Rabi' ul Awwal 04,1436/December 26, 2014

Editorial:Our obligation to protect

name of Islam

Page 2

www.islamkenya.org

The month of Rabi' ul

Page 4
Awwal

Issue No. 608

National News

Friday Bulletin
The

Page 7

The Weekly Muslim News Update

Our obligation to protect the name

of
Islam
THE FRIDAY BULLETIN COMMENTARY

I love Islam but you people are killers, I

cant even think of joining your religion.
These were the comments of a Christian
to his Muslim friend in the aftermath of the
Mandera massacre.
Since the pattern of killings which started
with the Westgate Mall attack where people were given a faith test and non-Muslims deliberately singled out for killing,
there has been a rise in Islamophobia in
the country as many people are increasingly seeing Islam as a religion which advocates for violence against non-Muslims.
The fact that these actions have been
claimed by a foreign group and has been
roundly condemned by Muslim leaders is
doing little to reduce this trend.
In addition, security measures resorted to
by the State in an attempt to address these
concerns continue to have a rebound ef-

fect on the Muslim community essentially

punishing the community for the crimes of
a few renegades.
For generations, Muslims have enjoyed
harmonious relations with people of other
faiths in the country. For centuries, Islam
was the dominant faith in this part of the
world while Christianity made inroads
just over a century ago at the behest of
the white missionaries but even the emergence of this new faith did not attract
hostility from Muslims who held dear the
principles of tolerance and peaceful coexistence. In many villages, neighbourhoods, estates and even families, people
from various faith backgrounds lived together in harmony and rarely were occasions when issues came to the fore which
threaten this social fabric that held the society together.

In recent times however, this sense

of unity is under threat at the hands of
marauding gangs who under the veil of
Islam have unleashed atrocities killing
and harming innocent people simply on
the basis that they do not profess Islam.
In some cases, even their atrocious behaviors have not even spared the lives
of Muslims.
These grotesque actions are only helping in planting the seeds of hatred and
animosity among Kenyans, and creating
contempt and suspicions among people
who have lived together in harmony.
While there is no doubt that successive
regimes have deliberate put in place policies which have undermined and deliberately targeted Muslims, there are better and honourable alternatives to deal
Continued To Page 2

Security Law-'Concerns of
Muslims were addressed'

The controversial Security Laws (Amendment) Bill 2014 signed

into law last Friday addressed the concerns raised by Muslim
leaders prior to its passage and enactment into law.
The Nairobi Jamia Mosque Committee deputy secretary general Ibrahim Ahmed Yusuf noted that the contentious clauses
in the proposed Bill that violated the constitutional rights of the
Muslim community were reviewed and amended before the law
was approved by parliament
President Uhuru Kenyatta last Friday assented to the Bill into
Law a day after Members of the National Assembly approved
the Bill during a chaotic parliamentary session.
Addressing worshippers at Jamia Mosque Nairobi last Friday,
Ibrahim said Muslim leaders drawn from different Muslim organisations and a team of legal experts had earlier scrutinized and
pointed out several provisions and items in the legislation that
appeared to limit and infringe on many basic rights and liberties
of citizens and came up with recommendations that were presented to the committee on National Security for amendments.
He said among the contentious clauses in the proposed security Bill Muslim leaders raised before the parliamentary committees to be addressed was clause 31 that granted the director
in charge of registration of persons power to revoke an identity
card stressing that this provision would have made the situation
Sheikh Ibrahim Lethome presenting a document with the Musworse for the Muslim community which faces great hurdle in
lim view on the Security Amendment Bill to the National Assemacquiring registration documents.
bly majority leader Aden Duale last week. On the left is Ibrahim
Yusuf, the Jamia mosque deputy secretary general and on the
Ibrahim went further to commend the Muslim members of parright are lawyers Hussein Abdinassir and Ahmed Abdulrashid.
Continued To Page 2
This Newsletter contains some of Allahs names. Please do not throw in the trash. Either keep, circulate or shred

