Ramadaan Message 2010
Ramadaan is the month when Believers all around the world exert themselves in Ibadah with the sole purpose of pleasing Allah and Allah alone. Ramadaan gives believers the opportunity to spiritually cleanse themselves and strengthen their Imaan. Once again Muslims will spend many hours in the mosques making Ibadah, reciting the glorious Quran and performing Taraweeg. The mosque will be a place where we will gather everyday to praise Allah and encourage one another to worship Allah and Allah alone. For this month, especially, the mosque plays a central role as believers seek closeness to Allah. Our Sheikhs and Imaams plead with the congregations to follow Alllah’s commands and the examples of our beloved prophets.
In Sura Tauba Verse 18, we read:
“The Mosques of Allah shall be maintained only by those who believe in Allah and the Last Day; perform As-Salaah, and give Zakaah and fear none but Allah, It is they who are expected to be on true guidance.”
Our question: Who are those believers that Allah is referring to in this verse? They are Muttaqqin; those who uphold truth and Justice, even if it is against themselves, their own communities, or their own Flesh and Blood. Believers who are involved in affairs of the community, who strive hard to assist men women and children that are suffering. A Muttaqqi is ready to sacrifice everything, every luxury he/she possesses they will give up for Allah and Allah alone!
Allah prescribes criteria in the Quran to those believers who want to be part of Mosque committees or the management committees of mosques. They MUST uphold the sanctity and the sacred space that they voluntarily chose to maintain.
We, as Muslims, continuously ask ourselves why the Ummah of Rasullulah is in the state it finds itself in. Why are there so many social evils and injustices? How can we as a Ummah grow and stand united if the very space that we are meant to use to spread the word of ALLAH during the month of Ramadaan and for the rest of the year is being controlled and managed by people who do not fit the criteria as set out in the Holy Quran. We want all Believers to take responsibility for the state of the Ummah. The Mimbar is a sacred space in the mosque and is being violated right before our eyes. How long are we going to allow this to continue?
Let us make the niyyah this Ramadaan to root out all sources of corruption and injustices and let us take stock during the month of Ramadaan to measure our progress in the fight towards a just social order.
We make dua that Allah gives us the strength and guidance to assist the poor, the orphan, the destitute and the parents who are crying out for help. We make dua for the PAGAD brothers that are in prison and that Allah accepts their duas and reunite them with their families. May Allah reward them for the sacrifices they have made over the last 12 years.
PAGAD wishes all Muslims a blessed month of Ramadaan. May this holy month of Ramadaan inspire us all to rekindle the spirit of sacrifice and be obedient and the servants of ALLAH and ALLAH alone, Insha-Allah.
Ramadaan Mubarak!
The Mosques of Allah shall be maintained only by those who believe in Allah and the Last Day; perform As-Salaah, and give Zakaah and fear none but Allah, It is they who are expected to be on true guidance. ~ Al Quran: Surah 9 Verse 1
Pre-Khutbah Talk: Eid-ul-Fitr 2009
The day of Eid must be a day of reflection for us. It is a day to consider whether we have made maximum use of the month of Ramadaan, and to set targets for ourselves on what we believe we would do better if we are still alive the next time Ramadaan comes along.
It is also a good day to contemplate what we want and need to do between now and the next Ramadaan.
Last year, we were fortunate to have Brother Abdus-Salaam address us soon after his release from prison, and this year we are fortunate to have Brother Mogammad Adams lead the salaah for us. We would have liked to have Abdus-Salaam address us again today, but those in authority have denied him permission to speak here today.
They have also denied him permission to be here with us today. So much effort is made by the various state departments to monitor and police PAGAD, that one would think that the law enforcement agencies have nothing else to do. But the fact that Abdus-Salaam is not allowed to be here must not separate us from him.
We are also not going to let this kind of action by the state take our focus away from the struggle to rid our society from the evil of drugs that is around us. Let us join our hearts this morning and journey through some of the issues facing us.
We are under siege as a community. We are surrounded by drug dealers. We have criminals in every little corner of our existence. Our children are being sucked into this situation. We need to respond. We need to have dynamic plans. We need to be prepared to sacrifice some of our comforts to achieve the peace that has eluded us. But it cannot happen if we do not adopt an attitude of sacrifice. The attitude that should have been sharpened in this month of Ramadaan that has just passed by.
Allah SWT says in Surah 9 Tauba Verse 38:
” O you who believe! What is the matter with you, that when you are asked to go forth in the cause of Allah, you cling heavily to the earth? Do you prefer the life of this world to the Aakhirah? But little is the comfort of this life as compared to the Aakhirah…”
These are the words of Allah (SWT) to those who believe. To us. I must ask myself the question and I am urging all of you to ask this question as you journey through the year. In which category do I fall.
