Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 29-03-2018
Thousands of Muslims are expected to attend the Rustenburg Ijtima this long weekend.
The Ijtima which takes month of planning and preparation will take place at Zinniaville sports grounds from the 30th of March to the 2nd of April.
Among one of the largest gathering of Muslims in Southern Africa, the three-day event hosted by the Tabligh Jamaat was revived in 1926 by Moulana Muhammad Ilyas Khandhlawi in the rural Mewat villages surrounding New Delhi in India after he became distressed by the lack of Islamic knowledge and practice amongst people.
The objective of the Ijtima is to inspire Muslims to go out in the path of Allah and to sacrifice their time and wealth for the sake of Allah.
Radio Islams Ml. Yusuf Ravat says the Ijtima has a tremendous effect of unity on the community and Muslims attending the gathering.
“You see the masses uniting. The rich, the poor, the white, black, Indian, whatever background, whatever is your colour, whatever is your status in terms of wealth, everything, everyone comes together.”
Ml Ravat reiterates that while some people might have a negative tendency towards to the Ijtima claiming it’s just a social gathering, he says the Ijtima is a favourable place to be in and is a means to uplift people spiritually.
He says people shouldn’t leave the Ijtima without gaining any benefit.
“You rectify your niyyah to say that this is my niyyah that I’m going, I want to benefit. Ya Allah I want to benefit through this Jumu’ah bayaan. And one is the Jumu’ah bayaan itself. So now its Friday, you can experience Jumu’ah anywhere, in any masjid. Obviously here it’s the gathering, so it’s the gathering that’s drawing the Rahmah of Allah.”
Ml Ravat says while women aren’t allowed to attend the ijtima, they can also be involved in the gathering.
“Make dua for the success of the Ijtima. Your dua will definitely aid in the Mercy of Allah and Allah is not short in giving His reward. Allah can reward you for the entire Ijtima based on your niyyah: Ya Allah I made dua that I want this Ijtima to be a success.”
This is the third Ijtima after the gathering in KwaZulu-Natal in 2017.
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