Comments on: On freedom of religion and the marginalisation of Muslims (and atheists) http://constitutionallyspeaking.co.za/on-freedom-of-religion-and-the-marginalisation-of-muslims-and-atheists/ This blog deals with political and social issues in South Africa, mostly from the perspective of Constitutional Law. Written by Pierre de Vos Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:59:30 +0200 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Global Voices Online » South Africa: On freedom of religion http://constitutionallyspeaking.co.za/on-freedom-of-religion-and-the-marginalisation-of-muslims-and-atheists/#comment-9340 Global Voices Online » South Africa: On freedom of religion Tue, 09 Dec 2008 06:53:25 +0000 http://constitutionallyspeaking.co.za/?p=740#comment-9340 [...] Speaking comments on the “lack of knowledge and appreciation of minority religious practices” in South [...] [...] Speaking comments on the “lack of knowledge and appreciation of minority religious practices” in South [...]

]]> By: MOHAMEDALY HANWARE http://constitutionallyspeaking.co.za/on-freedom-of-religion-and-the-marginalisation-of-muslims-and-atheists/#comment-9208 MOHAMEDALY HANWARE Fri, 05 Dec 2008 10:23:51 +0000 http://constitutionallyspeaking.co.za/?p=740#comment-9208 @dont get me started will check and let you know @dont get me started
will check and let you know

]]> By: dontgetmestarted http://constitutionallyspeaking.co.za/on-freedom-of-religion-and-the-marginalisation-of-muslims-and-atheists/#comment-9138 dontgetmestarted Thu, 04 Dec 2008 08:28:33 +0000 http://constitutionallyspeaking.co.za/?p=740#comment-9138 @MOHAMEDALY I am correct, am I not, in thinking the Friday prayer is not obligatory for females? @MOHAMEDALY

I am correct, am I not, in thinking the Friday prayer is not obligatory for females?

]]> By: nkululeko http://constitutionallyspeaking.co.za/on-freedom-of-religion-and-the-marginalisation-of-muslims-and-atheists/#comment-9135 nkululeko Thu, 04 Dec 2008 08:05:22 +0000 http://constitutionallyspeaking.co.za/?p=740#comment-9135 This has reminded me so much of some of the CC judgements. The majority bullies the minority into a corner and ensures further subjection. This is rather pitiful but shows how the CC has made some of their bizzare judgements (my opinion of course). And I guess the UWC admin should take the course and another on cultural and religious diversity. This has reminded me so much of some of the CC judgements. The majority bullies the minority into a corner and ensures further subjection. This is rather pitiful but shows how the CC has made some of their bizzare judgements (my opinion of course).
And I guess the UWC admin should take the course and another on cultural and religious diversity.

]]> By: Ishmael Malale http://constitutionallyspeaking.co.za/on-freedom-of-religion-and-the-marginalisation-of-muslims-and-atheists/#comment-9133 Ishmael Malale Thu, 04 Dec 2008 06:11:54 +0000 http://constitutionallyspeaking.co.za/?p=740#comment-9133 Han Ware good intervention. The varsities will learn! Han Ware good intervention. The varsities will learn!

]]> By: MOHAMEDALY HANWARE http://constitutionallyspeaking.co.za/on-freedom-of-religion-and-the-marginalisation-of-muslims-and-atheists/#comment-9132 MOHAMEDALY HANWARE Thu, 04 Dec 2008 06:01:20 +0000 http://constitutionallyspeaking.co.za/?p=740#comment-9132 @dont get me started: No broader issues here, the friday prayer is a fixed time affair. Muslims are obliged to pray five times a day. at fixed times. If for some reason a prayer is missed it can be made up at a later stage. However the friday mid day prayer is the most important prayer of the week and can not be made up at a later stage nor can it be missed unless it is not humanely possible. The irony of the this is that the exam in question was the constitutional law exam and part of the curriculum was freedom of religion. @dont get me started:

No broader issues here, the friday prayer is a fixed time affair. Muslims are obliged to pray five times a day. at fixed times. If for some reason a prayer is missed it can be made up at a later stage. However the friday mid day prayer is the most important prayer of the week and can not be made up at a later stage nor can it be missed unless it is not humanely possible. The irony of the this is that the exam in question was the constitutional law exam and part of the curriculum was freedom of religion.

