The

Friday Bulletin
The Weekly Muslim News Update

Issue No. 319

Jumada al-Thani 18 1430 1430/June 12 2009

Adopt the Bomas Draft, Muslims

tell Committee of Experts
M
uslim leaders have called on the Committee
of Experts to ensure that the constitution
review process is inclusive and cohesive in
order to safeguard the wellbeing of the people of
Kenya.
The Joint Muslim Consulting Group on Agenda 4 called
on the experts to ensure that the review process accommodates the diversity of the Kenyan people including religious faiths, socio-economic status, race,
ethnicity, gender, persons with disabilities and minority
groups.
During a consultative forum at Sir Ali Muslim Sports
Club in Nairobi, the group composed of more than
twenty Muslim organizations also called for the adoption of the Bomas draft which was documented by the
Constitutional Review Commission which they said had
better acceptance to the majority of Kenyans. We affirm the reference documents to be used by your committee should be the official documentation of the constitutional review process as documented by the former
CKRC including views of Kenyans and in our case specifically views of Muslims in Kenya. As representatives
of the Muslim community we prefer and accept the
consensus that was built at the National Constitutional
Conference at Bomas, said the joint memorandum released at the forum.
Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims Secretary General, Adan Wachu called on the review committee to

Continued on Page 2

Majlis Ulamaa Kenya representative for Central Kenya Sheikh Muhammad

Suleiman Munyu (Right) with members of the public follow proceedings
during the consultative forum on Agenda 4 at Sir Ali Muslim Club

take into consideration the diversity of the people in the country which will ensure
that issues affecting various communities including Muslims are well taken into
consideration.
Continued On Page 2

Release Abdulmalik to improve ties with Muslims, Obama told

Kenyan Muslims will assent to US
centre after he was exonerated
President Barrack Obamas pledge
by Kenyan courts. Abdulmalik
in establishing positive relationships
is innocent. It is unfortunate that
with Muslims if he facilitates the rehe is still being held as a terrorturn home of the only Kenyan detainism suspect even after our local
ee at Guantanamo Bay, Abdulmalik
courts found him innocent, he
Muhammad.
said.
In his reaction to President Obamas
The Sheikh called on the Foreign
speech in Cairo last week, Nominated
Affairs minister Moses WetanguMP Sheikh Muhammad Dor observed
la to travel to the United States
that Muslims were still skeptical about
to seek Abdulmaliks freedom
Obamas attempts to forge a new benoting that if the minister could
ginning with the Muslim world and
be ready to travel to China to
stressed that he has also to solve the
plead for clemency for convicted
Palestinian problem which is among
Kenyan drug traffickers, he has a
the core issues that led that led
moral obligation to similarly
US President Barrack
American- Muslim relations to nose-dive Obama
appeal for the release of the
Addressing the congregation during
Guantanamo inmate.
Friday prayers at Mbaruki mosque in Mombasa,
Sheikh Dor who is also the Imam of Mbaruki
Sheikh Dor saw no reason for the continued incarmosque and secretary general of the Council
ceration of Abdulmalik in the notorious US detention
Continued On Page 2

www.islamkenya.com

This Week

National News

Da'wa

P2

Establishing an Islamic family

P3

Women Issues

Delinking Islam from FGM

P4

Youth
Generation Gap, Friend or foe
P5

Guidance from the Sheikh

Teachers: Their obligation and
reward
P6

Opinion
Xenophobic campaign against
Muslims
P7

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

The Friday Bulletin

Jumada al-Thani 18 1430 /June 12, 2009

NATIONAL NEWS

Make mosques youth friendly

Najah Madrasa goes for Waqf project

as funds dwindle
In its strategy to achieve self sufficiency, Madrasatun Najah, one of
the oldest madrasah in North Eastern Province is planning to set up
a Sh50 million waqf (endowment) project to serve as an investment
for the institution.
A series of fundraising events are planned including a major fundraising drive where the Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and Prime
Minister Raila Odinga are expected to officiate among other dignitaries on July 1.
According to the principal, Sheikh Khalif A. Hussein, on completion
the project will not only finance the operations of the madrassa but
also contribute to alleviating its financial difficulties.
Since its inception, Madrasatun Najah has been relying on contributions of well wishers but in the recent past it has been experiencing deficits in its operations, he said.
Currently the institution has a student population of more than 400
students and a 25 member strong teaching staff.
Started in 1964 with only the primary section (Ibtidai) offering a six
years curriculum, the institution has expanded into a fully fledged
Madrasah providing a three year Idadi (intermediate) course and
three years of Thanawi (secondary) education.
Till a decade ago, many Muslim institutions relied on financing from
Muslim organizations outside the country but this was to change
after September 11 when the United States pressurized Muslim
countries to restrict funding so as to curb on so-called terrorism
financing.

There is need for mosques to reach their full potential as community

centers to make them more dynamic and relevant to cater for the
socio-religious lives for all classes of the society.
Abdulghani Bashir, the director of the Kinderworld Junior School
said mosques should be re-modelled to make them more youth,
family and community friendly. He particularly emphasized on the
need of having them appealing to the youth through establishing of
various activities which will contribute to shaping their Islamic learning and social development progress.
Abdulghani observed that the young generation was an important
segment in the society and it was imperative that mosques establish
activities which will ensure that there are attached to the mosques
and appreciate the importance of their religion.
We need mosques which will be appealing and open to the youths
to have them play a more viable role in society, he said.
Speaking during the official opening of the Madina Estate mosque
in South C, Nairobi, Abdulghani stressed on having the youth realize that they are also appreciated in the society and this will inculcate in them Islamic values. This is a challenge for those running
mosques to ensure that they make them more appealing to the
youth, he said.
He pointed out that many Muslim youths were now engaging in
wayward behaviour which he blamed on absence of appropriate
parental guidance and lack of alternative community youth programmes.
Mosques, he said should be fully fledged community centres while
providing amenities like school, library, gym, bookstore, sports centre and recreational activities.

