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Weekly Comment |
Social
Contract: Time to Honour
Promises
As recent as end of last
month, the Johannesburg City
Council and the government were
challenging a High Court
decision which went against them
in the installation of
pre-payment water meters in
Phiri (Soweto).
The
residents of Phiri, mostly
classified as indigent, are by
and large pensioners, sickly and
aged. They featured in a
programme on one of the national
channels asking questions why
they had to be dragged all the
way to Bloemfontein just because
their government did not get its
way in limiting their water
supply.
Isn’t it odd that
the government should be seen
fighting court battles with its
own people?
Water as
a basic amenity is but just a
symbol of other things the
government committed itself to
provide the public especially
the vulnerable, historically
marginalised and destitute. It
is our belief that the African
National Congress, having
renewed its mandate, will make
it a priority to develop
capacity to deliver such
service.
Beyond the
casting of ballots, all citizens
have also the duty to engage the
government to deliver on its
promises. There are many ways
this can be done at local,
provincial and national levels.
Everyone within his/her capacity
should play a role.
Political leaders too should
make themselves accessible to
the people they govern. Citizens
like those of Phiri do not have
to meet only legal counsellors
of their government in courts.
We pray for the prosperity
of our nation and may the
Republic of South Africa rise to
her potential of greatness among
nations.
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C O N T E N T
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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
129.02 |
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Mahr Faatimi |
R
6,450.79 |
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Zakaat Nisaab |
R
2,580.32 |
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Words of Wisdom |
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Hadith of the Week |
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Virtues of a Hafiz |
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Abdullah Ibn-Umar
Radhi-Allahu angu reports
that the Prophet Sallallahu
‘alayhi wasallam said: "On
the Day of Judgement it will
be said to the Man of Qur'an
(that is, Qur'an memoriser)
'Go on reciting the Qur'an
and continue ascending the
storeys of Paradise and
recite as you had been
reciting in worldly life;
your final abode will be
where you reach at the time
of the last verse of your
recitation." (Ahmad) |
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Quotation
of
the Week |
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Speaking to Power |
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"You're not to be so blind
with patriotism that you
can't face reality. Wrong is
wrong, no matter who does it
or says it." (Malik
al Shabaaz – Malcolm X) |
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Point of Reflection |
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Advise |
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A word to the wise is
sufficient. (Arab
Saying) |
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Q and A |
QUESTION:
Can I give biscuits
and candy containing Haraam
ingredients to a non-Muslim?
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ANSWER:
It is not permissible to
give Haraam food to a
non-Muslim. In fact, the
Shari’ah has instructed us
that Haraam food cannot be
given to any creation, not
even to animals. One should
totally discard and dispose
of such items. If a Kaafir
(non-Muslim) eats Haraam on
his own account, obviously
we are not responsible for
that. However, we as Muslims
have been commanded not to
eat Haraam ourselves, nor
feed Haraam to any creation
(non-Muslim or even an
animal).
If you had
purchased the food then you
should return it to the
supplier and recover your
money. If the company does
not accept returns on goods
bought, then, if you are not
financially constrained, the
food items should be
disposed off and not sold or
given to any other creation.
If someone gave the items to
you as a gift, then too, you
should discard them and not
give them to anyone.
And Allah Ta'aala knows
best.
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Top> |
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Summarised Jumu’ah
Bayaan: |
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Jealousy |
“Or do they envy mankind
for what Allah has given
them of His bounty? But
we had already given the
people of Abraham the
Book and Wisdom, and
conferred upon them a
great kingdom.” (4:54)
• Jealousy is an
evil trait and spiritual
malady which many a
persons are afflicted
with. It is a desire to
have more and a longing
to possess that which
others have. Since it is
a consequence of being
dissatisfied with that
which Allah has blessed
one with, the victim
becomes prey to the
mischief of the devil.
• Allah has
distributed wealth,
property and power among
people of the world. The
granting and depriving
of these bounties are in
accordance with the
wisdom of Allah, but
more so it serves as a
test for some.
•
Allah informs us in the
Qur’an about the group
of hypocrites who
refused to join
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasalam on the
journey towards
Hudaibiyyah for Umrah.
They were denied a share
of the booty of Khaybar.
Their usual intention
for joining expeditions
was not based on
sincerity, rather they
were overpowered with
the desire for wealth.
