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Weekly Comment |
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The
Invincibles
Ramadan is coming. A
time for saum,
additional salah and the
giving of zakah,
a time for worship and
prayer; a time for
charity, kindness and
goodness; a time when
shaytaan is locked away;
a time to turn to Allah.
For some: a time for the
master-blasters to
display their amps and
sounds; a time for
cruisin’ while taraweeh
is going on; and the
season for drag-racing
or dicing. Johannesburg,
Lenasia, Laudium and
most other towns have
set spots for the
gathering of the youth
(male and female) during
and after taraweeh;
areas where youth open
the trunks of their cars
and pump the music; and
specified streets where
they can test the
competence and flair of
their
‘done-up’ motor
vehicles.
A Community newspaper
recently ran a story on
a motor-car accident.
A young Muslim boy/man
was killed when he and
his friends were ‘dicing’(racing).
The newspaper published
various pictures of the
accident scene,
including a picture of
the deceased youngster’s
body covered with a
sheet, and his feet
exposed.
Many express emotions of
anger and disgust saying
that this is profane and
disrespectful; it is
crass and insensitive.
Why would a community
newspaper print
sensational and gory
details, which would
result in painful
experiences for the
families of those
involved?
Is ‘selling’ the
newspaper the ultimate
concern or priority … or
is there perhaps a
method in this madness?
Maybe, just maybe,
present-day
circumstances and
attitudes demand such
violent and gruesome
pictures be splashed
across the faces of not
only newspapers but
billboards and other
media. Maybe, this is
the only way to shock
the senses of the youth,
their parents and
families into realising
the dreadful and
horrific ends of such
senseless acts of
carelessness,
indifference and
ignorance.
Are we perhaps a
community in denial?
Have we slumped into a
culture of passing the
buck and shifting the
blame? Is it correct to
even suggest that these
youth were ‘dicing’
because there are no
alternative means of
entertainment or other
activities to get
involved in? Is it fair
to suggest that the
deceased persons’
friends are accountable
for encouraging the
drag-racing? Are parents
contributing to the
scourge by funding the
purchasing
and souping-up of these
‘cars’?
And is this attitude of
'burying our heads in
the sand’, pretending
that the problems either
do not exist or will
magically disappear;
prevalent in other
aspects of our lives? Is
this the reason why
drug-abuse, gang
warfare, and other such
evils become more and
more rampant in our
communities? … and will
our attitude of supposed
invincibility to AIDS
come back to haunt us,
or
is it already here and
we still pretend that we
are immune?
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Terrorism in Africa?
Southern Africa is being
touted as vulnerable and
hospitable to terrorism
and terrorist activity.
It is being labeled as a
breeding grounding or
nesting home for
terrorists. With 2010
approaching fast South
Africa is being called
upon to take urgent step
to prevent itself from
being used.
A conference entitled,
“Combating and
Preventing Terrorism in
Africa: Towards A
Terror-Free Africa:
Minimising Threats Posed
By The Global Surge
of Terrorism And
Terrorist Activities”,
is currently in progress
in South Africa. The
conference is supposedly
a meeting of experts
from around the world
and is aimed at
influencing decisions
and policy regarding
issues related to
terrorism.
A glance at the details
of the conference reveal
a design aimed at
exporting current
agendas of specific
countries to such
countries who have
remained objective and
fair in their assessment
of the current conflicts
that exist in
the world today.
The conference brochure
states;
“If change is to happen
within the African
continent, it is
important that all
decision-makers and
solution providers are
at this conference.
Don’t miss out on this
opportunity to have your
say and be part of the
decision making
process”.
“For what we have
already learned in
recent years is that the
noble idea of
globalisation has also
penetrated the
underworld of
terrorists. When they
attack a hotel in Asia,
an Embassy in Jordan, a
ship in Africa and
innocent children in
Jerusalem, they want us
to go on believing that
all of us everywhere,
that they are our
masters for we are their
targets. An ultimate
aberration of ideology
or religion, Terrorism
has always been
philosophically
indefensible, morally
repulsive and humanly
obscene – for it means
the brutal rule of the
few over the many”.
“Concern is at an all
time high over Africa as
the world’s latest
springboard
for terrorism. Africa is
vulnerable to the threat
of international
terrorism and important
in our efforts to
counter that menace”.
“How will Africa
maintain stability and
minimise the threat of
terrorist attacks, given
the challenges faced by
developing countries?”
