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Weekly Comment |
Count the Winners, Take Care of
the Losers
The introduction of BRT (Bus
Rapid Transit) system, the City
of Johannesburg’s solution to
public transport pits the city
authorities and the mini-bus
taxi industry on collision
course.
So far, we have
seen a BRT protest strike that
was accompanied by violent
scenes and there is likelihood
that it could be worse if
appropriate measures are not
taken to avert that.
The
taxi industry is a powerful one.
What happens to it has both
economic and, hence, political
ramifications. That is why it
had to take the President of the
ANC himself to assure the
industry of the government’s
commitment to address their
grievances just before the
elections. In so doing, a
potentially explosive situation
was diffused. In essence,
President Jacob Zuma pledged to
consider the demand of the
industry to be handed over the
operation of the entire BRT
project.
The grievances
are sensible and the industry
should be worried. There are
concerns about thousands of jobs
that would be lost. There are
also concerns of owners of all
those mini-buses who make a
living off them.
The
challenge that remains is
balancing the interests of the
players in the taxi industry and
the commuters who have for long
suffered an inefficient
transport system, to say the
least.
The government is
urged to intervene and take
decisive steps that will
mitigate the impact of the
perceived loss of livelihood for
many. These are those who are
directly involved in the
mini-bus taxi industry as well
as the providers of ancillary
services that have developed
around the mini-bus taxi
industry.
The government
would avert the chaos and chasm
that is very likely to develop
between itself and industry
operators with far-reaching
consequences of its spill over
effects, if the contested
matters are not adequately
addressed.
North Korea: Condemn it; Iran:
Threaten it.
For long Iran has been the
target of threats of military
strikes because of her ‘uranium
enrichment’ allegedly aiming at
developing an atomic bomb. Iran
has always insisted that her
nuclear programme is nothing but
for civilian use: power
generation.
Alongside
Iran on the receiving end has
been North Korea. The two were
part of George W Bush’s 'Axis of
Evil'. However, North Korea had
to be treated differently. N
Korea had to be talked to in
six-party multilateral
conferences since 2003 and even
bribed to ‘behave accordingly.’
Now we know that over the
period, North Korea has
developed devices that are of ‘Hiroshimaic’
proportions in devastation.
Still, the worst that can be
done to North Korea is ‘smart
sanctions.’ North Korea is too
geopolitically important to be
destroyed a la Iraq. So, for
now, it will be the usual
double-speak to which Iran is
also listening. |
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C O N T E N T
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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 140.20 |
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Mahr Faatimi |
R 7,010.07 |
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Zakaat Nisaab |
R 2,804.03 |
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Words of Wisdom |
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Hadith of the Week |
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Contentment |
The Prophet Salallahu alayhi
wasallam said, "Whenever any
of you turns his look
towards one who has been
given more in wealth and
physique, let him look
towards one who is inferior
to himself". In the
narration of Muslim, the
Prophet Salallahu alayhi
wasallam said, "Look at him
who is inferior to you, and
don't look at him who is
superior to you. It is
therefore, more proper that
you should not consider the
gifts of Allah upon you as
insignificant."
(Bukhari and Muslim)
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Quotation
of
the Week |
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The Root of Vice |
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‘It used to be said: “it is
part of al-nifâq (hypocrisy)
to be inwardly different
from what you are on the
outside, to say one thing
and do another and to be
different in how you enter
and how you leave. And the
root of al-nifâq is lying.”’
(Hasan al-Basri
Radhi-Allahu anhu)
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Point of Reflection |
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Consequences |
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He who touches honey is
compelled to lick his
fingers. (Moroccan
Proverb)
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Q and A |
Question:
I
would like to know if
baby/wedding showers are
permissible or not.
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Answer:
The giving of gifts in
Islam is meritorious and
highly commendable. It is a
means of creating bonds of
closeness and affection
between people. However,
There is no basis in Islam
to arrange a special
occasion for the exchanging
of gifts.
