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Weekly Comment |
“Education is Prohibited”
The press
has since Sunday been carrying
gruesome images of the aftermath
of the smouldering conflict in
northern Nigerian. Not less than
150 people are reported to have
been killed since. An uneasy
calm is said to have returned
with a deployment of security
forces in the region.
At
the time when restive Nigeria
seemed to have been holding it
together, there emerges Boko
Haram. Boko Haram, which is
translated as ‘Western education
is prohibited’ is a
northern-Nigeria based movement
which is reportedly aiming at a
nationwide establishment of
Shari’ah. The movement opposes
Western education which it
regards as against Islamic
teachings and unproductive.
Boko Haram has been tagged
the generic ‘Al-Qaeda’ label.
While the religious
characterisation has been a
convenient one for many an
analyst, others with insight
into the issues surrounding the
flare up consider the violence
as a product of abject and
systemic poverty and political
posturing.
Just as is the
case with the country’s Delta
region, education has not lifted
people out of poverty up north.
A succession of corrupt juntas
and sometimes indifferent
civilian administrations has
resulted in disillusionment with
the status quo.
Why has
Boko Haram singled out
education? What could be wrong
with education which is supposed
to lift communities out of
ignorance and poverty?
After all the promises of
Western education for career
success and prosperity,
Nigerians wallow in misery
brought about by unemployment
and bureaucratic inefficiency.
The country has even lost out to
Angola as the continent’s
leading oil producer indicating
declining revenues for Nigeria’s
coffers from that sector.
The “Boko-Haram” phenomenon
is not a new one. In the past,
flare-ups have taken many shapes
but with similar consequences:
wanton loss of life and tension.
Predictably, as in the past, the
government will appoint a
commission of enquiry to look
into the events surrounding the
matter. Again, as in the past,
there will not be much happening
by way of acting on
recommendations. Or perhaps the
Nigerian government will
surprise us with a different
response this time around?
Education is for the
imparting of knowledge and
education that does not improve
the condition of the people
materially and more importantly,
spiritually will be deemed with
suspicion as a colonising
element of the mind.
Domestically we have also seen
violent protests that take
xenophobic dimensions with
attacks on foreign nationals. It
is becoming clear that
frustration at slow service
delivery is behind it all. Will
our government act differently
on the promises of Polokwane?
Regardless, a call for
restraint is in its place. There
is nothing that can justify such
careless loss of human life as
has happened in Nigeria
recently. |
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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 129.64 |
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Mahr Faatimi |
R 6,481.86 |
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Zakaat Nisaab |
R 2,592.74 |
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Words of Wisdom |
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Hadith of the Week |
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Smoothen the Path |
Prophet Muhammad
Sallallahu ‘alayhi wassallam
said: “If anyone removes
(one of the) anxieties of
this world from a believer,
Allah will remove (one of
the) anxieties from him on
the Day of Resurrection; if
one smoothes the way for one
who is destitute, Allah will
smooth the way for him in
this world and the next; and
if anyone conceals the
faults of a Muslim, Allah
will conceal his faults in
this world and the next.
Allah helps a man as long as
he helps his brother. If
anyone pursues a path in
search of knowledge Allah
will thereby make easy for
him a path to paradise.”
(Muslim) |
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Quotation
of
the Week |
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Vicious Cycle of Sin |
“To be cursed is not
some blackness that can be
seen in the face, but it is
when you do not leave a sin
without falling into
another.”
(Hammâd
bin Salamah Rahmatullah ‘alayhi)
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Point of Reflection |
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Keep the Goal in Focus |
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If you stop every time
a dog barks, your road will
never end. (Arab
Saying)
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Q and A |
Question:
There
is a mention in
Kitaab that a female
who has a period during the
day time while fasting then
she must not eat until
sunset; I would like to know
what it means by day time,
is it after sunrise, after
Zawaal or
something else? Is it a sin
if she eats or is it
makrûh if
she eats?
