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Weekly Comment |
Democrats making history: Can we
trust ‘Change’?
Should Barack Obama be confirmed
as the Democrats’ nominee (as he
has already claimed), a historic
milestone will certainly have
been accomplished: the first
black man to represent a major
party in a US presidential race.
In his own words, he promises
change not of the ‘party in
Washington’ but ‘change of
Washington.’ It hoped that the
change in Washington will come.
It will have to be the change
that makes Washington a
responsible ‘Big Brother’ that
cares for the needs and concerns
of the world community and not a
bully that abuses her power. The
rights of a recognised
respect-deserving ‘Big Brother’
come with responsibility. The
administration in the recent
past has by and large abused the
responsibility. One wonders
whether things could be worse.
Understandably, the developing
world (made of poor, war-torn
and hungry siblings of the Big
Brother) is therefore hoping for
change in the ways of the Big
Brother. Change of Washington!
Rogue Democracy? A Case of Pot
Calling Kettle Black
Perhaps it brings comfort to
make someone look as evil as
you.
Perhaps it's a case of selective
amnesia.
What would you call a democracy
that has floating prisons that
ply the oceans to ensure that
her captives don't have the
protection of the gaze of the
media and judicial systems of
civility? What would you call a
democracy that organises coups
against other legitimate
democracies? What do you call a
democracy that ignores UN
resolutions or vetoes them when
they don't 'suit' her? What do
you call a democracy that
unconditionally supports an
Ethnic Entity on an Occupied
Land to the exclusion of
legitimate claimants to the
territory for 60 years? What do
you call a democracy that
routinely bombs, invades and
tortures to ‘protect’ her
interests?
The diplomatic gaffes of South
Africa cannot rival this Super
State in the stakes for a Rogue
Democracy status as Michael
Gerson would want us to believe.
Perhaps Gerson should read
(maybe again) William Blum's
Rogue State.
Increasing
Cost of Living
One of the radio stations this
morning carried a news item that
dealt with the consequence of
the high fuel prices in the USA.
People were resorting to
stealing fuel by siphoning fuel
out of cars parked outside the
homes of their owners. An
incident was mentioned where the
thief stealing the fuel was
being assisted by a man keeping
guard with a shotgun. The car
owner happened to witness the
crime and quickly came out with
a pistol. A battle ensued and
ended with the thief being shot
in the arm and the leg.
What happens when the cost of
basic commodities increase to
the extent that people find that
these essential items are beyond
their reach?
Looking beyond the immediate and
obvious consequences such as the
increase in crime, there are
other serious consequences. The
economic, political and social
success of a nation is highly
dependant upon the development
and satisfaction of a growing
middle class. When this middle
class finds itself in the
position where it shares a
common cause with those at the
lower end of the scale, this
could very well be an essential
ingredient for the people to
rise up against the ruling
elite. It could easily be the
precursor to a widespread
revolution. Lessons in history
show us that this is what
happened in various parts of the
world including uprisings in
Europe such as the French
Revolution.
The South African situation is
no exception and is quickly
reaching extremely dangerous
proportions. The fact that
diesel has risen by almost 100%
within the period of a year is
clear indication of this. The
rise in fuel costs, especially
diesel, is the beginning of
large scale increases in the
prices of all products,
especially those upon which the
poor are dependant, such as
bread. If prices of items on the
supermarket shelves have
increase by approximately 40%
over the last 5 months then what
the future holds must make us
shake in fearful anticipation.
Public transport costs are also
set to rise drastically and this
again has serious ramifications.
The problem, however, is clearly
not South Africa-specific but
rather a global one. Summits and
conferences are being held and
organised to tackle the problem,
but one must question how
successful they will be or
allowed to be, in light of the
power politics in the world and
the stark North-South economic
divide.
On another level, the Deen of
Islam makes it clear that
situations such as these will
become a reality as a result of
our actions and also as an
indication of the proximity of
the Day of Judgement. As such,
without ignoring the physical
aspects of what needs to be done
on the ground, we must never
ignore the fact that we need to
turn to Allah in repentance and
prayer. |
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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 153.52 |
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Mahr Faatimi |
R7,676.00 |
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Zakaat Nisaab |
R3,070.40 |
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Words of Wisdom |
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Hadith of the Week |
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Earning a Let-Off |
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Hadith Qudsi: A man
from among those who were
before you was called to
account. Nothing in the way
of good was found for him
except that he used to have
dealings with people and,
being well-to-do, he would
order his servants to let
off the man in straitened
circumstances [from repaying
his debt]. He (the Prophet
Sallallahu alayhi wasallam)
said that Allah said: 'We
are worthier than you of
that
(of being so generous). Let
him off.'
