Islamic Focus Issue 127

P3 Real Churchill P4 Attacks on Hajj P7 The Well P8 Racehorses P10 The Butter P12 Mansoor Youth Bukhara Publications/Tel: 078 672 7797/Fax: 086 651 2125 Email: islamicfocus@gmail.com/Malabar/Port Elizabeth

Prophet Ebrahim alaihis salaam is the Prophet mentioned directly the second most amount of times after Musa alaihis salaam.

Here are some lessons from his life: LOVE FOR ALLAH TA’ALA Once Ebrahim alaihis salaam was tending sheep when an Angel came and recited the praise of Allah Ta’ala. Ebrahim alaihis salaam was willing to give him half his flock to hear the praises again. The second time he was ready to give up everything just to get a chance to hear the praise of his beloved Allah Ta’ala. The third time he offered himself in servitude to the Angel to tend the sheep for life just to hear that praise one more time.

COMPASSION Ebrahim alaihis salaam did not like to take meals without having a guest. Once, no guest came for three days. Ebrahim alaihis sa-

Islamic Focus

Issue 127

laam went searching for a guest. He found a person and as they were about to start eating the person said he did not believe in Allah Ta’ala. The person was sent away without eating.

Ebrahim alaihis salaam was told that Allah Ta’ala had been giving this person food for 70 years despite the fact that he disbelieved in Allah Ta’ala. Yet Ebrahim alaihis salaam had not even fed him one meal? Ebrahim alaihis salaam then called him and let him join in the meals.

SUBMISSION When Allah Ta’ala commanded Ebrahim alaihis salaam to submit, he submitted to the will of Allah Ta’ala unquestioningly. Mufti Mahmood rahimahullah mentioned that if ever a person could have said that he had sacrificed all for Allah Ta’ala it was Ebrahim alaihis salaam. Yet he did not allow that to lead him to question Allah Ta’ala’s command.

Oct 2016 IMPACT Ebrahim alaihis salaam left his imprint for centuries to come. He shaped the dynamic of the world as we know it. In religion, the Jews, Christians and Muslims identify with the creed of Ebrahim alaihis salaam.

His impact is felt in the makeup of the Middle East as we know it. Aleppo in Syria comes from the Arabic Halab, a reference to Ebrahim alaihis salaam feeding milk to travellers in that area.

The Ka’bah attracts millions of people annually, and Muslims hearts are attracted to Makkah due to the dua of Ebrahim alaihis salaam. His impact is felt in the building of the Ka’bah by himself and his son Ismail alaihis salaam.

Arabs and Jews are both descended from this noble Prophet.

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WORLD NEWS

AFGHANISTAN - Taliban fighters are reported to have captured Kunduz city. Kunduz was briefly captured by the Taliban in September 2015 - the first time they had taken a major city - but government forces, backed by Nato, recaptured it. Taliban have raised their flag in a central square. (BBC, 3 Oct 2016) SYRIA - The M10 hospital has been hit three times in a week by Russian air strikes. The repeated attacks on hospitals in rebel-held Aleppo have drawn accusations of war crimes. The hospital had been hit by a "bunker-buster" bomb - designed to demolish below-ground facilities - dropped by Russian planes.

Russia intervened in Syria a year ago to prop up Bashar al-Assad's stumbling army. Russian air raids have killed 9,400 mainly civilians including hundreds of kids in one year.

Its air campaign has allowed government forces to reclaim territory from liberation groups and helps impose an inhumane siege on eastern Aleppo where some 250,000 civilians are now trapped. Syrian and Russian warplanes have carried out attacks that

have damaged hospitals and clinics in rebel-held parts of Syria, mostly in Aleppo. (AJ, 3 Oct 2016) EGYPT - Authorities at the notorious al-Aqrab (Scorpion) prison in Cairo have been abusing inmates in ways that may have led to their death.

Thousands are being held in the prison, mainly political prisoners and critics of the regime. Staff at Scorpion Prison beat inmates severely, isolate them in cramped 'discipline' cells, cut off access to families and lawyers, and interfere with medical treatment.

Inmates of al-Aqrab, which has been dubbed Egypt's Guantanamo by activists, are held in cells without beds, access to basic hygiene and medical treatment. At least six inmates have died in captivity.

