Friday Bulletin 370

7/25/2019 Friday Bulletin 370

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Issue No. 370

Friday BulletinThe

The Weekly Muslim News UpdateJumaadal Thani 21 1431/June 04 2010

www.islamkenya.comThis Newsletter contains some of Allahs names. Please do not throw in the trash. Either keep, circulate or shred

This Week

Youth and ChildrenHow a teen changed her life P5

Da'waTen principles of peaceful life P3

Editorial

Women IssuesReason for the Prophet's marriages P4

Act on provocative behavior by the clergy

P2

Is the church playing devil's advocate P6

Opinion

'Autonomy ifKadhi's courts go'

Story Continues To Page 7

LTourism minister Najib Balala has warnedthat the country must be prepared to re-view its borders to exclude coast province

in case the Kadhis court are removed from the

constitution.Reacting to the controversial high court rulingwhich termed the inclusion of the Islamic courtsin the current laws as unconstitutional and dis-criminatory, the minister was categorical thatMuslims will not allow any attempt to have thecourts removed from the constitution.The judgement by the high court on the Kadhiscourts is questionable and only meant at divid-ing the country along religious lines and tcreatereligious intolerance between the Muslims andthe Christians who have lived cordially for manyyears, the minister said.Balala who is also the MP for Mvita constituen-

cy noted that if the courts were removed he willmarshal support to ensure that Kenya return thecoastal strip back to the people of Coast prov-ince as per the agreement between the Kenyangovernment represented by the founding presi-dent Mzee Jomo Kenyatta and the Sultan ofZanzibar.The minister made these remarks at the week-end during the fundraising event for the NgongOngata Rongai Mosque.The assistant minister for livestock Adan Duallesaid that the Kadhis courts were very importantto the Muslims in the country and any attempt toremove it from the constitution was unaccept-able. The issue is very signicant to the Muslim

community in the country and the ruling by the

Sheikh Muhammad Osman of the Majlis Ulamaa Kenya receives a cheque donation

from Internal security minister George Saitoti as a contribution towards the con-

struction of the Ongata Rongai Mosque.

P7

National News

Sheikh Hammad retires, Muhdharnamed acting Chief Kadhi

Sheikh Hammad Muhammad Kassim has retired as the Chief Kadhi of Kenya and hisplace taken over by Sheikh Ahmed Muhdhar in an acting capacity.Before his appointment, Sheikh Muhdhar has been the Kadhi of Nairobi.Sheikh Hammad has served as the Chief Kadhi for the last eight years, a positionwhich he took over from Sheikh Nahdy Nassoro in 2002."At a later stage, he is expected to be conrmed as the Chief Kadhi, Sheikh Hammadtold The Friday Bulletin.In his parting advice to the ummah, Sheikh Hammad told Muslims to maintain unity

especially at this critical time when the country is gearing for the referendum whichwill shape the countrys political future. He stressed that unity was of paramount im-portance and Muslims should continue to remain united as disunity will weaken theirresolve and at the same time give strength to those who have a sinister agenda againstthe community. Story Continues To Page 7


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The Friday Bulletin

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EDITORIAL

Jumaadal Thani 21 1431/June 04 2010

Act on Provocative behaviour by clergy

Since its founding hundreds of years ago, Mombasa has positioneditself as the main cultural and economic Muslim centre at the coastand in the country at large.

These dynamics are however, gradually changing. Only two dec-ades ago, the Catholic Church which stands along Digo Road wasthe main visible symbol of Christianity in Mombasa. For a rst timevisitor to the town presently, one can harbour a belief that this Mus-lim town has turned into a Christian enclave. On the main gatewayto the town at Tudor, ve churches have been strategically positedto welcome the visitors.In the town itself and the surrounding areas, churches continue tomushroom and crusades are now part of the weekend lifestyles forthe Christian community. In many suburbs of the town, like Bambu-ri and Changamwe, the Muslim population is gradually being out-numbered by immigrants from other parts of the country- wabaaraas the locals fondly refer to them.Despite these encroachments, the local Muslims have welcomed,

tolerated and accommodated these settlers for years. These visi-tors have been absorbed into the society and have become anintegrated part of the local community. During the post election vio-lence, three years ago, the systematic attacks against other com-munities considered to be settlers which were witnessed in manyparts of the country, were devoid in the predominantly Muslims ar-eas of Coast province.For Muslims, tolerance is a cardinal religious principle which isrooted in divine commandments. The history of the coast region isreplete with these noble characteristic of tolerance which continueto serve as shining examples which should be exemplied by othercommunities in the country.Despite the atrocities committed against Muslims by the Portu-guese, their symbols which are reminder to their gruesome pastlike the Vasco Da Gama pillar in Malindi have stood for more than

