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Weekly Comment |
We Must Teach Values
A school
with a sizeable proportion of
Muslim learners recently
circulated a newsletter in which
the administration laments
declining levels of discipline.
It has been a trend nationally
that in the face of learners
asserting their right to
education, schools feel
disempowered in dealing with
delinquency and general
misconduct.
The
particular school’s
administration is concerned with
learners not completing their
work in school and at home.
Absenteeism and disruptive
behaviour have also been
highlighted in the newsletter as
issues affecting learning.
It is our view that this
schools experience is not an
isolated one but affecting many
other countrywide. It is also
not limited to public schools
but also private schools as well
as our own madâris to which we
commit our children to acquire
knowledge of Deen. What should
be our role in this matter?
Parents have a great
responsibility in facilitating
learning. Parents have to
instill discipline and teach the
children respect for the other:
peers and teachers alike. It is
also our view that what is
playing out in school classrooms
and corridors in very much a
reflection of what is happening
at home.
How can a
learner behave when a parent
storms a school to confront a
teacher for reprimanding their
child? There are parents who
also challenge results of poor
performance of their child.
Rather than questioning the
child and perhaps seeking advice
from an educator, they demand
that the grades their child
obtained be adjusted upwards!
This is a class of
parents who see no wrong in what
their children do. Or is it a
case of denial? Whatever the
case maybe, when will the minor
learn rectitude if the parents
behave in this manner?
Our children are a trust from
the Creator. We have a
responsibility that we look
after them. Habits and manners
tend to persist and when we do
not catch them while young, it
is often difficult to unlearn
bad morals.
The
challenges of parenting in an
era of ‘bling,’ the Internet and
declining sense community
abound. Ours however should be
prayer AND taking practical
steps to ensure that we raise
children not only as good future
citizens, but more importantly,
upright individuals serving the
Almighty and humanity.
Our children will not learn
values from the Xbox or
PlayStation. They will learn it
from our exemplary conduct in
front of them.
Deprive the Body, Feed
the Soul
The Star
today carries a piece by Moulana
Ebrahim I Bham on Ramadan…
..While the hedonistic
global pop culture says the body
is everything, Ramadan comes to
break mundane routines, to
deprive the soul so as to feed
and uplift the soul. It is a
negation of an exclusively
materialistic outlook and an
assertion of our spiritual
selves… (The Star 2 September
2009, page: 10)
<Read the rest of the article
here> |
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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 135.01 |
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Mahr Faatimi |
R 6,750.65 |
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Zakaat Nisaab |
R 2,700.26 |
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Words of Wisdom |
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Hadith of the Week |
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Dhikr |
Abu Hurairah
Radhi-Allahu anhu reported:
“The Messenger of Allah
Sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam
said, ‘There are two
statements that are light
for the tongue to remember,
heavy in the Scales and are
dear to the Merciful:
Subhan-Allahi wa bihamdihi,
Subhan-Allahil-Adhim [Glory
be to Allah and His is the
praise, (and) Allah, the
Greatest is free from
imperfection]’.”
(Bukhari and Muslim)
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Quotation
of
the Week |
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Light of Allah |
“Whoever observed
everything in this universe
with the Light of Allah, he
ascribed everything and its
function to Allah.”
(Ahmad bin Muhammad
Khurasani Rahmatullahi
alayhi)
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Point of Reflection |
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Specialisation |
“A good soldier is a
poor scout.”
(Cheyenne Saying)
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Q and A |
Question:
When
giving Fitra, is it for all
the occupants in the house
who have kept fast and does
this include infants and
toddlers, who are not
matured enough to keep fast?
Please forgive me if I
have asked too many
questions at once. It is
only our desire to practice
on Deen correctly.
Please make Duâ for me and
my family.
