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Weekly Comment |
Incitement to Rebellion or
something like it?
What would be
the case of a person who makes
public pronouncements that
suggest that the President of a
country is not observing or
abiding by the law of the
country and that the President
is not acting in the best
interests of the country or its
citizens? Regardless of whether
the President is guilty of such
charges, would it be acceptable
for a person to make such claims
in public gatherings when these
accusations were not tested or
proven in a court of law? What
would be the position of a
person who defies the law by
publicly burning the picture of
a President?
If comments, claims and
accusations such as those
mentioned above were being made
in the context of the defence of
a senior politician, surely he
should distance himself from
them. Could the absence of his
censure be considered to be
tacit approval?
The President of the ANC Youth
League, Julius Malema stated
this week, “"We're convinced
that this conspiracy is being
led by the (state) president
against our president”. He
further stated that, "Before you
go to him you must kill the
youth of this country … We're
prepared to die for Zuma”. At
Tuesday’s rally a young person
dared to torch a photo of
President Mbeki.
The issue being raised here is
not that of whether Mbeki is in
the right or wrong; it is not a
question whether there is a
conspiracy against Zuma or not.
It is simply an issue of what is
right and what is wrong.
The question of what falls
within the ambit of treason,
sedition and incitement to
rebellion needs to be asked and
actions need to be examined
within the contexts of these and
other similar crimes.
The Circus of the Five Rings
After Athens, world top athletes
who have been training for the
past 4 years will be vying for
honours in Beijing from Friday
the 8th.
The road to the Chinese capital
has been an eventful one. The
host country has had a fair
share of natural disasters such
as quakes and floods that have
beset parts of the country
especially this year. Issues
ranging from the relay path of
the Olympic torch, to the usual
Chinese political hot potatoes
of Tibet and human rights for
dissidents and the Uighur
Muslims of Xinjiang province
also kept coming.
In spite of the condemnation of
violence by Rebiya Kadeer, the
exiled Uighur leader,
authorities in China are said to
have cracked down on the Uighur
accusing them of a plot
targeting the Olympic Games.
They have installed checkpoints,
and heightened surveillance in
Xinjiang. Sadly, these are the
sort of conditions the Uighur
have become accustomed to in
their semi-autonomous but
troubled province.
Soon, focus will shift towards
the scoreboard where medal
tables will be updated. As the
tallying is underway, let us not
be fixated by such feats which
will have to be ‘revised’ after
discovery of cheats. In fact,
what’s the value of spectator
sport when links to ‘fixing’ by
the gambling underworld and
doping are becoming commonplace?
What is the value of the Games
to a believer when one considers
that the origins of the Olympics
are rooted in Greek mythology
that borders on idolatry?
Furthermore, the modern Olympics
often spawn controversy. Members
of the IOC (International
Olympic Committee) have from
time to time been shamed by
revelations of sleaze and
corruption. The awarding of
hosting rights to cities too
generates its own intrigue. So,
what’s the real value of the
unsporting Olympics?
The limelight on China should
not end at the final medal
table. It should continue all
the time as that giant economy
has the potential to even the
balance of power in world
politics. China too should be
made to account for her human
rights record so that she earns
a moral standing among nations
as a worthy superpower. |
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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 146.27 |
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Mahr Faatimi |
R 7,313.40 |
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Zakaat Nisaab |
R 2,925.36 |
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Words of Wisdom |
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Hadith of the Week |
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Undesirables |
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Narrated Qatadah ibn Malik
Radhi-Allahu anhu that Zayd
ibn Ilaqah relates on the
authority of his uncle,
Qatadah ibn Malik, that the
Prophet Sallallahu ‘alayhi
wasallam would supplicate:
“Allah, I seek Thy
protection against
undesirable manners, acts
and desires.” (Tirmidhi)
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Quotation for the Week |
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Strike While it's Hot |
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While you are young do the
work of this world and
Hereafter. (Luqmaan
Alayhis Salaam) |
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Point of Reflection |
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Virtuous Cycle |
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Expect good if you do good.
(Hungarian Proverb) |
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Q and A |
Question: I have a
question
with respect to SMS - this
is where a number is
advertised for a competition
but there is
a cost associated with
sending the SMS - sometime
standard R0.80 whilst in
other
instances it is premium
rated -R1 to R30. Are we
allowed to enter such
competitions? |
Answer: The scenario
mentioned by you where the
SMS charge is not restricted
to the standard network
charge, but an extra amount
is added on (which goes into
the coffers of the company),
then this extra amount would
be assumed to be an entrance
fee for the competition,
hence rendering such a
competition as impermissible
in the sight of Shari’ah.
