The

Friday Bulletin
Rabi' ul Thaany 28,1435/February 28,2014

The Weekly Muslim News Update

Issue No. 565

Call for Jihadof unity in Pumwani

A
commissioner with the Independent Electoral and Boundary Commission (IEBC) has urged residents of Pumwani to set aside their differences and work together in uplifting the lives of the local people. Ambassador Yusuf AbdulrahmanNzibotold Muslims to initiate efforts to bring about unity of Muslims in the area and said it was appalling that even after the completion of the PumwaniRiyadha mosque which was expected to bring the people together, divisions remain evident. It is sad that even after the mosque was completed through the efforts of the youth, divisions are still rife. The Jumuah (Friday) prayers continuous to be held at different areas with both camps competing over the public address system regarding whose voice will be heard loudly, he said apparently referring to the prayers conducted a few metres away from the mosque at a makeshift facility erected within the Pumwani Social hall grounds. For how long will prayers continue to be held in the tent, he asked? Nzibo said Pumwani has a rich history of Islam in Nairobi and Muslim organisations have a responsibility to bring the people together and ensure that unity is restored. Where is SUPKEM (Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims), Majlisn Ulamaa, NAMLEF (National Muslim Leaders Forum) and even our MP Yusuf Hassan? Are we waiting for the District Commissioner and outsiders to come and pacify and unite us? said the commissioner who was born in the area. Why have failed to initiate the Jihad of unity in Pumwani? he asked. The commissioner expressed the sad state of affairs and spoke passionately about a sense of unity which had existed in the predominantly Muslim suburb in the olden times saying that even though differences were noticeable, they were tolerated and managed without generating into animosity as is the present case.

The imposing Pumwani Riyadha mosque towers over the slum area of Majengo.

Concern over rising divorce cases in Mandera

The Mandera County Kadhi has raised concerns over the increased cases of women going to the Kadhis' courts to seek divorce. Sheikh AdanGalgalo said that exaggerated demands and greed for wealth by some parents were leading to the cases where women seek to divorce their poor husbands to marry wealthy men,adding that urgent measures and interventions are needed to tackle this worrying trends. Speaking to the Friday Bulletin, SheikhGalgalo noted that on average sixty divorce cases are reported every month and eighty one cases are yet to be heard and determined at the ManderaKadhis' court. He cited demands by parents and peer pressure from families as the main cause leading to high divorce rates. ''Most women here are initiating divorce cases because members of their families are advising them to leave the poor men and seek rich men,''he said KadhiGalgalo further said while Islam bestows the right of divorce to the man, he expressed surprised that in Mandera it is the opposite case as women are claiming this right, which he said does not augur well for posterity in the family. The judicial officer said there is need for Islamic scholars to step up the drive against these rising incidences through provision of guidance and counseling to safeguard the sanctity of marriage for harmony to prevail in the nascent families. ''Most people are ignorant of the Islamic
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This Newsletter contains some of Allahs names. Please do not throw in the trash. Either keep, circulate or shred

