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Weekly Comment |
The Royal Bafokeng Model: An
Answer to Congo’s Woes?
There have
been a number of reports
indicating the amounts of money
that goes straight into the
hands of warlords in the DRC.
One would also suspect that
Laurent Nkunda among other
things is motivated by such
revenues emanating from proceeds
of the sale of minerals from
Eastern DRC.
The sad
reality is that these revenues
are most probably going to be
spent on armaments and weaponry
as Nkunda seems to have now
revised his plans from the
original and modest talk of
protecting the Tutsis against
Hutu militants, the two sides of
the genocide in Rwanda. Nkunda,
a part time church preacher, has
now been elevated by his
henchmen to a ‘messiah’ status.
He is now going to march all the
way to Kinshasa to topple Joseph
Kabila’s government who has
signed away mining concessions
with the Chinese. Nkunda argues
that the part of the deal which
is the Chinese responsibility to
develop infrastructure in the
Congo does not go far enough.
What could be far enough? In
a country as big as Western
Europe that the DRC is, perhaps
the answer could lie with the
Royal Bafokeng in the Northwest.
Recent media reports indicate
their move from passive royalty
recipients to active equity
shareholding with a
multinational. The Bafokeng have
become the richest tribe of
Africa whose revenues from
platinum have been used in
socio-economic development
through the construction of
educational and health
infrastructure among other
things. Isn’t this what the
war-torn DRC needs?
Legitimacy of a government
seated thousands of kilometres
away, controlling revenues of a
remote area such as North Kivu
without a formula where a
locality sees the benefit of the
exploited resources of their
backyard could be central to the
whole affair.
Hamid Karzai: Protection
Guarantor?
The going
is getting tough for one Karzai.
He played collaborator of sorts
by selling a war to the invaders
of his country. He bartered his
soul in exchange for ‘power’.
Five years on, facing an
uncertain future, he wants to
guarantee protection to Mullah
Omar so long the Taliban leader
can negotiate peace with him…
The moment of truth has arrived:
no warfare will pacify restive
Afghanistan.
What kind of
protection can Karzai muster for
Mullah Omar when he has not
guaranteed even himself and his
own palatial protection? Those
who can see through it are not
surprised considering that
Karzai will be facing an
election next year. His Western
friends are not impressed by his
style and government. To begin
with, he’s been a failure by
presiding over a regime tainted
by corruption and a very poor
record of service delivery.
It’s high noon for Karzai
and whether he looks left or
right, it doesn’t look good for
the man in Kabul. |
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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 113.78 |
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Mahr Faatimi |
R 5,689.05 |
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Zakaat Nisaab |
R 2,275.62 |
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Words of Wisdom |
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Hadith of the Week |
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Night of
Reward |
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Jabir Radhi-Allahu ‘anhu
said that Allah’s Messenger
Sallallahu ‘alaihi
wasallam said: "If one
makes excuses to his
brother, but he does not
excuse him, or accept his
apology, he is as sinful as
one who takes an unjust
tax."
(Baihaqi)
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Quotation for the Week |
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Show
Business |
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“The believer is he who
gives for his brothers the
excuse, and the hypocrite is
he who seeks their slips.”
(Abdullah ibn Al
Mubarak)
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Point of Reflection |
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Be Cheerful |
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When
good cheer is lacking, our
friends will be packing.
(Spanish Proverb)
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Q and A |
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Question: Is it
permissible to shred and
recycle Islamic literature
with other papers, because
there’s no place where I can
bury it because there’s no
soil in my back yard and I
can’t put it in the river,
etc. because authorities do
not allow? |
Answer: We
advise that you contact a
local 'Aalim and request him
to assist you in having such
literature buried.
Nevertheless, in the
instance where burying of
such literature is not
possible at all, then there
are
the following three
options:
1. Transfer
that literature to a place
where a collection of such
material is made. Generally,
the mosque and Islamic
institutes provide for this
facility. They would then
arrange for a burial of such
literature.
2. Burn
the literature.
3.
Obliterate (by erasing or
blotting out) the sanctified
words, and thereafter you
would be permitted to
shred it. We do not advise
recycling such literature
without obliterating the
sanctified words, as
generally they would be
mixed with other material
that contain immodest
pictures or are impure due
to alcohol, etc.
