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Weekly Comment |
Public Funds: Easy Come, Easy
Go?
The Minister of
Sport was questioned yesterday
about the vast amount of money
that had been spent on functions
meant to welcome the South
African Olympic team in Beijing.
Considering the fact that nine
million was allocated to the
team itself last year, one finds
it strange that 11 million plus
South African Rands had been
used for functions to welcome
the same team. As it happens the
funds were used for four
functions, one of which had to
be abruptly and prematurely cut
short and one that did not even
take place. Most commentators
would consider the minister’s
response highly inadequate and
derisory, together with the fact
that there was a partial
admission of an administrative
blunder.
It would be extremely
interesting to see the results
of a survey of how much
hard-earned tax payers money is
being spent on ceremonial
functions which, on most
occasions result in a mere
nothingness in terms of any type
of value (if such a survey were
to take place, if it were
allowed to take place and if its
results were to be released).
At a time when resources are
scarce and needs are great, is
there no there no other worthy
place where our money can be
productively utilised and not
merely spent. Is it not time
South Africans insist that there
be stricter accounting of the
purse of public money, and that
those found guilty of been
careless in this regard be
brought to book.
At the same time, many point out
that there have been fewer
reports in the media of
corruption and abuse of public
funds in the very recent past.
One would hope that this would
have been as a result of a
decrease in the corruption
levels and a more careful and
effective use of public money.
However, one wonders whether the
debacles surrounding the
disbanding and resultant limited
functioning of the scorpions has
anything to do with it … the
less discovered the less
reported.
Gen. Musharraf: Unceremonious
Departure
He must have cut
a lonely figure at the time when
even allies could hardly voice
support.
From the time Musharraf imposed
a state of emergency in November
2007, it showed that the days of
the erstwhile chief-of-staff at
the helm were fast running out.
By wide margins, provincial
assemblies adopted a resolution
calling for his head. It was
either impeachment or
resignation. He chose to step
aside.
Why did the US allow such a key
ally in the ‘War on Terror’ to
go so easily? Has Uncle Sam
secured guarantees for
‘business-as-usual’ with the
likes of Asif Zardari and Nawaz
Sharif?
Anwar Iqbal of The Dawn online
newspaper from Pakistan reports
of a US envoy who expresses
concern for Musharraf saying:
“…We have always said he is a
friend of ours and he needs to
be treated with respect.” So,
would the US underwrite
Musharraf’s honourable
retirement? Or has he outlived
his utility just as many other
hitherto ‘special friends’ of
America learnt the hard way of
their disposability?
Musharraf is but one man. All
the people of Pakistan as part
of humanity deserve respect and
dignity. The people of Pakistan
have borne the brunt of the
great political game of the
region. The restoration of a
civilian government should also
be a return to normalcy. The
violent incidents that have
become a regular feature of a
nation at war with itself should
be curtailed and allow peace a
chance.
Will Zardari and Sharif
guarantee that for trouble
Pakistan? |
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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 120.22 |
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Mahr Faatimi |
R 6,011.22 |
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Zakaat Nisaab |
R 2,404.49 |
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Words of Wisdom |
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Hadith of the Week |
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Virtuous Mercy |
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Abu Hurairah Radhi-Allahu
anhu reported that the
Prophet Sallallahu ‘alayhi
wasallam said: "The time
between the five prayers,
two consecutive Friday
Prayers, and two consecutive
(months of) Ramadan are
expiations for all that has
happened during that period,
provided that one has
avoided the grave (major)
sins."
(Muslim)
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Quotation for the Week |
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Friendship |
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Wishing to be friends is
quick work, but friendship
is a slow-ripening fruit.
(Aristotle)
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Point of Reflection |
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Power of Gentleness |
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Softness overcomes hardness.
(Zuo Qiuming,
Chinese Courtier)
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Q and A |
Question: I am a distributor
of goods and my agents whom
I supply goods to are
continuously arguing with
each other regarding the
selling price. They are
cutting each others’ prices
making it more difficult for
the smaller businesses to
cope.
