Islamic Focus Issue 109

P9 Sheikh Booley

1 1 1 0 0 9

P8 Gatsby

222 3 - 11 10

P7 Events

I S SN

P4 Internment

9 7 7 2 2 2 3

P3 Night Prayer

P10 Environment Bukhara Publications/Tel: 078 672 7797/Fax: 086 651 2125 Email: islamicfocus@gmail.com/Korsten/Port Elizabeth

Lessons from the two of the greatest women ever. These amazing women are prime examples achieving the balance of serving Allah and doing the daily tasks of this world: KHADIJAH Khadijah , the wife of the Prophet , was an unrivalled embodiment of faith, productivity and unconditional support. She successfully managed her father’s business interests but did not waste this wealth on materialistic things. She used to feed and clothe the poor, assist her relatives financially, and provide for the marriage of those of her kin who had no means to marry. She was a caring wife who was the first to believe in and support the Prophet .

Of Khadijah , the Prophet said: ‘The best of the

Islamic Focus

Issue 109

Igniting the Spirit of Islam Jan 2013

world’s women is Mariam (in her lifetime), and the best of the world’s women is Khadijah (in her lifetime).’ [Bukhari] FATIMAH Fatimah , the daughter of the Prophet , is also a legendary beacon of productivity and balance: a fervent worshipper of Allah who was deeply committed to her family. She was a loyal wife, an excellent daughter as well as a keen helper of the poor and needy. She would often give all the food she had to those in need even if she herself remained hungry. Her life with Ali was simple and frugal, yet she remained content with this and was still able to help the poor.

Additionally, Fatimah

would often bring her two sons to see their grandfather who was exceedingly fond of them. Despite the hard work

and time she had to put into her daily chores, she never forgot the importance of family bonding and prioritized it in her life. Her upbringing of her children saw them turn out to be pillars of the Muslim society and pious worshippers of Allah.

Fatimah ’s closeness to the Prophet and the greatness of his love for her shines clearly in his statement: ‘Fatimah is a part of me, and he who makes her angry, makes me angry.’ [Bukhari] The Muslim woman plays a crucial role in nurturing people to get to paradise as well as trying to get to Paradise herself. She balances the daily demands of life with pleasing Allah.

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WORLD NEWS

NIGERIA - Army deployed to combat Islamist fighters in the border territories. President declared a state of emergency in three north-eastern states after a series of deadly attacks. The Boko Haram Islamist group has seized control of parts of the north-east. (BBC, 15 May) SYRIA - Freedom fighters launched a massive assault on a prison in Aleppo. 80,000 killed in war against Bashar Assad's Iranian and Hezbollahbacked Shia soldiers. (BBC, 15 May) BANGLADESH - Hundreds of thousands evacuated from areas threatened by Cyclone Mahasen. Tens of thousands of Rohingya Muslims living in camps in low-lying areas of Burma's Rakhine state are feared to be at risk. 50 Rohingya Muslims drowned when boats evacuating them from the path of the cyclone capsized off western Burma. (BBC, 15 May) TUNISIA - 2,000 Tunisian youth are fighting alongside Islamist fighters in Syria. The spirit of Jihad has picked up steam in several Arab countries following the Syria revolution. Most of those who return to Tunisia are imprisoned for questioning despite them fighting against a tyrannical regime. Around 5,000 foreign Muslim fighters are aiding Syrian freedom fighters. (BBC, 15 May) UK - Cardinal Keith O'Brien, Britain's most senior Roman Catholic cleric is to leave Scotland for several months after admitting improper sexual conduct, the latest in a decades-long sexual abuse by Christian clergy of kids and others. (BBC, 15 May) USA - Four Muslims given prison sentences in Min-

