Islamic Focus Issue 122

P10 Life Summary

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P9 Ml Yusuf Karaan

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P8 The Artists

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P4 Immodesty

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P3 Nursery Rhymes

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The glorious Battle of Badr was fought in Ramadan 1391 years ago. It set the foundation for the spread and preservation of Islam till today.

Here are some lessons from this battle: BEING FIRST Those Sahaba who participated in Badr held a higher rank than others.

The best of the Angels are those that were present at the battle of Badr: "Jibreel came to the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam and asked, ‘How do you rate the people among you who were present at Badr?’ He said: ‘They are the best of the Muslims,’ or something similar. [Jibreel] said: ‘So it is with the angels who were present at Badr.’" [Bukhari]

Islamic Focus

Issue 122

Igniting the Spirit of Islam July 2015

When one of the Sahaabah made a mistake by telling Quraysh that the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam was coming with the army during the year of the Conquest, and Umar radhiallahu anhu wanted to execute him, the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam said: “He was present at Badr, and you do not know, perhaps Allah looked upon the people of Badr and said: ‘Do what you wish, for I have forgiven you.’” [Bukhari] DUA The Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam spent the entire night of 17 Ramadan 2 AH in Dua, beseeching Allah Ta’ala for help.

This is a feature of the lives of the Prophets alaihimus salaam, that they always turned in Dua to Allah Ta’ala for the fulfilment of all their endeavours.

OPTIMISM When the small group of poorly equipped Muslims faced the larger, better equipped enemy forces, the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam consulted with the Sahaba on the way forward.

The Sahaba answered with great optimism, pledging their support in no uncertain terms.

Sa’d bin Muadh spoke up and then Miqdad radhiallahu anhuma: ‘We will not say to you what the people of Musa said to Musa: “Go forth you and your Lord and do battle. We will be waiting here. “(5:24). We will do battle on your right and on your left and in front of you and behind you.’

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WORLD NEWS

MOROCCO - Two women went on trial on charges of indecency for wearing skirts. They are being tried under the penal code which says that anyone found guilty of committing an act of public obscenity can be jailed for up to two years. (BBC, 6 Jul 2015) YEMEN - An air strike by the Saudi-led coalition killed 30 people in Aden. Coalition planes are targetting Shia Houthi rebels. The rebels captured the capital, Sanaa last year, forcing the President into exile. 3,000 people have been killed since the Saudiled campaign began in March. (BBC, 6 Jul 2015) BOSNIA - The UN Security Council will vote on a UK -drafted resolution that refers to the 1995 Srebrenica massacre as genocide. The killing of 8,000 Muslim men and boys by Bosnian Serb troops at Srebrenica was the worst massacre in Europe since World War Two. (BBC, 7 Jul 2015) LIBYA - Since the 2011 uprising, Libya has become divided into two governments, with their respective militias fighting over lucrative assets and power. One such battle is taking place in Ubari in Libya's southern Sahara, close to one of the country's largest oil fields. The Tuareg and Tebu tribes are fighting each other and each side is backed by one of the two opposing governments - Libya Dawn in Tripoli and Libya Dignity in the east - and their international supporters who are looking to gain control of the south. (AJ, 8 Jul 2015) EAST TURKESTAN - Thousands took part in antiChina protests in Turkey over Chinese oppression of Muslims in Chinese-occupied East Turkestan. Relations between China and Turkey have worsened

