All Activity

We eat and drink several times a day. By implementing the sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) we can gain maximum reward for these mundane activities. 10 Sunnahs of Eating 1. To wash both the hands before and after meals. (Sunan Abi Dawud) 2. To sit on the floor. (Sahih Bukhari) 3. To sit in one of the following three postures: In the Tashahud position (like in Salah). (Fathul Bari) Same as above with the right knee raised. (Ibid; Takhrijul Ihyaa) In the squatting posture. (Sahih Muslim) 4. To eat with the fingers (thumb, index and middle fingers). (Sahih Muslim) 5. To take the name of Allah before eating. (Sahih Bukhari) 6. To eat with the right hand. (Sahih Bukhari) 7. To eat from the closest part of the plate and not from the middle. (Sahih Bukhari) 8. As far as possible, to eat collectively from one plate. (Sunan Ibn Majah) 9. To clean every bit of food left on the plate and to lick the fingers before washing them. (Sahih Muslim) 10. To recite the various Masnun du’as after meals. One of them is, ‘Alhamdulillahil ladhiy at’amana wa saqana wa ja’alana muslimin’. (Sunan Abi Dawud) 10 Sunnahs of Drinking 1. To sit and drink. (Sahih Bukhari) 2. To drink with the right hand. (Sahih Bukhari) 3. To take 3 sips (or more in odd numbers). (Sahih Bukhari) 4. To say Bismillah before drinking. (Sahih Bukhari) 5. To say Alhamdulillah after drinking. (Sunan Tirmidhi) 6. If there are several people who are going to share the drink, it should be given to the one on the right. (Sahih Bukhari) 7. The one who is distributing the water (or food) should himself drink after everyone. (Sunan Tirmidhi) 8. To recite the following Dua after drinking, ‘Alhamdulillahil ladhiy at’ama wa saqa, wa sawwaghahu wa ja’ala lahu makhraja.’ (Sunan Abi Dawud) This dua could also be recited after eating. 9. One may also recite: Alhamdulillahil ladhy saqani adhban furatan bi rahmatihi walam yaj’alhu milhan ujajan bi dhunubi.(Tabarani) 10. After drinking milk to recite ‘Allahumma barik lana fihi wa zidna minhu’. (Sunan Abi Dawud) Food and drink are a blessing from Allah. By implementing the Sunnah and avoiding wastage, we would be physically expressing Shukr (gratitude) to Allah. Source: Al-Miftah

As-Salaam alaikum, You are praying, you are fasting, you are doing everything right, yet something inside you feels dead, heavy, empty. The Prophet Muhammad, Sallallahu alaihi Wasallam, called it the silent disease of the heart. Sheikh Ibn Arabi, may Allah sanctify his secret, described it as the hidden death that kills the soul, while the body still works. Right now, this is spreading faster than ever. The heart becomes sick when it forgets who is watching. The first silent disease of the heart is forgetfulness of the Divine Gaze; not forgetfulness of Allah's Existence. The deeper danger is forgetting that Allah is witnessing them right now. A person may say I believe in Allah, but their heart acts as though Allah is far away; they speak carelessly because they forget Allah hears; they look carelessly because they forget Allah sees; they plan sins quietly because they forget Allah knows; they delay repentance because they forget tht their next breath is not guaranteed. This is not ignorance of religion; this is absence of presence. In the path of inner knowledge, the greatest poverty is not having little money but living under the gaze of Allah while feeling unseen by Him, because when the heart truly knows it is seen by Allah, it becomes careful, it becomes softer, awake. This is why Ihsan is the medicine of the heart. To worship Allah as though you see Him, and if you do not see Him, to know that He sees you. The Prophet, Sallallahu alaihi Wasallam, did not teach Ihsan as decoration. He taught it as the highest state of worship, because the heart cannot remain diseased when it is truly aware of been seen by the One who created it. A man alone with his phone at night is not alone; a woman crying quietly into her pillow is not alone; a person hiding bitterness behind a smile is not alone; a businessman cheating in a transaction is not alone; a student lying to escape blame is not alone; a believer standing in prayer without focus is not alone. Allah sees the movement before it becomes an action; He sees the intention before it becomes a word; He sees the wound before it becomes anger; He sees the desire before it becomes sin; He sees the repentance before it reaches the tongue. So, the question is not whether Allah sis watching. The question is whether your heart is awake to His watching. This is where many hearts become sick. They begin to live as if people are the real witnesses and Allah is only an idea. They fear embarrassment more than sin, they fear losing reputation more than losing sincerity, they fear being exposed in front of people more than being exposed on the Day when nothing hidden remains hidden. And when the gaze of people becomes greater in your heat than the gaze of Allah Ta'ala, your worship becomes performance, your morality becomes strategy and your religion becomes a routine. This is a serious disease. We must Beware!!

As-Salaam alaikum, What if the greatest distraction in your life isn't your phone but your own self, you sit after Sallah and within moments the same thoughts return, did I pray with enough focus, why didn't I feel anything, am I getting any closer to Allah or am I only pretending? You recite the Qur'an, but your mind quietly drifts towards tomorrow's meeting, last night's conversation or version of yourself you hope other people see.... Most of us think distraction comes from social media, endless notifications, or the noise of modern life. Those things certainly distract us, but there is another distraction that follows you everywhere. It sits besides you in Sallah, it opens the Qur'an with you, it whispers during your Zikr, it even joins you when nobody else is around -- it is the endless habit of watching yourself - am I sincere enough, did I pronounce that correctly, do people think I am religious, why can't I concentrate, why don't I feel what everyone else feels. Without realizing it, many of us have become experts of observing ourselves while forgetting to observe the One who created us. And the more we watch ourselves, the more exhausted we become. The irony is painful, we long to become close to Allah while remaining trapped inside our own thoughts. Shiekh Ibn Arabi, may Allah be Merciful to him, diagnosed this illness in a way that feels astonishingly modern. He teaches in the 'Futuhat al-Makkiyyah', that the heart becomes truly alive when its attention leaves the prison of the ego and rests in awareness of the real Allah, whose perfect knowledge never leaves His servant. Muraqabah is not forcing yourself to think about Allah every second. It is learning to live as someone who finally realizes that no one breath, not one thought, not one hidden tear has ever existed outside Allah's knowledge. For Ibn Arabi, Muraqabah is not an isolated mystical exercise practiced only by spiritual elites, it is a transformation of perception, it is learning to live beneath the Divine Name al-Raqib - the Ever Watchful - not imagining Allah, not visualizing Allah, not confusing the Creator with His creation. Allah remains utterly transcendent, completely unlike His creation yet His knowledge encompasses every hidden thought, every whispered prayer, every forgotten disappointment, every sincere intention.