And
Allâh Ta’âla Knows Best.
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U P D A T E |
Voter Registration
The Jamiatul Ulama would like to
appeal to all Muslims eligible
to vote but have not yet
registered or verified their
details on the voters’ roll to
do so. They may call the
Independent Electoral Commission
on a toll free number 0800 11
8000 during office hours or log
on to www.elections.org.za for
details. One can also contact
electoral officers at municipal
officers in their own towns.
We can make our voices heard
by exercising the right to vote.
Medical
Equipment for Rent
The Jamiatul Ulama in Fordsburg
is now offering a service
whereby members of the community
can hire medical equipment such
as wheelchairs, crutches, bed
pans, drip stands, etc from our
office.
Anyone wanting to
hire these items can come in to
our office on 32 Dolly Rathebe
Road, 1 Floor, Baitul Hamd,
Fordsburg. For further info
contact our offices on: 011 373
8000.
Qurbani
Qurbâni arrangements have been
made by the Jamiatul Ulama.
Kindly forward your payments NOT
LATER THAN THURSDAY, 4TH
DECEMBER 2008 to Any of the
Jamiat Offices Below OR Deposit
Directly into our:
Jamiatul
Ulama
NEDBANK FORDSBURG;
ACCOUNT NO: 1953 285 937
and
Earmark Your Payment “QURBANI
2008”
COST PER
SHARE: R275.00
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
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Summarised Jumu’ah
Bayaan:
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Ibrahim alayhis
salaam & the Ka’bah (III
of IV) |
“And remember when
Ibrahim and Isma’il
raised the foundations
of the House (With this
prayer): ‘Our Lord!
Accept (this service)
from us: For Thou art
the All-Hearing, the
All-knowing.” (2:127)
• Nabi Ibrahim
alayhis salaam was
residing in Syria when
he received revelation
that Allah was going to
indicate to him the site
of the Ka’bah which he
was required to build
and maintain for those
who would assemble
there.
• The
Ka’bah was built under
the Divine Command of
Allah, as the Noble
Qur’an indicates,
“Remember We made the
House a place of
assembly for men and a
place of safety; and
take ye the station of
Abraham as a place of
prayer; and We
covenanted with Ibrahim
and Isma’il, that they
should sanctify My House
for those who compass it
round, or use it as a
retreat, or bow, or
prostrate themselves
(therein in prayer).”
(2:125)
• The
portion of land where
Allah commanded Nabi
Ibrahim alayhis salaam
to build the Ka’bah was
the very first piece of
land on the face of this
earth. It has been
reported that Allah
created this piece of
earth on which the
Ka’bah stands two
thousand years before
creating anything on
this earth. And its
foundation is in the
seventh earth below. (Tarikh
Makkah) In Surah Aal
Imraan, Allah says, “The
first House (of worship)
appointed for men was
that at Bakka (Makkah):
Full of blessing and of
guidance for all kinds
of beings.” (3:96)
• The Ka’bah is in
fact the centre and
origin of all lands.
According to most
historians was
reconstructed between 10
and 13 times over the
centuries.
• The
‘Friend of Allah,’ Nabi
Ibrahim alayhis salaam,
knew that no creature
can possibly worship
Allah as is His due. He
also knew that in
performing the greatest
tasks on should not be
proud of one’s
attainment, but should
rather exercise humility
and beg Allah for
acceptance. Despite
being honoured to
construct the greatest
House of Allah on the
earth with the aid of
his son, Nabi Ibrahim
alayhis salaam humbles
himself before Allah in
thanksgiving and hope of
approval. Allah reminds
us of his du’a at the
great moment of
completing the
construction of the
Ka’bah, “And remember
Ibrahim and Isma’il
raised the foundations
of the House (With this
prayer): ‘Our Lord!
Accept (this service)
from us: For Thou art
the All-Hearing, the
All-knowing.” (2:127)
• Even before the
advent of Islam, the
Arabs in the Age of
Ignorance, for all their
deviation into idol
worship, they deeply
respected the Ka’bah and
its environs. They
respected it, but did
not worship. In spite of
being very vengeful,
they would never take
revenge so long as the
enemy remained within
the precincts of the
Ka’bah. In fact, the
inhabitants of Makkah
themselves were
respected throughout
Arabia. The trading
caravans passing to and
fro between Makkah and
Syria or Yemen were
never interrupted or
harmed by Bedouin
highway robbers.