And also in Surah 9 Verse 1, Allah (SWT) urges us,
“Go you forth, whether equipped lightly or heavily, and struggle with your goods and your persons, in the cause of Allah. That is best for you, if you but knew.”
Last year, on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, Abdus-Salaam announced that PAGAD will move and organize slightly differently by setting up branches in various areas. Algamdu-Lillah, some branches have been formed, and are progressing extremely well.
We recently accepted an invitation from COSATU to participate in a program where all the role players constructively contribute towards reclaiming our streets from the criminals. The PAGAD position was very well received and supported by most of those that attended the first meeting. We are eagerly awaiting the follow-up meetings where the base is to be broadened and the group goes over to decisive action.
We have told the participants there and we are asking you today too, to be vigilant that the objective must remain the total eradication of drug dealers and criminals. We do not want to bring crime under control, we want to eliminate it. In supporting this initiative, we have sounded out a clear message that we are prepared to work with all those who oppose criminals. Representatives of trade unions, business sector, SAPS, the City of Cape Town and the Province as well as rehab centers were there. Politicians were to be briefed by COSATU and were set to join in the next stage. PAGAD put it to the meeting that even if organizations differ on how to tackle the problem, we must not fight each other on this issue because only the drug dealers benefit and our children suffer. We urged people to accept nothing less than closing the tap of drugs completely.
However, we have to say too, that some time has passed now since that meeting and there have been no further progress in that direction. We cannot afford such inactivity. We see that since then, some police officers have taken violent action against PAGAD members. We are mindful that some may want to use this as an excuse to exclude PAGAD from the initiative, but we remain committed to act as a unit against the criminals. We also see that the province has launched a new anti-crime initiative with what is called a multi-pronged approach to crime. It is alarming that effective policing is the second last point on the list. Many items surrounding treatment of the effects of crime is addressed, but the counter attack against the source of crime is unfortunately sadly lacking.
PAGAD is continuing its process of building branches, slowly but surely. This is certainly something that you can participate in. When you are deciding on your level of participation, think of verse 38 in Surah 9 Tauba:
“O you who believe! What is the matter with you, that when you are asked to go forth in the cause of Allah, you cling heavily to the earth? Do you prefer the life of this world to the Aakhirah? But little is the comfort of this life as compared to the Aakhirah.”
We are not going to have the attitude of sitting back and blaming others for the lawlessness in our midst. We are affected, our children are affected and therefore we have to do something about the situation. Regarding the COSATU and drug initiative, if the other parties drag their feet for too long, we will go it alone, as we have done it before, but then, the people who witness this must stand up and be counted when PAGAD is accused of doing things by themselves and taking the law into their own hands. We cannot stand idly by while our children are killed and their future is wiped out in front of our eyes.
We also know that when things get hot for the dealers, some politicians and religious leaders tend to ask for calm in the name of democracy and rule of law. We need them to do something when our children are raped and killed. Then we need the rule of law. When they are in charge of the city, they tell us their hands are tied because the authority lies with the province. When they are in charge of the province, they tell us their hands are tied because authority lies with National. We are sick of the excuses. We don’t want more toothless plans. We want a plan that gets rid of the dealer. We must also insist on our right to protest against the drug dealers at a time that suits us and maintain the element of surprise. The law requires that we must have permission to get together to protest. Permission to show the dealers we have had enough. Permission and at least 7 days notice to get together when our children suffer. Think about it and you will realise that something must change. And that something is this implementation of this law. We must insist on our right to protest. To take to the streets to tell the dealer to get out!
Now before you start talking yourself out of taking action – by letting the fear of harm overshadow your sense to do what is right, I have a duty to remind you and myself about Surah 9 Verse 51 where Allah SWT encourages the believer to say:
“Nothing will happen to us except that which Allah has decreed for us: He is our Protector” and on Allah let the Believers put their trust.”
Finally, remember that if someone tells you that a system is a reason why you cannot get on with getting rid of the criminal that is killing your child, then there is something wrong with the system. We confirm our right to defend ourselves and our children. This is not a call to lawlessness but a call to implement rules that benefit communities and defend the defenseless.
The question I want you to ask yourself, honestly and sincerely, each time you are invited to action in this PAGAD program until the next Ramadaan, is the question that Allah SWT puts to mankind in Surah 9 Verse 38:
“Do you prefer the life of this world to the Aakhirah? But little is the comfort of this life as compared to the Aakhirah.”
Eid Mubarak!
