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Weekly Comment |
Only a Loan to Allah is a
Divinely 'Strategic Gift'
The concept of social
responsibility has taken hold.
The corporate world punts it
claiming 'it is good for
business'. From a capitalist
point of view, how can giving
that does not expect ‘mileage’
be good for business?
A
special phraseology is emerging
from this sort of ‘capitalist
philanthropy’. One hears about
‘strategic giving;’ ‘the more
you give, the more you get’...
It is labelled ‘an art’ or even
‘a science of giving’ in a way
that one can ‘leverage’ his/her
act of supposed generosity.
Corporations and
‘celebrities’ lead the way in
this kind of support for ‘worthy
causes’ and ‘charities’ in a
manner that maximises
‘exposure.’
In order to
achieve this sort of publicity,
timing should be perfect and the
kind of exhibitionist compassion
should be that ‘touches the
hearts’ of masses on prime time
media spots.
It is a
trending phenomenon of hyped
show of how much they care where
polities have failed.
This is one extreme. On the
other side of the spectrum are
commentators who have challenged
that business people should
stick to what they do best:
profit-making? They argue that
the kind of ‘tax-deductible’
emerging philanthropy that is
rich in symbolism and devoid of
substance should end.
Their argument is that the
interventions of these
‘capitalist philanthropists’ do
not yield desirable results
because those involved have
little understanding of
‘realities on the ground.’
Reportedly, a
‘celebrity’-driven fundraiser
for mosquito nets resulted in a
consignment being stolen only to
emerge on the black market as
wedding dresses! Apparently, the
‘poor’ beneficiary country was
not in need of the nets as the
government was already freely
distributing some.
The
motivation for a Muslim’s giving
is indeed a strategic one.
However, the strategy is not for
this abode but the next one. A
believer gives because he/she
wants to draw closer to the
Almighty.
With sincerity
of intention, “Those who (in
charity) spend of their goods by
night and by day, in secret and
in public, have their reward
with their Lord: on them shall
be no fear, nor shall they
grieve.” (Qur’an 2:274)
Furthermore, one of the seven
who will be under the Shade of
the Almighty on the day when
there will be no other shade
will be the one ‘who gives in
charity and hides it, such that
his left hand does not know what
his right hand gives in
charity.’ (Bukhari)
At
the Jamiatul Ulama, we would
like to forge a strategic
partnership with you. With your
support, we reach out of those
in need and help with the utmost
of care to preserve their
dignity.
In so doing,
your contributions will have an
optimum impact in the assistance
of those who are less-privileged
and hence, maximising the good
you advance for your benefit on
the day when one’s companion
will be his/her deeds.
Complete a
Debit
Order or
make a
Direct
Deposit so
as to be a regular contributor
to the causes and projects we
advance for the creation of a
stable Muslim community and
society, for the Sake of Allah.
Maximise your return by a
multiple factor when you start
your contribution in this holy
month of Ramadan! |
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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 135.85 |
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Mahr Faatimi |
R 6,792.70 |
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Zakaat Nisaab |
R 2,717.08 |
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Words of Wisdom |
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Hadith of the Week |
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Win-Win Scenario |
.
Zaid bin Khalid Al-Juhani
Radhiallahu anhu reported:
The Prophet Sallallahu
‘alayhi wasallam said, "He
who provides a fasting
person something with which
to break his fast, will earn
the same reward as the one
who was observing the fast,
without diminishing in any
way the reward of the
latter.''
(At-Tirmidhi)
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Quotation
of
the Week |
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Self-Wonder |
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If a person was to be
correct all the time and
never err, if he was always
praised in everything that
came along, then ‘ujb (being
amazed at oneself) would’ve
entered his soul.
(Al-Hasan al-Basri)
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Point of Reflection |
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Soldier On |
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If you are building a house
and a nail breaks, do you
stop building, or do you
change the nail?
(Rwanda)
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The
Jamiatul Ulama has set up a
fund for relief in
flood-stricken regions of
Pakistan where
millions
of people have been
adversely affected. See
Update section
below for details on
contributions. |
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Q and A |
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Question:
Does
nose bleeding nullify the
fast of a person? If so is
Kaffaarah necessary?
Answer:
The detail with regard
to nose bleeding is that if
a person is sure that the
blood (due to nose bleeding)
was swallowed then the fast
would be broken. Hence, one
would then be obliged to
keep one Qadhaa fast after
Ramadan. There will be no
Kaffaarah due.
Reference: Ahsanul Fataawaa
Vol. 4 Pg. 438
Question:
I had
a question regarding
fasting: I am suffering from
a severe toothache and was
wondering if by going to the
dentist my fast will break
Answer:
A person is
allowed to visit a dentist
in the enquired scenario.
However, if any matter such
as blood or water, etc. goes
down the throat in the
course of the treatment then
the fast will break. In this
case the Qadha of the fast
will have to be kept after
Ramadan.
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Top> |
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U P D A T E |
Moon-sighting: The Start
of Ramadan
As
there was no report of
moon-sighting in South Africa,
Ramadan 1431 starts tonight. The
first day of fasting therefore
corresponds to Thursday 12
August 2010.