www.islamkenya.org

The Friday Bulletin

Rabi' Ul Thaany 28, 1435/February,28 2014

EDITORIAL

Muslims must stand against homosexuality

Under normal circumstances Muslims find it distasteful to get engaged in making the issue of homosexuality a topic of discussion because sometimes evil is spread through discussion. Furthermore when Muslims discuss this or similar unlawful acts they often say ''Aadhana Allah min dhalik'' or' 'May Allah protect us from this. ''This is because when people hear a wrong and sinful act mentioned repeatedly they get used to it and then slowly it loses its gravity in their own minds and souls. However, nowadays this act has become a phenomenon. There are agencies and lobby groups that are working hard to propagate it and make it acceptable as part of modern lifestyle. For this reason it is a matter of necessity that Muslims should speak against this vice. We should warn our youth and children against this satanic lifestyle, we should make it clear that in Islam it is haram(absolutely forbidden)and that indulging in this momentous evil is an invitation of the wrath of Allah. Homosexuality is sinful in Quranic terminology it is called'' alFahsha''or an atrocious and obscene act. Islam teaches that believers should neither commit obscene acts nor in any way engage in their propagation. Allah says; Those who love(to see)obscenity spread among the believers will have a grievous penalty in this life and in the Hereafter. Allah knows and you know not''(Quran 24:19). In Islamic jurisprudential literature, homosexuality is referred to as the ''Behaviour of the people of Lut' 'or 'amal qawm Lut''. This immediately reminds a person that this is something bad that makes one subject to the punishment of Allah. No sooner the minds get used to this than they develop abhorrence towards it. It is therefore commendable that Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has set an example as among the few leaders to boldly stand firm and signed anti-gay law despite pressure from the West to decriminalize homosexuality and legalize same sex marriage. The Kenya Constitution has also put it in unambiguous terms that same sex marriages have no room in the Kenyan society. Article 45(2) states: ''Every adult has the right to marry a person of opposite sex based on free consent of the parties.'' All religions and African communities in Kenya and the world in general are unanimously against it. It is true that some countries in the world especially in the so called developed world have legalized homosexuality, lesbianism, same sex marriages and prostitution in the name of human rights. But this does not mean that Kenyans should ape other countries blindly without considering their own religious and traditional standards of judgment. Hence, while there is nothing wrong with Human rights lobby groups championing the rights of the minorities, this should not be done at the expense of destroying the moral fabric of the entire nation. These lobby groups should instead move with conscience and sincerity by seeking resources to rehabilitate homosexuals instead of propagating the vice.

Youth launch Muslim information web portal

A group of youth have teamed up and initiated a lifestyle and information website that targets the Kenyan Muslim community. The information portal ummah.co.ke is the brain child of three young men KaraganiaMwamlole, Hassan NuraAbdulkadir and HyderAlhadHyder. Karagania spent 19 years in Botswana and is sharing his experience from the small but well organized and productive Muslim community in mapping out the activities and structures on the website. Hassan is a second year Law student at the University of Nairobi while Hyderan aspiring entrepreneur and a student at Strathmore university. The websitesfocus includescurrent affairs of local and international Muslim events, personal growth, Islamic History and Lifestyle Issues. It featuresa directory for Muslim institutions in the country and provides a listing for mosques with information on their capacity, contacts, activities and services as well as a google map location and public transport guide to the mosque. Through Radio Ummah, visitors will be able to listen to Friday khutbas from various mosques and lectures from reputable scholars. It will also cover stories and new developments in this sector in regards to the Muslim Business Community. Opportunities will also be provided to bloggers to write on various community oriented issues. In order not to alienate any reader, we will stay off fiqh issues and other matters that are strictly related to religion. This will help bring together the community and help us focus on issues that are affecting our daily lives while at the same time keep us away from the haram, explains Hydar. Ummah.co.ke expects to highlight the achievement of Muslim personalities contemporary times and the past who have contributed to the religious, social and economic development of Muslims. This will put into focus their stories, journeys, achievements and impact in Kenya or abroad. This aims to inspire the community and recognize the ones who have done great things, he added.

Mandera divorce cases

sharia pertaining to marriage as an institution,hence making it difficult to make decisions,'' he added. He told parents to encourage their children to marry to preserve their modesty and strongly spoke against practices where parents reject suitable spouses for their children on the basis of tribe,ethnic and financial backgrounds and stressed that they should instead provide them with support and guidance. Sheikh Galgalo advised residents to respect the institution of marriage and view it as an institution which two people come together to begin he long journey of raising a family.
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1. Secretary KCSE C-(minus) or its equivalent Diploma Secretarial Studies and computer literate 2. Technician with the following combination (i) Welding/Plumbing (ii) Carpentry/Plumbing (iii) Welding/electrical Application in own handwriting and copies of certificates and testimonials must reach the undersigned on or before 7th March 2014 SECRETARY BOG Box 70541-00400 Nairobi Email:wamyhighschool@yahoo.com 2

