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Weekly Comment |
What Remains of Business
Stripped of Trust?
Dazzling fireworks and
spectacular displays of the
India’s Premier League of
cricket seem to be a façade of
the rot of things which can go
wrong and have indeed.
Off-the-field and
behind-the-scenes antics of the
league’s commissioner Lalit
Modi, have earned him a
suspension.
Modi has to
respond within 14 days to
charges of rigging bids, taking
kickbacks for TV and internet
rights deals. Furthermore, the
name of at least one player
linked to match-fixing in the
league is under wraps in a
pending investigation…
What is the value of
sport when all what plays out
and ‘results’ have already been
determined by some other
wheeler-dealers acting like
puppet masters?
Wall Street has again
been in the news with
revelations that officials of
Goldman Sachs were involved in
manipulating markets for profit.
Goldman Sachs has emerged from
the financial crisis with
astronomical profits after
government bail-outs of last
year.
It
is alleged that Goldman Sachs
accepted investment funds from
clients using financial
instruments that depended on
performance of home mortgages.
Yet, at the same time, officials
from the same firm profited
enormously by betting on the
default of those mortgages.
When one
looks at all the misery that has
been brought about by the
financial crisis through lost
investment wealth, lost homes
and jobs, what can be compared
to the sadism of the likes of
Goldman Sachs officials who
still maintain they did not do
any wrong in spite of the
apparent conflict of interest?
What is the value of investment
when those whom you entrust with
your wealth to grow it bet
against what they advise you to
invest in?
Now closer
to home, what do we make of the
allegation by Andrew Jennings,
who says “FIFA has banned him
from its press conferences so
that its president Sepp Blatter
would not have to answer
potentially revealing questions
about corruption in the
organisation?”
(Craig McKune, 27 Apr 2010)
What about
an earlier paper’s story that a
supposed empowerment partner to
the consortium managing Soccer
City is “a former security guard
who lives in a poor township
outside Heidelberg, Gauteng”?
(Rob Rose, 25 Apr 2010)
At its least, what is the value
of empowerment which does not
even lift the token ‘fronting’
face out of poverty?
These are
examples of things which have
gone wrong in our society. Are
we so helplessly inching towards
a stage when we shall be beyond
redemption in our struggle
against the modern day’s
pervasive scourge of corruption
and plunder?
Trust is an
aspect of faith. The
preponderance of its breach
should not be an excuse for a
believer not living up to
his/her responsibility. Honesty
and fair-dealing are a mark of a
true believer.
It is about
time we stand out in promoting
these values which are clearly
under siege.
“Religion is good counsel...,”
thus taught the Prophet
Sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam. In
everyone's best interest, do we
give it? Do we use it? |
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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 |
R161.25 |
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Mahr Faatimi |
R 8,062.33 |
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Zakaat Nisaab |
R 3,224.93 |
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Words of Wisdom |
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Hadith of the Week |
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Identifying the
Truly Needy |
Abu Hurairah Radhiallahu
anhu reported: Messenger of
Allah Sallallahu ‘alayhi
wasallam said, "A Miskin
(needy) is not the one who
can be turned away with a
date-fruit or two, or a
morsel or two. The true
Miskin is one who, despite
his poverty, abstains from
begging".
(Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
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Quotation
of
the Week |
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Noble Origins, Noble Goals |
“You were born with
wings. Why prefer to crawl
through life?”
(Jalal al-Din Muhammad Rumi)
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Point of Reflection |
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Actionable Vision is Bliss |
Vision with action is a
daydream; action without
vision is a nightmare.
(Japan)
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Q and A |
Question:
I have
purchased tickets to some
games of the upcoming world
cup. Am I allowed to sell
them after adding a mark up?
The rules of the seller
state this is not allowed.
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Answer:
In the enquired
scenario, after purchasing a
ticket, it will only be
permissible to sell it to
another person by asking for
the same price it was paid
for.
(Reference:
Shaami 6/91, 29;
Mahmoodiyyah 16/604
(Faruqiyyah Edition))
Note however that while
this may be the basic ruling
to the scenario (mas'ala),
it should not be taken that
attending such events is
condoned in any way.
<Go to
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U P D A T E |
Obituary: Moulana Abdul Quddus
Sayed
Muslims mourned the loss of yet
another scholar. Moulana Abdul
Quddus Sayed passed away on
Saturday at the age of 60 after
a long illness.
Moulana
Abdul Quddus was until his
demise working with SANHA’s
Inspectorate and Regulation
Department.
