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Weekly Comment |
South African Muslims Detained
in Uganda:
Press Statement
The arrest of two South Africans
in Uganda a week ago is a source
of great anxiety. The two, Mufti
Hussain Bhayat and Haroon Saley,
were arrested by a Joint
anti-terrorism Task team at
Entebbe airport in Uganda and
were reportedly transferred to
Kampala where they were to be
interrogated on alleged
terrorism-related charges.
The sudden arrest, refusal of
basic rights such as contacting
family members and a black out
of information about the two, is
reason for apprehension
regarding the safety and future
of the two. Furthermore, the
fact that details came to light
three days after the arrests and
consular access being allowed
almost a week after the
detention is another cause for
alarm.
The Jamiatul Ulama, South Africa
wishes to express concern at the
current situation regarding the
two. We have noted the efforts
of the South African High
Commission in Kampala in their
provision of consular service to
the two.
Meanwhile, the Jamiatul Ulama
has also engaged diplomatic
channels and appeals to the
South African government to
secure a speedy release and safe
return of the detainees.
We pray to the Almighty to grant
the two, strength during this
period of difficulty. May the
Almighty return them safely to
their homes and grant their
families patience and fortitude.
E.I. Bham (Moulana)
Secretary General
25 August 2008
Superpowerdom and Muslim
Alignment
Haaretz, the Israeli Daily,
recently carried an article
which provided information on
exports to Israel. The USA has
been, for a number of years, and
still remains the largest
exporter to Israel. This year,
China has become the second
largest exporter of products to
Israel. Interestingly it has
raised the quantity of its
exports from U$0.9 billion in
the year 2000 to over U$4.6
billion in 2007, up from U$3.2
billion during 2006.
Questions of economic
superpowers are now no more
speculations. China has become a
force to be reckoned with and it
is still nowhere near top gear
or cruise mode. The issue of a
shift in political power as a
result of economic supremacy is
also no debate and many of the
current military engagements and
expeditions can be traced to the
battle to attain or maintain a
position of authority and
domination.
Many commentators suggest that,
in as far as the US is
concerned, China has become a
real threat to its hegemony and
dominance, and their progress
must be stopped or slowed down
in every way possible. The Iraq
incursions, the efforts in
Africa and even the new
political dynamic that is
evolving in Georgia and its
surrounds are part of the US
effort to stem the tide of
China’s rise to power and
establishment of a strong group
of supporters.
As Muslims, the aspect of
whether China, as a superpower,
would be any different or any
better for the Muslim Ummah must
be analysed with a fine tooth
comb, before providing it with
wholesale support, solely
because it has been made out to
be on opposite poles to the US
and its allies. In the same
light, the Georgian scenario is
also an interesting check on the
inclination of Muslims. Should
Muslims be in opposition to the
Georgian approach because of its
imprudence and its link to the
USA, in the return to a
cold-war-like-environment or
should Muslims be aware and
weary of the Russians in light
of their oppression of Muslims
in Chechnya, for example?
The question of where Muslims
stand or must stand in the
developing political
environment, as well as the
criteria they use, or ought to
use, in order to establish their
position is key. The standpoint
and stance must always be well
thought out rather than only
emotional. |
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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 119.82 |
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Mahr Faatimi |
R 5,991.19 |
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Zakaat Nisaab |
R 2,396.47 |
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Words of Wisdom |
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Hadith of the Week |
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Action is Supreme |
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Narrated Abu Sa'id al-Khudri
Radhi-Allahu: “I heard the
Messenger of Allah
Sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam
as saying:
‘He who amongst you sees
something abominable should
modify it with the help of
his hand; and if he has not
strength enough to do it,
then he should do it with
his tongue; and if he has
not strength enough to do
it, (even) then he should
(abhor it) from his heart
and that is the least of
faith.’” (Muslim)
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Quotation for the Week |
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Obligatory Reform |
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Spiritual reformation of the
soul is compulsory.
(Hazrat Moulana Maseehullah
Rahmatullah ‘alayhi) |
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Point of Reflection |
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Quality |
Good work needs time.
(Hungarian Proverb) |
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Q and A |
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Question: Please tell me
whether it is permissible to
use an asthma pump while one
is fasting? |
Answer: No,
it is not
permissible to use an asthma
pump during fasting.
One should use it just
before fasting and
immediately when breaking
the fast. However, if one
cannot do so, i.e. one is so
dependent on it that one
requires to use it every few
hours and without it one
experiences severe attacks,
then in this case one will
be permitted not to fast,
but then fidya should be
given in lieu of every fast
missed.
In the event that one has
been completely cured of
this ailment then qadha
should be kept for all the
missed fasts, otherwise not.
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.
African Muslims Students in
South Africa
The Jamiatul Ulama met today
with representatives of African
Muslim students studying in
South Africa. At the meeting,
the representatives appealed for
the assistance and guidance from
the Jamiatul Ulama in overcoming
the different challenges they
face while they study in the
country.
