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Weekly Comment |
Where do we draw the line?
Not long ago, when the wonderful
Timbuktu manuscripts first came
to town, we had to participate
in the launch of the exhibition
at a local bank’s corporate art
gallery. The manuscripts
constitute our own Islamic
heritage from the continent. So,
how could we be indifferent to
that?
After opening
presentations at the official
launch, patrons walked the
passages around the mounted
displays. Here were
extraordinary works on display:
collections of treatises on
mathematics, science, commerce,
art and technology. Then there
were also handwritten copies of
the Holy Qur’an in unique
Andalusian script and works on
Hadith sciences.
One
uncomfortable thing for a Muslim
however, was the sight of the
guests walking around,
marvelling at the artistry and
accomplishment in the pieces on
display while sipping beverage
cocktails.
Subhanallah!
How can they sip wine while in
front of an open copy of the
Qur’an? We wondered. Can’t they
show respect and sensitivity to
these age old relics of
venerable scholarship? Perhaps
we should have known better…
The modern world makes this
acceptable. It is a world where
the sacred is profaned, debased
and reduced to the ordinary.
With the lowest common multiple,
voila! We’ve got a common
denominator.
Where do we
draw the line?
Imagine a
family in a living room
‘checking out’ the honourable
companions (may the Almighty be
pleased with them) in a movie;
poking fun at their noble
personalities while sipping from
glasses of alcohol! After all,
‘It’s entertainment; just
another movie. No?’ May Allah
forbid.
The life story
of our Prophet Sallallahu
‘alayhi wasallam is a special
one. To make a movie out of it
conjures up emotions that are
varied and range from those of
indifference to absolute
outrage.
Apprehensions
abound. Does the movie industry
have the etiquette in conduct
and method befitting a
theatrical portrayal of the life
of the Prophet Sallallahu
‘alayhi wasallam? How far does
that portrayal under ‘dramatic
licence’ go in masking the
actual personalities and events?
What plays out after the
production?
Experience
would inform that a movie that
signals to Hollywood that
Muslims find a ‘prophetic
biopic,’ at worst benign, widens
the trapdoor to more hostile
productions. Hollywood’s
penchant of contempt for Islam
is well-documented.
When
something lands into this realm,
everything is fair game.
Analysts will ‘critique’ along a
thin line that runs between the
movie characters and the actual
personalities while actors will
parody them.
A whole new
chapter of trivialising
illustrious lives of our pious
predecessors would have been
opened. What will the temptation
to ‘give it a modern twist’
constitute?
Let’s think
of movie episodes that could
conveniently be interpreted out
of context (of both space and
time) just to fuel Islamophobic
narratives of those with a
creepy agenda against Islam and
Muslims.
Outlandish
suggestions such as representing
the Prophet Sallallahu ‘alayhi
wasallam with something like ‘a
stick’ as we might have read
elsewhere indicate that this is
not an easy subject and a
potential minefield that can
divide not only Muslims and
non-Muslim but also drive a
wedge between Muslims and
Muslims.
Do we still
feel ‘potential benefits’
outweigh harm? Let’s take stock.
We give due respect to
differences of opinion. We can
make as many movies as we can
afford. However, the world will
not change for the better, when
our actions and conduct belie
the true teachings of our
Prophet Sallallahu ‘alayhi
wasallam.
We must be on
our guard and make sober choices
to protect our faith. |
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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 151.26 |
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Mahr Faatimi |
R 7,563.09 |
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Zakaat Nisaab |
R 3,025.24 |
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Words of Wisdom |
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Hadith of the Week |
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The Double-Faced |
Abu Hurairah Radhi-Allahu
anhu said: “The Messenger of
Allah Sallallahu ‘alayhi
wasallam said, ‘People are
like ores. Those
who
were excellent in the Days
of Ignorance are excellent
in Islam provided they
acquire the knowledge and
understanding
of the
religion. You will find the
best people in it (Islam)
those who had a deep hatred
(for leadership). You will
find the worst among the
people a double-faced person
who appears to some people
with one face and to others
with another face.’''
