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Volume 4, Issue 2
Novermber-December 1998 And united their hearts; had you spent all that is in the earth, you could not have untied their hearts, but Allah united them, surely He is Mighty, Wise (8:63)
The Second Annual Conference hosted by the Islamic Unity Society entitled ‘Aspects of Islamic Individuality’ took place at the Brunei Gallery, SOAS, University of London, on Saturth day the 19 September 1998. The day fulfilled its promise of variety by unfolding an impressive combination of activities. The elements of rigor-
ous research, informed personal experience, historical traditions, contemporary issues and humorous interludes, were incorporated successfully in a full day of notable presentations. Chaired by Brother Mohammed Al-Hilli the day began with a recitation of the Holy Quran and introductory welcome. The Society’s AGM then took place, you can find further details about this in a separate report on pages 6&7. The morning session drew to an illuminating close with the dynamic thoughts presented by Dr Saffiya in her speech on The Organisation of Life. Beginning in the light of previous research, she briefly spoke about early interaction between Islam and the Western world. This led the discourse towards present day Islamic resurgence as an action against destructive traits. The discussion centered around the arrival of advanced social structures perpetuating growth, instigating the search for a (Continued on page 8)
Voice Of Unity talks to President of IUS Australia
The poison of human society
The wonders of Night-prayer
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Voice Of Unity
Editorial
Assalaamu Alaykum Brothers and Sisters, welcome to your November/December issue of Voice of Unity, in it you will find a range of articles including a report on the Second IUS Annual Conference: Aspects of Islamic Individuality. Alhamdulilah the conference was a huge success as those of you who attended will know, and for those of you who couldn’t make it – see the back cover later for details on how to order the video copy. As human beings we all have different personal attributes that make us ‘individual’ in every sense of the word. With Islam we gain an all inclusive identity - that of an Islamic Individual. It is under this identity
that we must strive towards our ultimate aim of pleasing our creator Allah (SWT). The beauty of this individuality is that we have different ideas and views. It is through collective discussion of these ideas and opinions that we can continue to progress as one strong united force. The seal of the Prophethood (SAW) tells us ‘Hearts get rusted like swords and their refinement lies in academic and religious discussion.’ As unique individuals we also have the ability to attain self perfection, to choose right over wrong, justice over oppression and truth over falsehood. In the nineteenth century philosopher Bentham’s eyes we are all calculating
REST: The believer only acquires true rest when he meets God, although rest may also be obtained by these four things : Silence, by which you recognise the state of your heart and yourself in yourrelations with your Creator. Retreat, by which you are rescued from the evils of th eage, outwardly and inwardly. Hunger, which kills fleshly appetites and temptation. Wakefulness, which illuminates your heart, purifies your nature and cleanses your spirit. The Prophet (pbuh) said: '' If a man finds himself in the morning tranquil in his heart, healthy in the body and with food for
planners who have the capacity to choose between pain and pleasure. The lives of our Imams (AS) are inspirational reminders of individual Islamic choices to conquer falsehood and injustice. The Islamic month of Sha’ban that is coming upon us sees the birth of Imam Hussein (AS) the master of all martyrs, and that of our twelfth Imam, Imam Mahdi (ATF) who will fill the earth with justice and equity just as it has been filled with oppression and tyranny. Both of these Imams are clear symbols of justice, truth and (of course) Islamic Individuality. Sr. Duha Al-Wakeel, Editor.
the day it is as if all on this world had been chosen for him '' Wahb ibn Munabbih quoted the first and the latter prophets as saying : '' O contentment, honour, riches are to be found with you. Whoever wins through you '' No one is in a greater state of loss, is viler or lower than the person who does not believe what his Lord has guaranteed for him and allotted him before He created him. In spite of that this person relies on his own strength, management, effort and striving, and goes beyond the limits of His Lord by seeking ways and means which God has caused him to have no need of.
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Academic
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Br Ghulam Abbas Hussain
Economics is the study of how society makes choices about what output is to be produced, how this output is to be produced and for whom it is to be produced. Thus it is the study of how society allocates its scarce resources amongst competing alternatives. Economics is also a form of social science. The basic approach is referred to as scientific method, but because we are concerned with analysing the behaviour of human beings, the controlled experiments of ‘natural sciences’ (in which a single factor affecting the result can be excluded) are impossible in the study of economics. Meaning every factor from everyday street demand to international rivalry have to be taken into account. This makes it more difficult for an economist to link cause and effect. Another depth to economics is that individual human beings react differently to external events, making predictions more volatile. For instance, the Japanese consumer demand would differ to the American demand in the sale of American cars, this would be due to different practical and cultural requirements. When looking at the vast subject of economics, there are two distinctions to be aware of, namely macroeconomics and microeconomics. These terms come from the Greek words for ‘small’ and ‘large’. Microeconomics is therefore concerned with the behaviour of small parts of the economy, such as the individual or a firm. It focuses on such topics as the equilibrium wage rate in a particular occupation, or the price of a particular product. Macroeconomics on the other hand deals with the economy as a whole and is concerned with aggregates such as unemployment, the rate of interest or the levels of export and import.
