Munadia Karaan

Well here goes, the start of the second half of my chemotherapy tomorrow. And it comes at an interesting time, given last week’s return of UWC professor Sean Davidson who helped his terminally ill mother to die. It brought to the fore the big debate on euthanasia for me whilst on air on Sunday Live with co-host Riyaaz Ismail.

Riyaaz raised an important point when he said that there was both active and passive euthanasia. While some like Davidson actively assist in the “mercy death” of a loved one, others opt to do so passively by refusing medication. He also pointed out that there were many - people suffering immeasurable pain and those who are grossly disabled - for whom living becomes too much of a burden.

I cannot stand in judgement on people like Davidson for they operate from a different belief system than mine. However, within my own spiritual framework, the idea of euthanasia is appalling. As a Muslim, I can never accept it, but it gives me pause for thought and personal introspection.

Purpose

The one thing that I infinitely believe is that Allah knows all, His wisdom is all encompassing. So when He allows certain things to happen, including bad things, then it is for a reason. Adversity is there to test your mettle, make you stronger. So if you say no thank you to it, it is akin to quitting and throwing away the chance to learn and evolve from the experience.

Proponents of euthanasia often say “but you have not been in that position where you are so debilitated and dependent on others that it takes away your human dignity and no human being deserves to live like that. It should be your choice when you choose to die, just as it is your choice how you choose to live.”

In principle it sounds good, but if one believes that you have been put here in the first instance to serve your Creator, then it means that my “rights” take second place to what He wants from me. Islam is about submitting, including submitting to the tough stuff. It is about embracing those difficult things because that is when you learn.

Lying in hospital, unable to help yourself, dependent on the nurses to do the most intimate tasks for you… If someone had told me a few years ago that I would be in that position, I would have said “I will never be able to live like that”. My self reliant, independent soul could not fathom such a situation. Yet when I found myself in that very position, I had no choice but to accept it in order to survive. And once I made my peace with it, I was surprised by the fortitude you are granted to get through it.

Survival

I remember a day that was easily my worst yet. The oncologist that very morning had come in to see me and when I asked him for a prognosis, I was told that at stage four of my cancer, some would give me seven months to live. That is a tough pill to swallow. On top of that, I had been fed multiple types of medication for constipation and for the next 36 hours, I had no control over what was going on with my body.

Having to hear such a prognosis while you are experiencing diarhhoea, being cleaned by nursing staff every so often and not being able to help yourself…. I do not wish that on anyone. But there was very little I could do about it, except to accept it and do what you can. So when a nurse was less than sympathetic, I waited my turn and quietly told her that on this of all days I did not appreciate her lack of sympathy.

To my surprise, she broke into tears, apologising profusely and later became the most caring of nurses. It made me realise that no matter how debilitated you are, there are still some things you can do. That same night, when I was unable to sleep, I used the emotion of that day to write what has been my most successful blog to date - From Beyond the Hospital Ward, filed on my cellphone at 3am. It went viral within hours and is still being passed around, barakallah.

It taught me an important lesson. I had always made dua for Allah to take me away from this earth the moment I become a burden to someone else and cannot take care of myself. A wise alim told me that I had no right to make such a dua, because while being debilitated is a huge test for you, it is as much a test for those around you.

Care giving

Are they able to stand up the test of taking care of a loved one or patient? Having been there, I can not ever express in words the gratitude I feel for those wonderful nurses who showed such compassion and gentleness in taking care of me when I could not do so, who treated me with kindness and protected my dignity.

One of the highlights of my illness is the way my family and even the kids pulled together around me to help where they could. Even the smallest one wanted to help massage Foima’s feet and at times it was almost a fight to see who could do it better. So if one decides to quit the race early, you deny both yourself the chance to be enriched by the very suffering that comes with your condition.

And you deny others the barakat of your duas for taking care of you. I cannot imagine how much rewards those nurses and care givers receive for the wonderful work they do. It is not something anyone can do. So while Prof Davidson believes he had acted out of compassion and in the best interest of his dying mother, spiritually I believe euthaasia has nothing to offer.

My maternal grandfather was one of the most dynamic people I ever knew - always the centre of conversation, smart and eloquent. But at the end of his life, he had become like a child and it hurt so much to see him like that. The only thing that made it tolerable was in knowing that the very Alzheimers that robbed us of his consciousness at the end of his life, was the catalyst to wash away his sins. Is that not better than taking the easy way out only to be confronted on the other side with Allah’s athab that is so much worse?

Passive euthanasia

Then there is the other thorny issue. I know of many patients who decide not to take any medication and die soon thereafter. Many of them feel their bodies had had enough and they are spiritually ready to meet their Creator. Is that passive euthanasia? I am not sure. If you feel spiritually ready then it might be the right decision, but if you see it as a way out to get away from the pain and suffering, then it just feels wrong to me.

Our Nabi (SAW) was the most perfect of mankind and the most beloved it the sight of the Almighty. Yet he suffered immeasurably at his death. That, we are told, is a cleansing and was done for our benefit, for his final concern on his death bed was “ummatee, ummatee” (my ummah). So when he went through so much pain - as Allah’s beloved - what gives me the right to say my suffering should be any less?

For now, the idea of giving up is very far from my mind. This illness has been a journey and I have learnt every step of the way. And I have no doubt I have more to learn. So tomorrow when I go in for chemo session 7, I do so with as much positivity as I can muster and embrace what this next phase has to offer.

And it is only because of your duas that I am able to keep strong and that in return generates my duas for you because of your compassion. And the ripple effect of what might have been a death sentence continues… So how can euthanasia ever be an option for a Muslim?

I love our community, I honestly do, but sometimes they make you want to tear the hair out of your head (and trust me, I don’t have much hair left at this stage!) The haj visa debacle is a case in point. When I broke the story on this  scandal last September/October on my Open Lines show, the public outrage was immediate and people demanded blood, never mind answers. Everyone wanted to know how it was possible for operators to sell foreign visas to local hujjaj on Sahuc’s watch if it was illegal to do so.

But as the story unfolded we found out that this was far from new and while the regulator was aware of it, it had neither proof, nor the teeth to dig into the mess and hold people accountable. What did not help the story was the fact that operators were unwilling to come forward. Even reputable ones who promised me hand on their hearts that they would come clear the air and explain matters, hesitated to do so because of the legalities they face amidst Sahuc’s probe. I understand that, but there are ways around it. So I am still waiting for that explanation - even if it is off the record. What cannot be denied is that people need to understand what had happened.

