Muslim Views, September 2018

Vol. 32 No. 9

MUHARRAM 1440 l SEPTEMBER 2018

Commemorating a martyr FARID SAYED and MOGAMAD ALLIE

Professor Muhammed Haron – seen here with his father, Imam Abdullah Haron – will deliver the 11th annual Imam Haron Memorial Lecture at the Academia Auditorium, Islamia College, Imam Haron Road, Lansdowne, on Wednesday September 26 at 7.30pm. His lecture will be titled, ‘Imam Abdullah Haron: a man for all seasons’. The annual lecture is organised by the Imam Abdullah Haron Education Trust, in honour of the late Imam Haron, former imam of Al Jamia Masjid, in Stegmann Road, Claremont, who was brutally killed in police detention on September 27, 1969.

Photo IMAM HARON FOUNDATION

WITH just over a year to go to the 50th anniversary of the killing of Imam Abdullah Haron, the family is putting plans in place to memorialise the martyrdom of Imam ‘in order to give life to his ideas’.

His son, Professor Muhammed Haron, told Muslim Views that the family of Imam, under the auspices of the Imam Haron Foundation, will coordinate the activities commemorating Imam’s martyrdom. However, a committee of independent people has been established to assist the family so that ideas from the broader community can be tabled to make the commemoration as inclusive as possible.

‘For instance, organisations who have over the years marked the anniversary of Imam’s death, such as Qibla and Claremont Main Road Masjid, are expected to conduct their independent commemorations next year but will form part of a broader 50th anniversary programme,’ explained Professor Haron.

‘The Imam Abdullah Haron Education Trust (IAHET), which has been giving practical expression to Imam’s commitment to education, will continue to play the role it has been playing for over a decade. The activities organised by the Imam Haron Foundation will complement the work of the Trust.’

He also referred to the play, ‘A man for justice: the life and times of Imam Abdullah Haron’, which was staged by Madrasatul Quds in July, 1994.

‘We will revive the play, and perhaps stage a condensed version.

Again, those who initiated and produced the play can come on board and lend their expertise and experience.’

The play was the brainchild of Dr Abdul Kader Jaffer, who passed away on Saturday September 8, 2018.

Professor Haron said the motivation behind next year’s 50th

They may not know your name, but they have felt your love.

Three Three million of the world’s world’s most vulnerable have been touched by your ourr Qurbani...

commemoration of the killing of Imam Haron in detention was ‘to remind us what happened to Imam. It will also look to the future by giving life to his ideas so that we can confront the challenges of inequality, poverty and unemployment to build a better country.’

While some of the commemorative activities will start early next year, the official programme will be from May 28, the day in 1969 that Imam Haron was detained, to September 27, the day he was brutally killed in detention.

Memorial lecture While the Foundation is doing the groundwork for next year, the Imam Abdullah Haron Education Trust (IAHET) has confirmed that Professor Haron, the only son of Imam Haron, will deliver the 11th Imam Haron Memorial Lecture on Wednesday, September 26, at 7.30pm at the Academia Auditorium, Islamia College, Imam Haron Road, Lansdowne.

His lecture will be entitled, ‘Imam Abdullah Haron: a man for all seasons’.

Professor Haron follows a number of leading thinkers who have delivered the Imam Haron Memorial Lecture in previous years, including the late Professor Neville Alexander, Minister Ebrahim Patel, Justice Albie Sachs and Professor Jonathan Jansen.

Professor Haron is based at University of Botswana’s Department of Theology and Religious Studies where he is a full Professor in Religious Studies.

He was previously attached to University of the Western Cape and University of Cape Town in the 1980s and 1990s. He was a visiting lecturer at National University of Malaysia (1994), University of Stellenbosch (2008) and Rhodes University (2008 and 2018). He is also an associate researcher at University of Pretoria.

• Imam Abdullah Haron Education Trust launches and presents Bibi’s Kitchen Fun Walk to honour Imam Haron.

See page 31 for details.

South Africa!

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Muslim Views . September 2018

Steve Bantu Biko was killed by the apartheid police on September 12, 1977.

Biko expressed his rejection of | attempts to reconcile neoliberal democracy with an authentic and legitimate struggle for justice.

His clarity of thought and unwavering commitment remains a vibrant model for advocacy in the present age of muddled political ideas.

Mama Zondeni Veronica Sobukwe passed away on August 15, in the Eastern Cape, at the age of 91.

She endured the pain of both apartheid and post-apartheid South Africa as a woman committed to the struggle for justice even after her husband, Robert Sobukwe, was imprisoned.

Mama Veronica remained a revolutionary, lonely but committed, as she resisted ploys of the apartheid regime to break her spirit.

In 1997, Mama Veronica testified before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and exposed the ill-treatment and humiliation suffered by ON September 11 the new year in the her husband before his death in 1978.

Finally, Imam Abdullah Haron, who was Islamic calendar dawned. The martyred 49 years ago, on September significance of Muharram as a month marking the new Islamic year 27, 1969, is one luminary whose sacrifice is particularly valued as a and the martyrdom of Imam Husain patron and first editor of Muslim News, (RA) is well known. our predecessor. His legacy in However, the freshness of its significance lies in the application of its contemporary South Africa is one that inspires activism against all the meaning and message to our present neo-liberal trappings of a reality. post-apartheid South Africa.

Imam Husain’s resistance against Imam Haron espoused basic values of injustice offers a universal lesson that truth in opposition to falsehood through transcends even the boundaries of recognition of the dignity of religion. marginalised and oppressed people So revolutionary is it that even those under apartheid rule. bereft of faith may find inspiration from He transcended mere liberation rhetoric Imam Husain’s passion for truth till and physically reached out to people in death.

Given this core value of sacrifice for the the townships to provide both moral truth and social justice, it is appropriate and material support.

Imam Haron’s spirit of resistance was to reflect on the lessons we can draw rare for his time and sadly absent in from relevant narratives and figures in present-day social and political our time. discourse.

It is relevant to note that it is almost The new year on the Islamic calendar exactly 87 years ago, on September 16, 1931, that the Libyan revolutionary, is a reminder for us to renew our Omar Mukhtar, was executed by Italian commitment in the struggle for social justice. colonial occupiers.

Our heroes have made a manifest He was a just leader, a teacher of the mark in their hour at the altar of this Quran and a fighter for liberation from struggle. occupation for twenty years until he It is our time to uphold the eternal was captured and executed at the age values they lived and died for. of 73.

Vol. 32 No. 9

MUHARRAM 1440 l SEPTEMBER 2018

Muharram calls for renewed revolutionary values

Our editorial comment represents the composite viewpoint of the Editorial Team of Muslim Views, and is the institutional voice of the newspaper. Correspondence can be sent to editor@mviews.co.za

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Our independence and credibility are paramount MAHMOOD SANGLAY

Muslim Views is an independent media organisation using contemporary media to provide information, comment and analysis, and to advocate universal values and social justice. In essence, this is the mission statement of our newspaper.

This month, Muslim Views introduces two important new features relevant to our mission, namely, the logos of the Press Council of South Africa (PCSA) and the Audit Bureau of Circulations of South Africa (ABC).

Both these industry bodies are important for standards in respect of editorial content and the business of newspaper publishing. Although the PCSA and ABC marks are published only now, we have been members of these bodies for twelve and eight years, respectively.

The Press Council The PCSA, which also houses the office of the Press Ombud, provides an independent co-regulatory mechanism for print and online media. The ombud’s office provides impartial, expeditious and cost-effective adjudication on disputes between publications and members of the public over the editorial content of publications.

As a member of the council, Muslim Views abides by the Press Code which sets out guidelines for best practice and ethical journalism that is fair, balanced and accurate. When a member publication falls foul of the code, the public may file a complaint against the newspaper with the ombud’s office, which includes the Public Advocate and the Appeals Panel.

Since inception of its membership of the PCSA, Muslim Views has had to defend only two complaints. The first was in respect of a reader’s letter edited and published in the August 2014 edition of Muslim Views. The second was in respect of our coverage of the Cape Accord in June 2018. The Public Advocate and the Press Ombud respectively found that neither complaint had any merit and were therefore dismissed.

A senior member of the Muslim Views editorial team represented an industry association on the PCSA and its adjudication panel for six years, until 2014. Hence, we take our commitment to independent, ethical, fair and balanced journalism very seriously. We also take public opinion and the public interest very seriously. The presence of the PCSA logo as part of our standard design for page 3 demonstrates this commitment.

ABC certification ABC provides a range of compliance and auditing services to the media industry, including accurate and comparable circulation figures. This enables advertisers, marketers and publishers to make strategic business decisions in the buying and selling of advertising.

By holding an ABC certificate, we are in a position to claim confidence in its printing and distribution figures for the benefit of advertisers and their agencies. This builds trust and credibility in our newspaper as a media product valued by both readers and advertisers.

The certificate is proof of verification of printing and distribution data claimed by publishers, and offers advertisers the assurance that these claims are independently verified by a competent industry body.

The interest of readers is, primarily, compelling editorial content.

The interest of advertisers is readers who value our compelling editorial content and who are therefore more likely to have an interest in the commercial messages in our advertising.

While we are acutely aware of this vital dynamic in our business model, we are also wary of the potential threat business, religious and political interests pose to the editorial independence of our newspaper.

This independence is vital for our credibility and cannot be compromised.

As publishers, we also remain conscious of the delicate balance between our mission, the interests of our readers and the interests of advertisers.

Readers and advertisers are our target audience.

The former read our content and the latter provide the revenue to sustain this readership. In serving their interests, we must never compromise our mission.

We welcome critical engagement from our readers and advertisers.

This is part of the process of upholding independent and ethical journalistic and business standards.

And it must be consistent with our role as advocates of universal values and social justice.

This newspaper carries Allah’s names, the names of the Prophets and sacred verses of the Holy Qur’an.

Please treat it with the respect it deserves.

Either keep, circulate or recycle.

Please do not discard.

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Muslim Views . September 2018

The heritage of struggle: confluence of Muharram and September SHAIKH SA’DULLAH KHAN

THE laying to rest of struggle stalwart Zondeni Veronica Sobukwe evokes a lot of emotion in those who reflect on the noble struggle for liberation in our country.

Although largely unknown, often silenced, deliberately erased from public memory and national consciousness, Mama Sobukwe lived in humility and simplicity, dedicating virtually her entire life to the cause of the people. Many in the land therefore acknowledged her as the ‘Mother of Azania’.

Muharram: defiance of despots As Dhil-Hijjah ends, the new lunar calendar year begins with the ushering in of the month of Muharram.

Dhil-Hijjah celebrates Prophet Ibrahim’s (AS) commitment to Allah, characterised by his valour against the despotic and pharaonic Nimrud, and verified through his willingness to sacrifice his patient son, Prophet Ismail (AS).

Muharram commemorates the struggle of Prophet Musa (AS) against a tyrannical pharaoh as well as the martyrdom of Prophet Muhammad’s (SAW) beloved grandson, Imam Husain (RA), at the hands of repressive despotic rulers. All these models of excellence manifested phenomenal steadfastness in times of incredible crises, courage and defiance in the face of injustice and oppression.

September heritage Mama Sobukwe, wife of the

the hands of vicious enforcers of a diabolical system, yet neither were cowed by the ruthlessness of their heartless killers, and both continue to be revered as heroes of our struggle for justice and equality.

Yearning for a leader like Imam Haron

Shaikh Sa’dullah Khan Photo SUPPLIED

founder of the Pan Africanist Congress, Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe, was laid to rest in August, significantly a month that hosts our national Women’s Day. This is followed by our national heritage month in which we remember the passing of two other struggle icons. We recall the supreme sacrifice made by the principled As-shaheed Imam Abdullah Haron, on September 27, 1969, and the ruthless murder of the brave son of Africa, Steve Bantu Biko, on September 12, 1977.

Imam Haron and Steve Biko, like the Sobukwes, were part of a generation that fearlessly and uncompromisingly confronted the apartheid regime in the 60s and 70s: a time when the minority racist government most brutally cracked down on the growing anti-apartheid struggle in an effort to stop its momentum.

Both were mercilessly killed at

Imam Haron was, by all accounts, a humorous, sport-loving man. He was a man of the people, worked for the people, empowered the people, loved by the people. He connected with all segments of society, reached out to all, irrespective of colour, gender, age or creed.

His primary focus on empowering the youth, his concern for the well-being of society, his ability to reconcile his anti-apartheid activism with his duties as imam, his capacity to break down racial barriers, his efforts at securing aid for the families of freedom fighters, and his unique grace of creating inter-faith connection are all exemplary.

He was physically small but massive in moral stature. The victory of Imam Haron over his torturers is evidenced by the fact that they killed his body but his mission is alive. They silenced his voice but his message continues to inspire. His body lies buried but his spirit lives on.

Lasting legacy of heroes While these exemplary souls may have passed on, their spirit remain with us; their legacy does not end with their passing but lives on in our hearts, minds and souls.

They inspire us to mobilise against

injustice and inequality, and they stir our conscience to be in pursuit of dignity and human rights.

Their legacy we inherit is one of struggle against tyranny, empathy towards the oppressed and an unwavering commitment to stand unreservedly for justice.

We take solace from the fact that theirs were lives well lived in the service of fellow human beings, all championing the primary essence of our humanity; each lived for a cause greater than their own selves.

There is an Arabic saying, ‘Whoever lives for himself, lives a small life, dies a small death and is soon forgotten. Whoever lives a life for the welfare of others, lives a great life, dies a great death and is lovingly remembered.’ They lived lives that cannot be forgotten, and left legacies that can never be ignored.

Lessons for future generations It is crucial for future generations to always remember and reflect on the contributions made by selfless activists in the struggle for liberation. They lived with resolute conviction, had unswerving selfrespect and a profound sense of purpose.

They fought to uphold the principles of freedom and justice. All of them manifested courage, patience, steadfastness, dignity and unwavering devotion in times of great crises.

We remember our struggle heroes, we are inspired by their activism, we are motivated by their altruism, we celebrate their precious lives, we salute them and

cherish their commitment and, indeed, treasure their collective legacy.

As the fight for justice and equality continues, the hope is that present and future generations will live up to the principles of the heritage of noble struggle.

Shaikh Sa’dullah Khan is the CEO at Islamia College in Lansdowne, Cape Town.

Special status of Imam Husain Son of Ali and Fatimah, grandson of the Prophet (SAW), warrior for the cause of truth; that is Imam Husain.

The special status of Imam Husain in Muslim history has, in large measure, been due to the sacrifice of his family, possessions, and eventually life itself for the cause of justice in the way of Allah.

His courage, sincerity, steadfastness, dignity and unwavering devotion in times of great crisis have inspired and continue to inspire people from all walks of life. His struggle and eventual martyrdom became a source of strength and endurance for the oppressed in times of suffering, persecution and oppression. He has been morally on the side of every person against unjust rulers, reproaching tyrants and encouraging the oppressed to persist in their struggle for justice, freedom and dignity.

Shaikh Sa’dullah Khan

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Muslim Views . September 2018

Commemorating one of the world’s most horrific massacres AMINA WAGGIE

AUGUST 14, 2013, might seem far away in the chaos of continuous unfolding events in Egypt, however, it is a date that has been forever marked with blood as a result of the events in Rabaa Square in Egypt’s capital, Cairo.

The tragedy of that day still haunts the memories of thousands of Egyptians who lost loved ones while peacefully protesting against the Egyptian army’s military coup which overthrew Egypt’s first democratically elected government.

On that fateful day, thousands of innocent civilians weredetained, injured or killed. Some reports put the number of people killed in the peaceful protests to be between 1 000 and 2 000 people, however, the reality is that this number could be anywhere between 4 000 and 5 000 people, excluding those who subsequently died as a result of their injuries.

There are many accounts of what happened on this bloodstained day, the number of those killed, injured and detained. However, no one disputes that the general scene could be described as an all-out ‘hell’.

As bulldozers moved in from all directions on hundreds of thousands of peaceful protestors, the sky rained military-grade bullets and tear gas, killing thousands and injuring thousands more.

The aftermath of this bloody military coup has not been easy on the Egyptian people, and some

human rights bodies and organisations consider the events that took place on that day as a crime against humanity, describing it as the biggest and most violent mass killing that has ever taken place in Egypt’s modern history.

The current Egyptian regime has since done their utmost to remove evidence of this horrific massacre but to no avail. What happened in Rabaa Square has been described by many human rights organisations as nothing short of a massacre, which formed the beginning of a long series of human rights abuses, including killings, detentions, torture inside prisons and death sentences, which continue to happen until this current day.

Since the Rabaa massacre in 2013 up until today, there have been over 60 000 political detainees and thousands of enforced disappearances. Almost 7 500 innocent civilians have been tried in military courts while documented cases of extrajudicial killings by security forces are recorded to be in the thousands, with 112 cases of extrajudicial killings recorded in the first half of 2018 alone.

There have also been 1 800 death sentences passed against innocent civilians and protestors. All of this is besides the hundreds of documented cases of torture and rape inside Egyptian prisons.

Corruption has also peaked in the last few years since the military’s illegal take over in Egypt. $76 billion from public sector funds have been syphoned through corruption from 2012 to

Corruption has also peaked in the last few years since the military’s illegal take over in Egypt. $76 billion from public sector funds have been syphoned through corruption from 2012 to 2015. The country has sunk into an abyss of debt worth hundreds of billions of dollars and inflation is at an all-time high, with prices of many basic commodities drastically rising, some by up to 500 per cent...

2015. The country has sunk into an abyss of debt worth hundreds of billions of dollars and inflation is at an all-time high, with prices of many basic commodities drastically rising, some by up to 500 per cent.

Freedom of speech and expression is virtually non-existent, with anyone who dares to criticise or defy the regime being thrown in prison or forcefully disappeared.

This includes an organised, brutal campaign which clamps down on any kind of free press or honest journalism.

Five years on since one of the bloodiest days in Egyptian history, the Egyptian people call out for justice as they continue to suffer under the iron fist rule of a bloodthirsty military regime.

The Egyptian Community of South Africa (Ecosa), held a conference commemorating the Rabaa Massacre on August 14, 2018, at Rylands High School Hall, in Athlone. The hall was packed with hundreds of attendees who were there to show their solidarity with the oppressed in

Egypt.

The line-up of speakers included Shaikh Irfaan Abrahams, president of the Muslim Judicial Council (MJC), Jehad Hendawi, a student activist and member of the Students Against the Coup movement, Mohamed Ahmed, international coalition against the coup, Shabnam Mayet, an advocate and representative of the Muslim Lawyers Association, and Ahmed Sheta, a spokesperson for Egyptian Community of South Africa (ECOSA).

‘This year and this moment should be a time where we celebrate and spread happiness with the first democratically elected president of Egypt but, instead, we share the bitterness and the sadness of those who lost their families, their husbands, their mothers, sisters, brothers and children in the bloody massacre that took place at Rabaa Square.

‘It must remain our responsibility every day, not only on the 14th August, to call on the release of Dr Mohamed Morsi and all political prisoners,’ said Shaikh Irfaan

Abrahams in his powerful and opening speech.

Hendawi touched the hearts of everyone in the audience when she delivered her speech. She spoke about how shocking and traumatic it was for her when she found out about the massacre.

‘I remember clearly, five years ago, coming home from school, I saw my mother in tears as she watched what was happening on the television. At the time, I was still oblivious as to what was happening but as I sat down and watched with the rest of the world, I saw how the Egyptian military and police force raided the Rabaa Square.

‘Bulldozers and armed vehicles came in from all directions and live ammunition and tear gas rained down on peaceful protestors; thousands struck dead, thousands injured and thousands more forcefully detained, the whole world watched in horror, unable to do anything as the military and police force committed one of the bloodiest massacres in the history of Egypt,’ said Hendawi.

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Muslim Views . September 2018

Ocean literacy to save our oceans NURUDEAN SSEMPA

THE ocean covers more than 70 per cent of Earth’s surface, connects all corners of the world and provides us with some of the most important and basic economic, cultural and environmental functions.

Yet, humans have a greater understanding of the surface of the moon than they do of the depths of the oceans.

The ocean encircles the globe, forming the largest interconnected ecosystem on earth.

It provides a huge range of services on which we rely: food, energy, transportation, environmental resilience but also non-material benefits, such as beauty, cultural identity and recreation that enhance our sense of well-being.

Half the oxygen we breathe comes from tiny micro-organisms flourishing in the sunlit surface layer of the ocean. These are single-celled micro-algae, tiny little machines that use sunlight and available nutrients to grow at an enormous rate.

The ocean regulates the climate system that enables us to live on the planet. Most of the rain that makes agriculture possible comes from the ocean.

An increasing number of raw materials like sand, copper, oil and gas also come from the ocean.

The ocean is capable of providing us with renewable energy. It is estimated that about 15 per cent of it can come out of the ocean

A drawing by a Grade 6 learner calling on the public to keep the ocean free from marine debris. The ocean is under threat due to our careless lifestyles and the increasing demands of a growing global population. We need to act now to avoid severe impacts for our generation and the next. Ocean literacy is thus very important, targeting educators, children and parents.