Sisi, who led the takeover of the elected Muslim Brotherhood government in July 2013, sanctioned the arrest of thousands of activists. He declared the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organisation, with thousands of members facing death sentences or life imprisonment. Between July 2013 and May 2014, Egyptian authorities arrested or charged at least 41,000 people. (AJ, 28 Sep 2016) KASHMIR - Freedom fighters have attacked an Indian army camp in Indian-occupied Kashmir with gunfire and grenades, killing one border guard and wounding another. The camp is the local headquarters of a counter-insurgency military unit.

The Indian assault followed the deadliest attack on one of its bases in Kashmir in years. On 18 September, fighters entered an army base in the town of Uri and killed 18 soldiers. More than 80 Muslims have been killed in more than two months of protest against Indian occupation. (BBC, 2 Oct 2016) ď €

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The 'Winston Churchill note' enters circulation in the UK as currency.

Umar radhiallahu anhu wept and admonished himself, “The people are more knowledgeable than you, O Umar! O Allah make us from Your ‘few’ servants.”

He then sold the grain that was taken from them (hence they starved) to defeated European Nations at a profit. His remorse was captured in this statement: "It was their fault for breeding like rabbits".

If you look for the words “most people” in the Qur’an, you will find: “And however most people do not know” [7:187] “and most people do not show gratitude” [2:243] "And most people do not believe" [11: 17].

And if you look for “most of them”, you will find they are:  “defiantly disobedient" [5 :59];  “ignorant” [6:111]; and  “turning away” [21:24].

So be of the “few”, about whom Allah says: “And few of My servants are grateful.” [Saba:13] “But none had believed with him, except a few.” [11:40] “In the Gardens of Bliss: many from the past and a few from later generations.” (56:12-14) Ibn al-Qayyim rahimahullah said, “Go on the path of truth and do not feel lonely because there are few who take that path, and beware of the path of falsehood and do not be deceived by the vastness of the perishers.” [Kitab al-Zuhd - Ahmad bin Hanbal; and Musannaf of Ibn Abi Shaybah]

Honouring a man who starved 4 million Muslims and Hindus in Bengal to death - while he claimed they were citizens of the Empire, so technically under his care!

When a concerned Navy Admiral in India used some of the ships to ship grain to the starving from elsewhere, his administration had those ships taken away, stating words to the effect of: "If he has ships to send feeding the poor, they are clearly surplus to requirements!"

There was no leniency either. The British army would publicly cut the breasts off women whose families could no longer afford to pay the taxes as they were starving to death.

Many Muslims sold their daughters to prostitution houses as the only way of not seeing them die by starvation.

And they say our faith and cultures produce terrorists with an extremism problem. Maybe they need to look closer at their own elites and heroes.

-----For those who want to read about his crimes in India, read a devastating account called "Churchill's secret War": http://www.goodreads.com/book/ show/8890989-churchill-s-secret-war

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QURAN / HISTORY

Umar bin al-Khattab radhiallahu anhu passed by a man who was supplicating, “O Allah, make me from the few! O Allah make me from the few!” So ‘Umar radhiallahu anhu said to him, “Where did you get this dua from?”

The man said, “Allah in His Book says: ‘And few of My servants are grateful.’ [Saba:13]”

HISTORY Here are some notable man-made attacks on the Hajj pilgrims. History bears testimony that whoever attacks the Hajj is an enemy of the highest degree:

mah and killed 20,000 people. In 930, they sacked Makkah, massacred its population, and stole the Black Stone (it was returned 22 years later after a ransom was paid).

1. 1757 HAJJ CARAVAN RAID The 1757 Hajj caravan raid was the plunder and massacre of the Hajj caravan on its return to Damascus from Makkah Mukarramah by Bedouin of the Bani Saqr tribe. An estimated 20,000 pilgrims were either killed or died of hunger or thirst as a result of the raid.

Abu Tahir Sulayman al-Jannabi led the Qarmatians’ most notorious attack in 930 when he pillaged Makkah Mukarramah. The Qarmatian army set about massacring the pilgrims, taunting them with verses of the Quran as they did so. The bodies of the pilgrims were left to rot in the streets or thrown down the Well of Zamzam.

