Shawwal 17,1437/July 22, 2016

www.jamiamasjidkenya.org

Friday Bulletin

The

Issue No. 690

The Weekly Muslim News Update

Extrajudicial killings: President urged to

establish enquiry
A
commission of enquiry with investigative powers should be established to unmask the faces responsible for carrying out extrajudicial killings,
enforced disappearances and torture of
terrorism suspects.
In an indictment on the government, the
executive director of the New York based
Human Rights Watch (HRW) Ken Roth
observed that the abuses were sanctioned by high level authorities in top
level echelons in the government and
said a credible commission appointed by
President is the only means to help unravel evidence which will be instrumental
in the prosecution of those behind the disappearances and killings.
We hope that the President will step in
as it is not sufficient to let the traditional
oversight bodies take over because the
perpetrators involved are far more than
the police, he said in an extensive inter-

view published by the Star newspaper on

Wednesday.
This is a new and disturbing dimension
suggestion senior authorization underscoring the urgency of President Uhuru
Kenyatta himself to acknowledge and take
steps to remedy the situation, he added.
His comments came in a new report released by the rights group which accused
state security agencies for perpetrating human rights abuses in a series of counterterrorism operations in Northeastern and
Nairobi.
The 87-page report titled Deaths and Disappearances: Abuses in Counterterrorism
Operations in Nairobi and Northeastern
Kenya documents at least 34 cases of enforced disappearances and 11 suspected
extrajudicial killings in the hands of state
agents.
People in Northeastern Kenya deserve

protection from Al Shabaab attacks, not

further abuse from the authorities. Rounding people up and refusing to disclose their
whereabouts is a serious crime and only
compounds fears and mistrust in the security forces, said Roth while releasing the
report on Wednesday in Nairobi.
In light of the abuses, Roth said the government has done little to ensure that the
crimes are investigated and those indicted in
the illegalities are brought to justice adding
that the governments silence on the matter
is suspect.
If Kenyans are disappearing, police have
the mandate to actively work with families
and witnesses to locate these people, the
governments silence speaks volumes, said
Roth.
The rights agency said it conducted 117 interviews with victims and witnesses of counterterrorism operations, Imams, government
Continued To Page 2

Ending mistrust between

police and citizens key in
fighting crime

As a means to successful combat

criminal activities, security agencies
should reach out to citizens through
enhancing cooperation and positive
working relationship. Nairobi lawyer
and Islamic scholar Sheikh Ibrahim
Lethome noted that there is a prevailing mistrust between the police and
the common mwananchi explaining
that this state of affairs is a hindrance
to effective strategies in combating
criminal activities.
While he acknowledged the important role played by security agencies
in ensuring law and order, he said a
positive working relationship will significantly reduce the existing climate
of mistrust between the police and
other citizens.
It is important to change the prevailing narrative where citizen look at the
police with mistrust and suspicion. In
the evening hours many people will
rather face criminals instead of the
police who are supposed to be providing them with protection and security,
The secretary general of Ummah Foundation Zool Nimji (centre) helps to lay the founhe said during a panel discussion on
dation stone at the site of the proposed Mosque in Mlolongo, Machakos. Looking on is
the security education television proShaaban Said (left) the Athi River assistant county commissioner. Story on page 2.
Continued To Page 2
This Newsletter contains some of Allahs names. Please do not throw in the trash. Either keep, circulate or shred

Shawwal 17,1437/July 22, 2016

The Friday Bulletin

Report indicts security agencies on human rights abuses

Continued From Page 1

officials, journalists, human rights activists,
police and military officers and community
leaders in the counties of Nairobi, Garissa,
Wajir and Mandera where arbitrary arrests
and police sweeps were prevalent.
The research was conducted over a period
of more than eight months between 2015
and 2016.
According to the report young ethnic Somali Kenyans, Imams and Islamic schools
teachers were arbitrarily arrested in security raids on homes targeting people suspected of having links of Al Shabaab.
They were detained at least initially, in military bases, and makeshift military camps
in forests in Northeastern and other parts
of the country, said the report.
Security agencies implicated in the report
include the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF),
Kenya police, National Intelligence service,

and Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS).

While recognizing the security challenges
facing the country, Roth maintained that remains the responsibility of the government
to ensure that the rule of law is respected
by those tasked with protecting citizens
pointing out that resorting to illegal methods to deal with suspects risks alienating
communities whose input in the war on terror is paramount.
The disappearances and uninvestigated
deaths in the Northeast are illegal and risk
alienating local communities whose cooperation is needed, Roth said.
The case of Omar Yusuf a Mandera resident who was arrested in Mandera town in
April last year is among the harrowing accounts contained in the report.
They told Omar that they wanted to ask
him questions related to national security

Mlolongo residents to get a new Mosque

Residents of Mlolongo phase two, Machakos county have a reason to celebrate
following a pledge from well-wishers to finance the construction of a mosque in the
area.
For many years, the faithful have had to
embark on a lengthy and a hazardous
journey to access the nearest mosque, the
Mlolongo Jamia Mosque located about five
kilometres from the area.
But their plight will soon come to an end
after a positive response from well-wishers
towards their call for a mosque.
Construction of the Sh20 million facilities
which will also have a madrasa is expected
to commence next month and will be financed by well-wishers under the auspices
of Care Muslim UK and with partnership
with Ummah Foundation.
Addressing residents during the groundbreaking ceremony on Sunday, Athi River
Assistant Commissioner Said Shabaan
said setting up religious institutions will help
propagate of Islam and demystify negative
perceptions on Muslims and Islam.
In the world today funny groups have
emerging to tarnish our name and claiming
to represent our religion. We need these institutions to portray the true teachings of Islam and counter such stereotypes. Let the
world know Islam is a peaceful religion, he
said.
The government official advised Muslims
willing to set up religious institution to obtain the necessary documentations to
comply with the law. It is important for
madrassah and mosque committees to
get clearance from relevant authorities to
avoid suspicious of doing illegal activities,
Shabaan further noted.
While urging the residents to cooperate
with security agencies, the assistant county
commissioner called on parents to educate
their children and at the same time ensure
their children are documented by registering for ID cards and birth certificates.