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nesota in connection with the recruitment of fighters for Somali Islamist group Al Shabab. (BBC, 14 May) PALESTINE - International Criminal Court launched inquiry into an Israeli raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla which left 9 Turkish activists dead. This follows a request from the Comoros islands. A UN inquiry in 2011 found the Israeli commandos' actions were ‘excessive and unreasonable’. The ICC investigates and tries cases of war but does not have jurisdiction over Israel as it is stands outside any international treaty advocating just rights. (BBC, 14 May) NIGERIA - 53 killed and 13 villages burnt in central Benue state, in a conflict caused by a long-running dispute over land ownership between cattle herders and farmers. People from the Fulani community confirm raided the rival Agatus after several hundred of their cattle were stolen. (BBC, 15 May) BANGLADESH - Walmart, the world's largest retailer, refuses to join an accord with other retailers to ensure safety for Bangladesh’s garment industry which supplies cheap clothes to well-known retail stores. More than 1,100 people died when a garment building collapsed on 24 April. (BBC, 15 May) PALESTINE - Jewish PM Netanyahu installed a $127,000 special bedroom on a plane for a 5 and a half hour trip to the UK. The expense met with anger in Israel, which is facing austerity measures.

(BBC, 15 May) TURKEY - Bombs exploded in the town of Reyhanli on the Syrian border killing 46. Shia agents of the Assad government planned. (BBC, 15 May)

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Ordinary Man: Salahudeen was no great scholar, warrior or nobleman by birth. He grew up in ‘safe zones’. What he achieved was nurtured through hard work, sincerity and piety throughout his life.

Product of Madressa System: He attended the Madressas instituted by his predecessors which nurtured within their students a love for Aqsa and rekindled their spirit of Jihad.

Lover of Ulama: Throughout his life, the men that Salahudeen respected the most were the Ulama. Many of his closest confidants were Ulama too.

Upholding Correct Beliefs: Salahudeen established Sunni Madressas across Egypt. By the time the Fatimid Shia leader of Egypt was about to pass away, Salahudeen issued a proclamation that Egypt was once again Sunni, after long Shia rule.

Generous: Treasurers would not reveal to him the true extent of their revenues, fearing that Salahudeen would spent it all.

Salaah with Jamaat: Bahauddin, confidant and biographer of Salahudeen reveals that he never ever missed Salaah in congregation.

Even on his deathbed when he could hardly walk, he made arrangements for a Imam to come and lead him in Salaah so that he could still reap the rewards of congregation.

Adapted from article by Ebrahim Moosa of Cii

Constant. ‘Do not ever stop praying the night prayer (Tahajjud). The Prophet never ceased praying it. When he was sick or weak, he prayed sitting.’ [Bukhari] Benefits. ‘You should pray the night prayer, for it is the habit of the righteous people who came before you, and it will bring you closer to your Lord, expiate for bad deeds, prevent sin, and expel disease from the body.’ [Tirmidhi] Goodness. The Prophet said to Mu'adh Ibn Jabal : ‘May I show you the gates of goodness?' (they are), a) Fasting is screen from Hell, b) Charity extinguishes sins, as water extinguishes fire, c) Standing in prayer by a slave of Allah during the last third part of a night.’ [Abu Dawood] Best Prayer. ‘The best of prayer after those prescribed (i.e. obligatory prayer) is that in the depth of night.’ [Muslim] Mercy. ‘May Allah have mercy on a man who wakes up at night, prays, and wakes his wife to pray; and if she refuses, he sprinkles water on her face. And may Allah have mercy on a woman who wakes up at night, prays, and wakes her husband to pray; and if he refuses, she sprinkles water on his face.’ [Abu Dawood] Good Deeds. ‘Whoever prays the night prayer reciting 10 verses, he will not be recorded among the negligent. Whoever prays the night prayer reciting 100 verses, he will be recorded among the devout. And whoever prays the night prayer reciting 1,000 verses, he will be recorded among those with a multitude of good deeds. [Abu Dawood]

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SOCIAL / RELAXATION

Part 1 of lessons from the hero of Islam and liberator of Aqsa, Salahudeen Ayyubi rahimahullah:

HISTORY / FUTURE

American use of illegal renditions, secret prisons and concentration camps like Guantanamo to illegally detain and torture Muslims kidnapped in the ‘war on terror’ is an old US tactic. It is a crime against humanity and was practiced by the US in World War II mainly against Japanese.

