A WOMAN IN AFGHANISTAN.

Afghanistan. The land of the Taliban: the land of much conflict. A place where the once mighty forces of Russia succumbed to the small but irresistable combatants in the hills. A place where, according to George W Bush, Al Qa-eeda terrorists found a safe hiding place, and a convenient springboard to launch their terrorist attacks against the western world. Especially in the wake of the 9/11 World Trade Centre disasters, George W Bush had a very powerful argument to get Congress to approve his requests for billions of U S Dollars to root out terrorism in all its forms. His search for WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION knew no boundaries, and the world shall not easily forget his policy of, "If you are not with us, you are against us!"

But amidst all the chaos and destruction that the former U S President has left in his wake, where do woman in Islam fit into this? What does the future hold for a woman in a land like Afghanistan?

I saw the other day one of the electorates, a lady by the name of Sima Matin appearing in Public. She had on , what looked like a scarf on her head, and a casual style of dress that was no where near to the conventional Hijaab or Purdah that is sometimes synonymous with Muslim women in Muslim countries. But what is expected of women as far as Islam is concerned. Can they be liberated in their dress code?

Looking at a woman from a male perspective, I would say that any beautiful woman who knows that she is beautiful, and also knows how to carry herself, does have an effect on any full-blooded male admirer. Especially if she reveals those body parts that has been proven through the ages to allure and seduce the opposite sex.

BARACK OBAMA AND THE NUCLEAR CRISIS

I listened to Barack Obama's speech on stopping Iran and Korea from continueing their nuclear weapons manufacturing , and, I felt somewhat disturbed in thinking how he would endeavour to bring an end to this stalemate, especially as far as Iran is concerned.

The western world has till this far managed to call a truce, albeit a tentative truce with one another concerning nuclear proliferation. However, Israel on the other hand wants to take out all the nuclear sites in Iran and, she has even called on some of the Arab states to help her in her quest.

Barack Obama has thus far managed to maintain his political dignity, unlike George W Bush , who, through sheer arrogance, or call it what you will , managed to incur the wrath of the world, by his infamous statement, "If you are not with us, you are against us! (sic) We shall then proceed to search for weapons of mass distruction in your country!

We all know what he has done to Iraq. Is a similar fate awaiting Iran? What do you think? Is Obama going to follow in his predecessors footsteps?

I sincerely hope not. But something needs to be done. Something soon. Iran insists she is not enriching uranium for nuclear weaponry. The western world does not agree. But where lies the answer?

NEWFIELDS MADRESSA . (bringing up the Youth) continued

Dear Reader
Assalamu alaykum was ragmat-Allahi wa barakatuh.
Once again we are indebted to the ALMIGHTY for having spared us to continue where we have left off. To continue teaching our Youth about ALLAH ALMIGHTY and HIS Divine Commands. And how fortunate we are to be the Followers of that illustrious Being, the one and only Muhammad(S.A.W). Let us then invoke ALLAH'S Blessings and Salutations upon him: Allahoema Sollie alaa Sayidinaa Muhammadin wa alaa aalie Sayidinaa Muhammadin wa Asgaabiehie wa baariek wa salliem.

Dear Reader, previously we asked the question, 'How do we convey the importance of Solaah to a child's mind?" How do we make the child understand that Solaah must be performed five times a day everyday, as well as weekends? And how do we discipline the child if he/she does not want to do it?

Ofcourse, there is no quick solution. But a starting point would be to involve the Parents. Remember, in most cases the child replicate the parents' life. If the Parent sets a good example, the child will follow. A childs first Madressa is his home where the Mother plays an instrumental role in the Islamic upbringing of the child.
So it stands to reason that the Parent must be equipped to at least teach the child the very basics about Islam. For instance: What do you say before you go to sleep? Answer: Ash Hadu Allah ilaa ha illalllah wa Ash Hadu annaa Muhammadu Rasul-Allah Sallallaahu alayhie wa sallam.
I bear witness that there is no other God but ALLAH and I bear witness that Muhammad (S.A.W)is HIS True Messenger.

The above is ofcourse part of the articles of Faith, or as otherwise known as the KALIMAH SHAHAADAH. No one can lay claim to being a Muslim if you have never uttered the above Kalimah at least once in your life.