500 years and successive Muslim rulers tolerated them despitetheir Christian identity of the presence of the cross-considered tobe offensive to Muslims.In Mkomani area of Mombasa, the tomb of John Krapf who is cred-ited with introducing Christianity into the country stands out majes-

tically with a cross in the middle of a Muslim residential neighbuor-hood who for years have tolerated its presence.While Muslims have persisted with this tolerant attitude, it behoves

to see that a section of the Christian clergy have the audacity in aMuslim heartland to go to court and seek the removal of the Kadhiscourts from the constitution.For centuries, these courts have been a pillar in the judicial aspectsof Muslims and it is regrettable that schemes are plotted to under-mine the inalienable rights of Muslims.Such an attitude is provocative, offensive and an affront to the dig-nity of Muslims in the country. More so, it risks damaging the cordialand brotherly relations which have existed between Muslims andnon-Muslims over the years. Those engaged in this campaign, it isapparent that they do not care about the innate feelings of Muslimstowards the Kadhis courts.The persistent war being wedged by a section of the clergy againstthe Kadhis courts which has now extended in the courtrooms isdivisive and risks igniting unnecessary religious animosity.President Mwai Kibaki in his Madraka day speech warned of direconsequences against those peddling hate speech which coulddivide Kenyans in the run up to the referendum. The Presidentswarning is welcome and the government security machinery shouldwork tirelessly to ensure that peace, stability and co-existence isenshrined.The purveyors of this campaign should also be singled out as theiraction have far much wider and dangerous ramications whichcould lead to religious conict in the country. The ultimate aim ofBishop Joseph Kimami, Reverend Musyoka Nzui and Agnes Mbin-ya Musyoka was to bring about a religious divide among Kenyansand their actions to le a court case seeking the removal of theKadhis courts from the constitution was drive by none other thanhatred to Islam and Muslims.

Lessons should be learnt from the post election violence whoseroots were planned months before the violence broke up and it isimportant to nip early the bud of those planting the seeds of intoler-ance, divisions and religious animosity in time before their seedsmature into poisonous fruits.

The Muslim community in Kibera were up in arms on Monday thisweek after a primary school teacher allegedly forced two standardsix pupils to step on the holy Quran, the Muslims sacred book.The irate residents and parents who were baying for the teachersblood stormed into Kibera primary school to eject the alleged teach-er, one Sophie Mwaniki from the school compound after she alleged

executed corporal punishment to compel the Muslim pupils to dothe dreadful act.We strongly condemn the act by the teacher which we consider asvery blasphemous and an upfront against our religion, Islam and theMuslim community in the area, said Sheikh Suleiman Mohammed,the Imam of Makina mosque in Kibera.The Imam added that the same teacher had been reported to havebeen forcing Muslim children in the school going to the mosque onFriday to remove their kanzus (tunics).

A crisis meeting to resolve the issue was called by the Langata Dis-trict commissioner Omar Beja who is also the chairman of the Dis-trict Education board on Wednesday to discuss the issue urgently tosee that it is resolved amicably.Several recommendations were made in the meeting attended bylocal leaders as well as the school administration where it was re-

solved that the said teacher be retired in the public interest as trans-ferring her to another school will not be solving the unbecomingbehaviour by the teacher.The meeting also proposed that the head teacher of the school HelenOtieno be transferred to another school after she was also accusedby the leaders of not being proactive in running of the school.Local leaders led by the chairman of the Kenya Nubian Council

Protests in Kibera over sacrilege of the Holy Quranof Elders Sheikh Issa AbdulFaraj accepted the apology from theschool saying that it was in accordance with the teaching of Islamto forgive.The Head teacher of the Kibera primary School Helen Otieno hadearlier apologised to the Muslim community saying that the allegedact by the teacher was not in accordance to any religious conduct

adding that the school had for many years worked cordially with theMuslim community dominant in the area.The act is wrong and unprofessional on the part of the teacher. It isnot in harmony to any religious teachings, she said.She said that the matter was serious and sensitive as it was a grossviolation to the religion of Islam and may lead disharmony betweenthe school and the Muslim community in the area.Saida Yusuf, the pupil who was strained to do the intimidating actsaid that the teacher forced her to step on the Quran accusing herof hitting the bible. The Second pupil Hafa Suleiman said that theteacher also forced her to throw the book up and down then stepon it after she cautioned the other pupil Saida not to step on theQuran.Many parents and residents who turned up at the school onMonday this week were angered by the conduct of the teacher and

called for her immediate transfer from the school.

'And know that true servants of Allah are only those who

never bear witness to what is false, and who, whenever they

pass by people engaged in frivolity, pass on with dignity.'

The Quran 25:72


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The Friday Bulletin

DA'WA

Saturday LectureIslam and AscetismSheikh Juma Amir

Saturday 5th June 2010 2.00 pm-4.00 pmJamia Mosque Multi Purpose Hall

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10 Principles for a peaceful Life for a Believer


There has come to you from Allah a light and a clear Book, by whichAllah guides those who pursue His pleasure to the ways of peaceand brings them out from darknesses into the light, by His permis-sion, and guides them to a straight path. [5:15-16]

1. Do Not Interfere In Others' Business

And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge. Indeed,the hearing, the sight and the heart - about all those [one] will bequestioned. (Isra:17)

Most of us create our own problems by interfering too often in oth-ers' affairs. We do so because somehow we have convinced our-selves that our way is the best way, our logic is the perfect logicand those who do not conform to our thinking must be criticizedand steered to the right direction, i.e. our direction. This thinkingdenies the existence of individuality and consequently underminesthe Intelligence and Creativity that is only attributed to God. Godhas created each one of us in a unique way. No two human beingscan think or act in exactly the same way. All men or women act theway they do because Allah has made each one of us different, withdifferent personalities. Be patient with one another, and mind your

own business and you will keep your peace.2. Forgive And Forget:

But if you pardon and overlook and forgive - then indeed, Allah isForgiving and Merciful. (Quran 64:14)This is the most powerful aid to peace of mind, but also challeng-ing to acheive. We often develop ill feelings inside our heart for theperson who insult us or harm us. We nurture grievances resulting inloss of sleep, development of stomach ulcers, and high blood pres-sure. We further aggravate stress in ourselves by remembering, andreminding ourselves of the very persons that caused us harm. Getover this bad habit. Life is too short to waste in such tries. Forgive,forget, and march on. Love ourishes in giving and forgiving.

