OUR GUEST SPEAKER FOR THE HIGH TEA ON 21 DECEMBER 2013: JAMALUDEEN KHAN

Jamaaludeen Khan is dubbed as “Mr Social Media” and also “a modern-day philosopher of
sorts” [FinWeek magazine]. He is an internationally acclaimed Keynote Speaker, Trainer, and
Strategic Consultant. His passion is found at the nexus of Leadership and Online Technologies.
Jamaaludeen very uniquely combines his in-depth knowledge and background in technology
with psychology and human behaviour phenomena. For the last 14 years he has worked with
young adults, entrepreneurs, international corporations, as well as not-for-profit organisations
globally.

He talks regularly at business conferences and networking events, and has of particular note
presented at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) on several occasions, at
the Parliament of South Africa, and at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT).
He has spoken at conferences across South Africa alongside people from Google and other
brilliant minds. He has also trained for Rosebank College, an accredited national institution of
higher education.

He does a lot of charitable work for institutions such as the international learning institute
SeekersGuidance.org, the Muslim Judicial Council (MJC) South Africa, the Islamic Peace
College of South Africa (IPSA), Islamic Relief South Africa, and has also presented at the
Common Ground Church in Cape Town.

Jamaaludeen has a very extensive international media profile. In July 2013 he appeared in a
FinWeek magazine cover story relating to happiness in the workplace, an important topic in his
Leadership work. In April 2013 he featured on Cape Town TV and spoke about how Social
Media affects our youth. Also in 2013, The African Business Review interviewed him on Cloud
Computing in South Africa, and he was interviewed from Germany regarding Facebook. He has
appeared in the Cape Argus newspaper (Cape Town), the Sunday Tribune newspaper
(Durban), and in the nationally distributed Your Business magazine numerous times. He has
featured on radio stations VOC, Channel Islam International, and Radio Junto on several live
and recorded shows, and in local and international blogs and news websites.
He has a track record of leadership, innovation, and community roles since high school (1992-
1996), and has persevered in this direction throughout his young adulthood and into his
professional career.

He is an avid reader, and very keenly interested in Islamic Law and Spirituality. When he finds
the opportunity, he enjoys adventure sports as well.
Jamaaludeen is the Founder and CEO of Procliviti (Pty) Ltd, a Digital Leadership Agency
providing education and strategy products at the nexus of Leadership and Online
Technologies. 

5th EDITION NEWSLETTER/MAGAZINE AVAILABLE THIS WEEKEND!

PROPHET MUHAMMAD'S INSPIRATIONAL SAYINGS

Prophet Muhammad said, “Whoever has a female (daughter) under his guardianship, and he neither buries her alive, nor treats her with contempt, nor gives preference to his sons over her, God will admit him to paradise.” [Abu Dawud]

 

                                              

 

COMMENTARY: At first glance, this hadith may raise some eyebrows with its mention of burying daughters alive. However, we must read the hadith in its proper historical context. During the life of Prophet Muhammad in Arabia, the birth of a daughter was viewed as a burden on the family, as bad luck, and as a curse from the gods. Many families resorted to burying their newborn daughters alive in order to rid themselves of this perceived burden, bad luck and curse. Taking this historical context into account, this hadith and the overt prohibition of the slaying of children in any way, but particularly of girls in this manner, can be appreciated for its progressive tilt. Honor killings, forced marriages, or repression of women are all cultural aberrations, and are not derived from Islam or the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad in any way, shape or form. 

Not only is this hadith overtly progressive for its stance against infanticide, but it goes a step further in its revolutionary spirit. Prophet Muhammad stated that those parents who are entered into paradise will be those who treat their daughters and sons equally, without preference for one over the other. Again, for an era in which females were viewed as nothing but property and burdensome hindrances, this teaching of Prophet Muhammad is nothing short of avant-garde.
Islam has taught the males of this world how important it is for us to respect females, specifically our daughters. Islam ordered men to respect their daughters at a time when daughters were treated with such contempt that they were even buried alive. Sadly, even though the above teachings are more than 1,400 years old, female infanticide and genital mutilation is still widespread in some countries. Fetuses are aborted for no other reason other than for being a female. If a few Muslims mistreat their female family members, the pristine teachings of Islam should not be held responsible. Honor killings, forced marriages, or repression of women’s rights are cultural aberrations, not Islamic ones. Throughout his life, Prophet Muhammad truly displayed respect to females. 

MUHARRAM MUBARAK!

HIGH TEA- 21 DECEMBER 2013

A MESSAGE FROM SANDY SHELL (PROFESSOR SHELL'S WIFE)

 Message for Amina and Suraya and all at AN-NISA


I know Robert has written or will be writing but I am writing as well to try to express my (our) gratitude for your warm and generous welcome and hospitality at the Community Centre. We were astonished at the excellent turnout and at the warmth of our reception by all.

We were grateful for the kind help given by the gentleman who assisted with the digital projector and hung black cloth to try to block out some of the light to help the audience see the projection of Robert's work on the screen.

Thank you, too, for the totally unexpected, generous gifts showered upon us, especially for the beautifully framed and wrapped tribute to Robert regarding his existing work and the wish that he will continue to inspire as he has done for so many over the years.

