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Weekly Comment |
Corruption has spread on Land
and Sea…
A
Ukranian ship flying a South
America’s Belize flag of
convenience is intercepted by
Somali pirates from Puntland who
take control of the cargo
onboard (mainly military
hardware), which includes 33
Russian-made tanks reportedly
destined for GOSS (Government of
South Sudan), according to a
shipping manifest, with the
facilitation of the Republic of
Kenya’s ministry of defence in a
total disregard for a United
Nations embargo on supply of
weapons to a conflict-ridden
zone…
Meanwhile, the
United States, the United
Kingdom, Russia, Ukraine and
Somalia lay siege around the
vessel to ‘ensure no cargo is
off-loaded’ into ‘wrong hands.’
Now that’s Classic
Globalization 101 for you, isn’t
it? "Corruption has spread on
land and sea because of what
men’s hands have wrought…"
(Qur’an 30:42)
MV Faina,
as the hijacked vessel is
called, is a 62nd ship to be
attacked by pirates off the
Somali coast. Is this the kind
of order Ethiopia with the
backing of the US wanted to
bring about when the drove out
the home-grown Union of Islamic
Courts (UIC) government in
Somalia? It is official that
only during the UIC reign was
such lawlessness curtailed in
the region…and why did Kenya
tell a lie?
New Political Landscape?
Many waited for
ex-Minister of Defence Mosiuoa
Lekota’s announcement this
morning saying that it was the
moment that would shake-up or
shape the political future or
landscape of the country.
They were mistaken. They
were in error - not because
Lekota stopped short of
confirming the establishment of
a new party; they were wrong –
not because Lekota was not
flanked by other senior
politicians of the ANC.
Whatever the reasons and the
envisaged purposes of the
changes from whoever’s
perspective, the fact remains
that decisions that would
forever impact upon the future
of the country have been
effected and the waves of their
consequences can never be
erased.
It is also
undeniable that through the
decisions such rifts have been
created that have swiftly
deteriorated and the likelihood
of the resultant wounds healing
seems very near impossible.
It can only be hoped that
sense will prevail and that the
interests of the people will be
paramount in the determinations
of those tasked with serving the
people and the country, in
positions of leadership.
Zardari's
Pakistan
The
views that people have about
politicians include some of the
following:
Most people
will agree that it is hard to
find a truly honest politician.
Politicians have very often
shown themselves to be shrewd,
cunning, calculating and
scheming individuals who are
almost always motivated by
secret agendas. They have
continually been coloured with
the brushes of deceit and
corruption. Many would go
further and state that the more
corrupt the politician, the more
successful he has proven to be.
Asif Zardari is a
politician. He was accused of
bribery and corruption and
served time in prison for the
charge. He is known to be a
pretty smart person who is quick
to out-manoeuvre his opponents.
He has worked hard to come into
the position of power which he
has quickly fitted in to. He has
shown that he is sharp and
bright enough to muster the
support of the people through
clever moves that tug at the
strings of the hearts and minds
of the masses.
However,
his recent comments reported by
the Western media on Kashmir and
on the US cross-border raids and
attacks seem to be careless and
imprudent. To refer to the
people of Kashmir as terrorists,
for example, is a departure from
the accepted and common view and
policy of Pakistan and its
people.
Zardari’s
alleged admission that the US
have engaged in cross-border
raids with the blessing and
permission of Pakistan is
stating what everyone knew.
However, to brazenly declare
this is a statement of intent
and declaration of a foreign
policy that takes away from the
sovereignty that he is supposed
to guard and protect at all
costs. It is also an assertion
of his support for the US, its
policies and actions especially
in the Pakistan/Afghanistan
region.
Judging by the
views of people on politicians,
Zardari is breaking no rules. |
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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 127.59 |
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Mahr Faatimi |
R 6,379.46 |
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Zakaat Nisaab |
R 2,551.79 |
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Words of Wisdom |
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Hadith of the Week |
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As Fasting
Perpetually |
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Narrated by Abu Ayyub al-Ansari
Radhiallahu anhu: Allah's
Messenger Sallallaahu 'alaihi
wasallam said "He who
observed the fast of Ramadan
and then followed it with
six (fasts) of Shawwal, it
would be as if he fasted
perpetually."
(Sahih
Muslim)
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Quotation for the Week |
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Uphold
Sunnah |
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Refrain from opposing the
Sunnah.
(Hazrat
Moulana Maseehullah RA)
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Point of Reflection |
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Nothing Spared |
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If the
sky comes down, not a pole
will be left upright.
(Dutch Saying)
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Q and A |
Question:
Today is my birthday and I
am fasting. Is it correct
to fast on my birthday?
