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Weekly Comment |
As Yet Another Year
Comes to a Close…
Have you
ever thought of how many years
you have left? With every
sunrise and sunset, we have one
day less left in this world.
Death does not come to only the
old and weak. Death also comes
to the young and strong. You are
just a vapor that appears for a
little while and then vanishes
away. Imam Al-Ghazali says:
“[Time] is nothing other than
your life, and your life is the
capital that you use to reach
success in the proximity of
Allah.”
Wise are the
words of the one who said ... "I
expect to pass through this
world but once; any good
therefore that I can do, or any
kindness that I can show to any
fellow creature, let me do it
now; let me not defer or neglect
it, for I shall not pass this
way again. The Prophet,
Sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam
said: “There is no day upon
which the sun rises except that
it says, 'O son of Adam, I am a
new creation and a witness to
your deeds, so use me well, as I
will not return until the Day of
Judgment'.”
"The year is
like a tree, months are its
branches, days are the branch
sticks, hours are its leaves,
and the breaths are its fruits.
Therefore, if one's breaths are
in obedience (to Allah and His
Messenger)], the fruits of his
tree are good. If they are in
disobedience, his fruits are
bitter. The harvest is on the
Appointed Day, when one's fruits
are found out to be either good
or bitter. One's time is in fact
his age. It is the material of
his eternal life either in
everlasting joy or painful
torture. It passes more quickly
than clouds do. It is only the
time one dedicates to Allah that
constitutes one's real life and
age. The rest does not count.”
(Ibnul-Qayyim)
In Islam
there is no room for slogans
like "killing time" In fact;
wasting time is much more
dangerous than squandering
property, because unlike
property, time cannot be
compensated. You cannot kill
time without harming your
hereafter! In reality when you
kill time, it is time that is
really killing you! Free time is
a blessing that is overlooked,
and not wholly appreciated by
many people. The Prophet
Sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam
said: “There are two of Allah's
favours that are forgotten by
many people: health and free
time.”
On the transience
of human life, the Prophet
Sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam
said: “I am in this world like a
rider who halts in the shade of
a tree for a short time, and
after taking some rest resumes
his journey and leaves the tree
behind.” (Tirmidhi)
“When you pass the day and
arrive at the evening, do not
expect that you will pass night
and hope to reach morning, and
when you arrive in the morning
do not look forward to the
evening. While in health, be
ready for illness, and while
alive, prepare for death.'
(Bukhari)
Ibnul Qayyim
says: “A sign that Allah
despises you is when you find
yourself wasting your time with
trivial matters; in this way,
you miss your chance of going to
heaven. A sign that Allah likes
you is when you find yourself
fulfilling more duties than you
have time for.” A famous quote
reads: “Don't count every hour
in the day, make every hour in
the day count.”
May Allah
grant us a life that is
productive and fruitful. May HE
protect us from wasting away our
days in frivolous pursuits.
Ameen.
This is part of
the Jamiatul Ulama's new Hijri
year's message. Get the
unabridged version
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 151.50 |
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Mahr Faatimi |
R 7,574.95 |
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Zakaat Nisaab |
R3,029.98 |
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Words of Wisdom |
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Hadith of the Week |
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Divine Likes and
Dislikes |
Abu Hurairah
Radhi-Allahu anhu said: ‘The
Messenger of Allah
Sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam
said, "Verily, Allah likes
three things for you and
disapproves three things for
you. He likes that you
should worship Him Alone,
not to associate anything
with Him (in worship) and to
hold fast to the Rope of
Allah and not to be divided
among yourselves; and He
disapproves for you
irrelevant talk, persistent
questioning and the
squandering of the
wealth.''’
(Muslim)
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Quotation
of
the Week |
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Knowledge, Ignorance |
Sufficient as knowledge
for a person is that he
fears Allah,
and
sufficient as ignorance for
a person is that he
feels
impressed with the
knowledge
he has.
(Masrûq
Rahimatullahi ‘alayhi)
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Point of Reflection |
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A Step at a Time |
It is foolhardy to climb
two
trees at once just
because
one has two
feet.
(Ethiopian Proverb)
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Q and A |
Question: What
is the ruling regarding a
person who goes to the
mosque for salah, and finds
that there
is no water
at the masjid, due to
cut-off supply? If tayammum
is made, is it acceptable?
(There was water in the
neighbouring area of the
masjid. Only the masjid
area/extension was without
water).
