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{{Short description|Islamic organization based in South Africa}}
The '''Jamiatul Ulama Transvaal''' (''Council of [[Ulema|Muslim Theologians]]''), headquartered in [[Fordsburg, Gauteng|Fordsburg]], [[Johannesburg]], was founded in [[1923]] to serve the [[Muslim]] community of the (now defunct) [[Transvaal]] Province of [[South Africa]].[http://www.jamiat.co.za/profile/history.htm].
[[File:Logo of Jamiatul Ulama South Africa.png|thumb]]


The '''Jamiatul Ulama Transvaal''' now the '''Jamiatul Ulama South Africa''' (''Council of [[Ulema|Muslim Theologians]]''), headquartered in [[Fordsburg, Gauteng|Fordsburg]], [[Johannesburg]], was founded in 1923 to serve the [[Muslim]] community of the (now defunct) [[Transvaal Province]] of [[South Africa]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Haron|first=Muhammad|date=3 December 2020|title=Reaching Out, Making Public:The Jamiat ul-Ulama South Africa and its Online Newsletter|url=https://journals.ub.bw/index.php/bjtrp/article/view/1861|journal=BOLESWA Journal of Theology, Religion And Philosophy (BJTRP)|language=en|volume=5|issue=2}}</ref> It publishes a weekly online newsletter.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Reaching Out, Making Public:The Jamiat ul-Ulama South Africa and its Online Newsletter {{!}} BOLESWA |url=https://journals.ub.bw/index.php/bjtrp/article/view/1861 |language=en-US}}</ref>
It currently operates in the provinces that formerly made up the Transvaal, as well as in the [[Free State Province]] [http://www.jamiat.co.za/profile/branches.htm], and is one of a number of national [[Islam in South Africa|Muslim]] organizations in South Africa.


==Activities==
The organization has been characterized as [[conservative]] and [[Deobandi]] [http://www.amislam.com/desai.htm], and it is widely perceived as having links to the [[Tablighi Jamaat]].
It currently operates in the provinces that formerly made up the Transvaal, as well as in the [[Free State Province]], and is one of a number of national [[Islam in South Africa|Muslim]] organizations in South Africa.


The organization has been characterized as [[Islamic fundamentalism|fundamentalist]] and [[Deobandi]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.amislam.com/desai.htm |title=Message from Shaykh Abu Omar Palazzi to the mufti Ebrahim Desai and to the sect of Deoband |location=[[Rome]] |date=30 November 2001 |accessdate=2011-02-06 |author=Abu Omar Abdul Hadi as-Shafi'i |publisher=[[Italian Muslim Assembly]] |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707133920/http://www.amislam.com/desai.htm |archivedate=July 7, 2011 }}</ref> and it is widely perceived as having links with the [[Tablighi Jamaat]].
Large number of Muslims subscribe to decisions in the region regarding [[fiqh]] (Islamic law) in the regions where the organization operates [http://www.jamiat.co.za/library/index.htm]. It also has significant influence on the running of many [[mosque]]s in those regions.


Large number of Muslims subscribe to decisions regarding [[fiqh]] (Islamic law) in the region where the organization operates. It also has significant influence on the running of many [[mosque]]s and [[madrassah]]s in the region.
The Jamiatul Ulama Transvaal has been criticised for its largely apolitical stance during the [[apartheid]] era. [http://web.uct.ac.za/depts/ricsa/trc/j69moosa.htm] The organization, unlike its counterpart in [[KwaZulu-Natal]], the [[Jamiatul Ulama KwaZulu-Natal]] was accused by more activist ''ulema'' at the [[Truth and Reconciliation Commission]] of not speaking out against the [[tricameral]] system, which denied black South Africans political power, while giving limited rights to [[Coloureds]] and [[Asians in South Africa|Indians]]. [http://community.gospelcom.net/Brix?pageID=4731].
==Controversies==
===Apartheid-era===
The Jamiatul Ulama South Africa has been criticised for its largely apolitical stance during the [[apartheid]] era. The organization, unlike its counterpart in [[KwaZulu-Natal]], the Jamiatul Ulama KwaZulu-Natal was accused by more activist Islamic scholars at the [[Truth and Reconciliation Commission (South Africa)|Truth and Reconciliation Commission]] of not speaking out against the [[tricameral]] system, which denied black South Africans political power, while giving limited rights to [[Coloureds]] and [[Indian South Africans|Indians]].