3. Do Not Crave For Recognition:

"O Allah , Owner of Sovereignty, You give sovereignty to whom You

will and You take sovereignty away from whom You will. You honorwhom You will and You humble whom You will. In Your hand is [all]good. Indeed, You are over all things competent. (Qur'an 3:26)This world is full of selsh people. They seldom praise anybodywithout selsh motives. They may praise you today because youare in power, but no sooner than you are powerless; they will forgetyour achievement and will start nding faults in you. Why do youwish to kill yourself in striving for their recognition? Do your dutiesethically and sincerely, and only seek the pleasure of Allah throughsalah and ibaadah.

4. Do Not Be Jealous:

And do not wish for that by which Allah has made some of youexceed others. For men is a share of what they have earned, andfor women is a share of what they have earned. And ask Allah of his

bounty. Indeed Allah is ever, of all things, Knowing. (Quran 4:32)We all have experienced how jealousy can disturb our peace ofmind. You know that you work harder than your colleagues in theofce, but sometimes they get promotions; you do not. You starteda business several years ago, but you are not as successful as yourneighbour whose business is only a one year old. There are severalexamples like these in everyday life. Should you be jealous? No. Re-member, a person's life is shaped by their destiny, which becomestheir reality. If you are destined to be rich, nothing in the world canstop you. And if you are destined to be poor, then no matter whatyou do, you will only be what you are destined to be. Nothing will begained by blaming others for your misfortune. Jealousy will not getyou anywhere; it will only take away your peace of mind.

5. Change Yourself:

Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until theychange what is in themselves. (Quran 13:11)If you try to change the environment single-handedly, the chancesare you will fail. Instead, change yourself to suit your environment.

As you do this, even the environment, which has been unfriendlyto you, will mysteriously change and seem congenial and harmoni-ous.

6. Endure What Cannot Be Cured:

You will surely be tested in your possessions and in yourselves.And you will surely hear from those who were given the Scripturebefore you and from those who associate others with Allah muchabuse. But if you are patient and fear Allah - indeed, that is of the

matters [worthy] of determination. (Quran 3:186)Every day we face numerous inconveniences, ailments, irritations,and accidents that are beyond our control. If we cannot control themor change them, we must learn to put up with these things. We mustlearn to endure them cheerfully. Believe in yourself and you will gainin terms of patience, inner strength and will power.

7. Do Not Bite Off More Than You Can Chew:

"Competition in [worldly] increase diverts you. Until you visit thegraveyards. No! You are going to know." (Qura'n 102: 1-3)So when you have nished [your duties], then stand up [for worship].

And to your Lord direct [your] longing.We often tend to take more responsibilities than we are capableof. This is done to satisfy our ego. Know your limitations. Why takeon additional loads that may create more worries? You cannot gain

peace of mind by expanding your external activities. Reduce yourmaterial engagements and spend time in prayer, and introspection.It will prevent you from thinking of matters that upset you. An unclut-tered mind is a peaceful mind.

8. Make Regular Dhikr:

And remember your Lord within yourself in humility and in fearwithout being apparent in speech - in the mornings and the eve-nings. And do not be among the heedless. (Quran 7:205). Andwhoever turns away from My remembrance - indeed, he will have adepressed life, and We will gather him on the Day of Resurrectionblind." (Quran:20:124)

Dhikr, the rememberance of Allah, calms the mind and gets rid ofdisturbing thoughts. Try it yourself. If you do tasbih, dhikr, wheneveryou are free, your mind will be at peace during the day. Your mind

will not be easily disturbed as it was before.You may think that thiswill interfere with your daily work. On the contrary, this will increaseyour efciency and you will be able to produce better results in lesstime.

9. Never Leave The Mind Vacant:

For each is a direction toward which it faces. So race to [all that is]good. Wherever you may be, Allah will bring you forth [for judge-ment] all together. Indeed, Allah is over all things competent.(Quran 2:148). Indeed, those who fear Allah - when an impulsetouches them from Satan, they remember [Him] and at once theyhave insight. (Quran 7:201)

An empty mind is the devil's workshop. Keep your mind occupiedin something positive, something worthwhile and negative thoughtswill not plague your mind. Actively follow a hobby, something that

holds your interest. You must decide what you value more: moneyor peace of mind. Your hobby, like social work or religious work,may not always earn you more money, but you will have a sense offulllment and achievement. Even when you are resting physically,occupy yourself in healthy reading or in dua

10. Do Not Procrastinate And Never Regret:

And when you have decided, then rely upon Allah. Indeed, Allahloves those who rely [upon Him]. (Quran 3:159)Do not waste time in protracted wondering, " Should I or shouldn'tI?" You can never plan enough because you can never fully antici-pate all future happenings. Value your time and do the things thatneed to be done now. It does not matter if you fail the rst time, solong as you don't leave it for tomorrow. You can learn from yourmistakes and succeed the next time. Sitting back and worrying willlead to nothing.


