COMMUNITY RALLIES BEHIND

ISSUE 4 VOLUME 5 2010

SHEIKH MANSOUR LEGHAEI…….1

 E NTERTAINING OUR
CHILDREN—T HE SOLUTIONS…. 3

 O UR COMMUNITY. RASUL AL
A’ DHAM I SLAMIC CENTRE– B ANK-
STOWN– PROFILE …………… 6

 P ATHOLOGY OF DIVORCE––
P ART 4– A NGER MANAGEMENT
S TRATEGIES…………………….. 7

Community rallies behind Sheikh Mansour Leghaei

The past month has seen a surge in support for Sheikh Man-
sour Leghaei to remain in Australia. Not only has this been a
uniting factor for the Muslims, the Christians too have
shown their support for this movement attending rallies and
holding prayer vigils. There was a flurry of articles this
month in the major newspapers about the case mostly posi-
tive but recently, some negative articles have appeared in The
Australian newspaper. Let’s put our hands together and con-
tinue our support to Sheikh by writing to the newspapers’
editors. Let’s show our appreciation to the Greens, the Chris-
tian Coalition, and all those who are tirelessly fighting
against injustice within our community.

Christian Coalition– Some members of

the Christian Save the Sheikh Coalition.

Continued on page 2 >>>>

Show of support– A snapshot of some of

the 800 people who attended the BBQ and
rally at Steel Park Marrickville on Sunday
28th March 2010

Editorial
Salaam Alaykum! community, Sayyid Abdul Majeed Mustajaab, and his departure
from this journey of life – May Allah be pleased with him and ex-
Welcome once again to the Month of Rabi'ul Thani Al-Fajr News-
tend his mercy upon him. Surely we are Allah's and to Him we
letter!
shall surely return [Quran 2:156]
This time round we are back with more to enlighten you about the
I would also like to take advantage of the section here to praise Al-
issues facing our community especially in living in the west, this
lah (SWT) for the birth of our Imam Íasan Al-Askari (as) in this
would include the evil acts of fornication, divorce, the soft war on
month. We also urge our readers to continue to pray that we may
our thoughts and values and the final instalment with suggestions
not be deprived from our beloved Sheikh Mansour, and to remain
on how we can entertain our children to ensure healthy develop-
positive during this period leading up to the great news – Inshallah.
ment of our children.
We hope you enjoy this month’s issue, and we strongly encourage
We have also included a short biography of Ayatollah Sheikh
readers to provide us with feedback, this would be greatly appreci-
Mohammad Íusain Al-AnsÁri, one of our very humble and emi-
ated. You may contact us through info@al-fajr.org.au -
nent scholar – May Allah be pleased with him. We have also in-
cluded a story of Hayder Shkara, one of the members of Al-RasÙl Al May Allah be pleased with us all.
-A'dham Mosque in which Sheikh Al-AnsÁri leads.
Mustafa Barakat and Abidali Mohamedali (editors)
Also included is a story on one of our active members among our
 Al-Fajr – Vol. 5 (4)- 2010 2

We wage a battle with ourselves every day and increasingly the battle with our environment and thoughts foreign to us with
the line between good and evil becoming blurred. Let’s revisit the revolution of Imam Husain (as) and glean timeless morals to

The Revolution of Al-Íusain bin ‘Ali (as)- A Battle of thought, values and morals
By MohamedTufayl Mohamedali

