News
IPSA GRADUATION 2022, for Class of 2021 was a Grand Affair!
HAFIZ MUZZAMMIL FAROOKI received the IPSA College Award for most outstanding student. May Allah bless him in his future studies & activities!
THE IPSA LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS:
In recognition and honour of individuals who significantly contribute/d to the South African Muslim community, in the field of Islamic Education. In this regard IPSA has instituted an “IPSA Lifetime Achievement Award” to pay tribute to the role played by such selfless individuals. The award is a token of appreciation in acknowledgment for their services rendered. As the hadith says: “Whosoever is not thankful towards human beings is not thankful towards Allah.”
IPSA proudly presented its Eighth Lifetime Achievement Awards to
SHAYKHAH MYMOENA SOLOMON
AL-MARHOOM SHAYKH NAZEEM TALIEP (posthumously), which were received by his SON MU’MIN TALIEP.
IPSA hosted its annual Mawlid al-Nabi ﷺ program
IPSA hosted its annual Mawlid al-Nabi ﷺ program with students from all levels presenting Nashids & Nasihahs. Guest speaker Shaykh Abdur-Rahman Sadien spoke about the importance of prioritizing the love of Rasul-Allah ﷺ & following his Sunnah.
IPSA STUDENTS hosted a Webinar with students from Gaza University
IPSA STUDENTS hosted a Webinar with students from Gaza University, on Israeli Apartheid Week.
R100m redevelopment plan for Ipsa
The International Peace College South Africa (Ipsa) is embarking on a R100m redevelopment of its building in Rylands, and it has entered into an academic partnership with another international institution. Read More
International Peace College of South Africa (IPSA) Embraces Nature
IPSA Goes Hiking
The emphasis Islam puts on the importance of the environment is quite astonishing. The Holy Qur’ān devotes more than five hundred verses (ayāt) related to the ecosystem and the environment (Masri, 1992) The relationship thus, between Man and the universe ought to be one of harmonious benefit and use.
Ulamā have included the protection of the environment as a seventh universal principle for which the Shariah had been legislated. The other six is known as the (Al’ Kul’liy’yāt al- Sitt) which is; preservation of religion, life, intellect, lineage, property, and honor.
Muslims are encouraged to play a meaningful and progressive role in all spheres of life. This points out that we have a moral obligation to maintain and preserve our environment for the generations to come.
The Prophet Mohammed (saw) said :
“The world is green and beautiful and Allāh has appointed you as His steward over it. He sees how you acquit yourselves” (Muslim)
Inspired by this ethos, on the 13 March 2021, IPSA students went on a memorable hike from Constantia Nek to the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. This trail offers the most beautiful scenic views of Cape Town and the weather (cool and cloudy) was absolutely ideal for such a hike. Students chatted to each all the way while absorbing the breathtaking views- occasionally wiping their faces when ascending the moderate inclines. Making their way down to the gardens was a welcoming ‘last stretch’ as the walk was coming to an end. Everyone was looking forward to the rest and of course- refreshments. No sooner did they feel rejuvenated, that the students raced one another across the wide luscious green patches the gardens offered their visitors. Everyone absolutely enjoyed themselves!
Student’s Comments
Amina Nomfundo Magwaza (HCIS): “It was fun and I enjoyed myself. Standing on the highest point I could see the scenic view of Cape Town which was absolutely beautiful”
“ The scenic views of Cape Town is spectacular”
“ This is my first time on a hike … and not the last one”
IPSA’s Undergraduate Division Gender Discrimination Debate
IPSA’s Undergraduate Division (BAIS) hosted its first Arabic debate competition with its final-year students, with the hope of advancing dialogue and nurturing the spirit of free thought, open discussions, constructive debate, and enhancing the students’ Arabic-speaking skills.
The debate took place in the IPSA conference room yesterday (04/03/2021) and consisted of two teams comprising of the BA III students, who argued for, and against the topic of Gender Discrimination
IPSAs Head of the Undergraduate Department, Dr. Belqes Saif al-Sowaidi has trained students since the beginning of the academic year and has expressed how proud she is of the students’ progress and skills in learning the Arabic language alongside the art of debate. IPSA CEO Dr. Dawood Terblanche also remarked that he is extremely proud of the students’ debating skills in the Arabic language and that it is heart-warming to see how far the students have come in their learning trajectory of studying Arabic at IPSA for the past 2 years.