Photo NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION (NOAA)

from green energy like tidal plants, ocean waves or wind farms.

Fifteen per cent of the food we eat comes from the ocean.

From the economics perspective, 90 per cent of the global trade goes across the oceans, 95 per cent of all the telecommunications come through sea cables, and fisheries and aquaculture provide half of the global population with food.

Coastal tourism is the largest market segment and about five per cent of the GDP and six per cent of global employment.

Expanding knowledge about the ocean gives us knowledge to access new substances, pharmaceuticals and food substitutes from coastal waters and, increasingly, the deep sea.

But the ocean is under threat,

stressed by careless lifestyles and the increasing demands of a growing global population.

In recent years, marine scientists have tried to identify threats and pressures responsible for the mounting adverse impacts on our oceans. These include: Marine pollution: This could be from plastics on land or toxic substances and heavy metals from industrial plants (liquid effluent and gaseous emissions) or nutrients, in particular phosphate and nitrogen, from agricultural sources and untreated wastewater.

Another form of pollution is ocean noise pollution from shipping and from the growing offshore industry (exploitation of oil and natural gas reserves, construction of wind turbines and future mineral extraction).

Growing demand for resources: Exploitation of oil and natural gas reserves in inshore areas and increasingly also in deep-sea areas result in smaller or greater amounts of oil being released into the sea.

Overfishing: Industrial-scale fishing and overexploitation of fish stocks and illegal fishing.

Habitat destruction: Building projects such as port extensions or hotels; felling of mangrove forests and the destruction of coral reefs as a result of fishing or tourism.

Bio-invasion: The inward movement of non-indigenous species as a result of shipping transport or shellfish farming.

Another key threat to the ocean ecosystem is climate change, which has resulted in ocean warming, sea-level rise and ocean acidification.

We need awareness and knowledge of the interconnectivity of land and oceans and how humans impact the ocean system.

Since we don’t experience the ocean first-hand, as we do the land systems, we are less likely to be spokespersons for its protection.

Yet, the impact of human activities on the ocean is accelerating alarmingly. We need to act now to avoid severe effects for our generation and the next.

Ocean literacy is thus very important and should target educators, children and parents.

Getting involved in public campaigns like coastal clean-ups brings people into contact with the

situation and can result in behaviour change. Public information campaigns could also embed ocean issues in the public mind.

Another form of ocean literacy is citizen science. Scientists are now tapping into the power of the public as citizen scientists who can be involved in the generation of data at a scale which could otherwise be unobtainable.

So, for observation of species like sharks, whales or jellyfish, hobby amateur observers can plug their data into the scientific community.

Literacy must play a role in transforming individual behaviour and influencing political decisions, leading to good governance of our ocean resources.

In September 2015, the United Nations for the first time singled out ocean sustainability as a global sustainable development goal. We now need to work actively to make this goal a reality by increasing ocean literacy and increasing actions to protect the oceans and to make good ocean management the best option for humans.

For our health, safety, wellbeing, our economy and for the just distribution of resources, let us join hands to protect the ocean, which covers 70 per cent of our planet. It is the only one we have.

Nurudean Ssempa holds an MSc in Applied Marine Science from University of Cape Town, and is co-founder of www.global-institute.org.za

Muslim Views . September 2018

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Sanzaf makes distribution count MAHMOOD SANGLAY

SHAUKET Fakie concludes his three-year term of office as national chairperson of the South African National Zakah Fund (Sanzaf) with some profound reflections on the past financial year.

Income fell by 17 per cent (R133 million from R160 million in 2017) due to an adverse economic climate, a competitive environment and the support by donors of international humanitarian crises generally.

Despite these adverse conditions, the charity has achieved a feat in distribution that fundamentally foregrounds the significance of this aspect of their operations.

Income is a variable subject to market forces beyond the control of the charity.

However, distribution is a function of operations directly under their control. Therefore, scrutiny of the management and distribution of collected funds by a charity is a far more meaningful indicator of its efficacy than scrutiny of its income.

Fakie elaborates on the positive impact of the achievement of 98,2 per cent of funds distributed (R131 million) in the past financial year, compared to 91,5 per cent in 2017. The intervention of Sanzaf’s projects, he says, benefits 100 000 people every month.

The aggregation of Sanzaf’s flagship projects is referred to as the Sanzaf Education, Empower-

Therefore, scrutiny of the management and distribution of collected funds by a charity is a far more meaningful indicator of its efficacy than scrutiny of its income.

Shauket Fakie steps down next month as national chairperson of Sanzaf after a three-year term of office. One of Fakie’s key priorities was to strengthen the role of national office bearers of the organisation.

Photo SANZAF COMMUNICATIONS

ment and Development (SEED) Programme. An amount of R27 million was distributed through this programme in the form of bursaries, early childhood development initiatives and projects like honey harvesting, chef

and hospitality training and smallscale farming.

The difference this makes on the lives of people is typically quantified by the corresponding expenditure reflected in their financials. But the actual difference is unquantifiable. Qualitative impact has no empirical measure.

After over four decades of investment and building the reputation as a leading distributor of zakaah, the organisation can legitimately argue that indicators of its success and impact are not necessarily evident in income targets.

Ultimately, what matters more to donors and beneficiaries is the delivery on funds distributed. This means building of reserves is a lesser priority. Indeed, says Fakie, the aim is to distribute more than 100 per cent in the forthcoming financial year.

Administration costs, expressed as a percentage of income this year, is 16 per cent compared to 15 per cent in the previous year.

This is due to the decline in income. However, the organisation has remained below the shariah prescribed threshold of drawings from the Amiloon Fund of 12,5 per cent in order to sustain administration costs.

MUHARRAM M

Mubarak

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And there are plans in place to trim these costs further by introducing greater efficiencies in administration.

Although Sanzaf does not have projects dedicated to international humanitarian crises, it does have partnerships with other charities that support international projects.

This is applicable when Sanzaf donors specifically request that their funds be used to support such projects.

In such cases, Sanzaf partners with Al Imdaad in order to channel donor funding to the desired international project.

Fakie says, about eighteen months ago, Sanzaf was approached by Penny Appeal, an international charity and a new entrant in the South African charity landscape, with proposals of collaborative relief projects in Africa.

He says there were high-level engagements with Penny Appeal and that Sanzaf opted to remain focused on its current priorities and to preserve its independence.

He added that the impact of Penny Appeal in South Africa is sustained by all charities and that the greater diversity of charities

should ultimately benefit the recipients.

Fakie reflects on the greatest challenges of the past year and refers to the loss of key human resources in Gauteng, addressing governance needs and implementing the priorities of their Vision 2020 Road Map in becoming financially self-sufficient.

Another challenge was the ‘Cape Accord saga’ which is technically a post-balance sheet event.

The organisation was initially a signatory of the accord and later withdrew its support due to pressure from, inter alia, its donor community. However, Sanzaf has gained valuable experience and responded with both public and internal strategies in order to mitigate possible adverse consequences in future.

In the long term, Fakie says charities will have to innovate and make greater use of technology in order to remain sustainable. And they have to remain accountable and demonstrate the impact they have on society.

Fakie expressed gratitude to those who supported him and wished his successor well when this appointment is made next month.

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Muslim Views . September 2018

Health awareness workshop for refugee women

NURUDEAN SSEMPA AS part of women’s day celebrations, Muslim Refugees Association of South Africa (Mrasa), in partnership with Islamic Medical Association of South Africa (Imasa) and Kwesu women’s organisation, held a health awareness workshop targeting migrants and refugees.

Over 65 women benefitted from the programme which was sponsored by Penny Appeal South

(Left) A University of Stellenbosch medical student attending to one of the health awareness workshop attendees, to mark Women’s Day. According to health officials, screening and preventive health initiatives are of importance because lifestyle diseases like diabetes and hypertension could be prevented if people are duly educated.

Photo LUQMAN SAHIB

Africa, Wholesome Bread and other partners. It involved screening and presentations by medical doctors and professionals who specialise in children health, reproductive health and nutrition.

‘We feel screening and preventive health initiatives is of importance because lifestyle diseases like diabetes and hypertension could be prevented if people are duly educated,’ said Tougheeda WatsonWaja of the Islamic Medical Association of South Africa (Imasa).

‘Such workshops create awareness around the possible consequences of poor choices regarding one’s health. Prevention is better than cure. Outreach programmes of this nature allow us to reach the community up close and personal, also offering the attendees an opportunity to ask questions and

having their concerns addressed,’ noted Watson-Waja.

According to Mrasa director Ramadhan Wagogo, refugees and asylum seekers are at a disadvantage in accessing healthcare. This is partly due to their lack of social and cultural capital, including language, not being familiar with

(Left) Medical practitioners and some of the health awareness workshop attendees from the migrant and refugee communities: Refugees and asylum seekers are at a disadvantage when attempting to access healthcare. This is partly due to their lack of social and cultural capital, including language, and not being familiar with local bureaucracy.

Photo LUQMAN SAHIB

local bureaucracy and lacking the requisite social cues, manners and behavioural patterns that locals of similar social strata possess.

This is despite the fact that the South African constitution affirms the rights of refugees to access the same health services to which South African citizens are entitled.

‘This health awareness will strongly help refugees live a healthier lifestyle and hence contribute to improved quality of life,’ said Wagogo. ‘We thank organisations which support refugee issues over the years, and new ones, like Penny Appeal,’ he concluded.

All systems go for Madrasatul Quds inter-madrasah quiz ZAHAA SAFODIEN

THE Madrasatul Quds Inter-Madrasah quiz (MQIQ) is set for September 22 and will be held at the Rylands Civic Hall between 9am and 12.30pm, with registration at 8.30am.

Following on the success of last year’s inaugural quiz with six madaris participating, the hosts, Madrasatul Quds, are confident that this year there will again be keen interest.

The hosts won the inaugural contest.

The event is an extension of the annual Madrasatul Quds quiz which was contested between the different grades at the madrasah, said Muallimah Yumna Samuels, the principal of Madrasatul Quds.

The decision to expand was ‘an outreach from our part to involve the community,’ she explained.

This year, they hope to grow even bigger, with seven madaris already confirmed, including runners-up Pinelands madrasah (Pinelands Muslim Association) and Zimasile Islamic Society, a madrasah from Langa.

To keep things fair, the event is run by an independent body, Fusion Event Promotions, who select the questions from the syllabus, bring in their own panel of judges and run the event on the day, headed by Nizaam Abdol.

While the quiz is open to learners from grades five to seven, younger children are welcome to participate. Parents are also given a set of questions to help their children prepare for the quiz.

As for the quiz, each madrasah will submit two teams comprising five learners each, and will battle

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it out through four rounds.

Round one is a non-elimination round, where participants are given a set of questions and, as a team, have ten minutes to discuss and submit their answers.

For round two, numbers are drawn from an envelope, and the number the team draws determines the questions that will be asked.

Round three is a Muslim Views general knowledge round, while the fourth and final round is a hifdh round, where participants are asked to recite from Juz

Amma.

What is a competition without prizes? At MQIQ, everyone leaves feeling like a winner as they are all given a certificate of participation and a small gift, with the winners receiving trophies and medals for their achievements.

Madrasatul Quds has announced that this year’s quiz is dedicated to the memory of Dr Abdul Kader Jaffer, a trustee of Masjidul Quds and founder member of of the Madrasah, who passed away on Saturday September 8.

12

Muslim Views . September 2018

Salt River residents looking to record its history

The old Palace cinema, at the foot of Malta Bridge.

A NUMBER of Salt River residents and ex-residents have come together to consider collecting and compiling the history and heritage of the people, institutions and organisations, current and past, of one of the oldest suburbs in Cape Town.

The initiative emanated from initial discussions between current and past residents who felt that with the real threat of the area

Photo ANWAR OMAR

being gentrified in the near future, there is much to preserve and record in order to keep the ambience and close-knit community spirit that has been the symbol of many similar suburbs.

As a result, The Salt River Heritage Society (SRHS) has been formed with some key aims and objectives.

Its vision is to provide a platform for the documentation and preservation of the history and

The entrance to Salt River Main Road, opposite the Salt River Fish, Fruit and VegPhoto ANWAR OMAR etable Market.

heritage of the area and its peoples.

Shabodien Roomanay, one of the committee members, says that since the launch of the idea, many have come on board to lend a hand or their expertise.

‘There has been a wonderful response from people from the area and many great ideas have been suggested,’ he said. ‘The first programme that the SRHS has planned is a get-together for all

current and ex-residents to meet at the Salt River Railway Hall, on Heritage Day, Monday, September 24, to discuss the idea and the planned objectives,’ he said.

Martin Jansen, another committee member, said that often people with no means are left behind as if they did not exist.

‘Quite often, history is written by those who conquer and reflects a prejudice and bias that does not tell the true story of a people. This

is an attempt to start leaving behind a narrative recorded by the people themselves,’ he said.

At the community gathering, Professor Shamil Jeppie offered to deliver a talk, and efforts are being made to source another speaker.

‘But the idea is to have a very interactive day where people could reconnect and, at the same time, share their own stories,’ said Anwar Omar.

‘We will also be screening the Salt River High documentary at the gathering and will hopefully have tables set up for people to leave information and ideas and contact details, and we will have a timeline for the suburb since its founding,’ he said.

There will also be food items for sale to make the day a pleasant outing.

One of the projects that will emanate from this effort is, hopefully, a documentary of the killing of Ebrahim Carelse in his home by the apartheid police in 1985.

Anyone interested in assisting in any way could send an email to Sedick Kamaldien at saltriverhistory@gmail.com.

A press release by The Salt River Heritage Society

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Muslim Views . September 2018

13

Defensive driving tips that could save a life As part of ‘The five Cs of defensive driving’, a responsible driver will avoid distractions at all times.

Photo 123RF.COM

Ashref Ismail, who shares monthly motoring news with Muslim Views’ readers.

Photo SUPPLIED

ASHREF ISMAIL

DRIVING in South Africa is always a harrowing affair. When you take into account unqualified drivers, inadequate traffic law enforcement, a serious lack of professional training and reckless driver attitudes, you realise that survival on our roads require a special skills set.

These special qualities can be summarised into what we call ‘The five Cs of defensive driving’.

The first ‘C’ refers to compliance. To qualify as an advanced, defensive driver means that your conduct as a road user is to avoid a hazard. To do this means that you need to play by the rules of the game.

Be familiar with the National Road Traffic Act.

If you obtained your licence more than two decades ago, it may be a good idea to do a refresher course on the rules and regulations pertaining to the use of the vehicle on a public road.

Knowing the rules is one thing; actually applying them poses the major challenge.

Researchers have concluded that up to 90 per cent of all crashes are preceded by an offence.

This correlates with the assertion that far too many people are involved in crashes because they do not obey road traffic rules and regulations. This could either be because of ignorance or arrogance.

The average loss of 45 people a day in South Africa bears testimony to the fact that drivers are not voluntarily compliant, opting to only ‘behave’ when we see a

traffic police vehicle and, if apprehended, we attempt to buy our way out of prosecution.

The second ‘C’ refers to competence. It is estimated that as many as 40 per cent of drivers in the country obtained their licences irregularly. Unscrupulous driving schools in cahoots with corrupt testing officers are contributing towards the carnage on our roads.

Consider the number of heavy goods vehicles and passenger transport vehicles that are being piloted by drivers who do not possess the necessary skills or knowledge to do so safely.

Drivers who carried over bad driving habits from family members or unqualified driving instructors continue driving incorrectly, not realising that they have been doing things like slipping/ riding/ coasting the clutch, accelerating harshly or holding the steering

wheel incorrectly, let alone possessing no knowledge of the System of Vehicle Control or Commentary Driving Techniques.

Competence also requires that a driver possesses knowledge of the rules of the road, is familiar with his/ her car and is able to drive his/ her vehicle in different environments and in adverse weather conditions.

The third ‘C’ refers to concentration. Safe driving requires sharp observation skills with a special ability to read the road and identify potential hazards before these become a threat.Sadly, the more competent we become behind the wheel, the more complacent we become. We suffer numerous distractions which include visual, mental and physical. To sharpen our awareness means we should employ the Commentary Driving Technique that ensures that we look far ahead, look constantly in our mirrors, check blind-spots and look into intersections and junctions. This will ensure that hazards are identified timeously, accordingly and prioritised avoided without drama.

The fourth ‘C’ refers to compassion. Given our diverse back-

grounds, we need to be more empathetic towards driver attitudes and behaviour.

While it is difficult to condone flagrant reckless and negligent driving, a bit of understanding about why drivers behave the way they do will reduce road rage and unnecessary stress.

Let us take taxi drivers, our usual culprits as a case in point.

Take into consideration the time they awake, the amount of trips they have to make to cover the cost of fuel, traffic fines and repairs.

Plus, at the end of the day, give the owner of the mini-bus anything between R400 and R1 000 per day, not to mention the pressure exerted by passengers travelling from apartheid special planning locations, all of whom are rushing to their places of work lest they be fired, things begin to take on a different perspective.

The last ‘C’ refers to consequences. Understand that every action results in equal and opposite reaction and, as such, failing to play by the rules can lead to prosecution in the best case scenario or life-long regret in the worst case scenario.

Road safety is everyone’s responsibility and requires commitment to the ‘five Cs’ mentioned above.

14

Muslim Views . September 2018

How Haval is changing the image of Chinese cars ASHREF ISMAIL

BACK in the late 60s and early 70s, our folks swore by American automobiles. Chryslers, Chevrolets and Pontiacs were the cars most sought after.

Japanese entrants to the market were eyed with suspicion and it took Toyota with its ¾-ton Toyopet pickup a long time to win the confidence of local motorists.

Then, in the early 90s, we had the Koreans who made a back door entry into South Africa via Botswana with the Hyundai range of vehicles that, again, had locals wondering about this unknown brand from a country few people knew of.

Both Toyota and Hyundai turned the local market upside down. Back then who would have predicted so?

And now, in the 2000s, we have the Chinese, who came, copied but not quite conquered the local market with their generally poor quality, cheap and nasty offerings which were quite literally, knockoffs of old technology.

While many have fallen by the wayside, the very few left behind have upped their game significantly to such an extent that sampling their products will leave you doubting the origins of their cars.

One such player to be taken se-

Haval will change your impression of Chinese vehicles. Seen here is the newly launched, flagship, the H9. Photo QUICKPIC

riously is Haval, which forms the luxury SUV-only arm of the GWM group. The GWM stable boasts the Steed range of value-filled offerings in single and double cab bakkie configurations.

Having tested both the entry level H2 and the H6 City vehicles, I must say that the performance of both vehicles have been a huge revelation. If you hid the badges and asked someone to guess what car they’re driving, they would never guess that it is a Chinese product.

Gone are the funny smelling, cheap, plastic materials hastily put together and falling apart at every speed hump. Now you’re welcomed by a lovely, new car smell that reminds you of interiors of cars costing twice as much. The fascia design is modern and well laid out, adding to the ergonomic value of the car.

Every conceivable bell and whistle is catered for, and the quality of materials and the standard of fit and finish promises to go the distance. Bonnet, boot and doors

open and close with a reassuring thunk unheard of previously in cars from China.

Once you start the engine, select ‘Drive’ and pull off, you immediately realise that a lot of thought went into the design and engineering of this car. Be it the H2 or the H6, the refinement and solidity of the performance is remarkable, with gear changes and overall performance top drawer.

The styling too, is modern, classic and easy on the eye. It is, thankfully, not a rip-off of any

marque and is beginning to carve its own brand loyalty. Remember, in its home country, it sold more than a million vehicles in 2017, and these are only SUVs as they do not produce any other derivatives – and that is saying a lot.

At this rate, don’t be surprised if Haval becomes a top seller in its categories in the not too distant future, locally too. It certainly has the credentials; styling is now in the hands of Pierre Leclierq, previously of BMW M division fame, while Ramon Ginah, ex Alfa Romeo, is responsible for the sumptuous interior design.

For now, at least, Haval is priced quite competitively and, with a generous warranty and roadside plan, aims to take the fight to the big dogs. As we speak, more dealerships are being planned until such time that they are represented in all the big centres.

They also launched the flagship, H9, a true, full-size off roader at the Festival of Motoring, at Kyalami, at the end of August.

This should ruffle the feathers of the established brands a bit!

So, if you’re in the market for a quality SUV that offers all the bells and whistles without costing you an arm and a leg, make a turn at a Haval dealership and be pleasantly surprised.

Muslim Views . September 2018

15

How to deal with a punctured wheel ASHREF ISMAIL

CHANGING a punctured tyre may not be as common as the days gone by, when most cars were equipped with cross-ply tyres. Today, all cars come fitted with radial ply tyres, which give a softer ride and are much safer in respect of punctures and the dreaded blowouts.

That is not to say that punctures do not occur. They do and, in our current criminal environment, the prospect of being stuck on the side of the road, at night, especially if you are female is extremely frightening.