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over Chinese policies towards the Muslim Uighur people. Turks share religious and cultural ties with Uighurs, who have been banned from worship and fasting during Ramadan. Turkey vowed to keep its doors open to Uighur migrants fleeing persecution in China. Turkey has also irked China by expressing concern over the reports of restrictions on Uighurs during Ramadan. (AJ, 6 Jul 2015) EAST TURKESTAN - China banned civil servants, students and teachers in the mainly Muslim Xinjiang region (occupied East Turkestan) from fasting during Ramadan and ordered restaurants to stay open. Officials in the region's Bole county were told: "During Ramadan do not engage in fasting, vigils or other religious activities." As in previous years, school children were included in directives limiting Ramadan fasting and other religious observances. The education bureau ordered schools to communicate to students that "during Ramadan, ethnic minority students do not fast, do not enter mosques ... and do not attend religious activities". (AJ, 18 Jun 2015) INDIA - The Hindu fundamentalist BJP government in the state of Maharashtra has de-recognised madrasas which only educate students on Islam. Madrasas focusing only on studying Islam will now be regarded as "non-schools". The move has drawn outrage from Muslims and opposition parties in the state. 150,000 students are enrolled in madrasas in the state Maharashtra. BJP's move comes weeks after the Maharahstra government announced that madrasas had to teach English, maths, science and social science to be eligible for grants from the state.

There are 1,890 registered madrasas in the state.

(AJ, 3 Jul 2015)

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1. Great Reward The Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam said: “Do not revile my companions, for by the One in Whose hand is my soul, if one of you were to spend the equivalent of Uhud in gold, it would not amount to a mudd of one of them, or half of that.” (Bukhari 3673) 2. Best of People The Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam said: “The best of the people are my generation, then those who come after them, then those who come after them.” (Bukhari 2652) 3. Specially Chosen Ibn Mas’ood radhiallahu anhu said: Allah looked into the hearts of His slaves, and He saw that the heart of Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wa sallam was the best of people’s hearts, so He chose him for Himself and sent him with His message. Then He looked into the hearts of His slaves after the heart of Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wa sallam, and He found that the hearts of his companions were the best of people’s hearts, so He made them the supporters of His Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam, who fought for His religion. So whatever the Muslims think is good, is good before Allah, and whatever they think is bad, is bad before Allah. (Ahmad 1:379)

Children mindlessly sing along to seemingly innocent nursery rhymes that reveal shockingly sinister backstories. A random sample: Baa Baa Black Sheep is about the medieval wool tax, imposed in the 13th Century by King Edward I. Under the new rules, a third of the cost of a sack of wool went to him, another went to the church and the last to the farmer.

Ring a Ring o Rosie is about the 1665 Great Plague of London: the “rosie” being the rash that developed on the skin of plague sufferers, the stench of which then needed concealing with a “pocket full of posies”. The plague killed 15% of Britain’s population, hence “atishoo, atishoo, we all fall down (dead).”

Mary, Mary Quite Contrary is about Bloody Mary, daughter of King Henry VIII and concerns the torture and murder of Protestants.

Queen Mary was a Catholic and her “garden” is an allusion to the graveyards which were filling with Protestant killed. The “silver bells” were thumbscrews; while “cockleshells” are believed to be instruments of torture which were attached to male genitals.

Goosey Goosey Gander is another tale of religious persecution: it reflects a time when Catholic priests would have to say their forbidden Latin-based prayers in secret.

The British Society for Nursery Rhyme Reform as late as 1941 was condemning 100 of the most common nursery rhymes. The list of sins included “21 cases of death; 12 cases of torment to animals; and 1 case each of consuming human flesh, body snatching."

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HISTORY/HADITH

Belief in the good character and virtue of the Sahaabah is the belief of Ahl al-Sunnah walJamaa’ah. That is because Allah has praised them in the Quran and they were also praised by the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam:

SUNNAH / HISTORY

The phenomenon of Iftar at the White House is a topic guaranteed to provoke fierce debate. Here’s the first Iftar: The first Muslim ambassador to the United States, from Tunisia, was hosted by President Thomas Jefferson, who arranged a sunset dinner for his guest because it was Ramadan.

The dinner took place on December 9, 1805, and Jefferson’s guest was Sidi Soliman Mellimelli, an envoy from the bey of Tunis who spent 6 months in Washington. The context of Mellimelli’s visit to the United States was a tense dispute over attacks on American vessels by the Muslim Barbary states and the capture of Tunisian vessels trying to run an American blockade of Tripoli.

Mellimelli arrived during Ramadan, and Jefferson changed the meal time from the usual hour of 3:30 p.m. to precisely at sunset in deference to the man’s religious obligation.

