Jumaada al-Thaany11,1435/April11,2014

Friday Bulletin
The

www.islamkenya.org

Issue No. 571

Muslim leaders condemn security

The Weekly Muslim News Update

operations

A photo which has gone viral on the web showing hundreds of detainees who were arrested in a police swoop in Eastleigh at the Safaricom Kasarani Stadium detention centre.

UNHCR raises concern over refugee swoop

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees has raised concerns over the wave of arrests that have taken place during the weekend in Nairobi, following recent attacks in the capital. The police sweeps were concentrated at Eastleigh and its neighbourhood where the majority of urban Somali refugees and asylum seekers live. In a press statement, the UNHCR said asylum seekers and refugees are to be protected against arbitrary arrests and detention including the right to have the reasons for detention reviewed by a court of law in a timely manner. The agency indicated that it has been informed that those arrested are held at various police stations as well as at the Kasarani Stadium. UNHCR understands the security concerns Continued To Page 2

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The Internal security cabinet secretary has pledged to ease the ongoing security clampdown in Eastleigh. Responding to concerns about the operations by Muslim leaders whom he met at his Harambee House office yesterday, Ole Lenku further said the government was ready to dialogue with the community to explore ways to appropriately address the rising security concerns in the country. His comments came in the wake of mounting condemnation from Muslim leaders and human rights groups who have taken issue with the government for the violations of rights of individuals on the pretext of fighting terrorism and radicalization of youth. The leaders who were drawn from the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims, Jamia Mosque and the Muslim Human Rights Forum had demanded an immediate review of the operations saying that it was laced with violations of rights of individuals. We are now referring to Kasarani as a concentration camp said Sheikh Ibrahim Lethome a member of the Jamia mosque committee. Sheikh Ibrahim Lethome was referring to the detention centre at the Safaricom Kasarani Stadium where those arrested in the operation are being detained. We support the operation but the manner in which it is being carried out violates the rights of individuals and it is unacceptable, he added. When I see a woman with a small baby being pushed onto a lorry by the police I feel bad, he said. Lethome said that while Muslim leaders were engaged in efforts to address the issues of radicalization, the ongoing action on the part of the government is clawing back the gains made and sweeping under the carpet the efforts made by the leaders. He warned that the brutal operation will further exacerbate the situation by actContinued To Page 2

Business in Eastleigh affected as crackdown continues

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Opinion: Somalis, the Kenya police cash cow

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Technology: Friend or Enemy of Muslim Youth?

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

The Friday Bulletin

Jumaada al-Thaany11,1435/April11,2014

Business in Eastleigh affected as crackdown continues

Business activity in Eastleigh has decreased drastically following the recent attacks in the area and the subsequent police swoop that has so far seen close to 4000 people arrested. Most of the businesses have closed down for fear of being harassed by security agencies who are carrying out operations to flush out terror suspects, illegal immigrants and Al Shabaab sympathizers. According to several people who talked to the Friday Bulletin, shoppers are keeping away not because they lack the necessary documents but because of the manner of the operation. Abdi Yussuf who manages Taran Hotel and restaurant along Seventh Street told the Friday Bulletin how his 15 days old business has been affected. The police have scared my customers away he said pointing fingers towards two clients at a table in a vast room. He said due to low customer turnout, daily sales have reduced by four times and he is afraid his business might not recover from this loss. We no longer cook super, people dont turn up for breakfast and we close as early as 8:00 pm, he continued. It is no longer business as usual in one of the busiest commercial hubs in the country as most of the shop owners sit idle while some shops remain closed. Shoppers are afraid of police harassment and whenever there is a swoop, people immediately close their shops said Shuaib Farah owner of two shops in

UNHCR concerns
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Shoppers are afraid of police harassment and whenever there is a swoop, people immediately close their shops
Eastleigh. Farah is not opposed to the idea of police stepping up security in the area but rather he is opposed to the collective punishment employed by the police. The banking industry which depends on other businesses has also felt the pinch and empty banking halls are evident. According to Abdulkadir Godana a credit officer at Cooperative bank Eastleigh branch there is little activity compared to the previous months. He argued that deposits have gone down due to traders not opening their businesses. Lodges across the estate have reported low check- in due to the operation that is entering its second week. Abdirahman Muhammad, the Managing Director of Bushra City Hotel located along Twelfth Street in Eastleigh, said a lot of negative press publicity and reports about the area is a contributing factor to low business activities since visitors and investors have been scared away. He noted that most of the hotels and guest houses are empty and experiencing low check- in due to police crackdowns, harassment and victimization. Documents are no longer functioning because both documented and non documented persons are given the same treatment.

of the Kenyan government and the steps taken to protect the people who live in the country including asylum seekers and refugees, but appeals to the law enforcement agencies to uphold the rights of all those arrested and to treat them in a humane and non-discriminatory manner, said the agency in a statement yesterday. Of the 550,980 refugees and asylum seekers in the country, 50,800 mostly Somalis live in Nairobi. In line with its mandate, UNHCR has sought access for itself and its partners to the detained refugees and asylum seekers. This access will allow UNHCR to properly identify refugees, asylum seekers and others of concern. It will also allow the agency to provide assistance to the detainees and obtain their release where appropriate. The ongoing security crackdown in Eastleigh that enters its second week has seen close to 4000 arrests, majority being suspected of being in the country illegally. Most of the detained are being held at the Safaricom Stadium in Kasarani Kenya's capital Nairobi that some have dubbed a "concentration camp" where they have had no access to help, according to lawyers, aid organisations and rights groups.

