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Weekly Comment |
Elusive ‘Better Life for All’
After many years of
institutional exclusion, the
common man’s hope was that
post-1994, things would change.
Not a single person can deny the
fact that things have changed
for the better, overall. The
freedoms as well as the civil
liberties we enjoy are rare on
the continent known for strife
and totalitarian regimes.
However, it is also
well-acknowledged that our
country could do better. The
sweet dew of the boom of the
past decade has not trickled to
the poor and disadvantaged as
envisaged in the economic models
of our nation. With a chequered
record of government service
delivery, the realisation of a
vision of a “Better Life for
All” seems to have been
deferred. Our reality is that we
have exacerbating inequality in
the socio-economic arena. The
price of such inequality, of the
poverty amidst plenty, includes
the high levels of crime we are
grappling with.
With a background like ours, the
importance of service delivery
in directly addressing some of
the imbalances cannot be
overemphasised. Our concern,
however, emanates from the
political instability within the
ruling party African National
Congress (ANC). The ANC is a
dominant political movement that
should deliver the masses, and
hence the country to greater
heights. The promise of a New
South Africa will not be
fulfilled if the priorities for
“A Better Life for All” are
relegated on the agenda in the
apparent jostling for power.
The ANC owes it to the nation.
Don’t Deny the Humanity of
Others
(This letter to the The Star
appeared in the 22nd July
edition of the publication in
response to Avrom Krengel who
condemned a delegation that
visited Occupied Palestine
recently for their use of the
word ‘occupation’ with respect
to Apartheid Israel).
We refer to the article
"Exhibition honours Jews living
in South Africa" which appeared
on page 8 of the 15 July 2008
edition of The Star.
While honouring achievements of
humanity of South Africa Jewry,
SA Zionist Federation's Avrom
Krengel denies the humanity of
others: Palestinians. It is his
denial of Palestinian humanity
which prevents him from seeing
that the Jewish State is
established on occupied land.
Krengel's statements are
consistent with a typical
Zionist attitude which can be
traced back to people such as
Golda Meir who suggested that
‘there was no such a thing as a
Palestinian people.’
<The Complete Letter is here>
Gordon Brown in Israel
Bush and sundry have all made
their pilgrimages to Israel.
During the course of each of
their visits they, without need
for any prompting, duly pledged
their unwavering support to
Israel and added to this their
respective fears about Iran and
their plans to bring Iran down.
This week was Gordon Brown’s
chance to do the same. There was
no fear of him flailing or
failing in his duty and spirit.
He did not mince his words in a
strongly worded address to the
Israeli Knesset wherein he
promised to stand beside Israel
in its "fight for liberty". He
asserted his personal love for
Israel and made reference to his
fathers ‘lifelong affection’ for
Israel saying, "for the whole of
my life, I have counted myself
as a friend of Israel."
He open bias and naïve
understanding was apparent when
he made mention of Israel’s
right to exist stating, "to
those who question Israel's very
right to exist, and threaten the
lives of its citizens through
terror, we say: the people of
Israel have a right to live
here, to live freely and to live
in security". AS BBC reports he
added that Israel’s achievements
over the last 2,000 years, in
the face of war, terror,
violence, intimidation and
insecurity were "indeed truly
monumental" and Israel's
partnership was "strong and
getting stronger".
He pledged, "I promise that just
as we have led the work on three
mandatory sanctions resolutions
of the UN, the UK will continue
to lead, with the United States
and our European Union partners,
in our determination to prevent
an Iranian nuclear weapons
program". By calling the Iranian
programme a ‘nuclear weapons
programme’ he either showed his
ignorance, made and error based
on what is really in his mind,
or intentionally made the
statement as a confirmation of
what the he and the group he
belongs to wish to entrench in
the minds of people. He further
stated that Iran now faces "a
clear choice to make: suspend
its nuclear program and accept
our offer of negotiations or
face growing isolation and the
collective response not of one
nation but of many nations." His
strongly worded statement is
however dangerous - in its
timing and the audience it was
made to - since it could point
to an attitude of considering an
attack imminent while
negotiations are still being
engaged in, especially at the
present time.