Jefferson’s knowledge of Islam likely came from his legal studies of natural law. In 1765, Jefferson purchased a two-volume English translation of the Quran for his personal library, a collection that became, in 1815, the basis of the modern Library of Congress.

When Robert Smith, Secretary of the Navy, made his first call on the diplomat, he found him praying toward Makkah. Smith invited Mellimelli to a formal dinner, but learned that during Ramadan a Muslim could not eat until after sunset. He would, however, come and take coffee in the evening with officials of the government.

He [Satan] commands you only what is evil and immorality, and that you should say against Allah what you know not. (Quran 2:169) The breaking down of the barriers of modesty and revealing the body in public is a plot of the devil since the time of Prophet Aadam alaihis salaam: “O children of Adam, let not Satan tempt you as he removed your parents from Paradise, stripping them of their clothing to show them their private parts…” (Quran 7:27) Media has been adapted by the devil to achieve this aim. A quick look at music videos reveals that the nature of sexual activity has increased rapidly. A sample of 1984 videos showed that 60% included "some portrayal of sexual feelings". In 1990, suggestive sexual activity was present in 89% of MTV videos.

In 2015, open sexual perversion is part and parcel of “cultured society” as well as lower levels. The Royal Opera House had a gangrape scene with nudity. A famous female singer released a music video replete with nudity and extreme violence.

Once the first barriers of modesty are removed, immorality constantly reaches new lows. Where once it was a glimpse of flesh, today it is portrayal of perversion. ‘Among the early prophetic teachings that have reached people is this: if you do not feel shame, then do as you wish.’ (Bukhari) Satanism is prevalent in immodesty. Stay far away.

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From various Ulama

www.shafiifiqh.com al-Muhtaj 10/235 and Nihayat al-Muhtaj 8/305, in the later generations Ahl alSunnah is defined as the followers of Abu al-Hasan alAsh'ari and Abu Mansur alMaturidi.

Q: Does swallowing blood from a bleeding tongue or gum break the salah?

What about the fast?

A: In general, swallowing blood will break the fast.

Even if one swallows clear saliva that was mixed with blood, like before rinsing his mouth, the fast is broken.

While if one is suffering from a chronic problem, and their gums bleed continuously such that it is impossible to avoid, then it is excused.

(Tuhfat al-Muhtaj 3/406)

And Allah knows best.

Answered by Shaykh Yaqub Abdurrahman

And Allah knows best.

Answered by Shaykh Yaqub Abdurrahman

Q: Are the Ashari from Ahlussunah? If not why?

And is it true that most Malikis and Shafis are from the Ashari creed?

A: The aqidah (beliefs) of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah is taken from Allah the Exalted and His Messenger sallallahu alaihi wa sallam. Islamic doctrine and belief is established in the Qur'an and in the reports from the Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wa sallam. These were transmitted to later generations by the Sahabah and Tabi'un, generation by generation until today.

In the Shafi'i School's reliedupon reference works, Tuhfat

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Q: Is it allowed for a husband and wife to hold hands in public, showing affection according to the Shafi'i Madhab?

A: Public displays of intimacy between a husband and his wife should be avoided. In Tuhfah 10/225, Ibn Hajar mentioned that one kissing his wife on the mouth is impermissible, but not on her head. And touching her chest would be impermissible.

Similarly to touching her chest, touching other parts that are places on a women's body one enjoys sexually is unlawful.

I am not aware of a clear ruling in the Shafi School's fiqh books on holding one's wife's hand. The discussion on this topic comes in the Book of Testimony, under what violates one's maru'ah. In Mughni al-Muhtaj 6/339, Khatib Shirbini defines maru'ah as, 'An individual acting according to the standard of

his peers, those who uphold the way of the Sacred Law and its etiquettes, in the place and time he is in.'

Khatib continues to say that matters based on custom are hard to determine as they change according to conditions, times, and places. At present, in the United States, those who would be considered in the formation of custom do not hold hands with their wives in public. Thus, it is prudent to avoid it.