As a result of their own
doings, they now accused
the believers of
jealousy, whereas they
themselves were the
jealous ones. Allah
says, “Those who lagged
behind will say, when
you set forth to take
the spoils, ‘Allow us to
follow you.’ They want
to change Allah’s Words.
Say: ‘You shall not
follow us; thus Allah
has said beforehand.’
Then they will say:
‘Nay, you envy us.’ Nay,
but they understand not
except a little.”
(48:15)
• Allah
has taught us to seek
his help and protection
from the mischief of
those who are jealous of
us. ‘Aisha radhiyallahu
anha narrated, ‘Whenever
Allah's Apostle became
sick, he would recite
Mu'awwidhat (Surat
Al-Falaq and Surat
An-Nas) and then blow
his breath over his
body. When he became
seriously ill, I used to
recite (these two Suras)
and rub his hands over
his body hoping for its
blessings. (Muslim). The
words of these chapters
clearly teach us to seek
protection from the evil
of those who are envious
and jealous. Allah says:
“Say: ‘I seek refuge
with (Allah), the Lord
of the daybreak. From
the evil of what He has
created. And from the
evil of the darkening
(night) as it comes with
its darkness; (or the
moon as it sets or goes
away). And from the evil
of those who practice
witchcraft when they
blow in the knots. And
from the evil of the
envier when he envies.”
(113:1-5)
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Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasalam has
defined two forms of
jealousy. The first is
in the correct direction
while the other is
incorrect. Ibn Masud
radhiyallahu anhu
narrated, ‘I heard
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasalam saying,
‘There is no envy except
in respect of two: a
person whom Allah has
given wealth and he
spends it in the right
way, and a person whom
Allah has given wisdom
(i.e. religious
knowledge) and he gives
his decisions
accordingly and teaches
it to the others.’
(Bukhari & Muslim)
• Jealousy, if not
contained and addressed
appropriately, can be
very harmful to a
person’s spirituality
and good deeds. It can
destroy all the
achievements of a person
over many years. Abu
Hurairah radhiyallahu
anhu narrated that
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasalam said:
‘Avoid envy, for envy
devours good deeds just
as fire devours fuel.’
(Abu Dawud)
•
Time and again we have
been warned and
cautioned to be watchful
against this ailment of
the heart. Anas bin
Malik radhiyallahu anhu
narrated that Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasalam said: ‘Do not
hate one another, and do
not be jealous of one
another, and do not
desert each other. Oh
servants of Allah! Be
brothers. Lo! It is not
permissible for any
Muslim to desert (not
talk to) his brother
(Muslim) for more than
three days.’ (Bukhari)
• The antidote to
jealousy is contentment
and satisfaction. This
leads to happiness and
peace of mind. In order
acquire contentment; one
should focus on those
less fortunate then
oneself in terms of
wealth and prosperity.
In this manner one will
appreciate Allah’s
favours. Abu Hurairah
radhiyallahu anhu
narrated that Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasalam said: ‘Wealth is
not due to plenty of
money, true wealth is
the wealth
(independence) of the
self (heart).’ (Bukhari
& Muslim)
•
Contentment is a
treasure that will never
be depleted, while one
who is jealous will
never succeed. ‘Amr bin
al-‘Aas reported
radhiyallahu anhu
narrated that Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasalam said: ‘He is
successful who has
accepted Islam, who has
been provided with
sufficient for his want
and been made contented
by Allah with what He
has given him.’ (Muslim)
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Message from the Ameer of
the Jamiatul Ulama |
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The Importance of
Self-Reflection |
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(This is a re-run of one
of the Ameer's previous
messages) |
Man is constantly
involved in various
activities.
Some of
the activities are focused
on earning of a livelihood
for the purpose of providing
for himself and his family;
some aimed at strengthening
the relationships that are
important to him as well as
fulfilling the rights of his
close and extended family,
and some activities that
center solely around
fulfilling the injunctions
of Allah.
Sometimes
man becomes so involved in
the activities that
preoccupy him that he loses
sight of what exactly he is
doing and why he is doing
it.
Sometime man
loses track of what needs to
be given priority in the
mountain of tasks he has to
complete.
It is
important to constantly and
consistently reflect upon
one’s actions and question
one’s own intentions.
Anything done only for
the pleasure of Allah will
ultimately bring real and
true blessing and reward.
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