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Weekly Comment |
‘Eid is No
Licence to Chill’
By the
time of publishing the next
edition of this newsletter, we
would have celebrated Eid.
Ramadan will be behind us. For
some of us it would already be
feeling like ‘something that
happened in the distant past.’
Should this be the case?
It is commonplace that the
first Esha of Shawwal is
witnessed by only few in a
masjid. One wonders, what
happened to all the training
that is Ramadan?
A Muslim
does not have look for a cause.
A Muslim’s cause is a noble one,
Divinely Ordained. Our role
should be to seek knowledge and
then practice upon it for the
“Sake of the Almighty.”
Sincerity of faith is the
realisation of a worshipper that
all is for the “Sake of the
Almighty.”
Ramadan has
seen us reaching out to family
and friends. Let’s maintain our
relations for the Sake of the
Almighty.
Ramadan has
seen us spend generously in the
Path of Allah. Let’s be regular
and continuous in our charitable
gestures for the Sake of the
Almighty.
Ramadan has
seen us frequenting the masjid
and being punctual for our
obligatory prayers. Let’s uphold
that spirit in our schedules for
the Sake of the Almighty.
It is not befitting of the
month of Ramadan to be
celebrated by acts that are
contradictory and violating the
spirit which the month is meant
to cultivate.
The
Messenger of Allah Sallallahu
alayhi wasallam taught us about
the virtues of the eve of Eid:
“Whoever stands up (in worship)
in the nights preceding the two
Eids (Fitr and Adha) expecting
rewards from his Lord, his heart
will not die when the other
hearts will die.” (Ibn Majah)
That should be our turning
point that will set apart this
Ramadan from any other in that
we shall not regress but
progress, albeit slowly but
steadily to that which lasts.
It is no use to live a
life that keeps chasing one
mirage after a charade, devoid
of spiritual growth. The spirit
of Ramadan matures with Eid and
does not end with it.
May Ramadan’s well-earned
rewards see us through to the
next one, insha-Allah. |
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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 144.24 |
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Mahr Faatimi |
R 7,212.07 |
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Zakaat Nisaab |
R 2,884.83 |
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Words of Wisdom |
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Hadith of the Week |
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Thoroughly Cleansed |
Abu Hurairah Radhi-Allahu
anhu narrates that Muhammad
Sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam
said: "Will there remain any
impurity on a person who
baths five times a day in a
river flowing in front of
his house?" The people said:
"No impurity will remain on
him." Muhammad Sallallahu ‘alayhi
wasallam said: "This is the
effect of the five Salaat.
By means of it, Allah
Ta'aala purifies the
performer of all sins."
(Bukhari, Muslim).
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Quotation
of
the Week |
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Sublime Quality |
“Sincerity is the most
sublime and respectable
thing in one’s deed.”
(Malik Deenar
Rahmatullahi ‘alayhi)
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Point of Reflection |
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Speak or Listen? |
“If I listen I have the
advantage, if I speak others
have it.” (Peruvian
Saying)
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Make your
Contribution to the Jamiatul
Ulama |
“The deeds most loved by
Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’aala
(are those) done regularly,
even if they are small.”
(Bukhari and Muslim)
Complete a
debit order and be
regular and continuous in
your small contributions...
Start before blessings of
Ramadan run out! |
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Q and A |
Question:
I
have been advised that it is
good to fast the first six
days of Shawwal. Is this
true and why is it
advisable, what is the
significance of the first
six days? Does the first six
days of Shawwal start after
Eid day?
My brother
who has passed away advised
me this, does it mean if I
fast he’ll also get reward
for this and every time I
tell someone will he also
get reward for it?
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Answer:
It is virtuous to fast for
six days during Shawwal.
However, it does not
necessarily have to be the
first six days. Sayyiduna
Abu Ayyoob R.A relates that
Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'alaihi
wasallam) has said "Whoever
fasted the full month of
Ramadan and then followed it
with six fasts of Shawwal is
like the person who has
fasted the whole year". For
more information you can
visit our website
http://www.islamsa.org.za/ramadan/Kitabus_saum_13.htm.
The following Hadith
appears in Riyaadhus
Saaliheen: Hazrat Abu
Mas'ood 'Uqbah ibn 'Amr
Ansari Al Badri relates that
Rasulullaah Sallallaahu 'alaihi
wasallam said "The
recompense of one who
directs somebody to do a
good deed will be equal to
the reward of the latter" (Sahih
Muslim). Therefore your
brother will, Insha Allah,
get the reward every time
you fast, and when someone
that you tell, fasts.
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U P D A T E |
Moonsighting: Start of Shawwal
1430
The
sighting of the crescent marking
the start of the month of
Shawwal (and also for the
determination of Eid day) shall
be on Saturday evening, 19
September 2009. We urge all
Muslims who are able to go out
and seek the moon from the
western horizon.