However, that is not the main point of my present aggravation. I am irate at the tendency our community has to get furious, point accusing fingers and slander people, but when they themselves are asked to do something about it, they remain silent. Everyone wanted Sahuc to finalise its investigation into this haj visa debacle and go public with a name and shame list. But when the regulator repeatedly called on people who had bought haj visas from these errant operators, only three people in the entire country came forward! Hello?!

Silence of the ‘lambs’

Where did the other 100 to Lord knows how many more go who had either knowingly bought a foreign visa or unknowingly been sold one? And why do they choose to remain silent? The excuse that “haj is between me and my Creator, it is over now, so let’s move on”, simply does not wash. Not if I remember how angry and traumatised many of these same hujjaj were when they had to leave and were unable to do so on time.

Those who knowingly bought their visas have something to hide, so I understand their unwillingness to come forward, but then for heaven’s sake shut your mouth when everyone attacks Sahuc. The regulator has huge issues to deal with and is far from perfect, but they are at last trying to get a job done. Instead of helping, the public is doing what we do best - stand on the sidelines throwing stones. That is not how we clean up the haj industry.

What makes it worse is that even the so-called haj lobby groups have done very little to assist. In fact, I am told, they even advised hujjaj who wanted to step up, not to do so. And again one must ask what the motive is. Are they really trying to clean up the haj industry or are they just trying to make Sahuc look bad? At this point, I don’t particularly care or respect either these lobby groups or the griping public. Neither one of them are doing much more than talking trash in my fed-up opinion.

After two decades of covering haj stories, I have seen the same pattern repeating itself - something goes wrong, there is huge outrage and then it passes without anything being done. We are wonderful complainers, but we don’t like to get our hands dirty to be the change we want to see. So my response to those who are now once again taking their anger out on Sahuc - not the haj  operators or the hajis not coming forward - is simple: put up or hush up!

Sadly, this scenario has again demonstrated the biggest failing in our community. Whether it is haj, halal or anything else, the issue is the same. Allah will not change a condition of a people unless they change it for themselves. But if we all sit on the fence throwing stones, who is going to do the real work of changing, revolutionising and improving this ummah? And if we cannot do so for ourselves, how can we truly be the best of mankind?

Every year when it gets to 27 April, it is a nostalgic time for me. It is precisely because we move further away from the wonderful optimism and joy of that day with every year, that the nostalgia is so much deeper. That’s life, I suppose. But for a moment, allow me to recall some of that wonderful vibe and spirit that made that such a hallmark day.

Many of us - even those who had hardly been politically active before 27 April 1994 - wanted to do something to mark the historic step forward into a new democratic dispensation. My late cousin, Redwan, was the first in the family to enrol as a peace monitor, followed by his mother and I was third in line. I can still remember the trepidation we felt as we received our training and were being warned to expect anything. Violence could erupt at any time. Be prepared and remain calm, we were told.

I don’t think my family was very happy with the situation, knowing that we could be heading into dangerous territory. Part of the peace monitor’s jobs was to be present at the political rallies before the election and things tended to get pretty hectic there. But I was young, energetic and it was all part of a great adventure. And when the big day finally came, despite all the fears, by Allah’s mercy, it turned our far calmer than anyone could ever have hoped.

I don’t think one can every explain to the “born free” generation what it felt like to be there on that day, to see the new South African flag being raised for the first time and knowing that it truly belonged to all of us. How do you explain to the kids how you were suddenly able to shake off the shackles of “baasskap” on that day? Amazingly, the disenfranchised had the generosity of spirit to smile and even often a sandwich and tea to the same woman you might have called “madam” the day before, but who was now standing in the queue with you to vote.

This week whilst training a group of eight youths - aged 9 - 16 - it has brought back all those wonderful memories. But it also allowed me to look forward to the challenges we face today as South African Muslims, 18 years after democracy. We have more than enough work ahead of us. True transformation has yet to take place and it is seen nowhere clearer than in the way we deal with people in our own community.

I’ve taken the liberty to pen that down in a poem that the girls will perform at our Freedom Day Ladies High Tea on Friday at the Iqra Learning Centre, and which you can hear on Drivetime at 5pm on the same day. I have to add that they love the idea of being able to tell the adults what they had done wrong in this new democracy!

I AM SOUTH AFRICA TODAY

My forefathers were born on this land,
The Xhosa, the Zulu, the Xhoi and the San.
We fought the Dutch, the Brits and the lot,
They all wanted something, on this, our plot.
To them we were but an uncivilized race,
For them to overpower, enslave and debase.
Without a care for our culture and creed,
They fed on what’s ours with their greed.
But time took its toll and freedom came,
And today we are all equal and the same.
Because colour still lingers within our soul,
We cannot embrace each other’s role.
But as Muslims we are one before Allah,
Who only differentiates us on taqwa.

My forefather came to this proud new land,
After fighting imperialism in bush and sand.
When trouble followed, he fled Java by ship,
Coming here to the Cape on a slow clip.
Here he found others from a faraway shore,
From royals to slaves with a Muslim core.
A countryman gave him a helping hand,
Offering shelter, a home in the Strand.
As an imam he made a fresh, new start,
Founded a legacy and doing his part.
As South African Muslims we now stand tall,
Carrying mixed genes within us all.
As proud Muslims, we must now embrace,
This diverse, Rainbow South African race.

I am an African who fled from my land,
Seeking a new home to make a stand.
My country is ravaged by trouble and strife,
Too bloody and difficult to make a life.
Here we arrived but new troubles came,
As xenophobia became a new, local game.
We work hard, but often still fear attack,
For many we remain the unknown black.
But during Apartheid, we supported SA,
And today as migrants, we are here to stay.
Our troubles are many, our future is bleak,
If locals deny us the peace we now seek.
We are part of this multi-cultural land,
We hope all can see it and understand.

I am a traveller who came from afar,
To your golden shores, following a star.
Seeking knowledge in this humble abode,
We follow the saints as history has told.
We come from Canada, the US and more,
To see what your country has in store.
But often we stand out in the cold,
“You are the incomers,” we are told.
Invite us in, we have so much to give,
To enlighten, contribute and just live.
In this great land of sun, sea and surf,
We found a new home, a brand new turf.
We add to the colour of this great place,
And help to fill this multi-cultural space

We are the future, our time has come,
Gone is the golden era only for some.
Today we celebrate our Freedom Day,
Where all can vote, can live and pray.
Our challenges are many, but we cannot fail,
Too may have bled to let freedom sail.
Together we must heed our country’s call,
To make South Africa a true Home for All.