Govt to ease Eastleigh operation, Ole Lenku says

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ing as a recipe to create more people with radical minds. Instead of addressing the problem, you are helping to create more radicals, he said. Muslim leaders said they were similarly concerned with the security situation of the country and cautioned the government that the operation was taking the country in the wrong direction. If you love Kenya, reverse the trend which is taking place in Eastleigh, said Abdallah Sirat, the SUPKEM North Eastern chairman. The Cabinet secretary was also told that the community was also concerned about the rising incidents of extra judicial killings which today remain unexplained in spite of the government promise to investigate the killings. Ole Lenku denied accusations that the government was targeting a particular community saying that the operations sought to elimate criminals from the country. Those who were involved in the grenade attacks were not Muslims but criminals, he said.

The leaders also distanced themselves from the Naivasha meeting supposedly convened by Muslim leaders saying that organizers were not drawn from recognized Muslim organizations and its recommendations should not be taken as representing the community. The operations which has far netted over 4,000 people, a vast majority of them being from the Somali community has generated anger in the Muslim community with accusations that the government is deliberately profiling members of the community. Speaking over the weekend at a press conference held at Nairobis Jamia Mosque, former National Assembly Deputy Speaker Farah Maalim strongly condemned the crackdown saying that it is deliberately targeted at a certain section of Kenyans. ''The crackdown being carried out by the government in Eastleigh is in bad taste, our girls are being raped, properties looted and our Sheikhs gunned down indiscriminately. We are asking the government to stop this madness,'' said Farah Maalim. Accompanied by Muhammad Shidiye, MP for

Lagdera and other leaders, he voiced growing concerns by Muslims in Nairobi and Mombasa saying that due process of the law was being ignored as the police were instead focused on violating the rights of individuals. ''The government is using the threat of terrorism as a scapegoat to seek Western validation and support,'' added Maalim. Shidiye accused the government of violating the Constitution by arresting and detaining people without cause, adding that many of those arrested held genuine Kenyan identification papers. The legislator cautioned the government against radicalizing the Muslim youth through the recent spate of operations that has been targeting them in Eastleigh, Nairobi and Coastal region.

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Jumaada al-Thaany11,1435/April11,2014

QUR'AN AND AQIYDAH

The Friday Bulletin

Al-Haafidh ibn Kathir

Virtues of Suratul Faatihah

whose healing expertise did not interest us stood for her, he read a Ruqyah for him, and he was healed. The chief gave him thirty sheep as a gift and some milk. When he came back to us we said to him, You know of a (new) Ruqyah, or did you do this before. He said, I only used Umm Al-Kitab as Ruqyah. We said, Do not do anything further until we ask the Messenger of Allah. When we went back to Al-Madinah we mentioned what had happened to the Prophet. The Prophet said, Who told him that it is a Ruqyah. Divide (the sheep) and reserve a share for me.' Also, Muslim recorded in his Sahih, and An-Nasaa'i in his Sunan that Ibn Abbas said, While Jibril (Gabriel) was with the Messenger of Allah, he heard a noise from above. Jibril lifted his sight to the sky and said, This is a door in heaven being open, and it has never been opened before now. An angel descended from that door and came to the Prophet and said, Receive the glad tidings of two lights that you have been given, which no other Prophet before you was given: the Opening of the Book and the last (three) Ayat of Surat Al-Baqarah. You will not read a letter of them, but will gain its benefit. This is the wording collected by An-Nasaai (Al-Kubra 5: 12) and Muslim recorded similar wording (1: 554). Al-Faatihah and the Prayer Muslim recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Prophet (SwallaLlaahu alayhiwasallam) said, Whoever performs any prayer in which he did not read Umm AlQur'an, then his prayer is incomplete. He said it thrice. Abu Hurayrah was asked, When we stand behind the Imam. He said, Read it to yourself, for I heard the Messenger of Allah say, Allah, the Exalted, said, I have divided the prayer (Al-Faatihah) into two halves between Myself and My servant, and My servant shall have what he asks for. If he says, In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. All praise and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of existence. Allah says, My servant has praised Me. When the servant says, The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Allah says, My servant has glorified Me. When he says, The Owner of the Day of Recompense. Allah says, My servant has glorified Me, or My servant has related all matters to Me. When he says, You (alone) we worship, and You (alone) we ask for help. Allah says, This is between Me and My servant, and My servant shall acquire what he sought. When he says, Guide us to the straight path. The way of those on whom You have granted Your grace, not (the way) of those who earned Your anger, nor of those who went astray. Allah says, This is for My servant, and My servant shall acquire what he asked for. (The wordings are that of an-Nasaa'i), while both Muslim and An-Nasaa'i collected the following wording, A half of it is for Me and a half for My servant, and My servant shall acquire what he asked for.