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Answer:
Tayammum in this
instance is not valid. Such
a person should either go to
the neighbouring area of the
Masjid and make Wudhu there,
or bring water from there
and make Wudhu with it in
the Wudhu Khana.
And
Allah Ta'aala knows best.
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Top> |
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U P D A T E |
New Jamiat Calendar for 2010
The Jamiatul
Ulama Calendar for 2010 is now
available from the Jamiatul
Ulama offices or selected
outlets. The theme of the
selected pictures collected for
this issue of the calendar is
Islamic centres of higher
learning. The calendar contains
both Hijri and Gregorian dates,
new moon information, prayer
times as well as monthly
messages of inspiration.
Hilal Moon-sighting
The hilal (new moon) for the
beginning of the new hijri
year’s month of Muharram (1431)
will have to be sighted on
Wednesday 16 December 2009. In
the event of a sighting, 1
Muharram 1431 shall correspond
to Thursday 17 December 2009.
Otherwise, having to
complete 30 days of Zul Hijjah
1430, the month of Muharram will
start on Friday 18 December
2009.
We encourage
Muslims to attempt sighting the
crescent and to inform the imam
of their area of the news for
necessary confirmation
procedures. Moulana Ebrahim I
Bham will also be available on
083 786 2859 to receive news of
sighting.
Confirmation of
the Day of Ashura (10 Muharram
1431) shall be relayed through
the next edition of this
newsletter as well as through
hilaal notices circulated in
masajid.
Photographs for Official
Documents
The
Department of Home Affairs has
made it clear that other than
photograph specifications given
in their guidelines, there has
not been any requirement for
Muslim ladies to take off the
hijab (head-covering scarf) when
taking photographs for
passports, ID and related
documents.
This matter
became clear at a meeting with
the Jamiatul Ulama held at the
department’s offices in Pretoria
on 3 December 2009.
A
concern had developed when an
official from the department was
quoted on Radio Islam recently
suggesting that in the near
future the photographs with the
hijab on would be an issue. The
Jamiatul Ulama had sought
clarity on the matter.
The relevant guidelines on
photograph specifications as
used by the Department of Home
Affairs are available in a
brochure
downloadable here.
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Summarised Jumu’ah
Bayaan: |
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Meritorius
Deeds: Adhaan |
“Who can be better in
speech than he who
invites towards Allah,
does good deeds and
says: I am from among
those who have
submitted?” (41:33)
• Abu Hurairah
radhiyallahu anhu
narrates that Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam said, ‘The
Muadhin is forgiven till
as far as his voice
reaches. And every
animate and inanimate
creation testifies in
his favour.’ (Abu
Dawood) Imam Nasaa-i has
added, ‘He shall receive
a reward equal to that
which all those who
offer salah with him
shall receive.’
•
Anas radhiyallahu anhu
narrates that Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam said, ‘The hand
of Rahman (the Most
Merciful Allah) is on
the muadhin’s head. And
he is forgiven as far as
his voice reaches.’
(Tabrani)
• Abu
Hurairah radhiyallahu
anhu narrates that
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasallam said,
‘If the people only knew
the rewards that are in
store for the adhan and
the first row (of salah)
and they had no
alternative but to draw
lots, they would have
drawn lots.’ (Bukhari)
• Abu Saeed Khudhri
radhiyallahu anhu
narrates that Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam said, ‘If the
people only knew the
rewards that are in
store for calling the
adhan, they would have
struck each other with
swords to fulfil this
deed.’ (Musnad Ahmad)
• Muawiyah
radhiyallahu anhu
narrates: I heard
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasallam saying,
‘The Muadhins shall have
the longest necks on the
Day of Resurrection.’
(Muslim) This could mean
that they would have the
most good deeds. The
literal meaning could
also be taken – when the
people will be terrified
and there will be those
whose mouths will be
sealed by their
perspiration, the
muadhins shall have the
longest necks and be
saved. It could also
mean that they will be
on elevated positions –
on a hill of musk –
while the rest of the
people will be on the
field of resurrection.
• Anas
radhiyallahu anhu
narrates that Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam said, ‘If I
were to take an oath, I
would be able to keep
it: the most beloved of
servants in the sight of
Allah are those who
watch the sun and the
moon – in other words
the Muadhins. Surely
they will be recognised
on the day of Qiyaamah
by their long necks.’