In 1917 Fawaz el Fayez, one of the leaders of Bani Saqr, had a secret meeting with T.E. Lawrence to conspire in bringing down the Muslim Khilafah.

On the first day of the Hajj they led a charge on pilgrims, riding their horses into Masjid alHaram and killing pilgrims praying around the Ka'bah. They killed some thirty thousand.

In 1933 Sheikh Mithqal Pasha al-Fayez, Chief of the Fayez clan of Beni Saqr, was a member of a delegation which met the President of the Zionist Organisation in Palestine.

4. 1186 CRUSADERS

2. 1502 VASCO DA GAMA On reaching India in October 1502, Gama's fleet set about capturing any Arab vessel he came across in Indian waters, most notoriously the Miri, a pilgrim ship from Makkah, whose passengers he had massacred in open water.

During his second voyage to Calicut, da Gama intercepted a ship of Muslim pilgrims at Madayi travelling from Calicut to Makkah.

Da Gama looted the ship with over 400 pilgrims on board including 50 women and kids, locked in the passengers and an ambassador from Egypt and burnt them to death.

3. 930 SHIA RAIDS In 906 the Shia Qarmatians ambushed a caravan of pilgrims heading for Makkah Mukarra-

Raynald of Châtillon was a French noble who joined the Crusades. He built a fleet of five ships which plundered the coast of the Red Sea, threatening the route of the Muslim pilgrims towards Makkah Mukarramah in 1183.

Part of his fleet made a plundering raid along the coasts, threatening the security of Makkah Mukarramah and Madinah Munawwarah.

In 1186 Raynald attacked a Hajj caravan travelling between Cairo and Damascus. He took all the merchants and their families prisoner as well as a large amount of booty and refused to receive envoys from Salahuddeen.

This led directly to the end of the truce. Salahuddeen sent troops to protect a later pilgrim caravan in 1187.

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www.shafiifiqh.com Q: Can we use miswak while fasting according to the Shafi madhab?

A: I t is makrūh to use the siwak while fasting, whether the fast is wajib like Ramadan or sunnah like Mondays and Thursdays. However, this ruling only applies from after zawāl (beginning of Zuhr) until maghrib. The reason for it being makrūh is the sahih hadith: The [changed] scent of the fasting person's mouth is more pleasant to Allah than the scent of musk.

The reason why it is makrūh only from after zawāl and not the entire day is due to a hadith narrated by imam Ahmad in which our beloved Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam mentioned five blessings that were bestowed upon this ummah during the month of Ramadhan, the second of which is that during the masā the scent of their mouths is more pleasant to Allah than the scent of musk. In Arabic, the time of masā begins after zawāl. In addition, in the beloved Prophet's sallallahu alaihi wa sallam saying that 'the scent is more pleasant than musk' is evidence that one should keep this scent, thus removing becomes makrūh.

Allah knows best.

Answered by Shaykh Omar Mohsin

Q: Does my wudu break when I touch my wife/ husband?

A: According to the official position of our madhhab, skin-to-skin contact with the opposite gender nullifies wudu, with the exception of one who is not your permanently unmarriageable kin (mahram). The one who Islamic Focus

touches is like the one who is touched.

[Touching] the young child who [according to custom] has not reached a stage of sexual interest, hair, teeth, and nails, does not nullify wudu, according to the more correct opinion.

[Minhaj al-Talibin, 1/10] To conclude, touching the skin of one’s spouse, if but a little, and whether intentionally or unintentionally, nullifies one’s wudu.

Answered by Shaykh Isa Husayn

Q: I am an Imam and when I read something in salah from the middle of a surah I read bismillah aloud and someone told me it is wrong. As followers of the Shafi'i Madhab we know that bismillah is part of every surah. The man said that if I start a surah then only must I read bismillah audibly. So am I wrong by reading bismillah loudly when in salah?

A: I n his hashiyah on Ghurar 1/308, Ibn Qasim cited from both Asnawi and Zarkashi, them relating from a nass, that it is recommended for one reciting the Qur’an to also recite the basmaLlah even if starting from somewhere within the surah. The detail of this being in or out of the prayer was not raised in the citation, the nass is general. In Tuhfat al-Muhtaj 2/33, Ibn Hajar’s passage, in which he discusses this point, is similarly general.

