The

Friday Bulletin
The Weekly Muslim News Update

Shawwal 29 1431/October 08 2010

Issue No. 388

RAILA

where is your
voice of reason
EDITORIAL

Flashback 2007, Raila Odinga, the ODM presidential candidate enters into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Muslims where in return for the community support, he
pledges to ensure that the fundamental rights of Muslims which have been subverted by
successive regimes are respected.
Raila gives his unequivocal pledge at a time when there is rising anger from the Muslim
community on the renditions of Kenyans to Somalia and Ethiopia by the Kenya government on allegations of terrorism complicity.
Through full page paid advertisements in the local dailies, he strongly condemns the renditions afrming that it is a gross violation of the law and reminds the government to live
up to its obligations to respect the rule of the law.
To further his case, the opposition leader presents a document authored by Al-Amin Kimathi of the Muslim Human Rights Forum (MHRF) on the renditions to Justice minister
Martha Karua informing her that the government has a moral responsibility to ensure that
the Kenyans are returned home.
Furthermore, in the MoU, he singles out the Anti Terrorism Police Unit for violating the
rights of Muslims and pledges to bring to book individuals in the police squad who were
responsible for violating the rights of Kenyans.
Continued To Page 2

KNCHR calls for action against Police

Chief and ATPU boss

The State funded human rights watchdog is pressing on with legal action against those who were involved in the illegal rendition of Kenyan
citizens to Uganda.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) says it will soon formally ask the Attorney General Amos Wako to le criminal
proceedings against the Commissioner of Police Mathew Itere and the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit Commandant Nicholas Kamwende for
violating constitutional provisions in the Bill of Rights.
KNCHR commissioner Hassan Omar said ofcers from the ATPU who were also involved in the kidnappings of Kenyan citizens and ferrying
them to Uganda will also be held culpable for the crimes.
The commissioner made the remarks on Tuesday during a KNCHR organized forum on human
rights, security and counter terrorism at a Nairobi hotel.
Hassan said the declaration last week by the High court and the magistrate court that the government violated the rights of Kenyans in the renditions will further tighten the case against the
government security agents.
The Attorney General Amos Wako should give directions for the prosecution. If he doesnt,
KNCHR has already engaged lawyers to institute private prosecution, he said.
If people oddly violate the constitution hours after its promulgation, we must retaliate constitutionally, he added.
His sentiments were echoed by former Kabete MP Paul Muite who told human rights campaigners
to move with speed and ensure that those responsible for violating the constitutions are punished
for their crimes.
Budalangi Member of Parliament Ababu Namwamba also joined the condemnation against the
rendition and accused the government of failing to live to its responsibility of protecting its citizens
from renditions and torture which negates the spirit of the constitution. He said Parliament through
the Committee on Legal Affairs and the Administration of Justice will ensure that the fundamental
rights of Kenyans are protected.
He told the security agents that though they have been involved in such violations, they should
understand that with the new constitutional order in place, the ground had shifted and they will
ATPU boss Nicholas Kamwende
Continued To Page 3

This Week

Editorial
Da'wa

Youth and Children Adjusting to University

Islam and Homosexuality
Islamic Issues
P4
National News
Women Issues Bring happiness to your husband
www.islamkenya.com
Raila, where is your voice of reason? P2

P5

JIHAD is not holy war

P10

P3

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

P11

Shawwal 29 1431/October 08 2010

The Friday Bulletin

EDITORIAL

Raila, where is your voice of reason?

Fast forward 2010, Several Kenyans are arbitrarily arrested, kept in
incommunicado detentions where they are denied access to families and legal representatives. The detainees in another breach of
the law are renditioned to Uganda in an exercise which bears similar traits to the 2007 renditions.
The difference is that this time, the man who promised to safeguard the fundamental rights of Muslims is silent on the violation
of the rights of Muslims. While he failed to achieve his dreams of
the presidency following the bungled 2007 elections, at least he
managed to attain the coveted position of the Prime Minister which
propelled him to be the second most powerful and inuential person in the country.
The Prime Minister is well remembered for vigorous campaigns for
the new constitution where he appealed to Kenyans to vote for the
document stressing that it will sound a death knell to the years of
impunity and agrant abuse of the law.
Strangely, while a section of Kenyans are once again having their
rights trampled upon, Raila Odinga who many Muslims passionately voted for expecting that he will live up to his pledge appears
to be less mindful about the indiscriminate abuse of the law by
security agents.
More telling is that the Prime Minister during an iftar dinner he
organized during the month of Ramadhan, casually brushed off
the matter when it was brought to his attention by Muslim leaders
bluntly telling them not to expect justice for those whom he termed
as killers. This in spite of the fact that they had not been convicted
by any court and their arrest was done in full breach of the law he
himself fought hard for.

In 2007, millions of Muslims cast their votes for Raila fervently believing that he will honour his pledge to ensure that the often abrogated and abused fundamental rights of Muslims will be safeguarded once he assumes a position of authority. His voice of reason
over the years to ght for the rights of the oppressed backed up
their hopes that this gallant son of Kenya would stand up to defend
the dignity of his Muslim countrymen in times of need.
The renditions which formed the catalyst for the MoU have now returned and are being perpetuated by the same players. The muteness, however, from the Prime Minister seems to send a signal that
he approves the illegality. Regrettably, since his appointment as
the Prime Minister, the myriad of pledges he had made to Muslims
remain a pipe dream.
We would like to give the benet of doubt to the Prime Minister, that
he is still the person who stands by the ideal of safeguarding the
rule of the law and promoting good governance. This will however,
depend on whether he will also continue to champion the same
ideals when it comes to violation of the rights of Muslims, a community which he himself admitted has been wronged by successive regimes on matters to do with discrimination and the so-called
war on terror.
Raila, Muslims saw you as the voice of the oppressed but your silence if it continues to persist ,at their time of need, it will be a pointless act in 2012 for you to visit mosques pleading for support from
the community. According to a tradition of the Prophet Muhammad,
peace be upon him, a believer is not bitten by a snake twice from
the same hole.

Play a role in Safeguarding the constitution, Media told

The media should further its objectives of educating the population
on matters of public interests and should also take up its rightful role
in seeing to it that the rule of the law is observed.
The vice chairman of Jamia Mosque Committee Farouk Adam said
it was important for the media to realize its importance in safeguarding the constitution and promoting national cohesion especially at
this transitional period of implementing the new constitution.
The media is not for a few individuals but all Kenyans have a stake
in it. It should therefore, play its role in championing the rights of citizens, he during a meeting where Muslim leaders paid a courtesy
call to the management of the Standard Group at its head ofce
along Mombasa road.
He emphasized that in the new constitutional dispensation, it was
imperative for the media to muster its voice in taking the government to accountability to respect the rights of the citizens.
Hassan Omar, a commissioner with the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) told the fourth estate to desist from
stereotyping saying that is a recipe for proling and discrimination.
When you call someone a terrorist and this person is later found
innocent by the courts, how do you expect him to integrate in the
society, he asked.
National Muslim Leaders Forum (NAMLEF) vice Chairman Al-Hajj
Yusuf Murigu said the new constitution has set in motion a new era
of accountability and openness and it was imperative that the media
which was the voice of the voiceless to diligently point out ills perpetrated against Kenyans.
On his part, the Standard Group Deputy Chairman and Chief Strategist Paul Melly noted that the media had a central role to play the
media in promoting matters of public interest and pledged that the
Group will not be cowed in ensuring that it will stand up to its ideals of promoting ethical journalism and justice in the society. "We
should not keep silent when Kenyans rights are violated by being
taken outside the country for trials. We will always make sure that
human rights are respected and upheld," Melly told the meeting,
he said.
Melly also condemned moves by individuals with vested interests

who were bent on stereotyping some religious groups and communities.

