|
|
|
Weekly Comment |
To
Vote or Not to Vote
More and more Muslims are
realising that voting is the
best thing that we can do to
safeguard our hard-won liberties
in South Africa.
Though
there is still some resistance
from people who think that
voting is a waste of time or
even ‘un-Islamic’, building
political power is a long
process and voting should never
be seen as a strategy for the
short-run.
A Divine
Injunction compels Muslims to
the duty of promoting good and
forbidding evil. Voting is not
only a right but also a
responsibility to ensure that
the leadership and management of
our country are vested in people
who subscribe to principles of
honesty, justice, and
compassion. It is our
contribution as citizens of
South Africa towards preserving
a just and fair order.
It is an investment in our own
future and an attempt to
preserve and promote the common
good of our nation.
Muslims should exercise their
vote according to their
individual preferences bearing
in mind the securing of policies
particularly those designed to
promote issues of common good
for humanity by providing basic
needs and the upholding of
universally cherished societal
values.
The Jamiatul
Ulama appeals to all to register
during the forthcoming round of
registration on 7th and 8th
February 2009.
Change is coming to the Great
Lakes?
As
analysts unpacked Barack Obama’s
inaugural speech deciphering
what he has in store for the
world, something of major
significance unraveled in the
Great Lakes Region. Laurent
Nkunda, the renegade army
general who tormented Kinshasa
from the eastern end of the
Congo was arrested in Rwanda.
The suave and charming
Nkunda became a victim of
quick-shifting diplomatic sands
and had misread the new dynamics
of the region with ally Rwanda,
in a joint operation with
Congolese forces, turning
captor.
Will this
development spell the dawn of
peace for the Great Lakes
Region? The region has been
dogged by a myriad of upheavals
that have disrupted civility. It
is in the interest of the masses
to give peace a chance. Will the
players of the great game of
shifting alliances allow for
this? All key players have to be
persuaded to make this happen.
Closer home, will the
latest round of talks just yield
more talks or signal the end of
the political impasse in
Zimbabwe? Leaders need to rise
above their narrow and
self-serving interests and see
the tragedy that the nation has
become in order to arrive at a
shared vision for the future.
Africa can and should keep
peace and prosper. |
|
|
C O N
T E N T S |
|
Summarised
Jumuah Bayaan |
|
Question and
Answer |
|
Update |
|
Message from the Ameer |
|
I N F
O R M A T I O N |
|
Min. Mahr |
R 140.34 |
|
Mahr Faatimi |
R 7,017.08 |
|
Zakaat Nisaab |
R 2,806.83 |
|
Words of Wisdom |
|
Hadith of the Week |
|
Virtuous
Envy |
It is reported from Ibn
Mas'ûd Radhi-Allahu 'anhu
who said that Allâh’s
Messenger Sallallâhu ‘alayhi
wa'sallam said: “There is to
be no envy except with
regard to two (cases): ‘A
man whom Allâh has given
wealth which he strives to
spend righteously, and a man
to whom Allâh has given the
Wisdom (i.e. the Qur'ân) and
he acts according to it and
teaches it to others.’”
(Bukharî)
|
|
|
Quotation for the Week |
|
Truth
is Spontaneous |
|
"If you tell the truth, you
don't have to remember
anything." (Mark
Twain)
|
|
|
Point of Reflection |
|
In Self-Defence |
|
“He
who is guilty is the one
that has much to say.”
(Ashanti of Ghana)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Q and A |
Question:
1.
What is the difference
between Mudarabah and
Musharakah? Kindly explain
in detail both concepts with
the pro and cons of both?
2. In Musharakah can any
partner take a salary? What
if both partners are working
partners (working equal
hours, but investment ratio
is different)? What must be
the salary and how must it
be worked out, considering
the above in the brackets.
|
Answers:
1) In a Musharakah,
all partners invest (Shaami
4/299) while in Mudarabah,
only one party (which could
constitute of many
individuals) makes the
investment (Shaami 5/645)
whilst the other party
contributes the labour only.