On Saturday afternoon I was one of the hundreds who attended the 13th Boland Summer Festival. During the few hours I spent there, I had the pleasure of listening to the Rachmaniya Qasida Group performing on stage. An hour later, I was drawn out of the VOC van - where I had been resting - to the stage where a Khayelitsha based group, Heavenly Quartez, with their operatic voices were putting on a fantastic performance. But I left when the younger music groups took to the stage, knowing that the thee pensioners with me would not enjoy the “noise”.

Speaking to some of the organisers and listening to the Master of Ceremony’s appeal to the audience to view the different types of live entertainment with tolerance, I realised that the dilemma for festival organisers on music is far from being resolved. As is the case with VOC, the Boland festival organisers have a conundrum in dealing with live entertainment.

They have to draw in the crowd to raise funds for very legitimate causes. Live entertainment does that. But in as much as you would like to only have Islamic nasheed at such “Muslim” events, it simply does not draw crowds. People hardly buy nasheed, let alone attend a festival just to see such groups. Even the biggest nasheed artists in the world - like Mahir Zain, Sami Yusuf and our own Zain Bhikha, have a hard time filling halls locally, let alone our local groups who are far less than they were a decade ago.

At the same time, there are an abundence of local talent that excell in non-Islamic music which does bring in the crowd. Add to that the fact that our people in the Cape love music almost on a genetic music and we love all sorts of music. I am one of them - presently in my car, Mahir Zain and Desert Rose compete with the new Heavenly Quartez, Whitney Houston and Westlife.

I have no problem with enjoying an eclectic taste in music and I will readily pay to go see shows of artists I enjoy. As long as one does not go overboard and forget you are a Muslim, for me there is no conflict. But for most of our people this is a problem and more so for festival organisers. It stems from the fact that there are varying views on music and people do not know what is acceptable. What makes it worse is that they are not tolerant of those who are tolerant on the issue.

As a result, we have this dicotomy, even at VOC. Mahir Zain - who uses musical instruments - is enormously popular, especially among the youth. And we play his music readily on air. However, local group Desert Rose who got caught in a controversy a few years ago when they recorded the Prayer, combining the Lord’s Prayer with the Fatiha, still battles for airtime. Their new CD, Tariqat will be out in mid-May and having listened to five tracks from this new CD, I honestly believe it is controversy free, being mainly thikr-based with less instrumentation than Mahir Zain. Yet, it is barely played on VOC because the ulema are slow to forget the old controversy.

I always get slaughtered by people who think I am too tolerant about music. But having worked at VOC for over a decade, I know that we do not appeal to the youth. But when artists like Mahir Zain, Sami Yusuf and Desert Rose start drawing the youth to Muslim radio, festivals and shows because of their innovative approach and depth of musical knowledge, should we not be encouraging it, knowing the huge onslought on the youth’s attention from other, negative alternatives?

As for the non-Islamic music at festivals - I think you are damned if you do and damned if you don’t. If you don’t have them, you don’t make money, if you do have them, you get slammed. The only way out, I think, is to come up with other ways to raise funds beyond food fairs, festival, eat and treats and high teas which needs some type of entertainment. Thus far, we have been very pedantic about it, so it’s is a huge challenge to think outside of the box. Until then, festival goers will continue to battle the same dilemma and I honestly sympathise with them.

So my fourth chemo treatment is over and after the trepidation with which I started the day, I am still waiting for the bad patch to hit. I had expected the day to be tough, but by Allah’s mercy it became an incredibly productive day. In fact, it went so well that by 5pm when I was sitting in an Iqra Learning Centre meeting, my mom had to ask: “Are you sure you had chemo today?”

Let me take it from the top. I was informed by many that as the chemo accumulates in your body, you start feeling worse. So when my mom woke up at 4am to make her daily duas for her loved ones, I was up with her, speaking to my Creator, asking for this day to go easy. While I embrace what this illness means - that it is a catalyst that brings me closer to my Creator - I also don’t want to be held hostage by it.

Life goes on regardless of cancer. So there is no time to sit on your hands and bewail your condition. There is work to do in service of your Creator - that is the purpose of a Muslim. So as long as we have breath, we have to do what we can. And for as long as you hold onto this commitment, you see how Allah eases your way.

Sitting at the hospital yesterday, I literally spent my time reciting a few pages, then sending of an sms, reading a few more and taking a call. By the time I went in for my treatment at 10.30am after a two and a half hour wait (a good two hours shorter than usual!) I had confirmed my supporting act for our Riaad Moosa Comedy Show for Iqra on 26 May and reconfirmed Riaad’s commitment to do the show as our biggest fundraiser of the year.

Two hours later on my way home, I confirmed that Islamic Sound & Vision would sell tickets for the show for all those of you who live in Cape Town and expressed great interest, but can’t get to me to buy tickets. I also confirmed the format and expo for the show. Once home, baby brother Abdullah - who acts as my chauffeur when I go to hospital - and I got stuck into designing the poster and tickets.

Then came another meeting as my fellow committee members went scouting on their own to find a new, bigger venue because we knew more people wanted to see this exclusive Boland show in our own backyard and one big show was far easier to manage than a matinee and evening show. Fantastic work, Aunty Judy and Aunty Mien. You are my heroes!

By that time, I was still expecting to be pooped. But Allah’s mercy is great. I worked well until after 10pm and then still could not fall asleep until after 1am. That just goes to show that you really cannot tell how you will feel after chemo. One FB friend said the 4th treatment was the worse. For me it was the best one yet. In fact, I may even get to the gym this morning and by now I’ve lost a good 5,5kg while on chemo. Who says chemo does not have advantages?

But the fatigue and side effects will come no doubt. My point is when it does, you pay attention and just rest if that is all you can do. I share this with you not because I want everyone to know my business, but because there are so many who care and it stops them from calling or visiting me - which is not always easy for me to manage.

So shukran for your love and support and forgive me if my blog sounds hopelessly self absorbed. I cried my eyes out so many times yesterday because I truly felt bathed in the mercy and love of my Creator, which only comes as a result of all your duas.

It therefore renews my commitment to keep writing, mainly because of the response I get from others who are in the same boat as I am, but cannot express themselves. They reiterate that there is a reason for everything, including illness. Far from being a punishment, it can be a means to helping others, insha Allah. Ameen.

VOC

Meanwhile, life away from VOC is proving to be interesting and productive. I’m spending a great deal of time co-ordinating activities at the Iqra Learning Centre and fortunately, because much of it is informed by my experience and contacts made at VOC, cross pollination comes easy. As a result I am now more of a roving reporter for VOC that can produce, record and package programs and documentaries at a manageable pace, but still allows me to be on air.

