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There is no Licence to Ridicule |
“O Children of Adam! Let not Satan seduce you
in the same manner as he got your parents out of the Garden,
stripping them of their clothing, to expose their shame.” (Al-A'raf
7:27)
The local story that has dominated news and the
airwaves sometimes with surreal twists over the past week has
undoubtedly been about the now infamous painting that was on display
at the now closed Goodman Gallery in Johannesburg.
The
defenders of the artists have cited freedom of expression as a
constitutional right which has to be respected at all costs
regardless of the revulsion from the ANC, the presidency and several
religious, civil society and interest groups.
Freedom of
expression is a product of the era of the Enlightenment. This was
the period Europe emerged from the Dark Ages through the
renaissance, a revival of learning and great leaps in artistic
expression.
Western civilisation and thought has in many ways
been shaped by the scholarship of this era. Ironically, in the name
of artistic freedom of expression, the Enlightenment placed nudity
in the public domain as a break from the hitherto ‘conservative’
medieval period.
Iconic sculptures which have become
celebrated signatures, permanent fixtures of central squares of
major cities and at entrances of public buildings, are invariably
unclad.
The controversy which has come to our shores is
rooted and informed by these notions of limitless liberties and
freedoms.
However, both freedom of expression and humanity
dignity are values that are enshrined in the country’s constitution.
The former has from time to time been fiercely guarded by members of
the press as a holy grail of their profession.
Other
interest groups too, however, need to be given the space to champion
the cause of human dignity, in itself a cardinal and founding
principle of our constitution.
From a Muslim’s point of
view, we find the painting as hurting, insulting and totally
unacceptable on a number of grounds some of which are as follows:
Freedom of Expression has limits. It is not a
licence to demean, ridicule and insult another. Time and again it
has been shown that this freedom is not and cannot be absolute. The
Prophet Sallallahu alayhi wasallam said:
“Whoever believes in
Allah and the Last Day should speak a good word or remain silent…”
(Bukhari and Muslim)
Honour of humanity is sacred.
Protection of honour is one of the objectives of the Shariah.
Regardless of the personality of the one satirised, every human
being deserves respect. President Jacob Zuma’s honour and dignity
should neither be an exception nor abridged.
The Qur’an
commands: “O You who believe, do not let one set of people make fun
of another set…”(49:11)
Notions of justice and
fair-dealing are built-in under Shariah. Regardless of the
justifications which have been put across for the kind of portrayal
of President Jacob Zuma, who has been considered as ‘fair game’ for
ridicule by sections of the media, the Qur’an instructs “…and, if ye
judge between mankind, that ye judge justly.” (4:58)
Islam shuns indecency and lewdness. Every Friday we hear
the Imam conclude his sermon by reciting the following verse of the
Quran: "…Allah enjoins justice, kindness and the doing of good, to
kith and kin; and He forbids all that is shameful, indecent, evil,
rebellious and oppressive. (16:90) The vulgarity of the painting has
been apparent and even on that score alone, it is utterly obscene
and objectionable.
As for republishing and circulation of
such indecent material, we have to remember that a Muslim is
prohibited from speaking about everything that one hears:
“It is sufficient for one to be called a liar the one who speaks
about everything that he hears.” (Muslim)
As a concluding
note, while the press is at liberty to inform, report and critically
analyse news and events including the personalities involved, it is
important that such reporting is done responsibly without
trivialising and desensitising the public about the gravity of the
scandals that bedevil our society.
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Q&A |
Question:
Assalammu Alaykum:
I would really
appreciate it, if you could please answer the following questions:
Are women allowed to wear long dresses without a long pair
of trousers underneath? Also, is Salaah in this condition allowed?
Answer:
It is best to wear pants under such long
dresses. It often happens that a woman has to climb a slight
elevation or get into a vehicle and in the process, the ‘Awrah is
exposed.
As far performing Salaah in a long dress without
pants is concerned, the Salaah will be valid provided the ankles and
the area above them are not exposed, more so when going into Ruku,
Sajdah and coming up from Sajdah. Wearing of a Burkah or cloak over
such long dresses will not make any difference if the 'Awrah is
still exposed.