Even those commentating on Ibn Hajar have observed that these passages imply that there is no difference between one in or outside of the prayer; both may recite the basmaLlah. They point out that the author of Nihayat al-Muhtaj, Shams al-Din

al-Ramli, considered this to be the case only for one outside of the prayer. Some commentators on these works indicate to Ramli’s opinion being preferred to them. Insha’Allah, both ways have a basis in the School.

And Allah knows best.

Answered by: Shaykh Yaqub Abdurrahman

Q: Where I reside the majority of people follow Shafi'i fiqh. But they say women are not allowed to make itikaf in Ramadan at the masjid, but rather are only allowed to do itikaf in their homes. They are saying the wives of The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alaihi wa sallam did make itikaf in Ramadan only at their homes and not in the masjid. Is it true? What is the view of Imam Shafi'i rahimahullah on this?

A: According to the reliedupon opinion in the Shafi’i Madhhab, a woman may not perform ritual seclusion (ar: i’tikaf) at home, in fact it is is invalid. The mosque is the place of i’tikaf, and a woman’s home is not a mosque.

This is confirmed by the fact that it is permissible for her prayer area in the house to be re-designated for another purpose and also it is permissible for one in a state of major ritual impurity to be present in that space. Furthermore, the Prophet’s wives would perform seclusion in the mosque. If i’tikaf at home was valid, then they would have practiced on that. (Tuhfat al-Muhtaj 3/466 & Nihayat al-Muhtaj 3/217) Answered by: Shaykh Yaqub Abdurrahman

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QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

SHAFI Q & A

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

HANAFI Q & A www.askimam.org | www.askmufti.co.za | www.daruliftaa.net Q: Is there a vitue for spending on one’s family on the 10th of Muharram (Aashura)?

A: Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mas'ood (Radhiyallahu Anhu) who mentions that Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wa sallam said: "Allah Ta’ala will grant prosperity throughout the year to the person who spends freely on his family on the day of Aashura."

Apart from the virtue of fasting on the Day of Aashura, Nabi sallallahu alaihi wa sallam has also encouraged that one should be generous upon one’s family on this auspicious day. It should be additional and special than other days.

“Spending” in its literal sense is general and therefore this could be in cash or kind, foods, drink, or gifts.

And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best Q: Is it true that drinking of Zamzam water to be only consumed standing up?

A: I t is preferred to drink the water of Zam-zam whilst standing. One may drink whilst seated as well.

Q: I follow the Hanafi Mathab but near my work place the mosque is a Shafi mosque. Is it permissible to pray behind a Shafi Imam and is it okay to pray Asr at Shafi time?

A: There is a leew ay to perform Asr Salaah according to the Shafi Asr time.

Q: Is it permissible to use lipsticks which have Carmine? Is it permissible to use blushers or the eye Islamic Focus

shadows and eye liners that contain Carmine?

A: Carmine also called cochineal, cochineal extract, crimson lake or carmine lake, natural red 4, C.I. 75470, or E120, is a pigment of a bright-red colour obtained by crushing and boiling dried insects in water to extract the carminic acid. Carmine is used in the manufacture of artificial flowers, paints, crimson ink, rouge, and other cosmetics, and is routinely added to food products such as yogurt, candy and certain brands of juice.

In principle, it is impermissible to consume insects or its products. There is a strong possibility of intake of lipstick through licking etc., therefore, lipstick having carmine is not permissible.

The external use of products containing carmine is permissible. i.e. eye shadows and eye liners.

And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best Q: Can I name my daughter Ieman?

A: I eman means to bring faith (In Allah Ta’ala and His Rasul sallallahu alaihi wa sallam). Ieman is a suitable name.

Q: Will one sheep suffice on behalf of a family for Qurbani?

A: According to the view of the Shafi, Maliki and Hanbali Madhabs one Qurbani will be sufficient for the entire household.

