20 DAYS IN RUSSIA OFFICIAL REPORT ON THE RUSSIAN FATWA BOOK DISTRIBUTION

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1 Al-Jamiat A publication of the Jamiatul Ulama KZN (Council of Muslim Theologians) Oct. 2012/Zul-Hijjah Alpine Rd, Durban, 4091, South Africa Tel: +27 (0) info@jamiat.org.za web: 20 DAYS IN RUSSIA OFFICIAL REPORT ON THE RUSSIAN FATWA BOOK DISTRIBUTION Background to the Russian project: The project commenced in 2009 when we had teamed up with some concerned brothers in Russia and opened the service of answering peoples questions from Russia. This was done through the Russian website askimam.ru which was established by my good colleague, Rustam Abdullin. Questions were received from Russian speaking Muslims in and around Russia and answers were provided in Russian with the assistance of translators. These answers were provided by the Fatwa Department of the Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) under the guidance of Mufti Ebrahim Desai (Hafidhahullah) of the Darul Iftaa, Sherwood. Domodedovo Airport. Domodedovo airport is Russia s largest international airport. I was received by my trustworthy host who hails from Orenburg which is approximately 1,500 kilometers from Moscow. After settling down, we visited the Historical Musjid of Moscow and met with the Imam and local brothers. Moscow currently has only 4 major Musjids with a population of approximately 5 million Muslims. Congregational Musjid, Moscow A copy of the book, Sovremennye Fetve (400 pages) These questions and answers were published regularly on the website askimam.ru for the benefit of the larger Russian speaking readership. As the number of published questions and answers steadily grew, requests were received to have these published in book form. Hence, 5000 copies of the book Sovromennye Fetve (Russian equivalent of Contemporary Fatawa) were published this year, Alhamdulillah. Books have been allocated to the following areas: Moscow, St Petersburg, Kazan, Chechnya, Dagestan, Ingushetia, Karachay Cherkessia, Bolgar, Vorkuta, Chuvashia, Vysokaya Gora, Bugulma, Bavly, Mari El, Ekaterinburg, Surgut, Kazakhstan and Ukraine. Blue Musjid, Moscow Historical Musjid, Moscow Landing in Moscow Books ready for distribution in Kazan On the 21st of August, 2012, I landed in Moscow The following two days in Moscow included a visit to the Kremlin and Red Square of Moscow, a meeting with one of the upcoming popular traditional scholars of Russia, Rashid Isaev and the local DUM (Dukhovno Upravilne Musulman) which translates as the Spiritual Administration for Muslims. This can be likened to the Jamiatul Ulama offices that we have in South Africa. We were unable to meet with the head Mufti of Moscow, Mufti Ravil Ghainutdeen but met with his deputy, Damir

2 20 DAYS IN RUSSIA OFFICIAL REPORT ON THE RUSSIAN FATWA BOOK DISTRIBUTION Hazrat Gizatullin. Further meetings were held with the head of international relations department, Renat Hazrat Abyanov and the Center for Halal standardization. The members of Russia Muftis council expressed their willingness to forge a working relationship with the Jamiatul Ulama KZN which the Jamiat reciprocated. We then met with Alif, an organization concerned with the welfare of Muslim inmates of prisons in Moscow. This organization is run by a sister, Amatullah Tadjudtin, who has a team of sisters working under her. The organization has established libraries with Islamic literature in approximately 150 prisons together with providing the service of counseling to inmates answering their queries about Islam. 500 copies of the Russian Fatwa books have been allocated to this organization for distribution in the prisons and the general Muslim public in Moscow. St. Petersburg We then proceeded to St. Petersburg with a fast train. The distance from Moscow to St. Petersburg is approximately 750km. We performed Jumu ah at the Jami Musjid of St. Petersburg and met some of the local brothers. The Kremlin Mosque (Qul Sharif Musjid), Kazan Kazan is one of the major cities of Russia and has a large Muslim population. It is the capital of the republic of Tatarstan which is extremely rich in Islamic History. In Kazan you will find many Musjids and Madrasahs. There is also an Islamic college, a newly opened Islamic school and the first Islamic university of Russia. Alhamdulillah, a large number of books were distributed in Kazan and to various areas of Tatarstan. The people here, especially the Imams of the Musjids, were most hospitable and have a deep appreciation for Islamic knowledge. They displayed exemplary Akhlaaq and showed utmost reverence which touches the heart. The Marjani Musjid, Kazan The next day we visited the fort and the military museum of St. Petersburg and in the afternoon, held a meeting with the local Islamic organization there which is headed by Ahmed Salahuddin. 