The

Friday Bulletin
Rabi' ul Thaany 14,1435/February 14,2014

The Weekly Muslim News Update

Sharawe report key to addressing youth challenges

Issue No. 563

Muslim religious and political leaders have called upon the government to act and implement the Abdullahi Sharawe report which addressed the various challenges faced by the Muslim community. The leaders said implementing the report which brought to light the grievances of Muslims would be a positive conduit to addressing the rising challenges of extremism and radicalization of youth. At the same time, they admitted a lapse between the leadership, scholars and the youth emphasizing that there is need for urgent intervention measures to bridge this divide and provide the necessary guidance to the youth and the Muslim community in general. In a communiqu released last week, the leaders drawn from various Muslim organisations said the report categorically warned of dangerous ramifications if the grievances of Muslims which included historic injustices, discrimination and state injustice are not addressed. It is regrettable that genuine grievances raised by the community through the Presidential Action Committee on grievances of the Muslim community on alleged harassment and discrimination have been ignored, the statement read by Mandera Senator Billow Kerrow said. The commission that was tasked with investigating alleged harassment and discrimination against Muslims presented its report to the then President Mwai Kibaki in 2009 but it has largely remained on the shelves after the government decided to keep its findings under wraps. In the joint statement, the leaders said the persistence harassments, detentions, renditions and extra judicial killings were fueling the radicalization of Muslim youth and urged the government and in particular the security apparatus to put to an end
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The executive director of Haki Africa Hussein Khalid at a press conference where he demanded the police to provide information on Hemed Salim who was arrested at the masjid Musa but his whereabouts remain uknown

Lamu School expels 70 Muslim girls

Seventy Muslim students were expelled from a school in Mpeketoni, Lamu county for refusing to take Christian Religious Education (CRE) as a subject and attend church services. The students from Blessed Bakanja Secondary School were sent home on January 20, for what the school termed as failure to abide by the school doctrines and regulations. Parents have raised their concerns over what they termed ''brainwashing'' and forced religious indoctrination of their children adding that the school was infringing on the rights of students. ''We are disturbed by the constant complains we get from our children that they are taken to attend church services and taught CRE,'' said one parent who opted to remain anonymous. When reached for comment, the Principal of the school a Mr Ngege could not deny the claims, adding that he is helpless since it is the decision of the management. He, however, confirmed the school does not teach Islamic Religious Education(IRE) despite its large number of Muslim students who comprise almost a half of the population. ''This is a catholic school and that is why we do not have IRE subject in our syllabus, he said.' 'We
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The Friday Bulletin

Rabi' Ul Thaany 14, 1435/February,14 2014

EDITORIAL

State should address discrimination of Muslims in schools

This week, the National Assembly resumed its sittings after a recess of more than two months and among the pending issues expected on the floor of the House is a statement from the Parliamentary Committees on Education, Research and Technology and that of Labour and Social Welfare on the treatment of Muslim students in public schools. Before the MPs went for a break, Nominated MP Zuleikhah Hassan passionately raised concern regarding to the challenges facing Muslim students in many public schools. These issues include the right to perform daily prayers, being forced to study Christian Religious Education and attend church services and the girls being denied the right to wear the hijab among other challenges. She mentioned schools such as Alliance Girls High School, Limuru Girls, Kenya High School, Buruburu Secondary School, Precious Blood Riruta, and Ganze Secondary school which were flagrantly violating the rights of the students. The Honorable MP singled out the school board of Ol-Kejuado High School which ignored a directive from the Ministry of Education to allow the reconstruction of a prayer place for Muslim students .The board went ahead to incite animosity against the students which led to the demolition of a Mosque in the school compound which was undergoing construction. This clear case of hostility forced Muslim parents to withdraw all students and Ol- Kejuado remains the only public school without the presence of Muslim students. Sadly, even after Muslim leaders raised this matter, which is a threat to national cohesion and integration, with the relevant authorities, no action has been taken by the ministry against the board. As Honorable Zuleikha rightly noted, the preamble and the Bill of Rights in the Constitution clearly outlaw discrimination on the basis of religion and this is meant to foster unity in diversity. Regrettably, a section of Kenyan communities are either totally or partially denied the enjoyment of this fundamental right. We should not lose sight of the fact that marginalization whether real or perceived and violations of constitutional rights is one the main factors that lead to undesirable social behaviors. This is further aggravated by the fact that proper channels of addressing these issues of concern are persistently overlooked or deliberately ignored and this is likely to create more resentment among Muslims or other communities so marginalized. The government should understand that some of the factors which are fueling radicalization of young mind is that there is a growing perception that Muslims are unwanted in public institutions and it is therefore imperative that this matter must be urgently addressed.