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Answer:
Fitrah is not based
on who fasts and who does
not. It is based on whether
an adult owns so much
surplus wealth equal to or
equivalent to Nisaab on the
morning of Eid. An adult is
required to give for himself
and the father of the house
is required to give on
behalf of his minor children
who are not wealthy. If his
minor children are wealthy
then he will be allowed to
take out Fitrah from their
wealth. [Miraaquil Falaah
Pg. 723]
<Go to
Top> |
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U P D A T E |
Muslims Successfully Object to
Circulation of Sacrilegious
Literature
PRESS STATEMENT (For Immediate
Release)
Hope Ministries,
a Christian-based organisation
were made to apologise to the
Muslim community on Thursday 27
August 2009.
The apology
followed a mediation meeting
facilitated by the Commission
for the Rights of Cultural,
Religious and Linguistic
Communities represented by the
presiding commissioner, BP
Mkhize at Rosebank in
Johannesburg.
The
Jamiatul Ulama and Saleila Rafik
had filed a complaint with the
commission following Hope
Ministries’ distribution of
literature that was deemed
offensive and blasphemous.
In the submission, the
Jamiatul Ulama had pointed out
that while the right to
proselytise was in place, doing
so by denigrating other
religions was unacceptable.
Furthermore, it was pointed out
that Hope Ministries’
publications, some of which are
in the form of comic strips,
were factually incorrect in many
aspects that projected Islam as
idol-worship.
In
settlement, Hope Ministries
represented by Tony and Hope
Roberts and had earlier defended
their stance by claiming
‘exercising the right of freedom
of expression,’ pledged to
discontinue the distribution of
the material in question.
The Commission for the
Rights of Cultural, Religious
and Linguistic Communities was
created following a
constitutional provision with
the promotion of respect for the
rights of cultural, religious
and linguistic communities as
one of its primary objectives.
31 August 2009
Released by: Media Desk,
Jamiatul Ulama, Johannesburg
“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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Ramadan - The
month of Qur’an |
“The month of Ramadan in
which the Qur’an was
revealed, as guidance
for mankind and clear
proofs of guidance and
the criterion (between
right and wrong).”
(2:185)
• The
month of Ramadan is the
month of the Qur’an - a
book whose light will
never fade and which
guides along a path that
never leads one astray.
The Glorious Qur’an is
to Man as the soul is to
the body. Whoever does
not put it into practice
has gone far astray even
if they are apparently
successful in all areas
of life.
• A
human being without the
guidance of the Qur’an
is like any living being
without air or water;
all their endeavours
will end up in failure.
Allah says: “Say: It
(the Qur’an) is guidance
for those who believe
and a cure. And those
who do not believe - in
their ears is deafness,
and it (i.e. the Qur’an)
is upon them blindness.
Those are being called
from a distant place.”
(41:44)
• The
blessed month of Ramadan
should be regarded as a
wonderful opportunity
for every Muslim to save
himself from destruction
and to purify their soul
in preparation for the
Qur’anic guidance that
is inherent in the night
prayer. Allah says:
“Indeed, the hours of
the night (i.e. the
rising for Tahajjud
prayer) are more
effective for
concurrence (of heart
and tongue) and more
suitable for words (i.e.
for recitation of the
Qur’an and for hearing
and understanding it).”
(73:6)
• Ibn
Abbaas radhiyallahu anhu
narrates that Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam was the most
generous person, and he
would be at his most
generous in Ramadan
because Jibreel alayhis
salaam would come to him
every night and he would
revise the Qur’an with
him. (Bukhari) This
hadith contains
recommendation of the
following:
1.
Studying the Qur’an in
Ramadan,
2. Coming
together for this
purpose,
3. Revising
the Qur’an from memory
with someone who has
preserved it better,
4. Increasing recitation
of the Qur’an in
Ramadan, and
5. The
night time is the best
time to recite the
Qur’an
• Faatimah
radhiyallahu anhu
narrates from her
father, Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam, who told her
that Jibreel alayhis
salaam would revise the
Qur’an with him (in
Ramadan) once every
year, and he did so
twice in the year of his
demise. (Bukhari)
• Concerning our
righteous predecessors
during Ramadan, Ibn
Rajab al-Hanbali said:
“... Some of the pious
would complete reciting
the entire Qur’an during
the night prayer of
Ramadan every 3 days,
others every 7 days,
e.g. Qataadah, others in
10 days, e.g. Abu Rajaa’
al-Atardi. They would
recite the Qur’an in
Ramadan in prayer as
well as outside it. Al-Aswad
would complete the
Qur’an every 2 nights in
Ramadan; Ibrahim an-Nakh‘i
would do likewise in the
last 10 nights
specifically and every 3
nights during the rest
of the month. Similarly,
when Ramadan began, Imam
Maalik would stop
narrating hadith and
sitting with the people
of knowledge, and
confine himself to
reciting the Qur’an from
its text, while Sufyaan
al-Thawri would leave
other acts of worship
and stick to reciting
the Qur’an...”