IPSAs Arabic department hopes to have more Arabic debate competitions amongst its students in the future, in preparation for International debating championships. We wish all our students well for the year ahead!
These are the rules of Level 4, which will be adopted from 1 May
Masks are Obligatory:
Everyone has to wear cloth face masks outside their homes. If you don't yet have a cloth mask, you can wear a scarf or a t-shirt wrapped around your mouth and nose, says Dlamini-Zuma.
Strict curfew:
People are not allowed out between 20:00 and 05:00.
No Movement across Provincial Borders:
Unless you return to work with proof of employment, are attending a funeral (with approval) or delivering essential services.
Transport:
There is a limit of three people per private vehicle, and 70% capacity in taxis. All taxis and e-hailing services such as Uber and Bolt must be sanitised daily, and hand sanitisers must be provided.
Can you visit your friends and family?
No "recreational" visits are allowed.
Can you attend church or other public gatherings?
No.
Fast Foods:
The sale of takeaways will be permitted for delivery only - from fast food outlets and restaurants. Restaurants can open for food delivery services only, and only between 09:00 to 20:00.
What you can buy from a Retailer or Spaza Shop:
Any food product, including non-alcoholic beverages and animal food. But the sale of cooked hot food is still prohibited
All children's clothing
Winter clothing for adults
Bedding
Heaters
Toilet paper, sanitary pads, sanitary tampons, condoms.
Hand sanitiser, disinfectants, soap, alcohol for industrial use, household cleaning products, and personal protective equipment.
Personal ICT equipment including computers, mobile telephones and other home office equipment.
Products for the care of babies and toddlers
Stationery and educational books
Tobacco products
Personal toiletries, including haircare, body and face care products, roll-ons, deodorants, and dental care products.
Medical and hospital supplies, medicine, equipment and personal protective equipment.
Fuel, including coal, wood, paraffin and gas.
Airtime and electricity.
Hardware shops are still not open for the general public. Hardware, components and supplies are only on sale for qualified tradespersons solely for the purpose of emergency repairs at residential homes - as well as required for essential services.
Components for vehicles undergoing emergency repairs where such vehicle is used by a person engaged in essential services work.
Textiles required to produce face masks, and other personal protective equipment.
Stores have to ensure that clients' temperatures are tested, hand sanitisers must be available and measures must be in place to facilitate social distancing.
Where the number of customers cannot be accommodated at once then measures such as a ticket system and a defined limit of time in the store per customer should be implemented instead of the physical queuing of customers.
Are you allowed to buy alcohol?
No.
Excercise:
Dlamini-Zuma said exercise will be permitted under strict conditions, but gyms or other facilities where people gather for exercise will remain closed. Gathering in groups for exercise, such as when running or cycling, will be prohibited. Further details are coming next week.
Businesses that are Allowed to be Open:
Retailers, spaza shops, hardware shops and wholesalers that sold the products mentioned above.
Construction and related services:
Civil engineering for public works projects, critical public works construction, road and bridge projects and other public works civil engineering projects. Critical maintenance and repairs are also allowed.
Agriculture, hunting, forestry and fishing: All agriculture, hunting, forestry, fishing and related services, including the export of agricultural products permitted.
All electricity, gas and water supply companies.
Information and communication services: All telecommunication services and infrastructure; information and communication technology services for all private and business customers; and postal services and courier services related to transport of medical products.
Media and entertainment services: Online services; productions for local broadcast; and live streaming in support of Covid-19 subject to directions; and newspapers and broadcasting
Financial and business services: Some call centres and essential financial services may operate.
Private security services
Implementation of payroll systems
Rental of motor vehicles, machinery and equipment, and of personal and household goods to support other Level Four services.
Other professional services may operate only where work-from-home is not possible, and only to support other Level 4 services
Accommodation services not permitted, except for quarantine and essential services.
