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Weekly Comment |
Will the Custodians of Secular
Virtues have their Way?
Isn’t it amazing that the
cornerstones of secular values
include human rights and
enshrined freedoms, pluralism
and democracy? Yet when certain
sections of such societies
express themselves within that
framework something is
considered to have gone wrong.
Terribly wrong.
Take Hamas for instance, after
many years of distancing
themselves from the political
arena, their change in policy
saw them ousting Fatah as
political movement of choice for
majority Palestinians and
considered as the best option in
articulating the aspirations and
addressing the needs of this
society living under Zionist
occupation. To the civilised
world, however, this was
unacceptable and sanctions had
to be applied by supposed
advocates of the secular values
of democracy.
A similar picture emerging out
of Turkey has the powerful
military exerting pressure on
the supposedly ‘Islamist’
government. They are accusing
the Abdullah Gul administration
of rolling back the sacred
values of secularism as espoused
by the founding father of modern
Turkey. The dilemma at this
stage is a major one: the
secular establishment dreams of
‘becoming Europe.’ At the same
time, the European Union chief
Jose Manuel Barroso has warned
Turkish authorities that
attempts to ban the
Islamic-rooted governing party
in Turkey could have a "major
impact" on its ties with the EU.
Barroso has also been quoted as
saying: "it is not normal" that
a party that was democratically
elected by a majority of Turks
is now under investigation
because of fears the party is
scrapping secular principles
enshrined in the constitution."
Will the custodians of secular
virtues eat their cake and then
have it? For how long with the
‘Islamists’ hold the delicate
balance of reform and keeping
the secularist establishment at
bay?
Of
Zimbabwe, Tibet and Human Rights
The situation is Zimbabwe is
sad, disappointing and fragile.
Election results have not been
released in full, more than
eleven days after voting was
completed. Various noises are
being made. Possibility of a
re-run, contesting the counting
of votes and other possibilities
exist. Meanwhile the leader of
the MDC has met with the leader
of the ANC and plans to meet
with President Mbeki. Different
scenarios can play themselves
out in response to the different
range of possible developments.
No-one is sure what the future
holds and the entire country is
in a limbo.
The whole world is justifiably
calling for a swift resolution
to the issues that are being
contested. In fact, the
condemnation, criticism and
disapproval have been
vociferous, candid and
uninhibited in emphasising the
alleged human rights
infringements and abuses.
While the calls for a quick end
to the situation must be
supported, one must question the
vocal and strident comments of
such people who are surprisingly
quiet on the human rights issues
in certain other parts of the
world, especially Tibet, a
territory under the spotlight
and highlighted through protests
accompanying the Olympic torch
relay.
ANCYL: Youth Behaving Badly
The current shambles and tangle
in the ANC Youth Leagues
election of a leader at the
ANCYL National Convention raises
many issues.
When the Deputy President of the
ANC, Kgalema Motlanthe can
rebuke the ANCYL by describing
its national conference as being
characterised by a ‘state of
disorder’ and elaborating
further by saying that the
“league needed to address
urgently its organisational and
structural weaknesses”, then
everyone needs to sit up and
take note.
This is not to say that his
rebuke was needed to cause
everyone to sit up and take
note. The exposed bottoms of
dancing and protesting delegates
at the conference that typified
the behaviour at the conference
were enough to make most gawp in
shock and disgust.
The confusion over the number of
delegates and admission of
supposed non-delegates, the
questioned delay in the meeting
and other issues related to the
election of the future leader
raised many issues.
The response to the results and
the finger-pointing and
accusations that accompanied the
announcement of the results were
frightening and does not augur
well for the future of the
movement. If this is the future,
if this is the catchment league
for the ANC then one must not
think as to whether we are in
trouble or not, but rather how
serious a trouble we are in! |
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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 165.17 |
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Mahr Faatimi |
R 8,258.62 |
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Zakaat Nisaab |
R 3,303.45 |
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Words of Wisdom |
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Hadith of the Week |
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A True Believer |
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The Prophet of Allah
Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam
said: " He who believes in
Allah and the Last Day
should honour his guest; he
who believes in Allah and
the Last Day should not
annoy his neighbours; and he
who
believes in Allah and the
Last Day should say what is
good or keep silent”.
