The

Friday Bulletin
The Weekly Muslim News Update

Dhul Qa'da 14 1431/October 22 2010

Issue No. 390

A Message
to the Ummah
THE FRIDAY BULLETIN COMMENT

The carnage brought by the July 11 gruesome bombings in the

Ugandan capital Kampala sent shock waves around the world.
Having experienced a similar situation on August 7 1998, it was a
painful experience to see innocent lives smothered out by people
who appeared to have no value for human life.
As the world was coming to terms with the tragedy, little did it become apparent that the ramication of the attack would spill over to
Muslims in Kenya.
Days after the attack, security agents swarmed over and arrested
scores of Muslim youths for their alleged involvement in the twin
bombings. The aftermath saw the renditions of Kenyan citizens to
Uganda which brought back bitter memories of similar US-backed
illegal deportations of Kenyans to Somalia and Ethiopia.
The renditions generated intense criticisms against the government from many quarters which included civil society organisations,
churches and even the judiciary which critiqued the State for violat-

ing the law days after the country was in a celebrations mood after
the promulgation of the new constitution which had been praised for
being an astute pillar in the protection of individual liberties.
It is a fair assessment to say that Muslims leaders, this time round
did not adequately respond to these violations as they did in the
past. While churches were making their harsh tones against the illegality, it took some time for Muslim leaders to muster their voices
in defending the constitutional rights of their countrymen.
Perhaps it was this attitude which slowly but gradually planted the
seeds of discord and tna (tribulations) which are being presently
observed in the Ummah.
Every community has a need for leadership and the importance
of leadership is like the engine of a train. The train cannot move
anywhere without the engine moving. The current scenario appears

Continued to Page 2

Demand implementation of new constitution,

Justice Minister tells Kenyans

Justice minister Mutula Kilonzo has called

on Kenyans to support the implementation of
the constitution as its realization will be an effective tool for safeguarding the rights of citizens.
The minister said Kenyans should stand
against vested interests who wanted the continuation of the status quo and had their minds
focused on sabotaging the implementation of
the new law. He made an appeal to Kenyans to
stand rm in seeing to it that the new law was
Continued to Page 2

Justice minister Mutula Kilonzo (Second Left)

goes through a copy of the Holy Qur'an presented to him by the Imam of Jamia Mosque Sheikh
Muhammad Swalihu (Right).

This Week

Editorial
Da'wa

A message to the Ummah

Preparing for Ramadhan

P2
P3

Women Issues

Youth and Children

www.islamkenya.com

Road to Hijab
Muslim Uni Life

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

P4
P6

Dhul Qa'da 14 1431/October 22 2010

The Friday Bulletin

EDITORIAL
From Page 1

A Message to the Muslim Ummah

to aim at strangling the Muslim leadership and its scholars by

questioning their integrity. Such a scenario portends a dangerous
precedent which aims at severing the leadership from the Ummah
through waging a discreet propaganda campaign against the Ulamaa and the leaders.
Focus appears to have shifted from standing by our wronged brothers held captive in Uganda to opening up a new front to create
discord and division within the Ummah. Funds which could otherwise have gone to assist the families of the renditioned Kenyans
are instead channeled in publishing leaets labeled with untruthful
and baseless information. Scholars and Muslim leaders who have
played an important role over the years in nurturing the community
are now having their reputations smeared with unfair accusations
and even veiled threats made against them.
The Quranic virtues which exhort Muslims to avoid hearsay and
baseless accusations have now being ung out of the window
without being given a fair hearing.
Granted, the Ulamaa and leaders are not masumins (infallibles)
and they are also prone to err just like other human beings. Islam
has, however, put in place elaborate mechanisms of redress in
scenarios where it is felt that that someone has not lived up to his
or her responsibility. Engaging in acts which defame people and
undermine their integrity is not among these methods of corrections.
On another extreme and worrying level, we are also hearing words
of hate and violence directed against non-Muslims which undermine the coveted Islamic principles of tolerance and mutual relations to people of other faiths. Such calls attempt to feast on the
frustration and uncontrolled emotions of vulnerable youth and aim
at leading them to acts which have no basis in Islam.
Teachings from the Quran and the Prophets traditions, the Sunnah, have over and again emphasized on the need for Muslims
to have brotherly relations with people of other faiths and to have
positive engagements with them on matters of mutual benet.
Anyone espousing such macabre ideas which clearly go against
the innate teaching of Islam is not doing justice to Islamic ethics
and he is an affront to dawa.
Islam exhorts Muslims to be law abiding citizens and they should
at no time be involved in activities that could undermine mutual
existence with other communities or the security and stability of
the nation.
Even as we agitate for the respects of our rights, this should be
done through ways which are consistent with the laws of the land.
While it is an undeniable fact that there has been a culture of injustice leveled against Muslims by the State, it can only take construc-

tive engagements with the authorities to change this trend.

