
participating in civic processes
have been rolled back by years.
International human rights
activists say there has been an
overall rise in crimes against
women since the overthrow of
Saddam Hussein's regime.
Zimbabwe
Zimbabweans go the polls this
weekend.
The question of who will emerge
from the elections is far from
the minds of most commentators.
Most discussion has rather
revolved around the question of
whether the elections will be
free and fair.
We make du`aa to Allah (azza wa
jalla) that the elections take
place within an environment that
is free from violence and
killing; that voters are allowed
the freedom and opportunity to
cast their vote in an atmosphere
free from fear and force; and
that the vote counting be such
that it is fair and just.
We pray that those who emerge as
victorious come forward as such
people through whom good will
flow for the people of Zimbabwe.
Aameen.
Human Rights Day
Message: Free Speech
Fundamentalism
…Freedom of speech is therefore
not a license to be deceptive,
ill-mannered or to be
provocative. Civil limitations
include abusive, rude, dishonest
and deceptive speech. Nabi
Sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam has
said: “A Believer can never be a
fault finder or one who is prone
to curse, nor is he abusive or
rude” (Tirmizee) Muslims are
equally forbidden from mocking
or jeering at religious symbols
or icons….
Read the whole message
here. |
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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 |
R 167.04 |
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Mahr Faatimi |
R 8351.90 |
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Zakaat Nisaab |
R 3340.76
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Words of Wisdom |
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Hadith of the Week |
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Trust |
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The Prophet Sallallahu ‘alayhi
wasallam said: “When a man
tells something and then
departs it is trust”.
(Muslim).
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Quotation for the Week |
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Contentment |
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Don't set your heart on
things which belong to
others.
(Luqman alayhis salam) |
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Point of Reflection |
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Durability of Truth |
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Ukuri guca mu ziko ntigusha
- The truth passes through
fire, but does not burn.
(Proverb from Burundi) |
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Q and A |
Question: I would like to
know
if it is permissible to
dispose
of my zakât monthly or does
it have to be paid annually. |
Answer: If
you are a Sâhibul Nisaab [a
person that possesses
Zakaatable wealth that
reaches the rate of Nisaab]
then it is acceptable to
discharge Zakaat before its
due date. (Tahtaawi 'alaa
Miraaquil Falâh Pg. 715)
However, a note should be
made as to how much you have
given in the preceding
months and on the day when
your
Zakaat is actually due then
you should calculate the
Zakaat due on that day. If
you paid less
[in the preceding months]
then you shall discharge the
remainder Zakaat on the day
it is due.
AND
ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST
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U P D A T E |
Ulwazi Skills Development Centre
The Johannesburg and Lenasia
branches of the Jamiatul Ulama
(Council of Muslim Theologians)
held a graduation ceremony for
ladies who had completed a
skills training course at the
Ulwazi Skills Development and
Community Empowerment Centre in
Zakariyyah Park Lenasia.
The Ulwazi Skills Development
and Community Empowerment Centre
was established after a generous
contribution from a donor who
had given a portion of a
building, to be used for
training and other community
development programmes.
The graduation ceremony honoured
20 trainees from the
neighbouring informal
settlements who had completed a
three month course in sewing.
Sewing machines were also
donated to the learners.
The ceremony featured addresses
by several Ulama. On his part,
the coordinator of the
programme, Moulana Mohammed
Kaka, said that he was very
proud of the ladies and their
achievement should serve as an
example to others. Another
speaker, Mufti Bhayat
highlighted the many
opportunities available to
people with such practical
training. Member of Parliament
Ismail Vadi presented
certificates of completion to
the trainees. Moulana Yusuf
Monia of the Jamiatul Ulama
thanked the Almighty and urged
the ladies to pass on the
knowledge they have received to
others, for as the Prophet
Muhammad Sallallahu ‘alayhi
wasallam had said: “The best of
humankind is he who helps
others.” Local councillors
Shaida Kazi and Dan Ndlovu
commended the sponsors and
organisers for empowering women
and appealed to them to take
this programme to other areas
where it is also needed
A second phase of the project
will include training in
entrepre-neurship, to enable the
graduates to generate income
from their newly-acquired
skills. Ulwazi Centre also hopes
to extend its training
programmes to include adult and
computer literacy classes, as
well as a library and resource
centre.
