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Weekly Comment |
Palestine: Seizing the Moment
The occupying power in Palestine
is adamant that the expansion of
settlements will not stop as the
country has to allow for the
natural increase in population.
Israel has for most of
the time been sponsoring
settlers from all over the world
in order to boost her population
which until now has yet to
surpass the occupied people of
Palestine. Settlements which are
mostly used by immigrants are
what have been termed ‘facts on
the ground.’ This has been a
deliberate policy which creates
artificial non-reversible
‘realities’ that precludes
possibilities of a Palestinian
state albeit of the ‘bantustan’
type.
More recently,
right-wingers have mooted an
idea of a mandatory loyalty
pledge of all citizens. The
target are the Israeli Arabs who
are seen as an inconvenient
reality that has to be
disenfranchised and even
stripped of citizenship.
One unintended consequence of
the two policies is that a
two-state solution (which
Benjamin Netanyahu has never
been in favour of for other
reasons) is increasingly
becoming not feasible. How will
a ‘viable Palestinian state’
exist in form of enclaves
connected by by-pass roads that
snake around settlements?
Furthermore, we cannot
forget the unalienable right of
return of millions of
Palestinian refugees in Lebanon,
Jordan and even those internally
displaced within the occupied
territories. They have a
legitimate claim to their
homeland which right-wing
Israelis want us to believe is
theirs exclusively.
Another ‘inconvenient truth’
(for Israel) is that there are
sections of her population who
for religious reasons, even if
they benefit from generous state
subsidies, ironically loath
Zionist ideas that founded the
state of Israel. Forcing them to
pledge loyalty will pit them
against the secular Zionists.
This is the dilemma of Israel’s
statehood.
Unfortunately,
as Palestinians try to reclaim
what is theirs, they turn
against each other in futile
internecine fights. We have seen
a relapse into this state of
affair with murderous
consequences in Qalqiliya.
We appeal to Palestinian
people not to let any forces to
divide them so as to give Israel
excuses for procrastinating a
final settlement.
School Governing Bodies
The Jamiatul Ulama appeals to
all parents with children in
state schools to take the
opportunity of participating in
School Governing Body
elections taking place in
schools at this time of the
year.
This is an
opportunity of making
contribution to the way schools
which our children attend are
run. |
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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 147.79 |
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Mahr Faatimi |
R 7,389.72 |
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Zakaat Nisaab |
R 2,955.89 |
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Words of Wisdom |
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Hadith of the Week |
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The Tongue |
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A man said, "Messenger of
Allah Salallahu alayhi
wasallam such and such a
woman has a reputation for
engaging to a great extent
in prayer, fasting and
almsgiving but she annoys
her neighbours with her
tongue." He replied, "She
will go to Hell." He said,
"Messenger of Allah
Salallahu alayhi wasallam,
such and such a woman has a
reputation for engaging to a
small extent in fasting,
almsgiving and prayer, but
she gives pieces of curd as
sadaqah and does not annoy
her neighbours with her
tongue." He replied, "She
will go to Paradise."
(Ahmad & Bayhaqi) |
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Quotation
of
the Week |
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The Sincere |
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“ “All humans are dead
except those who have
knowledge ... and all those
who have knowledge are
asleep, except those who do
good deeds ... and those who
do good deeds are deceived,
except those who are sincere
... and those who are
sincere are always in a
state of worry.”
(Imam Shafi' Rahmatullah ‘alayhi) |
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Point of Reflection |
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Choose or Change |
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Be slow in choosing a
friend, but slower in
changing him.
(Scottish Proverb) |
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Q and A |
Question
Is it
permissible to pray Janaazah
Salaah in a hall (not part
of musallah) which is next
to the musallah instead of
praying in the graveyard
which is at a distance, so
that the old and weak can
join in the Salaah? |
Answer
Janaazah salaah performed in
a hall would be valid.
However, if the old and weak
are taken by vehicles to the
graveyard and the salaah is
performed there, then they
would receive the reward of
performing Janaazah as well
as being part of the burial.
If they cannot manage it
then they will be excused.
By continuously
having the Janaazah salaah
far away from the graveyard,
a trend is likely to emerge
that many people will
eventually not attend the
burial, for which there is
great reward.
