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Weekly Comment |
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Violence has never been the
preserve of Muslims
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A beautiful spring day in April
of 1995 started with some
normalcy in Oklahoma City. By
the eleventh hour, however, the
city was gripped with fear and a
sombre mood. One-hundred and
sixty-eight lives were lost in a
bomb blast that went off from a
truck parked outside a federal
building in the city.
This turned out to be the work
of Timothy McVeigh, a first gulf
war veteran who was subsequently
arrested, convicted and
eventually executed on 10 June
2011.
Before McVeigh’s
arrest and identification as the
subject of the manhunt for the
murder of the 168, the usual
suspects were ‘Islamic
terrorists’ as people of 'Arab
origin had been seen earlier'
around the building.
Fast-forward to Friday 22 July
2011. The world got shocking
news of the bombing of the prime
minister’s office building in
Oslo followed by the killing of
dozens of youth attending a
Labour party’s camp on Otøya
island.
A 32-old
Norwegian, Anders Behring
Breivik has since been arrested
and under investigation for the
terror attacks which have left
the Norwegian people in
disbelief.
Elsewhere
around the world, this incident
has become some kind of an
‘inconvenient truth.’
Apparently, the perpetrator of
this crime was supposed to be an
extremist of Muslim origin.
This radical Muslim
terrorist was supposed to be
linked to some Al Qaeda terror
cell in the Middle East if not
somewhere near Waziristan. His
mission was two-fold: teach the
Norwegians a lesson for
participating in the war against
the Taliban in Afghanistan as
well as avenging Osama bin
Laden’s death.
Before the
facts of the tragic events in
Oslo were out, president Barack
Obama, a supposed bridge-builder
between the West and the Arab
world insinuated that the
attacks were part of a global
terror campaign of Islamic
extremists against the West.
Experts on global terrorism
went to town in media channels
advancing their theories that
put Muslims in the dock of
anti-terror tribunes: guilty by
default, until proven innocent.
Even after it was proven
that the perpetrator of this
heinous attack held right-wing
views against Muslims, the
experts still maintained that
people like Breivik learnt their
terror tactics from the likes of
Al Qaeda...
To the relief
of Norwegian Muslims, the
attacks were home grown. It was
an ethnic Norwegian Christian
white blonde who in a twisted
way was showing a degree of
patriotism for his country under
threat from ‘immigration’ in
general and ‘Islam’ in
particular.
It is a
relief however which is
expressed with ambivalence:
human life is precious
regardless of whose life is
taken and who the taker thereof
is. It is a matter of Islamic
consideration that without valid
grounds, anyone who takes the
life of another, it will be as
if he killed all of humanity...
and he who saves a life shall be
as if he had given life to all
humanity. (Qur’an 5:32)
It is however important to point
out that violence is not a
preserve of Muslims. In fact,
the grievances which have driven
Muslims to take up arms are by
and large acknowledged by the
internationally-held conventions
as legitimate resistance to
either occupation or fight for
freedom.
We are not
here to rationalise acts of
terror but to clearly highlight
the distinction with terror
attacks that are motivated by
Christian extremism tinged with
white supremacist ideologies.
The West has enough leaders who
harbour such ideologies and are
in a subtle manner promoting an
anti-Islamic agenda. What sets
them apart from the likes of
McVeigh and Breivik is only that
they come across with some
polished language. Ultimately,
their ideas and consequence are
the same.
In sum, acts
of terror that indiscriminately
target the innocent are
abominable regardless of the
perpetrators. Violence has never
been the preserve of Muslims and
the West needs to unlearn the
knee-jerk reaction of
attributing such violence to
Muslims. |
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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 285.65 |
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Mahr Faatimi |
R 14 282.73 |
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Zakaat Nisaab |
R 5 713.09 |
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Words of Wisdom |
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Hadith of the Week |
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Signs of the Time |
.
“Anas bin Malik Al-Ansari
Radhiallahu anhu the servant
of the Messenger of Allah
narrated: Messenger of Allah
Sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam
said said, "Verily, Allah is
more delighted with the
repentance of His slave than
a person who lost his camel
in a desert land and then
finds it (unexpectedly)".
(Al-Bukhari and
Muslim)
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Quotation
of
the Week |
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Face and Honour |
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Abdullah ibn Mas'ud
Radhiallahu anhu said:
"There is nothing that
deserves to be imprisoned
more than the tongue."
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Point of Reflection |
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Pecking Order |
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A prudent man does not make
the goat his gardener.
(Hungary)
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Moonsighting for
Ramadan |
The end of the current month
of Shabaan will be ushering
in the start of Ramadan.
The crescent will have
to be sighted on Sunday 31
July 2011.
