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One of the sicknesses that has swept into the Muslim community is that of communicating things that cause damage with the justification that it is only promotion of the truth. This is especially true in cases where there is a difference among Muslim scholars with regards to interpretation of Islamic laws. Here is the path of our pious predecessors with regards to observing silence, even when something is the truth, to avoid greater harm: Abu Hurairah radhiallahu anhu had kept hidden certain Hadith so that there would be no mischief amongst people. He refrained from narrating them so that people would not be divided again after they were brought together by Muawiyah radhiallahu anhu. (Bukhari 3:121)
Issue 87
Igniting the Spirit of Islam
Ibn Masood radhiallahu anhu said, ‘You might narrate to a group of people a narration, which will not be understood by their mind and it will be a Fitnah for some of them.’ (Muslim) People might not correctly understand all the talk of the speaker. They might hear something which their minds do not comprehend and then base upon it their attitudes, actions or statements which will not lead to good results. Hasan Basri rahimahullah did not like Anas radhiallahu anhu relating to Hajjaj ibn Yusuf certain narrations as Hajjaj the tyrant would misinterpret these Hadith as proof for his blood-shed. A similar attitude has been recorded from Huzaifa radhiallahu anhu, Imam Ahmed, Imam Abu Yusuf and Imam Malik rahimahumullah. The Prophet sallallahu alaihi
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Mar 2011
wa sallam said to Aisha radhiallahu anha: ‘Were it not that your people are still new in Islam, I would have demolished the Kabah and rebuilt it on the foundations of Ibrahim.’ The Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam feared that those from the Quraysh who had recently accepted Islam might misunderstand this action so he left it out. Imam Bukhari established a chapter based on this Hadith and called it, ‘Those who abandon something fearing that it will not be understood by people and as a result (they) will fall into something worse.’ The truth is explained by the scholars of AhlusSunnah wal-Jama'ah. If you have an understanding, present it to them; if they accept, it is good. If they do not accept, then you have fulfilled your responsibility and do not have to talk about it in public, thereby causing more mischief.
WORLD NEWS
UK - A Muslim who burned replica poppies on the anniversary of Armistice Day was fined ÂŁ50.
BAHRAIN - Bahrain Grand Prix called off because of anti-government protests . (BBC, 21 Feb)
(Telegraph, 8 Mar) LIBYA - Forces loyal to Gaddafi are engaged in a civil war with rebels. Tuareg from Mali joined proGaddafi forces. A Dutch navy helicopter crew and UK SAS troops were captured in Libya. (BBC, 8 Mar) TUNISIA - Ennahda, the Islamist group banned under former President Ben Ali, legalised. (BBC, 1 Mar) FRANCE - Foreign Minister resigned after criticism over contacts with former Tunisian regime. She offered French help to quell uprising. (BBC, 27 Feb) TURKEY - Thousands attended the funeral of first Islamist PM, Necmettin Erbakan. He served a year before the military forced him out in 1997. His Islamist Welfare Party was banned and the governing AK Party grew out of it. (BBC, 1 Mar) OMAN - Two killed in clashes between security forces and protesters. Tens of thousands protested, calling for the fall of the government. (BBC, 1 Mar) PAKISTAN - Minister Shahbaz assassinated. He had urged reform to blasphemy laws. (BBC, 2 Mar 2011) ZIMBABWE - 46 arrested for attending lecture on unrest in North Africa. (BBC, 23 Feb)
GERMANY - The new interior minister said that Islam 'doesn't belong' in the country. A Kosovo Muslim killed 2 US airmen. (NY Times, Scotsman, 8 Mar) MOROCCO - Thousands marched demanding King Mohammed give up some powers. (BBC, 20 Feb) YEMEN - 2,000 inmates staged a revolt at a prison and joined calls by anti-government protesters for the president to step down. (UKPA, 8 Mar) MALI - 30 killed and 70 injured in stampede at end of a sermon by Imam Osman Haidara. (BBC, 22 Feb) AZERBAIJAN - A soldier shot and killed 7 fellow troops at a military base. (BBC, 21 Feb) IRAN - 2 Iranian warships entered the Suez Canal heading for Syria for training. It is the first time since 1979 that Iranian warships passed through the Suez Canal. (BBC, 22 Feb) PAKISTAN - US drone attacks escalated since Obama took office. More than 100 reported last year, killing hundreds of people. (BBC, 21 Feb) AFGHANISTAN - Nato air strikes killed 64 civilians. Another Nato air strike killed 9 boys, aged under 12 as they gathered firewood. (BBC, 6 Mar)
PALESTINE - A rocket fired from Gaza hit the Jewish city of Beersheba. The attack came after an Israeli tank fired on Palestinians in Gaza, killing one and injuring 11, including 3 children. (BBC, 23 Feb)
PAKISTAN - Sipah-e-Sahaba leader Maulana Muhammad Madni gunned down along with his son.