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U P D A T E |
Another Opportunity for
Earning Thawaab Jaariya
Alhamdulillah the budget for a
new musallah at OR Tambo
International Airport’s new
terminal was reached. The
Jamiatul Ulama would like to
thank all those who contributed
to this project which has
already started as reported in
the newsletter’s earlier
edition.
Meanwhile, an
appeal is hereby extended to all
Muslims to contribute to the
Jamiatul Ulama’s collaborative
initiative with Ikhwana Islamiya
in Soweto where an Islamic
centre is nearing completion.
The project, which is under
Siddiqi Trust shall comprise of
a mosque, imam’s house as well
as madrasah classrooms in
Orlando East, Soweto. This is
yet another opportunity for
earning thawaab jaariya.
Electronic fund transfer details
are as follows:
Name of
Account: Siddiqi Trust
Bank:
HBZ Bank Ltd
Branch:
Fordsburg
Code: 570105
Account No.: 11 901 121864
Via ABSA
Name of Account:
HBZ Bank Ltd
Branch Code:
632005
Account No.: 0101 323
1601
Ref: 21008105 (MUST
Quote. Very Important.)
Via Standard Bank
Name of
Account: HBZ Bank Ltd
Branch
Code: 00520508
Account No.:
002 502 410
Ref: 21008105
(MUST Quote. Very Important.)
Kindly fax deposit slip for
record purposes to: 011 373 8022
Leadership Workshop for
Ulama
The
Jamiatul Ulama and Pretorian
North Educational Institute in
Laudium, Pretoria hosted a
two-day leadership workshop for
ulama which was held at Darus
Salaam Centre in Laudium on
Saturday and Sunday (30 and 31
May 2009).
The
workshop’s facilitator was
Brother Mirza Yawar Baig, a
management consultant from
India.
Over 60
participants were drawn to the
programme from as far afield as
Durban. The focus of the
workshop was: understanding
leadership challenges;
collaboration and influencing;
negotiating skills, and conflict
resolution.
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Summarised Jumu’ah
Bayaan: |
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Forgiveness |
“Whether you (mankind)
disclose (by good words
of thanks) a good deed
(done to you in the
form of a favour by
someone), or conceal it,
or pardon an evil.
Verily, Allah is Ever
Oft-Pardoning,
All-Powerful.” (4:149)
• One of the
beautiful names of Allah
is that he is the Most
Forgiving - Al ‘Afuwwu.
He has taught us how to
us to be forgiving even
to those who have been
unjust unto us. This
characteristic is one of
the ingredients for
living in peace and
harmony and has been
mentioned approximately
35 times in the Noble
Qur’an.
• As
understood from the
above verse, Allah says
that the divine
forgiveness of Allah is
for those that forgive
their fellow brothers.
If Allah himself
overlooks our mistakes,
why then should we not
forgive each other?
• Allah, the
Almighty, forgives many
of our mistakes wherever
and however they may be,
“Whatever misfortune
happens to you, is
because on the things
your hands have wrought,
and for many (of them)
He grants forgiveness.”
(42:30)
• Allah
has taught his beloved
Nabi Muhammad sallallahu
alayhi wasallam to
forgive those who were
his enemies, so as to be
a good example for
others. In this regard
Allah says, “Hold to
forgiveness; command
what is right; But turn
away from the ignorant.”
(7:199)
• It is a
manifestation of the
mercy of Allaah upon his
slaves that He stretches
out His Hand during the
night so that those who
sin during the day may
repent and stretches His
Hand out during the day
in order for those who
sinned during the night
to repent. He forgives
all sins. People should
therefore not despair of
the mercy of their Lord
however great and many
their sins may be. Allah
says, “And who despairs
of the mercy of his Lord
except for those
astray?” (15: 56). At-Tirmidhi
and others reported on
the authority of Anas
ibn Maalik radhiyallahu
anhu who said, ‘I heard
the Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam saying: ‘Allah
says, ‘O son of Adam! As
long as you call unto me
and seek (forgiveness
from) me, I will forgive
you for all of the sins
that you may commit and
I do not care (how many
they amount to). O son
of Adam! If you come to
me with what is almost
as much as the earth (in
volume) in sins, but you
meet me without having
associated any partner
with Me in worship, I
will give you the same
amount of forgiveness.’