(Al-Bukhari and
Muslim)
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Quotation
of
the Week |
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Humanity's Reality |
"Our abode in this world is
temporary, our life in it is
but a loan, our breaths are
numbered and our laziness is
clear."
(Abu
Bakr Siddiqi Radhi-
Allahu anhu)
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Point of Reflection |
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Exploitative Signs |
If you see a man in a gown
eating with a man in rags,
the food belongs to the
latter. (Fulani
Proverb)
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Q and A |
Question:
Please
enlighten me on the
conditions of a valid
Wasiyyah (Islamic bequest)?
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Answer:
There
are two main conditions
attached to a Wasiyyah or
bequest. The first one is
that the bequeathed item
cannot exceed one third of
the value of an estate, and
the second is that a bequest
can only be made in favour
of a non-heir.
For
further details regarding
the above, please consult a
knowledgeable person.
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U P D A T E |
Qurbani
Qurbâni arrangements have been
made by the Jamiatul Ulama.
Kindly forward your payments not
later than Wednesday, 25th
November 2009 to any of the
Jamiat Offices
OR Deposit
directly into our
Jamiatul
Ulama
Nedbank Fordsburg;
Account No: 1953 285 937
Please earmark your payment
“QURBANI 2009”
COST PER
SHARE: R950.00 (Local) R225.00
(India)
Jumuah at the New Airport
Musallah
Note
that the musallah at the airport
now has a Jumuah prayer session.
The time of the adhaan is 12h30
and khutbah starts at 12h50.
Location: International
Arrivals Terminal. Take
escalator down to Parkade 1,
Level 1. It will be on the right
hand side.
Jamiatul
Ulama Meets in Klerksdorp
The Jamiatul Ulama branch in
Klerksdorp played host to the
working committee’s meeting of
the Jamiatul Ulama on Saturday,
5 November 2009. Well over 50
Ulama from branches as well as
specialised arms of the Jamiatul
Ulama attended the meeting where
reports and projects were
discussed.
The meeting
which was held at Al Huda Muslim
school followed the Friday
evening programme when a masjid
community meeting was held with
presentations on the activities
of the Jamiatul Ulama.
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Summarised Jumu’ah
Bayaan: |
Dhu Al-Qa’dah Week Four:
Social Etiquette -
Maintaining Family Ties |
“And give to the
kinsman his due and to
the poor and to the
wayfarer.”(16:26)
• Abu Hurairah
radhiyallahu anhu
reports that a man came
to Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasallam and
said, ‘O Messenger of
Allah! I have relatives
with whom I join ties of
relationship but who
sever relations with me;
with whom I treat kindly
but who treat me badly;
with whom I am gentle
and forbearing but who
treat me roughly?’
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasallam replied,
‘If it is as you said,
it is as if though you
are throwing hot ashes
at them, and you will
always have a supporter
against them from Allah
as long as you behave
so.’
• Abdur
Rahman bin Auf
radhiyallahu anhu says
that he heard Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam saying, ‘Allah,
the Great and Glorious,
has said: I am Ar-Rahman
(the Compasionate One)
and I created rahim
(ties of relationship).
I derived a name for
this from my name. I
shall have connection
with him who maintains
them, but I shall cut
off from the one severs
them (deprive him of my
mercy).’
• Anas
bin Malik radhiyallahu
anhu reports that
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasallam said,
‘He who wishes to have
his provisions increased
and have his foot prints
last longer (have his
life prolonged) should
unite ties of
relationship.’
•
Ibn Umar radhiyallahu
anhu said, ‘He who fears
Allah and joins ties of
relationship, has his
term of life prolonged,
his property increased
and his family men love
him.’
• Ibn Umar
radhiyallahu anhu said,
‘Allah rewards a man for
what he spends on
himself and on his
family, expecting
thereby to be rewarded
by Allah; and while
giving begin with those
for whom you are
responsible (regarding
their livelihood). Then
if something remains,
spend it on your nearest
relatives in order of
relationship and even
then, if anything
remains, present it to
those whom you like
most.’
