The Freezer is Full

You must throw stones. You must pelt the devil. While it is a ritual of the pilgrimage, often you must do it figuratively in your daily action. The freezers are full. Ramadan expos are in full supply. I often wondered whether they actually teach the subject of fasting at these expos. But there is money to be made by the exhibiters and there is plenty to buy at these events. And the freezers are full.

Food is in full supply and the masajid (plural of masjid meaning mosque) are far less in capacity for those extra prayers wherein the recitation of Quran are rendered. Am I throwing stones? One thing is for sure and that is that it is such an important time to reflect. It is not difficult at all to see our shortcomings and little you are inclined to the religion beyond the bare necessity. Praise be to Allah that people are able to earn their sustenance and it is not a reflection on them that your food needs are great. The rule must be cast over the various aspects of your life, then you will know the report card already. Assuming you do not cut out the feasting in Ramadan, but you, in fact, increase your acts of worship so that your worship by far overshadows your full freezer, then the spiritual scale will register a heavy weight. Of course, health wise, it may be better that you eat less, but the emphasis must be firstly on your increase in acts of worship.

I am no learned person, but you and I have heard it enough that the desired outcome of fasting is to learn self-restraint, to increase in Allah-consciousness. So, as I see you reflect and pelting the demon in you, so that you can work a little harder to benefit from this month of fasting, I take lesson from it for myself. The freezer is full as if your heart is in the freezer too, frozen and unable to fill itself with the blessings of Ramadan. Admittedly, Muslims are more giving in Ramadan. And I don’t want to be throwing stones, but I think you also realise that you have to throw that figurative stone to relieve you of that demon inside. That demon that is preventing you from get maximum benefit from this glorious month. And your non-Muslim acquaintances, neighbours and colleagues are already all aware of how full your freezer is. Now, you just need to properly explain what Ramadan is, what you do during the month and that you don’t really have a chance to eat too much at night because you attend the tarawih (night prayer) every night.

Focusing on the freezer being full is reason enough to cast that stone. It might well be a stone or two from a weight perspective too. Importantly, a stone to dispel myths, a stone to slay the dragon, a stone to create proper focus, a stone to relieve the weight on your shoulders. You are content even if the freezer was not full.

 

Also click and read https://capemuslimspeak.blogspot.com/2023/03/suicide-at-cape.html

Suicide at the Cape

 

The ticking clock will one day cease to add that one last tick. And so too will your heartbeat come to an end. But by time, man is lost. Running around, mostly in delusion and confusion. What will make you realise that these are ingredients for disaster? It can possibly be a disaster for you alone or it may have bigger, more intense, consequences.

Suicide is a notable concern in our community, albeit not as pronounced as in society at large. Allow me to digress, for a moment, to glance at the Muslim community from Cape Town. You will get so many varied responses to the question of what people, Muslim people, see when they look at Muslims and Islam in Cape Town. In these answers, you find the level of faith, level of intellect and level of education, both Islamic and otherwise, displayed. In short, it is the determining factor for where we find ourselves collectively and it is our scorecard. Suicide is a double-edged sword. It is a sensitive topic and best not to delve in too deeply on a mere blog. Those unaffected will not really get to understand while those affected have the opportunity to channel those emotions and experiences into positivity. Positivity to help themselves by improving their own lives. Positivity to encourage others to explore and adopt solutions that will benefit them overall.

When addressing the issue, be reminded that the Muslim community should not be judged, by themselves or others, as an exemplary society. The answers to a cursory glance of Muslim at the Cape will confirm that. To be blunt, there is much good at the Cape, but you will struggle with real solutions if you think it as exemplary. You must be prepared to change much of your thoughts, ideas and academic knowledge. You grew up here, and evolved every bit here, as part of this community and as such raised by this community. A community that also imported and inculcated everything, or nearly everything, that it was given. A community that had the opportunity to be exemplary, was really following. Today the topic is suicide, and everyone looks at the physical death of a person. The solution is beyond that view. Now, to start the journey to the real solution, ask too about those who live amongst us but are spiritually dead. Look at those who live mechanically only, but the heart does not beat with “Laa ilaaha illallah” – There is no God to worship but Allah. Then look at a solution from that point of view – the view of Laa ilaaha illallah. Unlearn the concepts from the academia, from society, from the “norm” and adopt solutions based on the kalimah (testimony of faith).

The system under which you live is a constraint and itself a noose around your neck. The system of Allah is the system that is all-encompassing.

And another person is buried and you don't know the unwritten inscription the tombstone.

I'm only telling you

Being aware of your speech

You all heard of the saying “silence is golden”, yet silence is generally perceived as anti-social. Watch how awkward people are in quiet moments. They start babbling for the sake of babbling, saying nothing meaningful. Or maybe it is meaningful if their utterances do impact on others and, you know, it is mostly negative. Good stories are boring and hard to tell. Only stories tellers with the gift of embellishment get to turn a boring story into excitement, but then mainly because there are some lies added in. Well lies have become the slip of the tongue for the majority. “I didn’t mean it like that” is an oft-repeated refrain when badmouthing innocence.