(Bukhari, Muslim).
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Quotation for the Week |
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Satanic Surrender |
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“Some people claim their
total helplessness with
regard to controlling the
gaze. This is a deception of
shaytaan”. (Maulana
Hakeem Akhtar Sahib)
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Point of Reflection |
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Natural Order |
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"The owner of the dog does
not obey the dog."
(African Proverb)
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Q and A |
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Question: Kindly explain the Shar'i ruling regarding the
acceptance of a gift from a
minor (nâ-bâligh child). |
Answer:
In
order for a gift from
a minor to be valid, he/she
must be Baaligh. Therefore,
the gift of a minor is
invalid. (Mahmoodiyyah
14/407)
Furthermore, if one is aware
that the parent of the child
has given the gift via the
hand of
the child, then there will
be no harm in accepting such
a gift since the actual
giver is actually the parent
and not the child (Jaami
Ahkaamus Sigaar p.211,
Mahmoodiyyah 12/316). In
this case, the parents’
intention
when handing the item over
to the child will be
regarded as Ibaahah and not
Tamleek,
since minors are not capable
of Tamleek (Mahmoodiyyah
14/134).
And Allaah Ta’aala Knows
Best.
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U P D A T E/a> |
Masjid Library
Alhamdulillah, masaajid 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 tafaasir,
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.
Survey on Ar-Rasheed
The editorial team for Ar
Rasheed shall be carrying out a
survey on the readership of the
paper. The findings of the
survey will go a long way in
improving the paper’s content,
presentation and frequency among
other things. We call upon
readers of the paper to respond
to the survey by completing a
questionnaire obtainable via
email from
mediadesk@islamsa.org.za
Sheikh Saalih bin Abdullah bin
Humaid
The senior Imaam and Khateeb of
Masjid al Haram, Makkah al-Mukarramah
and Head of Shura’ Council,
Saudi Arabia will be performing
the Jumu’ah Salaah at Hamidia
Masjid, Newtown on Friday, 11th
April 2008
(Adhaan: 12:20 pm; Khutbah:
12:30 pm). An English
translation of the Khutbah will
follow after the salaah.
Note: Programme subject to
change without prior notice
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Summarised Jumu’ah
Bayaan:
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Tawakkul |
Allah Ta'ala says:
"Upon Allah should the
Believers have Tawakkul
(trust)."
Whoever relies on Allah
(has Tawakkul), He is
sufficient for him (At-Talaaq
65:3)
Rasulullah Sallallahu
alayhi wasallam said:
"When you ask, ask of
Allah and when you seek
aid, seek from Allah . …
If the entire creation
were to gather to
benefit you in any way,
they would not be able
to do so, accept that
which Allah has writtenb
for you, and if the
entire creation were to
gather to harm you in
any way, they would not
be able to so, except
that which Allah has
written down for you."
• Tawakkul is one of the
evidences of imaan. A
person with true faith
will always rely on
Allah / have Tawakkul.
Lack of Tawakkul
indicates lack of true
faith. Allah describes
tawakkul as a quality of
the Believers:
The believers are only
those who: when Allah is
mentioned, their hearts
become fearful; when His
verses are recited to
them, they increase
their faith; and only on
their Lord they rely
(have Tawakkul).
• Tawakkul has been
enjoined upon people
through the ages by
different Ambiyaa (alayhis
salam):
§ When Moosa `alayhi
invited Bane Israel to
enter Palestine, they
refused to do so, being
scared of the strength
of the enemy. Two of the
believers endowed with
true faith spoke up and
said, (Al-Ma'idah 5:23)
/ (Younus 10:83-85)
§ A person with tawakkul
will bravely,
unflinchingly and
steadfastly continue
working for Islamic
objectives regardless of
the impediments, threats
and hardships
encountered.
