|
|
|
Weekly Comment |
G8: Lofty Ideals, No Action
The agenda of
the G8 in Hokkaido, Japan is a
heavy one: global poverty,
climate change and a global food
crisis. What can the world
expect from the G8 leaders?
Those of us from the developing
world shouldn’t be expecting
much really. To begin with, the
G8 is an unofficial forum which
doesn’t even have a secretariat.
The commitments of leaders
mostly made behind closed doors
are yet to be realised: after
Gleneagles where activists
pleaded with that club of ‘the
powerful’ to “Make Poverty
History” and the leaders made
major pledges in response, how
far have we gone to realise “Millenium
Development Goals”?
Peculiar Advocates of Shariah
Last week,
the British Chief Justice Lord
Phillips joined the ranks of the
Archbishop of Canterbury Dr
Rowan Williams, among others, in
calling for the use of Shariah
in the UK. Khalid Baig had in
April 2008 written an analysis
of the trend. Here blow is an
extract of his observations:
… What all this boils down to is
that their support for the
Shariah is actually aimed at
undermining it without appearing
to be doing so. It is difficult
to get enthusiastic about such
support.
It was this Shariah that gave
Jews, Christians, and other
non-Muslims living in the
Islamic state freedom to be
governed by their own religious
laws as interpreted by their
religious authorities in all
personal matters. It did so as a
matter of principle. It has done
so since the seventh century.
Fast forward to the twenty-first
century and contrast this with
the current suggestion that a
fraction of those freedoms be
allowed Muslims in the West. The
proposal was laced with
questionable intents and even
then met with open hostility.
To both Williams and Feldman we
say that we appreciate that you
have shown some realization that
the Shariah has been maligned to
the max by a vicious media in
the West. The honourable thing
would then be to openly
recognize this fact and
sincerely try to make up for the
damage done. But this cannot
happen unless you recognize
freedom of religion the way
Islam did. As a matter of
principle—not policy.
Read the full story here: <http://www.albalagh.net/current_affairs/0096.shtml> |
|
|
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 159.35 |
|
Mahr Faatimi |
R 7,967.59 |
|
Zakaat Nisaab |
R 3,187.04 |
|
Words of Wisdom |
|
Hadith of the Week |
|
A True Muslim |
|
Narrated Abu Hurayrah
Radhi-Allahu anhu that
Allah’s Messenger Sallallahu
‘alayhi wasallam said: “A
Muslim is one from whose
tongue and hand the Muslims
are safe and a believer is
one in whom people place
their trust in regard to
their life and wealth.”
(Tirmidhi and Nasa'i)
|
|
|
Quotation for the Week |
|
No Faith Nothing Left |
|
“ If faith is lost, there is
no security and there is no
life for him who does not
adhere to religion.”
(Allama Muhammad Iqbal)
|
|
|
Point of Reflection |
|
Know Your Limits |
|
Only stretch as far as your
blanket reaches.
(Hungarian Saying)
|
|
|
|
Q and A |
Question: Is it allowed to
make more than one intention
for a single form of worship
and will then both
intentions be fulfilled
under following instances,
for example?
1) When praying for example
the 4 rakat Sunnah of Zuhr
making the intention for the
Sunnah and together for a
missed Qadha salat. Will
then both intentions be
fulfilled i.e. the Sunnah of
Zuhr and also a Qadha salat
is offered with a single
salah?
2) When in the Mosque for
example making a intention
for the Sunnah of Zuhr and
also the Tahiyyaat al Masjid
prayer. Will then both i.e.
the Sunnah of Zuhr and
Tahiyyaat al Masjid be
fulfilled with one single
prayer?
3) When one have 6 missed
Sawm days, if one offers it
in Shawwaal with both
intention for Qadha and
Shawwaal, will one gain the
reward for Shawwaal as well
as that his 6 days Qadha are
paid back?
|
Answer:
1. In this instance the
Salaah will be considered
for the Qadhaa and not the 4
Sunnats of Zuhr.
2. In this instance the
Salaah will be considered
for both the Sunnats of Zuhr
as well as the Tahiyyatul
Masjid.
3. In this instance the fast
will be considered for the
Qadhaa and not the six Nafl
fasts of Shawwaal. It is
therefore, clear that one
will not reap the rewards of
the six days of Shawwaal
fasts by keeping them
together with the Qadhaa
fasts of Ramadhaan.
[Shaami Vol. 2 Pg. 153-6 -
Rasheediyyah edtion, Ashbaah
Vol. 1 Pg. 64-67 of Ibn
Nujaim - Idaaratul Qur-aan
edition, Ahsanul Fataawaa
Vol. 4 Pg. 440, Aap Ke
Masaail Vol. 3 Pg. 81, 326,
339]
<Go to
Top> |
|
U P D A T E |
Southern Africa Ulama Conference
Meeting in Lusaka
Over 100 Ulama from nine
countries in the Southern Africa
region met in Lusaka, Zambia
under the Southern Africa Ulama
Conference (SAUC) from 5th July
to 7th July 2008.
Ulama adopted a number of
resolutions on Ma’kulaat; Youth;
HIV/AIDS, and Hilaal.
An interim constitution
providing for subcommittees
dealing with the four mentioned
areas were was adopted.
The Ulama also adopted a
resolution to write a letter to
the United Nations on the crisis
faced by Palestinians,
specifically in Gaza.
Other resolutions pertaining to
Taalim, Media, Social and
Welfare were also deliberated
and passed.
The next conference to be held
in 2010 will be hosted by the
Ulama of Malawi, insha-Allah.
Taalimi Board Workshops
Alhamdulillah, a three man
delegation from the Taalimi
Board has recently returned from
a two-week trip to the Caribbean
Islands of Trinidad and Tobago,
and Barbados.