He was
originally from Potchefstroom
and had earlier in his life
studied in Karachi after which
he worked at the Waterval
Islamic Institute as a teacher
and at the Jamiatul Ulama’s
Nursery Road offices in
Fordsburg where he dealt with
social matters.
He also
once served as imam of
Robertsham where he lived until
his death.
Those around
him will remember a man who
fought his illness with
fortitude and never complained
about his poor health.
May the Almighty reward him with
Jannatul Firdaus and grant his
family patience in bearing his
loss. Aameen.
National Recognition for Gift of
the Givers
The Jamiatul Ulama congratulates
Dr Imtiaz Sooliman and the Gift
of the Givers for earning
national recognition through
their humanitarian work in South
Africa and abroad.
The
order of the Baobab in silver
which Dr Sooliman has received
is one of national orders of
merit that is conferred on South
African citizens who have
contributed to community
service, business and economy,
science, medicine and
technological innovation.
As the citation went at the
ceremony officiated by President
Jacob Zuma yesterday, Dr
Sooliman has been honoured: "For
his excellent contribution
through the Gift of the Givers
Foundation to humanitarian aid
in South Africa and humanitarian
relief missions in various
countries."
May the
Almighty accept the Dr
Sooliman’s efforts and bless his
illustrious efforts of service
to humanity in need. Aameen.
Pakistani Community in
South Africa
The Pakistan community has the
South African Pakistani
Association (SAPA). It initially
came into being in order to
assist each other in the event
of a death of a member. It is
estimated that there are no
fewer than 100,000 Pakistani
nationals. They are engaged in
business as well as in
professions such as medicine,
engineering and information
technology.
SAPA is
headed by Brother Salman Khan.
He is also well-known for his
work in highlighting the plight
of the Kashmiris.
SAPA
is now moving towards
undertaking positive initiatives
such as training for those
involved in food industry in
aspects of hygiene and
environmental health. They want
to familiarize business owners
with the country's labour laws
as well as compliance with other
regulations.
Upon meeting
the Jamiatul Ulama officials
recently, Brother Khan had among
other things also highlighted
the challenges Pakistan
nationals face more especially
from within the Muslim community
such as having to respond to
derogatory names and the
prejudice they have to overcome.
It was clear that
Muslims need to reflect on how
they deal with each other in the
social sphere.
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Summarised Jumu’ah
Bayaan: |
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Delivering
trusts to their owners |
“Allah commands you
to return to their
owners the things you
hold on trust.” (4:58)
• Abu Hurayrah
radhiyallahu anhu
reported that Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam said, ‘There
are three signs of a
hypocrite: whenever he
speaks, he lies;
whenever he makes a
promise, he breaks it;
and whenever he is
trusted, he betrays his
trust.’ (Bukhari and
Muslim) In one variant,
‘Even if he fasts and
prays and claims that he
is a Muslim.’
•
Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman
radhiyallahu anhu said,
‘Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasallam related
two ahaadith to us. I
have seen one of them
come about and I am
still waiting for the
other. He related to us,
‘Trustworthiness had
descended into the
hearts of men. Then the
Qur’an descended and the
people knew it from the
Qur’an and the people
knew it from the
Sunnah.’ Then Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam related that
trustworthiness would be
removed, and he said, ‘A
man will go to sleep and
trustworthiness will be
taken from his heart and
its trace will remain
like a small mark. Then
he will go to sleep and
trustworthiness will be
taken from his heart and
its trace will remain
like a swelling, as when
an ember rolls onto his
foot and it blisters up
and you see it raised up
with nothing in it.’
Then Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam took some
pebbles and rolled them
onto his foot, and said,
‘People will continue to
trade but practically no
one will fulfill his
trust, to such a point
that it will be said,
‘There is a trustworthy
man among the tribe of
so-and-so!’ and until it
will be said of a man,
‘How tough he is! How
elegant! How
intelligent!’ when he
does not have a
mustard-grain of belief
in his heart.’ Hudhayfah
ibn al-Yaman
radhiyallahu anhu said,
‘There was a time when I
did not care who I did
business with. If he was
a Muslim, his religion
was sufficient assurance
for me, and if he was a
Christian or a Jew, his
guardian (surety) was
sufficient assurance for
me. Today I only do
business with so-and-so
and so-and-so among
you.’ (Bukhari and
Muslim)
•
Hudhayfah and Abu
Hurayrah radhiyallahu
anhu reported that
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasallam said,
‘Allah, the Blessed and
Exalted, will gather the
people together, and the
believers will stand
until Jannah is brought
near to them and then
they will go to Adam
alayhis salaam and say,
‘O our father, ask Allah
that Jannah be opened up
for us!’ He will say,
‘Were you brought out of
Jannah by anything but
the error of your
father! That is not in
my power. Go to Ibrahim
alayhis salaam, the
Friend of Allah.’ He
said, ‘They will go to
Ibrahim alayhis salaam
and Ibrahim alayhis
salaam will say, ‘That
is not in my power. I
was only a friend. That
degree is far beyond me.