IRAQ - 2 killed in anti-government demonstrations as thousands took to the streets. (BBC, 25 Feb)
SAUDI - All protests banned after protests by the Shias. (BBC, 5 Mar)
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(NY Times, 6 Mar)
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1. Fairness. Prophet Dawood alaihis salaam once passed a judgement in haste. Even though he gave the correct ruling, Allah cautioned him for not following the correct procedure: ‘O Dawood! We have appointed you as a vicegerent on earth so judge between the masses with fairness and do not succumb to human feelings which will lead you astray from Allah’s path.’ (Quraan 38:26) 2. Verification. ‘If a sinful person brings you a report, then verify its authenticity before you harm any people unknowingly and then become remorseful over what you did.’ (Quraan 49:6) With regards to this verse, the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam had dispatched a delegation to a certain tribe after receiving misinformation that someone had refused to pay Zakaat and was plotting the assassination of the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam. (Ibn Kathir) It was at this time that the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam issued this advice: ‘Caution and verification are from (the bounties of) Allah (i.e. acquire this quality) while haste is actually (instigated and sanctioned) by the devil (i.e. refrain from this quality).’ (Tabari 13:145) 3. Caution. ‘He who is cautious is bound to arrive at the correct decision or at least come close to it. While one who is hasty will almost certainly go wrong.’ (Tabrani 2:408)
The Quraan states: ‘When the (Friday) prayer is complete, disperse through the land and seek the bounty of Allah (through trade or lawful activity.’ The Hadith tells us that ‘The quest of halaal earning is a duty after a duty.’ Seeking a halaal sustenance is a religious obligation second in importance to religious observances like prayer, fasting, etc. Here is the fourth aspect of Islamic commercial morality:
D. Fear of Allah 1. Fear of Allah. The Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam said: ‘Fear Allah wherever you are.’ The fear of Allah is not confined to prayer alone. Worship, trade and social interaction are all parts of Islam. If any part is removed, we have an unbalanced religious ethic. The fear of Allah will lead to unexpected avenues of earnings: ‘…And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide for him from (sources) he could never imagine…’ (Quraan 65:2-3) 2. Trust. The Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam said: ‘If you trust in Allah with due reliance; He would sustain you as He sustains the birds. They get up hungry in the morning and return with a full belly in the evening.’ A Muslim therefore earns his living with the belief that: The proportion of sustenance is determined by Allah; It is an act of worship to trade in order to avoid depending on others; Lawful earnings draw the blessings of Allah even though they may seem little. Adapted from Jamiatul Ulama Fordsburg
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SOCIAL / BUSINESS
The disease of taking a standpoint on any issue by listening to or reading about only one side of the story is causing chaos. This haste is against the principles of Islam:
JUSTICE / MARRIAGE
‘Indeed We have sent Our Messengers with clear proofs, and revealed with them the Scripture and the Balance (justice) that mankind may keep up justice...’ (Quraan 57:25) The purpose of sending prophets was to establish justice in the world.