§ When Nooh `alayhissalaam
was rebuked and
threatened, this is how
he responded: (Younus
10:71)
§ During resistance from
his people, the
Messenger Hood `alayhissalaam
said to them: (Hood
11:56)
§ Shu’aib `alayhissalaam
said to his people:
(Hood 11:88)
§ Ibrahim `alayhissalaam
and his people’s
struggle and Tawakkul
are presented as a
model: (Al-Mumtahinah
60:5-6)
§ This has been the way
of all prophets,
messengers and Islamic
workers:
(Ibrahim14:11-12) / (Ar-Ra’d
13:30)
• Tawakkul is an
attribute that results
from a true Eeman in
Allaah Subhaanahu wa
Ta`aala and the
hereafter and continual
remembrance of both. It
is an attitude that
emanates from the
conviction that
everything come sfrom
Allah.
• The real meaning [haqiqa]
of absolute trust [tawakkul]
is delegating all one's
affairs to Allah
(Almighty and Glorious
is He), making a clean
escape from the concept
of personal choice and
self-management, and
advancing to the arenas
where the [divine]
decrees [ahkam] and
foreordainment [taqdir]
are experienced
directly.
• ‘Umar Bin Khattaab,
radhiallahu `anhu heard
the Messenger of Allah,
Sall Allaahu `alayhi wa
sallam saying, “If you
trust Allah with right
kind of Tawakkul, He
will provide you
sustenance as He
provides for the birds –
they go out in the
morning with empty
stomachs and come back
in the evening with full
stomachs.” (Tirmidzi).
• Tawakkul must also not
take on wrong
connotations.
• A person asked the
Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi
wa sallam), “Should I
tie my camel and have
Tawakkul (trust in Allah
for her protection) or
should I leave her
untied and have Tawakkul.”
The Messenger replied,
“Tie her and then have
Tawakkul.” (Reported by
Tirmidzi from Anas)
• Is it not time that we
stopped focusing on the
strength of the locks on
our doors, bit rather
focused on the strength
of our imaan and trust
in Allah?
• Nobody does, only
Allah. Nobody can do
anything accept with the
Will and Permission of
Allah. Everything takes
place in the Wisdom of
Allah.
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Message from the Ameer of
the Jamiatul Ulama |
Live
Islam
The Amir of the Jamiatul
Ulama is out of town. In his
absence, a copy of one of
his previous messages has
been reproduced hereunder.
Muslims in South Africa, as
a minority face many
challenges, but are also
presented with many
opportunities.
Among the greater challenges
that they face is the aspect
of raising their children in
such a manner that they can
co-exist with their
religious and other
counterparts and still
maintain their dignity,
respect and identity.
The greatest fear that every
parent has is that of his
child assimilating and being
absorbed into the life and
way of the non-Muslim
majority to such an extent
that the child loses all
trace and sense of what it
really means to be a Muslim.
Trends from the general
society are creeping into
the homes of Muslims, who
quickly find themselves
grappling with the ills and
evils of a free lifestyle; a
lifestyle which is at odds
with the Islamic life of
modesty, discipline,
self-restraint and obedience
to the command of Allah, at
all costs. Muslims find
themselves having to deal
with drug-abuse, gambling,
intoxication, increasing
divorce rates, child abuse
and other such problems.
While examining ways of
circumventing the problem
from within, in the context
of these ‘challenges’ we, as
Muslims, need to see
opportunity.
As Muslims, we have no doubt
that the cure to all the
evils of the world rests in
the Islamic way and manner.
It is our duty and
responsibility to convey
this message to all and
sundry.
With the difficulties that
the people of the world
face, they are desperately
searching for solutions.
They are prepared to accept
even the outrageous,
ridiculous, bizarre and
insane suggestions as a
possible spark of a light at
the end of the tunnel. It is
for this reason that we see
the flurry of outlandish
cults that would make no
sense to any sane mind.
In such an environment, the
ground is fertile for
planting the seeds of imaan,
and presenting Islam as the
way of life that would save
and protect them from the
dangerous devices and trends
of the current world.
It is however, most
important to remember that
Islam has to be presented to
them in a way that they
understand. People want to
see results. Unfortunately,
the examples that we wish to
be able to rely on in
presenting Islam, on a
global level, are few and
far between. We can and must
show them Islam through the
life of the Prophet Muhammad
Sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam,
but we must also begin to
illustrate this Islam in our
own lives. It is then that
they will believe.
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