EDITORIAL

The Friday Bulletin

Rabi'ul Awwal 04,1436/December 26, 2014

The obligation to protect the Image of Islam

Continued From Page 1

with these injustices and there can be no
justification whatsoever to resort to acts of
brutality as a response to the supposed
wrongs.
At no time does Islam sanction the killing
and maiming of innocent people and it is
ridiculous and absurd to link these acts of
brutality to the faith. The Quran is clear on
the protection of life and property and it
does not make a distinction between Muslims and people of other faiths. In Sura al
Maidah (5): 32, it clearly states that whoever kills a human being it is as if he has
killed the whole of humanity and whosoever saves a life, he has helped to save
the lives of ALL human beings.
From the Sunnah, Prophet Muhammad on
whom be Allahs peace and blessings who
is the exemplary model for Muslims experienced gross hardships and sufferings both
in Makkah and Madinah at the hands of his
adversaries but at no time did he react to
these ordeals by taking his anger against
the innocent. Even after conquering Makkah, he never sought revenge and gave
unconditional amnesty to its residents for
13 years who had tortured him, forced him
to leave his beloved birth place and even
pursued him in Madina in an attempt to destroy the nascent Muslim community.
In Taif, the Prophet salallahu alayhi wa sal-

lam was brutally stoned and his body covered by blood by those who opposed his
message but he went ahead and refused
an offer by an angel sent by Allah to destroy those who had humiliated him only
expressing optimism that they will eventually see the light of Islam, a wish that later
came to fruition.
This was the message of Islam and conduct of Prophet Muhammad whose life is
a paragon of virtue and an embodiment of
peaceful and harmonious existence which
was clearly seen in his relationship with
idolaters, fire worshippers as well as Jews
and Christians in Makkah and Madinah.
His life serves as an example to all Muslims and it is an obligation upon all those
who love him to emulate hi conduct.
The deliberate acts of carnage against
non-Muslims are grossly harming the image of Islam which is being seen by a section of people as a faith which advocates
the killing of people of other religion. Many
people who used to see Islam positively
are questioning their stance and Islam
is becoming a hard commodity to sell as
the discourse that it is faith that stands for
peace and mutual relations is increasingly
being met with consternation and anger.
Cases of Muslims receiving hostile attitude
in public places on the street, matatus and

others is gradually on the rise. Soon after

the Mandera II attacks, buses heading to
and from Garissa and Isiolo were attacked
by angry mobs and the same response
met Muslim owned-businesses in Mwingi.
It is a matter of concern that if such grotesque acts continue, the image of Islam
as well as Muslims will continue to suffer
at the hands of individuals and the State.
Ultimately, it remains the responsibility
for each of us to portray a good image of
Islam to non-Muslims, to show them the
sacrosanct values of Islam which stress
on as having good neighborly relations,
assisting those who need help and leaving
them in peace and harmony as this is what
Islam is teaches.
The prophet salallahu alayhi wa sallam
himself exhibited these noble conduct
which were instrumental to win the hearts
and minds of his adversaries and who later turned into his ardent companions. As
he is our role models, on an individual and
societal level, we need to embrace these
noble teachings which will inculcate and
cultivate harmonious relations and come
out strongly to reject aberrant strange
teachings and ideologies which are antiIslam, anti-social and only serve to create
sectarian tension and animosity between
Muslims and people of other faiths.

'Security law not a panacea for insecurity'

The government has been urged to place

more concerted efforts in the fight against
corruption and injustice in the country as
a measure to clamp down the rising insecurity.
Speaking last week in his Friday Khutbah (sermon) at Nairobi's Jamia Mosque,
Sheikh Badru Jafar cautioned that the controversial Security (Amendment)Act 2014
signed into law by President Uhuru Kenyatta will not translate to an end to lawlessness unless the government cracks down
on corruption and injustice.
Sheikh Badru who is a member of the Jamia mosques Majls Ulamaa (Council of
scholars) said insecurity is a consequence
of corruption, unfair distribution of resources and disregard for human rights.
He stressed that corruption in the security
sector and other state offices must first be
addressed for the new law to be relevant.
''We call upon President Uhuru Kenyatta
to intensify war on corruption and ensure
justice is done to every Kenyan citizen,
otherwise the law will be in vain where corruption and injustices thrives,'' he said.
The Sheikh further emphasized that for
peaceful coexistence and harmony to prevail in the country the constitution must be
adhered to by both leaders and citizens
alike. ''For peace and harmony to prevail among us, all of us including the top
leadership in the country we must have
respect and adhere to the constitutional
provision and ensure that justice prevails'',
he stressed.