Page 2

Shabaan further challenged the local population to purchase land for cemetery where
Muslims can be buried to ease the burden
of transporting the deceased to Kitengela
and Nairobi for burial.
Local residents delightfully welcomed the
project saying that it will facilitate them in
realizing their religious obligations. Speaking to The Friday Bulletin, Cassim Ochibah
the secretary general of Nuru Mbili selfhelp group spoke on the challenges faced
by the area Muslim community heading to
the Mlolongo Jamia Mosque stating that it
is a perilous activity especially for children
crossing the eight lane busy Mombasa
road highway.
It has been a difficult time for many of
us, we walk for about 40-45 minutes each
prayer time to get to the mosque across
the highway. I dont recall the last time we
prayed fajr prayers in a congregation, he
said.

Take care of your belongings while at

the mosque

This man who did not have any identification documents was nabbed as he made
away with a laptop bag after prayers at
Jamia Mosque.
He was left bleeding after angry worshippers taught him a painful lesson.

after which they would set him free. They

did not introduce themselves but they were
well-known Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officers so Omar did not ask
them to identify themselves. That was the
last time we saw him, said a relative of
Omar Yusuf.
Relatives and families told HRW investigators how they were threatened by police after they kept asking about the whereabouts
of their missing kin.
Counterterrorism operations began in
Northeastern and other Muslim predominated areas after the September 2013
Westgate attack but intensified after the
terror attack on Garissa University College
in April 2015 where 143 people were killed.
In the face of mounting reports of extra
judicial killings and enforced disappearances, Human Rights Watch called on the
government to address police brutality and
put an end to the killings and abductions by
state agents.

End mistrust between police

and citizens

Continued From Page 1

gramme Sitanyamaza aired by religious

broadcasting networks on Tuesday.
The live broadcast is an initiative of the National Committee on Citizen Participation
on Security (Nyumba Kumi initiative) and
faith based broadcaster.
Sheikh Lethome who also serves as a
member of the Jamia Mosque committee
also urged the media to change its narrative on the coverage of terrorism issues
saying that often time, Islam and the Muslim community are collectively blamed for
wrong acts perpetrated by a few deranged
individuals. A terrorist is a terrorist, must
you describe him as a jihadist or Islamist?
he asked while stressing that such expressions are deliberately made to link Islam to
violent activities.
The mistake of one person should not be a
reason to collectively blame a whole community, he added. The scholar called on
all Kenyans to stand in unison in ensuring
that peace and stability prevails warning
that the absence of peace will have negative ramification on all Kenyan irrespective
of their religious or ethnic affiliation.
Speaking on the panel, the Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet said the
police force is keen to work with religious
communities to promote peace and called
for cooperation from all Kenyans in the
fight against criminal activities.
Other speakers in the discussion panel
included Bishop Mark Kariuki, of the Deliverance Church and Joseph Kaguthi the
chairman of the Nyumba Kumi initiative.
A total of 45 television and radio stations
are participating in the Sitanyamaza programme which is aimed at enhancing on
peace, security and religious harmony in
the country.

The Friday Bulletin

DA'WAH

Shawwal 17,1437/July 22, 2016

The Muslims of Turkey: An inspiration to all

Shaikh (Dr) Haitham Al-Haddad

Allah sent back those who disbelieved in
their rage without their achieving any good
at all. Allah saved the believers from having to fight. Allah is Most Strong, Almighty.[
Quran 33:25]
We remind ourselves that Allah is the All
Just. Allah is above all, and never lets
down those who are sincere in upholding
true Islamic values. Allah did not let down
Erdogan and his party, nor the people who
elected him knowing that he is the most
astute, competent and suitable person to
lead Turkey in the right direction. In the
last election, his party secured a landslide
49.4% of the vote, never losing since it was
formed. Whilst Erdogan, as an individual,
gained 52% of the vote in 2014 as a result
of his concurrent achievements for the local people and the Muslim world in general.
An authority, not authoritarian, authorised
by the vast majority of Turkey.
Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, in response to
this mornings news and in reference to
President Erdogan, reminded us of when
Khadijah (radiy-Allahu anha) comforted
the Prophet (sala Allahu alayhi wasalam)
following the first Wahy saying: By Allah,
Allah will never disgrace you. You keep
good relations with your kith and kin, help
the poor and the destitute, serve your
guests generously and assist the deserving
calamity-afflicted ones.[ Sahih Bukhari]
The Turkish government did the same for
its citizens, saving them from the murky
and impoverished, morally and economically bankrupt era of Ataturk, and likewise
aided the Syrians by accommodating nearly three million in humanitarian conditions
which are the best available Syrian refugee
camps in the world. This is not to mention
its immeasurable service to Africa and the
Muslim world. Note, it is only following the
coup attempt that the world feared for the
fate of these needy people!
The Prophet (sala Allahu alayhi wasalam)
further said: Allah helps His slave as
long as he helps his brother.[ Sahih Muslim] And he (sala Allahu alayhi wasalam)
says: recognise and acknowledge Allah in
times of ease and prosperity, and He will
remember you in times of adversity.[ Sahih Tirmidhi]
Erdogan and his government knew the
Syrians and many others in times of ease,
and thus Allah, All-Mighty, in turn supported him in the direst of tests and the most
difficult times, and did not allow him to be
overcome by the plotted schemes of his
adversaries and the evil schemers.
People and the social media went wild following the events in Turkey, full of passion
and emotion over what was happening.
Thousands upon thousands of messages
enticing one another to make Duaa for
Turkey, others of denunciation and solidarity with the legitimate government, others encouraging people to descend to the
streets. Huge, momentous support by all
segments of the Ummah which acted as
one body and force.
Dr. Salman al Oudah tweeted: So the last
remnant of the people who did wrong was
cut off. Praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of
all the worlds! How fast is the relief of Al-

