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Weekly Comment |
Sadistic World Powers
For generations we have
witnessed intractable civil
strife in many parts of the
world.
The case of
Palestine is well known and like
no other. Then there are also a
myriad other conflicts that
refuse to die. DR Congo comes to
mind and then we also have the
Horn of Africa.
Besides
these regions, there are also
intermittent conflicts and
others sustained for long
periods of time as has been the
case in Darfur and also in the
Philippines as well as in
Central Asia.
A few
conflicts have eluded solutions
and long-term peaceful
settlement. Others have been
resolved after long human
tragedies have played out. The
humanitarian crises and social
dislocation in these troubled
parts of the world are
well-documented.
Typically, these have been
protracted struggles of people
resisting occupation and seeking
freedom. There is no denying of
a people’s rights to fight for
their rights and freedom. Just
as international treaties
assert, the world owes such a
people their liberation.
It is disheartening to note
that those adding fuel to the
conflict fires, entrenching
occupation and violation of
human rights are leading nations
that claim moral high-ground in
a culture of upholding the rule
of law.
This week,
revelations in the news have
indicated that Britain has
suspended licences for the
supply of naval equipment to
Zionist Israel. It has been
reported that the British
government came under intense
pressure from human rights
groups to do so after reports
emerged that Israeli soldiers
used such equipment to destroy
civilian targets in the
occupiers’ “Operation Cast Lead”
on Gaza.
This does not
come as something strange. We
know that there is a lot of
military cooperation and
agreements between Western
powers and the occupying state
of Israel. On the podium in
Cairo, Barack Obama told us that
the bond between his country and
Israel was ‘unbreakable.’ At
least, he was honest in telling
the world just that.
What
is strange is the hypocrisy
which accompanies these ‘world
powers’ in preaching peace
around the world while they are
peddling arms to conflict
regions contrary to their own
national laws. Where will peace
hold when leading nations take
sides especially of aggressors
to perpetrate human suffering? |
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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 125.06 |
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Mahr Faatimi |
R 6,252.80 |
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Zakaat Nisaab |
R 2,501.12 |
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Words of Wisdom |
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Hadith of the Week |
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Vicious Family Life |
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Ibn Mas'ûd Radhi-Allah
Ta’aala anhu and Abu
Hurairah Radhi-Allah Ta’aala
anhu narrate the Prophet
Muhammad Sallallahu ‘alayhi
wassallam said: "There will
dawn a time over people when
the destruction of a man
will be at the hands of his
wife, parents, and children.
They will humiliate him
because of his poverty and
will make such demands which
will induce him to engage in
such activities (to gain
more money) which will
finally destroy his Deen."
(Baihaqi) |
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Quotation
of
the Week |
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Divine Help |
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Divine help means to have
enough strength to do good
deeds, when one intends to.
(Ibrahim Adham
Rahmatullah ‘alayhi) |
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Point of Reflection |
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Character |
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"Character is like smoke, it
cannot be hidden."
(Ibo Saying from
Nigeria) |
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Q and A |
Question:
I
entered a competition by
filling out a crossword
puzzle. The only money I
contributed was the postage
stamp that was to be
attached on the envelope.
Assuming I win the
competition, will it be
permissible for me to claim
the prize in view of the
fact that I paid for
postage?
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Answer:
It should be borne
in mind that paying money to
the same organization that
gives the prize is
classified as gambling.
However, paying for a
postage stamp is not the
same as paying money to the
same organisation that gives
the prize. Hence it is not
classified as gambling.
Purchasing a stamp is merely
hiring the post office to
deliver your competition
entry to a specific address.
The ruling would be
different if you were
required to pay for a stamp
that is marked more than the
normal rate, i.e. it is
surcharged purely on the
basis that part of the stamp
money will be directed to
the same organisation giving
the prize. In the event, it
would be clear that this
form of competition is also
tantamount to gambling and
one would therefore be
advised to abstain.
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U P D A T E |
Ar Rasheed
is Out: Download Now!
The Jamiatul Ulama’s official
print newsletter, Ar Rasheed
will be available soon in
masajid around Johannesburg and
other towns in South Africa. The
electronic edition is now
available for download from this
link:
www.jamiat.co.za/special/ar1202.pdf
Download a copy now and
read articles on spirituality,
Islamic heritage and updates of
what is happening at the
Jamiatul Ulama.
Another Opportunity for Earning
Thawaab Jaariya
Alhamdulillah the budget for a
new musallah at OR Tambo
International Airport’s new
terminal was 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 collaborative
initiative with Ikhwana Islamiya
in Soweto where an Islamic
centre is nearing completion.
The project, which is under
Siddiqi Trust 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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The Importance
of Salaah |
“And those who
remain patient, seeking
their Lord’s
Countenance, perform
Salaah, and spend out of
that which We have
bestowed on them,
secretly and openly, and
defend evil with good,
for such there is a good
end.” (13:22)
•
The concern which a
believer displays
towards religious
observance makes his/her
faith apparent. A
believer
enthusiastically
establishes Salaah,
fasts and performs
ritual washing made
compulsory by Allah
throughout the course of
his life. Allah has
described sincere
Muslims’ enthusiasm for
religious observances in
many verses. One of
these reads: “And those
who remain patient,
seeking their Lord’s
Countenance, perform
Salaah, and spend out of
that which We have
bestowed on them,
secretly and openly, and
defend evil with good,
for such there is a good
end.” (13:22)
•
The Salaah performed
five times a day
eradicates forgetfulness
and heedlessness, and
keeps the believer’s
will and awareness
alive. It ensures that
the believer constantly
turns to Allah and
assists him in living in
the light of Allah’s
commandments. The
believer who stands in
the presence of Allah in
order to pray
establishes a powerful
spiritual bond with
Allah. It is mentioned
in one verse that Salaah
reminds people of Allah
and keeps them from all
forms of evil: “Recite
what has been revealed
to you of the Book (the
Qur’an), and perform
Salaah. Verily, Salaah
prevents from sins and
disbelief; and the
remembering (praising)
of (you by) Allah (in
front of the angels) is
greater indeed. And
Allah knows what you
do.” (29:45)
•
Throughout history, the
Ambiyaa alayhimus salaam
have communicated the
aspect of Salaah being
made compulsory by Allah
to their respective
peoples, and were role
models for all believers
by abiding by this
observance in the best
and most correct manner.
