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Weekly Comment |
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Moulana Yunus Patel Rahimahullah
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The sound of his words “Allah!
Allah!” still vibrate not only
within the four walls of Masjid
Nur in Asherville, Durban, but
in the crannies of thousands of
Muslim homes. His ardent plea of
“O My Beloved Allah! O My Most
Merciful!” continues to be
etched in the hearts of
thousands, layman and scholars,
young and old, from the East and
the West, all alike. This
blessed soul who captivated the
hearts of any who were even
favoured with a glimpse at his
illuminated face or had an
eavesdrop on his charismatic
voice was laid to rest in the
soil of the most blessed land on
earth after Fajr Salah on
Wednesday, 13 July 2011.
The
skies above the Noble Ka'bah
witnessed a spiritual entourage,
very seldom seen, moving in
Tawaaf around the House of Allah
shortly before Maghrib Salah on
Tuesday, 12 July 2011. A short
while after Salah this trail
settled down in one area of the
Mataaf benefiting from his
pearls of wisdom and
subsequently Maulana began
experiencing chest pains which
was followed by his soul
tranquilly departing into the
mercy of Allah. Inna lillahi wa
inna ilayhi raji'un...
Maulana Yunus Patel rahimahullah
was born in about 1945 in the
KwaZulu-Natal town of Stanger.
As a young boy, a personality
which left a lasting impression
upon his heart and served as an
inspirational role model for him
was Haji Bhai Padi rahimahullah.
As Maulana himself narrated,
“One day in 1962, when Haji Bhai
just began his efforts of
Tabligh, an announcement was
written on the notice board in
Grey Street Masjid that Haji
Gulam Muhammad Padia will be
delivering a lecture. After
completion of the lecture, Haji
Bhai called for help but nobody
stood up. So Haji Bhai's
father-in-law volunteered,
together with me (a 17 year old
young boy at the time) and
another elderly man. On another
occasion, I decided to accompany
Haji Bhai to sleep in the
Umzinto Masjid as he was going
to be sleeping alone in the
Masjid. For hours that night,
Haji Bhai kept busy in Tahajjud
crying before Allah. We
travelled from Durban to
Escourt, then to Ladysmith and
further on to Johannesburg. At
every town, Haji Bhai implored
the people regarding the
importance of Deen, however
nobody was interested to assist.
Throughout the journey, it was
Haji Bhai's crying of two hours
every night that never stopped.”
In the early 1960s Moulana Yunus
was one from among the early
group of youth who travelled to
Darul Uloom Deoband, India, to
pursue the studies of Deen.
Together with being a student
par excellence, he was the
confidante of many of his
illustrious teachers and served
them diligently at home and on
travel.
Upon his return, he
served the community of
Mooiriver as an Imam and
teacher. He was motivated to go
there by the fact that at the
time there was not a single
Aalim serving the Muslim
communities between
Pietermaritzburg and Newcastle.
Even though people in the
Transvaal offered him a much
higher salary together with
house, lights and water, the
need of Deen took him to the icy
cold town of Mooiriver where he
accepted meagre pay and had to
live in a tin shanty home. For
him the need of Deen was
greater.
After four years or
so, he moved back to Durban and
was instrumental in establishing
the first offices of the
Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) upon the
insistence of Maulana Ansari
rahimahullah. For many years
thereafter, Maulana Yunus served
the Ummah under the auspices of
the organisation and
subsequently was the secretary
general and later the president
of the Jamiatul Ulama (KZN).
During the famous Qadiani
Dispute in Cape Town during the
early 1980s, Maulana Yunus was
part of the team of expert
'Ulama who prepared the required
expert evidence in the court
case to defend the honour of
Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi
wasallam and the Ahlus Sunnah
wal Jama'ah.
At a time when
general indifference towards
Deen prevailed and signs of Deen
were noticeably rare in the
South African society, Maulana
established a girls’ Madrasah in
1982 in Asherville, Durban.
Students who initially had very
little inclination towards Deen,
would be motivated with his
perseverance and dedication to
change their lives within a
short space of time.