Under normal circumstances many people can be just. But Islam commands its followers to be just even in the face of strong conflicting emotions. In dealing with others, two major impediments to justice are love and hatred. See how the Quraan teaches us to overcome love when dealing with our closest relatives or ourselves. ‘O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even though it be against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, be he rich or poor: for Allah can best protect both. So follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest you may avoid justice, and if you distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily Allah is well-acquainted with what you do.’ (Quraan 4:135) The other equally potent impediment is hatred. Here again Quraan commands: ‘O you who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah, as witnesses to fair dealing, and let not the hatred of others make you avoid justice. Be just: that is nearer to piety: and fear Allah…’ (Quraan 5:8) In other words you cannot do injustice even when dealing with the enemy. These commands created a society where all treated equally and all of them could count on receiving justice. The judges were independent and no one, including the ruler was above the law. If a dispute arose between the ruler and an ordinary person, both had to appear in court and provide evidence. Adapted from article by: Khalid Baig
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Communicating effectively is essential for building a happy family. Here are two Communication Danger Signs. Couples should prevent or change these patterns to maintain a successful marriage.
1. Escalation Responding back and forth negatively so that the conflict increases. We often begin talking about an issue calmly. Then someone says something to upset the other, who responds negatively. The calm conversation escalates into an angry argument full of hurtful comments. Solution: De-Escalate. a. Change your tone from harsh to calm and kind. b. Acknowledge the other person’s point of view. c. Give up the need to win. d. Talk about it later when everyone is calmer. 2. Invalidation When we talk with our loved ones, sometimes we subtly or directly put down their thoughts, feelings, or character. We disrespect them by calling them names, questioning their character, and de-valuing their opinions and feelings. Solution: Be Respectful. a. ‘O you who have believed, let not a people ridicule (another) people; perhaps they may be better than them; nor let women ridicule (other) women; perhaps they may be better than them. And do not insult one another and do not call each other by (offensive) nicknames…’ (Quraan 49:11) b. When you realize you’ve said something that hurt the other, immediately backtrack and talk about it in a different way. Adapted from article by: Amal Killawi
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From various Ulama
www.sunnipath.com | www.shafiifiqh.com Q: A wife is requesting for khulaa (a compensated release from marriage initiated by the woman) by returning the mahr (dowry) to the husband. The husband feels he has been betrayed by his wife. Therefore, he wishes to have more than the mahr. Is this permissible? A: It is permissible for the husband to take compensation for khulaa from her regardless whether it is equal to the dowry, or less, or more. And, regardless whether the compensation is the same as the dowry or different, be it a cash payment, debt, or usufruct. (Rawdat al-Talibin 5:681; alSharh al-Kabir 8:396) Answer by: Moulana Yaqub Abdur Rahman
Q: Can I dig up the past of a man who proposed to me? A: A woman and her guardian are allowed to ask around about the suitor. In fact, the guardian is strongly encouraged to do this. The only people, however, who should be asked about the suitor are those who one believes to know him well, such as his relative or friend or someone who has had dealings with him. The person who is asked should be someone trustworthy so that they don't lie about the suitor. It is obligatory on the person asked to tell the questioner about the bad points of the suitor if he knows any, but if it is sufficient for him to just say, ‘He is not good for you,’ (i.e. if the woman and her guardian will act on this advice and not pursue matIslamic Focus