Aspects that intend to
be covered include
topics such as:
Profiling New
Terrorist Recruit
Networks
Understanding The Role
Of Religious
Radicalisation In
Terrorism
Current and Future
Terrorist Trends In
Africa
Challenges To Security
In The 21st Century
Collaborative Counter
Terrorism Efforts In
Africa: Is This
Possible?
The African Union
Efforts In The
Prevention And Combating
Of Terrorism
No Longer Optional:
Terrorism and Africa’s
Significance To U.S
Security |
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Summarized Jumu’ah Bayaan: |
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Spiritual Nurturing
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• There was a
psychological, spiritual
and mental fitness
program that Muhammad (Sallallahu
‘Alaihi Wa Sallam) was
ordered to take, and the
same is recommended to
all of us, if we are
serious. Allah said to
him:
”O thou folded in
garments! Stand (to
prayer) by night, but
not all night,- Half of
it,- or a little less,
or a little more; and
recite the Qur’an in
slow, measured rhythmic
tones. Soon shall We
send down to thee a
weighty Message.” (Quran
73:1-5) |
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These verses were sent
down to our Noble
Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu
‘Alaihi Wa Sallam) at an
early stage of his
prophethood. The first
revelation was Iqra and
after that there was a
long pause which greatly
perplexed him. After
that, the revelations
started coming again and
among the early
revelations were Surah
Muddathir and Surah
Muzzammil. They starts
with Ya Ayyuhal
Muddathir/ Muzzammil,
which means one who is
wrapped, enfolded, or
wrapped up in something. |
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• Each individual should
be prepared to take on
the various duties that
comes with the terrain.
In these verses of the
Qur’an, Allah directed
Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu
‘Alaihi Wa Sallam) to do
what was required in
order to prepare himself
to carry out his task.
Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu
‘Alaihi Wa Sallam) spent
nights alone in the
cave, thinking,
meditating and trying to
get answers to certain
questions within himself
and to come to terms
with certain realities
in his mind. |
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• Qumi allayl means, go
stand up and to pray at
night. Salaat was not
ordained at the time of
this revelation. The
Quran is telling the
noble Prophet (Sallallahu
‘Alaihi Wa Sallam) that
night prayer is a very
important part of the
spiritual preparation. |
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• The point is to have a
sizable portion of one’s
night should be devoted
to a programme of
concentrated spiritual
development. Half, more
than half, slightly less
that does not really
matter. |
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• Tarteela? Our noble
Prophet (Sallallahu
‘Alaihi Wa Sallam) did a
good job reciting the
Quran in slow, measured
and a rhythmic tone.
What does it mean?
Tarteel means arrange
the pieces together in
an organised and
identifiable way. Give
due care to each word so
that you enjoy it and
understand it. So this
is how we were directed
to read the Quran. |
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• When we read the
Qur’an slowly, it gives
us a chance to read in a
rhythm, melody as well
as gives us enough time
to understand it. We
sometimes try to recite
Surah Fatiha so fast in
one breath without the
rhythm. |
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• Inna sanulqee Alayka
qawlan thaqeela (you are
about to carry a weighty
message). Some scholars
say, it is heavy because
it is loaded with
instructions, but the
best way to interpret is
“it is a serous
business.” It is not
something light, casual
or haphazard, it is
something very serious. |
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• One cannot
under-estimate the power
of spirituality in
da‘wah. Those who are
activists without
spiritual nurturing in
modern societies like
ours, will give up very
soon because there is
not enough fuel to keep
the fire burning on. We
need that spiritual
nurturing to put up the
weighty load that Allah
has ordered us to carry
on. |
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• People involved in
community and religious
work; who have having
little or no spiritual
nurturing tend to give
up very soon as there is
not enough “fuel” to
keep the fire burning
on. |
• Many people proclaim:
“I am going to change
the whole world!” and
they really mean it.
However, there must be
an individual spiritual
readiness and
preparation to do that.
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I N F
O R M A T I O N |
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Min. Mahr |
R101.98 |
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Mahr Faatimi |
R5098.79 |
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Zakaat Nisaab |
R2039.52 |
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Words of Wisdom |
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Hadith of the Week |
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Stealing from
Salaah |
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‘A’isha
Radhiallahu anhaa narrates
that she asked Allah's
Messenger Sallallaahu 'alaihi
wasallam about looking
hither and thither in
prayer. He (sallallaahu 'alaihi
wasallam) replied: "It is a
way of stealing by which
Satan takes away (a portion)
from the prayer of a
person."
