ENTITLEMENT TO DEATH BENEFITS PAYABLE BY PENSION FUNDS

ENTITLEMENT TO DEATH BENEFITS PAYABLE BY PENSION FUNDS

Q: 1. The Pensions Funds Act 1956 ("Act') regulates pension funds in South Africa. 2. The object of the Act is to provide support for the dependants of a deceased member upon his death. The support is provided by means of lump sum payments and/or annuities. 3. A pension fund established in terms of the Act has separate juristic personality, and must comply with prescribed requirements including registration, etc. 4. A contribution to a pension fund is deducted at source from the employee’s salary and paid over to the fund by the employer. The employer also makes defined contributions to the fund. 5. When the employee dies, the fund in accordance with its rules but subject to the Act pays death benefits to the dependants of the deceased, normally the surviving spouse and minor children, who were dependent on the deceased for maintenance in his lifetime.

Mufti Taqi Usmani Books

Mufti Taqi Usmani Islamic Banking

Mufti Taqi Usmani Aapas Ke Ikhtilafat

Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani - Rahe Sulook K Maqasid

فقیہ العصر شیخ االاسلام مفتی محمد تقی عثمانی صاحب دامت برکاتہم العالیہ

The Month of Rajab (Part 2)

(4) Some people suggest some special modes of worship to be performed in this night. Since no special mode of worship is prescribed by the Shari'ah in this night, these suggestions are devoid of any authority and should not be acted upon.  It is believed by some that the Muslims should keep fast on 27th of Rajab. Although there are some traditions attributing special merits to the fast of this day yet the scholars of hadith have held these traditions as very weak and unauthentic reports which cannot be sufficient to establish a rule of Shari'ah. On the contrary, there is an authentic report that Sayyidna Umar  رضي الله تعالى عنه  used to forbid people from fasting on this day, rather to compel them to eat if they had started fasting.

The Month of RAJAB (Part 1)

Rajab is the seventh month in the Islamic lunar calendar. This month was regarded as one of the sacred months (Al-Ashhur-al-hurum) in which battles were prohibited in the days of the Holy Prophet صلي الله عليه وسلم  . It is also deemed to be a prelude to the month of Ramadan, because the month Ramadan follows it after the intervening month of Sha'ban. Therefore, when the Holy Prophetصلي الله عليه وسلم    sighted the moon of Rajab, he used to pray Allah in the following words: اللهم بارك لنا في رجب وشعبان وبلغنا رمضان