At
sunset, in Johannesburg the
moon will be 21h 02min old.
If the moon will be
sighted this Sunday, the 1st
of Ramadan shall correspond
to Monday 1 Aug 2011.
Otherwise, Shabaan will
end with 30 days on 1 Aug
and Ramadan would start on
2nd Aug 2011.
The
Jamiatul Ulama South Africa
wishes all Muslims the world
over a blessed month of
Ramadan that is spiritually
enriching.
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Q and A |
Question:
What is
the last moment within which
if a person joins the Imam
in congregation salaah. It
is regarded as having
performed Salaah with
Jamaat?
Jazaakumullaahu khair
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Answer:
The Muqtadi should be able
to perform the Takbeer
Tahreemah whilst standing as
well as be able to sit,
thereafter, in Qa'dah
together with the Imam, even
for a small duration, before
the Imam recites the 'Meem'
in 'Assalamu'. In this
instance such a person will
be classified as a Muqtadi
of the Imam and will be
considered as being part of
the congregation of Salaah.
However, if he
performed the Takbeer
Tahreemah but before he
could sit down (and be
together with the Imam in
the Qa'dah posture) the Imam
made the Salam (by already
uttering the 'Meem' in
'Assalamu') then he will not
be considered as being part
of the congregation of
Salah.
Reference:
Fataawa Mahmoodiyyah Vol. 6
Pg. 547-9 - Faruqiyyah
edition, Nizamul Fataawa
Vol. 1 Pg. 73 with detail &
Tas-heeh of Mf. Sayyid Ali
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Top> |
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U P D A T E |
Opening of Masjid al Ansar in
Soweto
Sunday
31 July 2011 will be a historic
day for Muslims in Soweto when
Masjid al Ansar officially opens
in Orlando East. The opening
ceremony will start at 10:00am
and end with Zuhr Salaat at the
masjid which is located on the
intersection of Mosaka and
Mofutsanyani streets.
Transport arrangements have been
made from Mayfair Jumuah Masjid
(011 373 8000) and Radio Islam
premises in Lenasia (011 854
7022).
The masjid is a
joint project of the Jamiatul
Ulama South Africa and the
Ikhwana Islamiya under the
Siddiqi Trust.
Zakaah & Savings Workshops
The Jamiatul Ulama South
Africa’s Darul Iftaa presented a
Zakaah workshop at Marlboro
Jami’ah Masjid on Wed 20 Jul
2011. The programme which
started after Esha Salaat
focussed on how to calculate
Zakaah.
Over 150
participants took part in the
programme in order to learn more
about this important pillar of
Islam. They were given the
opportunity to interact with
ulama in order to get answers
and clarity on issues of concern
to them in as far as Zakaah
issues are concerned.
Meanwhile, Mufti Muhammed
Haffejee of the Economics and
Finance Unit of the Darul Iftaa
has been to Roshnee Muslim
School, Azaadville Muslim School
and Lenasia Muslim School where
he has been conducting Savings
Workshops for senior learners.
The workshop is aimed at
bringing awareness of the values
of saving among youth.
Somalia Famine
The Jamiatul Ulama South Africa
has issued an appeal for the
assistance of the people of
Somalia where famine has been
declared. So far, thousands of
women and children are reported
to face starvation as millions
are undernourished due to food
shortages that have resulted
from the drought in the Horn of
Africa.
Please help the
“Somalia Drought Relief” by
depositing contributions into:
Name:
Jamiatul Ulama Transvaal Relief
Acc.
Bank/Branch:
Nedbank-Fordsburg
Branch Code:
195305
Account
Number: 1953 285 937
Please earmark deposits
with ref: “Somalia
Drought Relief” and fax
confirmations to: 011 373 8022
Mokopane Hosts Ulama
Ulama of the Jamiatul Ulama
South Africa visited the town of
Mokopane on Friday 22 July 2011.
During the visit, the ulama
appealed and raised funds to
meet the outstanding bills for
the masjid project in Soweto
which will officially be opened
on Sunday 31 Jul 2011.
They also had the opportunity of
speaking to the youth of the
town at a programme which took
place after Asr and later in the
evening, the visiting delegation
met members of the jamaat at the
masjid in the town.
The visit
which is part of an outreach
programme is aimed at
familiarising of the services
that the ulama body offers to
the community.
