second newsletter of an-nisa

CONTENTS

March 2013 Issue

No 2

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An-nisa

nisa

KAREN

TAHIRAH

JAYES

New! Beautifully

Modest

Profiles

Health

through

Balance

OUR FIRST WINNERS!

Shanaaz Parker:

Appreciate the Wisdom in Eating

SUPPORT OUR ONE SCARF

COLLECTION DRIVE

AN-NISA | THE REVIVAL OF THE TRUE ESSENCE OF A MUSLIM WOMAN 2

03 Editor’s Note

04 Feature article : The Essence of a Woman

05 Pages from Cape Muslim History

06 One Woman’s Journey (Chapter 2)

07 Women, Law and Muslim Marriages

08 Food Column: Appreciate the Wisdom in

Eating

09 Health Column : Health through balance

10 A Muslimah

11 Arabic for Women

12 Beautifully Modest

13 ONE SCARF collection drive

14 Profiles, Events

15 Poetry

16 Goodbye

OUR NEXT COMPETITION !

(prizes and winners to be announced on radio!)

Your own one page article:

1. I appreciate the fact that I am a woman because… OR

2. One moment/one incident which changed my life

forever

Entries due by 1 April 2013

Email to:

[email protected]

CONTENTS (full colour version of newsletter available on our website from 1st March 2013, black and white print copies being sold @ R10,00 donation each to raise funds, please support!)

JOIN AN-NISA’S GOOGLE GROUP by e-mailing your details to: [email protected]

Competition Winners:

AYESHA MAHOMED NURAAN S NADEEM TAUHIRAH ADAMS SHAHEEDA SEDICK

SURAYA ADAMS

Enjoy your prizes!

mailto:[email protected]



Editor’s Note

AN-NISA - Empowering women through Knowledge and Spirituality

Bismillahir rahma nirrahim

“And (mention) when the angels said, ‘O Mary! Indeed God has chosen you, and purified

you, and has chosen you above all other women of the worlds. O Mary! Be devoutly

obedient to your Lord and prostrate and bow down with those who bow down (in prayer).’”

(Quran 3:42-43)

As Salamu Alaykum Dearest Readers

Alhamdullilah! The third month of 2013 already upon us and the summer holiday now just a memory. For many, in this part of the world, Christmas carols and trimmings are now also just a beautiful memory. We do however, still have a beautiful divine reminder. A reminder of the very special position of the mother of the Prophet Jesus / Esa (Peace be upon Him), Sayyidatuna Maryam/Mary. Yes, our Creator in the above revelation proclaims her to be the best woman amongst all humanity, whom He chose above all other women due to her piety and devotion. We also commemorated and celebrated the birthday of our beloved Prophet, Sayiddina Muhammad Rasulullah (May Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon Him) and especially here in our Mother City the sounds of salawaat/praises , fragrance of lemon leaves and rose water still linger in the air. A quick BIG SHUKRAN for attending our launch in Goodwood, your support at our first Kiddies Corner and promotion in January and our Book Collection drive (approximately 200 good quality books ready for delivery to the townships, thanks to you!) Now we are spreading more love, see our One Scarf Drive in this issue please. Yes, our first few stints on the radio airwaves and the cherry on the cake - our cover girl Karen Tahirah Jayes, now also our guest speaker! What more can we ask for? We are taking flight because of your support and our newsletter team is already spreading wings to the Eastern Cape . We welcome all our new columnists in this edition and appreciate all their efforts and enthusiasm. I personally think that most women are ready for change/a revival. Just look at women’s response! Alhamdullilah. We are still trying to find our feet and your love, support and patience, means the world. It was recently very heart warming to hear about one of our country’s wealthiest men, billionaire mining magnate Patrice Motsepe donating half of his family’s money to charity and especially poor children and women. Well done Mr Motsepe - another one spreading Light and understanding the purpose of life – to serve!

Say : “Verily my Lord enlarges and restricts the sustenance to such of His servants as He pleases

and nothing do ye spend in the least (in His Cause) but He replaces it : for He is the best of those

who grant Sustenance” (Q 34 : 39)

Enjoy Gentle Readers and Write to Us Please – xxx Amina Adjiet


The Essence of a Muslim Woman By Karen Tahirah Jayes

Karen Tahira Jayes won the 2009 PEN/Studzinski Literary Award and has recently published her first novel, For the Mercy of Water, with Penguin South Africa. She does manuscript evaluation and editing for a number of local publishers, and writes features stories for local magazines and newspapers. She also loves to teach.