It is the seven repeated verses and it is divided into two halves between Allah and His servant. This is the wording reported by An-Nasaa'i. At-Tirmidhi said that this Hadith is HasanGharib. Also, Imam Ahmad recorded that IbnJabir said, I went to the Messenger of Allah after he had poured water (for purification) and said, Peace be unto you, O Messenger of Allah! He did not answer me. So I said again, Peace be unto you, O Messenger of Allah! Again, he did not answer me, so I said again, Peace be unto you, O Messenger of Allah! Still he did not answer me. The Messenger of Allah went while I was following him, until he arrived at his residence. I went to the Masjid and sat there sad and depressed. The Messenger of Allah came out after he performed his purification and said, Peace and Allah's mercy be unto you, peace and Allah's mercy be unto you, peace and Allah's mercy be unto you. He then said, O `Abdullah bin Jabir! Should I inform you of the best Surah in the Qur'an. I said, Yes, O Messenger of Allah! He said, Read, All praise be to Allah, the Lord of the existence, until you finish it.' This Hadith has a good chain of narrators. Some scholars relied on this Hadith as evidence that some Ayat and Surahs have more virtues than others. Furthermore, in the chapter about the virtues of the Qur'an, Al-Bukhari recorded that Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri said, Once, we were on a journey when a female servant came and said, The leader of this area has been poisoned and our people are away. Is there a healer among you. Then a man

Guide us to the straight path. The way of those on whom You have granted Your grace, not (the way) of those who earned Your anger, nor of those who went astray

Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips

Universality of Gods Religions

ship of creation and turning to God alone. It should be noted, however, that in order to actually submit to Gods will, one must continually choose between right and wrong. Indeed, man is endowed by God with the power not only to distinguish right from wrong but also to choose between them. These God-given powers carry with them an important responsibility, namely, that man is answerable to God for the choices he makes. It follows, then, that man should try his utmost to do good and avoid evil. These concepts are expressed in the final revelation as follows:Verily, those who believe (in the Quran), and those who follow the Jewish faith, and the Christians, and the Sabians any of these who believe in Allah and the Last Day and work righteousness shall have their reward with their Lord. They will not be overcome by fear or grief. (Quran 2:62) If, for whatever reason, they fail to accept the final message after it has been clearly explained to them, they will be in grave danger. The last Prophet said: Whoever among the Christians and Jews hear of me but does not affirm his belief in what I brought and dies in this state will be among the inhabitants of Hell.(Sahih Muslim [English Translation], Vol.1,p.91 No. 284) Recognition of God The question which arises here is: How can all people be expected to believe in the one true God, given their varying backgrounds, societies and cultures? For people to be held responsible for worshipping the one true God, they all need to have access to knowledge of Him. The final revelation teaches that all human beings have the recognition of the
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Since the consequences of following a false religion are so grave, the true religion of God must have been universally understandable and universally attainable in the past and it must continue eternally to be understandable and attainable throughout the entire world. In other words, the true religion of God cannot be confined to any one people, place, or period of time. Nor is it logical that such a religion should impose conditions that have nothing to do with the relationship of man with God, such as baptism, or belief in man as a savior, or an intermediary. Within the central principle of Islam and its definition (the surrender of ones will to God) lie the roots of Islams universality. Whenever man comes to the realization that God is one and distinct from His creation, and submits himself to God, he becomes a Muslim in body and spirit and is eligible for paradise. Consequently, anyone at any time in the most remote regions of the world can become Muslim, a follower of Gods religion, Islam, by merely rejecting the wor-

SUNDAY LECTURE
Topic: Haki ya wanawake na jukumu yao Sheikh Kadhi wa Kibra 13th April 2014 TIME: 2.00 pm -4.00 pm Venue: Makina Mosque Kibera
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The Friday Bulletin

