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Weekly Comment |
Clinton’s Mango Diplomacy
“We know that
there is a perception held by
too many Pakistanis that
America's commitment to them
begins and ends with security,”
said Hillary Clinton. "But
security is just one piece of
this vital partnership.
These were
the words of the US secretary of
state during her recent visit to
Pakistan. Pakistanis are however
not deluded by the sweet-talking
Hillary Clinton trying to
project a multi-faceted
relationship with Pakistan.
Clinton’s efforts are seen
for what they are. They are part
of a strategy for saving face in
Afghanistan where the occupation
is in quagmire and the war
increasingly seems unwinnable.
The recent
talks are a gesture rooted in
the perception that the
‘insurgency’ in Afghanistan has
connections with Pakistani
agencies and authorities that
have leverage to nudge the
Taliban towards a political
solution.
Few in
Islamabad have an illusion about
this Clinton’s aid agenda seen
as a dangling of a carrot in
front of Washington’s ‘key ally’
in the War on Terror. It is not
a new move. Rather, it is part
of the implementation of the
Kerry-Lugar-Berman bill which
approved $7.5million aid to
Pakistan over five years.
This is
however a far cry to what
Pakistan has lost by being
designated the frontline of War
of Terror. According to
President Asif Zardari,
“Pakistan had suffered a huge
loss of over $40 billion during
the last eight years as a result
of the fight against militancy
besides unquantifiable cost in
terms of social and human
losses.”
Zardari cited the unmanned
aerial vehicles (UAVs) commonly
called drones which the US has
continued to use attacking the
frontier provinces where it is
believed senior Al Qaeda and
Taliban officials have sought
refuge.
The civilian toll of these
operations has been exacting on
Pakistan. Speaking to Clinton
when they met in Islamabad,
Zardari said that the use of
drones “undermined the national
consensus against the war on
militancy”, a fresh indication
of the domestic distaste for the
attacks and their political
ramifications.
It is
estimated that close to 1500
people have been killed in these
drone attacks with reports
indicating that the Obama
administration granted secret
permission to the CIA to carry
out more indiscriminate drone
missile strikes in the country
earlier this year.
It remains
to be seen whether the mango
talks, (Clinton said that she
loves Pakistani mangoes) will be
matched by actions that go far
enough in assuring Islamabad
that Washington really cares
about the welfare of the people
of restive Pakistan. |
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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 157.92 |
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Mahr Faatimi |
R 7,895.92 |
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Zakaat Nisaab |
R 3,158.37 |
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Words of Wisdom |
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Hadith of the Week |
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Vices to Avoid |
.
Jabir bin `Abdullah
Radhiallahu anhu reported:
“Messenger of Allah
Sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam
said, "Beware of injustice,
for oppression will be
darkness on the Day of
Resurrection; and beware of
stinginess because it doomed
those who were before you.
It incited them to shed
blood and treat the unlawful
as lawful.''
(Muslim)
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Quotation
of
the Week |
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Flatter-Proof |
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He who knows
himself will not be harmed
by the praise of men.
(Sufyan al Thawri)
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Point of Reflection |
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Varying Fortunes |
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One man's beard is on fire,
and another man warms his
hands on it.
(Kashmiri)
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Q and A |
Question: A friend
of mine borrowed some money
from me a while back. Prior
to this loan, we enjoyed a
relationship in which we
exchanged gifts and invited
one another for meals.
Could you please
enlighten me with the
details of which scenarios
of gifting and inviting
would be permissible for us
to engage in.
Jazakallah
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Answer:
As long as the
following criteria are met,
you can continue being a
guest to your friend.
• His hosting you was
not a pre-condition of
giving him a loan.
•
There is no tacit agreement
that his hosting you is in
lieu of the loan you gave
him.
• There was a
practice of this nature in
place even before the loan
was requested.
References: Shaami 5/166,
6/394
Al-Ashbah 1/278,
270
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U P D A T E |
Johannesburg Ulama
Meeting
Ulama
of Johannesburg are invited to
attend a meeting of the
fraternity on tonight after Esha
Salaat at Mayfair Jumuah Masjid.
Among other things, Ulama will
discuss programmes for the
Johannesburg area.
Marital Classes
The Jamiatul Ulama’s Dawah wal
Irshaad under the Adult
Education programme has been
hosting Marital Classes for
married couples and eligible
brides and grooms at Taalimul
Islam Hall, Lenasia Ext. 5 (Cnr
Argon and Goud Crescent) with
separate accommodation for
ladies.
The four-evening
classes started on Monday 19
July 2010 and will end tomorrow
(22 July 2010). Each one of the
sessions start after Esha Salaat
at the adjoining Shaanul Islam
Masjid (Jamaat: at 7:30pm).
The line up of Ulama that
have been speaking on various
issues around marital life
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.
Radio Islam Holds Annual General
Meeting
Radio
Islam held its Annual General
Meeting on Sunday 18 July 2010
at Masjidus Saliheen in Lenasia,
Ext 13.
Elections of new
members of the board of
directors were held with
supervision by the Independent
Electoral Commission.
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.
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Summarised Jumu’ah
Bayaan: |
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Shabaan |
Fasting in the
Month of Shabaan
It is reported in
authentic ahadith that
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasallam used to
fast in most of the days
of the month of Shabaan.