In the recent past, Muslims in the country have achieved milestones like Islamic banking and Islamic insurance through such
engagements and with such approaches, many splendid feats can
be attained.
What is important now is to consolidate our unity and have a concerted approach in seeing to it that the renditioned Kenyans are
brought back in the country. Blame games at this critical juncture
are counterproductive and will not work in the interests of the community.
In the long run however, Muslim leaders, scholars and organizations must provide avenues of positive approaches with the youth.
There is a growing vacuum between the elders and the youth and
there is need to bridge this divide which if left to continue, will see
many young people being carried over by emotions and engaging
in activities which betray the Islamic ideals.
It is also imperative that the Muslim leadership increase their role
in articulating and promoting community interests. Often times, it
appears that the activities of the leadership are centred on Muslim
affairs and their voice is mainly heard during times of crisis which
involve Muslims. On many occasions, the Muslims leadership is
seldom heard in national matters.
Kenyans in general would also like to hear the voices and actions
of Muslims when it comes to the humanitarian crisis brought about
by drought in Turkana, the wanton killings of youths in Central
Kenya or the ght against corruption.
The scholars, the ag bearers of the Ummah need to also come
out from the cocoon which has seen their activities narrowed to
the connes of the mosques. They also have a responsibility to
participate in mundane affairs of the society especially in matters of community empowerment and social justice. The scholars
have a big role to play by addressing challenges like stereotypes
of Islam and Muslims as well as providing Islamic perspectives
on issues of importance to the Kenyan public. In an environment
where by Islam is misunderstood by many, scholars have to develop mechanisms where by they reach out to other faith leaders
and communities to promote a better understanding between Islam and other faiths.
The scholars ought to be in the lead as personal examples of the
Islamic values of compassion and tolerance.
Allah desires that we bring about a positive change in the society and not through ways which will only further jeopardize our
present situation. The journey ahead of us is long and arduous
and it is through patience, positive engagements and mutual existence that we will be able to wade through this delicate balance.

Demand implementation of new law

From Page 1
implemented in its full scope to ensure that Kenyans enjoyed the
fruits of the new constitutional dispensation.
Speaking yesterday during a meeting with Muslim leaders at Jamia
Mosque, Nairobi, Mutula asked Kenyans not to waver in demanding
that the government respects the rights of citizens as stipulated in
the constitution.
You must demand that the constitution is implemented as this will
ensure that the rights of the citizens are upheld, he said.
On the renditions which also formed part of the discussion with the
leaders, the minister reiterated his stand that the constitution was
violated and said those responsible for breaking the law would have
to be prosecuted to avoid setting a bad future precedent.
At some point we will arrest those responsible for violating the law,
prosecute and have them jailed, he said.
He said article 50 of the constitution was clear that any one arrested in Kenya for committing any offence has to be arraigned in
court established by the constitution. If a Kenyan has committed a
crime anywhere, there are procedures to be followed. What we are
objecting to is the illegal and arbitrary manner in which these illegal
and arbitrary renditions were carried out, he said.
He expressed his support for the recent rulings by the Judiciary

which blamed the executive for the renditions and urged the government organs to respect with due diligence the rights of all its
citizens.
Answering question from reporters whether he will work for the return of the renditioned Kenyans, Kilonzo said his ministry lacked
such powers and said the back stops at the doorstep of the Internal
Affairs minister George Saitoti whose docket was responsible for
the illegal extradition of Kenyans.
Eight Kenyans who were whisked out of the country and taken to
Uganda without the due process of the law have been charged with
involvement in the July 11 bombings in Kampala. Five other Kenyans who include Muslim Human Rights Forum Al Amin Kimathi
were arrested in Uganda and are also facing the same charges.
Mutula was adamant that the constitution will continue to be violated as long as the Kenyans are still illegally detained in the foreign
country.
The meetings was attended by Muslim leaders who included the
Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) secretary general
Adan Wachu, National Muslim Leaders Forum vice chairman Yusuf
Murigu, Jamia Mosque chairman Muhammad Osman Warfa and
Nominated MP Sheikh Muhammad Dor among other leaders.

Dhul Qa'da 14 1431/October 22 2010

The Friday Bulletin

DA'WA

Preparing for Hajj

Every year, millions of Muslims make the journey of their lifetime.
They come from all over the world for the sole purpose of fullling one of Allahs greatest commandments to mankind the Hajj.
Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that The
Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, was asked, Which is the best
deed? He, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, said: To believe in Allah and
His Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). He, sallallahu alayhi
wa sallam, was then asked, Which is the next (good deed)? He,
sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, said: To participate in Jihad in Allahs
cause. He, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, was then asked, Which
is the next? He, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: To perform an
accepted Hajj. [Al-Bukhari] For over 1400 years, believers have
been making Hajj to the House of Allah in Makkah. It is an obligation
for each and every Muslim to perform Hajj at least once in his/her
lifetime if he is physically and nancially able.
Pre-Hajj preparations
Due to the importance of Hajj, preparations for it should not be
taken lightly. Besides planning the actually logistics of the trip, a
Muslim needs to prepare Islamically, physically, mentally, and nancially for this great act of worship. Islamically, one of the most
important preparations for this journey is acquiring the necessary
knowledge for performing the rituals of Hajj and Umrah correctly
and in accordance to the Sunnah of the Prophet, sallallahu alayhi
wa sallam. This means studying and learning about Islam, acquiring
a high degree of iman (faith) in order to deal with the emotional and
physical demands of Hajj, and learning correctly the actual religious
rituals and requirements from the beginning to the end of Hajj and
Umrah. Studying and learning about the Hajj can be accomplished
in a variety of fashions, from reading books on the subject or using
computer programs, to actually taking classes offered by Islamic
centers on the rituals of Hajj and Umrah. Furthermore, many travel
groups that specialize in Hajj and Umrah trips offer Hajj preparation classes as well as scholars and students of knowledge that
help those going for Hajj perform the rituals of Hajj and Umrah correctly.
In addition, it is also important to preparing for Hajj spiritually. The
pilgrim must focus on his sole intention of performing Hajj. That it is
solely for the pleasure of Allah and in accordance to His Commandment regarding this act of worship. The believer also needs to resolve any conicts or differences between him and others and seek
forgiveness for any acts of transgression. This stage of preparation
should take place long before the actual departure for Hajj.
Other preparations that should be planned long before the actual
trip are nancial in nature. Simply, going to Hajj costs money. Furthermore the pilgrim must pay off any old debts (this includes any
type of loans), household bills, and leave enough money to pay any
living expenses likely that other members of his family not making
Hajj might need. Finally it is important to complete one's will (wasiyyah) before departing on Hajj.
Another important step in preparing for Hajj is the need to prepare
physically for the event. Not only is Hajj a spiritual event, it also
requires a lot of physical stamina from the participant. Hajj is not a
picnic! Completing the rites of Hajj includes a lot of walking, mixing
with many people, living in high temperatures (during summer), and
exerting a great deal of effort. Another important step in preparing
physically for Hajj is to make sure you are medically t for the trip.
Individuals with chronic health issues need to see their primary care
physician in order to discuss any medical risks that need to be addressed prior to their Hajj experience.
Another recommendation is that these individuals also travel with
a healthy caretaker in case any problems might arise during the
actual Hajj. In addition, pilgrims must have the necessary vaccinations required by the Saudi Government for cholera and meningococcal meningitis. Because of these issues, it is also important to
emphasize that one should complete Hajj and Umrah as soon as
one is able to both physically and nancially. Some people wait until