WOMEN

Jumaada al-Thaany11,1435/April11,2014

By Aisha Stacey

A Unique Role Model for Women the Story of Lady Sarah

Across the globe, the cultural and economic barriers faced by young women are slowly breaking down. Sadly, however, young women still face many and varied tests, and good role models are sorely needed. Women have access to skills and education, but lack knowledge and information about inspirational women. Young women today need role models that say, it is okay to be strong, and smart, but it is also equally okay to obey Allah. Nowadays, religious commitment is frequently frowned upon. Girls and women trying to lead moral upstanding lives need to know they are not abnormal. It is now time for young women to know that loving Allah is acceptable and praiseworthy. The 21st century needs women with faith and commitment to be policy makers, educators, decision makers, and successful homemakers. In reality, such women exist all over the world. They run businesses, raise families, write books, teach children, and work in fields from sun up to sunset, but unfortunately, they are unsung heroines whose stories take second place to the antics of women in the entertainment industry. However, with a little bit of effort, young women can find inspirational role models in their own communities and in the pages of history. One such woman, strong, smart, dedicated to family, and devoted to Allah, was Sarah, the wife of Prophet Ibrahim. The Quran mentions her briefly on two occasions and not by name, but the traditions of Prophet Muhammad go into quite a lot of detail, and weave a picture of a woman dedicated to Allah, faithful, and dutiful to her husband, but also with a mind of her own. Sarah was a woman who struggled to please Allah with her patience and gratitude, but she did not stand idle while life passed her by. She participated by putting Allah at the center of her universe. Thousands of years later, she stands as a fitting role model for girls of this new century. Prophet Ibrahim lived among idol worshippers and was alienated for denouncing false Allahs and calling his people to the worship Allah alone. When he decided to emigrate from the land of his birth, he had only two followers, his nephew Lot and his wife Sarah. This husband and wife team did not fear anything or anyone but Allah. The Quran relates, which Muslims believe to be the word of Allah, that Prophet Ibrahim said, [Do you dispute with me concerning Allah while He has guided me, and I fear not those whom you associate with Allah in worship. Nothing can happen to me except when my Lord wills something.] (Al-An`am 6: 80). Sarah stood firmly by the side of her husband even though they were ostracized and often in mortal danger. She knew the words her husband spoke were the truth and she faced hardship without

complaint to support him and declare her own belief in the One Allah. The Great Test Together, Sarah and Prophet Ibrahim traveled out of their home country Babylon and into Syria and Palestine, spreading the message of One Allah along the way. Eventually they came to the land of Egypt, where Sarah faced a great trial. Sarah found herself in a situation that is not unfamiliar to many women these days. The tyrannical king of Egypt looked at her with lust in his eyes and desire in his heart. When the king managed to be alone with Sarah, he tried many ways to come close to her and seduce her, but Sarah relied upon the one thing she knew would offer her protection. She called on Allah and begged Him to protect her. Even though the king reached out his hand, he was unable to touch her because Allah's power paralyzed his hand. The king was afraid. He promised that he would not hurt Sarah if she begged Allah to return the feeling to his hand. Sarah prayed to Allah and the king's hand returned to normal. He recovered his composure and banished Sarah from his sight, calling her a devil. Sarah's faith in Allah allowed her to face terrifying circumstances with relative calm. She was able to extricate herself from a complicated situation because she knew that Allah was her only source of protection. Sarah stood resolute and steadfast, so Allah protected and rewarded her. The king, who was afraid of the power he had witnessed, delivered a woman named Hajar to Sarah to act as her handmaiden. After being married for many years without being able to bear a child, Sarah suggested that Ibrahim take Hajar as his second wife. Although the Bible refers to Hajar as a concubine and alludes to jealousy between Sarah and Hajar, the Quran and traditions of Prophet Muhammad, make no mention of this. The time passed and Sarah grew old, her back became bent, and her hair turned white. She accepted that her lack of children was Allah's will. One day, three angels descended to earth. They were on their way to visit Prophet Lot but stopped to convey glad tidings to Sarah and Ibrahim. Ibrahim, believing them to be travelers, invited them to dinner and served the best food available. The travelers, however, did not touch the food. Ibrahim looked at them fearfully, worried about their motives and reasons for being among his family. The angels noticed his fear and said, [Fear not, we have been sent against the people of Lot." And his wife was standing there and she laughed. But We gave her glad tidings of Isaac, and after him of Jacob. She said (in astonishment),"Woe unto me! Shall I bear a child while I am an old woman, and here is my husband an old man? Verily! This is a strange thing!" They said, "Do you wonder at the Decree of Allah? The Mercy of Allah and His Blessings be on Safe you, O the family of Ibrahim. Surely, He (Allah) is All praiseworthy, Pain-free All-Glorious.] (Hud 11:69-73). Reduced Charges over the school holiday Thus Sarah and Ibrahim, although extremely old, were blessed Other Services include; Psychiatric Clinic with the birth of a son. The problem of infertility is another dilemma that faces young Women clinic Surgical Clinic women today. Although in the 21st century humankind has been 24 hour ambulance services Children's Immunization blessed with many ways and means to tackle this issue, in the first Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Clinic instance we must always turn to Allah, and accept His decree. Sarah had given up hoping for a child believing that she and Ibrahim WE ARE NOW DOING CERVICAL SCREENING FOR LADIES AND were far too old, but the will of Allah knows no bounds. VACCINATION AGAINST CERVICAL CANCER FOR GIRLS Sarah, the loyal wife of Prophet Ibrahim, is a fitting role model for We are located at Pumwani directly opposite the Pumwani young women in the 21st century. Many role models come from Maternity Hospital the world of entertainment, and sorrowfully, they do little more than For more information please pay us a visit or give us a call on teach girls to bare their midriffs and bat their eyelashes. 0723937630, 0739136969 or 020-8084481 Aisha Stacey is an Australian revert to Islam works as a writer at the Fanar Cultural Islamic Centre in Doha. ALL ARE WELCOME

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Jumaada al-Thaany11,1435/April11,2014

By Deana Nassar

Technology: Friend or Enemy of Muslim Youth?

