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Weekly Comment |
You are Today’s Vital Few
Several studies have concluded
that 80% of crimes are committed
by 20% of criminals. Only 20% of
patients use 80% of healthcare
resources. Twenty per cent of
motorists cause 80 per cent of
accidents. It’s may also be
possible to validate with
oneself that 20% of your
clothing is worn 80% of the
time!
Vilfredo Pareto
made the observation a little
over 110 years ago. His
observations were on the
ownership of wealth about which
he noted 80% was held by 20% of
the entire population!
In
a nutshell, the majority (80%)
of effects or outcomes are due
to the impact of minority (20%)
of cause or the effort. This
‘80/20 principle’ or ‘Pareto
law’ is also known as ’law of
the vital few.’
If we
look at social challenges,
roughly 20% of relations,
associations or individuals
account for 80% of the cases or
disputes which have to be dealt
with.
The ratio does not
need to be precise but it gives
a fair idea of the
counterintuitive nature of
things where less has the impact
of more!
Not much makes
news about the millions of safe
landings at airports around the
world. Instead, it is that
occasional crash, that rare
overshooting of the runway, that
belly-landing or the diversion
to an unscheduled destination
that makes the headlines.
This is the 20% that ‘makes
news.’ The consequences of such
‘minority’ of situations impact
on the whole body of the
community often with
far-reaching consequences.
The Jamiatul Ulama has since
inception worked through the
establishment of Islamic
education, dawah programmes,
mediation and welfare
initiatives in order to ensure
stability of our community.
The nature of modern
‘breaking news’ implies that
this kind of stability of our
society will seldom be reported
as the 80% of the news will come
only from the anomalies!
The work of organisations such
as ours ensures that 80% of the
society’s common good is
preserved. Realisation of this
goal is not costless, however.
Resources have to be committed
to the cause. We therefore
appeal to you, our readers, to
consider making contributions
towards the sustaining of our
work.
Remember that you
will be among just 20% of those
who will respond and make that
incredible 80% impact in
changing our society for the
better.
Start this
Ramadan to make regular albeit
small contributions through
debit orders and other means so
that you will be among those
vital few who make a beautiful
loan to Allah. “Who will loan
Allah a beautiful loan so He may
multiply it for him many times?”
[Sûrah al-Hadîd: 11]
Again, remember, only a vital
few with the help of the
Almighty saved the day of Badr
when the odds were against this
beloved faith of ours! |
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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 |
R156.56 |
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Mahr Faatimi |
R 7,828.21 |
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Zakaat Nisaab |
R 3,131.29 |
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Words of Wisdom |
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Hadith of the Week |
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Truthfulness |
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Abdullah bin Mas’ud
Radhiallahu anhu reported:
“The Prophet Sallallahu
‘alayhi wasallam said,
‘Truth leads to piety and
piety leads to Jannah. A man
persists in speaking the
truth till he is enrolled
with Allah as a truthful.
Falsehood leads to vice and
vice leads to the Fire
(Hell), and a person
persists on telling lies
until he is enrolled as a
liar.'” (Agreed
upon). |
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Quotation
of
the Week |
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Renewal |
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Verily, I constantly renew
my Islam until this very
day, as up to now, I do not
consider myself to have ever
been a good Muslim.
(Ibn Taymiyyah) |
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Point of Reflection |
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Never Give Up |
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Fall seven times, stand up
eight. (Japan)
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Q and A |
Question:
I
would like to know if the
Shariah prohibits two adult
females, whether they are
sisters or not, to share the
same bed and the same
blanket/sheet covering them
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Answer:
If both females are
clothed as per Shari’ah
requirements, then sleeping
in this manner will be
allowed. However, if there
is a fear of sin occurring
then they should abstain
from sleeping in this
manner. (Mirqat, vol.6
p.195).
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U P D A T E |
Zakaat Workshop
The Jamiatul Ulama informs the
Muslim public that they will
host a Zakaat Worshop that will
start after Esha at Greenside
Masjid on Wednesday 4th August
2010. At the workshop,
presenters will look at
(non)Zakaatable assets, how to
calculate Zakaat and other
aspects of this important pillar
of Islam.
A question and
answer session will follow the
presentations.
Meanwhile,
another zakaat programme was
held at Laudium’s Darus Salaam
Centre on Sunday 25 July 2010
where participants were
familiarised with principles of
Zakaat.
Obituary: Imam Abdul Raghiem
Paulsen
The
Ulama fraternity in Johannesburg
mourned the loss of yet another
scholar in Imam Abdul Raghiem
Paulsen in the morning of Friday
16 July 2010.
Imam
Paulsen was until his death a
committed Muslim community
leader of Riverlea. He was also
a senior member of the Jamiatul
Ulama, serving on is Working
Committee.
May the
Almighty grant him Jannatul
Firdaus and grant his family
patience for his loss.
