|
|
|
Weekly Comment |
Europe can Learn Something from
South Africa
Two hundred and twenty-one years
ago to the day, Bastille prison
in Paris was stormed in an
uprising.
Bastille Day,
the French national holiday, is
an anniversary of the storming
of the Bastille, which took
place on 14 July 1789 and marked
the beginning of the French
Revolution.
The Bastille
was a symbol of the supreme and
arbitrary power of the royalty.
At this prison, critiques of the
monarchy would be detained
without any chance of appeal.
With its storming, the French
ushered in a new era of liberty,
a product of the Enlightenment,
a break from the feudal era of
the Middle Ages.
Ahead of
Bastille Day festivities
yesterday, the French lower
house of parliament passed a
bill that bans the wearing of
the face veil [niqaab] in
public. The bill will now go to
the French Senate, which is
expected to approve it in
September.
Once the bill
is passed into law, it would be
illegal for anyone to cover
their faces in public places
like streets, parks, public
transport or shops. Men who
force their wives or daughters
to cover themselves face
penalties of up to 30,000euros
and a one-year jail term.
A country that prides itself
in secular values now has taken
it upon herself in legislating a
code of dress. It is a
contradiction to the freedom and
liberty a secular order is
envisaged to safeguard.
France has Western Europe’s
largest Muslim population on a
continent that is increasingly
islamophobic. Those who have
criticised the legislation find
the matter a non-issue as only
about 1,900 women among France's
five to six million Muslims wear
a veil.
Others have
cited the sagging popularity
ratings of the government as a
motivation for passing such a
law. In so doing, president
Nicolas Sarkozy hopes to appeal
to and garner support from
anti-immigration groups.
Regardless, France sets a
precedent which is likely to be
followed in Brussels,
Netherlands and elsewhere where
symbols of Islam in the form of
Minarets, call to prayer and
mosques are unwelcome.
Developments in Europe prompt us
to appreciate and celebrate the
unity in diversity in our own
country. South Africans do not
have to look uniform in
projecting a national identity
as the French are trying to do.
The beauty of a nation
can be in the tapestry, the
plurality yet sharing in one
goal of building a nation in
which one has full respect of
the other.
South Africa
has shown this amazing spirit by
defying and confounding
nay-sayers in hosting thousands
that visited our shores for the
past months in ways that they
will never forget.
We
acknowledge our challenges on
which we have to work hard to
overcome but we do not suffer an
identity crisis that seems to
dominate the thinking in France
and Europe. Europe should learn
something from South Africa. |
|
|
C O N T E N T
S |
|
Summarised
Jumuah Bayaan |
|
Question and
Answer |
|
Update |
|
Message from the Ameer |
|
I N F O R M A
T I O N |
|
Min. Mahr |
R160.18 |
|
Mahr Faatimi |
R 8,009.09 |
|
Zakaat Nisaab |
R 3,203.64 |
|
Words of Wisdom |
|
Hadith of the Week |
|
For the Sake of
Allah |
.
From Abu Hurairah
Radhiallahu anhu who said
that Allah's Messenger
Sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam
said: “A man went out to
visit a brother of his in a
different village, so Allah,
the Most High, put an angel
in wait for him in the road.
So when the angel came to
him he said: ‘Where are you
going?’ He said: ‘I am going
to visit a brother in this
village. He said: Is it that
you have done something for
him for which you seek
repayment?’ He said: ‘No, it
is just that I love him for
Allah's sake.’ He said:
‘Then I am one sent by Allah
to you (to inform you) that
Allah, the Mighty and
Majestic, loves you, just as
you have loved for His
sake.’” (Muslim)
. |
|
|
Quotation
of
the Week |
|
Fleeting Life |
.
“Son of Adam, you are no
more than a few days.
Whenever a day passes, a
part of you has gone.”
(Al-Hasan al-Basri)
. |
|
|
Point of Reflection |
|
Setting the Stage |
.
He who would enjoy the fruit
must not spoil the blossoms.
(Gaelic)
. |
|
|
|
Q and A |
Question:
I work
for an Islamic investment
firm. Part of my duty is to
train non-Muslim
consultants, who report to
me, on how to meet Muslim
clients. Could you please
give me some points to
consider so that members of
staff under me do not offend
Muslim clients?
Jazakallah.
|
Answer:
In general, you
should ensure that the
agents adhere to ethical
standards by not concealing
vital information from
clients and by maintaining
an above-board policy.
In addition to the
above, the consultants
should be taught the
importance of privacy of
customers. Furthermore, the
consultants they should not
insist or even coerce
customers into making
particular decisions. Basic
principles of hospitality
relevant to their work
situation should be imparted
to them. If the customers
need time to discuss an
important matter in privacy,
then such an opportunity
should be given and lastly,
the consultants should be
taught to strongly avoid any
form of discrimination
between clients.