•
Unfortunately, the
reality is that the
relationship of many
Muslims with the Qur’an
is one of abandonment of
either its recitation or
implementation of its
injunctions. Among the
causes of the absence of
reflection on the
meanings of the Qur’an
is the failure to
explore and understand
the laws of Allah in
relation to human-beings
and natural phenomena.
Ziyaad ibn Labeed Al-Ansari
radhiyallahu anhu
narrated that Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam mentioned
something and then said:
‘….and that is when
there will be no more
knowledge.’ We said, ‘O
Messenger of Allah! How
will knowledge disappear
while we have the Qur’an
with us and we teach it
to our children and
while they will also
teach it to theirs?’
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasallam replied:
‘I thought you were one
of the most
knowledgeable of the
people of Madinah! Are
there not Jews and
Christians who have
their scriptures with
them and yet they take
no benefit from what is
inside it?’ (Tirmidhi)
<Go to Top> |
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Message from the Ameer of
the Jamiatul Ulama |
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Hijab |
The current
international onslaught on
hijab is a matter of grave
concern.
Earlier this
year, the imprudence of the
French government brought
the hijab level to a level
that raised many warning
lights. Various other
incidents in Europe
followed, issues were raised
in the UK and the callous
murder, nay martyrdom, of
Marwah Sherbini created
additional focus on the
issue of hijab. The events
in Michigan courts that
included an Iraqi women
being forced to remove her
head-covering is even more
recent and highlights the
broad attack on the hijab
from a multiplicity of
quarters, across the globe.
On the local front too,
hijab has not escaped
discussion and constant
assault. More ludicrous is
the preposterous, absurd
prejudiced and racial
statements that emanated
from the pen of the editor
of the North Coast Courier,
a community based newspaper.
He rather small-mindedly and
rudely compared the
dignified hijab to a
bin-bag, while showing his
racist mentality by
suggesting that the prospect
of either Muslims of Chinese
obtaining a position of
power is a ‘bleak’ prospect.
It is important for
Muslims to take real note of
these and other such
occurrences and understand
the gravity of the unfolding
strategy of those that are
hell-bent on the ruin of
Islam and Muslims. The
onslaught on hijab is a
broad attack that emanates
from a host of cells of the
enemies of Islam and must be
seen in the light of it
being a expansive
international attack with
the possibility of it being
coordinated and orchestrated
not being ruled out.
More importantly, the attack
on hijab must not be seen as
an attack on ‘just’ hijab.
In the first place, hijab
can never be ‘just’ hijab.
Additionally, it is an
assault upon the foundations
of the deen of al-Islam, the
Qur’an and the Sunnah. Hijab
is not a cultural issue or
something based on ethnic
tradition – it is a
religious obligation firmly
entrenched in the Qur’an and
the Sunnah.
Finally,
let the spirit of the month
of Ramadan be a means of
reviving the spirit of the
Qur’an and Sunnah,
especially with regard to
hijab, within our homes,
families and communities.
Let our mothers and
daughters be proud to be
Muslimahs by adorning
themselves with the
dignified attire of hijab.
We commend the efforts
of a girls youth group from
Laudium (Young Muslimahs
United) who have initiated a
campaign called “Proud to be
a Muslimah – Don a Hijab
Campaign”. They can be
contacted through the
Laudium office of the
Jamiatul Ulama (012 374
2506).
May Allah
Subhanahu wa ta’aala guide
us in all that we do. Aameen.
<Go to Top> |
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