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A Japanese Woman's Experience of Hijab
By Nakata Khaula
-------------------
When I returned to Islam, the religion of our inborn nature, a fierce debate raged about girls observing the Hijab at schools in France. It still does. The majority, it seemed, thought that wearing the head-scarf was contrary to the principle that public -that is state-funded - schools should be neutral with regard to religion. Even as a non-Muslim, I could not understand why there was such a fuss over such a small thing as a scarf on a Muslim student's head.

Muslims contributed a proportionate amount of tax to the state funds. In my opinion, schools could respect religious beliefs and practices of students as long as they did not disrupt the school routine, nor pose a threat to discipline. However, the French faced, apparently, increasing unemployment and they felt insecure about the immigration of Arab workers. The sight of the Hijab in their towns and schools aggravated such insecurity.

It is clear that what is acceptable to be bared in society varies according to societal or individual understanding. For example, in Japan fifty years ago it was considered vulgar to swim in a swimming suit but now bikinis are the norm. If, however, a woman swam topless she would be regarded as shameless. To go topless on the south coast of France, however, is the norm. On some beaches in America, nudists lie as naked as the day they were born. If a nudist were to ask a `liberated' female who rejects the Hijab why she still covers her bosoms and hips which are as natural as her hands and face could she give an honest answer?

The definition of what part of a woman’s body should remain private to her is altered to suit the whims and fancies of either men or their surrogates, the so-called feminists. But in Islam we have no such problems: Allah has defined what may and may not be bared, and we follow. read more