ters further with the suitor) then it is not permissible for him to say any more than this. Otherwise, if such allusions don’t suffice, then he should only mention the necessary bad characteristics that suffice to turn the woman and her guardian away from the suitor and no more. If it is sufficient for the guardian or bride to make their decision based on what a particular person advises, then it is unlawful for them to dig further into the suitor's life, because this would be considered unlawful spying and ferreting out the faults of Muslims. Answer by: Sheikh Amjad Rasheed
Q: Is it haraam (forbidden) to suckle one’s wife’s breast or drink her breast milk? A: A female human’s breast milk is pure, lawful to consume, and permissible to buy and sell. (Imam Nawawi, Sharh al-Muhadhdhab 9:254; Imam Al-Mawardi, Al-Hawi al -Kabir 5:333) A differing opinion has been transmitted from Abul Qasim al-Anmati who stated that it is impure and not permissible for anyone besides a small child to consume; and that it is not permissible to sell such milk. His view is exclusive to him alone. Answer by: Moulana Yaqub Abdur Rahman
Q: Can a man divorce his wife while she is pregnant while knowing that she is pregnant? A: Imam Nawawi stated, ‘Regarding when pregnancy is noticeable, it is not unlawful to divorce her.’ (Rawdat al-Talibin 6:8) He also said, ‘Giving khulaa (a compen-
sated release from marriage initiated by the woman) and divorce of one whose pregnancy is noticeable are permissible.’ (Mughni al-Muhtaj 4:499; Ibn Hajar, Tuhfat alMuhtaj 8:79) Answer by: Moulana Yaqub Abdur Rahman
Q: Did the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam keep a beard continuously? A: The fact that so many Companions narrate that the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam made takhlil (wiped his fingers through his beard) clearly establishes that he had a beard. There are narrations throughout the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam’s life which establish that he kept a beard continuously. E.g. He had a beard on the occasion of Saad bin Muadh radhiallahu anhu’s funeral in 5 AH. (alMujam al-Kabir, 6:9) His beard is mentioned at the time of Hudaybiyah in 6 AH. (Bukhari, 2:256) The practice of the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam was to keep a beard; that was also his advice for us: ‘Be different from the polytheists, leave the beards and cut the moustaches.’ Answer by: Moulana Yaqub Abdur Rahman
Q: What is the ruling about having a barrier like a curtain between men and women in the Musjid? A: ‘It is obligatory that a barrier/partition is put between men and women that prevents peeping; for verily, that is as well a place where corruption could be expected.’ (Imam Ghazzali, Ihya Ulum al-Din, 1:793) Ibn Hajar al-Haytami related this in his Fatawa 1:201. Answer by: Moulana Yaqub Abdur Rahman
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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.councilofulama.co.za Q: Can one say salam while athaan is being called, and if some one says it can we reply to it? A: Salaam should not be made while the Athaan is in progress. If someone makes Salaam during the Athaan, it will be permissible to reply to it. Checked by: Mufti Siraj Desai
Q: Sugar alcohol is used as an artificial flavor in several cake mixes. Is it Halaal or not? A: In terms of information at our disposal, sugar alcohols are permissible for Halaal consumption. The said alcohols occur naturally in plants. Some of them are extracted from plants e.g. sorbitol from corn syrup and mannitol from seaweed, but they are mostly manufactured from sugars and starches. Maltitol, xylitol, and sorbitol are all sugar alcohols. Answer by: Mufti Shafiq Jakhura
Q: I would like to know regarding present day Nasheeds whether they are permissible to listen to or not when their content (words and meanings) are correct and also there are no musical instruments. Will it be correct to listen to the Nasheed if there is a duff playing in the background? Many Nasheeds have background sounds which are done through the computer. With these are they permissible? A: If the words of the Nasheeds are consistent with Islamic teachings and the recital does not include the playing of musical instruments or sounds resembling Islamic Focus
the sounds of musical instruments, then such Nasheeds could be listened to.