they are old to go for Hajj. This is wrong and makes Hajj more difcult than necessary for the participant and in many cases for his
traveling companions. Performing Hajj as soon as possible corresponds to the Hadeeth narrated by Abdullaah Ibn Abbaas, may Allaah be pleased with him, who said: "The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi
wa sallam, said: He who intended to perform Hajj should hasten to
do so." [Abu Dawood]
The last pre-logistic preparation centers on preparing mentally for
Hajj. This includes learning and accepting that the Hajj experience
includes frustration, intense dessert heat (during summer), and various differences in culture and food. The pilgrim can expect to stand
in long lines, be shoved and pushed by others while completing the
necessary rituals, and be in an uncomfortable close proximity to
members of the opposite sex.
One purpose of Hajj is for the individual to be tested. The individual
will be tested on physical, emotional, and spiritual levels.
After preparing oneself internally and nancially for one of the most
important events in the life of a Muslim, the pilgrim must plan and
make actual logistic decisions regarding his/her journey. While one
can always make the trip by himself or with a small group of individuals close to him, in this modern day this is not always the
best choice. It is not uncommon for hotels to be fully booked for at
least one year in advance. Furthermore, unless one starts searching very early, it is also hard to nd airline reservations and available
ights to Saudi Arabia during the Hajj season. Because of these
challenges in planning, many individuals opt to join a travel group
that specializes in Hajj and Umrah tours. Since not all tour groups
are equal and provide the same quality service, there are a number
of items to look for in choosing the right tour group.
The rst thing to look for in a group is the price of the trip. Most
groups offer a variety of price packages that depend on a variety of
factors. These factors include the type of hotel, number of people
per room, use of private transportation, and whether or not food
is included within the package. Hajj is not the time to go cheap.
Since some Muslims are generally accustomed to a certain degree
of comfort, some would nd less expensive accommodations unacceptable and uncomfortable. For example, during Hajj some hotels
accommodate up to 15 people per room sharing a single communal
bathroom.
Another factor to consider is the distance of the hotel accommodations from the Haram (the Sacred Area). As a rule of thumb, if the
price is too cheap, so is probably the quality of the package. In other
words, the cheaper in price of the package, the higher the probability of encountering problems during your Hajj, which in turn, can
make for a more difcult Hajj experience.
Another thing to look for is the number of years of experience of the
tour operator. Generally, experienced operators are the best since
they are able to handle any problems that can and will probably
occur during Hajj or Umrah. Also it is important to make sure that
an experienced leader from the tour group accompanies the group
for Hajj.
Other problems that often occur include lost or stolen belongings
and money, illnesses that require medical attention, and the death
of a group member. It is important for the pilgrim to understand that
their Hajj will not be problem free. Problems arise frequently and an
experienced tour operator is needed to handle the situation. When
looking for a tour operator, it is important to ask how they handle
problems. If the potential tour operator tells you that you will have a
problem free Hajj, continue searching for a better program.
Story continued On Page 7

Saturday Lecture
Islam and freedom of Speech
Dr. Abdallah Muhammad Abubakar
Sat. 23rd October 2010 2.00 pm-4.00 pm
Jamia Multi Purpose Hall
3