At the same time, Sheikh Badru called on

Muslim organisations to set up waqf (endowment) projects to sustain their programmes. He said the establishment of
waqf projects will contribute to socio development of the Muslim community while at
the same time provide opportunities for the
poor and needy members of the society.
''We should consider setting up waqf projects to cater for the educational, health,
food and other social basis needs as it is
an Islamic obligation to support the poor
and needy,'' Sheikh Badru said.

Responding to the closure of more than

500 on Non-Government Organizations
(NGOs), he said it will deny vital assistance to vulnerable communities and impact negatively on socio-economic development and increase poverty levels in the
country.
The organisations were closed on the
premise that they did not file audited accounts while fifteen charities operating
mainly in Northern Kenya and the Coast
were banned on accusations that they
were funding terrorism.

Security law concerns

Continued from Page 1

liament and senate for their support and

specifically Majority Leader Aden Duale
and Mandera senator Billow Kerrow for
their efforts that led to parliament's committee on Administration and National Security to the include the concerns of Muslims in the new law.
He however, told the government to ensure that the human rights of citizens are
protected and respected as enshrined in
the constitution noting that the security
machinery has been under the spotlight for
human rights violations of Muslims.
Muslim leaders had earlier voiced their
concerns over the Security Laws (Amendments) Bill 2014 saying the proposals
contained in the proposed law were inconsistent with constitutional provisions

and will be a setback for human rights and

freedom in the country and called for its
complete withdrawal.
The leaders had argued that the law had
provided enormous powers to security
agencies whose they could use to suppress Kenyans under the guise of fighting
insecurity.
The CORD opposition coalition and civil
society organization have gone to court
in an attempt to block the new law citing
clauses which restricts freedom of expression, right of information, media freedom,
rights of the arrested persons, rights to
privacy and freedom of association among
what it says are draconian provisions
which will take the country back to the dark
days of one party rule.

Page 2

DA'WA

The Friday Bulletin

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Rabi'ul Awwal 04,1436/December 26, 2014

The Month of Rabi'ul-Awwal

Rabi'ul-Awwal is the most significant month

in the Islamic history, because humanity has been blessed in this month by the
birth of the noble Prophet Muhammad,
Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam. Before the
birth of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi
wa sallam, not only the Arabian peninsula, but also the so-called civilized nations
of Rome and Persia were drowned in the
darkness of ignorance, superstitions, oppression and unrest. The noble Prophet,
Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, came with the
eternal truth of Tawhid (Oneness of Allah),
the only faith which provides a firm basis
for the real concepts of knowledge, equity
and peace. It was this faith which delivered
humanity from ignorance and superstitions
and spread the light of true knowledge all
over the world.
Islamic Celebrations
Thus the birth of the Holy Prophet, SallAllahu alayhi wa sallam, was the most
significant and the most remarkable event
in human history. Had there been room
in Islamic teachings for the celebration of
birthdays or anniversaries, the birthday of
the Noble Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa
sallam, would have undoubtedly deserved
it more than the birthday of any other person. But that is against the nature of Islamic teachings. That is why, unlike Judaism,
Christianity, and Hinduism, there are very
few festivals in Islam, which provides for
only two Eids (Eidul-fitr and Eidul-Adha)
during the whole year. The dates of these
two Eids do not correspond to the birthday
of any of the outstanding persons of Islamic
history, nor can their origin be attributed to
any particular event of history that had happened in these dates.
Both of these two Eids have been prescribed for paying gratitude to Allah on
some happy events that take place every
year. The first event is the completion of the
fasts of Ramadhan and the second event
is the completion of Hajj, another form of
worship regarded as one of the five pillars
of Islam.
SUNDAY LECTURE
The manner prescribed for the celebration
of these two Eids (festivals) is also different from non-Islamic festivals. There are
no formal processions, illumination or other
activities showing formal happiness. On the
contrary, there are congregational prayers
and informal mutual visits to each other,
which can give real happiness instead of its
symbols only.
On the other hand, Islam has not prescribed
any festival for the birthday of any person,
however great or significant he may be. The
prophets of Allah are the persons of the
highest status amongst all human beings.
But the Noble Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi
wa sallam, or his noble companions never
observed the birthday or anniversary of any
of them. Even the birthday of the the Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, which was