The Son I Tried to Take Away (Part Two) True Story (Names and details changed) At first, Qatar felt wonderful. Then reality began to settle in. Irfan left for work in the morning and returned in the evening. If I needed groceries, I had to arrange a taxi and take Uthman with me. If Uthman needed a doctor, I often had to manage it alone. One day I told Irfan that Uthman needed to be seen. "Take him," he said. "I'll come as soon as I can." So, I took him. The doctor ordered tests. Then more tests. Weeks passed. Then more weeks. For nearly a month, we lived in anxiety. Finally, the doctor explained that Uthman needed an operation. There was a problem with the passage through which he passed stool, and it needed to be enlarged so that he could pass properly. I broke down. I cried uncontrollably. The doctor reassured me that it was a relatively small procedure, but all I could see was my baby lying on an operating table in a foreign country. I called Irfan immediately. He didn't answer. I called again. Still nothing. When he eventually came home, he found me crying. "What happened?" I could barely speak. I told him what the doctor had said. He immediately became worried. He made wudu. He prayed salah. Then he raised his hands and made dua for our son. Afterwards, he messaged his parents and asked them to make dua for Uthman. And then he said something that shook my entire world. He looked at me and quietly asked, "Amina, do you think Allah could be testing you with your son?” I looked at him. He continued, "Do you remember how you felt about my parents? How you tried to keep me from them? How you stopped me from taking care of them? How you didn't want them seeing their grandson?" I began crying. Then he said words I will never forget: "Do you think Allah is showing you what it feels like when someone is separated from the child they love?" My heart broke. For the first time, I saw everything clearly. I remembered my mother-in-law's tears. I remembered my father-in-law's silence. I remembered the welcome they had prepared for me. I remembered my mother-in-law making excuses for me when I disappeared upstairs. I remembered how happy they had been to become grandparents. I remembered how I had secretly celebrated their pain. And suddenly I understood. I had not simply wanted a separate home. I had tried to take a son away from his parents. I had tried to make his parents less important to him. And then I had almost succeeded. I cried until I couldn't cry anymore. That night, I made tawbah. I asked Allah to forgive me. Then I sent a message to my mother-in-law and father-in-law. I asked them to forgive me too. I didn't make excuses. I didn't say, "I was young." I didn't say, "I was overwhelmed." I didn't say, "I only wanted privacy." I simply told them that I had wronged them. Then came the day of Uthman's operation. Irfan and I sat outside the theatre in a foreign country, frightened and helpless. I remember looking at the doors. I remember thinking about my son. And I remember making a promise to Allah: "Ya Allah, if You give my son shifa, I will go back to the UK with my husband. I will return their son to them. I will not stand between them and their grandson again." The operation was successful. Alhamdulillah. But our journey wasn't over. Uthman required extensive aftercare. He had a bag attached to his stomach to collect his waste, and we had to learn how to care for him properly and change it. For six months, our lives revolved around his recovery. And during those six months, I changed. Not because I suddenly stopped loving my husband. Not because I stopped wanting my own home. But because I finally understood that wanting boundaries is one thing. Trying to destroy a bond between parents and their child is another. When the doctors finally told us that Uthman was well enough to travel, we returned to the UK. And I kept the promise I had made to Allah. I went back to my in-laws' home. But this time, I didn't walk through their door with resentment. I walked through it with gratitude. I hugged my mother-in-law. I hugged my father-in-law. And when I saw them holding Uthman, I realised something that had taken me years to understand I had spent years thinking that my in-laws were standing between me and my husband. They weren't. I was standing between my husband and the people who had raised him. And when I tried to take their son away from them, I didn't make my marriage stronger. I only created pain. Advice to Every Daughter-in-Law To every woman who is about to marry, or who has recently married, I want to say this: It is completely understandable to want privacy. It is understandable to want your own space. It is understandable if living with in-laws is difficult for you. You are allowed to have feelings. You are allowed to struggle. And sometimes a separate home is genuinely the healthiest arrangement for everyone. But there is a difference between asking your husband for a home of your own and trying to separate him from his parents. Your husband can love you deeply and still love his mother. He can bring you flowers and still buy groceries for his parents. He can take you on holidays and still sit beside his father in the masjid. He can bring breakfast in bed for you and still love and do things for his mother. He can buy your snacks and still prepare his mother's morning drink. His love for them does not mean there is less love available for you. Don't turn your husband's love for his parents into a competition. You do not have to become their daughter overnight. You do not have to pretend that every aspect of living with extended family is easy. But don't make it your mission to make your husband choose. And please, never use children as weapons. I repeat don't make their grandchildren tools you use against them. Allah tala can test you with those precious children if He wants. Grandparents have a special place in a child's life. If they are loving, safe and respectful, don't deliberately prevent them from seeing their grandchildren simply because you dislike the extended-family arrangement. A grandmother holding her grandson isn't taking anything away from you. A grandfather teaching his grandson isn't replacing you. And a son serving his parents doesn't make him a worse husband. Instead, communicate. Set healthy boundaries. If you need a separate home, ask respectfully. If something your in-laws do genuinely hurts you, speak to your husband calmly. If there is a serious problem, seek wise mediation rather than creating secret battles inside the marriage. And husbands have responsibilities too. Don't dismiss your wife's genuine struggles. Don't expect her to silently endure everything. Protect your marriage while honouring your parents. Give your wife reassurance without asking her to compete with the people who raised you. There can be room for everyone. Most importantly, remember that parents do not remain with us forever. One day the house that once felt crowded may become painfully quiet. The mother-in-law whose calls irritated you may no longer be there to call. The father your husband used to accompany to the masjid may no longer be waiting for him. And the grandparents whose visits once felt inconvenient may become memories your children wish they had more of. I learned this lesson much later than I should have. I thought I was fighting for my husband. In reality, I was fighting against his parents. And I thank Allah that, through the most frightening chapter of my life, He opened my eyes before it was too late. May Allah forgive us for the times we allow jealousy, insecurity or resentment to make us unjust. May Allah place love between husbands and wives, mercy between parents and children, and wisdom between in-laws. And may Allah teach us the difference between setting a healthy boundary and breaking a family bond. Because sometimes the person we are trying to push out of our marriage isn't our rival at all. Sometimes they are the people who gave us the person we love. Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) Council of Muslim Theologians

The Son I Tried to Take Away (Part One) True Story (Names and details changed) I was nineteen when Irfan proposed to me. We had known each other since high school. Ours was a love marriage in every sense of the word. We had grown up together, fallen in love when we were young, and by the time he asked me to marry him, I could think of no reason to say no. I thought I knew what marriage would be like. I thought it would be Irfan and me, our own little world, our own home, our own happiness. I was wrong. After our marriage, I discovered that I was not just marrying Irfan. I was becoming part of a family. His parents lived with us, and he had sisters who lived in Australia and visited once or twice a year. Even their short visits irritated me. I had never imagined myself living in an extended family, and I resented almost everything about it. No one came in my way or said anything, but I felt irritated at the fact that Irfan and I were not alone. The irony was that my in-laws were good people. My mother-in-law never interfered in our marriage. My father-in-law never dictated how we should live. They did not shout at me, humiliate me, or demand anything from me. The problem wasn't that they were bad. The problem was that I did not want them there. Full stop. And the biggest problem of all was that Irfan was not only a good husband. He was a good son. Every morning, before he even thought about himself, he would prepare honey water for his parents. When they woke up, he would place their shoes outside their bedroom doors. He would go jogging with his father, then come home, get ready for work and do his parents' laundry. He hugged his mother frequently. She loved him to bits, and I hated that. He checked whether his father needed anything. If his mother called him to get something or take her somewhere he would do so. If his father asked him to accompany him somewhere, he would go. And I hated it. Not because Irfan neglected me. He didn't. He was, in many ways, an exceptionally loving husband. He knew my favourite foods and would bring them home for me. He would surprise me with snacks from the shops... Lotus Biscoff, Walkers crisps, M&S croissants, chocolate, and whatever new treat he knew I loved since school days. He took me out to restaurants. He brought me breakfast in bed. He planned little surprises. Every few months, whenever he had five days off together, he would take me somewhere. Turkey. Italy. France. Jordan. Morocco. Spain. He wanted me to see the world. He wanted me to be happy. But I wasn't. Because every time I saw him doing something for his parents, I felt as though something was being taken away from me. I didn't understand then that love isn't a pie that becomes smaller every time someone else receives a slice. I thought if his mother got more of her son, I must be getting less of my husband. So, I began interfering… If his mother called him and wanted him to take her somewhere, I would suddenly say, "I need to go to the pharmacy." Or, "I have to go to my mum's, hurry up." And Irfan, being the gentle husband he was, would tell his mother, "I'll take you tomorrow." I made sure tomorrow never came. In the mornings, I started saying, "Let's exercise together." He would say, "I'll go jogging first and then we can do something together." But I would argue. Eventually, after enough arguments and enough emotional pressure, Irfan stopped jogging with his father. Then he stopped doing things for his parents. The son who had spent years serving his parents quietly began withdrawing from them. And instead of feeling ashamed, I felt victorious. Then we had our first child… Three years into our marriage, I went to my mother's house for the delivery. When it was time for me to return, my in-laws were overjoyed. They had decorated the house. They had prepared everything. They had arranged a huge welcome gathering. They were excited to welcome me and their grandson home. I remember walking into that house and feeling the smallest tinge of guilt. But it wasn't enough to change me. I quickly ate with everyone, then excused myself. "I need to rest." I went upstairs. I never came back down. From upstairs, I could hear my mother-in-law speaking gently to the others. "You know how it is with a baby. She must be exhausted. She probably fell asleep while feeding him." There was no anger in her voice. No complaint. No accusation. Just kindness. And somehow, that made what I was doing even worse. Not long after, I told Irfan, "Now that we have a child, we can't continue living like this. You need to make arrangements for your parents to move." I had never seen him so angry. "You want my parents to leave?" His voice shook. "They have done nothing to you." We argued. Then he said something I would never forget: "This is Mum and Dad's house. If you don't want to live with them, then you move. I'll find us somewhere else." And he did. Within two weeks, he had found a flat close to his workplace in London, where he worked as a solicitor at the fictional law firm Harrington & Cole LLP. When he finally told his parents, their hearts broke. They cried. I knew why. Irfan was their only son. For years, he had been their companion, their helper, the person they relied upon. And I had slowly convinced him to move away. I remember seeing their sadness. And I remember the shameful feeling I had inside. I gloated. I felt like I had won. When we moved into our new home, I experienced something I had wanted for years: Freedom. It was just me, Irfan and our little boy, Uthman. No one else. No one moving around the house, while I was having breakfast. No parents in the next room. No sisters visiting. No family obligations. Just my husband and my son. I was happy. At least I thought I was... Reality, however, quickly caught up with me. Some days I struggled to cook. Some days the laundry piled up. Some nights Uthman cried for hours, and I had no idea what was wrong. I was exhausted. But even in my exhaustion, I told myself, "At least I have my own home." Irfan now visited his parents regularly and freely without being controlled. After Asr, he would often go to their house. He went to the masjid with his father. He took his mother shopping. If she needed to go somewhere, he took her. He was becoming the same dutiful son he had always been. And I was furious. I had removed him from the house. But I couldn't remove his love for his parents. Every time he came home from visiting them, I would find something to fight about. My in-laws also visited us once a week to see Uthman. My mother-in-law was a naturally cheerful woman. She smiled constantly. She joked with everyone. She had a way of making people laugh without trying. She never shouted. She never raised her voice. She never criticised my cooking or my parenting. But one afternoon, during a visit, she looked at Uthman carefully. Then she said gently, "Amina, I think you should have Uthman checked by a doctor. I've noticed he seems uncomfortable when he passes stool. He strains a lot and doesn't seem to be passing properly. Perhaps it's nothing, but I think it would be better to have him examined." that was all. She wasn't interfering. She wasn't diagnosing him. She was simply a grandmother who had noticed her grandson struggling. But I heard it differently. I heard criticism. I heard interference. And I immediately became defensive. Irfan noticed. For the first time in my life, I heard him raise his voice at his mother. "Please don't interfere in our lives." His mother went quiet. I should have stopped there. I should have realised what was happening. Instead, I began looking for another way to put distance between them. I started telling Irfan that we should move abroad. "Why don't you look for something in Dubai? My uncle and his family are settled there. They can help." Then one of his colleagues mentioned Qatar. "Imagine it," I told him. "Just us. A fresh start. A better life. "Eventually, he found a position with a fictional international law firm in Doha. He applied. Three months later, the acceptance letter arrived. I remember the day it came. It was one of the happiest days of my life. I thought I had finally won. Uthman was about nine months old when we moved to Qatar. The company provided us with a furnished apartment and a car. My in-laws were devastated. Their only son was moving to another country. They tried to be happy for us, but I could see the sadness in their faces… To be continued… Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) Council of Muslim Theologians