At the basic level the student is required to analyse and understand types of economies, demand, supply price, perfect competition and monopoly, domestic and international banking with trade as well as the structure and management of the economy. The student is required to understand these topics to develop an understanding of the principles of the running of an economy. Thus being able to carry out basic predictions based on applying simple econometrics to a change in an economic variable an example being an increase in interest rates, wages, and foreign competition. At graduate level economic subjects are studied in much more depth with a higher level of mathematical analysis. In many cases the student is then asked to understand and forecast economic developments using advanced econometrics with statistical methods. The skill which economics develops most in the student, is hard core analysis. Many employers widely recognise economics students due to their edge in mathematical and situational analysis. Due to this, economics students are demanded in a variety of fields such as teaching, stock broking, investment analysis, banking, financial consultancy, and management in all types of industries. Economics is one of the most versatile degrees to hold for professional jobs. If studied as a combined degree, one can specialise into that particular job, which is of the most interest, and then achieve management positions at faster rates. Overall, economics is an interesting degree, giving you inside knowledge, of how market forces behave the way they do, throughout the world. So the next time you pick up the newspapers and you want to invest, you know where its happening - and why!
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Salat-Ul-Layl
Sr Fatema Panju
“And during a part of the night, pray Tahajjud, beyond what is incumbent upon you; maybe your Lord will raise you to a position of great glory.” (17:79) The above ayah refers to Salatul Tahajjud, also known as Salatul Layl or Namaaz–e– Shab. This is the most well known of the Nafilah (recommended) prayers, which are mustahab (not obligatory, but rewardful) to be prayed every day if possible. We are also told that “One of the signs of the believers is that s/he prays Nafilah Salah.” As much as the praying of Nafilah Salah is recommended, the wajib (obligatory) five prayers from Fajr to Isha are emphasised more strongly, hence one cannot really pray recommended prayers without having first prayed the obligatory five daily prayers. In the above ayah, Allah (SWT) says in the Holy Qur’an that we should wake up in the midst of the night and pray Tahajjud, so that He may raise us to a position of great glory. The position refers to our place in the Hereafter and not in this passing world, and thus the more we can pray this salah, the higher our place in Jannah (Paradise) Inshallah. The Holy Prophet (SAW) has said “There are three things which bring happiness to the heart of a mu’min (believer), meeting of brethren in faith, breaking of the fast and Tahajjud during the last part of the night.” From this hadith, the importance of Salatul Tahajjud has been highlighted and more importantly we have been told when to pray it for maximum
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benefit. This Salah can be prayed anytime after midnight and before Fajr. The best time is in the last hours of the night and just before dawn, so that one can pray Salatul Fajr at the optimum time. The nearer one prays towards Fajr time, the more thawaab (rewardable) it is. Many of us may have the intention of praying Tahajjud, though this is easier said than done! Only the most strong willed can resist the temptation to remain in a warm bed, sound asleep, and get up in the cold and the dark and pray to our Lord. The beauty of it is that Allah (SWT) knows how difficult it is for us to do this and that is why the reward of Tahajjud is so high and the benefits so many. Allah (SWT) in (15:18) relates details to us regarding those who pray Tahajjud: “Surely the pious shall be amidst gardens and fresh springs of water, receiving what is given to them by their Lord. Surely before that they were the doers of good. They used to sleep but little in the night. And in the early mornings they asked for forgiveness.” Whilst the Holy Prophet (SAW) inspirationally explains: “Surely when the slave talks to his master in the middle of the dark night and beseeches Him, Allah places His Light in his heart…then He tells the angels, “O angels, look at my slave. He has come to talk to me in the middle of the night while the idle ones are playing and the heedless ones are sleeping. Bear witness that I have forgiven him.” It has been recommended that Tahajjud is prayed in the middle of the night because “Surely in the rising by night the soul is most receptive and the words more telling” (73:6). Waking up in the middle of the night