The Friday Bulletin

Dhul Qa'da 14` 1431/October 22 2010

WOMEN ISSUES

Road to Hijab
In order to even nd the road to hijab, much less walking on it, one
must rst realize that the hijab of the Muslim woman is not Somali,
Swahili, Arabian or Pakistani, etc. It is the command of Allah, the
conditions for which have been given in the Quran and Sunnah, in
order to provide protection and safety for women. Here are a few
aspects one needs to consider:
Intention
The rst step on the road to hijab is the proper intention (Niyah).
The wearing of the hijab is the compliance to the command of Allah,
therefore it can be classied as an act of worship. As with all acts
of worship, the fundamental underlying principle is intention. The
hijab must be worn for no other reason except to comply with the
order of Allah, solely for His sake and seeking His Pleasure. If it is
not done with this sincere intention, then it becomes an act of either
"hypocrisy" or of "Ar-riyaa (showing off)".
If a Muslim woman wears hijab because, for instance, of an overbearing husband or father, and in her heart she dislikes it, or feels
that it is a form of injustice; then she may very well have taken an
act deserving of reward into one that may not bring about any reward in the hereafter.
The same is true for the woman who wears hijab because it is what
the women around her do. She covers from head to toe to impress
the people with her piety. When she is abroad, where no one she
knows will see her, save her Lord, she does not wear the proper
hijab. She then falls under the threat of Allah's punishment, as the
Prophet said, "Whoever does a deed for the people, then Allah will
give him to the people."
Knowledge
The second step on the road to hijab, is knowledge. The great
scholar of Hadith, Imam Bukhari said, "Knowledge must precede
both statement and action."
It is of the utmost importance for a woman who is seeking to observe the proper hijab, to ascertain sure knowledge, based on the
Quran, Sunnah and the understanding of the rst generations of
Muslims.
When hijab is observed with the proper intentions and based upon
sound knowledge, it then becomes a rm conviction in the heart.
Due to this conviction, it becomes less likely that the hijab will be
abandoned based upon everyday pressures of living in a "modern"
society and its false call to women's liberation.
Love
The third step on the road to hijab is love. It is among the signs of
true belief that all acts of worship are manifested from love of those
actions. The love of the hijab and the haya (inhibition or bashfulness) of the rst generation of Muslim women has slowly been worn
away from the hearts of modern-day Muslim women.
Once Ali ibn Abi Talib may Allahs mercy be upon him asked his
wife, Fatimah may Allahs mercy be upon her, "What is the thing
most beloved to a believing woman?" Fatimah replied, "Not to see
or be seen by strange men."
In order for the love of the hijab to be returned to the hearts of
Muslim women, we must remove from our hearts the disease that
suggests that the hijab makes us inferior to men and restricts our
womanhood. These are whisperings of the Satan calling Muslim
women to abandon their honour, and their status as the best women
of creation. The hijab of the Muslim woman is her right and her honour ordained by the Lord of the worlds. It is her light that separates
her from the darkness of the disbelieving women. It was narrated
that the Prophet peace be upon him said, "The parable of a woman who moves with a slow sweeping motion, trailing her beautiful
clothes, performing not for her husband, is like darkness on the Day
of Judgement, she has no light." (Tirmidhi)
Awrah
The awrah of a woman is the areas of her body, which must be covered. The respected scholars from past and present have differed

in whether the veil should cover the hands and face, or whether it is
sufcient to cover everything, save the hands and face.
Aisha may Allahs mercy be upon her reported that once her sister,
Asma may Allahs mercy be upon her visited her in nery while the
Prophet May peace be upon him was at home. He turned away
from her and said, "O Asma, when a woman reaches puberty it is
not lawful for her to uncover any part of her body except this." He
then pointed to his face and hand palm. (Abu Dawud)
The above narration is one of the most commonly cited as proof for
leaving the face and hands uncovered. The main consideration of
this opinion must be what constitutes the face and the hands. The
above statement clearly illustrates that the hand is part of the body,
which extends below the wrist bone. The denition of what constitutes the face can be found in another tradition of the Prophet peace
be upon him. He salallahu alayhi wa sallam pointed from his forehead to his chin and from his cheek to the cheek. (Abu Dawud)
It may be of importance to note that ears must also be covered
because they are not a part of the face, but are a part of the head
as he salallahu alayhi wa sallam said, "The two ears are a part of
the head." (Tirmithi)
This opinion also does not allow for the uncovering of the neck and
breast. The khimar must cover the entire head, INCLUDING THE
EARS, ALL OF THE HAIR, come down from the head to COVER
THE NECK AND THE BOSOM. This is clear in the statement of
Allah, "And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal
sexual acts, etc.) and not to show off their adornment except only
that which is apparent (like palms of hands or one eye or both eyes
for necessity to see the way, or outer dress like veil, gloves, headcover, apron, etc., and to draw their veils all over Juyubihinna (i.e.
their bodies, faces, necks, and bossoms, etc.) and not to reveal
their adornment ..." (An-Nur 24:31)
As the above verse states, Allah FORBIDS the believing women
from displaying her adornments, except to those people whom
are clearly named out in (the remaining part of) the verse (An Nur
24:31). Allah also commands His Prophet to tell the women in the
following verse, "O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters
Story continued On Page 6

The Friday Bulletin Kitchen

Pasta Sauce with Zucchini and Ground Beef
Ingredients
1/4 cup oil
1 onion finely chopped
1 zucchini; cut in half and then sliced
5 cloves garlic; minced
250 grm ground beef
15 gm. tomato paste
2 tomatoes, sliced
2 Tbs. cilantro; chopped
5 basil leaves; chopped
2 Tbsp. Parmesan cheese
salt to taste

Method
Heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onions, garlic and ground
beef.
Cook, stirring often. Add the tomato paste and the crushed tomatoes.
Cook for about 5 minutes.
Add the zucchini and cook for an additional 15 minutes.
Add the cilantro, basil, and coriander; simmer for about 10 minutes.
Serve over your favorite pasta and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
Share your favourite recipes with our readers. Send them to P. O. Box 10078600100 or email:fridaybulletin@islamkenya.com or fridaybulletin@gmail.com

Dhul Qa'da 14 1431/October 22 2010

The Friday Bulletin

YOUTH AND CHILDREN

Huma Ahmad

Muslim Uni Life?