120,000 Japanese Americans including infants, the elderly and mentally ill were incarcerated in concentration camps in 1942. 62% were American citizens. Discrimination against Japanese started with laws like the 1905 California law which outlawed marriages between Caucasians and ‘Mongolians’, an umbrella term used to refer to the Japanese and other East Asias. In 1906, the San Francisco Board of Education separated Japanese students from Caucasian students. 1939-1941, the FBI compiled an index on citizens, enemy aliens and foreign nationals, citing national security, like today’s ‘terror lists’. US lawmakers and politicians referred to Japanese openly as dangerous. Japanese assets were frozen, curfews declared for persons of Japanese ancestry.

State politicians supported the camps.

120,000 people . Even recently US intellectuals have said that Japanese American internment was ‘a good idea’ which offers ‘lessons for today’ in the war on terror. Amazingly 20,000 Japanese American men and women served in the US Army in World War II. In 1945 the internees were freed and given a measly $25 and a train ticket to their former homes. Japanese lost an estimated $100 million in assets. The camps were initially called concentration camps and later changed to internment camps like today’s flowery terminology used to disguise abuses.

Some ways to raise happy and innovative kids:

1. Combine structured/informal learning.

Introduce adequate structure in your kids’ life especially for homework and reading the Qur’an or compulsory acts of Islam.

Get some other children together. If there is an open space for them, it is much better.

However, if live in unsafe areas, set up an informal play scheme.

2. Encourage entrepreneurial spirit Give small amount of capital to your children for making and selling things like special occasion cards and flowers for Eid. But don’t go over the top.

3. Story books are friends Adopt story telling as a way of explaining and learning typically ‘boring’ subjects. Storytelling is a powerful method of learning. If you tell kids that World War 2 was started by a guy called Hitler, they’ll fall asleep. But try saying the war was started by a mustached guy who used to be bullied at school and lived in a place where kids disappeared (e.g.) and watch facial transformation.

Visit libraries and book shops despite the age of digital books.

Teach them to respect books and treat them with care.

4. Find out their learning barriers early Find out your children’s learning styles early. How do they learn? Are they auditory, visual, kinesthetic or logical learners?

You can strengthen their learning.

Don’t force your own learning style on your children.

Adapted from article by S Shukor

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From various Ulama

www.shafiifiqh.com Q: How is this lady’s inheritance distributed: She passed away without leaving any descendant.

But left a husband, father, one brother, and four sisters (all from same parents)?

A: Half would go to the husband and half to the father.

Q: It is widely accepted that only the Hanafi school of thought allows for the payment of zakah in money. So is it considered swopping Mathabs without a valid reason if a person following the Shafi Mathab pays his zakat ul fitrah with money?

A: In his al-Fatawa alFiqhiyyah al-Kubra 2:37 Ibn Hajar was asked regarding a Shafi who follows the Hanafis on an issue related to zakah, like giving commodities as cash and limiting the distribution to one or two categories while others are available. Is that permissible or not and from which book? He replied, ‘Yes, it is permissible for him to do that as stated [by our authorities] in the summarized works as well as in the reference works.’

Q: Is there a time limit on Aqiqah? Can one slaughter a cow for Aqiqah?

If so, can one share the slaughter between children?

A: The aqiqah is sunnah. The child is bonded by its aqiqah, slaughter for it on the seventh day, shave its head, and give a name.’ (Ahmed) Its time begins at birth, and if done before birth it does not suffice.

The preferred time is the seventh day. The day of birth is counted from the seven, and if a baby is born at night then the next day is the first of the seven. According to the Shafis, the aqiqah does not expire; and it should not be delayed until then. If it would be delayed that long, the father’s duty to perform it falls away. The child then has the option to perform it for itself.