The Jamiatul Ulama hailed the
students for keeping their faith
and reaching to one another in
trying circumstances under the
banner of Islam.
The organization draws its
membership from students
attending various institutions
of higher learning in the
country. The come from 20
different countries on the
continent.
Zakaah Workshop
The Jamiatul Ulama and Masjidul
Khair (St. Gothard Street,
Mayfair West) hosted a Zakaah
Workshop on Wednesday 20 August
2008.
At the workshop, participants
interacted with Ulama to learn
how to calculate Zakaah among
other aspects of this important
pillar of Islam. Notes and
Zakaah Calculation tables were
provided and are available on
the Jamiat website
www.jamiat.co.za for download.
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Summarised Jumu’ah
Bayaan:
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Ramadan: Honour
this Fleeting Guest! |
“O you who believe!
Observing fasting is
prescribed for you as it
was prescribed for those
before you, so that you
may become Al-Muttaqoon
(the pious).” (2:183)
• Fasting is one of the
fundamental pillar’s of
Islam, as Rasulullah
salallahu alayhi wasalam
mentioned in a
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 Salah,
payment of Zakah,
performance of Hajj and
fasting during Ramadan.’
(Bukhari & Muslim).
• Umar radhiyallahi anhu
used to say at the
approach of the month of
Ramadan, ‘Welcome to
that month which will
cleanse us of our sins.
The entire month is
filled with blessing,
fasting during the day,
Taraweeh during the
night and spending in
the path of Allah in
this month.’ (Tambeehul
Gaafileen)
• As the breeze of
Ramadan gently wafts
into our lives it brings
with it a tingling of
joyous anticipation. Our
guest has arrived
bringing with it showers
of Allah's Mercy. The
mosques come alive, acts
of charity increase,
ties of brotherhood are
strengthened, and there
is a general atmosphere
of peace within the
community. Any optional
act of virtue performed
in this month is equal
in reward to a fardh
performed at any other
time, whilst a fardh is
equal to the reward of
seventy faraidh. It is
the month of patience,
sympathy and
forgiveness. Fasting is
not meant to punish the
body but to strengthen
the mind, it is not
meant to parch the
throat but to moist the
heart with faith and
commitment. Fasting
removes the stains of
materialism, selfishness
and heedlessness from
our hearts.
• How are we going to
honour this fleeting
guest? Will we be
content with simply
adjusting our eating
times? Have we at all
chalked out an action
programme for this
blessed month? Consider
including the following
in your daily schedule:
• Du’a
[Supplication]:
Nabi salallahu alayhi
wasalam has said,
‘During each day and
night of Ramadan at
least one du’a of a
fasting person is
accepted.” (Targheeb)
This is a month of
giving for those who
wish to receive. It is a
month of emancipation
from the fire of hell, a
month of seeking His
forgiveness, and earning
the pleasure of Allah.
Du’a can change our
life, our outlook, and
our fate. It is the key
that unlocks the
treasures of Allah, the
weapon of a believer.
With it we can never
fail; without it we can
never succeed. The most
virtuous time for du’a
is at the time of iftaar.
• Connect to the
Qur’an: This is
the month of the Qur’an.
The Qur’an is Allah’s
way of talking to us.
Are we listening to His
speech? Are we reciting
His word? Have we
attempted to understand
its meaning? What is our
relationship with the
Qur’an? Will it serve as
an argument for us or
against us on the Day of
Qiyamah? Your status in
both the worlds is
determined by your
attachment to the
Qur’an. "Verily Allah
raises some people by
way of this Book and
lowers others by it."
(Muslim) Dedicate some
time daily to read and
understand the Qur’an!
• Take Time to
Reflect: Spend
time in isolation, think
about your life. Where
have you come from and
where are you going to?
What is the purpose of
your existence? Are you
living a life of
purpose? Spend some time
daily thinking about the
greatness of Allah.
Think about His
creation, think about
His greatness. Ibn Al-Qayyim
described Allah's
Greatness, saying: “He
governs the affairs of
the various kingdoms and
He commands and forbids,
creates, sustains, gives
death, gives life, gives
power, strips power (to
and from whom He wills)
and alternates the night
and day. He gives
varying fortunes to
people and alternates
governments (and
states), destroying some
and bringing some into
existence….He hears all
types of voices and they
do not confuse Him.
Rather, He hears each
voice in its distinct
language and need, and
no voice will make Him
busy from fulfilling the
need of another, and no
need will ever escape
His Perfect Knowledge…
His Sight encompasses
all that which there is.
He sees the movement of
a black ant on a barren
rock during a dark
night.” Nature all
around us mirrors the
attributes of our
Creator! If you want to
know the attributes of
your Creator, marvel at
His creation!