I was working in London as an editor of a Middle Eastern based newspaper when I was first exposed to Islam. I didn’t go into the job with any preconceptions at all about Islam, and I was open to hearing many views. But what caught me and held me were the number of women who were politically and intellectually active in ways that were essential for their various causes. So my first notion of Muslim women was one of intellectual strength. I was working closely with a Muslim woman who was the daughter of a Libyan father and a Spanish mother, and who had been brought up in Muslim Spain. I was always impressed by her knowledge of politics and also her artistic and creative abilities, as well as her spirituality, which was not overt, but rather, modest. It formed a basis through which she interacted with the world in a way that was charming, discreet and warm. She was attractive, articulate, grounded. Overall, she portrayed for me a sense of balance, and through that balance I got the sense of a formidable wisdom.

These were my first encounters with the essence of women in Islam. Of course, I was exposed to the Western notions of women in Islam as being downtrodden and culturally bereft, but I was always well aware that these were the tragic side effects of countries and cultures torn apart by war, held in the vice of occupation, or gridlocked by outdated laws. For me being a Muslim woman means being constantly aware of Allah, and constantly remembering Him. This constant awareness feeds into every aspect of life, from dress to bringing up my children, to my relationships with other people and my work. I try to remember Allah (SWT) as non-gender specific, with infinite Compassion and Forgiveness for me as a woman, whenever I am faced with trials and tribulations, or when I am going through a process of spiritual purification, when Allah in His Mercy is bringing me back to the Right Path, or bettering my character. Following His Guidance is sometimes not always the path of the most ease, but with the firm belief in Allah’s Goodness, it is possible to conquer all obstacles. I try to keep this close to my heart. There is a strong sisterhood in Islam. The fact that women pray separately from men is for me a very special thing, something that underlines and strengthens the bond between women. I think it’s important that we as women love each other for our differences and diversity. In these things, lies strength and unity. Building better communities in Islam becomes easier this way, as does raising families and being successful wives and mothers. When you know you have other women who are negotiating the same trials with the same spiritual map, and the same challenges, it’s somehow easier. I see this togetherness and this spirit in the eyes of so many Muslim women in Cape Town. Purification is not an easy task, but as women, it is something that we are tasked to do, as equals with our brothers. It is humbly accepting the challenges Allah (SWT) puts in front of us, asking for His Help and Mercy in the way we negotiate them, and rejoicing in the modest femininity that we are borne with, which helps us on our way. If someone were to ask me what the essence of a Muslim woman is, I would say purity, purity of heart, so that it is easier to pass on true love to others, insh’Allah. Then I would say belief – belief and fear, and an ideal of humility, modesty and strength.

I am so grateful to be on this path. As a woman, it has made me feel safe, as if I can be strongly feminine: I am required to use my female strength, my nurturing nature and my intuition, to negotiate life. I’ve learned never to feel overwhelmed by anything. As long as Allah SWT is approving of me I can be victorious over all obstacles. May Allah assist us all with our lives and challenges, and may he not give us a burden bigger than we can handle, insh’Allah, so that it is easier to be with Him in the End. Ameen.x


PAGES FROM CAPE MUSLIM

HISTORY

(Written by SHAYKH YUSUF DA COSTA and the late

DR ACHMAT DAVIDS) - Amina Adjiet

Chapter 1 : The early Cape Muslims :Victims of European colonising activities in Asia and Africa )

“…it is one of the ironies of history that the colonial barbarism that swept Africa and Asia between the 15th and 19

th

centuries, and which brought largely unrecorded suffering to the peoples of these continents, was the direct cause of the earliest migration of Muslim peoples to the Cape. They came mainly against their will, forcibly removed from their families and their communities, and with nothing to their names but the cultural elements that they brought with them. One of these elements was the religion of Islam which they kept alive in spite of the hostile environment into which they came. It is through the courage and grit of these early Muslims that Islam was able to survive and later to become one of the most important religions of this country.” (pg 17).

This is a short but powerful summary of the thought provoking first chapter (which focuses mainly on the environments/areas of origin of Muslim immigrants from Africa and Asia). It gives a detailed exposition of the origin of early Cape Muslims. One is also given the opportunity to familiarise oneself with statistics, especially the conditions which prevailed prior to colonisation/European military conquests. Conquests which led to “the enslavement of millions of Afro-Asian peoples and the subsequent international slave trade…” . One shocking fact greets the reader too : “it has been estimated that Africa alone supplied some 20 million slaves over three centuries..” (pg 1).