Muhammad Rafique Etesame Etesame People have different opinions about human life. The kind of situation a person is in; the same opinion he has about his life. For example, if a person is poor and is short of even two daily breads and is on the verge of starvation, he considers life a great burden and torment for himself. On the contrary, if someone’s circumstances are good, he is rich and has a wealth of luxury, he considers life a beautiful dream and a bed roses for himself. And if a middle-class person is healthy and is managing his household expenses well, then life is a blessing for him. On the contrary, if a person is suffering from a fatal disease and there is no way to get rid of it, then even if he has abundant worldly wealth and means, living life is a painful thing for him. However, here are some examples of human life that show what kind of opinion people have about their lives. The question is, what is the real reality of life and for what purpose was man brought into existence from nothingness? According to Islamic teachings, the purpose of man's creation is to worship of Allah Almighty, as the holy Quran makes mention" I created the jinn and humankind only that they might worship Me., nor do I ask that they should feed Me. From these verses, it is clear that the purpose of creation of humans and jinn is the same, namely, the worship of Allah Almighty. That is, both of them were created to worship Allah Almighty. However, the question is whether angels are sufficient for the worship of Allah Almighty, because an angel who has been in a state of bowing since the beginning of time will remain in that state until the Day of Judgment, and an angel who has been in a state of prostration will remain in that state of prostration from the beginning until the Day of Judgment. For angels, dressing, sleeping, eating, and drinking are all considered as acts of worship, and they have no other work except the worship of Allah Almighty. Send feedback Stopped listening ﴾57﴿ Lo! Allah! He it is that giveth livelihood, the Lord of unbreakable might. ﴿ From these verses, it is clear that the purpose of creation of humans and jinn is the same, namely, the worship of Allah Almighty. That is, both of them were created to worship Allah Almighty. However, the question is whether angels are sufficient for the worship of Allah Almighty, because an angel who has been in a state of bowing since the beginning of time will remain in that state until the Day of Judgment, and an angel who has been in a state of prostration will remain in that state of prostration from the beginning until the Day of Judgment. For angels, dressing, sleeping, eating, and drinking are all considered as acts of worship, and they have no other work except the worship of Allah Almighty. Similarly, the jinn, who were created from air that is like hot air, have no need to do business or build a house. Their job is also to worship Allah Almighty. Then the question is, how is the worship of man different from both of them and what is the characteristic of man's worship that distinguishes it from both of them? The answer is that man does not only worship Allah Almighty like the angels, but he also has countless other worries and sorrows, and when he is satisfied with them and then worships Allah Almighty, it is a difficult task. Similarly, as a husband, he should fulfill the rights and duties of his spouse or children and not be unjust in any way so that no one has a chance to complain. Similarly, when he does any business, he should keep Islamic principles in mind and should not indulge in any wrongdoings such as misrepresentation, fraud, adulteration, or hoarding, and should only earn lawful income and not mix it with unlawful income. It is as if he spends his entire life in accordance with the commands of Allah Almighty, as proven by the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), then this will be considered his true worship, and he will be rewarded and punished for it. But this task is not that easy for him because there are three enemies who are always with him and prevent him from doing good and encourage him to do evil deeds, for example, Satan Iblis and his soul, Amara and Khanas. These three are mentioned in the Holy Quran, for example: Quran makes mentionabout Satan''Lo! he is an open enemy for you. ﴾168﴿ He enjoineth upon you only the evil and the foul, and that ye should tell concerning Allah that which ye knot"2:169 And say about "nafse ammarah" I do not exculpate myself. Lo! the (human) soul enjoineth unto evil, save that whereon my Lord hath mercy. Lo! my Lord is Forgiving, Merciful" 12:53 and says about "khannas " Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind, ﴾1﴿ ﴾2﴿ The god of mankind, ﴾3﴿ From the evil of the sneaking whisperer, ﴾4﴿ Who whispereth in the hearts of mankind, ﴾5﴿ Of the jinn and of mankind. ﴾6﴿ And the king What is the Islamic viewpoint point about the reality of human life? (2) These three enemies remain with man all the times and are constantly trying to mislead him in24 hours a day. Their job is to prevent him from doing good deeds and to entice him towards evil. Their job is to whisper various things into his heart. It is not easy to get rid of them, but a person has to work hard for it. Rather, according to the Islamic perspective, these three enemies are not only hinder every good deed that Allah Almighty has commanded to be done and every evil deed that Allah Almighty has commanded not to be done, but also hinder every good deed that a person encounters in his life in 24 hours, such as rights and duties, business matters, or common events. They hinder all of these and direct him to live his entire life in a wrong way. And man follows their instructions without any hesitation. And then the amazing thing about it is that whenever a bad thought comes to man's mind or the thoughts of doing something wrong comes to mind, they know that man is thinking this now and they immediately start trying to mislead him because these three are a part of man's body and are inside man. Therefore, man thinks that this is a matter of my own mind and my mind also wants to do this thing and thus he immediately starts following their instructions. Therefore, in order to avoid the whispers and bad instructions of these three enemies and to live one's life in the right way, a person needs a great struggle, a struggle that is continuous and never-ending. In this sense, the real purpose and meaning of human life is that life is a continuous and great struggle. The meaning of continuous is that if one has to face a temporary failure in achieving any goal in life, then a person should not lose courage and sit still, but should get up anew and start his struggle and trust in Allah Almighty. Because as it is said that, " walking is a prerequisite to reach any destination." No matter how difficult and difficult the path is, and no matter how slow the pace of walking, one will still reach one's destination. Because there is a saying that" slow and steady wins the race". Therefore, this is the real purpose of human life and the true ascension of life. So to pass a sucsesslife i.e. to act upon al the commands of Allah according to the good example of the Holy Prophet PBUH, a man should do such a struggle.

Question and Answer: Q. I have been told that a woman does not need to undo her braids when performing Ghusl. Is this correct? Does the same ruling apply to a bun or ponytail? A. Shariah grants a concession to women regarding washing their hair during Ghusl. The ruling can be understood through the following two scenarios: 1. Braided or Plaited Hair A woman is not required to undo her braids for Ghusl. It is sufficient that water reaches the roots of the hair and the scalp; it is not necessary for water to reach every strand of hair within the braids. 2. Hair Tied in a Bun, Ponytail, etc. If the hair is not braided or plaited, water must reach the roots as well as every strand of hair. Therefore, the hair should be loosened if necessary to ensure that all of the hair is washed. [Hindiyyah 1/13] And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best Mufti Muhammed Hamza Farooqui Mufti Taahir Hansa (The answer hereby given is specifically based on the question asked and should be read together with the question asked. Islamic rulings on this Q&A newsletter are answered in accordance to the Hanafi Fiqh unless otherwise stated.) Fatwa Department Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) Council of Muslim Theologians

Indian Muslims are not responsible for Hindu hate and Genocide against Indian Muslims Pakistani Muslims are not responsible for Hindu hate and Genocide against Indian Muslims If Pakistan had not been created in 1947, Muslims of India still could not have lived peacefully under Hindus The continued advice of Indian Ulama for Indian Muslims to subjugate and surrender their Islamic practices one by one to appease the Hindus has not worked in 100 years and will not work for 100 years. Lastly and most importantly, Terrorism and Violence will not work for Indian Muslims as I explain in the thread below https://www.muftisays.com/forums/27-sharing-portal/15479-origins-of-islamophobia-in-india.html All of the above because Allah Ta'ala has declared that the Jews and Hindus are the intense in their hatred towards Islam and Muslims. [5:82] You will surely find the most bitter towards the believers to be the Jews and polytheists and the most gracious to be those who call themselves Christian. That is because there are priests and monks among them and because they are not arrogant. Challenge to any Indian Muslim or anyone who supports the Political position of Indian Ulama to counter the thoughts of Sharjeel Imam an India Muslim imprisoned since 2020 and the inevitable conclusion that all Indian Muslims have to reach: https://thepolisproject.com/read/sharjeel-imam-jinnah-democracy-muslims-india/