Lamu School expels 70 Muslim girls

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have strict guidelines not to teach Islamic religious education from the management and we have no plan to have an IRE teacher,'' he further affirmed. Effort to reach the chairman of the school board a Mr Nathan for comment was fruitless as his phone had been switched off. Parents of the affected students sought the intervention of the Eastern region chairman, Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM), Abdalla Kamwana, who condemned the move saying it was an affront to the rights of worship enshrined in the constitution. ''This is an abuse of the rights of the students and violate the principles of freedom of worship.'' He said attempts by the parents to have the order rescinded were met with negative response adding that the majority of those expelled are in Form Four and come from far flung areas. ''As we are speaking the students are still at home and I am afraid their expulsion will have effect on their final results,'' said Kamwana. He noted that the education act no.14 of 2013 and the constitution is very clear on religious freedom as well as on expulsion of students. ''The responsibility of expelling students lies with the Ministry of education and not school boards,'' he explained. Kamwana pointed out that he had got in touch with the Lamu county education director for his intervention in the matter and let the students back to school but no action has yet to been taken, adding that the expulsion is an act of pure impunity and will only help fan impunity. The Supkem official has called on the cabinet secretary for education Prof Jacob Kaimenyi to intervene and ensure that the constitutional right of the seventy students are respected. In 2009 the then permanent secretary in the education ministry Prof. Karega Mutahi issued a circular to all schools emphasizing that they should not force children to attend religious functions which they do not subscribe to and further ordered the schools to

ensure that they protected the constitutional rights of children regardless of their faith and social backgrounds.

Sharawe report
Continued From Page 1

these unfair policies which create resentment among Muslim and drive young men to conduct activities which are an affront to the rule of law. The current policy of deliberate profiling and discrimination of Muslims will not be a solution in solving the problems related to the war on terror, extremism and radicalism and the state needs to review its policy and engage in constructive dialogue as a way of addressing these issues reads the statement in part. The leaders said the government needs to embrace the spirit of engagement and constructive dialogue with the Muslim community. As part of the measures to bridge the gap between the leadership and the youth, an eight man team comprising of prominent scholars and Muslim personalities was last week dispatched to Mombasa and deliberated with various stakeholders who included the youth on finding an agreeable and lasting solution on issues of radicalization. The leaders reiterated their condemnation of the raid on Masjid Musa and further demanded that the police to be sensitive to Muslim feelings and refrain from violating the sanctity of Muslim institutions. It was totally unacceptable and unwarranted for the police to enter the mosque with shoes and adding insult to injury spilling deliberately use live ammunition against people in the mosque when they could have resorted to alternative methods which could have prevented the spilling of blood in the mosque, the joint statement from the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM), Jamia Mosque Committee among other organizations.

Rabi' Ul Thaany 14, 1435/February,14 2014

The Friday Bulletin

Da'wa
Sheikh Yusuf Qardhawi

Extremism: The Accusation and the Truth

overburden yourselves, lest you perish. People [before you] overburdened themselves and perished. Their remains are found in hermitages and monasteries. Indeed, Prophet Muhammad salallahu alayhi wa sallam always condemned any tendency toward religious excessiveness. He cautioned those of his companions who were excessive in ibadah, or who were too ascetic, especially when this went beyond the moderate Islamic position. Islam seeks to create a balance between the needs of the body and those of the soul, between the right of man to live life to its full, and the right of the Creator to be worshipped by man; which is also man's raison d'etre. Islam has laid down certain forms of `ibadah to purify the human being both spiritually and materially, individually and collectively, thereby establishing a harmonious community in which feelings of brotherhood and solidarity rule, and without hindering man's duty to build culture and civilization. The obligatory duties such as salah, zakah,' siyam' and hajj are simultaneously personal as well as social forms of ibadah. While performing these obligations, a Muslim is neither cut off from the mainstream of life nor is he alienated from his community. On the contrary, his ties are emotionally and practically strengthened. This is the reason why Islam did not prescribe monasticism, a practice which requires alienation and seclusion, thus preventing man from enjoying the blessings and al tayyibat of normal life and from sharing in its development and promotion. Islam considers the whole earth a field for religious practice; or the very business of religion. Islam also considers work a form of ibadah and a jihad' when one's intention is genuinely committed to the service of Allah. As a result, Islam neither approves of the pursuit of spirituality at the expense of materialism nor of the tendency to "purify the soul" by neglecting and punishing the body, which other religions and philosophies prescribe and advocate. This is made very clear in the Qur'an: "Our Lord! Give us good in this world and good in the hereafter" (Quran 2: 201), as well as in the following hadith "O, Allah, set right for me my religion which is the safeguard of my affairs; and set right for me the affairs of my [life in this] world wherein is my living; and set right for me my hereafter on which depends my afterlife; and make life for me [a source] of abundance for every good and make my death a source of comfort for me protecting me against every evil;" and: "Your body has a right over you."' Moreover, the Qur'an disapproves of and rejects the tendency to prohibit tayyibat and beautification (zinah'), which Allah taala has provided for his servants. In a verse revealed in Makkah, Allah says: O Children of Adam! Wear your beautiful apparel at every time and place of prayer. Eat and drink, but waste not by excess, for Allah loves not those who waste. Say: who has forbidden the beautiful gifts of Allah which He has produced for His servants, and the things clean and pure which He has provided for sustenance? (Quran 7: 31 32) In another surah, revealed in Madinah, Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) addresses the believers in the same way: O you who believe! Make not unlawful the good things which Allah has made lawful for you. But commit no excess, for Allah does not like those given to excess. Eat of the things which Allah has provided you, lawful and good, but fear Allah, in Whom you believe. These ayat explain to the believers the true Islamic way of enjoying tayyibat and of resisting the excessiveness found in other religions. It is reported that the situational context for the revelation of these two ayat was when a group of the Prophet's companions

