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Weekly Comment |
Replicating the World Cup Zeal
in Service Delivery
A media report recently
indicated the prospect of
changing fortunes for the people
of Sweetwaters, an informal
settlement in the south of
Johannesburg.
The informal
settlement was a point of call
for President Jacob Zuma when he
paid an unannounced visit
earlier this year. What he saw
then ‘shocked’ him and the
publicity around the visit
prompted some to get involved.
A
subsequent visit by the
president on Monday turned out
to be sweet news for four
families of the poor of
Sweetwaters who benefited from
homes built by charitable local
initiatives that were
handed-over to them.
Sweetwaters
has become a ‘special project’
for the government on which
‘billions’ will be spent to
provide homes and public
amenities for residents.
Given the
massive public enterprise
infrastructure the government
has put in place, why did it
take a presidential hotline for
the president to know of the
plight of the people of
Sweetwaters?
President
Zuma told the residents, “When
you’re in Pretoria, government
officials tell you that
everything is going well.” What
is the value of a civil service
which produces “long reports
that give you the impression
that they’re on track” as the
president charged, when it is
not the case?
Service
delivery has been a major
challenge for our nation. The
countless protests that have
often turned violent underscore
the urgency with which the
matter requires address. Having
acknowledged the fact as the
ruling African National Congress
has done, it is time to act.
‘Special
projects’ such as one taking
shape in Sweetwaters are welcome
in showing this sense of
responsive urgency on the part
of the presidency as well as
government. However, where is
the assurance for those who have
been waiting for long elsewhere
that their day is coming soon?
We have
shown that we can deliver on
projects on a massive scale with
the delivery on the World Cup on
time. That is an indication of a
capacity which we have as a
country. It will take the same
level of zeal coupled with a
change in attitudes to improve
the realities of deprivation on
the ground.
If our
attitudes do not change, the
underutilised stadia will be a
painfully persisting spectacle
from a vantage inside a tin
shack such as the ones President
Zuma found Busisiwe Mlotshwa and
Enoch Vilakazi living in.
Red tape as
well as wastefulness of scarce
resources should be brought to a
minimum and spheres of
government should work in tandem
in identifying and prioritising
projects that protect and
preserve the dignity of our
people.
Corrupt elements will have to be
stigmatised, exposed and rooted
out as a scourge threatening our
nation, robbing others their
rightful dues.
It is no
longer a case of easier said
than done: the world has
witnessed how we have done it
and we have only to replicate it
in order to restore the human
dignity of our own people.
It is has
never been a matter of choice
but a course of action to be
taken. The time for action is
now.
(Ref: The Star,
6 July 2010, page: 5) |
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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 161.07 |
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Mahr Faatimi |
R 8,053.72 |
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Zakaat Nisaab |
R 3,221.49 |
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Words of Wisdom |
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Hadith of the Week |
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Responsiblity of a
Gathering |
.
Abu Hurairah Radhiallahu
anhu reported: The Prophet
Sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam
said, "Whenever a group of
people sit in a gathering in
which they do not remember
Allah the Exalted, nor
supplicate to elevate the
rank of their Prophet, such
a gathering will be a cause
of grief to them. If Allah
wills, He will punish them,
and if He wills He will
forgive them.''
(At-Tirmidhi)
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Quotation
of
the Week |
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For the Sake of Allah |
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“Whoever learns something in
the name of Allah, seeking
that which is with Him, he
will win. And whoever learns
something for other than
Allah, he will not reach the
goal, nor will his acquired
knowledge bring him closer
to Allah.”
(Al-Hasan al-Basri)
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Point of Reflection |
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Effort in what Works |
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No matter how hard you try
the bull will never give
milk. (Ukraine)
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Q and A |
Question: Please
enlighten me on the
following:-
There is
a lady in her early forties
that I would like to marry.
Does she still require the
consent of her parents?
We have agreed to
secretly marry for now and
then marry in public as soon
as her parents’ consent to
our marriage. Your opinion
please. Jazakallah.
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Answer:
Even though an adult,
previously married woman
does not require the consent
of her wali (representative)
to get married she should
consult with him and take
his advice before she enters
into a nikah. (Shaami, vol.3
p.55/56). If however, the
two of you are not
compatible with one another
in terms of the Shariah then
she will require the consent
of her wali in order to
marry you. (Shaami, vol.3
p.56/57). Similarly, she
should not perform her nikah
in secret without the
knowledge of her parents.