Follow these simple rules or, better still, cut this article out and keep it safely in your glovebox, it may come in handy someday.

1. Be familiar with the operational aspects of your car, and the best way to do so is to study your car’s handbook. Many drivers have never opened their handbooks, which carry critical issues that could not only jeopardise your safety but also result in unnecessary costs, inconvenience and compromise your vehicle’s warranty. Study the section on changing a wheel.

2. Ensure that you are familiar with the location of the spare wheel and that it is inflated and in

Make sure you consult the owner’s manual before attempting to change a wheel.

Photo 123RF.COM

the nuts need to be tightened. This time, using the spanner, tighten each one carefully and in a diagonal pattern. Ensure that no nut is left untightened.

10. Replace the punctured tyre, the jack, spanner and screwdriver in their respective spaces and ensure that you visit a tyre shop as soon as you can to repair or replace the tyre. Do not leave it for the end of the month! a good condition. Check to see if the jack and spanner are in place and that the spanner actually fits the nuts.

3. Should you experience a puncture, slow down gently and smoothly without braking harshly, which could result in loss of control. Pull off as far left as possible, on a level surface, activate the parking brake and switch on the hazard lights.

4. Remove the spare wheel, jack, spanner and screwdriver and be sure to consult the vehicle handbook for the correct placing of the jack. Failure to do so could result in damage to the vehicle or, worse still, serious personal injury.

5. Use the screwdriver to pop off the hubcap. Loosen the wheel

nuts but do not remove them. Jack the car up sufficiently so that the wheel is able to turn freely.

6. Use the spanner to turn the wheel nuts anti-clockwise to loosen them completely. It is advisable to loosen the nuts diagonally.

Be sure to hold the tyre firmly to avoid injury. Pull it carefully towards you as you remove it.

7. Align the holes of the spare tyre with the bolts of the wheel and carefully fit the tyre into place. Screw on the wheel nuts with your fingers, diagonally, but do not tighten them fully yet.

8. Release the jack by turning the handle anti-clockwise and carefully remove it when the wheel touches the ground.

9. Very important: remember

Some additional tips

l In cars that come with space savers, please be aware of the load, speed and distance ratings to avoid unnecessary hazards. l Some cars come equipped with ‘run-flat’ tyres that allow a driver to continue his/ her journey safely but please check the vehicle handbook regarding the safe speed to observe. l Do not compromise your personal safety. Use your discretion. If the place feels unsafe, drive in ‘limp’ mode (low speed) to the nearest police station, fuel station or place of safety. A damaged rim can easily be replaced. l Many new cars are sold with Roadside Assistance and if you

really do not know how to change the wheel, call for help.

While waiting, sit in your car with all the doors locked and be wary of suspicious characters who offer to help but may harbour criminal intentions. l Should you be approached by a dodgy character, open your window very slightly and inform him that the police are on their way with help. (Even if that might not be the case!) l Depending on the circumstances, do not abandon your vehicle in search of help. You become a soft target and so will your vehicle. l Keep your mobile phone charged and on your person at all times. l Remain calm and do not abandon your common sense. l The final tip is probably the most important one. Prevention is a hundred times better than… so make sure you conduct regular pre-trip inspections, have your tyres, balanced and aligned at least every 10 to 15 000 kilometres or when you’ve hit a pothole or kerbstone.

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16

Muslim Views . September 2018

Climbing where no other Kwid has climbed before

Big, bigger, biggest - putting things in perspective or is it the other way round?

The motoring editor, Ashref Ismail, seen alongside David and Goliath outside Greytown in KwaZulu-Natal.

Photo SUPPLIED

ASHREF ISMAIL

IT started off as a bet. Swombo (She Who Must Be Obeyed), okay, wifey, to all of us, exclaimed: ‘How can you call this little econo-box a mini SUV? ‘A sport utility vehicle has to at least have bull bars, additional fog lamps and the obligatory spare wheel hanging from the rear. Not

to mention all-wheel drive, diff lock and low range,’ she retorted.

She would know because she has been on numerous off-road excursions with me over the years.

So that got me thinking. And planning.

I’ve often held the view that some of the most remarkable road trips are the ones that are least planned. The spontaneous, let’s-

MUHARRAM MUBARAK, WE WELCOME THE ISLAMIC NEW YEAR 1440 MAY ALLAH THIS NEW YEAR BRING MANY OPPORTUNITIES YOUR WAY, TO EXPLORE EVERY JOY OF LIFE AND MAY YOUR RESOLUTIONS FOR THE DAY AHEAD STAY FIRM, TURNING ALL YOUR DREAMS INTO REALITY AND ALL YOUR EFFORTS INTO GREAT ACHIEVEMENTS.

Passing over the iconic Tugela Bridge in the diminutive Kwid made for some Photo SUPPLIED amazing memories.

just-see-where-we-end-up type of ones are the ones that create an atmosphere of mystery, magic and tension.

But this time, I decided to be a bit more circumspect, the frightening Lesotho Maluti Mountains experience still looming large in my mind – but that’s a story for another time!

This time, it was going to be in the Renault Kwid, South Africa’s tiniest SUV. Yes, that’s what Renault would want us to believe, given that this is the ‘Climber’ version. What it was meant to climb, I’m not sure. With those puny wheels, I doubt if it would even climb a slanted kerbstone!

Like almost every manufacturer

out there, Renault has realised the importance of dressing up even this stylish entry level with a more macho persona. Fitted with roof rails that come with a warning not to load anything on it, a perceived higher riding height, fake diffusers and muscular scruff plates, the tiny Kwid looks ready to run with the big dogs. Or not.

So, thought I, why not undertake a 1 500 kilometre round road trip from Pretoria to Durban and back. Except that, instead of tootling along the nausea-inducing N3, tackle the route down to Durban along the ‘old’ road – the road that was used by our folks before the advent of highways.

‘Crazy’ thought friends and family. Especially since the car is built for city commuting, not long distance road trips. It hardly has enough space for 2,5 people’s luggage. Yes, our five-year-old was joining us and yes, there were those who felt that we were being unnecessarily reckless.

‘The engine is tiny’, ‘the wind will blow you guys around’, ‘trucks will bear down on you guys and run you over without them even knowing’, but most of all, we would be ‘uncomfortable and extremely tired’.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 17

Muslim Views . September 2018

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16

‘Are you sure you guys want to do this?’ were some of the responses we got as people learnt about this crazy trip. But the more they though it was crazy, the more determined I was to prove that the Renault Kwid would be able to do it.

The route we planned would take nine hours without stopping.

But stopping we were going to do; lots of them: refreshment breaks, salaah breaks, photo breaks and the odd social breaks. We planned to depart from Pretoria after Fajr Salaah to Standerton via Nigel then onward to Volksrust, along the R23 then Newcastle, Dundee, Greytown, Pietermaritzburg and, eventually, Durban.

Luckily, the car was able to swallow a full-sized car seat so Tasmiya slept all the way to Volksrust.

It was cold and windy on Thursday, Women’s Day. We travelled at a steady speed of around 100 km/h which, in this threecylinder, 1-litre car felt and sounded faster than it was going.

Luckily, at that time of the morning and along this secondary road, the traffic was very quiet, giving us a chance to see the sun rise over the eastern escarpment, in Mpumalanga. With a strong tailwind, literally having the wind behind our backs, the little ‘Climber’ made haste to Newcastle where we enjoyed a sumptuous

brunch at the local Nando’s.

The road to Dundee was largely uneventful but was marked by numerous battle sites steeped in historical significance. My lack of historical knowledge got Swombo questioning the legitimacy of my claim of having been a history teacher once.

The trip from the sleepy town of Dundee to Greytown along the R33, through extremely busy little towns like Pomeroy and Tugela Ferry proved to be most challenging.

Errant pedestrians, stray animals, huge speed humps, noisy rumble strips, deep potholes, massive trucks, stretches of tar roads turned into gravel, kamikaze taxi drivers, foul weather and falling rocks threatened to bring our, otherwise uneventful, journey to an abrupt end.

Undeterred, we pressed on confidently and determinedly with Swombo our ever-competent navigator. We realised that we were not doing good on time. Travelling at night is a big no-no. We needed to be in Maritzburg by Maghrib.

Driving along the N3 for the final lap would be somewhat acceptable.

Strangely, this section of the trip also happened to be the most scenic. The little Kwid climbed with gutso – the spectacular mountain passes with scary views of the valleys below. I have always maintained that South Africa has amazing beauty if one is just willing to go off the beaten track.

17

Climbing in the Renault Kwid was almost a breeze had it not been for the howling winds, heavy load and the puny engine.

Photo SUPPLIED

From Greytown, it was a quick 55 kilometres run to Pietermaritzburg. We did not quite make it for Maghrib but the final lap to Durban along the N3 was now beckoning.

With the trip computer showing an incredible average consumption rate of 18 km/ litre, we breezed into Durban a little after 20h00, none the worse for wear.

The Renault Kwid Climber re-

ally proved its mettle, punching way above its body weight and proving that yes, if called upon to do so, it can play the role of a SUV. But a tiny SUV, neh?

18

Muslim Views . September 2018

PROFESSOR BONGANI MAYOSI (JANUARY 28, 1967 - JULY 27, 2018)

Son of African soil who planted many seeds before his passing DR ZAMEER BREY

I ARRIVED at work on a rather normal, cold, wintry morning in May 2009, only to be thrown by a completely unexpected call. I was invited to lunch by the Head of Medicine at Groote Schuur Hospital.

There was something about his voice that disarmed you and you could simply never say no to any of his requests.

I was just a junior manager and he was the world famous Professor Bongani Mayosi.

This is how we first met and I struggled to reconcile why he was interested in taking me for lunch.

Why would someone so important want to spend his precious time with me?

I was not going to miss the opportunity so arrived on time to find him waiting for me. He was always punctual, a personality trait that I learnt was Professor Bongani Mayosi over the next decade of working with him.

While I was happy to be invited to a ‘free’ lunch with Prof, I had no idea that he had come with a very clear agenda for this seemingly informal 45 minutes that would fundamentally change my perspective and life path.

Prof had come with a set of deliberate questions about my career progress to date, my vision and, ultimately, the contribution I would make to society He listened to my rather vague and poorly thought through answers so attentively that, to this day, I can picture his optimistic and engaged facial expression shaped by the broad beautiful smile he was famous for.

At some point he paused and said, ‘Okay Zameer, so here’s the plan.’

His words fell sharply and were deeply motivating. He kept saying how Africa had no need for mediocrity. He was resolute that the African transformation would be led by Africans who strove for excellence and settled for nothing less.

In these few minutes, he had helped shape the next decade of my life and set me up for making

Professor Bongani Mayosi with his wife, Nonhlanhla, attending the South African Medical Association presidential dinner in July 2015, in Cape Town. The writer was invited to the event by Mayosi.

Photo DR KATHARINE LEWIS

that very contribution he was deeply passionate about.

On July 27, 2018, a seemingly normal day returning from work, I was struck by another unexpected call. Unfortunately, this time it left me gasping. Trying to rationalise the news of his sudden passing, I called several friends waiting for someone to tell me it was a rumour or fake news.

The last few weeks have been painful to know that a teacher, mentor and role model has vanished without warning. For everyone who knew him, his optimism and positivity was so infectious that it was impossible to meet Professor Mayosi without remembering the encounter.

Having worked with him in different capacities over the years, I will fondly remember the light that he brought into a dark meeting room, the solution focus he brought to the most complex problems; his ‘can do’ attitude became a trade mark!

As many have reflected on in the past weeks, it is safe to say that

my 45 minute explosive engagement with Prof was by no means unique. This charismatic giant made it his business to mentor and support many of us to achieve excellence and contribute meaningfully to an African developmental agenda.

I believe that Bongani would want all of us to fill the space he left with thousands more motivated scientists, researchers and clinicians.

Bongani was a big thinker and a big doer.

In 2007, at his inaugural lecture, he sketched a bold and radical vision to create an ecosystem to train a thousand additional PhDs in South Africa. That pipeline has been built with hundreds of students enrolled in the programme, many already qualified and gushing out to make room for more.

His accolades were enormous and place him among the best scientists this country has had. Having published more than 300 peer reviewed articles, holds an h-Index

of 65 and attracted hundreds of millions in research funding.

He was grounded to making a difference in South Africa and the broader continent but stretched out to compete in the global academic arena. He received the highest presidential honour (Order of Mapungubwe) and was recently admitted to the very prestigious National Academy of Sciences in the USA. His patients loved him and his gentle ways. He found the time to connect with all those around him in a special way.

The connections he made were sincere and strong, regardless of who you were or what rank you held.

It would be remiss of me to not highlight that as a country and fraternity, we have done too little to support the plight of mental health sufferers. The MRC estimates that 14 South Africans commit suicide each day, which ultimately represents a complete failure of our health and social system to respond to those crying out to us for

help. We must do more!

It won’t help that I speculate about what led Bongani to take his own life. There are a myriad of print, online and social media opinions that talk about the prevailing institutional culture, the damage and hurt caused by the #FeesMustFall movement, the sheer challenge of being a black academic and leader.

What I do know for sure is that our Professor Mayosi was committed to excellence, transformation and developing the next generation of scientists. Like I struggled to reconcile why he wanted to meet me for the first time, I too am struggling to reconcile how this beam of positivity left us so suddenly.

I do hope that things will become easier for all those who loved and revered him, in the months to come and, as painful as his passing is, I believe his legacy will live on and a thousand more Bongani Mayosis are preparing to fill the space.

Hamba kahle, Professor!

Revert delivers and publishes his sermons MAHMOOD SANGLAY

Ivan (Ilyaas) Otterstrom embraced Islam in 2015. His faith and his pursuit of knowledge has won the admiration and confidence of friends and associates. Otterstrom was encouraged to speak about his discovery of faith and to share lessons from the faith on a Jumuah platform at Masjid Un-Noor, in Troyville, Johannesburg.

Photo SUPPLIED

IVAN Otterstrom adopted the first name Ilyaas when he embraced Islam in 2015. This month, three years later, he published a collection of 14 bayaans (meaning sermons) or more commonly known among Cape Muslims as khutbahs. Me and Islam: Words of Encouragement, a Set of Notes and Collections of Bayaans Given Through 2015 to 2018.

His journey from revert to Jumuah speaker at Masjid Un-Noor, in Troyville, Johannesburg, is remarkable, partly because it is connected to his work in advertising sales for Muslim Views.

Otterstrom was born in Denmark in 1957. Following a divorce, the loss of his home and the death of his father, Otterstrom was decidedly vulnerable.

He emigrated to South Africa in 1991, joined a church from 1992 to 1993, got married in 1996 and again sought the presence of God in 2000. But his loyalty to the ‘Happi-Klappi’ church was rather short-lived.

He became disenchanted with the hypocrisy and dishonesty of church leaders but, somehow, his faith in God did not dissipate.

This distinction between the church and God is rather subtle but quite significant, says Otterstrom.

In 2015, the CEO of the Mail and Guardian at the time, Hoosain Karjieker, introduced him to Muslim Views as advertising sales consultant. This inspired him to read about Islam, visit the mosque and meet Muslims who answered his questions.

He learned about the faith and was invited to embrace it, and he did. There was no Damascus moment, and there is no dramatic conversion narrative. It was a relatively simple transition to an Islamic way of life.

Six months after declaring his faith, a friend asked him to deliver the bayaan at Masjid Un-Noor on September 30, 2015. He was apprehensive for he was still becoming familiar with the rituals and basics of Islam. However, he accepted the challenge and proceeded to prepare and deliver a

sermon on the topic ‘Faith in Allah’.

The experience liberated within him a deluge of thoughts and feelings as his drive for knowledge increased. Learning and sharing a blend of this learning with his personal experience as a revert thus became the larger project.

The publication contains a selection of 14 bayaans, and the topics are diverse, from ‘The good life’, to ‘Let’s talk about sin’, to ‘Are you really Muslim?’ Each of them draws from personal reflections but they also invariably draw from admonishments from the Quran and Hadith.

Ultimately, says Otterstrom, he learned. ‘Maybe that was his plan all along,’ referring to his friend who started it all, ‘or it could have been His plan all along,’ referring to God. ‘I have been at it for some time.

It grows my knowledge but, much more importantly, it grows my faith in Islam.’

The bayaans have been edited for publication purposes. He says they are now reflections instead.

The publication is in electronic

form only and appears to have been sparsely proofread though.

The bayaans are not in chronological order and are not annotated so they are somewhat difficult to contextualise in terms of his development as a Muslim.

The value Otterstrom offers though is admirable. A strength of his style is that he conveys hope in elementary rhetoric. He addresses us with the wide-eyed fascination of an explorer whose prize is the discovery of the virtues of ethics and morality of a new-found faith.

And the admonishments he encounters in the Quran and Sunnah drive his thirst and passion for calling to virtue. His tone is positive and he inspires affirmation of one’s faith.

It is noteworthy that among the handful of people Otterstrom thanks is his wife Sybil, who is not a Muslim. She offers her support, friendship and love. And she is his partner in their sales and publishing business.

Anyone interested in obtaining a copy of the collection of bayaans may contact the author directly at ivanotter@worldonline.co.za

Muslim Views . September 2018

19

Africa Halal Week envisages massive economic growth MAHMOOD SANGLAY

The Halaal market in the Western Cape has grown by R900 million since 2015, according to the provincial minister of economic opportunities. And by 2030, one third of consumers in Africa will be Muslim says Rashid Toefy, the deputy director general of the Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism.

The religious and economic significance of these statistics is underscored by the initiatives undertaken by the Western Cape Investment and Trade Promotion Agency (Wesgro) and the Western Cape’s Department of Economic Development and Tourism (Dedat).

Following the launch of Project Khulisa, in 2014, as a means of stimulating economic growth in the Western Cape, the opportunity for the Halaal industry in the growth of the tourism and agroprocessing sectors was identified.

At a media briefing on August 7, Wesgro announced the launch of the inaugural Africa Halal Week 2018, scheduled to take place between October 15 to 17.

The event marks an important development in the local Halaal industry as a gateway to international trade and economic growth for the provincial and national economy. The Halaal industry’s share of this potential economic growth in the province is 32 000 jobs in the Western Cape, which can be generated on the back of the global Halaal market.

The Western Cape exports over R120 billion worth of products across a wide range of industries, including the fuel and wine industries. However, 35 per cent (R42 billion) of these exports are Halaal-relevant. Under Project Khulisa, the Western Cape alone is responsible for exporting over R10 billion in Halaal certified products.

Africa Halal Week is championed by Denan Kuni, Wesgro’s head of International Trade and Development. The event is also supported by the provincial government and the City of Cape Town. Their vision is to build business links and facilitate opportunities in tourism, trade and investment, Islamic banking, cuisine, fashion, film and media.

Africa Halal Week is a platform to promote and facilitate exports of goods and services from qualified companies in the Western Cape and to support operations

Rashid Toefy, the deputy director general of the Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism, said Africa Halal Week, scheduled to take place from October 15 to 17, is to leverage the strategic position of Cape Town and the Western Cape in order to develop the province as the preferred Halaal Photo DEDAT trading partner and hub for the Halaal market in Africa.

and expansion of Western Cape companies into the rest of Africa through outward foreign direct investment.

Kuni says Wesgro will provide a business facilitation platform for local enterprises to enter into trade agreements in foreign destinations, access to finance opportunities, market research and information and strategic collaboration and partnerships.

The unit will also promote outward and inward selling and buying missions and advocacy and specialised advisory services. In promoting export, the unit offers export, market and sector awareness seminars, a range of support services in export development and one-on-one mentoring. The relevant sectors are wide-ranging and extend beyond conventional halaal products and services.

Africa Halal Week will host 40 international guests, including buyers, CEOs and thought leaders in the Halaal industry. Already twenty buyers have been confirmed from countries as diverse as Senegal, the UAE, Kuwait, Singapore, Malaysia, India and the UK. The conference programme will focus on modest fashion, Islamic banking, shariah finance, Halaal

tourism and the Western Cape as a Muslim-friendly film and media destination.

Western Cape Minister of Economic Opportunities, Alan Winde, told the media briefing that the Halaal market has grown R900 million since 2015. ‘We look forward to nurturing this already lucrative market to see it expand even further within the province, creating much needed jobs and boosting the Cape’s economy,’ the minister said. Wesgro CEO, Tim Harris, quoted statistics indicating that the total expenditure from Muslim millennial travellers alone will surpass US$100 billion by 2025, while the overall Muslim travel segment is estimated to reach US$300 billion by 2026.

He added that the Western Cape is strategically positioned at the southern tip of Africa to access this burgeoning consumer base, increase local capacity in the Halaal supply chain and grow the Cape’s Halaal market share.

Halaal travel The Halaal travel and tourism sector in Cape Town is already advancing in the market through international engagements and by preparing local service providers

Ammaarah Petersen represented the Interim Halal Coordinating Committee at a meeting on September 4. She called on Muslim stakeholders to express their interest in the various clusters across diverse economic sectors and interest groups of the Halaal industry. Petersen is a professional chef and the founder of Photo REZAA ABDULLAH a catering company called HotChefs.

for the special needs of the Muslim traveller.