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4

WOMEN ISSUES

The Friday Bulletin

The Friday Bulletin

Ingredients

Kitchen

Share your favourite recipes with our readers. Send them to P. O. Box 100786-00100 or email:[email protected] or [email protected]

Method

Reasons for the Prophets Marriages

Curried Fish (mchuzi wa samaki)


Sheikh Saleh al MunajjidWe can categorize all his marriages under two aspects of his per-sonality:

Muhammad the man who needed a loving wife, children, and astable home, so he married Khadijah and remained with only her

for 25 years until she died.Muhammad the Prophet who married the other wives for reasons

pertaining to his duty to deliver the Message to the world. Thoseparticular women were carefully selected, not just haphazardly ac-quired for carnal reasons, as suggested. Here are some of thereasons for which Muhammad married:

1. To pass on Islam to the next generations as a practical leg-acy

Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him is the only prophet withoutany privacy, and with a meticulously preserved tradition in speechand actions in all minute details of his public and private life. Pre-served in the sharp minds of his wives and his Companions, thosenarrations comprise the daily life manual for Muslims to follow untilthe end of time. The fact that Islam was spread on the shoulders of

women and preserved in their hearts is a great honor to the femalesof this Ummah. The books of authentic Hadith attribute more than3,000 narrations and Prophetic traditions to his wives alone.

2. To cement the relations of the budding nationIn a tribal society, it was customary to seal treaties through marryinginto tribes. Muhammads closest Companions later became the fourcaliphs who led Islam at the critical stage after his death. Two ofthem were the fathers of his wives Àishah (daughter of Abu Bakr)and Hafsa (daughter of Umar); the other two married his daughters(Ùthman married Ruqayyah and Umm Kulthum in succession, andÀli married Fatimah).

3. To teach Muslims compassion with women

He taught them to be compassionate not just to the young andbeautiful maidens, but more so to the weak and destitute widows,

divorcees, orphans, and elderly women. Islam teaches that womenare to be respected, protected, and cared for by their men folk.They are not to be cast out to face a harsh life alone while able menaround them just pity them and do nothing to help, or worse, usetheir weakness to take them as mistresses!

4. To offer a practical role model to Muslims until the end oftime

Although many believing women often approached Muhammadsalallahu alayhi wa sallam offering him themselves in marriage, hepolitely turned down their offers. Most of his wives after the deathof Khadijah were old, devoid of beauty, and previously married,except Àishah, who was the only young virgin. He married fromother nations and religions; some were the daughters of his worstenemies, and his marriage to one woman won all her people into

Islam. Regardless of his neutral feelings towards many of them, hewas a model example of equal justice and kindness to them all, andhe would never discriminate among them.

Who Were the Prophets Wives?

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) married12 wives in his life. When he died he had 9 wives. They have avery special status in the hearts of Muslims as the Mothers of theBelievers, as the Quran instructs, and they are the source of agreat amount of wisdom which they learned while living close tosuch a great man. Here are their names: Khadijah bint Khuwaylid,Sawdah bint Zamah, Àishah bint Abi Bakr, Hafsah bint Ùmar ibn

Al-Khattab, Zaynab bint Khuzaymah, Umm Salama, Zaynab bintJahsh, Juwayriah bint Al-Harith, Umm Habibah Ramlah bint Abu-sufyan, Sayah bint Huyay ibn Akhtab, Maymunah bint Al-Harith,

Maryah al Qibtiyyah.Can We Consider His Marriage to Àishah a Case of Child Mo-lestation?

When traveling back intime 1400 years to examine a lifestyle wenever witnessed, it is unfair to apply our present day standards, solets listen to the experts. Authentic historical records prove that thesocial traditions of the time and placeregardless of religioncon-

sidered Arab females as women as soon as their menstrual cyclesbegan. The custom was to give daughters in marriage at that age.This was practiced by all dwellers in Arabia before Islam: pagans,disbelievers, Jews, and others. Its a fact that female menstruation

in hot climates starts much earlier than in cold climates, so femalesin Arabia matured as early as 8 or 9; they also aged earlier thanother women.

Its a neglected fact that before she was married to Muhammad,Àishah had been engaged to an indel, Jubair ibn Musab ibn Ady.Her anc broke the engagement on the basis of religious differ-ence. So her father, Abu Bakr, agreed to give her hand in marriageto the Prophet.

The Great Wisdom in Selecting Àishah as a Young Wife

Àishah (may Allah be pleased with her) came from a house famousfor learning and memorizing great quantities of knowledge; her fa-ther was a live encyclopedia of Arab tribal pedigrees and poetry. Sheinherited his ability, and in her young, intelligent, receptive mind, shepreserved a precious portion of Islam she learned during nine years

of marriage, for 47 years after the death of the Prophet (peace andblessings be upon him) she taught thousands of men worldwidetheir religion as she had learned it rsthand from the Prophet. To ourpresent day, she is considered among the most prominent Islamicscholars, and she holds extremely high esteem in the hearts of allMuslims as such and as the beloved of the Prophet, who oftenmentioned her as the human he loved the most on the face of thisearth. With her, he built a model Muslim home for Muslims to striveto imitate forever.

