But is it Art?

Untitled
by Muhammad Bhorat

Cape Town - Sunset from Table Mountain

Asalaamu alaykum,

This picture was taken from Table Mountain at sunset. You can see one of the old buildings in the foreground.

Was-salaam,
Aslam Bhorat

Cape Town - City Bowl at Sunset

Asalaamu alaykum,

Alhumdulillah we recently spent a week on holiday back in Cape Town. It was nice to see old friends and we were able to spend time with Uncle Zakie. He is recovering well from his recent illness but still needs more treatment. Please remember him in your dua and pray that Allah Ta'ala gives him strenght at this time.

Alhumdulillah Cape Town is very scenic and even after having stayed there for so long, we are still taken back the beauty created by the All Mighty. I took this picture just after sunset from Signal Hill.


Was-salaam,
Aslam Bhorat

Asad and family

Salaams to all,

Asad had his angiogram today to find out if his coarctation of his aorta was something we should be concerned about and whether drastic measures had to be taken. Shukar Allhumdullillah, all is well and theres no major problems, except that they had difficulty finding a heart to begin with. Asad means so much to the many people in his life that I was scared into thinking what it would be like without him around.I realize how much we take our loved ones for granted,for I will not survive without him. On a lighter note,the kids are fine and driving me to insanity. Please remember us in your duas.

Salaams,
Sumaiya

Home Sweet Home

I recently travelled to Buenos Aires for a meeting. I was only away for a few days but I missed home a lot. This was what I saw from the plane window as we approached the airport in Cape Town. It felt good to be becoming home. Alhumdulillah I reached home safely later that same day.

Aslam
Durban

Food for Thought

Please read this article:

Credit crunch? The real crisis is global hunger by George Monbiot

Salaams,
Aslam

Return from Hajj

AlhamduLillah, our Hajj trip was very nice and Insha-Allah aceeepted!  Sameera, Zai and mysefl had a very great experience and all went well.  We were very tired on return, and got sick, but are now missing our time in both Medina and Mecca.  Medina, is as always, a peaceful and welcoming place.  Mecca is very busy and business orientated.

 

The 5 days were nice, and Mina and Arafat were excellent.  The only adjustment is to the tolets, but not as bad as what I had prepared myself for.  May Allah accept all the Hajis duas and prayers, and grant those who have not yet been the ability to perform their Hajj soon..

 

Qasim & Family

TARC Open letter to Oregan Hoskins

TRANSFORMATION AND ANTI-RACISM RUGBY COMMITTEE

PO Box 4443, Cresta 2118
Tel +27119843254
Fax +27119844417
Cell +27845852300

29th November 2007

Oregan Hoskins
President of the South African Rugby Union

Dear Oregan,

Re: Open letter to Oregan Hoskins, President of the South African Rugby Union

The Transformation and Anti-racism Rugby Committee (TARC) met with you in your capacity as President of the SARU on the 6th of September 2006. The meeting was requested by you to discuss the issues of racism and transformation in rugby. At this meeting it was agreed by both parties that the issues of racism and transformation in rugby were important challenges facing SA Rugby. You stated that you were committed to addressing these challenges. More than a year has passed since that meeting and the TARC would like to highlight important issues and raise certain questions relating to the transformation of rugby in the country.

The euphoria of winning the Rugby World Cup has temporarily relegated the failure to transform rugby to the sidelines. The emotive outpouring by the public has helped side step the issue of poor administration. However, most people realise that the World Cup was won in spite of your rugby administration and not because it. The TARC would like to challenge your leadership concerning the following issues.

1. Why has the timeframe to select the next national coach been changed? The initial date of the 4th of December 2007 to begin the final process in the selection of the next coach is being moved to a later as yet unspecified date. Why is the selection process so prolonged? The SARU, impatiently, started the process during the World Cup by advertising the post for the National Coach while the tournament was still in progress and now chooses to delay the selection. Is this delay to allow the SARU more time to gauge the prevailing sentiment and to manipulate the process accordingly? Will the SARU have the courage to commit to transformation meaningfully by appointing a black coach and in so doing risk alienating their traditional support base? The TARC believes that the only viable solution is to immediately appoint a black coach and to afford him the support and commitment such a position deserves. It is equally vital that the SARU commit to a process of empowering black coaches at all levels of rugby and supporting the development of black coaches for the future. The SARU Elite Coaches programme provided for the training of black coaches up to level three IRB accreditation but failed to provide opportunities for the successful coaches. The provincial unions continue to ambush the transformation agenda and have been allowed to continue using less qualified white coaches instead of giving opportunities to black coaches who have come through the SARU Elite Coaches programme. This proves what the TARC has always said. Development initiatives need to be tied to opportunities programmes to promote change. The same applies to the development of black managers, administrators, referees, medical staff and players.

