South Africa Comedy Scandal

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh

Events:

At the same venue, there were two separate events:

1. Marriage Conference: This was attended by Ulama
2. Ilm Arts Festival: This had nothing to do with the Ulama

The Incident:

During the Ilm Arts Festival (after the Marriage Conference event) in South Africa, a comedian by the name of Yusuf (Joey) Rasdien committed two errors:

1. He addressed Sayyiduna Abu Huraira (RA) as “That Bra…”and then began questioning how he could have written more than forty thousand narrations of the messenger of Allah in just two years. “There is 365 days in a year which makes it 740 days in two years which gives you 1440 minutes per day, plus you must sleep. How can you write forty thousand hadiths in two years?”
2. He then seemed to mock a Muslim woman who clearly felt uncomfortable.

Organisers:

1. They IMMEDIATELY had Yusuf (Joey) Rasdien removed
2. His slot was cancelled on the spot
3. They apologised for the incident

http://www.radioislam.org.za/a/index.php/latest-news/21561-ilm-arts-distances-itself-from-joey-rasdiens-mocking-of-prophet-muhammads-pbuh-companions.html

Yusuf (Joey) Rasdien:

Apologised in person and then made his apology public

https://twitter.com/Abramjee/status/889101138074767360

The Ulama:

Remember that they were not part of the second event at the same venue (i.e. Ilm Arts Festival). Nevertheless:

1. They condemned it the same day in the strongest terms
2. They stated that comedy or satire cannot be used to mock Islam, its symbols or anything sacred in it

http://www.radioislam.org.za/a/index.php/latest-news/21562-ulama-condemn-sacrilegious-satire-by-joey-rasdien.html

The Deception:

Considering the Deobandi position, there (appear to) valid concerns around segregation within the Marriage Conference. This has happened in the West and several events have been rightly criticised and organisers were prompted to put safeguards in place to strengthen segregation and  to lessen the chances of free mixing.

Nevertheless, the deception continues to make it appear that Ulama either attended the (Ilm Arts) Festival, or sanctioned it, or were part of it.  In order to settle old scores both events have been lumped into the same category for maximum shock value and politicking effect.

Jamiatul-Ulama (South Africa) Respond:

Deplorable Politicking

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The Reality of South Africa:

From a South African (reworded from what I understood):

South Africans just like (other Muslims) have problems with a rising percentage of (marital) relationships breaking down. They also have problems with finding suitable matches for Muslims who are looking to get married. The matter needs to be resolved and practical solutions need to be found. Perhaps, certain aspects of marriage conference need to be tuned and work needs to be done to make it (more) compliant with the Sunnah and we need to work on the concerns of the Ulama. However, it is devastating to see that a potentially positive development to address the needs and concerns of Muslims of South Africa has been hijacked for politicking. With a positive attitude, the (valid) concerns of Ulama about the marriage conference can be addressed and (valid) issues can be resolved. How are South African Muslims supposed to address and rectify fundamental issues within the Muslim community? 

I have not found it in any statement or discussions. If you have any factual statement about THIS EVENT from last month please bring it to my attention.

Remember to do your due diligence in confirming the events, a certain website promising fire and fury upon everyone is not a credible source of information.

Jazakallahu Khayran

Jazakallahu Khayran for the response. Again, let me know when you have done your due diligence and have verified the information.

I admire your morals. However, you have bought up an issue and all I am asking for you to do is to do your due diligence via multiple sources to check and ascertain if the (said) incident did occur.

It is very clear from the outset that certain organisations and personalities are muddying the waters by lumping all issues under a single incident thus raising the shock value for maximum exposure.

It is our duty as a Muslim to try to bring Muslims together and not to pour gasoline on a burning fire. Because it is our duty assigned by Allah Ta’ala in the Qur’aan and this is what Sunnah teaches us:

وَإِنْ طَائِفَتَانِ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ اقْتَتَلُوا فَأَصْلِحُوا بَيْنَهُمَا فَإِنْ بَغَتْ إِحْدَاهُمَا عَلَى الْأُخْرَى فَقَاتِلُوا الَّتِي تَبْغِي حَتَّى تَفِيءَ إِلَى أَمْرِ اللَّهِ فَإِنْ فَاءَتْ فَأَصْلِحُوا بَيْنَهُمَا بِالْعَدْلِ وَأَقْسِطُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُقْسِطِينَ

[49:9] And if two factions among the believers should fight, then make settlement between the two. But if one of them oppresses the other, then fight against the one that oppresses until it returns to the ordinance of Allah . And if it returns, then make settlement between them in justice and act justly. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly.

عن أبي الدرداء رضي الله عنه قال : قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : ( أَلا أُخْبِرُكُمْ بِأَفْضَلَ مِنْ دَرَجَةِ الصِّيَامِ وَالصَّلاةِ وَالصَّدَقَةِ ؟ قَالُوا : بَلَى . قَالَ : صَلاحُ ذَاتِ الْبَيْنِ ، فَإِنَّ فَسَادَ ذَاتِ الْبَيْنِ هِيَ الْحَالِقَةُ )

Abu’l-Darda’ (RA) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace be upon Him) said: “Shall I not tell you something that is better than the status of (voluntary) fasting, prayer and charity?” They said: “Yes.” He said: “Reconciling in a case of discord, for the evil of discord is the shaver.”

عن أم كلثوم بنت عقبة بن أبي معيط أنها سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وهو يقول : ( لَيْسَ الْكَذَّابُ الَّذِي يُصْلِحُ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ فَيَنْمِي خَيْرًا أَوْ يَقُولُ خَيْرًا ) . رواه البخاري

Sayyida Umm Kalthoom (RA) said that she heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace be upon Him) say: “He is not a liar who seeks to reconcile between people and says good things.

As far as humans are concerned, they are prone to error and they will make mistakes. We will make mistakes and we will continue to do so. Islam commands us to have Husnudh-Dhan towards other Muslims. We have the right to refute falsehoods but we do not have the right to personally target people.

Whatever your take is on the situation and whichever side you wish to take on the matter, one fact is emphatically clear:

(Maulana) Ebrahim Bham (HA) and other Ulama WERE NOT physically present when the incident (whatever it was), happened. Therefore, they cannot possibly be held responsible (Islamically, morally, legally) for what happened in their absence.

I know that you are clever, intelligent and astute enough to grasp this. Whether, you choose to grasp it or not, is between you and Allah Ta’ala.  

There was a time when parents and families taught their children manners, basic decency and morality. You do not humiliate people, you do not insult people, and you do not degrade people. In this case, (Ulama) are being blamed for something, which happened behind their back, how could any human being with a shred of decency stand for such character assassination? People have the right to disagree with an opinion (vociferously even) but they do not have the right to throw mud at their character for something, which is clearly and demonstrably not their fault.

How can any decent human being stand for such viciousness? What sort of poison permeates the hearts of people to become so vindictive and personal? And what kind of Bias clouds the mind and judgement of otherwise sane individuals to see the matter (clearly) and yet ignore the injustice? Do they believe that they will not be questioned by Allah Ta’ala on the day of judgement?