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for Tahajjud leaves the mind free of all other affairs, and in that way we are able to give Allah the full benefit of our attention. During the day we are occupied with different things, yet at night when the world is asleep, worries also seem to sleep and are left behind when a believer gets up to pray for Tahajjud. There is no one to disturb us at such a time, no one to demand things from us, it is just one and one’s Creator and that is why Tahajjud comes straight from the heart. The soul talks to Allah more freely and benefits are absorbed much more rapidly, the words are straight from the heart and words of forgiveness fall more eloquently from the lips and are meant so much more sincerely. With getting up for Tahajjud, comes an awareness of one’s own mortality and that is why the need to be forgiven for our sins becomes more important. It’s because of this awareness, that we as individuals change, get closer towards Islam and remember Allah (SWT) more in our daily lives. The Prophet (SAW) has mentioned many benefits of Salatul Tahajjud. Some of which are that it helps one gain the pleasure of Allah (SWT), it is the sunna (way) of the Prophet (SAW) and our Imams (AS), it wards off the shaytan and helps to provide comfort in the grave. Such benefits are inspirational and help motivate us all to recite this prayer, if not on a regular basis at least occasionally for we all want to be the ones who enter Jannah (paradise). Method: Nafilah Salah has thirty four rak’ats in
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total which are all sunna, of which Salatul Tahajjud consists of eleven rak’ats. The first eight rak’ats are prayed in units of two. The niyya (intention) is of Salatul Tahajjud (for every two raka’s). Raka 1 - recite Suratul Hamd followed by Suratul Tawheed Raka 2 - recite Suratul Hamd followed by Suratul Kafirun *Rak’ats 3&4, 5&6, 7&8 – recite like Fajr Salah Rak’ats 9 & 10 – niyya is Salatul Shafa Rak’at 9 – Suratul Hamd followed by Suratun Naas *Rakat 10 – Suratul Hamd followed by Suratul Falaq *Rakat 11 – niyya is Salatul Witr Recite Suratul Hamd, Suratul Tawheed three times, followed by Suratul Falaq once and then Suratun Naas once. Then raise your hands in Qunoot and recite ‘Astaghfirullaha rabbi wa atubu ilah’ seventy times. Give the names of forty mu’mineen, either dead or alive saying ‘Allahumaghfir li…’ before each name. Recite ‘Hadha maqamul aaedhi bika minan naar’ 7 times and finally recite ‘Al-Afw’ 300 times. Complete the Salah with Ruku, Sujood, Tashahud and Salaam. After finishing the Salah, recite the Tasbih of Hazret Fatemah Zahra (AS). *Recite Suratul Tawheed if unfamiliar with these surahs. May Allah (SWT) grant us all the pleasure of praying this most recommended prayer. (Background illustration by Sr. Shanaz Iqbal)
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Reports
Sr. Akeela Gheewalla
The third Annual General Meeting was th held on Saturday the 19 of September, as part of the IUS annual conference titled ‘Aspects of Islamic Individuality’. It was heartening to see members from all parts of the UK with people attending from as far as Glasgow and Wales. The proceedings of the day were opened with a recitation from the Holy Quran followed by a short welcoming speech by Br Mohammed Al-Hilli, who was chairing the conference. The agenda for the AGM began with the Chairman’s report presented by the IUS Vice - Chairman Dr. Mohsen Al-Rashed. Br Mohsen began by commenting on the hard work and dedication of last year’s committee which paved the way for many achievements and rapid progress in the development of the IUS. He then went on to outline the activities of the previous year both highs and lows, in chronological order: During the period October - December 1997 the General Meetings commenced with over twenty talks and study circles throughout the year and the Iftar program in Ramadhan increased to twice a week. The Extraordinary General Meeting in December culminated in the IUS attaining Charitable Status in the UK. That same month, after considerable planning and months of preparation the first subisidised Ziyarat trip to Syria went ahead. Last year also saw the generation of a new department, that of Newsletter & Publications, to cope with the ever increasing amount of publications and expansion of the newsletter, which is now entitled the ‘Voice of Unity’. This brought about a stabilising effect on the publication of the newsletter, which for the last few years has not been headed successfully by one editor. January - March 1997/8 was the busiest session of the year, with the IUS presentation of Syed Mohammed Hussein Tabatabai in February, and preparations already under way for the Iran trip, Muharram
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Campaign and the September ’98 conference. In less than 14 days the Executive Committee organised and executed the Tabatabai conference with tremendous success. Over four hundred people attended where there was only a capacity for three hundred. The following months were the exam period for most students and weekly sports activities were held to give our members a break form their revision. However I hear that IUS FC still needs a lot of practice! In the last AGM Chairman’s report one of the shortfalls of the year mentioned was the lack an IUS home page and email address. This has been rectified in the last year as IUS went online in April, although at least six months is still required for it to be fully operational. In May the Muharram campaign was carried out, with IUS volunteers on hand at the main Islamic centres in London, increasing our membership to five hundred across the UK. At the same time IUS in Australia was granted Charity Status by the Australian Charities Commissioner. After a yearlong search an office was found in