Already confirmed is a new series entitled the Iqra Workshop Series which debuts on VOC on Sunday 15 April at 5pm, starting with a three part series based on our workshop, Crossing the Cultural Divide. It sets the stage that will hopefully help listeners to establish revert support groups in their own communities. This will be followed by the following three hour workshop at Iqra over the next three months which will all air on this program:

• Thursday 12 April 7 - 10pm - Tough Love Workshop, supporting families dealing with drug addiction
• Thursday 10 May 6.30 - 9.30pm - Cancer Support Workshop, setting up support for cancer survivors and their families
• Thursday 21 June 6.30 - 9.30pm - Youth Sisterhood Workshop, setting up support and role models for teenage girls

On a different level, after more than 20 years as a journalist, you learn to pick up stories everywhere and after talks with station management this week, I will be producing these stories as documentaries that will air in various programs on VOC. I’ve already lined up issues like how far listeners have come in asking questions on radio, to faith in the halal certification system after all the ruckus, along with colour pieces on rural Muslim mosques and jamaat khanas, as well as entertainment pieces.

So it will be a new and different on air presence that I am looking forward to and I hope that you will ultimately find it as useful, educational or entertaining, insha Allah!

Taking time to catch a meal and hang out with pal Naz and cousin Tauhera on a good day!

I gain new respect for people who undergo chemotherapy. From one day to the other, you really have no clue what to expect. Having had two of my 12 treatments thus far, I am now on a three week break and start my 3rd treatment on Wednesday. So by now I had assumed my body would have normalised.

Far from it! You have a good day when you tackle a few things and the very next day you are “so pap soos ‘n snoek”, unable to do anything except sleep like a zombie. It can be hugely disconcerting and depressing because it really makes you feel sick when mentally you know you are not that sick.

The most debilitating for me is losing my appetite. I think the ability to enjoy food is one of Allah’s great mercies and to suddenly force yourself to eat… Talk about a mindshift! It drives me to tears, I promise you. Fortunately, I have not lost my taste, but it takes a concerted effort to fight off the nausea.

The slightest thing unsettles your stomach. If my mom makes the mistake to cook meat early in the morning, I wake up nauseous and then it takes concentration, lots of water and duas not to heave. In the first two weeks since starting chemo, I lost 4kg’s. At any other time I would celebrate the welcome loss, but not when I can feel that my body is starving and I have to battle to eat.

Focus

So you focus on the good things. In feeling sick, I really pull closer to my Creator, because you know that ultimately He alone can make things better. You can stay as positive as you like, but without His help, you will not get far. So I make these lists of all the small things I am grateful for that day…

I could eat twice today, the constipation has abated, the nausea stayed away, I learnt something new in a wonderful book, made a new friend today, got a few encouraging messages and calls… It is all things to help you turn the tide and prevent yourself from sinking into a depression.

For now, I’m taking the step to cut my hair today. It took a year after radiation for it to start growing healthy again, so it is a tough step. But in the last week it began falling out a lot. While it’s not as bad as it could have been, it would be far less traumatic to have it fall out when it is short, rather than seeing this long strings of hair lying all over the place. Talk about a big step!

Other than all the activities we are now setting up at the Iqra Learning Centre in Strand, where I’m now volunteering my time with my mom, I’m starting to study for an exam that will be coming up in a month’s time related to my other occupation as financial service provider.

The Financial Service Board has been on my case this year to sort out a few things. (Ja, nog dit ook!) Again, had it not been for this enforced sabbatical, I would not have had the time to study, so it’s one more thing to be grateful for.

Meanwhile, my duas are with all my fellow cancer survivors and chemo patients - hang in there! It does get better, I am told, and with Allah’s help, I know it will!

What makes one a cancer survivor? Is it the person who is still standing when the disease goes into remission? Is it the ones left behind when a cancer patient loses the battle and passes on? I don’t think so. To me a cancer survivor is the person who finds a way to live well in spite of the disease; who not only recognises, but actually embraces the disease because you realise that it is the Almighty’s way of testing your mettle in order to draw you closer to Him.

That means that the disease does not really have to be gone. You just learn how to deal with it better. It is no longer the enemy to be “beaten”, but becomes the catalyst, to the extent that it infuses you with a spiritual strength and connection to the Creator that you might otherwise not have had.

It means surviving the fear of the unknown - for cancer survivors are ever paranoid about every little pain or nodule which might indicate a return of the disease. More importantly, it means conquering the debilitating fear of death in such a way that you can actively start living your life as if tomorrow is your last day. But there is nothing morbid about that; on the contrary.

The last six years living with cancer had many twists and turns for me. When one is first diagnosed with the Big C, the instant denial, fear and shock is normal. Then I got over that by focussing on what I needed to do to survive. Soon enough, the disease was in remission and patients often deliberate choose to live your life in such a way that you do not focus on the disease at all.

But I succeeded so well in that goal that when the cancer returned as bone cancer four years later, the shock, fear and denial came back with a bang. I knew there was a 75% chance that it would return, but one never expects it to happen to you, because you don’t want it to be the case. And then it happens anyway.

I was paralysed with panic and fear at the thought that I might not wake up the next morning. Such fear is debilitating beyond belief. It does not allow you to function and if you give in to it, you might as well go dig your own grave. By Allah’s mercy, the incredible support of my loved ones, the wonderful naseega I received from wise people around me and the duas of this community allowed me to recover far better than I could ever have hoped over the last 18 months.

After four months of sick leave I was able to get up out of bed, out of the wheelchair and off the crutches in order to get back to work. At first it was one hour a week on air and six months later it was up to nine hours a week. Over the last 14 months I was able to do some of the best work of my career both on air and online. But I could do no less. While in hospital, I had begged the Almighty for more time in which to be of service to Him. So whatever I worked on had to deliver on that promise.

Negativity

There will always be critics who cannot be satisfied and they are entitled to their opinion. But to me that was not a priority. I had a massive dispute with a listener who simply could not understand when I said that I really did not care if she disliked me or my work. It is not her that I had to satisfy. It is my Creator alone to whom I had to answer and I dare not forgot that for a moment.

But to keep my focus, I had many things to contend with. I had to figure out a way to do my job to the best of my ability, deal with public feedback - positive or negative - while juggling my health and maintaining a strong spiritual connection. The littlest thing could easily throw me off my game - too little sleep, eating too late, too much stress and the next day I am as sick as a dog. Then it takes three days to recover.

