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Weekly Comment |
Gordon Brown: A zero yesterday,
today’s Euro-superhero
If you
asked Gordon Brown about the
future of his political career
60 days ago, an honest answer
could be nothing but a
tempest-ridden one. Today,
Brown, the British premier is
surfing a wave of acclaim on the
back of a teetering financial
markets.
The change in
the fortunes of Gordon Brown lie
in the steps his administration
has taken to bail out failing
banks by nationalising them
whether in part or wholesale.
This is not happening in
Venezuela, or Cuba or some
Central Asian republic
regressing to the discredited
old communist school. This is
happening in the heartland of
the capitalist world: London,
New York, Paris, Berlin, etc.
Gordon Brown, a zero
yesterday, is today’s
Euro-superhero. As free market
ideologues cut from the
Reaganomics cloth shudder, the
reality facing them is to accept
the fact that unbridled
self-interest driven by
‘animal-spirits’ alone has seeds
of its own destruction which
have to be tethered by an active
participation of government in
business.
Whether they
call it monitoring or
supervision... all these are but
euphemisms that mask the return
of state-control on the menu of
government policy.
At
the end of the day, markets,
left alone, do fail. And when
they fail as they have, you just
need control. If prevention is
better than cure, why not admit
that unqualified capitalism is
doomed to fail.
Jewel of Medina: Published by
Mischief Mongers
The Jamiatul Ulama has
written to some of the country’s
book distributors to discourage
them from stocking the book
entitled ‘Jewel of Medina’ by
Sherry Jones on the grounds that
it is a distortion of the
history of Islam and a slander
against the Ayesha Radhi-Allahu
anha. The hurt this book can
cause the Muslim community has
also been cited as a reason for
not welcoming the book.
Random House in the United
Kingdom had earlier in the year
decided not to publish the book
which has since received limited
acclaim. It is noteworthy that
it is Beaufort Books, which is
publishing this book today. This
is the same Beaufort that last
year published the dodgy "If I
Did It," OJ Simpson's
hypothetical confessional, after
it had been dropped by its
original publisher because of a
public chorus of disapproval.
Afghanistan
The
dynamics of the situation in
Afghanistan has undergone few
changes. Whereas it was never
admitted that the US were always
allowed to do what they pleased,
Mr. Zardari has reportedly
confessed to allowing the US
certain liberties in the
incursions and cross-border
raids. The US and its allies are
still suffering casualties on a
constant basis and the
constantly increasing numbers
and regularity are now coming to
surface. That the war was
unwinnable by the US and its
allies was always known.
Recent reports of the
increase in defectors from those
trained by the US and its allies
to the Taliban is however
interesting. Defectors to the
Taliban are reportedly carrying
weapons issued to them by the
Afghanistan authorities; the
defectors have been trained by
the US forces and carry
certificates that testify to
their weapons training by US
forces and companies.
The reasons proffered for their
defections are largely related
to the behaviour of the US
forces. Defectors from the
Afghan forces claim to have
witnessed acts of prostitution,
drinking of alcohol and other
acts of lewdness and immorality.
On the other hand, some
media sources have reported that
tribes along the Pakistan border
are rising against the Taliban. |
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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 |
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Mahr Faatimi |
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Zakaat Nisaab |
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Words of Wisdom |
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Hadith of the Week |
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Kindness |
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Narrated ‘Ayesha
Radhi-Allahu anha: Allah’s
Messenger Sallallahu ‘alayhi
wasallam said, “Allah
is Kind and He loves
kindness, and confers upon
kindness which He does not
confer upon severity, and
does not confer upon
anything besides it
(kindness).”
(Muslim)
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Quotation for the Week |
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There's the Hereafter |
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Be not
entangled in this world of
days and nights; You have
another time and space as
well. (Muhammad
Iqbal)
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Point of Reflection |
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Know Your Weak Points |
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He who
has butter on his head,
should stay out of the sun.
(Dutch Saying)
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Read the
Jamiatul Ulama's
Perspective on the Current Financial
and Food Crisis
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O you who
believe! Fear Allâh and give up what
remains (due to you) from usury, if
you are (really) believers. And if
you do not do it, then take a notice
of war from Allâh and His Messenger;
but if you repent, you shall have
your capital sums. Deal not
unjustly, and you shall not be dealt
with unjustly.
(2: 278-279)
www.jamiat.co.za
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Q and A |
Question: What
salaah is permissable to
perform between Asr and
Maghrib?
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Answer: The
Qadhaa of any Fardh Salaah
would be allowed after Asr
Salaah. However, no Salaah
(i.e. Qadhaa, Waajib, Nafl,
or even Janaazah Salaah,
Sajdah Tilaawah and Sajdah
Sahw) should be performed
when the sun turns pale
(i.e. where staring at the
sun is possible), except the
Asr Salaah of that day,
which for some reason could
not be performed in its
preferred time. Any Salaah
can be performed before Asr
Salaah as long as the sun
has not turned pale. [Also
see Shaami & Durr Vol. 2 Pg.