YOUTH

The Friday Bulletin

With the average child more able to use the computer and surf the internet rather than ride a bike and high-schoolers already owning a cell phone it is without doubt the question of how much control should we as parents have on our children's gadgets is a difficult question for today's digital parent to answer. It is unfortunate that our children are being psyched to use every gadget imaginable while not to consider the devices' extraordinary impact, good and bad on our lives. Given the speed at which technology moves and how slow we, as parents, have been to react, a lot of us feel we must play catch-up and educate ourselves to keep up. While this is a predicament many parents face, for us as practicing Muslims we face the challenge tenfold. A far cry from when we were young and our parents took us to Sunday school to learn Arabic and Quran for sure. The idea that our children are moving beyond our absolute control may be the bitterest pill for many of us to swallow in the digital era. The need to protect children is reflexive, visceral, and instinctive. All the harder, then, to change; difficult yes impossible no, I know I have tried. Too many times one feels how can we compete with the outside world but it is our duty and this we cannot deny. The Prophet Muhammad cited to Ali: O' `Ali, there are as many rights of children incumbent upon parents as there are rights of parents incumbent upon children. By discussing with our children that modern development is possible, side by side with entertaining a Muslim identity we can teach them how to positively use their devices all the time holding strong to and being proud of their identity and the beliefs they were raised. Introducing them to online forums which offer room for religious discussions in addition to following sites which are a mouthpiece for young Muslims may encourage them to both learn and discuss while spreading ideas. We can also persuade them to download applications on their mobiles which support and remind us of prayer times and other religious duties. Use Your Time Wisely By explaining to our kids that social media which they have chosen to be part of, in my case the dreaded Facebook, doesnt just play a role at the individual level, but also on the virtual ummah (Muslim community) which is being created. This will help them take part as they read more possibly becoming the better person God created them to be. We can encourage our children to take part in charity work by organizing with friends over the internet and making plans and following through with actual physical work outdoors. Hence teaching them the value of time and that we will be asked by God on how we utilized our time in this world. The Prophet says: "There are two blessings which many people lose: (They are) health and free time for doing good. (Ibn Majah, 4170) Again the Quran emphasizes the significance of our purpose in this world {I have only created Jinns and Men, that they may serve Me. No Sustenance do I require of them, nor do I require that they should feed Me. For Allah is He Who gives (all) Sustenance, Lord of Power, Steadfast (for ever).} (51: 56-8) One such activity was initiated by the young Egyptian Muslim preacher Mustafa Hosni where he called for raising money to revitalize thousands of poor families by installing water supply in their homes. Such projects as the "Nahr el Kheir'" are rewarding for all involved. Discuss with your children the benefits of charity and community work even if you need to bribe them. It may not sound right but it worked for me at first and now the kids are racing to be part and parcel of the community workers, they have even involved their friends and created events using our would be 'enemy' technology! Remember, Prophet Muhammad says: "The believer's shade on the Day of Resurrection will be his charity." (At-Tirmidhi) We can encourage our kids to choose specific times each day

when all involved will turn off all technology and what better way than to lead by example. Mornings are best when we are more likely to have more energy to get challenging tasks done. We can also get involved with our children in playing sports in an effort to bond and to wean them off the technology which in many cases wastes our times if employed in large doses. The benefits of sports can lead to a healthier Islamic society on a social level and a healthier lifestyle for us as individuals. Through sport and community service our impressionable young learn values like discipline, responsibility, self-confidence, sacrifice, and accountability.

I swear by My Glory and Power that if a (child who is) disobedient to his parents comes to Me with all the good deeds of all the prophets; I will not accept them from him.
Constructive Communication By educating ourselves more on how we can fully benefit from the digital revolution, we may experiment with our children on how we can give Muslims a voice, and in turn make Islam tangible meeting the needs of the existing duality of other Muslim youth. This paves the way to discuss further with our children their duty towards parents, family and more importantly God. While it is known that the duty of children is to obey their parents including inward reverence, as well as outward acts, we as parents must not be impatient meaning not using unreasonable severities. How many of us have decided to punish our children by taking from them what they love most - that is their gadgets - and disregarding their self-respect. With peer pressure affecting many of their unwise decisions, we as adults must deal prudently and wisely with children and try to understand their judgments and work upon their reason. In short, constructive communication is the key to good parenting and that according to experts, the communication ratio should be one part parent talking to five parts parent listening. Steven Covey writes that: "Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply. Unfortunately this includes us as parents; I admit I may be one of them at times thinking they need to hear me more then I should hear them. We need to talk to our kids about acceptable technology use and build a trusting relationship. Their first birthright is for us to bring them up well; under proper and compassionate correction; and in the knowledge of the duty God requires. Teach them the significance of respecting parents and their elders and as mentioned above is the best example and actions speak louder than words. If they see you treat your parents well then it will only be natural that they do the same. God says in the sacred Hadith: I swear by My Glory and Power that if a (child who is) disobedient to his parents comes to Me with all the good deeds of all the prophets; I will not accept them from him. In conclusion, it is necessary in this day and age we understand and intelligently address our children acknowledging their want for privacy and trust which of course they must have earned. For all involved to be happy we must understand that rules should be agreed upon, and not imposed. Deana Nassar is a published writer, and has a Bachelors Degree in Commerce,.