In Kifayat al-Akhyar, it is stated that it is best it not go past the duration of nifas (bleeding after childbirth) and then if it’s not done then, for it to not go past the duration of breastfeeding; and then that if not done then, then to not go past seven years; and then that if not done then, then to not go until puberty. And if it does, then the father’s duty falls away.

In Rawdah, Imam Nawawi related from Bushanji that if the aqiqah is not performed on the seventh, then on the fourteenth, and if not, then the twenty-first. In Sharh al-Sunnah, Baghawi related this from Aishah .

It seems like a boy would require two shares if slaughtering a cow. Preferring a cow or camel is also mentioned in Rawdah.

What suffices for aqiqah is the same as that which suffices for udhiyah (qurbani).

The least of which is one complete sheep or goat or a seventh from a cow or camel. It is permissible to share a cow, for example, between children or with a group slaughtering for different reasons such as Aqiqah or for meat (Sharh alMuhadhdhab).

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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: I received a message on my mobile which stated that once our Prophet was invited at someone's home. He went there but returned without having the meal.

Someone asked him the reason for not eating the food and he replied that the women in that home do not cover their head while kneading the dough and making the loaves of bread so that food is makrooh (disliked). Is this narration authentic?

And does uncovering the head while cooking make the food makrooh?

A: Food does not become Makrooh (disliked) to consume due to it being cooked by someone whose hair was uncovered.

We have not come across such a narration. Kindly find out the source from the one who sent you the message.

Then we will be in a position to comment.

Q: Can Bio Ethanol fuel based fireplaces be used in our homes? They are flueless fires, meaning they do not require ventilation or a flue (like chimney) to remove harmful gasses. The bi-products are Carbon-dioxide and water only. The fuel is generally in liquid form or gel.

A: It is permissible to use bio ethanol fuel based fireplaces.

Q: I am running a franchise pizza business in Canada; and sometime we use pork food items in making pizza. I am wonIslamic Focus

dering if this business is Halal or Haram for me even if I don't sell it to Muslims?

A: In principle sale of any item, which is not considered ‘wealth’ according to Islamic law, is impermissible. Examples of these items include things like wine, pork and haram food etc. Hence, selling of Pizza and other products containing pork is not permissible and income from such a sale will be impermissible as well. This ruling is regardless of who you sell these products to.

We advise you to have negotiations with the franchise owner to allow you to revise the menu for your store in order to reflect only halal entries. If this is not possible, then we advise you to look for an alternative mode of business for yourself.

Q: Can a pregnant woman go and see a coma patient and can a pregnant woman visit the graveyard?

A: It is permissible for a woman to meet a coma patient on condition that he is her mahram (nonmarriageable relative).

It is permissible for a woman to visit the graveyard on condition she strictly adheres to the laws of hijab. If a woman fails to adhere to the laws of hijab or if any other laws of Islam are violated e.g. intermingling of the sexes, excessive crying, wailing etc., then it is impermissible.

Q: I am an MBBS doctor.

If I prescribe a drug to my patient and order him to do blood examination, ECG, X-Ray, Ultrasonography, etc, then the company and laboratory give us some commission) and gift. They tell us that its our right to take the commission and gift as it is provided to us according to their rules and regulation. Is this permissible?

A: It is permissible for you to receive commission from companies and laboratories for prescribing their drugs and facilities to your patients. However, in doing so, you should have the best interests of your patients at heart.

Q: Can we eat food items labeled as 100% vegetarian? What if they have animal fat derivatives?

A: Each country may have different laws with regards to labeling of food items as vegetarian. We would ask you to contact your Ministry of Food Processing Industries and inquire their laws relating to 100% vegetarian labels on food items.

Regardless of the guidelines, if you perceive some ingredient from animal origin, then abstain from the product until clarifying with the company in question. If it indeed is an animal derivative in a vegetarian labeled product, then report it to the appropriate offices and inform Muslims to abstain from that product as well.