The competition could be
adjusted to become
permissible in the following
manner: If apart from the
standard SMS network charge
one is not required to
pay any further fee for
entering the competition,
then such a competition will
be permissible
in terms of Shari’ah.
And Allâh Ta’âla Knows Best.
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U P D A T E |
Jamiat Appeal for Funds
The Jamiatul ‘Ulama, South
Africa - the oldest ‘ulama
organization of South Africa -
has been serving the community
for the past 84 years. It has 7
provincial branches.
The Jamiatul Ulama has various
departments such as education,
relief, hilaal notification,
halaal supervision, social
welfare, da’wah, ifta and
counseling. It also responds to
local and international crises.
The Jamiatul Ulama ensures that
all zakaat monies are spent in
accordance with the laws of
shariah. All of our activities
are made possible by your
continuous generous
contributions.
We appeal, in this blessed month
of Ramadaan, for donations
towards the activities of the
Jamiat. You will, insha Allah,
share in the reward of all the
activities.
Kindly deposit your
contributions in to the
following account: Jamiat Ulama
Transvaal, Nedbank Fordsburg,
A/c No. 1953 285 937; Branch
code: 195305, and fax your
deposit slip to (011) 373 8022,
clearly stating whether the
contributions are Lillah or
Zakaat.
United Ulama Council Meets the
ANC
The United Ulama Council of
South Africa (UUCSA) met the
African National Congress (ANC)
recently. At the meeting, the
representatives of the two
organizations discussed matters
of common concern especially
pertaining to social
development; poverty
alleviation, social welfare as
well as nation-building.
The two parties agreed to
cooperate and complement one
another’s efforts in the
aforesaid spheres. They also
agreed to continue to interact
both nationally and
provincially.
The ANC acknowledged the
historical contribution Muslim
have made to the country and
urged that it be continued.
UUCSA is an umbrella body of
Muslim theologian organizations
that comprises of the Jamiatul
Ulama in Johannesburg; Muslim
Judicial Council (Cape);
Jamiatul Ulama (KZN); Sunni
Ulama Council, and Sunni
Jamiatul Ulama. |
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Summarised Jumu’ah
Bayaan:
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Clothing: An
Outer Manifestation of
an Inner Commitment |
“O! Children of Adam! Do
not allow Shaitaan to
seduce you in the same
way as he caused your
parents to be driven out
of Paradise: he stripped
them of their garments
in order to make them
aware of their
nakedness.” (7: 27)
• As South Africans
commemorate Women’s Day
on the 9th August 2008,
we need to reflect at
the plight of the
‘emancipated’ women.
Does she really enjoy
the independence and
dignity that she
deserves? We live in an
age where the
enslavement of women
takes place under the
guise of various
freedoms. An age in
which the inner worth
and character of women
have become meaningless.
The obsession with
‘beauty and body’ has
become the yardstick to
determine the worth and
nobility of the female.
The quest for thinness
has replaced the quest
for moral virtue, the
pursuit of ‘good looks’
has replaced the need
for good character.
• Unfortunately, Muslim
women are also caught in
the fashion craze at the
cost of their modesty.
Abdullah ibn Umar
radhiyallahu anhu
narrated that Nabi
salallahu alayhi wasalam
has said: "Indeed
modesty and faith are
companions. When one of
them is lifted, the
other leaves as well." (Baihaqi)
• The Qur'an warns us
that Shaitaan did not
only delude our parents
Adam and Hawwa alayhas
salaam in Jannah, he
continues to assault the
progeny of Adam (as)
from every possible
avenue. “O! Children of
Adam! Do not allow
Shaitaan to seduce you
in the same way as he
caused your parents to
be driven out of
Paradise: he stripped
them of their garments
in order to make them
aware of their
nakedness.” (7: 27)
• The very first attack
of Shaitaan is to strip
man of his garments and
make nudity and
indecency acceptable to
them. Today, even
conscious Muslim females
regard tight jeans and
equally tight tops with
a little scarf over
their heads as the
Islamic norm!
