Muhammad

Challenges from Sasol’s Inzalo Share Initiative

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Sasol’s recent share offering has challenged our assumptions on more than one level. In what follows an attempt is made not to simply formulate an opinion on the permissibility of the shares on offer in the Inzalo initiative, but to place this issue within a wider framework where ways are explored in which this one issue becomes a means to generate a keener sense of responsibility on the part of both laymen and ‘ulamā. It would be appropriate, however, to begin with a brief description of the offering.

Are you a Kāfir?

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Shīʿism claims that Imamah, just like Tawheed and Nubuwwah, is one of the fundamentals of Imaan. To believe in the Twelve Imams is therefore just as important as to believe in the Oneness of Allah and the Prophethood of Sayyidina Muhammad (S.A.W). Therefore, in the Shīʿah religion, anyone who does not believe in the divinely appointed line of Twelve Imams as the immediate successors of the Nabi (S.A.W) is a Kāfir. This is clearly attested to in the writings of ten of the most eminent `ulama of the Shīʿah over the centuries.

Can we call the Shīʿah Kāfir

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The question as to whether a person or a group may be called kāfir or not depends upon the beliefs that person or group holds. Two aspects need to be investigated. It needs to be established firstly that the person or group does subscribe to all the essential tenets of faith; and secondly that he or they do not believe in anything that amounts to a rejection of a categorical aspect of Islam (ma’lum min ad-din bid-darurah).

Abu Hurayrah and ʿUmar

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Shi‘i critics of Abu Hurayrah tend to quote sources very selectively, and those who subsequently quote from them, having no access to the original sources, do not know anything but the citations produced for them by these critics. If it is true that ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab disapproved of profuse narration in the manner that Abu Hurayrah used to narrate, then the following quotation contained in the same “Tarikh Dimashq” of Ibn ‘Asakir throws a different light upon the issue.

Fadak between Abu Bakr and Fatimah

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Fadak is a hamlet in Hijaz that used to be inhabited by a group of Jews. After Rasulullah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa-alihi wasallam had accomplished the conquest of Khaybar, Allah cast fear into the hearts of those Jews.They therefore conclude a treaty with Rasulullah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa-alihi wasallam in terms of which Fadak was ceded to him. Thus, not having been conquered by force of arms, it became the personal property of Rasulullah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa-alihi wasallam.

Rank of the Sahabah

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On account of the praises and merits of the Companions of the Holy Prophet [PBUH] appearing in the Qur’ân and the Traditions, the Ahl al-Sunnah unanimously believe that the greatest of the great saints cannot attain the status of the lowest of the low Companions of the Holy Prophet [PBUH].

The Qur’ān and Imāmah

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This article investigates the usage of the word “Imam” in the Qur’an to see whether the Qur’an provides any support to the Shia concept of Imamah. In it a description is first given of Imamah as conceived of by the Shia, and that is followed by a detailed scrutiny of every place in the Qur’an where the word “Imam” or its plural “A’immah” has been used by Allah Ta‘ala.

Unmasking the Other Villains of Karbala’

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Retelling the tragedy of Karbala has traditionally been an important feature of Shi`i spirituality. The passion plays of Iran and the Indian subcontinent, the literature, both prose and poetry, composed upon the subject of the martyrdom of Sayyiduna Husayn radiyallahu anhu and the general atmosphere of mourning that reigns amongst the Shi`ah during the month of Muharram, all bear eloquent testimony to importance of that event in the Shi`i calendar. To the Shi`ah, Ashura is probably the most important day of the year.

The Poisoning of Sayyidina Hasan

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Amongst the false allegations directed towards Sayyidina Muawiyah radiya Llahu ‘anhu is the poisoning of Sayyidina Hassan radiya Llahu ‘anhu. The claim is made that Ja`dah (the wife of Hassan radiya Llahu ‘anhu) was the one who poisoned him upon the incitement of Sayyidina Muawiyah radiya Llahu ‘anhu. This article proves the fallaciousness of this claim, establishing his innocence from the brazen accusations leveled against him.