has been related to us in a / hadith. Answer by: Moulana Sohail Bengali
Answer by: Mufti Shafiq Jakhura
Q: Due to a knee injury, I offer my Salaah sitting on a chair. The other day, I was sitting in the middle of the first row when the Imam asked me to sit at the end of the row. There was no space at the end of the first row so I had to take a place in third row. Why did the Imam ask me to sit at the end of the row? Is there any Islamic reason for this? A: The Imam's request for you to sit at the end of the row was with a view to avoid inconveniencing others. This was a valid request due to a number of reasons: a) When a chair comes in the middle of the row, it usually causes a gap or extra space for those behind or around the chair. b) Closing the gaps in the row would become more difficult for those praying next to the one sitting on a chair. c) Should the Imam lose his wudhu and need to pull forward a deputy Imam he cannot pull forward a person sitting on a chair. This is because the one sitting on a chair cannot lead those who are standing. d) The Imam as the prayer leader has to ensure the rows are straight and properly aligned. If he believes there will be an issue with the chair in the middle of the row, then it is best to give him the benefit of the doubt. Insha Allah you will receive double the reward for giving up your position in the first row to avoid inconveniencing others. This
Q: Can women pray their Fajr Salaah by performing tayammum in winter instead of Fardh Ghusl (bath)? Some women are affected by the cold very quickly when taking a bath early in the morning. A: Mere doubt is not sufficient enough to justify performing tayammum instead of ghusl. If warm water is unavailable or you are certain that even the use of warm water will make you sick (i.e. flu, pneumonia, bronchitis, etc.) only then will tayammum be permissible. The mere discomfort of making ghusl in winter is not a valid excuse to make tayammum. Even if you believe you qualify to make tayammum instead of ghusl it would still be advisable to present your situation to a locally based scholar for his opinion. Answer by: Moulana Sohail Bengali
Q: How should Islamic literature be disposed of? A: The most suitable way is to wrap up the Islamic material, papers, or Quraan copies and then bury them in a place which is not commonly walked upon. (Ad Durrul Mukhtaar) However, if it is not possible to bury these parchments or papers in a secure place, then one may resort to collect these papers and burn them. Answer by: Moulana Abu Hajira bin Abdul Hamid
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A man once punished his 3-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight and he became infuriated when the child tried to decorate a box as a present. Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said, ‘This is for you, Daddy.’ He was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, but his anger flared again when he found the box was empty. He yelled at her, ‘Don’t you know that when you give someone a present, there’s supposed to be something inside it?’ The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and said, ‘Oh, Daddy, it is not empty. I blew kisses into the box. All for you, Daddy.’
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The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little girl, and he begged for her forgiveness. The man kept that gold box by his bed for years and whenever he was discouraged, he would take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there. In a very real sense, each of us as has been given a gold container filled with unconditional love from our children, friends, family and God. There is no more precious possession anyone could hold. We should also never respond to any situation without first knowing all the details. We could end up hurting someone who was actually trying to help us.
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INTERNET / INSPIRATION
Enrich your web experience. Not all content on all sites Islamic-compliant. Consult Ulama.
SUCCESS / INSPIRATION
One of the qualities of a Muslim is to know when to conceal information:
1. Getting Help. The Hadith advises us to seek assistance in realising our plans through adopting secrecy: Help yourself in fulfilling your needs by being secretive about them. (Tabraani) When we want to achieve something we should not announce details to others unnecessarily. This includes business deals, travel plans, salaries and marital issues. 2. Intimate Affairs. We should not reveal the intimate details of our spouse to others. ‘The worst of mankind in the sight of Allah in rank on the day of Resurrection is the man who has sexual intercourse with his wife and then he divulges her secrets.’ (Muslim) This is in contrast to the current trend of sensationalizing the private lives of celebrities. 3. Public Safety. ‘When there comes to them some matter touching (public) safety or fear, they make it known (among the people), if only they had referred it to the Messenger or to those charged with authority among them, the proper investigators would have understood it from the (directly)…’ (Quraan 4:83) Not all information is for public consumption. It has to be referred to the proper officials. 4. Military Tactics. ‘When the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam intended to go on an expedition, he always pretended to be going somewhere else…’ (Abu Dawood) We should not publish just any information, especially on social networking sites where people publish their personal details and activities. Inspired by: Mufti Ismail Menk