Logicians argue that one cannot pass a judgment on something unless one has a clear conception of it, because the unknown and the undefined cannot be judged. Therefore, we first have to determine what "religious extremism" means before we can condemn or applaud it. We can do so by considering its reality and its most distinguishing characteristics. Literally, extremism means being situated at the farthest possible point from the center. Figuratively, it indicates a similar remoteness in religion and thought, as well as behavior. One of the main consequences of extremism is exposure to danger and insecurity. Islam, therefore, recommends moderation and balance in everything: in belief, ibadah (worship), conduct, and legislation. This is the straightforward path that Allah calls al Sirat al mustaqim. Moderation, or balance, is not only a general characteristic of Islam, it is a fundamental landmark. The Qur'an says: Thus have we made of you an Ummah justly balanced, that you might be witnesses over the nations and the Messenger a witness over yourselves. (Quran 2: 143). As such, the Muslim Ummah is a nation of justice and moderation; it witnesses every deviation from the 'straightforward path' in this life and in the hereafter. Islamic texts call upon Muslims to exercise moderation and to reject and oppose all kinds of extremism: ghuluw (excessiveness), tanattu' (transgressing; meticulous religiosity) and tashdid (strictness; austerity). A close examination of such texts shows that Islam emphatically warns against, and discourages, ghuluw. Let us consider the following ahadith: 1. Beware of excessiveness in religion. [People] before you have perished as a result of [such] excessiveness. "The people referred to above are the people of other religions, especially Ahl al Kitab [the People of the Book]; Jews and Christians. The Qur'an addresses these people: Say: O People of the Book! Exceed not in your religion the bounds [of what is proper], trespassing beyond the truth, nor follow the vain desires of people who went wrong in times gone by who misled many, and strayed [themselves] from the even Way". (Quran 5: 78) Muslims have therefore been warned not to follow in their steps: he who learns from the mistakes of others indeed lives a happier life. Furthermore, the reason behind the above hadith is to alert us to the fact that ghuluw may crop up as an insignificant action which we then unwittingly allow to continue and develop into a menace. After reaching Muzdalifah-during his last hajj-the Prophet salallahu alayhi wa sallam requested Ibn 'Abbas to gather some stones for him. Ibn 'Abbas selected small stones. Upon seeing the stones, the Prophet approved of their size and said: "Yes, with such [stones do stone Satan]. Beware of excessiveness in religion". This clearly indicates that Muslims should not be so zealous as to believe that using larger stones is better, thus gradually allowing excessiveness to creep into their lives. Al Imam Ibn Taymiyah argues that this warning against excessiveness applies to all forms of belief, worship, and transaction, and notes that since the Christians are more excessive in faith and in practice than any other sect, Allah admonishes them in the Qur'an. "Do not exceed the limits of your religion". 2. "Ruined were those who indulged in tanattu'" And the Prophet salallahu alayhi wa sallam repeated this thrice. Imam al Nawawi said that the people referred to here, "those indulging in tanattu:" i.e., those who go beyond the limit in their utterance as well as in their action. Evidently the above two ahadith emphatically assert that the consequence of excessiveness and zealotry will be the complete loss of this life and of the hereafter. 3. The Prophet salallahu alayhi wa sallam used to say: "Do not

Topic: Kujikurubisha kwa Allah By: Ustadha Ummu Hamzah 16th February 2014 2.00 pm -4.00 pm Venue: Makina Mosque Kibera
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SUNDAY LECTURE