Secondly,
baby/wedding showers are
from the way of life and
culture of disbelievers,
regarding which Rasullualh
Sallallahu alayhi wasallam
has stated that a person
that imitates a nation is
from them.
Thirdly,
there are many un-Islamic
practices that take place at
such functions details of
which require no
elucidation. Fourthly, many
persons are placed under
pressure to present an
"appropriate" gift for the
occasion even if they are
unable to afford it.
One should therefore
freely give gifts but
abstain from inculcating and
adopting the mannerisms and
practices of disbelievers.
<Go to
Top> |
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U P D A T E |
Leadership Workshop for Ulama
The Jamiatul Ulama will host a
leadership workshop for ulama to
be held at Darus Salaam Centre
in Laudium on Saturday and
Sunday (30 and 31 May 2009). The
facilitator of the workshop is
Brother Mirza Yawar Baig, a
management consultant from
India.
The focus of the
workshop shall be understanding
leadership challenges,
collaboration and influencing,
negotiating skills and conflict
resolution.
An invitation
is extended to all ulama and
those interested are kindly
requested to contact Moulana
Muhammad Jeena on 012 374 2506.
Sleeping arrangements will be
available for those staying
over.
Meanwhile, the
first aid workshop for ulama
which focused on CPR went on
very well last Saturday 23 May
2009. At least 30 Ulama attended
the programme which Dr Khan of
Oliver Tambo Memorial Hospital
was the resource person.
Another Opportunity for Earning
Thawaab Jaariya
Alhamdulillah the budget for a
new musallah at OR Tambo
International Airport’s new
terminal has been reached. The
Jamiatul Ulama would like to
thank all those who contributed
to this project which has
already started as reported in
the newsletter’s earlier
edition.
Meanwhile, an
appeal is hereby extended to all
Muslims to contribute to the
Jamiatul Ulama’s project in
Soweto where an Islamic centre
is nearing completion. The
project, which is under Siddiqi
Trust as a collaborative
initiative with Ikhwana Islamiya
shall comprise of a mosque,
imam’s house as well as madrasah
classrooms in Orlando East,
Soweto. This is yet another
opportunity for earning thawaab
jaariya.
Electronic fund
transfer details are as follows:
Name of Account: Siddiqi
Trust
Bank: HBZ Bank Ltd
Branch: Fordsburg
Code:
570105
Account No.: 11 901
121864
Via ABSA
Name
of Account: HBZ Bank Ltd
Branch Code: 632005
Account
No.: 0101 323 1601
Ref:
21008105 (MUST Quote.
Very Important.)
Via Standard Bank
Name of
Account: HBZ Bank Ltd
Branch
Code: 00520508
Account No.:
002 502 410
Ref: 21008105
(MUST Quote. Very
Important.)
Kindly fax deposit slip for
record purposes to: 011 373 8022
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Summarised Jumu’ah
Bayaan: |
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Neighbours |
“Worship Allah and
join none with Him (in
worship); and do good to
parents, kinsfolk,
orphans,
the poor,
the neighbour who is
near of kin, the
neighbour who is a
stranger, the companion
by your side,
the
wayfarer (you meet), and
those (slaves) whom your
right hands possess.
Verily, Allah does not
like such as are proud
and boastful.” (4:36)
• Neighbours are
important segments of
any society. Without
having neighbours, life
would be difficult and
miserable. Thus, if a
person desires to live
in peace in his own
home, the best neighbour
should be sought after
in a good neighbourhood
and in a good society.
In terms of kindness,
care and good relations,
neighbours have been
grouped in the same
category as parents,
relatives, orphans and
the needy.
•
Neighbours can be of
three types:
1. A non
Muslim neighbour.
2.
A Muslim neighbour.
3. A Muslim neighbour
who is a relative as
well.
In the same
order of arrangement,
neighbours enjoy rights
over us with least
rights for a neighbour
who is a non Muslim and
the most for a relative
who is also a Muslim.