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A Summary of the Sermon of the Week |
Maintaining ties of kinship (Part I)
• Abu Hurayrah radhiyallahu anhu said, “"When the following
verse was revealed, “Warn your near relatives,” (26:214), Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi wasallam stood up and called out saying, “Banu
Ka’b ibn Lu’ayy! Save yourselves from the Fire! Banu ‘Abdu Manaf!
Save yourselves from the Fire! Banu Hashim! Save yourselves from the
Fire! Banu ‘Abdul Muttalib! Save yourselves from the Fire! Fatima,
daughter of Muhammad! Save yourself from the Fire! I do not have
anything for you in respect to Allah except for the fact that you
have ties of kinship.”
• Abu Ayyub al-Ansari radhiyallahu
anhu said that a bedouin came to Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi
wasallam while he was travelling. He asked, “Tell me what will bring
me near to Jannah and keep me far from the Fire.” He replied,
“Worship Allah and do not associate anything with Him, perform
Salah, pay Zakah, and maintain ties of kinship.”
• Abu
Hurayrah radhiyallahu anhu reported that Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasallam said, “Allah created creation. When He had finished
it, ties of kinship rose up. Allah said, “Stop!” They said, “This is
the place for anyone seeking refuge with You from being cut off.”
Allah said, “Are you not content that I should maintain connections
with the one who maintains connection with you and I should cut off
the one who cuts you off?” It replied, “Yes indeed, my Lord.” He
said, “You have that.”Then Abu Hurayrah radhiyallahu anhu said, “If
you wish, you can recite, “Is it not likely that, if you did turn
away, you would cause corruption in the earth and sever your ties of
kinship?” (47:22)
• Ibn ‘Abbas radhiyallahu anhu spoke about
the verse, “Give your relatives their due, and the very poor and
travelers.” (17:26), and said, “He begins by commanding the most
pressing of the obligatory dues and He directs us to the best action
if we have any money. He says: “Give your relatives their due, and
the very poor and travellers.” He also teaches us what we can say if
we have nothing. He says, “But if you do turn away from them,
seeking the mercy you hope for from your Lord, then speak to them
with words that bring them ease,” (17:28) in the form of an
excellent promise. Things are as they are, but they might change if
Allah wills. “Do not keep your hand chained to your neck,” and not
give anything, “but do not extend it either to its full extent,” and
give all you have, “so that you sit there blamed,” as those who come
to you later and find you have nothing will blame you, “and
destitute.” (17:29) He said, “The person to whom you have given
everything has made you destitute.”
• Abu Hurayrah
radhiyallahu anhu said, “A man came to the Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasallam and said, “Messenger of Allah! I have relatives with
whom I maintain ties while they cut me off. I am good to them while
they are bad to me. They behave foolishly towards me while I am
forbearing towards them.” Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam
said, “If things are as you said, it is as if you were putting hot
ashes on them and you will not lack a supporter against them from
Allah as long as you continue to do that.”
• ‘Abdur-Rahman
ibn ‘Awf radhiyallahu anhu heard Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi
wasallam say, “Allah, the Almighty and Exalted, said, “I am the
Merciful (ar-Rahman). I have created ties of kinship and it derives
a name for it from My Name. If anyone maintains ties of kinship, I
maintain connection with him, and I shall cut off anyone who cuts
them off.”
• Abul-‘Ambas radhiyallahu anhu said, “I visited
‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr at al-Waht (some land of his in Ta’if). He said,
“Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam pointed his finger towards us
and said, “Kinship (rahim) us derived from the All-Merciful
(Rahman). When someone maintains the connections of ties of kinship,
they maintain connection with him. If someone cuts them off, they
cut him off. They will have an unfettered, eloquent tongue on the
Day of Rising.”
• ‘Aisha radhiyallahu anha reported that
Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam said, “Kinship (rahim) is
derived from Allah. If anyone maintains ties of kinship Allah
maintains ties with him. If anyone cuts them off, Allah cuts him
off.”
• Anas ibn Malik radhiyallahu anhu reported that
Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam said, “Anyone who wants to
have his provision expanded and his term of life prolonged should
maintain ties of kinship.”