On August 15, Cape Town Tourism hosted CrescentRating in order to train 21 service providers from the accommodation sector, 20 restaurateurs and 14 tour and leisure activity operators.

Carel Stadler, Trade and Partnership Manager of Cape Town Tourism (CTT) says an estimated 15 of the attendees were Muslim.

This is an indication that the majority of service providers with an interest in Halaal tourism are not Muslim.

Stadler adds that a total of 131 million Muslims travelled internationally in 2017 but that South Africa and Cape Town’s share in this market is ‘dismal’ at present.

However, he is confident that Cape Town has a unique opportunity to grow its Muslim traveller market to diversify the visitor arrivals and to address the impact of seasonality. CTT, in collaboration with CrescentRating, published Halal Tourism: Basic Guidelines and Glossary which is useful for travel and tourism service providers. The publication covers the basic faith-based needs of Muslim travellers such as Halaal food, prayer facilities, Ramadaan

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services, water-friendly washrooms, the exclusion of prohibited activities, permissible recreational activities and family-centred privacy.

Africa Halal Week is also a watershed moment for Muslim stakeholders whose interest is both the protection of the integrity of Halaal as the property of the global Muslim community and as a vehicle for the economic empowerment of people at all levels.

This is inclusive of Muslims and others who do not share their faith but it is particularly inclusive of small businesses and enterprise development at local community level. For the past four years there has been increasing interest from various stakeholders, most notably the Muslim community, including businesses, Halaal certifiers, civil society organisations, academics and the clergy. Collectively, their interests are now represented on the Interim Halal Coordinating Committee (IHCC), formed in October 2017.

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22

Muslim Views . September 2018

NIHT gets Gulf Halaal accreditation STAFF REPORTER

IN recognition of its adherence to international standards, the South African Halaal certifying authority, National Independent Halaal Trust (NIHT), has been accredited in the United Arab Emirates, marking another milestone for the organisation.

The NIHT received its accreditation certificate in the field of Halaal Products Certification according to the UAE GSO 2055-2: 2016 Halaal Products Standard from the Emirates International Accreditation Centre (EIAC). The standard includes many clauses from the ISO 17065 Standard for certifying bodies thus standardising many systems of operations adopted by Halaal certifying bodies.

The accreditation certificate was handed to Moulana Abdul Wahab Wookay, the organisation’s CEO, and Hafidh Moorad Booley, the chairperson, at the EIAC offices in Dubai, by Amina Ahmed Muhammed, the CEO of EIAC. Also present at the handover were Mr Sake van der Wal and Mr Sidarth

Metha, from the economic desk of the South African Consulate in Dubai.

The UAE Standard demands that Halaal certifying bodies approach Halaal certification holistically and includes issues such as hygiene, purity and food safety of halaal food. In light of this, all NIHT auditors have been trained in the Food Safety System Certification (FSSC) 22000 Standard. This keeps in line with the concept of continuous learning and improvement on a professional level as adopted by the organisation since its inception in the year 2000.

The UAE GSO Standard adds a new dimension to the auditing system of Halaal certification bodies. Audits are now not only conducted by shariah experts but they are joined by technical experts who form part

...the NIHT will continue training their staff to ensure that the requirements that are needed to ensure a halaal and wholesome (tayib) product...

Receiving the Emirates International Accreditation Centre (EIAC) certificate on behalf of the National Independent Halaal Trust (NIHT) from EIAC CEO, Amina Ahmed Muhammad, are Hafidh Moorad Booley (left), chairperson of NIHT, and Moulana Abdul Wahab Wookay (right), CEO Photo SUPPLIED of NIHT.

of the NIHT audit team.

While the shariah expert audits according to the Halaal standard and the Halaal Assurance Programme (HAP) of the NIHT, the technical expert audits the food safety standards implemented at the plant.

In light of the above and the utilisation of modern techniques in establishing the Halaal status and purity of halaal products, the NIHT has also established a Halaal Scientifics Research Council under the stewardship of Professor Dr Arshad Mather (PhD Biochemistry).

This committee assists the shariah (ulama) experts in determining the Halaal status of various products. This is done by taking into account the shariah rulings regarding Halaal as well as utilising the latest technical research concepts and techniques available.

The NIHT has always been acknowledged for its professional approach to Ha-

laal certification, and the implementation of the UAE GSO standard greatly enhances that professionalism.

Moving forward, the NIHT will continue training their staff to ensure that the requirements that are needed to ensure a halaal and wholesome (tayib) product reaches the consumer.

His willpower gets him far AYESHA ALLIE

‘THERE is no such thing as a great talent without great willpower,’ and this is what sports enthusiast, Moegamad Yusuf Christians believes as he is again preparing for a national tournament in Durban later this month and, thereafter, Portugal to represent South Africa in the Down Syndrome World Championships in table tennis.

From September 23 to 28, he will represent the Western Cape in the SA Age Group Games in Durban for javelin, discuss and shot-put. In October, he will be competing in table tennis in Portugal.

Both tournaments are self-funded and Yusuf makes sure that his family, friends and neighbours embark on fundraising events that will make it possible for him to enter these tournaments.

The fundraising events are normally in the form of a high tea and braais.

Other fundraising efforts included a 100 kilometre walk by Irfaan Abrahams, a teacher at Al Azhar High School, in Athlone, Cape Town.

The generous donations by guests at the recent Eat ’n Treat event of the Paarl Muslim Jamaah and also individuals who contacted the family pledging their financial support.

Yusuf’s mother, Kaashifa Christians, will only accompany him to the Durban tournament.

In 2015, he represented South Africa in the World Championship Athletics and table tennis, which was held in Bloemfontein.

The following year, he was selected to represent SA in the Trisome Games, in Italy.

Asked how the family copes with Yusuf’s busy sport activities, Mrs Christians said, ‘With the strength from the Almighty, it is also Moegamad Yusuf’s enthusiasm and great willpower which drives us.

‘Despite his challenges, nothing stands in his way to achieve what he believes in.

‘He also has confidence in himself, which makes it easier for us to allow him to travel on his own.’

The friendly and jovial Yusuf (21) is excited about his upcoming tournaments and travels, and makes sure he is involved in every fundraising event in aid of his travelling and accommodation expenses.

The family extends its sincere gratitude to his coaches, Graig Zimre (table tennis) and Zain Lamara (athletics), who will both accompany him to the tournaments.

‘We are also humbled by the support from the community and extended families,’ Christians said.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 23

Muslim Views . September 2018

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22 Yusuf’s interest in sports started at the age of nine, when he attended Ligstraal Primary School, in Paarl. Apart from excelling in javelin, discuss and shot-put, he also plays table tennis. ‘He was excited about every sport event and if allowed, he would most probably have played every sport,’ his

mother said.

Any donations may be made into the following account: Bank: FNB, ACC Name: K. Christians, ACC No.: 62416676221, Acv. Tyoe: Cheque Account, Branch Code: 200110. The family may be contacted on cell no: 079 932 3547.

Raising funds: Moegamad Yusuf (right) on the stage at the Eat ’n Treat 2018 of the Paarl Muslim Jamaah (PMJ) with the chairman, Whagied Hendricks, who auctioned a pair of takkies to help raise funds for Moegamad Yusuf’s trip to Portugal. Shaigh Irfaan Abrahams, president of the Muslim Judicial Council (MJC), who was the keynote speaker at the Eat ’n Treat, also assisted by walking around in the hall with a box, asking guests to donate generously towards his trip.

Photo ACHMAD PATEL

23

UCT MSA Al-Noor Orphanage Sunday fun day AMINA WAGGIE

THE Muslim Student Association (MSA) of University of Cape Town (UCT) held their last Sunday fun day for the term with Al-Noor Orphanage on Sunday, August 19, 2018.

The outreach portfolio of UCT MSA has had a close relationship with Al-Noor Orphanage since February, 2018, when the outreach portfolio first approached Al-Noor Orphanage about starting a weekly tutoring programme with the children in which they would assist them once a week, on a Thursday evening, for two hours, with their homework.

This tutoring programme, which not only consists of academic assistance but also incorporates sports and fun activities for the children, was approved in February and has been running successfully for seven months now.

There is a significant number of volunteers, between 20 to 25 people, who participate in the tutoring programme.

Despite the volunteers not having the luxury of free time, as many of them are either university students or members of the working class, they still ensure that they are available for the tutoring sessions. This shows how truly dedicated these volunteers are to making a difference in the children’s lives.

UCT MSA decided to hold the tutoring programme with Al-Noor Orphanage because they saw the need for academic assistance at the orphanage. They decided on a regular programme in order to make

a significant impact, rather than going once in a while.

Al-Noor Orphanage is situated near UCT so arranging transport from the campus to the orphanage is not much of a challenge, especially since most of the students do not have transportation of their own. This, to a large part, influenced the UCT MSA decision to have the programme at Al-Noor Orphanage.

‘The children warm up to you the more you come so they get to know your name because you’re helping them with their homework, you make salaah with them, you generally interact with them and learn a lot about them.

‘We wish we could spend more time with them but as most of us are students or working, it is really tough. The kids learn from us but we learn more from them. We are more fortunate to interact with them than they are to interact with us,’ said Mogammad Ali, member of the MSA sub-committee of outreach. The Sunday fun day was their final outreach event for the year, and it was a day that all the children enjoyed and appreciated.

It was also a fitting way to end the UCT MSA’s term, and everyone who attended enjoyed the day.

UCT MSA always ensures that they incorporate Islam into their programmes so they started the fun-day with an opening duah and some naseegha. They also broke for Dhuhr salaah, which the children performed with them.

They had many fun games, such as the egg and spoon relay race, a one-legged race, a sack race, a wheelbarrow race, touch

rugby, soccer, as well as a jumping castle and face painting for those who were interested in those activities.

The winning teams of each game were awarded trophies and this really motivated the children to work together as teams in order to win the rewards.

The children were delighted to have the MSA spend the day with them, outside of the weekly tutoring programme. They enjoyed all the games and interacted well with the volunteers, mostly because they have developed a bond with them through the tutoring programme over the last seven months.

Despite all the joy that filled the air on that day, the children were sad that it was their last fun day for the year with the UCT MSA. Nonetheless, their smiles shone bright as they chose to make the most of the time they had together.

‘Basically, you come here with a sense of trying to help those less fortunate but then you get here and you realise that there is nothing less fortunate about them.

They are exactly the same like us, and we are all the same. We have the same academic abilities, the only difference would be that we face different circumstances in life.

‘It is truly so heart-warming to see how dedicated the children are to doing their homework and pushing themselves, wanting to succeed,’ said Tauriq Abrahams, member of the media and marketing team of the UCT MSA, who helped promote the fun day through advertising on social media platforms.

24

Muslim Views . September 2018

The Jinn heard the Quran and accepted Islam SALIM PARKER

MASJIDUL Jinn is located close to the Haram adjacent to the old cemetery known as Janatul Mualla. It is also known as Masjid al-Haras (Mosque of the Guards) as the guards of Makkah would patrol the city up to that point.

Another name for it is Masjid Bai’et (Mosque of Allegiance) as it is the place where the jinn pledged their acceptance of Islam. There are references to the jinn in ahadith and a chapter in the Quran, titled Surah Al-Jinn (surah 72), dealing with the subject.

It is reported that the Prophet (SAW) departed Makkah for the bazaar of Ukkath, in Ta’if, aiming to call people to Islam but it was to no avail.

On his way back to Makkah, he stayed for the night at a vale called Jinn where he recited some Quranic verses. A group of the jinn heard him and converted to Islam and returned to other jinn to propagate the faith. Some commentators indicate that a similar incident occurred where Masjidul Jinn is located.

Verses 1 and 2 of Surah 72, of the Holy Quran, state: ‘Say: It has been revealed unto me that a group [of jinn] listened to me.

Then, they said: We have heard a wondrous Quran that guides to the Straight Path. Thus, we have believed in it and we will never as-

sociate anything with our Lord [in worship].’

The verses indicate that the Prophet (SAW) did not see the jinn, however, their presence was revealed to him by Allah. The verses also indicate that jinn can hear humans and can understand the Quran. They also have the capacity to distinguish right from wrong. Like humans, they will be held accountable for their deeds and actions.

Currently, orientalists grapple with the concept that jinn are figments of ancient superstitions and myths. Rationality, reality and modern pressure to provide proof seems to deter the acceptance of their existence.

The Quran is very clear in numerous different verses in expanding on their creation (made from fire while humans are made of clay [Surah ar-Rahman:14-19]), that jinn were created before humankind (Surah Al Hijr:27) and that jinn can see humans but humans cannot normally see jinn (Surah Al Araf:27). Accepting their existence is similar to accepting the existence of the angels, and questioning their existence is doubting the word of Allah.

Abdullah bin Mas’ood narrated: ‘While in Makkah, the Prophet (SAW) once said to the Sahabah, ‘Whoever wishes to see what the jinn are all about should come along.’ Besides myself noone else came. When we reached

The interior of Masjidul Jinn is modern but not ornate.

Masjidul Jinn is dwarfed by the modern buildings around it, and within walking distance of the Haram, in Makkah.

Photo SALIM PARKER

the place in the Mualla district of Makkah, the Prophet (SAW) used his foot to draw a circle on the ground. He then instructed me to sit inside the circle.

‘After proceeding a little further, the Prophet (SAW) started reciting the Quran. It then happened that jinn started to arrive in

Photo SALIM PARKER

troops as they gathered there. So many came that I could not even see the Prophet (SAW) nor hear him. The Prophet (SAW) then continued talking with a group of them until Fajr.’ (Tafseer ibn Kathir) A hadith also refers to another incident which indicates the interaction between Nabi Muhammad (SAW) and jinn. It has also been narrated by Abdullah bin Mas’ood that the Prophet (SAW) said: ‘A caller from among the jinn came to me, and I went with him and recited Quran to them.’

He further narrates that the Prophet (SAW) took them and showed them their footsteps and the traces of their fires. They had asked him for provision and he had prayed to Allah and told them: ‘You will have every bone over which the name of Allah has been mentioned; when it falls into

your hands it will have plenty of meat on it. And all droppings are food for your animals.’

The Prophet (SAW) then said: ‘Do not use them (bones and dung) to clean yourselves after relieving yourselves for they are the food of your brothers.’ (Sahih Muslim) Masjidul Jinn is within walking distance of the Haram. It is sometimes open during prayer times but pilgrims prefer to perform their obligatory (fard) prayers in the Haram as it is many times more rewarding praying there.

It is not easy accessing Masjidul Jinn outside prayer times and hence praying two rakaats salaah in there is mostly not possible. The building has been renovated and modernised and seems overshadowed by the number of skyscrapers that surround it. Whoever has a chance to visit it should do so.

A view of Masjidul Jinn from the outside. From this point, the Haram is about 700 metres down the road, to the left.

Photo SALIM PARKER

Muslim Views . September 2018

25

MAY 23, 1949 – AUGUST 10, 2018: HAZRATH PIR ABDUL LATIEF SHAH AL QADERI

Spiritual guide departs this world ISMAIL DALVIE

Hazrath Pir Abdul Latief Shah al Qaderi.

Photo SUPPLIED

I AM deeply honoured and privileged to write an obituary of my friend, mentor and spiritual guide, Hazrath Pir Abdul Latief Shah al Qaderi (RA), at the request of the Rawoot family.

Hazrath had a special journey in life that started by being born at the time of the Sandal Sharief celebration of a great Sufi shaikh, Hazrath Abdul Latief Shah Chisti al Qaderi (RA), at the Habibia Sufi Darbar, in Cape Town. As a result, he was named after this Sufi shaikh.

We met in 1981, just over 37 years ago, and developed a very close relationship. He became my friend, mentor and close spiritual associate. Hazrath is a mureed of Professor Moulana Fazl-ur-Rahman Ansari al Qaderi (RA) and took bayah from his shaikh on his first trip to South Africa, in 1971.

His early Islamic education was at Grassy Park Ahmediyah Masjid and Madrassah, where he was taught by the late Janaab Zalgoanker and the late Imam Saheb Ahmed Karjieker, his father-inlaw. He also became talib mureed of Imam Saheb Karjieker.

He always attended spiritual discourses with many visiting Sufi shaikhs, including Hazrath Mehboob Ali Shah Chisti Nizami Faqiri (RA), Hazrath Sayed Khalid Shah (RA), Hazrath Kassim Baba Faridi (RA), Hazrath Sayed

Cape. Hazrath founded the Cape Mazaar Society in 1981 and was a member of the Aleemiyah Ansari Spiritual Assembly, which was headed by Khalifa Hazrath Yusuf Zalgoanker.

He was also the founder member of the Urs Committee of Cape Town, as well as the Ansari Islamic Movement, a social upliftment outreach programme that distributes food parcels and blankets to the needy in disadvantaged communities.

Hazrath Pir Abdul Latief Shah al Qaderi (RA) was the driving force to have many of the neglected mazaars in the Western Cape renovated, repaired and maintained.

It was through his effort, that we now celebrate the annual urs shareef of Hazrath Abduragman Motura Shah (RA) on Robben Island, attended by many from all parts of South Africa.

The mazaar of Hazrath Abdurrahman Matebe Shah, of Klein Constantia, was completely renovated, and the improved facilities were installed under the guidance of Hazrath Abdul Latief al Qaderi (RA) He was also assisted by the late Haji Mahmood Akleker and many others in several mazaar renovation projects.

Hazrath had a number of devotees and mureeds to whom he gave

Sharief Ahmed (Poonawala Shah Saheb) (RA) and Hazrath Arifullah Ashraf Ashrafi (RA), among others.

Hazrath Pir Abdul Latief Shah al Qaderi (RA) has left a great legacy in the history of the mazaars around the Western

spiritual guidance and discourse, and with his guidance and support, they arranged the annual urs sharief of various mazaars.

He also encouraged them to sit in meh-feele samma.

Hazrath was totally dedicated and unconditionally committed to the Sufi spiritual enlightenment of his mureeds and devotees.

In the poem of Moulana Jallaluddien Rumi: Walking in the garden with my Lover/ I was distracted by a rose./ My Lover scolded me saying,/ How could you look at a rose/ with my face so close.

Hazrath had travelled extensively and made ziyarah of many mazaars in Makkah, Madinah, Najaf, Karbala, India and Pakistan.

The most recent ziyarah of mazaars was in Zanzibar.

Hazrath will be sorely and dearly missed by many who had the opportunity of engaging with him.

His family, friends and mureeds will continue with the legacy of the upkeep of mazaars in the Western Cape.

Hazrath is survived by his wife, Roshan, one daughter, three sons and eight grandchildren.

May Almighty Allah grant Hazrath Pir Abdul Latief Shah al Qaderi (RA) Jannatul Firdous, Insha Allah, and bestow him also with a special place with the auliyah kiram, ameen.

26

Muslim Views . September 2018

We plan but we are only human

He had no clue about the rituals of Hajj, no desire nor inclination to embark on the journey, and was certainly not by the financial means, writes DR SALIM PARKER. ABDULLAH* was in his seventies, still relatively nimble, of sound mind and absolutely ecstatic. He had been accredited for Hajj!

He had saved for over ten years for this journey. He had little formal education and his low-key, civil servant job paid the bills but there was never enough to save.

Prior to the last decade, his time, money and, in effect, his whole life revolved around his family.

He provided a comfortable dwelling for his wife whom he never wanted to work, while simultaneously seeing to the needs of his aging parents. His parents were recalled by our Creator first, and his wife soon thereafter, while she was relatively young.

He saw to the upbringing of his children and, two decades later, was involved in financially assisting his grandchildren.

Hajj was never on his mind until he was in his sixties. He had some spare time and decided to attend evening madrasah classes.

The Hajj seed was planted.

Ahmed* was in his twenties and vaguely remembered telling his widowed, childless aunt some years earlier that he’d be her mahram one day when she performs Hajj.

Little did he know that she had listed his name with her application, and great was his shock when she announced that the two of them would be going as they had been accredited.

He had no clue about the rituals of Hajj, no desire nor inclination to embark on the journey, and was certainly not by the financial means. He decided that he would inform her that he would not accompany her and went to her house on a blisteringly cold, winter’s day.

In fact, he recalled that the weather was as dark, gloomy and miserable as he felt. When she opened her door, the radiant glow on her face welcoming him, and the warmth of the family excitedly greeting him from inside the living room, embraced him. ‘I am so blessed that you are accompanying me,’ his aunt lovingly smiled.

‘No Aunty, I am blessed to be accompanying you,’ he instinctively replied. He then realised that he had to go.

Abdullah was always an independent person. He meticulously sorted out his finances and ensured that all his debts were settled and that he had more than sufficient funds for the journey as well as for any emergencies. He also had his contingency sum set aside for all types of presents that his family might request while he was in the Holy Land.