• The importance
of good treatment of
neighbours has been
highlighted in several
narrations:
1. Ibn
Umar radhiyallahu anhu
narrates that Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasalam said, ‘The angel
Jibraeel continuously
advised me to take care
of the neighbour until I
thought that Allah is to
make him an inheritor.’
(Bukhari & Muslim)
2. Ibn Umar
radhiyallahu anhu
narrates that Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasalam said, ‘The best
companion in the sight
of Allah is the one who
is best to his fellow
companions; and the best
neighbour in the sight
of Allah is the one who
is good to his
neighbours.’ (Tirmidhi)
3. Abu Shuray-h
Khuzaa‘i radhiyallahu
anhu narrates that
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasalam said,
‘Whoever believes in
Allah and the Day of
Judgement, let him do
good to his neighbour…’
(Muslim)
•
Careful consideration
should be given that in
no way a neighbour is
offended or made to feel
uncomfortable, whether
it is directly or
indirectly. Abu Dhar
Ghifari radhiyallahu
anhu narrates that
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasalam said, ‘Oh
Abu Dhar! Whenever you
cook food increase its
contents, and be
considerate of your
neighbours.’ (Muslim)
Another hadith reported
by Abu Hurairah
radhiyallahu anhu states
that Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasalam said, ‘He will
not enter Jannah whose
neighbour is not safe
from his evil.’ (Muslim)
Al Bazzaar has quoted
the similar subject in
these words, ‘He has not
(completely) believed in
me who sleeps satiated
while his neighbour goes
hungry.’
• The
scholars have given an
indication as to what
extent will a household
be considered to be ones
neighbour. This does not
imply that one should
restrict kindness and
goodwill to these
boundaries. Courtesy is
a hallmark of believer
which is demonstrated to
all. Imam Tahawi
explains, ‘Every forty
houses are your
neighbours: The ones in
front of you, the ones
behind you, the ones on
the right and the one
son the left.’ (Tahawi)
• Tabrani has cited
the rights of a
neighbour in the
following words, ‘The
rights of a neighbour
are that when he is sick
you visit him; when he
dies you attend his
funeral; when he is poor
you loan him money; when
he is in need you
protect him; when he is
happiness you
congratulate him; and
when he faces a calamity
you console him. Do not
raise your buildings
above his so as to
prevent him from
receiving (fresh) air;
and do not harm him with
the smell of your food
unless you let him have
part of it.’
• ‘A
fortunate person is he
who has an upright
neighbour, a spacious
(comfortable) house and
relaxing mode of
transport.’ (Ahmad)
• In the fast moving
modern society very few
are concerned about
those around them. Very
often we reside next to
a person but have no
contact with him for
months if not years on
end. Each person is
engrossed in personal
satisfaction,
gratification and
comfort.
•
Neighbours are our
strength and social
network of support.
Without them, mutual
existence becomes
straightened and social
structures deteriorate.
Islam has emphasised and
has given them a
pedestal of importance
and relevance.
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Message from the Ameer of
the Jamiatul Ulama |
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The Importance of
Self-Reflection |
Man is constantly involved
in various activities.
Some of the activities
are focused on earning of a
livelihood for the purpose
of providing for himself and
his family; some aimed at
strengthening the
relationships that are
important to him as well as
fulfilling the rights of his
close and extended family,
and some activities that
center solely around
fulfilling the injunctions
of Allah.
Sometimes
man becomes so involved in
the activities that
preoccupy him that he loses
sight of what exactly he is
doing and why he is doing
it.
Sometime man
loses track of what needs to
be given priority in the
mountain of tasks he has to
complete.
It is
important to constantly and
consistently reflect upon
one’s actions and question
one’s own intentions.
Anything done only for
the pleasure of Allah will
ultimately bring real and
true blessing and reward.
May Allah Subhanahu wa
Ta'aala guide us in all that
we do. Aameen.
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