Some examples of these
in the Noble Qur’an are:
1. Ibrahim alayhis
salaam: “(Ibrahim said:)
My Lord! Make me and my
descendants people who
establish Salaah. My
Lord! Accept my prayer.”
(14:40)
2. Isma’il
alayhis salaam: “Mention
Isma'il in the Book. He
was true to his promise
and was a messenger and
a prophet. He used to
command his people to
perform Salaah and give
the alms and he was
pleasing to his Lord.”
(19: 54-55)
3. Musa
alayhis salaam: “I am
Allah. There is no god
but Me, so worship Me
and establish Salaah to
remember Me.” (20: 14)
4. Isa alayhis
salaam: “He said: ‘I am
the servant of Allah, He
has given me the Book
and made me a prophet.
He has made me blessed
wherever I am and
directed me to perform
Salaah and give the alms
as long as I live."
(19:30-31)
5. Maryam
alayhas salaam, depicted
as a role model for all
women, was also
commanded to establish
Salaah: “Maryam, obey
your Lord and prostrate
and bow with those who
bow.” (3:43)
•
While a Muslim has been
commanded to establish
Salaah in his/her life,
various virtues have
been cited in the
traditions exhorting
believers to be punctual
and steadfast therein.
Together with this, the
reward for individual
Salaah has also be
alluded to in the
Ahadith.
• Fajr
Salaah: It has been
narrated by A’isha
radhiyallahu anha that
Nabi sallallahu alayhi
wasalam said: ‘The two
Rakaats (Sunnah) of Fajr
is better than the
entire world and
whatever it contains.’
(Muslim)
• Zuhr
Salaah: Umm Habibah
radhiyallahu anha says:
‘I heard Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasalam saying: ‘Allah
will make the fire of
Hell forbidden upon
whoever observes the
four Rakaats before Zuhr
and four Rakaats (two
Sunnah and two Nafl)
after Zuhr.’ (Abu Dawud,
Tirmidhi)
• Asr
Salaah: It has been
narrated by Ibn Umar
radhiyallahu anha that
Nabi sallallahu alayhi
wasalam said: ‘May Allah
shower mercy on that
person who performs four
Rakaats before Asr.’
(Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi)
• Maghrib Salaah:
Abu Hurairah
radhiyallahu anha
narrates that Nabi
sallallahu alayhi
wasalam said: ‘Whosoever
performs six Rakaats
after the Maghrib Salaah
and does not speak any
evil in between, he will
receive the reward of
twelve years of ‘Ibaadah.’
(Tirmidhi)
• Esha
Salaah: In a narration
it states, ‘Whosoever
performs Esha Salaah
with congregation and
performs four Rakaats
prior to leaving the
Masjid will receive the
reward of Lailatul Qadr.’
(Tibraani)
•
Salaah strengthens the
foundations of our
faith. It prepares a
person to live the life
of goodness and
obedience to Allah, and
it builds courage and
determination. Every
time we perform Salaah,
we renew our commitments
to Allah and we rid
ourselves from worldly
pressures five times a
day.
• Salaah is
a practical sign of
obedience to the
commands of Allah. Its
importance has been
emphasized about 500
times in the Noble
Qur’an.
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Message from the Ameer of
the Jamiatul Ulama |
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Blessed Months, An
Opportunity Not to be Missed |
In the system of Allah,
Allah Subhanahu wa ta’aala
has created various
creations and established
man as the best of
creations. Within man, Allah
has established the
Believers to the best. From
amongst the Believers Allah
has chosen those that have
the most taqwa. Allah has
selected above all of these
His dear Messengers.
Finally, Allah has elevated
above all the Messengers,
our Prophet Muhammad
Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
With regard to time too,
Allah has created minutes,
hours, days, weeks, months
and years – and Allah
Subhanahu wa ta’aala has
given preference to some
occasions, moments, days,
nights and months over
others.
In Surah al-tawbah
(9), verse 36, Allah
declares: "The number of
months, as far as Allah is
concerned, is twelve." This
has been Allah’s decree,
from the day He created the
heavens and the earth. From
amongst them, four are
sacred. This is the perfect
religion; Do not wrong your
souls during the Sacred
Months. …”. From the hadeeth
of the Prophet Sallallahu ‘alayhi
wa sallam we learn that
these are the months of;
Rajab, Dhul Qa`dah, Dhul
Hijjah and Muharram. The
month of Rajab has also been
declared as virtuous by the
Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu
‘alayhi wa sallam when he
prayed to Allah to grant
barakah in this month and
the month of Sha'baan.
We are nearing the end
of Rajab, going into the
month of Sha`baan leading
into the month of Ramadan.
These are indeed blessed
months and occasions to take
advantage of the favour of
Blessings of Allah.
In these months we must
strengthen our relationship
with Allah by seeking His
forgiveness, by increasing
our remembrance of Him and
by turning in worship to
Him.
May Allah make
it possible for us to take
full advantage of the
opportunity. We do not know
whether we will be here next
time around.
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