The meetings was also attended by representatives from Council of
Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK), Muslim Human Rights Forum, Ummah Foundation, Kenya National Commission on Human
Rights and National Cohesion and Integration Commission.

Peace restored after deadly clan

clashes in Garrisa
Peace has been restored in Masalani and Sambul villages of Garissa district following deadly clan clashes in the area which left three
people dead. Scores of others were injured and several houses set
on re in the conict which was blamed on land disputes.
Livestock Assistant minister Adan Dualle expressed optimism that
peace will continue to prevail after peace meetings convened between residents and community leaders.
The situation is under control and we hope that peace will prevail,
he said.
According to Dualle, the conict resulted from a land dispute between two individuals from different clans but spilled over into a fully
edged conict pitting together two different clans.
He said the peace meetings which was also attended by Defence
minister Yusuf Hajj and Nominated MP Sophia Abdinoor resolved
on a number of pacication issues to ensure that peace prevails.
He warned those responsible for inciting the people that the law will
take its course adding that no person will be allowed to break the
law and in the guise of defending his clan. The government will
take rm action against those who incited and participated in acts
which violated the law, he said.
The assistant minister expressed hope that the proposed land reforms will go at great length to solve the long standing land disputes
in the area which have been a source of acrimony for residents.

Shawwal 29 1431/October 08 2010

The Friday Bulletin

DA'WA

'JIHAD' is not holy war

Dr. Jamal Badawi
The normative relationship between Muslims and non-Muslims is
that of peace, justice, mercy, and mutual respect. Some may ask,
however, how building and mainstreaming peace can be reconciled
with the concept of holy war.
The Quranic Arabic term jihad has been commonly mistranslated
as holy war. The Quran was revealed in Arabic, not in English.
The Arabic equivalent of the English expression holy war is harb
muqadasah, an expression that is not found anywhere in the Quran
or in the authentic sayings of the Prophet of Islam (peace and blessings be upon him). Even when the Quran speaks about defensive
war, it never glories it or calls it holy; rather, it is described as
something which is inherently hated (Al-Baqarah 2:216-217). However, as a last resort, it may be better than doing nothing in the face
of aggression or oppression.
Furthermore, the term holy war means, lexically, a ght on behalf
of one religion against the other(s). There is no verse in the Quran
that condones ghting any peaceful non-Muslim on the sole ground
that he or she is a non-Muslim. The Quran prohibits compulsion
in religion (Al-Baqarah 2:256) and even allows one form of interfaith marriage. For example, a Muslim male may marry a Jewish or
Christian woman (Al-Maidah 5:5).
Jihad is an Arabic term derived from the root J-H-D, which means,
literally, to strive or exert effort. It is the same root from which the
legal term ijtihad is derived, as ijtihad refers to the exertion of intellectual effort by scholars so as to come up with an informed religious
opinion on a new issue or problem. The term jihad and similar terms
derived from the same root are used in the Quran and Hadith. First,
it is used in the context of prayers, doing righteous deeds, and selfpurication; inward jihad or struggle against evil inclinations within
oneself (Al-Hajj 22:77-78; and Al-`Ankabut 29:4-7).
Second, it is used in the context of social jihad, or striving for truth,
justice, and goodness in ones relationship with other humans. Examples of this usage include the payment of charity to the needy
(Al-Hujurat 49:15) and striving to persuade those who reject Gods
message by referring to the arguments presented in the Quran (AlFurqan 25:52).
Third, it is used in the context of the battleeld, which is often called,
more specically, qital, which means ghting. That later form, the
combative jihad, is allowed in the Quran for legitimate self-defense
in the face of unprovoked aggression or in resisting severe oppression on religious or other grounds. In fact, the rst verses in the
Quran that allowed self-defense were not revealed until the early
Muslim community had endured more than 13 years of suffering
and aggression at the hands of the idolatrous Arabs. The wording
of these verses is revealing: Permission (to ght) is given to those
against whom war is being wrongfully waged, and verily, God has
indeed the power to aid them. Those who have been driven from
their homelands in deance of right for no other reason than their
saying, Our Lord is Allah. (Al-Hajj 22:39-40)
The key verses in the Quran concerning the justication of resorting to combative jihad are the following:
And ght in Gods cause against those who wage war against
you, but do not commit aggression, for, verily, Allah does not love
the aggressors. And slay them wherever you may come upon them,
and drive them away from wherever they drove you away, for oppression is even worse than killing. And ght not against them near
the Sacred Mosque until they ght against you rst, but if they ght
against you, slay them: such is the recompense of the rejecters
of truth. But if they desist (from aggression), behold, Allah is Most
Forgiving, Most Merciful. And ght against them until there is no
more oppression and religion belongs to God (i.e. until people can
worship Allah without fear of persecution), but if they desist, then all
hostility shall cease, except against those who commit injustice.
(Al-Baqarah 2:190-194)
It is obvious from these key verses that the only two justications
of the combative-type of jihad are to stop aggression and severe

oppression. The condition for ceasing hostilities is not acceptance

of Islam, but halt to aggression and oppression.
Like the above verses, there are a few verses in the Quran which
sanction ghting. These verses, however, when understood in their
textual and historical context deal with war situations and should not
be generalized. The description of the aggressors or oppressors as
rejecters of faith or idolatrous people does not mean that they are
to be fought against on account of being non-Muslims. Historically,
these aggressors happened to be non-Muslims. In fact, the Quran
allows ghting against fellow Muslims if they are aggressors and
other means of restoring peace and justice have failed (Al-Hujurat
49:8-9). The issue is allowing ghting in the presence of aggression,
not difference of religion.
No single verse in the Quran, when placed in its proper textual and
historical context, permits ghting others on the basis of their faith,
ethnicity, or nationality. To do so contradicts several established values and principles of Islam.
Combative jihad is not only restricted in terms of what may or may
not justify it; it is also strictly regulated. Prophet Muhammad (peace
and blessings be upon him) taught us how to behave on the battleeld. As a hated act, war should not be resorted to if other peaceful
and just means may stop aggression or oppression. Intentions must
be pure and no selsh personal or nationalistic agenda should be
the driving force. There must be a declaration of war by a legitimate
authority after due consultation. No non-combatants should be hurt.
All must refrain from looting and unnecessary destruction. Prisoners
of war and the injured must be treated humanely.
It should be noted that in the long history of Muslim people, there
were times when such conditions and rules were adhered to and
other times where there were violations to differing degrees. There
have also been some misinterpretations of the concept by some
scholars, possibly inuenced at least in part, by the circumstances
of the time in which they lived. The fact remains, however, that Islamic teachings should not be driven either by what some Muslims
did in the past or are doing today or by misinterpretations from the
past or present.