the most happy day for the whole mankind

was never celebrated by the Prophet, SallAllahu alayhi wa sallam, himself, nor by his
blessed Companions.
The Companions of the Holy Prophet, SallAllahu alayhi wa sallam, remained alive after him for about a century, but despite their
unparalleled and profound love towards the
Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam,
they never celebrated the birthday or the
death anniversary of the Holy Prophet, SallAllahu alayhi wa sallam. Instead, they devoted their lives for promoting the cause of
Islam, for bringing his teachings into practice, for conveying his message to the four
corners of the world and for establishing the
Islamic order in every walk of life.
In original Islamic resources, also we cannot find any instruction about the celebration of birthdays or death anniversaries.
Many Companions of the Prophet, SallAllahu alayhi wa sallam, passed away during his life-time. His beloved wife Sayyidah
Khadijah, Radhi-Allahu anha, passed away
in Makkah. His beloved uncle Sayyidna
Hamzah, Radhi-Allahu anhu was brutally
slaughtered during the battle of Uhud. But
the Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam,
never observed their birthday or their death
anniversaries, nor did he ever advise his
followers to celebrate his own birthday in
Rabi'ul-Awwal.
What is Wrong with These Celebrations
The reason for abstinence from such celebrations is that they divert the attention
of people from the real teachings of Islam
towards the observance of some formal activities only. Initially, these celebrations may
begin with utmost piety and with a bona fide
intention to pay homage to a pious person.
Yet, the experience shows that the celebration is ultimately mixed up with an element
of merrymaking and rejoicing and is generally confused with secular festivals and the
secular, and often sinful, activities creep
into it gradually.
The Transformation of Christmas
The example of Christmas will again be
relevant. This Christian feast was originally innovated to commemorate the birth of
Jesus Christ and, of course, to remember
his teachings. But once the occasion had
been recognized as a feast, all the secular elements of public festivals crept in. The
following quotation from the Encyclopedia
Britannia is worth attention: "For several
centuries Christmas was solely a church
anniversary observed by religious services.
But as Christianity spread among the people of pagan lands, many of the practices of
the winter solstice were blended with those
of Christianity because of the liberal ruling
of Gregory I, the great, and the cooperation
of the missionaries. Thus, Christmas became both religious and secular in its celebration, at times reverent, at others gay."
Then, what kind of activities have been

adopted to celebrate Christmas is mentioned in the next paragraphs of which the

following quote is more pertinent here:
"Merrymaking came to have a share in
Christmas observance through popular
enthusiasm even while emphasis was on
the religious phase. ... In the wholly decked
great halls of the feudal lords, whose hospitality extended to all their friends, tenants
and household, was sailing, feasting, singing and games, dancing, masquerading
and mummers presenting pantomimes and
masques were all part of the festivities."
(Encyclopedia Britannica, 1953 v. 5, p. 643)
This is enough to show as to how an apparently innocent feast of reverence was
converted into a secular festival where the
merrymaking and seeking enjoyment by
whatever means took preference over all
the religious and spiritual activities.
Being fully aware of this human psychology, Islam has never prescribed, nor encouraged the observance of birthdays and
anniversaries, and when such celebrations
are observed as a part of the religion, they
are totally forbidden.
The Religion is Complete
The Holy Qur'an has clearly pronounced on
the occasion of the last Hajj of the Prophet,
Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam: "Today, I have
completed the teachings of your religion."
[Al-Maida 5:3]
It means that all the teachings of Islam were
communicated to the Muslims through the
Holy Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Prophet,
Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam. No one is allowed after it to add any thing to them as a
part of religion. What was not a part of religion during the lifetime of the Holy Prophet,
Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, can never become part of it. Such additions are termed
by the Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, as Bid'ah or innovation.
Thus, the observance of the 12th of Rabi'ulAwwal as a religious feast is not warranted
by any verse of the Noble Qur'an or by any
teaching of the Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi
wa sallam. Had it been a part of the religion
Continued To Page 6