Brown did make statements urging
Israel to halt its settlements
and work towards a lasting peace
also saying that Al-Quds should
become the capital for both the
Israeli and the Palestinian
States. Palestinians and Muslims
worldwide do not even pretend to
get excited about statements
from such leaders regarding
Israel’s settlements because the
actions of these countries and
their leaders show a complete
indifference towards the
settlements and the oppression
in Palestine. In addition, a
call for the halting of
settlements often implies
recognising current borders and
ownership of land. With regard
to his call for Al-Quds to
become a shared capital – it
illustrates simplistic attitude
that extends into a realm closer
to stupidity.
While threatening Iran, Brown
did not come close to even
making passing reference to
Israel’s nuclear arsenal and
commentators suggest that he,
like Bush and others, have never
discussed it negative terms and
they never will – just as they
fail to mention that Israel has
over 30 indisputable records of
openly breached UN resolutions. |
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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 164.56 |
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Mahr Faatimi |
R 8,228.06 |
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Zakaat Nisaab |
R 3,291.22 |
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Words of Wisdom |
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Hadith of the Week |
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Forgiveness |
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Narrated Abdullah ibn Umar
Radhi-Allahu anhu that the
Prophet Sallallahu ‘alayhi
wasallam said: “Allah, the
Lord of honour and glory,
will accept the repentance
of His servant till his
death-pangs begin.”
(Tirmidhi)
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Quotation for the Week |
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Balance |
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Do not eat and drink too
little to the extent that
you become weak and fall
ill. You should not eat and
drink too much to the
extent, you feel lazy in
carrying out the different
acts of Ibaadah. (Hazrat
Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi
Rahmatullahi Alayhi) |
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Point of Reflection |
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Reward for Perseverance |
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If you want to see a rainbow
you must first sit through
the rain. (Hungarian
Proverb) |
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Q and A |
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Question: I would
like to query whether hair
gel for men is haraam to
use? |
Answer:
There are two issues here.
On one hand we have to
establish the nature of the
contents/ingredients of the
gel and on another the usage
of the gel. As for the first
issue, if it contains any
haraam ingredient then it
would not be permissible to
use it. As for the second
matter, since it is used in
pursuit of fashion and often
as
a means of attracting
females, and consequently
one disregards the value of
'ibaadah (such as performing
Salaah, etc. without
a head-covering) with it,
scholars discourage the use
of gel.
And Allâh Ta’âla Knows Best.
<Go to
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U P D A T E |
Sheikh Salaah bin Muhammad Al-Budair
Visits the Jamiat
On Friday, 18 July 2008, the
Imam of the Masjid-un-Nabawi
Sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam,
Sheikh Salaah bin Muhammad
Al-Budair graced the offices of
the Jamiatul Ulama with a visit.
Apart from a number of pieces
of advice which he offered, he
highly commended the Muslims
of South Africa for the system
which they have put in place
concerning the sighting of the
crescent at the onset of every
Islamic month. He acknowledged
the fact that such a unified
arrangement is rarely found in
other parts of world, even
within the Islamic world
at times.
The Imam also stressed upon
the importance of adhering to
the authentic teachings of the
Qur’an and Sunnah in all
aspects of belief and practical
worship.
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Summarised Jumu’ah
Bayaan:
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Mi’raaj: The
Night Journey |
“Glorified be He
(Allah), who took His
slave (Muhammad
salallahu alayhi wasalam)
for a journey by night
from Masjid Al-Haram (in
Makkah) to the farthest
Masjid (in Jerusalem),
the precincts whereof we
have blessed: in order
that we might show him
(Muhammad salallahu
alayhi wasalam) of our
signs. Verily, He is the
All-Hearer, the
All-Seer.” (17:1)
• Al-Israa and Mi’raaj
are among the many signs
of Allah Ta’ala and the
miracles of Rasulullah
salallahu alayhi wasalam
which took place very
different from any other
natural occurrence in
the Universe. No person
before him ever
travelled within such a
short space of time
covering a vast distance
then moving on to the
seven heavens until a
point where Allah Ta’ala
desired to take him to.
• This miraculous
journey is primarily
referred to in two
distinct stages: Al
Israa’ - which was the
journey which began in
Masjid Al-Haram where
Rasulullah salallahu
alayhi wasalam embarked
upon the unique white
animal from Jannah
called ‘Al-Buraaq’ with
Jira’eel alayhis salaam
and they proceeded to
Masjid Al-Aqsa, whilst
passing through Madinah
Al-Munawwarah and Mount
Sinaa’. The second stage
in known as Mi’raaj,
which was the journey
from Masjid Al-Aqsa into
the heavens.
