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Weekly Comment |
What’s up
in South Sudan?
At the beginning of this month,
the world woke up to shocking
news that nearly 200 people had
been killed in Akobo, a town in
South Sudan.
For a long
time we have been made to
believe that the conflict in
Sudan was between the
predominantly Arab Muslim north
and the Christian/
animist
south. The puzzle was the fact
that the conflict in Darfur was
not the convenient ‘Christian-vs-Muslim’
type. Darfur itself just like
the North, is mainly Muslim.
As it is the case with many
other issues, it was explained
away in the media that the
Darfur conflict was between
Arabs and Africans …
The
August 2 incident that ended in
the loss of tens of scores of
people in Akobo is said to have
been between ethnic Lou Nuer
pitted against another, the
Murle. Alongside the slain Lou
Nuer tribesmen who were on a
fishing expedition were 10
government soldiers supposedly
accompanying them for
protection.
Is this a
glimpse of the things to come?
In 2011, South Sudan will be
voting in a referendum. South
Sudan will be deciding her
destiny as to whether to remain
part of Sudan or go it alone as
an independent state.
For
Sudan, it is no longer the North
versus the South. It is also no
longer just the east versus the
west. It is now also the east of
the South versus the west of the
South.
If this is a
scenario of South Sudan in 2011,
will the separation from the
North signify the end of all
problems and the beginning of an
epoch of peace and prosperity
for the South? Rather, will it
just be a milestone in the
history of the restive region
for the various tribesmen to
look at other differences among
themselves so as to continue
with the non-stop bloody strife?
After the Lou Nuer’s
recovery from this episode of a
long history of plunder and
vendetta, it will be time to
settle the scores, old and new
... The region is known for the
perennial fights of pastoralists
for resources as basic as water
and grazing land. It remains to
be seen how South Sudan will
contain such internecine fights.
The ‘curse’ of
resource-abundance is another
fault line for South Sudan. The
oilfields which the region is
endowed with could be a boon as
well as, ironically, a tragedy.
Will the leadership of South
Sudan emulate other nations
which have used their fortunes
for the development of the
masses? Or, will the leadership
form a new African clientele of
private bankers overseas after
draining state coffers?
In the absence of a shared
vision of statehood, South Sudan
could as well become another
territory on the continental
where only anarchy reigns. It
will require strong visionary
leadership to hold it together.
We hope that our
apprehension will be just that
so that in a spirit of
humanity, the diverse people of
the Sudan will unite and fight
the rampart poverty which is
blamed to be the common
denominator of all these
domestic conflicts. |
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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 |
R138.29 |
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Mahr Faatimi |
R 6,914.31 |
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Zakaat Nisaab |
R 2,765.73 |
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Words of Wisdom |
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Hadith of the Week |
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Guardianship |
Narrated Ibn Umar
Radhi-Allahu anhu: "I heard
Allah's Messenger Sallallahu
‘alayhi wasallam saying,
"All of you are guardians
and responsible for your
charges: the Ruler (i.e.
Imam) is a guardian and
responsible for his
subjects; and a man is a
guardian of his family and
is responsible for his
charges; and a lady is a
guardian in the house of her
husband and is responsible
for her charge; and a
servant is a guardian of the
property of his master and
is responsible for his
charge." I think he also
said, "And a man is a
guardian of the property of
his father."
(Al-Bukhari)
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Quotation
of
the Week |
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Humanity |
He who has neither
knowledge, generosity, nor
piety resembles
a man in
form alone.
(Bustan
of Sa’ad)
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Point of Reflection |
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Humanity |
Life is like this:
sometimes sun, sometimes
rain.
(Saying
from Fiji)
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Q and A |
Question: Is it
permissible for the fasting
person to be in a state of
impurity at the time of Fajr
in Ramadhaan i.e. should a
person not perform Ghusl
before Fajr in order to
fast?
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Answer:
Tahaarah from
Hadath Akbar (Janaabah) is
not a prerequisite for the
commencement of Fasting.
Therefore, if a person is in
the state of Janâbah and
there is little time left
before Suhûr ends, then he
should partake of Sehri and
thereafter take a Fardh
Ghusl. However, the person
should ensure that Fajr
Salaah is not missed with
Jama’ah in the Masjid.
