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Weekly Comment |
The world’s poor have to fend
for themselves…
Did you take note of the capital
flowing into rescue package
funds of the world’s ailing
banks?
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Washington: $2.25
trillion, triple the size of the
original $700 billion rescue
package, which centred on buying
distressed assets from US banks,
will potentially be spent to
guarantee debts and insure
deposits in accounts.
•
Oslo: Norway
said it would issue €41 billion
of government bonds to pay for
measures to increase liquidity
on financial markets help credit
starved banks.
•
Berlin: German
President Koehler signed off on
a €500 billion bank bailout
after it was passed by the
parliament in a fast-track vote
to restore confidence in the
crisis-ridden financial sector.
• London:
UK government's £500bn rescue
plan announced…
•
Paris: France's
financial rescue plan, which
will guarantee interbank loans
of up to €320 billion has been
announced. Another €40 billion
will be set aside to
recapitalize national banks.
So the world powers can
mobilise so much funds to rescue
a flawed world financial system.
What about the lofty yet
not-so-expensive goals of ending
poverty, disease and starvation?
Barack Hussein Obama II:
Substance, Please?
A momentous milestone has
been reached in the history of
America: An African-American is
a president-elect to be sworn in
to become the 44th president of
the USA. In an hour of great
need for resolute leadership,
America has turned to a black
man to take her out of the
economic mess of the Bush
Administration, which threatens
to bring the whole of the world
economy down. History has been
made: congratulations to Mr
Obama and the American people!
The charisma of Mr Obama is
remarkable. The style of the
campaign has been impressive and
the confidence dazzling.
Dazzling until when you sit and
digest what is contained in the
‘refreshing and exciting’
message of the man of the
moment…
Mr Obama
declares: “…To those who seek
peace and security: We support
you.” Fine! However, what
euphoria remains when it is
pointed out that in his entire
victory speech, the word
‘justice’ never featured as
Robert Fisk correctly notes? Is
there any support reserved for
those who want justice restored?
Our memories are fresh on what
he had to say to the
American-Israeli Public Affairs
Committee Conference (AIPAC)
with respect to Occupied
Palestine… What should be the
basis of Palestinian hope in an
Obama Administration?
Is
the excitement the same when we
say Mr Obama will not end wars
(of the world) but just
intensify them in specific
regions especially in
Afghanistan as he has so far
advocated?
Mr Obama
should not squander his
political capital as did one
George W Bush. He should neither
take for granted his popularity
ratings as did one William J
Clinton. He has his work cut out
and should tread the path
carefully. |
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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 116.07 |
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Mahr Faatimi |
R 5,803.50 |
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Zakaat Nisaab |
R 2,321.40 |
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Words of Wisdom |
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Hadith of the Week |
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Fasts of
Dhu al Hijjah |
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It is
reported by Abdullah Ibn
Abbas Radhi-Allahu anhum
that the Prophet Sallallahu
‘alayhi wasallam said, "No
good deeds done on other
days are superior to those
done on these (first
ten
days of Dhu al Hijjah)."
Thereupon, some companions
of the Prophet
Sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam
said, "Not even Jihad? " He
replied, "Not even Jihad,
except that of a man who
does it by putting himself
and his property in danger
(for Allah’s sake) and does
not return with any of these
things."
(Bukhari)
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Quotation for the Week |
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Tolerance |
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Overlook the faults and
mistakes of those who are
under your control..
(Hadhrat Moulana
Ashraf Ali Thanvi
Rahmatullahi ‘alayhi)
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Point of Reflection |
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Asking is no Disgrace |
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Misfortunes do not have set
times for coming.
(Ghanaian Saying)
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Q and A |
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Question: Upon whom
is Qurbani Waajib? |
Answer:
Besides the necessity of
being a free Muslim and a
Muqeem (not travelling), it
is also necessary to be in
possession of surplus cash
or goods equivalent to the
value of Nisaab (Shaami
6/312). Surplus wealth means
wealth that is over and
above his basic necessities.
When this requisite is met,
Qurbaani will be Waajib,
whether a complete year has
past since one acquired
cash/goods to the value of
Nisaab or not. (Aalamgiriyyah
5/294)
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U P D A T E |
The Jâmi‘ah al-‘Ulûm al-Islâmiyyah
The Jâmi‘ah al-‘Ulûm
al-Islâmiyyah was established by
the Jamiatul Ulama with the aim
of providing quality Islamic
education within a social
context; such a social context
which challenges the notion of
practicing Islam in its
unadulterated form. The
formation of the Jaami`ah is
driven by the desire to rekindle
scholarship within the Ummah and
provide sound leadership so as
to elevate the Ummah to its
former glory.