By Mohammad Rafique Etesame The holy Qur’an reveals,” Say He is Allah the one, Allah, the eternally besought of all, He begets not, nor was begotten, and there is none comparable unto Him” (Al-Ikhlas:4) These verses reveal that Allah is one and also there is none in the entire universe comparable to Allah Almighty. That is why He is free from all the qualities found in the creatures i.e. being a body, dimension, weight, essence width etc. Also there is no specific direction or place can be fixed in the entire universe that where He exists because He is the Omnipresent. But as His highest respect, it is the belief of Muslim Ummah that He exists on the throne situated over the Highest heaven as the holy Qur’an reveals, “A revelation from Him who created the earth and the high heavens, The Beneficent One, Who is established on the Throne “(Ta,Ha:5). According to the commentators “Istwa-alal-Arsh” means He took power over the universe not “sitting on the throne.” Now the question is: when a believer establishes worship, what should be his concept about Allah that where He exists? For example, whether He exists in the Mosques, Baitullah Sharif or in Bait-tul-Muqaddas? He exists there! But According to the majority of Muslim scholars, Allah Almighty “exists” in the hearts of the believers in real as long as they pay full attention to Him at the time of worship. That is why heart has great importance in Islamic teachings as the holy Qur’an reveals about the Infidels of Mecca who did not accept Islam by hearts that, “Allah hath sealed their hearing and their hearts, and on their eyes there is a covering. Theirs will be an awful doom” (Al-Baqarah: 7). Also reveals, “Will they then not mediate on the Qur’an or are there locks on the hearts? (Mohammad:24) The holy Prophet PBUH) said,” there is a piece of meat in the human body that, if it is right (in guidance), then all the body is right, and if it leads astray, then the whole body will lead astray. Beware! Beware! It is the heart” (Al-Mishkat). And, if someone wants to accept Islam, he bears a witness that there is no deity but Allah and Mohammad is the messenger of Allah”. And if he is dump or Deaf and cannot speak correctly, then the witness of his heart will be reliable and it will be known when he acts upon Islamic teachings. The holy Prophet (PBUH), when asked a question about “Ehsan” replied that,” Ehsan is that you worship Allah Almighty as if you are seeing Him, and if it not so, then (imagine) that He is seeing you”. (Bokhar, Muslim) This Hadith proves that the worship of Allah Almighty will be performed in the correct manner when the attention is fully focused on Allah Almighty. It is not the case that a servant stands in front of Allah Almighty and worships Him, but his attention is on domestic matters or business matters and he is busy solving these problems. In this way, his worship will not be performed in the correct manner. Because in this Hadith, the definition of " EHSAN"(goodness) is that, anyone should worship that Allah Almighty as if he is seeing to Him, and if he cannot do so, then he should reflect in his heart and imagine that Allah Almighty is seeing to me Because it usually happens that when a person is praying, his heart is filled with a multitude of thoughts. Sometimes he is busy with the business of his horses or something else, or he is discussing domestic matters with his wife. In this way, worship is not performed with complete attention and humility. Therefore, special care should be taken to ensure that the mind is free from unnecessary thoughts while praying and that the person's attention is completely focused on Allah Almighty. And, on the other hand, if a believer offers prayer but his attention is towards the business, domestic affairs or any other matters; then, despite his prayer will be offered, but without the essence of worship. It means that he is offering prayer apparently, but in fact he is busy in doing his business etc. A faithful believer always remains in the position of offering prayer. It does not mean that he offers prayers only and does nothing else except it. But he earns his daily bread and pays his duty to other necessary works also, he does all these works including prayers also but keeping in his mind that Allah is seeing him and is aware of all his actions. The holy Qur’an reveals, ”Lo! Man was created anxious Fretful when evil befalleth him “ And, when good befalleth him, grudging; Save worshippers Who are constant at their worship And in whose wealth there is a right acknowledged For the beggar and the destitute”; (Al-Ma’arij:25) The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said,” seven Muslims will be under the shadow of the throne of Allah at the Day of Judgment when there will be no shadow but the shadow of it. Among them there will be the one who’s heart always “remains hanging” in the mosque that when he comes out of it after establishing one prater, he waits to hear the voice of Azan for other prayer”. (Al-Mishkat) May Allah give us power to do all our works according to the teachings of Islam keeping in the mind that ALLAH is seeing us for all the times.

The Sufra For over a thousand years, the Muslim world's dining table could be folded, carried and made to vanish. It was a piece of cloth and woven into, it was an entire philosophy. Sayyiduna Anas Ibn Maalik radiyallahu anhu said the Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam never once ate from a khiwān, (a raised table). When Sayyiduna Qatadah radiyallahu anhu was asked what they ate upon instead, the answer was the Sufra. (Sahih Al Bukhari 5386) The dining table was named after a journey. Sufra from safar (travel). First a traveller's provisions, then the cloth that carried them. Every meal at home arrived on an object whose name whispered: "you are still traveling”. Imām Ibn Hajar notes that raised tables were the habit of the arrogant, built so the diner would never have to bend toward his food. The sufra on the other hand reversed the posture. To eat, you had to come down. Humility was not preached at the meal. It was built into it. A cloth has no head of the table, if we look at a rectangular table it has a seat of honour, however, a spread cloth has none. Everyone sits at one level around shared dishes, facing each other. "The food of two suffices three".(Sahih Al Bukhari 5392) Scarcity was answered with geometry What floor sitting does to your appetite. Sitting cross-legged flexes the torso and gently compresses the abdomen so fullness registers earlier. Leaning forward for each morsel slows every bite. The sufra quietly enforced the Sunnah of eating less, one posture at a time. It's the only table that grows with guests… Furniture fixes your generosity in advance. A table for six ends at six. A sufra unrolls further, joins another cloth, spills into the next room. Hosts were limited by their hearts, never by carpentry. ‘Gather over your food, for in gathering there is barakah.’ (Sunan Abi Dawud 3764) The house with no dining room. Traditional rooms had no fixed function. One space held prayer at dawn, guests at noon, food at dusk, sleep at night. Because the furniture vanished, the room stayed free. The house served the moment, not the objects. The meal ended in reverse. Fingers cleaned, fallen morsels picked up, crumbs gathered inside the cloth, the sufra folded the floor bare. Consumption was allowed to visit, it was never allowed to move in. Our ancestors did not own a dining table; they owned a reminder that tonight to walk through our home and ask one question. Which objects serve our life, and which has our life quietly been built around. Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) Council of Muslim Theologians

Every marriage – no matter how stressful, boring, or happy it may be – can use certain tips to give it a boost. This post reviews two pieces of advice that you could implement today for a better married life. If you’re not married, you too can benefit from the concepts as they are applicable across the board. The first reminder has to do with becoming cognizant once again about our rights toward our spouses as obligated on us by Allah and His prophet (peace be upon him.) What we married couples often forget is that our “Muslim marriage”, just like the rest of our life’s aspects, is governed by the laws of Islam. These divine laws were communicated, commanded, and taught to us by the prophet (peace be upon him) through the Quran and the traditions of Hadith. So, the first reminder is nothing more than to become ever conscious that the moment you entered your marriage, you became obligated to respect your spouse’s rights as defined under those divine laws. Claiming ignorance about those rights or your lack of resolve in upholding those rights therefore is not a valid excuse. The problem in this regard is usually two-fold. First, many couples simply aren’t even aware and knowledgeable about the rights that both husbands and wives have over each other. It’s not uncommon for many to rush into marriages with all the fanfare but neglecting to learn Islamic teachings regarding marriage and the rights that husbands and wives have over each other. It’s only when they hit roadblocks in their marriages that they start seeking those answers. Problems surface because each spouse assumes certain rights over the other and each spouse’s personal interpretation of what’s right or wrong complicates relationships even further. The second problem is that while many of us may take the time to understand how their partner is not meeting their individual rights, they often neglect to learn their obligations toward the other spouse. Driven selfishly, each spouse gets preoccupied with how their partner isn’t contributing to the relationship rather than realizing how one is deficient in fulfilling their own obligations. In the daily routine of give and take therefore, if your relationship is hitting hurdles, both of you ought to invest the time and effort to learn about those rights and obligations. Use this reminder to make a permanent mental note to help you become conscious of how knowingly or unknowingly you transgress and violate your spouse’s rights. Remember, you will be questioned about them. Allah Ta’ala says about our obligations in general: “O you who believe! Fulfill (your) obligations” )Quran: al-Maa’idah 5:1) “And fulfill (every) covenant. Verily, the covenant will be questioned about” )Quran: al-Isra’ 17:34) “And whoever transgresses the limits ordained by Allah, then such are the Zalimoon (wrong-doers, etc.)” (Quran: Al-Baqarah; 2:229) Now to the second reminder – Every relationship is bound to have disagreements, day to day challenges pertaining to a family life, or your spouse just having a “bad day.” These shouldn’t be mistaken for a bad relationship. Where relationships go sour are in how couples respond to such situations. When response to such situations involves disrespect for the other individual, cracks start appearing in relationships. This “disrespect” includes but isn’t limited to putting down the other individual, disregard for the others opinions, raising one’s voice disrespectfully, etc. This then leads to a communications breakdown where disagreements turn into full fledged disputes, small mistakes by one are perceived as crimes by the other, and just an ordinary “bad” day turns worse by spouses ending up in major fights – sometimes climaxing to points of no return. We should recognize that Allah created us humans and has codified dignity and respect part of our being. Therefore, when we trample over someone leaving them feel disrespected, we are bound to invoke an equal or worse response from our spouses along with sowing in their hearts the seeds of animosity, hatred and mistrust. So, remember that of all the things that we may use at our disposal to relieve stress or resolve a situation, disrespecting the other shouldn’t be one of them. Both Allah and the prophet (peace be upon him) emphasized the respect and honor that we are entitled to as Muslims and humans. Allah says in the Quran: “And indeed We have honored the Children of Adam, and We have carried them on land and sea, and have provided them with At-Tayyibat (lawful good things), and have preferred them above many of those whom We have created with a marked preferment.” (Quran: Al-Isra, Chapter #17, Verse #70) During his last sermon, the prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Your BLOOD, your WEALTH and your HONOR are sacred among you, as sacred as this day of yours in this month of yours in this land of yours. Let those who are present convey it to those who are absent; perhaps he will convey it to one who has more understanding than he does.” (Bukhari). Abdullah bin Umro reported that he saw the prophet going around the Kaabah in Tawaf saying (to the Kaabah): “How pure are you and how pure is your fragrance. How great is your majesty and your sanctity. By the One in whose hand is the soul of Muhammad (SAWS), the sanctity of a believer in front of Allah is more than your sanctity – His possessions and his life and we always think good of him.” (Ibn Majah) So, remember that a happy marriage is one in which couples find ways to tackle and resolve challenges without being disrespectful to the other. You can have your tough talks as long as you don’t cross the lines in disrespecting each other. Remember that Islam’s teachings never sanctioned to denigrate human dignity even in times of war then how can we in supposed bonds of love step out of that realm? Conclusion To conclude, wives can strive to become what the prophet referred to in this hadith: The Prophet (pbuh) said: “The entire world is full of resources, and among them the best resource is a righteous wife.” (Sahih Muslim) And for men, the prophet had this to say – “The most complete believer is the best in character, and the best of you is the best to his womenfolk.” (Tirmidhi) Let’s learn our rights toward each other and let’s not be disrespectful to the other even when we are dealing with tough situation. Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) Council of Muslim Theologians