According to the Hanafi madhab, one Qurbani (sheep or share in cattle, camel) will suffice on behalf of one individual. A single Qurbani would not suffice for the en-

tire family. If other members of the family possesses the Nisaab, then a separate Qurbani will be Wajib upon them also.

We are adherents of the Hanafi Madhab and every Muqallid (follower) is bound to follow the rulings of their Madhab, and to tolerate the rulings of other Madhabs.

Q: Is tourism for fun or relaxation allowed?

A: Allah Ta’ala states in the Quran: Say (Oh Muhammad), "Travel the earth, and see what was the fate of those who belied (the prophets)!' (6:11) Another verse states: So, do they not look at the camels how they are created, and at the sky, how it is raised high, and at the mountains, how they are installed, and at the earth, how it is spread out?

(88:17-21) In explaining the above verses, Imam Razi Rahmatullahi Alayh states: It is as if it is being said: travel for the sake of seeing (and taking heed), and do not travel heedlessly. As for the verse "Travel on earth, and see” so this refers to the permissibility of travelling in the world for business and other benefits and making necessary pondering on the effects of those who were destroyed.

It is clear from the above that travelling for business or other benefits (relaxation etc.) is permissible. However, in doing so one should focus on the manifestations of Allah’s power through His creation and take heed from the ruins of the destroyed nations. 

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There was a well in Madinah belonging to a Jew. It was the only source of water in that part, and the Jew charged Muslims exorbitant amounts for water. Uthman radhiallahu anhu offered to buy the well, but the Jew refused.

Uthman radhiallahu anhu then proposed to buy half the well, with an agreement that each would fetch on alternate days.

Uthman radhiallahu anhu opened the well allowing people to fetch as they wanted. The people would fetch two days' supply on his day and ignore the Jew's day. The Jew offered the other half, which Uthman radhiallahu anhu bought for 20,000 dirhams.

The well was kept for the free use of Muslims, up to and after the death of Uthman radhiallahu anhu but the story does not end yet.

During the Ummayyad dynasty, the well and surrounding ground were kept for free use by Muslims. Date palms grew on the grounds.

The dates were harvested and given in charity in the name of Uthman radhiallahu anhu. This continued till the Saudi period.

The decision was made to organise it into a modern plantation. The money was shared into two parts, half given in charity, the other half reinvested. This plan is still being carried out. A bank account exists in the name of Uthman radhiallahu anhu, from which half of all monies are reinvested, while the other half is still being given in charity. Out of this, an amount was invested into purchasing land around the Masjid Nabawi. This was developed into a hotel; half the income is also given as charity, while half is reinvested.

Currently, disbursements from this charity, started off by Uthman radhiallahu anhu is upwards of R150 million monthly.

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INTERNET / INSPIRATION

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INSPIRATION / CURRENT

Modern racehorses are thoroughbreds, a term referring chiefly to a breed specifically developed for speed, stamina and athleticism.

All thoroughbreds racing in the world today somewhere around half a million animals - can trace their bloodline back to three stallions imported into England from the Middle East between the 1680s and 1729: the Byerly Turk (of unknown origin), the Darley Arabian (from Aleppo in Syria) and the Godolphin Arabian (foaled in Yemen).

As New Scientist reported in 2005, 95 percent of racehorses active today hold genetic material that can be traced back to the Darley Arabian alone. [courtesy: AramcoWorld, July August 2016, pg 7] The history of the Arab horse is itself fascinating. But look at the life lessons from this portion of their history. The dividends of importing the three horses are being seen some 300 years later.

1. Plan long term. Not only invest in immediate good deeds, but also look at laying the foundation for generations to practice on such. This also accrues to one's book of deeds on the day of Judgement.

2. Don't always look for immediate benefits. I n fact, the best actions reap benefits that only manifest decades later. Plan with an eye to the future.

3. Small actions, big punches. Only three horses were needed to establish an entire breed of half a million strong currently. Don't give up with good even if it appears insignificant.

The Iranian Republic is far from Islamic as its title would suggest. In fact, it is Shia and more than that, borrows festivals and symbols from Zoroastrianism, the pagan religion of Persia before Islam.

Festivals Throughout the year, festivities are celebrated such as the Iranian New Year or Nowruz, Mehregan, and Chaharshanbe Suri. These are remnants of Zoroastrian traditions.