Answer:
Is it
permissible to enter into an
agreement between the
Wholesale distributor
[myself] and the retail
outlets to set a price that
is market related and
agreeable to all. A contract
would be drafted to put the
above mentioned agreement
into place. At No stage will
any party be compelled to
enter into the agreement. Is
such an agreement shariah
compliant? If not, is there
any shariah way of keeping
the price uniform?
Answer: Islam correctly
encourages the free
functioning of market
forces. Therefore, any
activity that will lead to
an irregularity in the
market will be abhorred in
Islam.
The matter in question is
referred to as a 'cartel' in
economic terms. They are
said to occur as a formal
agreement between firms
regarding price fixing,
market shares, establishing
common sales agencies etc.
The main aim of such
agreements is to increase an
individual member's profits
by reducing competition.
These agreements are illegal
in most countries.
Apart from the above, if you
intend embarking on drawing
up such an agreement, it
would not be encouraged for
the following reasons:-
In the event of a member
contravening the laws of the
agreement, which authority
will intervene? After
intervention, who will
ascertain the degree of
punishment?
Businesses operate at
different levels of cost.
They also have different
levels at which they
maximise profits. Many will
have no option but to fall
out after agreeing to abide
by the agreement due to it
not meeting their
cost/profit requirements
adequately.
The more difficult it
becomes to standardise
prices, all the more will it
cost to maintain such an
agreement.
With the passage of time,
more businesses might decide
to join in. As a result,
coordination of the
agreement will become
difficult and could possibly
lead to disputes.
If short term cheating is
more profitable than long
term losses, members will
most probably be tempted to
cheat on the agreement by
not selling according to the
agreed price.
Shah Waliyullah has
commentated on the nine
reasons that would affect
the validity of a
transaction. From amongst
them, is to carry out any
activity that is not in the
best interest of the
community. The matter in
question might appear to be
a solution but is in actual
fact hampering competition
which can be of benefit to
consumers. (Hujjatullah
574/4)
When the Sahaba (R.A)
requested Nabi (Sallalahu
Alayhi Wa Sallam) to fix
prices for them, he
abstained from ceding to
that demand simply because
the fluctuation of prices is
the Hikmah (wisdom) of Allah
Ta'aala
(Hujjatullah 597/4)
In view of the above facts,
we recommend that one
abstain from the practice
made mention of in your
query. Instead, prices
should be left to be
determined by the market
forces. Businessman should
be honest and refrain from
impermissible actions.
And Allâh Ta’âla Knows Best.
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U P D A T E |
Zakaah Workshop
The Jamiatul Ulama and Masjidul
Khair (St. Gothard Street,
Mayfair West) will host a Zakaah
Workshop on Wednesday 20 August
2008 after Esha Salaah (Jamaat:
7:30pm).
At the workshop, participants
will interact with Ulama to
learn how to calculate Zakaah
among other aspects of this
important pillar of Islam. Notes
and Zakaah Calculation tables
will be provided, insha-Allah.
Huffâz Seminar
The first-ever Jamiatul Ulama
organised huffâz seminar took
place at Mayfair Jumuah Masjid
on Sunday 17 August 2008 from
10:30am until 12:30pm. The
seminar focusing on the status
and role of a hafiz and the
conduct of Tarawih Salah was
addressed by Moulana Hassan
Dockrat and attended by a total
of 70 huffâz.
Due to the success of the
seminar, more programmes will be
organized in the future insha-Allah.
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.
Azaadville Darul Ulum End of
Year Jalsah
Madrasah Arabia Islamia in
Azaadville will be holding its
annual Jalsah. The series of
events lined up as part of the
Jalsah will take place from
Friday, 22 Aug. until Sunday, 24
Aug. 2008.
Included on the programme are
speeches of senior Ulama from
South Africa as well as
overseas.
