official organ of the national muslim prison board sa
OUR HOPE Iss ue 1 A p
In this Issue
International map
1
International Scholars were impressed by the Prison Board and requested that similar structures be set up in their countries.
AGM Report
6
Get all the facts and figures on statistics as well as a look at the challenges we face.
r 2014
Our work
3
Providing spiritual care and education to prisoners is a forgetten Sunn ah of Islam.
NMPB ON THE INTERNATIONAL MAP At the recent International Conference of Muslim Scholars held in Azaadville in January this year, the National Prison Board of South Africa was afforded an opportunity to make a presentation in front of a large group of senior Ulema from abroad. This presentation provided an overview of the history of the Muslim prison board, its aims and objectives, as well as areas of operation. Alhamdu-lillah, a number of overseas Scholars was impressed by the work rendered and requested that similar structures be set up in their respective countries. One such Aalim is the famous Hazrat Moulana Khalid Saifullah, the Ameer of Shar’ee Courts in Bihaar. He perceived the need for spiritual care work to be established in certain prisons in India where Muslims were incarcerated. We have also received invitations from Botswana, Mozambique, and Malawi to initiate da’wah and spiritual care work inside prisons in those countries for Muslim detainees. The NMPB was also afforded a stall at the conference to showcase its work and projects. Leaflets in Arabic highlighting our structures, field work, and modus operandi in Correctional Centres were handed out to numerous foreign delegates.
Launch of NMPB Newsletter Through the Grace of Allah, the National Muslim Prison Board of South Africa last year successfully launched its website, www.nmpb.org. Today we are pleased to announce the release of the first edition of our quarterly newsletter, Islam– Our Hope. In keeping with its name, this newsletter will hopefully provide our incarcerated brothers and sisters a ray of hope stemming from the Infinite Mercy of Allah which He promises for those who follow His Deen. It is hoped that this publication will serve to inform the Muslim public about Islam inside the prisons, the structure and activities of the Muslim Prison Board, events on our calendare, and a lot more, Insha Allah. This quarterly journal shall also serve as a liaison between the Muslim Prison Board and our Muslim brothers inside the Prisons. Besides the above, this newsletter will also provide valuable Deeni advice to readers from all walks of life, Insha Allah.
us t c a t n o C
Tel/Fax: 031 207 5160 | Email: shabbeer_asmal@pop.co.za PO Box 37748, Overport, 4067 | www.nmpb.org.za