lah?! And how fast is the showing of desperation of His slaves (Qunut)?!
Without doubt, this is a positive sign that
the Ummah is wide awake and wants to
help those sincere in helping the Ummah
and those sincere in following the religion
as much as they can. We need to acknowledge the significance of people collectively
supporting sincere leaders by distinguishing them from the crooks, and distinguishing Erdogan as being of one of the former
category. All of this happened despite the
criticisms levelled at him and his government by so many mouthpieces with vested
interests. The collective commendation of
the Ummah to a person carries so much
significance to the extent that the Prophet
(sala Allahu alayhi wasalam) said: The
angels are the witnesses of Allah in heaven, and you are the witnesses of Allah on
Earth.[ Sunan an-Nasai]
This further actualises the Ayah: If Allah
helps you, no one can vanquish you. If He
forsakes you, who can help you after that?
So the believers should put their trust in Allah.[ Quran 3:160]
What happened shows starkly that real
power and change, after the power of Allah
and change Allah decrees, lies with people, not the military or any other group. We
saw how the people instinctively and immediately took to the streets, so willing to
sacrifice their souls and efforts to save the
face of Turkey, following a single Facetime
call by the much loved President Erdogan,
encouraging people to occupy the streets.
Pictures appeared of men grabbing tanks
with their hands, hurling at them whatever
they could, hitting them with sticks and
confronting swarms of gunfire with their
bare chests. All for their confidence in the
sincerity of their leadership, a fact that cannot be distorted by any gloating outsider.
All the while the BBC and other local
mouthpieces warped pictures as clear as
daylight, experts on the BBC claimed that
this is a situation of an ousted dictator
who cannot get back into the country, just
like any other ousted dictator. Glorification
of the coup was clear by publically funded outlets like the BBC that speak loudly
about their loathing of democracy that
results in Muslim governments. A BBC
radio presenter outrageously mentioned
to a commentator: there is a suggestion
that Erdogan may have staged this coup
to strengthen his grip on the country. Can
you imagine any media outlet repeating
such conspiracies about terrorist attacks
on a western targets?
Videos showed that the people of Turkey,
despite what is said about their humble
levels of religiosity, came out to prove
otherwise, shouting Bismillah, Allahu
Akbar, relying on Allah and raising their
voices with Takbeer. Social media reported
how the Adhan resonated from Masaajid
around Turkey, despite it not being a time
of prayer time upon orders from the Minister of Religious Affairs, Mehmet Gormez.
It was a way of seeking assistance from
Allah. People, in times of calamity return
to Allah, admitting that there is no help for
them save Allah:

Victory comes from no one but Allah. Allah

is Almighty, All-Wise.[ Quran 8:10]
What happened and the response of people ascertains the Islamic identity of Turkey beyond the spiel of any spectator and
in contradiction to the defamation spurted
by local media, that Turkey is divided, or
that people are fed up with conservative
Islam and want a liberal, secular democracy and other such nonsense. The Turkish
governments voter mandate of more than
22 million votes trounces that of Brexit
(17.4 million) and crushes that of the Conservative party altogether (11 million), and
obviously the appointment of Theresa May;
not even a single democratic vote.
This coup exposed the hypocrites in both
the West and across the Muslim world.
Media outlets in some Muslim countries
showed a huge degree of satisfaction at
the coup, then exposed their depression
when the coup failed. It has uncovered real
faces, and will help Turkey clear up the
army, and create a deterrent to any future
coup in shaa Allah.
If something good happens to you, it galls
them. If something bad strikes you, they rejoice at it.[ Quran 3:120]
Look at the stark difference between Erdogan and his rivals who wished to overturn his leadership. Erdogans rivals found
no way for the people to be governed under
a so-called liberal, irreligious and secular
system but to force it down their throats
with military force. They impose a military
against the people strategy. Erdogan, on
the other hand was defended by the people against the military and this is the true
mark of a leader, the one who influences
the people and not the tanks.
Although Turkeys leadership used the approach of democracy to ascend into power,
winning one democratic election after another since 2002, it must be understood
that leadership in general is nothing but a
contract between the leader and the people. If the people select a person or party
Continued To Page 7

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SATURDAY LECTURE

Topic: Tarbiyatul Jismiyyah (Physical upbringing)

By: Sheikh Badru Jafar
Date: 23rd July 2016
Time: After Dhuhr Prayer (1.30 to 3.00 pm)
Venue: Mens Section of the Mosque

Page 3

The Friday Bulletin

WOMEN

Corrupting Hijab: Modesty fashionably misunderstood

Bint us Salaam
Hijab has become a sensitive topic to write
about. Many women will only open themselves to reading an article with the word
Hijab if it has the words latest trends in
its title. But when we open our eyes to the
violation of Hijab and the growing immodesty amongst our Muslim sisters, there is
an even greater need to give out good advice for the pleasure of Allah.
After it was posted, part one of Corrupting
Hijab raised a few comments from readers.
This article is an effort to respond to those.
The most typical was, why do we always
focus on the outside? Its whats inside that
count. This retort is indulged in so often,
by both men and women, people dont realise they express a lack of reasoning and
little knowledge of Hijab.
Sister, if it was what was inside that only
counted then why would the All-Knowing
and All-Wise Allah command women to
cover themselves, in the revelations in the
Quraan? Why would Rasulullah (sallallahu
alayhi wa sallam) command Hijab? Why
the many other obligations we are meant
to uphold? It is obedience to Allah. To obey
to the commands of Allah and His Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) is part of
worshipping Allah.
When we love someone, a spouse, a child
or a parent, our love drives us to express
it openly. Love is never kept in the heart in
these cases. There is a desire to declare
that love either physically or through action
and loyalty. Why then should the love for
Allah, the best love, be something just for
the heart.
Frequently this argument is coupled with,
just because she wears niqab doesnt
mean shes pious. Please note that donning the dress of Hijab has nothing to do
with making a mark of piety. Piety is what
is in the heart and this is what is between
each person and Allah.
People who don the correct dress might
disregard other obligations commanded by
Allah behind closed doors, but not dressing
according to the principles of Hijab in public
is an open violation of the commandments
of Allah. It is a sin we practice in front of
countless of people. It cannot be measured
against her Salaah and whether she prays
Tahajjud as some would argue. In fact the
advice given by scholars to encourage
adopting the dress of Hijab is to work on
correcting and perfecting the salaah.
Then there is the other unfounded assertion that a woman should be able to wear
what she wants, men shouldnt look, and
she is dressing for herself not others. Lowering the gaze is incumbent on both men