And Allah knows best.

Answered by Shaykh Yaqub Abdurrahman

Q: I heard that in Shafi'i fiqh it is haram to perform any Sunnah prayers until all past qadha (missed obligatory) prayers have been performed.

A: In Fath al-Mu'in p. 37, Malibari cited Ibn Hajar that if one owes prayers he missed without an excuse, then he must dedicate all of his time to performing them.

He should only spend time in other ways for things that are absolute essentials, like sleeping, earning a living, or the current-performance of an obligatory act. And performing supererogatory (optional) prayers is unlawful.

Answered by Shaykh Yaqub Abdurrahman

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QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

SHAFI Q & A

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

HANAFI Q & A From various Ulama

www.askimam.org | www.askmufti.co.za | www.daruliftaa.net Q: Can one pay kaffara and feed the poor as oppose to keeping 60 fasts consecutively for breaking one fast? If so, how many people need to be fed for just the one fast?

A: If a Muslim deliberately breaks his fast during Ramadan with no justifiable reason in Sharī῾āh, then he has to compensate by paying Kaffārah (expiation) for the sin.

The Kaffārah (expiation) for a broken fast, which is in addition to making up the fast for the missed day is sixty consecutive days. If the sixty days is interrupted without a legitimate Shar῾ī reason, then one has to recommence the sixty days.

One will be required to pay Fidyah if one cannot fast due to old age or chronic illness.

One cannot pay Fidyah if one has the ability to fast. Moreover if one recovered from one’s illness such that one can fast again during/after Ramadhaan, then one should make up all the previous fasts. Paying Fidyah in such a condition will not suffice.

However if one is unable to make up for the missed fasts due to old age or chronic illness then only Fidyah can be paid.

university fees. But the store I'm working in as a cashier/ cleaner sells lottery, cigarettes and some ham sandwiches among other things. The store also has halal stuff such as cool drink, soda, slurpees, coffee, medicine, bathroom supplies, milk, bread etc. Is it haram for me to work at this store, is the earning made through this job haram for me?

A: In principle, there are two aspects which are considered in determining whether one’s income is Halaal or not: 1. The major source of the funds from which the employees of the company are remunerated.

2. The nature of the job profile/description itself.

As far as your query is concerned, if majority of the income of the store you work for are from Halaal sources, both your income and job will be Halaal. Your job as a cashier is merely to process the transactions or clean the merchandise. Since you are not directly conducting the sale on behalf of your employer, your job is permissible.

animal are prohibited for consumption. They are as follows: Flowing blood, Male genitals, Female genitals, Testicles, Glands, Bladder and Gall bladder.

Hence, it will be permissible for you to consume the heart and kidneys of both Mutton and Beef and not the testicles.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best Approved by Mufti Ebrahim Desai

Q: I am married to a man who has 2 sons (older than 21 yrs of age) from his previous marriage. I normally wear hijab, but not in front of them as I find it difficult to be in hijab all the time.

A: In the particular instance described in your query your husband's sons from another wife are regarded to be your mahram by virtue of your marriage to their father. It is not compulsory for you to adopt hijab before them.

However, as a measure of precaution, since the sons are youthful, it is preferred that some 'distance' be maintained between yourselves.

Answered by Mufti Shafiq Jakhura

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best The fidya of each fast is half a Saa (1.75kg to 2.32 kg) of wheat (or its monetary equivalent) which is equivalent to the amount of Sadaqatul Fitr in your country.

Approved by Mufti Ebrahim Desai

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Approved by Mufti Ebrahim Desai

Q: What is the ruling on eating parts of kidneys, heart, testicles of mutton or beef? Is it halal, makrooh (disliked) or haraam?

A: The Fuqaha (Jurists) of the Hanafi Madhab have ruled that seven parts of an

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One night Khalif Haaroon Ar-Rashid was restless, and said to his vizier: ‘I can’t sleep and don’t know what to do.’ His servant Masroor laughed, and the Khalif asked: ‘What are you laughing for?’ Masroor replied: ‘I did this unintentionally. Last night I was outside the castle when I saw people around a man who was making them laugh. His name is Ibnul Maghaazali.’ Haaroon Ar-Rashid said: ‘Bring him to me immediately.’