WAMY HIGH SCHOOL VACANCIES

Rabi' Ul Thaany 28, 1435/February,28 2014

The Friday Bulletin

Da'wa
Deana Nassar

Bad Manners? Don't Pretend to Follow the Sunnah

pulously the moral duties imposed on him by Allah without being engaged in additional fasts and prayers as mentioned earlier, attains the degree of excellence of the man who stands up in prayer all night and fasts all day long. It is without doubt that we may fall into the trap and think times have changed, but this is no excuse for society to deteriorate with regards to behavior. Bad habits picked up over the years in dealing with people can sometimes be difficult to let go of and may not even seem that bad. However, we need to strive in changing the undesirable so our families, friends, peers, and others can see the better of us. Allah says: Verily Allah changes not the condition the people until they change what is in themselves. (13:11) And also And those who strive hard in us certainly will. We guide them in our ways; and verily Allah is always with those who do good. (29:69) Since manners and respect are taught at home, it is one of our parentings great responsibilities to teach these values. We must instill in our children and its never too early that good manners are about treating everyone we meet with consideration, dignity and kindness. The Quran reads: And turn not your face away from men with pride, nor walk in insolence through the earth. Verily, Allah likes not any arrogant boaster. (31:18) By raising our children well we illustrate that our good dealings not only will ensure that we are not violating other peoples rights but will also make us accepted, loved and appreciated by others. Manners make a man' is a true saying and by manners we mean proper and respectful behavior towards all with whom we come in contact. Luqman the Wise was a great example on raising his son in these mannerisms where he cited: O my son: Let your speech be good and your face be smiling; you will be more loved by the people than those who give them provisions. We know that experience shows that life becomes pleasant when we can manage our work and relationships well. Quranic wisdom and the many examples of the prophets dealings with people should help us steer our relationships and keep them on the right track. In Islam we are taught to cultivate all good, noble moral and social qualities and to avoid everything that is mean, uncalled for or wicked. We are taught that these virtues are important and without which no one can hope to be a good Muslim and a true believer. We are taught in the hadith:Certainly, patience, truthfulness, clemency and good manners are among the prophets characteristics. On the Day of Resurrection, nothing better than good manners will be put in ones scales. (At-Tirmidhi, 626) We are also reminded:That the messenger would busy himself with the remembrance of Allah; he would not talk in vain. He would lengthen his prayers and shorten the speech, and he would not hesitate to help and take care of the needs of a needy, poor or widow. Kindness to parents, spouses, family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues is discussed in many of the prophets stories with focus on generosity, honesty humility and mercy on mankind. One such story relays that an elderly woman who intended to leave Makkah since she did not like the idea of a new religion being preached by a young man named Muhammad didnt realize that he was the one helping her carry her belongings to the outskirts of the city. Complaining all the way about a new faith being preached, which required giving up old customs and practices, she finally asked the Prophet his name just before parting. On coming to know that this was the man on account of whom she was about to leave Makkah she not only retraced her steps and changed her decision of leaving, but also accepted Islam indicating that good manners