Ayah of the week

Ayah
thesteadfast
week
Andofbe
in prayer; practise regular charity; and bow
down your heads with
those who bow down
(in worship).
(Surah Al-Baqarah 2:43)
Page 4

Shawwal 17,1437/July 22, 2016

and women. And people do dress for others hence the importance placed on trends
and the time wasted in front of the mirror
before going out.
Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam)
said that there will be numerous women
who used to wear garments on earth but will
be naked on the Day of Qiyaamah. Once
Ali radhiallahu anhu and Fatima radhiallahu anha went to Nabi (sallallahu alayhi
wa sallam) and found him crying uncontrollably. He (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said
he cried recalling a moment during the Miraj when he had seen six categories of the
females of his Ummah being subjected to
severe forms of torment.
It is narrated that Rasulullah (sallallahu
alayhi wa sallam) had seen women hung
by her hair, suspended in the depth of Jahannam. She walked outside freely exposing her hair to strange men. Oh Fatima,
this is the condition she will suffer on the
day of Qiyamah, said Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). The woman who
was hung by the upper portion of her chest
was an immoral and unchaste woman who
smiled and went out with strange men.
This narration is not intended to instil fear
but should be regarded as a blessing as it
teaches and encourages us to be wary and
make efforts in securing ourselves from the
anger and punishment of Allah. Some say
they dont want to be bound to Hijab out of
fear but fear is what we use to teach a child
not to touch a hot plate. In our daily lives,
fear compels us to stay away from some
things and to take precautions when doing
other things.
Fear of Allahs punishment is what keeps
us away from haraam, why should it not be
a motivation in fulfilling an obligation. This
fear changes into willingness and then joy
and wanting to attain the pleasure of Allah
over time.
The first degree of true Hijab for women is
to remain in the home and conceal themselves and their beauty from the fitnah that
is present outside. The second degree is
women concealing themselves by means
of the Jilbab when they have a need to
leave their home. The Jilbab is a piece of
clothing large enough to cover the entire
body from head to toe.
The third degree deals with the covering
of the face. Some sisters in Islam have a
sincere intention to cover properly but then
they are exposed to YouTube and Facebook tutorials. They are misguided and
taught how they should wear their headscarf. These videos aim to teach sisters
how to beautify the headscarf so that she

Hadith of the week

Quote of the week

It is better to sit alone

than in company with the bad;
and it is better still to sit with
the good than alone. It is better
to speak to a seeker of knowledge than to remain silent;
but silence is better than idle
words. (Bukhari)

The mosques
are our barracks, the
domes our helmets, the
minarets our bayonets
and the faithful our soldiers. (Recep Tayyip
Erdogan,Turkish President

looks more beautiful in it than she does out

of it. If your headscarf looks good it is not
part of the Islamic Hijab. If this aspect of Hijab draws attention and beautifies then you
have contradicted the very essence and
purpose of Hijab. The purpose of the dress
of Hijab is to divert the site not draw it.
The purpose of the laws that deal with
separation between men and women is to
protect a womans chastity and to establish
a society wherein all doors leading to immorality and indecency are closed off right
from its roots. Similarly, the Hijab is also a
mechanism used to further these ideals by
becoming an instrument that hinders zina
in all of its evil forms. It is a sign of honour,
dignity, and Iman that brings to light the revered status of women in the eyes of Allah.
It is about building the qualities of shame
and modesty within.
One of the things that the Shariah preserves and protects is the honour and dignity of people. Our entire society is built
upon removing this honour and dignity,
either in the name of liberalism, freedom
or womens rights. There is no honour and
dignity in what is being propagated as the
rights of women. And there are Muslims
speaking against Hijab and the role of the
Muslim women given to her by Allah.
Love for Allah is a love that triggers you to
want to do everything He has commanded
you to do in order to attain His Pleasure. It
is striving not to displease Allah and yearning to be safeguarded from the shaytaan
and the evil of our nafs.
There are many excellent women who
have fallen into the trap of denying or rejecting Hijab. Some because they arent
ready and others because their views are
distorted. But Allah makes easy for everyone things that are seemingly difficult, if
their hearts are inclined to it.

The Friday Bulletin

Kitchen

Egg Chops

Ingredients:
4 eggs, hard-boiled and peeled Butter
4-5 medium potatoes, boiled and peeled
1 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp red chilli powder (optional)
1/4 tsp black pepper powder
1 Egg, lightly beaten (Season with salt)
1 cup breadcrumbs
Method:
1. Mash the boiled potatoes with the lemon
juice, red chilli powder, pepper and salt.
2. Scoop a handful of the mashed potato
and cover a boiled egg with it, make sure it
is properly covered and smooth.
3. Repeat with the remaining boiled eggs. You
can refrigerate these for about 20 minutes to
help firm them up.
Dip each one in the beaten egg, and then roll
them in the breadcrumbs.
Heat oil on medium and deep fry until golden
and crispy.
Remove on to paper towels to drain off any excess oil. Serve with a dip of your choice.