Adopt the Bomas Draft, experts told

Youth to Benefit From KYBT Funds

Story From Page 1

The Muslim Education and Welfare Association (MEWA) has been

selected as one of the centres to train and expose youth to business proposal writing to enable them benefit from business loans
provided by Kenya Youth Business Trust (KYBT).
The first batch of 30 youth underwent one-week training from May
25-28 on how to prepare business proposals. The training was
based on how business is done, the risks involved and how KYBT
supports the youth to fulfill their dreams in the business world.
The training was facilitated by KYBT trainers at MEWA library. At
the end of the training the youth were able to come up with business plans.
The programme is in line with MEWAs strategic plan to address
the issue of poverty in the community by creating opportunities for
the youth to participate in community development and at the same
time raise their standards of living.
The trainings will be conducted on a monthly basis. Youth are advised to register at MEWA office for next training session.
KYBT was formed in 2003 to assist Kenyas large youth population in overcoming unemployment through entrepreneurship. The
fund aims at empowering socially and economically disadvantaged
youth who want to create their own businesses.

He pin pointed the Kadhi's Court as one of the items in the Constitution Review which the experts should deal with comprehensively
saying that the item had never been classified among the contentious issues. Adan urged Muslims to participate in the process to
ensure their interests are properly addressed. We must be involved
in this constitution making process absolutely and also the Kadhis
court (should not be interfered with because it) was never classified
as contentious. The Kadhis court is not classified as contentious,
Adan said.
He also said that the consistent land problems in the country need
to be dealt with as stipulated under the agenda four which seeks to
ensure that all Kenyans have their constitutional given right to own
land in any part of the country.
Speaking at the same forum on Saturday, Yash Pal Ghai the former
chairman of the CKRC said that politicians should not be allowed
to hijack the constitutional making process to suit their personal
interests.
Ghai who addressed the forum on the role of religious organization in championing the reform agenda said that politicians need to
take a back seat as Kenya embarks on a fresh constitution making
process because in his experience, bickering by political parties derails the process. In the end, the politicians will make very personal
calculations. They will think whether they will get power through a
particular kind of constitution and that is not a very safe basis on
which decisions will be made, he said.
He further stated the need for the concerns of ordinary Kenyans to
be highlighted in the review. I cannot be confident that we will have
a new constitution because at the end, if one group feels they have
the chance to get power through a particular kind of constitution,
then they will go for that, Ghai said.
However, Ekuru Aukot, a member of the Committee of Experts on
Constitutional Review, subsequently expressed confidence that the
committee will succeed in the review process.
Because the law has given us that timeframe (one year) and the
Committee of Experts is very much committed to that timeframe, it
is possible that we will beat the deadline, he confidently affirmed.

Sheikh Dor calls for

Abdulmalik's freedom
Story From Page 1

of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) said Obamas efforts to

win the hearts and minds of the 1.5 billion global Muslim community
will bear fruit if he agrees to practically put to an end the more than
60 years subjugation and oppression of Palestinians by Israel which
has been receiving unconditional support from the United States.
On the coalition government, he said while some of the problems
plaguing Muslims have been solved, he nevertheless stressed that
the community should not go-slow in demanding for their rights and
the correction of historical injustices by successive regimes since
independence.

Jumada al-Thani 18 1430 /June 12, 2009

The Friday Bulletin

DA'WA

Establishing an Islamic Family

And Allah has made for you from your
homes a place of rest [Soorah an-Nahl
(16): 80]
Allah mentions His complete favour upon
His slaves from what He has created for
them in regard to their houses being places
of tranquility. They are places of refuge,
screening and of benefit from all aspects.
A house for us is a place of eating, marriage, sleeping and rest. A place of privacy,
meeting one's wife and children, a place to
safeguard oneself. It is a place of security
from evil and protection from the people.
Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said:
Safety for a man in times of tribulations is
to stay in his home. Related by Twabaraniy in al-Aswat from Thawbaan (radhia Llahu anhu) and it is also in Saheeh ul-Jaami.
Most importantly, a home is an important
means towards building the Muslim community. The society is made up from home
and it is the origin. The home is life and the
life is society. If the home is strong then
the community will be strong in implementing the laws of Allah, to spread good and
to stop evil from penetrating while resisting
the aims of the enemies of Allah.
Here, we try to address the advice on establishing an Islamic home, hoping that Allah benefits us with it and gives us direction
to strengthen Islam by reviving the Muslim
home.
Choosing the Right Partner
A righteous husband and wife share the
primary and most important step towards
building a righteous Islamic home. The
righteous man with the righteous woman
can both build a righteous home because
the good abode will bear its fruits with the
permission of Allah. That which is bad will
produce nothing except misery. Allah, says
in the Qur'aan: And marry the unmarried
among you who are single (i.e. man who
has no wife and a woman who has no husband) and (also marry) the 'Salihun' (pious,
fit, capable ones) of your (male) slaves and
maid-servants (female slaves). If they are
poor, Allah will enrich them out of His Bounty. [Surah An-Nur (24): 32]
For the Man
It is very important to be very careful in
choosing a righteous wife as Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said:
The whole world is a place of enjoyment
and the best enjoyment is a righteous wife.
(Muslim, An-Nasaee, Ibn Amr and Saheeh
al-Jaami) . He also said, A righteous wife
who will help you in religious and worldly affairs is better than all the treasures the people have collected. (Ahmad, at-Tirmidhee
and Ibn Majah, Saheeh ul-Jaami)
Just as the righteous wife is from the good
things, a bad woman is one of the difficult
things, as is stated in the authentic hadeeth:
From the joys of a righteous woman is when
you look at her she pleases you, when you
are away from her, she safeguards herself
and your wealth. From the difficulties of a
bad woman is when you look at her she