On the face of a battle – both fighters look alike. Both are clad in
are all fighting a mental battle – at least those who observe, ques-
armour, the attire of war is present in both as they both carry the
tion, resist and seek to find meaning – those who seek to defend
sword, the shield, and both ride horses. On the level of the army,
and uphold Islamic values in the midst of moral decadence and in
the archers both have bows and arrows – perhaps the weapons are
an environment rapidly moving towards the material and base pole
even made by one and the same person and the horses are bought
of man’s existence. Muslims today can be likened to the salmon
from one and the same trader – what then is the difference be-
that swims against the current of the river – resisting the ‘flow’ to
tween the two? Why is there a bat-
get to their real and suitable habitat.
tle between the two – if there is no
outward difference – why is one
It is at this point that we can appreci-
‘twin’ attacking the other? Are they
ate the resistance and revolution of
seeking the same objective or share
Imam Íusain (as), and we can take
the same desire or is it something
lessons from his stand against false
else?
ideologies, deadly propaganda and
militant media that seek to propagate
The revolutions and reforms in the
falsehood, mischief and spurring the
context of humanity have always
greed for materialism and the fulfil-
been fought not between brothers
ment of desires – completely neglect-
but between ideologies and
ing the true nature of the human
thoughts, whereas both may seem
being, and destroying the balance.
outwardly to look the same, they
each have a difference at another
Throughout all of history, the mental
level – and this is the thought of
wars in the soul of the individual have manifested themselves as
humanity that distinguishes one from the other, and that causes
battles and wars on the field – but if we look closer, we can see that
one to fight the other or associate one with another.
these very battles and wars are constantly being fought within our-
selves – but to win we need to take lessons from the external battles
The concept of ‘fighting’ can be motivated by two causes, either
and wars, from the characteristics of the two camps and side with
for competing interests or conflicting interests – the former are
the righteous and just one. Such battles would include that of
perhaps confined to limited resources – for example two people
Prophet Musa (as) against Fir’aun, Imam ‘Ali (as) against MuÁwiya,
fighting for the same job or position. This form of battle is indi-
and Imam Íusain (as) against YazÐd.
vidualistic and limited as it is a personal and subjective interest
which has little or no bearing on the larger society or community.
Today, we are in the age of the soft war – psychological and intellec-
The battle of thoughts and values differs from the battle of com-
tual information overload in the form of media and very little if no
peting for a common object of desire, in that, the former kind of
discrimination between what is truth and what is false. Our values,
battle is what revolutions and reforms are all about – they are felt
our beliefs and our identity and morals are constantly being openly
both at the individual and societal levels and they affect not only
challenged, tarnished and attacked. We are now more than ever re-
individuals but entire populations, even if initiated between indi-
sponsible to sift and assess the information we come across – and
viduals. It is precisely this form of ‘fighting’ that was the drive
we are also now in a better position to appreciate
behind the tragedy of Karbala. Revolutions and
the importance of knowledge and the correct mental
reform are thus the terms given to battles that are The battle of Karbala framework and patterns we should adopt to re-
motivated by conflicting interests and objectives,
may be over on the spond, because it is our thought that will build us
usually a characteristic of conflicting human
thought and their effects and consequences. plains of the desert – but or destroy us. It is the task of maintaining inde-
pendent and truthful thought without allowing
it continues on in the others to think for us – for if that happens, we be-
The battle between truth and falsehood has always
plains of the hearts and come slaves – and it is this humiliation that Imam
taken this shape and many have been deceived sim-
minds of man… Íusain (as) fought so valiantly against – the hu-
ply by the occasional identical outward appearance
miliation of dependant thoughts and actions.
of both. It is important to appreciate that the very
concept of truth and falsehood is based on thought and mental-
He gave us one lesson that was the key to success in these battles –
ity – it is expressed physically because thoughts shape our actions.
‘Sacrifice’. Give one option up for a better one when you see it and
you know it. In thought and in act – we ought to be selective, and
Thus, in every age and at every level, man is in constant battle
exercise our free will – and only with that can we make sacrifices
with false thoughts and ideologies – when he succumbs, he loses
and reach the peaks of success, honour and prosperity as an individ-
both materially and spiritually – but when he resists and over-
ual, a community and a society.
comes – he profits both materially and spiritually. Applying this
reality to the contemporary time, whether we like it or not – we
 Al-Fajr– Vol. 5 (4)- 2010
Viewpoint
Entertaining our children - Some sug-
gested solutions - Part 2
by Dr. Ali AlSamail
In the first part of this article, we discussed the impact of modern
‘entertainment technology’ and the consequences of this rapidly
advancing technology on the physical and psychological
health of our children. In this second part, we hope to discuss
some of the possible solutions that have been suggested in
order to counteract the effects of this entertainment technol-
ogy and to help children grow in a healthier environment.
One obvious and important solution is physical activity.
Physical activity, in the form of casual exercise (riding a bicy-
cle around the neighbourhood), organised team sports
(joining the
local football
team) or a
family activity
(a family
bushwalk) can
have many
benefits. The
first benefit of
course is that
regular physi-
cal activity
decreases the likelihood of obesity and the numerous and danger-
ous sequelae of obesity. The second benefit is psychological. Physi-
cal activity can increase self-confidence, facilitate social interaction
and allow children and adolescents to express themselves in a health
way. It is the far better alternative to sitting at home in front of the
television or the internet, where physical inactivity, idleness and
boredom can combine to produce dangerous consequences.
Another important part of the solution is reading books. As we
discussed last week, children often complain of having too much
time, and this is part of the reason they resort to the internet and
the many avenues it provides for killing time. Unfortunately, the
internet and television offer empty solutions with little potential
for self-improvement. In the past, before this technology developed,
children would spend their time reading books as a leisure activity.
This has decreased dramatically among children and adolescents
today. Reading, even when it is purely a leisure activity, can have
great educational and psychological benefits. It improves grammar,