Next: What do you say and do when you wake up in the morning? Answer: Algamdulillah hillathee agyaanaa ba' damaa ammatanaa wa ilayhien nushoor.
Praise be to ALLAH who has granted us Life after we have been dead (to the world) whilst we were asleep. After that we proceed with our personal hygiene, take WUDU and commence with FAJR Solaah.

It is imperative that the Parents familiarize themselves with the application of all the Solaah applicable to all the WAQTS. It is important that the child must see the Parent doing the Solaah physically, whether in the mosque or at home; preferrably in the mosque if there is one within walking distance.

The child must be made to understand that Solaah cannot be performed without Wudu , or in some instances where there is no water, Tayammum can be performed. But for now let us concentrate on Wudu and what makes wudu valid or invalid.

Wudu has seventeen Faraa-id (compulsory acts): 1) The Niyyah (intention). This is a compulsory item in any act of worship to ALLAH. Without the Niyyah there is no Ibaadah. It must also be understood that there are Sunnah articles as well. For instance: We start off our Wudu by saying: Nawaytu Sunnatan Wudu ie Lillahi ta Aalah.
I make intention to perform wudu starting with the Sunnah part of Wudu.

As you can see, dear Reader, we have only lightly scratched the surface and we are already running out of time.
Please support our cause of teaching our Young Generation about ALLAH ALMIGHTY and HIS Divine Commands and we feel sure that your reward genuinely lies with ALLAH ALMIGHTY. INSHA ALLAH.

Our Banking Details once again:
NEWFIELDS MADRESSA
Standard Bank
Parow Branch. Cape Town
SOUTH AFRICA
Account No. 072704764
Branch Code: 051001

The Chairman: Ismail Jabaar
Cell: 0731671561

The Secretary: Fatima Abrahams
Ph. (021) 6914090

The Treasurer: S Tambay
Ph. (021) 7065462

Newfields Madressa. Bringing up the Youth

Dear Reader
Assalamu alaykum wa ragmat Allahi wa barakatuh.
Once again it is our pleasure to greet you with the universal greeting of Peace and Blessings ,and, we pray that you are in the best of health, and that ALLAH ALMIGHTY is looking after you and yours. INSHA ALLAH.

We send Salutations to our Beloved Prophet Muhammed (S.A.W.)and we ask ALLAH to grant us all the strength and guidance to follow The Straight Path and to do only what pleases HIM.

Algamdu lillah. We say shukr to ALLAH ALMIGHTY for availing us the opportunity to communicate with you once again about what is important to our Youth ,and to share with you the wonderful advice our Beloved Prophet Muhammad(S.A.W) has given us concerning the upbringing of our Young Generation.

Rasulullahi(S.A.W) has said: "Teach your child to make Solaah when he is seven. Hit him when he does not want to do it at the age of ten."
We have dealt with the aspect of Solaah in a previous post; we have mentioned the FIVE DAILY PRAYERS and how a Muslim's life is governed by these acts of worship. However, to a child's mind Solaah may be only for adults, something you do only on special occasions. Not on weekends either.

But we clearly see from the above Hadeeth that Solaah is an integral part of a Muslim's life. Our Nabi Muhammad(S.A.W) would never have commanded us to hit our children if they did not want to make Solaah. He loved children too much.

So how do we go about in making the youngster understand that you cannot neglect your Solaah. Not for one day. Not event one Waqt! How do we get him to inculcate the observance of not only Solaah but other practices as well.

Newfields Madressa . The Importance of Belief.

Dear Reader
Assalamu alaykum waragmat-Allahi wa barakatuh.

We welcome you once again with the Universal Greeting of Peace and Blessings and we trust that you are enjoying the best of health through the Power and Grace of our ALMIGHTY ALLAH . Insha ALLAH.

We send Peace and Salutations to our Beloved Nabi Muhammad(S.A.W)and, we pray that ALLAH ALMIGHTY guide us all so that we may only do what pleases HIM.

Previously we have dealt with the aspect of Spirituality, and, we have asked the question: Can we live our lives away from ALLAH? Can we exist in this world without recognizing ALLAH ALMIGHTY?

Dear Reader, we would like to tell you the story about *Marwan (not his real name)and, why Spirituality is so important in all our lives.

Marwan was a seventeen year old boy who lived with his parents and two sisters in Plumstead, one of the more affluent areas of Cape Town, and, where each family kept to themselves.