So there simply was no space in my life to allow in other people’s negativity. But when you work in such a public environment, it is always going to be a careful balancing act and over time, as the stories or scandals I covered got bigger, that load got heavier and the toll not as easy to dismiss. Cancer does not need stress, panic or negativity. Those are the very things it thrives on and after all the negativity on the halal scandal and the way people turned on the messenger, I was ready for a time out.

And just then, the Almighty threw another curveball my way. My cancer has never been gone, but my doctors have been incredibly good at managing it. Despite a new, experimental treatment over the last three months to slow down the bone cancer, the disease has now spread to the soft tissue, making it necessary for me to undergo chemo therapy, starting on Valentine’s Day.

As those who have experienced the massive impact of this treatment will tell you, it does not exactly leave you feeling very sociable. It requires a great deal of fortitude, spiritual strength and positive energy to get through it. Your body is literally poisoned to kill off the cancer cells. And yet, over the last two weeks as I prepared myself for the first dose on February 14, I have begun to look forward to it - not the hair loss, nausea, constipation, loss of appetite, taste and smell, fatigue and emotional trauma.

Challenge

No, it is the new challenge I look forward to. Compared to my first and second bout with this disease, I have found that embracing the cancer has given me a new freedom I never had before. The moment I accepted that Allah presented me with this challenge because He knew I could handle it and it will allow me to emerge spiritually stronger, it opened the door for the gratitude and calm to start pouring in.

The moment I heard that the cancer had spread, He reminded me of the many things I had to be grateful for. Unlike others, at least there was still a treatment available to me. Unlike others, my family ensured I would be able to afford the treatment. Unlike others, I am not in pain; I have wonderful support in my family, friends and colleagues. There are so many willing shoulders to cry on, lend an ear and offer love and moral support when I need it. Unlike others, I have fantastic employers who are giving me the space to focus on my health… The blessings keep coming, leaving me far too blessed to complain.

And with the gratitude comes the most amazing love for my Creator and a new sense of tranquillity. My dua now is simple. I no longer ask that I be cured of cancer. It is what it is, but I ask that I live well and fully with it; that I enjoy every moment on this earth; live every day making wonderful memories; and ultimately, that when my time comes - whenever that may be - I may be ready in every way possible to meet my Lord. In that regard, what better gift could He have given me than the gift of time… time to prepare to meet Him?

This does not mean I have given up on life; far from it. I look forward to every minute I can continue to be of service to Him. I can honestly say that I am content, inspired and at peace. This is but the next twist in my journey and I am ready for it. So Wednesday marks my last night on air on VOC. I will be taking a sabbatical to deal with this next stage of my life. While I will be continuing to work from home as webmaster, Open Lines will also be taking a break. My colleague Jamiel Wallace will fill my slot on week nights and I sincerely thank my colleagues here at VOC who have been incredible in their support.

I share this with you not because I want your sympathy or pity. In fact, I despise pity and sympathy weakens me. If, in sharing this experience, I can help fellow cancer survivors or their families deal with the trauma, then it would have served a purpose. If I can be so forward as to ask and you could be so generous as to grant it, than all I seek from you are your duas for my wellbeing and that of my fellow cancer survivors. And in return we will remember you in ours. Fee amanillah.

On Air

Meanwhile, my last three shows of Open Lines looks as follows:

Mon 13 Feb

• 6pm: Akhlaq 13
• 7pm: Muslims in the Struggle 3: 1600- 1800
  
• 8pm: Riaad Moosa on Material

Tue 14 Feb

• 6pm: IPSA 2012 courses
• 7pm: Legal Hour
  
• 8pm: Spirit of Volunteerism

Wed 15 Feb

• 6pm: Youth Hour: Girls and Sport
• 7pm: (Repeat) Desert Rose
• 8pm: Global March to Jerusalem

Wednesday 18 January is not a day I would easily want to relive. If the temperatures soared over 30 degrees in the Peninsula on the day, the tempers of the Muslim community in the wake of the Orion halal scandal was even hotter. With absolute justification, I say, but as is always the case when people are angry, we don’t always see to clearly, looking only one way to lay blame. And it is that unfairness that offends me, though it did me no favours to say it out loud for then all those who hate my guts jumped at the chance to throttle me.

We all acknowledge that the Muslim consumers have a great deal to be upset about. To be duped twice in a row on two issues central to our faith - haj and halal - is enough to make any Muslim see red. But to be publicly exposed when you were widely duped into unwittingly purchasing products that someone had imported and deliberately relabelled as halal is just about the worse thing you can do to a Muslim.

My dad always said even the weakest Muslim will not hesitate to take drugs or drink alcohol, but beware when you give him pork to eat! Nothing will soften that blow, which is why when this story first broke on VOC in November people were upset. But when we saw the full extent of the fraud thanks to 3rd Degree on Tuesday evening that anger went even deeper and people need someone to hold accountable and they demand answers.

Orion

There were many sins committed here. Orion’s guilt was very clear, as 3rd Degree showed and I take my hat off to producer Barbara Friedman and Debra Patta for going “into the lion’s den” to check things out for themselves. They spoke to the two whistle blowers and a third source who made very damaging claims about Orion’s conduct, alleging a similar relabelling incident related to cheese that preceded the halal scandal. This was excellent journalism and really left Orion with no place to hide. Even VOC who had the widest coverage on this issue was unable to get the whistle blowers to talk to us or to uncover this much.

So what happens to Orion now? Here no one is sure. Is there further investigation into the charges of fraud? Will they remain in business with Muslims even they though Orion was clearly declared to be a non-halal importer now? Will Patrick Gaertner ever give a full account of his company’s role now that the claims of “blackmail” seem to hold little water? Whatever the case is, the one thing that is clear is that besides the bad publicity, Orion is still in business and beyond an apology that this scam had happened on its premises, they have not taken responsibility for the “original” sin in this saga. To me that is not enough.

MJC

The next sin was on the part of the halal certifying body. Despite the numerous explanations given on VOC on its role in this mess, it is clear that the monitoring controls around halal imports leave a lot to be desired. It’s fine to certify at port, but the halal consignment does not stay there. It has to be moved by the company to other areas where contamination is possible. With no Muslims on the staff at the storage, how do we know what happens there?

Also indications were that some monitors had suspicions about Orion before this story broke, but nothing appeared to have been done until the matter was taken to court. Why not? When the scam came to light, Sanha approached the MJC, but because of the notorious bad blood among the  halal bodies, it did not get very far. When the story first came to my attention, even I had to inform the MJC that Sanha wanted to meet with them over this issue. Should there not have been alarm bells going before this?

