All praises are due to Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the
universe. Peace and salutations upon the Prophet Muhammad, his family, his companions and
all those who follow him.
The condition currently in our country is a sad one. Our
women are suffering abuse and treated as if they are an inferior creation. Is this the disregard we give our mothers, sisters
and daughters? For this country to heal we need peace
and ?peace starts with me?
Our peace process starts with the emulation of our role
model, the Prophet [Peace and blessings be upon him] who
encouraged us to always strive for peace and to be the first one
to initiate peace.
The Prophet [Peace and blessings be upon him] said: ?It is not permissible for a man to forsake his Muslim brother for more than three days, each of them turning away from the other when they meet. The
better of them is the one who initiates peace first.? (Bukhaari
& Muslim)
In any domestic environment it is natural to find grievances
between husband and wife as they come from different
backgrounds and have been raised differently. This
sometimes leads to arguments and temporary fall outs
between spouses. Diffusing such tense situations requires
a certain level of skill and negotiation ability which we
learn from
NewsletterFROM THE MIMBAR TO YOUR HOME...THE HAPPY
HOME WHICH IS FOUNDED ON
TAQWA PART 5
the Prophet [Peace and blessings be upon him] in order to r estore peace w ithin our mar i tal l ives.
The Prophet [Peace and blessings be upon him] was putting his hand on the shoulder of his w ife when she was angr y and saying: ?O Allah, forgive her sins, r el ieve her hear t from rage and protect her from distr ess.? (Ibn Asakir )
What an excellent manner in dealing w ith a tense si tuation, by cal l ing on The Control ler of al l hear ts, Al lah Almighty, to r el ieve her hear t from rage. Picture ourselves in such a si tuation, how would we respond? In order to emulate the Prophet [Peace and blessings be upon him] in this r egard, we need to increase our know ledge about Al lah Almighty. I t is the level of awareness of Al lah that w i l l aid in that moment of r age when we remind one another about Al lah Almighty.
Allah Almighty says in Surah Al Anfaal ver se 2: ?Ver i ly the believers are those who when Allah is mentioned, feel a tr emor in their hear ts.......?
At times we need to get a neutral per son?s perspective to arbi tr ate when we f ind ourselves in a tense si tuation. When we are unable to r esolve i t on our ow n. Ver y impor tantly, both par ties must agree on whom that neutral per son w i l l be so that the assurance of impar tial i ty is maintained.
Once, ?A?isha [May Allah be pleased w ith her ] was angr y w ith the Prophet [Peace and blessings be upon him] So, he told her : ?Do you accept Abu ?Ubaida Bin Al-Jar rah as a judge between us?? She replied: No, this man w i l l not issue a judgment against you in my favor. He said: ?Do you accept Omar as a judge?? She replied: I fear Omar. He said: ?Do you accept Abu Bakr (her father )?? She replied: Yes, I accept him.
It is extr emely impor tant that both husband and w ife be ful ly aware of one another?s feel ings and emotions and recognize any change therein. The appropr iate r esponse is also vi tal in order not to over or under r eact.
Once, the Prophet [Peace and blessings be upon him] said to A?isha [May Allah be pleased w ith her ] ?O ?A?isha! Whenever you feel upset w ith me, I come to know.?
She asked ?How ?? He replied, ?When you are pleased and happy w ith me, in the course of our conversation you say ?Rabb-e-Muhammad? ? I swear by the Lord of Muhammad! The matter is this? However , whenever you are displeased w ith me you say, ?And I swear by the Lord of Abraham? This is the matter? ?? A?isha [May Allah be pleased w ith her ] said: ?O Messenger of Al lah! I t is tr ue, but I swear by God! At that time, I leave only your name; but my love for you does not leave my hear t.? (Muslim) Subhanallah, look at the level of r espect show n on both sides, how beauti ful is the r eminder and what a beauti ful r esponse. This is what is lacking in mar r iages today. Many a times si tuations between spouses become so heated that the emotions get the better of them and so much damage is done. This ends in r emorse and regret and even divor ce. I t is imperative that i f we cannot handle the si tuation ourselves and fear loss of r espect, that we should agree to ?park? the si tuation and address i t at a later stage or get inter vention from a mutually neutral par ty. Most of the time our imaan is on a low dur ing these heated si tuations and requir es elevation. A r eminder from a neutral learned person w i l l help w ith the elevation of our imaan.
Allah Almighty says in Surah Al Anfaal ver se 2: ?Ver i ly the believers are those who when Allah is mentioned, feel a tr emor in their hear ts and when His ver ses are r ead to them, they increase them in fai th...? In this way love won?t leave our hear ts dur ing our angr y moments and peace is maintained in the mar r iage and in turn peace in the home, community and countr y. Let us not forget ?Peace star ts w ith me?
Allah Almighty says: ?Indeed in the Messenger of Al lah (Prophet Muhammad Peace and blessings be upon him) you have a good example to fol low for anyone whose hope is in (the Meeting w ith) Al lah and the Last Day and remembers Allah much.? (Al Ahzaab:21)
We make dua to Allah Almighty to grant us to be able to fol low the Prophet [Peace be upon him] in ever y aspect and grant us the abi l i ty to make the necessar y changes so that we may have a happy home where sakeena, mawaddah and rahmah operates, Ameen.
And Allah knows best.
By Sheik Ebrahiem Tofa
Edition 27, October 2019
Goodwood Islamic Society
What's I nside... Dear Readers
October is the month of r emembrance and working
towards the goals set in Muhar ram. There are many
special days and events dur ing this month, but one we
have given special attention to is Mental Health
Awareness. Depression has become a common word, one
that has lost i ts tr ue meaning. I once heard a teen say that
her fr iend was going around the school tel l ing her fr iends
that she was depressed, almost l ike i t was a talent or
something that made her seem ?unique?. To shed some
l ight on the effectiveness of therapy we spoke to cl inical
psychologist Dr Sharon Johnson, be sure to give i t a r ead.
