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Weekly Comment |
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Time is Ripe for a New Economic
Order
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Those on the business front have
seen a series of economic
indicators showing that the
South African economy has slowed
down.
To begin with,
about two weeks ago, we received
the news that the economy
actually slowed down to an
annual rate of 1.3% growth in
the second quarter of 2011 from
a promising 4.5% in the first
quarter.
The August 2011
business confidence index
released by South African
Chamber of Commerce and Industry
(SACCI) also came in with a
gloomy outlook on the economy
declining by 4.5 points, the
biggest year-on-year fall since
the 5.2 points decline of
September 2009. For SACCI this
is a continuing downward trend
since the start of 2011.
These two indicators perhaps for
an ordinary man might not have
meant much apart from what
employment figures indicated
earlier this week. In the month
of August, according to
Statistics South Africa, the
country lost 50,000 jobs. This
was a fourth consecutive monthly
decline translating into an
annual job loss rate of 2.1%.
As recent as this week, a
USA census has reported that a
record-breaking 46 million
Americans now live in want,
pushing the poverty rate to
15.1%, the highest since 1993.
As these indicators filtered
through the business world in
the recent past, the
accompanying news was that the
global tally of billionaires has
not only increased but also that
the net wealth of the ‘super’
rich was on the rise.
As
global incomes grow, the effects
of capitalism concentrate those
incomes into the hands of few.
Inequality remains accentuated
and the counterpart of that is
the grinding poverty of the
masses.
In the US, top
400 people equivalent hold
wealth of the bottom 154 million
and the top 10% of the
population have 42% of the
wealth. While the average income
of 74 of Wall Street’s ‘super’
rich was $91.2m in 2008, in
2009, it was $518.8m.
Rana Foroohar, writing for Time
magazine points out that
unbridled capitalism led the US
to the worst financial crisis
since the Great Depression.
However, unlike in the 1930s
when Keynesian economics pulled
the economy out of the abyss,
Obama’s stimulus package
advanced on similar lines mainly
to the banking sector has not
restored the US economy onto a
sound footing.
She
further hints that in the hunt
for alternative systems,
‘Marxism’ has been one of the
most searched ideological words
on Google…
The
world is in dire need of
socio-economic redemption.
Neither neo-liberalism nor
socialism seems to work. In
desperation, even discredited,
unnatural and inefficient ideas
of nationalisation and ‘Marxism’
are being touted as the answer.
This is a classic challenge
for Muslims scholars to advance
models and articulate principles
of a just economic order based
on equity and fairness.
Unfortunately, we remain
entangled in the systems that
are bound to fail taking us down
along with them. It is time to
reflect. |
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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 303.57 |
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Mahr Faatimi |
R 15,178.49 |
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Zakaat Nisaab |
R 6,071.40 |
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Words of Wisdom |
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Hadith of the Week |
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Noble Gatherings |
.
Abu Hurairah and Abu Sa‘id
Al-Khudri Radhiallahu anhum
reported: “The Messenger of
Allah Sallallahu ‘alayhi
wasallam said, “When a group
of people assemble for the
remembrance of Allah, the
angels surround them (with
their wings), (Allah’s)
mercy envelops them, Sakinah
(tranquillity) descends upon
them and Allah makes a
mention of them before those
who are near Him.”
(Muslim)
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Quotation
of
the Week |
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Good Neighbourliness |
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“You should not quarrel with
your neighbour for he will
remain where he is; but your
high handedness will become
the talk of the people.”
(Abu Bakr Siddiq
Radhi-Allahu anhu)
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Point of Reflection |
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Utility |
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The turtle lays thousands of
eggs without anyone knowing,
but when the hen lays an
egg, the whole country is
informed. (Malaysia)
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Q and A |
Question:
In
order for Hajj to become
obligatory on a person, in
which months would he/she be
required to possess the
necessary wealth?
Answer:
Hajj
would become obligatory upon
an individual if after the
fulfillment of all other
conditions, a person
possesses sufficient wealth
in the months of Hajj. The
months of Hajj are Shawwaal,
Zul Qa’dah and the first ten
days of Zul Hijjah.
If however, the Hujjaj of a
distant place normally
depart for Hajj before the
actual coming of the Hajj
months, then possession of
sufficient wealth during
that specific time will
obligate a Hajj upon a
person. (Ahsanul Fataawa
4/538)
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Question:
How
much money should a person
have for Hajj to become
compulsory?
Answer:
Whatever amount is
sufficient to take care of a
persons basic needs while on
the journey and the needs of
his family while away on
Haj, is what would be
required before Haj can
become obligatory on a
person.
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U P D A T E |
Preschool Resources: New
Taalimul Atfaal series
As parents prepare to send
children to pre-school and
teachers look for resources for
use in the forthcoming academic
year, the Jamiatul Ulama South
Africa would like to announce
that we have stock available of
the New Taalimul Atfaal series.
The series which is
going to enter into its second
year of use comprises of
textbooks at two levels, namely
Age: +4 and Age: +5 in three
subjects of Lifeskills,
Numeracy, Literacy. There is
also a number and an alphabet
book as well as a special
Islamic themes text.
The
series has an accompanying
teacher's guide and is backed by
support from the Taalim Board of
the Jamiatul Ulama South Africa
which developed the series in
conjuction with Me’raaj
Publications.
The
Taalimul Atfaal series provides
an excellent start for preschool
learners who are put on an
Islamically-oriented path during
this crucial phase of early
education.
For
enquiries, please phone JUT
Publishing on: 011 373 8042.