In a Musharakah, all
partners have a right to
manage the enterprise while
in Mudarabah, only the
Mudarib (entrepreneur) has
the right to manage the
business (Shaami 5/645) in
terms of the rules of the
Rabbul Maal.
In a
Musharakah, all partners
share in the loss of the
business in proportion to
their investment (Shaami
4/305) while in Mudarabah,
only the Rabbul Maal
(financier) has to bear the
losses (Shaami 5/647).
In a Musharakah, all
partners own the assets in
proportion to their
investment (Shaami 4/306)
while in Madarabah only the
Rabbul Maal (financier) owns
the assets (Shaami 5/645).
2) It would be
detrimental for the partners
in a Musharakah to take
salaries. A dispute could
arise in the scenario where,
for example, the profits
generated are only
sufficient for one partner’s
salary. Each partner might
insist on taking his salary
because that amount has been
generated, but would not be
prepared to accommodate the
salary of the other partner
(Shaami 5/646, Shaami 4/305,
316).
The preferred
practice would be to
stipulate percentages of net
profit. It will be
acceptable for a partner to
even receive a percentage of
profit more than his actual
investment, provided that
both have agreed to this at
the very outset (Shaami
4/305).
And Allâh
Ta’âla Knows Best.
<Go to
Top> |
|
U P D A T E |
Voter Registration
Another round of registration
for this year’s general
elections will be on the weekend
of 7th and 8th February 2009.
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.
Jaami`ah
al-Ulum al-Islamiyyah – Library
Appeal
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 and 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 while computer
Studies is a compulsory subject
with the intention to register
all future students for the
ICDL. A programme on Islamic
economics is also included and
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.
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.
The
Jaami`ah considers it of
paramount importance to
establish a strong library for
its students and is therefore
requesting `Ulama who are in
possession of classical Arabic
texts as well as commentaries (shuruhaat)
to consider donating these to
the Jaami’ah library. The
donation of books to a project
such as this is thawaab al-Jaariyyah.
For more information,
contact:
Ml. Abdullah Jeena
Jâmi‘ah al-‘Ulûm al-Islâmiyyah
Tel: 011 373 8040 / 082 655
9309, Fax: 011 373 8022
|
|
Summarised Jumu’ah
Bayaan:
|
|
Developing
Closeness to Allah |
“But those who
believe, love Allah
intensely (more than
anything else).” (2:165)
“Say: If your
fathers, your sons, your
brothers, your wives,
your kindred, the wealth
that you have gained,
the commerce in which
you fear a decline and
the dwellings in which
you delight are dearer
to you than Allah and
His Messenger, and
striving hard in His
Cause, then wait until
Allah brings about His
Decision (torment). And
Allah guides not the
people who are
disobedient to Allah.”
(9:24)
•
It is a sign of true
believer that he/she
desires to develop
closeness to Allah and
loves Him more than
anything else. It is
also a requirement of
Islam that a Muslim
loves Allah, Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasalam and struggle in
the path of Allah more
than anything else in
his/her life.
•
It is necessary for a
Muslim to seek closeness
unto Allah and to look
at the condition of
his/her relationship
with Allah. Allah in His
infinite mercy assists
the believer when
he/seeks to learn about
Him and to get close to
Him. Allah says: “And
when My slaves ask you
(O Muhammad) concerning
Me, then (answer them),
I am indeed near (to
them by My Knowledge). I
respond to the
invocations of the
supplicant when he calls
on Me (without any
mediator or
intercessor). So let
them obey Me and believe
in Me, so that they may
be rightly guided.”
(2:186)
• For
those who Allah grants
closeness to Him, He
said in a Hadith Qudsi:
On the authority of Abu
Hurayrah radhiyallahu
anhu Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasalam said: ‘If Allah
has loved a slave [of
His], He calls Jibraeel
alayhis salaam and says:
‘I love so-and-so,
therefore love him.’