KNCHR call for prosecution of police chiefs

From Page 1
have to account for their misdeeds. The legislator told Kenyans to
stand rm against forces who want to hijack the constitution as they
did not wish citizens to enjoy its benets.
Human Rights Lawyer Mbugua Mureithi called for the prosecution
of the Attorney General saying he played an active part in the renditions of Kenyans to Uganda. In all habeas corpus applications, the
AG sent a state counsel with a sworn afdavit opposing the applications. He has all along defended these renditions he said.
The lawyer who was arrested together with Muslim Human Rights
Forum chairman Al-Amin Kimathi in Kampala said the security
agents were now desperate to get public support for their illegal
actions and had resorted to propaganda and misinformation. They
are now turning to the gutter press which they are feeding wrong
information in a desperate attempt to justify their actions, he said.
During the forum, Al-Amin was recognized for his tireless efforts
to stand up for human rights principles. He is not a terrorist as is
being alleged but someone who is committed to protect the human
rights of the oppressed, said Beatrice Kamau of the Kenya Human
Rights Network.

Saturday Lecture
Islam and games
Sheikh Juma Amir
Sat. 9th October 2010 2.00 pm-4.00 pm
Jamia Multi Purpose Hall
3

The Friday Bulletin

Shawwal 29 1431/October 08 2010

WOMEN ISSUES

Use Your intelligence and wisdom to bring happiness to your Husband

There is no place in the entire world like a happy home in its beauty
and the comfort that it radiates. Wherever we are, we will nd no
better place than a happy home.
How can the woman, with her intelligence, wisdom and good treatment, make a home happy and thus, make her family happy?
Remember that you are responsible for making your husband and
children happy and that the satisfaction of your husband leads you
to Paradise. The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: Any
woman who dies while her husband is satised with her will enter
Paradise.
Do not overburden your husband with something that is beyond
his ability and do not accumulate your desires and requests and
present them all at the same time so that your husband will feel
exhausted and cease to be close to you. If you insist on having all
that you need, your husband might refuse them all without feeling
sorry or guilty.
Do not overburden him by wishing that he would adopt all the qualities and virtues that you like all at one time as it is rare to nd one
person who is characterized by every good quality.
When a man marries a woman, he usually keeps her good image
in mind as he saw it in reality. Thus, do not distort the image that he
has of you in his mind and try to preserve your beauty, elegance,
health, activity and good speech. The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi
wa sallam, described the righteous woman, saying: If he [the husband] looks at her [his wife], she would please him.
Preserve your religiousness. Adhere to Hijab and do not let any
non-Mahram(marriageable) man see any part of your body.
Do not be preoccupied with housework and leave your husband
neglected. Finish your tasks before your husband returns home.
Arrange your home in the best possible way and try to change
the arrangement of the living room every now and then. Add your
touches in choosing the places of paintings and decorations.
Do not lament the absence of the passion and love you used to
daydream about before marriage. All these feelings calm down after
marriage and turn into a balanced and calm love and way of life.
If the man is the one who has the decisive word in the marital relation, you are the one who is responsible for achieving success and
harmony in marriage. Regardless of your culture, knowledge, status
or position, you should submit to your husband and resort to him
and not clash with his opinion. In your discussions, try to exchange
ideas with him on an interactive basis. Fruitful interaction of opinions is better than magnetizing opinions in a destructive manner.
Let your husband always feel that you share his feelings, happiness, sorrows and distress. Let him feel that he is living in a calm
and peaceful paradise so that he would be devoted to working, and
being innovative and productive.
Speak nice words, smile brightly, make refreshing jokes and be
cheerful. Avoid sadness, distress, ill speech, frowning, and desperation.
Do not waste your time chatting on the phone with your friends or
reading unimportant magazines. Choose the type of magazines that
would be useful to your mind and heart and that would enrich your
culture and help you solve the problems of your family. Also, choose
useful television programs to watch.
Encourage your husband to play physical sports outdoors. Try to
go out for a walk with him and enjoy the fresh air together during the
weekend or whenever there is a chance.
Choose the right time for discussing family problems as it would be
difcult to solve these problems before your husband goes to work
as there would not be enough time. Do not discuss any problem
with him when he returns from work feeling tired and exhausted.
Perhaps the evening is the best time for discussing problems and
trying to solve them.
Do not criticize your husbands behavior in the presence of the children and do not use bad phrases that would be repeated by your

children like, Here comes the monster.

Beware of being excessively jealous or rebuking your husband too
much, and avoid doing the things that make your husband jealous
and distract his thoughts. Abdullaah ibn Jafar ibn Abu Taalib advised his daughter once, saying, Beware of jealousy as it is the key
to divorce, and beware of rebuking your husband a lot as it brings
about hatred.
Never feel jealous because of your husbands love for his parents
as this is an inherent love that does not affect his love for you in
any way.
Do not narrate your problems to your family, as this will make them
hate your husband. Try to solve these problems with your husband.
Do not make your husband feel that you are superior to him if you
are richer, of a higher status or more knowledgeable than him.
Do not refrain from having marital relations with your husband if he
wants to. The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: If a man
Invites his wife to have sexual intercourse with him and she refuses
and he sleeps while being angry with her, the angels will continue
cursing her until morning.
Remember that obedience is the husbands rst right over his wife.
Thus, you should not fast any voluntary fasts until you have his permission. The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: No woman is permitted to fast [voluntarily] when her husband is present [in
the house] except with his permission, and she should not admit
anyone in his house but with his permission.
Do not forget the favours your husband has done for you. The
Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said that being ungrateful
to the husband is a reason for entering Hell and called this denial
of favours 'disbelief'. In a Hadeeth on the authority of Ibn Abbaas,
the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: I was shown Hell
and [saw] that the majority of its dwellers were women who were
ungrateful.He sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam was asked, "Do they
continued on page 10

The Friday Bulletin Kitchen

Chocolate Cake
Ingredients
1 cup cocoa powder
2 cups boiling water
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
2-1/2 cups sugar
4 eggs, at room temperature
2-3/4 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Method
Preheat oven to 350F. Grease and flour three 9-inch cake pans.
In a medium bowl, stir the boiling water into the cocoa until smooth,
and set aside. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda,
baking powder and salt, and set aside.
At medium speed of an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar for
4 to 5 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each
addition.
Turn mixer down to low speed. Add the flour mixture to the creamed
mixture alternately with the cocoa mixture, beginning and ending with
the flour mixture.
Stir in the vanilla, and do not over-beat.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean.
Pour an equal amount of batter into each of the three prepared pans.
Cool in pans set on racks for 10 minutes. Invert pans on racks, remove
pans, and allow layers to cool completely before frosting.
Share your favourite recipes with our readers. Send them to P. O. Box 10078600100 or email:fridaybulletin@islamkenya.com or fridaybulletin@gmail.com

