LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Muslim Views changed my view
I FULLY agree with your views and the views of Imam Dr Rashid Omar regarding the coverage of the recent Hajj in Muslim Views, October 2015. My husband and I were on Hajj when these very shocking tragedies occurred. When I arrived in Makkah, I was oblivious to the surroundings (the cranes and the noise and dust of the ongoing construction) as we were fulfilling our ibaadaat, and everyone is in a spiritually heightened state of mind. After the crane incident, I would walk into the haram and, in my heart, I would say: ‘Inna lillaahi wa inna ilayhi raajioon.’ I admit that while I was shocked by the tragic events that occurred, I thought that it was in Allah’s decree that it happened and made duah that Allah SWT grant the deceased Jannatul Firdous and grant their families ease and patience, insha Allah. To die in the most blessed city on the dunya is surely a duah of all Muslims. Maybe I have become desensitised by the tragedies that occurred in Makkah and Mina. But, after reflecting on these articles and experiencing the way non-Arabs are treated by the Saudi authorities, especially our elderly, I feel differently. I do feel they can be more respectful and compassionate to the guests of Allah.
People will warn you about the Saudis’ arrogance and that one requires loads of sabr, and we have become very accepting of many things because we are on a spiritual journey. I am in agreement that we should put pressure on the Saudis to do more to ensure the safety of Allah’s guests. They are the custodians of the holy cities and, therefore, should consider the sanctity of life a priority. We had a most incredible journey of a lifetime and, Alhamdulillah, Allah made it easy for us. The Saudis should be commended for doing an excellent job in facilitating the Hajj as everything is so much easier for us than it ever was for our forefathers. However, the Saudis also need to take constructive criticism when it is due. Shukran for the awareness. Wiesaal Abrahams Cape Town
Nabi Muhammad, Nabi Adam stood on Jabal Rahmah with Sayyidah Houwwa? Or is this the side effects of reading ‘Ecstasy is an emotional explosion’ in Muslim Views, Vol. 29 No 10, page 39? Muharram mubarak to the editor and to all the staff, readers and letter writers as well as contributors to your hard copy social media titled MV. I am reading Dr M D Saloojee’s article on page 25, ‘Looking after your eyes’, now. Perhaps there is a logical explanation for my uncanny and strange observation tonight, next week or last month? Salaam Amien Baderoen Strand
Muharram meanderings
OVER the decades as a community worker, I have witnessed the absolute necessity for widespread Islamic values in the broader South African society. As an example, I will utilise one advice from the Quran to clarify its power, and also comment on the chaos that ensues if the advice is ignored. While the Quran clearly stipulates that divorce must be cordial and not hostile, many couples fail in this regard. Thus, teachers at school and madrassah spend vital classroom time dealing with the emotional fallout of fighting par-
IT’S the tenth of Muharram and as I return from the mosque after Maghrib, I look up at the gibbous moon. Over the top of my glasses I see the full moon. I remove my specs and yes, it is definitely the slightly blurred, full moon. Am I looking into the future or back into the past while standing in the present? Is this the very moment the world was created, the sea opened for Nabi Musa, the moon split for
Islam has the answer
Muslim Views . November 2015
ents who have no idea of the extent of their selfish conflict. As the chairperson of a multicultural primary school in the City Bowl area, I regularly interact with poor, middle-class and wealthy families. At the school there are Jews, Christians and Muslims. This cosmopolitan mix allows an opportunity to interact with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures, leading to a better understanding of people. This interaction confirms that across society where there is an ethical father and mother etc, kids are prone to learn values and virtues. While we all have faults and flaws, what is vital is that a foundation in religious values is imperative as absence of such values creates limitless problems for society. Example: the current global divorce statistic in western nations, including South Africa, is above 50 per cent. The results of this statistic instantly reflect at school and madrassah, especially if the divorce was concluded with hostility. The irony is that, because of a low level of Islamic values and education, some parents ignorantly use kids to hurt the other. Kids also use parental hostility to emotionally blackmail parents for material gains. In the end, the situation is ugly and often public as the hostility goes to law court, and issues of interdicts and countersuits become the norm. This situation can continue for years as the mother fights for childcare etc and the father becomes absent. Later, the mother and father marry other partners and the kids have new issues to manage. The point is that youths are often left to make life-long decisions while they are evidently
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unqualified and unskilled to make the critical choice of who to marry. While love and emotions are key, what is also vital is that qualified and educated parental advice must be part of the decision-making process. With increased westernised, negative social influences like ‘try before you buy’ and ‘living together’, Muslim youth are under phenomenal social pressure to comply with these unislamic practices. In the end, parents, teachers, religious leaders and community elders must continue reminding youth that the Quran is perfect and that the advice is divine and beyond question. What we cannot allow is for youngsters to make decisions that create and generate chaos for themselves and society, and then use the excuse that they did not know what they were doing and nobody guided them. Cllr Yagyah Adams Cape Muslim Congress
‘Stop falling for these cons’ I FULLY endorse Mr Lorgat’s thinking about spiritual bargaining (MV, October 2015). This kind of thinking compromises our deen. Before we do anything, we are banking in advance! No! Rather do good for the sake of good! In addition, some of these collections are pocketed by unscrupulous people who wait like vultures for disasters and emotionally hyped scams to milk the masses. Stop falling for these cons. Sabiha Doolarkhan South Coast, KZN
Write to: editor@mviews.co.za • Fax: 086 516 4772 Kindly include full name and address. Letters must not exceed 500 words
Recently, the Consul General in Cape Town of the Republic of Indonesia, Abdul Rachman Dudung, met with members of the Cape Mazaar Society to discuss the society’s role in upgrading and maintaining the mazaars (kramats) since 1982. Also present at the meeting were members of the Cape Malay Heritage Society. Pictured are (from left): Moegamat Gielmie Hartley, Hajji Abdullah Waggie (Cape Malay Heritage Society), Consul General Abdul Rachman Dudung, Aqil Brey and Mahmood Limbada (Cape Mazaar Society). Photo: RIYADI ASIRIDIN
Cage Africa opens CT office CAGE Prisoners NPC, trading as Cage Africa, has opened an office in Cape Town in order to extend the organisation in Africa and continue to cement its support for the London office of Cage. Cage is an organisation that advocates for the rights of communities impacted by the War on Terror. It campaigns for due process, the principle of the rule of law and dialogue as means of ending the War on Terror. Karen Jayes, co-ordinator for Cage Africa, said: ‘This marks a new chapter in the life of Cage Africa where we are increasing our capability to assist those who are negatively impacted by oppressive policies employed in the name of the War on Terror in Africa. ‘We aim to reverse the prevailing War on Terror narratives prevalent in South Africa by highlighting how they create an atmosphere of suspicion that betrays the country’s multicultural ethos. ‘We welcome communication from community leaders, members of the public sector and the media, as well as any member of the public interested in hearing more about what we do.’ The contact details of Cage Africa in Cape Town are: Ground Floor, State Street House, River Park, Gloucester Road, Mowbray, 7700. Telephone: +27(0) 21 680 5270; Fax: +27 (0) 21 680 5011
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