*HADHRAT ML ABDUL HAMID SHB* *THE NEED OF THE HOUR IS:* 1.) Sincere Taubah and Istighfaar. The starting point is to realise and acknowledge that we are the cause of these problems. Our sins, and particularly the immodesty and immorality, draw Divine retribution. This is what we are seeing. We need to thus give up all sins. 2.) To have an earnest intention and make a genuine effort to correct our lives, our Salaah and all our Dienie matters, including Qadha Salaah, unpaid Zakaat, inheritance matters not settled, etc. And live our lives according to the noble Sunnah of Rasulullah Sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam. 3.) Abundance, Abundance!!! of Durood Sharief. 4.) Reciting the three Quls (Surah Al-Ikhlaas, Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Naas) with Bismillaah each time, after Fajr and Maghrib. A MUST, MUST!!! 5.) For the menfolk to make I'tikaaf in the Masaajid, by rotation, and to keep the Masaajid alive with A’maal-e-Masjid: Salaah, Tilawat of Qur’aan Sharief, Zikrullah, Dua, etc. - 24 hours. 6.) Ladies to also keep themselves busy with A’maal: fasting, Tilawat of Qur’aan Sharief, Zikrullah, Duas, etc. - preferably individually. 7.) Give Sadaqah frequently, even if it be in small amounts. 8.) At least once a day, recite the following: - Durood-e-Tunjeena, - 500 x Laa haula wa laa quwwata illaa billah, - Durood e Tunjeena - Make Dua (The 500 can be shared as well) 9.) Recite Surah Kahf daily; or at least the first and last ten Aayaat and on Jumu’ah, the entire Surah. When it is the protection against the Fitnah of Dajjaal, it will definitely be protection from these Fitan which we are dealing with. 10.) Make Salaam common and widespread, as we have been commanded. It brings peaceful conditions all around, as well as the Rahmah (Mercy) of Allah Ta’ala and the much needed Barakaat (blessings)!!! 11.) Khidmat and support to one another; helping to protect our Imaan, Islam, Masaajid, Madaaris, lives, and property in all forms. 12.) Making all the required efforts, placing one’s full trust solely in Allah Ta’ala, turn to Him in all sincerity and honesty. Only He can change conditions. But we have to change our lives and return to His Obedience. 13.) We should not panic. Understand that all conditions are only from Allah Ta’ala and Allah Ta’ala Alone is in control of everything even now. 14.) On such occasions, anger, hatred and cursing comes to the fore. A person can become filled with it. However, the ideal is to make Dua of Hidayat for the people at this moment. This will move the mercy of Allah Ta’ala. Remember the occasion of Taif when Nabi Sallallaahu alaihi wasallam made Dua for those who oppressed him. The Imaan of one person is so valuable! May Allah Ta’ala have mercy upon us and forgive us. May Allah Ta’ala protect and give Barakah in our Imaan, Islam, lives, businesses, property and all related, permissible matters and affairs! Aameen

In fact, the journey to the afterlife is millions of years long and it is necessary to carry the travel equipment from here. By Muhammad Rafiq I'tisame Now a days’ average human life’s yea according to this, sixty-five days are counted in a year. While the life in the hereafter after, there is another scale of counting is running as the holy Quran reveals” O Muhammad,] they challenge thee to hasten the coming upon them of [God’s] chastisement: but God never fails to fulfill His promise - and, behold, in thy Sustainer’s sight, a day is like a thousand years of your reckoning” Al-Hajj (The Pilgrimage) 22:47 So, according to this counting, one year of that l life is equal to three lakhs and fifty-five thousands days in a year. Therefore, the life of ‘Ahrat’ and ( ,aalime barzakh’ (a period or state between death and resurrection) is very long and endless. Now the question is: what are the benefits and losses of the long life for a Muslim or the infidels? So, for the faithful believers the holy Quran reveals, ” for, [if they did, they would know that] the life of this world is nothing but a passing delight and a play - whereas, behold, the life in the hereafter is indeed the only [true] life: if they but knew this! Al-'Ankabut (The Spider) 29:64 “Also,: Yet those who attain to faith and do righteous deeds We shall bring into gardens through which running waters flow, therein to abide beyond the count of time: this is, in truth, God's promise - and whose word could be truer than God's? An-Nisa (The Women) 4:57 Also, the Muslims have been given glad tiddling’s by saying.” [AND on Judgment Day] God will say: 'Today, their truthfulness shall benefit all who have been true to their word: theirs shall be gardens through which running waters flow, therein to abide beyond the count of time; well-pleased is God with them, and well-pleased are they with Him: this is the triumph supreme.' Al- Ma'idah (The Table Spread) 5:119 And those who are the sinful Muslims i.e. they commit sins major or miners, and they fear Allah Almighty and hope for His endless mercy, and they want to offer tauba (repentance), then Allah will forgive their ins, as the holy Quran reveals ,” SAY: “[Thus speaks God:] ‘O you servants of Mine who have transgressed against your own selves! Despair not of God’s mercy: behold, God forgives all sins - for, verily, He alone is much-forgiving, a dis-penser of grace!’ ” Az-Zumar (The Groups) 39:53 And about the disbeliever the holy Quran says, “ those who disbelieve and wrong themselves—surely Allah will neither forgive them nor guide them to any path Those who disbelieve and hinder ˹others˺ from the Way of Allah have certainly strayed far away. ([al-Nisa’ 4:168-169). And in Soorat al-Ahzaab, where He says (interpretation of the meaning): “Verily, Allaah has cursed the disbelievers, and has prepared for them a flaming Fire (Hell). So, this is necessary for the disbelievers that they should think about their destination and abode in the hereafter? Therefore, according to the holy Quran there are only two abode in the Hereafter for human being, the Paradise and the Hellfire. So, the real successful one is he whom Allah Almighty saves from the fire and enters the paradise as the holy Quran reveals,” Every human being is bound to taste death: but only on the Day of Resurrection will you be requited in full [for whatever you have done] - whereupon he that shall be drawn away from the fire and brought into paradise will indeed have gained a triumph: for the life of this world is nothing but an enjoyment of self-delusion Al-Imran (The Family of Imran) 3:185 And for the faithful beliers, It is reality that the journey of the hereafter is long and everlasting so, it is necessary for the faithful believers that they should get the good provision for this journey, and according to the holy Quran, the best provision is for it is only, taqwa, the holy Quran reveals,” The pilgrimage shall take place in the months appointed for it. And whoever undertakes the pilgrimage in those [months] shall, while on pilgrimage, abstain from lewd speech, from all wicked conduct, and from quarrelling; and whatever good you may do, God is aware of it. And make provision for yourselves - but, verily, the best of all provisions is God-consciousness: remain, then, conscious of Me, O you who are endowed with insight! ( Al-Baqara (The Cow) 2:197). May Allah Almighty give us power to do so, Amin.