Freedom. Young people live for the day when they can move out of
the house and go to university and nally be free.
Freedom from their parents, from restrictions on their lifestyle, from
everyone telling them what to do. This is why in university you nd
a whole generation that does what they want. Lifes short they say,
lets enjoy ourselves while we can.
So it goes for Muslims. In university you nd the most amazing
things, Muslims who dont pray, Muslims who date. Why is this happening?
Religion becomes like a fairytale, when they got old enough, they
knew better than to believe in it. Most have little knowledge about
Islam and have maybe memorized the right rituals to get by. Why
believe something on faith, they ask. After all we cannot see heaven or hell. How do we know Islam is right anyway?
Islamic culture to them means marrying someone they never knew.
It means arranged marriages and never hanging out or having fun.
For girls Islamic culture has even less to offer. It would mean double
standards or having to serve a husband the rest of her life.
The western alternative to this looks a lot more attractive. In western culture love and romance are supposedly everywhere. Everyone is out looking for love freely. Meeting someone, going out,
seeking pleasure sounds a lot better. But what about the downside?
For love at rst sight, you need to have the right image, the right
hair, the right clothes. Girls have to aspire to be like the latest supermodels, they have to hold back age. Whos going out with who,
what are my friends thinking, what will happen if I dont get the right
girl or guy, what is my girlfriend or boyfriend thinking, all become
important. Frustration, desperation, and unhappiness become the
norm.
Imagine all the heartache youth would save if they followed the
Islamic alternative. In true Islam, unlike culture, there is no game
playing. If two people wish to be involved they are both straight with
one another. Unlike what goes on today amongst some Muslims,
they both meet each other and make a contract to marry. Women
are treated with respect, there is no sexual bombardment like there
is in western society. Sex in western culture is also often seen as a
vice or a sin of the esh. But even in religious Islam, sex is seen as
natural. As long as it is in the right circumstances, when the two are
committed to one another in marriage.
Drinking in college is also the norm unfortunately. If you dont drink
or party youre seen as weird. Drinking is cool and a way for people
to socialize, meet and have fun. The one who doesnt is less of a
person and misses out. Drinking and all the harms that come with
it is cut off at the root in Islam. So many problems are avoided, accidents, pregnancy, violence and even rape for example.
In university and in the world, success in life is not seen in terms
of religion. It is seen as what other people think, ones careers, how
much money they make. If you are religious you must have failed
at life. But why do we have this separation? and this blindness in
religion?
The Quran tells us again and again not to have blind faith, not to
follow the religion of our forefathers.
Yet, we as Muslims have stopped thinking. We may think about
what our friends or other people will say, but we avoid thinking about
the real issues. We spend so much time on the opposite sex, thinking about careers, money etc, but we forget to think about death
and how much of this we will really be able to take with us? Every
soul shall have a taste of death and only on the Day of Judgment
shall you be paid your full recompensefor the life of this world is
but goods and chattels of deception (Quran 3:185)
Shouldnt we take the time to contemplate what will happen to us
after we hit the grave? After all, what is the point of life if we are not
accountable for our actions? If there is no creator, what is the point
of being honest or good.
If we really look at our life we see that everything is indenite, getting a job, even living until tomorrow. In fact we could die anytime,

this is a denite, the only dead certain thing in our life. Most of us
believe we can make up for our actions later or we can be religious
later. We are gambling. The chances of our dying today are little,
but the stakes are high. Allah reminds us of the importance of this,
O you who believe, obey Allah as he should be obeyed, and die not
except in a state of Islam (Quran3:102)
Story continued On Page 6

Controlling Anger
One day, a man met the Prophet peace be upon
him and asked him to give him the most important
rule of behaviour. The Prophet ansered:
"Do not be angry," and he repeated this several
times.
The Prophet repeated his advice to emphasize
how important it is to control anger. He was known
to be very patient and calm, never letting anger
rule his actions or words. This is one of the reasons why his followers felt so comfortable with
him. Even the disbelievers respected him for his
great patience.
The Harm of Anger
Anger is probably the most destructive human
emotion. Often, when a person gets angry, he can
say and do things he may live to regret. He loses
self-control. Out of frustration, he may shout,
curse, and say awful things. He could hurt or even
kill someone in extreme circumstances. When a
person gets angry, he can do irreparable damage
to himself and others.
Anger is another trap from the Shaytan to break
our faith. The Prophet warned:
"Anger comes from the Shaytan; the Shaytan was
created from re, and re is extinguished only
with water; so when one of you becomes angry he
should perform Wudhu"
We must be careful to control our anger and not
let our anger control us.
How to Control Anger
Anger is a natural emotion. Certain situations can
make anyone angry. However, one must know how
to express anger in a constructive rather than
destructive way. The best way is to stop and think
about what you are about to do before you lose
control. Then, try to convey your feelings calmly.
You will nd that you can make your point more
effectively this way.
Prophet Muhammad gave the following advice in
regards to controlling anger.
When one of you is angry while standing, let him
sit down; and if his anger goes away (it is good);
otherwise let him lie down.
When you learn to control your anger, you feel
better about yourself
5