Go to Musa alayhis
salaam to whom Allah
spoke directly.’ They
will go to Musa alayhis
salaam and he will say,
'That is not in my
power. Go to 'Isa
alayhis salaam, the Word
of Allah and His
Spirit.’ Isa will say,
‘That is not in my
power.’ They will go to
Muhammad sallallahu
alayhi wasallam and he
will stand and will be
granted permission.
Trust and kinship will
be released and will
stand on either side of
the Bridge of Sirat,
right and left. The
first of them will pass
over like lightning.’ I
said, ‘May my father and
mother be your ransom,
what is passing like
lightning?’ He said,
‘Have’t you seen how it
comes and goes in the
blink of an eye? Then
they will pass like the
wind, then pass like
birds. The strongest of
men will be carried by
their actions while
their Prophet will be on
the Sirat, saying, ‘O
Lord, grant safety,
grant safety,’ until the
actions of the slaves
are no longer sufficient
and a man is brought who
can only cross crawling.
On the sides of the
Sirat there are hooks
hanging which are
commanded to catch hold
of particular people.
Anyone who is scratched
is safe but anyone who
is hooked is in the
Fire.’ By the One in
whose hand is the soul
of Abu Hurayrah, the
bottom of Jahannam is a
seventy years journey
deep.’ (Muslim)
•
Abu Khubayb Abdullah ibn
Zubayr radhiyallahu anhu
said, ‘When Zubayr stood
awaiting the Battle of
the Camel, he called me
over and I went to his
side. He said, ‘O my
son, no one will be
killed today except
someone wronging or
someone wronged. I think
that I will be killed
today as one of the
wronged. One of my
greatest concerns is my
debts. Do you think that
any of our property will
remain after out debts
are settled?’ He said,
‘O my son! Sell our
property and pay my
debts!’ Then he willed a
third, and a third of it
was for his sons, i.e.
the sons of Abdullah ibn
az-Zubayr. He said, ‘A
third of the third. If
anything is left over of
our property after
paying the debts, then a
third of it is for your
children.’ Abdullah
radhiyallahu anhu said,
‘My father began to
order me concerning his
debt and say, ‘O my son,
if you are unable to
settle any of it, then
ask my Master for help
in doing it.’ He said,
‘By Allah, I did not
know what he meant so I
said, ‘O my father, who
is your Master?’ He
said, ‘Allah.’ He said,
‘Whenever I ran into a
difficulty regarding his
debt I said, ‘O Master
of Zubayr! Pay his debt
for him!’ and He (Allah)
would settle it. Zubayr
radhiyallahu anhu was
matyred without leaving
a dinar or a dirham, but
only two pieces of land,
one of which was
al-Ghaba, and eleven
houses in Madinah, two
in Basra, one in Kufa,
and one in Egypt.’ He
said, ‘The debt that he
owed resulted from
people bringing him
money to leave in his
keeping. Zubayr
radhiyallahu anhu would
say, ‘No, let it rather
be a loan, for otherwise
I fear that it might get
lost.’ He was never
appointed to a
government post of any
kind nor to the
collection of land-tax
(kharaj) nor anything
else. What he had came
only from expeditions
with the Prophet
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam, or with Abu
Bakr, Umar and Uthman
radhiyallahu anhu.’
Abdullah ibn Zubayr
said, ‘When I worked out
the debt he owed, I
found it to be two
million and two hundred
thousand.’ Hakim ibn
Hizam met Abdullah ibn
Zubayr radhiyallahu anhu
and said, ‘Nephew, how
large a debt does my
brother have?’ I
concealed it and said,
‘A hundred thousand.’
Hakim said, ‘By Allah, I
do not think that your
property will cover this
amount.’ Abdullah
radhiyallahu anhu said,
‘What would you think if
it were two million and
two hundred thousand?’