The trip was part of the
on-going effort to assist
organisations and communities in
other countries who have adopted
the board’s curriculum in their
established madaaris for the
education of Muslim children.
The countries face a lot of
challenges but the enthusiasm
expressed showed the
determination to raise the
standards of Islamic education.
They have identified the South
Africa model as a suitable one
for their countries which are
also English speaking.
Meanwhile, another team of three
Ulama are visiting Zambia to
conduct imtihaan (examinations)
at some of the institutes
affiliated to the Jamiatul Ulama
Taalimi Board. |
|
Summarised Jumu’ah
Bayaan:
|
|
Parents: The
Cradle of Existence
|
“And your Lord has
decreed that you worship
none but Him. And that
you are dutiful to your
parents. If one of them
or both of them attain
old age in your life,
say not to them a word
of disrespect, nor shout
at them - but address
them in words of
honour.” (17: 23)
• Imam Qurtubi says that
in the aforementioned
verse Allah has made it
incumbent to respect and
treat parents well, by
combining it with the
command to worship Him.
This is similar to what
has been mentioned in
Surah Luqman, where the
inevitable need to thank
Him has been combined
with the need to thank
ones parents. “Be
grateful to and ones
parent.” (31:14)
• Muslims scholars have
unanimously made mention
that obedience to
parents is waajib
(compulsory) only in
those aspects which are
permissible.
• Baihaqi has reported
on the authority of
Abdullah bin Abbas
radhiyallahu anhu that
Rasulullah salallahu
alayhi wasalam had said,
‘An obedient son who
looks at his parents
with the gaze of mercy
and affection receives
the reward of one
accepted Hajj for every
such glance.’ People
around him remarked,
‘What if he looks at
them like that a hundred
times during the day?’
He said, ‘Yes, a hundred
times too (he will keep
on receiving that
reward). Allah is great
(His treasures never run
short).’ The importance
of obedience to parents
cannot be over
emphasized. If a simple
gaze of love and
affection brings such
great reward, one could
imagine the reward of
true obedience and
servitude.
• Ibn Majah reports on
the authority of Abu
Umamah radhiyallahu anhu
that a person once asked
Rasulullah salallahu
alayhi wasalam, ‘What
rights do parents have
over their children?’
The reply was, ‘They are
either your Paradise or
your Hell’. Meaning that
obedience and serving of
ones parents will ensure
entry into Jannah, while
their disobedience and
displeasure will cause
one to be flung into
Jahannum.
• Ulama have mentioned
that the harms of
disobedience towards
ones parents are
experienced almost with
immediate effect.
Baihaqi has cited a
narration on the
authority of Abu Bakr
radhiyallahu anhu that
Rasulullah salallahu
alayhi wasalam said,
‘Allah defers (the
punishment) of all sins
- whichever He wills -
up to the Last Day of
Qiyamah; except the sin
of depriving ones
parents of their rights
and disobeying them. The
punishment for that is
given here in this
world.’
• Obedience to parents
it is not restricted to
any specific time or
age. It is necessary to
treat them courteously
under all conditions, in
every circumstance and
at every age. But, there
are circumstances that
usually impede the
fulfillment of what is
necessary and
obligatory. Under these
circumstances, the
typical response pattern
of the Noble Qur’an
suggests ways and means
through which, acting
according to given
injunctions becomes
easy. With this
objective, it grooms and
trains minds through
different angles and, at
the same time, it
continues to emphasize
that compliance to these
injunctions is
imperative, despite such
circumstances.
• During their old age,
when parents become
dependent on their
children for every need,
their life is at the
mercy of others and a
fairly difficult phase.
The slightest
indifference shown
towards them by children
at such a time could
cause severe damage.
Then, there are those
physical infirmities and
diseases associated with
old age which make one
naturally
irritation-prone.
Furthermore, during the
period of extreme old
age, when usual reason
and comprehension do not
seem to be working, some
of their wishes and
demands assume the kind
of proportions which
children find difficult
to take care of. The
Noble Qur’an takes
cognizance of these
circumstances, but,
while giving children
the instruction to
comfort them, it reminds
them of their own
childhood. It tells them
that there was a time
when they too were far
more helpless, far too
dependent on their
parents, however they
relentlessly took care
of them. As Allah
commands us in the Noble
Qur’an, “And lower unto
them the wing of
submission and humility
through mercy, and say:
‘My Lord! Bestow on them
Your mercy as they did
bring me up when I was
small.” (17:24)
<Go to Top> |
|
Message from the Ameer of
the Jamiatul Ulama |
|
Global
Challenges, Regional Initiatives |
It is of paramount
importance for those who
represent the heritage of
Nubuwwah and are the
leadership of this Ummah,
that they are united and
undivided in the common goal
of uplifting the Deen of
Islam and the ‘Word of
Allah’.
Human nature demands that
differences will and should
occur, however, a difference
in approach and opinion on
minor issues must be
tolerated, understood and
overlooked. In no way must
the achievement of a greater
good be overshadowed,
thereby causing the progress
of Islam to stagnate.
The recently concluded
biennial Southern Africa
Ulama Conference has
demonstrated once more that
Ulama can get together and
cooperate on matters of
common ground and forge
ahead, living up to the
great responsibilities Ulama
have towards the society.
We remain committed to the
spiritual growth and social
development of the Muslim
community in this part of
the continent as an integral
part of a Global Ummah that
is facing a myriad of
challenges. Our local or
regional solutions to these
challenges will help us
respond on the global stage,
insha-Allah.
May Allah afford one and
all, especially the Ulama,
the courage and strength for
supporting each other
against the onslaught of
Islam from every front.
<Go to
Top> |
|
|
|