Please guide me under the
Shari‘ah law. |
Answer:
It is not proven
from
the Sahaabah
Radhiallahu
anhum that
they fasted specifically on
their birthdays.
If it
was an established act of
virtue, they would surely
not
have left it out.
They would only act upon
that which Rasulullah
Sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam
would instruct or permit
them to do.
Fasting
is established in the
narrations for Mondays,
Thursdays, and the 13th,
14th and 15th of every
Islamic month.
And
Allâh Ta’âla Knows Best.
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U P D A T E |
Sadaqatul Fitr Parcels
With the
help of the generous support of
the Muslim community during the
month of Ramadan, the Jamiatul
Ulama distributed over 700 food
hampers at a cost of R480.00
each to needy families. May the
Almighty reward all those whose
contributions made a difference
especially by making the Eid Day
celebrations special for all the
beneficiaries.
Young Ulama Workshop
The
Jamiatul Ulama will host a young
'Ulama Workshop on Counselling
and Handling of Social/Marital
Problems on Saturday 18 October
2008 at the Jamiatul Ulama
Auditorium, 2nd Floor 32 Dolly
Rathebe Road, Fordsburg, insha-Allah.
Those
ulama interested to attend
should contact Moulana
Obeidullah or Moulana Abdul-Hamid
on 011 373 8000 for
reservations.
Haj Seminar
The
Jamiatul Ulama will host a Haj
Seminar on Wednesday 22nd and
Thursday 23rd October 2008 at
the Jamiatul Ulama Auditorium,
2nd Floor 32 Dolly Rathebe Road,
Fordsburg from 7:00pm, insha-Allah.
Prospective hujjaj are
encouraged to attend. Meanwhile,
the Lenasia and Laudium Branches
have also been successfully
hosting Haj classes during the
month of Ramadan. Check with
your nearest branch offices for
similar programmes in your local
area.
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Summarised Jumu’ah
Bayaan:
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What after Ramadan? |
“Therefore stand firm
(in the straight Path)
as thou art had been
commanded.” (11:112)
• Our hearts were
full of happiness, hope
for the mercy of Allah
and the fear of His
retribution at the
beginning of the great
month of Ramadan. We
beseech Allah to accept
our fasting and prayers,
to accept from us our
good deeds and to bless
us in the remaining part
of our lives. Blessed is
he whose sins were
forgiven and repentance
accepted. Yesterday, we
were receiving Ramadan
and today we have past
by it and we do not know
whether we are going to
live to witness the next
Ramadan.
•
Though we have bid
farewell to Ramadan, it
should not mean a
farewell to acts of
worship. A Muslim should
rather strengthen the
tie between himself and
his Creator, so that he
may attain perpetual
blessings. As for those
who break their covenant
with their Lord and
abandon the Masajid as
soon as Ramadan ends,
such are evil people who
know their Lord only in
Ramadan and afterwards
turn back on their
heels.
• There is
no value in an act of
worship if one does not
increase in piety and
fear of Allah as a
result of it. Where is
the impact of fasting
when one abandons the
recitation of the
Qur’an, no longer
observes the
congregational prayers
and desecrates other
people’s honours? Where
is the impact of his
acts of worship in
Ramadan when he
afterwards eats usury
and takes other people’s
properties wrongfully?
Where is the impact of
Ramadan when he abandons
the path of the
Messenger of Allah
salallahu alayhi wasalam
for local customs and
traditions and governs
his life with man-made
laws? Where the effect
of fasting and night
prayers, when one
engages in acts of
deception in his
business transactions
and lies day and night?
Where is the impact of
Ramadan on him if he
does not call to the
Path of Allah, feed the
hungry, cloth the naked
and make a sincere
supplication for Islam
and the Muslims?
• He who has
benefited from Ramadan
is the one whose
condition after Ramadan
becomes better than it
was before. Doing good
deeds after previous
ones is a sign that
those former deeds have
been accepted. Equally,
going back to evil deeds
after having done good
ones is a sign of its
invalidity and it’s been
rejected. Therefore, let
the shinning breezes of
this Ramadan be the key
to blessings all the
time and in your way of
life.
• Ramadan
has taught us great
lessons and admonitions.
It taught us how to
resist the insinuations
of Shaytan and the whims
of the evil inclining
soul. It taught us how
to eliminate differences
and its causes. The
ranks of the Muslims
have become solidly
united during Ramadan so
we should not let it
become disunited again
after it. The eyes have
shed tears during
Ramadan, so we should
not let them become dry
after it; mosques have
become shaken during
Ramadan and the tongues
were engaged in
remembrance of Allah,
praising Him and
invoking Him, so let
this continue after
Ramadan; you have been
overwhelmed with the
characterized with
desirable manners such
as humbleness and
tranquility during
Ramadan, do not then
spoil that away with
arrogance, ostentation
and stupidity; you have
become generous during
Ramadan, do not then
withhold your generosity
after Ramadan.