The
institute currently offers the ‘Aalim
Fâdhil which is a six-year
direct-contact and full-time
course which will be taught
through the medium primarily
English and Arabic together with
a limited amount of Urdu.
Some of the subjects that
are taught include:
Arabic
and the various branches of
Arabic grammar and literature,
Qur'anic sciences and
exegesis,
Hadith and Hadith
sciences,
Fiqh and Usul al-Fiqh,
History.
Other subjects
include a focused programme on
functional Arabic and Urdu as
well as English for Effective
Communication.
Skills
development is also given
importance,
Computer Studies
is a compulsory subject with the
intention to register all future
students for the ICDL.
A
programme on Islamic economics,
Research methodology and writing
forms and skills are covered as
is speech and elocution,
Students are exposed to guest
speakers who address them on a
range of issues, on a
fortnightly basis.
Learners will be awarded a
certificate upon completion of
the course.
The institute
also motivates students to
further their knowledge in other
fields and facilitates their
registration and study at
tertiary institutes in
accordance with their academic
aptitudes.
No boarding
and lodging is provided to
students.
Admission
Requirements:
Aspiring
learners must be mature persons,
of upright character, have a
basic Islamic education, be in
possession of a matriculation
certificate, versatile in
English and any other official
language of the country and be
dedicated to self-study.
Learners will be accepted
only after an interview.
Applications for 2009 close on
the 28th November 2008. The
academic year begins in January
and ends in December.
For
more information, contact:
Ml. Abdullah Jeena
Jâmi‘ah
al-‘Ulûm al-Islâmiyyah
Tel:
011 373 8040, Fax: 011 373 8022
Ulama of Johannesburg to
Meet
Members
of the Jamiatul Ulama residing
in the Johannesburg area have
been invited to attend a meeting
to be held at the Jamiatul Ulama
offices in Fordsburg starting
from 6:30pm today.
Khatme Nubuwwat Conference
Jamiatul Ulama representatives
attended a Khatme Nubuwwat
Conference which was hosted by
the Muslim Judicial Council in
Cape Town from Friday 31st
October until Sunday the 2nd
November 2008.
The focus
of the conference was the
finality of the Prophethood
Muhammad Sallallahu ‘alayhi
wasallam in response to ideas
propagated by Qadianism contrary
to true teachings of Islam.
The speakers at the
conference were drawn from
overseas.
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Summarised Jumu’ah
Bayaan:
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Ibrahim alayhis
salaam: The Wise Son (I
of IV) |
“And mention in the Book
(the Quran) Ibrahim.
Verily! He was a man of
truth, a Prophet.
When he said to his
father: ‘O my father!
Why do you worship that
which hears not, sees
not and cannot avail you
in anything?
O my
father! Verily, there
has come to me of
knowledge that which
came not unto you. So
follow me. I will guide
you to a Straight Path.
O my father! Worship not
Satan. Verily, Satan has
been a rebel against the
Most Beneficent (Allah).
O my father! Verily, I
fear lest a torment from
the Most Beneficent
(Allah) overtake you, so
that you become a
companion of Satan (in
the Hell-fire).”
(19:41-45)
• Nabi
Ibrahim alayhis salaam
has been mentioned in
the Noble Qur’an in
approximately twenty
five different chapters
and in sixty three
verses.
• Allah
has chosen Ibrahim
alayhis salaam as an
example for the Ummah of
Nabi sallallahu alayhi
wassalam. Allah says in
the Noble Qur’an,
“Indeed there has been
an excellent example for
you in Ibrahim.” (60:4)
In the personality of
Nabi Ibrahim alayhis
salaam there is an
amazing guide for the
Ummah with regards to
many aspects dealing
with social life, as
well as situations in
which people face in the
propagation of the Deen
of Allah.
• The
noble approach of Nabi
Ibrahim alayhis salaam
to his father in the
words, “My Dear Father”
is a perfect example of
moderation and restraint
on one hand and the
balancing of scales on
the other. Despite his
father not accepting his
message of the Oneness
of Allah, Nabi Ibrahim
alayhis salaam
maintained calm and
respect when addressing
his father.