Good manners endear us to others. A polite answer turns away anger and a kind word uttered in time may save us from many troubles. It is politeness which succeeds while ability fails. Even a good action will lose its value if the person doing favor utters impolite words. It is on this note that we, as Muslims, should endeavor to learn from the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who summarized the goal of his entire message into the perfection of the best of conduct in the beautiful hadith:I have been sent to perfect the best of manners (Muwatta Malik) The Quran also describes the Prophet and his ways:Indeed you stand on an exalted standard of character. (68:4) Unfortunately many Muslims unintentionally fail to pay attention to the above hadith which is the very essence of the Islamic manners which we should adopt and instead restrict their views of religion merely to the external acts of worship. Prophet Muhammad is reported to have said:A Muslim with good manners and a good moral disposition gets the same reward as he who fasts every day and spends every night in prayer. (Abu Dawud) The Prophet Teaching Good Manners Our teachings put great emphasis on how we deal with people in our daily lives. Rather than focus on how we dress or the apparent status of our worship our manners and dealings should be our criteria. We must be aware of how each one of us interrelates with people in our circles. Our good dealings will not only ensure that we are not violating other peoples rights but will also make us accepted, loved and appreciated by others.Prophet Muhammad says:Two qualities are not combined in any Muslim, avarice and bad disposition. He also warned:A man with bad manners and a bad moral conduct shall not enter Paradise. Also:No sin is more detestable to Allah than bad manners. (AtTirmidhi, 1545) I heard once that it takes 15 seconds to make a first impression and the rest of your life to undo it. While it may not be so bad, habits picked up over the years in dealing with people can sometimes be difficult to let go of and to us may not even seem that bad. Remember that through the process of improving ourselves and promoting good conduct we are rewarded accordingly. Hence we understand that good manners entail we act appropriately in a way that is socially acceptable and courteous, and display respect, care, and consideration for others. Excellent manners can help us to have better relationships with both the people we know, and those we will meet. Be an Ambassador for Islam Islam places great emphasis on manners and on the proper way to deal with others, regardless of whether they are Muslim or not. There are countless testimonies regarding the prophet Muhammad and his manners by famous non-Muslims including Napoleon Bonaparte, Sir George Bernard Shaw, H.G. Wells, and Mahatma Gandhi to name a few.Each testified that Prophet Muhammad treated friends and strangers, the rich and poor, the powerful and weak with equity, and was beloved by the common people for the affability with which he received them, and listened to their complaints. A well-known story regarding interaction with non-Muslims highlights how we must deal with them; it asserts that one day when a funeral procession passed in front of Prophet Muhammad, he stood up and when he was told that it was the coffin of a Jew, he said:"Is it not a living beings soul?" (Al-Bukhari, 1312) Relations between people are very important in Islam, and maintaining good associations with others should be a main priority of us as practicing Muslims. We are reminded by the Prophet: The exercise of religious duty will not atone for the fault of an abusive tongue. Good manners and noble qualities of the character enjoy a place of crucial importance in the structure of Islamic teachings. Simply by being polite you are an ambassador for this great religion convincing people that Islam advocates manners and reverence for one and all. A believer who possesses good manners and carries out scru-

Topic: Mavazi ya mwanamke katika uislamu By: Ustadha Amina Khamis 2nd March 2014 TIME: 2.00 pm -4.00 pm Venue: Makina Mosque Kibera
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SUNDAY LECTURE