Ch 2: In the footsteps of the Companions :Shaykh Yusuf of Macassar (1626 – 1699)

“On 2nd

April 1694 a ship, the de Voetboeg, arrived at the Cape from Ceylon. On board was a large group of Muslim exiles from the East Indies, 49 in all, who had kept closely together throughout the voyage. The main reason for their being on board was that one of them had dared to raise his voice and his weapons against the Dutch invasion of their country. His name was Shaykh Yusuf al-Taj al-Khalwati al-Maqasari, a person so feared by the Dutch that they sent him to the colony that was the furthest from the East Indies in order to break his resistance and to reduce his influence on his fellow countrymen.” (pg 19)

One can only try to imagine this historical journey, the climatic conditions, conditions on the ship, the duration of the journey, the emotional state of this small group which included women, two slave girls, children and twelve religious scholars, one of them the scholar and Sufi Saint, Shaykh Yusuf. The next discussion will focus on Shaykh Yusuf’s life and role in shaping the community of early Cape Muslims. Readers are encouraged to embark on a journey of self-discovery by reading this book. It definitely deserves a place on your bookshelf!

Food for thought: The time of legalised slavery is long gone, but it saddens one to see that so many of us remain in

“shackles”. We compromise our principles, our beliefs, our dignity, our integrity etc, to keep our modern day slave masters happy. After centuries of struggle, blood and tears, our Muslim women are occupying positions of power, climbing the corporate ladder and walking through doors which for many years remained closed. Many of us suffered, waited and prayed for this new, free generation of Muslim women. This book is indeed a reminder of our forefathers’ sacrifices and so we appeal to this generation of free women to please lead us with dignity and humility. The next generation of women will need a legacy, what will we offer them? There is no doubt, that this struggle continues today. We

have to keep this discussion alive – stay true to ourselves, always, please!

Let us all make the most of our journey, and more importantly, make it count!

(Obtain your own copy of the book by simply e-mailing orders to us or contact RUWAYDAH

OMAR @ 021) 696 0415 / 079 063 1354 - PURCHASE PRICE : R70,00)

Dr Yusuf da Costa’s postgraduate work has been in the fields of Environmental Cognition and the

Geography of Religion. His doctoral thesis is entitled Islam in Greater Cape Town: A study in the

Geography of Religion. He has written a number of papers for local and overseas journals on education and on

the aspects of the sociology and history of the Muslim community at the Cape.


ONE WOMAN’S JOURNEY

Nuraan S-Nadeem Part 2

I would like to break away from the story for a minute to add this: “ In traditional medicine there are Hakims or traditional doctors known as Simpletons or Mufaradaat in Arabic. Mufrad means singular. The indication of this medicine is that a single or simple treatment is administered to cure a complex disease. I'll give an example. A Hakim might advise a couple who is struggling to fall pregnant that each should eat a date/tamr a day. Just that- nothing else, no other modern medical treatment- and it has proven that they fall pregnant OR eating peaches in its season to keep your liver healthy. No cocktail of pharmaceutical drugs or complicated medical treatments or operations. So do I, regard reading simple books. So my next simple medicine was a book called The Alchemist. This simple message ( just as I found Islam to be no less a message than it is a medicine) was to follow your heart- cliché . And in my heart we already knew which seed was planted when I was young. The next read would now turn my world upside down (we are onto read 3 already). Strangely enough it was introduced to me by a non-practising Muslim. The medicine or what it did to me accompanied with the others that were still busy working, was lethal. It was The Secrets of Secrets by Abdul Qadir aGilani. With the power of this medicine I 'came out of the closet' in almost full force from being astray to now following my heart- that innate fitra. I was finally ready to be identified as a Muslim. I used the upcoming Ramadan to introduce a more conservative dress code- like we all do or did right?- except my change was here to stay, I prayed. I didn’t toss the stilettos, jeans, or costume jewellery- I just draped them differently. During this period I also raided my parents wallet to acquire more kosher clothing and finally, some head scarves. My rigid questioning and rebellion of before relating to mediocre cultural norms that did anything but feed my hunger or give me direction- was the very same rebellious nature that was now going to come in handy- for a better course though. I stuck out like a sore thumb amongst my fashionable friends and now needed to rebel the ways of old. So I begun to isolate myself from them slowly. But isolation without authorization is not healthy, especially on this path, so Allah gave me a female companion to take the first baby steps with on this journey while I was still unmarried. Still I wanted to find my Master/Guide and a people I could learn from. Just like the character in the book ( Allah preserve his secret), I felt the next step would be to make a hijrah. I needed to get away from my old environment in order to clean up, my soul.