Mining and Quarrying: Coal production for Eskom scaling up to full employment. All other mining starting in batches scaling up towards 50% employment. Open-cast mining scaling up to full employment;
Repair and related emergency services permitted: Tow trucks and vehicle recovery services; emergency repair work, including plumbers, electricians, locksmiths, glaziers, roof repair work.
Emergency automobile repairs for everyone.
Production, manufacturing, supply, logistics, transport, delivery, critical maintenance and repair in relation to the rendering of permitted services including components and equipment.
All medical and veterinary services
Cleaning, sanitation, pest control, sewerage, waste and refuse removal services.
Recycling of glass, paper and metal including informal recyclers (permitted at 50% capacity)
All social work, counselling, care and relief activities permitted
Wildlife management, antipoaching, animal care and veterinary services
Funeral and cremation services.
Trade union essential staff for workers covered by Level 4.
Which manufacturing will be now be allowed?
Some manufacturing will restart, but in some cases not all employees will be allowed back at once.
Factories that produce goods that can be sold under Level 4 can return with all their staff - apart from for a couple of exceptions.
Only a quarter of the workers at manufacturers of winter clothing, bedding and heaters can return at first, but it can be scaled up to 50%.
Automotive manufacturing, including components, can scale up in phases to 50% employment, and the same applies for stationery production, as well as cement, construction materials and hardware.
Manufacturing of packaging, including glass, plastic bottles and containers is permitted to scale up to full employment, along with petroleum smelters, refineries and furnaces.
All other manufacturing can scale up to 20% employment.
Can domestic workers start working again?
Those who support everyone who is working under Level 4, as well as live-in staff can return.
Can you go to your Hairdresser or Nail Salon?
No. Minister of trade and industry Ebrahim Patel said the risk of transmission with these services is too high.
Can you replace your ID now?
Yes. This is now allowed, and the deeds office as well as other licensing and permitting will now be open along with the provision of birth and death certificates.
The Need for a Coherent Public Policy, Good Governance and Civic Management.
The Corona Pandemic has violently churned a relatively stable South African Muslim Community into an uncontrollable maelstrom which has flung into exposure the long embedded virus of its traditional and stagnant Muslim Scholarship.
This debris is flung into the air for all and sundry to see. In itself, a contagion primarily confined in the Madressa/ Ulooms for several decades, it has demonstrated a toxicity of the mind that has resulted in the dysfunctional conduct of Muslims, young and old in several sectors of civic life and society in general. A dysfunctional mind leads to a dysfunctional society. It is schizophrenic and hence hypocritical. Fatwas produced are irrational, square-headed and often with a clarity that is as thick as mud. A disgrace to the glorious Shariah and an embarrassment to Islam and Muslims as a whole.
South African Muslims need to wake up and make up their minds whether they want to seriously adhere to the basic values of Islam, of universality, of mercy, justice, equity, fairness, welfare and excellence.
The Corona gives us the opportunity to revisit the Shariah and its much needed role for ourselves in all aspects of our daily lives in the present century.
Islam is both faith and action. Faith without action is no faith. Action without faith is no sincere action. The two constitute two sides of a single coin. It’s about ethical behavior, both inside the mosque and outside the mosque. From this conduct there is no escape. How does one determine ethical governance, public policy and civic engagement within this holistic framework, whether one is in a Muslim majority country or a Muslim minority country?
For this approach, the Quran delineates a clear separation between political power and ethical behavior or piety. This separation between power and piety enables the establishment of institutions that check on the unethical behavior of governments irrespective of their alleged religious affiliation or their leadership.
Power in the Quran is defined as the ability to do absolutely everything. This power belongs to Allah Almighty alone. ( Al Maidah Verse 120). He is the source of power, the Giver of power and the Taker of power. He is All Powerful and His power is all encompassing.
Our power as humans is dependent on His power. Such delegation is based on our ability to exercise our skills, knowledge, resources and natural gifts with gratitude, to regulate the affairs of others, where appropriate, in ways that achieve the higher objectives of the shariah. Such delegation of power is not on the basis of being representative of Him as is misconceived by priests, monarchs, rabbis, bishops and molvis as no one has the right to claim that he represents God. This claim on pure logic is irrational and false as the motivation to promote public interests (al-maslahah), uphold human dignity (al karamah) and protect, preserve and advance life (al-ihya) do not require authoritarianism, tyranny or supernatural earthly beings.