Thank you, also, to the gentleman who prepared the delicious food with such care.

We enjoyed meeting the Imam - he and I were both born in Harare. I also know Malawi quite well and was fascinated by the mosque I discovered by chance on a visit to Nkhotakhota way back in 1976 (before the Imam was even born)! He remembers the mosque well. What a wonderful man.

We thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity of sharing the time with the community of Driftsands and were particularly impressed with the children, especially that remarkable little boy who produced such beautiful sung recitations. He has an incredible voice and memory for one so young.

Finally (and I am sure there are many other reasons I will think of as soon as I click the Send button) we enjoyed the delicious samoosas we bought at one of the stalls. I have eaten many samoosas over the years but never tasted any to touch these. Please thank and congratulate whoever made them.

Thank you again for your warmth and inclusive love. Yesterday was a very special day for us. We will never forget the Driftsands community.

We look forward to seeing you again soon.

with warmest wishes

Sandy

FOURTH NEWSLETTER NOW AVAILABLE: R10 PER COPY (AVAILABE AFTER THE FRIDAY DHIKR)

A MESSAGE FROM AN-NISA

21 SEPTEMBER 2013- NEXT EVENT

VENUE: DRIFTSANDS HALL
 NYAILA STREET, DRIFTSANDS

FRIENDS OF AN-NISA

Shukran to all who have assisted with the selling of our newsletters!

1.  Faldiela Wilson

2.  Badia Benjamin

3.  Lameez Lalkhen

4.  Ruwayda Barnes

5.  Gasnat Malan

6.  Ayub Mohammed

7.  Feroza Sait

8.  Rashaad Sait

9.  Feroza Adams

10.Zaahir Toefy

11.Maryam Patel

12.Tanwean Kazee

13.Zainu Terblanche

14.Sumaya Doutie

15.Mariam Sassman

16.Nuri Gamiet

17.Sarah Bardien

18.Shamiel Sait

19.Nadia Hoffman

20. Kashiefa Creighton Gallie

21.Fazlin Salie

22.Ruwayda Omar

23 Amina Adjiet

24.Suraya Adams

25.Widad Sirkotte-Kriel

26.Soraya de Bruyns

27.Aminah Patel

28.Faranaz Patel

29. Nafeesa Dalwai

30. Rashieda Noordien

RAMADAN MUBARAK!

ESSAY ON ESSENCE OF A WOMAN BY SAIMA NADKAR

Saima Nadkar

Islamia College

Group C Grade 11

Essence of a Woman

In an era of ocean and simple living, women were symbols of fertility. A woman’s beauty was considered to be her most defining factor and the more she had of it, the more favoured she was to be a carrier of important bloodlines. The world soon took a progressive turn with mud houses becoming sky scrapers and the women who once took orders, became the ones who gave orders. However, the primitive aspect that stated that beautiful women were wanted women remained intact, and with time that became known as the essence of a woman - a misguided concept indeed.

Although the need to be beautiful may be remnants of primal predisposition, a certain amount of blame needs to be imparted on the media for encouraging such mediocre thinking. From a young age, we (women) are brainwashed into thinking that the essence of a woman lies in how much attention she attracts. By the time we are old enough to understand otherwise, those values have been so deeply etched into our conscience that we forget that real beauty does not merely lay in what we look like from the outside, but rather the light of our being that radiates from the inside.

The sustainability of the world is dependent on women and it is that core of dependence that makes up the essence of a woman. She is the mother of future leaders. She is the inspiration behind great change. She is the caretaker of her family. She is the personification of love, affection and maternal protection. The world needs her, and it is not the reflection in the mirror that matters, but the eyes perceiving that reflection. When a woman fully realises her worth as an incumbent pillar of society, she will realise that she is beautiful in everything that she is.

The 20th century may have brought women into power and educated them to levels that surpassed initial expectations, but the pursuit for beauty struggles on. This will only change when the new generation of growing girls are exposed to the stories of great women rather than that of beautiful women, so that they may aspire towards greatness, a quality far more worth valuing than looks. If all women lived in the shadows of those such as Khadija (R.A), Fatima (R.A) andAsiya Bint Muzahim (Firaun's Wife), they would begin to see and feel the true essence of being a woman, and perhaps they would live more content lives.

It is not possible to simply change the way women think, but it is important that they remember, the essence of a woman lies not in looking beautiful but in being beautiful.

YOUTH COLUMNIST: SAIMA NADKAR

Assalamu Alaykum Gentle Readers!

(Peace be upon you)

AN-NISA

Welcomes its new

Youth Columnist

in our Newsletter/Magazine of September 2013

Welcome / Ahlan Wah Sahlan

Saima Nadkar

Grade 11 learner at Islamia College

Shukran for joining hands with us!

SCARF DISTRIBUTION UPDATE

SCARF DISTRIBUTION UPDATE 30.06.2013                                              200 SCARVES to Goodwood/Ruyterwacht                                              150 SCARVES to Mitchells Plain                                              100 SCARVES to Newfields 5.07.2013                                                  150 SCARVES  to Cravenby  (Whatever good you do, God is aware of it.'" - The Holy Quran, 2:215)