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The Friday Bulletin

Rabi' Ul Thaany 28, 1435/February, 28 2014

WOMEN
Maria Zain

Married to the Mobile Gadget

and sometimes this is necessary to avoid Fitna that could arise in non-mahram relationships. For example, a husband shouldnt be friends with his wifes best buddies and vice versa. In the end, it boils down to control and maturity. Every adult should be discerning enough to put Taqwa and modesty first before the whims and fancies or socializing online. While there is no shame in asking questions, even relating to content which is sexual in nature (in the halal context), there is a line that is crossed if details of an intimate relationship are revealed in public. Every Muslim adult has to be aware of proper rules when interacting in public, and nowadays, social media content is no less private. When it boils down back to the relationship though, do you feel that theres a machine between you and a spouse and that it constantly harasses him or her for his or her attention? Are you suffering because you cant communicate without some gadget-like sound going off? Or if you havent suffered as yet, do you feel like you havent spoken to your spouse properly as of late with proper eye contact? Do you want to change that? Turn Your Mobile Off If yes, make a pact. Work on your time management. There is time for this, and there is time for your spouse. Turn it off. Time management is critical in Islam, and even more so to create time and space for husbands and wives; garments that were chosen for each other. Turn off those gadgets during meal times, during quiet times, and during together time. If it is work, it can wait for a schedule. If it is a social call... then that can also wait. Turn off those gadgets... or just ignore them. Withdrawal symptoms may set in if youre so used to being on a social network or reading emails every 90 seconds, but once that wanes, finding the sparks of romance would probably come second nature, and youll find there are plenty of creative ways to communicate with your other half once again. Complimenting each other, actually talking to each other with eye contact, sending each other love notes and buying gifts for each other are probably normal means of couples of yore. And they did perfectly fine without technology. Spousal relationships are personal and require personal interaction. Things are not going to work out in the end if spousal priorities fall below the likes of Facebook. Go on dates or take a walk. If there are children already between the two of you, this is even a bigger reason to work on your family. But again, its not all bad. Technology is a positive asset of life as long as it doesnt interfere or compromise your faith, in which could compromise an important avenue of worship your marriage. Remember that you have free will and control over these gadgets, and you owe your spouse a responsible outlet of communication, one that is personal, kind and caring in nature. With that, your maturity and integrity in interacting with others, with or without your spouses knowledge is also under your own control. Once youve gotten some rational schedule down to place and worked leap and bounds (or with baby steps at first) to make changes for your relationship, you can always pick up your phone and text your husband a love-note. Technology can work in our favor too. LOL it out over emoticons or share pictures privately of the children, moments that the other half may have missed while he or she was away. Your wife may appreciate an e-card in her e-mail box are even a bouquet of roses. Im pretty sure theres an emoticon for that too. Technology and communication do us a great favor, but they should not and must not get in the way of our personal relationships. Especially not the one between husband and wife; the garments that are made for each other, the one person you need
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Without doubt, technology makes the world grow closer, sometimes even fonder. Facebook has done wonders for some in their fields of dawah, parenting, the sharing of interests with like-minded friends across the globe, geared for positive interaction. But theres the ugly flipside as well. Name-calling and reputation flaming, the inciting of racist threads, the uploading of pictures of enraged drivers on the road, are all common misuses of Facebook, which many Muslims are not alien to. But closer to home, how are the streams of e-mails from work and notifications from a myriad of social networks affecting your relationship with the person who is meant to be your closest confidante. Do the sparks of your marriage seem pale compared to the flavorful topics in public forum? Is taking time to speak to your spouse more energy consuming than tapping away at the Galaxy Tab? Are quiet evenings spent together mostly focused in front of different screens... chatting with other people? While all these modern forms of communication enlist us the rights to speak to friends hailing from the four corners of the globe and complete our work assignments in a flexible manner. On the other hand, the overuse of anything in Islam, can lead to misconduct and affect our faiths, especially if we begin to disrespect the sanctity of marriage in lieu of the fun and fancies of Facebook. Marital Privacy And what about protecting the sanctity of marriage? We see it all the time. Brothers and sisters speaking of their spouses through status updates and comments; some may have something positive to say, others may not. The uploading of pictures of ones spouse taking a nap or playing with the children or the cat; this may seem as harmless to some but an insight into a private moment, to others. How about communicating in a social capacity with someone who lies outside ourMahram-ship? Is that all right, because its in public and your spouse can see the interaction or is it still an interaction that is forbidden even if it may be of a beneficial discussion. God-consciousness in life is obligatory upon every Muslim. Would Allah be pleased with me if I did this? If Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) would visit me today, would he walk away if he heard me speaking like this? If I were one of the Sahabah (companions), would one of these actions cause me to repent immediately? These thoughts need to flood us constantly, and even more so with the advent of technology, as while were plodding away on our keyboards of touch screens, all of what we do or say are also recorded as our deeds. Sometimes we tend to forget that while sharing information, and we continue to share just because we CAN share. Would Allah be pleased with me if I participated in this discussion? Would Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) if he were alive like my comment? Would a Sahabah respond to my email if I wrote it in this manner... (Maybe I should keep my spouse on cc)? But even more so, how would all this affect my marriage? What Spouses Stand For The Quran describes the role of spouses as being garments for one another; to protect each other and to beautify each other for the sake of Allah. How many pictures of our wife do you upload? and how many friends can look at her, even if she is covered? How much of your husband do you share with your Mummy Groups, when you consider commenting in a thread? Like it or not, these forms of communication may make or break your marriage. Perhaps it is through mutual consensus that spouses share their accounts, but at the same time, it is still permissible for spouses to have friends mutually exclusive of each other,

Rabi' Ul Thaany 28, 1435/February,28 2014

The Friday Bulletin

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Don't Pretend to Follow the Sunnah