central London. Due to Allah (SWT) blessings donations were made towards the decoration and furnishing of the office, in the end only £70 was spent on the same. In August twenty members of the IUS flew out to Iran for a subisidised trip for Ziyarat and an Islamic course. This too was a first time success. Br Mohsen ended the report by commenting once again on the determination and creativity of the last year’s committee, whose tremendous pace of work has meant that IUS is now expanding at a phenomenal rate. The Secretarial report, presented by myself, was similar to that of the Chairman’s. As Secretary I find myself in a unique position of observation of the activities of the IUS and how as an organisation it has progressed over the last year, and hence I reported on the same. Like the Chairman’s report, I briefly outlined the main achievements of the year as well as the continued
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always aware of the need for improvement in general, and one area that I felt needed particular attention in the coming year, was the IUS academic networking and mentor schemes. Many changes were witnessed by the IUS last year, most notably within the structure of the Executive Committee (EC). There were many more volunteers to the committee in general with an overall stable nucleus, the Executive Committee. From an organisational perspective the last years committee was one of the most committed and productive of the IUS, whilst still being able to remain dynamic. Inshallah this will continue to be so for the years to come. One project that I was involved in as Secretary, was the search for an IUS office in central London. As you may be aware an office was found at the end of July, after endeavoring to find one for over a year. I ended my report on a personal note saing that it had been a privilege and a learning experience to work with such a dedicated and hardworking committee, all of whom each have their own various student and professional lives. The last report was the Treasurer’s report given by Sr. Nishat Bharwani. One of the main achievements of the treasury department last year was to register the IUS with the Charities Commission for England and Wales. As well as a better standing in the community there are also financial advantages of charity status including being able to claim back tax on donations made in the form of gift aid and covenanted payment. Thus members were encouraged to utilise the above methods of donation, if at all possible, allowing their contributions to go further. Another aspect of the treasurer’s job is fundraising, this is as the IUS is an independent organisation and relies solely on membership fees and donations to fund its activities. Although various measures were taken to encourage donations from the community in general, the response to date has been low. This was an area that Sr. Nishat felt had to be addressed in the oncoming
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year. As treasurer Sr. Nishat was also involved in the subsidy of the trips for Ziyarat, both to Syria and Iran. Inshallah the IUS will be able to continue to provide such educational and fun trips in the future. In addition to this, the department has dealt with the finance of our annual conferences and other activities. In closing her report Sr. Nishat commented on the expansion of the IUS and an increase in the services that are provided, for example the fact that the newsletter is now sixteen pages, and thus an increased expenditure. Inshallah the IUS will continue to grow with the help of our members. Finally the AGM closed with the start of the Annual General Meeting Elections, the results of which are below.
1998 /99 Committee: Chairman: Dr Syed Zafar Naqvi, now an S.H.O. Doctor after graduating from UCL. Vice – Chairman: Dr Mohsen Al-Rashed, currently doing his post doc. in Chemical Engineering at UCL. Secretary: Akeela Gheewalla, third year Physics student at UCL. Treasurer: Nishat Bharwani, fourth year Medical student at KCL. Newsletter & Publications: Mohammed AlHilli, second year Pharmacy student at SOP. Events: Fatema Panju, second year Podiatry student at UCL. Sisters Rep: Nazanin Dolatshad, currently doing her PhD. at Milton Keynes University. Publicity: Position Vacant. IT: Ammar Hasan, Computer Science graduate from UCL. Editor: Duha Al-Wakeel, second year Law student at QMW. Membership: Akeela Gheewalla
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Conference ‘98
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(Continued from page 1)
higher form of knowledge. The necessity for environmental change towards the Islamic order was salient in the discussion, for the restoration of the integrity of the individual at all levels. Describing a practical movement in a sector of the community, Sr Saffiya highlighted the principles for individual and collective change based upon the Holy Quran, the Prophet of Islam (SAW) and the Ahlul-Bayt (AS). After prayers and lunch, Brother Mudassar Ahmad presented his view of the IUS trip to Syria last year. He described the environmental impressions of the centre of Damascus. He also gave an account of the elevated nature of the Ziyara of the Shrine of our Ladies Zainab (AS) and Sakina (AS). Br Mudassar also touched upon other visits of historical interest. The next speaker, Maulana Raza Hussain conscientiously