Friday Bulletin
The Weekly Muslim News Update
A bird's eye view of the Eid prayers at Sir Ali Muslim Club in Nairobi on Friday. The prayers were led by Sheikh Juma Amir of
the Jamia Information Centre. INSET: The Chief Kadhi Sheikh Hammad Kassim delivering the Eid sermon in Mombasa.
National News
Da'wa
This Week
Women Issues
P3
P3
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Islamic Issues
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and the Prime Minister. This constitution is not for Kibaki or Raila but
should focus on Kenyans and coming generations, he said.
The Sheikh also called for active participation of Muslims in the process and told Muslim leaders that they have an obligation to ensure
that the interests of Muslims were well catered for in the new constitution.
On the environment law, Sheikh Juma was adamant that Muslims will
not allow the adhan to be restricted and dismissed the notion that the
call of prayer was noise pollution. The Adhan is part of the rites of
worship and we will not allow anyone to infringe on our rights regarding the freedom of worship, he said.
On the same note Nominated MP and Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) Secretary general said Muslim leaders had already forwarded there concerns to the Environment minister John Michuki and the National Environmental Management Agency (NEMA)
Director General Muusya Mwinzi about the new law.
fered great injustice in the country and should only accept a constitution which respects their rights and did away with marginalization.
DA'WA
Bilal Abu Aisha
then those taught by Allah's final Messenger: "Innaa lillaahi maa akhathaa wa lillaahi
maa A'taa, wa kullu shay-in 'indahu li ajalin
musammaa." This means: "To Allah belongs
what He took, and to Him belongs what He
gave. Everything is recorded with Him for an
appointed term.
A very common practice is gathering to offer condolences to the deceased's family
and relatives in the graveyard, house, or
mosque. This is a heretical action that has
no basis in Islam. Jarir ibn Abdullah al-Bajali
said: "We (the companions of the Prophet)
considered gathering for visiting the deceased's family, and preparing food after
burying them, both acts of wailing." Imaam
ash-Shafi said: "I dislike gatherings, even
if there is no wailing or crying. For it only
renews the family's feelings of sorrow and
puts burdens on their food supplies." Some
Muslims also commemorate the first, third,
seventh, twentieth, or fortieth day following
someone's death. This has absolutely no
basis from the Qur'an or Sunnah.
Preparing the Body
There are a number of rites that Muslims
must hasten to perform as soon as a person
dies. The Prophet salalalahu alayhi wa sallam said: "Hasten the funeral rites." Preparing the body for burial is a Fardh Kifaayah
- A communal obligation on Muslims. Washing the dead body prior to shrouding and
burial is obligatory, according to numerous
recorded instructions given by the Prophet.
Preparing the deceased begins with the
washing of the body. As a general rule,
males should take the responsibility of
washing males, and females should wash
females. The only exception to this rule is
in the case of husband and wife, or small
children. The evidence given that it is permitted for a husband to wash his wife and
vice versa is the hadith collected by Ibn
Majah and others. Furthermore, when Abu
Bakr radhiallahu anhu died, it was his wife
Asmaa' along with his son Abdur-Rahmaan
who washed him.
Those who take on the responsibility of
washing the dead should be the most knowledgeable of the procedures, preferably from
amongst the immediate family members
and relatives. If relatives are unavailable, it
is recommended that those who wash the
body be among the pious. Washing a dead
person is a meritorious deed that Muslims
should be encouraged to take part in. The
Prophet said: "He who washes a Muslim
and conceals what he sees (i.e. bad odors,
appearance, and anything loathsome),
Taking a bath after washing the body is an
important hygienic measure introduced in
Islam. However, there is difference of opinion amongst the scholars whether it is wajib
(mandatory) or not to perform ghusl (ritual
bath). The correct opinion and Allah knows
best is that is not compulsory. This is based
on the hadith: "You are not to take a bath
after washing your deceased, because he is
not najis (filthy). It is sufficient that you wash
your hands."