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Answer:
A woman is
allowed to eat during the
day of Ramadan wherein she
experiences her menses. (Ahsanul
Fataawa, vol.4 p.438). It is
however waajib for a woman
that becomes pure from her
menses during the day to
abstain from eating for the
remainder of the day.(ibid).
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U P D A T E |
“Who will make a Good Loan
to Allah?”
Imagine you come on the Day of
Judgment and you have
contributed among other things
towards: a child’s proper
recitation of the Qur’an;
reconciliation of disputing
Muslims; providing for the
community’s poor and vulnerable;
publishing of the
recommendations of Allah and His
Rasul Sallallahu alayhi wasallam,
and guiding others towards the
Path of the Almighty! You can be
rest assured that it will weigh
heavily in your favour on the
scale of deeds more than
expectations.
The
Jamiatul Ulama is your conduit
for acquiring such Favours of
Allah. “The deeds most loved by
Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’aala (are
those) done regularly, even if
they are small.” (Bukhari and
Muslim) We look forward to your
continued support and
contributions.
Please
make a commitment regardless of
the amount but regular by
completing a
debit order and submit it to
the Jamiatul Ulama via fax: 011
373 8022.
Orlando East Masjid Project
The Jamiatul Ulama is appealing
to all Muslims to contribute
towards the construction of an
Islamic centre in Soweto.
The project is the Jamiatul
Ulama’s collaborative initiative
with Ikhwana Islamiya in Soweto
where construction of the
purpose-built structure is
nearing completion.
The
project, which is under Siddiqi
Trust shall comprise of a masjid,
an imam's house as well as
madrasah classrooms in Orlando
East.
Donate generously
towards this project. A
Prophetic tradition according to
Bukhari and Muslim goes:
“Whosoever builds for Allah a
masjid, Allah will reward him
similar to it in paradise."
In another narration
according to Imam Ahmad,
“Whosoever shares in building a
masjid for Allah, even if it is
as small as a bird’s nest, Allah
will build for him a house in
Paradise.”
This is one
opportunity for earning thawâb
jâriya and a special statement
of support for the growing
Muslim community in Soweto.
Direct:
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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Visiting the
Sick |
“…And We have tried them
with good (blessings)
and evil (calamities)
in order that they
may turn (to Allah’s
obedience).” (7: 168)
• Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasalam was the most
kind and beneficial
person to others. He
kept strong ties with
people, especially when
they were afflicted with
illness or close to
death. He would always
visit the sick, whether
Muslim or not. Being
busy with running the
affairs of the Islamic
state did not stop him
from visiting the sick,
especially those with
whom he had ties of
kinship, despite the
fact that he had many
relatives and belonged
to a large tribe. Thus,
people loved him dearly
and he was always
surrounded by many
people, regardless of
whether he spoke or kept
quiet.
•
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasalam has
taught us that: ‘The
rights of a Muslim upon
his fellow Muslim are:
that he answers his
Salaam (greeting) when
he is greeted; he visits
him when he is sick; he
follows his funeral when
he dies; he accepts his
invitation (to food)
when he invites him; and
he says the relevant
corresponding
supplications when he
sneezes.’ (Bukhari &
Muslim)
• One who
visits the sick enjoys
the fruits of Paradise
until he returns home.
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasalam said:
‘The Muslim will
continue to be in the
Khurfa of Paradise until
he returns (home).’ So
somebody asked him: ‘O
Messenger of Allah! What
is the Khurfa of
Paradise?’ He replied:
‘They are gardens of
fruits.’ (Muslim)
• As for the virtues
of visiting the sick,
Ali ibn Abu Taalib
radhiyallahu anhu
reported that Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasalam said: ‘No Muslim
visits another Muslim
(at the time of
sickness) in the
morning, except that
seventy thousand angels
will (ask Allah to) send
peace upon him until
that evening. And if he
were to visit him in the
evening, then seventy
thousand angels will
(ask Allah to) send
peace upon him until the
next morning, and he
will have fruits of
Paradise (awaiting
him).’ (Tirmidhi) It is
understood from this
saying of Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasalam that it is among
the etiquettes of
visiting the sick to
hasten to visit him as
soon as he becomes sick.