We wish all
Muslims the world over Ramadan
Mubarak.
Lecture Programme: Muslims in
the midst of Moral and Spiritual
Decay
In an
enviroment not conducive to the
Shariah, are we justified to
abandon the Command of Allah?
How do we practice Shariah in
such an age?
Moulana
Ebrahim I Bham will speak on
this topic on Sunday 15 August
2010 at Mayfair Jumuah Masjid.
The programme is scheduled to
start after Dhuhr Salaah
(Jamaat: 12h45), insha-Allah.
Radio Islam: Common
Questions Asked by Non-Muslims
On Sunday 15 August 2010, Radio
Islam will broadcast a panel
discussion on the topic: Common
Questions Asked by Non-Muslims.
The panellists will be Ml
Ebrahim Bham and Ml Sulaiman
Moola and the program will be
hosted by Ml. Muhammad Kara. The
programme will commence at
approximately 9:45pm, insha
Allah.
Tune in and listen
to this programme, insha-Allah.
Zakaat Workshop
A total of 60 participants
attended the Zakaat Workshop
hosted by Greenside Masjid on
Wednesday 4th August 2010, after
Esha. The programme which was
presented by Muftis MZ Pandor,
Muhammad Haffejee, MY Minty and
Yusuf Docrat of the Jamiatul
Ulama’s Darul Iftaa focussed on
(non)Zakaatable assets, how to
calculate Zakaat and other
rulings of this important pillar
of Islam.
The muftis
then went into smaller groups to
interact with participants on
various issues relating to
Zakaat.
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.
Pakistan Flood Relief
An appeal is
made to assist our fellow
brethren in this flood
disaster-stricken Pakistan. Your
Zakât, Lillâh and other
contributions may be forwarded
to any of the Jamiatul Ulama
Offices or deposited directly
into any of our relief account:
Name of Account: Jamiatul Ulama
Transvaal Relief Account Branch
& Code: Nedbank - Fordsburg
(195305) Account No: 1953 285
937 Kindly fax a copy of your
deposit slip to our offices for
record purposes and earmark it:
‘Flood Relief-Pakistan.’
Hajj Seminar
The Jamiatul Ulama in
Johannesburg will host a Hajj
Seminar. The seminar is
scheduled to be held on Sunday,
22 August 2010 from 10h00 -
14h30 at Jamiatul Ulama
Auditorium (2nd Floor, Baitul
Hamd, 32 Dolly Rathebe Road,
Fordsburg).
The topics
covered shall be: Journey of
Hajj; Virtues of Hajj; Ihram,
Umrah and Five Days of Hajj as
well as Ziyaarah of Madinah.
Pieces of advice will be offered
on ‘How to spend your time
during the journey.’
All
prospective hujjaaj in the area
are encouraged to attend and
separate accommodation for
ladies will be arranged.
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Summarised Jumu’ah
Bayaan: |
Rasullah
salallahu alayhi wasalam
and Ramadan (I of IV)
Rasulullah salallahu
alayhi wasalam & his
Creator |
“And whatsoever the
Messenger gives you,
take it; and whatsoever
he forbids you, abstain
(from it), and fear
Allah.” (59:7)
“He who obeys the
Messenger, has indeed
obeyed Allah; but he who
turns away, then we have
not sent you (O Muhammad
salallahu alayhi
wasalam) as a guardian
over them.”(4:80)
• Rasulullah
salallahu alayhi wasalam
was the messenger of
guidance through and
through, he possessed
the highest degree of
the recognition of Allah
Ta’ala while
simultaneously it was he
who fulfilled the rights
of the worship of Allah
Ta’ala to the greatest
degree of excellence.
• Despite
exerting himself in
prostration to an extent
whereby his blessed feet
would swell up, he
remarked when questioned
regarding it by his wife
‘Aisha radhiyallahi
anha, ‘Should I then not
be a grateful servant of
Allah Ta’ala.’ (Bukhari)
• This feat of his
reached its pinnacle and
manifested itself during
the month of Ramadan
more distinctly than any
other time of the year.
This manifested itself
in various ways, among
others:
1. His salallahu alayhi
wasalam fasting:
Rasulullah salallahu
alayhi wasalam
encouraged the partaking
of food at the time of
Suhur. Abdullah bin
Haarith radhiyallahi
anhu says that that a
Sahabi (companion) came
into the company of
Rasulullah salallahu
alayhi wasalam while he
was partaking of the
food of Sehri. Rasullah
salallahu alayhi wasalam
remarked, ‘This food is
a blessing that Allah
Ta’ala has bestowed upon
you. Therefore, do not
leave it.’ (Nisaa-i)
Similarly he would
hasten to terminate his
fasting as soon as the
time set in. Anas
radhiyallahi anhu says
that Rasulullah
salallahu alayhi wasalam
would break his fast
prior to performing
Maghrib with some fresh
dates; if they were not
available then some dry
dates; and if that too
was not found then a few
sips of water.’