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The Friday Bulletin

OPINION

Jumaada al-Thaany11,1435/April11,2014

Somalis, the Kenya police cash cow

Badrudeen Shareef

BULLETIN MAIL BOX

A story is told of two Somali women who visited Kijabe hospital for medical treatment. At the gate, they met a watchman who was dressed in uniform. They underwent the usual security check up and proceeded to finish their business in the hospital. As they were waiting to start their journey back home, the watchman approached them and asked mama ni saa ngapi? (Mum, what is the time?). One of the women opened her purse and handed him a Sh500 note. The watchman was delightedly surprised. He then said, asante sana mama, lakini nilikuwa nataka kujua ni saa ngapi?(Thank you mum, but I was asking about the time). The women looked at each other and concluded that he was not satisfied with the amount already given. They added him another kshs 1000. The watchman just walked away surprised at the womens generosity. Unbeknown to him, the women were refugees from the camps who had come to Nairobi through a UNCHR program. They thought he was a police officer asking for a bribe. The story basically sums up the uneasy relationship between the security apparatus and Somalis in Kenya. This mistrust dates back to independence when the state ostracized and regarded the Somalis as third class citizens. For a Somali to obtain a service from any government office, money must exchange hands. This is now an accepted norm. I remember when I was applying for a passport; I attached all my documents as required. The immigration officer started asking me questions like, what is your name? Which school did you go to? I was incensed and I told him what he was asking me were on those papers in his hands. He retorted, these ones mean nothing; you could have obtained them from River Road. I eventually obtained the travel document through a fight but up to date that passport gives me problems at the airport. They used my documents to issue a new passport to someone who must have paid them and issued me with a replacement passport. The dates when it was first issued and when it was replaced are almost the same raising suspicions. I am also regarded as a frequent traveler since I have a replacement passport but there are no records to show that. I had a similar story with the national identity card. When all those who applied at the same time were collecting theirs, I came to the registration offices to collect mine. To my surprise,

my file was not even forwarded to Nairobi. The reason I was given was that I had not signed. It did not matter that everyone else had xxxxxx in the place of a signature. Nobody had told me to sign anywhere. Only God knows the noise I made. This is done to make the process hard so that you part with something and I knew I was paying for not paying a bribe. So when I see Kenyans cheering the police crackdown in Eastleigh I cringe in pain. Any sane person would support an operation to rid criminals from our midst. But I can bet with my life that the operation in Eastleigh will not rid us of any criminal. It is just a means for the police to extort money from both the criminals and many innocent. Have you ever asked yourself why the police are always trigger happy to conduct swoops in Eastleigh and Northern Kenya? It is all about the money and the perceived status of Somalis as lesser citizens. In Baragoi, 40 police officers were massacred in a single day. Nothing was done. In Northern Kenya, one officer is killed and that justifies the massacre of locals and collective punishment. Most of those who were arrested paid for their freedom. The criminals would be the first ones to pay up because they have financiers. Many people were not arrested because they knew what they were expected to do. They paid up before tufike mbele. I know someone who paid Sh20,000 despite having all the requisite documents to show his citizenship. Most of those in the concentration camps in Kasarani are the poor who could not afford to bribe their way out. The officers taking part in the operation are kurutus (recruits) who had their pass out parade just a day before. They are young men and women who swore in front of the President to be of service to their country and people. I saw them with new and neatly pressed police uniforms. They had this cheeky smile on their faces. To the undiscerning eye, they looked happy in their service. I dont know but maybe it was the allure of earning handsomely in their first assignment. Using new officers for such an operation was wrong. They have started their service on the wrong footing. They have tasted the sweetness of bribes and they will never look back. Raping of women, looting of property and harassments have been reported. I am sure we may not be able to verify some of the reports but you just need to look at what our officers did at the

Westgate. In the middle of a disaster and in the glare of local and international media and with CCTV cameras mounted in the mall, our officers shamelessly looted the place. The government denied everything despite the overwhelming evidence. So what will make me not believe when I hear police officers in the ongoing operation found a lady alone in the middle of the night and started harassing her sexually while mocking her Mrembo mzuri kama wewe unakaa peke yako(How comes you are alone and you are such a beauty). Injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere. Those who killed innocent worshipers in churches need to be brought to book. It is the best that can happen at the moment. But injustice cannot be justice for another injustice. Kimiayo and his cohorts should stop abusing our intelligence and playing with our lives. Where were they when Al Shabab was migrating to Eastleigh if what they are telling us is true. Why cant someone take responsibility? Why are we not asking questions rather than follow these guys blindly? These are things that can be solved through proper intelligence. But unfortunately as Boniface Mwangi said, intelligence gathering requires police officers with intelligence. However, we hire our officers based on how less intelligent one is. To have proper security we need to improve the conditions of the officers who currently earn peanuts and live in squalor. Otherwise, they will continue taking bribes and harassing the innocent while working with the criminals. Badrudeen Shareef is a blogger who comments on topical issues