?The WHO has a ?Wor ld Mental Health Day? which is
obser ved on the 10th of October , annually. As a r esult of
the grow ing global incidence of mental health issues,
October has been denoted ?Mental Health Awareness?
month by the South Afr ican government. The aim of
denoting a month-long awareness on mental health is to
increase know ledge on the topic and to decrease the
stigma attached to these conditions.? Mar yam Rumaney
takes us through the common mental health myths people
believe in and share. Along w ith impor tant contact detai ls
for i f you or a loved one needs mental help.
?The status of parents is ver y high. As Muslims, we should
give our love and respect to our parents at al l times. Our
parents are due to be tr eated well as this is a vir tuous
kind of act in the sight of Al lah. Al lah says in the Quran:
?No mother should be harmed through her chi ld and no
father through his chi ld.? (Q 2:233)? As many would
prescr ibe, love and kindness is the path to fol low when
healing from a time of distr ess. And when we need some
advice, turning to our chi ldhood teachers may be just
what we need to clear the storm in our heads. Read the
ar ticle by Aaki fah Antar Hendr icks on how to show your
parents love and respect.
Throughout the month of October , we ask that you and
your fami ly be blessed w ith goodness, kind hear ts and
insight into your mental well-being. In Shaa Allah.
Be sure to add the Goodwood Islamic Society on
WhatsApp for immediate updates.
newsletter @goodwoodmosque.or g.za
~ Zahraa Shroeder
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Goodwood m asjied of fers t he
follow ing:
youth act ivit ies
wellness cent re
legal advice cent re
soup k it chen
beitul maal
classes - ladies, rever t ,
arabic, et c
madrassah
borehole
qurbaan program
m asjied expansion project
Appeal for funds
QMM Newslet t er
Monthly Commit t ee Art icle
August 2019 / Thul Hadj1440
The year 1440 AH ended on a high note w ith the Wellness Centre Outreach Program at Masjidul Nasr iel lah in Belhar on 31 August 2019. Alhamduliel lah we had in excess of 60 volunteers which was made up of doctor s, dentists, alternative medical practi tioners, al l ied workers, medical students, community workers, committee members and the youth.
The program was a major success where the Masjidul Nasr iel lah Committee pulled out al l stops to provide us w ith an environment and a temporar y infr a-str ucture to easi ly accommodate al l the medical discipl ines on the day. I t was also the f i r st time that we rol led out our new ly f i tted Mobi le Dental and Medical Trai ler. We even had our medical and dental equipment mechanic on standby. Alhamduliel lah ever ything r an smoothly and the Belhar community was extr emely appreciative for the ser vices that were r endered.
The 1st of Muhar ram 1441 AH star ted w ith a bang when we had our monthly Sunday Food Sales. We were extr emely pleased as community members avai led themselves as some regular Committee Members were unavai lable to assist on the day. These committed community members f i tted in l ike a glove and they seamlessly went about to ensure that al l the food was sold by 12h30 alr eady.
On Saturday, 7th September 2019, the last Learner?s Entrepreneurs Day for the year was hosted at
the masjied precinct and we once again exper ienced the warm comrader y and competi tiveness as the learners vied for the best and most prof i table stal l . Alhamduliel lah our new ly acquir ed str etch tent came in handy as we exper ienced qui te a hot and sunny day. This event also ser ved as a dr y r un to test the new ly instal led extr a amped outside plugs which were instal led at str ategic points to cater for heavy duty electr ical appliances.
We hosted our Annual Muhar ram Program on Monday evening the 9th September 2019 which star ted from after Asr w ith the completion of the Khatamul Quran, a shor t thikr and then we broke our fast. After maghr ieb salaah a shor t talk was delivered by Imaam Omar Effendi, the Deputy Ameer of the Immaamat Counci l of the Nor thern Suburbs (ICONS) and the off iciating imam of the Durbanvi l le Islamic Society. After the lecture Sheikh Ebrahiem Tofa announced our theme for the year which tied in dir ectly to the unacceptable violent social and secur i ty si tuation in our beloved countr y - #Peace Star ts w ith Me. Supper was then ser ved which ended off w i th cake and dr inks before the salaah of Eshaai.
We would once again l ike to express our hear tfelt thanks and appreciation to al l the community members who w ithout fai l , suppor ts al l our programs at the masjied making i t such an over whelming success Alhamduliel lah. For 1441 AH, going for ward, we w i l l ensure that our theme ties in w ith al l activi ties and programs for the year In-Sha-Allah.
The 2 weeks from the 10th of Muhar ram we had 3 ver y sad losses in the community. On the 10th of Muhar ram we were sadly informed of the demise of Hadji Noor Mi l ler , the oldest male r esident of Goodwood who passed on at the age of 95 Alhamduliel lah. As Sheikh Ebrahiem reminded the mussallees that Boeta Noor used to car r y the br icks for the bui lding of our masjied when he was a youngster and this could have been the r eason why he never sat on a chair or leaned against a wall whenever he fr equented the masjied in his old age. He was bur ied at the Maitland Cemeter y and we pray that he be granted the highest abode in Jannah Ameen Thuma Ameen.
On Wednesday the 18th September we w itnessed the massive janaaza of Dr Nabielah Ismai l-Gamieldien who passed away the previous night after a brave f ight against acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) ? an aggressive cancer of the blood and bone mar row which was diagnosed ear ly in this year.
In Apr i l we hosted a Sunflower Foundation Blood Stem Cell Donor Dr ive to create awareness and to tr y and f ind a match for her. Together w ith the Sunflower Foundation, our Wellness Centre, her husband, Dr Wafiq Gamieldien, a founder member and graduate from our madrassa, they drove the awareness of her condition and the need for stem cell donors in the community.