TO BE CONTINUED IN OUR THIRD ISSUE….


Women, Law, and Muslim Marriages Hoodah Abrahams-Fayker

In a diverse society like South Africa there are many forms of relationships amongst people. Some enter into civil marriages; others enter into customary marriages, religious marriages, and same sex marriages; while others opt for domestic partnerships. However, the law does not recognise or protect all relationships.

At present, the law in South Africa does not recognise, nor protect religious marriages. When it comes to Islam, this means that when you marry according to Shari’a and you only perform a nikah, your marriage is not legally recognised. When a couple gets married according to Muslim Personal law, they are understood to have an unmarried status by the Department of Home Affairs.

This, more often than not, sees Muslim women discriminated against and marginalized when it comes to the dissolution of marriage, whether by death or divorce. Women are often left homeless; with no rights to a share of property in the spouse’s name, and no rights to claim spousal maintenance after the dissolution marriage. They are left socially vulnerable, and sometimes the victims of deep patterns of disadvantage. When it comes to dissolution of marriage, women married by civil law or in terms of African customary law enjoy more rights.

In 1999 the South African Law Commission appointed a Project Committee to draft legislation that would recognize and protect Muslim marriages. A Discussion Paper was then released in 2003, which proposed a draft Muslim Marriage Bill. After a long process of public consultation, submissions were received, mainly from Ulama institutions (Islamic clergy), human rights organisations and women’s rights organisations. No further action was taken till 2010 when the Department of Justice and Constitutional Department approved the Muslim Marriages Bill and invited comments.

Currently, women can only enforce their constitutional rights by litigating case by case. This requires a lot of time and money, which leaves those who cannot afford legal representation in the High Court excluded. It is only with the passing of a law that recognizes Muslim marriages that the protection of the socially marginalized can be ensured. The Bill will also provide a more holistic approach to governing Muslim marriages.

Hoodah Adams-Fayker is a senior attorney at the Women’s Legal Centre

Queries can be sent to: [email protected]



Appreciate the wisdom in

eating! Shanaaz Parker

In today’s busy life we seldom take the time to think and appreciate what we eat or drink. Eating our meals has become a chore, a feeding chore for some. We hardly take the time to taste and smell, let alone enjoy the abundance that is bestowed.

Let’s just pause for a moment, as you are about to start your meal. Sit still and before you start to eat your food, take a deep breath. Let your body and mind just settle down a little.

Now look down at your plate for a moment and appreciate the food. Give thanks!

Let your thoughts and imagination take hold of the moment, where did this food originate from, where was it grown, did it grow in a natural environment? What kinds of ingredients were added together to create what is in front of you?

Let your thoughts run through the process of the buying and selecting of the ingredients, deciding what to cook, the process of cooking in itself. For that moment, while you are about to eat, forget about what it is that must still be done, where you still need to go other than to appreciate what is on the plate.

Look at the textures, the colours, the many ingredients that have come together in harmony and in essence are in the plate, for this provides sustenance and growth to your body. If you are eating with a fork or your hands shift your focus and bring your attention to the smell of the food.

As you are about to bring the food to your mouth to get the taste of the first mouthful, just stop thinking and simply enjoy and respond to your body’s senses. How does it taste, is it sweet, sour or strong? Is the food hot or cold? Did I taste this before, do I like the taste? Become one with what you are doing and as you continue your meal you will start to enjoy the moment of eating.

You will find that you have enjoyed this experience and as you are clearing your plate, a different feeling will arise, savour that moment and give thanks for the appreciation of eating with wisdom.

We have become so disconnected and if we just apply a little mindfulness around what is on our plate we will lose the impatience of having to rush through our meal and feel the blessings!