200 books were given to this organization for distribution to the Muslims of St Petersburg. The people there are really eager to learn whatever they can about Islam and we were requested to offer some words of advice and to provide a brief introduction to the book. Books were also given personally to the attendants of the program. The books were received with much gratitude, Alhamdulillah. Kazan The congregational Musjid of St Petersburg From St Petersburg we took a flight to Kazan. We reached Kazan in the early hours of the morning of the 25th and were received by the director of Askimam.ru, Brother Rustam Abdullin and one of members of the DUM, Kamil Hazat (Abu Ahmed Qazani) who is Masha Allah, a brilliant Alim. Kazan was one of the cities that I enjoyed the most. In Kazan we visited a number of Musjids; the Nurullah Old-Tatar settlement Sultan mosque, Muhammadiya medrese, Blue mosque, Burnai mosque, Apanai mosque, Qul Sharif mosque, Nurullah mosque and the famous Marjani Mosque which is named after the famous Hanafi scholar of the 18th Century, Shihabuddin Marjani. We also visited Bulghar which is about 250km away from Kazan. The drive from Kazan to Bulghar is very scenic and you will see a lot of forests and greenery along the way. The settlement of Bulghar is a very historical one and has a number of historical sites such as the grave of a Sahabi (Zubair bin Ja dah t) and an Islamic court which is centuries old. It is believed that this was the birthplace of Islam in Russia where Sahabah had passed on the message of Islam to the Bulghars who are now known as the Tatars. We also visited the Museum which holds a number of Islamic relics and handwritten manuscripts of books of Fiqh and Islamic history. Lectures were held in various Musjids in Kazan and books were personally distributed to attendants which were received with great enthusiasm and appreciation. The new Musjid of Bulghar, Tatarstan, Russia.The Musjid was built by the state. On the right of the Musjid, the structure will be used as student s dormitories and a conference hall. The structure on the left will be used as a Darul Uloom (Traditional Islamic University)

3 20 DAYS IN RUSSIA OFFICIAL REPORT ON THE RUSSIAN FATWA BOOK DISTRIBUTION Subhanallah! Besides this, in Chechnya, you will find many newly developed and beautiful Musjids, improved residential areas and even the first Madrasah of Hifz in the entire Russia has just recently been opened in Grozny. Chechnya Tynichlyq Musjid where the books were stored After three very busy but comfortable days in Kazan, it was time to bid farewell to our hosts. We then flew to Moscow which was a 2 hour flight and then took a connecting flight to Grozny, the Capital of Chechnya. The flight from Moscow to Chechnya is also approximately 2 hours. We reached Chechnya in the afternoon and were received by our highly efficient and accommodating guides from Chechnya travel which is an organ of the Department of foreign affairs of Chechnya. After checking in at the hotel, we went to meet with the deputy director of foreign affairs Yusuf Zubairiev who impressed me a lot with his proficiency in Arabic, his attachment for Deen and his particularity of Halaal and Haraam. In 2000, the United Nations had declared Grozny to be the most destroyed place on earth. The entire city was completely flattened due to the second Chechen war. Today, Grozny is one of the most beautiful and modern cities, not only in the Caucasus, but in greater Russia as well. You will notice the difference as soon as you set foot in Chechnya. The Islamic ethos, the stunning Musjid just outside the airport, the modesty of the people, the dressing; all give a feeling of being in an Islamic republic. And indeed, it can be called so, for 99% of the country is Muslim, Alhamdulillah. The Grand Musjid of Grozny. Known as the heart of Chechnya Inside the Musjid of Zakhan-Yurt, Chechnya Musjid just outside Grozny Airport Contrary to what we see and hear in the media, Chechnya is now a relatively stable republic with a comfortable sense of security and an excellent tourist destination. The Chechen government has embarked on numerous projects to promote Islam and the results of this can be seen in the grand Mosque of Grozny which is known as the heart of Chechnya. What really caught my attention is that the Musjid has been given the highest status in the republic. Usually, a worldly monument is considered to be the national monument of the country, but in Chechnya, the Musjid itself has been granted the status of a national monument. As for the natural beauty of Chechnya, one