Whose Lie is it anyway?

 

Whose lie is it anyway. The lie will be perpetuated because the simple answer is “what can we do about it anyway” and a whole host of similar answers, none of which seeks to address the issue.
Muslims from South Africa were once again confronted with the disputed moonsighting issue. The relevance of this discussion is to point out that the overwhelming, if not basically everyone, have been captured and brainwashed. Indoctrination to the extent that even those striving for the truth cannot avoid themselves tainting the truth. For sure, I will be told that I should stay in my lane and leave this matter to the “Ulama” (scholars/learned). However, are you not allowed to ask for clarification or to be informed, educated and empowered with knowledge? Am I correct in saying that the geographical boundaries are man-made with the colonial past often having a bearing on it? Some questions that come to mind is whether the reliance on information from the astronomers influence the final outcome of moonsighting? Is that not somehow taking moon calculations into consideration which then opens the door for those who determine the start and end of a month by calculation? Is this not a case of being influenced by
“suggestion”? Are Muslims really divided such that two towns only a few kilometres apart don’t take the same verdict on the moonsighting, but one may take a verdict from a town more than 1000 kilometres away, just because they share the same geographical boundary. Yet these latter two towns have multiple, differing groups of Ulama, meaning that there is no accepted umbrella ulama body to which everyone subscribes and who has ultimate authority on religious matters in the country. Is this the unity you speak about? The problem is compounded when testimonies of moonsighting is accepted by one group and not another. There is no agreed upon authority to make a ruling, so what happens next?  There is the matter of unity but what exactly does it entail? Do man-made boundaries effectively solve the issue or is the issue bigger than that? Is a sighting from a neighbouring country void but that of a town, within your country, but a greater distance away from you, acceptable? Why is there a need for photographs of the sighting when a mere testimony, with witnesses, is required?
The moon issue is not going away in a hurry as you have seen for over the last forty years locally. How much importance should you attach to man-made boundaries? What defines the difference in region, is it language and culture? Does this apply to the general Muslim or is it the language (mother tongue) of the ulama. Does the difference in ruler play a role even though both rulers are non-Muslim or is it because two countries are Muslim minorities? The issue of testimonies not being accepted is now a recurring theme. Do Muslim moon-sighters incline to technology and trust it for guidance in this matter, and how much influence does it have over them? Is the moon issue your understanding of unity while you differ and even call out some of these learned people on other matters? There are so many more questions. Is rejected testimony a lie? The double-edged sword.
The matter must be discussed with the aim of learning and understanding. It must be discussed with the aim of developing as a community with ideal forums and structures. What impact has this issue had on you and in what are you keen to improve or see improvement?
 

You need to also read, share and comment:

https://capemuslimspeak.blogspot.com/2024/04/the-march-to-holy-land.html

 

https://capemuslimspeak.blogspot.com/2024/03/will-allah-save-aqsa.html

https://capemuslimspeak.blogspot.com/2024/03/bold-question.html

https://capemuslimspeak.blogspot.com/2024/03/ar-you-reading-from-wrong-script.html

https://capemuslimspeak.blogspot.com/2024/02/wars-and-scores.html

https://capemuslimspeak.blogspot.com/2024/01/why-its-trump.html

 

Samoosa - what you need to know

 

After the moon eventually was visible, Cape Town Muslims were already fasting. The other matters facing Muslims in Ramadan were paused until the moon saga was digested. Then the perennial debate whether Taraweeh is eight raka’at or twenty. Then there is the split on the samosa issue, whether it is totally unhealthy to even eat, while others opt for the air fryer and most just stick to the traditional, old school, oil. And the next question is about section 18A tax certificates for zakah.

Never a dull moment in Cape Town. All of the above has some reasoning, some good, some not so good but a blanket judgement call on any of the above issues is not necessary. Zakah is a compulsory obligation for the many Muslims that do fall in that bracket. Of course, you cannot cheat on what is due to Allah and therefore, in thinking good of others, you give the benefit of doubt to them in that they overall are not short-changing themselves in fulfilling their obligations. Where it may be blatantly clear that someone has “miscalculated” their zakah, then you may quietly advise them of their misunderstanding on the matter.

Health is an important component of your life. Very few can confidently say that they eat completely healthy but it is fair to caution those who over-indulge, be it in eating, or what they eat of unhealthy food. Eating natural is the first part of healthy eating, while halal has health and spiritual benefits. The samosa does not qualify as healthy but I am just saying.

Then the debate of 8 and 20. Khatam (full reading) or not. This debate I will leave to the ulama since some of them have firm views on the matter. Ultimately, Ramadan is the month of the Quran and that must be the focus of our discussions too. Many cannot read Quran while the first revealed word is “Iqra” (Read). So, in a way, this message is to reach out to them and encourage them to learn reading Quran and to remind them that it is never too late. You will so love the sweetness of its recitation from your own lips.

As day seven of this glorious month draws to a close, you know what you have accomplished so far and you know you can do that little more. Above all, how I would not love a dua from you. May Allah accept your intentions and good deeds.

 

click 👇 and read 

https://capemuslimspeak.blogspot.com/2023/03/the-setting-moon.html

Picture courtesy: https://halaal.recipes

CT Muslims - Tradition over everything

There is a right and there is a wrong and then there is a grey area. We have been given a way to discern things but do we do this as our lives evolve in its various aspects.

The many ways of doing things may lead to others not seeing  the benefit of one methodology over another. Many will see this blog only as criticism. The truth is that as Muslims we ought to think and ponder over things. Allah speaks much about the Bani Israeel in Quran and many will read it as mere stories or some may even use these ayaat to point a finger at the Jews. This sort of thinking causes us to fail to remind ourselves when we are drifting away from the laws of Allah because we have failed to realise our shortcomings.

Our community is one filled with tradition and, many-a-time, consumed by it. It is a fact that many times either tradition trumps the Islamic ruling or that at times tradition cannot be separated from the religious practices of the people. We either justify some actions or we avoid the topic in its entirety and we condemn the one for objecting to a certain practice or tradition as a madman. There must be a challenge out there for someone to write a book about the laws of Islam versus the many practices and traditions. Such a book that will shed light on the various matters and that we may all be better informed. Issues relating to birth, to marriage and to death and the very many others traditions and practices in between.

 Of the customs is to comment on religious issues either without knowledge on the subject or without the requisite proofs from Quran and Sunnah. Perhaps as a sign of dwindling respect for parents or perhaps people are better informed, but these days one hears less  "my father did so" or "my father said ..." which of course cannot be used of proof (of validity) in religious matters. The other interesting approach is to say that "my Sheikh/Mowlana/Imaam said ...". It may be that the listener did not fully listen the Imam and thus may have omitted something or the Imam may have passed on something without relating the proof or context. This is something that may cause as issue to be lost in translation or rather transmission. Thus it becomes difficult to present your argument, defense or become a proponent of an issue when you say "my imam said ...". Yet, our community life is driven by this concept. The difficulty is then that when there is disagreement, the argument is raised about "ulama bashing" when in fact it is merely a case of contextualising a ruling or correcting a transmitted statement.

The crux of the matter is whether we profess to be a vibrant Muslims community or whether we can attest to being that type of community. It is a question that we can ask and answer individually and collectively. There must be a benchmark though. Were we to made aware of actions and traditions that do not conform to the laws of Islam, will be discard them. We may at this stage deny that we actually have to come to this sort of analysis. There is an opportunity for us to do introspection and as issues are raised, we may find a way to analyse it and take the appropriate action.

May we of those who uphold the Quran and Sunnah and discard those practices that is not in sync with Islam.

And Allah knows Best