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Rabi'ul Awwal 04,1436/December 26, 2014

The Friday Bulletin

Educate Your Kids About Jesus and Christmas

By Soumyana
Every year, around Christmas time, many Muslims living in nonMuslim countries, wonder what to do about the holidays, what to
tell their children about Christmas and Jesus (peace be upon him)
and why they are different.
What are you going to say this year when your children ask you,
Why Muslims do not celebrate Christmas?! Your children are the
product of a hybrid culture, a potpourri of religious experiences.
What will you tell them about Christmas holidays?
It is important that Muslim parents teach their children to respect
other peoples beliefs. It is essential to point out the fact that Muslims hate whatever Allah did not permit, but they do not hate the
people of different beliefs. There is always room for people of other faiths to learn and grow. We do not give up on them. They have
their own customs and we have ours. Allah says in His holy Book,
"You have your religion, and I have mine" (The Qur'an 109:6)
Teach your children to stay away from mocking the beliefs of other
people. Almighty Allah says, And insult not those whom they (disbelievers) worship besides God, lest they insult God wrongfully
without knowledge. Thus We have made fair-seeming to each
people its own doings; then to their Lord is their return and He
shall then inform them of all that they used to do" (The Quran,
6:108).
Tell Your Kids the Story of Jesus
Jesus is known in Arabic as Isa (peace be upon him) as mentioned
in the Quran. Muslims have an utmost respect for Prophet Jesus
(peace be upon him). Every time Muslims mention the name Jesus, they add Peace be upon him.
Impress upon your child that Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him)
is important in both Islam and Christianity. However, there are major differences in what we believe happened to him.
Read the passages in the Quran pertaining to Jesus (peace be
upon him) and his mother, Mary. Go to the third chapter of the
Quran called The Family Of Imran and also go to the nineteenth
chapter of the Quran called Maryam.
The Qur'an, like the Bible, confirms that Jesus (peace be upon
him) was born from a mother but not from a father. It confirms that
Jesus birth was miraculous. (Remember) when the angels said,
O Mary, God gives you good news of a word from Him (God),
whose name is the Messiah Jesus, son of Mary, revered in this
world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near (to God).
He will speak to the people from his cradle and as a man, and he is
of the righteous. She said, My Lord, how can I have a child when
no mortal has touched me? He said, So (it will be). God creates
what He wills. If He decrees a thing, He says to it only, Be! and it
is. (The Quran, 3:45-47)
However, Muslims believe Jesus (peace be upon him) was able to
speak when he was a baby in order to defend his mother against
the neighbors accusations and in order to preach. Christians, on
the other end, believe Jesus started preaching when he was thirty
years old. "Then she (Mary) pointed to him. They said: How can
we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?' He (Jesus) said: Verily!
I am a slave of God, He has given me the Scripture and made me
a Prophet." (The Quran, 19:29-30).
Because of his miraculous birth, Christians believe Jesus is the
son of God. Muslims believe he (peace be upon him) is only a
prophet. "Such was Jesus, the son of Mary; it is a statement of
truth, about which they vainly dispute. It is not befitting to the majesty of God, that He should beget a son. Glory be to Him! When
He determines a matter, He only says to it, Be' and it is" (The
Qur'an 19:34-35).
Both Christians and Muslims believe Jesus (peace be upon him)
performed many miracles during his life. The Quran says that he
(peace be upon him) healed the blind and the leper and was also
able to raise the dead with the help of Allah. I have come to you
with a sign from your Lord. I make for you the shape of a bird out
of clay, I breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by Gods permission. I heal the blind from birth and the leper. And I bring the dead
to life by Gods permission. And I tell you what you eat and what
you store in your houses.... (The Quran, 3:49)
The Bible agrees with the Quran on the miracles, but does not
mention that Jesus spoke in his cradle, neither does the Bible
mention Jesus could breathe life into a bird made of clay.
Christians believe Jesus was martyred on the cross to atone