He knew that the many wellwishers who would visit him before his departure would inevitably slip an envelope containing some money in his hand or pocket with their final greeting.

He resolved that he would not use a cent of this money for himself or his family. He made a resolution that all that money would be dispensed to the needy and poor when he was in Makkah and Madinah.

Abdullah was a kind and humble man, a fact that he did not realise but the rest of the world did.

They showed their gratitude, and he was shocked when he diligently counted the gifted money the evening before his departure: it was close to the entire cost of his journey.

Ahmed learnt everything about the Hajj in the two months prior to his departure. He had to make hasty arrangements with his employer, who nearly terminated his services due to what they perceived unreasonable and excessive leave demands. They agreed to unpaid leave and this aggravated his already woeful financial circumstances. He had recently bought a souped-up vehicle whose thirsty

Sometimes, just as it takes a while for the umbrellas that provide shade to open, it can take time for the benefit of the journey of Hajj to be appreciated.

Photo SALIM PARKER

engine whizzed through his wallet, and he sat with other huge, self-inflicted debts.

His aunt visited him one day. ‘It has always been my intention to take you along with not a single financial obligation. I have already paid for our full packages. You do not have to worry about anything,’ she informed him.

He was close to tears and very emotionally informed her that he was selling his car. She was aware that it was his pride and joy and his status symbol amongst his friends. ‘Please don’t do that,’ she said.

‘I want to; Hajj is a much more important journey than anything those four wheels can take me on,’ he replied.

Abdullah and Ahmed were travelling with different Hajj groups but were on the same flight from South Africa.

The groups first went to the City of Light, the City of Peace, Madinah, and were accommodated in the same hotel. Ahmed noted Abdullah coughing at the breakfast venue one morning.

‘That elderly man does not look well, and seems all alone,’ Ahmed’s aunt observed.

He went to Abdullah and asked him if he needed any help, and the offer was politely declined. He did not see Abdullah the next day and enquired about his whereabouts from the group leader, who was clueless but gave him Abdullah’s room number. Ahmed went to check up on him and found him all alone, sweating profusely and breathing with difficulty.

Ahmed knew that I was travelling with his group and hastily urged me to attend to Abdullah. I obliged.

Abdullah was in tears. ‘I had everything perfectly planned. I was supposed to be greeting the Prophet (SAW) this morning and here I cannot even get out of bed,’ he said. After I examined him, I reassured him that he merely had an infection which would resolve soon.

‘Hajj is still more than a month away and it is infinitely better to

If we look, there will always be light Photo SALIM PARKER

be sick now than during the five days of Hajj,’ I said.

‘But I had all these plans, Doc!’ he said. He then explained his detailed itinerary for each day. This included giving money to a needy person each day. The money he had been gifted by family and friends was divided into daily aliquots and neatly wrapped into individual packets. ‘Do you need money to buy medicines for the hujaaj?’ he asked me. I politely indicated that we had enough medication.

Ahmed had tears in his eyes.

‘What’s wrong?’ I asked. He explained that he had sold his car and intended to donate a portion of that money to the poor in the holy cities.

‘I initially did not want to come for Hajj because I was not spiritually and financially prepared but now I am so glad that I have accepted the invitation. Uncle Abdullah, I will distribute your money along with mine today and the days that you cannot do so.

Once you are well we can do it together,’ he offered.

This gesture was readily accepted. I later walked with Ahmed to the Prophet’s (SAW) Mosque.

Even the huge crowds could not distract from the serenity of the most peaceful city on this planet.

After prayers, he met with a South African resident in Madinah who took him to some desperately poor locals.

Abdullah was up and about the next morning, attributing his rapid recovery to the ‘good doctor’ but I knew that it was the peace of mind that played a significant part. I noticed him sitting at Ahmed’s table and they clearly had found something in common.

Hajj was still some time away.

Their Hajj had already started and, somehow, though they had started from vastly different origins, they had reached the uniform path of generosity and contentment. They had indeed arrived.

Labaik! *Not their real names For more Hajj Stories visit www.hajjdoctor.co.za. You may contact Dr Parker via email: salimparker@yahoo.com

Muslim Views . September 2018

27

Bridging the gap between the hearing and the deaf ZAHAA SAFODIEN

NATIONAL Deaf Month is in full swing, pioneered by The Deaf federation of South Africa (DeafSA), the mother body under which 17 grassroots organisations are affiliated.

DeafSA is a non-profit organisation committed to empowering the deaf via awareness, consultation and support structures, and serves as advocates for the deaf and hard of hearing communities.

Situated in the leafy suburb of Newlands, Cape Town, with its picturesque views, when visiting, one is immediately assisted by the friendly staff, both deaf and hearing who go out of their way to help you.

Unlike most other companies that require one to make an appointment, DeafSA has an open door policy. ‘We are here to make sure that if a deaf person does approach us, they become our client,’ says Jabaar Mohamed, the provincial director for DeafSA Western Cape.

Their small but committed team comprises a senior social worker, a social worker, both South African Sign Language (SASL) interpreters, and social auxiliary workers, all of whom are deaf and who assist deaf clients with getting grants, applying for an identity document and relay interpreter services in hospitals.

The organisation also has regional offices in Vredenburg, Paarl, George and Beaufort West, comprising SASL interpreters and a deaf social auxilary worker.

The hearing get a taste of what it’s like to be deaf at the Silent fun Walk, in Newlands, Cape Town on September 1.

Photo DAWOOD MOHAMED

Beryl Petersen, who interprets for Mohamed, also coordinates the services in the Western Cape.

She does bookings for interpreters to do community services and workshops at private companies and conferences.

Adequate employment for the deaf is scarce, therefore the job placement officer plays an impor-

tant role in the organisation. He helps them get employed and does awareness presentations at conferences to help companies who want to employ the deaf.

The organisation’s main focus is social services. Although subsidised by the Department of Social Development for their services, funding and staff num-

bers remain serious challenges.

Despite this, they have their success stories.

Mohamed relates a heartwarming story of a client who, because of lack of communication was not aware that she had been approved for a government house that she had applied for nine years earlier. However, after doing their own investigation, DeafSA succeeded in getting the mother and her two children to move in after about two months.

According to Mohamed, there are about 600 000 deaf people and 1,4 million hard of hearing people in South Africa, a large group which is not given equal opportunity.

He explains that there are issues with communication in various departments, such as education, the workplace and public spaces, especially in healthcare and university, where interpreters are sadly lacking. ‘They want to go study but there are no interpreters.’

Although South African Sign language (SASL) has been officially recognised as an official language in the education system this year, education for the deaf is still a major issue, with only a handful of schools offering Grade 12 nationally.

This is why the theme for this year is ‘Take back deaf education’ and will be highlighted by a march to the Department of Basic Education on September 28.

There, a memorandum will be handed over to the minister to highlight issues such as self-repre-

sentation in key decision-making committees such as the School Governing Bodies (SGBs) and a better system with adequate resources for learners.

Within the Muslim community, the deaf have an added set of needs, especially regarding the learning of their faith.

Only one madrassah for the deaf exists, Al-Waagah Islamic Institute for the Deaf, in Cape Town.

There are also currently no interpreters for Jumuah khutbahs and there is a lack of teachers for the deaf.

Support and awareness are great assets in tackling such challenges and Mohamed urges the Muslim community to support them and the work they do by attending events hosted by DeafSA. He also invites Muslim-owned businesses to sponsor them, even if it is only with food at the events.

‘So far, it’s sad for me to say that in my ten years here I’ve not had much support from the Muslim community, and I’m a Muslim person sitting in this position,’ says Mohamed. Last week, for example, was the first time he was invited to talk on the local community radio station, Radio 786.

On a lighter note, National Deaf Month was kickstarted with an awareness campaign organised

by DeafSA, called the Silent fun walk, which took place on September 1, in Newlands. Participants wore earplugs while doing the fun walk, thus creating an opportunity for the hearing to walk in the shoes of the deaf, albeit only for a few hours.

28

Muslim Views . September 2018

Health File

Women’s month: let’s keep on marching SHAHIEDA ALLIE

AUGUST is women’s month, a time to celebrate successes and highlight the plight of all women in South Africa.

National Women’s Day, signifies and commemorates the day in 1956 when 20 000 brave women marched to the Union Buildings to protest against the apartheid state laws in South Africa, setting the tone for transforming and advocating for the rights of all women and against oppression of South Africans.

Women have shown their strength, contributions and powerful impact on many fronts in shaping a better future and life for all South Africans. More women are making remarkable groundbreaking entries in business, politics, education and economic careers and positions, and as women leaders.

Once again, women are setting the tone as role models and inspiring a new generation with their uniqueness and resilience in breaking down barriers and the proverbial glass ceilings; not forgetting the millions of women heading up families, raising children and making remarkable contributions in communities.

Yet, progress is stumbling along painstakingly, propelling women to continue marching. Women make up 51 per cent of the population but continue to struggle

An assumption is that culturally prescribed gender roles leave women at a greater risk of developing depression, where women are encouraged to be sensitive, passive and be dependent on males in their lives as opposed to the latter being encouraged to be assertive, robust, independent and in control... against tons of barriers of inclusivity, inequality, gender bias, gender discrimination and lack of opportunities preventing them taking up their rightful and equal place in a democratic society.

Women are under-represented in positions of power in that only 32 per cent of women are in leadership or managerial positions, 23 per cent of women are still paid less than males, on average, and only 44 per cent of women fill skilled and professional posts.

This evidently highlights the long road ahead and why women need to keep on marching for gender parity, capabilities to be recognised and that they can make a valuable contribution.

While women’s month and the 16 days of activism highlight the plight of violence against women and children, gender-based violence is a daily reality for countless women in South Africa.

This stark reality for women highlights a world of physical, emotional, sexual and verbal abuse, intimate partner violence

and murder. This results in women being at a disadvantage as they experience more prejudice, poverty and abuse.

According to a study conducted by the Psychological Society of South Africa (PsySSA), ‘Women are also more vulnerable to poverty than men, with women making up 70% of those living in poverty.’

Further studies also highlight that depression is significantly higher in women than in men. A study by Moultrie & Kleintjes, 2006, indicates that poverty, gender violence and HIV are significant contributing factors of depression and anxiety in South African women.

Gender roles and expectations are significant factors affecting the mental health status of women. It is estimated that 70 per cent of people suffering from depression are women. Why, one would naturally enquire?

An assumption is that culturally prescribed gender roles leave women at a greater risk of devel-

oping depression, where women are encouraged to be sensitive, passive and be dependent on males in their lives as opposed to the latter being encouraged to be assertive, robust, independent and in control.

Workplaces are also proven to be not welcoming and respectful of women. Juggling dual roles of work and family life in an unsympathetic work environment can contribute to women being placed under tremendous stress that can trigger mental health challenges.

Women’s Month is an ideal opportunity to reflect, reward and create awareness of the many achievements and struggles facing women. It is a time to ponder why we need to keep on marching, press forward and progress for success as the revolutionary women started this journey back in 1956.

Despite milestones achieved, major barriers still need to be overcome for women to take up their rightful place in society, whether in the home or workplace.

Gender-based violence, lack of gender parity and inclusivity, attitudes and stereotypes continue to deny women to progress successfully.

Women need to keep on marching and demand what is rightfully theirs, demand opportunities and a seat at the table, be it in the boardroom or dining room.

Women need to demand respect and be valued for their contributions.

Men need to be encouraged to take responsibility for opening closed doors, denounce violence against women, show respect and share the caring role of women in families, recognise and value women’s contributions in the home or workplace and teach boys or sons compassion and respect for women.

Women in positions of power need to keep on marching by advocating, uplifting and championing the rights and equal opportunities for other women.

Women must speak out against the oppression of women and girls, and challenge attitudes and stereotypes that determine how women are treated and valued.

Let us continue marching by raising our daughters to be valued, to live without fear and to become successful women.

Let’s keep on marching. We can make a difference!

Shahieda Allie [MA SW (UWC)] is the founder director of Les Femmes Wellness Centre, a centre of excellence for the empowerment of women and women’s wellness.

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Muslim Views . September 2018

29

Polycystic ovary syndrome remains an enigma DR JAYESHNEE MOODLEY

DO you often miss your periods?

Are you struggling to lose weight despite exercising and eating well? Are you conscious of excessive hair growth and acne?

You could have polycystic ovary syndrome.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a reproductive endocrine disorder that affects approximately five to ten per cent of reproductive aged women. Despite years of research looking into the causes of this syndrome, it continues to remain an enigma.

PCOS may have a variety of causes involving genetics, environmental factors as well as fetal and childhood exposures. Signs and symptoms of PCOS often develop around the time of the first menstrual period, during puberty.

Sometimes, it develops later, for example, in response to substantial weight gain.

While PCOS can have a wide spectrum of manifestations and symptoms, the common ones are: l Infrequent, irregular or prolonged menstrual cycles are the most common signs of PCOS. For example, you might have fewer than four periods a year, more than 35 days between periods and abnormally heavy periods. l Excess male hormone: higher levels of male hormone may result in physical signs, such as excess facial and body hair (hirsutism) and, occasionally, severe acne and male-pattern baldness.

Dr Jayeshnee Moodley.

Photo SUPPLIED

l Insulin resistance (which makes you pre-diabetic) l Polycystic ovaries: your ovaries might be enlarged and contain follicles that surround the eggs.

As a result, the ovaries might fail to function regularly. l Weight gain (thin women can have PCOS as well). PCOS can be associated with many longterm complications and concerns. Thus, early diagnosis and management of your condition is essential. Some of the concerns include: l Infertility l Gestational diabetes or pregnancy-induced high blood pressure l Miscarriage or premature birth l Liver inflammation caused by fat accumulation in the liver l Metabolic syndrome — a cluster of conditions including high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels that significantly increase your risk of cardiovascular disease

l Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes l Sleep disturbances l Depression, anxiety and eating disorders l Cancer of the uterine lining (endometrial cancer) Obesity is associated with PCOS and can worsen complications of the disorder. An accurate diagnosis of PCOS is essential.

Based on the diagnosis, the treatment of polycystic ovaries takes place.

Your gynaecologist will ask you about the pattern of your menstrual cycle and whether you have any of the symptoms, like excessive vaginal bleeding, cramps in the lower abdomen, acne and hair fall or hair thinning. Observe the changes in your body carefully and give accurate answers to all the queries.

Your blood pressure, body mass index (BMI) and glucose levels will be assessed. Your gynaecologist will also check the areas of abnormal hair growth, acne and darkening of the skin.

A pelvic examination is usually performed to exclude any other gynaecological conditions and assess the size of your ovaries. If you have never been sexually active, please inform your doctor at the beginning of the consultation to avoid this examination.

Confirmation of PCOS will be made with ultrasound imaging and blood tests. An ultrasound can determine the size of your uterus, thickness of the endometrial lining, size of your ovaries and the presence of ovarian cysts.

PCOS is associated with ap-

proximately 20-25 cysts all arranged to look like a pearl necklace within the ovaries. Blood tests will check the ovulation hormones, levels of androgen or male hormone, glucose and insulin levels.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for PCOS. Treatment focuses on managing your individual concerns, such as infertility, hirsutism, acne or obesity. Specific treatment might involve lifestyle changes or medication. As your needs change, your treatment will change.

Your gynaecologist may recommend weight loss through a lowcalorie diet combined with moderate exercise activities. Even a modest reduction in your weight might improve your condition.

Losing weight may also increase the effectiveness of medications recommended for PCOS, and can help with infertility.

To regulate your menstrual cycle, your doctor might recommend one of the following: Combination birth control pills. Pills that contain oestrogen and progestin decrease androgen production and regulate estrogen.

Regulating your hormones can lower your risk of endometrial cancer and correct abnormal bleeding, excess hair growth and acne. Instead of pills, you could also use a skin patch that contains a combination of oestrogen and progestin.

Progestin therapy. Taking progestin for 10 to 14 days every one to two months can regulate your periods and protect against endometrial cancer. Progestin ther-

apy doesn’t improve hair growth or acne and won’t prevent pregnancy. The progestin-only minipill or progestin-containing intrauterine device is a better choice if you also wish to avoid pregnancy.

Ovulation induction agents like Clomiphene Citrate (Clomid) is often prescribed for women wanting to fall pregnant. This oral antioestrogen medication is taken during the first part of your menstrual cycle and induces ovulation.

It is usually prescribed under supervision and must be monitored closely.

Metformin (Glucophage) is an oral medication for type 2 diabetes. IN PCOS, it improves insulin resistance and lowers insulin levels. This has a knock-off effect to improve hormone levels and assist with ovulation. If you have prediabetes, metformin can also slow the progression to type 2 diabetes and help with weight loss.

Cosmetic options for excessive hair growth will include depilatory creams, waxing and electrolysis.

PCOS affects so many women who feel hopeless and helpless, yet there are options to manage this condition. Let’s start talking about it! Let’s start educating and empowering ourselves and other women. Don’t be ashamed of your story; it will inspire others.

Dr Jayeshnee Moodley [MBChB; FCOG (SA); MMED (O&G)] is a specialist obstetrician and gynaecologist with a special interest in gynaecology oncology. She is an honorary clinical lecturer at UKZN and has a practice at Melomed Richards Bay.

30

Muslim Views . September 2018

Letter to the Editor

When should we celebrate Eid?

WHEN should Muslims celebrate Eid-ul-Adha in South Africa? The Arabic term Eid-ul-Adha means ‘festival of sacrifice’.

The pilgrims meet on the plain of Arafah on 9th of Dhul-Hijja, the 12th lunar month of the Islamic calendar, Eid-ul-Adha is celebrated the following day, i.e.

10th Dhul-Hijja.

In South Africa, Eid is also celebrated on the 10th Dhul-Hijja.

But the problem arises from determining the start of Dhul-Hijja. In South Africa, the start of every month is determined by the actual local sighting of the crescent by the naked eye soon after the moon is born. So, even if the moon was born but the crescent is not visible then the start of the month commences two days later.

This practice causes major problems in the community and leads to a division amongst families, with some families celebrating Eid with Makkah while others celebrate it based on the sighting of the moon. Islam is amongst the youngest religions and most dynamic in the world.

Yet, it seems that its followers in Cape Town selectively accept some advancement in modern technology while rejecting others.

Although the Quran was revealed

more than 1 400 years ago, numerous of its verses have corroborated many recent major scientific discoveries. For example, the development of the human embryo is described in minute detail in the Quran when this information was unknown to scientists.

There are many others.

Yet, it appears that the followers of the book that contains the most advanced scientific recordings are reluctant to embrace the advancement of technology in their daily lives.

Disappointingly, Muslims are quick to consult a scientifically calculated prayer time table but resort to the archaic sighting of the moon when determining the start of Dhul-Hijja. It seems that technology is selectively used by the Muslims in Cape Town. This inconsistency baffles me.

The Saudis, custodians of the pilgrimage, have determined the start of Dhul-Hijja to coincide with that of the scientific calculations. If we disagree with them, does it imply that the pilgrimage of almost three million pilgrims on the plain of Arafah on August 20 was invalid?

In conclusion, at the time of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), the moon and sun were used as instruments to measure time. But, currently, we do not look at the length of shadows to determine our daily prayer times. So why can we not embrace technology and base the start of each lunar month on calculations?

Adiel Ismail Mount View

My unforgettable journey in 1969 EBRAHIM RHODA

IN 1969, my late eldest brother, Mogammad Toyer Rhoda, was teaching in the newly independent Zambia. By then I had been teaching for ten years and was on paid furlough for three months.

I had applied to visit Zambia four months in advance but the visa was not forthcoming. I then took the train as far as Victoria Falls and crossed the bridge, on foot, into Zambia to enquire about my visa application.

I was unceremoniously deported and given five minutes to leave Zambia. South Africa’s green passport was not welcome in many countries at the time.

While waiting for the visa to be posted from my home in Strand, I decided to hitchhike.

This odyssey of about two-anda-half months took me to Salis-

bury, Kariba Dam and Umtali. I crossed the border of Mozambique, proceeded to Machipanda and Vila Pery.

Travelling with locals, I went up to Tete where I crossed the Zambezi by ferry and was on my way to Blantyre in Malawi.

Zomba was my next destination. I finally spent three days in the village of Pemba, on Lake Malawi. I returned via Mtoko and Mrewa in north-eastern Rhodesia to Salisbury.

Armed with my Zambian visa I finally reached my brother in Lusaka.

Homeward bound, I spent three days in Beira and one day in Lourenco Marques. I reached Johannesburg via Komatipoort, and arrived in Cape Town on Monday, September 29, 1969, the day the late Imam Haron was buried, and whose funeral was attended by

30 000 people.

The narrative of my journey is interspersed with little maps of where I travelled and some visuals in monochrome of the people I encountered.

This 60 page, A5-size booklet records my experiences and some observations on this unforgettable journey almost 50 years ago. It has been written almost entirely from my recollections.

Should you be interested in purchasing a copy at R50, please contact me, Ebrahim Rhoda, at: nawawi@telkomsa.net or call 021 842 2092.