displeases you and she answers you back,

when you are away from her she does not
safeguard herself and your wealth. (Ibn Majah and others.)
One should bear in mind the following condition specified by the Prophet of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) in choosing a wife:
A woman is married for four reasons; her
wealth, her family, her beauty and her faith.
So, marry the one who is religious and you
will prosper. (Saheeh al-Bukhari)
He (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) also said:
Marry women who are loving and prolific in
giving birth, as I shall outnumber the other
Prophet's (nation) through you. (Ahmad)
For the Woman
Likewise, a woman must look at the condition of the proposer who comes for her. His
suitability should be according to the following conditions:
The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam)
said: If somebody comes to you and you
are pleased with his character and religion
then marry him. If you do not, there will be
discord on earth and widespread corruption. (Ibn Majah)
This great Hadeeth demonstrates as to
what should be the most important character a woman should look for when selecting
a husband: they being good character and
piety. Wealth and lineage are secondary
considerations.
Furthermore, the person of religion and
good behavior may be a blessing for her and
her children. She may learn manners and
religion from him. If he does not have these
characters then she should stay away from
him, especially if he is one of those who is
lax with respect to performing the prayers.
Obligation of living with one's wife in
kindness
It is binding upon the husband to live with
his wife in the best way possible and to be
lenient to her in everything that Allah has
permitted. There are various ahadeeth concerning this issue:
Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said:
The best of you is the one who is best
to his wives, and I am the best of you towards them [Authentic At-Tahawee]
The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam)
said in the farewell Hajj: Listen and take
my counsel with regards to women. Be
good to them for they are captives with
you. You possess nothing to them other
than this, unless they commit some flagrant (deliberate) obscenity. If they do
then separate the beds (do not have sexual relations with them) and beat them but
in a way that does no injury. If they return
to obedience, then seek no further retri-

Saturday Lecture
How to interrelate with inlaws
Sheikh Abdulatif AbdulKarim
13th June 2009 2.00 pm-4.00 pm
Jamia Mosque Multi Purpose Hall
3

bution. You have rights over your wives

and your wives have rights over you. As
for your rights over your wives, they are
that no one disliked by you should sit
on your bed, and they admit no one into
your home who you dislike. Yes, and their
rights over you is that you are very good
to them in providing them dress and their
food. [Tirmidhee and Ibn Majah]
He (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said: Let
no male believer ever hate a female believer. Though he may dislike one of her
attributes, he will be pleased with another
[Saheeh Muslim]
He (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said: The
believer with most complete faith is the
one with the best character and the best
of those are those who treat their wives in
the best. [Tirmidhi]
Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi
wasallam) who had the best of morals and
character, not only advised Muslim
husbands to be good to their wives but he
had indeed established an excellent behav
ior with his wives as evidenced by the
following narration:
On the authority of Aa'ishah (radhi allahu
anha) who said: 'On the Eid, the Prophet
(sallallahu alayhi wasallam) called me
while the Ethiopians were playing with
their spears in the masjid saying: O little
red one! Would you like to watch them? I
replied 'Yes.' Then, he had me stand behind him and dropped his shoulders, so
that I could see. I rested my chin on his
shoulders with my face against his cheek,
and I watched over his shoulders. He kept
saying: Haven't you had enough? I kept
saying: 'No in order to test my status with
him, until finally I had enough' [Saheeh
al-Bukhari, Saheeh Muslim and others]
Also on the authority of 'Aa'ishah, (radhi
allahu anha) who said: the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) used to be brought a
glass of milk from which I would drink first,
even though I was menstruating. Then he
would take the glass and drink, putting his
mouth on the same spot, where my mouth
had been. At other times, I used to take
a piece of meat and eat from it. Then he
would take it and eat, putting his mouth on
the same area on which I had put mine.
[Saheeh Muslim and Ahmad]
The Prophet also said: All things in which
there is no mention of Allah are frivolity, absent-mindness and idle play except for four
things: a man being playful with his wife,
training his horse, walking between two purposeful goals and teaching another man to
swim. [An-Nisa'ee and at-Tabari]
To Be Continued Next Week

Jamia Bursary Scheme

The Jamia Mosque Education Fund is

pleased to inform applicants for the Bursary scheme that the cheques are ready
for collection. Names of successful applicants are on the noticeboards.
Cheques can be collected from the Jamia
Mosque Library