The Friday Bulletin

Rabi' Ul Thaany 14, 1435/February,14 2014

WOMEN

The Romantic Veil

By Sahar El-Nadi Ask any enthusiast about the reason for wearing Hijab and youll get the standard explanation that veiling is meant to protect women against preying eyes. Girls are told theyre so precious that they have to be wrapped carefully like unique jewels and shielded from public view, until prince charming comes along one day to be her one and onlythats why she should save herself for him. But what about her? What would prince charming offer her in return for her precious gift? No one seems to bother to think about that.In our sweet and shy teen years were flattered by the analogy, but as we morph into radiant adult women, we begin to doubt and question. Many break free from the old-fashioned notions. They rebel against being a human gift, a beautifully wrapped package, waiting to be given away. Surely there must be more to womanhood than that degrading position? Veils come off in indignation by women who are eager to explore the world. The glossy pages of fashion magazines lure us with the promise of romance and the illusion of teaching us all the secrets of pleasure. They dazzle us with a kaleidoscope of colors, fragrances and expert advice on the mysteries of love. We cant resist dreaming to be like the glamorous women with the smoky eyes and tantalizing smiles, always a gorgeous guy lurks in the shadows appraising the stunning girl. So we twist and turn in front of mirrors, practicing the perfect pout, trying on different looks and picking out a new face each day, with eyes fixed on the dream, the prince charming who would sweep us off our feet because were wearing the right shade of lipstick or the perfect hair-do. We look into the beauty bibles and we obey religiously. Its only instinct. A woman is created to be beautiful and alluring. And so, hiding her beauty seems like an oxymoron. Why should we spend so much on clothes and spas, only to hide behind a headscarf and concealing clothes? What about all the poems we learnt in school? What about all the advice that a woman must polish her beauty to a shine so she could lure herself a man? Isnt that also in all the movies, advertising, TV and pop song? They all repeat again and again that flaunting our female attributes is our only way to find love and to live happily ever after. We never stop to think that well never live happily ever after with men who hunt women for their looks. Everyone seems to hammer it into our brains that our chances in life are in direct proportion to our looks, so we should spare no effort to paint them on or plant them in. Fake you say? No, this is called good marketing! Even self-help books tell a woman how to use her assets to her best advantage at work; they call that success. But no one bothers to specify the true beneficiary. In this tinsel world, mens preying eyes are a womans proof of initiation into the realm of feminine charms; a testimony that she is winning against her competition, because she is more beautiful and so more worthy of love. That should make her happy shouldnt it? Everyone promised her that. Oh, the satisfaction of seeing envy in the eyes of other females. Who would be so silly to hide from all that? Cool Wears Off! But in real life, after the intoxication wears off, a woman is left feeling empty, lost and lonely. The doorman, the taxi driver, the waiter and the passersby on the street; the people on the bus to work and the cashier at the supermarket, all the nameless strangers who stare at her, none of them really knows her or genuinely appreciates who she is, they just enjoy her looks and then walk the other way. Their admiration means nothing; she needs to see herself in the adoring eyes of one special man. But does that mean she is just a mere gift, beautifully wrapped and waiting for the lucky winner? On my wedding day, my friend recalls, the most romantic moment was when my husband lifted my hijab to see my hair for the first time, she paused to giggle he actually blushed as he stared at me in amazement as if I were a dream come true, and then he said something wonderful, that I had beautiful ears! I couldnt help laughing in surprise, my ears? But that made me feel beautiful all over, I felt like a princess. Suddenly the realization hit me in the face: Hijab is not a womans gift to a man; its actually the other way around! Its a unique and precious wedding gift for her, a priceless moment, exactly what she needs to feel on her wedding. She is the woman, above any competition, the ultimate feminine princess of all the fairytales, and the sexiest cover model of all the glossy magazines, in the eyes of one man, the only one that actually matters, the only one who truly knows her and wants her for who she is because she is incomparable to any other woman. In his eyes, she will see the adoration she craves that she used to look for in all the wrong places, the pure love and sincere boyish wonder and surprise. Oh, the intoxicating feeling of knowing he sees only her right now, out of all the women in the world. And the heady satisfaction of knowing everything about her is beautiful in his eyes as he sees her for the first time as he had never seen her before, when she most needs it, at the most special moment of her life. I suddenly realized that Hijab is not just to restrict and preserve, or to test and discipline. Its not to protect women and men from each other; its actually a relationship booster and an exclusive shield against anyone outside this intimate circle of love, of husband and wife. Women fulfill their need to be mysterious and intriguing and men indulge their instincts to imagine, conquer and discover. The age-old wedding tradition attempts to induce this special moment artificially in front of the photographers camera, but its not the same as the exclusive ceremony just for two. When a Muslim man lifts a veiled womans hijab on their wedding night, its their private celebration of love, a very romantic bridal gift from Allah, to every woman, handed to her by the only man she loves on a magical moment to last her a lifetime.

Dress-making Tutor/Seamstress Well established Training Institute in Nairobi CBD is looking for a person to fill a full time position for a tutor in dressmaking department. A suitable candidate should: --Be a Muslim lady A Diploma holder of Fashion design & garment making from a recognized institution or Have successfully passed Trade test -Grade 1 from the Directorate of Industrial Training Have at least TWO years working experience Possess excellent interpersonal and communication skills Computer literate. The candidate must be able to work with minimum or no supervision. She must have a high commitment to quality. Closing date for applications: Friday 28th February 2014. NB: ONLY SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES WILL BE CALLED FOR AN INTERVIEW.To apply, Drop your CV and relevant testimonials to: The Administrator , Jamia Mosque Committee Nairobi
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Rabi' Ul Thaany 14, 1435/February,14 2014

The Friday Bulletin

YOUTH

On Valentine's Day - Muslims against Love?