Dhul Qa'da 14 1431/October 22 2010

The Friday Bulletin

FEATURE

Islamic Insurance (Takaful) in perspective

Muhammad Amin
The worlds youngest and most dynamic insurance market in Takaful, the name reality traces its origins back more than 1,400 years.
Takaful, for Islamic-compliant the name for Islamic-compliant insurance, can be translated insurance, can be as shared responsibility
and refers to the co-operative translated as shared risk-sharing beginnings of takaful not unlike the conventional insurance.
Takaful originated within the ancient Arab tribes as a pooled liability
that obliged those who committed offences against members of a
different tribe to pay compensation to the victims or their heirs. This
principle extended to many walks of life, including sea trade, in which
participants contributed to a fund to cover anyone in a group who
suffered mishaps on sea voyages.
However, it was not until 1979, in Sudan, that the rst modern takaful
company was set up. In 1985, the Grand Council of Islamic Scholars
of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference formally allowed the
use of takaful as the Islamic alternative to conventional insurance.
Conventional insurance was deemed to be incompatible with Islamic
law (Shariah) and was to be avoided by Muslims. The objections to
conventional insurance were based on the Islamic principles of not
allowing uncertainty or any interest-bearing assets, both of which are
inherent factors in conventional insurance business.
Overview
Takaful is based on solidarity and risk-sharing principles. It is an
Islamic form of nancial protection, similar to conventional insurance, and it has been established in its modern form for more than
25 years. The market now roughly six-fold over comprises some 130
companies in both Muslim and non-Muslim countries.
Takaful arrangements can be used to pool either general insurance
risks or life (known as family takaful) risks, covering the same spectrum as conventional insurance.
Takaful companies have to follow Islamic nance principles, such
as producing Shariah-compliant contracts for clients and appointing
a board of Shariah scholars to ensure that both the products and the
operations of the company comply with Shariah.
Takaful insurers are required to invest in Shariah-compliant products.
The transparency of contracts used in takaful and the avoidance of
industries such as alcohol, gambling and tobacco in the investment
portfolios of takaful companies potentially appeals to a wider category of non-Muslim customers seeking ethical nancial services.
Key features of Takaful
The customers (policyholders) of the takaful business agree to pool
their contributions and share the liability of each policyholder. So if
one has to be paid a claim, this is paid out of the combined pool issues of the policyholders contributions.
As with mutual insurance, the policyholders share in the prot and
loss of the takaful business, i.e. the policyholders all share the insurance risk they do not give the risk to the takaful company (as
occurs in a conventional shareholder insurance company). Consequently, if at the end of a nancial takaful structures year, the takaful
business makes a surplus, this is shared between the takaful acceptable under policyholders.
If at the end of the nancial year the policyholders fund makes a
loss, this decit is funded by an interest-free loan from the shareholders fund. The shareholders fund is then repaid the loan from any
future surpluses of the policyholders fund. The shareholders cannot access the capital from the policyholders fund except when the
interest-free loan is being repaid.
The assets of the takaful business have to be invested in Shariahcompliant assets. For example, investments cant be made in gambling institutions, businesses that make alcohol, businesses that sell
weapons or assets that pay interest.
The operators of the business are paid explicit fees for setting up
and running the company on behalf of the policyholders. These fees
should cover all the setting-up costs, running costs and prot loading of the shareholders and are the only way that the shareholders

are remunerated. After the fees are deducted, any surplus arising from the takaful business is shared amongst the policyholders
only. These explicit fees are in the takaful contract that each policyholder signs with the takaful company and are fully transparent.
Takaful Models
The most widely used models are mudharaba, operating model
for wakala and the hybrid model.
Mudharaba is known as the prot-sharing model. In this model,
the shareholders are paid:
A pre-agreed proportion of any surplus generated by the policyholders fund in return for running the insurance operations of the
takaful business on behalf of the policyholders. If the policyholders
fund makes a loss, the operator provides an interest-free loan as
explained above; and
A pre-agreed proportion of any investment income from investing the policyholders funds assets on behalf of the policyholders.
In the wakala model, the operator acts as an agent of the participants. In this model, shareholders are paid a pre-agreed proportion of the contributions paid by the policyholders in return for
running the insurance operations of the takaful business on behalf
of the policyholders. If the policyholders fund makes a loss, the
operator provides an interest-free loan to the policyholders fund
that is repaid out of future surpluses in the fund.
The hybrid model is a mix of the mudharaba and wakala models.
In this model, the operator receives a wakala fee for managing the
insurance operation of the policyholders fund as well as a mudharaba fee for managing the investment fund.

Muslim Uni Life?

From Page 5

On the Day of Judgement it will be us alone who will be asked

about our actions. If we are not following this deen completely, we
are injuring our own soul, both in this life and the next. Verily We
have revealed the Book to YOU in truth, for (instructing) mankind.
He, then that receives guidance beints his own soul: but he that
strays injures his own soul (Quran 39:41)
This is the true denition of freedom. To learn about Islam and the
world openly. To contemplate about life and death. And after learning the truth, obeying the word of God.
Those on whom knowledge has been bestowed may learn that
the (Quran) is the truth from your Lord, and that they believe therein, and their hearts may be made humbly (open) to it (Quran
22:54)
Once students have this rock-solid intellectual beleif in Islam, the
corruptness and falseness of the people around them is clear. The
beauty and wisdom of the Islamic way, the best alternative is clear.
What others do is of less importance. If others think they were
weird to pray or weird to be honest, they would still pray and still be
honest because they know their deen.

Road to Hijab
From Page 4

and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over
their bodies (i.e. screen themselves completely except the eyes or
one eye to see the way). That will be better, that they should be
known (as free respectable women) so as not to be annoyed. And
Allah is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (Al-Ahzab 33:59)
Even though the hijab is not merely a covering dress, equally as
important ,it is behavior, manners, speech and appearance in public; there are certain standards of dress however, "Conditions of
Hijab", that must be maintained.