Fr om the Quloobul Moemieneen Commit tee
Even though she left this wor ld at a young age she has tr uly left a legacy that w i l l surely be perpetuated by her husband and the community at large In-Sha-Allah. Later , on the day of Dr Nabielah?s janaaza we were informed of the demise of Hadja Hawa Bibi Khan, a 51 year old Chemist who passed away from aggressive ovar ian cancer that spread to her lungs. She was only hospital ised for a couple of days and was diagnosed w ith this cancer minutes before she passed on. At her graveside a Turkish col league spoke about the awesome woman that she was. We beseech Almighty Allah (SWT) to usher these two wonder ful women into the highest abode of jannaah, jannatul f ierdous, and we make duah that Almighty Allah (SWT) place sabr and contentment into the hear ts of their beloved famil ies and fr iends Ameen Thuma Ameen.
We were once again honoured to host the monthly ICONS Meeting that shi f ted from after Asr to after Fajr on a Saturday morning. Due to our Saturday Madrassa we had to think out of the box on where to host the breakfast. Through a dedicated team and the self less help and suppor t from the community we pulled off this event on Saturday, 14th September to much acclaim from the 29 ulama that were present. The covered area at the back of 133 Goodwood Street was tr ansformed overnight into a tent w ith drapes that f lowed from the roof whi le we ser ved a hot breakfast that came str aight out of the book of a 5 star hotel menu, w ith Turkish instr umental music playing in the background.
On Sunday 15th September the Fi l ia Hall in Goodwood was tr ansformed w ith the glow ing faces of our esteemed elder s of al l r el igious persuasions and ethnici ty. This f i f th Annual Lunch is one of the highl ights in our elder?s calendars where they are tr eated to an afternoon of del icious food, desser ts, gi f ts and fun in a safe environment. Sheikh Ebrahiem Tofa delivered the keynote address and Hadja Naiemah Ismai l, who heads up our Tradi tional Sub Structure and her dedicated team ensured an unforgettable afternoon which goes a long way in breaking dow n the negative stereotypes that there are about Muslims and Islam in general.
After our ghujaaj r eturned we were informed of qui te a few community members who were leaving for umrah. Sheikh Ebrahim was once again kept busy throughout the month w ith making the farewell duas dur ing the ear ly hours of the mornings at the muttamireen?s houses. A special mention must be made of Mualima Shamiela Abduraghmaan and her husband Walied who left on umrah to make dua at the most sacred of places for the successful cochlear implant of her baby son Cassiem to enable him to be granted to faculty of hear ing, In-Sha-Allah.
Our Borehole has f inal ly been hooked up to our water supply but we are sti l l exper iencing some challenges w ith the noise levels of the motor s and the excessive saltiness of the water. On the br ighter side we can be seen as the only masjied which has brought the sea to our mussallees, especial ly as we f ind summer on our doorstep? ..lol?
On Wednesday, 18th and Fr iday 20th September we once again hosted Ruqyah SA for the Hi jaamah Cupping Sessions which were held at our Wellness Centre. Cupping promotes proper blood cir culation and energy f low , whi le r emoving harmful toxins from the blood. Cupping is also know n to prevent and cure many diseases.
On the weekend of Fr iday, 27th to Sunday, 29th September , 10 of our youth attended the ICONS Youth Leadership Camp where Siddique Masjied in Elsies River was used as the base camp. On Sunday the 29th September our Masjied Archer y Club also par took in the Masjied Archer y Competi tion and they did ver y well , seeing that they entered as f i r st timers.
On Sunday, the 29th September the masjied and i ts sur rounds were abuzz w ith the activi ties of the Mini Food Fair. Preparations star ted on Saturday alr eady where the new ly acquir ed str etch tents were instal led in front and at the back of 133 Goodwood Street. This new feature added to the festive atmosphere where we w i l l give a ful l r epor t in the next monthly edi tion of this newsletter In-Sha-Allah.
~ Mogam ad SafedienChairperson
Fr om the Quloobul Moemieneen Commit tee
El der l y Luncheon
And we bear testimony that our chief and leader Muhammad (pbuh) is His true servant and messenger. O Allah bestow special honor and blessings upon Muhammad (pbuh), and upon his purified household and companions, who yearned for a trade that will always be successful and never fail.
Alhamdulillah we have just entered into our new Islamic year 1441. May Almighty Allah grant us to remain conscious of Him and consider carefully what we send forth for the future (tomorrow) as He reminds us in The Glorious Quran (59:18). The reminder for us to take account of our lives before Almighty Allah ultimately does reckoning with us, muhasabah al nafs i.e. self-accounting and personal introspection. (hasibu anfusakum qabla antuhasibu)
Ideally, the conscious Muslim is one who should resolve to be a better person each and every day, and not just once a year. Consequently, we should all have New day resolutions, rather than New year?s resolutions, hence we will be in a constant state of renewal and rebirth. New year resolutions are like good intentions, and Allah?s grace and compassion is such that He rewards us for these good intentions even if we fail to implement them, as it is recorded in a sacred tradition (hadith qudsi) in the authentic collections of Al-Bukhari and Muslim on the authority of Ibn Abbas (RA) who narrated from the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
Let us make a firm intent to live more conscientious, ethical and spiritual lives, and include some modest resolutions concerning our physical health and well-being, improving our inter-personal relations with members of our family and
friends and advancing and improving our education insha alllah. We thank Allah for granting us the past year(1440), for its goodness and blessings and seek forgiveness for our transgression and failures. Alhamdulillah we are grateful for the New year and with the potential it holds, and we appeal to be granted strength and wisdom so that wew can meet its challenges. ?O Allah draw our heart s closer t o You, guide our minds and assist us t o fulf i l l our dut ies t oward You dil igent ly and devout ly. Protect our womenfolk, children, famil ies and loved ones, and safeguard t hem f rom all forms of violence and abuse, O The Lord of t he Worlds?