Keeping in mind that not all
the consultants are Muslim,
they should be sensitised
about things that would make
many Muslims uncomfortable
in the course of interaction
with members of the opposite
gender.
<Go to
Top> |
|
U P D A T E |
Radio Islam’s Annual
General Meeting
Radio Islam will hold its Annual
General Meeting on Sunday 18
July 2010 from 9:30am at
Masjidus Saliheen in Lenasia,
Ext 13.
On the agenda
will be consideration of
activities of the association as
well as election of members of
the board of directors.
Meanwhile, details of the AGM
have been posted on the Radio
Islam’s website:
www.radioislam.co.za
Marital Classes
The Jamiatul Ulama’s Dawah wal
Irshaad under the Adult
Education programme will host
Marital Classes for married
couples and eligible brides and
grooms at Taalimul Islam Hall,
Lenasia Ext. 5 (Cnr Argon and
Goud Crescent).
The
four-evening classes are
scheduled to commence on Monday
19 July 2010 until Thursday 22
July 2010. Each one of the
sessions will start after Esha
Salaat at the adjoining Shaanul
Islam Masjid (Jamaat: at
7:30pm).
The line up of
Ulama that will speak on various
issues around marital life will
include Moulana Abdul Hameed
Ishaq, Moulana Suliman Ravat,
Moulana Ebrahim I Bham, Mufti
Abdul Kader Hoosain, Moulana
Sulaiman Moolla, Moulana
Muhammad Kaka and Mufti Muhammad
Y Minty.
Separate
accommodation for ladies has
been arranged for the classes.
Johannesburg Ulama
Meeting
Ulama
of Johannesburg are invited to
attend a meeting of the
fraternity on Wednesday 21 July
2010 after Esha Salaat at
Mayfair Jumuah Masjid. Among
other things, Ulama will discuss
programmes for the Johannesburg
area.
Jamiatul Ulama’s Taalimi Board
Exams
A
twelve-man Jamiatul Ulama
Taalimi Board delegation has
left for Gaberone in Botswana
where they will conduct oral
examinations for two affiliate
institutions there. These are
mid-year examinations for
institutions using the Jamiatul
Ulama's Taalimi Board curriculum
in Botswana.
Bangladesh Porishad Community in
South Africa (BPCSA)
Brother Ismail Variawa and
Moulana Dawood Cassim yesterday
met with representatives of the
BPCSA. It is estimated that
there are approximately 150,000
Bangladeshis in South Africa
where they are engaged in retail
and restaurant trade among other
occupations.
The BPCSA
aims at projecting a good image
of Bangladeshis committed to
upholding the rural of law as
well as catering for the
religious well-being of its
members who live all other the
country.
Just like many
other migrant communities,
Bangladeshis have becoming
victims of xenophobia and
violent crimes targeting their
businesses.
Jumuah at the New Airport
Musalla
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.
|
|
Summarised Jumu’ah
Bayaan: |
|
Maintaining ties
of kinship |
“Have taqwa of Allah in
whose name you make
demands on one another
and also in respect of
your families.” (4:1)
“Is it not likely
that, if you did turn
away, you would cause
corruption in the earth
and sever your ties of
kinship? Such are the
people Allah has cursed
making them deaf and
blinding their
eyes.”(47:22-23)
• Abu Muhammad Jubayr
ibn Mut‘im radhiyallahu
anhu reported that
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasallam said,
‘Someone who severs
(ties of kinship) will
not enter Jannah.’
(Bukhari & Muslim)
• Abu Sufyan Sakhr
ibn Harb radhiyallahu
anhu said in a long
hadith concerning what
happened with Heraclius
that he said, ‘Heraclius
asked, ‘What does he
order you to do?’
meaning Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam.’ He said, ‘I
said, ‘He says, ‘Worship
Allah alone and do not
associate anything with
Him and abandon what our
ancestors said. He
commands us to pray, to
speak the truth, to be
chaste, and to maintain
ties of kinship.’
(Bukhari & Muslim)
• Abu Hurayrah
radhiyallahu anhu said,
‘When this verse was
sent down, “Warn your
near relatives,”
(26:214), Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam summoned the
Quraysh and they
gathered, both the
common people and the
elite. He said, ‘O Banu
‘Abdu Shams! O Banu Ka‘b
ibn Lu‘ayy! Save
yourselves from the
Fire! O Banu Murra ibn
Ka‘b! Save yourselves
from the Fire! O Banu
‘Abdu Manaf! Save
yourselves from the
Fire! O Banu Hashim!