More importantly, in the subsequent explanations that were given, the focus had been on clearing the MJC and the big questions on what happens in the rest of the halal chain after Orion or how processes will be tightened up to ensure one can give a full account of the halal certification procedure is not clear yet, though one would accept that it might take a little bit of time to make such amendments.

Butchers

But there is also a third sinner in this scenario that has not been in the limelight at all and that is the role of Orion’s clients. If 60% of them were from the Muslim community, how come we still don’t know the extent of their business? We understand they purchased imported products and use it in their branded processed meat, which makes it  very difficult to know exactly what was contamined and which landed on your and my table via the local butcher.

There is no longer a butchers association in the Western Cape that can answer on these questions. We do not know how many are still buying from Orion. We do know that two days after the MJC declared Orion to be non halal, known Muslim butchers were still buying from the company. How could it plead ignorance when for weeks everyone knew there were questions about the company? Why could they not abstain while this was in doubt? And why are they only speaking out about the abuses in the industry when they were caught with their pants down?

And it is because people really don’t know whose hands are dirty that there was an overreaction when the 3rd Degree camera panned over some butchers premises in Athlone and people made assumptions of guilt. Will we ever know the full truth about the role of the butchers, some of whom I am told do direct imports while others get their stock from importers. How do we know that their importers and wholesalers are fully halal when Muslim butchers do not necessarily require halal certification?

Laying blame

So given all these questions, why in the public over reaction is the attention only on one sinner? I have been slammed - even persecuted by some listeners - in the last 24 hours for asking this question and stand accused of “siding with the MJC”. That is not it at all. Having been in the  forefront of investigating this story, I used every opportunity to call the MJC for answers and not once did they close the door in my face or refuse to answer.

My experience was completely the opposite of 3rd Degree had. Am I now suppose to say something else? All the questions that were asked of the MJC - even with the regards to the health of its president - we had covered on VOC. Am I now supposed to plead ignorance? The MJC did not dodge answering when I literally called them on a daily basis for answers. And as soon as I knew something, so did my readers and listeners. Am I now supposed to make as if this did not happen?

However, did the MJC make a mistake in refusing the etv interview? Undoubtedly and I advised them as such at the time. It is never advisable to turn your back on the media. Neither does it work to think just because your constituency is Muslim, you only have to speak to the Muslim media. We live in a world where the media has converged and people read all media. More than that, there are many who don’t bother with Muslim media or community media. So any media strategy must include all media and skills on how to deal with the media when they knock at your door. That was a major blunder for the MJC and it will take time for everyone to recover from the fallout.

Be fair

I guess I became very disheartened by the negativity of this fallout mainly because I had spent so much time on getting answers so that we could clear up the mess, learn from it and improve things. And in one fell swoop, all that good work seemed to have disappeared and people got what one onliner called “selective amnesia”. Many of the questions that 3rd Degree did not get answers to but which the MJC provided answers for on VOC were forgotten. And I have to ask myself was all the months of work I put in on this story for nothing?

But it is also the greater hippocrasy that gets to me. In the anger to blame one party, people overlook all else, including the fact that ensuring what is halal en stopping what is haram is not just the responsibility of the ulema. It is a responsibility of every Muslim. But we duck from our responsibility in this regard. It’s okay for me to cheat my employee of a fair salary or to cheat on my wife. Those are “small sins”, but when the ulema - who are just as human - fail, then we must condemn and bash them.

I repeat, there is reason to blame and hold people responsible, but let he who has no sin cast the first stone. Let us not - in this mad need to blame someone - look only one way and be irresponsible or unfair in our judgement. Let’s take a deep breath and try to take in the entire spectrum of this mess rather than just lay blame at one door…which is not to say the MJC and the halal bodies do not have serious work to do. Let us not in the need to apportion blame commit a greater sin by being unfair. There is too much work to do to fix this mess. So can we please calm down now and get to work?

Wow, what a ride, but thank goodness it is over! 31 December 2011 saw me step over a really wild horse that was part and parcel of the job as VOC’s program manager. Since becoming part of VOC’s fulltime staff in May 2000, I have had the privilege to progress from being news editor, to production manager and finally, program manager. Fresh from five years of exposure at two corporate companies, I was ready for a new challenge that brought me back to my passion - news.

I had lots of energy, enthusiasm and creativity for the job, but my people’s skills were zilch! I now cringe at some of the mistakes I made in my youthful vigour. In what can only be described as “jeugdige voortvarendheid”, I often thought I was right and would not budge or simply swept aside the things that stood in my way. Ah, the arrogance of the youth! May Allah bless my station managers who had the patience of Job with me. Thank goodness that with age comes wisdom for in the words of Maya Angelou, “when you know better, you do better”. Hopefully, I improved as the years went on.

Being program manager meant always being on your toes, keeping tabs on the industry and community developments so that you can be ahead of the pack in covering issues. It brings with it a tremendous rush. At the same time, it also means you are the doorkeeper that decides on what matters to the community, based on the feedback you get from them and how you inform yourself. It is a challenging task and in the en,d the part that got to me most was managing people… talk about problematic and stressful!

But nothing lasts forever and quite rightly too for if I had to continue in that vein, it would have cost me my life. So when I took ill in mid-2010 when the breast cancer I had developed in 2007, returned as bone cancer, I knew it was the Almighty knocking on my door and telling me that it was time for change. It was one thing to talk about empowering others to take over from me, but if it was up to me, I would never get there. So He took things out of my hands and forced the change.

Looking back now, I accept that it could not happen any differently. Mishka Daries, Goolam Fakier and Tasneem Adams had to hurriedly step up and assume new responsibilities and as with all new things, it took time to adapt. Thankfully, I did not have the opportunity to tune in while they found their feet  - the stress would have freaked me out! Control freaks, I have learnt, do best when they are not around to see others take over, otherwise, you never give others the chance to realy take over.

When I returned to work in November 2010 after three months sick leave, my station management and VOC board magnanimously allowed me to work at a pace that best suited my health. Alhamdulilah, it meant a drastic cut in my work, most of which was done from home. I now literally work from my bed daily as webmaster while producing my Open Lines show which airs nine hours a week on Mondays to Wednesdays. Who knew that this would develop into a full time job, but it became just what the doctor ordered.

I am now able to work at my own pace on stories that I am really interested in, without overtaxing myself. At the same time, Mishka, Goolam, Tasneem and their teams are attending to the more pressing, hands on tasks related to VOC’s operations. Looking back now, I have no idea how I managed to cover so many portfolios for so long. Today it is literally four people’s work and it keeps growing, but I have full confidence in the next generation at VOC.