Marwan attended a well-known high school, where emphasis was placed on A-Grade passes. Students who did not excell, or showed a propensity to complacency and laziness were not tolerated for very long. Either you towed the line or you were dealt with in a no-nonsense fashion. The parents would be called in; the student disciplined there and then and if the behaviour or attitude did not change in a given time, the child would be expelled. No one questioned the school's motives in turning out leadership material. The Parents paid too exhorbitant a fee for that.

Marwan was A-Grade material. His ambition was to become a nuclear physicist and his parents spared no expense in getting him all the extra curricula tuition they could get. Marwan did not disappoint them.

When he turned nineteen, he was already doing his honours in physics and the speculation was rife that he was going to complete his training at NASA in America, because his understanding of atomic structures and quantum physics was of a very high level.

He kept mostly to himself. He never attended Madressa or any institution where Islamic learning was offered. His parents allowed him his freedom to busy himself with his own devices. He was a good child.

His one sister, Galima, was his confidante. He loved her and she loved him. If he shared anything with any body it would be her. She was two years younger than him, but she acted as if she was older. You could not say anything bad about Marwan in front of her. She protected him from anything and everything.

Then Galima met Yusuf, the son of an Imam(Muslim Preacher), and the two fell madly in love.

At first Marwan did not pay much attention, because he knew Yusuf from his childhood. But as the affair became more serious, Marwan showed his animosity. He did not want to listen to reason. No matter how hard the parents tried to convince him that Galima had her own life, and, that it was wrong of him to hold onto her the way he did. Marwan refused to listen.Infact, the more they argued with him the more unreasonable he became.

Then one Sunday morning after they had attended a wedding ceremony the previous evening, they found Marwan hanging from a rope behind the bathroom door. His tongue was sticking out , and the sight was something the father would never forget for the rest of his life. On the floor, below the lifeless body lay a note addressed to the Parent. "Dear Dad." It read. Please do not judge me for what I've done. I know it is not what you expect from me. But I do not want to continue any longer." The old man was so shocked that he sank to his knees, clutching the suicide note in his trembling hand.

"I know that this is going to be extremely painful to you and to Mommy, and, to Galima and to Feroza, and, to everyone who knew me, but I cannot live a lie anymore.

The Father could hardly see the words through his tears, but something compelled him to read further.

"You see, Dad, you've always told me to believe in myself, and to persevere even if the odds were against me. And that is what I've done. I have achieved the A Passes that you and Mommy were so obsessed with. I have accumulated many distinctions that you forced me to obtain. I have endured many late nights that you and Mommy were so proud of. I have even sacrificed my leisure hours to please you, doing extra mural work. And for what dad? For what? My life feels so empty, because you and Mommy have set standards for me that makes me feel like a robot. I cannot do what I want to do, because you are forever breathing down my neck, making sure that I excell. Well, now you'll have to find another showpiece to parade to the family. I'm sick of it! Please tell Galima that I'm sorry that I've given her such a hard time, but this is not about her. It never was. I love her too much (as a sister) for that. I wish her and Yusuf all of the best.

Goodbye, Dad. I love you and Mom, and everyone. Please forgive me.

The whole family was cut to pieces, even his classmates at school were severely traumatised and many councilling sessions were needed to get them to accept what had happened. The mother and the Father were completely devastated.

Dear Reader, once again we urge you to support our cause of teaching our Youth about ALLAH ALMIGHTY and HIS Divine Commands.We can blame the Parents; we can blame
the school for putting too much pressure on the student. But in the final analysis,everything happens only with the WILL OF ALLAH.

You see, dear Reader, Galima remembered that Marwan once told her that he wondered what it would be like to be a madressa teacher, and what would happen if he should change his career plans. She had laughed and had told him that their parents would have a fit, and he would be a poor person for the rest of his life.

But Marwan must have had some inclination towards understanding the DEEN OF ISLAM. We would never know would we?

Our Banking details once again:
Newfields Madressa
Standard Bank
Parow Branch. Cape Town.
SOUTH AFRICA
Account No 072704764
Branch Code 051001

NEWFIELDS MADRESSA

Dear Reader
Assalamu alaykum wa ragmat-Allahi wa barakatuh.

Once more we welcome you with the Universal Greeting of Peace and Blessings, and we pray that ALLAH ALMIGHTY grant you good health and prosperity. INSHA ALLAH. We also pray that ALLAH shower His richest Blessings and Salutations upon our Beloved Nabi Muhammad(S.A.W) and that The ALMIGHTY guide us all and give us the strength to stand firm for Truth and Justice, and, do only what pleases Him. INSHA-ALLAH.