Shanaaz Parker is a Gourmet and

Award Winning Recipe Book Author and Culinary Expert

Shanaaz Parker is a Gourmet chef and Award Winning Recipe Book Author inary Expert


Our Path to Allah (SWT) is through obedience to our Lord's decrees and adhering to the Sunnah of our Beloved Prophet (SAWS). We strive for this in many aspects of our lives; be it in our salaah, our schooling or the way we treat our parents and children. But what about our health and wellbeing? Our society is plagued by obesity, high blood pressure (hypertension) and diabetes to mention but a few. Abu Hurayrah (RA) narrates that The Prophet (SAWS) said: "There is no disease that Allah has created, except that He also has sent down its treatment" (Bukhari) We look towards our Prophet (SAW) for his advice and guidance with regards to this. Usamah ibn Shuraik (RA) narrated: "I came to the Prophet, peace be upon him, and found him with his companions. They were calm and serene as if there were birds over their heads. I greeted them and sat down. Then some Bedouins came from various places. They asked him: 'O Allah's Messenger! Should we seek medical treatment for our illnesses?' He replied: 'Yes, you should seek medical treatment, because Allah, the Exalted, has let no disease exist without providing for its cure, except for one ailment, namely, old age'." (Tirmidhi) We also need to realise that many of today’s diseases are related to the lifestyles which we choose to lead. Thus in our efforts to follow the Sunnah we need to open our minds to all avenues of medicine and realise the place of all branches of medicine so as to achieve a holistic approach to our health. In the words of Rashid Bhikha, "We encourage critical thinking". (Tibb- Traditional routes of Medicine, May 2001, pg 26) In this column we want to holistically discuss aspects of health – focusing on those issues affecting women, and including advice from various practitioners from different disciplines (Tibb medicine, Chinese Medicine, Western Medicine, Homeopathy etc). Topics that you, as the reader, can look forward to include Menopause, Stress, Breast and Cervix Cancers, Lifestyle diseases (Diabetes, High Blood Pressure), Dentally related problems and many more.

This column is for those who acknowledge that we are spiritual beings experiencing human life and that our healing will not be complete until we bring the sacred back into our daily lives.

by: Dr A’ishah Da Costa and Dr Latiefah Da Costa


A MUSLIMAH

(By imperfect

Muslimah)

A productive muslimah is one

who takes pride in being

a muslimah, she is focused on

preaching Islam through her

own practice. She loves Allah,

her focus in life is Allah's

pleasure, and she loves to do

things that bring her closer to

her Creator and Sustainer. Her

main concern is her success in

the Akhirah (Hereafter), thus

she makes the most of this

world as a means to achieve

that success.

Her Imaan is reflected through

her outward which is complete

submission to Sharia (Divine

law). She lives a simple life

taking care of her needs and not

going after her wants. She has a

heart free of love for this world,

free of love of leadership, free

of bad opinions about others,

free of grudges, malice, rancor,

greed, envy and all other evil

traits. Her tongue is not

engaged in haraam or vain talk,

she thinks before she speaks,

she controls her anger. She is a

humble person, her goal is to be

a better person every day of her

life; she doesn't hesitate to

admit when she is wrong and is

quick in correcting her

wrongs/faults when she sees

them. She is neither stingy nor

a spendthrift, but she loves to

spend generously for those

things which will bring her

closer to her Creator.

Her heart is clean and pure,

filled with love and reverence

for her Creator; love,

compassion, kindness, and

forgiveness for the creation.

She is full of gratitude for

every single blessing,

especially for the spiritual

blessings, and she is always

striving to progress spiritually.

She has complete trust and

reliance in Allah, when she

goes through difficult/disliked

situation she knows there is

good in it for her -- both in this

world and the next. She loves

to be in the company of

Saliheen (righteous slaves of

Allah). She strives to keep her

promises and commitments.

She is soft spoken but firm in

her words and works. She

always strives to be a part of

solution and not a part of

problem. She shows beautiful

patience during difficult times,

for she realises things could

have been worse, and that

these are tests from Allah

Who can be called upon and

He will answer the duas, and

she also has the certainty that

'with every difficulty there is

relief' (94: 6). She is a living

proof of what a muslimah

should be, and all this with the

utmost sincerity to please her

Almighty Lord.


DAILY AFFIRMATION

I am a woman:

Ana-m-ra-a-toen

All praise is due to Allah:

Al-ham-du-llilah:

Allah is my Lord:

Allah-hoo-Rabbi Interesting Fact: Arabic is the 5th most commonly spoken native language in the world. Arabic is the official

language of 22 countries and there are well over 300 million native speakers of the language.