• Abdullah
bin Abu Awfa
radhiyallahu anhu
reports that Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam said, ‘Mercy
will not descend on
people among whom there
is one who severs ties
of relationship.’
• Jubair bin Mutim
radhiyallahu anhu
reports that he heard
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasallam saying,
‘One who severs ties of
relationship will not
enter Jannah.’
•
Abu Bakra radhiyallahu
anhu reports Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam as saying, ‘No
sin of Man is more
fitted to be punished by
Allah in advance in this
world along with what is
in store for him in the
Hereafter, more than
oppression and severing
ties of relationship.’
• Jubair bin
Mutim radhiyallahu anhu
says that he heard Umar
bin al Khattaab
radhiyallahu anhu saying
from the pulpit, ‘Learn
your genealogies, then
join ties of
relationship. By Allah!
Sometimes there is
something (ill will)
between a man and his
brother Muslim, but if
he knew that there is a
very close tie of
relationship between
them it would prevent
him from violating the
sanctity of
relationship.’
•
Abdullah bin Amr
radhiyallahu anhu
reports that Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam said, ‘The one
who takes revenge from
others (for a wrong done
to him) is not the one
joins ties of
relationship, but he is
the one who joins his
ties of relationship
when they are severed.’
• Kulayb bin Manfa‘a
radhiyallahu anhu says
that his grandfather
said to Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam, ‘O Messenger
of Allah, who should I
treat kindly?’
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasallam replied,
‘Treat your mother
kindly, and your father,
and your sister, and
your brother, and then
your relative who comes
next after him. This is
incumbent upon you as a
matter of right and it
is a tie which ought to
be joined.’
(Adabul Mufrad -
Bukhari)
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Message from the Ameer of
the Jamiatul Ulama |
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Qurbani |
Eidul Adha is getting
closer. The act of Udhiyyah,
Qurbani, or sacrifice is an
essential part of Eidul
Adha. It is an embodiment of
the spirit of commemorating
the life and sacrifices of
Ibrahim (`alayhis salam). It
is an act of great
significance and virtue.
This is also the period
when we are inundated with a
flood and deluge of Qurbani
pamphlets presenting the
individual with the
opportunity of having
his/her Udhiyyah performed
in another land, especially
in such lands where there is
poverty and a need for food.
In such a situation where we
are committing ourselves
regarding our Udhiyyah, it
is important to reflect on
various issues relating to
Udhiyyah.
Udhiyyah is
compulsory upon those who
possess the amount of money
equal to, or in excess of
the nisaab of zakah, on any
of the three days on which
the sacrifice can be
offered.
It is
important to note that the
duty of fulfilling the
Udhiyyah is upon the
shoulders of the person whom
the Udhiyyah is obligatory.
Asking someone to conclude
the Udhiyyah on one’s behalf
is permissible and
acceptable, but the
obligation does not pass on
to the requested person. If
he does not execute the
responsibility, the Udhiyyah
still remains as unfulfilled
on the part of the person
who’s Udhiyyah it was in the
first place.
This is
especially important in
light of the many operators,
groups or organisations who
have advertised their
Udhiyyah/Qurbani
operations/programs. People
must ensure that they are
sure that the person or
organization that they are
entrusting to carry out the
Udhiyyah/Qurbani, are people
that they can rely on to do
exactly what was promised.
If the entrusted
person/organisation does not
accomplish the
Udhiyyah/Qurbani according
to established rules, then
they will be held
accountable for their
negligence or wrongdoing,
but the duty of engaging in
Qurbani will not be
discharged from the person
upon whom the
Udhiyyah/Qurbani was
obligatory. So, people
should be especially careful
in this regard.
The
spirit of Udhiyyah is also
such that, even though it is
permissible to have ones
Qurbani done, on one’s
behalf, in an area away from
home, it should not become
the norm. The spirit of
Udhiyyah is such that
Qurbani should still be done
with one’s hand and that the
children and women should be
made to witness and
participate in this great
act of ibaadah.
May
Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’aala
grant us the opportunity to
fulfil this important
ibaadah, in the manner and
spirit that is required and
advised. Aameen.
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