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U P D A T E |
Huffaaz Seminar and
Zakaat Workshop
The Jamiatul Ulama is inviting
all huffaaz and those in the
process of committing the Qur’an
to memory to a seminar on Friday
14 August 2009 at Masjidul Khair,
St Gothard Street, Mayfair West.
The programme will start at Esha
Salaat (Jamaat: 7:30pm).
Meanwhile, a Zakâh Workshop will
be convened tonight, 12 August
2009 at Mayfair Jumu’ah Masjid
after Eash Salaat (Jamaat:
7:30pm). Tonight’ s workshop
will focus on assets and
liabilities; how one determines
if he/she is eligible for the
payment of zakâh and how to
calculate zakâh. There will be
ulama available to assist
participants with questions on
the subject of zakâh.
“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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Light-heartedness in
Islam |
“Indeed in the Messenger
of Allah you have a good
example to follow for
him who hopes for
(the meeting with) Allah
and the Last Day, and
remembers Allah much.”
(33:21)
• Islam
is a comprehensiveness
religion that has not
left any aspect of life
unaddressed. It is
widely misunderstood
that Islam is a religion
of suppression and
harshness, where
laughing and joking is
not permitted.
•
The Sunnah of Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasalam has clarified
this issue with his
personal example for
every Muslim to follow.
From time to time,
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasalam would
exchange light
heartedness with his
companions, Abu Dawud
and Tirmidhi reported
that a man came to
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasalam and said:
‘Give me an animal to
ride on.’ Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasalam replied: ‘I will
give you the son of a
female camel.’ The man
said with astonishment:
‘What will I do with the
son of a female camel?’
(i.e. thinking that he
would be given a camel
too small to ride).
Thereupon, Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasalam: ‘What do female
camels deliver except
camels?’ (i.e. that
every camel is the
offspring of a female
camel).
•
Tabarani recorded that
an old woman came to
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasalam and said:
‘O Messenger of Allah!
Supplicate that Allah
grants me entry into
Paradise.’ Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasalam replied: ‘Old
women will not enter
Paradise.’ Then he went
off to pray. When he
came back, his wife ‘Aa’isha
radhiyallahu anha said
to him: ‘The old woman
found what you said to
be difficult,’ he
replied: ‘Allah will
bring all the women of
Paradise to a young age
before allowing them
enter.’
• The
companions of Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasalam were serious
people and were least
heedless of the commands
of Allah, yet they used
to joke. Ibn Sireen was
asked about the
companions of Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasalam, ‘Did they
joke?’ He replied: ‘They
were just like normal
people (i.e. yes they
did).’ Abu Salamah ibn ‘Abur-Rahman
said, describing the
companions: ‘The
companions never
exaggerated in
seriousness, nor were
they heedless. They used
to recite poetry in
their gatherings and
mention some incidents
which took place during
their pre-Islamic period
and laugh, but if they
saw any action against
Islam, they would become
furious.’ (Ibn Abu
Shaybah)
•
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasalam used to
joke with his wives and
children. ‘Aa’isha
radhiyallahu anha
narrated: ‘Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasalam went on one of
his journeys and I
accompanied him. He told
his companions: ‘Proceed
ahead,’ while he and I
lagged behind, then he
said to me: ‘Let us
race.’ So we did and I
won - and he did not say
anything. After some
time, when I became
heavier in weight, I
went with him on another
trip, and I had
forgotten about the
first race. Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasalam told his
companions, ‘Proceed
ahead,’ while he and I
lagged behind, then he
said to me: ‘Let us
race.’ So we did and he
won and started laughing
and said, ‘This one
makes up for the first
time.’ (Ahmad)
•
Islam does not prohibit
joking and teasing, but
it has set criteria for
it, as Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasalam has instructed
us:
1) Saying only
that which is true: If
we look at the
narrations mentioned
above, Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasalam never said a
word which was not true,
like in the story of the
camel or the old woman.
This is how joking
should be, without lying
or fabricating stories
simply to make people
laugh. Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasalam warned us about
this, saying: “Woe to
the one who lies to
people just to make them
laugh. Woe to him, woe
to him.’ (Abu Dawud &
Tirmidhi)
2) It
should not involve
verses from the Qur’an,
Prophetic sayings, or
any of fundamentals of
Islam: Unfortunately,
some people have fallen
into this terrible
practice. This is
extremely dangerous as
it is tantamount to
disbelief. How can
someone mock that which
he believes in? In fact,
one who believes in
something glorifies it
and esteems it by making
it occupy a great
position in the heart.