• The wisdom behind this
journey was establishing
the transitory nature of
this world with all its
beauties and amenities;
and consolidating the
everlasting trait of the
Life Hereafter.
• The object of this
journey was not merely
for Rasulullah salallahu
alayhi wasalam to be
taken on journey into
the Heavens simply to
witness the various
dimensions of Allah’s
creation therein; rather
it was to affirm his
superiority, leadership
role and virtue above
all the other Ambiyaa
alayhi mussalaam.
• Some of the lessons of
this event:
1. The Virtue of Salaah:
The importance of the
great gift of Salaah is
evident from the fact
that the Rasulullah
salallahu alayhi wasalam
was personally called to
the Heavens to receive
this injunction, while
other injunctions were
revealed via Jibraeel
alayhis salaam.
2. Zam Zam Water: Whilst
in Masjid Al-Haraam in
Makkah Al-Mukarramah,
the blessed chest of
Nabi salallahu alayhi
wassallam was opened,
his heart was removed
and washed with the
water of Zam Zam, and
thereafter it was
replaced to its original
condition. Its
excellence is evident in
that no other water was
used for this purpose.
3. The Harms of
disobedience: During
this journey Rasulullah
salallahu alayhi
wassallam was shown the
different punishments
meted out to those who
transgress the orders of
Allah Ta’ala. This
included, among others,
the punishment for those
who do not practice what
they preach, those who
slander, those who
consume interest, those
who indulge in
fornication and
adultery, those who
misappropriate trust,
those who do not fulfill
their Zakaah and also
those who are negligent
with their salaah.
• This journey also
served as a means of
encouragement and
uplifting the morale of
the Messenger of Allah
salallahu alayhi
wassallam, as it took
place at a time in his
life when he together
with his companions were
faced with a severe
onslaught against their
lives and faith, while
frustration and a sense
of loosing hope began to
surface.
• The historical
significance of Masjid
Al-Aqsa and its
precincts also was
enlightened during this
journey, as it was here
and no other place,
which had chosen for the
assembly of the entire
galaxy of Ambiyaa
alayhis salaam.
• Although the Shariah
has NOT specified any
form of worship or
commemoration of this
event, at this time of
the year, historically
Muslims recall the
lessons learnt from it
and encouragement is
given towards
inculcating the lessons
learnt from this
miraculous occurrence.
<Go to Top> |
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Message from the Ameer of
the Jamiatul Ulama |
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Hasad [jealousy] |
There is a common syndrome
called the ‘Keeping up with
the Joneses’ syndrome. It is
simply described as wanting
what others have. It
involves the process of a
person observing what others
in the community have,
feeling almost hurt that he
does not have the same,
experiencing hurtful
thoughts towards the one
that possesses these things,
wanting these things and
then desperately working
towards attaining these
items, no matter the cost.
At the heart of this
syndrome is the sickness of
hasad or jealousy.
Allah (subhanahu wa ta`aala
has warned against jealousy
and our Beloved Prophet has
repeatedly instructed that
we should abstain from it.
Allah says,
"Do they envy men for what
Allah has given them of His
Bounty?" [4:54]
"Allah favored some of you
over others with wealth and
properties… Do they deny the
favors of Allah?" [16: 71]
"Say: I seek refuge in the
Lord of the dawn… from the
evil of envious when he
envies." [113:1]
The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi
wa sallam) is reported to
have said:
"Beware of jealousy, for
verily it destroys good
deeds the way fire destroys
wood." [Abu Dawood]
Allah's Messenger (sallallahu
alaihi wa-sallam) was asked
who are the best of people?
He (sallallahu alaihi
wa-sallam) replied: "the one
with a clean heart and
truthful tongue." They
asked: 'We understand a
truthful tongue, but what
does a clean heart mean?' he
answered: 'It is the heart
of one that is pious, pure,
and is free of sin,
transgressions, hatred and
Hasad." [Ibn Majah]
At-Tirmidhee narrated from
al-Zubayr Ibn al-Awam that
the Prophet (sallallahu
alaihi wa-sallam) said:
"There has come to you the
disease of the nations
before you, jealousy and
hatred. This is the 'shaver'
(destroyer); I do not say
that it shaves hair, but
that it shaves (destroys)
faith…" [(Hasan) Jamee at-Tirmidhee]
May Allah (subhanahu wa
ta’aala) guide us to do
abstain from hasad, as
difficult as it may be.
Aameen.
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