can only gape in amazement at the beauty that Allah has blessed Chechnya with. Blue sulphur streams, hot water springs, natural sweet cold water springs, waterfalls, dense and lush forests, high mountains, the clear and flowing rivers, all form an amazing wonder of Allah s greatness. Travelling through the mountains, you will see many villages and settlements as well as war towers which the Chechens had built centuries ago to defend their lands. On many of these, you will find the inscriptions in Arabic. In fact, on one of the stones, I found an Arabic inscription that indicates that it once formed part of a Musjid. Dagestan The Musjid in Itum-Kali a mountainous village in Chechnya and the Musuem of Hussein Isaev From Grozny I was taken by a group of friends to Dagestan. Dagestan is what one can term as the present day hub of

4 20 DAYS IN RUSSIA OFFICIAL REPORT ON THE RUSSIAN FATWA BOOK DISTRIBUTION Islamic knowledge in Russia. There are numerous Musjids and Madrasahs in the region and an abundance of people who have a burning desire for Deen. In fact, the love for Islamic knowledge here is so intense that I met a person who, despite not knowing Arabic, has a small library of Arabic books in his home with the hope of one day learning Arabic and reading those books. Upon reaching Mahachkala, the capital city of Dagestan, we performed Zuhr at the Jami Musjid and were treated to lunch by the Imam. With him, I was fortunate enough to meet the local Ulama who were fluent in Arabic. We thereafter proceeded to Buinaksk where I was hosted by my learned colleague and friend. I was then introduced to the Islamic university of Buinaksk and met the principal, teachers and some of the students. Masha Allah, the work that is going on in this place is amazing and I ask Allah to bless all those who are working so hard to preserve their Deen and impart this knowledge to others, Ameen. Accommodation was provided for us at the apartment of a very generous and warm-hearted brother, who was ever-willing to see to our comfort. The next day, we met the Imam and deputy Imam of the Jami Musjid of Buinaksk, and were also treated to meals at the home of the deputy Imam. This turned out to be a very eventful day. On the 3rd day in Dagestan, we went to Derbent which is approximately 150 km from Mahachkala. Derbent is a very ancient city along the coast of the Caspian Sea and its age is visible through the ancient roads, walls and entrances of the city. It is believed that the city is 2000 years old. Derbent is a city in which Sahabah had graced during the Khilafah of Hazrat Umar t and it is believed that there are approximately forty Sahabah buried there. Among them is Sayyiduna Abdur Rahmaan bin Rabi ah Al-Baahili t. Ingushetia, followed by Karbadino Balkaria and finally Stavropol. En route, we were treated to lunch by one of our subscribers in Ingushetia who hosted us with unparalelled hospitality. The hospitality in these regions was really something to remember. A view from one of the towers of the fort, Derbent, Dagestan. One day before my departure, I returned to Moscow since my flight was from Moscow to Dubai and then Durban. The appreciation and thirst for knowledge from the people of Russia and the Caucasus is a lesson for us all. In some places, crowds used to form eagerly awaiting their chance to ask their questions about Islam. In one place, a person insisted that I formally teach him from a Kitab. I explained to him that time does not allow to teach from a book, but if he has any questions, he may ask and I ll try to answer them. This wasn t enough to satisfy him. He wanted to gain knowledge as a traditional student learning from an Ustaz. A practice that he had heard of and read about but never had the opportunity of experiencing himself. Understanding his thirst for knowledge, I did not have the heart to refuse him and together we sat down and read from the book of Imam Abu Hanifah, Al-Fiqhul Akbar. I can still recall the happiness and joy of this person and honestly, such seekers of knowledge remind me of the Ulama of the past whose burning desire for knowledge was recorded in books of history centuries ago. Graves of Sahabah in Derbent, near the Caspian Sea, Dagestan There is also a very large fort here which we visited. It was built during the Persian Sassanid empire between the years 224 and 651. The fort is very strategically positioned with amazing vantage points which provide a complete overview of the city of Derbent. After a very eventful stay in Dagestan, I then proceeded to Stavropol where I stayed for a few days. The route that was taken was from Dagestan, through Chechnya, then What I found to be a pleasant surprise was the presence of a Musalla in the Moscow Airport. Whilst there exists a significant amount of Islamophobia in Russia, there is nevertheless a great awakening of Islam. Compared to the restrictions that the Muslims had faced during the soviet era, the conditions of Muslims are changing for the better and the message of Islam is spreading, Alhamdulillah. May Allah bless the Muslims of Russia and allow us to continue being of service to them, Ameen. Suhail Tarmahomed (Mufti)