Johannesburg Ulama Meeting
Ulama of Johannesburg met at
Mayfair Jumuah Masjid last
Wednesday where presentations on
social trends, hilaal, halaal
matters and taalimi were made.
Ulama were asked to take
part in programmes on drug
awareness, dawah and youth among
other things. Another meeting
will be convened in the near
future look at progress of work
in the area.
Coca Cola Hosts ‘Engaging
Muslims’ Meeting
Coca Cola South Africa hosted a
group of ulama from across the
country at their premises in
Parktown. At the meeting, Coca
Cola made presentations of their
brands as well as their social
responsibility programmes.
In response, Moulana Ebrahim
I Bham sought clarity on the
involvement of Coca Cola in
Occupied Palestine where among
other issues it is reported that
Coca Cola built its plant of
stolen Palestinian land.
The president of Coca Cola
South Africa pledged to respond
to the issues raised as soon as
possible.
Soweto’s Masjid Project
The Jamiatul Ulama appeals to
the Muslim community to
contribute towards the final
work on the Islamic centre in
Orlando East in Soweto where a
masjid is set for completion by
the start of Ramadan.
The
project, a joint initiative of
the Jamiatul Ulama and Ikhwana
Islamiya under Siddiqui Trust
has seen the construction of a
multipurpose facility of a
masjid, madrasa classrooms and
living quarters for an imam and
a caretaker.
There is an
outstanding amount of funds to
be settled with contractors and
the community’s contribution
will go a long way in meeting
the shortfall.
Kindly
contact the Jamiatul Ulama for
details about the project on 011
373 8000.
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Summarised Jumu’ah
Bayaan: |
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Kindness to
parents |
“And your Lord has
decreed that you worship
none but Him. And that
you be dutiful to your
parents. If one of them
or both of them attain
old age in your life,
say not to them a word
of disrespect, nor shout
at them but address them
in terms of honour. And
lower unto them the wing
of submission and
humility through mercy,
and say: "My Lord!
Bestow on them Your
Mercy as they did bring
me up when I was young."
(17:23-24)
• Abu
Hurayrah radhiyallahu
anhu said, ‘A man came
to Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasallam and
asked, ‘Messenger of
Allah, what person is
the most entitled to the
best of my company?’ He
replied, ‘Your mother.’
He said, ‘Then whom?’ He
replied, ‘Your mother.’
He said, ‘Then whom?’ He
replied, ‘Your mother.’
He said, ‘Then whom?’ He
answered, ‘Your father.’
(Bukhari & Muslim) In
one variant, ‘O
Messenger of Allah, who
is the most entitled to
good companionship?’ He
replied, ‘Your mother,
then your mother, then
your mother, then your
father, then the nearest
relative and the next
nearest.’
• Abu
Hurayrah radhiyallahu
anhu said, ‘Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam said, ‘May his
nose be in the dust!
Then may his nose be in
the dust! Then may his
nose be in the dust!
(May he be destroyed)
Someone whose parents
are old, or one of them
is old, and he does not
enter the Garden! (by
serving them).’ (Muslim)
• ‘Abdullah ibn
‘Amr ibn al-‘Aas
radhiyallahu anhu said,
‘A man came to
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasallam and
said, ‘Shall I give you
my oath of allegiance
based on emigration and
jihad, seeking a reward
from Allah Almighty?’ He
asked, ‘Are either of
your parents living?’ He
replied, ‘Yes, both of
them.’ He said, ‘Do you
desire a reward from
Allah Almighty?’ He
replied, ‘Yes.’ He said,
‘Go back to your parents
and keep good company
with them.’ (Bukhari &
Muslim) This is the
version of Muslim. In
one of their variants,
‘A man came and asked
permission to go on
jihad. He said, ‘Are
your parents alive?’ He
said, ‘Yes.’ He said,
‘So utilizes your effort
in (serving) them.’
• Al-Bara’ ibn Azib
radhiyallahu anhu
reported that Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam said, ‘A
maternal aunt has the
same status as a
mother.’ (Tirmidhi)
• ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr
ibn al-‘Aas radhiyallahu
anhu reported that
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasallam said,
‘The major sins are
associating partners
with Allah, disobeying
your parents, killing
someone and giving a
false oath.’ (Bukhari)
• Abu ‘Abdullah
‘Amr ibn al-‘Aas
radhiyallahu anhu
reported that Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam said, ‘One of
the major wrong actions
is for a man to abuse
his parents.’ They
asked, ‘O Messenger of
Allah, is it possible
for a man to abuse his
parents?’ He replied,
‘Yes. He may curse a
another man’s father who
in turn curses his
father, and curse his
mother and he in turn
curses his mother.’
(Bukhari & Muslim) In
one variant, ‘One of the
worst major wrong
actions is for a man to
curse his parents.’ It
was said, ‘O Messenger
of Allah, how can a man
curse his parents?’ He
said, ‘He may curse
another man’s father who
in turn curses his
father, and curse his
mother and he in turn
curses his mother.’
