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No 2
Profiles
nisa
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!)
03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Editors Note Feature article : The Essence of a Woman Pages from Cape Muslim History One Womans Journey (Chapter 2) Women, Law and Muslim Marriages Food Column: Appreciate the Wisdom in Eating Health Column : Health through balance A Muslimah Arabic for Women Beautifully Modest ONE SCARF collection drive Profiles, Events Poetry 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: An2nisa@gmail.com
Competition Winners:
AYESHA MAHOMED NURAAN S NADEEM TAUHIRAH ADAMS SHAHEEDA SEDICK SURAYA ADAMS
Editors Note
I was working in London as an editor of a Middle Eastern based newspaper when I was first exposed to Islam. I didnt 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the tragic side effects of countries and cultures torn apart by war, held in the vice of occupation, or gridlocked by outdated laws.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 Allahs 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 its 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, its 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, inshAllah. 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. Ive 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, inshAllah, so that it is easier to be with Him in the End. Ameen.x AN-NISA | THE REVIVAL OF THE TRUE ESSENCE OF A MUSLIM WOMAN 4
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 15 and 19 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).
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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).
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 Costas 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.
Hoodah Adams-Fayker is a senior attorney at the Womens Legal Centre Queries can be sent to: info@wlce.co.za
by: Dr Aishah Da Costa and Dr Latiefah Da Costa 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 todays 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.
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.
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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
For women
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 isnt just a part of your life, they are your life. A person isnt your soul mate, they are your soul. A person isnt just a part of the years of your life, they are the years of your life. In Arabic, love isnt just something that happens to you, love becomes your life. You live and breathe love. You arent just in love, love becomes who you are.
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Rifqa Naidoo
(An-Nisas correspondent in PE is Post graduate student, BA Honours (Media Studies) Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University)
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An-Nisa
(the womens 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)
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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 -
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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 whys and hows and whos. In books obscure they lose themselves between whats false and what is true Perhaps one day theyll learn from you that lifes a simple path Of gratitude and patience with His Mercy and His Wrath
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Words of Wisdom..
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 Gods 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
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
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
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)