11 years later after stepping into VOC’s management, I can honestly say I have literally worked myself out of a job where a new generation - many of whom I have trained - have been able to step in my shoes. And it reinforces so many lessons I have learnt at VOC over the last decade - no one is irreplacable and no job is yours forever. There is a Higher Power that governs these things and when you give things over into His Hands, He gets you where He needs you to be, rather than where you think you should be.

So in 2012, as VOC’s principle presenter and webmaster, there remains many new tasks to look forward to, insha Allah. Ameen.

On Air

Meanwhile in the next week, these are the issues I will be covering on Open Lines:

Mon 2 Jan

• 6pm: (Repeat) Akhlaq 10
• 7pm: Community Issues 2011
• 8pm: MJC on Nigeria religious violence

Tue 3 Jan

• 6pm: (Repeat) Legal Hour - Evictions
  
• 7pm: (Repeat) Managing VOC’s Frequencies
• 8pm: (Repeat) IDM in the townships

Wed 4 Jan

• 6pm: (Repeat) Youth Hour: New Year
• 7pm: Haj/Halal 2011 Highlights

2011 was another dramatic year during which Open Lines was privileged to remain in the forefront as we covered the issues that lie close to the heart of the Muslim community. For a show that first went live on air in 2006, the past year has seen us offer more exclusives than ever before, time and time again scooping the main stream media in covering things that impact on this community. Let’s take a trip down memory lane to check on some of the biggest issues we covered on this show in 2011.

Africa 1 Aid

While the two biggest controvercial stories of the year were no doubt the haj visa scandal and the Orion halal debacle, there were plenty of other issues covered over the course of the year, starting with the announcement by the Muslim Judicial Council and Al Quds Foundation in January of SA’s first overland humanitarian convoy to Gaza. This was followed by ongoing coverage over the next ten months on this mission as we helped to build momentum on this campaign.

There can be little doubt that this was probably the biggest national project ever tackled by the MJC and while it was a learning curve with may challenges that forced organisers to literally think on their feet with the changing circumstances, they manage to pull it off. More than that, it went a long way to win a great deal of support and respect for them from Muslims across the country.

In this regard, the national and African roadshows were a fantastic initiative. Although the competition with SARA for the first overland humanitarian convoy from South Africa left a bad taste, in the end both missions reached their target and returned home with a commitment to ensure that more, much needed aid on a more regular basis was sent to Gaza.

VOC also did its part as media partner by getting on board with the VOC Gaza Water Project. Between Easter and September, we succeeded in raising a massive R350,000, thanks to your generosity. This is the biggest fundraiser VOC has ever done for a cause outside of the station. The Hussami Mosque brought in the biggest chunk of over R56,000, followed by Paarl Muslim Jamah - so let it not be said that our rural listeners need to stand back one centimetre for those living in the city! These funds were handed over directly in Gaza in August to existing water projects.

Somali Famine

Of course there was much debate on whether or not international need superseded local need and again this was cause for some needless controversy. However, again, the success of the mission spoke for itself. Then, as the Africa 1 Aid and VOC Gaza Water Project got midway, the focus shifted to a devastating famine in Africa that affected 12 million people.

Again our people and leadership came to the party and smoothly went from supporting the one project to the other. While humanitarian organisations like Gift of the Givers, Islamic Relief and Al Imdaad did yeoman’s work in lending aid to the stricken region, our own people locally dug deep into their pockets to give what they could. Such generosity - amidst a global economic downturn - can only be applauded.

On VOC’s side, with the help of the Africa 1 Aid mission, we donated another R250,000 for Somalia. But there was much discussion when one local group opted to sidestep existing humanitarian groups’ efforts and mounted their own mission for Somalia. One can ask if it was really necessary to go it alone when so many others were already there and had done the groundwork. In the end, Allah alone can judge people’s intent.

Arab Spring

The end of January 2011 brought the start of what our onliners believe was the biggest international story of the year - the Arab Spring - which started in Tunisia and swiftly spread to neighbouring countries in North Africa and the Middle East. The ripple effect of this story was felt throughout the entire year and kept the entire world transfixed. Thanks to modern technology like the social media, a revolution got underway, led by the youth.

According to Robert Fisk, this spontanous movement of humanity seeking freedom and democracy from despotic leaders, had succeeded in doing that which Osama bin Laden had sought to do with the Al Qaeda movement, but never got close to achieving. While Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak and Tunisia’s Ben Ali had to abdicate, Yemen’s Ali Abdullah Saleh was injured and had to flee, while Moammar Khaddafi was summarily executed. The Arab world at the end of 2011 is left a very different place than a year ago.

The turmoil in north Africa also had an impact locally. Not onlydid local Egyptians and Tunisians strongly back their countrymen at home, the revolution also caused grave concern for the large number of SA Muslim students who were in Egypt. Many of them came home, while others stuck to their guns. As we stand now, the battle is far from over. Change has come for Tunisia, Egypt and Libya, but it will take more time to make a clean start. At the same time, in Yemen, Syria and Bahrain the revolution continues.

Bin Laden

On the other side of the world, May saw another dramatic international development when it was announced that in a secret mission in Ahmedabad, Pakistan, the world’s most wanted man - Bin Laden - had been killed and was buried at sea. It was touted as a great US victory, but there were far too many loopholes in this story for our listeners to take it at face value.

There was the shocking revelation that Bin Laden had lived in an upscale Pakistani neighbourhood not far from a big military base, and that his presence had supposedly gone undetected. In no times at all, there were revelations that he had been there under Pakistani protection. There were other rumours too - that he had been killed or died of illness a long time ago and this was a convenient period for the US to implement its exit strategy from Afghanistan.

Ironically, a decade after 9/11, Afghanistan was no better than before. Meanwhile, the US’ relationship with Pakistan supposedly turned sour after the Bin Laden affair. As December arrived, the US withdrew from Iraq without much fanfare. While this could be deemed as Obama’s election promise to bring the troops home, the failure to close Guantanamo and his upcoming re-election campaign in 2012, leaves one sceptical of the real political motives behind these steps. Time will tell.

MMB

On the local front, one of the most controversial issues we covered in Open Lines in the first half of the year related to the Draft Bill on Muslim Marriages where public comment was called for before a March 15 deadline. This was eventually postponed to the end of May. In this regard, Open Lines did a 10 part series over three months to provide insights on the matter, but it was not without drama or heated debate!

While this show had over the last three years kept a consistent eye on this issue, 2011 was the year when much more was done to bring the matter to the people. The anti-MMB campaign kicked things off with a bang and it was fierce and ugly. The name-calling and labelling - not to mention the use of the word “kufr” - became an ugly refrain that had little respect for anyone.