The funds generated by the sale of these booklets will be used to sponsor a student through high school. In fact, the sponsorship started last year with a student in Grade 9. He is now in Grade 10 and it is my intention to sponsor him up to Grade 12, Insha Allah.

Heritage Day event to showcase Melayu culture A DAY of food, fun and fashion is promised on Heritage Day, Monday, September 24.

The Face of Melayu event will be held on the grounds of St Thomas Church, 61 Campground Road, Rondebosch, which is next to Bishops Diocesan College.

There is no entry fee for the day of culture and there is ample free parking.

Nadiema Omar, a cultural tour organiser and travel advisor, is coordinating the event, which she describes as a ‘celebration of our Rainbow Nation’.

On offer at the Face of Melayu fair will be various activities that will highlight the influence of the pioneers of Islam in the Cape.

Visitors can enjoy homemade biscuits, jams, chutneys, koeksisters, gebakte brood and soutvleis prepared the traditional way by experienced cooks from

the community.

On the fashion side, you can witness the expertise that goes into pinning on the medora.

Also showcased will be the designs and outfits by local dressmakers who have kept alive a skill and traditional trade that is slowly disappearing.

The younger folk are also being catered for with a quiz offering some great prizes.

The Ieglaasie Niyah children will render nasheed, and invited guests will deliver talks on various aspects of Melayu culture.

After an active day you can put your feet up for foot therapy and a massage. Health experts will be present, guiding visitors to a healthy lifestyle.

There is still some space available for exhibitors.

For more details contact Nadiema Omar on 082 576 0290.

Muslim Views . September 2018

31

IAHET launches annual Bibi’s Kitchen Fun Walk MOGAMAD ALLIE

IBAADUR-RAGHMAAN HOSTS WOMEN’S DAY EVENT

Rabia Davids (right) handing over a gift to Shaikha Aneeqa Abrahams at the Women’s Day event on August 9, held in the Khalid Desai Memorial Hall at Alexander Sinton High School, in Athlone, and hosted by the Ibaadur-Raghmaan Madrassa. This is an annual event run by Ibaadur-Raghmaan and, this year, a ladies workshop was organised to highlight the plight of women. Imam Isma-eel Davids, principal and co-ordinator of the event explains: ‘We have always run events in August, culminating in a big event on Women’s Day. This year, our theme was “Being a woman as Allah wants”’ He added: ‘We had three very good speakers, Shaikha Aneeqa Abrahams, an Al-Azhar university graduate, starting the day. Sister Yasmina Francke, a well-known business and NGO personality, dealt with women in the corporate world, and Sister Nadeema Salie, an educator, who highlighted being a mother. They were excellent and did a great job. Food was served and prizes were won.’ Each participant received a gift loaded with necessities for ladies. Imam Davids placed on record his sincere thanks to the school, the working committee and donors who ensured that it was a huge success.

Photo SUPPLIED

THE Imam Abdullah Haron Education Trust (IAHET) will be hosting our inaugural Bibi’s Kitchen 6km Family Fun Walk on September 30, 2018, in what is both a fund-raising as well as a marketing exercise.

The Bibi’s Kitchen Family Fun Walk, which will, very poignantly, be routed along Imam Haron Rd, in Lansdowne, will raise funds for our Early Childhood Development (ECD) programme as well as marketing our organisation to the broader community of the Western Cape.

Through community participation, the Bibi’s Kitchen Family Fun Walk offers the opportunity to increase public awareness of the imam and his legacy as well as exposing the community to the work of the trust, thereby expanding our footprint.

We also aim to raise the profile of the late Imam Abdullah Haron, especially to the younger generation, who may not be aware of his role in the liberation struggle through working in marginalised communities that culminated in him making the ultimate sacrifice on September 27, 1969.

Our ECD programme is run in partnership with well-established and highly respected agencies: Grassroots Educare Trust (GET),

Presently, 66 percent of children in South Africa do not receive any kind of early childhood stimulation. the Foundation for Community Work (FCW) and the Centre for Early Childhood Development (CECD), who have a combined total of 120 years of experience in the field.

The agencies, which are all NGOs, work in seriously underresourced areas like Langa, Belhar, Valhalla Park and the Barcelona informal settlement, in Gugulethu, where they provide much-needed ECD services to those communities.

We are also planning to extend the programme to Mitchells Plain, Retreat, Bridgetown, the Vygieskraal informal settlement and the West Coast fishing village of St Helena Bay. To date, we have raised and spent – funds are raised for specific projects – more than R2 million on providing programmes to over 1 200 children in these areas.

More than 600 parents have already been trained in ECD workshops that have empowered them to be of greater educational benefit to their young children.

Our focus on ECD is motivated by international research which has shown that if a child is exposed to educational opportunities during the period between birth and six years he/ she will be developed for life.

Presently, 66 per cent of children in South Africa do not receive any kind of early childhood stimulation.

Bearing this in mind, and also having identified this as an area where the biggest impact could be made, the IAHET resolved to make this the focus of our activities.

The starter’s gun will be fired at 8am on Sunday, September 30, 2018, from the premises of Islamia College, Imam Haron Rd, Lansdowne.

The entry fee is R35 per person and online entries may be completed at Webtickets.co.za or at Pick n Pay stores.

Manual entries may be obtained from Bibi’s Kitchen, Broad Rd, Wynberg. Closing date for entries is Sunday, September 23, 2018.

Mogamad Allie handles media liaison for the Imam Abdullah Haron Education Trust.

32

Muslim Views . September 2018

Reflections on Transformative Living

TWELVE HABITS OF HIGHLY RESILIENT PEOPLE

Lessons from challenging times – Part 2 AFROZ ALI

meanings that only the practitioner of gratitude can hear.

It is always better to be with good

WITH every difficulty comes ease. Every difficulty assuredly comes with ease; responding to difficulties in the right manner leads to personal growth. This is the second part discussing six additional habits of highly resilient people. For the first part, refer to the August 2018 edition of Muslim Views.

Being generous Gratefulness is never really true unless it is intentionally followed by generosity. Gratitude shows you your abundance in spite of any loss; generosity proves its value when you give from the abundance mindset. Gratitude and generosity together allow you to see that you are still in a better place; there are many things you have that others can only yearn and wish for.

people than with toxic people; and it is better still to not fear being alone than be with even one toxic person...

Undergoing healing A crucial part of self-care, if not undertaken, can lead to self-sympathy and even a narcissistic attitude. And that is appropriate and proper healing. And part of healing is to recognise that there is really no such thing as forgetting the past but learning from that past.

In addition, forgetting would entail a disregard of any wound that one may be left with, and if left unattended can fester into serious psychological sores. Healing is about repairing, with gentle care, what has broken in you.

Every injury leaves a scar and, therefore, forgetting what caused it is almost impossible and is bad advice. What is possible is to repair the injury with elegance and a beauty so that, upon healing, a more beautiful, stronger and an evolved person emerges.

It is very similar to the won-

Imam Afroz Ali. Photo SHARAFAT JAFFER

drous Japanese art of Kintsugi – gentle and elegant healing of ourselves is very similar to repairing precious broken pottery, with gold.

Avoiding toxic people What you do not need around you through a challenging time are toxic people who flame your inquisitiveness for blame, criticising, gossip and even creating unreal scenarios which never actually occurred.

Negative energy will breed twice that negative energy; incidentally, good energy will breed exponentially good energy.

A simple rule to live by is to surround yourself with good, trustworthy people who are interested in positive ideas, aspiring hopes and meaningful actions.

They speak of issues to see good and to solve problems rather than speak of people to criticise and cause more problems. It is always better to be with good people than with toxic people; and it is better still to not fear being alone than be with even one toxic person.

Concentrating on one’s own matters Resilience does not arise by fighting against others’ wrongs but by identifying your own weaknesses and shortcomings that are often highlighted to us in difficult times. Once we know our shortcomings, we can put a plan into

action to remedy them, thereby becoming better and stronger people.

Do not mistake fairness and justice with occupying yourself with fighting others to justify yourself: the former is virtuous and the latter is harmful.

Being forgiving A crucial part of moving forward is to forgive those who may have brought upon you the trial you had to face. Forgiveness arises from the power of courage, not weakness.

Forgiveness of others seals and internalises all of the qualities above together, which you then experience as resilience.

By forgiving, you are finally able to close the door to a dim past and open new doors to a brighter future.

Imam Afroz Ali is the founder of Transformative Living, based in Sydney, Australia, and is an advisor to Al-Ikhlaas Academia Library & Resource Centre, in Cape Town, South Africa.

Being grateful Mysteriously, nothing increases you more than a true sense of gratitude. Why is this so? Being grateful immediately directs your focus on what you have rather than what you may not have or have lost.

Losing a spouse in death is a painful experience; being grateful for your children or even your inlaws – your now gone spouse’s parents – and focusing on their wellbeing is a liberating experience. It carries so many silent

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Muslim Views . September 2018

33

Promoting tourism to the Muslim traveller in Cape Town ENVER DUMINY

CAPE Town has a rich Muslim history and heritage, with the Cape Muslims making up around a quarter of the population.

Cape Town was the place for South Africa’s first Muslim settlers and is home to the oldest mosque in South Africa, dating back an impressive 200 years.

By 2020, approximately 26 per cent of the world’s population will be Muslim. A recent study found that Halaal tourism is now one of the fastest growing sectors of the global travel industry, with visitor spending predicted to reach 220 billion US dollars in the next three years.

With these figures in mind, it makes sense to tap into the global Muslim travel market. This is not only about identifying a sector that has huge potential for tourism growth but it’s about supporting the existing culture and businesses of the Cape Town community.

As part of the intention to uncover how to attract the Muslim traveller, Cape Town Tourism conducted an in-depth exploration to find out what can be done to achieve this.

In a survey published in the Muslim Travel Shopping Index (MTSI) 2015, more than 80 per cent of the respondents mentioned that the availability of halaal food options is ‘very important’ when choosing a holiday destination.

This information has prompted the creation of the Chef Exchange Programme, which kicked off with a function showcasing gourmet

The shrine of Shaikh Mohamad Hassen Ghaibie Shah, on Signal Hill Ridge, is one of the tourist attractions of interest to the Halaal tourism market due to its spectacular setting and the historical significance of the role of early Muslim spiritual leaders at the Cape.

Photo CRAIG HOWES

halaal cuisine.

Forty chefs attended the Halaal chef training programme. In the end, 25 received Crescent Rating accreditation. Tamsyn Wells, Executive Chef of African Pride, 15 on Orange, Autograph Collection, and Dion Vengatass, Chef de Cuisine of Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel, emerged the winners and got to enjoy a trip to Singapore to learn more about an international approach to the fascinating world of halaal cuisine. To find out what they had to say about the experi-

ence, enter the following words in your browser: CTT Halal Chef Exchange - YouTube. This local edition of the chef exchange has inspired the Crescent Rating organisation to extend its reach, and they have since launched ‘Halal Chef World’, a training programme to take to chefs globally.

The Muslim traveller prioritises the following in a destination: Six faith-based needs – halaal food, salaah (prayer), ablution facilities, Ramadaan services, no non-halaal activities, and separate

recreational facilities for males and females – are important factors when choosing holiday destinations.

Halaal food is by far the most important service that a Muslim traveller looks for when travelling.

Acceptability of the different levels of halaal food assurance varies among Muslims.

South Africa has been ranked as one of the ten most Muslimfriendly travel destinations for 2018 among non-Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries in the annual MastercardCrescent Rating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI), adding a boost to Cape Town Tourism’s ongoing campaign seeking to grow this market segment.

The organisation has implemented a number of initiatives geared towards developing the Muslim-friendly tourism market, to drive awareness around travel preferences and to spread the word that the city is an ideal destination for the Muslim traveller.

Cape Town Tourism recently released information and a glossary of terms so that more tourism businesses can gain an understanding of the Muslim travellers’ needs and preferences. It is available to everyone online. To access it, enter the following words in your browser: Halal Tourism Guidelines - Cape Town Tourism.

In addition, the organisation has provided access to CR (Crescent Rating) training that offers a more in-depth look at Halaal tourism and has endorsed a Crescent Rating/ Mastercard pro-

gramme that focuses on showcasing product offerings and special offers suitable to the Muslim traveller. Tour operators can get in touch with Cape Town Tourism to be vetted for being added to the packages.

For more on Halaal-friendly trips visit: https://www.halaltrip.com/pack age/237/spectacular-south-africa8n-9d/ Cape Town Tourism has also been invited to share in a panel discussion at ITB Berlin, the world’s leading travel trade show, around the topic of preparing to cater to the needs of the Muslim visitor.

These latest developments follow from years of research into this market, and some initial steps towards creating an environment that is genuinely accessible to the Muslim traveller.

Cape Town’s world-class tourism offering, which includes a vast array of attractions and experiences must take into account the traditional and cultural needs of visitors when developing tourism business strategies.

Our goal is to provide authentic, immersive travel experiences that speak to these needs, adding value to our existing offering. This will lead to sustainable tourism development, job creation for more locals and opportunities for more entrepreneurs to develop products and services that address the requirements of the global Muslim traveller.

Enver Duminy is CEO of Cape Town Tourism.

Calling all travel and tourism sector operators THE year-end holiday season is fast approaching and all service providers in the travel and tourism sector are reminded of our exciting feature on Halaal travel and tourism to be published in our November and December editions. This edition already features a special article

by Cape Town Tourism on the Muslim traveller.

The supplement will be dedicated to editorial on vital aspects of holiday accommodation of value to our readers, holiday makers and tourists who visit the Mother City.

While abundant generic information on this topic is readily available, our feature will meet the needs of a special kind of visitor: the Muslim traveller who is discerning about halaal accommodation, halaal food and a range of suitable leisure activities for international inbound tourists as well as South Africans destined for Cape Town during the holidays.

In order to reach your market outside Cape Town, we are expanding our distribution of the paper in Gauteng and in KwaZuluNatal. The features in November and December afford your establishment two opportunities to advertise your brand and services to market over the holiday period.

Please feel free to advise of relevant editorial content that may enhance your services and that is of interest to readers who are also part of your target audience.

Our advertising sales department will gladly take any enquiries from advertisers in this regard.

Please call Shireen on 021 696 5404 or email her at shireen@mviews.co.za to discuss the feature and for booking deadlines.

34

Muslim Views . September 2018

- ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE -

World Humanitarian Day: remembering fallen heroes Sunday, August 19, 2018, marked World Humanitarian Day. Islamic Relief Worldwide’s chief executive officer, NASER HAGHAMED, reflects on the contribution of aid workers and remembers some of the humanitarian organisation’s fallen heroes.

ISLAMIC Relief operates in some of the most difficult and dangerous places for delivering aid, including war-torn Yemen, Syria and Somalia. But it is always a terrible shock when we lose a member of staff who is killed in the service of humanity, and something I feel very personally.

I am left with an awful sense of loss for the family, friends and colleagues that these humanitarian heroes leave behind. Sadly, we have lost 11 staff in the front line of our aid operations over our 34year history: six fell victim to bombs and bullets in Syria, Pakistan, Somalia and Kenya, four died in a horrific car accident and one died when a warehouse collapsed on him. I am conscious that each one made a unique and valuable contribution to our work.

Whether a field coordinator, volunteer or driver, each person plays her or his part in ensuring our humanitarian mission is fulfilled.

Naser Haghamed, Islamic Relief Worldwide CEO. Photo SUPPLIED

The latest figures from Humanitarian Outcomes show that, last year, there was a disturbing 30 per cent increase in the number of aid

workers who died in the performance of their duties, compared to 2016. Over the past two years alone, Islamic Relief lost three members of staff.

In March, this year, one of our drivers was killed in Mogadishu, Somalia. Ahmed Abdulle was offduty when an explosive device that was targeting a military convoy exploded. It was the ensuing, indiscriminate gunfire that led to his death.

Ahmed had only been working for Islamic Relief for a little over a year and was an experienced driver, having driven buses and lorries in Mogadishu before joining us.

In October, 2016, a residential compound in Mandera, in northern Kenya, was attacked by armed militants. The compound was well known to house aid workers from various parts of Kenya who were employed by a range of NGOs in Mandera.

Two Islamic Relief staff, Evans Araka Moruri and Levis Mwalimu, were among the six residents killed, with seven others injured.

One of the projects that Evans and Levis helped establish is now enabling hundreds of farmers in an area of very little rainfall to fight back against the ravages of climate change by growing plentiful onion and tomato crops, using a combination of shallow wells, solar-powered water pumps and high-tech drip irrigation.

In August 2015, Nebras Elhelow, a volunteer for Islamic Relief in his home region of northern Hama, sustained critical injuries when three airstrikes hit his village, which was full of displaced people.

His injuries were so severe that he had to have both his legs amputated and, two days later, died of his injuries.

Studying at university when the crisis started in 2011, he was forced to leave and started volunteering in his local bakery after its owners had fled the area.

He continued through airstrikes and bombardments but then, eventually, fled to Idlib, where he started volunteering for Islamic Relief.

The human impact of losing these colleagues is immense. All three were family men.

Ahmed left behind two daughters. Levis was married and left behind his young widow, Mary, and their four-year-old son.

Evans was a force of nature who took care of his parents and paid for his brother’s university fees while working tirelessly to serve marginalised farmers in Mandera, and raising five children with his fiancée.

They were due to be married just one month after he was killed.

In early 2015, Nebras was blessed with a baby girl but she died at only 20-days-old due to the lack of health services available.

Many NGOs like Islamic Relief rely on local staff for their knowledge and local expertise, which expatriate staff wouldn’t necessarily have. We have robust security procedures in place to protect all our staff, constantly modifying them to keep up with what is happening on the ground but, unfortunately, we cannot always protect them.

Of course, we look after those they leave behind – Levis’s young son, for example, is able to go to school thanks to support from our orphan sponsorship programme.

But nothing can replace Levis, who spent so much time with his son on trips back to Kilifi from Mandera.

This World Humanitarian Day, August 19, we paused a moment to remember and appreciate the risks that all aid workers, wherever they are in the world, take when working in areas of instability or conflict.

The shock that comes from losing a staff member, no matter where they are in the world, will never decrease. We can only hope that real progress will be made in bringing conflicts to an end in places like Syria and Yemen, to name but a few.

And we call upon the UN and governments to ensure better protection so that aid workers and those they help can live their lives in peace and safety.

Naser Haghamed is the CEO of Islamic Relief Worldwide.

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Muslim Views . September 2018

35

Talaq tafwid: the wife’s right of divorce In part 7 of our series, ADVOCATE FATIMAH ESSOP discusses the woman’s power of divorce.

IN my last article, I discussed the most common form of divorce in Islamic law, namely, the unilateral talaq pronouncement by the husband.

Islamic law does give a wife the right to divorce her husband in certain circumstances. Based on Quranic verses as well as hadith, it is clear that the Prophet (SAW) allowed women to initiate divorce proceedings as well.

One of the easiest ways for a woman to ensure that she has the right of divorce without having to resort to an imam or a Muslim judicial body is through the inclusion of the talaq tafwid (delegated divorce) in her Muslim marriage contract.

The contract has to specify that the husband grants his wife the power to divorce herself, according to her wishes (tafwid). This is, in essence, a delegation to her of his authority to pronounce talaq.

Provided it is a condition of the marriage contract, it basically grants the wife the right to divorce herself whenever she wants.

Talaq tafwid is accepted in our classical legal tradition as a perfectly valid form of divorce and finds its authority in Surah Ahzab of the Quran, verses 28-29, where Allah SWT instructed the Prophet (SAW) to tell his wives that they were at liberty to live with him or to choose to separate from him. In effect, they were at liberty to end their marriages with him.

Although the wives of the Prophet (SAW) chose to remain with him, these verses remain as authority (dhalil) for the lawfulness of a delegation of talaq to a wife, either as a condition in the marriage contract or given later during the course of the marriage.

The delegation can be conditional or unconditional. For instance, the parties can agree that the wife will have the delegated right of divorce in the event that the husband takes a second wife.

However, it does not have to be conditional or subject to stipulations. The parties can agree at the start of the marriage that the wife will have an unconstrained delegated right of divorce during the course of the marriage.

There are differences of opinion on how the delegation of authority can be revoked or whether a talaq

tafwid once pronounced is revocable by the husband or whether it is irrevocable with immediate and final effect. It depends on how the provisions were worded in the Muslim marriage contract.

If the talaq tafwid provision stipulates, ‘I, Achmat, delegate to my wife, Rabia, the full power to give three talaqs (irrevocable divorce) to herself and to remarry,’ then the right of the wife (Rabia) to exercise an irrevocable talaq is clear and final.

A wife exercising talaq-i-tafwid is not divorcing her husband, she is divorcing herself on behalf of her husband.

The talaq tafwid does not detract from the husband’s right to pronounce a talaq. It essentially equalises the rights of spouses to exit a marriage through the pronouncement of a talaq.

This is a very empowering right granted to Muslim women by the shariah. Sadly, however, we once again have a gap between what the shariah grants women in theory and what actually happens in practice.