Dhul Qa'da 14 1431/October 22 2010

The Friday Bulletin

FEATURE

November 5 is Hajj visa deadline

Prospective pilgrims have up to November 5 to complete
the paperwork which will enable them to undertake the
journey of a lifetime. The date is the last day for issuing
Hajj visas by the Saudi Arabian embassy.
The vice chairman of the Kenya Hajj Mission Sharrif Hussein Omar told prospective to avoid last minute inconveniences and ensure that their papers are in order in good
time.
We have always been appealing for early registration to
avoid last minute rush, he said.
He deplored the late registration procedures saying that
they encumbered on the process and could result in many
prospective pilgrims failing to undertake the Hajj. It is
only a few days to the deadline and people are still applying for passports, this should have been done three
months ago, he told The Friday Bulletin.
The last batch of pilgrims will leave aboard Saudi Arabian
Airlines on November 10 .
According to Sharrif Hussein, this year will have the highest number of pilgrims from Kenya performing the Hajj
pilgrimage exceeding the 2,300 gure of last year.
Kenyas quota for pilgrims stands at 3,000.
Meanwhile, pilgrims this year will enjoy the services of
the Makkah metro, the high speed train service which will
transport hundred of thousands of pilgrims between the
holy city of Makkah and the pilgrimage centres of Mina,
Arafat and Muzdalifa.
The time for transporting pilgrims from Arafat to Muzdalifa
will be reduced to ve minutes on the 9th of Dul Hijjah
when the faithful will move together from the plain of Ara-

From Page 3

fat to Muzdalifa. Another ve minutes will take them from Muzdalifa to Mina
on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah.
The newly established Mashair Railway will bring about a dramatic change
in pilgrim transportation between the holy sites reducing the huge trafc congestions witnessed in previous years.
Saudi authorities have also expanded the masa'a (the running area between
Safaa and Marwah) which is located inside the Holy mosque of Makkah to
help pilgrims perform the saie ritual more easily and comfortably.

Preparing for Hajj

Another important quality of the travel agent is the degree they are
versed in the rules and regulations of the Hajj process. This includes
helping the pilgrims with the visa process from the Saudi Arabian
Embassy to understanding the Hajj and Umrah rites from an Islamic
standpoint. For example, in order for a pilgrim to enter Saudi Arabia,
there are certain requirements that need to be met from the Saudi
Arabian government. These requirements include the necessary
vaccinations; if the person has a non-Muslim name, a letter from
a Mosque stating he is Muslim is needed. Women must have proof
of being accompanied by a Mahram (non-marriageable relative). In
addition, there are fees that need to be paid in advance for use of the
public transportation system and use of the tents in Mina along with
the necessary forms that need to be completed in full and approved
prior to the trip. It is also best to use a travel agent that utilizes scholars as religious guides for the trip. Besides helping to keep the travel
group focused on the worship of Allah, rather than on worldly distractions such as chatting, playing cards, etc., he is also available to
ensure that group members are correctly performing the rituals.
Making Hajj and Umrah can be one of the most important events in
a Muslim's life. However, one should not make the decision to go on
Hajj or Umrah at the last minute. The planning of this trip takes time
and is a process within itself.
Besides the nancial aspects of the trip, one needs to be ready
for the trip from an Islamic standpoint. This includes studying Islam,
knowing what is obligatory and what is non-obligatory in the rites of
Hajj, and the development of a strong iman (faith). While both the
process and task of Hajj can be difcult for some, the rewards of Hajj
can be underestimated. In a Hadeeth narrated by Abu Hurayrah,
may Allaah be pleased with him, the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa
sallam, said: Whoever performs Hajj for Allah's pleasure and does
not have sexual relations with his wife and does not do evil or sins
then he will return [after Hajj free from all sins] as if he were born
anew. [Al-Bukhari]

LEARNING ISLAM IN THE DIGITAL AGE: The rst Kenyan

student to enroll in the Bachelors of Arts in Islamic studies
programme at the Islamic Online University (www.islamiconlineuniversity.com) Abdulhakim Mahmoud Maalim sits for his
exams at the Jamia Training Institute. Standing is his supervisor Abdallah Athman, the deputy principal of the College

Support Islamic educational institutions,

Muslims told
Muslims have been told to support emerging Islamic educational
institutions as a means of improving educational standards in the
community.
The chairman of Eastleigh Business District Association Hassan
Gulled said with the few educational institutions in the country, it
there was need to support institutions in their embryonic stages
to grow and develop into formidable institutions which can have a
positive bearing on the future of the community.
We need to support our institutions as they can play a dynamic
role in contributing to positive development of the community and
the nation at large.
Hassan made the remarks over the weekend when he led a delegation of educationists and businessmen during a visit to Al Andalus University in Kisaju, near Isinya, Kajiado district.
His sentiments were echoed by Idris Farah, the former SUPKEM
director of education who said that though Muslims have made big
strides in education in recent years, more needed to be done to
improve on the status of education in the community.
We are still lagging behind compared to other communities and
with additional moral, nancial and other forms of support to our
institutions, we can help them to attain their goals of being key
players in the development of the community and the country as
a whole,
he said.