Alhamdulillah we are really proud of our team of younger ulamaa who have worked timeously, with the assistance and guidance of some of our seniors, to have made possible the presentation of our 3rd Youth ret reat program.
The Icons youth retreat program is due to commence on Friday at 16:00, 27th September and throughout the weekend, and concluding on the Sunday 29 September after thuhr solaah, insha allah.
Alhamdulillah the program has been finalized and is fully loaded with a diversity of interesting opportunities and challenges for our youth. Allocation was made to accommodate 250 boys comprising of ten representatives per organization. The Friday evening program opens at Siddique masjid with the welcome by our Amir, Moulana Hashiem Cassiem, and continues with interesting activities including the traditional Icons Q+A program.
E d it io n 1 0
S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 9
(M u h a r r a m 1 4 4 1 )
Imaamat council of t he nor t her n subur bs
All praises are due t o Allah,
t he Benefact or , t he
Munif icent , t he Ruler , t he
Pardoner and Giver of
grace, bount ies, k indness
and generosit y.
We t hank Him , and t est ify
t hat none has t he r ight t o
be worshipped but Him . He
is alone w it hout par t ners in
His Lordship.
There will also be a placard demonstration against Gender based violence before maghrib. The youth will also be introduced to the Imams of the ICONS, and then share supper together Alhamdulillah. The evening?s program concludes with lights out at 12:30pm. Before they retire for sleeping, sleeping etiquette and masjid rules are taught to them by the co-ordinators who will always be present, officiating and observing.
Saturday 28 September is a day filled with outdoor activities. After fajr prayers with naseehah and thikr progam, and thereafter breakfast, the youth will depart by bus for the hike at Majik Forest in Durbanville at 8:00am. The theme for the excursion is ?Recognit ion of Allah?s greatness via His creat ion?
After the hike the activities shift onto our second venue, Kuilsriver Masjid where thuhr prayers will be performed and thereafter the youth will enjoy lunch. Program and preparations will be discussed for the placard demonstration again on Sunday morning at Blauwberg after the surf walk in the morning.
After Asr prayers, there will be an Activity split. Teams who had entered for the indoor soccer tournament at Canalwalk arena will leave with transport, and the remainder of the youth will participate in archery and self-defence
demonstrations and techniques. All the youth will gather together at the masjid for supper at 20:30, and thereafter will have discussions and reflection on the day?s activities. They will enjoy a break and relaxation until they will retire to sleep insha allah.
Sunday morning, 29 September, the final day of the program, starts as usual with naseehah, thikr and solawaat. After breakfast the complete group leaves Kuilsriver Masjid by transport to participate in the Surf Walk activity at Blauwberg beach. A gender violence against women and children placard demonstration will transpire on the beach at approx. 9:00am and thereafter the youth will have refreshments and relax, whilst also participation in reflecting on the weekend?s activities.
At 12:00am the group will return to Siddique masjid, complete thuhr prayers, and after the vote of thanks and farewell speech, the youth will be collected by parents or guardians to depart.
May Allah grant us success in all our endeavors and accept our humble efforts.
Jazakum ullah Khair
~ Im am Om ar Ef fendi
secr etar y.uns@gm ai l .com
MASJIED MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY
Akhlaaq Delf t
Fiqh (Maghr ieb - 'Eshaa)
Fiqh - for t n ighly (af t er Asr )
Al-Jam ia Ut hm ania Bont eheuwel
Fiqh (Maghr ieb - 'Eshaa)
Tableegh Jam a'ah Program
Mar r iage Course (Maghr ieb - 'Eshaa)
Beginners Class (Tauheed)
(Maghr ieb - 'Eshaa)
Haj (Maghr ieb - 'Eshaa)
Alhidaayah Kraaifont ein
Qur 'an Tafseer Rever t s Fiqh
Badr Belhar
Tafseer ul Quran (Maghr ieb - 'Eshaa)
Arabic (Maghr ieb - Eshaa)
Fiqh (Maghr ieb - 'Eshaa)
Bishop Lavis Fiqh Quran reading Par t t im e hifz for yout h
(Asr - Maghr ieb)
Bluedowns Tuscany Glen
Quran, Tafseer
Beginners/Rever t s - 1st 3 TUE/m ont h
Hadeet h, Fiqh
Durbanvil le Islam ic societ y
Kit abul Janazah (20h00 - 21h00)
Workshop for gir ls ent er ing
puber t y - for t n ighly (18:30)
Jum ua Delf t
Fiqh, Hist ory (Maghr ieb - 'Eshaa)
Beginner /Rever t s, Janaza
(Maghr ieb - 'Eshaa)
Haj (Maghr ieb - 'Eshaa)
Arabic (11h00 - 13h00)
Kuilsr iver Quran reading for fem ales
(19:30 - 21:00)
Yout h - every 3rd MON
(19:30 - 21:00)
Quran reading for m ales
(19:30 - 21:00)
Haj/Um rah (19:30 - 21:00)
Mubarak Belhar
SANZAF Aalim ah (Mornings)
Tafseer (af t er Maghr ieb)
SANZAF Aalim ah (Mornings) Hadeet h
(af t er Maghr ieb)
SANZAF Aalim ah (Mornings)
Quran reading (af t er Maghr ieb)
SANZAF Aalim ah (Mornings)
Arabic (08h00 - 12h30)
Nasr i l lah Fiqh, Tauheed (bet ween Maghr ieb
and 'Eshaa)
Quraan reading (bet ween Maghr ieb
and 'Eshaa)
Haj (bet ween Maghr ieb
and 'Eshaa)
Net reg Haj (af t er Maghr ieb)
Quraan reading (af t er Maghr ieb)
Fiqh (af t er Maghr ieb)
Nurul Huda Belhar
Quran reading (af t er Maghr ieb)
Fiqh (af t er Maghr ieb)
Tafseer (af t er Maghr ieb)
Quran reading, Fiqh - ladies only (Morning)
Arabic
Panoram a Quran reading, Tajweed
(Maghr ieb - Eshaa)
Haj and Um rah (Maghr ieb - Eshaa)
Refresher Fiqh, Quran reading for