Shawwal 29 1431/October 08 2010

The Friday Bulletin

YOUTH AND CHILDREN

Adjusting to University part 2

Waleed Kudous
How Should I Act as a Muslim on Campus? Personal Responsibilities
We have so far discussed how you may have to adjust to University,
and how MSAs can help you, but there is more to being a Muslim
on campus. You have certain responsibilities to yourself and to the
Muslim community in general, which, no doubt, Allah will reward
you for. These are very simple things to do, and they don't take
much time. More than anything else, they are really about an Islamic attitude, rather than a prescriptive list of dos and don'ts.
First of all, it is important to be proud of being Muslim. Many Muslims hide their Islam as if it is something to be embarrassed about.
This is understandable to a certain extent, given the bad rap that
Muslims get in the media today, but it doesn't make it right. There
is a lot to be proud of about being Muslim: historically, the activities of the Muslims as scientists and scholars formed the basis for
the European Renaissance (a debt which many historians "forget"
about), as well as creating a stable, just society for more than 800
years; and morally, being Muslims means that you adhere to a set
of beliefs and forms of behaviour that elevate you above those who
do not adhere to these beliefs.
Put it this way: If homosexuals can go on about "gay pride", and the
thing that they are proud of is something that Islam considers an
abomination; then how proud should we be, knowing that we are
on the right path?
What does this imply practically? It means that I should not be
ashamed to let people know of my Islamic heritage; whether it be
through what I say, what I wear, what I eat, what I spend my time
on or whatever. If you are going to pray, say, "Excuse me for a
moment, I need to go pray to my God," instead of some made-up
excuse, like "Excuse me - I need to meet someone" or the like. Be
up front about it when doing your Islamic duties!
Surprisingly, this is not as difcult as it sounds. People usually approach universities with an open mind; and it is likely that they will
not mind at all. It may even evoke some curiosity in some people. When I told one person the above, he said, " do you mind if I
watch?" If people see you doing things diligently and with sincerity,
they develop a respect for you and your religion, even if they do not
believe in it.
The effects of Muslim pride are benecial in a number of ways.
Firstly, it "backs up" other Muslims on campus, who no longer feel
as isolated about being Muslims. Seeing someone else who is
proud to be Muslim lifts another Muslim's spirit incredibly - when I
see someone wearing an Islamic T-shirt, or a sister wearing Hijaab,
it still has this effect on me, and I feel like going up to them and
congratulating them. Secondly, when people see Muslims being so
proud, it invokes curiosity, and interest in them, which may be the
door for Allah guiding them to the correct path. You will be surprised
how many times you will be asked questions about Islam, without
having to do anything "active".
When the opportunities do arise, inform them about Islam; in this
way you will be fullling your obligation for Da'wah. Don't be too
forceful in this, however; as it says in the Qur'an [16:125] "Invite to
the Way of your Lord with wisdom, and good, well behaved teaching, and discuss with them in the best way possible." In this way,
you may affect their perception of Islam. While they may not become Muslim (although these things are in the hands of Allah, and
Allah guides whom He wills to the straight path), they will at least
know a little more about Islam, from an authentic source, rather
than from some misinformed (or even worse, deliberately misinforming) journalist.
But there is a caveat to all of this, which is: what is the point of being proud of Islam if its effects are not perceived in your actions?
Muslim pride should be backed up every step of the way by the
corresponding actions. There is no point talking to people about the
importance of good manners in Islam if you do not follow it up with
your own actions. As clichd as it is, "actions speak louder than
words" apply particularly in this situation.
Remember that you are a walking example of Islam, and that almost everything you do in public will not only reect on you, but also

to some extent on Islam itself. You should reect all the attributes
that make you proud to be Muslim: honesty, sincerity, trustworthiness, cleanliness, politeness and so on. When people see these
characteristics in you, they will not only like you as a person (which
they inevitably will, unless it is a group of people the likes of whom
you shouldn't be associating with in the rst place), they will also be
curious as to its origin; and seeing you are Muslim will now have a
somewhat more positive image of Islam than they may have had
before.
This also means that you should fulll your Islamic obligations in
other ways as well. For example, there is no excuse for you not to
pray on campus. As we have mentioned, there are prayer rooms
at most universities, and even if there aren't there are many quiet places to be found that can serve as a place to pray. There is
no reason not to dress Islamically, since there are no rules about
dress.

Modesty and Humility

Modesty is purity of intention in all actions. A modest
or humble person does good deeds without trying to get
noticed or show off. The opposite of modesty and humility is pride.
Modesty and Islam
Rasulullah salallahu alayh was sallam said: "Actions are
judged by their intentions." Since modesty means purity
of intention, it is also an essential aspect of Islamic manner.
Showing-off Versus Being Modest
Show-offs want recognition for everything they do.
They think that they are better than the others and try
to make others feel inferior. More than anything, they
want to be admired.
Some people are proud of being the son or daughter of
an important person. Some people may be proud of being
rich. Others may be proud of being beautiful. Still, others may be proud of being intelligent.
Good heritage, wealth, beauty, and intelligence may be
all wonderful qualities, but one should not lose sight of
fact that everything he has is a gift of Allah. Bragging
shows ingratitude to Allah Indeed, as easily as He gives
His bounties, He can just as easily take them away.
A Muslim's View of Himself
Sometimes, people do good deeds, such as giving charity
or offering extra fasts, and brag to others what good
Muslims they are. Such people are not seeking Allah's
pleasure, they are seeking the acceptance and praise of
others. Unfortunately, in doing so, they may win admiration of others, but they are losing the reward for the
Hereafter.
A true Muslim knows that everything he has is a gift
from Allah: birth, beauty, wealth, intelligence, etc. A
true Muslim is grateful to Allah for all he has been given.
He has nothing to be proud of, but instead, he has much
to be thankful for. Therefore, he tries to use what Allah has given him to lead a decent, Islamic life. He knows
that Allah sees everything he does, and so, he remains
humble before Allah and modest before other people.
5

Shawwal 29 1431/October 08 2010

The Friday Bulletin

Shawwal 29 1431/October 08 2010

The Friday Bulletin

Shawwal 29 1431/October 08 2010

The Friday Bulletin

A Muslim at the work place

An essential guide to help Muslims achieve excellence (ihsan) in their workplace.