In
recent years, Maulana Yunus
became deeply concerned about
the unity and wellbeing of the
'Ulama. He constantly strove to
harmonise relations between them
at junctures when situations
were adversarial. His emphasis
was to focus on the broader
picture and greater benefit for
the Ummah. In his words, “The
need of the time is that we can
maintain of our different
opinions, but if someone has
been instrumental in the service
of Deen we can differ with him
with respect and dignity. On
other issues however, we should
work together.”
Maulana Yunus
was honoured with the mantle of
Khilafah from two great
luminaries, Mufti Mahmoodul
Hasan Gangohi rahimahullah and
later on Maulana Hakeem Muhammad
Akhtar Saheb. Over the many
years, thousands around the
globe drank from his fountain of
wisdom, piety and knowledge.
Scores of people are known to
have changed their lives just by
sitting in our of his
gatherings.
His humility,
generosity, concern for the well
being of the young and old
coupled with his burning love of
Allah and his Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi wasallam were
remarkable traits all embodied
in one personality.
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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 258.11 |
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Mahr Faatimi |
R 12 905.67 |
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Zakaat Nisaab |
R 5 162.27 |
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Words of Wisdom |
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Hadith of the Week |
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Signs of the Time |
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Abdullah bin `Amr bin Al-`as
Radhiallahu anhu reported:
The Messenger of Allah
Sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam
said, "Four are the
qualities which, when found
in a person, make him a
sheer hypocrite, and one who
possesses one of them,
possesses one characteristic
of hypocrisy until he
abandons it. These are: When
he is entrusted with
something, he betrays trust;
when he speaks, he lies;
when he promises, he acts
treacherously; and when he
argues, he behaves in a very
imprudent, insulting
manner.''
(Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
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Quotation
of
the Week |
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Face and Honour |
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Imam Shafi’
Rahmatullah alayhi advised
one of his students: “Do not
speak about things that do
not concern you, for indeed,
every time that you speak a
word, it takes control of
you and you do not have any
control over it!”
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Point of Reflection |
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Words |
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Words are like eggs: when
they are hatched they have
wings. (Madagascar)
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Q and A |
Question:
Could
you kindly provide some of
the Quranic verses that
pertain to gambling? A
friend has the potential to
reform and I would like to
assist.
Wassalaam
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Answer:
Herewith follow a few
Aayaat and Ahaadith:-
1 - ‘They ask you about
wine and gambling. Say, "In
both there is great sin, and
some benefits for people.
And their sin is greater
than their benefit". [Ch. 2
V. 219]
2 - 'O you
who believe, the truth is
that wine, gambling,
altar-stones (sacrifices for
idols on altars) and
divining arrows are filth, a
work of Satan. Therefore,
abstain from it, so that you
may be successful. The Satan
wants nothing but to plant
enmity and malice between
you through wine and
gambling, and to prevent you
from the remembrance of
Allah and from the Salaah.
Would you, then, abstain?'
[Ch. 5 V. 90/1]
3 -
Since gambling falls under
the category of interest,
the same Ahaadith pertaining
to interest apply to
gambling. In one Hadeeth,
Nabi (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa
Sallam) is reported to have
said that interest has
seventy doors (forms of
dealing that amount to being
interest), the lightest of
all forms can be equated to
person who commits adultery
with his own mother (Targeeb
Vol. 3, Pg. 6 - Maktabh
Riyaadh).
May Allah
Ta'aala grant us all
guidance on the straight
path - Aameen.
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U P D A T E |
Zakaah Workshop
Radio Islam in conjunction with
Jamiatul Ulama South will
tomorrow Thursday 14 July 2011
host a programme on the Life and
Work of Moulana Yunus Patel
Rahimahullah at Nurul Islam
Masjid in Lenasia.
The
programme will start after Esha
Salaat.
Zakaah Workshop
Marlboro Jami’ah Masjid will
host a Jamiatul Ulama South
Africa’s Zakaah Workshop on
Wednesday 20 July 2011.
The
programme which will start after
Esha Salaat (Jamaat: 7:30pm)
will focus on how to calculate
Zakaah.
All are welcome to
learn about this important
pillar of Islam.
