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The Jamiatul Ulama Transvaal is a constituted body of Muslim theologians which was established in 1923. It has since its inception served me spiritual as well as socio-religious needs of the Muslim community residing in Gauteng, North West Province, Mpuraulanga, Northern Province, the Free State and some areas of the Northern Cape. It has six regional offices and mosques in these areas. The Jamiatul Ulama, therefore, represents the majority of Muslims living in diese provinces. It is also a founder member of die United Ulama Council. As such we are able to provide a broad perspective on the Muslim community without claiming to represent all shades of Muslim opinion.
The Jamiatul Ulama consists of various departments including a department of fatw? (law and decree in Islam), a social welfare department and a department of education. It also incorporates in its function the hal?l consumables and beverages department. This department is responsible for the monitoring of halal (lawful) foods and the issuing of religious guidance and directives with regard to Islamic dietary law.
The Jamiatul Ulama expresses thanks to the TRC for providing a platform to examine critically die role of religions in South African society under apartheid; and to assess to what extent religions may have been used in our country in violating human rights.
Religion is a powerful motivational force in any society. Apart from presenting a broad set of moral and ethical values to an individual, it enhances a sense of spiritual i ty in each person. Based on a set of moral norms it helps one to distinguish right from wrong. But more importantly for our discussion, religion can serve as a guide to social action and wider societal structuring and organization. The impact of religion on society can assume both negative and postive forms; and, in the South African context, it is regrettable that a particular religion was vulgarized to provide a religio- ideological justification for apartheid, race domination and social oppression of the blacks (i.e. African, coloured and Indian). In sharp contrast several religions including Islam have emphasized the abhorrent nature of racial discrimination.
Islam was brought to South Africa just over 300 years ago under conditions of global colonial conquest and slavery. The foremost Muslims who were brought...