• Display
Compassion: The
Qur’an repeatedly
stresses the vital link
between faith and acts
of charity and
compassion. Charity in
Islam is not restricted
to giving out money to
help the poor and the
needy. Rather, the
concept of charity
extends to include many
other acts such as
enjoining good,
counselling against
corruption and evil,
treating others with
respect and dignity. The
concept of charity
includes every
imaginable act of
kindness or contribution
that one can possibly do
in order to improve the
lives of humans or any
of Allah's creatures.
Make a difference to the
lives of the distressed
and poor, lend your
support to them!
• Give up one
bad Habit:
Ramadan is the opportune
time to give up a bad
habit. Ask yourself what
are some of your bad
habits… not reading
salah, smoking,
listening to music, bad
company, addiction?
Whatever it is, this is
the time to commit
yourself to reform.
People spend countless
hours and rands each
year attempting to break
bad habits and often do
not have any success.
Why? Because there is no
magic bullet. Change is
hard work and there is
no short cut to
achieving it. Ramadan
provides the ideal
opportunity to kick the
habit. It requires
commitment, patience and
du’a. It is better to
try and fail, than to
fail to try. Remember
that strength does come
from physical capacity
but by strong will. If
you endure you will
conquer!
• Do not Miss
the Night of Power [Lailatul
Qadr]: The last
ten nights or Ramadan
are called the Nights of
Power. Only the most
wretched deprive
themselves of the
blessings of this night.
Spend the greater part
of the last ten nights
in ibadah, tilawah, zikr,
and du’a. It will earn
you the rewards of more
than a thousand months
of worship. Nabi
salallahu alayhi wasalam
has said, ‘Anyone who
stays awake for the
Night of Power with
belief and for the
pleasure of Allah, all
his previous sins will
be forgiven.’ (Bukhari &
Muslim) The Night of
Power is better for you
to live, to experience
and to enjoy than one
thousand months of
worship!
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Message from the Ameer of
the Jamiatul Ulama |
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Ramadaan is Here
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Ramadan is a truly blessed
month. It is a month wherein
Allah, the Lord and
Sustainer, through his
infinite Mercy and Favour
gives us a brilliant
opportunity to gain his
pleasure and attain
paradise. Allah assures us
that Ramadan is an ideal
occasion for us to ensure
that our sins will be
forgiven. Our dear beloved
Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi
wa sallam) said:
“Whosoever fasts during the
month of Ramadan with
sincere faith, and hoping to
attain Allah’s Rewards, all
his past sins will be
forgiven. (Bukhaari).
We must remember that on the
Day of Judgement we will
stand before Allah and be
hekld accountable for all
that we have done and also
not done. Our actions must
therefore be in accordance
with the command of Allah
and the sunnah of our
Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi
wa sallam). We must also
make du`aa all the time for
the acceptance of our deeds
and for our forgiveness
since Allah listens to the
prayers of the distressed
and Allah is quick in
answering these prayers.
Allah says:
“ … And your lord said; Ask
of me (for anything) and I
will respond to your
(prayer)
Surely those who scorn My
worship (do not invoke Me,
and do not believe in My
Oneness) will surely enter
Hell in humiliation’ (Surah
Ghaafir, verse:60)
On the occasion of the eve
of Ramadan,
let us make du`aa to Allah:
“Take us not to task if we
forget or fall into error.”
(Surah Baqarah: verse 286)
let us take note of what
Allah reminds us in the
Qur’an:
“O you who believe! Keep
your duty to Allah, fear
Him, and speak (always) the
truth. “He will direct you
to do righteous good deeds
and will forgive you your
sins. Moreover, whosoever
obeys Allah and his
Messenger he has indeed
achieved a great
achievement”. (Surat Al-Ahzab:
Verses 70-71)
Fasting is a way of showing
our imaan and establishing
tawqa. When we fast we
illustrate the fact that we
are aware of the fact that
Allah can and does see us
and all all that we do. It
is only our love and fear of
Allah that can maintain our
walk on the straight path.
During the month of Ramadaan,
together with the act of
fasting, let us also
remember that simply
refraining from food and
drink is not sufficient. We
must ask ourselves as to
what our intention is when
we fast. We do not fast to
lose weight or because we
will look awkward or others
will look down upon us if we
do not fast. We fast because
Allah has instructed us to
do so, and because we know
that this the way of
obtaining the pleasure of
Allah.
In addition, we must also
remember to abstain from any
evil, in the same way that
we have abstained from food
and drink. If we do not eat
and drink, and we even spend
the nights in prayer but
still continue to do haram
then there is very little
purpose or meaning to our
fast. The prophet (sallallahu
`alayhi wa sallam) said,
“ If one does not abandon
falsehood and indecent
actions Allah has no need
that he should abstain from
his food and his drink” (Bukhaari)
May Allah (subahanahu wa
ta`aala) grant us an
understanding of the true
purpose of Ramadan and may
he make it possible for
strive to attain this true
purpose. Aameen.
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