Letter of Recommendation: Notice
to Donors
The
Jamiatul Ulama South Africa
would like to inform the Muslim
community that the features of
the Letter of Recommendation
which is issued to fund-raisers
has changed.
The new
letter incorporates the new
Jamiatul Ulama South Africa
logo. Other features of the
letter include: an embossed
seal, original signature of the
Ameer of the Jamiatul Ulama
South Africa, date of expiry and
applicable category of funds,
e.g. ZAKAAT and/or LILLAH.
Donors are advised the
following:
•To ask for
positive identification and
compare it with the name in
which the letter is issued. If
the names do not correspond,
confiscate the letter and inform
the Jamiat immediately
•To
check if the letter presented is
an original one. Only original
colour letters are acceptable.
If it is a photocopy, confiscate
it immediately and inform the
Jamiat
•Letters whose
validity date has expired should
be confiscated. Please inform
the Jamiatul Ulama South Africa
immediately
•Always call the
Jamiatul Ulama South Africa
office to verify before making
any donations
Dawood Cassim
(Moulana)
Treasurer
Hajj Seminar
This year’s Hajj Seminar of the
Jamiatul Ulama South Africa for
the Johannesburg has been
scheduled to take place on
Sunday 14 August 2011 at the
Jamiatul Ulama South Africa’s
Auditorium (2nd Floor Baitul
Hamd) at 32 Dolly Rathebe Road
in Fordsburg from 10h00 until
14h30.
The seminar will look
at the journey of Hajj, its
virtues, Ihram, Umrah and five
days of Hajj. Ulama will give
tips on how to fruitfully spend
your time during the journey and
Ziyaarah of Madina.
There
will be a break for Zuhr Salah
between 12h30 and 13h00. Ladies
accommodation will be arranged,
insha-Allah.
Radio Islam: Advertising/Sales
Consultant (Durban)
South Africa’s leading
Islamic free to air radio
station is expanding and is
about to launch in
KwaZulu-Natal. Radio Islam
offers a fantastic opportunity
and earning potential.
We
are looking for a Deeni
conscious, well motivated
Individual with sales ability
who enjoys dealing with the
public.
Main duties:
Securing advertising; Promoting
Radio Islam; Participating in
community events, fairs,
exhibitions, masaajid etc.
We offer: Competitive salary
with incentives; Company vehicle
or allowance for your transport
negotiable. Full training
provided at our Johannesburg
head office.
Forward CV
to: stationmanager [at]
radioislam.co.za ([at]=@)
Fax: 011 854 7024; Call: 011 854
7022
Rescue 786: Non-Profit Ambulance
Service Requires Volunteers
They should have BLS / BAA / ILS
experience for the Johannesburg
area (ILS vacancies also
available). Email CV to:
stationmanager [at]
radioislam.co.za ([at]=@)
Masjid-ul-Furqaan: 52
2nd Avenue, Houghton: Official
Opening
Ladies Only: Saturday 16 July
2011 (14h00 to 16h00)
Qari
Zaheer Zardad; Moulana I'jazul
Haq; Moulana Sulaiman Ravat;
Hafez Yusuf Ravat; Hafez Mahmood
Hasan
Refreshments
Men Only: Sunday 17 July 2011
(10h00 to Zuhr)
Qari Zaheer
Zardad; Hafez Anas Raafi;
Moulana Sulaiman Moola; Hafez
Osman Azhar; Moulana Shabir
Saloojee
Refreshments & Braai
Note: Programme subject
to change without prior notice.