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The Friday Bulletin

NATIONAL

Jumaada al-Thaany11,1435/April11,2014

Support growth of Islamic schools

Muslims have been urged to support the growth and expansion of Muslim schools as this will provide more opportunities to nurture the Islamic moral characters of young Muslims. These comments were made by the chairman of the Muslim Education Council Zafar Niaz who said with the growing interest in Islamic integrated schools, there is need for increased capacity to accommodate the increased number of children enrolling in Muslim schools. There is a growing interest in Muslim schools and there is need for more support for expansion of Islamic schools as this will provide more opportunities for children to access integrated education, he said. He made the remarks during the ground breaking ceremony to construct two additional nursery classrooms at Muslim Academy, Park Road. The classes were donated to Islamia Madrassa Society by Haroun Rashid Sheikh, the CEO of Caretech Holdings of the United Kingdom. Haroun pledged to further support the school in modernizing its facilities such as the library and laboratory to enhance on learning at the school. On his part, the MEC Chief executive officer who is also IMS secretary general Munawar Khan commended the family for the noble gesture while urging other big hearted Muslims to emulate the example of Haroun and support the growth and expansion of Muslim schools.

Infuse spirituality in your lives

Spirituality is an indispensable tool in inculcating individuals to be responsible citizens who can contribute positively to society. Former presidential candidate Muhammad Abduba Dida said infusing spiritual values in the daily lives of individuals will help in creating a just society which promotes good relationships between people of different backgrounds. Without the knowledge of God and spiritual awareness, even if you appear to be successful in life, you will remain frustrated in your life, he said. Dida made the remarks when he officiated at the prize giving ceremony of Alim High School in Machakos County recently. He urged the students to inculcate Islamic values in their lives as this will nurture them as God-fearing citizens who will become future leaders of the nation. He applauded the school for its impressive performance in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations adding that it was a testimony that Muslim schools can perform exceptionally well in national examinations. Alim High School emerged the top private school in Machakos district and was ranked third overall in the district. In the national rankings, the school was ranked in position 79 among private schools countrywide.

Islamic School refutes terror links report

An Islamic school in Eastleigh has refuted allegations and reports linking it to terror activities. The Samad Islamic Institute administration and teachers termed the links ''a total fabrication'' aimed at tarnishing the reputation of the institution and said what the police found at the school during their raid and crack down on terror activities was honey and black seeds oils. Police raided the school at 2 am on Sunday and carried away a three litre jar of honey and a tin of black seeds oil. The box in which the two items were in was marked ''highly flammable'' because of the substance that it originally contained. Perhaps that is why police thought it was material to manufacture the Improvised explosive devices (IEDS) According to the Somali community, honey and black seeds oil are believed to have high medicinal value. According to the police, Sheikh Ibrahim Adan, a teacher at the institution was being sought in connection with the bomb materials, claims refuted by the teacher who mantained that he never escaped and was continuing with his normal duties at the madrasa.

Universality of Gods Religions

Continued from page 3

one true God imprinted on their souls as a part of their very nature with which they are created. In the seventh chapter of the Quran (al-A`raaf, verses 172-173), God explained that when He created Adam, He caused all of Adams descendants to come into existence and He took a pledge from them saying:Am I not your Lord? To which they all replied, Yes, we testify to it. (Quran7:172) Allah then explained why He had all of mankind bear witness that He is their creator and the only true God worthy of worship. He said:That was in case you (mankind) should say on the day of Resurrection, Verily we were unaware of all this. (Quran 7:172) That is to say, we cannot claim on that day that we had no idea that Allah was our God and that no one told us that we were only supposed to worship Allah alone. Allah went on to further explain that:It was also in case you should say, Certainly it was our ancestors who made partners (with Allah) and we are only their descendants; will you then destroy us for what those liars did? (Quran 7:173) Thus, every child is born with a natural belief in God and an in-born inclination to worship Him alone. This in-born belief and inclination is called in Arabic the Fitrah. The Prophet Muhammad reported that Allah said, I created my servants in the right religion, but devils made them go astray. The Prophet also said, Each child is born in a state of Fitrah. Then his parents make him a Jew, Christian or a Zoroastrian. If the child were left alone, he would worship God in his own way, but all children are affected by the environment. So, just as the child submits to the physical laws, which Allah has imposed on nature, in the same way, his soul also submits naturally to the fact that Allah is his Lord and Creator. But, if his parents try to make him follow a different path, the child is not strong enough in the early stages of his life to resist or oppose the will of his parents. In such cases, the religion which the child follows is one of custom and upbringing, and God does not hold him to account or punish him for his religion up to a certain stage of his life.