ees is either going to draw people closer to Islam or turn them away
from it. Raslullh salallahu alayhi wa sallam had a burning desire
to invite humanity towards Islam. Despite 13 years of untiring effort
in Makkatul Mukarramah and seven years in Madinatul Munawwarah, there was no large scale movement of non-Muslims into Islam.
Between 7 AH and 10 AH which is the period after the conquest of
Makkah until the demise of Raslullh peace be upon him, there
was such an inux of people entering the ranks of Islam that was not
witnessed in the preceding 20 years.
This was due to non-Muslims having had an opportunity for the
rst time, to observe and intermingle with Muslims, witness their
honesty, fair dealings, compassion and sole reliance on Almighty Allah. This left such a deep and profound impression on non-Muslims
that thousands entered into the fold of Islam within a relatively short
period of time.
Be punctual with your Salah
There are millions of Muslims who are punctual with their Salah
at work so never feel that you are alone in carrying out this noble
command of Allah. There are no excuses to not to perform on time
at the workplace. A person should select a suitable time and place
and offer the salah in its time by, for example, taking permission for a
short time to buy something or go to the bathroom. If he is unable to
do even this, then he has no option but to leave the job for the sake
of Allah, and through the blessings (barakah) of his guarding his
Salah, Allah will facilitate for him what is more benecial. Whoever
prefers Allah, Allah prefers him.
Safeguard your gaze
And one should not forget the generality of Allah's instruction, to
believing men and to believing women, to lower their gazes. Thus,
in the workplace as well we should be cautious in this matter and
not unnecessarily mingle with the opposite gender. One must ward
off all ill-thoughts and potential inclinations to allow one's gaze to
stray.
Rights of the employer upon the employee
An employee should recognize the value of work and regard his
work as an amaanah (trust). This trust demands that the employee
discharges his duties with commitment and prociency. The Messenger of Allah peace be upon him said: "When a man does any
work, Allah wishes him to give it perfection and grace."
Time and punctuality are also a basic requirement of this amaanah.
The Prophet peace be upon him said: "Fulll the trust of one who
has entrusted you..." Killing time, neglecting duties and poor performance are tantamount to breach of this trust.
Work is an act of worship, which requires sincerity of purpose and
loyalty. The employer is entitled to: Sincerity, Responsibility, Honesty and Prociency. Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him said:
"There is no Imaan (faith) in one who is not trustworthy nor is there
religion in one who does not keep his promise."
The Muslim employee
The Quran attaches great respect for honest work and as such,
imposes ethical obligations on employees. An employee has an obligation to discharge his work honestly and faithfully to the best of
his ability. An employee is prohibited from wasting the resources,
property and time of the employer and is required to display perfection at work. Islam impresses upon the working class to work faithfully, honestly, diligently and with a sense of dignity. An employee is
obliged to do what a reasonable employee would do in any situation.
Exert due diligence in repaying (company) debts, and do not
attempt to abscond with borrowed assets.
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet salallahu alayi wa sallam,
Whoever takes the money of the people with the intention of repaying it, Allah will repay it on his behalf, and whoever takes it in order
to spoil it, then Allah will spoil him. (Sahih Bukhari).
Theft or embezzlement of others money will lead to ones being
spoiled or encountering adverse consequences from the Almighty.

Be loyal and refrain from tatfeef (cheating)

One form of tatfeef (cheating) is when an employee is employed
to work for an agreed number of hours but accepts his full salary
for working less hours. An employee is obliged to do the work he is
being paid for. It is not permissible for one to accept ones full salary
when the desired work is incomplete or incorrect. An employee will
be guilty of tatfeef if he uses his working hours to engage in activities that are not related to his work such as browsing the internet,
busy with his cellphone, smoking or idle chatter. It is unfortunately
the practice of many employees to work diligently while the employer is watching but to engage in something else when his back
is turned. The person doing this is guilty of tatfeef (mentioned in the
Quran).
Also guilty of tatfeef is the employee who does something contrary
to what he is paid for or who accepts a bribe to do something because of his position of employment. While the bribe is in itself is
impermissible, part of his salary will also become impermissible for
him because he is not doing what he is being paid for.
It is an ibadah (act of worship) if discharged correctly
Allah has referred to the quest of sustenance as seeking the bounty of Allah. This means that our sustenance ow from the unlimited
treasures of Allah. Thus working is also an act of ibadah that has
to be discharged with justice, commitment and honesty. One needs
to understand that every individual will be held accountable and
questioned about how he earned his wealth and how he spent it.
This 'right' to seek the bounty of Allah brings with it corresponding
obligations.
Islam does take into account mutual rights, but places a greater
emphasis on duties/obligations. The underlying idea is to ensure
that if duties are fullled devoutly, conicts would be automatically
obviated.
Friday Prayers
Most Muslim men attend the mosque on Friday afternoons for obligatory congregational prayers. For empoyees, they should let their
staff know you understand their religious requirements and agree on
an extended lunch break and/or allocate their Friday lunch breaks
to convenient times. Most mosques conduct prayers at 1.30 p.m. so
try to aim for an hour between 1 - 2p.m.
Ihsaan
Islam further encourages individuals to seek their rights and discharge their obligations on the basis of ihsaan - To do more than the
minimum requirement. A Qur'nic verse enjoins thus: "Verily Allah
demands that you establish justice and 'ihsaan'. The Qur'nic term
ihsaan which is normally taken to mean prociency or efciency can
also be interpreted to mean, "performing a task by going beyond the
call of duty. It means giving your best to achieve optimal results in
whatever you do. This implies that a good Muslim will always will go
the 'extra mile' when discharging his obligations.
If the relationship between the employer and employee is based
on 'ihsaan' it will ensure that the employer does not only respect
the humanity of the employee only so far as he is obliged to do so
in the interest of his own business. Likewise, it will ensure that the
employee is not only interested in his work so long as his livelihood
depends on it. Ihsaan will invariably nurture a healthy rapport between the employer and employee and motivate them to act in the
best interest of each other. We make a living by what we get, but
we make a life by what we give.
Dawah by action and word
As Muslims we must realize that the greatest form of da'wah is
our own character. The way we deal and treat our employers and
employees speaks of our faith and values. Compassion and justice
must serve as the twin pillars of all our monetary dealings. Without
a rich heart, wealth is an ugly beggar.
The conduct we portray in our capacities as employers or employ-

Shawwal 29 1431/October 08 2010

The Friday Bulletin

ADVERTISERS ANNOUNCEMENT

Takaful Insurance Scheme

First Community Bank today heralds another milestone in the
Islamic Finance Industry by launching the rst Islamic Insurance
Scheme in East and Central Africa. This is yet another rst for
First Community Bank who pioneered Shariah-Compliant banking
in this region three years ago.
The Shariah Compliant Insurance Scheme is known as Takaful.
Takaful means guaranteeing each other and is based on the
principles of Taawun (mutual co-opera
on) and Tabarua
(dona
on), where a group of Takaful Par
cipants (policyholders)
agree between themselves to share the risk of a poten
al loss to
any of them, by making a dona
on of all or part of their Takaful
Contribu
on (premium) to compensate for such losses.
The scheme is mutually owned by the par
cipants, not the
insurance company whose key roles are to manage the risks and
prudently invest the Takaful funds. Therefore, any surplus or
prot from the scheme is distributed to the Takaful par
cipants
each year as a bonus or as par
cipa
on discount when renewing
their covers.
FCB has worked closely with the Insurance Regulatory Authority
(IRA) and Cannon Assurance Ltd to develop the rst Shariah Compliant Takaful Scheme over the last two years, said Mr. Nathif,
the Managing Director of FCB. FCB Takaful Insurance Agency, a
fully owned subsidiary of First Community Bank is the scheme
administrator while Cannon is the Takaful Scheme Operator/
Underwriter. A wide range of covers are oered for individuals,
motor vehicles and buildings under the Takaful Scheme.
Why Islamic Insurance?
Many Muslims do not buy conven
onal insurance for reasons of
faith. Whilst some insurance is discre
onary, motor insurance is
compulsory and is therefore a legal obliga
on. This can put them
at a disadvantage when compared to the rest of the society. This
higher degree of exposure to risks some
mes makes Muslims
very vulnerable, par
cularly in case of disasters.
With the launch of FCB Takaful in Kenya, the Muslim popula
on
now has the op
on to buy insurance that is Sharia Compliant and
compe