Masroor found Ibnul Maghaazali and said: ‘The Khalif wants you, but on condition that if he presents you with a gift, a quarter belongs to you, and the rest to me.’ Ibnul Maghaazali replied: ‘No, half will be mine and half yours.’ Masroor wouldn’t agree. Ibnul Maghaazali said: ‘I’ll keep one third and you can have the remainder.’ They agreed to this after a great deal of haggling.

Haaroon said to Ibnul Maghaazali: ‘If you make me laugh I’ll give you 500 dinars (gold coins), but if you fail I’ll give you three blows with this sock.’

Ibnul Maghaazali thought the sock was empty. He began to joke and play tricks but Haaroon did not even smile. Haaroon Ar-Rasheed said to him: ‘Now you deserve the blows.’ He took the sock in which was four stones, and struck Ibnul Maghaazali once.

The latter yelled in pain. He remembered the condition Masroor had imposed and said: ‘Pardon, O Khalif, listen to only two more words of mine. Masroor and I have an agreement. I agreed to let Masroor have two-thirds of the reward I might receive.

You’ve decided the reward is three blows, of which my share is one, and Masroor's two. I got mine, and now it’s his turn.’ Haaroon Ar-Rasheed laughed, called for Masroor and struck him once.

Masroor groaned in pain, and said: ‘I give him the remainder as a gift!’

The Khalif laughed and ordered them to be given 500 dinars each. (Al-Mustatraf Vol.1, p 473)

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LESSONS/QURAN

The Chinese and the Greeks were arguing as to who were the better artists. The King said, “We'll settle this matter with a debate.” The Chinese began talking, but the Greeks wouldn't say anything. They left. The Chinese suggested then that they each be given a room to work on with their artistry, two rooms facing each other and divided by a curtain.

The Chinese asked the King for a hundred colors, all the variations, and each morning they took them all. The Greeks took no colors. They went to their room and began cleaning and polishing the walls. All day they made those walls as pure and clear as an open sky.

The Chinese finished, and they were so happy.

The King entered their room, astonished by the gorgeous color and detail. The Greeks then pulled the curtain dividing the rooms.

The Chinese figures and images shimmeringly reflected on the clear Greek walls. They lived there, even more beautifully, and always changing in the light. (Rumi) When we work on cleaning the powerbase of the body, the heart, the beauty of Islam will reflect radiantly from us.

"Beware! There is a piece of flesh in the body, if it becomes good (i.e., reformed), the whole body becomes good, but if it gets spoilt, the whole body gets spoilt, and that is the heart." (Bukhari) “If our hearts were really clean, we would never get enough of the Words of our Lord (i.e. the Quran).” (Uthman radhiallahu anhu in Al Furqan of Ibn Taymiya pg 74)

The Noble Quran is the cornerstone of Islam.

Abandoning the Quran leads to failure, while holding firm to it leads to success: Ibn Mas`ud radhiallahu anhu said: “None of you needs to ask himself [about anything] except for the Quran: If he loves the Quran, he loves Allah, and if he detests the Quran, he detests Allah and His Messenger sallallahu alaihi wa sallam.”

Ibn Mas`ud radhiallahu anhu said: “Remembrance of Allah causes faith to grow in the heart like water causes onions to grow, and songs cause hypocrisy to grow in the heart just as water causes onions to grow.”

“One whose heart doesn’t contain anything from the Holy Quran, is like a deserted house.” (Tirmidhi) “Preserve the Holy Quran in your hearts, by Allah in whose hand lays the life of Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wa sallam, it goes out of memory faster than a camel escapes from its rope.” (Bukhari) Umar ibn Al-Khattab radhiallahu anhu narrated that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alaihi wa sallam said: “Allah will elevate some nations through this book and degrade others with it.” (Muslim) “…the Qur’an is either an argument for you or against you.” (Muslim) Imam an-Nawawi (rahimahullah) states in regard to the meaning of this hadith: “[It means] that you will benefit from it if you recite it and act by it, otherwise it will be an argument against you.”