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Summarised Jumu’ah
Bayaan: |
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Excellence of
Dhikr morning and
evening |
“Remember your Lord
in yourself humbly and
fearfully, without
loudness of voice,
morning and evening. Do
not be among the
heedless,” (7:205)
“Glorify your Lord
before the rising of the
sun and before its
setting,” (20:130)
“In houses which Allah
has permitted to be
built and in which His
name is remembered,
there are men who
proclaim His glory
morning,” (24:36-37)
• Abu Hurayrah
radhiyallahu anhu
reported that Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam said, “On the
Day of Qiyaamah no one
will bring anything
better than someone who
says in the morning and
evening, “Glory be to
Allah and by His
praise,” a hundred times
except someone who says
the same as he says or
more.” (Muslim)
• Abu Hurayrah
radhiyallahu anhu said:
A man came to Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam and said,
“Messenger of Allah,
what agony I suffered
last night from a
scorpion which stung me
yesterday!” He said, “If
you had said in the
evening, “I seek refuge
with the perfect words
of Allah from the evil
of what He has created,”
it would not have harmed
you.” (Muslim)
•
Abu Hurayrah
radhiyallahu anhu stated
that Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam used to say in
the morning, “O Allah,
by You we start the day
and by You we end it, by
You we live and by You
we die and to You is the
gathering.” In the
evening he would say, “O
Allah, by You we end the
day, by You we live and
by You we die and to You
is the gathering.” (Abu
Dawud & Tirmidhi)
• Abu Hurayrah
radhiyallahu anhu
reported that Abu Bakr
as-Siddiq radhiyallahu
anhu said, “Messenger of
Allah, tell me some
words I can say in the
morning and in the
evening.” He said, “Say:
O Allah, Creator of the
heavens and the earth,
Knower of the Unseen and
the Visible, Lord and
Master of everything. I
bear witness that there
is no god but You. I
seek refuge from you
from the evil of myself
and from the evil of
Shaytan and his shirk.”
He said, “Say it in the
morning and in the
evening and when you go
to bed.” (Abu Dawud &
Tirmidhi)
•
‘Abdullah ibn Khubayb
radhiyallahu anhu said,
“Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasallam said to
me, “Recite, “Say: He is
God, One,” and the
surahs of seeking refuge
(Surah Falaq & Surah
Naas) in the evening and
the morning three times,
it will be enough to
protect you in respect
of everything.” (Abu
Dawud & Tirmidhi)
• ‘Uthman ibn Affan
radhiyallahu anhu
reported that Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam said, "No slave
of Allah says in the
morning every day and
the evening every night,
“In the name of Allah by
whose name nothing in
the earth or the heaven
can be harmed. He is the
Hearing, the Knowing,”
three times without that
ensuring that nothing
will harm him.” (Abu
Dawud & Tirmidhi)
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Message from the Ameer of
the Jamiatul Ulama |
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The
demise of a scholar is the
demise of the entire
world... |
Life is a moving vehicle
of just a few days and the
cup of death is one from
which every soul will most
certainly have to sip from.
It is undoubtedly an act of
prudence to prepare for this
eventual guest whose date
and time of arrival is
unknown. The heart of a
believer should always be
focussed on the eventual
journey towards the
Hereafter and the desire for
a blessed ending is hallmark
yearning of a believer.
The Arabic adage is apt
in this case: “As you live,
so shall you die. As you
die, so shall you be raised
(on the Day of Qiyaamah).”
How true a manifestation of
this saying was the life of
a brother, a friend, a
confidante, a saintly
character and a scholar
alike, whom we bid farewell
to last night! A heart which
constantly over flowed with
the love of Allah and his
Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi
wasallam passed on into the
Mercy of the Creator most
befittingly in the precincts
of His House.
Not
only has his family lost a
father and a grandfather,
but thousands around the
globe have also been
orphaned by this departure
of a spiritual mentor and
guide. His humility, piety,
wisdom and concern for the
welfare of the young and old
won over the hearts of all
who came into contact with
him. Moderation in thought
and practice made him always
stand head and shoulders
above the rough waters of
conflict and discord.
Throughout his life,
Moulana Yunus Patel
rahimahullah maintained a
close association with the
Jamiatul Ulama South Africa
and he always strove towards
developing and maintaining a
great working relationship.
During the later
years of his life, his
burning concern was for the
wellbeing of the ‘Ulama as
the torchbearers of the
Ummah. He often highlighted
the pressing need for them
to develop an even stronger
relationship with Allah as
compared to others. He
emphasised the maintenance
of unity, harmony and mutual
respect for each other.
May his legacy of wisdom
and spirituality continue to
enrich the Muslim Ummah and
may Allah bestow him with
the greatest of honour in
Jannatul Firdaus. Ameen.
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