peoples sins (Bible Romans 4:25). Muslims think a person who

looked alike Jesus (peace be upon him) was put on the cross.
Muslims also believe nobody can be responsible for another persons sins. "They did not kill him, nor did they crucify him, but they
thought they did. (The Quran 4:156).
One way to help children to be proud of being Muslim is to let them
know there is nothing wrong to be different.
Christmas sets makes some kids feel left out; but when parents
educate them about the root of this religious occasion and tell
them more about the message of Prophet Jesus, they will become
aware of their faith, and hence their identity.
Teaching them about Jesus (peace be upon him) at an early age
and letting them know the difference between Christians and Muslims beliefs, will empower them with the ability to tell people about
these differences with confidence.
Encourage your children to say proudly, Im a Muslim."

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Rabi'ul Awwal 04, 1436/December 26, 2014

The Friday Bulletin

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INTRODUCTION

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page 5

The Friday Bulletin

FEATURE

Rabi'ul Awwal 04,1436/December 26, 2014

Growing concerns among Kenyas Coast Muslims

As the police crackdown on Kenyas coastal cities continues unabated, Muslim leaders warned that police tactics were victimizing the whole Muslim community in the
restive areas, amid expectation the controversial tactics would backfire.
The current dynamic drives the Muslim
community against the government in a
way that is very dangerous, Khalef Khalifa, chairman of Muslims for Human Rights,
a Kenyan advocacy group, told The Christian Science Monitor.
For the first time, Muslims on the coast
feel they are under siege.
Khalifas warning comes amid increasing
harsh criticism for the governments tactics
in the coastal city of Mombasa, seen as a
campaign against all who practices Islam.
In the latest massive crackdown on Muslims, hundreds of Kenya police raided four
Mombasa mosques allegedly to retake
their control from youths they described as
hard-line and radical and sympathizers of
the Al Shabaab.
At least one Muslim youth was reportedly
killed and about 250 were arrested by police in the areas surrounding the mosques.
This raid and subsequent closures of the
mosques sparked outrage and anger
among Muslims in Kenya who viewed it
as a government attack on Muslims and
Islam.
Yet, the mosques were reopened later in
November after a governments decision to
put the houses of worship under stewardship of Muslim elders.
To the police, Mombasas young men are
all drug addicts or terrorists, says Farooq
Saad, head of Citizens Against Child and
Drug Abuse, based in Mombasa. Opportunities for the coastal youth are very inferior
to other parts of the country.
Marginalized and discriminated against for
decades, Muslims in coastal Kenya suffer
from low rates of employment that reaches
51%, according to a 2013 poll.
We want jobs! We want a wife! We want a
car! We want a house! We dont have anything! cries one as he left the first prayers
at Musa mosque.
A similar complaint was shared by Ali
Farouq, 17, an unemployed and no longer
in school.
Government officials dont want to see
our faces, Farouq said. They promise us
many things but they dont fulfill them.
The heavy-handed approach of the Kenyan security forces in the coastal cities has
been repeatedly criticized by analysts who
urged the government to review its tactics.
The government obviously needs to rethink its strategies so that they could
benefit from intelligence from these same
communities, said Niklas Rogers, director
of Kenya Risk, an East Africa security consultancy firm based in Kenya. It involves a
very big change in policy.
Last August, Human Rights Watch has accused Kenya's Anti-Terrorism Police Unit

(ATPU) of being responsible for a series

of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances.
The governments abuse has heightened
the tension in the East African country
where Muslims make about 30 percent of
the population.
There are many ways to kill a rat, says
Ruby Tamina, a local radio journalist
dressed in an abaya. Kenyas police dont
use their head. Its just boom-boom, force.
Every action has a reaction.
Moreover, several Kenyan Muslim scholars
have been killed over the past months by
unknown assailants.
A new report by the International Crisis
Group (ICG) has called on the Kenya government to urgently address current and
historical injustices against the Muslim
community in the country, which are driving
some youths to join outlawed groups like
Al Shabaab.
According to the local politician Abdulswamad, the mainstream police tactics
were creating a very ripe environment for
al Shabaab recruiters. Take a balloon it
doesnt burst on first breath, it bursts when
it cant take anymore, he says.
Kenya Muslims have been sensing eradication of their rights after their country was
involved in the so-called war on terrorism