5 FIRST TEN DAYS OF ZUL-HIJJAH The first ten days of Zul Hijjah are among the most magnificent days in the Islamic calendar. Rasoolullah r has said, "One fast during these days is equal to the fasting of one complete year, and the worship of one night during this period is equal to the worship of "Lailatul-Qadr". (Tirmizi) We should endeavour to use this valuable time to build our hereafter by maximising our virtuous deeds. The 9th day of Zul Hijjah The 9th day of Zul Hijjah is called Yowmul-Arafah (The Day of Arafah). This is the date when the Hujjaj (Haji pilgrims, plural of Haji) assemble on the plains of Arafat, where they perform the most essential duty of hajj, namely, the Wuqoof of Arafat. The Fast of Youmul Arafah The fast of Yowmul Arafah has been prescribed by Rasoolullah r as a Mustahab (desirable) act. According to the Hadith, the fast of this day becomes a cause of forgiveness for sins committed in the past and future year. (Muslim) Takbir-e-Tashreeq Beginning from the Fajr of the 9th Zul Hijjah up to the Asr prayer of the 13th, it is obligatory on every Muslim male and female to recite the Takbir-e-Tashreeq after every Fard Salaah (in congregation or alone) in the following words: Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, La Ilaaha Illallaahu, Wallaahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar wa lillaahil hamd. (There is no god but Allah and Allah is the greatest, Allah is the greatest and to Allah belongs all praise.) Males should recite it in a loud voice, while females should recite it in a low voice. N.B. It is Mustahab (preferable, but not necessary) for a person who intends doing Qurbani to abstain from trimming/removing hair or clipping nails from the first of Zul Hijjah to the time he slaughters his Qurbani animal. Hence the nails should be trimmed and unwanted hair removed prior to the commencement of Zul-Hijjah. SAYED SAHEB FAKROODEEN (R.A.) Recently, Durban sadly experienced the passing away of a great Wali of Allah of our times. Hazrat Sayed Ebrahim Fakroodeen (RA), affectionately known as Sayed Saheb, was renowned for his efforts in the field of Da'wah (inviting to Allah). Sayed Saheb (RA) was born on 8th Shawwaal 1343 / 2 May 1925 in Durban, South Africa. He was the youngest son of Hazrat Haji Sayed Fakroodeen of Prince Edward Street, Durban. His constant concern was connecting the creation with the creator. He was one of the pioneers in the field of Tabligh in South Africa and had joined Hazrat Haji Bhai Padia (RA) in the early days of Dawah and Tabligh in South Africa. His shop in Prince Edward Str., Durban was the daily stop over for Mashurahs and consultation for the effort of Deen. Incoming Jamaats were received here and the program for the duration of their stay was also planned here. He was a great pillar of support for Hajee Bhai Padia (RA) and was almost inseparable from him. Sayed Saheb (RA) was extremely conscious of the Sunnah and made an effort to practice on every Sunnah action of Nabi e Kareem r. His manner of meeting with the young or old, educated or uneducated, influential or otherwise always left an indelible impression on the person. He always used the opportunity to convey some message of Deen or teach some Sunnah in his speech. Allah Ta'ala had blessed him that almost every year, he spent either the entire month or part of Ramadaan in the Mubaruk cities of Makkah Mukarramah and Medina Munawwarah. During the last Ramadaan (1433) he also visited the Baitullah and Medina Munawwarah with members of his family. He had great love and respect for the Ulama and the Arabs and was always fond of giving gifts to them. He was very particular of Dua. He would impress on his visitors the need for engaging in Dua and impart to them specific Duas from the Sunnah to recite on specific occasions. He would be seen sitting early in the Masjid, well before the time of Salaah, engaged in recitation of the Qur an and after Salaah he would be seen engaging in Dua and supplication for long periods of time. He had the habit of always being in the state of Wudhu. He was very diligent in performing his five daily Salaah in congregation with the first Takbeer. Sayed Saheb had travelled to almost every major country in the world to spread the message of Islam. p.t.o.