1 Tbsp. ghee or vegetable oil 2 sliced onions

3 crushed cloves of garlic 1 tsp. curry powder 2 sliced tomatoes 1 tsp. tomato puree 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh coriander 500gm lleted sh 1 Tbsp. lemon juice 1 tsp. salt 1/2 cup water

Fry onions in ghee or vegetable oil until brown. Add garlic and curry powder. Stirring vigorously, cook for 1 minute on medium heat. Add tomatoes, tomato puree, fresh coriander; cook for another minute. Add sh, lemon juice, salt, and water. Cover and cook on low heat for 15-20 minutes Serve hot with rice.

The fact that Islam was spread on the shoul-ders of women and preserved in their hearts isa great honour to the females of this Ummah.

The books of authentic Hadith attribute morethan 3,000 narrations and Prophetic tradi-tions to his wives alone.


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The Friday Bulletin

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YOUTH AND CHILDREN


How One Teen Remembered Allah and Turned her Life AroundBy: Maryam

As most people do, I turned to Allah and Islam during the hard timesof my life. It's a sad fact of life. When times are happy and life isgood, no one feels obliged to turn towards his or her Deen (reli-gion). It's all about living the moment.

After I had turned towards Allah, I approached a friend in a verycasual manner, trying to encourage her to also turn towards Islam.Her reply chilled my blood. "Right now, my life is good, I'm happyand I don't need any change."I thought to myself, better bite your tongue. I wanted to shake herand say, "Would you really want some tragic event to happen be-fore waking up to Islam?" Obviously no one in his or her right mindwould want to do so, but subconsciously, I feel everyone does.I was no exception to that. I was on the brink of depression, as aresult of a series of events that happened. Now looking back at it, itwasn't much, but being a teenager who had lost her sense of iden-tity and purpose in life, it was the monster of all crises.I had been separated from my best friends, snatched up away frommy life and replaced in a place I had once called home. It was hard,and I was suffering. I used to nd comfort, lying awake at night and

staring at the stars, amazed at the fact that these were the samestars I stared at when I lived on the other side of the world.My family, Alhamdulillah (All Praise be to Allah), had all changedtowards Islam in the past years. No one forced me to wear Hijab,and I didn't simply because I thought I wasn't ready. They did, how-ever, expect me to dress modestly and most importantly offer mydaily prayers.My aunt used to take me to these classes held nearby, and I wentwhen I could. I was in pain and I didn't quite understand why. Andit happened so that the particular topic at that class I had attendedwas on why pain and suffering happens. The teacher said that weare put through hard times as a test, to see how we cope with it. Tosee if we will turn towards Siratul Mustaqeem (the Straight Path),or away from it.It was that day that I learned that every bit of pain we endure, both

emotional and physical, alleviates us from our punishments in thehereafter. It was then that I started truly understanding the ways of

Allah, how everything that happens has a purpose and that I wassupposed to learn from that.It's been almost two and a half years since that period of my life. Ittook me a year and a half to actually start changing. I knew Islam,but I did not practice it the way a Muslim is supposed to. I thought Iwas happy, but deep down inside I knew that I was not.I was a hypocrite, and as much as I tried denying it, I could not. Itsank in and I accepted it and prayed that I nd the right way. Myconscience was not dead, but I had muted it. Before, I used to getthe urge to start Hijab, yet I used to ght it. I performed Umra and Iprayed continuously that the next time my conscience spoke to me,I would not only listen to it, but I would amplify it so that I could not

ignore it.Late one night, Hijab got on my conscience and would not go away.I told myself that I was not ready, that there were many strings at-tached that I may not be able to full, but with the right words fromsupportive friends I told myself that if I didn't start now, I would nev-er start. And I believed that 200%. So I no longer had any excusefor not doing Hijab. So Allhumdulilah, I nally put on my Hijab at theage of 18, and have been wearing it ever since.

After a month or so, I realized that Hijab was not as big a deal asI had thought. It was not difcult in the least. To this day there hasnever been a moment that I regretted Hijab, and for that I am sograteful, Alhamdulillah. I immediately found many friends who alsowear Hijab. These friends and my family were the greatest strengthfor my new found Iman (faith).I occupied myself with more Masjid-oriented activities and attended

more classes to increase my knowledge of our religion. I am grate-ful that I put my foot down and decided to start Hijab then, becausehad I not, who knows how long it would have taken for me to start.How do I remember Allah and His magnicent ways?When I step outside and marvel at the beauty of nature. When Istop to play with a baby and see how perplexing, yet perfect, theprecious cycle of life is. When I go out and people stop to say

As-Salaam-Wa-Alaikum to me. When I study the Qur'an and theHadeeth of our beautiful Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessingsbe upon him) and how perfectly and completely it incorporates ourlives and faith. When I pass by my fellow sisters in Islam adornedproudly and condently in their Hijabs. Everything reminds me of

Allah, and I can feel my love for Him, our Prophet, and our religiongrow by the day.

