A deviant body, dubbing itself FIQH COUNCIL OF NORTH AMERICA, has resolved to ‘abrogate’ the fourteen century Rooyah (Physical Sighting) principle of the Shariah. Since the time of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam)—from the very inception of Islam—to the present day, the sacred principle o­n the basis of which the Islamic dates are determined was and shall perpetually be Rooyah (physical sighting) of the crescent moon. The miscreant so-called ‘fiqh council of North America’ is now attempting to abrogate the Shariah by claiming that the inviolable principle of the Shariah is outdated and that it applied to o­nly illiterate people living in the desert, mountains, villages and the like. But for the ignoramus liberals who are bereft of Deeni insight and extremely deficient in Islamic knowledge, the deviant fiqh council, claim that the new principle of this belated 21st century is ‘astronomical calculations’.

JADOO (magic, sorcery, witchcraft) is an evil and a satanic science. Its reality is confirmed by the Qur’aan Majeed.

While there exists real saahireen (satanic magicians/sorcerers), numerous are fakes, and so are those who claim to have the ability to neutralise and eliminate this evil.

Most aamils (those who counter magic) who diagnose magic in a victim, are unable to cure the patient or exorcise the evil being/spell which grips the victim. There are two types of jadoo. The jadoo of sorcerers, and the jadoo of the nafs. While the former is a reality, the ‘jadoo’ of the nafs is a figment of the imagination of weakminded people.

It has become fashionable to attribute to sihr just any peculiar behaviour or physical ailment a person may have contracted. Headaches, anger, illicit relationships, a sharp drop in sales and a myriad of normal and natural events and development are attributed to magic.

On the flimsiest pretext, jadoo is suspected. People have become paranoid o­n this issue. Family members are wildly accused of having enlisted the aid of sorcerers to harm relatives with sihr. Aamils who purportedly ‘journey’ into the metaphysical and spiritual realm, ‘see’ in their trances the blurred forms and appearances of people. These persons are then accused  of having perpetrated the sihr.

ACCORDING TO THE Hadith, Imaam Mahdi (alayhis salaam) will make his appearance at the age of 40 years. We have been hearing for decades that Imaam Mahdi has already been born. In terms of this theory or conjecture, Imaam Mahdi should now be well over 40 years, yet he has not made his appearance.

Since the early 90’s the theory of Imaam Mahdi’s imminent appearance was being propagated by some learned men. The obsession with his imminent appearance constrained some Ulama to even fix the year of his appearance. This theory became a somewhat grounded belief.

Hence some Ulama claimed that Imaam Mahdi (alayhis salaam) would appear during the Hajj of the year 1424 A.H. (2003). The certitude which they had developed induced them to advise the Hujjaaj not to proceed to Mina during the Hajj of 1424 as there would prevail great strife and bloodshed which will be triggered by Imaam Mahdi’s appearance in that year.

RESPECT, REVERENCE AND love for the Qur’aan Shareef are inborn in the heart of a Muslim. In former days, there was no need to teach Madrasah going children how to carry the Kalaam (Word) of Allah Ta’ala. Just as a duckling naturally swims when it enters the water, so too the Muslim child of not so long ago (during our childhood days), naturally and automatically knew how to handle and carry the most sacred Book o­n earth.

All Madrasah pupils would naturally hold the Qur’aan Majeed to their breast, never at their sides, never slung over their shoulders in bags, never ever holding it below the navel or in line with the satr as has become the repugnant style nowadays.

A SECOND WIFE, in fact even a third and a fourth wife, are in exactly the same category as a first wife. The norms of western society, which have been acquired by Muslims, have created in Muslim society similar attitudes of repugnance which westerners display towards a plurality of marriages.

In the Qur’aan Majeed and in the Sunnah there is overwhelming evidence for the perfect permissibility of marrying more than o­ne wife. The life of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam), of the Sahaabah and the great personalities of Islam in all ages are more than adequate evidence for the sanctity of the institution of polygamy in the same way as is the institution of monogamy. In fact, it is an attitude of kufr to hold in contempt polygamy. This attitude is tantamount to criticizing Allah Ta’ala who has made polygamy lawful, and it is an indirect assault o­n the practice of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam), the Ambiya and the Sahaabah.