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Mankind, with regard to the performance of their prayers, are on five levels:

Moulana Karaan translated key Islamic works into English. Among the books he translated were Virtues of Hajj, Stories of the Prophets, The Ramadan of the Pious Elders, Kitaabul Fiqh, Ma-Aarif-E-Mathnavi, Khutbaatul Ahkam, A Gift for Muslim Couple and Tuhfatul Ikhwan.

He revived the Tamat, a Cape term for the practice of young Muslim children learning to recite the Quraan with Tajweed and completing an entire Quraan in this manner. Moulana used the masjid, publications and Hajj classes to alter perceptions on the urgency of performing the Hajj. The result of his is a vibrancy on the Cape Hajj scene, ongoing Hajj classes and the prioritization of the Hajj. Moulana established a ‘Baitul Maal’ which until the current moment has provided for a more professional and centralised distribution of Islamic charitable funds. Moulana Karaan was also one of the founding members of the United Ulama Council of South Africa (UUCSA) in 1994. Moulana was the father of Moulana Taha Karaan, a global Islamic authority and founder of the Darul Uloom in the Strand.

Second: This is one who offers his prayers on time and within their specified limits, who fulfils their essential requirements and performs wudu with care. However, his effort is wasted due to disturbances in his thoughts during prayer that turn his attention to other concerns.

Moulana Yusuf Karaan studied the Aalim course in Darul Uloom Deoband in India. Moulana Abdul Haqq Omarjee and Moulana Cassim Sema rahimahumallah were influential in sending him there to study.

First: This is the level of one who is negligent.

He falls short in performing wudu properly, performing the prayer on time and within its specified limits, and in fulfilling its essential requirements.

Third: As level two but also strives within himself to repel the disturbances in his thoughts.

Fourth: As level three but with his heart fully engrossed in safeguarding rights of Salaah, so that nothing of his prayer is wasted. His heart is immersed in the prayer and in servitude to Allah Ta'ala.

Fifth: As level four but places his heart in front of his Lord, filled with His love and Majesty, as if he sees Allah. The veil between him and his Lord is lifted.

The people at the first level will be punished, those at the second will be held to account, those at the third will have their shortcomings wiped out, rewards start at the fourth level, and those at the fifth will be close to their Lord. (Ibn Qayyim al Jawziyyah)

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HISTORY/WORSHIP

Moulana Yusuf Karaan was one of the South Africa’s most illustrious scholars. He passed away in 2015 at the age of 79. Moulana Karaan was the official Mufti of the Muslim Judicial Council and headed its Fatwa Committee for decades. He was also the Imam of the Jamia Masjid in Strand. Here are some of his contributions to Islam in South Africa:

CURRENT / HISTORY

Some personal, practical tips towards memorising the Quran from Yasir Qadhi: 1. Consistency. The more frequently you memorize, the easier it becomes. It is very essential to be consistent, and not to skip even one day. There is no weekend in worship.

2. Timing. The first thing you should do in the day is memorize – even do so before your breakfast, because this is your spiritual breakfast. The best time to memorize is right after Fajr.

3. Atmosphere. Have a secluded place to go to and memorize in a place that is quiet. You just can't memorize properly with distractions, so turn off all your devices (like cell phones) 4. Familiarity: start at the same time, at the same place and use the same copy of the Quran every day. You need to have your own copy of the Quran, it will later become so dear to you.

5. No magic trick: repeat, repeat, repeat, over and over again. It is just repetitive recitation and/or listening that will help to memorize.

6. Find a recitation partner: get a friend, a family member or teacher who will listen to your recitation every day.

7. Recite daily in your salah what you have memorized.

During much of the 10th century, Abdul Rahman III reigned as the most powerful prince of the Ummayad dynasty in Spain. He was known as the Emir of Cordoba from 912 to 929, and later as the Caliph of Cordoba from 929 to 961.