But what if you make a good thing sound like a bad thing: “Did you hear …” and then the ears are piqued for the juicy bit to follow. That opening line piques the interest. What is the purpose of mentioning something, in that tone, when it is neither illegal, nor unlawful? It simple creates a sentiment that what is to follow is so wrong. “His wife just died 3 months ago, and he is married again. How can he?”. “I don’t know what really happened, but they are divorced? Wonder what happened there?” “How can she marry such an old guy? His children are almost as old as her”. This is how divorce gets stigmatised, so too polygyny, so to age differences between spouses and so many other matters. If the matter concerns you, then it just right to engage those involved. But to mention this in a company of people with no direct link to such issues, is to create unnecessary restlessness. This further leads to matters of religion overridden by folklore because some auntie or uncle has an opinion other than that of the religion.

When you speak and utter statements that conflict with the sharee’ah, then know and understand it is a transgression. When the other party has done no wrong, then to sit in judgement of that decision, while not directly involved, is a serious problem. Is it that you judge something and comment such that you cast aspersion on the religion and open Islam up for unnecessary criticism? If what transpired between people is permissible, then why the tone and connotation when relating the matter? Why relate the matter at all, especially if you are not soliciting a good prayer for these people that you so harshly speak about. There is no private meeting or group where you are free from the All-seeing Allah.

If you say things to cast aspersion on Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, or his companions, his wives or the religion in general, then can you look forward to meeting him on the day of reckoning? Really, think before you say things about permissible matters as if you think it is wrong.

We pray for guidance and understanding.

 

 

Is appearance of Dajjal near?

We live in extraordinary times. Some might even suspect that Dajjal (the antichrist) has appeared or we are living in a time extremely close to his appearance. The discussion on Dajjal must surely be had, the sooner the better.

We have lived through 15 months of a lockdown as a result of, what the World Health Organisation called, a pandemic. This too needs further discussion, but the events have progressed to the stage of “vaccinations” and this needs your immediate attention. We have to call a spade a spade. There are two types of drugs, viz legal drugs and illegal drugs (with tik, dagga, lsd and mandrax but a few). Then the legal drugs have its own levels from ‘over the counter’ (OTC) to a range of prescription drugs. It is common cause that there is a drug problem starting with people experimenting with drugs, including using legal drugs obtained illegally. Any self-respecting parent, older sibling, and teacher (and others) will warn youngsters off experimenting with drugs. Drugs are harmful in many ways. Yet, there is an experimental drug, virtually being forced on the population. What is this drug. It is illegal except under emergency Use authorisation (EUA). It is illegal because it has not gone through all the required processes of testing. It failed horribly when it was tested on animals. It is quite normal to be tested on animals. Specifically, in the Pfizer “vaccine” animal testing, all the animals died within two years. But you say “the covid vaccine was only produced in 2020”. We will assume that to be correct and therefore it is the quickest any vaccine has been produced and brought to “market”.

Now, the time and space does not allow me to go into the mechanics of the vaccine. I will post that in a day or two. What is important to know is that this “vaccine” is unlike what we know as traditional vaccines which adds to the issue of experimentation. There are many expected effects from to these “vaccines”, but the full extent is unknown and will take years to establish, assuming too that the subjects of these “vaccines” live that long. Even if this was a traditional vaccine, it will take at least four years before it will be able to be authorised as a vaccine. Now, just a hint on these vaccines: it uses mRNA and transgene technology (details to follow in another post). These vaccines are currently on trial until 2023 which means that those who take it are effectively lab rats. Furthermore, the ingredients have not been made known and the manufacturers can withhold this information until after the trial period (2023) ends. This means that you have no idea whether they are injecting you with a poison or anything  which is potentially more harmful than SARS COV2. This is what is meant by experimenting with drugs.

Now, you will claim that the experts and influential people have endorsed this. You will then have to ask on what basis did they endorse then ”vaccines” when the trial period is still on and no further detailed information is available about these “vaccines”. I have no financial interest in any side of this but am merely that person “who comes from the furthest side of the city and offers sincere advice and ask for no reward in return”. If you therefore still encourage your family and friends to take these “vaccines”, then know that you will not be able to blame your “leaders” on the Day of Reckoning because someone suffered adverse effects from the “vaccine”. You were given sincere advice.

To put the cherry on top, these pharmaceutical companies, have so much faith in their products that they accept NO liability for ANY adverse effect suffered as a result of vaccination. I will leave it to you to decide on their ethics. Remember, if you allow them this leeway, then allow the same leeway if someone knocks your car and drives away. It is about ethics, right?

The choice is yours.

 You may also wanted to read:

Critical Thinkers: Experimental Program (wokethinking.blogspot.com)

Calling on the Ulama

 

Assalam alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh

I have a question/s for the ulama ..