beginners (Maghr ieb - Eshaa)
Par row valley Quran reading Hif t h Fiqh 40 Hadit h of Im am Nawaw i
QMM Goodwood
Quranic Lit eracy, Seerah
Beginners/Rever t
Inspirat ional Talk Tafseer - Ladies Arabic, Hadeet h -
Men
Housew ives (10h00 - 12h00)
Quba Nor t hpine
The st or ies of t he prophet s
(af t er Maghr ieb)
St ory of t he Quran - Ladies class (Mornings)
Par t t im e hif t h, Tajweed
(10h00 - 13h00 for t n ight ly)
Raudah Pinelands
Quran, Tajweed (Maghr ieb - 'Eshaa)
Um rah, Haj (Maghr ieb - 'Eshaa)
Siddique Elsies River
Ladies class (10h00) Tafseer (19h00)
Quraan reading (19h00)
Islaam 101 for ladies (19h00)
Ladies class (10h00)
Beginners class (19h00)
Haj, Um rah (15h00)
The Hague Delf t
Quraan reading and
social m at t ers discussion
Quran reading and m ar r iage classes
out r each w el l ness: Pr ogr am
In t he nam e of Allah, t he Most Gracious t he Most Mercifu l
All thanks are due to Allah, our Nourisher and our Sustainer. We put love and salutations on our Prophet Muhammad (SAW), his family, companions and all those who follow him until the end of time.
The status of parents is very high. As Muslims, we should give our love and respect to our parents at all t imes. Our parents are due to be treated well as this is a virtuous kind of act in the sight of Allah. Allah says in the Quran:
?No mother should be harmed through her child and no father through his child.?
(Q 2:233)
From the above mentioned verse, we understand that the Quran has made it incumbent for every child to treat his or her parents with all grace and mercy and to show them unconditional kindness and obedience. Just like it is beyond our means to show thankfulness and gratitude to Allah for all His favours, similarly, we can never thank our parents adequately for their efforts which they have done for us. The Quranic commandments and the sayings of our Prophet Muhammad (SAW) guide us in this matter of respecting our parents and to display love, care and to always
honour them.
In the Quran, respect to parents is mentioned eleven times. Allah has mentioned in every instance to recognise and to appreciate the sincere love and care our parents gave to us. Allah says in the Quran:
?And we have enjoined upon man goodness to parents.?
(Q 29:8 and Q 46:15)
Children must always pray for their parents even after they have passed away. Such prayers will be regarded as a continuous charity, as advised by our Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Just as being grateful to Allah is a form of worship which earns divine reward, it can, therefore be said that being grateful to one?s parents also earns divine reward.
In conclusion, may Allah grant us to be sincere in our good actions towards our parents and grant them good health to fulfil all their Islamic obligations to the best of their ability Amin. To our parents who are no longer with us, may Allah elevate your status in paradise with each passing day Amin.
~ Aak ifah Ant ar Hendr icks.
LOVE AN D RESPECT TO OUR PAREN TS
Icons meet ing Hel d at t he Mas j i ed t hi s mor ni ng
( Sat ur day Sep 14, 8: 00 PM ) and t he br eak f as t t hat we hos t ed i n t he Hal l
behi nd Shei k h Dawood' s quar t er s .
?[A n d ] ?Peace?, a word from a M erci fu l Lord .? ? Q u ran , ch apter 36 , verse 58
The World Health Organization (WHO) has defined mental health as, a state of well-being in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community. It is related to the promotion of overall health, the prevention of disease, and the treatment and rehabilitation of people negatively affected by illness.
Globally, approximately 400 million people suffer from mental, neurological, or psychosocial problems. These conditions may be transient (like an acute stress disorder), periodic (like bipolar disorder, characterised by periods of exaggerated elation followed by periods of depression), or long lasting and progressive (like Alzheimer?s disease). Other conditions include schizophrenia, dementia, depressive disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
The WHO has a ?World Mental Health Day? which is observed on the 10th of October, annually. As a result of the growing global incidence of mental health issues, October has been denoted ?Mental Health Awareness? month by the South African government. The aim of denoting month-long awareness on
mental health is to increase knowledge on the topic and to decrease the stigma attached to these conditions.
As a community member I often hear vastly inaccurate descriptions of mental health issues. Often, in these circles only women seem to be affected by ?nerves? and eating disorders. Alzheimer?s is poorly understood, and termed ?forgetfulness?. Usually family members feel embarrassed or get irritated by having to repeat phrases or answer the same questions over and over. These comments and reactions are purely due to a lack of understanding on mental health in general.
In bust ing t hose myths, I would l ike t o clar if y t he following:
- Mental health affects ALL genders, albeit in different proportions depending on the exact condition.
- ?Nerves? is not a mental health condition. Nerves are in fact bundles of fibres in the body that transmit impulses of sensation to the brain or spinal cord, and to the muscles and organs. Every human being has nerves. The human body requires these constituents to function optimally.
- The spectrum, of mental health disorders, is quite broad. Read and learn more about specific conditions. Knowledge is power.
