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Weekly Comment |
The Noble, the Nobler
Ramadan is
upon us again! It is the time of
spiritual harvest for
self-restraint, seeking
forgiveness and mercy. It is the
month of the Qur’an and many
other virtues. It is also the
month of charity: obligatory and
supererogatory.
Who can
afford to lose this opportunity
when every act of worship is
rewarded multiple times over
more than any other time of the
year?
This year, however,
Ramadan is coming at a time of a
deep financial crunch. Many have
lost their jobs and there has
been news of homes failing to
meet their financial obligations
including settling bills for
basic utilities such as
electricity and water.
Yet there remain privileged few
among us who will still take the
opportunity of making a lesser
pilgrimage (Umrah) towards the
end of this blessed month. They
can afford it. They will be
responding to the Prophetic
tradition: “…When the month of
Ramadan arrives, go for Umrah,
because Umrah in Ramadan is like
accompanying me on Hajj.” (Bukhârî)
That is noble.
There are
other nobler causes however
which one may undertake by
forgoing an Umrah especially at
this time of prevailing economic
hardships. Think of the orphaned
or children-ran homes. Think of
the indebted and those on the
verge of losing the roof above
their heads. Think of refugee
communities…
The Prophet
Sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam
himself taught: “He who relieves
a hardship of this earthly life
(Dunya) for a believer, Allah
will relieve a hardship of the
Day of Resurrection for him; he
who makes it easy for an
indebted person, Allah will make
it easy for him in the Dunya and
the Hereafter; he who covers a
Muslim (his mistakes and
shortcomings), Allah will cover
him in the Dunya and the
Hereafter; Allah will be in the
slave 's need, as long as the
slave is in his (believing)
brother's need…” (Muslim)
Johan Burger of the
Institute for Security Studies
was quoted earlier in the month
as saying: "We saw a developing
trend where people were no
longer shoplifting luxury goods,
which fetch a higher price on
the black market, but things
such as food and blankets.
Previously people stole more
expensive items but that is no
longer the case." (Tribune,
2 Aug 2009, p.11)
Are
we ready to play our part to
stem this trend of desperation?
The spirit of Ramadan
and indeed the spirit of the
teachings of our Way of Life
should prompt empathy and urge
us to seek ways and means
whether at an individual or
community level to do something
about the matter.
It
will be meritorious in doing so
and if one had sincerely
intended to make that forgone
Umrah, the Almighty will reward
that person for it as well as
for acting on his or her
compassion for humanity, insha-Allah. |
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C O N T E N T
S |
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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 128.97 |
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Mahr Faatimi |
R 6,448.41 |
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Zakaat Nisaab |
R 2,579.36 |
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Words of Wisdom |
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Hadith of the Week |
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Nightly Qur'an Vigil |
Narrated Abdullah ibn
Amr ibn al-'As Radhi-Allahu
anhu: “The Prophet
Sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam
said: ‘If anyone prays at
night reciting regularly ten
verses, he will not be
recorded among the
negligent; if anyone prays
at night and recites a
hundred verses, he will be
recorded among those who are
obedient to Allah; and if
anyone prays at night
reciting one thousand
verses, he will be recorded
among those who receive huge
rewards.”
(Sunan
Abű Dawűd)
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Quotation
of
the Week |
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Family Responsibility |
“Look at your parents
with reverence, be
respectful to your brother,
and serve your children as
much as you can.”
(Fazeel bin Aayaz
Rahmatullahi alayhi)
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Point of Reflection |
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Quarrel |
“A quarrel is like
buttermilk; the more you
stir it, the sourer it
grows.”
(Bolivian Saying)
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Q and A |
Question:
If I
have taken out a loan of
R20,000, do I pay Zakaat on
this loan money? Does it
matter if I still have some
of the loan money after a
year or not?
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Answer:
If after deducting
the amount of the currently
payable loan of R20,000.00
you still possess surplus
Zakaatable goods such as
gold, silver, cash and stock
in trade that are equal to
or in excess of the Nisab of
Zakaat (612,36 grams of
silver or its equivalent in
value), then Zakaat will be
obligatory on the remainder
of the amount. However, if
besides the payable loan the
remaining amount does not
reach the Nisaab of Zakaat,
then Zakaat will not be
necessary.
Remember
that if one is capable of
settling one’s loan then one
must not delay in the
settlement of it as this
would tantamount to
oppression.
The
golden rule to abide by is
that “Cash is better than
Credit.”