OPINION
Ahmednassir article based on fallacy-Hussein Noor
The controversial lawyer AhmedNassir Abdullahi's article titled "How to stop the radicalization of the Muslim Youth "published in the Friday Bulletin of Feb 21st is not only deficient in objectivity but also loaded with wild and unsubstantiated allegations that are of no value to one who is in dire need of discerning the real dilemma faced by the Nation as a whole and Muslims in particular regarding the perennial confrontation between the Kenyan government and some Muslim youth. The author committed grave mistakes due to his ignorance of basic simple facts which eventually cloaked the issue he attempted to discuss. The article initially published in the Sunday Nation of Feb 9th borders on defamation, character assassination and maligning of hundreds, if not thousands, of persons in the service of Islam in Kenya. According to Ahmednassir, each and every grassroot and National Muslim organization has been infiltrated and is run by the State Security agencies, the Office of the President(OP) directs Muslim activities nationally through puppet Imams and chairmen of these bodies, the Khutbah you listened to today from the pulpit of Jamia Mosque, Nairobi and all the Khutbahs which were read nationally have been authored by the Office of the President and were not freely prepared by the respective Imams, Muslim organizations are the only ones who "endorse pro-government candidates only" during elections, many Muslims have lost faith in the Muslim organizations as they believe that " the security agencies and the OP make the policy decisions on a day-by-day basis" for them and that the general Muslim population has lost faith in their religious leaders and Imams because they " see them as government puppets and spies ". In the same article Ahmednassir also claims that the Masjid Musa incident was as a result of the government trying to impose its puppet imams on a youthful population which wants to take up leadership since the pro-government imams and religious leaders have failed them. As I respond to these allegations, I am reminded of verses of the Holy Quran and a Hadith requiring us to stick to the truth and fairness in whatever we say or write as Muslims. In Suratul Al-Aam verse 153, Allah tells us, " And if you speak, observe justice (speak fairly)." In Suratu Bani Israila verse 37, Allah yet again commands, "And follow not ( or say not ) that of which thou has no knowledge, verily the ear and the eye and the heart - all these shall be called to account." In Suratul Maida verse 9-10 Allah admonishes against committing injustice when criticizing others and He says, " O ye who believe! Be steadfast in the cause of Allah, bearing witness in equity and let not a people's enmity incite you to act otherwise than with justice. Be always just, that is nearer to righteousness. And fear Allah. Surely, Allah is aware of what you do." Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (May Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon him) also said, "A Muslim is the one from whom other Muslims are safe ". Reflecting on these Verses and Hadith, one cannot help but conclude that AhmedNassir's aforementioned allegations are aimed at causing schism and disharmony among Kenyan Muslims. AhmedNassir who is not known to be associated with Muslim affairs morally and materially has neither the intellectual nor the moral authority to discuss competently the problems of the Muslim youth who have been engaging the security agencies in Mombasa for a time now. Many Muslims led by the Imams and the religious leaders particularly SUPKEM and CIPK who were mentioned adversely in the said article have continuously voiced their concerns regarding the governments mishandling of the Muslim youth. Muslim leaders and particularly Imams have been guiding Muslims on voting strategies right from the NO and YES voting of 2005 to the elections of 2013, and they never cared to know what or who the government of the day supported. It is true Muslim leaders are divided when it comes to supporting the Presidential and local politicians and that is because people will never agree on all issues all the time. What would have happened to the Kadhi's Courts had the majority of Muslim leaders and Imams not guided the Ummah right from the start of the constitution making journey up to the YES vote that culminated in the promulgation of the current Constitution which has led to the increase of Kadhis from less than 17 to the current number of almost 40? AhmedNassir's allegation that Imams and Religious leaders, who are mostly volunteers and lead simple lives are government spies and puppets paid by the Kenyan government is too simplistic and illogical. As a lawyer, he knows better the need to substantiate his ridiculous and damaging claim. Contrary to what Abdinnassir is trying to advance, there is no disconnect between Muslim leaders and the Muslim populace. Nevertheless, there is undoubtedly, a real demand for better engagement and proactive approach to issues touching on the general Muslim populace. I do, however, agree with AhmedNassir that the extra judicial killings of some Muslims have contributed to the radicalization of some Muslim youth. There are also other ideological influences that need an in depth analysis by the Muslim Scholars to correct the situation. The Imams and religious leaders are in a better position to understand and remedy the situation at Masjid Musa and others. Not the likes of AhmedNassir who argue from a point of ignorance. A final word of advice for all Muslims who sometime comment on Muslim issues, Kindly know the limits of your religion, ask those who know before you dwell on subjects you have little or no knowledge of and mind your language when you are criticizing Muslims particular the scholars, Imams and even the political leaders. Allah told Musa to address Pharaoh politely. Neither are
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not only costs nothing but wins everything lending charm to people enhancing the glamour and beauty of a personality. Equally important is the manners and relationship we have with our friends as Islam takes friendship to a higher level, referring to Muslims as brothers and sisters, and expects us to treat each other as such. We are expected to wish for others that which we wish for ourselves. This includes giving honest advice to friends and to be there for them and help them whenever possible. This is a beautiful trait we should teach our children setting them the perfect example by actions bearing in mind that well done is better than well said. While it is easy to discuss the importance of good manners we must not just preach but practice what we want our children to learn. Inspiring them to express gratitude to others and not to show pride and arrogance, or mock others is absolutely important. Resolving differences with people by giving the benefit of doubt and attributing positive motives to others actions will serve to teach them to be humble and forgiving. Once this is mastered all our worshipping and efforts will see light since these aspects complement each other. The Prophet says:Do not say that if people do good to us, we will do good to them; and if people oppress us, we will oppress them; but determine that if people do you good, you will do good to them; and if they oppress you, you will not oppress them. (AtTirmidhi, 2007) Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) always led by example and there are no excuses for us as Muslims not to adhere to his teachings regarding manners. After all he was our best example, bringing to mind a beautiful quote I used to read and now fully understand when I was younger: Since truth and constancy are vain, since neither love, nor sense of pain, nor force of reason, can persuade, then let example be obeyed; and what better example has been set then by our beloved Prophet? Remember we have the ability to add light to a darkened world, a world which has let our good manners take a back burner. So we must stand out and let our light shine being the better person Allah created us to be, in turn becoming the better Muslim and making the Prophet proud on the day in which we will all be brought before our Creator to be held accountable for our actions and for how we as Muslims acted in this life.