It is a mistake to confuse what they call the day with what the real intentions are behind it. The love referred to on this day is romantic love, taking mistresses and lovers, boyfriends and girlfriends. It is known to be a day of promiscuity and sex for them, with no restraints or restrictions. They are not talking of pure love between a man and his wife or a woman and her husband, or at least they do not distinguish between the legitimate love in the relationship between husband and wife, and the forbidden love of mistresses and lovers. This festival for them is a means for everyone to express love. Love in Islam is more general and more comprehensive; it is not restricted only to one kind of love, that between a man and a woman. It is love when we cry for those Muslims being tortured and killed by those evil armies of the West. It is love when we cry looking at the people of Somalia dying out of hunger. It is love when we morally, mentally and financially support those Muslims whose lives have been devastated by tyrant rulers like in Syria. There is no religion which encourages its followers to love and care for one another more than Islam does. This applies at all times and in all circumstances, not just on one particular day. Indeed, Islam encourages us to express our emotions and love at all times, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: If a man loves his brother, let him tell him that he loves him. (Abu Dawood and al-Tirmidhi). And he said: By the One in Whose hand is my soul, you will not enter Paradise until you truly believe, and you will not truly believe until you love one another. Shall I not tell you of something that, if you do it, you will love one another? Spread (the greeting of) salaam amongst yourselves. (Muslim) I am not forced to admit to you on this day that I have known love. However, this does not coerce me to allocate one day for the rest of my entire life to regret the killing of the patron saint of love (Valentine) and commemorate him. I am not obliged to show love to those who are massacring the concept of true love in my country, killing my dreams and corrupting my youth. I am not obliged to behave like an innocent child, to receive a red heart by the right hand while they treacherously stab me from behind with their left hand. I am not required to commemorate Astartes (one of so called Greek goddess) rivers of tears for Adonis (one of so called Greek goddess of beauty and desire), while my peoples rivers of blood are shed in our streets. History has been crushed under the feet of those who came to my country. I want to tell them: You will never be dearer to me than Huda and Abeer (two young Muslim girls who fell victims to the enemies brutal attacks in Gaza and Iraq). Your yellow smile will never deceive me to forget Imaan and Muhammad Al-Durra (Palestinian children killed by the Zionists). I will not be able to hide my face and share your joy and forget the sorrows of my Ummah. I am not coerced to live as a yes-man while they compel me to remember those whom I love one day, for I have many loved ones. If they have Valentine, I have someone much greater than him, Muhammad (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam) who taught me to dedicate all my life and days for love. He taught me that when I love someone, I should quickly come to him, not wait until February 14, or any other date, to tell him how I feel. He taught me that a gift (regardless of its value and color) is the messenger of love. Therefore he said: Exchange gifts and you will love each other. He taught me a way to be more beautiful than Adonis and Continued to page 6

Prophet Muhammad: Da'wah to the Quraish

So, Muhammad told his children and his friends to leave Makkah and go to Madina. Then all who believed in Allah and worshipped only Allah, left Makkah. The last to leave were Muhammad and his close companion, Abu Bakr. However, the people of Makkah were not content with driving Muhammad out. Now they wanted to kill him, because he had been warning them of their evil deeds. But Muhammad was able to leave while the Makkans were on their way to kill him. All, Muhammads brave young cousin, laid himself on Muhammads bed so that the Makkans would think that the Prophet was still there. But Muhammad and Abu Bakr were long since gone on their way, and so that nobody could find them, they hid themselves in a cave. When the people discovered that it was Ali who was in Muhammads bed and that the Prophet had gone, they became very angry. But there was nothing they could do, for Muhammad was already well beyond their evil reach. Madina was completely different from Makkah. Here, Muhammad had more friends than enemies. However, the people of Makkah did not leave him in peace. Instead, they followed him to Madina, to make war with him. But Allah helped the Prophet and his followers, and kept them safe from their enemies. In Madina, Muhammad continued to receive Allahs messages from the Angel Gabriel. These messages were written down in a book, called the Quran. In the Quran, we can read everything that Allah has said to Man. The Prophet and his friends built a mosque in Madina and here they prayed five times every day. Once every year, they observed a month of fasting. During the days of this month, they did not eat or drink anything during the daytime. They trained themselves to go without food and drink, for the sake of Allah. From this experience, they learned to get used to eating very little food. So, they had a lot of food left over to give to the poor. They also gave the poor some of their money. Muhammad and his friends believed in Allah and worshipped Him alone. They were obedient to Allah and followed His commands.
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The Friday Bulletin