In his commentary
regarding the verse:
“And if you ask them,
they will surely say:
‘We were only conversing
and playing.’ Say, ‘Is
it Allah and His verses
and His Messenger that
you were mocking?”
(9:65); Ibn Kathir
writes: Muhammad ibn
Ka’b radhiyallahu anhu
reported that a man from
the hypocrites said:
‘Those who memorize the
Qur’an have the biggest
stomachs, are the worst
liars and the greatest
cowards at the time of
fighting.’ This was
conveyed to Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasalam, so the
hypocrite rushed to
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasalam and found
him on his camel. He
said: ‘O messenger of
Allah I was only
joking.’
Thereupon,
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasalam recited
the aforementioned
verse. The hypocrite was
holding on to the camel
of Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasalam and his
feet were kicking the
rocks on the ground,
making them fly off in
different directions,
due to the speed of the
camel. Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasalam was on his camel
and did not even look at
the hypocrite, although
the hypocrite was
holding on to the saddle
and constantly repeating
that he was only joking.
It is important
that no joking should be
made of anything that is
related to the religion
of Allah, knowingly or
unknowingly, as the
consequences are very
grave. Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasalam has said: ‘A
servant (of Allah) would
utter a word, without
paying attention to it,
which pleases Allah and
which results in Allah
elevating his rank in
Paradise. And a servant
(of Allah) would utter a
word, without paying
attention to it, which
displeases Allah and
which results in him
going down into the
Hellfire.’ (Bukhari) In
another narration,
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasalam said: ‘A
slave (of Allah) would
utter a word, without
paying attention to it,
which would result in
him going down into the
Hellfire further than
the distance between the
east and the west.’
(Muslim)
3) It
should not harm others,
whether physically or
emotionally: Allah says:
“O you who believe! Let
not a people ridicule
[another] people;
perhaps they may be
better than them. And do
not insult one another
and do not call each
other by [offensive]
nicknames. Wretched is
the name [i.e. mention]
of disobedience after
[one’s] faith. And
whoever does not repent
– then it is those who
are the wrongdoers.”
(49:12). It is because
these things hurt
people’s feelings and
may even lead to
physical harm.
4)
Joking should not be
done excessively: This
leads people to commit
errors and to lose their
dignity. One who reads
through the history of
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasalam will
realise that he would
joke, but would never do
so excessively.
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Message from the Ameer of
the Jamiatul Ulama |
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Natural Disasters |
Every so often our attention
is drawn to the unfolding of
such events that have
resulted in the loss of
hundreds or thousands of
lives and wreckage in the
lives of thousands of
others. Droughts, floods,
erupting volcanoes,
tornadoes, typhoons,
earthquakes and their like
have been seen to wreak
havoc in the lives of
millions of people.
While there is no way of
denying that these events we
witness form part of what is
described as natural
geographical phenomena, we
must look beyond. The system
through which these events
unfold can be traced and
identified in many ways.
Their development can be
plotted and predicted to a
certain extent and their
conclusion can be explained
using scientific theory that
makes much sense.
It
must however be remembered
that the system through
which these ‘natural
phenomena or disaster’ occur
is not a system that came to
exist on its own, nor does
it continue to exist in its
own right.
Allah (subhanahu
wa ta`aala) created
everything in a specific way
and with specific systems
under which they function.
Additionally, the systems of
nature, created by Allah are
subject to the Will of Allah
and are not disinclined or
indisposed to change or
operating in a manner other
than what they would be
expected to. Allah is the
Creator and Controller of
everything.
Allah (subhanahu
wa ta`aala) often uses the
components of nature to
remind us of His Power and
Greatness. Allah reminds
that we must turn to Him and
worship only Him. He warns
us that we must submit to
His will and be
conscientious in our
obedience to Him.
Disobedience of Allah
results in difficulties
(including ‘natural’
disasters’) coming upon us
and turning to Allah can
avert possible afflictions.
May Allah (azza wa jalla)
make it possible for us to
see the trust. May He guide
us to turn to Him in worship
and repentance. May He
accept our ibaadah and guide
us in all that we do. Aameen.
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