6 HAJI ESSOP MANGA A TRIBUTE TO THE LONGEST SERVING STAFF MEMBER OF THE JAMIAT A person asked Rasoolullah r, Who is the best of men? He r replied, Him whose life is long and deeds are good. (Hakim) I recently had the good fortune of interviewing Haji Essop Manga Saheb, the longest serving staff member of the Jamiat. Haji Manga is a man of action rather than words. At the age of 83, he remains a committed member of the Jamiat team. Presently Haji Saheb is recovering from the an angina attack. May Allah Ta ala grant him and all those that are ill complete Shifa, Ameen. Haji Saheb, though in bed at the time, remains continuously concerned about the affairs of the Jamiat. Haji Saheb commenced his service at the Jamiat over twenty years ago at the recommendation of Moulana Ahmed Sulaiman Khatani. He remained committed to the Jamiat through the various vicissitudes the Jamiat experienced. He joined the Jamiat under the leadership of Hazrat Moulana Yunus Patel Saheb s (R.A.). He was tasked with attending to the Jamiat s financial records. Soon after his commencement, Hazrat Moulana (RA) visited his office, on seeing the effort and dedication of Haji Saheb, he immediately instructed that Haji Saheb s salary be doubled. Haji Saheb recounting his early days mentions, At that time, I was also tasked at times with chauffeuring Hazrat Moulana Abdul Haq Omarjee Saheb (R.A.) to and from the Jamiat. I found Hazrat Moulana Omrajee (RA) to be extremely dedicated to the Jamiat. In spite of his age and his reliance on a walking stick, Hazrat Moulana (RA) was punctual at the Jamiat Shura meetings. He would walk to the car from his home with slow steps due to his condition but would refuse assistance from anyone. With great difficulty he would climb the steps of the then office at West Street and later at Eskoval House, but nothing would stop him from giving his utmost attention to the Jamiat. Hazrat Moulana Omarjee Saheb (RA) was always ready to render his support at anytime of the day or night to the call of the Jamiat. Haji Saheb recounted with fondness his various experiences at the Jamiat, The Ulama always treated me with respect and kindness. Never was I reproached for anything I did. Special mention was made of Ml Ahmed Kathrada and his kindness for Haji Saheb. He says, Ml Kathrada treated me like a son treats his father. Haji Saheb remains positive, reflecting his personal advice to those visiting him that always accept whatever Allah Ta ala decides. His advice to us before we left him was, Be sincere in whatever you do. That s the main thing. We make dua that Allah Ta ala grants Haji Saheb complete recovery and keeps his presence with the Jamiat in the years to come, Ameen. Mf. M. Salie Sayed Saheb (RA) Cont. from previous page However, one country was outstanding on his list and that was Australia. Sayed Saheb performed two Rakaats of Salaah and made Dua that Allah must take him to Australia to spread the message of Islam. The very next day, some brothers from May Street Masjid came to Sayed Saheb informing that they wish to go to Australia to spread the message of Islam, but they will only go if Sayed Saheb agrees to be their Ameer (leader) on this journey. Sayed Saheb mentioned, Allah accepted this dua of mine and took me to Australia. Sayed Saheb (RA) had great Tawakkul (reliance) on Allah Ta'ala and his words were always reflection of the same. He used to stress on Imaan (faith) and Yaqeen (conviction) in Allah Ta'ala in all circumstances and whenever he spoke, he spoke with conviction. Hazrat Sayed Saheb (RA) passed away on Thursday morning, 17 Zul-Qa'dah 1433/4 October 2012 at the age of 87. His Janazah Salaah was held in Grey Street Masjid, Durban and was attended by a great number of people. He was buried in the Brook Street cemetery, Durban and is survived by his wife, six sons, three daughters, twenty nine grand children and twenty seven great grand children. Condolences poured in from all corners of the globe. His presence will be sorely missed. May Allah Ta'ala enshroud him in His mercy and fill his qabr with Noor, Ameen. Ml Abdullah Khan Colonel Ameeruddeen Saheb from Canada, another great Da ee (propogator) of Islam also passed away recently at the age of 95. Over five thousand people accepted Islam at his hands. May Ta ala give Sabr to his near and dear ones and accept him into His Mercy, Ameen.