writing skills, vocabulary, verbal self-expression and comprehen-
sion. There is also evidence that reading improves memory and
raises intelligence. While reading, children and adolescents can pick
up a variety of skills without ever feeling that they are ‘learning’.
Reading is also important because it opens children’s and adoles-
cents’ minds and exposes them to different perspectives on life.
Reading is particularly important for our children, many of whom
have learnt English as a second language, or who at least have par-
ents who learnt English as a second language. Unfortunately, the
children of the first generation of migrants are often ‘language-less’.
They speak the language of their country of origin poorly and also
3
speak English poorly. Whilst they are in some way bilingual, they
are at the same time without a language in which they can appre-
ciate literature or communicate complex or deep thought proc-
esses. We need to encourage our children to read in either or both
the languages that they use to communicate in their everyday life,
because this can help them develop skills that may become invalu-
able in their adult life.
Of course, faced with a choice be-
tween reading and television or the
internet, the child is unlikely to
choose reading. One way around this
is to set up a bargaining system, in
which the child can earn the right to
use ‘entertainment technology’ only
if they read a certain amount of a
certain book. This relates to the dis-
cussion of discipline mentioned in
the first part of the article. Children
need to understand that good things
in life do not come cheap and that
something of good quality comes
only after effort and time. This strat-
Physical activity and reading are
just two of many ways to ensure egy of making children earn time
our children grow up to be happy that they can use for entertainment
and healthy
purposes will not only bring about a
healthy balance between work and
play, but will also allow the children to appreciate the free time
they have from a much younger age.
Finally, childhood is a wonderful time to learn. Children, and
even adolescents, have time that they will never have as adults.
They also have the capability to learn more easily and in a shorter
period of time. Therefore, once parents feel children are ready,
childhood can be a great time to learn new skills. Children can
learn a second (or third language), martial arts, public speaking or
any other specific skill or set of skills. There are so many skills
and abilities that we as adults wish we had, but which we can no
longer make time to learn. Children have a unique opportunity
to learn these skills without the constraints of time or other pres-
sures. This does not mean that children will have no free time, all
it means is that children will enjoy their free time more if they
have to earn it, and if they do not have so much of it that they do
not know what to use it for.
Of course, the conditions for parents and educators are usually
far from ideal and what has been suggested above may be difficult
to implement. However, these are suggestions that are useful to
keep in mind, and even implementing them to a small degree can
go some way to helping our children grow into healthier, happier
adults.
Dr Ali Alsamail is a graduate of the University of Newcastle
Medical Program. He is currently practicing at Bankstown-
Lidcombe Hospital. He is also a graduate of the Imam Husain
School of Islamic Theology, with a Diploma in Islamic Studies
 Al-Fajr– Vol. 5 (4)- 2010
Our Community
Every month, Al-Fajr will highlight activities of the community to create a camaraderie between ourselves and become
more aware of the services and facilities that different centres around Sydney offer. We shall endeavour to provide a snap-
shot of the activities/objectives of different centres from the members themselves! This month, we shall highlight the tragic
passing of one of the young members of the community, finally a profile of the Rasul Al-A’dham Islamic Centre as part of a
series on Islamic centres in Sydney.
Sayyid Abdul-Majid - Blessed in life and death
by Ehssan Veiszadeh
Hundreds gather at Kogarah’s Al-Ja’afaria Shi’a Islamic Centre to re-
member the life of Sayyid Abdul-Majeed Mustajab-Al Dawa
(Photo: Reza Falamaki)
For three consecutive nights, hundreds of mourners gathered at
Kogarah’s Al Ja’afaria Shi’a Islamic Centre to remember the life
of Sayed Abdul-Majeed Mustajab-Al D’awa.
On Sunday, March 21, Abdul-Majeed, 24, called the adhÁn for
Maghrib prayers at Arncliffe’s Al-ZahrÁ Mosque and made his
way to Sydney Airport to see off his brother before his trip to
Iran.
According to Bankstown police, Abdul-Majeed had been riding
his Sachs scooter on Juno Parade, Greenacre, when a black Audi
turned across his path. Paramedics took him to St George Hospi-
tal for treatment to head and leg injuries, but he died during sur-
gery.
That week, his friends organised a three-night congregation for
Abdul-Majeed at Al-Ja’afaria Shi’a Islamic Centre in Kogarah.
Abdul-Majeed’s father and brother flew from Tehran to Sydney
on Tuesday night.
4
His older brother, Abdul-Hameed, addressed the crowd gath-
ered at Al Ja’afaria Islamic Centre and explained of being con-
fronted with five urgent messages from Sydney, after checking
in to his Dubai hotel at 5:30 am.
After returning one of the calls, Abdul-Hameed was horrified to
hear of his brother’s death. ‚It was very, very tough to be on your
own and to hear this tragedy of your brother dying, but at the same
time I was thinking about Imam Husain (AS) that he was even at a
worse situation being left alone – he had no one, every single one of
his family had passed away,‛ Abdul-Hameed said.
He remembered a brother ‚full of energy‛ who made it his life
goal to defend the Ahlul Bayt any way he could.
Abdul-Hameed also explained that although he had no family
in Australia, his friends had given him the support he needed
through the difficult period following his brother’s death. ‚I’d
like to extend my appreciation to every single one of you,‛ he said.
‚This is one thing I was thinking about in Dubai when I was receiv-
ing so many phone calls from Australia. We have no one in Austra-
lia – I don’t have any uncles or aunties [in Australia]. But there were
people who were calling us and fulfilled that position of my uncle,
who fulfilled the position of my aunties and my relatives. And I
really, really appreciate Allah for that support that every one of you
has given us.‛
Sayed MaÎdi Al-Modarresi who also addressed the congrega-
tion, said the large gathering was a testament to Abdul-Majeed’s
unique personality and status in the community. ‚He was a blessed
man in his life and he is a blessed man after he has departed this world,
and this gathering is only a sign of its blessings,‛ Sayed Al-Modarresi
said.
‚As youths, brothers and sisters, this is the stuff you should aspire to and
aim for, that on the day you put your head down on the rock and you
depart this world, you have this many brothers and sisters – mu’minÐn
and faithful lovers of Allah (SWT) and followers of the Ahlul Bayt –
come to your remembrances and watch you recite beautiful recitations of
the Holy Qur’an. How noble is that? How beautiful is that?‛
Abdul-Majeed was born in Iran and moved to Australia with his
family in the late 1980’s. His mother and father returned to their
country of origin last year. Abdul-Majeed had no family in Aus-
tralia at the time of his death.
 Al-Fajr– Vol. 5 (4)- 2010 5