Q. Apologies, I just have a quick question regarding the use of a spray bottle for Wudhu: 1. Is it permissible to perform Wudhu using a spray bottle, especially during Hajj or Umrah? 2. If so, what is the correct method or ruling for performing Wudhu with a spray bottle? A. Using a spray bottle for Wudhu is permissible with the proviso that water reaches all parts of the required limbs to be washed in Wudhu in a manner that at least two drops of water drip from the limbs. This can be achieved by spraying the limb directly and then rubbing the water over the limb or by spraying water into the hands and then rubbing the water over the limb. Take note of the following: 1. It is permissible to perform Wudhu with a spray or mist bottle in the following manner: a) Spray the face a few times so that water droplets begin to bead and trickle down. Use your hands to rub the moisture across the entire face as well as over the beard for men. b) Use the same procedure for the limbs - spray water across the length of the forearms and use your hands to rub the moisture over the entire surface from fingertips to elbows. c) Spray water onto your palms and make Masah (passing wet hands) over the head. d) Spray water onto the feet and use your hands to rub the moisture over the entire feet, including between the toes and the ankles. (It is a condition that when washing any limb, water must bead and trickle off that limb for the Wudhu to be valid. If sufficient water is not sprayed and water does not drip off the limb, the Wudhu will not be considered valid.) The Wudhu is now complete with these Fard (obligatory) actions. (Hindiyyah 1: 3) However, it should be noted that this method, comprising of just the Fard actions should be undertaken only when performing a full Sunnah Wudhu is inconvenient or difficult. Under normal circumstances, one should perform the full Sunnah Wudhu which includes washing the limbs thrice, using a miswak (tooth-stick), and rinsing the mouth and nostrils. And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best Mufti Muhammed Hamza Farooqui Mufti Taahir Hansa (The answer hereby given is specifically based on the question asked and should be read together with the question asked. Islamic rulings on this Q&A newsletter are answered in accordance to the Hanafi Fiqh unless otherwise stated.) Fatwa Department Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) Council of Muslim Theologians

As-Salaam alaikum, The Noble Messenger of Allah, Sallallahu alaihi Wasallam, said: ''I smile because of 2 men from my Nation, who shall knell in the Presence of the Lord of Power. One of them says: 'O my Lord, grant me retaliation for the wrong which my brother did to me.' And Allah says: 'Give your brother that in which he was wronged.' 'O Lord, he says, 'none of my righteous works remain.' Then Allah Ta'ala [the Exalted] says to the man who made the demand: 'What shall you do with your brother, seeing that none of his righteous works remain?' And he replies: 'O my Lord, let him bear some of my burdens in my stead.' And Allah's Messenger wept, as he said: 'Truly, that shall be a fearsome Day, a Day when men have need of others to bear their burdens.' Then he said: 'Allah shall say to one who made the request: 'Lift up your head and look to the Gardens.' This he does, and he says: 'O my Lord, I see high cities of silver, and golden palaces wreathed about with pearls. For which Prophet shall they be, or which Saint or martyr?' And He said: 'They belong to whomsoever pays Me their Price.' 'O my Lord, he says, 'And who possesses such a price?' You possess it', He replies. 'And what might it be?' he asks, and He says: 'Your forgiveness of your brother.' 'O my Lord, he says, 'I have forgiven him!' Then Allah the Exalted says: 'Take your brother's hand and bring him into Heaven.' Then Allah's Messenger recited part of 1st verse in Surat Anfal of the Holy Qur'an: ''...Fear Allah, and make reconciliation among yourselves'' (8:1) (Al-Hakim al-Nisaburi: al-Mustadrak ala al-Sahihayn) IV, 576.

The Holy Quran reveals…'' Verily We! We have sent it down on the night of Power. isThe night of Power is better than a thousand months. ﴾3﴿ The angels and the spirit descend therein by the command of their Lord with His decrees for every affair. ﴾4﴿ It is all peace, until the rising of the dawn " ergence of dawn." (Surah Al-Qadr, verse 5) It is known from this Surah that the Holy Quran was revealed on the Night Power, in the month of Ramadan, and it contains a blessed night that is better than a thousand months. The reason for this is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned the long lifespans of the previous prophets (peace be upon them), saying, "They lived more than a thousand years or less." In comparison, the lifespans of this nation are approximately seventy or eighty years, or more or less. Therefore, the worship of those people (including prayer, fasting, and other acts of devotion) was greater than the worship of this nation. So, God Almighty gave the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) glad tidings of Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Decree), which is better than a thousand months and is equivalent to approximately eighty-three years. That is, whoever experiences Laylat al-Qadr, their worship on that night is equivalent to eighty-three years. The question now is: Is it the 25th, 27th, or 29th night of Ramadan? There are differing opinions regarding the date of Laylat al-Qadr. Most scholars predict that it falls on an odd-numbered night of the last ten nights of Ramadan, based on the hadith narrated by Aisha (may God be pleased with her): The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Seek Laylat al-Qadr on an odd-numbered night of the last ten nights of Ramadan." [Narrated by al-Bukhari] Narrated by Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her): She asked the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) what supplication she should make if she were to witness Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Decree). He replied: "O Allah, You are Forgiving and love forgiveness, so forgive me." Meaning: O Allah, You are Forgiving and love forgiveness, so forgive me. We can also recite this supplication repeatedly throughout Ramadan: "I bear witness that there is no god but Allah. I seek forgiveness from Allah. We ask You for Paradise and we seek refuge in You from Hellfire." Therefore, every believer should strive in worship, especially during the last ten nights of Ramadan, to attain Laylat al-Qadr. Amen.

Blessings of Laylat al-Qadr By Muhammad Rafiq I'tisame The Holy Quran reveals…'' Verily We! We have sent it down on the night of Power. isThe night of Power is better than a thousand months. ﴾3﴿ The angels and the spirit descend therein by the command of their Lord with His decrees for every affair. ﴾4﴿ It is all peace, until the rising of the dawn " ergence of dawn." (Surah Al-Qadr, verse 5) It is known from this Surah that the Holy Quran was revealed on the Night Power, in the month of Ramadan, and it contains a blessed night that is better than a thousand months. The reason for this is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned the long lifespans of the previous prophets (peace be upon them), saying, "They lived more than a thousand years or less." In comparison, the lifespans of this nation are approximately seventy or eighty years, or more or less. Therefore, the worship of those people (including prayer, fasting, and other acts of devotion) was greater than the worship of this nation. So, God Almighty gave the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) glad tidings of Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Decree), which is better than a thousand months and is equivalent to approximately eighty-three years. That is, whoever experiences Laylat al-Qadr, their worship on that night is equivalent to eighty-three years. The question now is: Is it the 25th, 27th, or 29th night of Ramadan? There are differing opinions regarding the date of Laylat al-Qadr. Most scholars predict that it falls on an odd-numbered night of the last ten nights of Ramadan, based on the hadith narrated by Aisha (may God be pleased with her): The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Seek Laylat al-Qadr on an odd-numbered night of the last ten nights of Ramadan." [Narrated by al-Bukhari] Narrated by Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her): She asked the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) what supplication she should make if she were to witness Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Decree). He replied: "O Allah, You are Forgiving and love forgiveness, so forgive me." Meaning: O Allah, You are Forgiving and love forgiveness, so forgive me. We can also recite this supplication repeatedly throughout Ramadan: "I bear witness that there is no god but Allah. I seek forgiveness from Allah. We ask You for Paradise and we seek refuge in You from Hellfire." Therefore, every believer should strive in worship, especially during the last ten nights of Ramadan, to attain Laylat al-Qadr. Amen. Blessings of Laylat al-Qadr By Muhammad Rafiq I'tisame The Holy Quran reveals…'' Verily We! We have sent it down on the night of Power. isThe night of Power is better than a thousand months. ﴾3﴿ The angels and the spirit descend therein by the command of their Lord with His decrees for every affair. ﴾4﴿ It is all peace, until the rising of the dawn " ergence of dawn." (Surah Al-Qadr, verse 5) It is known from this Surah that the Holy Quran was revealed on the Night Power, in the month of Ramadan, and it contains a blessed night that is better than a thousand months. The reason for this is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned the long lifespans of the previous prophets (peace be upon them), saying, "They lived more than a thousand years or less." In comparison, the lifespans of this nation are approximately seventy or eighty years, or more or less. Therefore, the worship of those people (including prayer, fasting, and other acts of devotion) was greater than the worship of this nation. So, God Almighty gave the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) glad tidings of Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Decree), which is better than a thousand months and is equivalent to approximately eighty-three years. That is, whoever experiences Laylat al-Qadr, their worship on that night is equivalent to eighty-three years. The question now is: Is it the 25th, 27th, or 29th night of Ramadan? There are differing opinions regarding the date of Laylat al-Qadr. Most scholars predict that it falls on an odd-numbered night of the last ten nights of Ramadan, based on the hadith narrated by Aisha (may God be pleased with her): The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Seek Laylat al-Qadr on an odd-numbered night of the last ten nights of Ramadan." [Narrated by al-Bukhari] Narrated by Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her): She asked the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) what supplication she should make if she were to witness Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Decree). He replied: "O Allah, You are Forgiving and love forgiveness, so forgive me." Meaning: O Allah, You are Forgiving and love forgiveness, so forgive me. We can also recite this supplication repeatedly throughout Ramadan: "I bear witness that there is no god but Allah. I seek forgiveness from Allah. We ask You for Paradise and we seek refuge in You from Hellfire." Therefore, every believer should strive in worship, especially during the last ten nights of Ramadan, to attain Laylat al-Qadr. Amen.