in East Africa.
Supported by UK and US, Kenyas anti-terror police have been accused of targeting
innocent Muslims with arbitrary arrests and
disappearances.
Muslim problems increased following the
Westgate mall attack in which 67 people
were killed in September 2013, the attack
which was claimed by Somalia's militant al
Shabaab group.
The actual harm that they can do as a
group its not substantial, Rogers, the
risk consultant, said. Its more likely Al
Shabab would take advantage of a situation to escalate it.
There is no coordinated link between the
two. [But] there is a massive level of sympathy and money, he added.
Despite fierce opposition, the Kenyan parliament approved a controversial counterterrorism bill that gives security services
sweeping powers in East Africas largest
economy.
Backed by Kenyas president, Uhuru Kenyatta, the new law gives security services
the power to hold suspects for about a year
without charges, compelling landlords to
provide information about their tenants
along with banning media organization
from publishing material likely to cause
fear or alarm. (Onislam.net)

The Month of Rabi'ul-Awwal

Continued from Page 3

it would have been clearly ordered or practiced by the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi
wa sallam, and his blessed companions or,
at least, by their immediate pupils. But no
example of the celebration of the occasion
can be traced out in the early centuries of
the Islamic history. It was after many centuries that some monarchs started observing
the 12th of Rabi'ul-Awwal as the birthday of
the Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam.
The observance of the 12th of this month
as the birthday of the Prophet, Sall-Allahu
alayhi wa sallam, is not only an innovation having no basis in the Islamic teachings, but the accuracy of this date as the
real birthday of the Prophet, Sall-Allahu
alayhi wa sallam, is also very much doubted. There are different dates suggested in
different traditions, and the majority of the
authentic scholars is inclined to hold that
the Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam,
was born on the 9th of Rabi'ul-Awwal. This
difference of opinion is another evidence to
prove that the observance of the birthday is
not a part of the religion, otherwise its exact
date would have been preserved with accuracy.
The life of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu
alayhi wa sallam, is, no doubt, the most important source of guidance for all the Muslims, and every Muslim is under an obligation to learn and study the events of his life,
and to follow the practical example set by

him in every sphere of life. The narration of

his pious biography (the Seerah) in itself is
a pious act, which invites the divine blessings, but the Qur'an and the Sunnah have
not prescribed a particular time or method
for it. This pious act should be performed
in all the months and at all the times. The
month of Rabi'ul-Awwal has not been designated by the Shariah as a special season
for holding such congregations to commemorate the birth or life of the Prophet,
Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam. It is thus an
innovation (Bid'ah) to restrict the Seerah
meetings to the month of Rabi'ul Awwal
only, or to believe that the meetings held in
this month are worthy of more reward than
the meetings held on any other date during the year. In fact, the Companions of the
Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, used
to commemorate the life of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, throughout
the year, not only by studying and conveying his message to others, but also by following his way of life and acting upon his
teachings in each and every branch of their
activities, and this is exactly what a Muslim
is required and supposed to do.
By this we do not mean that the Seerah
meetings should not be held in the month
of Rabi'ul-Awwal. The point is only that they
should not be restricted to it, nor should it
be believed that the Shariah has laid any
kind of emphasis on holding such meetings
in this particular month.

page 6

The Friday Bulletin

NATIONAL

Rabi'ul Awwal 04,1436/December 26, 2014

Speak out against groups misusing Islam

Muslims have an obligation to strongly

speak against the actions of groups who
are violating Islamic teachings through killing innocent people.
These remarks were made by Sheikh
Ibrahim Shakul, a Nairobi based Islamic
scholar who said the community should
not remain silent while groups besmirch
the image of Islam by attacking and killing
innocent people.
We have an obligation to strongly speak
out against the killing of innocent people
which are tarnishing the name of Islam and
are helping to increase hostility against
Muslims, he said while addressing the
congregation during his Friday khutbah
(sermon) at Jamia Mosque recently.
He cited a tradition of Prophet Muhammad
peace be upon him where he gave an analogy of passengers in a lower deck in a ship
who wanted to drill a hole to easily fetch
water from the sea saying that if those in
the upper deck left them to continue with
their plan, ultimately the whole ship will
sink with all the passengers.
Sheikh Shakul further pointed out that the
Quran states that Islam is a middle path
which rejects all forms of extremism as it