32, 37, 40, 45 -
Rasheediyyah]
And
Allâh Ta’âla Knows Best.
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U P D A T E |
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.
Taalimi
Board’s Oral Examinations
The Jamiatul Ulama’s Taalimi
Board has started conducting
oral examinations in
institutions that are affiliated
to it. Oral examinations are
part of assessments the board
employs in order to ensure that
quality Islamic education is
maintained in the curriculum.
Examinable areas include
Qur’an Tajweed (mode of correct
recitation) as of the as well as
supplications (du’aas).
Pronunciation, fluency and
memorization are some of the
measurable in the assessment
exercise.
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Summarised Jumu’ah
Bayaan:
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The Global Financial and
Food Crisis – A
Perspective |
O you who believe!
Fear Allâh and give up
what remains (due to
you) from usury, if you
are (really) believers.
And if you do not do it,
then take a notice of
war from Allâh and His
Messenger; but if you
repent, you shall have
your capital sums. Deal
not unjustly, and you
shall not be dealt with
unjustly.
(2:
278-279)
•
Events in the world
inform us that humanity
is facing enormous
challenges. These
challenges have assumed
global proportions, and
can have catastrophic
implications if not
arrested timeously. We
will highlight two of
the challenges that have
gripped people all over
the world:
Firstly, the financial
crisis that has rocked
the USA initially and
thereafter other parts
of the world and
Secondly, the rising
costs of basic food
commodities that are
affecting the poorest of
the poor.
• With
regards to the first
issue, the fallout has
been spectacular and the
end is not in sight.
Some financial
institutions have closed
shop; some have been
bought out by others and
the Federal Reserve in
the USA is attempting to
save others by injecting
a whopping $700 billion
into the system. The
figures are huge,
astronomical and really
mind boggling, running
into trillions of
dollars.
•
According to one
analyst:
“The US debt
crisis was not caused by
the collapse of the
sub-prime market, but
was rather part of a
consequence of bubbles
and crashes induced by
inadequately regulated
financial markets, of
which the sub-prime
collapse is but one
symptom. …
• What
perspectives can Muslims
offer which will
identify the fault lines
that has caused this
crisis?
1. The Institution of
Interest
These markets are
steeped in interest and
that too, money related
interest. Money should
be used to facilitate
exchange of commodities
and services, but now it
serves the function of a
commodity for profit.
Interest wreaks havoc in
the life of people, it
leads to the
concentration of wealth
in the hands of a
minority to the
exclusion of the
majority, it widens
social and economic
disparities, and it
perpetuates the
exploitation of the
poor. There is no
question about the
prohibition of interest
in Islâm. So much so
that Allâh has declared
war on the person who is
involved in interest in
whatever form, be it the
borrower or the lender.
2. The
Element of Greed
Liquid (money supply)
was abundant in supply
so more people needed to
come into the net. The
more money you have, the
more interest you make
and the more interest
you make the more money
you have. How do you get
more people involved?
Relax the regulations.
Credit was thus extended
to those individuals who
did not qualify to
access finance
ordinarily. Thus the
term sub-prime is
coined. The risk was
great, but greed
overwhelms discretion
and prudence.
3. Debt
As the famous Arabic
proverb reads, ‘Asking
is a disgrace,
humiliation.’
Overspending and failing
to spend according to
ones income leads to
incurring debt. There is
no doubt that to be in
debt is a worry by night
and humiliation by day.
Ask those who are in
debt, how many sleepless
nights they have
endured, and how many
times during the day
they had to suffer the
embarrassment of being
told a mouthful of
choice words. Perhaps we
may endure the
humiliation of debt in
this world, but we do
not know who is keen and
enthusiastic to face the
music if the disgrace of
debt is extended to the
Hereafter. If this is
the case, should we then
not be free from the
shackles of debt? Even
martyrdom is no
absolution of debt. A
martyr will be forgiven
from all of his sins,
except debt.
4. Consumption
Americans increased
their debt levels
enormously and their
consumption increased.
We are following a
similar pattern here in
South Africa. This
aspect is linked to debt
and in more ways
relevant to the second
global challenge alluded
to earlier with regard
to spiraling prices of
basic food commodities.
• Despite these
reasons, which by all
accounts are reasonable
in their own right,
there is a growing voice
that is becoming louder
that ‘Man must change
his lifestyle.’ He is
not managing the
resources available in a
prudent way. Besides
being wasteful, he is
utilizing resources in a
manner that is not
necessary. This is where
the aspect of
consumption comes into
the picture.
•
Zuhd (abstinence) is a
Muslim’s defense against
this onslaught of
consumerism. It is an
attitude, a way of
thinking and a way to
live. It is to treat
this life as a short
journey, which is
transient and worthless
as an end in itself, but
critically important as
a means to an
everlasting life. Zuhd
makes us think twice
about even permissible
routine engagements of
our life and makes us
ask: is this food,
garment or object of my
desire necessary for me?
Is it going to get me
closer to my Allâh? Or,
is it a mere
distraction, a luxury, a
waste of my time, wealth
and energy that is
better contained?