Many single women are
vulnerable at certain points
of their lives and are then
taken advantage of by
unscrupulous males.
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Top> |
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U P D A T E |
Qari Ismail Eshaq: A True
Servant of the Qur’an
When Allah selects an individual
serve the Qur’an for over 28
years, it is indeed something
few are blessed with. One such
personality was Qari Ismail
Eshaq rahimahullah, the
Vice-Principal of Madrasah
Arabia Islamia, Azaadville. On
Monday, the 15th Rajab 1431
(28th June 2010), he departed
from this transitory world and
commenced his journey to the
Akhirah. Inna Lillahi wa Inna
ilaihi Raji’un
Qari
Ismail completed the
memorization of the Qur’an at
the famous Waterval Islamic
Institute (Mias Farm) and
graduated with his Alim Fadil
course at Jamiah Talimul Islam
Dhabel, Gujarat, India. In the
field of Qira’ah, he is
considered a prized student of
Qari Ahmadullah Sahib and was
also a Khalifah of Mufti Mahmood
Hasan Gangohi.
Among his
students, he was known for his
dedication to their spiritual
nurturing with great zeal,
sincerity and compassion. He was
very instrumental in reviving
the science of Tajweed, the
correct recitation of the Qur’an
and the Qiraa’at-Sab‘ah not only
among his students, but also the
larger population of the
country. Sautul Qur’an was a
project which he spearheaded
aimed at creating awareness
among the general public of
South Africa towards the
importance of the Qur’an.
Locally and abroad, his students
are living memory and legacy of
his passion for the word of
Allah.
His guidance,
wisdom and leadership will
surely be missed by his
colleagues, students and
friends.
OR
Tambo International Airport
Prayer Facilities
The Jamiatul Ulama informs that
the musalla at the OR Tambo
International Airport has a
Jumuah prayer session. The time
of the adhaan is 12h30 and
khutbah starts at 12h50.
Location: International Arrivals
Terminal. Take escalator down to
Parkade 1, Level 1. It will be
on the right hand side.
The original prayer facility
remains available for all
prayers other than Jumuah. It is
situated in the airline
operations section on the way to
the viewing deck.
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Summarised Jumu’ah
Bayaan: |
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Mi’raaj: The
Night Journey |
“Glorified be He
(Allah), who took His
slave (Muhammad
salallahu alayhi
wasalam) for a journey
by night from Masjid
Al-Haram (in Makkah) to
the farthest Masjid (in
Jerusalem), the
precincts whereof we
have blessed: in order
that we might show him
(Muhammad salallahu
alayhi wasalam) of our
signs. Verily, He is the
All-Hearer, the
All-Seer.” (17:1)
• Al-Israa and
Mi’raaj are among the
many signs of Allah
Ta’ala and the miracles
of Rasulullah salallahu
alayhi wasalam which
took place very
different from any other
natural occurrence in
the Universe. No person
before him ever
travelled within such a
short space of time
covering a vast distance
then moving on to the
seven heavens until a
point where Allah Ta’ala
desired to take him to.
• This
miraculous journey is
primarily referred to in
two distinct stages: Al
Israa’ - which was the
journey which began in
Masjid Al-Haram where
Rasulullah salallahu
alayhi wasalam embarked
upon the unique white
animal from Jannah
called ‘Al-Buraaq’ with
Jira’eel alayhis salaam
and they proceeded to
Masjid Al-Aqsa, whilst
passing through Madinah
Al-Munawwarah and Mount
Sinaa’. The second stage
in known as Mi’raaj,
which was the journey
from Masjid Al-Aqsa into
the heavens.
•
The wisdom behind this
journey was establishing
the transitory nature of
this world with all its
beauties and amenities;
and consolidating the
everlasting trait of the
Life Hereafter.
• The object of this
journey was not merely
for Rasulullah salallahu
alayhi wasalam to be
taken on journey into
the Heavens simply to
witness the various
dimensions of Allah’s
creation therein; rather
it was to affirm his
superiority, leadership
role and virtue above
all the other Ambiyaa
alayhi mussalaam.