He said, ‘I do not think
you will be able to pay
this. If you are unable
to cover any of it, then
ask me for help.’ He
said, ‘Zubayr
radhiyallahu anhu had
purchased al-Ghaba for
one hundred and seventy
thousand, and Abdullah
radhiyallahu anhu sold
it for one million and
six hundred thousand.
Then he stood up and
said, ‘Anyone who is
owed anything by Zubayr
should come to us at
al-Ghaba.’ Abdullah ibn
Ja’far radhiyallahu anhu
came to him, and Zubayr
radhiyallahu anhu owed
him four hundred
thousand. He said to
Abdullah, ‘If you like,
I will forgo it.’
Abdullah radhiyallahu
anhu said, ‘No.’ He
said, ‘If you like, you
can delay payment if you
want to.’ Abdullah
radhiyallahu anhu said,
‘No.’ He said, ‘So
allocate me a piece of
land.’ Abdullah
radhiyallahu anhu said,
‘You can have from here
to there.’ Abdullah
radhiyallahu anhu sold
some of it and paid his
debts in full and there
remained four and a half
shares of the land. He
went to Mu’awiya while
Amr ibn Uthman,
al-Mundhir ibn Zubayr
and Ibn Zam’a were with
him. Mu‘awiya
radhiyallahu anhu said,
‘How much have you
valued al-Ghaba at?’ He
said, ‘Each share at a
hundred thousand.’ He
said, ‘How much
remains?’ He said, ‘Four
and half shares.’
Al-Mundhir ibn Zubayr
radhiyallahu anhu said,
‘I will take a share for
a hundred thousand.’ Amr
ibn Uthman radhiyallahu
anhu said, ‘I will take
a share for a hundred
thousand.’ Ibn Zam’a
radhiyallahu anhu said,
‘I will take a share for
a hundred thousand.’
Mu’awiya radhiyallahu
anhu said, ‘How much
remains?’ He said, ‘A
share and a half.’ He
said, ‘I will take them
for one hundred and
fifty thousand.’ He
said, ‘Abdullah ibn
Ja’far radhiyallahu anhu
later sold his share to
Mu’awiya radhiyallahu
anhu for sixty thousand.
When Ibn Zubayr
finishing settling his
debts, the sons of
Zubayr said, ‘Distribute
our inheritance between
us.’ He said, ‘No, by
Allah, I will not
distribute it until I
have made this
announcement for four
years during the Hajj
festival: ‘Anyone who
has a debt owed to him
by Zubayr radhiyallahu
anhu should come to us
and we will settle it.’
He said, ‘He announced
that every year at the
festival and when the
four years were up, he
distributed it between
them. Zubayr
radhiyallahu anhu had
four wives and after the
prescribed third was
removed, each wife got a
million and two hundred
thousand. So the total
amount of his property
was fifty million and
two hundred thousand.’
(Bukhari)
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Message from the Ameer of
the Jamiatul Ulama |
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Submission versus
Freedom |
In the Noble Qur’an we
are advised and instructed
by Allah: “O you who
believe! Enter perfectly in
Islam and follow not the
footsteps of Shaytaan.
Verily, he is to you an open
enemy.” (Surah 2: 208).
The country commemorated
Freedom Day yesterday. It is
a day when South Africans,
sixteen years ago stood in
long queues to vote for a
democratic order of the
country governed by
constitutional rule.
The constitution of the
republic safeguards rights
and guarantees one to follow
and practice a religion,
creed and culture of his or
her choice.
We are
aware that our national
constitution has been
regarded as one of the most
progressive and modern, and
has been promulgated as the
ultimate law of the land.
We however cannot deny
that the ‘perfect
constitution’ has also
brought in its wake an
environment in which
hedonism takes root and
reigns.
As such, the
freedom which comes without
duty and responsibility only
breeds crime, violence,
corruption, dishonesty,
deceit and many other social
ills. These vices in left
unchecked will become the
accepted norms.
The
government, civic
organizations and civil
society should take the
fight to the front of
restoration of our moral
fibre so that we tackle
these challenges with
renewed vigour.
In
the verse recited above, the
word Islam, which means
submission, surrender and
obedience, compels us to
become totally subservient
to Allah. The best antidote
to evil and vice is the
submission to Allah. This is
a perfect standpoint for us
to inculcate this submission
as it warns us about our
avowed enemy.
We are
duty bound to remain firm
and focused on our Deen and
not swayed by ‘freedom’ and
its attractions. What is the
use of this life’s freedom
which only earns us an
everlasting torment in the
Hereafter? May Allah keep us
steadfast and obedient to
Him. Ameen.
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