1.Whoever meets Allah without ascribing anything to Him will enter Jannah. [Bukhari] 2. Whoever believes in Allah and His Messenger (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) and establishes the prayer and fasts the month of Ramadan, it is incumbent upon Allah that He enters him in Jannah. [Bukhari] 3. Whoever builds a masjid seeking by it the Pleasure of Allah, Allah will build for him a similar place in Jannah. [Bukhari] 4. Whoever prays the two cool prayers (Asr and Fajr)will enter Jannah. [Bukhari] 5. Whoever goes to the masjid (every) morning and in the afternoon (for the congregational prayer), Allah will prepare for him an honourable place in Jannah with good hospitality for (what he has done) every morning and afternoon goings. [Bukhari] 6. Whoever can guarantee (the chastity of) what is between his two jawbones and what is between his two legs (i.e. his tongue and his private parts), I guarantee Jannah for him. [Bukhari] 7. Whoever prays 12 rakaats (Sunnah Muakkadah)in the day and night, a house in Jannah will be built for him. [Muslim] 8. Whoever treads a path in search of knowledge, Allah will make easy for him the path to Jannah. [Bukhari] 9. Whoever repeats after the muadhdhin from his heart (i.e., sincerely) will enter Jannah. [Abu Dawud] 10. Whoever says: “I am pleased with Allah as my Rabb, and with Islam as my Deen, and with Muhammad (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) as my Prophet,”Jannah would be mandatory for him. [Abu Dawud] 11. Whosoever last words are: laa ilaaha illAllah, will enter Paradise. [Abu Dawud] 12. Whoever says “SubhanAllah al-Adheem wa biHamdihi, Glorified and Exalted is Allah, The Great, and with His Praise”, a date-palm will planted for him in Jannah. [Tirmidhi] 13. Whoever dies and is free from three: arrogance, grudges and debt will enter Jannah. [Tirmidhi] 14. Whoever asks Allah for Jannah three times, Jannah will say: “O Allah, enter him into Jannah.” [Tirmidhi] 15. Whoever visits a sick person or a brother of his to seek the Pleasure of Allah, an announcer (angel) calls out: ‘May you be happy, may your walking be blessed, and may you be awarded a dignified position in Jannah.’ [Tirmidhi] 16. ‘O people, spread the salaam (greetings), feed the hungry, and pray while the people are asleep, you will enter Jannah in peace.’ [Tirmidhi] 17. (The performance of) Umrah is an expiation for the sins committed between it and the previous Umrah; and the reward of Hajj Mabrur (i.e., one accepted) is nothing but Jannah. [Bukhari] 18. Allah has ninety-nine Names, one hundred minus one, and whoever believes in their meanings and acts accordingly, will enter Jannah. [Bukhari] 19. I saw a man going about in Jannah (and enjoying himself) as a reward for cutting a tree from the middle of the road which was causing inconvenience to the Muslims. [Muslim] 20. There is no man whose two daughters reach the age of puberty, and he treats them kindly for the time they are together, but they will gain him admittance to Paradise. [Tirmidhi] Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) Council of Muslim Theologians 223 Alpine Road, Overport Durban, South Africa

Bye Mohammed Rafique EteSame Ramazan-ul-Mubarak is a most sacred and holy month of the Muslim calendar. It brings good fortune and endless blessings of Allah Almighty. It is a month of forbearance that’s rewards is only Heaven. (Bokhari) Act of fasting was prescribed in all the Shriah of the Holy Prophets (May peace and Mercy of Allah be upon them) and its main purpose is to make Muslims pious and God-fearing as mentioned in the Holy Qura,n “O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, even as it was prescribed for those before you, that ye may ward off (evil),(The Cow: 183). The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said that the first ten days of Ramazan-nul-Mubarak are for the bounty of Allah , second ten days are for the forgiveness, and the last ten days declare the salvation from Hell to those who keep fasting. (Bokhari, Mishkat-ul-Masabeeh ) He (PBUH) said the former sins of the believers are forgiven who keeps fasting with faith and a sense of accountability. And when the first night of Ramazan falls, an announcement made on behalf of Allah that He Loves him who loves He and He meets him who try to meet He, and Allah will forgive him who seeks forgiveness. Then Allah Orders the twin recording angels to write only virtues and not to write evils and to rub off their former sins .(Zubda-tul-Waizeen) A distinctive feature of Ramazan is that the Holy Quran was revealed in this month from the “Lauh-e-Mahfooz” to the first sky. Whence, it was revealed on the Holy Prophet (PBUH) in the period of 23 years according to the need of the time. Allah Almighty Orddains,” The month of Ramazan in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance and the criterion (of right and wrong). And whosoever of you is present, let him fast the month, and whosoever of you is sick or on a journey, (let him fast the same) number of other days. (The Cow:185) Qur’an is an authentic source of Islamic dogmas, worships, affairs and lays the foundation stone of Islamic legislation. It reveals an abridged outline for individual and social life and guides to all aspects of life in principle. Recitation of the Holy Qur’an gives the mental and spiritual peace and tranquility. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said that when the month of Ramazan falls all of the evil design, Satans and Jinns tightened in the chains and doors of Hell closed, and a voice from the Heaven calls “O ye who committing evils stop yourself !and O the well wisher! Increase yourself in virtues. And a large number of the people deserving for Hell, are Freed every night. (Tirmadhi, Nasai, Ibn-e-Maja) Ramzan-ul-Mubark is going on. So We should count for such a blessed month and keep fasting.

As-Salaam alaikum, Our Teachers, the 'Ulama of the Islamic tradition teach that the true homeland of peace is the Heart (qalb) when it is polished by dhikr (Zikr), Imaan (faith) and surrenders to Almighty Allah. External threats, insults or hardships can shake our body, but not the heart that has been anchored in the Divine. Says our Lord in the Holy Qur'an: -- ''Indeed, in the Remembrance of Allah [Zikr] do hearts find peace.'' (13:28) The peace referred to in this verse/ayat is not fragile; it is not given by people, and so it cannot be taken away by them. When faith flowers in the heart, the inner garden becomes a paradise before Paradise. Here, if you like you may recall that Hadith in which the Prophet, Sallallahu alaihi Wasallam, said: - ''Paradise is closer to you than your shoelace, and so is Hellfire''. (Musnad Ahmad). And Sheikh Abu Madyan al-Ghawth, may Allah be Merciful to him, said: ''The true faqir is the one who is at peace in the storm, for his heart is with Allah while his body is among creation.'' So, no matter what others say or do, if your heart is with Allah [rooted] in Tawheed, you carry a sanctuary with you. This is what the Sufis call Sakina .... the tranquility Almighty Allah sends into the hearts of believers.

Bye Mohammed Rafique EteSame EVERY MAN has some hidden fats that, even IF HE wants to hide them, they do not hide but remain visible. For example, if a person is something different inside and something else outside, then whatever he is hiding inside remains visible, no matter how much he tries to hide it, . His movements, postures, mannerisms, and the way he speaks betray his inner self, and the onlookers understand that something is being hidden because the face tells a lot. The inner state of a person can be seen on his face because the eyes are the window to the soul. If a person has a secret relationship with someone, when they come face to face, the way they talk and look at each other, immediately tells that there is something between them... It usually happens that when someone has a secret relationship with someone, those who are watching are suspicious of them at first, then they pay special attention to them and keep a secret watch, and finally their secret is revealed and they are caught red-handed. The most important thing is that there are some things that a person tries to hide throughout his life, but they cannot be hidden and remain visible because a person is prone to sin, he is not an angel, and under the temptation of the ego and Satan, he commits such immoral and unlawful acts that are not capable of being revealed, but they remain visible because Allah, the Exalted, has appointed two angels with every person who keep writing down his good or bad deeds. They are not visible to man, but they keep writing down the deeds that a person does in a 24-hour period. Allah, the Exalted, says: "You deny the reward (9) while over you are appointed watchers (10) the Most High, the Recorder (82;12) who know what you do." And on the Day of Judgment, when a person is given this book of his deeds, he will be amazed that he did not leave out any of my words or deeds, and everything is written in it. Then he will say, "O Allah, Your angels have forgotten that I did not do these things." Then the Quran says: To-day We shall seal upon their mouths, and their hands will speak Unto us, and their feet will bear witness of that which they have been earning. ( Yaseen 65) ﴾65﴿ Therefore, the Sharia will definitely be met because every action has a reaction and every action has a reward, and the Day of Judgment is the day when the good and the bad will receive their full reward for their deeds, and the reckoning will be made one by one, and all people will receive justice from Allah Al almighty and no one will be wronged. ‘‘(الزلزال: ۸) Therefore, those who think that they will escape prosecution despite oppressing someone. Or that there is no one to question them for suppressing someone's right or that there is no one to hold them accountable for what they are doing, are deluded and self-deceiving. Because the truth of their actions will be revealed because the work of truth is not to hide but to be revealed. the function of the truth and reality is not to hide but to remain visible. Because the secret and royal ''witnesses are watching over man. We pray to Allah Almighty to grant us the ability to fulfill all His commands according to the good example of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) so that we can avoid all kinds of troubles on the Day of Judgment. Amen.