Israeli settlers stealing more

Palestinian land
Israeli settlers have begun building new
homes at an extraordinary pace since the
government lifted its moratorium on West
Bank housing starts almost 550 in
three weeks, more than four times faster
than the last two years.
And many homes are going up in areas
that under practically any peace scenario
would become part of a Palestinian state,
a trend that could doom U.S.-brokered
peace talks.
According to an Associated Press count,
ground has been broken on 544 new
West Bank homes since Sept. 26, when
Israel lifted its 10-month freeze on most
new settlement building.
The survey, while not comprehensive,
marks the most extensive effort yet to
quantify the construction. It was based
on visits to 16 of the West Bank's more
than 120 settlements as well as phone
calls to more than four dozen settlements
and interviews with construction workers
and mayors.
"This gure is alarming and is another indicator that Israel is not serious about the
peace process, which is supposed to be
about ending the occupation," said Ghassan Khatib, spokesman for Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas' self-rule government in the West Bank.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has played down the new construction, saying it "has no real effect on the
map of a possible (peace) agreement."
However, the renewed settlement construction has jeopardized peace talks
relaunched only last month, with the Palestinians threatening to walk away if the
freeze is not extended. And it could make
the daunting task of partitioning the land

even more difcult.

The building spurt of the past three weeks
compares to average annual housing starts
of about 2,000 in recent years, including just
under 1,900 in 2009 and just over 2,100 in
2008, according to government gures. That
is a rate of about 115 in three weeks, making the current pace more than four times
faster.
The actual number is likely higher. When
ofcials provided a range, the AP used the
lowest gure. And it did not include 133
apartments a contractor said he was building in three settlements, because he did not
say how many were already started.
The Israeli settlement watchdog Peace Now
estimates there have been more than 600
housing starts and plans to release its own
detailed report next week.
Much of the building activity witnessed by
the AP involved leveling ground, and some
settler leaders argue it is premature to dene that as housing starts.
Asked about the AP count, a spokeswoman
for the settler group Yesha Council said: "I
prefer not to get into the numbers game because it's misleading."
About two-thirds of post-freeze work is preliminary and could be halted if the freeze
is renewed, said the spokeswoman, Aliza
Herbst.
Still, the scale of the construction is likely
to harden Palestinian demands that a settlement freeze be reimposed as a condition
for proceeding with the talks. Efforts by the
United States to coax Israel into another
building slowdown have so far failed.
In crisscrossing the West Bank, an AP team
saw bulldozers and jackhammers tearing
into rocky slopes in a number of locations.
(AP)

US activist's family sue Israel

The parents of an American protester
crushed to death seven years ago by an
Israeli bulldozer got their rst chance on
Thursday to confront the man who drove
the vehicle that killed her, Jerusalem
Post reported.
However, the contact in an Israeli courtroom is indirect: The unidentied bulldozer driver was shielded behind a woodand-plastic partition, his voice oating
into the hall over a microphone.
Rachel Corrie's parents were seated
about 15 feet away as he testied publicly for the rst time in their civil lawsuit
against the Israeli government, the report
indicated.
The parents of Rachel Corrie have
spent years battling in Israeli courts for
two modest goals they hope might give
them some closure: an apology from the
military and a chance to look in the eye in
court, the driver of the bulldozer that ran
over their daughter.

They suffered a setback in their quest last

week when a judge declined one of their key
requests. The driver was screened from view
during testimony, and the same is expected
of his commander. Their identities have not
been made public.
The family has petitioned the Supreme
Court to overturn the decision
they say
seeing the bulldozer driver and his commander face-to-face would help them feel
more compassion.
"We are desperately trying to keep our
minds open about this," said father Craig
Corrie, 63.
Rachel Corrie was killed on March 16, 2003,
while standing in the way of a military bulldozer that sought to demolish a Palestinian home in Gaza. An Israeli investigation
claimed she was partially hidden behind a
dirt mound and ruled her death an accident.
The driver and his commander were not
charged or tried and no one was punished
for her death.

Helping the physically

challenged
The term physically challenged means having a physical disability, especially one that
limits mobility. It is considered to be a more
moderate term than using the term disabled people. It means that, although some
members of the society are handicapped in
one way or another, they have to be accepted and accommodated by the society. Islam,
especially, lays a lot of emphasis for people
to help those who are handicapped. This is
manifest in the Glorious Quran, an example
of which is in Suratu Tawbah, aya 60: Alms
are for the poor and the needy, and those
employed to administer the funds; for those
whose hearts have been recently reconciled
(to Truth); for those in bondage and in debt;
in the cause of ALLAH; and for the wayfarer:
thus is it ordained by ALLAH, and ALLAH is
full of knowledge and wisdom.
It is out of this obligation that the Ummah
Foundation has been able to help out the
physically challenged members of the society. Over the years, the Ummah Foundation
has donated hundreds of wheel chairs to the
physically challenged members of the society. An average of seven wheel chairs are
donated by the Ummah Foundation to the
needy every month.
This project runs with the help of members of
the Muslim fraternity, who would like to give
hope to the needy members of the society
as well as make their lives more comfortable.
This project is an answer to one of the objectives of the Ummah Foundation: to empower
the Ummah to be economically and socially
self-sustaining. Many of the physically challenged members of the society that the Ummah Foundation has helped are now able to
go about their businesses with relative ease.
Their happiness is the happiness of the
whole Ummah.
The Ummah Foundation would like to thank
all those who have contributed towards the
success of this project. For those who would
like to help this cause, please contact us
through the following address:
Ummah Foundation
Village Plaza,
Ngara Road, Suite A3
P.O. Box 58717-00200, Nairobi
Tel: 0717 613 3333/ 0732 613333
Email: info@ummahfoundation.net
www.ummahfoundation.net

The Friday Bulletin is a Publication of Jamia Masjid Committee, P. O. Box 100786-00101 Nairobi, Tel: 2243504/5 Fax: 342147 E-mail: fridaybulletin@gmail.com.
Printed by Colour Magic Production Ltd-Kirinyaga Crescent P. O. Box 9581-00100 Nairobi