7 QURAN PROJECT MALAWI On Friday 7 September 2012 a delegation of 7 members consisting of a doctor, an attorney, a few businessmen and an Alim from the Jamiat KZN departed via road from Masjid Hilaal for Malawi to oversee the distribution of Qur ans as part of the Jamiatul Ulama KZN Qur an for Africa Project. Alhamdulillah, on Monday 10 September after 3 days of travelling and passing 6 borders, the group reached their destination in Zomba, 60km from Blantyre. After Zohar they proceeded to the Abdullah bin Masood Islamic centre situated about 10km from Zomba. The Islamic Centre has a boarding facility and houses 43 full time students, 15 Hifz students and 28 students training as Madrasah teachers. At the Abdullah bin Masood Islamic centre 43 Qur ans were distributed. On Tuesday, the group travelled to Ntaja approximately 100km from Zomba. A total of 1291 Qur ans were distributed at this centre. Thereafter the group travelled to Mangochi to the Mapira Madina Islamic centre. At this centre 535 Qur ans were distributed. On Wednesday, the group proceeded to Makanjila approximately 120 km from Mangochi travelling through 60kms of single lane unpaved road with a few iron and wood bridges on route. Upon reaching the Islamic Centre in JAMIAT QURBANI SERVICE The Jamiatul Ulama KZN continues its Qurbani service aimed not only at providing meat to deserving families, but also giving them the opportunity of witnessing and experiencing the actual Qurbani. Live animals will be delivered to selected underprivileged households and areas where the families will be able to, perhaps for the first time in their lives, slaughter the animals in their own homes and vicinities under the supervision of the Jamiat. Sponsor an animal or towards an animal and play your part in bringing the spirit of Qurbani into the lives of the underprivileged. Furthermore the Jamiat is offering the following additional services for your personal Qurbani: ü Slaughtering, Skinning & Cold Storage. ü Slicing, Packaging & Labelling of meat. ü Home Delivery. Contact: Ml. Mohamed Mehtar on or after hours on Mangochi, the group was greeted by approximately 100 Ustaads (teachers) and locals. At this centre 1121 Qur ans were distributed. In total 4000 Qur ans were distributed to various other Madrasahs and Islamic centres. A brief history on Makanjila: Makanjila means Road to Makkah. Prior to aviation, this was the road to Makkah via Africa, hence the name Makanjila. At many of the distribution points, Ustaads travelled on bicycle +- 50kms to collect the Qur ans for the Madrasahs in their locality. All the Madrasahs visited are supervised by a South African Alim who has 180 madrasahs in the Malawi region under his care. Prior to setting up a madrasah and Masjid, a survey is done. A temporary madrasah is then set up. Once the need arises, funds are collected to set up a proper Islamic centre. Malawi has a population of 14 million of which half are Muslims. Although the local s dwellings are made of mud and thatch, the Masjids are proper structures made of block and cement and are well maintained. There is still a great need for more Madrasahs and Masjids in Malawi. May Allah accept the efforts of the delegation that went Malawi and make these Qur ans a means of guidance in Malawi, Ameen. HOW DO WE DEAL WITH ANTI-ISLAM SITES? People are ing me websites that attack Islam. They say they are from the Jews and that we should send this out to everyone and tell them about it. Is this a good idea?everyone? What about the non-muslims? Should we tell them to be careful too? What should be done? With regards to dealing with hate sites against Islam, the best policy we have found is: î Do not go to them. î Do not mention them. î Do not argue with them. î and whatever you do - DO NOT FORWARD THEM TO OTHERS. Our experience with them on the internet has taught us they will not listen, they will lie and they will take people away from the true worship of Allah, even if it is only for a while with their nonsense. There is no need to deal with them. Allah will deal with them in due time. Extracted from: justaskislam.com your first step in healthcare