Talaq tafwid, although completely valid in Islamic law, is very under-utilised by Muslim women.

There are different reasons for this under-utilisation. By far, one of the main reasons is a lack of knowledge that this form of divorce exists.

A wife exercising talaq-i-tafwid is not divorcing her husband, she is divorcing herself on behalf of her husband. The talaq tafwid does not detract from the husband’s right to pronounce a talaq. It essentially equalises the rights of spouses to exit a marriage through the pronouncement of a talaq...

Secondly, it is not part of the custom of the Muslim community in South Africa for the wali (guardian) or the bride to negotiate the inclusion of talaq tafwid in the marriage contract at the nikah.

Thirdly, imams who officiate at wedding ceremonies (nikahs) or who provide marriage counselling to couples, appear reluctant to advise Muslim women of their equal access to divorce in the form of talaq tafwid.

Even if the parties have not drawn up a written Muslim marriage contract, it would be so easy for the presiding imam to enquire from the parties at the nikah, whether the husband wishes to delegate his right of talaq to his wife, thereby giving them both equal access to talaq as a form of divorce.

I would advise all young Muslim brides, that just as you request a mahr as part of your marriage contract, you should insist on your future husband delegating his right

of talaq to you.

You can either stipulate this condition in a written contract, alternatively, at the nikah, you can request that your wali verbally stipulates that your husband grants you his delegated right of talaq.

If done before witnesses, such a delegation by your future husband will be perfectly valid in terms of the shariah.

In the absence of a talaq tafwid, a Muslim woman who wishes to exit a marriage will either have to persuade her husband to talaq her or she will have to resort to the more onerous judicial divorce proceedings, like khul or faskh.

In the next article of this series, I will discuss khul and faskh as forms of judicial divorce.

Advocate Fatimah Essop has a degree in Islamic Law and Arabic from International Peace College South Africa (Ipsa) and is currently a PhD candidate in Law at UCT.

36

Muslim Views . September 2018

- ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE -

On Thursday, August 30, 2018, 15 students graduated with a certificate in computer administration from CAD. This initiative is part of the organisation’s holistic approach to breaking the cycle of poverty. Sanzaf facilitates beneficiaries’ enrolment in official and recognised courses that empower them with the skills needed to either start a business or find a job. The computer administration course is a recognised certificate that takes students two months to complete. A new batch of beneficiaries will now be enrolled with the hope of changing their lives for the better.

Photo SANZAF COMMUNICATIONS

Sanzaf hosted a Women’s Day celebration on Saturday, August 18, at Ghousia Manzil. The afternoon was filled with good food, good company and inspiration.

Pictured here is one of the three guest speakers for the afternoon, pilot Fatima Jakoet, whose achievements include an MBA from Stellenbosch University and graduating from Harvard Business School. Advocates Fatimah Essop and Shameema Salie were the other two guest speakers. All three women delivered powerful words of wisdom resonating with a celebration of women. Proceeds from the event will go towards Sanzaf projects and programmes.

Photo SANZAF COMMUNICATIONS

SANZAF FUNDRAISING DINNER AND UPCOMING EVENTS SANZAF will be hosting their Annual Fundraising Dinner on September 28, 2018. We ask you to join us in aid of our projects and programmes. Tickets are R350 per person and you can book your seat by contacting Shireen Kamaldien on 021 638 0965. For more detailed information on the fundraising dinner and other upcoming events visit www.sanzaf.org.za.

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Muslim Views . September 2018

37

Blockchain as a way of rejuvenating waqf DR FARRUKH HABIB

GIVING charity is one of the noblest acts in Islam for which the reward is immense. The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: ‘When a man dies, his deeds come to an end except for three things: continuous charity (sadaqah jariyah), knowledge that is beneficial or a virtuous descendant who prays for him (when deceased).’ (Muslim, Book 13, hadith # 1383) Thus, Islam encourages people to get involved in charity and altruistic acts, whether big or small.

The shariah provides a complete eco-system for Islamic philanthropy to ensure that wealth does not revolve among only the rich of a society.

One of the major pillars of that eco-system is waqf. Waqf is a voluntary, irrevocable dedication of a portion of one’s wealth – in cash or kind – to Allah. Once given, a waqf corpus never gets gifted, inherited or sold as it should always remain intact because it belongs to Allah.

In this way, waqf has been institutionalised by shariah and became very popular from the early stage. Jabir said: ‘There was no one among the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (SAW) who

Transaction workflow of blockchain system.

Image courtesy HTTPS://BLOCKGEEKS.COM/GUIDES/WHAT-IS-BLOCKCHAINTECHNOLOGY/

had the means but he set up a waqf.’

The institution of waqf always played a pivotal role of sustainable economic development in a Muslim society throughout the history of Islam. It was an integral element of the financial empowerment programme of the people that actively contributed to the financial inclusion, poverty allevia-

tion and fruitful mutual community initiatives.

However, recently, this important institution has generally been neglected by the Muslim community for various reasons.

There is an array of issues and challenges facing waqf in the contemporary world.

Even with the inception of Islamic finance a few decades ago,

waqf has been struggling to rejuvenate its past glory. Many reasons are collectively responsible for this dilemma. For instance, there is lack of availability of comprehensive data and historical records.

This situation leads to weak transparency and public disclosure of waqf institutions. Subsequently, there is little scope for proper audit and compliance practices.

Moreover, most of the time, good governance structures and wellplanned development and business strategies are ignored in such institutions.

In addition to that, legal and regulatory challenges in every jurisdiction are considered to be some of the major issues with waqf institutions in the contemporary world.

However, the advent of technological advancements, particularly the introduction of the blockchain, has offered a ray of hope for the revival of waqf institutions in the modern world. Blockchain is a decentralised digital ledger technology to record anything of value.

Having transparency at the core of its system, it possesses various attractive features that are naturally required by waqf institutions. For example, data entry is done through a decentralised con-

sensus system that can provide more reliability and trust among the parties involved.

Once the data is entered, it is immutable. Since the records at the blockchain are unalterable, it is very difficult to corrupt or manipulate those records or data entries. The accompanying figure shows the workflow of a blockchain system.

The blockchain, though still in its infancy stage, has already proved itself as a game changing breakthrough for the global financial sphere.

In fact, its utilisation is not limited to only the financial sector; it also affords promising features and usage for non-financial sectors.

Similarly, the waqf institution could be invigorated with the innovative and efficient use of the blockchain. The blockchain and waqf are naturally a perfect match because, interestingly, the blockchain addresses many, if not all, of the issues and problems currently facing waqf in the contemporary world.

Dr Farrukh Habib is an Islamic FinTech expert, a senior advisor, HalalChain, and researcher at International Shari’ah Research Academy for Islamic Finance (ISRA).

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38

Muslim Views . September 2018

- ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE -

Climb Kilimanjaro with Muslim Hands: feed orphans and needy children worldwide MASNOENA ALLIE ISAACS

WE’VE all read tales of faraway lands, distant cultures and awe-inspiring adventures.

Muslim Hands is organising its ninth expedition to Mount Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania, from December 5 to 15, 2018.

Sponsored trekkers will be combining the challenge of climbing the highest free-standing mountain in the world, and raising funds for Food4Kids – helping feed orphan and needy children around the world.

Rising almost 5 900 metres, Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain in Africa and has been nicknamed ‘the roof of Africa’. Mount Kilimanjaro is now listed as a world heritage site and thousands of tourists flock each year to climb the mountain.

In August 2017, 24 participants from South Africa and six from the UK, totalling 30, embarked on the journey of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. The challenge took place over ten days, from August 2 to 12, 2017. The hike began on August 3, 2017. All 30 participants were eager to embark on the trek. They ventured out and reached the first hut in just over six hours.

On the second day, participants started to feel the effects of the high altitude after a 15 kilometre walk to the second hut, Horombo Hut. The weather played an integral part of the trek but, thank-

South African Kilimanjaro participants at Uhuru Peak, the highest peak on Mount Photo SUPPLIED Kilimanjaro, in 2017.

fully, all participants managed to successfully climb Mount Kilimanjaro, and after the fifth day, all participants prepared for their final descent.

On the final day, participants visited the Muslim Hands project, at Chekereni, and were able to see the exceptional work being carried out by Muslim Hands.

Are you brave enough to take on Africa’s highest mountain and

help feed orphans and needy children worldwide? By taking part, you can help us reach more children suffering from hunger-related illnesses and ensure they stay strong and healthy through their daily lives.

‘I would like to express my sincere gratitude for a wonderful, magnificent, exhilarating and memorable trip which proved to us, all ordinary people, that we are

indeed capable of doing extraordinary things! We arrived as strangers or friends that we never met and left as one big, happy family.

‘This, in itself, added to the value and the success of our expedition. The trip was extremely well organised and barring a few Tanzanian time delays, went off like clockwork from the onset to its successful conclusion. For this, we are all extremely grateful and acknowledge your efforts in ensuring our comforts and safety at all times!

‘Please do forgive us for our impatience at times and any shortcomings. The visit to the Chekereni village and meeting the innocent recipients of our donations was certainly an eye opener for me and I could not help but be overwhelmed with emotion.

‘This was the real purpose of our trip and all of us succeeded commendably in this regard, Alhamdulillah.’ noted Khalid Khota, a Kilimanjaro participant of August 2017.

The cause Food4Kids: We take pride in caring and nurturing our children.

Providing them with nutritious meals to sustain them throughout the day is a central part of this and, for many of us, meal times are something to look forward to by the whole family.

But for tens of millions of children around the world, life is not

so simple. Without access to nutritional supplements and treatment for infections, many lives are lost.

By taking part in Kilimanjaro 2018, we can reach even more children with the support they need to keep them strong and healthy in their daily lives.

If you think you are up for this trip of a lifetime, you are just a few steps away from registration. After we receive your completed registration forms with the registration fee, you will receive a confirmation email so you know that your place has been secured.

We operate on a ‘first come first serve’ policy and have limited places so we advise you to register as soon as possible.

Once you secure your place you will receive an information pack containing further fundraising material.

Muslim Hands would like to thank all our supporters and our participants for their generous contributions, and look forward to another successful trek to Mount Kilimanjaro. We thank Almighty Allah for granting our Muslim Hands team and participants the strength to take up such a great challenge in aid of the orphans and needy children worldwide.

To register, call Muslim Hands today on 021 6336413. You may register online at muslimhands.org.za or visit our office at 1 Carnie Road, Rylands, Cape Town.

Discussions with Dangor

Muslim Views . September 2018

39

Will Khan be the first to complete a full term in office?

Many Pakistanis interviewed after the elections were optimistic about the future of their country, writes EMERITUS PROFESSOR SULEMAN DANGOR.

TWO factors have recently catapulted Pakistan to the centre stage of international politics: the election of Imran Khan as prime minister and Donald Trump’s cancellation of military training with Pakistan. In this article, we will focus on the former.

There is much joy among Pakistanis over the success of Imran’s party, Tehreek-e-Insaf (Movement for Justice), in the recent elections.

His campaign pledges about accountability, austerity, good governance, tax reforms, pro-poor policies and friendly relations with neighbouring countries have resonated with Pakistanis. He has promised to focus on the marginalised sectors of society: the poor, orphans, widows and disabled.

Many Pakistanis interviewed after the elections were optimistic about the future of their country. At last, they believe, Pakistan has a leader whom they can trust. Pakistanis have had their fair share of corruption and violence, which have claimed the lives of hundreds and disrupted everyday life. They hope

that Imran can put an end to these cancers in the body politic of Pakistan. Pakistan was carved out of India in 1947 due to the marginalisation of Muslims by the Indian National Congress leadership. This is what drove the founders of Pakistan, led by the All-India Muslim League, to establish an independent state for Muslims. Sadly, the violence that accompanied the partition between India and the newly established state of Pakistan resulted in the deaths of over 200 000 people.

Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the president of the Muslim League, became the first governor-general of Pakistan. Since its birth in 1947, Pakistan has been constantly under martial law. The periods 1958-1971, 1977-1988 and 1999-2008 saw military coups that resulted in the imposition of martial law; the military commanders governed Pakistan as de facto presidents.

Liaqat Ali Khan, Pakistan’s first prime minister, was assassinated in 1951. Iskander Mirza, Pakistan’s first president, was deposed by General Ayub Khan in 1958. The latter resigned in 1969 amid protests and criticisms of his policies, and he appointed General Yahya Khan to take over the reign of government.

In 1970, Pakistan won its first democratic elections since independence but because the Awami League emerged victorious, the army refused to surrender power. It also

cracked down on the Bengali nationalist movement in East Pakistan.

India’s intervention on behalf of East Pakistan led to a war between the neighbours and, subsequently, to the emergence of Bangladesh as an independent country, in 1971. The war resulted in at least 300 000 deaths. After Pakistan’s defeat in the war, Yahya Khan resigned and handed over power to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto as president; he also served as prime minister during the presidency of Fazal Elahi Chaudhry.

Following popular unrest, General Zia-ul Haq staged a coup in 1977 against Chaudhry and became president a year later. Bhutto was accused of authorising the murder of a political opponent and was executed in 1979.

Zia-ul-Haqq died in a plane crash in 1988 under suspicious circumstances. He was succeeded by Ghulam Ishaq Khan, who appointed Benazir Bhutto as prime minister.

She was accused of corruption and nepotism and blamed for the deteriorating law and order, and was dismissed in 1990.

Nawaz Sharif was then appointed in her place as prime minister but his government too was accused of corruption. Because of the dispute between the president and the prime minister, the supreme court compelled both to resign.

Benazir Bhutto was again appointed prime minister by Ghulam

Ishaq Khan’s successor, President Farooq Leghari. However, as a result of several controversies, he dismissed her government in 1997.

(She was assassinated in 2008 during a political campaign.)

Nawaz Sharif was reappointed as prime minister in 1997. Leghari resigned shortly thereafter to avoid impeachment action by Nawaz Sharif. In 1998, Muhammad Rafiq Tarar was elected as the new president with Nawaz Sharif still prime minister. General Pervez Musharraf staged a coup in 1999, stripping Sharif of his powers.

After Tarar resigned, in 2001, Musharraf became president but, facing potential impeachment, resigned in 2008 and was succeeded

by Benazir Bhutto’s husband, Asif Ali Zardari, who completed his tenure in 2013 – the first president to do so since the establishment of Pakistan.

Nawaz Sharif was elected as prime minister for the third time in 2013 and served under President Mamnoon Hussain. However, he was removed from office by the Supreme Court of Pakistan after the Panama Paper leaks, revealing his family’s off-shore investments.

Following from the above, holding on to power is the major challenge that Imran , founder and national leader of Tehreek-e-Insaf, will have to deal with.

Since Pakistan’s founding, in 1947, it has had a staggering 18 prime ministers and seven caretaker prime ministers. And not a single prime minister has completed a full term in office. Imran led the opposi-

tion move to oust Zardari, whom he accused of rigging the elections and nepotism. Not surprisingly, there are allegations that the elections were rigged in favour of Imran and that his election was ‘facilitated’ by the army.

Imran led the opposition move to oust Zardari, whom he accused of rigging the elections and nepotism.

Not surprisingly, there are allegations that the elections were rigged in favour of Imran and that his election was ‘facilitated’ by the army.

Nonetheless, the issues that Imran has declared that he will focus on are: promotion of Islamic values; establishment of a welfare state; decreasing the bureaucracy; ending corruption; ensuring an independent judiciary; overhauling the police system; disengaging the country from the US-led war on terror; negotiating with the Taliban; ending all military operations; settling the dispute over Kashmir with India.

Imran is considered by some analysts as a ‘threat’ to the feudal lords in Pakistan as well as to American interests. If the latter is true, it explains the reason for Trump’s announcement of not only ending military cooperation with Pakistan but also threatening to impose sanctions on Pakistan.

Nasira Iqbal, daughter of poetphilosopher Iqbal, is touted as the first female president of Pakistan.

This is not surprising given the fact that Imran claims to have been profoundly influenced by Iqbal’s philosophy.

Imran will have to bat, bowl and field well if he is to succeed.

40

Muslim Views . September 2018

Positive and Effective Parenting

Homework is a contentious issue FOUZIA RYKLIEF

I DON’T remember getting a lot of homework when I was at school – decades ago – and if I did, I don’t know how I managed in a one-roomed dwelling with siblings around and no facilities to do it without being disturbed.

Furthermore, my mother worked long hours, came home late and did not have the time and energy to assist. I remember, however, one time when I had to write a story in English about a picture in the newspaper. I was in Grade 4 and knew very little English. She helped me.

This brings to mind the many parents who are not able to help their children with homework.

Does homework favour the wealthy, and disadvantage children from poorer socioeconomic backgrounds because wealthier parents are more likely to have the time and means to support, monitor, supervise and assist their children when they are doing their homework? Shereen Ryklief, a high school teacher on the Cape Flats and a mother of two states: ‘Poor, ever weakening physical and social structures and economic deprivation are what children on the Cape Flats and surrounds are born into.

Parents have to spend all their energy (physical and emotional) to survive so they are incapable of as-

sisting their children with their homework.

‘Currently, we are in a situation where the curriculums are so packed that there is little or no time for creativity; not to mention the overcrowded classrooms.

Homework is seldom or never done and rarely checked or corrected by teachers because there is so much content to cover.’

When I asked a few parents whether homework should be abolished, they responded with a resounding ‘yes’, and cited their reasons, most of which were about how exhausted they are coming from work and having to help the younger children, in addition to their household duties; the huge volume of homework given; tiredness in the children as well as resistance from the children ending in tension and conflict.

However, they quickly backtracked and said that it is necessary to help children improve their performance.

Ayesha Ryklief, a Foundation Phase (grade R to grade 3) teacher and mother says, ‘Homework is a contentious issue. Is it necessary?

Does it actually help children? I am a Foundation Phase educator but I am also a mother of four children.

Two are of school-going age and in grade 1 and grade 2.

‘Homework is a struggle, the boys are tired and all they want to

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do is unwind and relax. I find this process of homework also tiring and sometimes wonder if this is really necessary. The curriculum is content heavy and children are tired after school. Young children should be allowed to play and relax without the stress of homework hanging over them.’

Gavin Keller, in an interview on ‘Afternoon Express’, on SABC 3, recently said that he is in favour of abolishing homework. His school, Sun Valley Primary School, has done so and produces good result without children having to do homework.

He maintains that children spend up to six hours at school and their brains need to rest and play. He stated further that the work can be completed in class time.

Does this mean that children do not need homework to guarantee academic success?

Vicki Abeles author of Beyond measure: rescuing an overscheduled, overtested and underestimated generation, says, ‘Studies have long shown that there is no academic benefit to high school homework that consumes more than a modest number of hours each week.

‘In a study of high schoolers conducted by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), researchers con-

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cluded that “after around four hours of homework per week, the additional time invested in homework has a negligible impact on performance.”’

Is there a middle road?

Shereen Ryklief says: ‘I fear that if no homework is given at schools, what will our children in poorer schools be learning? I feel that the teacher is still the last bastion to ensure that some knowledge is somehow transferred to learners at high school. I feel that homework must only be prescribed for Literacy and Numeracy [Mathematics], not for the other subjects.’

She says further that it must be given in moderation, and that a love for Literacy and numeracy/ mathematics should start at Foundation Phase.

Teachers must make sure that homework is worthwhile, according to Brian Gatens, and he provides some pointers: ‘It must deepen student understanding, clarify and reinforce complex topics or introduce an upcoming topic. Homework shouldn’t be a rehash of work that’s already been done in class over and over again.

This destroys morale and credibility.’

He criticises the tendency to heap loads of homework that needs to be completed in one night and suggests that one long-term as-

signment can be done over a period of time. This can encourage learners to work together and collaborate – a skill useful for the future.

Ayesha Ryklief contends that homework should be slowly integrated as children go up the grades. ‘As they get older and higher up in the grades then homework is a necessary skill they need, especially in high school. Homework should not be a heaviness on learners.

‘There needs to be some level of maturity and understanding of why they are expected to complete it. Young learners in Grade 1 can’t fully understand the concept. As a parent, I want to know what my children are doing at school, and especially if they are able to do it on their own.

‘Homework gives me that insight into their ability and what they need from me to assist them.

So homework is a valuable tool but has to be used correctly and not seen to overload children.’

So there is a place for homework. Moderation is the key while keeping in mind that families are under pressure from different sources, and that children must have time to relax and play.

Fouzia Ryklief is a social worker registered with the South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP).

Muslim Views . September 2018

41

42

Muslim Views . September 2018

Focus on Finance

What you need to know about tax returns HASSEN KAJIE, CA (SA), a director of Nexia SAB&T, based in the Cape Town office, and AYSHA OSMAN, CA (SA), National Technical Manager for Nexia SAB&T, in the Centurion office, provide some insight into filing your tax return.

TWO things in life are certain: death and taxes. Paying taxes is actually filled with a great deal of uncertainty. A lot of people struggle to understand the complexities of the process: how much they owe, when to submit a return and who to speak to if something goes wrong. As a result, the process is viewed as a frightening journey.