- Alzheimer?s disease is a
progressive disorder that causes brain cells to degenerate and die. Alzheimer 's is the most common cause of dementia. Dementia is a term given to the continuous decline in thinking, behavioural, and social skills that disrupts a person's ability to function independently. This is a debilitating disease that requires much understanding and even more support to the person that is affected by Alzheimer?s.
People who suffer from depression are told to ?sabr? (an Arabic word that is loosely used to define the ability to be patient in the face of all adversity) and seek help from Allah. These ?advisors? neglect to mention that belief in God does not eliminate the ability to seek medical help. Allah has given humans the ability to develop professions that serve humanity. We are thus free to seek help when needed.
Psychologists and counsellors have been trained to assist people who are going through traumatic events in life that have brought about other issues, such as depression. It is highly important to seek medical help when you are feeling low in a manner that is ?abnormal? as perceived by you or those around you. If you feel that a loved one is in trouble, extend your hand of support. This assistance may be the game changer.
Ment al heal t h ? f inding peace of mind
As I often say, peace is the most sought-after
currency in the world. Thus, we are meant to live
in peace. Only when the mind is at ease, can we
become more spiritually developed. The soul is
fuelled by a healthy body and mind. Therefore,
seek help if required. Most of all, be kind. Be
unreservedly kind to whoever you encounter.
This kindness may become a form of ?charity?,
where you save someone from tragedy.
In closing, Muharram Mubarak to all my readers.
May the new Islamic year usher in many
blessings, Amin.
www.mbrumaney.co
~ Maryam Rum aney
Helpful num bers
- Adcock Ingram Depression and Anxiet y Helpline ? Tel. 0800 70 80
90
- Cipla 24hr Ment al Healt h Helpline ? Tel. 0800 456 789
- Pharm adynam ics Police and Traum a Line ? Tel. 0800 20 50 26
- Suicide Cr isis Line ? Tel. 0800 567 567
- The Sout h Afr ican Depression and Anxiet y group?s Ment al
Healt h Line ? Tel. 011 234 4837
References:
1. afro.who.int/health-topics/mental-health
2. https://www.gov.za/mental-health-awareness-month
3. http://www.sadag.org/index.php?option=com_
content&view=article&id=1904&Itemid=151
Sal waa's No- Bake Cheesecake
Here is a delightful recipe for a no-bake cheesecake. Made in a Tupperware jelly ring
assembled in layers for a contemporary cheesecake. This cheesecake can also be made
in a pyrex. For best results leave to set in the fridge overnight. With summer coming up this
is a perfect dessert to serve on a warm day. Garnish with fresh seasonal fruit.
I n g r e d ie n t s :
1 packet strawberry or raspberry jelly
Mix the jelly according the instructions on the packet.
Pour the jelly into the jelly mould, Refrigerate until the
jelly has set.
Filling:
3 tsp gelatine
¼ cup cold water
2 x 250g cream cheese
250ml fresh cream
3 Tbsp castor sugar
Juice and rind of 1 small lemon
M e t h o d :
Dissolve the gelatine into the water. Leave until the
gelatine has gone spongy, about 5 minutes. Using a
medium mixing bowl whisk the fresh cream with the
castor sugar until stiff peaks formed. Mix the cream
cheese slightly with a spoon before adding it to the
cream. Add the rind and juice, combine well. Set the
cup with the dissolved gelatine in a bowl of hot water
to dissolve. Stir until the gelatine has turned into a
clear liquid. Pour the gelatine into the cream cheese
mixture using a tea sieve. Mix until the gelatine has
combined well with the cream cheese. Scoop the cream
cheese mixture gently over the set jelly. Refrigerate until
the filling has set.
Biscuit Base:
¾ packet tennis or marie biscuit
100g butter, melted
Crush the biscuits. You may use a food processor or
bash the biscuits with a rolling pin, like I do. Stir in the
melted butter until all the crushed biscuits are coated
with the butter. Press the biscuit mixture gently on top
of the set cream cheese mixture. Refrigerate further
until the cheesecake has set completely. Inver the set
cheesecake onto a serving dish. Biscuit layer at the
bottom, jelly on top.
Co o k s n o t e
You may use any flavour jelly of choice, I used red as it
complements the creaminess of the filling nicely and
the end result is stunning.
Visit our online shop www.capemalaydelights.store
All content and media belongs to Salwaa Smith & Cape Malay Delights (PTY) LTD.
'W ha t 's C ook i n g?'
From My Kitchen To Yours - keeping our heritage alive!
Th e wh en ?s an d wh y?s of th erapy
W h en peopl e go to th ei r fi rst cou n sel l i n g or th erapy session , wh a t sh ou l d th ey expect?
The f i r st session can feel ver y intimidating and
daunting for a cl ient. There are no r ules that
apply to ever y cl ient and counsellor /therapist.
Some guidelines could be: Clients need to see i f
they have can develop a posi tive r elationship
w ith the therapist/counsellor and i f they feel
that i t is a safe and suppor tive space. I send out
an intake form in advance, asking for
demographic information and what the main
issues are. I also ask what the main goals are
for coming. This al lows the cl ient to think
beforehand what is impor tant and to process
what main issues are in advance. The issues can
be f lexible and change dur ing the session, but
this information acts as a base from which to
star t.
Peopl e often d i scred i t th e va l i d i ty of th erapy session s; th i s i d ea u su a l l y com es on l y a fter on e session .
There is evidence-based research to show that
psychotherapy is more effective than
pharmacology, so confiding in an empathetic
therapist val idates your exper iences and opens
a safe space for you to f ind your ow n healing
solutions. I would suggest that cl ients f ind a
therapist/counsellor who resonates w ith them
and who offer s a safe and suppor tive space to
work through their issues. I tr y to see cl ients
for an average of four sessions, but i t depends
on many factor s, such as avai labi l i ty,
affordabi l i ty and motivation of the cl ient.