This is the second instalment of a new Al-Fajr feature called ‘Connecting the dots’. Each week we will profile one of Sydney’s
many Shi’a Islamic centres. Please email us with your suggestions on interesting profiles or facts about your local centre on
abidalim@gmail.com.
By Ehssan Veiszadeh
Masjid RasÙl - Al A’dham – Bankstown

Earth people,” he
says. “It’s hard for
people to get beyond
the perception that
they are the Sheikh’s
sons. They’ve talked
to me many times
about the expectations
the community places
Hayder gives out certificates to his taekwondo students on them and how it
affects them. But in the end they are very down to earth and cool peo-
ple.‛
Most teenagers look forward to a life of partying and socialising Today, 19-year-old Hayder is one of the more active members of
after getting their driver’s license. But for Hayder Shkara, getting Al-RasÙl Al-A'dham Mosque helping organise events and offering
his license meant he could attend his local Islamic centre more taekwondo lessons run from inside the centre. He says visitors to
regularly. the mosque could expect a strong spiritual experience. ‚I’m not
sure if it’s the centre ar it comes from Sheikh himself.
With the pressures of his final year
Masjid Rasul Al-A’dham - 3 Vimy There are no distractions, there’s no gimmicks. It’s just a
at high school, Hayder turned to Al-
Street, Bankstown. strong spiritual experience.‛
RasÙl Al-A'dham Mosque in Bank-
stown for spiritual relief. ‚I was actu- Weekly program:
Hayder is currently studying a combined law/
ally finishing Year 12 and I was having Thursdays: Dua Kumail after Salaat.
journalism degree at the University of Technology,
a particularly stressful time,‛ Hayder Major Occassions: Arabic Lecture after Salaat
Sydney, but says he is considering a career in taek-
The masjid is the main organiser of the Ashura Day
says. ‚I also did taekwondo and com- wondo. Last year Hayder represented Australia at
processions in the city.
peted overseas during my HSC and that For more information please visit the Taekwondo World Championships in Den-
also stressed me out a lot. So I’d go to www.alansaree.info or www.ashura.com.au mark, reaching the third round.
the mosque maybe once or twice a week,
but that was on my own accord which
was something I never thought of doing.‛ Profile: Ayatollah Sheikh MuÎammad
Hayder recalls visiting the Bankstown mosque for the first time as
Íusain Al-AnsÁri
an 11-year-old. He remembers accompanying his father to small
gatherings of local faithfuls, gathered to listen to Ayatollah Ayatollah Sheikh MuÎammad Íusain Al-AnsÁri was born in Iraq in
MuÎammad Íusain al-AnÒÁri’s sermons. ‚I remember that despite 1952. He was brought up into a family known for its religious back-
the low number of people, Sheikh was really humble and made everyone ground and scholarship. He gained much knowledge from his fa-
feel really comfortable, despite his status.‛ ther Hujjah Sheikh Abdul Ghaffar Al-AnsÁri during the period of
his academic studies.
Ayatollah al-AnÒÁri is Australia’s most senior Shi’a cleric and is
After finishing a degree in Civil Engineering from Baghdad Univer-
the representative of Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali SÐstÁni. ‚I didn’t
sity, Sheikh moved to Najaf Al-Ashraf in the middle of the seventies
really understand the importance of
and started his studies in that well-known university of Is-
Sheikh back then, but now that I
lamic knowledge and law until he attained the position of
think back on it, it would have
IjtihÁd. He studied and taught there until the year 1991 when
been very humbling for a person like
he migrated to the Holy city of Qum in Iran.
him to be at a place with such a low
crowd.‛ In Qum he continued teaching and attending the lectures of
his first cousin, Grand Ayatollah Sheikh AÎmad Ñebt al-
Towards the end of high school, Sheikh Al-AnsÁri until the late Marj’a died about 1996. He
Hayder began to take a keener did not attend any other lectures and continued giving lec-
interest in the sermons and tures in high levels of Fiqh (jurisprudence), UsÙl (principles),
started to attend the mosque AqÁed (beliefs), TafsÐr (commentaries on the Qur’an), etc,
more regularly. It was then that until he left Qum towards Australia in 1999.
he befriended Sheikh al-AnÒÁri’s
three sons. ‚They seemed really He is currently mostly residing in Sydney, serving as the resi-
nice, polite, easy-going and down to dent Àlim at Al-RasÙl Al-A'dham Mosque in Bankstown.
 Al-Fajr– Vol. 5 (4)- 2010
This month, we shall continue our discussion on the major causes of domestic violence– that of anger and discuss some sug-
gested and recommended ways to eliminate this illness from our hearts.
The Pathology of Divorce– Domestic Violence P2– Let’s diffuse the anger!
CAUSES OF ANGER