(Sahih Al-Bukhari Vol.1,
No.718) |
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Quotation for the Week |
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Status of
the 'Famous' |
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“We should
think of those who were
famous for their good deeds
or their bad deeds; did
their fame raise them one
single degree in the sight
of Allah. Did it win them a
reward that they had not
already won
by their actions during
their
life?”
Ibn Hazm in his Kitab
Al-Akhlaq wa al-Siyar fi
Mudawat al-Nufus
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Proverb
of the Week |
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"No one
tests the depth of a river
with both feet."
(Ghana – West Africa) |
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Q and A |
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Q:
Is it acceptable to give a
person money for him to
perform his Hajj? Does he
have to accept this money
and if he does accept the
money, does hajj become
fardh on him? |
A: If a person has his own
money, then he should
perform Haj with it. If
however he is
poor and someone else
intends
to give him money for
performing the Haj then he
has a choice of accepting
it.
If he does not accept it
then he will not be a sinner
for not accepting it, and
Haj will then
not be compulsory upon him.
If however he accepts it,
then Haj will become
Fardh on him on condition
that there are no other
obstacles preventing him
from performing hajj.
Thereafter by performing the
Haj, it will be fulfilled
and he
will be absolved of the
obligation.
In conclusion it is
permissible to perform Haj
by the expenditure of
another person.
May Allah Ta’aala grant us
the correct understanding of
his
Deen and make everything
easy for us with safety.
Aameen.
And Allah Ta'aala knows
best. |
Q: If Talaaq was given
only twice and not three
times,
does the two Talaaqs that
was given stand, as is,
forever or does it fall away
after a
period of time? |
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A: If the couple reconciled
after the two Talaqs without
the wife having married
another man
then the two Talaqs are
still
valid and in future the
husband only has one Talaq
left to complete his quota
of three. If however the
wife had married another man
and if this
marriage ended through
divorce or the husband's
passing away, then when the
wife marries her first
husband again the two Talaqs
given by him in the first
marriage fall away owing to
her having married another
man in the interim. (Fataawa
Mahmudiyyah vol.10 p.442).
And Allah Ta'aala knows
best. |
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Advertise Here. We are Well Read! |
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U
P D A T E |
Radio Islam AGM: Report Back
Radio Islam recently
held it’s AGM at Masjid As-Saleheen,
in Lenasia.
The meeting was well-
attended and various reports
were presented. The
financial statements were
also made public and
unanimously adopted.
Community members made
valuable input with regard
to various aspects of the
Radio Station. |
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International
Symposium – Islamic
Civilisation in Southern
Africa
An
“International Symposium on
Islamic Civilisation in
Southern Africa” will be
held at the University of
Johannesburg and will take
place on the 1st to 3rd
September 2006.
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Message from the Ameer of
the Jamiatul Ulama |
The Worry
is One
Al-Hakim reports in al-Mustadrak,
"Allah will suffice for him,
who makes his worry in life
one; and he, who is branched
by worries, Allah will not
care in whichever valley of
life he perishes".
The meaning of this hadith
is that one should
concentrate one's worries
from beginning to end on
obeying Allah Subhanahu wa
ta`aala and preparing
oneself for his meeting with
Allah. This is the greatest
of all worries. For this
very reason messengers were
sent, and books were
revealed, and the trade of
Paradise and Hell was set,
and the Sirat (the bridge
over Hellfire) was laid
down, and the Scale was put
forth. He who Allah made to
see and awakened his heart,
gathers his concerns and
directs his thought towards
the meeting with his creator
and master. This matter is
enough to engage one and
exhaust all the rest.
Furthermore, one will not
find a man knowledgeable in
his religion, sound in his
mind except that he has
gathered his soul in this
very worry. He would not
work, stand nor sit down but
in awe of Allah. His senses
would be directed to serving
his Lord and his tongue
would only speak of His
praise, his heart would beat
with gratitude and his eyes
would show his deep love
with truthful tears.
As for he who channels his
worries in matters of the
world, do not ask about his
well-being, for he is
anxious, disturbed,
perplexed, sorrowful and
lost without any sort of
benefit. He is forever in
continuous sadness because
whoever falls in love with
life is killed, whoever
lusts for it will fall sick
and who serves it will end
up disappointed. |
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