The
Central Hilaal Committee
requests all Muslims to listen
to the radio for the news of the
sighting. For those who will be
able to sight the crescent,
please phone the Jamiatul Ulama
offices on: 011 373 8000. In the
event of not sighting the
crescent, 1 Shawwal 1430 (Eid
day) shall be Monday 21
September 2009.
On behalf
of the Jamiatul Ulama, we wish
all Muslims the world over a
spiritual and joyous Eid-ul-Fitr
Mubarak. May the Almighty accept
and reward our acts of worship
in the ending holy month of
Ramadan.
“Who will make a Good Loan to
Allah?”
Imagine you come on the Day of
Judgment and you have
contributed among other things
towards: a child’s proper
recitation of the Qur’an;
reconciliation of disputing
Muslims; providing for the
community’s poor and vulnerable;
publishing of the
recommendations of Allah and His
Rasul Sallallahu alayhi wasallam,
and guiding others towards the
Path of the Almighty! You can be
rest assured that it will weigh
heavily in your favour on the
scale of deeds more than
expectations.
The
Jamiatul Ulama is your conduit
for acquiring such Favours of
Allah. “The deeds most loved by
Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’aala (are
those) done regularly, even if
they are small.” (Bukhari and
Muslim) We look forward to your
continued support and
contributions.
Please
make a commitment regardless of
the amount but regular by
completing a debit order and
submit it to the Jamiatul Ulama
via fax: 011 373 8022.
Orlando East Masjid Project
The Jamiatul Ulama is appealing
to all Muslims to contribute
towards the construction of an
Islamic centre in Soweto.
The project is the Jamiatul
Ulama’s collaborative initiative
with Ikhwana Islamiya in Soweto
where construction of the
purpose-built structure is
nearing completion.
The
project, which is under Siddiqi
Trust shall comprise of a masjid,
an imam's house as well as
madrasah classrooms in Orlando
East.
Donate generously
towards this project. A
Prophetic tradition according to
Bukhari and Muslim goes:
“Whosoever builds for Allah a
masjid, Allah will reward him
similar to it in paradise."
In another narration
according to Imam Ahmad,
“Whosoever shares in building a
masjid for Allah, even if it is
as small as a bird’s nest, Allah
will build for him a house in
Paradise.”
This is one
opportunity for earning thawâb
jâriya and a special statement
of support for the growing
Muslim community in Soweto.
Direct:
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
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Summarised Jumu’ah
Bayaan: |
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Farewell O
Ramadan! |
• When one ponders over
the history of nations,
one will realise that we
all are in the process
of constant change. This
is the course destined
by Allah and nothing can
change it - day turns
into night, night turns
into day, and night
turns back into day. The
cycle continues
uninterrupted.
•
Brothers in Islam! If an
honourable guest visits
you, showers you with
goodness and kindness -
which you reciprocate;
then the time for his
departure arrives, how
do you bid him farewell
and how do you feel?
What separation is then
greater and more
emotional than from the
beloved guest of the
Muslims, the blessed
month of Ramadan?
• Ramadan is the
month of righteousness
and generosity, the
month of forgiveness and
deliverance from
Jahannam. It is all but
gone now and nothing
remains of it but a few
moments. Yesterday, we
were congratulating each
other upon the arrival
of the month; today we
are consoling one
another over its
departure and invoking
Allah to accept all our
acts of worship.
• In this noble
month, many have carried
out good deeds while
others have done the
opposite. These are
going to testify for or
against us on the Day of
Reckoning. We do not
know whether we are
going to live to witness
this glorious month
again or not. Therefore,
the fortunate Muslim
during this month was
the one who was able to
perfect their acts of
worship with sincerity
and self-examination and
culminate it with
sincere repentance, for
acts are judged
according to their last
stages.
• Our
pious predecessors would
exert maximum effort in
perfecting their acts of
worship and while at the
same time they were very
concerned regarding its
acceptance or rejection.
‘Ali Ibn Abi Taalib
warned: ‘Have a greater
concern for the
acceptance of your deeds
than you do for the
amount of deeds you have
performed. Do not you
hear the saying of
Allah: “Indeed, Allah
accepts only from the
righteous.” (5:27)
Fudhaalah ibn ‘Ubayd
said, ‘To know that
Allah has accepted a
single act of
righteousness from me
would be dearer to me
than this world all that
it contains.’
•
When will one who has
not been forgiven in
this month ever be
forgiven? When will the
one whose supplication
is rejected in Lailatul
Qadr (the Night of
Power) ever have it
accepted? Ibn Rajab
narrated that ‘Ali bin
Abi Taalib used to
proclaim in the last
night of Ramadan: ‘How I
wish I knew those whose
acts of worship have
been accepted so that I
could congratulate them;
and how I wish I knew
those whose acts of
worship have been
rejected so that I could
sympathize with them!’