• It is reported that al-Miqdam
ibn Ma'dikarib radhiyallahu anhu heard Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi
wasallam say, “Allah enjoins you to be dutiful to your mothers. Then
He enjoins you to be dutiful to your mothers. Then He enjoins you to
be dutiful to your fathers. Then He enjoins you to be dutiful to
your next closest relative and then to your next closest relative.”
• Abu Ayyub Sulayman said, “Abu Hurayrah radhiyallahu anhu came
to us on a Thursday evening, the night before Jumu’ah. He said,
“Every individual who severs ties of kinship is constricted when he
leaves us. No one left until he had said that three times. Then a
young man went to one of his paternal aunts with whom he had severed
ties two years previously. He went to her and she asked him,
“Nephew! What has brought you?” He replied, “I heard Abu Hurayrah
radhiyallahu anhu say such-and-such.” She said, “Go back to him and
ask him why he said that.” Abu Hurayrah radhiyallahu anhu said, “I
heard Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam say, “The actions of the
children of Adam are presented before Allah on Thursday evening, the
night before Jumu’ah. He does not accept the actions of someone who
has severed ties of kinship.”
(Above narrations all quoted
from Adabul Mufrad by Bukhari)
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| Established
1923 as Jamiatul Ulama Transvaal |
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Economic Indicators
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|
Item/Commodity |
Value |
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US Dollar |
R 8.3482 |
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24 Carat Gold |
R 425.7083 |
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22 Carat Gold |
R 390.5222 |
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18 Carat Gold |
R 319.2579 |
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14 Carat Gold |
R 248.4530 |
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9 Carat Gold |
R 160.8754 |
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Krugerrand |
R 13,871.578 |
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Silver |
R 8.1367 |
|
Zakaat Nisaab |
R 4,982.60 |
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Minimum Mahr |
R 249.13 |
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Mahr Faatimi |
R 12,456.51 |
01 Rajab 1433
23 May 2012 |
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Words of Wisdom
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Hadith of the Week
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Valuable Property
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Ibn Mas'ud Radhi-Allahu
anhu reported that the Messenger of Allah Sallallahu 'alayhi
wasallam said, "Which of you loves the property of his heir more
than he loves his own property?" They said, "O Messenger of Allah,
there is none of us who does not love his own property more." He
said, "His property is what he sends ahead, and the property of his
heir is what he keeps back."
(Bukhari) |
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Quote of the Week
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A Believer, A
Self-deluded
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Talha Ibn Sabeeh reported al-Hasan al Basri to have
said: "A believer believes in what God has said. He is the best of
men in his deeds, but he fears God most, so that if he spends the
size of a mountain of money, he would not be sure of his reward
until he sees this with his own eyes. The more righteous and
charitable the believer is, the more afraid of God he becomes. While
the hypocirte says: Men are too many, I shall be forgiven. There is
no harm on me. Thus he acts badly, but wishes many things from God."
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Saying of the Week
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Making the Best of
Circumstances
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"When the winds of change blow, some people
build walls and others build windmills.”
(Chinese Proverb)
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Updates
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MAP-AMS Youth
Leadership Conference
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The first youth leadership conference for Muslim Schools was
held on May 19, at the Suliman Nana Memorial Hall.
The
conference was a joint project of the Muslim AIDS Programme
(MAP) and Association of Muslim Schools (AMS). The main
objective of the conference was to assist schools in preparing
student leadership and to strengthen the Islamic ethos and
Vision of Muslim Schools.
Well over 150 students
attended the event whose long line up of motivating speakers
included Sr Zaahirah Karrim, Ml Ebrahim Mokgabudi, Sr Mas-oodah
Jappie, Sr Asma Chopdat, Sr Yumna Cajee, Sr Shakeera Omar, Br
Irshaad Varachia.
Earlier, Rashid Chopdat Regional
director of AMS, outlined the event’s objective before opening
speeches were given by Idris Abdul Kadir, the Chairman of AMS
Principals Forum and by Safina Gany, the Programme Manager at
MAP.