• Your clothing is not
merely a form of dress;
your clothing is an
outer manifestation of
an inner commitment to
submit to the laws of
Allah. It is a public
statement of your
values, a symbol of your
inner morality and
identity. Nabi salallahu
alayhi wasalam has said:
“Whoever dons the garb
of fame in this world,
Allah will clothe him
with the garb of
disgrace on the Day of
Judgment” (Tirmizi) The
garb of fame includes:
1. Transparent: Aisha
radhiyallahu anha
narrates that Asmaa
radhiyallahu anha the
daughter of Abu Baker
radhiyallahu anhu came
to Nabi salallahu alayhi
wasalam with see through
clothing. He turned away
from her and said: “Oh
Asmaa! When a girl
reaches the age of
puberty, it is not
proper that any part of
her body may be seen
except this and this. He
pointed to her face and
hands.” (Abu Dawood)
2. Tight fitting attire
that accentuates the
shape of the body: Nabi
salallahu alayhi wasalam
said, ‘There are many a
women who are dressed
yet naked in the eyes of
Allah; they are astray
and make others go
astray. Such women will
not enter paradise nor
smell its fragrance,
although it can be
smelled from afar.’ (Tabrani)
The statement ‘dressed
yet naked’ refers to
women who wear
transparent or very
tight clothing, or
clothes which are cut in
such a way that they
reveal more than they
conceal.
3. Clothing that
identifies you as a
follower of another
religion: Nabi salallahu
alayhi wasalam has said:
“Whoever imitates a
people belongs to them”
(Ahmad)
4. Clothing that
resembles the garb of
man: Abdullah Ibn Umar
radhiyallahu anhu
reported that the
Rasulullah salallahu
alayhi wasalam said,
‘Three people will not
enter paradise, and
Allah will not look at
them on the Day of
Judgment: one who is
disobedient to his
parents, the woman who
imitates men and the ad-dayuth.’
(Ahmad) Ad-dayuth is a
man who permits women
for whom he is
responsible to engage in
illicit sexual
relations, or to display
their beauty to strange
men, thereby stimulating
their sexual desires.
• One of the saddest
truths of our time is
the question of the
beauty myth and female
self-image. Reading
popular teenage
magazines, you can
instantly find out what
kind of body image is
‘in’ or ‘out.’ Look at
any advertisement. Is a
woman being used to sell
the product? How old is
she? How attractive is
she? What is she
wearing? More often than
not, that woman will be
no older than her early
20s, taller, slimmer and
more attractive than
average, dressed in
skimpy clothing.
• It is a myth that
women in today's society
are liberated. What kind
of freedom can there be
when a woman cannot walk
down the street without
every aspect of her
physical self being
‘checked out’? A woman
in hijab feels safe from
all of this. No person
dares looking at her and
makes assumptions about
her character from the
length of her skirt.
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Message from the Ameer of
the Jamiatul Ulama |
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Shabaan |
The month of Rajab has
passed. We have just entered
into the month of Sha`ban,
quickly moving into the
radar of the Blessed
Ramadan.
Our Beloved Prophet
Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam
made great efforts to use
the month of Sha`ban as a
period of preparation for
Ramadan. He fasted
excessively, made abundant
du’aa and continuously
reminded the companions of
the forthcoming month. We
too, must follow the example
of the Prophet Sallallahu ‘alayhi
wa sallam. Let us prepare
ourselves spiritually for
the onset of this most
Blessed Month.
Ramadan is an occasion
wherein a person is invited
to take full advantage of
the Favour, Blessings and
Mercy of Allah. Our dear and
beloved Prophet, Muhammad
Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam
empahsised the importance of
preparing oneself for
Ramadan. He began making
people aware of Ramadan
through his du’aas, from two
months prior to Ramadan. He
fasted excessively in
Sha'baan, the month
preceding Ramadan, and he
continuously reminded people
about the virtues of
Ramadan.
We have a short period
before we enter into the
month of Ramadan. Let us use
this time to prepare
ourselves for Ramadan. Let
us: try to follow the
example of the Prophet by
fasting more; performing
more nafil salah; reciting
more Qur’an; and making as
much du’aa as possible. Let
us prepare ourselves
spiritually. In addition,
let us prepare the mindset
of ourselves, our wives and
children to such a mindset
where we anticipate and look
forward to Ramadan – for the
purpose of making as much
ibadah as possible in
Ramadan.
May Allah Azza wa jalla make
it possible for us to see
Ramadan and more importantly
to benefit from it. Aameen.
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