Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (PBUH) said, "May he be disgraced! May he be disgraced! May he be disgraced, whose parents, one or both, attain old age during his life time, and he does not enter Jannah (by rendering being dutiful to them)". [Muslim]

Commentary: The word "Ragham'' means soil. When a person's nose is soiled, it is a mark of his extreme humiliation. This metaphor carries a curse for an unfortunate person who does not win the pleasure of Allah by serving and obeying his parents. In fact, it is a malediction as well as a prediction of someone's inauspicious end. Service of parents is essential at every stage of their life - whether they are young or old. But this Hadith mentions their old age for the reason that in that period of their life they stand in greater need of care and service. It is a very callous offense to leave them at the mercy of circumstances when they are old, senile and depend on others for their needs. To neglect them at that stage is a major sin for which one deserves Hell-fire.

Currently, as the Law stands, when one enters into an Islamic marriage (Nikah), that couple is not fully recognised as married legally. To complete the process the couple will need to solemnize (legally register) their marriage at Home Affairs. The problem that now arises, is that they are not fully aware of the options they have when solemnizing their marriage, to compound matters, the personnel at Home Affairs are none the wiser.

There are three matrimonial property regimes: marriage in community of property; marriage out of community of property and marriage out of community of property, subject to the accrual system.

If you get married without a marriage contract, your marriage will automatically be in community of property. Should you decide to get married out of community of property, you need to enter into an antenuptial contract (ANC), which is drawn up by a Notary and then registered in the Deeds Office. If you enter into an ANC, the marriage will automatically be subject to the accrual system, unless you specifically exclude this from your contract.

How do I choose?
1. Marriage in community of property
Marriage in community of property creates an economic partnership between the spouses. All the assets and liabilities are merged in a joint estate in which both of you own equal shares.

You both have equal powers of management of the estate and may perform any legal transaction without consent from your spouse. Certain transactions, though, such as selling or mortgaging property, purchasing property or pledging assets to be held as investments, have serious financial consequences and require the written consent of both you and your spouse.

On dissolution of the marriage, the estate is divided equally between you and your spouse. If your spouse dies, his share will form part of his estate and you will retain your half share in your name. Should you get divorced, the estate will be divided equally between the parties, and any property will be transferred to your separate names.

There are obvious advantages if you contribute less to the marriage financially, because you have an equal share of the estate. However, you run the risk of losing everything if your husband suffers a financial setback, since all your assets and liabilities are pooled. If one of you embarks on a business venture that fails, you'll both be plunged into financial hardship or ruin, even if only one of you was responsible for incurring the debts. A marriage in Community of Property essentially means that you and your spouse become one person.

Next Column: Marriages out of Community of Property
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Jewish settlements in the illegally occupied West Bank will be expanding. This follows Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olnmert’s approval for the expansion to take place. The move comes amid talks by the United States, Israel and Fatah allegedly aimed at restoring peace.

Pakistan’s former Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, has agreed to join the late Benazir Bhutto's party in a coalition government. Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) won the most seats in a February 18 general election.

Serbia is in political turmoil after the country's nationalist prime minister announced that he was dissolving his cabinet and calling for new elections. Vojislav Kostunica says his decision is due to the disagreement in the ruling coalition government on the European Union.

A Johannesburg father is challenging the syllabus of the Learning Area, Life Orientation The father says what is being taught in the subject goes against his pagan beliefs and does not want his daughter’s beliefs warped.

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe is handing out millions of US dollars worth of imported brand new agricultural equipment, vehicles, generators and cattle. Critics say this is a massive vote-buying exercise as Zimbabweans head to the polls later this month.

Listen to the daily Nasseha slots at 6:25am and 5:45pm, where Ulama from across the country will enlighten us on the life of the greatest man ever to have been born.

On the Sabahul Muslim morning drive Ml. S. Ravat will be focusing on the lessons we can learn from the life of the ideal prophets SAW whilst Ml. Kara will continue this theme after Maghrib Salaah.

During the Al Masah afternoon drive Ml. Sajaad will continue this discussion on Shamaail at 4:15pm. Tune into the Seerah quiz with Ml Sajaad & Ml Hamaad every evening at 20:10.

Ml. Arafaat and Ml. Mustafa Mayers will narrate to us the life of the ideal role model form birth to demise.

If you are an early-riser, then Sheik Anwar Al Awlaky's famous Seerah series could be heard daily at 4:30am.

Ahaadeeth after every news bulletin will focus on Nabi SAW, 'as a Daee' (Propagator)...

Lectures Anasheed and Nazm during this month will also be highlighting the seerah of the seal of all prophets AS.

MALES
Basil - Brave
Basim - Smiling
Emad - Confidence

FEMALES
Adila/ Adilah/ Adeela - Equal/one who deals justly
Afaf - Chaste/ virtuous/ decent/ pure
Bahira/ Baheera - Dazzling/ brilliant

Pain in my heart
too hard to bear
Shame in my heart
for when I looked..
my brother was not there

I held up my head in pride
When the soldiers came
They never broke the man inside
Never flinched in pain,
never gave up my pride
I fought In Allah's name

For brotherhood I would have died
Couldn't you hear the cries
Couldn't you feel the pain
Fought a tank with a stone
But never thought I'd fight alone

No enemy cuts so deep
As when brother watches brother
be slaughtered like a sheep

What no gun could ever do
You have done to me
I have lost much faith in you
and my heart will never be
whole or happy or healed
Until Palestine is free
Until Islam sees unity

HANDS IN THE POCKETS
------------------------
Peter was telling a friend that he had just lost his job. “
Why did the foreman fire you?” the friend asked in surprise.
“Oh,” Peter said, “you know how foreman are. They stand around with their hands in their pockets watching everybody else work.”
“We all know that,” replied his friend. “But why did he let you go?”
“Jealousy,” answered Pete. “All the other workers thought I was the foreman.”