Learners were appreciative about the programme which
reinforced the importance of respect and tolerance for the other
but also prepare them on how to cope and interact at tertiary
institutions without losing sight of a Muslim identity as well
as sense of social responsibility and community service.
The
MC for the day was Moulana Abdur Rahman Laily who captivated
participants on this rather long day of events.
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Challenging Pay
Parking in Johannesburg Suburbs
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The Jamiatul Ulama South Africa in Fordsburg
together with Fordsburg-Mayfair Business Forum met at the Bismillah
Hall on Thursday 17 May 2012 to discuss the impact of the city’s
proposed roadside pay parking.
At the event, members of the
newly formed Concerned World Class African Citizens (CWCAC)
presented a brief of their initiative to challenge the city’s move
which has taken off in Parkhurst where the said parking has already
negatively impacted on business.
A follow up meeting on held
last Monday resolved that the Fordsburg-Mayfair Business Forum will
join CWCAC to legally challenge the pay parking proposal by the city
of Johannesburg.
CWCAC is positioning itself as politically
independent and aims at calling ‘the city to account to its
citizens’. |
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A Gift of Life:
Water for Gaza
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The Jamiatul Ulama South Africa, in
conjunction with the Al Aqsa Foundation of South Africa and Sawa’ed
Association (Gaza), aims to establish a water filtration plant east
of Gaza City.
The water station will be a source of clean
drinking water for hospitals, schools and homes in the area. The
water, which will be distributed free of charge, will immediately
benefit 100 000 people.
The entire population of Gaza,
estimated at 1.7 million, relies on underground resources as their
key source of water. The aquifer is polluted, poisoned by sewage and
depleted by the increasing population which it can no longer
support. (Palestinian Centre for Human Rights Report 2010)
At
a cost of R1.7m, you can assist in the establishment of the water
plant as well as provide for maintenance costs for up to two years.
Make your contribution towards this project by using any one of
the following banking details.The reference for the deposit shall be
“2012 Gaza Water Project”.
Jamiatul Ulama South
Africa
Account: Jamiatul Ulama Tvl Relief A/c
Bank:
Nedbank Fordsburg
Branch Code: 195305;
A/c. No.: 1953 285 937
Email: jamiat@islamsa.org.za
Tel: 011 373 8000
Fax: 011 373
8022
Al Aqsa Foundation of South Africa
Account: Al Aqsa Foundation of South Africa
Bank: FNB Fordsburg
Branch Code: 252505;
A/c. No.: 50321159276
Email:
info@aqsa.org.za
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Muslim AIDS Programme
AGM
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The Muslim AIDS Programme’s annual general meeting will take
place on Sunday 3 June 2012 at the Johannesburg Institute of
Social Services’ Centre (corner Battery and Queens Road,
Mayfair).
The Muslim AIDS Programme (MAP) is a joint
project of the Jamiatul Ulama South Africa, the Islamic Careline
and the Islamic Medical Association.
Through life skills
programmes and workshops, MAP advocates abstinence as an
effective means for the stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS.
At the AGM, programmes will be reviewed and delegates will
look at policy matters of the organisation. |
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Muslim Prisons Board to
hold AGM
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The National Muslim Prisons Board, a body established to look
into the welfare of Muslim inmates in South Africa, will on
Saturday 2 June 2012 hold its annual general meeting (AGM) at
Jaame Masjid in Rustenburg.
At the AGM, regional
representatives will present reports of the work done under the
board during the past year.
Delegates to the AGM are
advised to contact Moulana Bashir Haffejee on cell no.: 083 274
8143 or email: mlbashir@telkomsa.net for confirmations and
travel arrangements to the event.
The Muslim Prisons
Board offers chaplaincy services, provides imams and trains
inmates about Islam, in the process, helping the rehabilitation
of offenders so that they become useful citizens once back in
society.
The board always seeks volunteers to help in its
work.
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Some Useful Links
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Jamiatul
Ulama South Africa
http://www.islamsa.org.za
Radio Islam
http://www.radioislam.co.za
South African National Halaal Authority
http://www.sanha.org.za
Rescue 786 Ambulance
Service Hotline
083 9000 786
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