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http://www.leedsic.com/ - Leeds Is-

lamic Center, UK http://halaalfusion.co.za/ - Halaal life-

style website and magazine http://www.quranproject.org/ - Pro-

ject to distribute free Qurans http://emam.xanga.com/ - Moulana

Nazim Mangera, USA

Two beggars knocked on the door asking for bread. One beggar was given a loaf and sent away. The other was kept waiting and waiting.

At length, the second beggar became concerned: "Why am I being denied? What is so lacking in me that the other one was favoured over me?" he asked himself.

Unknown to the beggar, a fresh loaf was being baked for him inside the house.

Let's remember that Allah's timing is always perfect. He will give us what He wants at the best time for us. Never lose patience.

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Muslim homeschooling blog http://www.jamemasjid.co.uk/ - Jame

Masjid, Leicester, UK http://www.coachamal.com/ - Super

Muslimah Project http://www.khalilcenter.com/ - Com-

munity mental wellbeing centre in USA http://www.idcphalal.com/ - Islamic

Dawah Council of the Philippines Halaal http://www.channelofislam.com/ -

Radio Seerah of Moulana Lajpuri

May 25: Marriage & Spirituality Seminar. Al Azhar School with Imam Abdul Moutie Saban.

R150 pp (R250 for couples) incl. lunch. 10am12:30pm/2-5pm. Tel: 0844572222 June Mufti Abdool Kader Hoosen: 6: Salt Lake after Esha | 7: Juma Musjid Taqwa 6: Moulana Ebrahim Bham: Juma at Mansoor | Lecture at Mansoor after Esha 23: 15th Shabaan. Moulana Mumtazul Haq (TBC)

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INTERNET / INSPIRATION

Enrich your web experience. Not all content on all sites Islamic-compliant. Consult Ulama.

SOCIAL / HISTORY

In the past, Muslims captured by enemy forces had governments to fight for their freedom and rights.

Today, that is non existent. It still remains praiseworthy to work on various levels for the freedom of these political prisoners.

Ibn Qudamah Al-Hanbali said (Al-Mughni 9/228): It is obligatory to pay the ransom money for the Muslim prisoners, if it is possible.

The Prophet said: Feed the hungry, visit the sick and free the prisoner.

The Prophet said: Indeed it is obligatory upon the Muslims to free their captives or to pay their ransoms.

Al-Qurtubi (2/26) said: Our scholars have said that ransoming the prisoners with money is wajib (obligatory), even if one dirham does not remain in the Islamic Treasury.

Abu Bakr Al-Jassas (Ahkam Al-Quran 1/58) said: The ransoming of Muslim prisoners is one of the obligatory deeds that has been established upon us.

Ibn Hajar Al-Haithami said (Tuhfah Al-Muhtaj 9/237) said: If the enemy captures a single Muslim, it becomes wajib (obligatory) on every one who has the ability, to rush to their rescue.

Al-Izz bin Abdus-Salam said (Pg 97 Ahkam AlJihad wa Fadailihi): Rescuing Muslim prisoners from the hands of the disbelievers is one of the best means of coming close to Allah.

From: Cageprisoners.com

A Gatsby is a South African style of deli sandwich very similar in content and method of preparation as a hoagie in the United States.

It is mostly popular in the Western Cape province.

Gatsbies usually consist of long bread rolls cut lengthwise and opened up to form a sort of cradle which is filled with various fillings.

While the choice of filling in a Gatsby varies widely depending on customer preference and vendor, one standard item is usually hot chips i.e. vinegary French fries known as slap chips.

Different varieties of Gatsbys include masala steak, chicken, polony, Vienna sausage, calamari, fish, and chargrilled steak.

Gatsbies originated in the Cape Flats area of Cape Town, where people would often buy large rolls and fill them with whatever leftovers they had, and split them four ways. This practice has carried on in modern times, with gatsbies being bought in full, half or quarter sizes.