However, there are other
traditions which state
that one should visit
the sick after three
days of sickness, as it
is reported that
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasalam would not
visit the sick until
three days had passed. (Ibn
Majah & Bayhaqi)
Therefore, if the
illness is serious or
dangerous in nature,
such that one fears the
loss of life of the sick
person, and it is known
that he will not be
harmed or bothered by
being visited
immediately, then the
visit can take place
immediately. But if the
sickness is a light one,
then the visit should
take place after three
days.
• It is
from the sunnah of
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasalam that the
duration of visiting the
sick should be brief,
especially if the
patient is weak or if
there are too many
visitors, or if the
place where he is
resting is small.
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasalam said:
‘Make your visits short,
people will love you
more.’ (Hakim).
• It is recommended for
the visitor to follow
the example of
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasalam when
visiting the sick, such
as stroking the sick
person with one’s right
hand whilst saying: ‘O
Allah! Lord of Mankind!
Take away this pain. O
Allah! Cure him. You are
the All-Curer: there is
no remedy other than
Yours, a remedy that
never leaves behind any
sickness.’ (Bukhari &
Muslim) Or one can say
seven times: ‘I ask
Allah the Exalted, the
Lord of the Great
Throne, to heal you.’
Ibn Abbas radhiyallahu
anhu reported that
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasalam said:
‘Whosoever visits a sick
person whose death is
not approaching, and
says seven times: ‘I ask
Allah the Exalted, the
Lord of the Great
Throne, to heal you.’
Then Allah will heal
him. (Hakim).
•
Another of the greatest
gifts that one can give
to the sick is the
advice of Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasalam as reported by
Uthman ibn Abi Al-‘Aas
radhiyallahu anhu that
he came to Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasalam complaining
about pain in his body,
so Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasalam advised
him: ‘Place your hand at
the place on your body
where you feel pain and
say, ‘Bismillah’ thrice,
then say seven times, ‘I
seek refuge in Allah and
in His power from the
evil of what I find and
of what I guard
against.’ (Muslim)
• It reflects fine
manners and love for the
sick when one asks his
family about his
condition. When Ali ibn
Abu Taalib radhiyallahu
anhu came out from the
room of Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasalam at the time of
his sickness, and people
asked him about the
condition of Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasalam, he replied: ‘By
the will of Allah, he
will be better by
morning.’
•
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasalam said:
‘Allah will announce on
the Day of Judgment (to
a person): ‘O son of
Adam! I was sick and you
did not visit Me!’ So
the person will reply:
‘O my Lord! How could I
have visited You, while
You are the Lord of the
worlds?’ So He will say:
‘Did you not know My
servant, so and so, was
sick, yet you did not
visit him? Did you not
know that if you had
visited him, you would
have found Me with him?’
(Muslim)
• It is
also recommended that
the visitor sits beside
the head of the sick
person, and that he
makes encouraging
remarks, giving him hope
of speedy recovery and
prolonged life.
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasalam said: ‘If
you visit a sick person,
then try to put him at
ease by giving him hope
(of prolonged life), for
it does not change
anything, but relaxes
(and comforts) him.’ (Ibn
Maajah & Tirmidhi)
• It should be said
to the sick person: ‘Do
not worry. It (i.e. the
sickness) will be a
purification (for you),
Allah willing.’ (Bukhari)
Also, one should ask the
sick person to
supplicate for him, as
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasalam said: ‘If
you enter upon a sick
person, then ask him to
supplicate for you, for
his supplication is like
the supplications of the
angels.’ (Ibn Maajah)
• It is commendable
to remind him of the
phrase: Laa illaaha illa
Allah if he is on his
death bed, as Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasalam said: ‘Have the
one facing death repeat
after you Laa Ilaaha
illa Allah, at the
moments of death.’