The final ceremony of Bukhari
Khatam will start in the morning
on Sunday 24 Aug 2008 when
students under the tutelage of
Moulana Fadhlur Rahman Azmi will
graduate, insha-Allah.
Centenary of Burning of Passes
at Newtown
On Saturday 16 August 2008
Newtown hosted an event marking
100 years since a group of
people that included Mahatma
Gandhi burnt a passes in a
bonfire outside Hamidia Masjid
in 1908.
The ceremony marking the event
was organised by the City of
Johannesburg, the Hamidia Masjid
Society and the Indian High
Commission. Muslims were
strongly opposed to the pass
laws which culminated into the
discredited system of apartheid.
A 16 August 1908 picture
(http://www.scnc.udw.ac.za) of
the event which shows the
historic protest gathering at
the courtyard of Hamidia Masjid
bears testimony to the important
role of this mosque in the
socio-political life of the
people of the time. |
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Summarised Jumu’ah
Bayaan:
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Zakaah: The
Third Pillar of Islam |
“…of their goods, take
alms, so that you (O
Muhammad) may purify and
sanctify them.” (9:103)
“Truly those who
believe, and do deeds of
righteousness, and
establish Salaah,
And pay Zakaah, they
will have their reward
with their Lord. On them
shall be no fear, nor
Shall they grieve.”
(2:277)
• Zakaah is the third
pillar of Islam, as
Rasulullah salallahu
alayhi wasalam mentioned
in the famous narration,
‘Islam is founded upon
five pillars: Bearing
testimony that there is
none worthy of worship
besides Allah and that
Muhammad salallahu
alayhi wasalam is the
messenger of Allah,
establishment of Salaah,
payment of Zakaah,
performance of Hajj and
fasting during Ramadhan.’
(Bukhari & Muslim). A
person who denies this
injunction automatically
is considered out of the
fold of Islam.
• In several places in
the Noble Qur’an, Allah
has made mention of the
commandment to establish
Salaah together with
that of Zakaah. Its
importance can thus be
understood. It is for
this very same reason
that Abu Bakr
radhiyallahu anhu was
prepared to wage war
against those who were
not willing to pay their
Zakaah after the demise
of Rasululah salallahu
alayhi wasalam. He
exclaimed, ‘By the oath
of Allah! I will fight
with those that make a
distinction between
Salaah and Zakaah.’ (Bukhari).
Ibn abbas radhiyallahu
anhu said that these two
orders of Allah are
mentioned together and
he who performs Salaah
and but does pay Zakaah,
his Salaah will not be
accepted from him.
• Zakaah is form of
worship rather than a
tax levy. It is not a
tax harshly removed from
the pockets of people;
rather it is a sign of
the human instinct of
helping those in need of
the basic necessities of
life. This beautiful
pillar of Islam
manifests its way in
society in the most
appropriate ways. A
society can only
flourish when the excess
of those who have is
used to assists those
are in need, thus
creating a balance in
society.
• This injunction of
Allah purifies ones
wealth as well as inner
self. Says Allah in the
Noble Qur’an, ‘…of their
goods, take alms, so
that you (O Muhammad)
may purify and sanctify
them.’ (9:103) Giving of
Zakaah removes
miserliness from a
person and creates
generosity. Furthermore,
it serves as means of
purifying ones income
from any taint in the
form of acquisition
through trade or
otherwise.