The first and most effective step towards curing a disease is identi-
fying the cause of the disease. Often this alone can lead to a cure
or even more effectively, a suitable prevention strategy. Under-
standing the cause of anger can aid greatly in recognising anger,
acknowledging it, identifying areas of weakness and thus leading
to its effective prevention.
 Loss of Control - One of the fundamental causes of anger is
the loss of control over one’s emotions. Anger is caused by
one’s inability to mentally cope with frustrating situations.
Angry people wish to solve a problem emotionally. This can
manifest itself when one has to illusion of not being in full
control of a situation.
 Biological Causes - Illness in gen-
eral and specific diseases such as
thyroidism (low or high produc-
tion of thyroxin), low blood sugar,
pre and post menstrual cycle etc.,
often can lead to emotional epi-
sodes. This does not give the right
to the sufferer to get angry but he/
she must avoid situations that
trigger the emotions and attempt
to control them nonetheless.
 Pride - Men are often subject to
this, considering themselves the
‘lord of the house’. This notion of
superiority often leads to conflict
when that so called superiority is
challenged. Prophet ‘Isa (as) was
asked as to what precedes anger, he replied ‚Pride, arrogance,
and belittling people‛ (MishkÁt al AnwÁr : 219)
 Learning- One of the more influential and yet controllable
causes of anger is the influence of peers, parents, movies and
violent games. Children especially, learn anger and aggression
from their environment and therefore it is imperative that
every parent beware of what their child is watching, who he/
she is playing with and what he/she is playing. Seemingly
harmless violent games can result in harmful personalities
later in life.
WHAT TRIGGERS ANGER
Several things can lead to an episode of anger in most normal
people. Although in some cases those with a severe anger problem
need the slightest of triggers. These people are mentally ill and
therefore need professional treatment. The triggers of anger can
be:
 Revenge mentality- Often those who suffer from the
character of revenge hold grudges for years and can
rehash old wounds with surprising speed and clarity.
This character can be remedied by inculcating and
developing the character of forgiveness. Just as one
6
Series of Lectures presented by Sh. Mansour Leghaei– Written by Abidali
would want to be forgiven by the Almighty (SWT) on
the day of judgment, so one must forgive the mistakes
and misgivings of others especially the loved ones.
 Sexual frustration- Often affects men more than
women, whereas the woman may have lack of sexual
desire while the man is virile and active. This often
leads to sexual frustration and anger.
 Stubbornness- This problem affects both sexes
equally, often in the times of anger some have the ten-
dency of being stubborn in reaction to the anger. This
often leads to more anger and perhaps even violence.
At times of anger the receiving party must con-
cede, even if temporarily, to calm the situation
down.
 Humiliation- Chronic humiliation of a
person would eventually lead to severe anger. It
is essential that both parties in any relation-
ship especially that of marriage, be treated with
respect and affection. One of the essential
characteristic of a wife is that she be
‘obedient’ (QÁnitÁtun), to her husband as much
as she is to her father.
 Unnecessary jokes- As mentioned in
the last article, sensitive jokes often lead to
provocation and episodes of anger.
 Hunger- The common English saying ‘a
hungry man is an angry man’ rings very true.
 Fatigue– Physical and mental fatigue
coupled with any form of provocative or non-
provocative action may lead to anger. One must
choose appropriate times to bring up problems or
issues.
In each of the above cases it must be noted that the most effective
way to keep the peace is to ensure that anger is not triggered, but
it should be understood that the one who suffers anger must
work to ensure that these or any other triggers do not lead to loss
of control. This list is not exhaustive and different people and
personalities have different triggers.
BITTER FRUITS OF ANGER
Anger is the key to all evils and when one recognises the bitter
fruits of this character, one cannot help but avoid it. It can:
 Spoil Faith– By being angry, one looses control over one’s
mind and hence eventually indulges in numerous sins. This
action on its own leads to the erosion of faith.
 Effects on children– One of the most profound effects of
anger are the effects that manifest themselves often after
many years in the offspring. Effects range from anger itself
to low self esteem leading to other psychological and physi-
Continued on page 7 >>>>
 Al-Fajr– Vol. 5 (4)- 2010 7