Rabi' Ul Thaany 14, 1435/February,14 2014

FEATURE

Maahad College providing opportunities in teachers education

A recently commissioned four storey building at the Girls Training Institute of Islamic Education is now a noticeable landmark in the Pangani area of Nairobi. On the top floor, what was initially an open laundry area is now a built up facility with tiled classrooms complete with electronic white boards and fully equipped modern office facilities. This is the home of the Maahad Teachers Training College, the latest addition to the education complex which provides an all round holistic education which caters for all classes ranging from toddlers to adults. In this ladies only facility, at least 500 people go through its doors on a daily basis through its facilities which include madrasa classes, the Islamic institute (Maahad) and a secondary school Maahad Academy as well as well as adult classes. Maahad Teachers Training College opened its doors late last year after getting approval by the education ministry. It becomes the second Islamic teaches college in the country after the Mombasa based Islamic Teachers Training College. The institution received authorization to offer the Early Childhood Diploma Education (ECDE) Programme, the P1 training programme for primacy school teachers and the Diploma Teachers Training Education (DTTE) which targets secondary school teachers. Ironically, the idea of the teachers college arose after it became a challenge to recruit Muslim teachers at the Maahad Academy to drive forward the integrated approach of education. We didnt have adequate teaching staff at the Academy this gave the birth to the idea of establishing a college which would provide a pool of qualified Muslim teachers, the Principal Fawziya Anzelimi Hubeisa told The Friday Bulletin. Our main objective is to have teachers who teach in an integrated manner. Even while teaching history, this can be done through an Islamic perspective and this is well be articulated by Muslim teachers, she further explained. The teaching approach at the college while it puts more emphasis on Islamic Religious Education and Arabic (IRE), at the same time students are taken through skills areas such as child

An ECDE class in session at the Maahad Teachers Training College

psychology and material development and the training is further enhanced through various workshops to help build their capacities in professional teaching practices. The college is also developing programmes with Islamic integrated schools to further build the capacities of teachers in the schools through educational seminars. The institution is expected to graduate its first batch of students next
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Muslims against Love?

Continued from page 5

Extremism
Continued from page 3

decided to castrate themselves and to roam the land like monks. Defects of Religious ExtremismAll these warnings against extremism and excessiveness are necessary because of the serious defects inherent in such tendencies. The first defect is that excessiveness is too disagreeable for ordinary human nature to endure or tolerate. Even if a few human beings could put up with excessiveness for a short time, the majority would not be able to do so. Allah's legislation addresses the whole of humanity, not a special group who may have a unique capacity for endurance. This is why the Prophet salallahu alayhi wa sallam was once upset with his eminent companion Mu'adh, because the latter led the people one day in salah and so prolonged it that one of the people went to the Prophet and complained. The Prophet salallahu alayhi wa sallam said to Mu'adh: "O Mu'adh! Are you putting the people on trial?" and repeated it thrice. On another occasion he addressed an Imam with unusual anger: "Some of you make people dislike good deeds [salah]. So whoever among you leads people in salah should keep it short, because amongst them are the weak, the old, and the one who has business to attend to. Furthermore, when the Prophet salallahu alayhi wa sallam sent Mu'adh and Abu Musa to the Yemen, he gave them the following advice: "Facilitate [matters to people] and do not make [things] difficult. Give good tidings and do not put off [people]. Obey one another and do not differ [amongst yourselves].

superior to Venus. Therefore, he said: Allah is beautiful and He loves beauty. Muhammad (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam) taught me that Allah The Almighty loves me because I live with love. Therefore, He said: My love is due for those who love each other for My sake, meet together for My sake and visit each other for My sake. He promised me that I will be with him if I love him, for love of the Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam) is more than just words. He said: One will be resurrected with those whom he loves. Muhammad (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam) directed me to the verse in which Allah The Exalted Says (what means): {Close friends, that Day, will be enemies to each other, except for the righteous.} [Quran 43: 67] He told me that the essence of my love in this world is love for Allah The Almighty and love for His sake. In a Hadeeth (narration), he said: The one who loves for the sake of Allah, hates for the sake of Allah, gives for the sake of Allah and withholds for the sake of Allah has perfect faith. Muhammad (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam) taught me to choose those whom I love in order not to regret my love, Allah The Exalted Says (what means): {And the Day the wrongdoer will bite on his hands [in regret] he will say, Oh, I wish I had taken with the Messenger a way. Oh, woe to me! I wish I had not taken that one as a friend. He led me away from the remembrance after it had come to me. And ever is Satan, to man, a deserter.} [Quran 25: 27-29] As for those who love each other for the sake of Allah The Almighty, He will shield them on the Day of Judgment under His shade when there will be no shade but His and include them in His love. On the Day of Judgment, Allah The Almighty will call them, saying: Where are those who love each other for My Majesty? Today, I will shield them under My shade, as today there is no shade but Mine. He will praise them, saying: Those who love each other for My sake for them [are] pulpits of light, the prophets and the martyrs will look at them with admiration.