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Nigerian Army Accused of Killing Muslims

OnIslam & News Agencies A leading Nigerian Muslim group has issued a strong-worded statement condemning the armys extrajudicial killings of Muslims in northern states on the pretext of fighting Boko Haram and terrorism. The dimension of extrajudicial killing of Muslims by the military on unsubstantiated suspicion leaves much to be desired, which clearly depicts that Muslims have become an endangered species, murdered and maimed indiscriminately under the guise of fighting terrorism, read the statement issued by JamaatuNasril Islam, Speshs World reported on Tuesday, April 8. JamaatuNasril Islam (JNI) statement followed Saturday's attacks in the northwestern Zamfara sate where more than 112 people were killed in an attack by unidentified gunmen.It also copes with the report by the National Human Rights Commission in which it revealed that eight Muslims killed last September by army troops were not members of Boko Haram as claimed earlier. The umbrella Muslim group referred to the extrajudicial killing of 15 Fulani Muslims in Keana in the central state of Nasarawa.JNI unequivocally condemns the extrajudicial killing of 15 Fulani Muslims in Keana, the raping and subsequent killing of BintaUsman, the milk maid and all the human rights abuses on innocent Muslims in Maidugri, the statement said. We strongly call for the bringing to justice of the perpetrators of transgression against innocent citizens who have the right to practice the religion they choose, the statement further said.

Read to Succeed!
Ummah Foundation a not for profit humanitarian organisation that has been involved in educational activities ever since its inception in 2006. The objective of the activities is to empower needy and bright students to attain education and skills that can help them in their lives. The essence is to fight poverty and ignorance from our community. In situations of extreme poverty, both girls and boys are particularly at risk as they tend to inherit the poverty of their parents. Girls are prone to abuse of all forms, and very often confined to households in which they are virtually slaves. Other groups of poor children who merit special attention are children orphaned by HIV/AIDS, street children, and children of some ethnic minorities. For them, the provision of non-academic support and security is essential in order to contribute to their total well being and success in life. Moreover, dialogue and cooperation with parents and families should improve their participation and performance in education. Poor children have numerous disadvantages in relation to their better-off counterparts. They are usually less healthy, their language skills less developed (a factor that has negative influence on school achievement), and they are generally less well equipped - socially, emotionally and physically - to undertake a school programme. If their disadvantaged position and different day-to-day experiences are not taken into account by school education, it is no wonder that they are unable to benefit fully from the school system. Ummah Foundation in one of its research programs came up with an analysis that indicated that education should be viewed in a different perspective and the hypothesis that was made is that the Muslim poverty emanates from ignorance, apathy, attitudes and lack of commitments from the parents to assist their children. This has impacted negatively on our school performances and hence the transition rate is very dismal. At the end of every year, about 70,000 Muslim pupils drop from school after completion of the primary level. They are the very people who end up being victims of drug abuse, alcoholism and other vices. This is where the poverty originates from. This trend of poor transition is manifest in the University entrance where most of them dont make it up to the degree level. Currently just a minimal percentage of 2% is recorded at the public universities. This trend, however, can be changed if all Muslim education facilitators and providers can work in unison. We need to identify our ills in the education sector early enough so that remedy can be sorted in terms of: 1- Number of available scholarships and bursaries 2- Resources and funding can be channelled towards an education central body that can hence take the mandate to identify and distribute to needy and deserving students. 3- All stakeholders to pull together their efforts to empower our community owned schools in capacity building to become centres of excellence. 4- A strong education secretariat or consortium that can coordinate and manage all matters related to Muslim education in the country. 5- A close look at the Education bill and how it has impacted (positively and negatively) on our Madrassah system. The ministry of Education is in the process of formalising the Madrassah/duks system of education to be recognised as an alternative means of achieving Education for all (EFA). Studies are being carried out and we should give it maximum support. 6- More research programs to be contacted scientifically bring to the fore the impediments that we struggle with daily as a community in getting rid of poverty and ignorance. Contact us: Ummah Foundation Village Plaza, 2nd Floor, Ngara Rd P.O. Box 58717- 00200 Nairobi Tel:020-2680610/13 Mob: 0734 845277 Email: info@ummahfoundation.net

Nairobi Muslim Academy is seeking o recruit competent and experienced staff with the following qualifications: Primary teachers P1 cerficate/diploma in education (primary) / B.ED degree (primary) diploma/ B.ED Islamic studies Nursery teachers Diploma ECDE General requirements A proven classroom teaching experience is a must Experience in guidance and counselling All teachers are required to take up extra cirricular activities Secretary Diploma in secretariat General reqirements Proven office management skills Able to work under minimal supervision The ideal candidate shoild be self driven with atlest 5 years experience Application should be received on or before 18th april 2014 Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted Send application, cv with the relevant testimonials and reference letter from schools taught to : The Manager

P.O BOX18421 00500 Nairobi Email: nmajobs@yahoo.com please indicate teaching subjects on the application ref.

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