cal disorders including depression, eating disorders, discon- Duties of the Sufferer
tentment, etc. Often children of parents who get angry end
up in broken relationships and are ill equipped to handle Although this applies mostly to men, it can be translated to fe-
difficult situations. males also who have this problem of anger.

 Turns a gentleman to a  CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy)- En-

criminal– Respectable deavour to rationalise the situation and diffuse
people who suffer from the ‘perceived’ anger first. Understand the
anger often end up com- ‘threat’ against you and then react in the way that
mitting severe crimes of is most appropriate.
domestic violence, or in  Remember God and His wrath on you. The
extreme cases even homi- simple rule one must remember is that as much
cide and suicide. as you hurt the other you will be hurt more! Ac-
 Hostility (not to accept cording to ahadith, even if one dies a martyr, he
the unchangeable)- The will not be able to avoid the wrath of Allah
definition of hostility in (SWT) for hurting a creature of Allah (SWT) and
this case is the inability not having sought forgiveness or not having be-
to accept the unchange- ing forgiven by that person.
able. These people can-  Use Humour- silly humour can defuse rage.
not take rejection or The angry person must use humour to diffuse
criticism and become the situation and avoid the emotion of anger
cynical and hostile to gripping the mind.
even well seeming and
positive criticism. They  Drop your expectation - Do not expect too
therefore are unable to much from your spouse, such that the situation
effectively develop them- does not allow you to become angry or frus-
selves. trated.