The Friday Bulletin

YOUTH

Shawwal 17,1437/July 22, 2016

Marriage, relations and Muslim youth

Sheikh Salman al-Auda

Every Muslim community has its handful of of how remote the chances are of actually they have their first partner. Of course, this
seems slightly unfair, as most people in the
out-of-control youth. But these days, even marrying the other person.
the decent children from religious families A closer analysis of this sad reality will de- West have their first partner early on in the
are falling into Haram when it comes to pict that on one hand, we have youngsters teenage life, if not even sooner!
pre-marital relationships. Yes, were talking who legitimately feel the need for a part- What needs to be promoted, and espeabout those youth in the community who ner, someone who can provide them with cially to the religious and active teens and
have pretty much been born and raised in emotional support, solve their problems, youth in the community, is that marriage
the Islamic center.
and give them something to look forward should not be delayed until either the boy
The ones whose parents try their best to to each day. On the other hand, we have or girl are entirely settled. Lets face realguide their children to the path of Islam, youth who never felt the need for a part- ity here, Muslim youth who have a pretty
and once most of the fundamentals have ner but unexpectedly came across the good understanding of their faith and the
been engraved into the minds of these opportunity to be a part of a relationship logic behind its Divine laws actually look
youngsters, the only hassle for these par- and were sucked in before they could think forward to marriage, because as parents
ents is to try and keep their children on the twice about it. Whatever the justification, often tend to overlook these days, it is in
flawless path of Islam. Now the question at one thing is for sure it is becoming harder fact a part of our religion, and it is encourhand is: why are such good Muslim youth for the Muslim community to keep a hold of aged at an early age for the sole purpose
faltering when it comes to pre-marital rela- its decent youth, and it all has to do with of allowing us to become better believers!
the fact that they are finding it harder to We all know that marriage secures half of
tionships?
For starters, half of these boys and girls resist the temptations that Haram relation- your faith, but our Holy Prophet (peace be
upon him and his progeny) also said that
truly believe that it is perfectly Halal to ships have to offer.
be involved with their cyber boyfriend or So whats the solution? Sending our chil- when it comes to a young person who margirlfriend because its not in real life. But dren to single-gender or Islamic schools? ries at the beginning of his/her youth, his/
when these cyber relationships grow and Have our children engaged to some distant her devil moans and intensively regrets
the emotional attachthat s(he) has proIts time for the Muslim community to wake up and realize that if we tected two-thirds of
ment is so great that
from online chatting
plan on our next generation being good Muslims, we must frankly his/her faith from
and emails it turns into
Satan! Sadly, parand openly discuss the issue of marriage with our children
incessant texting and
ents are failing to
four-hour-long
late
realize the necesnight phone conversations in which I love relative as soon as they become of age? sity and
benefits of having
you is said every minute, we have a slight Being tougher on them by taking away todays generation at least Nikkah-ed by
problem.
their Internet access and mobile phones? the time they are in their late teens, early
The more alarming problem is when Mus- Some parents try these strategies prior to twenties. Each case is unique, however.
lim youngsters take such relationships to any incidents occurring so that their chil- So whats essential is that our youth are
the next level and go to the extent of meet- dren are not given any opportunities to given a realistic timeframe, and it is only
ing each other, whether this be around get involved with such relationships. Other fair for todays young generation to know
school, work, cafes, or even at community parents implement all (if not more of) these when they can expect to be permitted by
functions. Everybody knows that when a solutions all at once when the unfortu- their parents to enter a Halal and loving renon-mahram boy and girl are left alone to- nate crackdown occurs and the children lationship.
gether (without going into too many trau- are confronted by their parents and family Excessive fears of how early marriages will
matizing graphic details), Shaitan is always about their personal life. In most cases, cope if our children havent completed their
present and suggesting new and interest- the success rate of all these solutions is education, how our daughter will starve to
death unless the boy she is marrying is a
ing ways of doing more Haram. This is the nothing more than epic failure.
stage when the youth do realize that what Lets do justice to ourselves. Before com- doctor, how our sons wont get along with
they are doing is prohibited, but because ing up with a magnificent solution that will girls unless they look like supermodels,
theyve been so involved for such a long solve all our problems, we need to identify how the next generation will be completely
period of time now, they simply cant let what the underlying issue at hand is. For Westernized if either boy or girl is unable
go.
most people, the desire to have a partner to fluently speak in their native language
This is usually the point at which the good and being with someone usually sprouts are all completely bizarre and unrealistic
youth admit that theyve gone slightly off when they are in their mid-late teens, expectations. All that is needed is a batrack from their faith but believe they are and they are not to blame. Its a natural sic maturity level, and after that, parents,
still better than those other out-of-control instinct to feel this way, and anyone who scholars, and community leaders have an
youth, as their pre-marital relationships is attended those elementary school health obligation to encourage among our youth
the only area of their faith in which they fal- classes knows that sexual activity and re- the kind of mental and emotional maturity
ter. And besides, a bit of Haram cant hurt lationships with the opposite gender are they need in order to become successful
if the idea is to marry the person I love, encouraged from a very young and most husbands and wives.
probably an unhealthy age.
Its time for the Muslim community to wake
right?
Sometimes the youth find themselves in Simply put, there is a need for the parents up and realize that if we plan on our next
this situation because the person they are to address the importance of marriage at generation being good Muslims, we must
involved with is usually the person who an early age for our youth. The sad poli- frankly and openly discuss the issue of
they intend to marry, and they originally cies of Youre not going to get married marriage with our children. Times have
started speaking to him/her as it was all until you have enough money to buy a changed, and it is extremely pressing for
just to get to know them. Of course, within house, You need to complete your under- us to be considerate towards these emothe limits of Hijab, it is possible to get to graduate, post-graduate and then get a job tional and physical needs of our youth, so
know a person in a permissible way, but before you can marry, and Its impossible that we may put a stop to all this Haram
as we all know thats not the case for the for us to find you a good boy/girl! are tak- that we ourselves are causing them to
majority of youth in this situation, and while ing our communities towards unimaginable resort to. As the Holy Prophet said, Join
being involved for marriage purposes is disaster. Islam has encouraged marriage your children in marriage, because thereby
the usual excuse, the fact of the matter is as early as possible, and yet our youth are Allah renders their tempers good, adds
that its actually about having the satisfac- getting the idea that they will be in their to their sustenance, and increases their
tion of being in a relationship, regardless late twenties or early thirties by the time sense of honor. (Islamicinsights.com)