May Allah
Ta’aala grant us the correct
understanding of His
religion and make us
practice upon it.
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U P D A T E |
Volunteer Programme: 2010 FIFA
World Cup
Staff of the Local Organising
Committee of the 2010 FIFA World
Cup today presented to a
gathering of Muslims hosted by
the Jamiatul Ulama how the
volunteer programme is run.
Acceptance of the applications
to the programme which are done
online
(www.fifa.com/volunteers2010)
will close on 31 August 2009.
The Jamiatul Ulama is
encouraging individuals to
register and participate in the
programme with the intention to
serve the many visitors who will
be coming to South Africa during
the tournament in 2010.
“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
Young Muslimahs United (Laudium):
Don a Hijab Campaign
Hijab is an important aspect in
the life of Muslim women and
young Muslim girls. It is an
injunction of the Qur’an and is
emphasized upon in the Sunnah of
our Beloved Prophet Muhammad
Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam).
Muslim woman and,
especially, girls need to be
encouraged to practice upon this
important aspect that preserves
honor and dignity and encourages
young Muslimahs to be proud of
their identity.
In
today’s world environment the
onslaught upon Islam is
never-ceasing and takes various
forms. The current move to
malign and even ban hijab in
parts of Europe and other areas
of the world is a cause for
great concern and should in no
way be allowed to cause young
Muslimahs to become shy, ashamed
or afraid to wear the hijab or
apologetic about hijab.
Young Muslimahs United is a
Muslim Girls Youth Group formed
as an outcome of the Jamiatul
Ulama Youth Convention held in
Laudium a few years ago. It
incorporates representatives
from most schools and madâris in
Laudium and has regular
programmes for girls in Laudium.
Young Muslimahs United has
initiated a campaign to create a
greater awareness of hijab,
within and outside of the Muslim
community.
The campaign
includes encouraging and
facilitating programmes for
young Muslimahs on hijab,
preparation of reading material
on hijab and creating a greater
awareness and practice on hijab
among young Muslimahs.
Young Muslimahs around the
country are encouraged to wear
their hijab and show their
support to the project by
wearing a ‘Proud to be a
Muslimah’, ‘Don a Hijab
Campaign’ badge. They are also
urged to work on getting pledges
from other young Muslimahs on
the wearing of the hijab.
Schools or Madrassah from
around Gauteng and even
countrywide who wish to join the
campaign should please appoint a
representative to contact any of
the numbers below.
For
more information contact:
youngmuslimahs@gmail.com or
visit: www.hijab.co.za
Jamiatul Ulama, Tshwane Branch:
012 374 2506 or Fax: 012 374
1457
082 655 9311 / 082
6559309 / 076 951 5190
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Summarised Jumu’ah
Bayaan: |
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Fast: So that
you may attain piety |
“O you who believe!
Observing the fasting is
prescribed for you as it
was prescribed for those
before you, that you may
attain piety.” (2:183)
• Allah made Taqwa a
condition of acceptance
of deeds: “Verily Allah
accepts only from those
who are Muttaqeen (pious
and righteous).” (5:27)
Forgiveness and reward
has been promised for
having Taqwa, Allah
says: “Whoever fears
Allah (i.e. has Taqwa)
and keeps his duty to
him, He will expiate
from him his sins, and
will enlarge his
reward.” (65:5)
•
Ramadan is a month in
which Allah has made
fasting obligatory so
that one may become
righteous, pious,
fearful and conscious of
Allah. Piety in
ourselves is represented
by our fear of Allah,
working in accordance
with His revelation and
being satisfied with
whatever little he
provides as well as our
preparation for the day
of departure.
•
The particular type of
piety that we will try
to gain in Ramadan is
the very sensitive type.
The fasting person can
only acquire this,
because he gives up what
he desires to avoid that
which he is fearful of
(i.e. the punishment of
Allah). Even though
following all
obligations and
commandments and
avoiding all prohibited
matters in Islam lead to
the state of piety and
Taqwa, fasting has an
extra special
relationship between
itself and Taqwa.
• As human beings,
we are at the mercy of
our limbs, such as our
eyes, ears, hands,
tongues, stomachs and
the private parts. The
heart is the commander
and controller of all of
these. The heart ‘fasts’
when it directs its
worship and service
completely and purely
for the sake of Allah.
It does this by
submitting to His Glory,
seeking closeness to
Him, addressing and
approaching Him and
supplicating to Him. If
the heart is rectified
then the limbs will be
rectified. They will
follow the lead shown by
the heart, be obedient
to Allah and stay away
from His prohibitions.
• Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam said, as
recorded by Bukhari and
Muslim: ‘He who fasts
the month of Ramadan out
of sincere belief and
seeking the reward of
its fasting, will be
forgiven for all the
sins he has committed
prior to it.’
•
Indeed those who make
Ramadan a month of over
eating and excessive
spending are wretched
miserable people. What
kind of piety and how
much resistance exists
in these people?
• Allah has ordained
fasting to purify us and
distinguish between the
pious and the impious.
He, who starts his day
abstaining from food and
drinks with his
objective being the
pleasure of his beloved,
- Allah, gets the reward
of: “Fasting is for me
and I shall reward it”.
This was narrated by
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasallam that
Allah said this
regarding the fasting
person. (Bukhari and
Muslim)
• What
kind of a fast does a
person have who does not
abstain from lying and
giving false testimony?
All he achieves from
fasting is hunger and
thirst. All he achieves
by praying at night is
staying up late and
becoming tired. Where is
the piety of the ears
and eyes and the
abstention from idle
talk? Listening to
music, viewing obscene
pictures and hearing
stories that involve
obscenity are wide
spread among people.
• Dear brothers!
Make this month of
Ramadan a month of
piety. It is a great
season for
accountability. It is a
wide-open field for
competition (in doing
good deeds) and a month
in which souls are
purified and hearts draw
closer to their Creator.
The gates of paradise
are open and the gates
of hellfire are sealed.
The devils get chained
up during this month.
Therefore, there are
many new opportunities
to perform good deeds -
and the rewards for them
are multiplied. Mercy,
forgiveness and
protection from the
hellfire are the rewards
for these actions.
• Dear brothers!
Search amongst your
relatives and neighbours
for the poor and needy
amongst them. Search
also for the strangers
amongst your brothers,
be good to them and make
them happy - ask them to
share your provisions.
Remember the hunger and
thirst of your poor
fellow Muslims, remember
the tears of the
miserable ones and the
situation of those who
have no dwellings,
remember too the
loneliness of those who
are away from their
families. Supplicate for
them in the month of
piety and
accountability.
• Did he who slept with
a full stomach whilst
the people around him
were hungry truly fulfil
the meaning of piety
when he could have given
them food and satisfied
them? Did he fulfil his
duties of this month
when he saw a believer
in a miserable state and
could have helped him,
but chose not to do so?
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Message from the Ameer of
the Jamiatul Ulama |
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Reaping the Full
Benefits of Ramadân |
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(This is a re-run of one
of the Ameer's previous
messages) |
Ramadan is a great
opportunity to draw from the
treasures of Allah. Numerous
benefits of Ramadan have
been mentioned. Among them
are:
1. It
strengthens one's ties with
Allah and trains the soul to
observe duties of devotion
in accordance with the
teachings of the Qur'an and
Sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh).
2. It enforces patience
and determination in the
Muslim individual.
3. It
promotes the principle of
sincerity by keeping the
Muslim away from arrogance
and showing off, since it is
an act between the
individual and his Creator.
4. It promotes good
character, particularly
truthfulness and
trust-worthiness.
5. It
encourages the Muslim to do
away with bad habits and
change his/her circumstances
for the better.
6. It
enhances generosity,
hospitality, and spending on
charitable causes.
7. It
reinforces feelings of unity
and brotherhood among
Muslims.
8. It instills
orderliness and close
observance of the value of
time.
9. It serves as an
opportunity for children to
perform acts of obedience
and to practice Islamic acts
of worship.
10. It
offers a chance to balance
one's attention to both
physical and spiritual
needs.
Insha Allah,
this month will provide us
all with the opportunity to
benefit in this manner; the
opportunity to nourish our
Deen (Way of life) and
increase the nűr (light) in
our hearts; the opportunity
to fortify ourselves for the
challenges of today,
tomorrow, the next day, the
next month, and beyond.
Also remember that Ramadan
has a specific and definite
relationship as well as a
close connection with the
Qur’aan. Allah Subhanahu wa
ta’aala says:
“It is the
month of Ramadan in which
the Quran was revealed, a
Guidance for mankind with
clear teachings, showing the
Right Way, and a criterion
of truth and falsehood -
(Qur’an 2:185).
Ramadan
is the month of the Quran
and the Quran has four
rights over us: to
read/recite it; to
understand and act upon its
instruction and guidance; to
comprehend its teachings;
and to preach and convey its
message.
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