(Muslim, al-Bukhari
and
an-Nasa'i).
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Quotation for the Week |
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Labour for Love |
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Your task is not to seek for
love, but merely to seek and
find all the barriers within
yourself that you have built
against it.
(Jalal al-Din
Muhammad Rumi) |
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Point of Reflection |
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Futility in Anger |
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He who gets up (starts up)
in anger, sits down with a
loss. (Turkish
Proverb) |
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Q and A |
Question:
I heard a lecture
by a scholar in which he
referred to a hadith
describing how the
companions
of the Prophet Sallallahu ‘alayhi
wasallam sold goods and made
a very small profit,
normally
around 5 percent and not
above 15 percent. Is this
the Sunnah
and if not, then what is the
Sunnah benchmark rate of
profit one should make? |
Answer:
We are not aware of
the Hadith referenced to by
the scholar mentioned in
your query.
Our findings indicate that
Shari'ah has not stipulated
a benchmark rate of profit.
If
both contracting parties
have agreed upon a
particular price, then there
will be no obstacle in the
path of concluding the
transaction between the
buyer and seller. However,
it is noteworthy that there
are numerous ahaadith that
consider profiteering as an
immoral practice.
Reference: Fataawa
Mahmoodiyyah Vol. 16,
Pg. 48 (Farooqiyyah)
And Allâh Ta’âla Knows Best.
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U P D A T E |
UJ
Beyers Naudé Memorial Lecture
The University of Johannesburg
invites you to the first UJ
Beyers Naudé memorial Lecture.
SPEAKER: Prof
Charles Villa-Vicencio (Previous
Director at the Institute for
Justice and Reconciliation);
DATE: Wednesday
18 June 2008;
TIME: 18:30 for
19:00;
VENUE:
University of Johannesburg,
School for Hospitality and
Tourism, Bunting Road, Auckland
Park (Close to SABC)
RSVP: Ingrid
Waldeck e-mail:
ingridw@uj.ac.za; Tel: 011 559
6933; By Friday, 13 June 2008.
Muslims who are interested
should contact Ingrid so that
arrangements for Halaal food can
be made. Light dinner will be
served after the lecture.
Ulwazi Empowers Women
The Johannesburg and Lenasia
branches of the Jamiatul Ulama
(Council of Muslim Theologians)
held the second graduation
ceremony for 14 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 ceremony which took place on
Thursday 29 May 2008 was a
culmination of a three-month
long sewing course that targets
ladies from informal settlements
surrounding the Lenasia area.
The Centre continues to explore
ways of expanding the range of
courses on offer with a computer
literacy programme to be
launched soon.
Youth Programme in Lenasia
Nurul Islam Masjid will host a
youth programme on Sunday 15
June 2008 from 10:00am until
Dhuhr. The programme will be
addressed by Moulana Ebrahim I
Bham, Moulana Sulaiman Moola and
a special guest, Brother Junaid
Jamshed from Pakistan. All
youths in Lenasia and
surrounding areas are encouraged
to attend. |
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Summarised Jumu’ah
Bayaan:
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Intentions and
Actions |
"Whosoever does
righteous deeds, male or
female, who have faith,
to such God will grant a
higher existence in the
hereafter that is good
and pure. They will be
rewarded according to
the best of their
actions."(Qur'aan 16:97)
It is narrated on the
authority of Amirul
Mu'minin, Abu Hafs 'Umar
bin al-Khattab,
Radhi-Allahu anhu, who
said: I heard the
Messenger of Allah,
Sallallahu 'alayhi
wasallam, say: "Actions
are (judged) by
intentions (niyyah), so
each man will have what
he intended. Thus, he
whose migration (hijrah)
was to Allah and His
Messenger, his migration
is to Allah and His
Messenger; but he whose
migration was for some
worldly thing he might
gain, or for a wife he
might marry, his
migration is to that for
which he migrated." (Al-Bukhari
& Muslim)
This is considered to be
one of the greatest
hadiths in Islam.
Al-Imam al-Shafie
Rahmatullah alayhi said:
"This hadith is one
third of the knowledge
of Islam...."
Every action that is
carried out will be
rewarded by the
intention behind the
action.
Allah Ta'ala rewards a
good deed motivated by a
good intention done for
the pleasure of Him
Alone. Good deeds, done
with an ulterior motive
are simply rejected by
Allah.
Hadith Qudsi: The first
of people against whom
judgment will be
pronounced on the Day of
Resurrection will be a
man who died a martyr.
He will be brought and
Allah will make known to
him His favours and he
will recognize them.