What is the definition of friendship and how can a true and sincere friend be found? Mohammqad Raeique Etetesame This is an important issue of the present time, how to find the best friend? Friends are of many types and friendship is also with many people, so every person naturally wants someone to be his friend. Because the one who has no friend feels lonely and deserted. Therefore, he is always in search of a friend who is sincere, honest and selfless and is ready to sacrifice everything for the happiness of his friend. And if by chance someone finds such a friend, he feels that a spring has come in his life, like buds sprout, flowers bloom and the colors of the rainbow scatter in the air. But the question is, is it possible to find such a friend in this day and age? Although it is not impossible, it is certainly difficult because usually there are selfish friends who cut the roots of their friends and try to fulfill their own meaning, but in this selfish situation, there is also a true friend of man who stays with his servants forever. He who is not seen but helps his friends and does good to them, who is powerful, has authority and knows how to fulfill his command. Yes, this friend is Allah Almighty! Who is the owner and creator, the king of the universe and the true friend of man. The Holy Quran states this, “Allah is the friend of the believers. He brings the young out of the darkness of disbelief into the light of guidance” (2.257). And he said, “Have they taken other friends besides Allah? Indeed, Allah is the protecting friend, He will give life to the dead, and He is capable of all things.” (Al-Shura: 09) And He said, “If they turn away, then know that Allah is your Friend, the Great Protector, the Great Helper.” (Al-Anfal: 38). The question is, what is the correct definition of friendship and who is called friendship? So a friend is someone who says that whatever I have is not mine but my friend's. Whenever and whatever my friend asks me for, I will immediately give it to him whenever he asks for it ..... Yes, this is the real definition of friendship, but one thing is worth considering, that the limit of friendship is within the scope of reason and Sharia. The purpose of this is that the definition of friendship is that which is permitted by Sharia, that a friend will ask his friend for the same thing that Sharia and reason have permitted him. That is, if his friend is a rich man, then if the other friend is poor, then he should not say to him, "Give me this much money, brother," or if his friend is a single man, then he should not say to his friend, "Brother, give me your daughter or sister in marriage." Therefore, the limit of friendship is within the scope of Sharia and reason. Allah, the Exalted, the Almighty, who is a mighty ruler, the King, and has no partner. It is beyond the human intellect to estimate the power, might, and glory of Allah Almighty, His great authority, and His command over man, as Allah Almighty says in the Holy Quran: “Say: O Allah, Owner of the Kingdom. You grant the kingdom to whomever You will and take it from whomever You will, and honor whomever You will and humiliate whomever You will. In Your hand is all good. Indeed, You are Able to do all things.” And He said: “He is Allah, besides whom there is no god. He is the Knower of the unseen and the seen, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.” (22) He is Allah, besides whom there is no god. The King, the Pure, the Giver of Peace, the Guardian, the Almighty, the Great. Exalted is He that they should not associate partners with Him. (23) He is Allah, the Creator. The Creation And the Inventor, the Maker of forms. All that is in the heavens and the earth glorifies Him, and He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise. (The Gathering) 59:23 Despite the greatness, majesty, and power of Allah, the Almighty But before that, it is important to know that Allah, the Almighty, who is the true and sincere friend of man, then when a man will establish friendship with him, he must find out what his friend wants from him, what Allah, the Almighty, being the true friend of man, gives to his other friend, man, and what is not in him. But the surprising thing is that despite all these things, he does not have one thing and he demands it from man. This is a very surprising thing. Such a great king has everything but one thing that he does not have. What is it that man has but Allah does not have? Allah, the Almighty, has great power, strength, greatness and greatness. He has everything but one thing that man does not have. What is it that man has? It is humility, modesty, crying, grumbling, expressing his helplessness, helplessness and compulsion, and prostrating himself before Him, calling upon Him, and expressing that you are everything and I am nothing. I am not, if you want, everything will happen, if you want, If a person uses all these things to establish friendship with Allah, the Exalted, then He, that is, his friend, will grant him something that neither his eyes have seen nor his ears have heard of, nor has his mind even imagined these great blessings, namely a great and never-ending life, eternal and everlasting success, unlimited blessings, and everything that is beyond the reach of man. Allah says in the Holy Quran: Those who say, "Our Lord is Allah," and then remain steadfast, the angels will descend upon them (saying): "Fear not, nor grieve, and of the Paradise which you were promised." It is worth noting that anyone who complains about not having a good friend is actually not a good friend himself.

We live in a world of import and export, a world in which most goods and commodities are available in most countries for most of the year. However, despite the year-round availability, there are many goods that enjoy a ‘peak season’. Astute businessmen are those who identify this period and utilize it to their advantage. A Golden Opportunity The season presents a golden opportunity for one to secure tremendous profits in a minimal period of time. Hence, during the month of December, even if the rest of the world is on vacation, it is practically unimaginable for one to find the serious businessman on holiday. He understands the pivotal role that the season plays in his success; if he remains focused and committed, he will reap the profits, and if he allows himself to become distracted or while away his time, he alone will suffer the consequences. The Season of Taqwa Just as other things have a special season; taqwa also has a special season – the month of Ramadaan. From fasting during the day to performing Taraaweeh during the night, the entire month has been specially designed to assist a believer in harvesting a bumper crop of fruit, from the tree of taqwa, which he will continue to enjoy long after the blessed month has expired. However, just as with other seasons, this will only be possible if one avails himself for this blessed month and expends all his energies in striving to secure the bargains it has on offer. More than Money If the shop owner arrives at work two hours late, he will regret the business that he lost and lament the money that he could have made. For every minute of the two hours, he could have been serving customers and turning the numbers. We often hear the adage ‘time is money’. However, contrary to popular belief, time is NOT money — it is far more valuable than money. Whereas money can always be later recovered if lost, time can never be recovered — and it is for this reason that time is our single greatest asset. In the race to secure the rewards of Ramadaan, it is those who are particular regarding their time that profit the most. Destructive Distractions In this regard, along with the ready-made opportunities to benefit are a host of ready-made distractions. After - Taraaweeh braais, meeting friends for a chat, an ‘Eid bargain-hunting’ excursion – these are all seemingly innocent activities. However, when thoroughly scrutinized, we realize that the braai ‘burnt’ two or three hours of our time, whereas a normal supper would have been concluded in a maximum of thirty minutes. The excursion to purchase ‘Eid-goods at the best prices may have saved us a few valuable rands but undoubtedly cost us invaluable hours and minutes. Media ‘Mania’ In the opinion of many, the uncrowned yet undisputed champion of ‘killing time’ is social media in all its various guises and forms. Whether in the masjid, while attending a program for spiritual upliftment, or at the time of sehri when du‘aas are accepted – instead of maximizing and benefiting from these opportunities, there are many who become Media ‘Maniacs’ and wile away the irrecoverable moments on their smart phones. For this purpose, just as we fast by shunning food and drink from dawn to sunset, let us make a resolution to ‘fast’ from all forms of media for all the 24 hours of every day in the Month of Ramadhan. We should initiate a complete ’fast’ from all these time-consumers during this blessed period and afterwards as well. Thus let us make this Ramadaan very profitable by correctly investing the capital of time that we have been blessed with. Insha-Allah we will reap the rewards in this world and the Hereafter. alhaadi.org.za

Sports – Thinking Correctly By Hazrat Ml Yunus Patel Sb Rahimahullah Our condition as a Ummah is such that we have lost our direction, and we have forgotten our purpose of being in this world. In addition to the various Fitan plaguing the Ummah, the sports scene – with its national and international matches, tournaments, cups, etc. – is also a severe fitnah. It is a diversion and a cause of Ghaflat (heedlessness). And this Ghaflat is ‘the hen that lays the eggs of all sins. One brother said to me, “Maulana, you mentioned that you made Dua that the Saudi soccer team must lose. Should we not support our brothers?” How the mindset of the Muslim has changed! If Rasulullah ﷺ were to be present, amongst us in these times, and he is informed of the Muslim teams going around the world to play football, their dressing which exposes their thighs, the entertainment, music, photography, the women attending who are immodestly dressed, the drinking and other Haraam which will be rife at those venues, the sponsorships by those fully involved in Haraam— manufacturers of liquor, banks and other Haraam establishments, would Rasulullah ﷺ have said: Support your national team!?—Na-uzu Billah. Would he be happy with this? And would he be pleased that the Ummah considers this kind of ‘win’ a great victory? Is this what we have been sent for to win soccer matches and other games? We have lost sight of the true victory! The Sahaba-e-Kiraam (Radhiyallahu ‘anhum) saw their victory in Jihad and in Shahadah (martyrdom). In the tragic expedition of Bir-Ma’unah, when Hazrat Haram ibn Milhan (Radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was martyred, he uttered: “By the Lord of the Ka’bah! I have won!”—he achieved such a goal! Nabi ﷺ’s Duas and sympathy are with those who are following Deen and obeying him. Are we not instructed in the Qur’aan Shareef: “Follow me…”? “Say (O Muhammad Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam): ‘If you really love Allah, then follow me, and Allah shall love you and forgive you your sins. Allah is Most-Forgiving, Very-Merciful.”[Surah Aal-Imraan 3:31] We also went through the high school route. In our young days, we played cricket and other sports… and we would follow the newspaper scores and commentary over the radio. There were no televisions at that time. Now, when I look back, I think: What an absolute waste of time… listening to the commentary of a few people chasing a ball from one end to the other! What did we gain? …Nothing. These thoughts … that we should be supporting our brothers who are participating in the world cup … are from Shaytaan. We are to support each other in Deen; in what will draw us closer to Allah Ta’ala and what will be a means of the victory of Allah Ta’ala’s Pleasure and Jannah. “…Help one another in goodness and piety, and do not help one another in sin and aggression; and be careful of (your duty to) Allah; surely Allah is severe in requiting (evil).” [Surah Al-Maa’idah 5:2] Let us seriously reflect over our condition, make sincere Taubah and get our priorities in order. Time is running out. …We fail to understand that we are leaving this world, that our death is fast approaching, and that Qiyamah is before us. Every moment is delivering us to our graves. Every passing second, our life is closing in on us. It is all coming to an end, but we are heedless and unmindful. In watching and following the world cup, we forget the cup of death. We will have to drink of that cup. Allah Ta’ala mentions in Surah Al-Ambiyaa: ‘Closer and closer to mankind comes their reckoning: yet they heed not, and they turn away.’[Surah Ambiyaa 21:1] May Allah Ta’ala guide us and give us the correct understanding of the purpose of this worldly life. Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) Council of Muslim Theologians

‏الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي بِنِعْمَتِهِ تَتِمُّ الصَّالِحَات Praise is to Allah by Whose grace good deeds are completed.