Dear Sheikh, Mowlana, Mufti and Imam,

You have taken advice from experts and implemented protocols inside the masjid. The protocols are deemed emergency protocols and does not conform to the sunnah, but as you say, that the situation requires it. Furthermore, the deaths by "covid" are buried in plastic bags even after the Undertakers took advice that it was not necessary. You, in agreement with government, limit attendees at funerals. Generally, you do not shake hands and even from among you, you elbow shake and there's no hugging. There is no visiting the sick even though Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said in an authentic hadith that it is the right of Muslim over another Muslim that he, when he is sick, is visited by his brother. The limited numbers for jumu’ah also prevent many from attending where, an estimated 60% of males are unable to attend. - This is all to save lives as per the experts' advice.

Please, can your experts advise how long this will continue?

Can your experts advise whether this will impact on the understanding of the sunnah practice, meaning, when all is said and done and we "return to normal", will the practice of shoulder to shoulder in salah be adhered to and many other practices. The question is what impact does these protocols have on the psyche of the human such that they don't revert to sunnah? Can your experts advise on that?

Can your experts advise on the impact of families not visiting each other and by extension drift apart and as such family ties are severed? The further impact is the difference of opinion on the protocols between family members with those who live in fear, banning their family, friends and neighbours from coming even close to their front gate.

Can your experts advise on those Muslims who were denied entry into the masjid, what impact it had on their eemaan?

Can your experts advise, whether jumu’ah will be considered an occasional visit much like many Christians occasionally attending church, while at a time that was their only connection with the masjid? What is the psychological impact of these protocols?

And another month of Ramadan when the majority (last year it was just about everyone) will be denied listening to Khatam of Quran during taraweeh. How does the denial of getting this blessing impact the psyche of a Muslim? When I first wrote this, the hope was still that there will be a full khatm but it seems to be discouraged. How are we holding onto this rope of Allah when the masajid  are not vibrating with the recitation of the full Quran?

The question is whether these protocols will become the norm? If not the norm, will remnants of these protocols remain? If not physically, will these protocols have an impact psychology? If it does have an impact psychologically, will it have an impact spiritually?

What about our children? These are their most impressionable years, yet they have been removed from the community, from the masajid and so much more? How long before they lose their eemaan (and we pray Allah protects them and us).

The argument presented is that there are zoom classes and lectures. Is Islam only for those who are economically able to do this? Is Islam only for those who can technologically able to do this?

Are we living through a period where the deen is changed, essentially because these lockdowns and protocols appear to have no end? At what point do you tell government enough is enough?

 

This list is by no means exhaustive, but these questions need to be addressed publicly to a community in need of having a forum with the ‘Ulama.

 

 

In Support of Women

This message is not about being perfect myself - but rather acknowledging that the one who created me is perfect - Allah, the Most High. Thus His laws are perfect.


I cannot squarely lay the blame for the abuse of women at the doorstep of government - indeed that'll be easy. As Muslims we have to take much responsibility - collectively. We have not made da'wah to the majority of South Africans. As we have been reminded countless times, that the early Muslims did not make da'wah by preaching, rather they did it by their actions and character. However, were we to do introspection then we do not find Islam in action except in little signs - whereas we claim Islam to be a way of life. Our Islam is sometimes judged by our foods - as in the type and quality - not even the fact that Muslims eat only halal.

The issue of late has been the abuse of women with rapes and murders on the increase. Muslims, by my understanding, ought to be the vanguards of society. The main issue currently is security and safety, especially of women. Now, you need to hear me out: The two issues are, firstly, that we have not influenced society in any way - not even an iota of the early Muslims but rather we have followed their, the non-Muslim way of life. Secondly, we have become apologetic about our deen while men are no longer the overseers of women. Women have become independent in virtually every walk of life and thus we have let our guard down and thrown our women to the monsters. Some will argue that " it is my right and I can dress and walk where I want ..." while the guidelines of the One who is Perfect are ignored. This is not a debate rather it is a cry for help - that you and I return to Quran and Sunnah and emulate our illustrious leaders. The next argument is that "this is the 21st century", etc ... while no one disputes that, do we not believe that our deen is for always and that the lessons from Quran is for always.


Our dresscode, our haircuts, our eating at doubtful places, our earnings ... our high divorce rate .. our high number of single/unmarried women ... mocking those who have beards .. mocking those women who are correctly covered ... the understanding of mahram and non-mahram .. the encouragement to do haram (like going to clubs - fornication) - I was shocked when someone - Muslim (in their early twenty's) said to me that they don't know of anyone (meaning Muslim) who is unmarried who hasn't had sex.

I therefore believe that we will be questioned as to the state that we live in having not called to the good and forbidden the evil ... we are in a state of heedlessness. We cannot put our trust in a government that promotes much that is haram. We cannot put our trust in Allah when we have shunned His Book.
We need to return to Allah and then place our trust in Him.

and Allah knows Best

We pray that Allah guides and protects us all

Call to Faith

The current noise being made around the call for prayer is unfounded in a community that has practiced it for 100 years and more in Cape Town, and 1400 years globally. We respect religious freedom - laws cannot be a stumbling block to practicing our basics - the right to worship. We worship in peace and our call the prayer is one of calling to God's greatness and to success.