The Friday Bulletin

WOMEN ISSUES

Jumada al-Thani 18 1430 /June 12, 2009

Delinking Female Genital Mutilation from Islam

This is the Sixth part of a series of articles by Ibrahim Lethome and Maryam Sheikh Abdi on Islam and FGM. Sheikh Ibrahim
Lethome is a Nairobi based lawyer while Maryam Abdi is a programme officer with the Population Council. The series is
based on the book Delinking FGM/Cutting from Islam published by the Population Council and Frontiers
the religion does not agree with us but people are very strong with
Causing harm is unlawful
Islam condemns all harmful and destructive practicesfemale in- the tradition.
fanticide, for example. Allah says in the Qur'an, and when the girl This is countered by the Islamic teaching that harm cannot be too
child who was buried alive shall be asked for what sin was she old; that is, old practices cannot be justified if they are harmful. The
killed (Qur'an: 89: 8-9). It has been proved medically that FGM/C, moment one discovers that they have been doing wrong, one is
even in its mildest form, is harmful because it interferes with the nor- supposed to stop, regardless of the age of the practice. The Qur'an
mal functions of the female genitalia. Each of the organs affected mentions instances when communities adamantly supported their
by FGM/C (clitoris, labia minora, labia majora) has a specific pur- wrong actions, saying that they would continue these practices as
pose, and any interference with them affects their functioning and their forefathers did. Allah says, And when it is said to them, follow
what Allah has revealed they say rather we will follow that which we
purpose.
found our fathers doing... (Qur'an: 2: 170). Allah condemns this
Guiding principles in Shariah state that:
reasoning and in the same verse asks whether the people will follow
La dharar wala dhirar (Cause no harm and do not reciprocate their forefatherseven if your fathers did not comprehend anything
harm). FGM/C is a harmful practice that should be avoided. Allah and they were not properly guided? (Qur'an: 2: 170).
says in the Quran: And do not throw yourselves with your own
FGM/C has no religious basis; it is a purely cultural practice that
hands into destruction (2:195).
conflicts with Islamic teachings. It is a fundamental teaching of Islam
If an action has both benefits and harms, it is allowed if the benefits that where there is conflict between religion and a cultural practice,
outweigh the harms. In male circumcision, for example, the cutting Islam takes precedence. FGM/C is in conflict with Islamic teachings
of the skin, the accompanying pain, and the shedding of blood and should therefore be stopped. Women have a right to a healthy
may be viewed as harmful. However, male circumcision has been body and enjoyment of matrimonial sexual relations
proven to be a religious practice and that the resulting benefits are
also significant. These benefits are both religious (male circumci- One of the reasons for practicing FGM/C is the belief that it controls
sion enhances cleanliness) and medical (male circumcision can sexual desires in women and girls, hence making them chaste. It
reduce penile cancer and HIV transmission). FGM/C on the other is a common belief among many practicing communities that those
hand, does the exact opposite, by interfering with religious cleanli- who are not cut have excess sexual desires and hence will start
chasing men because of her uncontrollable sexual urge, excessive
ness and causing proven harm.
sexual desire, and she will be very vulnerable, she has no security
Adh-dhararu la yuzaalu bi mithlihi/ Adh-dhararul ash-shadu yuzaa- and [will] subsequently [be] disgraced. Circumcised girls will not go
lu bi dhararin al-akhaf (a harm or evil is not removed or stopped for another man... said an FGM practitioner.
by causing a similar or greater harm). In this context, the assumed
harm or evil, in the view of the proponents of FGM/C, is that the Sexual desires are natural and God-given. Islam is not against sex,
but provides directions on how sexual desires should be satisfied,
clitoris will grow long and become ugly and smell. The ensuing
recognizing that both husband and wife have the right to sexual
harms from FGM/C far much outweigh the perceived benefits.
enjoyment. Islam does not allow practices that will adversely afIslam condemns harmful cultural practices.
fect the enjoyment of sex within marriage. Various provisions from
One of the reasons given to sustain the practice of FGM/C is that it both the Qur'an and Sunnah provide guidance on enjoyment of sex
is a cultural practice of the communities that observe it. It is our within marriage.
tradition that a girl must be circumcised and stitched said a
The Qur'anic directives on sexual relations between a husband and
married woman in North Eastern Province.
a wife have been interpreted to include foreplay. Allah says, Your
Islam does not outlaw or prohibit all cultural practices; Muslims are wives are as a tilth (garden) for you so approach your tilth when or
free to continue with their traditional cultures and practices as long how you will, but do some good acts for your souls beforehand
as they do not conflict with the teachings of Islam. This is why cerContinued on Page 7
tain Arab customs that existed before Islam have been retained,
while others were condemned. Likewise, Muslims from all tribes
and communities are required to assess their cultures, continue
what is in conformity with Islam, and avoid anything that is in conUmm Muhammad bint Abdulrahman
flict.
Ingredients
For a cultural practice to be upheld by Islam, it has to fulfil two important conditions. These are: It should not be in conflict with the 2 cans of Tuna
1 medium sized onion chopped into small pieces
teachings of Islam.
It should not be harmful to either the individual or the society at 2 tablespoons of crushed garlic
large. According to Islamic teachings, cultural practices are con- 1 tablespoon fish spice/garam masala
Juice of one lemon
sidered as follows:
One kilo red potatoes
Cultural practices in conformity with the teachings of Islam are
2 eggs
confirmed as Islamic practices. For example, hospitality, chastity,
Method
respect to the elderly and helping the poor, which are upheld in
Wash and cut the potatoes into half and boil in a saucepan of
many cultures, are in conformity with Islam.
water until soft. Drain and leave to cool before peeling off the
Cultural practices that are in conflict with Islam are either changed
skin and mashing
to conform to it or totally eradicated (e.g. polygamy was regulated; Drain 2 cans of tuna and place in a saucepan with other
female infanticide was eradicated).
ingredients. Cook lightly until the lemon juice has been
FGM/C conflicts with Islamic teachings on the sanctity of the human
absorbed. Mix with the mashed potatoes until well mixed.
body and hence is totally unacceptable. It is also a deeply rooted Shape into small to medium sized oval cakes and dust lightly
cultural practice, and many community members say that they have
with wheat flour. Coat well with beaten eggs and shallow fry
been practicing it for a long time, so it cannot be stopped. Some
in medium heated oil turning until golden brown.
Somalis claim: It is hard for Somalis to stop pharaonic circumci- Serve with hot and sweet sauce
sion. It has been there and it is difficult to stop it. It will continue, it
Share your favourite recipes with our readers. Send them to P. O. Box 40629will take a very long time for change to happen and, We know
00100 or email:fridaybulletin@islamkenya.com or fridaybulletin@gmail.com

The Friday Bulletin Kitchen

SPICY TUNA AND POTATO CAKES

Jumada al-Thani 18 1430 /June 12, 2009

The Friday Bulletin

YOUTH AND CHILDREN

Latiefa Achmat

Generation Gap Friend or Foe?