[The Almighty] will say:
And what did you do
about them? He will say:
I fought for you until I
died a martyr. He will
say: You have lied - you
did but fight that it
might be said [of you]:
He is courageous. And so
it was said. Then he
will be ordered to be
dragged along on his
face until he is cast
into Hell-fire…
An intention for a deed
is so important that a
person who has the
desire to do it, but the
circumstances
surrounding does not
make it possible to
carry out that action,
then to that person is a
reward for that action
even though he was
unable to perform such
an action.
Hadrat Jaabir
Radhi-Allahu anhu
narrates: “We
accompanied the
Messenger of Allah in an
expedition when he said,
‘There are some people
in Madina who are with
you in spirit wherever
you march and which ever
valley you cross. They
have not joined you in
person due to illness.’”
(Muslim)
The making of
intention in Islam is in
itself rewarding.
Hadith Qudsi: Allah has
written down the good
deeds and the bad ones.
Then He explained it [by
saying that] he who has
intended a good deed and
has not done it, Allah
writes it down with
Himself as a full good
deed, but if he has
intended it and has done
it, Allah writes it down
with Himself as from ten
good deeds to seven
hundred times, or many
times over. But if he
has intended a bad deed
and has not done it,
Allah writes it down
with Himself as a full
good deed, but if he has
intended it and has done
it, Allah writes it down
as one bad deed. (al-Bukhari
and Muslim).
Intention for a
good deed must be
complemented by action.
"Whosoever does
righteous deeds, male or
female, who have faith,
to such God will grant a
higher existence in the
hereafter that is good
and pure. They will be
rewarded according to
the best of their
actions."(Qur'aan 16:97)
Ways to obtain
ikhlaas:
Do righteous
deeds -
the more good deeds we
do the closer we get to
Allah, and the more
sincere we will be.
Before we do
any deed we should
firstly seek knowledge (ilm)
- our actions/deeds
should be guided by
knowledge so that we do
them in accordance with
the shariah.
Do not give
false impressions
- do not make others
believe that an action
we did was good when it
was not.
Imam Ahmad
said: “Before you do
anything, check your
intention (niyyah)
- ask yourself before
performing an action:
‘Is it for the sake of
Allah?’"
(Source:
http://islaminnewcastle.blogspot.com)
Ibn al-Qayyim says: “Any
action we do is subject
to three defects: a)
being conscious that
others are observing our
actions, b) seeking a
return (benefit/reward)
for the action, and c)
being satisfied with the
action.
The Prophet Sallallahu ‘alayhi
wasallam said, “He who
lets the people hear of
his good deeds
intentionally, to win
their praise, Allah will
let the people know his
real intention (on the
Day of Resurrection),
and he who does good
things in public to
show-off and win the
praise of the people,
Allah will disclose his
real intention (and
humiliate him). (al-Bukhari)
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Message from the Ameer of
the Jamiatul Ulama |
The Curse of
Interest
(The
Amir of the Jamiatul Ulama
South Africa is presently in
the Middle East for a
conference. Hereunder
follows a reproduction of a
previous Amir’s Message).
Many Muslims
believe that in the present
day and age the Muslims
cannot progress economically
without involving themselves
in interest. However, in the
eyes of the Shari‘ah, it is
a vile economic crime.
Even if we do not make any
material progress but manage
to fulfil our primary object
on earth, we are successful.
If we fail in our primary
objective we are dismal
failures even if we own the
world.
According to a hadith, riba
(interest) has seventy
categories, the lowest of
which is equal to having
committed incest with one's
mother" (Mishkaat) Hazrath
Jaabir Radhi-Allahu anhu
narrates that Rasulullah
Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa
sallam also said: "Allah
Ta'aala has cursed the one
who consumes interest, the
one who gives it, the one
who records the transaction
and the one who witnesses it
- and all are equal in the
sin" (Sahih Muslim).
When the prohibition of
interest was revealed, many
Sahaaba Radhi-Allahu anhum
were deep in debts which
they owed to the kuffaar.
There were those who had
stones tied to their bellies
due to hunger. Some Sahaaba
Radhi-Allahu anhum would
faint due to starvation.
Many could not afford even
two pieces of cloth to cover
their bodies. A Sahaabi
Radhi-Allahu anhu wished to
get married but did not have
anything to give even as the
mehr. Rasulullah Sallallaahu
‘alayhi wa sallam himself
had to keep his armour as
security, with a Jew, for a
debt to fulfil the needs of
his household. Yet in these
conditions transacting in
interest, whether taking or
giving, was forbidden.
In the light of the
prohibitions of the Qur'an
and Hadith, we should harbor
a deep aversion and hatred
for interest and all that is
associated with it. The very
thought of indulging in
interest should make us
shudder out of fear of
incurring Allah Ta'aala's
punishment.
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