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The following incident took place when Muhammad Ali's daughters arrived at his home wearing clothes that were not modest. Here is the story as told by one of his daughters: When we finally arrived, the chauffeur escorted my younger sister, Laila, and me up to my father's suite. As usual, he was hiding behind the door waiting to scare us. We exchanged many hugs and kisses as we could possibly give in one day. My father took a good look at us. Then he sat me down on his lap and said something that I will never forget. He looked me straight in the eyes and said, ‘Hana, everything that God made valuable in the world is covered and hard to get to. Where do you find diamonds? Deep down in the ground, covered and protected. Where do you find pearls? Deep down at the bottom of the ocean, covered up and protected in a beautiful shell. Where do you find gold? Way down in the mine, covered over with layers and layers of rock. You've got to work hard to get to them.’ He looked at me with serious eyes. ‘Your body is sacred. You're far more precious than diamonds and pearls, and you should be covered too.’ O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies (i.e. screen themselves completely except the eyes to see the way). That will be better, that they should be known (as free respectable women) so as not to be annoyed. (Quraan 33:59)
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He began the Islamic conquest of the Maghreb (North Africa), including present-day Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Morocco. He was the nephew of Amr ibn al-Aas radhiallahu anhu, the general who led the conquest of Egypt. Uqba is linked to the Banu Fihri, a clan connected to the Quraysh. He founded the cultural city of Kairouan in Tunisia. Uqba accompanied Al-Aas radhiallahu anhu in his initial raids and capture of cities in North Africa starting with Barca, then proceeding to Tripolitania in 644 CE. In 670, now the commander, Uqba led an Arab army to North Africa, crossing the Egyptian deserts, and setting up military posts at regular intervals along his route. When Uqba reached the Atlantic coast he rode his horse into the sea and said: ‘Oh God, if the sea had not prevented me, I would have galloped on for ever like Alexander the Great, upholding your faith and fighting the disbelievers.’ Uqba led the conquest of the Roman provinces in North Africa such as Mauretania Tingitana. His descendants can be found in the area stretching from the Lake Chad region to Mauritania's coast. The trans-sahel Arab tribe of Kounta traces its origins to Uqba. In Algeria, Tunisia and Libya some of his descendants are known as Ouled Sidi Ukba. In 683 Uqba was ambushed and killed near Biskra by Kusaila.
So how did Muslims influence the United States Navy? Well, it was the need to subdue the Muslim naval forces operating in the Mediterranean from the North African coast in the 19th century that led to the formation of the US navy: The Barbary or Ottoman Corsairs were sea fighters who operated from North Africa, based primarily in Tunisia, Libya and Algeria. Their area of operations extended throughout the Mediterranean, West Africa, South America and into the North Atlantic as far as Iceland. In addition to seizing ships of countries that didn’t pay tribute to the Muslim states, they engaged in raids on European coastal towns, mainly in Italy, France, Spain, and Portugal, but also in England, Scotland, Holland, Ireland and Iceland. The corsairs captured thousands of ships, and long stretches of coast in Spain and Italy were completely abandoned by their inhabitants, until the 19th century. In May 1801, the Pasha of Tripoli (Libya) declared war on the United States after the US refused to pay tribute. In response, Thomas Jefferson sent a group of frigates to defend US interests in the Mediterranean. He pressed for expanding the naval force and there was an increase in military force and deployment of many of the navy's best ships to the region throughout 1802. This was the first Barbary War (1801-1805), the first US imperialist adventure into Muslim lands. The US Navy and Marines became a permanent part of the American government from that point on.
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BIOGRAPHY / MUSLIM INFLUENCE
Uqba ibn Nafi (born 622, died 683 in Sidi Uqba, Algeria) was an Arab general who participated in Jihad under Muawiya radhiallahu anhu.