explored the phenomenon of Infallibility relying on the provenance of the Holy Quran. Commencing with theoretical and practical definitions of the Arabic word Isma, he proceeded to categorise levels of belief in infallibility and illustrate contrasting outcomes. Narrating from Islamic traditions, Maulana presented a conclusive argument for the necessity of the infallible Ma’soomeen (AS) for the completion of our deen. Surprisingly this was the first ever occasion that Maulana Raza has given a speech in English, despite this it was most eloquent indeed. A debate on the ever popular issue of free will versus predestination was conducted by Brother Mehdi Hasan. He discussed the ideological division of the ummah over this contentious subject, and vociferously defended the notion of individual responsibility. Quoting from the great poet and philosopher of the East, Allamah Mohammed Iqbal, he underlined the theological position of followers of the Ahlul-Bayt in trusting the Justice of Allah in allowing man the freedom to create his destiny. Brother Shams Kanani offered a refresh-
ingly original approach to addressing the multifaceted arena of Characteristics of a True Follower of Ahlul-Bayt (AS). At the outset he pointed out the subtle attributes associated with the word follower not apparent in other similar terms. Br Shams enthused his listeners by presenting a fascinating summary of the desired characteristics in the light of Surat Al-Furqan (chapter no25) of the Holy Qur’an. Furthermore, everyone was treated to an insightful delineation of some grammatical idiosyncracies of the Surah in addition to the semantic qualities. This articulate speaker used humour intelligently and
brought the auditorium to life with his inspirational address. The third and final session of the day began with an informative report of the recent IUS trip to Iran by Sister Rafal Ali. She described her experience of the Ziyara of the Shrine of Imam Ali Reza (AS) as well as the numerous other activities engaged in by the group. Sister Rafal discussed the spiritual, educational and cultural inspirations gained during the tour of the cities of Tehran, Qum, Esfahan and Mashhad. She emphasised the bounteous welcome felt by all participants; and concluded by sharing details of the advancement of this modern independent nation with an increasing base of expertise in all fields. Maulana Mohammed Ali Shomali succinctly managed to present to his listeners a thought-provoking segment of what has proven
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to be a broad and complex area of study. In introducing the issue of Our Responsibilities Towards Muslim Countries he considered three sources of obligation: internal, external and conventional. With great deliberation Maulana Shomali proceeded to animate these theoretical categories by defining our duties in terms of each of the three sources. He consolidated his argument with successive reference to traditions of the Holy Imams (AS). There then followed a comprehensive display of the aims, achievements and future goals of the Islamic Unity Society by Dr Mohsen Al-Rashed with Brother Ammar Hasan providing the computer animated slides. This excellent presentation depicted the array of responsibilities currently undertaken by the IUS and provided members the opportunity to appreciate progress so far. Br Mohsen drew attention to national and international links as well as other notable features of the Society, particularly its aims to expand the community network of students and professionals. Br Mohsen pointed to the scope for realisation of future objectives with increased support. Dr Ali Hussaini demonstrated present day application of medical advice given by Imam
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Ali Reza (AS) in his work entitled, The Golden Letter of Imam Reza (AS). In his enlightening commentary Brother Ali focused upon some of the general principles of medical wisdom expressed by Imam Ali Reza (AS) in his seventh century letter to the caliph Mamoon al-Rashid. Br Ali stressed the necessity for Muslims to adopt an explicit position to avoid alienation and to represent Islam as Ahlul-Bayt Islam. The day’s events culminated in the speech of Sheikh Mohsen Al-Araki. The encouraging words spoken by Sheikh Al-Araki eloquently encompassed a fusion of past, present and future, facilitating an evolving image of Islamic identity. He recommended fostering societal reform with a firm foundation in group work and unity. In praising the goals of the IUS along with its talented workforce, Sheikh AlAraki highlighted the greater availability of resources in the West to enable effective delivery of the message of Islam. There was light-hearted anticipation as participants of the Iran trip (in recognition of the Islamic course they undertook whilst in Iran) received their awards from Sheikh Al-Araki, as did the unwitting winners of the conference quiz from Syed Ameli. Brother Mohammed Al-Hilli concluded his incessantly efficient role with a vote of thanks to all members and volunteers, and a du’a for all Muslims. The symbol of unity represented by attendance at the conference professed the desire to be reminded of the cardinal virtues of our faith with regularity at such gatherings. The diversity of topics was reflected in the unique stance taken by the erudite speakers with aspects of Islamic individuality inherent in each contribution. However, the unity of the speakers was evident at one level, in declaring their positions from a single platform surpassing the boundaries of ethnicity, age and gender; and at another existed the parallel of ultimate convergence of thought. In efficaciously accomplishing its worthy objective, the IUS has once again upheld the time honoured pattern of achievement resulting from the celebrated manifestation of striving for a just and distinguished cause. Sr. Tatheer Zahra Shamsi