Abdul Rahman unified a people plagued by tribal warfare and outside influence. First, he successfully established a centralized government in Spain and built a powerful army and navy. Then, through military action, he successfully broke ties with the aristocracy of the Arab world, the Fatimids of Egypt and North Africa, and the Christian kings of León.

After nearly 20 years of dramatic success, he declared himself as caliph in Spain. Although rejected by some, this title gave AbdulRahman tremendous prestige throughout much of the Muslim world. He spent the next 32 years as ruler of a prosperous region.

When all was said and done, Abdul Rahman reflected on his life like other rulers before him and came to the following conclusion: “I have now reigned above fifty years in victory or peace; beloved by my subjects, dreaded by my enemies, and respected by my allies. Riches and honors, power and pleasure, have waited on my call, nor does any earthly blessing appear to have been wanting to my felicity. In this situation, I have diligently numbered the days of pure and genuine happiness which have fallen to my lot: they amount to fourteen (0.08% of his reign): O man! place not your confidence in this world!”

8. Daily revision of work completed.

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Islamic Focus

Web: www.islamicfocus.co.za | Blackberry group: 28BC2F31

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FINAL FOCUS

Mahad al-Ṣuffah (al-Ṣuffah Institute) is an educational institute established in 2015 for Higher Islamic education. It is based in Parkside, Port Elizabeth.

It is an institute for Arabic and Traditional Islamic Learning which combines academics and spirituality. It seeks to preserve an inherited legacy of sacred Islamic knowledge; and promote it through transmitting the centuries of knowledge which have been passed down from generation to generation, as well as equipping its students with the necessary training to deal with any challenge.

This institute has been operating from the premises adjacent to the Council of Ulama Eastern Cape offices and is being run by a number of reliable Ulama.

At present two courses are offered: Essentials of Deen - Learn to recite Qur'an, aspects of ritual purity, Salah, essential Islamic beliefs.

Arabic and Islamic Studies course - We have started with the first year of studies which is divided into separate semesters. Each semester having specific outcomes and goals.

At present the primary focus is on Arabic competency and later on the other Islamic disciplines will be studied.

Contact Details: 1 Bell Rd, Parkside, Port Elizabeth, 6020 Tel: +27 (0) 41 457 5476 Cell: +27 (0) 83 982 6968 Website: www.alsuffah.co.za Email: admin@alsuffah.co.za Chief Liaison Officer: Mufti Aadiel Moosagie

A deaf man was informed that his neighbor was ill, so he decided to see him. “But,” said he to himself, “I shall not be able to catch his words. When I see his lips moving I will guess what he is saying. When I ask, ‘How are you?’ he will probably reply, ‘I am well.’ I will then say, ‘Thanks be to God! What have you taken for food?’ He will probably mention some healthy food. I shall then wish the food may agree with him, and shall ask him the name of his doctor. On his naming the man, I shall say, ‘He is good. You will soon be well.’”

So the deaf man went to the invalid’s bedside.

He inquired, “How are you?” “I am dying,” replied the patient. “Thanks be to God!” rejoined the deaf man. “What have you been eating?” was the next question; to which the reply was, “Poison!” “May it agree with you,” was the wish expressed by the deaf man. “Who is your doctor?” again asked the visitor. “The Angel of Death!” growled the invalid. “Then you ought to rejoice, for he is a top man. I saw him just now, and asked him to give you his best possible attention,” said the deaf man.

With this he left, rejoicing he had performed his duty. The sick man was angrily muttering, “This fellow is an enemy. I did not know his heart was so full of evil.”

Rumi rahimahullah uses this to demonstrate how many of us like the deaf man are oblivious of the Greatness of Allah. We do prayers thinking we are doing so well whereas they are based on our own wishes and not based on what Allah Ta’ala likes. He says some people while praying commit more sin than good like the deaf man.

73 DURBAN ROAD KORSTEN PH. 041 451 3060 Islamic Focus

ISSN 2223 - 1110 (Print) | ISSN 2223 - 1129 (Online)

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