HISTORY / SOCIAL
According to the latest census, there are approximately 24,000 Muslims in Wales, including migrants and Muslims born there. Anecdotal evidence from Muslim communities in Swansea and Cardiff suggests that as early as 1870, prayer rooms had been established in private houses situated near the docks to serve the religious needs of Muslim sailors who were of predominantly Yemeni origin. In Cardiff’s Butetown, by the late 1930s a Yemeni Musjid had been established and this subsequently became the South Wales Islamic Centre. In 1947, Wales and Cardiff’s first purpose built mosque, the Peel Street Musjid was opened in a full civic ceremony attended by the then Lord Lieutenant, heralding the official recognition of Islam in Wales. In 1971 the first purpose built Musjid, the Swansea City Mosque and Islamic Centre was built in Swansea. Wales now has 33 Musjids. Wales is also served by three Islamic bookshops and one full-time Islamic primary school in Cardiff. There are several Muslim organizations in Wales like the Muslim Council of Wales, an umbrella organisation that represents 53 Muslim organisations and Musjid associations throughout the country. There is also the Cardiff University Islamic Society, the Swansea Muslim Youth League and the New Muslims Network Wales.
Here is Islam’s advise with regards to the hitting of wives: 1. Rights. Among the rights of wives enumerated in the Hadith is that ‘… you feed them when you eat … and do not hit the face.’ (Muslim) 2. Never. Aisha radhiallahu anha said, ‘The Messenger of Allah never struck a servant of his with his hand, nor did he ever hit a woman. …’ (Ibn Kathir) The hitting of a woman is not reported from any Prophet. 3. Gentlemen. A Hadith tells us that, ‘Good men among you will never beat women.’ (Mariful Quraan) 4. Astonishment. The Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam expressed astonishment at the cruelty of certain men when he said, ‘Could any of you beat his wife as he would beat a slave, and then lie with her in the evening?’ (Bukhari)
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Islamic Focus
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FINAL FOCUS
With the spotlight on the Middle East and North Africa, here’s a brief look at the driving force for Islam there: the Muslim Brotherhood. Al-Ikhwaan Al-Muslimoon (the Muslim Brotherhood) was founded in 1928 in Egypt by Hassan Al-Banna. It began as a religious, political, and social movement with the credo, ‘Allah is our objective; the Quraan our constitution, the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam our leader; Jihad our way; and death for the sake of Allah the highest of our aspirations.’ It is the largest political opposition organization in many Arab states and the largest Islamic political group in the world. Among its primary goals is the reinstatement of the caliphate, uniting all Muslim countries as one state and instilling the Qur'an and Sunnah as the sole reference point for ordering the life of the Muslim. The Muslim Brotherhood is a not a political party but members have created political parties in several countries, like the Islamic Action Front in Jordan and Hamas in Palestine. The Muslim brotherhood started off as a social organization, preaching Islam, teaching the illiterate, setting up hospitals, and went on to oppose British rule in Egypt. Members fought against the Jews in Palestine in 1948. It was outlawed in Egypt, with Al-Banna assassinated and members being arrested, tortured and executed. The Syrian government brutally crushed it in 1982. It has inspired groups in Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Sudan, Tunisia, Libya and Somalia. Its non-violent stance has resulted in breakaway groups advocating armed struggle. Website: www.ikhwanonline.com and www.ikhwanweb.com
The following is an incident about an engine failure in a giant ship. The ship's owners tried one expert after another, but none of them could figure but how to fix the engine. Then they brought in an old man who had been fixing ships since he was a youngster. He carried a large bag of tools with him, and when he arrived, he immediately went to work. He inspected the engine very carefully, top to bottom. Two of the ship's owners were there, watching this man, hoping he would know what to do. After looking things over, the old man reached into his bag and pulled out a small hammer. He gently tapped something. Instantly, the engine lurched into life He carefully put his hammer away. The engine was fixed! A week later, the owners received a bill from the old man for ten thousand dollars. ‘What?!’ the owners exclaimed. ‘He hardly did anything!’ So they wrote the old man a note saying, ‘Please send us an itemized bill.’ The man sent a bill that read: Tapping with a hammer $ 2.00 Knowing where to tap $ 9998.00 Effort is important, but knowing where and how to make an effort in your life makes all the difference. Knowledge of Islam is highly valued. Mere actions without knowledge can be disastrous.
73 DURBAN ROAD KORSTEN PH. 041 451 3060 Islamic Focus
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