• Imam Ahmad bin
Hambal (ra) has divided
Zuhd into three
categories:
1.
Avoiding the
prohibitions - this is
the Zuhd of the common
folk.
2. Abandoning
what is not necessary
even among permissible
things - this is the
Zuhd of the
distinguished people (at
a higher level of
piety).
3. Abandoning
what will distract from
the remembrance of Allâh
- this is the highest
level of Zuhd.
•
In Islâm, Zuhd is not to
abandon this world
altogether, but only to
subdue ones desire for
something. In Islâm,
Zuhd is not to abandon
luxuries, but rather to
reduce luxuries. This
attitude/quality of Zuhd
in Islâm is very
different from the
Christian concept of
asceticism which
emanates from a
fundamental aversion of
this world, which sees
all material existence
as inherently evil and
this life as a
punishment. We are sure
in our minds that if we
embrace a reasonable
level of Zuhd, we will
not be victims of
consumerism; which will
allow for better
management of resources,
eradicate shortages and
which will make things
more affordable.
• It is our belief
that Islâm provides the
values for creating a
better world. We need to
know these values, know
how to apply them to our
lives and to the lives
of those around us. It
is also important to
remember that while
Islâm may have the
solutions to the crisis
facing mankind, it is
not merely content at
tinkering unjust
systems. It is concerned
to reorient man in a
direction that is in
keeping with his innate
values. When this
happens, it is the
exploiters, the
squanderers and the
unjust who need to
worry.
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Message from the Ameer of
the Jamiatul Ulama |
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Trust in Allah |
Last
week we spoke about the
challenging times we exist
in and mentioned that Allah
brings conditions upon
people based upon their
actions. We also discussed
the power and control of
Allah and the aspect of
turning to Allah in du`aa
and repentance. Another
important feature which
should govern all of our
thinking and action is that
of tawakkul – placing our
trust in Allah alone.
In general Tawakkul
refers to the appointment of
someone as a wakeel, agent
or representative on one’s
behalf. It is often resorted
when one is aware of the
fact that he/she is not able
capable of fulfilling the
demands of a task on one’s
own or when one realizes
that the task could be more
comprehensively and
effectively completed by
someone more well-versed or
skilled than oneself.
In terms of shari`ah it
refers to referring the
outcome of one’s tasks to
Allah. It is delegating
Allah as one’s
representative and helper in
the matter of one’s affairs.
It is based in the
realization of the greatness
and power of Allah and
consequent submission to
Allah as the Decider of all
affairs.
The Qur’an
is replete with verses
speaking about the
importance, virtue and
significance of tawakkul. On
numerous occasions Allah
mentions the attitude and
approach of various Ambiyaa
as being one abounding in
tawakkul. The Messengers of
Allah always turned to Allah
and placed their trust in
Him. This was also the
practice of our beloved
Prophet, Muhammad (sallallahu
`alayhi wa sallam).
Allah
(subhanahu wa ta`aala)
speaks about the important
position of tawakkul and
identifies it as a necessary
quality of the Believers. He
says:
• The believers are
only those who: when Allah
is mentioned, their hearts
become fearful; when His
verses are recited to them,
they increase their faith;
and only on their Lord they
rely (have Tawakkul). (8:2)
Regarding tawakkul
Allah also says:
• "Upon
Allah should the Believers
have Tawakkul (trust)."
•
“Whoever relies on Allah
(has Tawakkul), He is
sufficient for him” (65:3)
• “Thus have We sent you to
a community, before whom
other communities have
passed away, in order that
you recite to them what We
have revealed to you, but
they disbelieve in the Most
Gracious. Say: He is my
Lord; there is no deity
except Him; upon Him I rely
(in Him I have Tawakkul) and
to him is my return in
repentance”. (13:30)
•
The Ahaadeeth of the
Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi
wa sallam) is also with
statements regarding
tawakkul. Among them are:
• ‘Umar Bin Khattaab,
radhiallahu `anhu says that
he heard the Messenger of
Allah, (sallallahu `alayhi
wa sallam) saying, “If you
trust Allah with right kind
of Tawakkul, He will provide
you sustenance as He
provides for the birds –
they go out in the morning
with empty stomachs and come
back in the evening with
full stomachs.” (Tirmidhi)
• The Messenger of Allah,
Sallallaahu `alayhi wa
sallam said, “The human mind
keeps wandering and
branching away into
different valleys. If
someone follows his mind in
all those wanderings, Allah
does not care which valley
ruins that person. On the
other hand, whoever has
Tawakkul in Allah, He will
be sufficient to save him
from those wanderings.” (Ibn
Maajah from ‘Amr Ibn Al-’Aas)
• Seventy thousand of my
Ummah will enter Jannah
without reckoning. They will
be those who did not seek
cure through mantras, who
did not take omens and who
had Tawakkul in their Lord.
(Bukhari and Muslim from Ibn
‘Abbaas)
•
In these
troubled times that we live
in it is important for us to
increase our tawakkul and
trust in Allah.
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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