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasalam said: ‘So
Jibraeel alayhis salaam
loves him. Then he (Jibraeel
alayhis salaam) calls
out in heaven, saying:
‘Allah loves so-and-so,
therefore love him.’ And
the inhabitants of
heaven love him.’
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasalam said:
‘Then acceptance is
established for him on
earth.’ And if Allah has
abhorred a servant (of
His), He calls Jibraeel
alayhis salaam and says:
‘I hate so-and-so,
therefore you hate him.’
So Jibraeel alayhis
salaam hates him. Then
Jibraeel alayhis salaam
calls out to the
inhabitants of heaven,
‘Allah hates so-and-so,
therefore you hate him.’
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasalam said: ‘So
they hate him and hatred
is established for him
on earth.’ (Muslim)
• Ways to Seek
Nearness to Allah
1. Tawbah
(seeking repentance)
Allah promised to
forgive those who seek
His forgiveness and told
us not to lose hope in
his forgiveness. Allah
says: “Say O My slaves
who have transgressed
against themselves (by
committing evil deeds
and sins)! Despair not
of the Mercy of Allah,
verily Allah forgives
all sins. Truly, He is
Oft-Forgiving, Most
Merciful.” (39:53). So,
the first thing to do to
seek the closeness of
Allah is to ask for His
forgiveness with the
complete certainty that
Allah will forgive us if
we are sincere in our
repentance.
2. Eliminate all
Shirk (polytheism) and
Bida’at (innovation)
from your life
Not to join partners
with Allah in worship,
nor ask for help, make
du’a or supplicate to
anyone other than Allah.
Allah says, “Verily,
Allah forgives not that
partners should be set
up with him in worship,
but He forgives except
that (anything else) to
whom He pleases. And
whoever sets up partners
with Allah in worship,
he has indeed invented a
tremendous sin.” (4:48)
3. Ensure
that all food and
earning is Halaal
It is essential to
ensure that nothing we
eat or earn is ever from
doubtful or Haraam
sources. If there is any
doubt then one must
leave that item. All
impermissible food and
earning increases the
distance from Allah and
renders prayer and du’a
ineffective.
4. Seeking to
remember Allah
constantly
Allah says regarding the
believers: “Those who
remember Allah (always
and in prayers)
standing, sitting, and
lying down on their
sides, and think deeply
about the creation of
the heavens and the
earth, (saying): “Our
Lord! You have not
created (all) this
without purpose, glory
to You! (Exalted be You
above all that they
associate with You as
partners). Give us
salvation from the
torment of the Fire.”
(3:191)
The above
verse draws our
attention to the
importance of developing
a consciousness of Allah
in our entire lives, not
only when we stand
before Him in formal
prayer. Standing,
sitting and lying on the
side, refers to all the
possible situations of
the human being.
Closeness to Allah is
the result of
remembering Allah in all
aspects of our lives.
5. Seeking
His Pleasure in
everything
A
natural outcome of this
consciousness is to seek
the pleasure of Allah in
all that we do and to
have that as the
over-riding
consideration in all our
actions. One who wants
to seek closeness to
Allah should not be
bothered about pleasing
people, rather focus on
seeking to please Allah
alone.
6.
Being grateful to Allah
for all bounties and
exercise patience in
adversity
Allah informs us about
the importance of being
grateful to Him and of
being patient in
adversity. He says: “And
(remember) when your
Lord proclaimed: If you
give thanks, I will give
you more (of My
Blessings), but if you
are thankless, verily!
My Punishment is indeed
severe.” (14:7)
<Go to Top> |
|
Message from the Ameer of
the Jamiatul Ulama |
|
Proud To be a Muslim |
Man is strange. He always
looks at what others have
and aspires towards that,
often forgetting to see the
beauty of what is with him.
Sometimes, we unwittingly
fall prey to developing a
similar attitude with regard
to our Deen.