•
Nabi Ibrahim alayhis
salaam did not merely
construct the Ka’bah as
per Allah’s command, he
however continued, and
made du’a for the
blessings of city of
Makkah and for the
guidance of its people
who would reside
therein. “And when
Abraham prayed: My Lord!
Make this a region of
security and bestow upon
its people fruits, such
of them as believe in
Allah and the Last Day,
He answered: As for him
who disbelieveth, I
shall leave him in
contentment for a while,
then I shall compel him
to the doom of Fire - a
hapless journey's
end!”(2:126) One may
notice that Nabi Ibrahim
alayhis salaam did not
pray for the land of
Makkah to be made
fertile, but suggested
in his prayer that he
fruits might come to
Makkah from somewhere
else as an import. The
probable intention was
that his descendants
should not get unduly
absorbed in agriculture;
rather they should be
steadfast in prayer,
circumbulation of the
Ka’bah and other acts of
worship.
• He was
also concerned of
spiritual welfare of his
progeny that would
eventually take up
residence within the
precincts of the Ka’bah.
Thus, he asked Allah,
“Our Lord! And raise up
in their midst a
messenger from among
them who shall recite
unto them Thy
revelations, and shall
instruct them in the
Scripture and in wisdom
and shall make them
grow. Lo! Thou, only
Thou, art the Mighty,
Wise.” (2:129)
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Message from the Ameer of
the Jamiatul Ulama |
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Crime |
Crime
It’s that time of
the year again - December.
December brings with it many
things. It is the end of the
school year and therefore it
ushers in the end of the
school exams and the
resultant summer holidays.
It is a month wherein
shopping in South Africa
knows no bounds. It is a
month wherein people leave
their homes and travel to
various holiday
destinations, around the
country and internationally.
It is a time of long, hot
days and warm nights – with
people enjoying braais and
sitting on their stoeps –
sometimes till late in the
evening. The mood of the
period lends itself to a
relaxed and easy frame of
mind. People want to take it
easy and enjoy themselves.
In a period such as this we
find two dangerous phenomena
presenting themselves.
Firstly, we relax to the
extent that we tend to drop
our guard regarding our
religious obligations.
Because we are on holiday,
or in holiday mode, many a
times we delay our salah or
forego salah with jamaa`ah.
While on holiday, aspects
such as hijaab, etc are
occasionally compromised,
while places we would not
normally visit are
sporadically frequented.
Things that we would forbid
our children from are
carelessly allowed. Many
would describe it as a
mistaken feeling that we can
take some type of holiday
from our Islamic duties and
responsibilities. It is
important to remember that
we are always Muslims
wherever we are, at whatever
time.
The second
aspect that becomes evident
during this period of
unwinding, is the dropping
of our guard with regard to
aspects of security.
Unfortunately, criminals
become even more active
during the holiday period
and the fact that we are
somewhat less careful and
scrupulous regarding safety,
the opportunity to engage in
their acts of crime becomes
easier. It is important that
we are even more careful
during this time.
This week’s murder in
Laudium was more than
tragic. To say that these
criminals lack humanity and
simple humaneness would be
misrepresenting the facts.
Never mind humanity, even
animals would not conduct
themselves in the shocking
behavior engaged in by these
scum of the earth.
We
make du`aa that Allah grant
the family sabr and make it
possible for those that
perpetrated this crime to be
brought to book. Insha’Allah
the dear sister is in Jannah
and the family will be
raised in the eyes of Allah
for their fortitude in such
extremely trying times.
From a community
perspective, we also need to
see how best we can organize
ourselves to become better
helpers and protectors to
one another. Petty
differences need to be put
aside between people of
different backgrounds and
between different community
groups and individuals
involved in the fight
against crime. The scourge
of crime must be combated
and destroyed using a stern
and unyielding approach.
At the same time, we
must never forget that
conditions only come into
effect with the permission
of Allah. As such we must
turn to Allah in istighfaar,
du`aa, sadaqah and correct
actions in order to draw of
His forgiveness, Mercy and
Promise.
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