While it’s never fun giving money to the South African Revenue Services (Sars), it can be less painful if you understand the process a little better. Here are some things that you need to know which will help you file your tax return with confidence. *Note: this article deals with tax returns for non-provisional taxpayers. Non-provisional taxpayers are those who earn an income from one or more employers. Provisional taxpayers form a much smaller segment of the tax base and are those individuals with other forms of income like investment income, income from business activities, rental income, royalties income or direc-

tors of companies.

How do you register to pay tax? If you have never paid taxes before, you will need to go to your nearest Sars branch with your ID book and proof of residence. You will be registered while you wait, and will then receive an email notification of your registration and tax number.

This tax number is yours for life and will be quoted in any future dealings you have with Sars.

Remember that tax season runs from July to November, so it’s best to avoid Sars branches at this time if you can.

How do you pay your taxes?

Your employer should deduct Pay As You Earn (PAYE) from your salary each month and pay that to Sars on your behalf. If you have any other sources of income, like rental or interest earned on invest-

Hassen Kajie

Aysha Osman

ments you will have to declare those to SARS when you do your tax return.

Why must you do a tax return?

Every month, you pay tax on the amount of money that you earned in that month. If the amount that you earn fluctuates for instance because of bonuses, travel or commission, you might pay tax at a higher rate in that month. At the end of the year, you need to make sure that you are paying tax at the correct rate for your annual total, which means you might have to pay money back to or receive a refund from Sars.

How do you file a tax return?

There are a number of different ways that you can file your tax return: l You can post your tax return to Sars. l You can take the documentation listed below to your near-

est Sars branch for assistance. l You can register to pay your taxes online through the Sars eFiling system. l Some employers provide staff support for completing tax returns. l You can hire an accountant to do your tax return for you.

Remember that different methods of filing your tax return have different deadlines so be sure to check the Sars website to make sure you know when your return is due each tax season. Pay on time to avoid penalties. If you require help completing your tax return, or require a tax practitioner to submit your return for you, please contact any one of our Nexia SAB&T branches nationally.

What if you get audited? When you fill out your tax return, you provide all the information relat-

Paying your taxes isn’t fun but you can take comfort in the fact that you are doing the right thing and contributing to building our nation.

ing to your income and expenditure over the tax year to Sars. If they are in some way dissatisfied, they can request an audit, which means that you are required to provide them with all original documents that prove the numbers you have quoted.

Although an audit is a painful experience to go through because of the admin involved, if you have been honest in your return and kept track of the correct documentation, you should have nothing to worry about. And remember to keep your supporting documentation for five years, because Sars can request it at any time.

There is no need to be afraid.

Paying your taxes isn’t fun but you can take comfort in the fact that you are doing the right thing and contributing to building our nation. Be honest and do your tax return on time.

Please note that the above is for information purposes only and does not constitute tax advice. As each individual’s personal circumstances vary, we recommend they seek advice on the matter. Please note that while every effort is made to ensure accuracy, Nexia SAB&T does not accept responsibility for any inaccuracies or errors contained herein. If you are in doubt about any information in this article or require any advice on the topical matter, please do not hesitate to contact any Nexia SAB&T office nationally.

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Muslim Views . September 2018

43

When in Rome, do as the…

Comfortable booth seating ready and inviting at Gulshan.

Photo DILSHAD PARKER

DILSHAD PARKER

IF you were getting comfy, ready to read about a fancy new Italian spot, you will soon find that the title of this article is a bit misleading. Okay, it’s completely off. What it should have said was, ‘When in Rylands …’

Rylands, in Cape Town, is much like a scaled down version of India; Klipfontein Road being the essence of a busy Bombay street anytime of the day. So, it’s no surprise that you’ll find no fewer than three Indo-Pak cuisine inspired restaurants in this scant 40 square kilometre neighbourhood.

Two of the restaurants are from the Bismillah group and the menus

Spicy, hot and sweet Chicken Mansooriyan at Gulshan.

Photo DILSHAD PARKER

are very similar. More recently, with the opening of the new Rylands Village shopping centre, a third restaurant, called Gulshan, has opened.

Now, you’d ask, how much can you re-invent an Indian menu?

And I’d have to agree that unless you can find a new spin on the offering, this can be rather challenging. Gulshan seems to have a slightly more polished act than the other two. Though, I daresay, just slightly.

The restaurant feels a bit brighter, and the booth seating a bit more inviting. While it feels a bit fresher, the use of maroon and gold in the décor still brings home the traditional feel.

On the menu are all the usual

Sheep brains curry. This dish is not for the faint-hearted.

Photo DILSHAD PARKER

suspects. A vast array of Indian kormas and curries, tandoories and grills, Manchurian sizzlers and Asian noodle dishes. They do have one different item, though; something I have yet to see on any of the other menus: Sheep Brains Curry! This is not for the fainthearted! It is definitely an acquired taste.

I am not a fan of eating sheep brains, I always found it too much like way too soft scrambled eggs.

This is a first time I’ve had it as a curry. It’s actually not bad this way but I wouldn’t order it.

My husband, on the other hand, absolutely loved it. He grew up eating sheep brains and this rekindled memories for him.

It is quite hot and spicy and the naan went very well with it. Give it a go if you have a sense of adventure. Else, stick to the suspects previously mentioned. If you like Indian veggies, I also spotted Bhindi (Lady Finger) Masala, and Karela with Potato.

The Mansooriyan Chicken I had was hot, spicy and a bit sweet.

I quite enjoyed it. We had ordered crumbed chicken nuggets and

chips for Taufeeq from the kids menu. These were dry and tasted like they came out of a box, and I sent them back. They were replaced without a hassle.

We also ordered a cheese and aloo paratha, which was quite spicy. It’s also very filling and could make a light meal on its own, which at R30, would make a cheap lunch. Most of the curries average R70 to R80, with the Brains Masala at R110.

They have an adjoining section that can be used for small functions and also serves as a salaah area. The general atmosphere is casual. Service was of the typical Indo-Pak variety with young male Pakistani waiters tending to your needs. It’s efficient but don’t expect the polish of a Bukhara or similar.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if someone saw the gap and filled it with a fully halaal, formal, Indian eatery where you’d be waited on by fully trained staff; the food, while familiar, may be re-invented by creative chefs and an ambiance the kind you would want to have on date night?

Yes, there’d be a premium on pricing but if we can pay the prices in a Bukhara, why not in one that is fully halaal. Just putting it out there, use it, don’t use it…

This review is independent and meals were paid for. Dilshad Parker is founder and author of www.hungryforhalaal.co.za

44

Muslim Views . September 2018

Light from the Quran

Striving for an everlasting life IBRAHIM OKSAS and NAZEEMA AHMED

IN reflecting on the nature of man, Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, in Risale-i Nur, considers that man has two faces: one, concerning his ego, looks to the life of this world. The other, concerning ibadah and servitude to Allah, looks to eternal life.

In respect of the first face, he is a wretched creature whose capital consists only of the following: of will he have only a partial power of choice; of power, a weak ability to acquire; of life, a fast dying flame; of a life-span, a fleeting brief spell; and of being, a swiftly decaying, small body.

In respect of the second face, and especially his impotence and poverty, which are turned towards ibadah, man has been given truly great breadth and vast importance for the All-Wise Creator has included in man’s nature an infinitely vast impotence and boundlessly great poverty so that he can be an extensive mirror.

This extensive mirror is one containing the innumerable manifestations of an All-Powerful and Compassionate One Whose power is infinite, an All-Generous, AllRich One whose wealth is limitless.

Bediuzzaman likens man to a seed.

This seed has been given significant immaterial members by Divine power and a subtle, valuable programme by qadr (Divine determining) so that it may work beneath the ground, and, emerging from that narrow world, enter the broad world of the air, and ask its Creator to be a tree.

If, due to bad temperament, the seed uses the immaterial members given to it in attracting certain harmful substances under the ground, in a short time it will rot and decay in that narrow place, without benefit.

But if the seed conforms to the creational command in Surah AlAn’am of, ‘Allah is He Who splits the seed and kernel’ and employs those immaterial members well, it will emerge from that narrow world and become a large, fruitbearing tree.

Similarly, significant members and valuable programmes have been deposited in man’s nature by Divine power and qadr.

If man uses those immaterial members on the desires of his nafs and on minor pleasures under the soil of worldly life in the narrow confines of this earthly world, he will decay and decompose in the midst of difficulties in a brief life in a constricted place like the rotted seed, and load the responsibility on his unfortunate ruh, and then depart from this world.

Bediuzzaman advises that if, however, man nurtures the seed of his abilities with the water of Islam and light of imaan under the soil of ibadah and servitude to Allah Almighty, and if he conforms to the commands of the Quran and turns his faculties towards their true aims, they will produce branches and buds in the barzakh.

Yes, true progress is to turn the faces of the heart, ruh, intellect, and even the imagination and other subtle faculties given to man towards eternal life, and for each faculty to be occupied with the particular duty of ibadah worthy of it.

Man has been created with subtle faculties like the eyes, ears, heart, inner heart, ruh, intellect and things like the nafs and whims, and the powers of lust and anger.

Each of man’s faculties has a different duty of ibadah, and different pleasures and pains.

Bediuzzaman emphasises that to make the elevated subtle faculties given to man subject to the nafs and whims, and so to make them forget their fundamental duties is certainly decline and is definitely not progress.

With regard to his acts, his deeds and his labour, man is a weak animal, an impotent creature.

The extent of man’s power, and man’s ownership in this respect is so narrow that it is no greater than as far as the hand of man can reach.

But, in regard to passivity, acceptance, duah and petition, man is an honoured traveller in this hostel of the world.

He is the guest of One so generous, that infinite treasuries of mercy have been opened to him, and innumerable unique beings and servants are subjugated to him.

Thus, if man relies on his ego and making this worldly life his goal, he attempts to taste temporary pleasures.

These temporary pleasures are sought while man struggles to make his living, he becomes submerged within an extremely constricted sphere, and then he departs.

All the members, systems and faculties that were given to him will testify against him at the Resurrection.

On the other hand, if he knows himself to be a guest and spends the capital of his life within the sphere of permission of the Generous One of whom he is the guest, he will strive for a long, eternal life within a broad sphere then take his rest and ease.

And later, he may rise to the highest of the high.

Moreover, all the members and systems given to man will be happy with him and testify in favour of him in the hereafter. For sure, all the wonderful faculties given to men were not for this insignificant worldly life but for an everlasting life of great significance.

If we compare man with the animals, we see that man is very rich with regard to faculties and members, a hundred times more so than the animals.

But, in the pleasures of worldly life, he falls a hundred times lower than the animals for in each pleasure he receives is the trace of thousands of pains – the pains of the past and fears of the future, and the pain at each pleasure’s passing spoils the enjoyment to be had from them.

Animals are not like that. They receive pleasure with no pains.

They take enjoyment with no sorrow.

The sorrows of the past cause them no suffering nor do the fears of the future distress them.

They live peacefully and offer shukr to their Creator.

This means that if man, who is created on the ‘Most Excellent of Patterns’, restricts his thoughts to the life of this world, he falls a hundred times lower than a creature like a sparrow although he is far higher than all the animals.

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46

Muslim Views . September 2018

From Consciousness to Contentment

A new year’s resolution, reflection or both?

JASMINE KHAN

IT is Muharram, the start of our new year and, perhaps, it is a good time to take stock of the past year.

Usually, people make all sorts of resolutions at the end of December because a new year is starting but, as Muslims, we also take particular note of the start of the Islamic new year, especially as the year ends with the pinnacle of Hajj and our families and friends have returned from the Holy Land.

They are renewed and rejuvenated, having stood on Arafah and been forgiven for whatever sins and wrongs they had thus far committed.

This should be a good time for us at home to reflect on what we have done – or not done – this past year. Allah addresses us several times in the Quran as people who reflect; and the Arabic word for reflection is ‘tafakkur’.

This is an important act of worship in Islam. In the Quran, people who reflect are described as: ‘They always remember Allah while they are standing, sitting, lying on their sides, and they meditate over the creation of the heavens and earth.

They say: O our Lord! You did not create them in vain. You are far from it. Protect us from the torment of Hell.’ (Surah Ali Imran, 191)

Reflection helps us to look back on the year and decide where we improved or where we fell short. It is like a wakeup call when we realise a year has passed and we are not yet where we want to be spiritually...

It is stated in a hadith: ‘A momentary meditation on Allah’s grandeur, Paradise and Hell is better than spending a night in worship.’ Imam Al Ghazzali said, ‘Tafakkur is half the ibadah.’

‘Tafakkur’ literally means to think deeply, systematically and in great detail on a subject. In this context, it signifies reflection; it serves as a guiding light, almost like a lamp for the heart.

Reflection is like nourishment to the spirit. It can lead to increased knowledge and serves as the very essence and light of the Islamic way of life.

Reflection is the light in the heart that allows the believer to discern what is good and evil, beneficial and harmful, beautiful and ugly.

Through deep reflection, the universe becomes similar to a book to study, and the verses of the Quran disclose their deeper

meanings and secrets more clearly.

Without reflection, the heart is darkened, the spirit is exasperated and Islam is lived at such a superficial level that it is devoid of meaning and profundity.

Reflection helps us to look back on the year and decide where we improved or where we fell short.

It is like a wakeup call when we realise a year has passed and we are not yet where we want to be spiritually.

We can actually ponder on certain aspects of our lives and decide whether we are happy with it or not.

Only through reflection can we place our experiences in context and see whether the year was actually a garden in which we planted trees of truth. Deep reflection will make us more conscious of the blessings in our lives, and it can serve as a golden key to open the door to the pupil of the heart’s

eye.

Should reflection lead you to change certain habits in your life, here are some guidelines: Change is a verb so take action, only then will you see a difference.

Allah says: ‘Verily never will Allah change the condition of a people until they change it themselves.’

(13:11) Do not wait for tomorrow or when you feel better, start now.

There is no time like the present.

Abdullah ibn Omar (RA) said: ‘When the evening comes, do not wait for the morning; and when the morning comes, do not wait for the evening.’ (Al Bukhari) Start with realistic goals; do not attempt major changes at the outset. Take small steps but do it every day; consistency is the key.

Aisha (RA) reported that Rasul (SAW) said: ‘The acts most pleasing to Allah are those done continuously, even if they are small.’

(Bukhari) Be certain that you are moving towards meritorious acts.

Get someone to help you and monitor you as you progress.

Be patient, it has taken you years to cultivate certain habits; do not expect miracles within days.

Do not be discouraged; if you fail, keep on trying, Allah is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful. Rasul (SAW) said: ‘All children of Adam are sinners, and the best sinners are those who repent.’ (Al Tirmidhi) Keep your focus on the ultimate prize: the pleasure of Allah. ‘Verily, this is the supreme achievement! For the like of this let all strive who wish to strive.’ (37:6061) Seek Allah’s help every step of the way; it will never be denied when asked with sincerity. Appeal in the words of Rasul (SAW): ‘O Allah! I seek refuge with You from incapacity and laziness, from cowardice and geriatric old age, and I seel refuge in You from afflictions of life and death, and I seek refuge with You from the punishment of the grave.’ (Bukhari) Finally, remember the words of Surah Al-Asr: ‘By the token of Time, verily, Man is in loss, except such as have faith, and do righteous deeds, and join together in the mutual teaching of truth, and of patience and constancy.’

(103:1-3)

Art’s for All

Muslim Views . September 2018

47

Terrariums: painting with plants

Water transpired from the plant and evaporated from the compost, had condensed on the walls of the glass bottle, writes DR M C D’ARCY.

AFTER carefully researching the scriptures, James Ussher (1581-1656), Archbishop of Ireland, came to the conclusion that Earth was created at precisely 4pm on October 23, 4004 BCE. Biblical Adam and Eve were ejected from Heaven on Monday, November 9, 4004 BC. All beginnings must have ends so he came to the definitive notion that Earth would explode 6 000 years after creation. The great ‘gravitation’ physicist, Sir Isaac Newton, was more circumspect with a prediction that the ‘Christ Millennium’ would start at 2000 AD. Nostradamus, the doyen of predictive fluff, was naturally also in the fray.

Parents, regardless of religious affiliation, often scare their offspring with doomsday thunder.

This day of reckoning is always nigh: ‘Just look at the world today! Hellfire is near! Pray! Repent!’

Are they all wrong? The volcano in Hawaii, Mount Kilauea, is spewing billions of tons of red-hot lava into the air. Mount Bromo in Java, sited on the Ring of Fire, is likewise active and fiery. On nearby Lombok Island, a devastating earthquake killed many.

Devastating floods have swept Japan, Bangladesh and South America. Large tracts of land in Africa, Australia and American are wracked by killing droughts and fire-storms.

And worse than all of these natural disasters, humankind is raping the earth, destroying the land, the seas, the air and even flooding the stratosphere and space with tons of floating junk.

All over the world, dictators and tin-pot kings and queens are wallowing in avarice and greed of unprecedented proportions.

Most religions are for peace but it is unbearable to see how perverted their adherents have become. ‘Muslim’ nations are bombing fellow Muslims in Yemen into starvation and cholera epidemics, even in the holy month of Ramadaan.

The Zionists in Israel are purging the Palestinians into submis-

A fish tank terrarium decorated as a tranquil semi-desert scene with small succulents.

Photo MC D’ARCY

An inventive diorama terrarium-vista painted with distinctive Karoo plants.

Photo MC D’ARCY

sion despite having a holocaust museum in Israel to warn humankind not to do such despicable acts to others.

Buddhist Myanmar is ethnic cleansing the Rohingya Muslims.

Buddhism certainly does not preach that. Christ never espoused such horrid iniquity.

And soon, humans will wipe out all the species of plants and animals. The rhinos are suffering

imminent extinction because some Eastern populations believe that rhino horns are aphrodisiacs.

Rhino horn consist of hair-keratin.

Toenails are also keratin. It would be cheaper to pound their toenails into ‘aphrodisiac powder’ and save the rhinos.

And what has happened and is happening right here? Evil reigned while good people looked on, paralysed by incompetence and

A vividly painted succulent from nature’s palette lights up the terrarium.

Photo MC D’ARCY

corruption, too afraid to be silenced by violence and intimidation. Apartheid is still alive but reverse apartheid is ominous. The rainbow of hope has been switched off or is it just glowing?

But what has all this got to do with terrariums?

My wife said to me: ‘You watch the news on TV. You read all those bad news in newspapers, every day and at weekends. You get depressed and then you take it out on us. So, do what you can to change what is wrong but move on when you see that which you cannot change.’

She’s right.

My wife, Fatima, made two terrariums for us to enjoy and ponder on the beauty of the plants, how they live in this world with just a little earth, succouring with a few drops of water, some air and lots of light. Now and then they even reward us with the most beautiful flowers coloured by the essence of rainbows.

It is said that ‘terrariums are painting with plants’. A London physician, Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward (1791-1868), was sent by his father to the Caribbean West Indies and was overwhelmed by the lush growth of plants in the sun and clean air but he noted that plants suffered and often died in London’s polluted air and smog.

Ward was also interested in entomology (the study of insects).

He observed that next to a worm chrysalis he had buried some compost in a closed bottle, where a blade of grass had sprouted and flourished. Water transpired from the plant and evaporated from the compost, had condensed on the walls of the glass bottle and ran down back into the compost so there was no need to add additional water.

This was of great economic and botanic importance. Plant specimens and whole plants could be safely transported around the

world in glass-encased tanks or ‘Ward boxes’. There was no need to water the plants. Like Alexander Fleming’s chance discovery of the antibiotic, penicillin, small observations led to great inventions that benefitted humankind.

To make her terrariums, my wife used two empty fish tanks and cleaned them thoroughly with plain soap. She covered the floor of the tanks with a thick layer of small, gravel-coloured stones for drainage. The next layer was a thin layer of activated charcoal (obtainable from a pet shop). This helps with absorbing toxins and to steady the pH. Over that came a five cetimetre (5 cm) layer of indoor potting soil.

A layer of moss can be used to cover this soil or some small beige or white stones.

Make small holes and plant small plants that will not grow rapidly. Water lightly with distilled water or clean rain water. Seal the glass containers.

Give plenty of light but not on sunny window sills where the plants will burn.

If you want to plant succulents that don’t need a lot of water, keep the terrarium open, otherwise the plants will rot.

Enjoy your masterpiece. Sit in front of the terrarium, relax.

Drink in your painting with plants. Don’t worry about Archbishop James Ussher’s fantasies or his bizarre dooms-day mathematics.

This wonderful Earth defies such fictions. Six thousand years are long gone. In Earth’s billions of years of existence, it has seen many changes, from ice-ages to the extinction of the dinosaurs.

Dooms day is an inevitability no one can predict so live every day with joy, laughter and universal compassion. Living art is all around you, in a terrarium and also above your head, high into the cosmos.

48

Muslim Views . September 2018

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