A Muslim, Rashaad Pandy of the fish-and-chips shop Super Fisheries, in the Athlone area of Cape Town, claims to have invented it one night in 1976 when, trying to feed some day laborers he had hired, he found that he had sold out of fish. So he filled a round Portuguese loaf with what he had: chips, fried bologna and achar. One man exclaimed, ‘This is fantastic! A Gatsby smash!’ (Smash was local slang for a tasty dish.) The film, the Great Gatsby had recently played to crowds at the Athlone Bioscope.

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In 1946 he was introduced to his teacher Sayed Abdurrahmaan Al-Maliki, one of the foremost Hifz teachers in Arabia. He played an important role in Sheikh Booley’s learning.

On completion of his studies he became the first Capetonian to lead Taraweeh in the Haram in Makkah.

On his return from Makkah in 1951 he started a Madrasah for the next 4 years lead Taraweeh in Tongaat, Natal. In 1956 he was appointed as Imam of the Grey Street Mosque in Durban where he started his first Hifz School.

In five years in Durban he taught 40 boys and girls Hifz.

In light of the increasing usage of social media, we bring you Twitter accounts of interest to Muslims. Not all content might be Islamiccompliant:

@DUZakariyya: Darul Uloom Zakariyya @HilaalSa: Maankykers @ShaykhZahir: Shaykh Zahir Teacher at As-Suffa Institute.

Mahmood.

@darul_iftaa: Darul Iftaa. Headed by Mufti Ebrahim Desai @Daily_Death: DailyDeathReminder @ShortHadiths: tweets/pictures

Sharing short hadiths by

@muslimasoasis: Muslimas Oasis

Returning to Cape Town in 1961 he formed the Jameyyatul Qurraa Quranic Institute. He was a well-known figure locally and internationally for producing Hifz students.

@hanafifiqh: Hanafi Fiqh Channel

He brought many famous Qurraa like Sheikh Abdul Basit and Dr Ahmad Na-inaa’ to South Africa.

@R_A_I_Nman: Abie Dawjee. Research & Information Network (RAIN) provides information, analysis, views frequently ignored by other media

Sheikh Yusuf Booley lead Taraweeh for 50 years continuously and his Hifz students are spread across South Africa. He passed away in 2010 on a Friday.

@MuslimPages: South Africa's Muslim Business & Services Directory

@a_essack: Qari Ayoob Essack, teacher at Darul Uloom Zakariyya

senior

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BIOGRAPHY / TWITTER

Sheikh Yusuf Booley was born in 1930 in District Six, Cape Town. He was born to Ahmad and Rabia Booley. At the age of 15 it was decided that he follow a career and study to become a wood-carver. It was during this time he went to do Quranic studies in Makkah.

HISTORY / COMPARITIVE

The Islamic conquest of Persia (637–651) started Umar radhiallahu anhu’s reign and led to the end of the Sassanid Empire and the eventual decline of the Zoroastrian religion.

Close to 100% of the population was Muslims by the end of 11th century. Islam has been the official religion of Iran since then. Iran became a Shia republic after the revolution of 1979.

When Islam was introduced to Iranians, the nobility and city-dwellers were the first to convert. Islam spread more slowly among the peasantry. By the late 11th century, the majority of Persians had become Muslim.

The Safavid dynasty made Shiasm the official state religion in the 16th century by aggressively attacking Sunnis and their Ulama. Official estimates say Sunnis are 10% of the population but other sources place it at 20%.

Many important Muslim scholars were Persian or lived in Iran including Hadith collectors like Imam Bukhari, Imam Muslim, etc.

The constitution says the official religion of Iran is Shiasm. It recognizes Zoroastrian, Jewish, and Christian Iranians as religious minorities but does not allow Sunni mosques. Sunnis face wide-spread discrimination in following Islam. They have no Musjid in the capital for Juma Salaah, Sunni scholars are prohibited from gathering together and many Sunni Ulama are detained, tortured or killed. There are around 48,983 Musjids in the country.