The beauty of the Arabic language is that everything has a deeper meaning, and that includes terms of endearment. A

person isn’t just a part of your life, they are your life. A person isn’t your soul mate, they are your soul. A person isn’t

just a part of the years of your life, they are the years of your life. In Arabic, love isn’t just something that happens to

you, love becomes your life. You live and breathe love. You aren’t just in love, love becomes who you are.

Word Transliteration Pronunciation

Mother Oem-moen Oem

Grandmother Jad-datoen Jaddah

Daughter Bintoen Bint

Granddaughter Gafeedatoen Gafeedah

Sister Oekh-toen Oekht

For women


Rifqa Naidoo

(An-Nisa’s correspondent in PE is Post graduate student, BA Honours (Media Studies)

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University)

While doing some reading in preparation for this article, I stumbled upon a lovely text which my granny passed on to me as a birthday gift, Don’t Be Sad (2002) by Aaidh ibn Abdullah al-Qarni. For those of you who are familiar with this, you will know it is not a novel as much as it is a book of motivational supplications. I was asked to write an article targeted at the revival of the true essence of a Muslim woman and naturally with this comes the challenges we face in the post modern-era. In seeking motivation, I found this small chapter entitled “Take care of your outside as well as of your inside” (al-

Qarni, 2002) and I find this to be very relevant to women. We, Muslim women, are constantly represented as oppressed as we chose to wear a veil to cover our heads or because we cover up in our dress. My intention here is not to make an apology for Hijab in Islam, but more to promote the concept of individuality and identity among young women as well as encourage creativity, sophistication and class through keeping it covered.

The term “fashion” within the context of Islam can be very misleading and while I do not want to encourage you to shop till you drop or keep up with the latest trends you can still add colour, print and texture to traditional styles of hijab.

This column will explore how one can re-invent your cupboard to make it hijab friendly. It will also hold interviews with young women to learn what hijab means to them, why they wear it and why it is even more important in the 21st century.

Remember this is a two-way street; the same care you exercise on the outside must be accompanied with care for the inside, by keeping your heart pure with acts of kindness. “Islam has taken the greatest care to protect the woman more than the man, hence the requirements for her to dress modestly and to act gracefully at all times” (Ansari, 1970).

Since we live in an ever-evolving world, every so often our faith gets tested by our desires, the desire to be noticed, and the resulting satisfaction of compliments and admiration. Beware of the shadow of modernism, strive to be noticed for your outstanding character rather than your physical attributes. We can still maintain our sense of individuality by finding a balance between modernity and modesty.

“Women's modesty generally increases with their

beauty.”.~ Friedrich Nietzsche~

http://www.searchquotes.com/quotation/Women%27s_modesty_generally_increases_with_their_beauty./8575/

http://www.searchquotes.com/quotation/Women%27s_modesty_generally_increases_with_their_beauty./8575/


An-Nisa (the women’s forum of Naqshbandi Muhammadi SA)

sincerely appeals to all to support its drive to collect 1000 scarves

for distribution to the poor during the month of Ramadaan 2013.

Collection bags will be available at weekly dhikrs from mid-February

2013. Please feel free to arrange your own collection bag for appeals

to family, friends and colleagues.

ONE SCARF many of us have one spare one in our cupboard gathering dust, share it, spread a little love

and joy, choose to make a difference!

AN-NISA (empowering women through knowledge and spirituality

and aspiring to Revive the True Essence of a Muslim Woman)


Gaalimah Terblanche is a quiet but confident grade 10

pupil at Al-Azhar High School who lives in Maitland. This is a 15 year old teenager who would love to see teenagers’ issues being dealt with in our newsletter and so offered to scout for information during her free time. She also attends dhikrs in Ashton on a monthly basis and her message to An-Nisa’s newsletter to please “address issues with practical solutions!”

– We can only try Gaalimah xx Editor

Aunty Faaiqa Kriel (humbly requested not to be photographed). She is 67 years young

and still going strong, keeping busy with township community work: teachers’ workshops at Stegman Road, and dhikrs every Sunday in Phillippi. She says that “Muslim women need to educate themselves so that they can uplift themselves and set a good example for their children.” Also they need familiarise themselves with the Janazah practical procedure which I am hoping to start in the new year Insh-Allah” And her message to An-Nisa : “Keep up the good work!” Contact Details: 021-6921460/ 0748053805

- Keep on inspiring us Aunty Faaiqa! xx Editor

Rayda Jacobs @ launch

Storytime @ Kiddies Corner :

Bazaar

Suraya Adams : Promotion table @Bazaar


Simply faithful By Mogamat Faiz Jardine

Why does the whole world not know you?