• Those who are
unmindful of discharging
their Zakaah are
severely reprimanded by
Allah in the Qur’an and
are warned against a
severe punishment. A
verse is Surah Taubah
reads, ‘And those who
hoard gold and silver
and spend them not in
the way of Allah,
announce unto them a
painful torment.’ (9:34)
• Whoever leaves a
treasure of wealth
behind after passing
away, on which the dues
of Zakaah have not been
paid; on the Day of
Resurrection his wealth
will take the form of a
bald-headed poisonous
male snake with two
black spots over its
eyes. The snake will
follow him, and he will
say, ‘Woe to you! Who
are you?’ The snake will
say, ‘I am your treasure
that you left behind,’
and it will keep
following him until the
man gives it his hand;
the snake will devour it
and then devour his
entire body. (Tafseer
Ibn Kathir)
• Zakaah is paid at 2.5%
of the assets that a
person owns. Allah has
given us so much of
wealth and we are asked
to return merely 2.5% of
that wealth in the path
of Allah. Let us not
focus on how much we are
giving, rather let us
consider how much we
have.
• Whilst Zakaah is the
pillar of Islam and
compulsory, we should
not forget the optional
charity, commonly known
as Lillah or Sadaqah.
Allah loves those that
give charity and rewards
them accordingly. In
Surah Al Baqarah, Allah
says, ‘The parable of
those who spend their
substance in the way of
Allah is that of a grain
of corn: it grows seven
ears, and each ear has a
hundred grains. Allah
gives manifold increase
to whomsoever He
pleases. And Allah cares
for all and He knows all
things.’ (2:261)
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Message from the Ameer of
the Jamiatul Ulama |
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School Killings
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The spate of reported
incidents of crime,
fighting, conflict and
actual warfare on school
grounds has reached extreme
proportions. As an example
the last few days have
recorded that a sixteen year
old in Heidelberg stabbed
another student at school; a
teenager was found with a
gun at a school in Pretoria,
a gang fight had to be
stopped at a Johannesburg
school and the gruesome and
shocking bizarre murder of a
youth in Krugersdorp made
everyone suddenly take note.
The Krugersdorp killing has
been put in the spotlight
and many questions have been
asked about heavy metal
music, satanism and the
like. While specifics can be
considered in individual
cases, incidents such as
these need to be looked at
and examined in a holistic
manner. The Krugersdorp
incident is a microcosm of
the deviated mindsets of the
youth of our community. It
is not a phenomenon that
exists in a vacuum or that
originates or emanates out
of naught or nothingness.
Sick incidents need to be
looked at as being resultant
of a sick society.
The moral regeneration of
our society must be stressed
upon most strongly.
Government plans on the
moral regeneration need to
be effectively implemented
and every sector of society
must become involved in
reviving and revitalizing
the moral spirit within the
community. Factors that
contribute towards the
development of the moral
diseases that have evolved
into all consuming monsters
must be fought on every
front without any hindrance.
In addition the entire
education programme and
structure needs to be
examined and re-examined. Is
OBE working … or is it still
too early to tell – what if
it is too late when the time
is right to tell? Educators
must become more alert and
aware to be able to effect a
timorous detection and
intervention of possible
problems. Educators also
need to be trained in this
regard.
Parents too must accept an
equal share (if not more) of
the blame. They must become
more involved in the lives
of their children, provide
them with guidance and
become role-models their
children want to follow.
Parents must also rid
themselves of the denial
syndrome that has become
ever apparent in our
societies.
As Muslims we must remember
that Allah has granted us a
beautiful and complete Deen
with a comprehensive
formula. Those who follow it
will become Allah conscious
will not violate the laws of
Allah and the rights of
others.
As Muslim parents we need to
take care, monitor and be
all-conscious of what our
children are doing while at
the same time take that they
are not effected by the
influence of the immorality
of the present world
society. We must also strive
to strengthen our imaan and
our relationship with Allah,
so that we can become
responsible Muslims and
exemplary members of the
larger society we exist in.
The month of Ramadan is fast
approaching. It is an ideal
opportunity to grow and
cultivate the consciousness
of Allah that we describe as
taqwa; it is a extraordinary
opportunity to imbibe a
spirit of obedience within
our children and it is an
incredible occasion to
strengthen our relationship
with Allah.
May Allah Subhanahu wa
Ta’aala guide us to see the
right, accept it, practice
upon it and spread its
message to the four corners
of the world. Aameen.
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