Telling the truth is a very good habit. If you al-ways speak the truth, you can save yourself froma lot of trouble! Here is a story of a man who did alot of bad things, but his promise to tell the truthsaved him.

Once a man asked a scholar, "I have many bad hab-its. Which one of them should I give up rst?" Thescholar said, "Give up telling lies rst and alwaysspeak the truth." The man promised to do so andwent home.

At night the man was about to go out to steal. Be-fore setting out, he thought for a moment aboutthe promise he made with the scholar. "If tomor-row the scholar asks me where have I been, whatshall I say? Shall I say that I went out stealing?No, I cannot say that. But nor can I lie. If I tell

the truth, everyone will start hating me and callme a thief. I would be punished for stealing."So the man decided not to steal that night, andgave up this bad habit.

Next day, he felt like drinking wine, when he wasabout to do so, he said to himself, "What shall Isay to the scholar if he asks me what did I do dur-ing the day? I cannot tell a lie, and if I speak thetruth people will hate me, because a Muslim is notallowed to drink wine." And so he gave up the ideaof drinking wine.

In this way, whenever the man thought of doingsomething bad, he remembered his promise to tellthe truth at all times. One by one, he gave up allhis bad habits and became a good Muslim and avery good person.

If you always speak the truth, you can be a goodperson, a good Muslim whom Allah likes and favors.If Allah - our Creator - is pleased with us, He willreward us with Jannah, which is a place of happi-ness and joy.

MAKE A PROMISE: I SHALL ALWAYS SPEAKTHE TRUTH.O you who believe! Have fear of God, andbe among the truthful. (Quran Suratul Tawbah9:119)

Telling the truth


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The Friday Bulletin

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Jumaadal Thani 21 1431/May 04 2010

Indeed, we are a nation of peculiar habits, including our Churchmen. Globally, the Church hasalways sought to bring religion into the State but it is the politicians who preach secularism. InKenya , the Church goes to court fulminating about establishment of religious laws in a secularstate, and demands a wall of separation.

In Southern Sudan, our Church was at the forefront demanding the Christian and animist Southbe freed from the Muslim North on grounds of religious persecution.Locally, they consider the special constitutional privileges to the Muslim minority an injusticeagainst Christians. The Church was categorical until last week that they were merely opposedto the constitutional entrenchment of Kadhis courts but not the courts parliamentary enactmentor their existence. Yet, their rst statement after the court ruling was to urge the Government toscrap the courts immediately.

According to the Church, religious freedom for all was intended to exalt Christianity, not otherfaiths. It sees itself as a depository of the nations moral and social guidance, but seeks justiceand equality for Christians at the expense of the Muslims.The ip side of the political court ruling was however a wake-up call for the Muslims, creating asense of unity and determination.In 1960, residents of the Coastal strip wanted to join the Sultanate of Zanzibar whilst the inhabit-

ants of NFD sought to join Somalia.In both instances, the Muslim popula-tion feared they would be discriminatedagainst on religious grounds. The Brit-

ish then appointed two commissions,the Kenya Coastal Strip Commissionin 1961 and the Northern Frontier Dis-trict (NFD) Commission in 1962, tosurvey public opinion regarding theirfuture in the light of the constitutionaldevelopment sweeping East Africa.The Coast inhabitants obtained theright to practice their faith under thenew regime after the Commissionsrecommendation for Kadhis courtswere promulgated by Kenya in 1963.The Somalis in NFD agitated for self-determination, leading to the ShiftaWar. As part of the peace agreement

brokered in Arusha by Zambias Ken-neth Kaunda in 1967, residents of NFDwere also allowed to access the Kadhicourts. The British had recognised theimportance of freedom of faith and ap-pointed the rst State-funded Kadhifor NFD in 1927, based at Wajir.Clearly, these courts symbolise themost incontrovertible manifestation ofthe Muslims faith.

At Bomas, Muslims unsuccessfullylobbied that self-determination clausebe included in the constitution as inSouth Africa and Ethiopia.In the latter, that provision allowedEritrea to secede; while in South Af-rica the provision safeguarded therights of the white minority should theyfeel threatened. If these courts arescrapped, wont the Muslims renewtheir agitation for secession?Muslims feel it would be a matterof time before the Church declaresKenya a Christian state. Next maybe a campaign to outlaw the call toprayer, halt Islamic Religious Educa-tion in schools, regulate mosques/madrassas and ban the Muslim veil.Early this year, the Church ran adverts

questioning the growing political, so-cial and economic status of Muslims inthe country, raising concerns on suchmatters as Islamic banks and Halalcertication.The Churches obsession with thegrowth of Islam in Kenya irks Muslims.Its perception that Islam is foreign toKenya undermines the condence ofMuslims as citizens. The pitched anti-Islam propaganda in rural churchesis bound to increase radicalism andresentment among Muslim youth whoalready feel discriminated against, andunderprivileged.

In recent years, Muslims have beentargeted and harassed on anti- ter-rorism related security crackdowns.Muslims are calm. But for how long?Before the clergys impunity drives usto the brink, could someone forwardtheir envelope to The Hague?

Are some of our churches playing the devils advocate?