8 QURBANI Q&A Q. A person needs to do Aqeeqah for his child during the days of Qurbani. He can only afford one sheep. Should he do the Aqeeqah for the child or should he do Qurbani? A. It should be noted that Qurbani is a Wajib (Mandatory) act and Aqeeqah is a Mustahabb (preferable) act. By a person possessing the Nisaab amount during the days of Qurbani, Qurbani becomes Wajib upon him. (Fatawa Mahmoodiyyah, Vol: 17, Pg: 512). A person will not be sinful for omitting a Mustahabb act but will be sinful for omitting a Wajib act. He should therefore do Qurbani instead of the Aqeeqah. He may do the Aqeeqah for the child at a later stage when he can afford it. Q. I am in the process of looking for Qurbani animals. Someone has suggested castrated sheep. Is it permissible to use castrated sheep for Qurbani? A. It is permissible and preferable to slaughter a castrated animal. A castrated animal is usually bigger in size and the meat is superior. (al-fatawa al-hindiyyah, Vol: 5, Pg: 297 & al- Muheetul Burhani, Vol: 6, Pg: 93, D.K.I) It is recorded in the Hadith that Rasulullah r made Qurbani of a castrated animal. (Abu Dawood, Hadith #: 2795, Narrated by Jabir bin Abdillah) Q. I have one very serious question about zabiha on yawm al-adha. Here in Russia we breed cows and bulls that are genetically modified and grown by selection methods, so that by the age of 1,5 years they're grown enough and look like 2-3 years old. Because that we don't have natural pastures on the most time of the year (winter and snow are very long lasting) and farms are mostly of closed type, the breeding of cattle by ordinary methods is extremely expensive and people can't afford waitng much, so they slaughter them not waiting until they reach 2 years. The question is: Is there any fatwa permitting to slaughter cattle for yawm al-adha that not reached the limit of 2 years? A. It is not permissible to slaughter cattle that are under two years old even though they may appear to be older than two years. The words of the Hadith are specific that cattle should be two years of age. All four schools of thoughts (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'ee and Hanbali) are unanimous that cattle under the age of two years are not suitable for Udh'hiyah (Qurbani). If cattle that are under two years are slaughtered, Udh'hiyyah will not be valid. (al-mawsu'ah, al-fiqhiyyah, Vol: 5, Pg: 82) If it is difficult to find cattle that are of suitable age to slaughter for Udh'hiyyah, the people in this region should opt to slaughter Sheep or goats that meet the requirements of Udh'hiyyah. This is the appropriate alternative which has also been recommended in the Hadith. Q. I purchased some sheep 6 months ago for Qurbani and one has now given birth. What should I do with the sheep and lamb? A. If an animal purchased for Qurbani gives birth before it's slaughter, it is best to give the live new born in charity. Alternately, the new born animal should be slaughtered and the meat given in charity. (ad-durrul Mukhtar, Vol: 6, Pg: 322, Darul Fikr) Q. My wife has sufficient money to do Qurbani but I would like to do Qurbani for her from my money. Will it be accepted? A. You can do Qurbani on behalf of your wife provided that you obtain her consent to do so. (Al-Fatawa al-hindiyyah, Vol: 5, Pg: 297) And Allah Knows Best. KINDLY SUPPORT YOUR JAMIAT Nedbank Argyle Rd. (131426) LILLAH Acc. Name: Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) Account No.: Branch Code: ZAKAAT Acc. Name: Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) Account No.: Branch Code: Section 18A Certificate Acc. Name: Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) Account No.: Branch Code: Lillah or Zakaat must be specified for 18A purposes May Allah Ta ala reward you abundantly, Aameen Compiled & designed: Ml. Moosa Salie