Save yourselves from the
Fire! O Banu
‘Abdul-Muttalib! Save
yourselves from the
Fire! O Fatimah! Save
yourself from the Fire!
I do not possess
anything to help you
against Allah other than
the fact of your kinship
which I will maintain.’
(Muslim)
• Abu
Ayyub Khalid ibn Zayd
al-Ansari radhiyallahu
anhu reported that a man
said, ‘Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam tell me about
an action that will
bring me into Jannah and
save me from Jahannum?’
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasallam said,
‘Worship Allah and do
not associate anything
with Him, perform the
prayer and pay the Zakah
and maintain ties of
kinship.’ (Bukhari &
Muslim)
•
‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr
radhiyallahu anhu
reported: Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam said, 'A person
who maintains ties of
kinship is not someone
who only does so with
those who maintain ties
with him. A person who
maintains ties of
kinship is someone who
restores them when they
have been cut off.’
(Bukhari)
•
‘A’isha radhiyallahu
anhu said: Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam said, ‘Kinship
is suspended from the
Arsh (Throne) and says,
‘Allah will connect (in
mercy) with all who
maintain my ties. Allah
will sever his
connection with all who
sever them.’ (Bukhari &
Muslim)
• Abu
‘Abdur-Rahman ‘Abdullah
ibn Mas‘ud radhiyallahu
anhu reported that a man
said, ‘Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam, I have some
relatives with whom I
maintain relations but
they cut me off. I am
good to them and they
are bad to me. I am
forbearing to them and
they are impatient
towards me.’ He said,
‘If you are as you have
said, then it is as if
you are giving them hot
embers to drink. You
will continue to have a
helper from Allah
against them as long as
you remain doing that.’
(Muslim)
• Abu
Hurayrah radhiyallahu
anhu reported that
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasallam said,
‘Anyone who believes in
Allah and the Last Day
should honour his guest.
Anyone who believes in
Allah and the Last Day
should maintain his ties
of kinship. Anyone who
believes in Allah and
the Last Day should
speak well or remain
silent.’ (Bukhari &
Muslim)
• Abu
Hurayrah radhiyallahu
anhu reported that
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasallam said,
‘Allah Almighty created
the creation and when he
finished, kinship stood
up and said, ‘Is this
the place of him who
seeks refuge with You
from being cut off?’ He
said, ‘Yes. Would you be
pleased if I joined
anyone who joined you
and cut off anyone who
cut you off?’ It said,
‘Yes.’ He said, ‘Then
that is the case.’ Then
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasallam said,
‘If you wish, then
recite, “Is it not
likely that, if you did
turn away, you would
cause corruption in the
earth and sever your
ties of kinship? Such
are the people Allah has
cursed making them deaf
and blinding their
eyes.” (47:22-23)
(Bukhari & Muslim)
• Anas radhiyallahu
anhu reported that
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasallam said,
‘Anyone who desires the
expansion of his
provision or to have the
best of his life
prolonged, should
maintain ties of
kinship.’ (Bukhari &
Muslim)
<Go to Top> |
|
Message from the Ameer of
the Jamiatul Ulama |
|
A Believer is a
Sincerer Friend to another
Believer |
One of the
distinguishing factors of
Muslims is that they always
keep in contact with others.
With utmost sincerity and
with no other motive but to
please Allah, a Muslim keeps
up his relations with his
family, relative, friends
and neighbors. His friends
and acquaintances are not
only those who belong to his
fraternity i.e. if one is a
doctor, one will not only
have friends who are
doctors, if one is rich, one
will not only associate with
the rich, if one is an
Indian, one will not only
have Indian friends, but
will extend to all types of
people who hail from all
walks of life.
Friends regard each other as
equals, with no distinction
between them, although one
may be poor and the other
rich, one may be a laborer
and the other an
entrepreneur, one may be
living in a mansion and
another in an informal
settlement.
This
spirit of pure brotherhood
is manifested at its highest
whilst performing salaat.
One cannot book ones place
in any Masjid nor choose
next to whom you wish to
stand. Both kin and slave
will stand next to each
other, and the slave might
even enjoy a higher status
in the eyes of Allah on this
instance.
Our beloved
Rasulallah Sallallâhu
'alayhi wasallam said: “A
(true) believer is a
container of love, there is
no good in one who does not
love and is not loved.”
(Jami Sagbheer)
A
person who befriends another
or breaks off friendship
with him for no reason other
than the pleasure of Allah;
such a person will be
granted shade under the
throne of ALLAH on that day
when there will be no shade
besides His. May Allah make
us from amongst such people
– Aameen.
<Go to Top> |
|
|
|