| Weekly Comment | | Islamaphobia
Muslims are firmly, purposely and purposefully engaging in various campaigns to dispel Islamaphobia. Mini-conferences and seminars, have been, and are being held. In the US, a specific lobby group has been set-up for this express purpose. CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations) announced a $50 million media campaign to help create a better understanding of Muslims. In France, a government backed institute will open in October to counter the rising tide of Islamaphobia. Around the world, a similar phenomenon can be observed.
This intense and concentrated activity of the Muslims is not without basis. It rises
in the wake of the present climate of Islam being intentionally portrayed as a religion of non-tolerance, extremism, terrorism and other similar vile and startling projections. These images of Islam have resulted in the stereo-typing of Muslims; it has caused Muslims to be arrested simply for being Muslims; shown the pointless, futile and inane shadowing of Muslim personalities in the name of surveillance; ended in the disappearance of Muslims accused without proof; caused the demonizing and terrorizing of Muslim communities; and has been the grounds on the basis of which entire communities, societies and governments have altered their views on Muslims and Islam.
The move to remove and scatter this phobia of Islam and Muslims must however not result in a haphazard scramble to defend Islamic principles; it must never result in apologetics and should not be an approach where Islam and its principles are altered in order for them to be suitable to present
circumstances and events.
Islam is most suitable and acceptable. It is simple. It is appealing, welcoming and rewarding. It is just and fair. It is The Beautiful Deen and must be presented as such. | | | | Summarized Jumuah Bayaan: | | Upholding Justice at all costs | | Justice is one of the key features of the Quranic teachings. It has been specifically termed as akin to piety (5:8). | - Its importance and practice have been emphasised in several ways:
1. The Quran directly enjoins the believers to do justice and refrain from doing injustice (16:90).
2. The Quran says that Allah loves those who do justice
(5:42) and warns those who carry the burden of the sins of inequities (injustices) (20:111) with a categorical declaration that for unjust there will be no helpers.
The Quran enjoins the believers to be firm and foremost in doing justice for the sake of Allah (4:135). | - There are three factors that invariably take one away from the path of justice:
1. One is lust,
2. the other is affiliation or relationships and the
3. third is enmity. | | The Quran expressly exhorts believers not to be influenced by these factors. (38:26). | - The Quran enjoins the believers to do justice even if it may be harmful to themselves, or to their parents or to their relatives and irrespective of the fact that the party concerned is rich or poor (4:135).
| - The Quran further
exhorts the believers to be so steadfast in doing justice that their enmity with some people does not turn them away from the path of justice (5:8). In other words, they have to be just even to enemies.
| - The Quran not only highlights the importance of justice but also tells us how to do justice when it says we sent our messengers with clear signs and sent down with them the Book and the balance so that the people stand by justice (57:25).
| - The verse, in fact, tells us that Allah sent His Messengers and with them the Books to enlighten the people, among other things, on the importance of balance so that they learn how to do justice.
| - The word balance implies the maintenance of equilibrium. In the sphere of human activities when the norms of balance are applied, it is called justice.
| - The first and foremost requirement of observing the norms of balance is that every allegation must be met by an appropriate explanation. The person alleged to have done something wrong, must have an opportunity to explain his position in respect of the allegation.
| - The other requirement of observing the norms of balance is that the person giving decision in the dispute between the parties weighs the evidence, and the arguments and counter arguments put forward on even scales, gives due consideration to the contentions raised and pleas by the parties and delivers judgment on merit, uninfluenced by any extraneous consideration.
| - The third requirement of observing the norms of balance is that the person giving the decision in a dispute involving the rights and obligations of others is unbiased and has
no personal interest in the case. Balance is disturbed when the person giving the decision is biased or becomes a judge in his own cause.
| | U P D A T E | Zambia Visit
The Board of Governors of the Makeni Islamic Trust in Zambia invited a Jamiatul Ulama delegation with the express intention of obtaining guidance in matters of Islamic Education. The team of Ulama spent three days at the school assessing the standard of Islamic Education, holding meetings with board members, and conducting workshops for educators. The Jamiatul Ulama team members commented that they were impressed by the professional approach at the school, as well as the fact that besides providing education to the students, a fully-fledged clinic was
established and run most efficiently. |
Mf Rafi Uthmani Programme
Mufti Rafi Uthmani (the current Grand Mufti of Pakistan) will be delivering a limited number of talks at the end of this week.
His Programme is as follows:
Friday 23rd June 2006: Jum`ah Programme Azaadville Jaami`ah Masjid
Friday 23rd June 2006: After Ishaa Salah Mayfair Jum`ah Masjid
Saturday 23rd June 2006: After Ishaa Salah Azaadville Darul Uloom |
Inheritance Seminars
The Da`wah wal Irshaad Department of the Jamiatul Ulama is currently conducting seminars on inheritance, at various locations. Last week Friday a seminar was held in Rustenburg and this week it will be conducted in Polokwane (Pietersburg). The seminar includes presentations on aspects such as the Islamic law of inheritance, legal issues regarding inheritance in South Africa and common problems encountered in the distribution of estates. The
seminar also includes an interactive session where questions are answered.
| | Message from the Ameer of the Jamiatul Ulama | | WHEN BEGGING OF ALLAH, DO IT WITH CONVICTION | In the explanation of the Hadith Shareef which says, "a person's du'a is accepted," it is mentioned that sometimes a person makes a du'a and whatever he asks for is granted immediately. This person becomes amazed and says, "Why didnt I make another dua which would have also been immediately accepted?"
How are duas accepted?
