The Sanctity of the Masjid and Jumua
Much has been said about the actions of PAGAD members at at Masjid-ul-Quds in Gatesville while Ebrahim Rasool was giving a pre-khutbah talk during Jumua on 23 July 2010. There is no fundamental dispute regarding the chain of events on the day and hence there is no need for clarification in that respect. However, the sanctity of the masjid and more so the sacred period and platform of Jumua, is the issue that needs to be discussed and clarified.
The position of PAGAD is quite simple. The platform of Jumua in the Masjid must be used to guide the Muslims and encourage us to implement the laws of Allah (SWT) in our daily lives. While this can be done in innovative ways, it has to be done by people who are themselves convinced that the way of Allah is indeed the right way. Masjid committees are violating the sanctity of the Jumua platform if they allow people who violate the laws of Allah in their execution of the daily tasks to speak on the Jumua platform.
There are instances in the history of the illustrious companions of the prophet (SAW), where people interrupted them while they were delivering their khutbah. These companions were people of exceptional caliber and the interruptions were not deemed to be a violation of Jumua. Ebrahim Rasool however, consistently and willfully violates the laws of Allah. How can an attempt to stop him from abusing the mimbar be deemed to be a violation of Jumua?
Violate the laws of Allah (SWT) you ask?
Ebrahim Rasool was Provincial Minister of health (1994 to 1998) when the Termination of Pregnancy Act legalized abortion and was rolled out in the Western Cape. He claimed it was a decision made at national level, but he chose to stay in the job and authorize the killing of the innocent unborn children in the wombs of the mothers. The law has made it easier for people to kill their unborn children. This is in direct contrast with the instruction of Allah(SWT) but Ebrahim Rasool continues to defend this legislation.
Ebrahim Rasool was Provincial Minister of Finance (2001 to 2004) when amendments to the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Act were passed. This amendment effectively put R40million into the pockets of the shareholders of Grand West Casino. In May 2008, he also addressed a gathering at Grand West Casino on the occasion of the listing of the holding company on the JSE and encouraged others to invest.
Ebrahim Rasool was Premier (2004 to 2008) when the Western Cape Liquor Bill was passed in March 2007. He boasted on radio talk shows that he was the architect of the legislation and still defends the legislation. Bear in mind that the shebeens were all illegal before the bill. After the bill, at least 8000 of them can operate legally.
He has shown a clear pattern of conduct. If and when he has to choose between the law of Allah(SWT) and the law of his boss, he chooses the law of his boss. He defends it and he convinces others around him that the law of Allah can be put aside and the law of his boss must prevail. He uses the language and terminology of Islam to take people away from Allah(SWT). His mission is unfortunately rubber stamped by misguided individuals who hold public office seemingly on the prospect of reaping advantages for themselves.
Those who allow Ebrahim Rasool to speak on a Jumua platform after knowing these facts are clearly the ones who violate the sanctity of Jumua.
There are those who say that we must be tolerant because we live in a secular society. Our response is simple. We will not tolerate a shebeen in a masjid, even if it exists in a secular society and therefore we will not tolerate those who legalise shebeens to abuse the sanctity of our masjid.
It seems as if he had been conveniently positioned in jobs to neutralize the obvious opposition that would come from Muslims during the initial implementation of these laws. What can we expect from his next appointment? Does the boss now want to use him to legitimize a fresh attack on Muslim resistance that Rasool has already labeled as extremists? We hope we are wrong in this regard.
Ebrahim Rasool was however correct in one of his recent responses. PAGAD’s opposition is not to him alone. He is really insignificant in the bigger picture. Muslims have the responsibility to maintain the sanctity of the Jumua platform and therefore cannot allow anyone who violates the laws of Allah to use that platform. If we do not do this, we will pave the way for child molesters, drug dealers and gays to be the next candidates to pollute our minds during the sacred period. Are we also going to be told that we are violating the sanctity of the masjid when we eject these culprits from the masjid. Maybe in this world, but not in the hereafter.
“If we do not do this, we will pave the way for child molesters, drug dealers and gays to be the next candidates to pollute our minds during the sacred period..”
Some of our Other Comments & Views