2. What have you done, Mr Hoskins, since your appointment as president to prioritise and drive the process of transformation? Is the Transformation Charter, that you have adopted, dead? The process of completing the balanced score cards by the unions began in June last year. This was meant to be an urgent process to identify the status quo and define the base line. Has this process been completed or has the provincial unions chosen to ignore the scorecards? Was the Charter an attempt at pacifying key stakeholders like Government or just a delaying tactic allowing the SARU time to invent another pseudo-transformation initiative? Over the past sixteen years the SARU has moved from one transformation initiative to the next at great cost to rugby only to defer the problem to a future generation. The TARC believes that your leadership has failed to deliver a sustainable development programme and in fact has driven black rugby clubs to their present crisis. Club aid is an issue in point.


3. Has the SARU abandoned the quota system? If so, what development plan do you have to offer opportunities to the disadvantaged majority? Has the SARU misunderstood the gesture offered by the Minister of Sport believing falsely that the Government and the people of South Africa are content with the demographic representation of the National team? You have failed to lead a partnership with Government that prioritises rugby development in disadvantaged areas. What system will you have to negate the underlying racism inherent in the selection of teams, coaches and referees in many instances in rugby?


4. Do you believe that the Springbok emblem should be retained by the SARU? The emblem carries the baggage of the past but is a goldmine for the SARU. What percentage of profits made by the SARU by the Springbok emblem is channelled into rugby development in historically disadvantaged communities? Is the Springbok brand used to reinforce racial exclusivity in rugby?


Rugby as with all sport in the country belongs to the entire nation. As president of the SARU you are accountable. Actions taken by you must be transparent, honest and for the good of rugby in the long term and more importantly they must lead rugby forward into a truly non-racial era. You have failed to demonstrate leadership that will lead South African rugby forward. Your administration has been plagued with mismanagement, indecisiveness and hidden agendas and has allowed a national sport to bow down to the whims of a third force. The TARC demands that you reconsider making yourself available for re-election in March next year and do the right thing by stepping down as president of the SARU. The time has come for leadership with vision and strength.


Yours faithfully,
Dr As’ad Bhorat
Secretary of the TARC

Away on Hajj.

 

AlhumduLillah, myself, Sameera and Zahedah have been blessed to get accredited for this years Hajj.  It was difficult and very frustrating with SAHUC's procedures, but all is finally over.  We are leaving on the 26th of Novemebr and return on the 24th December, Insha_Allah.

 

Naseem and Aliyah (wife) are also going, leaving on the 29th of Novemebr.  Ismail Pappa and Aunty Shaid have already left.  It will be nice to meet and spend time with them there.

 

Finally the time of departue is almost upon us, but we are dreading leaving the 2 kids, Yusuf (almost 3) and Hamza (now 7months) in Durban.  Sameera is down with them, getting them acclimatised, and only coming up tomorrow.  May Allah make it easy on the children and accept all the Hajee's efforts and duas.

 

Make maaf for anything tha I may have done or said, and remember us in your duas.

 

Qasim, Sameera and Zahedah

Khadija's Baby Label

Double Trouble

Asalaamu alaykumm,

We had an eventful day on the 30th April. First Qasim and Sameera saw the arrival of a baby boy at 04h30 in the morning. They have decided to call him by the name Hamza (not Yahya as previously blogged...oops:). Please make dua that he grows up to be a pious Muslim and a joy to his parents.

Saaleha and I were on the way to hospital when we received the news as she had just gone into labour. A baby girl was born at 16h37 the very same day. Alhumdulillah mother and daughter are well. We have named her Khadija. Please make dua that she is also a pious Muslim and the coolness of her parents eyes.

We have already been asked how we managed to have 2 babies born on the same day but that is all due to Allah Ta'ala. Will post some pics soon insha allah.

Was-salaam,
Aslam

No. 2 - On the Way

Glad to hear from Suleman.  All well in Jhb, Sameera is due on the 8th of May with No. 2, Insha-Allah.  Yusuf is now over 2 years and quite a handful.  Mummy says he is just like how I was as a child... not too sure about that.  Anyone remember me being a scamp and thug???

 

As'ad and I played rugby 2 weekends ago for the first time!  After a few tackles and runs on the wing, I really enjoyed it.  I still have a few pains in certain joints, but it was nice.  We should have had an ML Sultan rugby team...