• Some of the
lessons of this event:
1. The Virtue of
Salaah: The importance
of the great gift of
Salaah is evident from
the fact that the
Rasulullah salallahu
alayhi wasalam was
personally called to the
Heavens to receive this
injunction, while other
injunctions were
revealed via Jibraeel
alayhis salaam.
2. Zam Zam Water: Whilst
in Masjid Al-Haraam in
Makkah Al-Mukarramah,
the blessed chest of
Nabi salallahu alayhi
wassallam was opened,
his heart was removed
and washed with the
water of Zam Zam, and
thereafter it was
replaced to its original
condition. Its
excellence is evident in
that no other water was
used for this purpose.
3. The Harms of
disobedience: During
this journey Rasulullah
salallahu alayhi
wassallam was shown the
different punishments
meted out to those who
transgress the orders of
Allah Ta’ala. This
included, among others,
the punishment for those
who do not practice what
they preach, those who
slander, those who
consume interest, those
who indulge in
fornication and
adultery, those who
misappropriate trust,
those who do not fulfill
their Zakaah and also
those who are negligent
with their salaah.
• This journey also
served as a means of
encouragement and
uplifting the morale of
the Messenger of Allah
salallahu alayhi
wassallam, as it took
place at a time in his
life when he together
with his companions were
faced with a severe
onslaught against their
lives and faith, while
frustration and a sense
of loosing hope began to
surface.
• The
historical significance
of Masjid Al-Aqsa and
its precincts also was
enlightened during this
journey, as it was here
and no other place,
which had chosen for the
assembly of the entire
galaxy of Ambiyaa
alayhis salaam.
•
Although the Shariah has
NOT specified any form
of worship or
commemoration of this
event, at this time of
the year, historically
Muslims recall the
lessons learnt from it
and encouragement is
given towards
inculcating the lessons
learnt from this
miraculous occurrence.
<Go to Top> |
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Message from the Ameer of
the Jamiatul Ulama |
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Success |
Every one of us wants to be
a winner, but what is
success? Does success mean
amassing wealth, attaining
leadership, adopting the
profession of one’s choice,
being popular, consolidating
power, enjoying prestige,
maximizing happiness, etc.?
Is the winner the one who
leads a country, commands
huge audiences, gets his
way, wins elections,
overcomes his adversaries,
becomes a Nobel laureate,
emerges as a sports icon, or
becomes influential; or is
it he whose children are
educated in the best of
educational institutions,
excel in their careers and
marry the choicest of
spouses?
The Holy
Qur’an informs us: “Whoever
is saved from the Fire and
admitted to the Jannah, he
indeed is
successful.”(3:185). It also
says: “The greatest thing in
the Pleasure of Allah: that
is the supreme success”.
(9:72) In another verse it
mentions: “The real losers
will be those who lose
themselves, and their
families, on the Day of
Judgement. Ah, that is the
manifest loss!” (39:15)
These verses remind us
of the reality that none of
the aforementioned
‘successes’ are truly
successes unless a person is
able to obtain the pleasure
of Allah, avoid Hell and be
granted admission into
Jannah.
The Prophet
explained how insignificant,
transient, and fleeting the
experiences of this world
are: “The most prosperous
person of the world to be
thrown in the Fire, will be
brought on the Day of
Judgement. He will be thrown
into the fire for just
enough time to let the Fire
penetrate his body. Then he
will be asked, O man, did
you ever have good time in
your life or enjoyed any
bounties? He will respond,
‘By God, never, O Lord!’
Similarly, a person to be
entered into Jannah who had
the most destitute life in
the world will be brought.
He will be placed into
Jannah for a time long
enough to be accustomed to
its luxuries. The he will be
asked, ‘O man! Have you ever
experienced poverty or tough
circumstances?’ He will
respond, ‘By God, O Lord, I
have neither experienced
poverty nor tough
circumstances ever.”
(Muslim)
Those who
assume that only their claim
to be Muslims will guarantee
them true, complete and
eternal success have
baseless expectations of
Allah. They must hold the
true beliefs of Muslims and
live their lives as Muslims.
The Prophet said: “A
wise person is he who judges
himself and works for the
life after death. And the
loser is he who follows his
desires and then expects to
be rewarded by Allah.”
(Tirmidhi)
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