Presentation on Cancer
and Islamic Ethics for Medical
Professionals
Moulana Bilaal Vaid made a
presentation to a workshop of
the members of the Islamic
Medical Association which was
held at LenMed Clinic in Lenasia
on Saturday 10 September 2011.
The presentation which was
hour-long focused on ethical
issues medical practitioners
have to grapple with when
dealing with terminally ill
cancer patients under palliative
care.
The IMA workshop
was part of on-going programme
for keeping abreast with trends
in the medical profession. It
was attended by about 40 medical
practitioners.
Haj Workshops
The Jamiatul Ulama South Africa
in Laudium and Lenasia hosted
Haj workshops in Lenasia and on
Sunday 11 September 2011.
The workshops which were
help at Tshwane Muslim School
Library and Nurul Islam Hall in
Laudium and Lenasia respectively
were attended by scores of
participants who went through
lectures and presentations on
Umrah, Haj, visit to Madina as
well as other related issues to
the journey of Haj.
We
wish all prospective hujjaj well
as they prepare for this journey
that constitutes a pillar of
Islam.
Meanwhile, the
Jamiatul Ulama would like to
inform all those looking for Haj
guides in print to contact any
of the Jamiatul Ulama South
Africa offices.
Workshop
presentations are also available
electronically and a download
link can be provide upon request
via email.
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Summarised Jumu’ah
Bayaan: |
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Prohibition
against backbiting,
slander and carrying
tales |
“When they (the true
believers) hear
worthless talk, they
turn away from it,”
(28:55)
“Do not help
one another to
wrongdoing and enmity.”
(5:2)
• Abu Darda
radhiyallhu anhu
reported that Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam said, “On the
Day of Qiyaamah, Allah
will guard from Jahannum
the face of anyone who
defends the honour of
his brother.” (Tirmidhi)
• ‘Itban ibn
Malik radhiyallhu anhu
said in the famous long
hadith which was
reported from him,
“…Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasallam stood up
to pray and said, “Where
is Malik ibn
ad-Dukhshum?” A man
said, “That man is a
hypocrite who does not
love Allah and His
Messenger.” Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam said, “Do not
say that. Do you not see
that he has said, “There
is no god but Allah,”
desiring by that only
the pleasure of Allah?
Allah has forbidden the
Fire of Hell for anyone
who says: “There is no
god but Allah” desiring
by that the pleasure of
Allah.” (Bukhari &
Muslim)
• Ka’b
ibn Malik radhiyallhu
anhu said in his long
hadith about the story
of his repentance,
“While he was sitting
among the people at
Tabuk, Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam said, “What has
Ka'b ibn Malik done? A
man of the Banu Salima
said, “O Messenger of
Allah, he has been held
back by his two cloaks
and self-conceit.”
Mu’adh ibn Jabal
radhiyallhu anhu said to
him, “What an evil thing
to say! By Allah,
Messenger of Allah, we
only know good of him!”
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasallam was
silent.” (Bukhari &
Muslim)
•
Hudhayfa radhiyallhu
anhu reported that
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasallam said, “A
slanderer will not enter
Jannah.” (Bukhari &
Muslim)
• Ibn
‘Abbas radhiyallhu anhu
reported that Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam passed by two
graves and said, “They
are being punished and
not for anything very
great. One of them did
not guard himself from
urine and the other was
involved in
back-biting.” (Bukhari &
Muslim) The scholars say
the meaning of “not for
anything very great” is
as they claim.
•
Ibn Mas’ud radhiyallhu
anhu reported that
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasallam said,
“Shall I tell you what
slander is? It is
backbiting freely among
people.” (Muslim)
• Ibn Mas’ud
radhiyallhu anhu
reported that Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam said, “None of
my Companions should
convey to me anything
bad about someone else.
I want to come out to
you with a clear heart.”
(Abu Dawud & Tirmidhi)
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Message from the Ameer of
the Jamiatul Ulama |
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The Sunnah: Tried
and Tested |
One of the challenges we
face in contemporary times
is one of lifestyle. Living
in an environment such as
ours can be daunting
especially when one wants to
lead an Islamic lifestyle
that is holistic in nature.
Unrelentingly, we
are bombarded with
information and imagery that
depicts success as only in
terms of how one is in touch
with trends. Trends and what
is in vogue changes with the
season and the economic
climate that prevails.
The beauty of Islam and
indeed the Sunnah is its
consistency and
dependability. The beloved
Sunnah of Rasulullah
Sallalahu alayhi wa sallam
is not only studied in
institutions of learning. It
is also emulated in every
locality where Muslims live
on this planet. This
emulation which is testimony
to the love that we have for
the holy Prophet Sallalahu
alayhi wa sallam brings to
the very fore the
consistency of the Sunnah
and its relevance as far as
practice is concerned.
We need to be aware that
when we express our Islam
through the emulation of the
Master Sallalahu alayhi wa
Sallam we are not only
noticed but on occasion we
may elicit a negative
response. The Quranic advice
to counter the negative
response is:
“And don’t obey the
disbeliever’s and the
hypocrites and don’t bother
of their abuse and rely on
Allah”, (Surah Ahzaab, Verse
48)
This
advice empowers us to remain
firm and to continue our
practice, without feeling
threatened or provoked. It
is also an excellent
mechanism to offset negative
peer pressure.
The
need of the hour is to
remain firm on the path of
Allah without wavering.
There is no need to be
arrogant but at the same
time we need not be
apologetic in living true
Islam.
May Allah
keep us firm on Siraatul
Mustaqeem. (Ameen)
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