Is it a disguise?

See they not the wings you have – the peace within your eyes?

Feel they not the love you spread – with smiled sincerity

The unassuming selflessness and plain humility?

Know they not the certitude inscribed upon your heart:

To be the least, yet care the most, your adab from the start.

Too many people search to know through why’s and how’s and who’s.

In books obscure they lose themselves between what’s false and what is true

Perhaps one day they’ll learn from you that life’s a simple path

Of gratitude and patience with His Mercy and His Wrath…

Dedicated to the memory of my dearest mother, the late

Zuleigha Jardine

May Allah grant her Jannatul-Firdous, Ameen.

There's this woman...

By Razia Ahmed (UK)

There is this woman who wakes up with Allah's name;

She does not seek the life of this world, nor glory nor

fame.

She keeps her gaze onto the ground,

People whisper and stare - they think she's unaware.

They laugh at her coverings and her simpleness;

Whilst she is more than happy in her gracefulness.

There is this woman who is ever ready to forgive,

Because she understands for Allah she dies and lives.

She uses her intelligence;

And spends her money carefully and welcomes the

poor and hates extravagance.

People think she's crazy,

But one thing for sure this woman is not lazy.

When her family have gone to sleep,

In the third part of the night, does she pray and weep.

There is this woman who has this such beautiful soul,

For she knows that each day draws closer to her

ultimate goal.

Because she refrains from idle chat,

People think she is strange and she's like a doormat.

There is this woman, who shows others by example to

be kind,

And amongst many she is the best friend anyone could

ever find.

Who never lets you down,

And by her kind words will wipe away your frown.

This woman seeks no gratitude from others,

For she cares for all people like her own sisters and

brothers.

There is this woman who gives charity in secret and no

one knows;

Apart from Allah who helps her Imaan grow.

She is always happy and ever content,

The trials and tribulations are sent,

But she knows this simply elevates her rank,

In Allah's eyes (and of course He knows best) and to

Him she expresses her thanks.

There’s a woman who takes Allah as her best friend,

From all such evils she mentions His name to ward off

and defend.

When times become so hard, she is not bitter and

depressed,

She thinks and still praises Allah and thinks how she

can be the best.

Better than yesterday,

And tomorrow, better than today - she strives for to

pass this test.

There’s this woman.... and this woman I pray I become

one day (inshaa'Allah)


Words of Wisdom…..

Fee-Amaanillah / Goodbye Gentle Travellers!


AYESHA MAHOMED NURAAN S NADEEM TAUHIRAH ADAMS SHAHEEDA SEDICK SORAYA ADAMS

Enjoy your book prize!


AYESHA MAHOMED NURAAN S NADEEM TAUHIRAH ADAMS SHAHEEDA SEDICK SORAYA ADAMS

Enjoy your book prize!

● ● ●

“There is complete equality between the genders with regard to what God Almighty bestows on them as a consequence of righteous deeds. They are rewarded for their actions independent of gender. Thus, with the exception of prophethood, women can reach with men the highest level of spiritual development.” - Shaykh Yusuf

● ● ●

If a person is granted real faith – neither distance nor darkness nor huge mountains can block his view – his light penetrates…

………..

We must try to be for others more than for ourselves. It is acceptable if we live for ourselves as well as for others, but it is the lowest acceptable level. To sacrifice ourselves for others is the highest level, the level of all the prophets

………..

You must be ambassadors of light, goodness and contentment in God. In this way you may fulfil your true purpose – God’s purpose for your lives – and reach your destinations, otherwise you may lose yourself like a wanderer in a vast desert with no compass and no map. Keep these words with you wherever you go and they should show you the way.

…………….

Respect of the divine nature in man leads to familiarity between people, and familiarity opens the way to love, and all love belongs to our Lord.

Shaykh Nazim

“….. Much of your pain is self-chosen. It is the bitter potion by which the physician within you heals your sick self. Therefore trust the physician, and drink his remedy in silence and tranquillity: For his hand, though heavy and hard, is guided by the tender hand of the Unseen, And the cup he brings, though it burn your lips, has been fashioned of the clay which the Potter has moistened with His own sacred tears.”

― Kahlil Gibran

Whoever works righteousness, man or woman, and has faith, verily to him We will give a new life that is good and pure, and We will bestow on such their reward according to the best of their actions. (Q16:97)

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6466154.Kahlil_Gibran

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