When I was a volunteer tr auma counsellor at
a pol ice station, people seldom came for more
than one session, so much can be accomplished
in that time.
W h en an d a t wh a t poin t i n th ei r l i ves sh ou l d ad u l ts seek m en ta l h el p?
Clients often come in cr isis - when they do not
have the coping ski l ls to manage what is
happening to them or in tr auma, when past
neglect; abuse or events r elated to death,
violence or sexual abuse, tr igger r esponses
which need therapeutic inter vention. I
per sonally see a lot of couples who are
str uggling w ith their r elationships and people
need guidance and psychoeducation to
understand what i t means to be a master r ather
than a disaster in r elationships. There is no
speci f ic time in l i fe when you should seek
mental help. I f you are in danger of harming
yourself or other s, that is the time to get help. I f
you are r efer r ed by your doctor or a medical
professional to a psychologist, or psychiatr ist,
that is also a good time to visi t a therapist.
W h at a re som e of th e com m on fea rs th a t pl agu e wom en ?
Women are more vulnerable than men when i t
comes to mental health. For example, in the
USA, i t is r epor ted that 10% of women suffer
from PTSD (4% of men)
* 31% of women suffer from an anxiety
disorder (19% of men)
w it h Zahr aa Schr oeder
w it h Dr Shar on Johnson
* 12% of women suffer from depression (6% of
men)
* 4.8% of women suffer from an eating disorder
(2% of men)
W h at a re som e of th e fea rs th a t h au n t m en ?
In my research on the Cape Flats w ith
adolescent male youth, there are high levels of
neglect and abuse, w ith substance addiction,
exposure to gang violence and cr ime and
i l l i teracy and school dropout r ates (Johnson, in
r eview ). I t is a matter of urgency that we get the
formula r ight to str engthen community suppor t
and str uctures. Heal past wounds and protect
our youth, tr eating them w ith love, digni ty and
respect so that we develop leaders who can take
care of future generations w ith meaningful
care.
I n h on ou r of M en ta l H ea l th A wa ren ess M on th , wh a t sh ou l d peopl e d o to m ake th e m ost ou t of i t?
In Mental Health Awareness Month, we should
be par ticular ly aware of our well-being,
adopting a cur ious r ather than judgmental
stance to l i fe. We should al l know what i t
means to be psychological ly healthy - peaceful,
calm, looking after our health and well-being.
I f you feel that someone is tr igger ing you into
dysfunctional behaviour , seek help from a
professional and set yourself fr ee to l ive a l i fe
of posi tivi ty and contentment. Our greatest
str uggles can be the source of our greatest
learnings, so seek help to obtain a posi tive
grow th mindset and look after yourself
optimally! Remember to be kind r ather than
r ight, and that ever yone is str uggling to do their
best under their ow n unique challenging
cir cumstances.
Johnson, S. (in r eview). Lessons in car e:
Tr iumph over tr auma and tr ibulation. Cape
Town: Amazon.
Shar on, Johnson, senior lectur er and
super visor at non-pr ofit higher education
Cor ner stone Institute in Cape Town, South
Afr ica, has a PhD (Psychology) fr om
Stellenbosch Univer sity, and has completed a
post-doctor al Fellowship (2016). She is
r egister ed as a counsellor with the Health
Pr ofessions Council of SA and r uns a
par t-time pr ivate pr actice. Her r esear ch and
facilitation focus is on str ess and bur nout of
teacher s and tr auma in schools. She has
been published inter nationally in jour nals
and academic books and is completing her
own books on car e of maltr eated youth in a
state institution and the development of a
teacher tr auma tool for schools on the
violent Cape Flats.
Contact details: [email protected].
w it h Zahr aa Schr oeder
w it h Dr Shar on Johnson
RELIGIOUS FELLOWSHIP WITH QUR?AN
This is not t o cr it icize your br ot her s who ar e in t his t ask of Qur ?an and not t o st ir t he vessel of envy by
displ aying super ior vir t ues.
For just as one of man's hands
cannot compete with the
other, neither can one of his
eyes criticize the other, nor his
tongue object to his ear, nor
his heart see his spirit 's shame.
Maybe each of them
completes the deficiencies of
the others, veils their faults,
assists their needs, and helps
them out in their duties.
Otherwise that existence of
human extinguishes, the spirit
escapes, and the substance
separates.
As the components of machinery in a factory cannot compete with another in rivalry, cannot take precedence over each other, cannot see each other?s faults criticizing disappointing in despair inertia. Perhaps with all their movements, they help lead each other?s motions to a common goal, they march towards the aim of their creation in virtual solidarity and unity. Should the slightest aggression or domination interfere; it would confuse that factory, leaving it useless, fruitless.
As stated in Risale-i Nur:
O Risale-i Nur pupils and the servants of Qur?an! You and we are the members of spiritual-soul worthy of the name such perfect human being. And we are under the components of a factory?s machinery which ends up eternal happiness within eternal life. And we are hands working on a dominical boat which will disembark the community of Muhammad (asm) at the Realm of peace, the shore of salvation. Absolutely we need and owe solidarity and true union gaining mystery of ikhlas the moral strength of one thousand one hundred and eleven gaining from four individuals.
Yes, if three alifs do not unite, they have the value of three. Whereas if they do unite through the mystery of
numbers they acquire the value of one hundred and eleven. When four times four remain apart they have a value of sixteen. But if, through the mystery of brotherhood and having a common goal and joint duty, they unite coming together shoulder to shoulder on a line, they have the strength and value of four thousand four hundred and forty-four. Just as numerous historical events testify that the moral strength and value of sixteen self-sacrificing brothers have been greater than that of four thousand.