WOMEN ISSUES
Method
Heat the oil in a large, heavy-based pot and gently fry the
onion until golden
Add the sugar and chicken and fry for a further five minutes,
turning the chicken frequently until it is golden
Add the garlic, bay leaves, vinegar and stock and bring to a boil
Reduce the heat, cover with a lid and simmer gently until the
chicken is cooked through and tender.
Stir in the currants, chocolate and nuts into the sauce and cook
gently for five minutes. Season to taste.
Serves 4.
Share your favourite recipes with our readers. Send them to P. O. Box 10078600100 or email:fridaybulletin@islamkenya.com or fridaybulletin@gmail.com
Altaf Hussein
Young people today see a lot of pomp and ceremony when it comes to
politicians and leaders. It seems as though the more authority you have,
the more the red carpet is laid out, the more special attire and finery you
are expected to wear, and the more freedom you have to express your
opinions whether they are held up by evidence or not, and no matter
how much they may offend others.
But let's take a look at the final Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)
and see the stark difference between what is now and what was before.
"Which one is Muhammad?" So humble was the Messenger of Allah
(peace and blessings be upon him) that strangers looking for him in the
mosque in Madinah had to ask this. Sitting in the row of believers for the
daily prayers, Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), with his
simple and modest bearing, could not be distinguished from anyone else.
He was so calm, so dignified, and so peaceful that no one could single
him out as the leader. Children and youth could approach him to receive
a warm greeting or to ask this great, yet humble, man a question or some
advice. In quiet prayer he looked like any other simple man. There was
no sign here of the great warrior, the skillful negotiator in times of war and
peace, the statesman. There was no sign either that this was the man,
from among all men, was chosen to receive the Creator's final message
to mankind.
In the mosque his focus was on Allah alone. He was like every Muslim who
enters the mosque to pray. And yet, unlike any other Muslim, he had been
chosen as the Seal of the Prophets, the most honorable and the noblest of
men. He was the one whom Allah selected to guide all mankind.
In his person, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was a mercy
to all the people on earth. One so kind, so pious, so devout in prayer and
obedience to the will of Allah had been chosen as the guide for mankind.
We should ask ourselves, how closely are we living our lives according to
the message of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)? If we are
living in his way, no problem will be too great to overcome, our future will
appear clear before us, and the challenges of young adulthood will seem
small. If young Muslims join in the ranks of the followers of Muhammad
(peace and blessings be upon him), they will be joining the ranks of the
merciful, pious, and just people through all the ages, from the beginning of
time. Indeed, Allah opens the way for those who sincerely obey Him and
His Messenger.
Good people should surround themselves with good friends. The Prophet
(peace and blessings be upon him) was surrounded by people who sought
the pleasure of Allah. Ask yourself: Who do you mix with and why? Your
friends reflect who you are.
Imagine yourself living at the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be
upon him); imagine walking in his blessed footsteps. If you follow his Sunnah, you are walking in his footsteps today.
But in Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) we see that it is
possible for us to dedicate all our lives to Allah and to live under His guidance, yet live in the midst of life. Not divine, but human like us, Prophet
Muhammad showed us by his life and example that Islam is the perfect
way of life and that it is possible to achieve happiness by following this
way.
TRUTHFULLNESS AND
HONESTY
Allah has gifted us with the tongue and
power to speak, we should never use it
for telling lies.
Allah does not like liars if we tell lies
then no one will believe us even when we
do tell the truth.
Our Prophet Muhammad peace be upon
him was called As Sadiq and Al Ameen
meaning the Truthful and Honest. From
this we know that our Prophet has taught
us to be truthful and honest in everything we do.
We must pray to Allah that we do no lie
and always speak the truth.
I must Speak the truth and not lie
To My parents
To my elders
To my teachers and Ustaadhs
I must always speak the truth
I must be honest in all my work even
when I play
Allah loves those who are honest.