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Summarised Jumu’ah
Bayaan: |
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Excellence of
supplication (Part II) |
“And your Lord says:
Call on Me: and I will
answer you,” (40:60)
“If My slaves ask you
about Me, I am near. I
answer the call of the
caller when he calls on
Me,” (2:186)
“He Who
responds to the
oppressed when they call
on Him and removes their
distress.” (27:62)
• Anas
radhiyallahu anhu
reported that Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam used to say, “O
Allah, I seek refuge
with You from white
leprosy, madness,
leprosy and all evil
defects.” (Abu Dawud)
• Abu Hurayrah
radhiyallahu anhu
reported that Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam used to say, “O
Allah, I seek refuge
with You from hunger,
for it is a bad
companion. I seek refuge
with You from treachery,
for it is an evil inward
characteristic.” [Abu
Dawud]
• ‘Ali
radhiyallahu anhu
reported that a slave
with a contract to buy
his freedom came to him
and said, “I am unable
to fulfill my
freedom-contract. Please
help me. He said, “Shall
I teach you some words
which Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam taught me? Even
if you had a debt the
size of a mountain,
Allah would pay it for
you. Say: “O Allah, give
me enough of You have
made lawful to suffice
me from what You have
made unlawful, and
enrich me by Your bounty
giving me independence
from all other than
You.” (Tirmidhi)
• ‘Imran ibn
al-Husayn radhiyallahu
anhu reported that
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasallam taught
his father Husayn
radhiyallahu anhu two
phrases which he used
when supplicating: “O
Allah, inspire me to be
rightly guided and
protect me from the evil
of myself.” (Tirmidhi)
• ‘Abbas ibn
‘Abdul Muttalib
radhiyallahu anhu said,
“I said, “O Messenger of
Allah, teach me
something I can ask of
Allah Almighty.” He
said, “Ask Allah for
well-being.” I stayed
away some days and then
I came again and said,
“O Messenger of Allah,
teach me something I can
ask of Allah Almighty.”
He said to me, “O Abbas,
O uncle of the Messenger
of Allah, ask Allah for
well-being in this world
and in the Next.”
(Tirmidhi)
•
Shahr ibn Hawshab
radhiyallahu anhu said,
“I said to Umm Salama,
“O Mother of the
believers! What was the
most frequent
supplication of
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasallam when he
was with you?” She said,
“His most frequent
supplication was, “O
Turner of the hearts,
make my heart firm in
Your deen!” (Tirmidhi)
• Abu Darda
radhiyallahu anhu
reported that Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam said, “One of
the supplications of
Dawud alayhis salaam
was, “O Allah, I ask You
for Your love and love
for those who love You
and for actions which
will bring Your love to
me. O Allah, make Your
love more beloved to me
than myself, my family
and cold water.”
(Tirmidhi)
•
Anas radhiyallahu anhu
reported that Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam, said, “Keep
reciting “O Possessor of
Majesty and Nobility.”
(Tirmidhi)
•
Umamah radhiyallahu anhu
said, “Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam made many
supplications which we
did not remember at all.
We said, “Messenger of
Allah, you have made
many supplications which
we do not remember at
all.” He said, 'Shall I
tell something which
will contain all of them
for you? You should say,
“O Allah, I ask You for
the good for which Your
Prophet Muhammad
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam asked You and I
seek refuge from the
evil from which Your
Prophet Muhammad
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam sought refuge.
You are the One who is
asked for help and it is
only You who can
transmit it. There is no
power, nor strength
except by Allah.”
(Tirmidhi)
• Ibn
Mas‘ud radhiyallahu anhu
said, “One of the
supplications of
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasallam was, “O
Allah, I ask You for
what makes Your mercy
mandatory and for what
brings about Your
forgiveness and for
safety from every sin
and for booty from every
act of piety and for the
triumph of gaining
Jannah and for safety
from the Fire.” (Hakim)
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Message from the Ameer of
the Jamiatul Ulama |
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From Allah we came
and to Him we shall all
return |
Moulana Abbas Jeena, the
Ameer of the Jamiatul Ulama
South Africa lost his wife,
Apa Hanifa Jeena on Saturday
23 July 2011. Her burial
took place in Laudium on
Sunday 24 July 2011.
On behalf of the Jamiatul
Ulama South Africa we would
like to express our sympathy
to Moulana Abbas and his
entire family on this
occasion of the passing of
Apa Hanifa, a wife, sister,
mother and grandmother to
many.
Apa Hanifa was
also the sister of Mufti
Basheer Sanjalvi was mother
of four huffaaz and offered
guidance to many reverts who
were always welcomed in her
home.
Throughout her
life, she inspired many with
her spirit of service and
generosity. She would
counsel young women at a
time when there were no
formal structures for such
service and always left an
indelible mark on those whom
she came into contact with.
At the time when such
traits are rare, she will
naturally be sorely missed.
May the family bear her
loss with fortitude. We ask
the Almighty to grant the
deceased the highest ranks
of Jannatul Firdaus.
(Message from the
Jamiatul Ulama South Africa)
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