The generation gap is a continual source of pain and confusion for every successive generation. It is often seen as the
difficulties and struggles represented in the attitudes and experiences of older people and how they interpret the attitudes
and behavior of young people.
What does Islam say about the generation gap? Parents
should play with their children until they are 7 years old,
teach them until they are 14 and after that, parents should be
their childrens friend. It can be a problem if parents do not
communicate with their children in an appropriate way.
In the Quran we read about a man called Luqman (in Surat
Luqman) and how he advised his son concerning parents. He
told his son in a loving way how much parents, especially the
mother, have done for him and Luqman explained how the
son should deal with his parents in a loving and kindly way.
This is a lesson for all of us. It means that just because there
is a problem it doesnt mean the young person has to pack up
and leave, or that the parents have to tell the young person
to leave the house! It means that even at times of contention,
the older and younger people have to show mercy, gratitude,
and kindness and prove the maturity of their minds.
The peak of failure in dealing with the generation gap is when
family ties break. It is said that parents are the windows into
the past and the vision of the future. So if the youth want to
have a peek at the past, they need to open that window; but
if they dont want it, it will be closed to them and they will be
the ones who will miss out. Even though older people have
surely made many mistakes in their lives, they still have a
lot of experience to share and some unique views and perceptions that can feed the young people and draw out their
budding insight.
At the same time, not all older people are kind and wise. So
this leads us to the question of how the youth should deal
with neglectful, even abusive older people.
Ideally, if we follow Muhammad (peace be upon him) such
things wont happen, but we are human beings and reality
means that these things do happen. So how should the youth
cope?
Find an older person you trust and respect so he or she
can guide you and take the place of the lost role model.
Try to keep within your extended family and try to
maintain family ties even by a phone call or a letter.
Dont turn to your friends for advice on important
matters. Young people do not usually have the
experience and wisdom to deal with all kinds of situations.
Even if the adult you consult does not know everything about
your problem, he or she will be able to direct you to other
people who can help.
It is usual that many young people do not know how to talk
to their parents about some issues; they find it difficult and
uncomfortable. So in such cases parents should be wise and
direct their child to a trustworthy person who will guide him or
her in the right way. Parents shouldnt take it personally if the
young person seeks to confide in someone else.
If you want to know more about life, you need to know the
history of life. Simply because young people are young, it
means they havent yet acquired experience and knowledge
to the extent of older people; so young people should benefit
from this knowledge and experience and enrich their own. If
you find your grandparents, parents, uncles, or aunts going
on and on about how you should be careful of the friends you
keep, just keep in mind that perhaps they, at some time in
their lives, had real life experience in such matters.
Maybe the older people will not want the younger person to
know such things about them because they dont want to be
looked down upon. But they can share a lot of valuable experience and advice.

Haroun Yahya

Avoiding sins

The Qur'an informs us that "gossiping" and "backbiting" are

some of the other behavioural traits disliked by Allah. Spying
on someone's mistakes, backbiting and making a person a target for mockery are behaviour that a person who fears Allah
must studiously avoid. In the Qur'an Allah forbids gossiping
and backbiting. The relevant verse reads:
"You who have faith! Avoid most suspicion. Indeed some
suspicion is a crime. And do not spy and do not backbite
one another. Would any of you like to eat his brother's
dead flesh? No, you would hate it. And have fear of Allah. Allah is Ever-Returning, Most Merciful. (Surat alHujurat: 12) As is also evident from the verse, Allah tells us
in the Qur'an that backbiting is as disgusting as eating one's
dead brother's flesh.
Allah tells us to conduct ourselves correctly in the course of
our daily lives. Life is an opportunity granted by our Lord to
follow His right path. Today, the majority of people are unaware of this. Instead of complying with Allah's commands and
advice, they seek other guides. Being influenced by the films
they watch or the songs to which they listen, they adopt erroneous values. For instance, young people who watch a merciless and cruel hero in a movie often start to imitate him right
after they leave the theatre.
A wise and sincere person, however, always displays the character traits with which Allah is pleased. The prophets are
the people in whose footsteps we must follow. The character traits we must have are those values with which Allah
is pleased. These include being merciful, forgiving, modest,
humble, steadfast and obedient to Allah and His Messenger.
A person who adopts these noble values does not stoop to
becoming involved in disputes; He rather settles them and
shows tolerance. Instead of being rebellious and disobedient
to one's parents, the Qur'an commands us to be obedient
and respectful. In the Qur'an, Allah stresses the importance
of being respectful towards one's parents: "Your Lord has
decreed that you should worship none but Him, and that
you should show kindness to your parents. Whether one or
both of them reach old age with you, do not say "Ugh!" to
them out of irritation and do not be harsh with them but
speak to them with gentleness and generosity. Take them
under your wing, out of mercy, with due humility and say:
"Lord, show mercy to them as they did in looking after me
when I was small." (Surat al-Isra: 23-24)
Being obedient towards one's parents, not showing the slightest sign of irritation to them by saying "Ugh," and always
being merciful and tender-hearted towards them are important character traits Allah demands from us. Showing these
traits will both earn us Allah's love and make us more happy
and peaceful in our daily lives.
Never forget that Allah will love you more and grant more of
His blessings to you when you are steadfast, humble, selfsacrificing, generous, and when you conduct yourself correctly.
5

The Friday Bulletin

Jumada al-Thani 18 1430 /June 12, 2009

GUIDANCE FROM THE SHEIKH

This is the continuation of a series of articles written by Sheikh Al-Amin bin Ali Mazrui, the former Chief Kadhi of Kenya. The
treatise Uwongozi (Guidance) appeared in a weekly publication called Al Islah between 1930 and 1932 which the Sheikh edited
and freely distributed in mosques around Mombasa.
Originally published in Kiswahili, Uwongozi has been translated into English by Muhammad bin Yusuf. Although written almost 80 years ago by this distinguished scholar, the powerful message from Sheikh Al-Amin resonates with our times

Teachers: Their obligation and reward

20th Muharram, 1350 A.H. [7th June 1931]

rize these important areas of the religion before he [teacher] teaches

them using books and going deep into explaining those areas in detail. And if there is a mosque nearby, the teacher should take the
students during times of the congregational prayers, for example,
Asr [mid-afternoon] in order to teach them how to properly perform
Wudhu and to establish Salah [fulifiling all the required conditions].
All this is an advice to the teachers. And I am not just targeting the
teachers of Madrasa, but also those [teachers] of regular schools
whereby such [specilic religious teachings) would not be covered on
their regular time-table. Nevertheless, they should try their utmost
best to throw in such teachings casually during discussions with the
students.
When teachers take such necessary steps, they would have accumulated lots of reward, which is something that everybody yearns
for. If the school teacher cannot find an opportunity to talk to his
students about religion, he should at least encourage them to go to
the Mosques which he knows they will be able to find people to teach
them about religion. He should make it his concern to ensure that the
students do not miss such sessions at the mosque; and by so doing,
he will earn the reward as if he was the one teaching them. This is
one way of ensuring that the children retain the knowledge of Islam,
and reviving the religion in these days in which we are abandoning its
practices. Allah! Do for us what is best for us. Ameen.