Based on the experience of our listeners in various programs where the need for some form of legal protection had repeatedly come to the fore, VOC had backed the bill and got caught in the fray on numerous occassions. It became just as important to duck the abuse and refuse a platform to those who could not abide by the Islamic etiquette of debate, as it was to provide details on the pros and cons of the bill.

With numerous legal battles, sms, email and social media campaigns, by the time the deadline arrived at the end of May, the Muslim public had become generally sick of the debate. However, hats off to Uucsa and the MJC who after a slow start, finally got their act together and along with other civil society bodies, arranged numerous workshops in the Western Cape where those who were interested could inform themselves on the bill. And now we are back to waiting for the next step in a process that began almost 15 years ago.

Politics

Another story that took a big chunk of our time on Open Lines was our coverage of the local government elections in mid-May. I specifically focused on a seven part analysis series and what was heartening, according to our analysts, was the increasing level of maturity among voters. People were better informed on their rights and demanded more from politicians, but unhappiness with the lack of service delivery, crime and corruption, caused many to stay away from the polls.

This was far different from the apathy of previous years. In this case, people stayed away as a form of protest. The ANC’s ongoing infighting in the Western Cape ensured that they did not have enough fuel in the tank to oust the DA and Julius Malema’s powerplay reached outragous levels. It was not appreciated among our listeners and certainly cost the ANC.

Fortunately, by the time the last quarter arrived, the ANC itself began to realise that it needed to get tough on Malema. The kingpin who had spearheaded the Zuma leadership race had turned against his leader and was now challenging the mother body in a manner never seen before. The ANC finally won back some respect when, after a prolonged process, it suspended him as ANCYL leader for five years.

And perhaps for the first time, Malema is having to consider that without the ANC, he is nothing. But to his credit, he is sticking around to find a way to remain a part of the political spectrum. It will be interesting to see what 2012 holds for him. The Malema story, according to our online voters, was the biggest SA national story of 2011, but 2012 will also focus on the ongoing leadership race which should bring its own political drama.

Women’s issues

One of my favourite areas in Open Lines in 2011 was related to women’s issues and there were many to cover. First there was the shocking story on female genital mutilation which is making a reappearance in South Africa, thanks to the growing migrant community. This was a story that made both men and women alike cringe as a survivor graphically related the horror of this practise and its lifelong after effects.

Then we also kept on our agenda the issue of female scholars, strongly pushing for more recognisiton of these alimas in a society where too often women in need of help were offered only a male perspective. However, so many females were qualifying in this field, but were not able to make a real impact. The positive news came when at its AGM in April, the MJC for the first time approved membership of female scholars and amended its constitution.

However, since then, the process has been slow, if not nonexistent. There are more than enough female scholars, but it is not clear yet how they will be absorbed and deployed as part of ulema bodies. This is a discourse that should be set high on the agenda for 2012 for it is crystal clear how much needed female scholars are today, especially in relation to women and the law, counselling, not to mention the development of Fiqhul Nisa - a new area that needs to be explored.

But on the lighter side, we also explored the growing hijabi fashion trends that is gaining ground as an industry in the Cape. We looked at issues such as the “granny nannies”, Muslim women turning increasingly to gyms and fitness regimes, in addition to numerous debates related to the empowerment of women and its relation to their own spiritual journeys.

Asmal

On another level, one of the big controversies of the year was the death and subsequent cremation of former minister Kader Asmal. There were many lessons to be learnt from this issue which caused a hue and a cry around the country. While the country paid homage to Asmal as a political stalwart, Muslims had a harder time understanding the man. Was he a Muslim or an atheist? And how could anyone born as a Muslim ever let his body be cremated, people asked.

Amid the turmoil, the family called in the MJC to mediate and in the end we were able to confirm in one of our scoops of the year, that a compromise was reached. While he was cremated and his ashes buried, on the evening before in a private ceremony his body had been prepared in accordance with Muslim rites with a ghusl and kaffan. Many thought the ulema were too lenient and fiercely criticised their position.

But the bigger lessons here was for us, rather than for Asmal whose life was over. Those in multi-cultural marriages where more than one religion was practised learnt that it was critical to ensure that they were clear about burial procedures during their lifetime. At the same time, it also posed huge questions about people with Muslim names who did not necessarily live us Muslims. More than that, we also learnt that it is only Allah who could judge, but that one’s death often is a reflection of one’s life.

Salt River Muslim Primary

One of the saddest stories we covered in 2011 was the closure of the Salt River Muslim Primary School by the WCED, despite a bitter battle for survival. This community school that was almost 100 years old formally closed its doors this month, but the WCED had failed dismally in convincing anyone that it had given due consideration to the opinion of the people. It soon became clear that this was about financial expedience.

It was explained that the number of new schools that would open next year would serve more learners than the nine schools that were being closed. While one undestood the budgetary constraints, one has to question the process that was followed. Sadly, there was no real political will in our community to join the campaign to save the school, but what is a bigger worry for me is that this school serves as a warning sign for other Muslim community schools who also receive state aid.

How long will it take for the WCED to decide it could save the money it gave to those schools as well and where would the remaining Muslim schools be then? These schools are part of our legacy in this country and were painstakingly established with hard earned money by our forbears. But with the changing of times, parents look towards bigger schools to secure a better future for their children and that can only be the start of a catastrophic end for such schools which only the poor can afford.

Conclusion

Looking back on the many hours I had on air this year, I know I have been blessed. 18 months ago when my health took a bad turn, I begged for more time in order to complete whatever task the Almighty had set for me on this earth and He responded. Now looking back, I can honestly say that every single story that I worked on in this “bonus year” for me, had mattered and had a very personal impact on me.

I hope that in as much as I had learnt, so too have I been able to benefit those who tuned in or read the online write ups. Here’s to 2012…May we be able to pick up where we left off in 2011 and continue working towards the advancement of the ummah, insha Allah. Ameen.

On Air

Meanwhile, in the next two weeks, you can stay tuned for coverage on the following issues on Open Lines:

Mon 26 Dec

• 6pm: Akhlaq 10
• 7pm: (Repeat) Misconceptions on Muslims
• 8pm: (Repeat) Domestic Violence

Tue 27 Dec

• 6pm: OL 2011 Highlights 1
• 7pm: OL 2011 Highlights 2
• 8pm: Haj Update & Review

Wed 28 Dec

• 6pm: Youth Hour: New Year
• 7pm: Muslim Issues of 2011
• 8pm: (Repeat) Social Media