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Voice Of Unity
Interview
Br. Mohammed Al-Hilli
One of the major achievements of the IUS this year has been the establishment of IUS Australia in the city of Melbourne. Brother Gaith Al-Hasani is the IUS Australia President who has, with the help of Allah (SWT), worked extremely hard to organise this newly established society. Having obtained a BA in Advanced French Studies and a B.Sc. in Molecular Microbiology, Br. Gaith is currently doing a Ph.D. in Molecular Microbiology at Monash University, Melbourne. During his trip to the UK, I took the opportunity to interview him, read on to find out more: Q: Br Gaith, Assalamu Alaykum. How would you describe the current youth Muslim Community in Australia? A: Walakium Assalam. Alhamdullilah, the youth population is growing at a considerable rate, though it is still much smaller than in the UK. There is however, a significant non-youth population as well. However, there are some problems facing all of us in that society, some of which are: 1-Academic achievements are quite low, and certainly need to be improved. 2-The generation is of course a firstgeneration community. 3-The community is somewhat struggling economically and financially. What is important to keep in mind is that every young community initially experiences difficulties ranging from financial to social aspects. With time and effort Inshallah, the community grows and strengthens itself and
becomes mature, leading to a more stable, influential and efficient body. Q: What was your inspiration in forming IUS Australia? A: I believed it was necessary to establish a student society that would unify the young lovers of the Ahlul-Bait (AS) and would equally promote the Divine Message of Islam. Allah (SWT) made my wish come true in January 1998, which coincided with the Holy Month of Ramadhan. I travelled to London in hope of meeting some brothers and sisters who shared the same concerns. With the Guidance of Allah (SWT) we attended an iftar organised by the IUS, and that was the start of many discussions I had with the Committee about establishing a similar society in Australia. Upon my return to Melbourne, a committee of six members was formed and a slightly modified constitution to the UK one was drafted and submitted for approval. Thus we felt that there was a need and demand for such an organisation that would be a voice for students. Q: How has this society been received in Australia? A: Alhamdullilah, the society has had quite a
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good response from the community, Ulamas and the general public. The response has been warm and co-operative. Many have been enthusiastic and supportive. For example, we are grateful to Al-Ghadeer Association for allowing us to use their centre for our seminars so far, my Allah (SWT) reward them with thawab inshallah. Q: What are the Society’s achievements so far? A: Firstly, we have organised three seminars so far, the first seminar was given by Moulana Dr. Mansoor Leqaei on the role of women in Karbala. Approximately fourty people attended this seminar. Our second seminar was on the importance of Imamat and ‘political role of Muslim intellectual”, and the speakers were Dr Masood and Br. Arfin. Our third seminar was also given by Moulana Leqaei on the topic of ‘Peaceful co-existence’ and was, alhamdullilah attended by more than eighty people. We have also published two newsletters and are in the process of publishing the third soon inshallah. However we have still got a lot of work to do in terms of organising other activities such as trips and sports. Q: What are the future plans for IUS Australia? A: Our short-term aims are to establish the society in Sydney by having a representative there. To add to this, we are planning in the future to have more suitable activities such as debating, sports, and also outings such as a BBQ! Inshallah, in co-ordination with IUS UK, we
Interview
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will be publishing a global issue of the Voice of Unity containing articles from both countries. Q: What difficulties have you had to confront so far? A: Initially, we faced difficulty in administrative sides in the sense of forming a committee and writing the constitution, as well as obtaining financial contributions from the people. Though with the help of Allah we have overcome most of the early difficulties, and are looking forward to the challenges facing us in the future. Q: Do you have any message from the brothers/sisters in Australia ? A: The brothers and sisters all send their warm salaams and greetings, and encourage us to keep up the good work, as well as not to forget us in their prayers and dua. May Allah (SWT) help us all succeed inshallah. Q: Last but not least, what are your impressions of IUS UK? A: As I have already mentioned, I was very impressed with IUS work and the organisation, and I think with Allah’s help it has established an excellent reputation for itself as an organisation serving the community here in the UK. Alhamdullilah, this society is an inspiration to others to emulate and at simultaneously it’s a society that other people have to support and make use as their voice. î î î