 

Did anyone see me getting "toasted" on the Hot Seat??  Wasnt too good, but a nice experience.  How was my hot sports question, compared to the other guy, not fair...

 

Salaams to all,

 

Qasim

Happened in our Backyard

This happened in our back yard. We have a big tree that was overgrown with a cactus. One of the branches broke off under the weight and landed on our car port! The car sustained minor damage and the Jungle Gym was spared completely.

Aslam

Baby

Asalaamu alaykum,

Nice to see a new entry from Suleman. We have also had it hot here in Durban. The discomfort index has regularly taken the temperature over 40 degrees celcius. Seems to be cooling down now alhumdulillah.

Saaleha is expecting our second baby, and alhumdulillah, all is well.Please make dua for the baby and the mother for the remainder of the pregnancy and the labour.

Aslam
Durban

Salaams

*H----E----L----L----O IS ANYBODY OUT THERE.....IS IEMAN DAAR....KOI CHE THA!!!!* :-D ;-) :-)

O.K. so there went another year and it was good to hear from everybody. Thanks and keep up the blogging guys, good stuff! Anyway we just had a very hot last week with the last couple of days at 42 deg. cel. I hope it was cooler everywhere else. The kids are growing up fast and time is flying by. Our house should be ready in the next few months insha-allah and Ashraf's house should be a month earlier. It is all very hectic.

Naseem, I hope that you are still basking in the honeymoon period - like i said cuz, u can make it last for as long as u like ;-) . So is South Africa going to be ready for the 2010 world cup... I don't think so. What do you guys think? Maybe they are waiting for the last minute...like they say, If it was'nt for the last minute nothing will get done! Hope to hear from eveyone once again in 2007. Make it good guys!!!

Salaams to all

Suleman and Family

Ramadaan Mubaruk to all

Instigating a wider war

July 20, 2006
A Handful of Neocons Are Instigating a Wider War. Will Americans join Iraqis, Lebanese, and Palestinians as neocon victims?
by Paul Craig Roberts

What explains the indifference of the Bush administration to the slaughter of civilians in Iraq, Lebanon, and Gaza?

As of the morning of July 19, Israeli bombardments of Lebanese civilian residential districts and public infrastructure have murdered 300 Lebanese, wounded 1,000, and displaced 500,000. The Lebanese prime minister said that Israel's attack has caused "unimaginable losses" and that his government will seek compensation from Israel.

In Gaza, Israel has murdered scores of Palestinian civilians in the past few days.

In Iraq, the civilian daily death toll has risen above 100.

These dead are not Hezbollah militia. They are not Hamas militia. They are not al-Qaeda or Sunni insurgents. They are civilians.

Frustrated by Hezbollah, Israel is lashing out at hapless civilians, knowing that the U.S. will protect Israel from UN Security Council condemnation.

Frustrated by Sunni insurgents, the U.S. has instigated sectarian strife.

Bush has stonewalled the UN, our European allies, and the Lebanese prime minister, all of whom are calling and pleading for Bush to pressure the Israelis to stop their cowardly slaughter from the air of Lebanese civilians.

The Guardian reports that Bush gave Israel the green light to attack Lebanon and has given Olmert another week to pound Lebanon.

U.S. Secretary of State Condi Rice has announced that she will go to the Middle East to resolve "the crisis" when it is appropriate. Apparently, the appropriate time is not when people are dying and a country, which had only just recovered from the last Israeli invasion, is again being
bombed into rubble.

How many more war crimes must Israel commit before Bush and Condi Rice put aside their indifference?

On July 19, the Israelis turned their air attack on the Christian area of Beirut. The Lebanese Christians can thank the American evangelical Rev. John Hagee, who has thrown his 18,000 member Texas church behind Israeli aggression.

Bush cannot claim public support for his indifference.

As of noon July 19, 800,000 people had participated in CNN's Quick Vote, with the result that 55 percent oppose Israel's attack on Lebanon. This result is despite the fact that U.S. television reporting explains the news from the Israeli perspective.

Similarly, in Israel a survey published by Israeli daily newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth showed 53 percent of Israelis polled said Israel should hold negotiations to secure the release of the Israeli soldier captured in Gaza, while 43 percent backed a military operation.

A poll taken by the Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz reports that 28 percent of Israelis believe Israel should immediately stop bombing Lebanon, compared to 7 percent who believe that the bombing should continue until the captured soldiers are freed, and 14 percent who believe bombing should continue until Lebanon agrees to disarm Hezbollah – a task that Israel's invasion has made more impossible than ever.