Among the people who receive the most reward for what they do
are those who teach the Quran. They open the doors for people to
obey and worship Allah; they have opened peoples eyes to see what
they may not possibly have seen. For this reason, there is none who
establishes the prayer except that his teacher gets rewarded without
having his [one who prays] reward diminished.
Similarly every time one recites the Quran, the teacher is rewarded
too, because after all he is the one who taught the individual how to
recite and understand its meaning. This is very rewarding to teachers; the students should be thankful to their teachers and make dua
[supplication] for them.
What teachers are obliged to do is to teach the students all the necessities in their religion. They [teachers] should not be satisfied by
just teaching them only the Quran, but instead they should teach
them all of what is required of them, for example, the pillars of Islam
and the pillars of Faith, and what they really mean. They should also
[teach them] the biography of Prophet Muhammmad (Sallallaahu
Alayhi wa Sallam), including major occurrences in his life; [teach
them] the life of the other prophets mentioned in the Quran; teach
them what they must know about the hereafter; about important aspects of the Shariah; about the prayer and its conditions, including
observation at their set times. The teacher can allocate an hour or
three-quarters of an hour for the purpose of assisting them to memo-

Ali Abunimah

Obama in Cairo: a Bush in sheep's clothing

President Obama's speech in Cairo indicates there is likely to be

little real change in US policy. It is not necessary to divine Obama's
intentions he may be utterly sincere and I believe he is. It is his
analysis and prescriptions that in most regards maintain flawed
American policies intact. Though he pledged to "speak the truth as
best I can", there was much the president left out. He spoke of tension between "America and Islam" the former a concrete specific
place, the latter a vague construct subsuming peoples, practices,
histories and countries more varied than similar.
Labelling America's "other" as a nebulous and all-encompassing "Islam" (even while professing rapprochement and respect) is a way
to avoid acknowledging what does in fact unite and mobilise people
across many Muslim-majority countries: overwhelming popular opposition to increasingly intrusive and violent American military, political and economic interventions in many of those countries. This
opposition and the resistance it generates has now become for
supporters of those interventions, synonymous with "Islam".
It was disappointing that Obama recycled his predecessor's notion
that "violent extremism" exists in a vacuum, unrelated to America's
(and its proxies') exponentially greater use of violence before and
after September 11, 2001. He dwelled on the "enormous trauma"
done to the US when almost 3,000 people were killed that day, but
spoke not one word about the hundreds of thousands of orphans
and widows left in Iraq those whom Muntazer al-Zaidi's flying
shoe forced Americans to remember only for a few seconds last
year.
He ignored the dozens of civilians who die each week in the "necessary" war in Afghanistan, or the millions of refugees fleeing the
US-invoked escalation in Pakistan.
As President George Bush often did, Obama affirmed that it is only
a violent minority that besmirches the name of a vast and "peaceful" Muslim majority. But he seemed once again to implicate all
Muslims as suspect when he warned, "The sooner the extremists
are isolated and unwelcome in Muslim communities, the sooner we
will all be safer."
Nowhere were these blindspots more apparent than his statements

about Palestine/Israel. He gave his audience a detailed lesson on

the Holocaust and explicitly used it as a justification for the creation
of Israel. "It is also undeniable," the president said, "that the Palestinian people Muslims and Christians have suffered in pursuit
of a homeland. For more than sixty years they have endured the
pain of dislocation."
Suffered in pursuit of a homeland? The pain of dislocation? They
already had a homeland. They suffered from being ethnically
cleansed and dispossessed of it and prevented from returning on
the grounds that they are from the wrong ethno-national group. Why
is that still so hard to say? He lectured Palestinians that "resistance
through violence and killing is wrong and does not succeed". He
warned them that "It is a sign of neither courage nor power to shoot
rockets at sleeping children, or to blow up old
women on a bus. That is not how moral authority is claimed; that is
how it is surrendered."
Fair enough, but did Obama really imagine that such words would
impress an Arab public that watched in horror as Israel slaughtered
1,400 people in Gaza last winter, including hundreds of sleeping,
fleeing or terrified children, with American-supplied weapons? Did
he think his listeners would not remember that the number of Palestinian and Lebanese civilians targeted and killed by Israel has
always far exceeded by orders of magnitude the number of Israelis
killed by Arabs precisely because of the American arms he has
pledged to continue giving Israel with no accountability? Amnesty
International recently confirmed what Palestinians long knew: Israel
broke the negotiated ceasefire when it attacked Gaza last November 4, prompting retaliatory rockets that killed no Israelis until after
Israel launched its much bigger attack on Gaza. That he continues
to remain silent about what happened in Gaza, and refuses to hold
Israel accountable demonstrates anything but a commitment to full
truth-telling.
Some people are prepared to give Obama a pass for all this because he is at last talking tough on Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. In Cairo, he said: "The United States does not