===Radio Islam===
The organization owns and manages a community radio station called ''Radio Islam'' that broadcasts on the [[Witwatersrand]]. A complaint was made by a progressive Muslim organization to the [[Independent Broadcasting Authority (South Africa)|Independent Broadcasting Authority]] in [[1998]] that the radio station was not allowing women to be heard on air. The station argued that Islam does not allow women's voices to be heard. The authority ruled against the station, and in response, the station collected a petition of 28 000 names from women, who it claimed, supported the decision to bar women from the airwaves. The station has since changed its policy and now has substantial participation from women. [http://www.genderlinks.org.za/docs/policy/radioislam-casestudy.pdf]
The Jamiatul Ulama South Africa owns and manages a community radio station called ''Radio Islam'' that broadcasts on the [[Witwatersrand]]. A complaint was made by an organization to the [[Independent Communications Authority of South Africa ]] in 1998 that the radio station was not allowing women to be heard on air. The station argued that Islam does not allow women's voices to be heard. The authority ruled against the station, and in response, the station collected a petition of 28,000 names from women who it claimed supported the decision to bar women from the airwaves.


===Muhammad cartoons controversy===
The organization again made headlines in [[2006]] when it obtained an interdict against several South African newpaper companies in the [[Johannesburg High Court]] against the republishing of cartoons depicting the prophet [[Muhammad]]. See: [[Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy]]. This case raised important questions about the limits of freedom of expression in South Africa [http://www.sundaytribune.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=160&fArticleId=3097465].
The organization again made headlines in 2006 when it obtained an interdict against several South African newspaper companies in the [[Johannesburg High Court]] against the republishing of cartoons depicting the Islamic prophet, [[Muhammad]]. See: [[Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy]]. This case raised important questions about the limits of freedom of expression in South Africa.
{{SouthAfrica-stub}}

{{Islam-stub}}
== See also ==
* [[List of Deobandi organisations]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}<br />

{{Greater Johannesburg|religion}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Islamic organisations based in South Africa]]
[[Category:Religion in Johannesburg]]

Latest revision as of 08:59, 7 March 2024

The Jamiatul Ulama Transvaal now the Jamiatul Ulama South Africa (Council of Muslim Theologians), headquartered in Fordsburg, Johannesburg, was founded in 1923 to serve the Muslim community of the (now defunct) Transvaal Province of South Africa.[1] It publishes a weekly online newsletter.[2]

Activities

[edit]

It currently operates in the provinces that formerly made up the Transvaal, as well as in the Free State Province, and is one of a number of national Muslim organizations in South Africa.

The organization has been characterized as fundamentalist and Deobandi,[3] and it is widely perceived as having links with the Tablighi Jamaat.

Large number of Muslims subscribe to decisions regarding fiqh (Islamic law) in the region where the organization operates. It also has significant influence on the running of many mosques and madrassahs in the region.

Controversies

[edit]

Apartheid-era

[edit]

The Jamiatul Ulama South Africa has been criticised for its largely apolitical stance during the apartheid era. The organization, unlike its counterpart in KwaZulu-Natal, the Jamiatul Ulama KwaZulu-Natal was accused by more activist Islamic scholars at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of not speaking out against the tricameral system, which denied black South Africans political power, while giving limited rights to Coloureds and Indians.

Radio Islam

[edit]

The Jamiatul Ulama South Africa owns and manages a community radio station called Radio Islam that broadcasts on the Witwatersrand. A complaint was made by an organization to the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa  in 1998 that the radio station was not allowing women to be heard on air. The station argued that Islam does not allow women's voices to be heard. The authority ruled against the station, and in response, the station collected a petition of 28,000 names from women who it claimed supported the decision to bar women from the airwaves.

Muhammad cartoons controversy

[edit]

The organization again made headlines in 2006 when it obtained an interdict against several South African newspaper companies in the Johannesburg High Court against the republishing of cartoons depicting the Islamic prophet, Muhammad. See: Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy. This case raised important questions about the limits of freedom of expression in South Africa.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Haron, Muhammad (3 December 2020). "Reaching Out, Making Public:The Jamiat ul-Ulama South Africa and its Online Newsletter". BOLESWA Journal of Theology, Religion And Philosophy (BJTRP).
  2. ^ "Reaching Out, Making Public:The Jamiat ul-Ulama South Africa and its Online Newsletter | BOLESWA".
  3. ^ Abu Omar Abdul Hadi as-Shafi'i (30 November 2001). "Message from Shaykh Abu Omar Palazzi to the mufti Ebrahim Desai and to the sect of Deoband". Rome: Italian Muslim Assembly. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved 2011-02-06.