Icons From the start of the 20th century, the Farvahar icon, a pagan icon of Zoroastrianism, found itself in public places and became a known icon amongst all Iranians. This icon was not removed by the "Islamic" revolution.

Even the calendar is based on old Iranian ones and is not modelled on the Hijri calendar.

Holidays The public holidays of the "Islamic" Republic also reflect the pre Islamic culture with a merry mix of pre Islamic Persian festivals, days of saints or Imams as they like to term it, and three Eids. Yes, three. Two they share with Ahlus Sunnah and one is an "Eid" that was never heard of in early Islam: Eid al Ghadeer.

Blasphemy With the notable exception of modern-day Iran, depictions of Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wa sallam were rare, never numerous in any community or era throughout Islamic history, and appeared almost exclusively in the private medium of Persian (Iranian) and other miniature book illustration.

While Sunni Muslims have always explicitly prohibited the depiction of the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam on film, contemporary Shia scholars say that it is permissible to depict him, even in television or movies.

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As a Shia approaches death, he needs to pledge allegiance to the Imams. The following is from the work of contemporary Shia cleric Sistani: Death's Approach "When death approaches it is recommended to say the declaration of faith in which you reconfirm your belief in Allah, Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wa sallam, the twelve Imams, the Qu’ran, and the Day of Judgement.

This may be done as follows: I have accepted Allah as the Lord, Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wa sallam as the Prophet, Islam as the religion, the Qur’an as the Book [of God], the Ka’bah as the qiblah.

And [I accept Ali as the waliy [of Allah and [my Imam; and Hassan, Hussein, Ali ibn Hussein, Muhammad ibn Ali, Jafar ibn Muhammad, Musa ibn Jafar, Ali ibn Musa, Muhammad ibn Ali, Ali ibn Muhammad, Hassan ibn Ali, and al-Hujat ibn al-Hassan as Imams, leaders and guides – I declare my love for them and declare my disassociation with their enemies."

The Twigs And then there's something that you as a Muslim might never have heard of that should be placed in your shroud: "It is Mustahab to place two fresh green twigs (called Jareedatain) with the dead person. It is also recommended that the Jareedatain be inscribed with Shahadah and the names of the infallible Imams."

Muslim and Shia; worlds apart in life and death.

1. Eagles fly alone and at high altitudes.

They don't fly with sparrows, ravens, and other small birds.

LESSON: Stay aw ay from narrow -minded people, those that bring you down. Eagle flies with Eagles. Keep good company.

2. Eagles have an accurate vision. They have the ability to focus on something as far as 5km away. No matter the obstacles, the eagle will not move his focus from the prey until he grabs it.

LESSON: Have a vision and remain focused no matter what the obstacles and you will succeed.

3. Eagles do not eat dead things. They feed only on fresh prey.

LESSON: Do not rely on your past success, keep looking for new frontiers to conquer. Leave your past where it belongs, in the past.

4. Eagles love the storm. W hen clouds gather, the eagle gets excited, the eagle uses the storms wind to lift itself higher. Once it finds the wind of the storm, the eagle uses the raging storm to lift itself above the clouds.

This gives the eagle an opportunity to glide and rest its wings. In the meantime, all the other birds hide in the branches and leaves of the tree.

LESSON: Face your challenges head on knowing that these will make you emerge stronger and better than you were. We can use the storms of life to rise to greater heights. Achievers are not afraid to rise to greater heights. Achievers are not afraid of challenges, rather they relish them and use them profitably.

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CURRENT / INSPIRATION

As a Muslim approaches death, his attention turns to Allah.

HISTORY / INSPIRATION

The light of Allah Ta’ala which was cast on Mount Toor causing the mountain to crumble and Hazrat Moosa alaihis salaam to fall unconscious. When he regained consciousness and returned from the mountain, then for some days his face still had such a glow that whosoever looked at his face directly became dazzled and turned blind. He therefore prayed to Allah Ta’ala that He should grant him such a screen over the light on his face that people’s eyes may be saved from damage.