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In this issue: • The Message • Latest news • Funerals • Recipe • Programme Schedule • Dua • Fiqh • Muslim Names • Health Tip • Handy Hint • The Smile • The Thought Salaah Times Zawaal (Today): (12:16 - 12:21 JHB) - (12:04 - 12:09 DBN) - (12:54 - 12:59 CT) Asr: (17:00 JHB) - (16:55 DBN) - (17:51 CT) Maghrib (Today): (19:08 JHB) - (19:04 DBN) - (20:01 CT) Esha: (20:34 JHB) - (20:35 DBN) - (21:43 CT) Sehri Ends/Fajr begins (Tomorrow): (3.57am JHB) - (3:27am DBN) - (3:59am CT) Sunrise (Tomorrow): (5.25am JHB) - (5:06am DBN) - (4.05 am CT) FINANCIALS US (USD) 7.32 Rand UK Pound (GBP) 14.15 Euro (EUR) 9.47 India Rupee (INR) 0.16 Gold price: ZAR 4490.82 ($US 613.50 ) per ounce Silver R3.61per gram Rand/Riyal R1.92 Pakistan Ruppee 0.11 Rand/Bangladeshi Taka R 0.10 Oil $52.80 Mah'r Fatimi: R5528.38 Minimum Mah'r: R110.56 Zakaah Nisaab: R2211.35 Krugerrand: R4656.87	THE MESSAGE A Japanese Woman's Experience of Hijab By Nakata Khaula ------------------- When I returned to Islam, the religion of our inborn nature, a fierce debate raged about girls observing the Hijab at schools in France. It still does. The majority, it seemed, thought that wearing the head-scarf was contrary to the principle that public -that is state-funded - schools should be neutral with regard to religion. Even as a non-Muslim, I could not understand why there was such a fuss over such a small thing as a scarf on a Muslim student's head. Muslims contributed a proportionate amount of tax to the state funds. In my opinion, schools could respect religious beliefs and practices of students as long as they did not disrupt the school routine, nor pose a threat to discipline. However, the French faced, apparently, increasing unemployment and they felt insecure about the immigration of Arab workers. The sight of the Hijab in their towns and schools aggravated such insecurity. It is clear that what is acceptable to be bared in society varies according to societal or individual understanding. For example, in Japan fifty years ago it was considered vulgar to swim in a swimming suit but now bikinis are the norm. If, however, a woman swam topless she would be regarded as shameless. To go topless on the south coast of France, however, is the norm. On some beaches in America, nudists lie as naked as the day they were born. If a nudist were to ask a `liberated' female who rejects the Hijab why she still covers her bosoms and hips which are as natural as her hands and face could she give an honest answer? The definition of what part of a woman’s body should remain private to her is altered to suit the whims and fancies of either men or their surrogates, the so-called feminists. But in Islam we have no such problems: Allah has defined what may and may not be bared, and we follow. read more
NEWS A senior US official says that none of the three top Al-Qaeda suspects in Somalia sought by the United States were killed in a US air strike this week in the south of the country. Clan elders and residents in the bombed region close to the Kenyan border have reported about 100 people killed but said they have so far accounted for 29 bodies, some burned beyond recognition, in more than one air strike. Bosnia says that it has revoked the citizenships granted to 330 people, including Islamic "holy warriors" who fought alongside local Muslims in the country's brutal 1992-1995 war. The head of a commission tasked with reviewing citizenships, Vjekoslav Vukovic, says that the majority of them are from African and Asian countries including the Middle East. Among those who lost their citizenships were people who obtained the status during and after the inter-ethnic war "illegally, since conditions were not met and needed documents were not supplied. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice warned Iran that the United States won't "stand idly by" if Tehran tries to disrupt Washington's renewed effort to stabilize Iraq. Speaking hours after US troops raided Iran's consulate in the northern Iraqi city of Arbil and arrested five employees, Rice said Washington was determined to crack down on Iran's "regional aggression". She also declined in three television interviews to rule out US military action against Iran, which she and Bush accused of supporting anti-US insurgents and "terrorists" in Iraq and of trying to develop nuclear weapons. Residents of Marlboro in Johannesburg -- seeking a high court interdict after their homes were expropriated for the Gautrain project -- reached a settlement at the city's high court. The residents were unhappy about the compensation they were to receive for their homes. The settlement reached does not resolve the issue of compensation, which will be determined by arbitration. The settlement stipulates that government will finance the resident's accommodation until the arbitration process concludes. The deadline for the process is the end of April. The residents were also unhappy with the time they were given to vacate their homes. A charge of genocide has been laid against Treatment Action Campaign head Zackie Achmat at the International Criminal Court. In the 59-page criminal complaint in the court in The Hague, Netherlands, Achmat is accused of promoting the provision and use of antiretroviral drugs to treat HIV. The charge was laid by Cape Town advocate Anthony Brink of the Treatment Information Group (TIG). Brink admitted that he received funding from a foundation set up by the controversial Dr Matthias Rath, who favours vitamins for the treatment of Aids. FUNERALS NIL
A THOUGHT In a Hadith Qudsi Allah has ordered the Dunya (world) that, "Those who run after you, run away from them. Cheat them and fool them saying to them, `I am yours. Come, come.' And they will be busy with you running after you all the time. But never give any treasure to them. Keep them wandering, keep them in pain, keep the mind suffering and keep them running after you. Any minute, any second they turn away from you and they turn their faces towards Me then put all the treasures under their feet." DUA (PRAYER) FOR AN EASY DEATH ALLAHUMMA AINNY ALAA GHAMARAUTIL MAUT WA SAKARAUTIL MAUT O Allah! Help me against the severity of death and from the pangs of death. FIQH (ISLAMIC JURISPRUDENCE) SALAAH (PRAYER) THE TIMES OF SALAAH Maghrib (evening) Salaah Once the sun sets, Maghrib time commences. Maghrib time remains as long as the redness on the western horizon remains. However, Maghrib Salaah should not be delayed to the extent that many stars begin to appear in the sky. To delay it till such a time is Makrooh. MUSLIM NAMES BOYS Aalif Compassionate. Affectionate. Azzaam Variant of Azzam: Determined. Resolved. Bahaadur Variant of Bahadur: Brave. Bold. GIRLS Baleegha Variant of Baligha: Eloquent. Lasting. Fadilah Virtuous. Outstanding. Superior. Cultured and refined. Ghaniyah Pretty girl. Beautiful woman. Beauty. HEALTH TIP By Rashid Abass Exercise MUST form a part of your daily regimen whether you are 10, 50 or 100 years old: There are several types of mild exercises which require absolutely NO hectic activity. There are audio programmes available where the speaker guides you through very mild stretching and breathing motions over 45 minutes. If this is done without being disturbed in a quiet area of the house, limbs and various internal body organs are stimulated gently and this often leads to a good night’s sleep as well. As fit as I am, I still feel and enjoy the benefit of such exercise! HANDY HINT Take inventory. Make an honest assessment of what’s in your closet. Remove any garments that need mending or cleaning and don’t put them back until broken zippers are repaired, missing buttons are replaced, or stains are removed. Garments that have faded or lost their shape need to go too, as do shoes that are uncomfortable, beyond polishing, or merely unappealing.	RECIPE MELT IN YOUR MOUTH SHORTBREAD 1 Cup Butter Softened –Whip for ten mins and then stir in ½ cup Icing sugar and ¼ cup maziena. Add 1 ½ cups flour. Beat again for 1 minute and on high for 2 minutes. Drop tblsps onto baking tray, Leave space between drops. Bake at 180c for 12 mins- allow to cool before transferring onto wire racks.
	PROGRAMME SCHEDULE 6h00 Qiraat 6h15 Intro & Zikr 6h35 Daily Message 7h00 News Yaseen 7h10 Yaseen 7h25 Tafseer 7h40 Series 7h45 Interview - Current Affairs + Headlines + Market Update 8h00 News 8h05 Middle east affairs with Abie Dawjee 8h30 Current Issues 8h45 Q & A + Guidance for Muslim Women 9h00 News 9h05 Current Issues 9h30 Nasiha 9h45 40 Duroods 10h05 General 10h30 Quran, juz a day 11h30 Dua for the ill - Nikah announcements - Surah Kahf 12h15 Jumuah 13h30 Butterfly Corner 14h00 Iqra’ (read) 14h30 Quran Translation 14h45 History 15h00 News 15h05 Hadeeth 15h30 Fiqh 16h00 News 16h05 Actuality 16h30 Interview - Heroes of Islam 17h00 News 17h05 Community news 17h15 Asr 17h30 Actuality & Local Traffic 17h45 Current Affairs 18h00 News 18h05 News roundup 18h15 Light info (guidance for Muslim Men) - Dua for the ill 19h08 MAGHRIB & SURAH WAQIAH 19h20 Doc PC 20h00 News 20h05 Esha- Mulk & Sajdah 20h05 Alternative Radio 21h00 News 21h05 Sh Salama 22h00 News 22h05 Close your eyes with thikrullah 22h30 Hizbul Azam 22h45 40 duroods 23h00 Tareeq Jannah – repeat programme
	THE SMILE A football coach walked into the locker room before a game, looked over to his star player and said, "I'm not supposed to let you play since you failed math, but we need you in there. So, what I have to do is ask you a math question, and if you get it right, you can play." The player agreed, and the coach looked into his eyes intently and asks, "Okay, now concentrate hard and tell me the answer to this. What is two plus two?" The player thought for a moment and then he answered, "4?" "Did you say 4?" the coach exclaimed, excited that he got it right. At that, all the other players on the team began screaming, "Come on coach, give him another chance!"
Send us your Comments, thoughts and suggestions by email Compiled and re-written by Muhammad Ismail Bukharia Visit our website www.radioislam.co.za
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