Youth adviced on Social

media use

Youth have been advised to positively use

the social media for their benefit as well as
on societal issues and at the same time
were cautioned about its harmful effects
arising from its misuse.
Sheikh Abdullatif Abdulkarim from the Kenya Council of Imams and Ulamaa (KCIU)
told the youth to engage in proper use of
the social media in promoting societal and
moral issues in the society.
Social media is like a double edged sword.
It can be used positively for the benefit of
an individual and the society but it can as
well be detrimental for a person if it is used
to watch pornography and other anti-social
habits, he said during a three-day youth
holiday camp at the Rowal land scout
camping grounds in Nairobi.
The Sheikh told young people to positively
use platforms such as whatsap, facebook
and instigram to create networks to help
each in increasing on their knowledge of
Islam, enhancing on moral behaviors andcontributing to social-economic issues.
He nevertheless cautioned on social media
addiction saying that it retarded productivity and social relations and could have
negative implication on academic performance. He observed that in the ongoing
school holidays, the youth also have an
obligation to assist their parents and also
involve themselves in community work.
Sheikh Abdullatif went on to advice the
youth to seek authentic and beneficial Islamic knowledge to avoid falling into traps
of groups whose insidious agendas are
detrimental for their life both in this world
and the hereafter.
The programme organized by Muslim
Youth Initiative involved imparting youth
with life skill programmes such as leadership training and public speaking.

is anti-thesis to the principle of the faith.

The Prophet Salallahu Alayhi Wa sallam
warned against extremism saying that it
destroyed those who came before us, he
said.
He condemned last months killings in
Mandera noting that those were behind
the massacre were misusing the name of
Islam. He further stated that the killings
which were claimed by the Somali based
Al Shabbab militia aimed at causing social

disharmony and increase sectarian tensions in the country. What crime did the
teachers, doctors and quarry workers did?
There is no justification whatsoever in killing innocent people, he said.
The scholar told Muslim to exhibit the values of Islam in all their lives as this will
have a profound effect in disseminating
the beautiful values of Islam and create
a better understanding of Islam by nonMuslims.

The Etenje Muslim community in Mumias

sub-county have a reason to smile after
a Sh450,000 debt for the purchase of the
mosque land was cleared.
This followed an appeal in The Friday Bulletin after the previous owner of the land
threatened to demolish the mosque and
take over the land over a longstanding
debt.
A Nairobi based organization Al-Muntada
Development Project came to the rescue
of Muslims and cleared the amount.
Speaking after he received the cheque,
chairman Etenje Muslim community Abdalla Alukwe hailed the organization for
the support, stressing that this will assist
local Muslims in practicing their religious
obligations and promote the spiritual development of the local Muslim community.
An official from the organization Adan
Godana commended the local Muslim
community for their passion and interest
for Islam and pledged that the organization
will continue to engage in various projects
aimed at improving the socio-economic
and spiritual wellbeing of the Muslim community.

Cases of divorce are on the increase in

Lamu county, according to the Island Registrar of Islamic marriages and divorces
Sheikh Muhammad Fumo who expressed
concerns on a growing number of couples
who visits his office seeking divorce after a
few months of solemnizing their marriage.
He attributed the problem to the failure by
the couples to play their respective roles in
marriage and stressed that urgent measures and interventions are needed to address this worrying trend.
While divorce is mandated as a last resort
and after reconciliation efforts have not
proved fruitful in bringing the two parties
together, he noted that for many couples,
separation had turned into a casual affair.
His counterpart in Witu in the same county
Bakari Ahmed took issue with men for abdicating their marital obligations and leaving responsibility of fending for the family
to their wives.
''Men just wake up and laze around doing
nothing, while their wives run around doing
menial chores to cater for the daily needs
of the families. At the end of the day these
women tire and ask for divorce,'' he said.

Etenje mosque land debt

cleared

Concerns on increased
divorce cases in Lamu

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