vely priced. Takaful gives Muslims an opportunity to
protect themselves in a Sharia Compliant way. They also serve as
an ethical and mutual alterna
ve for the wider community.
Do Muslim's Need Insurance at All?
It is a Muslim's belief that everything that happens in this world
is by the will of Allah. Similarly, any accidents or misfortunes that
befall them are by the will of Allah. Whilst it is true that Muslims
should accept whatever "misfortune" befalls them, they are also
proscribed to avoid or reduce the possibility of "misfortunes" by
taking precau
onary measures.
One day, a man asked the Holy Prophet Muhammad peace be
upon him about his camel. Shall I
e down my camel or shall I
leave it and put my trust in Allah? The Holy Prophet said, "Tie
your camel rst, then put your trust in Allah." (Reported by Anas
Ibn-e-Malik (Radhi Allahu anhu), narrated by Imam Tirmidhi
(Abwab Sifat-il-Qiyamah), Hadith no. 2441, Sunan Tirmidhi (published in Beirut).
This is an example of how we are required to take precau
onary
measures and put our faith in Allah.
9

Shariah Compliance
The FCB Takaful Scheme has been veed and approved by FCBs
reputable Sharia Board comprised of leading Islamic Scholars
such as Sheikh Dr. Hussein Hamad, Sheikh Mohamed Umal,
Sheikh Dr. Abdallah Kha
b, Sheikh Ismail Ishak and Sheikh
Badru Jaer who also doubles as the resident Sharia Audit
Manager at FCB.
Dierence between Takaful and Convenonal Insurance
Takaful is markedly dieren
ated from the conven
onal insurance on the basis of four principles.
Risk transfer Vs Risk Sharing
Whereas conven
onal insurance is pillared on Risk Transfer
from the individual en
ty to the insurance company, the Takaful
Scheme is based on a Risk-Sharing model among par
cipants. It
is essen
al Mutually /Co-opera
ve Assurance.
Element of Uncertainty (Gharar), Gambling (Maysir) or
Speculaon (Qimar):
In conven
onal insurance the risk is transferred from the policy
holder to the insurance company which brings the elements of
uncertainty and chance in the contract as one of the two par
es makes a loss. In conven
onal insurance, the policyholder
loses all of their money (premium) if the covered risk does not
occur during the s
pulated period. This gives rise to uncertainty,
which is Haram. And in cases where the insured against event
occurs, the policyholder may receive a large amount of money
against a small sum, which describes yet another Haram ac
vity,
"maysir" or gambling (baha
nasibu ama pata potea). Takaful is
a structure in which the risk is shared between all par
cipants
removing the elements of uncertainty and gambling from the
contract.
Interest bearing investments and usury (riba): Takaful is
completely in accord with Islamic nancial principles, hence no
'Riba' (interest) is earned or paid to the policyholder and the
Takaful Funds are invested in Sharia Compliant avenues which
are non-interest bearing.
Investments in Harmful Ac
vi
es to Man: In line with all forms
of Islamic Finance, it is strictly forbidden to use Takaful funds in
ac
vites that are generally harmful to man. These include gambling, beer, cigarees, drugs, pornography, pros
tu
on, pork etc
Transparency, fairness, zero exploita
on and sanc
ty of contracts
For a start, the issue of small/ne print does not arise as Sharia
Compliance disctates that Takaful contracts be transparent with
prior full disclosure.

Shawwal 29 1431/October 08 2010

The Friday Bulletin

ISLAMIC ISSUES

Islam's position on homosexuality

Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal Phillips
Homosexuality and lesbianism have been dubbed 'alternative lifestyles', 'personal preference', 'natural variation', etc. In the West
today, where homosexuality was once considered an illness by
the Association of Psychiatrists, it has now been removed from the
list and replaced by homophobia (the dislike of homosexuals and
homosexuality). Consequently, Islam and Muslims are considered
intolerant and biased due to their continued opposition. Arguments
in favour of tolerance towards homosexuals are based on the assumption that homosexual behaviour is biologically based and not
merely learned from society.
Early opposition to homosexuality was based on the argument that
such behaviour was unnatural. Sodomy cannot produce children,
which is one of the main natural consequences of sexual relations.
'Mother Nature' did not make us that way, it was argued. To counter such arguments, homosexual researchers scoured the earth
until they found supposed homosexual behaviour among the animal kingdom. They found that the males of some species of exotic
shes off the coast of Japan imitated the behaviour of females of
the species in order to prevent other males from impregnating their
mates, and some rare butteries from islands off the coast of Africa
also had males exhibiting female behaviour during mating season,
etc. However, if the animal kingdom is to be used to justify human
behaviour, there also exists a spider in South America whose female is much larger than the male. When mating is complete, the
female eats her mate.
During the 1980s it was claimed that a gland in the base of the
brain which is small in women and large in men was found to be
small among homosexuals. However, this evidence, while seeming incontrovertible to the layman, was immediately refuted by scientists. The data was taken from cross-sections of the brains of
dead adult humans whose sexual preference was identied prior to
death. Consequently, the reduced size of that gland among homosexuals could have been a result of the practice and not its cause.
That is, they could have been born with normal-sized glands which
then became small due to their deviant lifestyle.
Recently, genetics has become the most commonly used foundation for the pro-gay argument. In 1993 Dr. Dean Hamer, a researcher at the National Cancer Institute, claimed to have discovered 'the rst concrete evidence that gay genes really do exist.'
Homosexual orientation was supposedly transmitted to males on
the X chromosome from the mother. Hamers ndings, published in
the prestigious journal 'Science', transformed his colourless career
as a government scientist into a dynamic media personality and he
penned his memoirs. He gave expert testimony to the Colorado Supreme Court that formed the basis of the victorious decision striking
down anti-gay propositions. However, a replication of his study at
theUniversity of Western Ontario failed to nd any linkage whatsoever between the X chromosome and sexual orientation. It was also
found that Hamers study lacked a control group; a fundamental
principle of scientic research.
Furthermore, in June 1994, the Chicago Tribune reported that a junior researcher in Hamers laboratory who assisted in the gene mapping in the homosexuality study, alleged that he selectively reported
his data. She was then summarily dismissed from her post-doctoral
fellowship in Hamers lab. But a National Institute of Health investigation substantiated her claims and gave her another position in a
different lab. Though Dr. Hamer was coy about his own sexuality in
his memoirs, he later admitted in his lectures that he was gay.
It should be noted that Islam, in its nal form, did not introduce antigay legislature to the world. The texts of the Torah are replete with
clear condemnations of such practices.
The consequence of AIDS is enough to prove that homosexuality
is evil and dangerous to society. The early spread of AIDS was concentrated among the homosexual community. It later spread to the
heterosexual and the so-called bisexual community through blood
transfusions and intravenous drug usage. Its spread continues on a

rampage among promiscuous heterosexuals.