Whose loss is greater
than he who missed the
blessings of Ramadan?
When will the one who
did not reform himself
during the month of
Ramadan ever do so? When
will the one who was not
cured from the sickness
of ignorance and
heedlessness in this
month ever get cured?
• O you who have
committed great sins!
These few remaining
blessed moments are an
opportunity for you to
repent, for whoever is
librated from Jahannam
has indeed earned a
great reward. As for
you, who has been
liberated from Jahannam
by Allah; do not shackle
yourself in sins again.
Is it logical to be
moving closer to
Jahannam after Allah has
pardoned you from it?
Hasten therefore, dear
brothers to do more good
deeds, for some of us
may not live to see the
end of this year. Let
the negligent ones among
us seize the opportunity
of this outgoing month
in doing righteous deeds
before it is too late.
Let the heedless ones
wake up and remember the
terrible fate that
awaits them; let them
try to spend the rest of
their lives doing good
deeds.
• Fellow
Muslims! Let us look at
our present condition in
light of the effects
Ramadan had on us. Let
us compare our condition
at the start of Ramadan
to our condition now:
Was the advent of
Ramadan something that
made us become pious?
Did it reform our
actions and conduct? Did
it unify our ranks
against our enemies? Did
it remove the hatred and
rancour between us? Did
it eliminate the evil
deeds committed by our
communities?
•
Brothers in faith! Allah
has prescribed for you
at the end of Ramadan a
great deed with which
you can make amends for
your deficiencies within
that month. By doing
this, you can also gain
immense rewards; Allah
says: “He wants for you
to complete the period
and to magnify Allah for
that (to) which He has
guided you; and perhaps
you will be grateful.”
(2:185). Therefore,
Allah also prescribed
the Zakaatul-Fitr for
you as a sign of
gratitude to Him for
facilitating fasting and
night prayers for you,
to purify you from any
obscenity you may have
uttered and as a feeding
for the poor and the
needy in order to
promote the brotherhood
and unity among the
Muslims. The amount to
be given is one Saa’
(approximately 3 kg.) of
wheat, rice or any other
staple food of the land.
It is to be given by
every Muslim, be they
young, old, male or
female. It is best given
between the Fajr and ‘Eid
prayers (on the day of ‘Eid)
but there is no harm if
it is given a day of two
before ‘Eid. Also, it is
fine if the monetary
value of it be given to
the poor if the actual
food commodity is
difficult to discharge.
• Brothers in
Islam! Continue in your
good deeds even after
Ramadan. Be constant in
observing the five
obligatory prayers and
other acts of worship.
Know that, among the
signs of the acceptance
of a good deed is to
continue and be
steadfast in performing
that deed. Know also
that it is only the evil
people who know and
worship Allah in Ramadan
only.
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Message from the Ameer of
the Jamiatul Ulama |
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The month of Ramadan
is almost over... |
Within four to five days
will be Eid-ul-Fitr – an
occasion for us to celebrate
the conclusion of the month
of Ramadan; a day to
celebrate the successful
completion of the tasks
allocated for us for the
month of Ramadan; a day to
rejoice at the fact that we
used the month to the full;
a day to enjoy since we had
exerted ourselves in
fasting, salah and ibaadah
throughout the blessed
month; a day to delight in
the fact that we gave
charity and showed care for
those less privileged; a day
to party for we have soaked
up the Mercy of Allah,
obtained the forgiveness of
Allah and gained freedom
from the fire of Hell.
As the month approaches
its end we need to ask
whether we will be rightful
partners to the celebration
of the day of Eidul Fitr.
When the day of Eid dawns
upon us, will we have used
the opportunity of the month
of Ramadan to its fullest;
will we have made ibaadah,
istighfaar and du’aa; will
we have discharged our
charity and sadaqatul fitr,
will we have obtained the
forgiveness of Allah. May
Allah make us amongst those
worthy of truly celebrating
the day of Eid. Aameen.
The hadeeth of the
Prophet speaks about the
incident where the Prophet
ascended the pulpit and said
aameen three times upon
three steps of the pulpit.
When the companions enquired
from the Prophet about the
reason for this he informed
that the angel Jibra’eel
appeared on the command of
Allah and made three
statements that the Prophet
was instructed to say aameen
to. One of the three prayers
was as follows, “woe upon
that person who finds
himself in the month of
Ramadan, but still does not
manage to obtain the
forgiveness of Allah”. May
Allah save us from being
amongst such people. Aameen.
There is a short period
of time that remains for us
to avail ourselves of the
great opportunity of
Ramadan. Let us make full
use of the few days that
remain.
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