5
11
3
12
Across
Down
6
1. Call to prayer
2. She was Adam's wife
4 . Zabur wsas revealed to Prophet -----5. She is famous for suratul Mujadilah
7. Qur'an is a ---------9. Prophet Jesus's name in Arabic
11. Prophet Muhammad's mother
13. Faith
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Muslim Issues
Khalid Amayreh
This November is the commomeration of Sheikh Izzedin Al-Qassam's 74th anniversary since his death. This article sheds light on
the life and times of one of the major icons of resistance and liberation movements in Palestine and the Muslim world.
and fighting, the Sheikh knew that the French were closing in on
him.
He decided to move to Damascus where he took part in the famous
battle of "Maysaloun", where the outnumbered and poor-armed
small Syrian force tried desperately to repulse the French invaders,
but to no avail.
In Palestine
As the French were hounding the Sheikh and other leaders of the
Syrian uprising, Izzedin Al-Qassam decided to move southward to
Haifa, Palestine, in 1922. In Palestine, the Sheikh was soon able
to win the hearts of ordinary people, and he became the Imam and
preacher of the Al-Istiklal Mosque in the city.
In his sermons, the Sheikh taught that Muslims ought to repulse and
actively resist foreign invaders, such as the French in Syria and the
British in Palestine, saying that any Muslim who falls dead fighting
the invaders would be a living martyr in the companionship of Prophets. In addition to his role in fostering religious learning and Muslim
awareness, the Sheikh traveled throughout Palestine, urging the
people to prepare for Jihad (holy striving) against the British mandate
authorities, which were allowing large numbers of Jewish immigrants
to settle in Palestine to implement the infamous Balfour Declaration.
The Sheikh was a firm believer in Muslim empowerment. In 1929,
it was rumored that Jewish immigrants were planning to burn down
the Al-Istiklal Mosque in Haifa. Some of his followers suggested that
they contact the British authorities to foil the Jewish plan. However,
the Sheikh adamantly refused the suggestion, saying that Muslims
ought to defend their mosques with their own blood. A mosque that is
protected by the enemy is not worth maintaining, he said.
He also urged the people of Palestine to sell even their wives' jewelry
and buy weapons to defend their land, honor, and dignity.
One day, as he was preaching, he showed a gun he was hiding under his robe, telling the audience "he among you who truly believes
in God and the Day of Judgment should own one like this".
The Sheikh did not like excessive decorations of Mosques, saying
that money ought to be spent on procuring weapons to fight the invaders.
He knew that Zionists were planning to take over Palestine and annihilate or expel its people. His prophecy has been amply vindicated.
Al-Qassam was a great tactician as he was preparing for a long
struggle against the British mandate authorities. This, he realized,
required immense resources, national unity and resilience. "If we do
not help ourselves, none is going to help you", he would always warn
the resistance fighters.
In 1934 til 1935, the resistance operations were beginning to make
one success after the other as the Sheikh-led operations spread in
the regions of Tulkarm, Nablus, and Jenin. The Mujahedeen hunted
down a number of British officers, attacked British army garrisons,
and liquidated collaborators who informed on the resistance.
Al-Qassam's Death
The successes of the resistance generated a lot of enthusiasm
among ordinary people, prompting many young people to join the
ranks of the Mujahedeen. Predictably, this infuriated the British authorities, which reacted by launching a witch-hunt campaign against
him.
However, instead of escaping or hiding, the Sheikh formally declared
the revolution in the woods of the town of Ya'abud near Jenin.
Soon, however, the British forces were able to locate the Sheikh and
his fellow fighters. In addition, a large force was dispatched in an effort to get him dead or alive.
However, the Sheikh refused to surrender and a fierce battle ensued
in which many British soldiers lost their lives.
On November 20, the body of Sheikh and those of some of his companions were found at the battleground His martyrdom shocked Palestine in its entirety as tens of thousands of people took part in his
funeral procession in Haifa. (Islamonline.net)
FEATURE
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