• In
his speech to his father
there is not a single
derogatory phrase which
would have hurt the
feelings of his father,
and the words such as
‘sinner’ or ‘infidel’
have been carefully
avoided. Guided by
prophetic wisdom, he
drew his father’s
attention to the
helplessness and
insignificance of the
idols, so that he might
realize the fallacy of
his beliefs.
•
Thereafter, with outmost
respect and honour, Nabi
Ibrahim alayhis salaam
warns his father against
the divine wrath of
Allah as a result of
idol worship and
polytheism. This is
driven by his deep
concern for his father’s
safety in the
everlasting abode of the
Akhirah.
•
Although, the response
from the father was very
harsh and unkind, Nabi
Ibrahim alayhis salaam
persevered in
steadfastness. Instead
of debating with him,
Nabi Ibrahim alayhis
salaam departed with the
greetings of peace and
avoided confrontation.
This teaches us that
when an ignorant person
speaks in a foolish
manner, instead of
arguing, one should
simply move on in a
peaceful manner. This
stems from the teaching
of the Noble Qur’an
wherein Allah says: “And
the slaves of the Most
Beneficent (Allah) are
those who walk on the
earth in humility, and
when the foolish address
them (with bad words)
they reply with mild
words of gentleness.”
(25:63)
• After
realising that there is
not much hope left of
his father changing his
belief system and
abandoning the worship
of idols, then too, Nabi
Ibrahim alayhis salaam
made du’a to Allah for
his father. In the words
of the Qur’an, he said:
“And I shall turn away
from you and from those
whom you invoke besides
Allah. And I shall call
on my Lord; and I hope
that I shall not be
unblessed in my
invocation to my Lord."
(19:48)
•
Following minimal
success with his family,
when Nabi Ibrahim
alayhis salaam left them
and their idol worship,
Allah handsomely
compensated him with a
legacy of Prophets who
successively came in his
progeny. Allah recalls
this bounty in the
following words, “So
when he had turned away
from them and from those
whom they worshipped
besides Allah, We gave
him Ishaq and Yaqub, and
each one of them We made
a Prophet.” (19:49)
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Message from the Ameer of
the Jamiatul Ulama |
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Qurbani |
Eidul Adha is getting
closer. The act of Udhiyyah,
Qurbani, or sacrifice is an
essential part of Eidul
Adha. It is an embodiment of
the spirit of commemorating
the life and sacrifices of
Ibrahim (`alayhis salam). It
is an act of great
significance and virtue.
This is also the period
when we are inundated with a
flood and deluge of Qurbani
pamphlets presenting the
individual with the
opportunity of having
his/her Udhiyyah performed
in another land, especially
in such lands where there is
poverty and a need for food.
In such a situation where we
are committing ourselves
regarding our Udhiyyah, it
is important to reflect on
various issues relating to
Udhiyyah.
Udhiyyah is
compulsory upon those who
possess the amount of money
equal to, or in excess of
the nisaab of zakah, on any
of the three days on which
the sacrifice can be
offered.
It is
important to note that the
duty of fulfilling the
Udhiyyah is upon the
shoulders of the person whom
the Udhiyyah is obligatory.
Asking someone to conclude
the Udhiyyah on one’s behalf
is permissible and
acceptable, but the
obligation does not pass on
to the requested person. If
he does not execute the
responsibility, the Udhiyyah
still remains as unfulfilled
on the part of the person
who’s Udhiyyah it was in the
first place.
This is
especially important in
light of the many operators,
groups or organisations who
have advertised their
Udhiyyah/Qurbani
operations/programs. People
must ensure that they are
sure that the person or
organization that they are
entrusting to carry out the
Udhiyyah/Qurbani, are people
that they can rely on to do
exactly what was promised.
If the entrusted
person/organisation does not
accomplish the Udhiyyah/Qurbani
according to established
rules, then they will be
held accountable for their
negligence or wrongdoing,
but the duty of engaging in
Qurbani will not be
discharged from the person
upon whom the Udhiyyah/Qurbani
was obligatory. So, people
should be especially careful
in this regard.
The
spirit of Udhiyyah is also
such that, even though it is
permissible to have ones
Qurbani done, on one’s
behalf, in an area away from
home, it should not become
the norm. The spirit of
Udhiyyah is such that
Qurbani should still be done
with one’s hand and that the
children and women should be
made to witness and
participate in this great
act of ibaadah.
May
Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’aala
grant us the opportunity to
fulfil this important
ibaadah, in the manner and
spirit that is required and
advised. Aameen.
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