The mystery of this mystery is that: Each member of a virtual and sincere union may see also with the eyes of the other brothers, and hear with their ears. As though each person of a true union of ten has the value and strength of seeing with twenty eyes, thinking with ten minds, hearing with twenty ears, and working with twenty hands
~ Naif Kara
Sakarya University Turkey
The Prophet Muhammad
(PBUH) was a revolutionist for
many oppressed groups of
people in the world, such as his
fight for equality for women and
people of colour. However one
of his most important, but
underappreciated fights, was
the fight for equality for the
disabled.
Disabled people for years have
been dealt with acts of
barbarism and oppression,
which our beloved Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH) saved.
The modern world only recently
accepted people with disabilities
and this acceptance only began
after our Prophet Muhammad
(PBUH) dispelled the
superstition and stigma that
were all attached to being
disabled. In earlier societies,
philosophers and law enforces
across the world were in strong
belief that disabilities were a
curse, a burden, bad luck and
even considered a punishment
on their people. Blatant neglect
and persecution were inflicted
on people with disabilities as it
was believed that having a child
with a disability was a curse on
the family, or a result of the
family?s sins. An example of this
can be seen in the laws of
ancient Sparta where babies
born with deformities were
killed to avoid ?weak? lineage, or
in African Traditional Religions
disabled people are kept in
isolation to avoid the
?disappointment? that the stigma
holds, or how in some Indian
cultures some ?deformed?
children are seen as Gods and
are subjected to a life of Godly
work.
After all the torture, neglect,
prejudice and bloodshed of
those who were simply born
differently, along came our
beloved, wise and merciful
prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
He fought and preached
redemption and equality for
disabled people, and dispelled
many myths and superstition
that enforced the oppression.
The most admirable quality of
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
was that he did not only preach
against injustice but he also
practiced what he preached. In
his fight against the injustice of
the disabled, he led by example
by showing mercy, compassion,
empathy and love.
Examples of such mercy and
love are when a woman that
was mentally defected said, ?O
messenger of Allah! I have a
need that I want you to meet?,
he responded, ?O mother of so
and so, choose the way you like
to walk, so that I may know your
need and meet it? (Muslim). This
shows proof of his humility and
patience when answering those
with special needs as we know
how disabled people are easily
ignored or how irritable one is
when dealing with disabled
people. It also shows that if the
greatest leader of our time
made time for disabled people,
who are we to turn them away?
Another beautiful example of
how Prophet Muahmmad
(PBUH) led by example is how
he had a disabled man as one of
his best friends, Julaybeeb.
Julaybeeb was a man who was
an outcast in Madina because
his family disowned him, he had
no known lineage and lived on
the streets all because he had
dwarfism, many deformities and
walked with much difficulty. The
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
would embrace him and play
with him despite the dirty looks
he got from people for doing so.
Once the sahabi were mocking
Julaybeeb?s legs and the Prophet
(PBUH) said that those legs will
enter paradise long before
them. The Prophet Muhammad
(PBUH) loved him so much that
he married him to the most
beautiful and noble woman of
the Asar and he also ended up
becoming a shaheed.
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
also ordered Umar Ibn Abdul
Aziz (RA) to ask rulers of all the
provinces to send him the
names of all those who are
blind, disabled and those living
with chronic illness.
Th e Pr oph et Muh ammad (PBUH) and di sabi l i t y .
Thus, institutions by Umayyad Abdul Malik were
created to provide regular allowances to all those
who were disabled because the prophet said no
one should beg. This brought back much needed
dignity and independence to the disabled people.
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) also visited sick
and disabled person. He not only prayed for them
constantly but also fulfilled any of their requests,
such as feeding them, reciting or making salaah in
their house. Much like when a woman came to the
prophet and said ?I have epileptic fits that, as a
result, causes parts of my body to be revealed,
pray to Allah for me? the Prophet replied, ?If you
will, have patience and paradise will be your
reward. And if you will I shall supplicate to Allah to
cure you?. He also taught the world that mockery
and isolation were wrong on all levels when he
said ?Cursed is he who leads a blind person away
from their path? (Al-Albani).
The prophet Muhammad (PBUH) revolutionised
and saved the lives of the physically and mentally
challenged, hundreds of years ago, by teaching
the world acceptance, love, mercy, sympathy,
humility and respect. If the hadeeth says ?Allah
looks neither your appearance nor your wealth,
rather he looks at your heart and good deeds?
(Muslim), then who are we to pass judgement?
Being a Muslim and physically disabled myself
and continuing to hear the horrific stories of
abuse and neglect of the disabled from around
the world, I am extremely grateful and proud to
say that my religion, my God and my Prophet, are
the best of examples and teachers.
~Dureyah Abrahams
WHO'S WHO IN THE WOOD?
mont hlyS C H E D U L E
4th Jum ua - Sheikh Dawood
11th Jum ua - Sheikh Tofa
18th Jum ua - Sh Abdur ahm aan Sal i e
25th Sheikh Tofa
25th Salaatu l Layl
27th Ghaatam ul Qur an
Adult Classes Available:
Monday: Quranic Lit eracy, Seerah, Beginners/Rever t
Tuesday: Inspirat ional Talk
Wednesday: Arabic, Hadeet h, Tafsir for Ladies
Thursday: Thik r , Housew ives (m ornings)
Fem ale Hif t h classes dur ing t he day:
Monday - Fr iday:
Nurul Quran Fem ale Hif t h Inst .
Boeta I sm ai l Basha
How long have you been in the ar ea?
5 years
What 's your favour i te food?
Don't have a favourite but likes bredies, curries and lots
What 's you favour i te spor t?
Rugby
What 's your favour i te team ?
All Blacks
What i s your favour i te book?
The Holy Quran
Role i n the com m uni ty?
To help and aid whenever I can to visit the sick.
Wher e did you gr ow up?
In District 6.
Advice to youth?
Tell your parents you love them and always be honest to them.
Feat ur edPer sonof t heMont h