Islam considers homosexuality to be the result of a choice. It is
inconceivable that God made people homosexuals then declared
it a crime and prescribed punishments for it in both this life and the
next. To accept such a proposition is to accept that God is unjust.
Inclinations can exist within humans for a variety of natural and unnatural acts, from fornication to rape and from necrophilia to bestiality. These inclinations may come from jinn-suggestions, media inuence, or even from human whisperings or direct contact. Sodomy
was common among the people of Prophet Loot (Lot), may Allah
exalt his mention, who lived in Sodom, Palestine; after they had rejected his advice to give up this evil practice, Allah Almighty crushed
and then annihilated their city. The Quran describes that punishment
in the verse which means: "So when Our commandment came, We
made the highest part [of the city] its lowest and rained upon them
stones of hard clay in succession." [Quran: 11:82]
Human beings are not like robots who only do what they are programmed to. Humans choose and God holds them responsible for
their choices. Were homosexuality a product of genetic destiny, it
would be unfair for God to criminalise it and punish those who practice it. Currently, some scientists are even claiming that murder is of
genetic origin. To accept that would mean to excuse murderers and
tolerate murder.
Islam instructs parents to separate their children in their beds by
the age of ten in order to avoid sexual experiences which may result from childhood experimentation. Such experiences may be
reinforced by contacts in schools and through abuse from adults.
Also, the distinctions between male and female are strongly made
in Islamic teachings.
Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam (may Allaah exalt his mention) cursed men who imitate women and women who
imitate men. Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, said:
"The Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam cursed the
man who wears womens clothes and the woman who wears mens
clothes." [Abu Dawood and Ibn Majah]

Bring happiness to your Husband

From Page 4
disbelieve [or are ungrateful] to Allaah? He replied,"They are ungrateful to their husbands and are ungrateful for the favors and the
good [charitable deeds] done to them. If you have always been good
[benevolent] to one of them and then she sees something in you
[not of her liking], she will say, I have never received any goodness
from you."
Save your husband's money and do not spend any of it without his
permission and without making sure that he agrees. If your husband
is poor, you can give him some of your money and if you do not have
money, you should endure this difculty patiently with him until Allah
The Almighty drives away all your worries.
If you are a working woman do not think that your husband and
children only need money. How far is the natural milk that which the
child suckles from the articial one? Is the love of the maid equal to
the love and passion of the mother? Will the food of the maid be the
same as the food of the wife? Will the upbringing of the maid be the
same as the mother?
Remember that your husband would see his mother everyday as
the rst one who woke up and then woke up all the family and prepared breakfast. She is the one who helped all the young children
get dressed. He will thus not be satised with a woman who wakes
up late.
Dr. Hassan Shamsi Basha is a cardiac consultant who has written
many books about family life and is a prominent personality who is
interested in the eld of marital relations and family psychological
health. He says,

10

Shawwal 29 1431/October 08 2010

The Friday Bulletin

NATIONAL NEWS

Minister under re over gay support

Calls from the special programmes minister Esther Murugi for acceptance of homosexuals and lesbians have generated strong condemnations from Muslims in various parts of the country.
The leaders called for the immediate sacking of the minister saying
she went against the dignity of religion and the Kenyan society and
her remarks did not make her hold a public ofce.
The minister infuriated religious leaders during a national symposium on HIV/AIDS in Mombasa over the weekend when she called
for the recognition of those involved in same sex relations and prostitutes.
The Imam of Nairobis Jamia Mosque Sheikh Muhammad Swalihu
stressed that no religion or culture in the country allowed for such an
abominable act and the minister was sanctioning alien cultures which
went against norms held by Kenyans of diverse backgrounds.
She should know that as a country we are guided by religious values and it is shameful for her to support such abominable practices.
We are calling on the President to sack her immediately, the Sheikh
said.
Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) organising secretary Sheikh Khalifa Muhammad described the utterances as satanic
and contrary to the African culture. He said that the vice was condemned in the Quran and the Bible and her remarks were offensive
to Kenyans who passed the new constitution that criminalised the
practice. God in his holy books cursed homosexuality and directed
us to ght it., he said.
Adding his voice to the condemnation, the Imam of Landhies
Mosque Sheikh Ahmad said her remarks were a clear indicator that
she was not a person of integrity and she was unt to run a public
ofce. It is unfortunate that she can say that as a minister and a
mother. That is an abominable thing that is against all the religions
and culture and for her to tell Kenyans to accept it is unacceptable,
the Imam said.
The Supreme council of Kenya Muslims Secretary general Adan

Gulf Bank to offer Islamic insurance

Gulf African Bank has received a go ahead from the Insurance Regulatory Authority to offer Islamic Insurance (Takaful) products on the
Kenyan market.
Through a subsidiary company, Gulf Takaful company, a wide range
of Sharia compliant insurance products will be offered in the market
in the next few months.
Speaking at a Nairobi hotel, the chairman of GulfCap investments
Suleiman Shahbal said that the new product will create an alternative to the conventional system of insurance policy which is faced
with many challenges like unresolved cases and extremely dissatised clients.
He added that the Islamic insurance products though are targeted at
Muslims will also be open to non-Muslims.
Shahbal applauded the government for opening up the sector and
said it will propel Kenya to be at the forefront of Islamic nance in
East Africa.
Speaking at the same function the CEO of AMS insurance company
limited Abdallah Salim said that the new product will allow Muslims to
insure their properties in accordance with the Islamic Sharia. Many
Muslims shied away from insurance due to their faith based beliefs
against riba (interest) and excessive uncertainity. It is therefore exciting for us to be able to offer this innovative product to our clients,
both Muslims and non-Muslims, he said.
The chief executive ofcer of Gulf African Bank Najmul Hassan said
the new Insurance Company will see to it that the growth of Islamic
banks in the country strives to new levels. He noted that an Islamic
micronance will be started soon to help the small scale entrepreneurs grow thus creating an economically empowered society.
Takaful is a cooperative insurance scheme and mutual guarantee
where policy holders contribute to a joint pool which will compensate
its members if they suffer losses. Unlike conventional insurance,
in Takaful, the policy holders enjoy prot and surplus generated by
their fund.

Wachu said that it was wrong for the minister to make such remarks
yet the countrys constitution that was promulgated recently did not
allow such heinous practices.
The coordinator of Kisumu Muslim Women Network, Farida Ahmed
Salim said Murugi's call was unacceptable especially given her
stature in the community and as a woman who should instill high
morals in the young generation. Farida emphasized that it was an
obligation upon leaders across the country to show the youth the
right path.
Faith leaders from the Christian churches also condemned the minister saying her remarks were misguided. "This is not acceptable,"
said the Rev. Joseph Methu, the national chairperson of the Federation of Evangelical and Indigenous Christian Churches of Kenya.
"We, therefore, petition the president to sack her as minister or ask
her voluntarily to resign from her position."