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Principles
Voice Of Unity
Sr Oola Ajina
In day to day terms, a hypocrite may be thought of as a person whose actions contradict his/her beliefs and teachings, in other words, someone who does not "practice what they preach". If this were the most accurate definition of hypocrisy then it would mean that the majority of Muslims were, in fact, hypocrites. This is because many of us, at some point in our lives, have upset our parents, or have been engaged in backbiting or idle-talk, despite knowing that such acts are prohibited in Islam. These are but a few simple examples of how our actions can contradict our beliefs, yet does this really mean that most of us are hypocrites? I sincerely hope not, but to be fair it does mean that we may have faults in our degree of faith. Although this is an equally serious shortcoming, it is a separate matter in its own right. During the time of the Prophet Mohammad (SAW), the hypocrites constituted one of the main obstacles to the mission of Islam. These people outwardly proclaimed that they believed in Allah (SWT) and His messenger, but in reality they rejected them. This type of hypocrisy is known as hypocrisy in belief, and such a person is neither regarded as a Muslim nor as a Kafir, but as a Munafiq. Imam Ali (AS) recalls in his Nahjul Balagha that Rasulullah (SAW) once said: "Indeed I do not fear for my nation a believer nor a polytheist, for the believer will be prevented (from wrong doing) by his faith, and Allah will crush the polytheist with his polytheism, but verily I fear for you every person who has hypocrisy in his heart, and wisdom in his tongue, who speaks of what you know, and does what is disapproved." Such people are dealt with very severely in the Holy Quran. "Verily the Munafiqeen (hypocrites) will be in the lowest depths of the fire, no helper will you find for them." (Al-Nisaa' 4:145) However there is another type of hypocrisy which is more common in today's society, and this is hypocrisy in actions. This does not take the person out of Islam but the person is said to have a characteristic of hypocrisy.
So how do we identify this condition? The Prophet Mohammed (SAW) has said, "There are four things, whoever possesses them is a pure hypocrite, and whoever possesses one of them possesses a characteristic of hypocrisy until he abandons it: when he is trusted he is disloyal, when he speaks he lies, when he makes a promise he breaks it, and when he argues he behaves in an insolent manner." The Quran talks about another characteristic of hypocrisy and this is to do things for show. "When they (the hypocrites) stand up to prayer, they stand without earnestness, to be seen of men, but little do they hold Allah in remembrance." (Al-Nisaa' 4:142) One effect of such qualities in society is that Muslims will begin to lack confidence and trust in one another, and this will eventually weaken and disunite the Ummah. A possible reason as to why we may develop hypocritical attributes could be to create a certain image or reputation for ourselves. Although we may attempt to convince others as to how great we are, Allah (SWT) knows of all that is in our hearts. Thus in reality this is nothing more than a facade and we are fooling no one but ourselves. On an individual scale, our general conduct should always be a manifestation of our beliefs and of what is in our hearts. Therefore, we must always strive to correct any shortcomings in our faith so that our inner beliefs and outer actions are in unison. This will not only erase hypocrisy from our souls, but should also bring us closer to Allah (SWT). Undoubtedly this is easier said than done, nevertheless we should be encouraged by the hadith narrated by Abu Dharr al-Ghafari in which the Holy Prophet (SAW) says: 'Allah the Lord of Honour and Glory says "…When someone approaches Me a hands length, I approach him an arms length; when someone walks towards Me, I run towards him; and when someone comes to Me (seeking My forgiveness) full of as many sins as the whole world contains, I meet him with an
Voice Of Unity
Brain Teasers
1-Five murder suspects, including the guilty party, are being interrogated by the police at the scene of a murder. Of the five statements made, just three are the truth. Alf White: ‘David Dark is the murderer’ Barry Gloomy: ‘I am innocent’ Cyril Shady: ‘It wasn’t Ernie Black’ David Dark: ‘Alf white is lying’ Ernie Black: ‘Barry Gloomy is telling the truth.’ Who committed the murder? 2- A census-taker calls at a house. He asks the man living there the ages of his three daughters. The man says: “If you multiply their ages the total is 72; if you add together their ages the total is the same as the number on my front door, which you can see.” The census-taker says, “That’s not enough information for me to calculate their ages.” The man says: “Well, my eldest daughter has a cat with a wooden leg.” The census taker replies: “Ah, I know their ages.” What are the ages of the three girls?