OPINION

Billow Kerrow


7/8

The Friday Bulletin

NATIONAL NEWS

7

Jumaadal Thani 14 1431/May 29 2010

The Thika College of Shariah and Islamic studies is set to hold itsgraduation event on June 14. Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka isexpected to ofciate at the event as the guest of honour.This will be the rst graduation ceremony since the college openedits doors in 1997.The college is the only Muslim institution of higher learning which isregistered by the Commission for Higher Education, a recognitionwhich it achieved in 2008 after years of relentless efforts.The college offers degree and diploma programmes in Islamic stud-ies and Shariah (Islamic law) and enrollment is open to both maleand female students. Vocational programmes which include com-munity development also form part of the academic programmes.The institution is academically afliated to the International Uni-versity of Africa in Khartoum Sudan and the afliation has allowedmany students to offer the universitys academic programmes inthe country.The college has began its ascent to higher academic circles and ispresently embarking on a journey to transform into a fully edgedUniversity-Ummah University which will be based in Kajiado.

Thika College graduation for June 14

Autonomy call if Kadhis courts goStory From Page 1

Gulf African Bank, has completed the rst quarter with achievingprotability, nancial results ending March 31 2010 indicated.The bank posted prot of Sh25 million in the rst three months of2010 as compared to a loss of Ksh 96 million in the correspondingperiod last year. The banks customer deposits grew by Sh. 3 billion,an increase of 75% to stand at about Sh.6.9 billion.This focus on excellence led to the bank being voted 2nd bestbank with most satised customers during the 2009 Kenya Banking

Awards and garnered new accolades in the 2010 Banking Awardshaving been capped 1st runner up in Tier III banks and 2nd runnerup in best innovative product for the Shariah Compliant MortgageProduct, said a statement from the bank.The bank, which has opened 12 branches in its rst two years ofoperation, will also continue to focus on its expansion strategythroughout Kenya with the opening of the three new branches in thenext quarter. Further to this, the bank plans to expand its regionalfootprint in East Africa by 2011.

Gulf bank posts protability

high court amounts to discrimination to the community, he said.Dualle who is also the MP for Dujis constituency in Garissa also dis-closed that he will second a motion tabled in parliament by ImentiCentral MP Gitobu Imanyara to discuss the conduct of the threehigh court judges who passed the erroneous judgement on thecourts.On the constitution, Balala accused those opposed to the proposednew law of seeking personal interests at the expense of the countryand trying to dampen the tremendous efforts the nation had made inthe quest for a new constitutional dispensation.Speaking at the same function, internal security minister Prof.George Saitoti called on Kenyans to be tolerant to each othersviews on the proposed laws to ensure peace prevails in the country.We need to promote good relationship between religious groups sothat they are not used to plant seeds of discord among Kenyans,Saitoti said.Maendeleo ya Wanawake chairperson Rukia Subow reiterated theposition of women in the country in support of the constitution dueto a referendum on the august 4th this year.The fundraising to construct the mosque raised over Sh. 2.1 million.In attendance were assistant minister for defence Julius Nkaiseery,SUPKEM secretary general Adan Wachu, Sheikh Mohammed Os-

man of the Majlis Ulamaa Kenya among other local leaders.Elsewhere, the SUPKEM director general Abdullatif Shaban wasemphatic that the removal of the Kadhis courts would lead to a re-draw of the countrys borders. He said the courts formed the basisof the present geographical make up of the country and doing awaywith them risks having the redraw of the geographical boundariesof Kenya. It will involve the right to self determination by Muslimsliving along the 10-mile coastal strip, he said.The strip, which was initially under the sovereignty of the Sultan ofZanzibar, was annexed to Kenya on the condition that the Kadhiscourts would at all times be preserved as part of the Kenyan judicialsystem.

HOUSES FOR SALEFlats for sale situated along 3rd PARKLANDS AVENUE 300 metres

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JOB VACANCYA Muslim higher institution of learning situated at Maili Tissa (nine milesfrom Namanga border town in Kajiado district) is looking for a capableMuslim brother to teacher MATHEMATICS and PHYSICS on full time

basis.

The eligible person should have the following minimum requirementsDegree in Education from a recognized institutionTwo or three years teaching experience in other institutions of higher

learningPracticing Sunni MuslimGood Oral/Written communication skills

Those meeting the above requirements should contact the belowmentioned persons before 15th June 2010 Please give day/eveningtelephone contacts;

The Manager0722746719/0722492850

With the current campaign against the Kadhis courts, it is impera-tive that we all come together and ensure that the interests of Mus-lims are safeguarded, he said.Sheikh Hammad also called on Muslims to give their support to thenew Chief Kadhi who he descried as an astute and capable personwho will live up to his role in serving the ummah.

Sheikh Muhdhar is acting Chief KadhiStory From Page 1

A frst aid instruc-

tor Feysal Muham-

mad from Kenya

Red Cross (Left)

demonstrates how

to assist a person

with a leg fracture.

This was during a

two weeks train-

ing programme

for Jamia mosque

staff to equip them

with First Aid skills.

The programme

wil enable the staff

members to re-

spond to injuries

and other urgent

medical assistance

to worshippersaround the mosque

premises.