 Depression- depression is anger turned inward toward the
self.
 Cardiovascular problems- especially in older people can
result from chronic anger.
Even though anger is more prevalent in young adult males, if
anger is not controlled at a younger age, it will most certainly
affect the sufferer even in old age making the person more stub-
born and angry at little things.
TECHNIQUES TO MANAGE ANGER
In managing anger, like any other illness, there are responsibilities
that both the recipient and the sufferer must implement to ensure
that the ailment is cured. Anger and domestic violence as its con-
sequence is similar in that context.
Duties of the Recipient
1. Understand the triggers of anger in the spouse and endeavour
to avoid these.
2. Agree with him/her (for the time being)- It does no good to
bring up issues at an inappropriate time or place. This is espe-
cially true at the time when the person is angry and is unwill-
ing to listen to reason. Accept defeat at that time and bring up
the issue when the situation has calmed down.
3. Choose the best time and the words. Do not confront your
spouse when he/she is hungry and tired! Feed/entertain them
before letting loose with what has been troubling. Find the
appropriate good mood to bring up sensitive issues.
 Change your position and environment - Imam ‘Ali (as)
says ‚when you get angry, keep quiet‛. In another place Imam
‘Ali (as) advises his companions to sit if they are standing
and lie down if they are sitting when they are angry. This
could involve taking a walk outside or another action that
may diffuse the negative thoughts.
 Make a wuÃhÙ’ or ghusl with cold water- Hadith have
mentioned that anger is the fire of shaitÁn, distinguish it
with wuÃhÙ’ or ghusl with cold water.
 Hug and kiss your children- This is an elixir that can read-
ily diffuse anger. If constantly done, can eliminate emotional
outburst in the home.
 Keep a punching bag handy!
This is if worse comes to
worse.
 Seek counselling and ther-
apy. If symptoms persist see a
doctor and often only a men-
tal institution and potent
medication and therapy can
be used to control anger if
none of the above works.
 Remember Prophetic Words of Wisdom (below)
Prophetic words of wisdom
‚No servant of God has ever drunk a drink better in the Sight of God
than an anger that he repressed for the sake of Allah‛ (Kanzul
‘Ummaal:5819) ‚O Moses! Control your anger against whom I have
authorised you over, and I will control My Wrath against you.‛ (Al-
 Al-Fajr– Vol. 5 (4)- 2010
From this issue, we will analyse the topic of adultery and fornication, its evil nature and how we can avoid it based on the
teachings of the Holy Qur’an in Surah Nur.
Fornication is Corruption
In Islam, the Arabic term ZinÁ signifies voluntary sexual inter-
course between one individual and another while not being married
to each other, irrespective of whether one or both of them are mar-
ried to other persons or not. Hence, it does not, in contrast with
the usage prevalent in most Western languages, differentiate be-
tween the concepts of "adultery" (i.e., sexual intercourse of a mar-
ried man with a woman other than his wife, or of a married woman
with a man other than her husband) and "fornication" (i.e., sexual
intercourse between two unmarried persons which includes extra-
marital sexual intercourse).
The etymology of the word adultery comes from the Latin words
‘ad’ (toward), and ‘alter’ (other), which is interpreted as possessing a
sexual desire towards others (i.e., outside of the contract of mar-
riage), which translates further into sexual corruption, and conjugal
infidelity.
The Chapter of ‘Al-NÙr’ (Surah 24) in the Holy Qur’an is solely
dedicated by Allah (SWT) to this evil act of ZinÁ. It deals with is-
sues such as sexual relations, marital and extramarital relations, the
impact of an individual sexual behaviour on the self as well as pub-
lic heath. In this chapter of the Qur’an, Allah (SWT) has issued
some decrees that are not mere matters of convenience. Allah has
ordained these decrees for our serious observance in life. Even the
very recitation of this chapter should be observed as it can protect
one’s wealth, private parts and women from such indecencies, as
observed in the following tradition: Imam Sadiq (as): “Protect your
wealth and your private parts by recitation of Surah al-NÙr, and protect
your women with it.” [al-Sadooq; ThawÁbul-A’mal, p.138]
One might ask why is it that people enter into such an evil path
even though they clearly know that it is wrong? Instinctively, in 6. Obligation of HijÁb and prohibition of adornments for non-
