DAWAH WORKSHP- 29 MARCH 2014

THANKS TO E J LOMBARDI TRUST- ALHAMDULILLAH

THANKS TO ABSA - ALHAMDULILLAH

 

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!