The Friday Bulletin

Rabi' Ul Thaany 14, 1435/February,14 2014

NATIONAL

Call to investigate Masjid raid

The Independent Police oversight Authority (IPOA) has been called up to initiate investigations into the February 2 raid on Masjid Musa in Mombasa. A human rights organizations Haki Africa while condemning the raid which left at least eight people dead, said it was necessary for the raid to be investigated as many questions surrounding the operation remained to be answered. This particular incident has aroused much emotion amongst leaders and the public alike. We feel that it is crucial for your institution to immediately intervene and carry out thorough investigations, said the executive director Hussein Khalid in a letter to the IPOA chairman Macharia Njeru. The rights body questions why the police allowed the meeting to take place when it had earlier declared it illegal. Was it necessary for the police to raid the mosque in the first place? Could they have called out for all who were inside to disperse or surrender for arrest? Hussein asked. He queried why the police chose to enter the mosque with shoes and went on to shoot and kill people in the place of worship knowing full well that the action will stir strong emotions among Muslims. The organization also said there was no reason for the police to lobe tear gas in the mosque when they were aware that women, children and babies were inside and also demanded to know why minors were arrested those who surrendered mistreated. Was it necessary to kick and hit those who had already surrendered and make them walk on their knees, he asked. Hussein complained that those who were arrested had their constitutional rights violated and were kept incommunicado for five days without access to their families and legal representatives. The statement also demanded the police to come clear on the whereabouts of four people who are still reportedly missing. The missing persons include Hemed Salim whose arrest was captured by virtually all media houses but he was not produced in court and a search made at police stations and even the mortuary has not revealed his whereabouts. Meanwhile the MP for Mvita Abdulswamad Sharrif Nassir said he will bring the matter to the National Assembly and push for adoption of a report in the House condemning the police raid. He said together with area leaders who include the Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho and the Senator Hassan Omar, the leaders will continue their quest for justice and also to ensure that the sanctity of mosques was respected and protected. We will use the same to ensure justice is achieved and most importantly such an incident to never happen to anyone in any place of worship. We dont support terror or terrorism from anyone including from those who are meant to protect us, he said.

Muslims urged to assist drought victims

With severe drought conditions recorded in many parts of the country and more than one million people at risk of starvation and rising cases of malnutrition, Muslims has been called upon to step out and lend a helping hand to the victims of the drought through the provision of relief food. The Imam of Landhies Mosque in Nairobi Sheikh Ahmed Uthman asked the community not to turn a deaf ear to the drought crisis that has been witnessed in several parts of the country stressing that Muslims have an obligation to provide support towards the suffering. It is our obligation as Muslims to give a helping hand to these victims. It does not matter whether they are Muslims or non-Muslim. This is a religious duty and we are under obligation to assist those who are threatened with starvations, the Imam said during a recent khutbah (sermon) he delivered at Nairobis Jamia mosque. Sheikh Ahmad called on Muslim institutions to come together and develop modalities to help those threatened with drought. He faulted the government for failing to put in place long term measures to mitigate its citizen against such hazards which have become a perennial occurrence. It is a sad state to hear that in this era, people could be resorting to eating dogs to survive, this is unacceptable and the government should live up to its obligation of looking after its citizens, he said. Turkana County has been among the hardest hit areas and a recent Kenya Red Cross Societys (KRCS) assessment indicates that majority of residents in northern Kenya face starvation following massive crop failure in the last three planting seasons. In his sermon, the Imam also called for the government to take steps to bring back Kenyan citizens renditioned to Uganda and reminded the President and his deputy to live by their promise which they made during the presidential campaigns. Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto promised that they will bring back the detainees from Uganda. We do remind them to fulfill their pledge which they made to the Muslim community, Sheikh Ahmad told worshippers who gathered for the Friday prayers.

Mass wedding for Muslim couples held in Kakamega

A celebratory mood gripped Eshisiru Islamic Center in Kakamega county, after hundreds of people turned up to witness a historic Muslim mass wedding. The event that was organized and sponsored by a Kakamega based non-governmental organization, Muslim Group for Development (MGD), and saw over fourteen couples solemnize the marriage in a ceremony presided over by the Upper Western region Kadhi, Sheikh Shaaban Issa Muhammad. The arrangement was aimed at helping young Muslim and reverts to get married to protect their chastity. In his address to the gathering, Sheikh Shaaban spoke on the virtues of young people getting married stressing that in Islam marriage is a simple affair and called on parents to do away with customs and traditions which have made the institution expensive hence locking out many youths to get married. He underscored the importance of marriage in bridging the cultural divide and pointed out that marriage was not only a matter between two individuals but an institution which brings different families and by extension communities together. At the same time the judicial officer called on Muslim couples to register their marriages immediately after the marriage. He said it was important that married couples are registered and issued with marriage certificates noting that Islam encourages its adherents to put down in writting any transaction or agreements for reference, transparency and accountability purposes. He further explained that according to the law, married couples without a marriage certificate could be jailed for six months or fined Sh3000 or both. Divorced couples also face similar punishment if they do not have a certificate to show they are divorced. In attendance at the ceremony were -Sheikh Khamis Wakhusama, the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) Western region Secretary and Sheikh Ali Muhammad Ali -Imam of Amalemba Taqwa Mosque among others. In a similar event last year, Muslim Group for Development sponsored ten couples to get married and provided them with household goods to help jumpstart their new lives.