Human power is limited by Allah’s grace. The human cannot alter the laws of nature nor change the direction of the sun and the moon, calm the seas or the winds. As Allah Alone is the Giver, He gives power to whom He wills, both to the believers, non-believers, the pious or the rebellious, the high or the low, the rich or the poor, the strong or the weak, the good or the bad, the local or the foreign, for such time as He alone Wills and in circumstances as He alone determines. That being so, it follows that non Muslims do not necessarily and exclusively fall into the category of dictators or oppressors as our very own examples to the contrary in Muslim lands, demonstrate. Nor is belief in God a condition for the grant of power.
When such self-centered piety complex is removed, we are able to see a clarity of thought and action. This thought and action is the protection of Islam and its basic values of justice, mercy, equity, fairness, welfare and excellence. Pride of power is to be met with Quranic ethics and intelligent dialogue as the Prophets did.
Public policy and ethical good governance as commanded in the Quran acknowledges actors with delegated power in both the government and civic domain. Our duty therefore entails that in the preservation of Islam, the six higher objectives of the shariah shall at all times be articulated through public policy and good governance with the relevant authorities so that we stand on that which is right and redress that which is wrong.
The consequences of the corona pandemic are here to stay with us for decades to come, geopolitically, economically, demographically, sociologically, educationally and morally. Bio-technology and information technology have surged and corona has given them a quantum leap. In humanity’s darkest hour is also the opportunity for humanity’s finest hour. Islam and the glorious richness of its jurisprudence, of universality, of inherent dignity of every human being and of our responsibility and accountability to harness nature with respect to it owns intrinsic value as a gift to us, not to be squandered and abused, is the answer to the many challenges that society and government will face in the coming years. For those who have the understanding of the Quran, the time has arrived.
Adv AB Mahomed SC
(Hafez Abu Bakr)
8th April 2020.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
IPSA Students' Annual Mawlid Al-Nabi programme
By Aisha Nontobeko Mkhwanazi (IPSA Student)
“One of the main reasons why we don’t feel the energy of the Mawlid of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) is that we have listened to a lot of different opinions and forgot to look into the life of Nabi (S.A.W),”said guest speaker, Moulana Dilavar Baba.
He said this during the International Peace College (IPSA) 2020 Annual Mawlid Al-Nabi on the 20th February 2020.Students attended in numbers and graced the programme with different activities such as poetry, talks and live nasheed performances.
Programme Co-ordinator, Shaykh Fakhruddin Owaisi said the aim of the programme was to inspire students through the life and times of Nabi (S.A.W). “The programme has been ongoing for the past 12 years annually and every year students showcase more talent in expressing glad tidings for Prophet Muhammad (S.W.A),” said Owaisi.
While addressing the event, Baba said one of the major problems facing the majority of South African Muslims is that they are often drawn to the idea that everything that is affiliated to custom or tradition does not belong to Islam. “This idea is misleading because everything about Islam and the sunnah of our Nabi (S.A.W) is affiliated to custom and tradition that was found during the times of Nabi (S.A.W) that was not against Islam and Allah (S.W.T),”he said.
He further said it is important that we reflect on our own individual identity as Muslims. “We should ask ourselves how many of our cultures, customs and traditions have we lost which were not in contravention with the Quraan and sunnah,” he said.
Baba also added that there is no limit or boundaries when it comes to expressing joy for Nabi (S.A.W) except when it goes against Allah’s command and the sunnah of Nabi (S.W.A).
First year BA student, Fatimah Dollie said she enjoyed the event and mostly loved how everyone came together with the purpose of honouring Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W). “The event came as a reminder to show gratitude and uphold the honour of Islam that was beautifully taught to us by our Nabi (S.A.W),” she said.
HCIS student, Shuaib Stoffberg said the event was very beautiful as it also united all students, lecturers and parents who availed themselves for the event. “Everyone who attended the programme had a smile on their face. Hence, I wish we can have more programmes of this nature,” said Stoffberg
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