Page 5

The Friday Bulletin

The modern Turkish state was born out of

the fall of the Ottoman Empire which led to
the abolition of the Islamic caliphate. Kemal
Atatrk known as the founder of Turkey introduced a number of reforms which would
diminish the role of Islam in the country.
Madrasahs were closed, religious clothing was banned, the call to prayer was
changed from Arabic to Turkish and a host
of other secular laws were introduced.
Turkey has remained highly secular for a
number of decades and continues to be
so till this day. However, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) under
the leadership of Recep Tayyip Erdoan,
former Prime Minister and now President
have reversed some of the laws introduced
by Atatrk and have in effect, made Turkey
more Islamic.
Here are 7 ways Turkey has become more
Islamic:
1. Thousands of Mosques built
According to The Atlantic, 17,000 new
mosques have been built by the Turkish
government between 2002 2013. Many
more Mosques are currently under development around the country and significant
amounts have been spent refurbishing Ottoman-era mosques.
2. Hijab bans lifted
The Hijab was banned in the public sector, banning teachers, lawyers, parliamentarians and others working in state run institutions from wearing it. In recent years,
the Justice and Development Party have
lifted bans wearing the Hijab in schools
and state institutions. In November 2015,
a female judge became the first woman to
conduct a trial in Turkey wearing a headscarf (Al Arabiya).
In August 2015, Aysen Gurcan became the
first Hijab-wearing government minister (Al
Arabiya).
3. 1 million students enrolled in ImamHatip (Khatib) schools
Imam-Hatip schools are vocational education institutions designed to provide religious education and train Imams. Mosques

FEATURE

Turkey-A closer look

in Turkey are government appointed and
many Imams are trained in Imam-Hatip
schools. These schools were founded after
Madrasahs were banned under Atatrks
reforms.
In 2002, there were 65,000 students involved in Imam-Hatip schools. The number
grew to 658,000 in 2013 and recently, Bilal
Erdoan who is spearheading the expansion of Imam-Hatip schools announced that
the number of students has now reached
one million (The Turkey Analyst).
4. Compulsory religious education Introduced
Compulsory religious education classes
were introduced by the government across
Turkish schools. Courses on the life of
Prophet Muhammad, and the Quran
have also been introduced (The Turkey
Analyst).
President Erdoan has been quoted as
saying: We want to raise a religious youth,
Do you expect the conservative democrat
AK Party to raise an atheist generation?
That might be your business, your mission,
but not ours. We will raise a conservative
and democratic generation embracing the
nations values and principles,
5. Age-limit on quran courses abolished
Children had to be at least 12 years old before they could attend Quran classes. This
was abolished by the ruling government
allowing young children to attend Quran
classes. In 2013, a project was launched
for the provision of Quran courses for preschoolers. (The Turkey Analyst).
6. Restrictions placed on alcohol sale
and advertisement
Secular Turkey has allowed the sale of alcohol in the majority Muslim country. The
Justice and Development Party passed a
bill in 2013 introducing a ban on advertising alcohol within 100 metres of a mosque
or school.
Blurring out depictions of alcohol on television and in films was also made mandatory
(Reuters).

Here are some more facts on Turkey and why the

attempted coup against Erdogan failed
1.Turkish economy between 2002 and
2012 caused a growth of 64% in real GDP
and a 43% increase in GDP per capita.
2. Erdoan inherited a debt of $23.5 billion
to the IMF, which was reduced to $0.9 billion in 2012. He decided not to sign a new
deal. Turkey's debt to the IMF was thus
declared to be completely paid and he announced that the IMF could borrow from
Turkey.
3. In 2010, five-year credit default swaps
for Turkey's sovereign debt were trading at
a record low of 1.17%, below those of nine
EU member countries and Russia.
4. In 2002, the Turkish Central Bank had
$26.5 billion in reserves. This amount
reached $92.2 billion in 2011. During
Erdoan's leadership, inflation fell from
32% to 9.0% in 2004.
5. Under Erdoan's government, the number of airports in Turkey increased from 26

Page 6

to 50.
6. Between 2002 and 2011, another 13500
km of expressway were built.
7. For the first time in Turkish history, high
speed railway lines were constructed, and
the country's high-speed train service began in 2009. In 8 years, 1076 km of railway
were built and 5449 km of railway renewed.
8. Erdogan put greater investments into the
healthcare system than any predecessor.
As part of the reforms, the "Green Card"
program, which provides free health benefits to the poor.
9. Erdoan increased Education spending
from 7.5 billion lira in 2002 to 34 billion lira
in 2011, the highest share of the national
budget given to one ministry and number of
universities in Turkey nearly doubled, from
98 in 2002 to 186 in October 2012.
10. In 1996 1$=222 Lira and in 2016
1$=2.94 Lira (even after recent turmoil)

Shawwal 17,1437/July 22, 2016

Student dormitories, health institutions,
sports clubs, education institutions and
gas stations have been banned from selling alcohol on premises and all the sale of
alcohol after 10pm is banned elsewhere
(Hurriyet Daily News).
7. Expansion of Islamic banking
In a recent speech, the Turkish President
has called the interest-based banking system cruel and has talked about the benefits of Islamic banking: If we are to jump
forward we need to grow within a real participation system rather than this cruel one.
Islamic financing is a completely different
system from the current banking system in
terms of its asset-backed structure, its reliance on risk share and its structure closed
to speculation. I believe that this system
will be the driving force behind the Turkish
economy.

Syria war: Dozens killed in

'US-led strikes' on Manbij
Dozens of civilians have been killed in USled air strikes against areas in Syria held
by the Islamic State of Syria and the Levant
group (ISIL, also known as ISIS), a monitoring group said.
At least 56 civilians, including 11 children,
were killed in air strikes on the Tokhar area
in the northern city of Manbij in the Aleppo
governate on Tuesday, according to the
Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
Ten others, including four children, were
killed in coalition strikes on the village of
Hamira, in the southern suburbs of Manbij.
The UK-based Observatory has put the
total number of civilians killed by coalition
strikes on Manbij since the Democratic
Forces of Syria (DFS) launched their campaign there at the end of May, at 167.
Among the dead were about 44 children,
17 women and eight prisoners, the Observatory said.
"The US central command has confirmed
to Al Jazeera that it was conducting air
strikes in the area and says it needs to investigate allegations of whether civilians
were injured or killed in this incident," Al
Jazeera's Rosiland Jordan, reporting from
Washington, said.
Director of the Observatory Rami AbdelRahman told German news agency DPA:
"We believe that the raids which were carried out Tuesday were by US [or] allied
planes, but it was by mistake."
Residents in the area say the death toll
could be upwards of 200.
"It seems that the Syrian Democratic Forces under the leadership of the International
coalition which is in charge of planning
have decided to adopt a scorched earth
policy," Hasan al-Nifi, a community leader
in Manbij, told Al Jazeera.
"Manbij is full of residents, a quarter of a
million residents, used by ISIL as human
shields. Yesterday the coalition struck alZahuna neighbourhood, where more than
23 people were killed. Then it struck the
western gate of the city, killing people.
"Today the residents of Tokhar woke to a
horrific massacre. The death toll rose to
Continued To Page 8