At the end the students
expressed their sincerest
gratitude to those who made all
this possible for them.
Issued by the Jamiatul Ulama
Masjid Library
Alhamdulillah, masjids across
the country generally have, on
their shelves, Qur’ans for the
usage of musallees, in the
masjid. Some Ulama have
recommended that it would be of
great benefit to equip masaajid
with additional Islamic material
that would assist in educating
the ummah on various issues. It
has been suggested that Masaajid
should have authentic tafsirs,
books of hadith, fiqh, seerah,
etc. These books will serve
various purposes, and benefit
both Ulama and others in
numerous ways.
In this regard the Jamiatul
Ulama Tshwane Branch has taken
the initiative and prepared a
set of books that would comprise
a basic library - a must for
every masjid. The set comprises
of the following:
The Noble Qur’an (Translation of
Mufti Taqi Uthmani)
Tafsir Ma`aariful Qur’an (Mufti
Muhammad Shafi)
Illuminating Discourses on the
Holy Qur’an (Mufti Ashiq Ilaahi)
Ma`aariful Hadeeth (Maulana
Manzoor Numani)
Awareness and Apprehension
(English translation of al-Targheeb
wa al-Tarheeb)
Behashti Zewar
Sublime Conduct (English
translation of Khasaais
al-Kubra)
Seerah Ibn Kathir
Hayaatus Sahaabah
Aqeedah al-Tahaawiy
The cost of the set is
approximately R2200-00 and
brother and sisters are invited
to sponsor a set(s) for
their/other masaajid. The set
could be sponsored with the
niyyah of esaal uth-thawaab and
is also thawaab al-jaariyah. For
as long as it is in use, the
contributor will continue
receiving thawab, insha’ Allah.
Sponsored sets are already being
sent to masaajid. Masaajid that
would like to acquire a set
should contact the Jamiat.
For more information contact:
012 374 2506. Suggestions and
ideas are also welcome.
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Summarised Jumu’ah
Bayaan:
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April Fool – Who
is the Real Fool? |
Allah Ta'ala says:
“The curse of Allah is
upon the liars.”
Question: THE FIRST OF
APRIL is regarded as a
day to play practical
jokes on people.
Generally a person is
told something which
perturbs or even shocks
him. However he shortly
thereafter realizes that
what he was told is not
true but it was rather a
joke. According to the
Shariah is it
permissible to play such
practical jokes on
people?
Answer: This is a very
pertinent question.
Hence it is appropriate
that it be dealt with in
some detail. The aspect
of playing practical
jokes on the first of
April is much more
serious than what most
people generally regard
it to be.
Firstly it must be
understood well that to
deliberately cause any
inconvenience to anybody
is totally Haraam and a
grievous sin,
irrespective of how
apparently trivial and
insignificant it may
seem. This is applicable
even if the
inconvenience was caused
merely in jest and in a
light-hearted manner.
Secondly, the practical
jokes played on people
involve lying. It is
also totally forbidden
to speak lies. Allah
Ta’ala declares in the
Glorious Qur’an:
“The curse of Allah is
upon the liars.”
Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi
wa sallam is reported to
have said:
“Destruction to the one
who speaks lies in order
to make people laugh.
Woe unto him, woe unto
him” (Abu Dawood).
In another narration it
is reported that:
“a person is not a
complete Believer until
he forsakes lying in
joking” (Kanzul Ummaal).
DECEPTION
Making people “April
fools” also involves one
in the serious sin of
khiyanah (deception).
Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi
wa sallam is reported to
have said:
“It is a great khiyanah
that you say to your
brother something
regarding which he
believes you to be true
but you are in fact
lying to him” (Mishkaat).