If these polls are reliable, one can conclude that the U.S. and Israeli populations are more moral, and more concerned with human life, than are the leaders of the two countries.

Neither can Bush claim that he is supporting Israel because he is Israel's friend. If Bush were Israel's friend, he would not have given a green light to Israel's aggression, which will create more hatred of Israel.

As a number of Israeli writers have pointed out, Israel has shown tooth and claw to its Arab neighbors for decades to no avail.

Writing in Ha'aretz, Yitzhak Laor notes that Israel's problems are not the result of insufficient bombing and destruction of Arab populations. Yet, once again Israeli militants are "enlarging the circle of hostilities, including harming civilians. What Israel's 'strategists' have to offer is the destruction of yet another country."

Laor says the Americans can do this in Iraq with less consequence for themselves, because "the Americans do not intend to live in this region." Israelis cannot afford to show only tooth and claw to their neighbors, because "we do live here."

It sometimes seems Bush goes beyond indifference to contentment with the slaughter of Muslim civilians. Bush has even come across as gleeful as if he is on a dove hunt in a baited Texas field where joy resides in the killing of countless birds.

Many Muslims believe that Bush and Israel see them as animals to be slain. On July 17, neocon John Bolton, Bush's unconfirmed ambassador to the UN, gave credence to this Muslim belief when he announced that Israelis killed by terrorists were more important than the Lebanese civilians killed by Israel. Bolton said that there is no "moral equivalence" between Lebanese civilians killed by Israel and Israeli civilians killed by Muslim terrorists: "It's simply not the same thing to say that it's the same act to deliberately target innocent civilians, to desire their deaths, to fire rockets and use explosive devices or kidnapping versus the sad and highly unfortunate consequences of self-defense."

In Bolton's sick mind, Lebanese civilians are not experiencing terrorism when Israel deliberately targets them and drops high explosives on their apartment buildings, streets, bridges, and power plants, and bombs the Beirut International Airport. This, says Bolton, is Israel acting in self-defense.

If Israel grabs Palestinian or Lebanese land and murders civilians, that is "self-defense," but if someone responds to Israeli aggression with a rocket, that is "Muslim terrorism."

The world is sick of this double-standard. Unfortunately, not enough Americans and Israelis are.

Consequently, conflict will continue and escalate. Laor writes that "the director of the American Jewish Committee's Israel/Middle East Office, Eran Lerman, is already recommending going to war against Syria."

And so are the American neoconservatives who control the Bush administration, Washington think tanks, and media positions once held by true American conservatives.

Isolated in their evil, the neoconservatives are frantically and shrilly demanding that Bush join Israel in military attacks on Syria and Iran in order to "build democracy" and to clear the Middle East of any opposition to Israel's unbridled self-interest. The crazed David
Horowitz writes that "Israel is doing the work of the rest of the civilized world."

Neoconservatives believe that the U.S. and Israel can extirpate Islam with fire and sword and that the present opportunity to escalate the current conflict into generalized war in the Middle East must not be missed.

Neocon warmongers have stolen the conservative name, the Republican Party, and a portion of the evangelical movement.

Are Americans too inattentive and too brainwashed to prevent their moronic president and his neocon government from initiating a dangerous war?

Salaams to all

Naseem, the honeymoon period can last from a week to a lifetime depending on the couple of course....so the question is how long do you want it to last! As you all can see, your'll are hearing from me in a while. That's because i'm at home off sick. Hurt my right knee while playing soccer, more like twisted it. Got an MRI done and the report says a complete raptue of the proximal anterior cruciate ligament with a few other minor tears. Will get report back to the doctor to see what's next. One thing's for sure though, there will be no more sports for me. Busy checking out web sites on knee injuries, it's amazing what u can learn. Pretty soon we won't need GP's anymore. So you gp's better start specialising. Otherwise everything going well in Oz land. Hope everyone are all well everywhere else.

Suleman

The honeymoon period

Salaamz

Pray that everyone is well. As for me, could not be better. The rush and stress of the wedding are over, and I am still basking in the Honeymoon period. I just want some advise from the married cousins. How long does this honeymoon period last? 2 months? 6 Months?

Naseem

Amazing Pictures

Salaams,

Recently had ADSL installed at home (not exactly broadband but the closest we have). I have discovered Google Earth. The picture below is of our house in Reservoir Hills. It is just amazing. Download Google Earth and see for yourself. Email pictures to me so everyone can see where you live.

Aslam