The Friday Bulletin

NATIONAL

Wajir hit by strange skin disease

A rare skin disease which has affected 10
children in Wajir has sparked off health
concerns among county residents.
The strange disease has been identified
by medical experts as ichthyosis who explained that it is a combination of more than
20 genetic disorders. Symptoms of the disease are characterized by dry and scaly
skin that fall off resulting in open wounds.
Apart from the usual excessive pains, the
disease also disfigures the body and even
cripples the victims.
Two children Abshir Salat and Misky Bulle
are the notable victims of ichthyosis and
are currently specialized treatment at the
national referral health facility, Kenyatta
National Hospital (KNH).
The children were flown to Nairobi with the
support of well-wishers after their plight
was highlighted across various social media platforms.
Ten-year-old Abshir is the most affected
after the disease crippled him. For fear of
stigmatization, their parents chose to leave
them at home instead of taking them to
health centres where early treatment could
have reduced the impact of the disease.

Eight other children are known to suffer from similar conditions and are now
hospitalized at the Wajir County Referral Hospital.
According to Dr. Kassim Muhammad
the medical Superintendent at Wajir
hospital the disease has no cure and it
can only be managed. He allayed fears
that it is a viral disease which could
spread widely. We are attending to six
children with similar case. The disease
is hereditary, it is not contagious therefore there is no cause for alarm, he told
the Friday Bulletin.
We are giving the affected children
creams to apply, as we continue to observe them. Those who respond to the
treatment will be discharged because
the disease is not curable, the treatment is only meant to improve the condition not to cure them, he added.
The doctor called on the relevant government institutions to conduct more
research to manage the disease and
urged the Muslim community to extend
counselling and psychological support
to the distressed families of the children.

Over 200 orphans benefit from Kadhi feeding programme

Over 200 orphans from the Muslim community in Kisumu benefited from a feeding
programme initiated by the Vihiga Kadhi.
Through support from Muslims and wellwishers Sheikh Ally Wayu Bakari facilitated
a feeding programme and food donations
to orphans and less fortunate members of
society to put a smile on their faces during
the Eid- ul- Fitri festivities.
Also to give helping a hand through its
corporate social responsibility programme
was mobile service provider Safaricom
company which donated foodstuffs worth
Sh100, 000 distributed to various Islamic
orphanages within Kisumu.
The mobile provider also provided clothing
to over 50 orphans from various orphanages.
Sheikh Ally called on Muslims across the
country to give support to orphans and the
needy in the society to improve on their
livelihood stressing that it was it imperative
for wealthy Muslims to utilize their God given wealth to care and support the welfare
of orphans and the needy.
"Islam encourages Muslims to live life by
helping each other as it will create a sense
of respect and love amongst mankind regardless of family, kin, friends, neighbours
or strangers. One of the ways for us to implement this concept of helping one another is through the act of giving alms," Sheikh
Ally said.
The Kadhi also dispelled the common
misconception that individuals might have
about giving alms. While it may seem like
their wealth is decreasing by giving to others, Sheikh Ally said that that was not the
case. "In fact, the donated wealth is not diminished. Allah will enhance and increase
prosperity," he explained.
The Vihiga Kadhi also reminded Muslims

that when they gave alms or donations,

it had to be done with sincere intentions.
Among the beneficiaries of the programme were orphans drawn from
Dawn of Hope Islamic center Bandani
Manyatta Arabs, Mama Khadija Mkendwa orphanage, Railways Islamic center
and orphanage and Kaloleni Islamic
center.

The Muslims of Turkey: An

inspiration to all

Continued From Page 3

to be their leader, they essentially endorse a contract between themselves
and their leadership. Thus it becomes
that anyone who breaks this contract
has committed an act of impermissible
exiting against the Islamically authorised leadership (Khuruj) or the grave
sin of wanting to nullify this binding contract which has been ratified by the vast
majority of the people. Though it came
about through elective democracy, it is
still a religiously binding Sharee matter that has such weight.
The Prophet (sala Allahu alayhi
wasalam) further said: Reconciliation
is allowed among the Muslims, except
for reconciliation that makes the lawful
unlawful, or the unlawful lawful. And the
Muslims will be held to their conditions,
except the conditions that make the
lawful unlawful, or the unlawful lawful.[
At-Tirmidhi]. Meaning the conditions
that they ratify as binding for themselves including how they collectively
choose to elect their leader.
Dr. Haitham al-Haddad is a jurist and
serves as a judge for the Islamic Sharia Council of Britain.