Continued on Page 7

Jumada al-Thani 18 1430 /June 12, 2009

Sheikh Ali El-Maawy

The Friday Bulletin

Xenophobic camapign against Muslims

Are we Muslims to keep quiet and watch as a campaign of hatred

against Muslims is instigated publicly by certain leading non-Muslims including some Members of Parliament? The Kenya media
set the pace by instigating a campaign against the Kenyan Somalis
alleging that their investments were derived from piracy. This campaign was started after they were seen to be an economic threat
to a certain tribe. As Somali businessmen were buying properties in
Nairobi and other towns of Kenya, they have become so competitive that they have become to be viewed as a threat to certain tribal
lords who owned everything in Kenya. These tribal lords from the
day this country became independent ransacked the country and
took every piece of land, every good building, and every great business to themselves.
In Mois time some magnates from Rift Valley pushed their way and
took part in the acquisitions. During all these years, not a single
media instrument in Kenya complained that a few people owned
the whole wealth of Kenya and no one mentioned that the source
of their wealth was through the robbery of the state, corruption and
the stealing from foreign aid that was intended for the poor. The
same media watched during the Goldenberg Commission, the revelations of persons who robbed this country of billions. Unless my
memory is bad, not a single media related all these sins to any
particular tribe. But now the same media is negatively branding the
whole Somali tribe. Why doesnt the same media tell us the name
of the tribe which robbed this country of its lands and properties,
while the Somalis were locked up in North Eastern Province, under
emergency regulations, not allowed to come out to do business in
any other part of Kenya?
Now, the campaign has turned to Muslims as a community led by an
M.P. against Jamia Mosque. If the Grogan Road plot was bought by
a Church the Hon. M.P would be seeking a way of clearing Grogan
Road plot from the mechanics. She would not be telling lies about
court cases, which did not exist, to instigate and put fuel to the fire
of dissension and discontent. Granted that the mechanics found
themselves in a dilemma that they were occupying someones land
believing that it was a public property, and now they were required
to leave because the original owner had now sold the property. Is
it right for them to blame the new owner, who bought the property?
Is it right for them to fight the buyer of the property for buying the
property?
What is right for the mechanics is to negotiate with the new owner

Obama in Cairo: a Bush in sheep's clothing

to give them time to find another site for their business and meanwhile to demand from their government to allocate them a suitable
public property for their workshops. That is what they should do.
They have every right to demand from the Government and the
City Council to allocate them another suitable place for their work.
Anything else they are doing is against the law. Their Member of
Parliament is misusing them, putting them through fighting the police, causing them injuries and hardships, and urging them to beat
up innocent Muslim individuals, for her own political ends. If the
property is privately owned, the mechanics have no law that can
support them. The government will not go against the laws and
disown someone of a property in the middle of the city.
The M.P should stop deceiving the mechanics, using them to fuel
hatred between Christians and Muslims of Kenya. If her aim is to
fuel that hatred, she should be ready to be responsible for the consequences when she pushes two peaceful religious communities to
fighting each other. The Plot at Globe roundabout plot was bought
legally by Jamia Mosque. The media is shamelessly accepting to
be misled by lies that it was bought by individuals. The Jamia
Mosque properties are owned under the name of a Trusteeship permanently established by the constitution of the Mosque. A Mosque
has the right to own properties just like any individual. I believe this
is the same for a church.
The Kenya media should stop deceiving the poor mechanics and
misleading them instead of helping them to find the right way to
help themselves. It is the responsibility of the Kenya Government
and the City Council to find a suitable place for the mechanics to
put their workshops. It is extremely unfair to misuse them for someones political ends. The government must also take suitable steps
to help the mechanics to find a good place for their work. By allowing the hateful individuals to mislead the mechanics to beat up the
innocent Muslims, then the Government must also be accountable
for the consequences.
Sheikh El-Maawy is the Chairman of Umoja wa Waislamu wa Afrika
Mashariki (Kenya Chapter) and Executive Member National Muslim
Leaders Forum (NAMLEF)
Sheikh El- Maawy is the a former Chairman of Supreme Council of
Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) and Kenya Assembly of Ulamaa and
Imams (KAULI)

De-linking Islam from FGM

Story From Page 6

Story From Page 4

Ali Abunimah is the co-founder of The Electronic Intifada (http://www.

electronicintifada.net/) and author of One Country, A Bold Proposal to
end the Israeli-Palestinian Impasse

(Qur'an: 2:223). The Prophet peace be upon him said, When a

man has sexual intercourse with his wife, he should be at the same
pace with her. If he satisfies his desires before her, he should not
withdraw until she has also satisfied herself (Hadith of Anas bin
Malik).
Proponents of FGM/C, when asked about the benefit of FGM/C,
claim that it reduces the sexual desires of women and thus ensures
chastity. While Islam upholds chastity, it does not accept mutilation of organs as a means to assuring it. All types of FGM/C affect
womens sexual functioning and thus interfere with womens Godgiven right to fully enjoy sex.
Do not punish the innocent
As earlier stated, many supporters of FGM/C believe that it controls
sexual desires in girls and women by limiting their libido. However,
this is not acceptable as it amounts to punishing an innocent person in anticipation that she might commit the crime of fornication or
adultery (zinaa). This is comparable to amputating hands of people,
in countries where Shariah is applied, for fear that they might steal
in future. This is an injustice and no one should be punished for an
offence not yet committed. In Islam, there is no administration of
punishment until it is proven that a crime has been committed.
Further, there are provisions for the penalties for adultery and fornication; mutilation of the genitalia is not among them. Besides, it
is the human brain that is in control and responsible for actions and
not organs; hence desires, whether sexual or otherwise, are controlled by the brain and no amount of mutilation can ensure chastity

accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements. This construction violates previous agreements and undermines efforts to
achieve peace. It is time for these settlements to stop."
These carefully chosen words focus only on continued construction, not on the existence of the settlements themselves; they are
entirely compatible with the peace process industry consensus that
existing settlements will remain where they are for ever. This raises
the question of where Obama thinks he is going. He summarised
Palestinians' "legitimate aspirations" as being the establishment of
a "state". This has become a convenient slogan to that is supposed
to replace for Palestinians their pursuit of rights and justice that the
proposed state actually denies. Obama is already on record opposing Palestinian refugees' right to return home, and has never
supported the right of Palestinian citizens of Israel to live free from
racist and religious incitement, persecution and practices fanned by
Israel's highest office holders and written into its laws.
He may have more determination than his predecessor but he remains committed to an unworkable two-state "vision" aimed not at
restoring Palestinian rights, but preserving Israel as an enclave of
Israeli Jewish privilege. It is a dead end.
There was one sentence in his speech I cheered for and which he
should heed: "Given our interdependence, any world order that
elevates one nation or group of people over another will inevitably
fail."