(Answers to these in the next issue)
ANSWERS TO LAST ISSUE’S TEASERS Anastasia’s numbers: Anastasia tells a lie when she says that the number is below 500. The only square and cube between 99 and 999 whose first and last digits is 5, 7, or 9 is 729. Lost time: 11+ 12+ 1 + 2 = 26 10 + 3 + 9 + 4 = 26 5 + 6 + 7 + 8 = 26 Tree Teaser: Spencer prunes six more trees than Don.
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Whats On....
Voice Of Unity
These take place on Wednesdays at 4.30pm in Dar Al-Hikma (45 Chalton Street, Euston). Below are the details of the forthcoming programmes: 04/11 11/11 18/11 25/11 02/12 09/12 16/12
Maulana Haider Shirazi Dr. Al-Nahar Maulana Haider Shirazi Br. Mahmood Merchant Maulana Haider Shirazi Maulana Ameli Maulana Haider Shirazi
Fiqh Study Circle Maba’th of the Prophet (SAW) Fiqh Study Circle The true reality of Jihad Fiqh Study Circle The necessity of Imam Mehdi (ATF) Fiqh Study Circle
Special programmes, with iftar, will be held in the Month of Ramadhan Inshallah. Details will be given nearer the time.
VOICE YOUR OPINIONS AND BE HEARD! Having gone from strength to strength, the Islamic Unity Society Newsletter ‘Voice of Unity’ still depends on your support – yes – YOU the reader! The IUSN Committee encourages and appreciates members’ participation, hence we are giving you the opportunity to express yourself on a national scale. So put pen to paper and keep those contributions coming in! Articles (both academic and Islamic), poetry and illustrations are welcome, as are your views and comments. Members whose work is printed will be offered a selection of titles to choose from the well stocked IUS Library. Make Voice of Unity your voice! Send all submissions with your name, address and telephone no./ e mail address to: The Editor - Voice of Unity c/o IUS Box 145 37 Store Street, Bloomsbury London WC1E 7BS Or email to: EDITOR@IUS.ORG.UK
Voice Of Unity
Trips
IUS EID TRIP ’99 SWANSEA For Brother and Sisters = An enjoyable day of sightseeing and visiting places = Meeting with other students from around Wales = Date: Saturday 30 January 1999 = Departure: 8.00 am, London Paddington = Arrival: 9.30 pm, London Paddington = Cost: £ 15 per person (heavily subsidised)
Brothers visiting Swansea in October this year to promote IUS in Wales
To book tickets, please contact the IUS Tel No: 0171 436 4786 and leave your details. Please note that a first come first serve policy applies, and as there are 50 places available, please book early.
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Voice Of Unity
Ius News
= General Weekly Meetings: With the help of Allah (SWT), the IUS Weekly meetings got under way on Wednesday 7/10 with the start of the Fiqh study Circle by Maulana Shirazi. The highlight of the programmes so far has been the special programme on the glorious occasion of the birth of Hadhrat Fatima Zahra (AS). The programme was held on 14/10 in Dar Al-Hikma, and was attended by more than 60 people. It contained excellent speeches by Br. Gaith Al-Hasani and Maulana Sayyid Taqi Rizvi. = Swansea trip: On behalf of the IUS, 10 brothers had a one day visit of the city of Swansea early in October aiming to set-up IUS Wales and in preparation for the Eid trip in January. For details of the trip please see the advert on page 15. = Conference ’98: The video for this year’s conference is ready, so if you want a copy please contact the IUS as soon as possible as there are limited copies. The price is £10 per copy. = New Address: The IUS has a new mail address and telephone number. You can find these in the box at the bottom of the page. Please use them in any correspondence with the society.
Dates to Remember Wiladat Wafat Shahadat Wafat Meraj Wiladat Wiladat Wiladat Wiladat Wafat
Imam Ali (AS) Hazrat Zainab (AS) Imam M. Kazim (AS) Hazrat Abu Talib (AS) The Prophet (SAW) Imam Hussain (AS) Hazrat Abbas (AS) Imam Z. Abideen (AS) Imam Mehdi (atf) Bibi Khadija (AS)
13 Rajab 15 Rajab 25 Rajab 26 Rajab 27 Rajab 3 Shaban 4 Shaban 5 Shaban 15 Shaban 10 Ramadhan
Tue 3rd Nov Thu 5th Nov Sun 15th Nov Mon 16th Nov Tue 16th Nov Mon 23rd Nov Tue 24th Nov Wed 25th Nov Sat 5th Dec Tue 29th Dec
Islamic Unity Society Mail Address: c/o IUS Box 145 37 Store Street London WC1E 7BS
Telephone: 0171 436 4786 Email: M.Al-Rashed@ucl.ac.uk Hasan@ndirect.co.uk Internet: http://www.ius.org.uk