It is
important that we proudly
celebrate the fact that we
are Muslims and express our
joy and happiness and the
fact that we are Muslims.
After all, Allah has chosen
the religion of Islam for us
and made us Muslims and has
granted us a most complete
and perfect Deen. He has
made us among the Ummah of
the Prophet Muhammad
Sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam,
the Best Ummah, and has
given us a religion, the
Prophet of Whom is a Mercy
to the Mankind, and He has
granted us a Deen which has
as its constitution, the
Word of Allah, the Qur’an,
the Final Book of Allah, a
book in which there is no
doubt and a book which Allah
himself has promised to
preserve, in its pristine
purity.
We must
rejoice and celebrate our
Deen. We must rejoice,
celebrate and be proud to be
a part of that faith which
is most fair and just; we
must rejoice, celebrate and
be proud to be a part of
that faith which is most
easy and natural to follow -
That faith which is most
comprehensive and complete
and is a complete way of
life. We must rejoice,
celebrate and be proud to be
a part of that faith which
offers solutions to the many
problems faced by the world
today, and that faith which
offers prescriptions for
establishing society as a
safe, better and more
dignified place to live in,
by providing such
alternatives which have the
potential to radically
change the course of
destruction that present-day
man is travelling on. Islam
offers practical solutions
to issues such as; AIDS,
lack of respect and dignity
for women, destruction of
the family structure, drug
abuse and alcoholism,
divorce, gambling, lewdness
and obscenity, crime,
economic instability and
injustice in financial
practices, lack of
beneficial political
direction, and many others.
In such an environment
where we are being viciously
assaulted from every angle,
nook and corner, our refuge
lies in Islam and the
desperate need for us to
stand up straight and be
proud of Islam. We must
celebrate our Islam and be
proud to be Muslims by:
Looking within ourselves and
assessing the condition of
our imaan and our obedience
to Allah and complying with
the requirements of those
worthy of the promises of
Allah.
Letting the
Qur’an and Sunnah manifest
itself in our practical
lives, outwardly (through
our actions, appearance and
dress) and inwardly
Practicing on all aspects of
Islam – worship of Allah,
good character, good social
interaction, fulfilling the
rights of our counterparts
and engaging in correct
financial transactions.
We must show that we are
proud to be Muslims by
maintaining the identity of
Muslims.
Trusting in
Allah and Establishing taqwa
in our lives, exercising
patience and being steadfast
on Deen and not succumbing
to despair or losing hope in
the Mercy of Allah.
Focusing on establishing the
family structure of
upbringing of children as
shown to us by the Prophet
Muhammad Sallallahu ‘alayhi
wasallam.
Working
together, united on the
belief in the Oneness of
Allah.
Interacting
positively with society on
all levels in all spheres,
educating non-Muslims about
Islam and giving them da`wah
by way of example.
Shunning all non-Islamic
practices and removing the
materialistic drive that has
settled in our hearts and
lives.
Continuing with
the spirit of Islam – A
spirit filled with
brotherhood, sacrifice,
sharing and caring, focused
ibaadah, abstention from sin
and developing taqwah.
Establishing peace and
acting with justice and
ihsaan (goodness/kindness)
In all, we need to
be proud of our Deen by
displaying confidence in the
truth of this Deen and
practicing upon the very
Deen we preach as a cure for
the ailments of the world;
we need to become
practitioners of the theory
that we believe is a
solution; we need to become
revolutionaries for the Deen
that can create a
revolution; we need to
become exemplars of the Deen
that can alter the course of
history. We must practice
Islam with a spirit of
devotion, with a passion for
the spreading the truth,
with an attitude of
unflinching loyalty and with
the identity of the sunnah
of our Prophet and His
illustrious companions.
It is then, and only then,
that we can be really worthy
of proudly celebrating the
Beautiful Deen of Islam.
<Go to
Top> |
|
|
|