Allah Ta’ala ordered him to cover His face with a part of that blanket with which he covered himself on Mount Toor and which was able to bear the intensity of that light on that mountain. Nabi Moosa alaihis salaam made a face covering from the blanket and prohibited the people from staring at his face without this veil. The piece of blanket did the job which doors and walls could not do.

Hazrat Safoora, the wife of Nabi Moosa alaihis salaam and the daughter of Nabi Shuaib alaihis salaam, was a great lover of Allah Ta'ala. She became restless and impatient of this veil. Her love became so overwhelming that she looked directly at the face of Nabi Moosa alaihis salaam with one eye. Immediately her sight of that eye was lost. Still she could not have patience. She opened her other eye and that one also lost its sight.

At that time a woman asked Safoora: 'Have you any sorrow at your eyes losing their sight?' She replied: 'My great sorrow is this that I do not have a hundred or a thousand eyes. If I had, I would sacrifice them all in order to see the light of Nabi Moosa alaihis salaam's face.'

Allah so approved of this reply of Safoora and her great love for Him that she was granted her eyesight once again.

Ma’aarif e Mathnawi

Islamic Focus

A small story which beautifully illustrates that what you sow, you reap.

"Once upon a time there was a small time businessman from a small village who used to sell butter in the nearby town. A big shop owner in the town was his regular customer.

The villager used to deliver every month the shop owner the required butter in 1 kilogram blocks and in turn he used to get grocery items like sugar, pulses etc from the big shop owner.

Once the shop owner decided to weigh the butter and to his surprise every block of butter weighed 900 grams instead of 1 kilogram.

Next month when the villager came to supply butter, the shop owner was very angry at him and told to leave the shop, to this the villager replied him politely: "Sir, I am a very poor villager, I don't have enough money to even buy the required weights for weighing the butter. I usually put the 1 kilogram sugar you give me on one side of the weighing scale and weigh butter on another side" This beautifully illustrates that what we give to others comes back to us. As you treat others, so will you be treated. (proverb)

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Islamic Focus

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FINAL FOCUS

Mansoor Youth is a volunteer organisation that forms the youth wing of Masjid Mansoor in Port Elizabeth. The organisation grew out of a need to cater for youth activities at the Masjid.

Established in August 2015, the organisation owes much to the partnership with Bay Youth Adventures.

Activities  My Masjid - My Space Soccer tournaments which incorporate soccer, meals, Zikr, spiritual talks, Salaah and prizes to link kids to the Masjid. Three were held so far and included guest speakers like Moulana Ebrahim Bham.  Promotion of the National Sahaba Competition in Port Elizabeth.  Helping with coordination of girls activities under the banner of My Madressa - My Space.  Paintball team building for Madressa Mansoor boys.  Young Adults Seminar with NMMU MSA.  Fathers and Sons events which included Search for Moon for Ramadan and Eid.  Itikaf Night in Ramadan at Masjid Mansoor.  Graveyard Tour. Practical burial course at the cemetery.

Vision  To provide facilities for youth to play and learn in a secure environment connected to the Masjid.  Hosting a variety of events to stimulate growing minds.  Establishing a sense of belonging and a database for local youth.  Building an indoor sport/recreational centre.

Contact: 41 Calendula Drive, Malabar +27 82 883 6601 Twitter: @MansoorYouth Facebook: MansoorYouth

Islamic Focus

One day a school teacher wrote on the board the following: 9×1=7 9×2=18 9×3=27 9×4=36 9×5=45 9×6=54 9×7=63 9×8=72 9×9=81 9×10=90 When he was done, he looked at the students and they were all laughing at him, because of the first equation which was wrong, and then the teacher said the following, "I wrote that first one wrong on purpose, because I wanted you to learn something important. This was for you to know how the world out there will treat you.

You can see that I wrote RIGHT 9 times, but none of you congratulated me for it; you all laughed and criticized me because of one wrong thing I did. So this is the lesson...: 'The world will seldom appreciate the good you do a million times, but will criticize the one wrong thing you do... ...But don't get discouraged, always rise above all the laughter and criticism. Stay strong.”

The razor blade is sharp but can't cut a tree; the axe is strong but can't cut the hair.

Lesson: Everyone is important according to his/her unique purpose.

Never look down on anyone unless you are admiring their shoes.

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

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