Chaos over attack on

Muslim Women
Officials in Indian Kashmir yesterday said at
least 69 people have been injured in clashes
between government forces and demonstrators. The latest unrest comes after separatist
groups ended a weeklong strike triggered by
the deaths of two women.
Clinic official Mukhtar Ahmed said yesterday
some 53 people were injured when police used
tear gas and wooden sticks to disperse hundreds of protesters in Tukroo, a village south
of Srinagar. Police officer Sajad Ahmad said a
further 16 people suffered injuries in clashes in
nearby Pulwama when protesters attacked a
police station with rocks.
Demonstrations began May 30 after the bodies of a 17-year-old girl and her 22-year-old
sister-in-law were found in a stream in Shopian, south of Srinagar. Locals claim the women
were raped and killed by Indian soldiers.
Police fired warning shots and tear gas to quell
demonstrators even as schools, shops and
government offices reopened as separatist
groups ending a weeklong strike called to protest the deaths of two young women.
Police and paramilitary forces used tear gas
and wooden sticks to disperse hundreds of protesters in Tukroo, a village nearly 60 kilometers
south of Srinagar, Mukhtar told reporters.
Earlier in the day, hundreds of Muslim students marched through the streets of the summer capital Srinagar. More than 400 students
marched peacefully through the streets of Srinagar, demanding Geelanis release.

Free KNH Gynaecology clinic

Kenyatta Nat. Hospital and AMREF
will hold a free medical camp for
women who are unable to control
urine and stool i.e. (VVF and RVF).
Screening :12th June 2009 and the
camp starts 15th -28th June 2009, at
Clinic 66 (Gynaecology clinic)KNH
For details call +254- 20-2726300

Troops blamed for massacre in Thai mosque

Thai security forces hunted for gunmen behind a bloody attack on a
southern mosque that killed 11 people and raised tensions between the
army and villagers.
Nobody has claimed responsibility for the deadliest attack this year
in Thailands restive Muslim deep
south, where nearly 3,500 Muslims
and Buddhists have died in violence
since 2004. But residents of Cho Airong district pointed the finger at the
military and police a day after five
gunmen burst into a mosque and
sprayed rifle fire at praying Muslims,
killing 11 and wounding 13.
Local people believe security people did the shooting. They cannot
believe that Muslims, even the very,
very bad ones, can kill their brothers while praying, Worawit Baru, a
senator and academic from the region, said.
Thailands army, which has deployed
30,000 troops in the region bordering
Malaysia, denied any involvement.
He said forensic experts are studying bullet casings found inside the
mosque, where the blood-stained
bodies were removed for burial yesterday.

Public Education Lecture

Aga Khan University Hospital
will conduct a free public Lecture
on URINARY TRACT INFECTION in children to create awareness, early diagnosis and treatment.
Venue: AKH Lecture Theatre
Sat. 13th June 2009 12- 1: 15pm
Presented by: Dr Bashir Admani

VACANCY
Affordable Quality Health Services in an Islamic Environment is what Tiba Medical
Centre has achieved. Ideally situated on Park Road, Nairobi. d, the hospital is currently conveying the following services:

Out Patient Laboratory service Minor Surgery Maternity Package

The centre Inshallah will soon incorporate an In Patient services.
We are looking for a competitive candidate to fill in the slot of the
ADMINISTRATOR who is supposed to possesses the following credentials;
Between 30 to 40 years of age
Should be computer literate and have at least 2 years experience in
accounts and administration.
Have a good communication skills.
Qualifications related to Medical knowledge will be an added advantage.
All interested candidates send their testimonials to MDO offices within Park
Road mosque compound or contact the following mobile numbers 0722 522
445 or 0729 407 080 or email: info@maahad.org

Deadline for application 20th June 2009.

Unity and charity, important traits in Islam

And hold firmly to the rope (His covenant or the
Qur'an) of Allah all together and do not become
divided." (3:103). In this often recited verse, Allah makes it clear in the Qur'an that unity of the
Muslim Ummah is very important. He tells us not
to be divided and to hold tightly to the teachings
of the Qur'an and the Sunnah of the blessed
messenger salallahu alayhi was sallam.
It is the responsibility for each and every Muslim to uphold this all important tenet which contributes greatly to strengthening the position of
Muslims in the society.
On the other hand, the consequence of disunity
is that the Ummah becomes weak, suffers from
low morale which affects the social-economic
development of the community.
We should understand that unity is what will
make us move forward in this competitive and
challenging world. Today the Muslim Ummah is
lagging behind in various areas like Education,
technology, political involvement and other areas. With unity, we could reverse this trend and
become a powerful force to be reckoned with.
Among the ways where by we can enhance this
unity is engaging in sadaqah (charity) to help
those the disadvantaged members of or community. Most of the time, it is very hard for us
to part away with some of our wealth but this is
a sacrifice which we have to undertake to help
those in need.
In fact, if sadaqah were to be practiced by Muslims today, it would help to eradicate the number
of needy Muslims and diminish the gap between
the rich and the poor. By involving in charity, we
will prevent ourselves from making material
wealth the goal of our life, and help reduce our
desire to satisfy our lusts for the thing of material wealth.
A society can only flourish when its members
do not spend all their wealth to fulfil their own
desires but reserve a portion of it for parents,
relatives, neighbours, the poor and other members of the society. A true believer is thus always
prepared, after meeting the needs of his family,
to assist other people in need.
The Qur'an encourages Muslims to participate
in charity and donate their funds: The likeness
of those who spend their wealth in the way of
Allah, is as the likeness of a grain that sprouts
seven spikes. In every spike there are 100
grains, and Allah multiplies for whom He will
(Al-Baqara: 2:261). Giving charity is thereby not
seen as detracting from income, but rather as a
multiplication in terms of spiritual observance.
It is like one who sows a good grain of wheat
in the field from which grows a plant on which
sprout seven ears and each ear yields hundred grains. As a result, one grain was worth
a total yield of 700 grains. When one spends in
the way of Allah no matter how little it is, he or
she receives in return (reward in the Hereafter)
on the scale of one to seven hundred or even
more.

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.com or
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