every human being there is an inner energy called libido, which is
responsible for the sexual desire that one may experience. Sexual
activity is one of the literal physiological human needs, included on
Maslow's hierarchy of needs. The functions and purpose of the sex-
ual desire is for mating (forces that lead to marriage) and reproduc-
tion (continuation of creation), which assists in maintaining the 7. Prohibition of all alcoholic beverages: –The key of fornication –
survival of the human race.
In understanding that sexual activity is a human need, an individ-
ual may undertake to satisfy such needs through either marriage or
fornication. Both of these are sexual activities, however marriage is
morally lawful, publicly celebrated and is the means in which indi-
viduals will be able to tame the inner wild creature that exists
within in a stable, predictable, safe and psychologically sound man-
ner. However, adultery is morally unlawful, a shameful act that is
publicly hated and is the means for unleashing that inner wild crea-
ture. This creature once unleashed, is never satiated but demands
more, the more you give it. The psychological dimensions of adul-
tery and its social ramifications are severe and long lasting.
This prohibition of fornication has its roots in all divine religions,
for example, in Judaism the Old Testament states, ‚You shall commit
no adultery‛ [Exo 20:14]. In Christianity the New Testament states,
‚You have heard that it was said: Do not commit adultery. But I tell you
that anyone who looks lustfully at a woman has in his heart already com-
mitted adultery with her‛ [Matt 5:27]. Finally in Islam, the complete
and final message to man, the Quran states, ‚And do not approach
8
Written by Musatfa Barakat, Based on lecture by Sheikh Mansour Leghaei
Zina, verily it is a shameful act and an evil way‛ [Surah 17: Ayah
32]. Clearly, the condemnation of adultery is introduced to hu-
mankind in stages where the final message is that even the mere
approaching of this act is vicious and condemned.
Islam has condemned this act to the extent that there are very spe-
cific laws that enable the community to ensure that even approach-
ing this sin is avoided. These laws include:
1. Dividing humans into two categories of: Mahram (Mahram’s
are a group of persons to witch marriage is forbidden e.g.
mother) and non-Mahram. The full list can be obtained from
the Holy Qur’an. (Surah NisÁ: 22-23)
2. Prohibition of physical contact between non-Mahrams. Imam
Sadiq (a.s): ‚There is no one except that they have committed fornica-
tion: As the fornication of the eyes is to see, and the fornication of the
mouth is to kiss, and the fornication of hands is to touch”. [Wasa’elu-
Shi’a vol.20 p.191]
3. Prohibition of mingling of non-Mahrams.
4. Prohibition of lustful looks (to be sexually aroused in looking at
another): whether live or on screen; such as TV, internet
(Facebook), magazines, posters, etc. Imam ÑÁdiq (as) said: “a
(lustful) look is one of the poisonous arrows of Satan, and how many
(lustful) looks inherited long regrets.” [Ibid]
5. Prohibition of privacy between non-Mahrams. It is narrated
from the Prophet MuÎammad (saw): ‚Whoever believes in Allah
and the Last Day then shall not sleep in a place wherein he can hear
the breathing of a woman who is not Mahram to him.‛ [Wasa’lu-
Shi’a- vol.20 p.185]
Mahrams – The rules of Islam are two sided, on the one hand
males are commanded to lower their gaze, while on the other
hand females are obliged to dress modestly – this acts as a bar-
rier from entering into illicit relationships – for a healthy soci-
ety the dress code must be respected.
Alcohol places an individual in the state of unconsciousness
with respect to one’s conscience (i.e. ability to determine be-
tween right and wrong). This makes it easier for one to open the
gates that lead to fornication.
8. Prohibition of music since it plays with the subconscious: –The
transmitter of fornication – Music also places an individual in the
state of unconsciousness with respect to the remembrance of
God, Hence making it easier for one to open the gates that lead
to fornication.
9. Encouraging marriage and discouraging celibacy - Islam has
enunciated the easiest ways of satisfying sexual desires and ful-
filling sensual feelings, leaving no excuse for one to enter into
fornication.
10. Permission of divorce. [when necessary]
11. Prescription of fasting.
12. Legislation of various types of punishment, both in this world
and the next – these serve as a deterrent from stepping into these
evil paths.
*Detailed explanations will come in subsequent articles.