• Ibn ‘Umar reported
radhiyallahu anhu
reported that Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam said, ‘The
highest dutifulness is
that a man should give
to those his father
likes.’
•
‘Abdullah ibn Dinar
reported about ‘Abdullah
ibn ‘Umar radhiyallahu
anhu that one of the
desert Arabs met him on
the road to Makkah and
‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar
radhiyallahu anhu
greeted him and mounted
him on a donkey which he
used to ride and gave
him a turban which he
was wearing. Ibn Dinar
said, ‘We said to him,
‘May Allah put you
right! They are desert
Arabs and they are
content with little!’
‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar
radhiyallahu anhu said,
‘This one’s father had
love for ‘Umar ibn
al-Khattab radhiyallahu
anhu and I heard
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasallam say,
‘The most devout form of
devotion is to establish
relations with a man who
loved one’s father?’ In
one variant from Ibn
Dinar from Ibn ‘Umar is
that when he went out to
Makkah, he had a donkey
on which he would rest
when he was weary of
riding his camel and his
turban was wrapped round
his head. When he was on
that donkey one day, he
passed by a desert Arab
and said, ‘Are you not
the son of so-and-so son
of so-and-so?’ He said,
‘Yes indeed.’ So he gave
him the donkey and said,
‘Ride this,’ and he gave
him the turban and said.
‘Wrap this round your
head.’ One of his
companions said to him,
‘May Allah forgive you!
You gave this desert
Arab a donkey which you
were resting on and a
turban which you had
wrapped around your
head?’ He said, ‘I heard
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasallam say,
‘The most devout form of
devotion is to establish
relations with a man who
loved one’s father after
his death.’ His father
was a friend of ‘Umar.’
(Muslim)
• Abu
Usayd Malik ibn Rabi’a
as-Sa’idi radhiyallahu
anhu said, ‘Once while
we were sitting with the
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasallam, a man
from the Banu Salama
came up and asked, ‘O
Messenger of Allah, is
there any devotion to my
parents which I can show
them after their death?’
He said, ‘Yes, praying
for them, asking
forgiveness for them,
fulfilling their pledges
after them, maintaining
ties with relations
which are only
maintained through them,
and honouring any friend
of theirs.’ (Abu Dawud)
• A’isha
radhiyallahu anhu said,
‘I was never jealous
towards any of the other
wives of Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam as I was
jealous towards Khadija
radhiyallahu anha even
though I never saw her.
However, he used to
mention her often. Often
when he sacrificed a
sheep, he would cut it
into pieces and send
them to Khadija’s
friends. I would often
say to him, ‘It is as if
there was only Khadija
in the world!’ He would
say, ‘She was as she was
and I had children from
her.’ (Bukhari & Muslim)
In one variant, ‘If he
sacrificed a sheep, he
would give enough of it
to her friends to
suffice them.’ In one
variant, ‘When he
sacrificed a sheep, he
would say, ‘Send it to
the friends of Khadija.’
In one variant she said,
‘Hala bint Khuwaylid,
the sister of Khadija,
asked permission to come
in to visit the
Messenger of Allah, and
it reminded him of how
Khadija used to ask
permission, and that
made him very happy so
that he said, ‘O Allah,
Hala bint Khuwalid!’
<Go to Top> |
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Message from the Ameer of
the Jamiatul Ulama |
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Who are the true
victims? |
In one of the papers of
our country last week, there
was a full page article
eulogising and honouring
four British soldiers who
were killed in Afghanistan.
The article was carefully
constructed creating an
image in the reader’s mind
of honourable and brave men
who had made the supreme
sacrifice.
The
author took pains to point
out that these were sincere,
dedicated soldiers and
family men. It did not even
remotely allude to the fact
that these men were
merchants of death and
destruction who had at their
disposal the most
sophisticated and lethal
weaponry that is routinely
used to sow death and
destruction in Afghanistan.
Yesterday’s
missile strike in Helmund is
but just one episode of this
brutal litany of murder and
mayhem.
Of course
words like insurgents, rogue
soldier and enemy were used
to describe the Taliban and
other freedom fighters. Why
the double standards? Why is
it that the NATO forces are
regarded to be saints and
saviours while the Afghanis
are invariably termed rogues
and described in a
disparaging fashion? Is this
not a sign of the
colonialist mentality on the
part of the occupiers?
Our empathy and sympathy
lies with the people of
Afghanistan. There are no
moving ceremonies and
eulogies for them. Their
pleas and laments fall on
deaf ears. They are merely
numbers that spin doctors
conveniently label as
“collateral damage.”
Collateral damage they may
be, but to us they are
martyrs [shuhadaa].
We know the reward that
awaits them and in that we
take solace and comfort. May
Allah grant all the
oppressed success. Âmîn.
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