8/8

The Friday Bulletin is a Publication of Jamia Masjid Committee, P. O. Box 100786-00101 Nairobi, Tel: 2243504/5 Fax: 342147 E-mail: [email protected] by Colour Magic Production Ltd-Kirinyaga Crescent P. O. Box 9581-00100 Nairobi

Turkey's popularity on the rise after botched Israeli attack

Many Muslims will recall a few years back, a

woman by the name Sadia from Dandora Es-

tate, who had been admitted to the Kenyatta

National Hospital with serious third- degree

burns. Four months in hospital, just after the

Holy Month of Ramadhan, is when her non-

Muslim neighbour called a radio station to alert

Muslims about her fate. No one had come to

visit her. Apart from the hospital authorities,

no one knew her progress, nor her condition.

When she returned home, she was welcomed

by her crying and hungry three little children

aged ten, six and one, all living on their own for

the four months she was hospitalised.

There have been several similar cases, or worse

than this every now and then. There have been

cases in the recent past where Muslims had to

salve situations where bodies of our own breth-

ren have been left in the morgue for months on

end.

Alhamdulllah, for over three years now, the Um-

mah Foundation has operated a section spe-

cically designed to address this enigma. With

Sheikh Subki Shee Muhammad, the programme

has various daily duties in its itinerary. It prima-

rily deals with providing counselling, spiritual

guidance and teaching religion and da`awah

to the in-patients in major hospitals such as the

Kenyatta National hospital, the Nairobi hospital

and others. It also liaises with the hospital`s ad-

ministration in addressing extra- ordinary cases

where the in-patient has been entangled in dire

straits.

In a day, the routine requires going through the

hospital wards, counselling the patients and

giving them guidance. This noble program also

entails providing Islamic literature to the in-pa-

tients, reconciling the hearts of new in-patientrevertees, as well as addressing any cases of

unclaimed bodies of Muslim brethren lying in

the morgues, providing kaffan and burial serv-

ices for them.

This is a section that has helped to save the face

of the Muslim Ummah in front of the public eye,

has given help to the utterly unable members

of the Ummah, has given due respect to the

abandoned departed souls, as well as helped

to repair broken hearts. We hope that you will

participate in developing these noble functions.

We will appreaciate your helping hand to enable

us extend a caring heart to the Ummah.

For further details contact us at;

Service to the sick

The management, sta and students of Alim High School

invite parents , well wishers and friends of the school

to the Annual Prize Giving Dayto be held at the school

tomorrow Saturday 5th June 2010 at 10:00am.

The Guest of Honour will be:

Bro. Abdul Laf Essajee Lecturer, School of Business University of Nairobi,

Chairman Ummah Foundaon and Director First Community Bank

ALL ARE WELCOME

The school is located of the Nairobi Mombasa road 2km past the juncon to Machakos.

PRIZE GIVING DAY

ALIM HIGH SCHOOLP.O BOX 234 MACHAKOS TEL:0202120064,0715603666,0738204055

Contact

Jambo Star Properties (K) Limited

Amal Plaza 3rd Floor

Tel: 020 2072807Mobile 0722 734536 Abdullahi

0722 853889

The prospective candidate should possess the following qualities: -

1. Having a Thanawi certificate

2. Good recitation of the Quraan and has memorized a portion of the Quran

3. Good and loud voice

4. Good moral standing and trustworthy

5. The Prophet (Swalla Llaahu alayhi wa sallam) The caller for prayer is

trustworthy (Abu Daawud & Tirmidhi)

6. Experience of at least a year in a similar position.

Urgently apply to:

SECRETARY GENERAL JAMIA MOSQUE COMMITTEE P.O. Box 100786-00101 NAIROBI

Deadline of application 15th June 2010

JAMIA MOSQUE COMMITTEE

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Ankara's diplomatic confrontation withIsrael over the bloody seizure of an aidship bound for Gaza has boosted Turkey'spopularity among Arabs who long to see

their own governments show similar re-solve.From Cairo to Kuwait, Turkey's red aghas own across the Arab world in a showof support for its response to the Israeliraid in which nine activists, at least threeof them Turks, were killed as they tried tobreak the sea blockade of the Palestinianenclave.

Ankara's reaction, including the withdrawalof its Tel Aviv ambassador, has shown upthe few Arab governments that also havediplomatic ties with Israel. These includeEgypt, which was already under re forhelping Israel enforce the Gaza blockade.

Conscious of Arab and wider Muslimcriticism of its role in enforcing the em-bargo, Cairo opened the Rafah crossingon Wednesday. It is the only gateway to

the Gaza Strip not fully controlled by Is-rael, which has imposed a tight blockadeon the Hamas-run territory.Predominantly Muslim Turkey, a NATOmember and once a close regional ally ofIsrael, said on Wednesday it would onlynormalize ties with the Jewish state onceit lifts the blockade.Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has fur-ther enhanced his status through calls forthe Jewish state to be punished for thesea raid. The UN Security Council hascondemned the deaths."The time has come for the internationalcommunity to say 'enough'," he said

Ummah Foundation

Village Plaza, Ngara

P. O. Box 58717-00200 Nairobi Tel 3747612.

Email: [email protected]

www.ummahfoundation.net

Documents

Friday Bulletin 370