These fasts were not
obligatory, but Shabaan
is the month immediately
preceding the month of
Ramadan, and it was done
in preparation for this
auspicious month. A few
ahadith are cited here
regarding fasting in the
month of Shabaan:
• Anas radhiyallahu
anhu reports that
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasallam was
asked, ‘Which fast is
the most meritorious
after the fasts of
Ramadan?’ He replied,
‘Fasts of Shabaan in
honour of Ramadan.’ (Ibn
Abi Shaybah)
•
Usamah ibn Zaid
radhiyallahu anhu
reports that he asked
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasallam:
‘Messenger of Allah, I
have seen you fasting in
the month of Shabaan so
frequently that I have
never seen you fasting
in any other month.’
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasallam replied:
‘That (Shabaan) is a
month between Rajab and
Ramadan which is
neglected by many
people. And it is a
month in which an
account of the deeds (of
human beings) is
presented before the
Lord of the universe,
so, I wish that my deeds
be presented at a time
when I am in a state of
fasting.’ (Ibn Abi
Shaybah) These reports
indicate that fasting in
the month of Shabaan,
though not obligatory,
is so meritorious that
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasallam did not
like to miss them.
In Ramadan, everyone
finds observing the
first few fasts
difficult, but if we are
accustomed to it
already, we will be able
to embrace Ramadan
better. However, it
should be kept in mind
that the fasts of
Shabaan are for those
persons only who are
capable of keeping them
without causing
deficiency in the
obligatory fasts of
Ramadan. Therefore, if
one fears that after
fasting in Shabaan, one
will lose strength for
the fasts of Ramadan,
he/she should not fast
in Shabaan, as the fasts
of Ramadan, being
obligatory, are more
important than the
optional fasts of
Shabaan.
The Night of
Bara’ah
Mu‘adh ibn Jabal
radhiyallahu anhu
reports that Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam said: ‘Allah
looks upon all those
created by Him in the
middle Night of Shabaan
and forgives all those
created by Him, except
the one who associates
partners with Him or the
one who has malice in
his heart (against a
Muslim).’ (Baihaqi)
In order to achieve
the blessings of the
Night of Bara’ah, one
should remain awake as
much as one can. If it
is possible, one should
spend the whole night in
worship. However, if one
cannot do so, one can
select a considerable
portion of the night,
preferably the second
half of it, and perform
the following acts of
worship:
•
Salaah: It is the most
preferable act to be
performed in this night,
particularly after
midnight in solitude.
There is no particular
number of raka’aat, but
preferably it should not
be less than eight. It
is also advisable that
each part of the salaah
like qiyaam, ruku and
sajdah should be longer
than normal. The longest
surahs of the Noble
Qur'an one remembers by
heart should also be
recited.
•
Tilaawah: The recitation
of the Noble Qur’an is
another form of
beneficial worship in
this night. After
performing Salah, or at
any other time, one
should recite as much of
the Noble Qur’an as one
can.
• Dhikr &
Durood: One should also
recite as much dhikr
(recitation of the name
of Allah) as possible in
this night, as well
durood on our noble
master Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam. These can be
recited while walking,
lying on bed and during
other hours of work or
leisure.
• Du‘a:
The best benefit one can
draw from the blessings
of this night is by
asking Allah in earnest.
It is hoped that all our
prayers in this night
will be accepted by
Allah. Du’a itself is an
‘ibadah, and Allah
Almighty rewards the
reciter for asking, in
addition to fulfilling
his\her needs.
•
Fast of the 15th of
Shabaan: On the day
immediately following
the Night of Bara’ah,
i.e. the 15th of
Shabaan, it is mustahabb
(advisable) to fast.
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasallam is
reported to have
recommended this fast,
as well as keeping any
fast in the first half
of this month in
particular. A large
number of our pious
predecessors of the
Ummah have been
observing the fast of
the 15 of Shabaan.
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Message from the Ameer of
the Jamiatul Ulama |
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Contentment: The Way
to Happiness |
“And no moving (living)
creature is there on the
earth but its provision is
due from Allah” (11:6)
“Is it they who would
portion out the Mercy of
your Lord? It is We who
portion out between them
their livelihood in this
world, and We raised some of
them above others in ranks,
so that some may employ
others in their work. But
the Mercy of your Lord is
better than the wealth that
they amass.” (43:32)
It is easy to become
despondent and unhappy when
one starts comparing oneself
with those who are
wealthier. Living in
materialistic societies
lends to these types of
comparisons. It is essential
to curb these thoughts lest
it leads to ingratitude.
We know that sustenance
is pre-ordained. This
knowledge is a powerful tool
to learn to accept and
become content with ones
present condition. It also
curbs the possibility of
becoming envious and jealous
of others. The different
ranks that we have in
society are a means of
ensuring that the potential
humans have, can be fully
utilized, facilitating
employment and the
deployment of relevant
personnel for whatever needs
society has.
It is
incumbent for us to identify
the mercies (including
eternal salvation) that the
Almighty bestows upon His
faithful slaves. Perhaps the
greatest impediment to the
recognition of His mercies
and bounties is our
obsession with those who may
have more than us. If this
is not curbed it can lead to
ingratitude and a feeling of
unhappiness and
hopelessness.
The
following ahadith of
Rasulullah Sallalaahu alayhi
wa sallam are worthy of
reflection as they are a
perfect prescription for
creating contentment and an
awareness of how fortunate
one may be.
The
Prophet Sallalaahu alayhi wa
sallam said: “Richness is
not in plenty of provisions;
the (real) wealth is the
richness of the soul.’
(Al-Bukhari, Muslim)
The Prophet Sallalaahu
alayhi wa sallam said: “When
one of you looks at someone
who is superior to him in
wealth and appearance, he
should look at someone who
is inferior to him.”
(Al-Bukhari)
May the
Almighty grant us
contentment. If there is
room for envy surely it
should be for those who are
more spiritually-elevated
than us.
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