It is mentioned in a Hadith that on certain occasions Allah Ta'ala orders the angels to grant us exactly what we had asked for; irrespective whether the supplication is correct or not. The
request is fulfilled in the same manner that it was asked for. That is why; we must exercise great caution in our speech.
Sometimes it occurs such that the supplication is not granted but instead something better and of a superior quality is obtained which we never even dreamt of. This is also the result of the du'a.
Sometimes it transpires that neither the du'a made for is granted nor is a similar or better thing attained. But instead a calamity, which was to have befallen oneself, due to some wrong action committed, is obliterated (cancelled). This is also in fact the result of the du'a being accepted.
Sometimes it also transpires that in this world there are no apparent signs of one's du'a being accepted. However in the hereafter it will be revealed to us that a certain du'a made in this world, which was apparently not accepted, has been accepted and this is the reward for it. We will receive such great rewards that our minds cannot even perceive
them. That is the time when we will exclaim: "It would have been better had none of my du'as been accepted in the world, so that I could be fully rewarded here. The rewards here are so much greater."
This world is going to terminate. Whatever one asks for in this temporary world will be granted but the person should be aware that he is asking for such things that will eventually terminate. Shouldnt he rather ask for those things that are everlasting.
Nevertheless, the du'as we make are accepted as soon as we ask them. Let not opportunities go wasted, and when we ask, let us have conviction that our du'as are indeed being listened to and answered the very moment. | | | | I N F O R M A T I O
N | | Min. Mahr | 86.74 | | Mahr Faatimi | 4336.81 | | Zakaat Nisaab | 1734.73 | | Words of Wisdom | | Hadith of the Week | | Sayyadina Abu Hurairah (Radhiallaho anho) narrates that Allah's Messenger (sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam) said: "Allah will give shade, to seven, on the Day when there will be no shade but His. These seven persons are:
1) a just ruler,
2) a youth who has been brought up in the worship of Allah (i.e. worships Allah sincerely from childhood),
3) a man whose heart is attached to the mosques (i.e. to pray the compulsory prayers in the mosque in congregation),
4) two persons who love each other only for Allah's sake and they meet and part in Allah's cause only,
5) a man who refuses the call of a charming woman of noble birth for illicit intercourse with her and says: I am afraid of Allah,
6) a man who gives charitable gifts so secretly that his left hand does not know what his right hand has given (i.e. nobody knows how much he has given in charity),
7) and a person who remembers Allah in seclusion and his eyes are then flooded with
tears."
[Sahih Bukhari: Volume 1, Book 11, Number 629] | | | Quotation for the Week | | Pride in Ancestry | | If you take pride in your ancestry, that is worse than everything, since it is pride in something that has no real usefulness for you in this world or the next. Ask yourself whether your ancestry protects you against hunger or dishonour and whether it does you any good in the next world.
Ibn Hazm in his Kitab al-Akhlaq wa al-Siyar fi Mudawat al-Nufus | | | Saying of the Week | | "Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage. The human spirit is to grow strong by conflict." | | | Q and A | | Q: Is it permissible to fast on a Fridays? | A: Fundamentally, it is permissible to voluntarily fast on any day besides the two days
of Eid and the three succeeding days of Eid ul Adh-haa. However, if one wishes to fast only on Fridays then this must be avoided. Yes, he may either add a day before or after it.
Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah Radhiallahu Anhu reported Rasoolullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam saying: None of you may fast on a Friday except that he either fast before it or after it (another day). [Mishkaat Pg. 179 Muttafaq Alaih]
[Fataawa Mahmoodiyyah Vol. 11 Pg. 108]
Hence, it is quite clear from the aforementioned Hadeeth that if one wishes to fast on Fridays then he may do so by either fasting, together with it, a day before or after. He should not merely keep the Friday fast.
And Allah Ta'aala knows best. | | Q: Is it permissible to dye ones hair? | A: On the very onset, let me apprise
you that the Prophetic traditions determining the permissibility of dyeing the hair, refer to dyeing the gray or white hair of the head.
Imam Bukhari, on the authority of Abu Huraira Radiallahu-Anhu reported Rasullullah Sallallahu-Alaihi-Wa-Sallam as saying. The Jews and Christians do not dye the hair, so be different from them. The scholars of Hadith mention that the application of this Hadith is not general. It was specifically for the people whose hair had turned gray or white. As for the people whose hair has not changed color, they should not dye their hair.
Imam Muslim on the authority of Jabir Radiallahu-Anhu narrates, that on the day of the conquest of Makkah, Abu-Bakr Radiallahu-Anhu brought his aged father, Abu Quhafah Radiallahu-Anhu, carrying him until he had seated him in front of Rasullullah Sallallahu-Alaihi-Wa-Sallam. On seeing Abu Quhafah Radiallahu-Anhus snow-white hair Rasullullah Sallallahu-Alaihi-Wa-Sallam said, Dye the hair, but
avoid black. From this Hadith it can be understood that Rasullullah Sallallahu-Alaihi-Wa-Sallam recommended dyeing of the hair, only because the hair had turned white.
Hence, a person will be given permission to dye the hair, but only when the hair changes color, and not for cosmetic reasons.
As for the usage of black dye Rasullullah Sallallahu-Alaihi-Wa-Sallam said, Dye the hair but avoid black. Thus, the usage of black dye will normally not be permissible even on gray or white hair.
Similarly dyeing the hair in loud and funky colours like pink, purple, etc. to conform to todays trends and fashion is also not allowed, as this constitutes resemblance to the Kuffar.
When dyeing the hair one should use Mehendi/Henna (a reddish-orange cosmetic gained from leaves and stalks of the Henna plant) or Wasmah (hair darkener made from indigo leaves).
And Allah Ta'aala knows best. |
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