Shawwal 17,1437/July 22, 2016

Muslim sponsored secondary

schools launch Association
Muslim sponsored secondary schools in Kakamega County have formed an association
which is expected to promote education collaboration and enhance on learning among the
institutions.
The Kakamega County Muslim Schools Association (KCMSA) brings together eight Muslim
secondary schools which include, Kakamega
Muslim Secondary School, Mumias Muslim
boys School, Mumias Muslim girls Secondary
School, Buhayi Muslim School, Busombi Muslim Secondary School, Emanani Muslim Secondary School, Makunda Muslim School and
Shibanze Muslim Secondary Schools.
Among its goals, the association seeks to
improve on academic partnerships, promote
closer cooperation between the institutions,
share resources and promote ideas that will
enhance on the learning as well as create a
platform for networking among students.
The schools have also come up with an initiative for a joint evaluation tests for Muslim
sponsored institutions as a means to improve
on their academic standards.
Speaking during the launch ceremony in
Kakamega, the Mumias Muslim Community
chairman Ismael Muchelule commended the
schools for coming up with the association and
exuded confidence that it will go a long way in
contributing to the improvement of education
standards in the community.
Muchelule further exhorted the teachers to develop new methods in teaching to uplift academic standards among Muslim students and
help revamp the lost glory of Muslims in the
education sector.
''As we reflect and ponder on the performance
of Muslims in the education sector in the region and the country as a whole, there is need
for you as school managers, teachers and
education stakeholders in the Muslim community to take up your role of putting up measures improve on educational standards,'' said
Muchelule.
Kakamega County Muslim Education Council
(MEC) representative, Hassan Ngeri advised
the students to work hard to attain good grades
that would see them join institutions of higher
learning, stressing that to achieve this, they
needed discipline, dedication and hard work.
In her remarks the Kakamega County Teachers Service Commission director Janet Onyango
called on students to keep away from rebellion and unrest that has in the recent past seen
schools in part of the country being burned and
vandalized by undisciplined students, adding
this inconveniences their parents especially in
this period of economic hardship.
In his remarks, the Muslim Education Secretariat Western Region Chairperson Ramadhan
Baraza urged students to change their attitude
towards sciences especially mathematics and
reflect on the rich Islamic heritage where Muslims made great scientific innovations and produced great scientists whose legacy continues
to be felt in this contemporary world.

Page 7

Syria war: Dozens killed

Continued From Page 6
212 and the numbers are rising." The Manbij area has seen intense US-led
air strikes in support of Kurdish-led forces who are trying to seize the city
from ISIL, so as to block the armed group's access to the nearby Turkish
border.
The SDF, an alliance of Arab and Kurdish fighters backed by the US,
launched an offensive against ISIL to retake the city of Manbij late last
month.
They have besieged the town and are advancing to the city centre under
the cover of air strikes by the US-led international coalition.
ISIL has held the city since 2014, the year that the armed group seized
control of large parts of Syria and neighbouring Iraq and declared its "caliphate".
The death toll in the Syrian conflict, which began with mostly unarmed demonstrations against President Bashar al-Assad in March 2011, has risen to
more than 280,000 people, while half the country's population has been
forced from their homes, according to UN estimates.

SUNDAY

WAMY HIGH SCHOOL PRIZE GIVING DAY

Assalam aleykum,
The Board of Management, Teachers, Parents, Students & Staff of Wamy High School cordially invite
you to our Annual Prize-Giving Ceremony for 2015
KCSE results.
The event will be held on Saturday 23rd July, 2016
at the school compound starting 9.00 am.
Guest of Honour: Hon Aden Duale, EGH, MP
Garissa Township and the Leader of the Majority
in the Kenyan National Assembly.
You are kindly requested to attend.
2015 KCSE RESULTS ANALYSIS
Enrolment A
103

A- B+ B

B- C+ C C- D+ D

12 51 25 11 1

1 0 0 0

D- E
0 0

N/B.

Two students secured an A (84points), the highest KCSE

marks in the country.

Ramadhan spirit keeps on

Many people are sentenced to prisons for various reasons, for different terms. Some are jailed for too long,
ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment. It all depends
with the nature of their crimes. The intention of the government is to isolate them from the society where they
can access rehabilitation and acquire new skills in life
that can change their lifestyles once they are released
to the society. To most of them, it is a break in life and a
period to reflect and make new resolutions in ones life
worthwhile. The conditions in which they are kept are often a disgrace and that alone is a deterrent to recidivism.
The government works very hard to impose correctional
measures to the inmates but that alone is not enough,
apart from addressing the bodies, there is great need to
address issues related to the heart and cognisant minds.
Ummah Foundation with its Prisoners Rehabilitation Program (PRP) works to improve the inmates general wellbeing, despite the restrictions of the prison environments.
This is a rehabilitation program that engages the inmates
on a personal level within a period he/she is serving the
term to appreciate the fact that there is a clean life after
prison and relapsing into crime is a chicanery that harms
the society and humanity forever. We also instil noble
virtues of respect to the authority and promote positive
bonding between all people and encourage them to take
active roles in learning and acquiring knowledge. Our
sole aim is to reduce reoffending through spiritual training
and rehabilitation.
We also appreciate the fact that we have mothers who
are offenders and in one way or another, innocent child
below the age of 4 years find themselves within the prison conditions. It is very important to know that the initial
stages of a child in life are very critical as they need emotional, intellectual and physical development next to their
mothers. The babies therefore are in need of learning
units, diapers and clothes. Ummah Foundation supports
all efforts that are geared in ensuring that this vulnerable
group is accommodated properly by getting these basic
needs.
During the holy month of Ramadhan, Ummah Foundation through its Prisoners Rehabilitation Program went
around the country visiting the male and female prisons
and supplied them with Sanitary kits, shoes, diapers,
prayer mats, kanzus, dates and other food stuffs. We
appreciate the prison department for facilitating our accessibility and their cordial reception that accorded us the
chance to offer the needed services. We also thank Sister
Taznim Dossa, the Managing Director of Easy Coach Ltd
who offered us free transportation of the items to 25 prisons in the country. May Allah reward you amply and your
staff for your continuous support. We should thank all the
volunteers and well-wishers who donated their time and
resources to fulfil this noble call.
The issue of recidivism has become one of the most
pressing challenges facing society today and as a nation
we must pull our concerted efforts to put a correct mark
in our moral and mental degradation. By partnering with
Ummah Foundation, we can eventually bring a lasting
change that we all desire in shaa llah.
Ummah Foundation
Village Plaza,2nd Floor Ngara Road
P.O.Box 58717-00200 , Nairobi, Kenya
Tel:+254-20-2680610/13, Mobile: +254734845277
E.Mail: info@ummahfoundation.net
Web: www.ummahfoundation.net

The Friday Bulletin is a Publication of Jamia Masjid Committee, P. O. Box 100786-00101 Nairobi, Tel: 2243504/5 Fax: 342147
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