•
Steadfastness upon the
right way, maintaining
oneself upon the
straight path and
avoiding other paths
which lead one astray,
are indications of
wisdom and good sense in
a person. The highest
rank of steadfastness is
upholding oneself upon
Islam and protecting the
heart from fluctuating.
• For this
reason, the fear of
straying away from the
right path was the main
concern of the people of
proper understanding. A
supplication which
reflects humility and
humbleness to Allah was
the supplication of the
best of creation, our
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasalam. As Umm
Salamah radhiyallahu
anha said, ‘Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasalam used to
repeatedly say this
supplication, “O
Controller of the
hearts! Make my heart
steadfast upon Your
religion” so I asked
him, ‘O Prophet of
Allah! Do hearts
fluctuate?’ He said,
“Yes, all mankind’s
hearts are between two
of the fingers of Allah.
If Allah wills He
maintains a man’s
steadfastness and if He
wills He causes him to
deviate.” (Ahmad &
Tirmidhi)
• If
the Prophet sallallahu
alayhi wasalam feared a
change of heart of those
who were the cream of
Muslims and the pioneers
of Islam, then how the
case would be concerning
those who came after
them, especially people
in our era? This era
during which trials are
plentiful; falsehood has
spread everywhere under
decorated banners;
doubts and desires
attack people’s hearts;
misguiding temptations
have attacked people
through what they see,
read and hear; and
deviant ways have become
strong and taken control
over people’s minds and
hearts.
• Of the
good deeds that are
recommended after
Ramadan is fasting for
six days in the month of
Shawwaal. Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasalam said, “Whoever
fasts the month of
Ramadan and follows it
up with a fasting of six
days in the month of
Shawwal is like the one
who fasts for eternity.”
(Muslim)
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Message from the Ameer of
the Jamiatul Ulama |
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Challenging Times |
Currently the topic of
discussion between most
people revolves around the
volatile and rocky situation
that we exist in. Among them
are the global financial
crisis, the depletion of
natural resources, the
exorbitant rise in the costs
of basic commodities and
necessities, the different
wars that have been
manipulated with personal
agendas, the oppressions
that are constantly thrust
upon multitudes of innocent
people and the rapidly
changing weather patterns
coupled with an escalation
and intensification of
natural disasters. In South
Africa one can add the crime
situation, the changing face
of the political landscape.
As Muslims, we can add the
sustained increase of
injustices upon Muslims in
various forms and manners
from a horde of sources.
In such an environment
of uncertainty, instability
and difficulty people often
ask many questions and
search for solutions even
though the solutions may be
of a very transitory and
interim nature. People often
speculate on future
conditions and cling on to
unrealistic hopes and
expectations, frequently
based on wishful thinking or
a type of self-delusion.
Remedies and answers are
sought from a variety of
sources, which are dubious
and bound to fail, are often
self-prescribed by every
individual.
Allah
Subhanahu wa ta’aala
repeatedly declares his
control and power over
everything in the Qur’an.
The Prophet’s Salllalahu ‘alayhi
wa sallam ahadeeth
continually reminds of the
fact that it is Allah who
decides in all matters. A
hadeeth narrated by Abdullah
ibn Abbas mentions that the
Prophet Sallallahu ‘alayhi
wa sallam explained to him
that if the entire world
were to gather together in
order to cause harm to an
individual, they would not
be able to do so, and if the
entire world wished to cause
benefit to a person they
would not be able to do so,
except with the will and
permission of Allah.
Alhamdulillah, we have no
doubt that this is an
absolute truth. It is thus
only logical that we turn to
Allah and seek His
assistance through du’aa and
istighfaar. The
prescriptions for the
prevention and removal of
calamities can also easily
be traced in the Qur’an and
hadeeth and lie in our
dedication to Allah alone,
in the performance of our
salah, the discharging of
our zakah and the various
ibaadah we are obliged to
engage in. It also rests on
the premise that we will
obey the commandments of
Allah and abstain from what
He has forbidden.
Allah brings conditions upon
people according to their
actions. Allah mentions in
the Qur’an that difficulties
come upon people as a result
of the wrongs that people
do. He also says that chaos
and corruption has spread in
the world as a result of
what man’s hands have
earned. The Prophet
Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam
has also emphasized this
point in many ahaadeeth.
This underlines the
importance of istighfaar and
correction of our actions.
May Allah Subhanahu wa
ta’aala guide us in all that
we do, and may He accept our
ibaadah and efforts. May He
accept all our du`aas.
Aameen.
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