Daawah work in Our Prisons

Criminal rehabilitation is gaining popularity among many who are forward thinking. Such forms of rehabilitation can help to reduce the number of repeat offenders who return to jail after being unable to adapt to life outside of jail. This can also help to solve some of the more serious cases, such as sexual offenders who may continue in their heinous ways after being released, preying on women or children. Criminal rehabilitation can help to solve the problem of overcrowding in most prisons. The criminal population continues growing, as the death penalty has been abolished, and the state would need to spend more on facilities to house criminals. There are statistics showing that only 35 percent of inmates do not make their way back to prison upon their release. This leaves us with a large percentage of released criminals who do commit crimes and end up being repeat offenders. This poses a major difficulty to society as well as a strain. The government has to fork out huge sums to keep tabs on these possible repeat offenders as well as maintaining the prison systems. Needless to say, the possibility of releasing prisoners who might be repeat offenders is a threat to social safety. However, the scenario does have a light at the end of the tunnel. There seems to be a good reason why some former inmates do not return to jail: it appears that their time in incarceration was spent productively, changing some vital aspect of their personality. Education is one of the ways in which this positive change can be effected. Ummah Foundation through its Prisoners Rehabilitation Program has been in the forefront in bringing change in prisons through Islamic teachings and other technical programs. In Naivasha maximum prison, Ummah Foundation has established an Education Centre that serves as a mosque for the inmates and an Education hub that inmates come together every day to learn and watch prominent Muslim scholars give lectures from the video and Tv set that the Foundation has provided for them. In a very short period ever since Ummah Foundation found its space there, quite a number of new Muslim revertees have embraced Islam. In Kamiti Maximum Prison, Ummah Foundation in collaboration with PRP has started construction of another centre that is similar to the one in Naivasha. With the same setup and programs we anticipate to rehabilitate a bigger number than before through Daawah. Other Prisons like Nairobi Remand, Athi River, Langata Womens Prisons are equally in need of the same services and that is why we call upon all well-wishers to join hands with Ummah Foundation through its Prisoners Rehabilitation Program to see changes in our Prisons through Daawah work. With your help and support we expect to achieve the following: 1-Have an adequate number of educational (secular and spiritual), vocational and work programs being provided to rehabilitate prisoners. 2-Cater for the special needs of our Muslim Sisters at Langata Womens Prisons who need to be provided with sanitary facilities and children clothes. 3-There are certain groups of prisoners remand and short term, young offenders and prisoners with mental health problems- who need our care and satisfactory rehabilitation. We can also help those with minor offences to be bailed out of the prisons. For your participation in this noble initiative contact us: Ummah Foundation Village Plaza,2nd Floor Ngara Road P.O.Box 58717-00200 , Nairobi, Kenya Tel:+254-20-2680610/13, Mobile: +254734845277 E.Mail: info@ummahfoundation.net Web: www.ummahfoundation.net

Maahad College
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t year after completion of the diploma training programme in Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE). The principal emphasized that Muslims should embrace the teaching profession describing it as an exciting career which helps to mould students into productive citizens. She said students look upon teachers as role models and it is essential to have more qualified Muslim teachers who can be seen by students as good role models. Education is the best gift a parent can give to his child and if this can realized through a good teacher as this leaves positive imprints not only on the students but the society as well, said Fawziya who is herself a Maahad graduate and is currently undertaking a masters on education management at the University of Nairobi. On the challenges facing the nascent institution, the director of the Girls Training Institute of Islamic Education Ustadha Azra Khawaja spoke on the slow response from the community but expressed optimism that this will inshallah build up in the near future. It was the same reaction when we started Maahad Academy and now we are overwhelmed with requests and many parents are disappointed that their girls cannot secure be admission, she said. The college is receiving support from the Muslim Education Council (MEC) which has offered scholarships to students wishing to take a career in teaching.

UMMAH FOUNDATION Education bursaries 1-Ummah Foundation will be awarding new education bursaries to bright and needy students. The applicants should meet the following criteria: -Should have passed with a mean score of 350 points at K.C.P. E. Level. -Should be from poor and needy families and preference will be given to orphans -Active member in Islamic work and member of One Shilling Foundation. Please collect your application forms from our Offices in Ngara- Village Plaza or download online from our website: www.ummahfoundation.net 2-Kaffans are available at Ummah Foundation offices for needy cases. Please contact us with a burial permit when need arises. 3-Ummah Foundation would like to inform all Muslims that we are undertaking the project of Mosque repairs and maintenance. We request the Mosque committees to collect the application forms from Ummah Foundation Offices and furnish us with more information about the mosque status for this project to be approved by Trustees

The Friday Bulletin is a Publication of Jamia Masjid Committee, P. O. Box 100786-00101 Nairobi, Tel: 2243504/5 Fax: 342147 E-mail: fridaybulletin@islamkenya.org. Printed by Graphic Lineups Limited-Kweria Road info@graphic.co.ke