ALGAMDU LILLAH, we say a big Thank You to ALLAH for allowing us the great pleasure of witnessing the graduation of our pre-schoolers. We say SHUKRAN, O ALLAH! for sharing in their joy; their excitement for achieving this milestone. We also say another big Thank You, O ALLAH, for showing us that there is good in every person. That there is a sense of belonging in each one of us and that it just needs continuous nurturing and the results will speak for itself.

Dear Reader, ALGAMDU LILLAH, we have managed thus far to get our youngsters to understand the concept of the FIVE DAILY PRAYERS. We have impressed upon them that Solaah was the first Command that was made compulsory by ALLAH ALMIGHTY, and, it will also be the first FARD (compulsory ritual) to be accounted for on the DAY OF RECKONING.
health

However, as we all know, Solaah cannot be performed without Wudu. And, in the case of a female who has reached the stage of puberty, no Solaah is compulsary on her while she is menstruating. Likewise in the case of a male who has had an orgasm (either through marital coitus or wetdream), Solaah is not allowed until Ghusl is performed. But we also need to understand that there is a penalty for delaying Solaah uneccessarily. We need to know about the FOUR MATHAHIB i.e. Imam Malik; Imam Shafi ; Imam Abu Hanifah and Imam Ahmad Ibn Hambal. What influence did these four scholars have on the development of Islamic Jurisprudence?

As you can see, dear Reader, we have quite a task to inform the young minds of our Youth about the Beauty of Islam. We celebrate their achievements and we look forward to tutor them to the best of our ability.

But as we have said before we can only do so with your help. Please support our cause of teaching our Young Generation about ALLAH ALMIGHTY and His Divine Commands.

We thank you mopst sincerely.

Our banking details follows below.

NEWFIELDS MADRESSA

Dear Reader

Assalamu alaykum wa ragmat-Allahi wa barakatuh.

Once again, we the Newfields Madressa, welcome you with the Universal greeting of Peace and Blessing, and, once again we say a very big Thank You to ALLAH ALMIGHTY for having spared us with his Infinite Mercy and to be able to share with you more of our experiences concerning our Youth who needs our guidance and tutorship so desperately.

We also say Thank You to ALLAH ALMIGHTY for the presence of our Beloved Prophet Muhammed(S.A.W) who not only taught us about Solaah and how to cleanse ourselves(spritually), but showed us how to live exemplary lives in order to enjoy a healthy and harmonious existence.

Dear Reader, it is not our intention to shock you or sensationalise what is happening within our society. But it is our duty to teach Islam to all those who need it, and, if we have to highlight any particular aspect in our encounters with everyday life, then that is what we must do.

We begin this time with a story about *Layla(not her real name), a young girl of 14 who lives with her mother and father and a younger brother. They live in a wood and iron structure in the backyard of some good samaritan who took pity on them, because they slept in an old broken down car.

Layla does not go to school, and, neither does her little brother. They both spend their time going from door to door begging for food and whatever the mother and father send them to beg for. Sometimes the father writes a letter asking for R100 which he promises to repay as soon as he gets paid at his 'supposed' place of employment and anyone gullible enough to oblige him with the money can kiss it goodbye.

But once again there is a very sad twist to this sordid affair. Some unscrupulous male, seeing his opportunity with this young innocent child, provides the mother and father with whatever they ask for and takes the young girl into his bed. It is not long before she is pregnant and the parents, out of ignorance, or whatever goes through their corrupt minds gets the girl to a backroom abortionist.

The abortion is not successful and after a severe illness and unspeakable trauma, the girl dies. The mother and father now tries to swindle money out of the man responsible for getting her pregnant, because the one who performed the abortion has disappered without a trace.

Dear Reader. Please support our cause of teaching our youth about ALLAH ALMIGHTY and His Divine Commands. Please help us to help those who needs our guidance and tutorship so desperately.

We thank you very sincerely.

Our Banking details once again:

Newfields Madressa

Standard Bank
PAROW.
South Africa
Account no. 072704764
Branch Code: 051001

Signed: The Chairman.........Ismail Jabaar. Cell: 0731671561

The Secretary........Fatima Abrahams. (021) 6914090

The Treasurer........Shaheeda Tambay...021) 7065462