(Tabrani)
• Jabir
radhiyallahu anhu
narrates, ‘The muadhins
and those who say the
talbiyah shall appear
from their graves
calling out the adhan
and proclaiming the
talbiyah respectively.’
(Tabrani)
• Abu
Hurairah radhiyallahu
anhu narrates that
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasallam said,
‘When the call to salaah
is made, Shaytaan turns
away and passes wind so
that he does not hear
the adhaan.’ (Bukhari)
• Anas radhiyallahu
anhu narrates that
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasallam said,
‘When the adhaan is
called out in a village,
Allah grants it security
from punishment for that
day.’ (Tabrani)
•
Ma’qil bin Yasaar
radhiyallahu anhu
narrates that Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam said, ‘When the
adhaan is called out
among a people in the
morning, they are under
the protection of Allah
till the evening. And
when the adhaan is
called out among a
people in the evening,
they are under the
protection of Allah till
the morning.’ (Tabrani)
• Ibn Abbas
radhiyallahu anhu
narrates: a person came
to Rasulullah sallahu
alayhi wasallam and
said, ‘Teach me or show
me a deed that will
admit me into Jannah.’
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasalam said, ‘Be
a muadhin.’ The person
replied, ‘I cannot do
that.’ Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasalam said, ‘Be an
Imam.’ The person
replied, ‘I cannot do
that.’ Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasalam said, ‘Then
stand next to the Imam.’
(Tabrani)
• Sahl
bin Sa’d radhiyallahu
anhu narrates that
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasallam said,
‘There are two times
when a supplicant’s
supplication is not
rejected: at the time of
Iqaamah and when
standing in the battle
lines for the cause of
Allah.’ (Abu Dawud)
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Message from the Ameer of
the Jamiatul Ulama |
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Everything happens
in the Wisdom of Allah |
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(This is a re-run of one of
the Ameer’s previous
messages) |
A story is told about a
certain King in Africa who
had a close friend that he
grew up with. The friend had
a habit of looking at every
situation that ever occurred
in his life (positive or
negative) by remarking,
"This is good, Allah
Almighty knows best"
One day the King and his
friend were out on a hunting
expedition. The friend would
load and prepare the guns
for the King. The friend had
apparently done something
wrong in preparing one of
the guns, for after taking
the gun from his friend, the
King fired it and his thumb
was blown off. Examining the
situation the friend
remarked as usual, "This is
good! Allah Almighty knows
best." To which the King
replied, "No, this is NOT
good!" and ordered his
soldiers to put his friend
into jail.
About a
year later, the King was
hunting in an area that he
should have known to stay
clear of. Cannibals captured
the King and took him to
their village. They tied his
hands, stacked some wood,
set up a stake and bound him
to the stake.
As
they came near to set fire
to the wood, they noticed
that the King was missing a
thumb. Being superstitious,
they never ate anyone who
was less than whole. So
after untying the King, they
chased him out of the
village. When the King
reached his palace, he was
reminded of the event that
had taken his thumb and felt
remorse for his treatment of
his friend. He went
immediately to the jail to
speak with his friend.
"You were right" the
King said, "It was good that
my thumb was blown off." And
he proceeded to tell the
friend all that had just
happened. "I am very sorry
for sending you to jail for
so long. It was bad for me
to do this."
"No," his
friend replied, "this is
good...Allah Almighty knows
best"
"What do you
mean, 'this is good'! How
could it be good that I sent
my friend to jail for a
year?"
The King's
friend replied: "Remember
that the Almighty knows best
and if I had NOT been in
jail, I would have been with
you on that hunting trip!"
As Muslims, we
should never question the
decision of Allah in
anything, and we should bear
our afflictions with
patience. Allah says: "He
knows what is before them
and what is behind them: And
to Allah go back all
questions (for decision)"
(Surah Al Hajj 22:76)
Do Not Judge Things or
Events by its Immediate
Outcome!
Almighty,
the Most High is the
All-Knowledgeable, the
All-Knower. He chooses to
show us things, but
sometimes we are not shown
the wisdom behind some
things. When we are
confronted by circumstances
that are not very pleasing
and we are quick to say:
"This is not good..." but is
it really? We might not know
the purpose behind it. Thus,
when we are faced with any
situation, we should not be
too quick to judge and
always remember that this
life is a test and there is
nothing that happens for no
reason.
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