]]> By: Ishmael Malale http://constitutionallyspeaking.co.za/on-freedom-of-religion-and-the-marginalisation-of-muslims-and-atheists/#comment-9120 Ishmael Malale Wed, 03 Dec 2008 19:48:12 +0000 http://constitutionallyspeaking.co.za/?p=740#comment-9120 It was indeed a good and illuminating debate. We are all learning qualitatively. It was indeed a good and illuminating debate. We are all learning qualitatively.

]]> By: nkululeko http://constitutionallyspeaking.co.za/on-freedom-of-religion-and-the-marginalisation-of-muslims-and-atheists/#comment-9118 nkululeko Wed, 03 Dec 2008 19:29:24 +0000 http://constitutionallyspeaking.co.za/?p=740#comment-9118 As far back as I can remember Muslim students (or pupils) have been granted that hour off on a Friday to do their prayers. I would imagine that it is some sort of obligation that must be satisfied on a Friday at that time unless matters are beyond human control. I am also under the impression that if one cannot handle fasting and added stress then they may be allowed not to fast for that period and fast the following year. And I think the fasting month was earlier this year, or was it simply my imagination? I doubt we need to do a comparative analysis with foreign institutions. We have our own institutions, our own cultures and religions as well as our wonderful Constitution. We should work within that framework. Garg's point is noted. A supp exam has fewer people. And those of us who got through our University life without any supps would be quite to point out that its the students' fault that they had to write a supp and they should take what they gat and be satisfied. There are those of us who wouldn't readily support that view. As far back as I can remember Muslim students (or pupils) have been granted that hour off on a Friday to do their prayers. I would imagine that it is some sort of obligation that must be satisfied on a Friday at that time unless matters are beyond human control.

I am also under the impression that if one cannot handle fasting and added stress then they may be allowed not to fast for that period and fast the following year. And I think the fasting month was earlier this year, or was it simply my imagination?

I doubt we need to do a comparative analysis with foreign institutions. We have our own institutions, our own cultures and religions as well as our wonderful Constitution. We should work within that framework.

Garg’s point is noted. A supp exam has fewer people. And those of us who got through our University life without any supps would be quite to point out that its the students’ fault that they had to write a supp and they should take what they gat and be satisfied. There are those of us who wouldn’t readily support that view.

]]> By: Garg Unzola http://constitutionallyspeaking.co.za/on-freedom-of-religion-and-the-marginalisation-of-muslims-and-atheists/#comment-9111 Garg Unzola Wed, 03 Dec 2008 18:24:21 +0000 http://constitutionallyspeaking.co.za/?p=740#comment-9111 @dontgetmestarted: You are quite right. Also, the exam in question was a supplementary exam, for that it is worth. @dontgetmestarted:
You are quite right. Also, the exam in question was a supplementary exam, for that it is worth.

]]> By: dontgetmestarted http://constitutionallyspeaking.co.za/on-freedom-of-religion-and-the-marginalisation-of-muslims-and-atheists/#comment-9107 dontgetmestarted Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:12:28 +0000 http://constitutionallyspeaking.co.za/?p=740#comment-9107 Returning to the particular situation at the UWC that gave rise to the thread, can somebody explain whether, and if so under what circumstances, it is obligatory for Muslims to attend at a mosque on a Friday? And if so, whether that obligation must be satisfied in the morning or the afternoon? Might attention not also be given to the question whether it is not unfair (I put it no higher as yet) for exams to be held during the holy fasting month of Ramadan? Furthermore, has anyone considered how examinations are scheduled in universities and higher places of learning in Muslim countries which do not observe Friday as a public holiday (most parts of Malaysia, for example)? It seems rather venturesome to discuss the broader issues without having first secured some correct understanding of the basic facts. Returning to the particular situation at the UWC that gave rise to the thread, can somebody explain whether, and if so under what circumstances, it is obligatory for Muslims to attend at a mosque on a Friday? And if so, whether that obligation must be satisfied in the morning or the afternoon?

Might attention not also be given to the question whether it is not unfair (I put it no higher as yet) for exams to be held during the holy fasting month of Ramadan?

Furthermore, has anyone considered how examinations are scheduled in universities and higher places of learning in Muslim countries which do not observe Friday as a public holiday (most parts of Malaysia, for example)?

It seems rather venturesome to discuss the broader issues without having first secured some correct understanding of the basic facts.

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