(Tirmidhi)
2. His salallahu
alayhi wasalam
recitation of Qur’an:
Ibn Abbas radhiyallahi
anhu says that Jibraeel
alayhis salam would
visit Rasulullah
salallahu alayhi wasalam
each night in Ramadan
and Rasulullah salallahu
alayhi wasalam would
recite the Qur’an to
him. He salallahu alayhi
wasalam once confided to
his daughter Fatima
radhiyallahi anha
saying, ‘Jibraeel
alayhis salam would
visit me each year once
during Ramadan to revise
the Qur’an. However,
this year he revised it
with me twice. I do not
take this except as a
sign that my time of
death has neared.’
(Bukhari) Ibn Mas’ud
radhiyallahi anhu says,
‘It is appropriate for a
Hafidh (one who has
memorized) of the Qur’an
to be known by his
recitation during the
night whilst everyone is
asleep, during the day
whilst everyone is
feasting, in his moments
of sadness whilst
everyone is happy and
with his tears whilst
everyone is in pomp and
merriment.’ (Baihaqi)
3. His
salallahu alayhi wasalam
humbleness and
abstinence:
It is surely a symbol of
one whose heart has
softened in awe of his
Creator, has realized
the reality of servitude
to Allah Ta’ala and has
acknowledged his own
limitations to be most
humble before Allah
Ta’ala. Rasulullah
salallahu alayhi wasalam
was a personification of
this. Abu Saeed Khudri
radhiyallahi anhu
narrates that once it
rained on the evening of
the twenty first of
Ramadan and the masjid
of Rasulullah salallahu
alayhi wasalam leaked.
My eyes fell upon the
messenger of Allah
salallahu alayhi wasalam
the next morning and his
blessed face was soiled
with mud and water.’
(Bukhari)
4. His salallahu
alayhi wasalam
generosity
Ibn Abbas radhiyallahi
anhu remarked,
‘Rasulullah salallahu
alayhi wasalam was the
most generous of all
people and he was most
generous in the month of
Ramadan when Jibraeel
alayhis salam would meet
him…’ (Bukhari)
5. His salallahu
alayhi wasalam fighting
in the way of Allah:
This is surely a month
of sacrifice and
difficulty. The Jihad of
Rasulullah salallahu
alayhi wasalam during
this month reveals two
distinctions: the
occurrence of decisive
battles during this
month and secondly, the
greatest manifestation
of the help of Allah
Ta’ala. ‘Umar bin
Khattab radhiyallahi
anhu says, ‘We took part
in two expeditions with
Rasulullah salallahu
alayhi wasalam during
Ramadan: the battle of
Badr and the conquest of
Makkah.’ (Tirmidhi)
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Message from the Ameer of
the Jamiatul Ulama |
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Controlling Our
Tongues |
Backbiting is one of the
biggest and most evil
destroyers of compassion,
love and brotherhood.
In Ramadaan, the
opportunity is presented for
this evil habit become more
popular and common since
people have much free time
at hand. It is important
that we guard against this
evil trait.
In
Arabic, the word used for
backbiting is Gheebah.
Gheebah is declared as Haram
in Islam. Allah Subhanahu wa
Ta’aala has warned about in
the Qur’am likening its
practice to that of eating
the flesh of a dead person.
The Prophet Sallallahu
‘alayhi wa sallam has also
cautioned about its grave
dangers in many ahaadeeth.
It is considered to be from
amongst the major sins and
repentance from it is
obligatory. Imam Al-Qurtubi
said, “There is a consensus
(Ijmaa’) that backbiting is
a major sin and that it is
Fard that a person do Tawbah
from it.”
We
sometimes fall prey to the
misconception that gheebah
is speaking such ill about a
person that is not true
about him. This is not true.
Rasulullah Sallallahu
‘alayhi wa sallam defined
backbiting. He once
addressed his companions by
saying, “Do you know what
Gheebah is?” They replied,
“Allah and His Messenger
know best.” He then said,
“It is to mention something
about your brother (in his
absence) that he would
hate.” A companion replied,
'What if what I say about my
brother is true?’ The
Prophet Sallallahu ‘alaihi
wa sallam replied: “If what
you said about him is true
then you would have made
gheebah of him. If it is not
true, then you would have
slandered him (buhtaan).”
(Muslim)
In another
hadeeth, the Prophet
Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam
said, “O ye who have
believed with (only) their
tongues, yet faith has not
yet entered their hearts! Do
not backbite about Muslims,
and do not search out their
faults. Verily, he who
follows the private matters
of his Muslim brother, Allah
shall follow his private
matters. And whoever has his
private matters followed by
Allah, Allah shall expose
them even if they were
(hiding) in the belly of
their home.” (Ahmad and Abu
Dawud)
Allah
addresses us in this regard
by saying: “O you who
believe! Avoid suspicion as
much (as possible …. and spy
not on each other, nor speak
ill of each other (make
gheebah) behind their backs.
Would any of you like to eat
the flesh of his dead
brother? Surely, you would
detest it...Fear Allah, for
Allah is Oft- Returning,
Most Merciful.” (Surah
Al-Hujuraat, 12)
This
Ramadan, among the many
resolutions we make, let the
resolution to control our
tongues feature prominently,
and let us make an effort to
implement it in our and our
families lives.
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