‘The world is green and beautiful and God has appointed you as His stewards over it. He sees how you acquit yourselves…’ (Muslim) Everything on Earth: animals, rain, plants, oceans, stars, sun, moon, was created for the benefit of humans. With these favours comes the role of guardianship. ‘He it is Who has placed you as viceroys of the earth and has exalted some of you in rank above others, that He may try you by (the test of) that which He has given you.’ (6:165) Two steps to help us fulfill our responsibility to protect the Earth: 1. Buy less, waste less. The Quran describes our materialistic society: ‘The mutual rivalry for piling up (the good things of this world) diverts you (from the more serious things) until you visit the graves’ (102:1-2).

We are warned not to take more than our share of the world’s resources: ‘…Do not squander (your wealth) wastefully. Surely the squanderers are the fellows of the Devils.’ (17:26) The words of the Prophet are a beautiful example of how to live: ‘Be in the world as if you were a stranger or a traveller along a path.’ (Bukhari) 2. Reduce shower time. ‘Excess in the use of water is forbidden, even if you have the resources of a whole river.’ (Tirmidhi) A 5minute shower consumes 100 litres of water.

That may not sound like much, but consider that less half a percent of all water on Earth is fresh water for human use. Every person has a share in this water, yet 20% of the world’s population already lacks access to an adequate supply of clean drinking water.

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FINAL FOCUS

Waterval Islamic Institute, known as Mia’s Farm, has played an important role in the preservation of Islam in South Africa. The land (over 2000 hectares) was purchased in 1934 and in 1939 hostel facilities for schooling, madrasah and Hifz classes were built. It began in 1940 with 120 boarders and 4 teachers.

From 1940-1948 the school was run in the hostel itself and later had its own building and sports fields; an alma mater to many whom later became founding members of Darul Ulooms and Hifdh Madaris in our country.

Among those who did part of their schooling, hifdh, offered dhor or taught at Mia’s Farm were Mufti Ebrahim Desai, Moulana Madani of Camperdown, Mufti Ebrahim Saalejee of Isipingo Darul Uloom, Moulana Haroon Abbasoomar of Isipingo, Moulana Abdool Hamid Ishaaq of Azaadville Darul Uloom, Moulana Yusuf Karan of MJC, Moulana Shabir Saloojee of Darul Uloom Zakariyyah, Moulana Qaasim Sema of Newcastle Darul Uloom, and Qari Ismail Desai of Umzinto.

Among the achievements of Mia’s Farm is the printing of the 13-line Quraan, used extensively in South Africa, printing maktab syllabi, a home for initial Jamiat activities, Hafiz Abdur Rahman Mia played a great part in alleviating the Hifz shortage in SA. Mia’s Farm even housed Italian prisoners of World War II. In 1984 the secondary school moved to Marlboro Gardens. The Hifz infrastructure evolved to support a wide network of maktabs in many southern African countries.

Once upon a time, there was a king who ruled a prosperous country. One day, he went for a trip to some distant areas of his country.

When he returned to his palace, he complained that his feet were very painful, because it was the first time that he went for such a long trip, and the road that he went through was very rough and stony, and everyone walked around barefeet; there were no such thing as shoes in that country.

He then ordered his people to cover every road of the entire country with leather. Definitely this would need thousands of cows' skin, and would cost a huge amount of money.

Then one of his wise servant dared himself to tell the king, "Why do you have to spend that unnecessary amount of money? Why don't you just cut a little piece of leather to cover your feet ?" The king was surprised, but he later agreed to his suggestion, to make a "shoe" for himself.

Moral: To make this world a happier place for you to live in requires you to change yourself: your heart, your mindset and your attitude; not the entire world.

Change always begins with you, not your spouse, your parent, your in-laws, your neighbour. Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.

Change will not come if we wait for some other person. We are the change that we seek. “Truly, Allah does not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves.” (Quran 13:11)

73 DURBAN ROAD KORSTEN PH. 041 451 3060 Islamic Focus

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

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