Another Hadith
pronounces the
declaration of
Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi
wa sallam thus: “The one
who deceives us
(Believers) is not from
among us” (Mishkaat).
These aspects alone make
it apparent that
engaging in “April fool”
antics involves one in a
host of major sins.
IMITATING THE
KUFFAAR
Over and above this is
the fact that playing
tricks is a custom of
the Kuffaar. According
to the Funk and
Wagnall's New
Encyclopedia, playing
tricks on the first of
April “is a custom among
European peoples”
(vol.2; pg.263). The
World Book Encyclopedia
records that the
observance of April
Fools’ Day “began in
France after the
adoption of the reformed
calendar by Charles IX
in 1564” (vol. 1; pg.
557).
Thus the aspect of
tashabbuh [imitating]
the kuffaar also becomes
applicable. Rasulullah
Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa
sallam is reported to
have said: “He who
imitates a nation, he is
from amongst them” (Mishkaat).
Hence when playing April
fool tricks involves one
in such serious sins,
how can a person who
claims to love Allah
Ta’ala and His beloved
Rasul Sallallaahu ‘alayhi
wa sallam ever engage in
it? If one has played
such tricks in the past,
one must sincerely
repent and seek the
pardon of those who were
deceived in such a
manner.
[Source: Al Haadi (Madrasah
Taaleemuddeen, South
Africa)]
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Message from the Ameer of
the Jamiatul Ulama |
Xenophobia
Last week our Online
Newsletter carried a short
article regarding the huge
and sharp escalation in
xenophobic incidents.
Yesterday, two people were
killed in Atteridgeville.
One a foreigner, bludgeoned
to death with rocks, then
dragged into his shack and
burnt to ashes while the
crowd stood and watched. The
second person was a South
African who endeavoured to
discourage a mob from
burning the tuckshop of a
foreigner. His body was also
burnt.
Our last week’s article
stated that ‘xenophobia is a
hatred of people of other
nationalities or origins.
When this hatred is taken to
the extent of
discrimination, then it is
even worse, when it is taken
to the extent of physical
abuse, destruction of
property and assault then it
must be spoken out against,
and when it reaches the
level of the taking of
lives, then it must not be
tolerated’.
One can never justify the
killing of people on the
basis of their ‘paper work’
not being in order. One
cannot even allow for them
to be treated in a manner
that is beneath the honour
and dignity of any human
being. What then is the
human rights charter, the
human rights day that we all
recently celebrated, the
rights of refugees and
similar others, and the vary
justice and humanity that
many of our South African
brothers and sisters gave
their lives for?
The response of the
authorities must be
questioned. Why did they
fail to prevent and stop
such incidents from taking
place, when they were aware
that such a volatile
situation existed?
The Internet News Agency,
Independent Online reported
that, on Tuesday Minister of
Home Affairs Nosiviwe
Mapisa-Nqakula met with
Tshwane Mayor Gwen Ramokgopa
to discuss the violent
attacks on immigrants in
Brazzaville and other
informal settlements west of
Pretoria. Mapisa-Nqakula
stated that there was a need
for "an indaba where
government, civil society
and religious leaders can
come up with a solution”.
The IOL website stated that
‘in discussions with locals
it was found that various
reasons were being offered
by them. Some women claimed
that the immigrants were
taking their jobs. Others
claimed that the immigrants
stole their wives while some
claimed that immigrants were
the reason for rising food
costs and even the increases
in the petrol price.
Mapisa-Nqakula said "It was
wrong to assume that
immigrants were stealing
South Africans' jobs” and
added that, " to kill people
and drive them from their
homes is not the solution.
She further stated that,
"There are allegations that
immigrants are taking South
African women. That cannot
justify a full-scale
conflict in a community."
The article also mentioned
that the “United Nations
High Commissioner for
Refugees (UNHCR) deputy
regional representative Abel
Mbilingi said they have been
monitoring xenophobic
violence in South Africa for
a number of years”.
It is in important that the
issue be given more serious
attention and that the
immediate situation be
tackled with those guilty of
unforgivable crimes taken to
task.
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