• Abu Daawood narrated
on the authority of Ibn
‘Umar radhiyallahu anhu
that he said, ‘We used
to count Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam in a single
sitting, saying, ‘O my
Lord, forgive me and
accept my repentance.
Indeed, You are the One
Who accepts repentance,
the Most-Merciful’
one-hundred times.’
• Making much
Istighfaar (seeking
forgiveness) also
removes sorrow and
distress, saves one from
awkward situations and
brings provision from
unexpected sources.
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasallam said,
‘Whoever makes
Istighfaar frequently,
Allah will provide a way
for him out of every
distress and provide for
him from sources he
could never expect.’
• Some ‘Ulama have
said, ‘The required
Istighfaar is the one
that prevents a person
from persistence in the
sin that he has
committed - and this
Istighfaar must be
rooted in the heart and
not be a mere utterance.
Whoever makes Istighfaar
with his tongue and is
still persistent in his
sins, then this
Istighfaar itself needs
a new Istighfaar (which
is sincere).’
•
Fellow Muslims! Fear
Allah and do not die
except in the state of
Islam. Remember that
nobody will leave this
world before seeing the
results of their good
and bad deeds. Actions
are judged according to
their ends. Endeavour
for your hereafter in
your days and nights.
Beware of postponing
repentance and good
deeds as death may come
to you suddenly. Do not
be deceived by the
forbearance of Allah,
for He only grants
people respite and He
does not forget.
Remember that Paradise
and Hell are as close to
you as your shoe-lace.
It is a sign of one’s
knowledge and true Imaan
to frequently make
Istighfaar and repent
from sins. That is from
the guidance of
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasallam -
despite the fact that
all his sins had been
forgiven for him. Abu
Hurayrah radhiyallahu
anhu said, ‘I have not
seen anyone seeking the
forgiveness of Allah
more frequently than
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasallam.’
• Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam also taught his
nation another form of
Istighfaar. He said,
‘The best form of
Istighfaar is to say: ‘O
Allah, You are my Lord,
none has the right to be
worshipped except You.
You created me and I am
Your servant. And I
abide by Your covenant
and promise as best I
can, I take refuge in
You from the evil of
which I have committed.
I acknowledge Your
favour upon me and I
acknowledge my sin, so
forgive me, for verily
none can forgive sin
except You.’ Whoever
says this in the day
with certainty and then
dies before nightfall
will be among the people
of Paradise and whoever
says it in the night and
dies before daybreak
will be among the people
of Paradise.’ (Bukhaari).
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Message from the Ameer of
the Jamiatul Ulama |
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Maintain the Focus |
Muslims in South Africa, and
around the world, face a
multitude of challenges – so
many, and often so intense,
that many feel vulnerable
and at risk regarding the
preservation and practice of
their deen.
The
social demographics within
which Muslims in South
Africa exist has been
altered immeasurably, the
political landscape has
undergone extreme changes,
economic developments have
created untold challenges
and innumerable tests and
trials face the Muslim Ummah.
In all, it is a
desperate situation that
requires urgent attention.
It is a state of affairs
that demands a calculated,
conscious and well-thought
out, carefully designed
plan. It requires
coordination and commitment
from the entire Muslim
community – to work together
in the face of the
threatening challenges that
we all face.
The
enemies of Islam have most
often used a common tactic
to destroy the Muslims – the
principle of divide and
rule. They pit one against
another and shift the focus
away from their sinister
designs against the Ummah.
With the difficult
times we face in the
onslaught of the numerous
enemies of Islam – the last
thing we need is the
existence of internal
diversions that could prove
fatal. When these
distractions within the
community degenerate to the
extent that they become a
divisionary factor it is
even worse, and when
honorable Ulama become
embroiled in such matters in
a manner where other
honorable Ulama are maligned
then it is indeed extremely
ominous.
This does,
however, not advocate the
view that there will be, or
even should be, total
agreement, in all matters of
the Ummah or leaders from
within the Ummah. The focus
on the bigger picture of the
desperate situation that the
Ummah finds itself in must
never be lost and differing
views must be engaged with
decorum, within appropriate
forums.
May Allah
guide us all, in all that we
do. Aameen.
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