(Muslim). Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasalam also said: ‘He
whose last words before
death are Laa Ilaaha
illa Allah, Allah will
grant him paradise.’
(Abu Dawud)
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Message from the Ameer of
the Jamiatul Ulama |
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The Masjid of the
Prophet Sallallahu ‘alayhi
wa sallam |
The Ummah finds itself
in a situation of increasing
and intensified challenges.
More and more issues are
facing the Ummah in the
fields of both belief and
practice. Among them, some
trials that the Ummah are
faced with are:
• An
increasing confusion in the
belief system of people,
through the influx of people
with different mindsets and
hidden agendas.
• A lack
of knowledge or lack of will
to implement the injunctions
of Allah.
• An attempt to
reinterpret the Qur’an and
hadeeth and redefine the
laws of Islam as a means of
integrating and assimilating
more easily into current
society and world practices.
• A cancerous growth of
materialism
• A youth
who are not sure of their
identity and are sometimes
even disenchanted with the
practiced deen they see.
• The spread of immoral and
corrupt practices within the
Muslim Ummah
One
manner of working towards
correcting the situation is
the redefinition of what a
masjid is and the purposes
that a masjid has to serve.
This redefining of the role
of the masjid must be
understood and undertaken in
terms of the model of the
masjid of our dear and
beloved Prophet Muhammad
Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
When members of our
community travel for Haj, we
often explain to them the
various significant pillars
in the Masjid of the Prophet
Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
These pillars have a
historical significance.
However in the historical
significance is a clear
indication and even
instruction of the
functional value of the
masjid. Among the pillars of
Masjid an-Nabawi Sallalahu ‘alayhi
wa sallam are:
• The
Pillar of the Guard – the
Pillar of Hars: A companion
Radhi-Allahu anhu used to
stand guard at this door. It
serves as a means of
reflecting on the function
of the masjid in creating
the skills necessary for the
defence of our Dîn
• The
Delegation Pillar known in
Arabic as Wufud – this is
the pillar where the Prophet
Sallalahu ‘alayhi wa sallam
received delegations and
engaged in discussion with
them. It served as venue for
diplomatic engagement,
da’wah and also public
relations.
• The Pillar
of Repentance or tawbah –
also known as the pillar of
Abu Lubaabah – serves to
remind us of the importance
of turning in repentance to
Allah. The pillar of Aisha
Radhi-Allahu anha where the
Prophet Sallallahu ‘alayhi
wa sallam performed his
salah reminds us of the deep
spiritual value of the
masjid.
• The pulpit or
mimbar of the Masjid of the
Prophet Sallallahu ‘alayhi
wa sallam is also a reminder
of the many khutbahs/
sermons, instructions and
advices the Prophet gave and
the wide range of issues
that he spoke about.
•
The area of Ashabus Suffah –
where the poor people who
dedicated their life to
understanding and teaching
Deen were housed reflects
the educational and social
function of the masjid.
Indeed the entire masjid was
used for educational
purposes.
• The
courtyard of the masjid
where companions honed their
skills in the use of various
arms.
These are only
some examples of what the
Masjid of the Prophet
Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam
was used for. The revival of
masjid as a central point in
the lives of the Muslims
will go a long way towards
reviving the spirit of
Islam.
The masjid
needs to be re-activated as
the focal point in the lives
of individual Muslims and
the Muslim community as a
whole. The masjid needs to
serve as a venue of uniting
and re-invigorating the
Muslim youth. It must become
a place for strengthening
the brotherhood of the
Ummah. It needs to become a
centre of worship, learning,
social welfare and even
mobilization of the
community for a range of
purposes.
May Allah
Subhanahu wa ta’aala guide
us in all that we do. Aameen.
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