Islamic Online University gathers strength

Six months after its
inception, the worlds
rst tuition-free, Bachelor of Arts in Islamic
Studies programme
is continuing to gain
prominence and attraction among students from across
the globe including
Kenya.
More than 30,000
students have now
enrolled in the online
based
programmes
which according to
the founder, Dr. Abu Dr. Bilal Phillips addresses University of
Ameenah Bilal Phillips Nairobi students during his tour of the
is a major step towards country last year.
helping Muslims across
the globe to fulll the Prophet's command to seek knowledge of the
religion and correct their understanding of its tenets.
The Qatar based Islamic Online University (IOU) was launched in
April this year and so far has students from 177 countries.
This path-breaking initiative utilizes the worldwide presence of the
internet and advanced open source online learning technology to
bring tuition-free university level Islamic education within reach of
virtually anyone on the planet who has access to a computer and
the internet, said Dr. Bilal Phillips, a prolic author and television
presenter on various Islamic TV stations.
The program involves audio and video lectures and weekly live tutorial classes in a virtual classroom setting on the internet enabling
students at their own convenience to study Islam.
The syllabus is based on the BA in Usool ud-Deen (Religious Foundations) curriculums of Islamic University Madeenah, Saudi Arabia,
Omdurman Islamic University, Sudan and Al-Azhar University in
Egypt among reputable Islamic institutions.
Each semester runs for 5 months with an online mid-term exam
after two and a half months and a supervised nal online examination at the end of the fth month. While students are free to access
their classes whenever it is convenient for them, however assignments have to be to be taken at xed times at accredited centres.
In Kenya, the Jamia Training Institute is the accredited examination
centre for Islamic Online University.
There are no fees for the courses. However, there is a xed symbolic registration fee and examination fee of US 20 (Sh 1,600) for
Kenyan registered students.
Enrollment procedures could be obtained at www.islamiconlineuniversity.com and for further clarication contact the registrar at mobile: +974 5554 3968, ofce: +974 44868458 and email: registrar@
islamiconlineuniversity.com.

11

Israeli invaders set re to West Bank mosque

Palestinians accused Jewish occupiers of setting re to a West Bank mosque on
Monday, an incident that coincided with US efforts to rescue peace talks halted by a
dispute over invading settlement building.
They sprayed grafti blaspheming the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) on
several of the mosques walls and 15 Qur'ans and the mosques carpet were burned,
said Ali Thawabti, a municipal council ofcial in the village of Beit Fajjar.He said residents put out the re and settlers got into their white Peugeot and sped away.
Palestinian witnesses said that a skirmish broke out between some villagers and the
occupying invaders following the attack, the latest in so-called price tag attacks
intended to warn the Israeli government against making concessions regarding invading settlement buildings in the West Bank.
Mondays incident raises the number of mosques vandalized by occupying invaders
in the West Bank to four. In May, they torched a mosque in the village of Al-Libban
Al-Sharqiyeh, to the north of Ramallah. Last December, a mosque was set on re
in the village of Yasouf, to the southwest of Nablus, and the words price tag were
also sprayed.
In April, occupying invaders sprayed a Star of David with the name Muhammad beside it on a mosque in the village of Hewara, to the south of Nablus.
The Israeli military, which has been in control of the West Bank since 1967, said it
was investigating the attack in Beit Fajjar, near Bethlehem.
The peace drive was plunged into crisis last week when a 10-month Israeli moratorium on invading housing settlements in the West Bank expired and Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu resisted US and international pressure to extend it.
The Palestinian leadership said on Saturday the negotiations, which began on Sept.
2, could not resume until Israel halted their invading settlement construction completely.
Commenting on the mosque re, Muhammad Hussein, the Palestinian mufti of Jerusalem, said the invaders aimed to increase tension and push matters to the edge
of the precipice.
Lieutenant-Col. Avital Liebowitz, an Israeli military spokeswoman, said Israeli authorities intend to nd those responsible as quickly as possible.
In December, the invaders torched carpets and copies of the Qur'an in Yasuf. No
charges were brought in the incidents. (Arab News)

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SEPTEMBER INTAKE 2010/2011

REPLACEMENT INTERVIEW DATE 11-14th October 2010

DEGREE COURSES
CERTIFICATE COURSES
1. Bachelor of Arts in Islamic Studies 1. Cer
cate in Arabic and Islamic Studies
2. Bachelor of Arts in Islamic Sharia 2. Cer
cate in English Language
DIPLOMA COURSES
NB: Entry requirements for Cercate in Arabic Language
1. Diploma in Islamic Studies and Islamic Studies is K.C.S.E cercate of any grade.
FEW CHANCES LEFT !!!
2. Diploma in Islamic Sharia
For Details contact The Admissions Oce
THIKA COLLEGE OF SHARIA AND ISLAMIC STUDIES
P. O. BOX 4658-THIKA Telephone: 0720-054201/0720 255852 or
0722950558 Email:kulliyah1@yahoo.com

Education our future

Ummah Foundation has been in the forefront of
giving Education bursaries that aim at educating students who cannot afford both high school
and university education. For this Semester that
started in September 2010, Ummah Foundation
has dispersed to the very urgent cases a sum
of Ksh.532,050 to 18 continuous students from
across the country who have previously been supported by the Foundation. This will go along way in
assiting them to complete their education and attain their degree certicates that will enable them
favourably compete in the job market. All this was
made possible through the contributions Ummah
Foundation got from the well wishers during the
holy month of Ramadhan. We take this opportunity to sincerely thank our Brothers and Sisters
who donated generously to Ummah Foundation
so that our children can go to school. It is still our
pledge that you continue giving us all the support.
Education is the best investment any society can
give to our youth and it is a sure way of eliminating poverty and ignorance from our midst.
The Bursary scheme has been running for the past
three year since the Foundations inception and
its taken root in the fact that many have graduated out of our system and adding up value to the
growing economy of our nation. The Foundation
now prides to have more than 400 students from
the eight provinces who have passed through the
bursary scheme since the year 2007.
It is very imperative to mention that Ummah Foundation in collaboration with several stakeholders
like Jamia Mosque, Parklands Mosque, Park
Road Mosque and City Park Mosque Committees have taken very worthy steps in making the
dreams of our Ummah come true.
We must, however, agree to the fact that Ummah
Foundation has passed through very turbulent
times and the major challenge we face is the high
inux of applications that we receive in our ofce every day. Due to limited resources, Ummah
Foundation mainly focuses on those from less fortunate backgrounds who are given a chance to
further and attain their educational ambitions. It
is also our obligation to sensitize well wishers and
donors to take an active role in making Education
a key a priority.
The beauty of the scheme is that it is built on virtues of honesty, transparency and manned by an
experienced Education Committee that comprises
of personalities of high integrity in the Muslim society.
Let us all join hands and educate our children, our
future. The Prophet salallahu alayhi was sallam
said, Seeking of knowledge is an obligation upon
every Muslim. (Ibn Majah)
To participate in this worthy cause and assist in realizing the dreams of many of our students, send
your Zakat or sadaqah to
Ummah Foundation Village plaza,Ngara Road
P.O. Box 58717-00200, Nairobi
Tel: 0717 613 3333/ 0732 613333
Email: info@ummahfoundation.net

The Friday Bulletin is a Publication of Jamia Masjid Committee, P. O. Box 100786-00101 Nairobi, Tel: 2243504/5 Fax: 342147 E-mail: fridaybulletin@gmail.com.
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