The Friday Bulletin

Rabi' Ul Thaany 28, 1435/February, 28 2014

By Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips

Islam's Position on Homosexuality

5. The consequence of AIDS is enough to prove that homosexuality is evil and dangerous to society. The early spread of AIDS was concentrated among the homosexual community. It later spread to the heterosexual and the so-called bisexual community through blood transfusions and intravenous drug usage. Its spread continues on a rampage among promiscuous heterosexuals. 6. Islam considers homosexuality to be the result of a choice. It is inconceivable that Allah made people homosexuals then declared it a crime and prescribed punishments for it in both this life and the next. To accept such a proposition is to accept that Allah is unjust. Inclinations can exist within humans for a variety of natural and unnatural acts, from fornication to rape and from necrophilia to bestiality. These inclinations may come from jinn-suggestions, media influence, or even from human whisperings or direct contact. Sodomy was common among the people of Prophet Lut (Lot) who lived in Sodom, Palestine; after they had rejected his advice to give up this evil practice, Allah Almighty crushed and then annihilated their city. The Qur'an describes that punishment in the verse which means: So when Our commandment came, We made the highest part [of the city] its lowest and rained upon them stones of hard clay in succession. (Hud 11: 82) Human beings are not like robots who only do what they are programmed to. Humans choose and Allah holds them responsible for their choices. Were homosexuality a product of genetic destiny, it would be unfair for Allah to criminalize it and punish those who practice it. Currently, some scientists are even claiming that murder is of genetic origin. To accept that would mean to excuse murderers and tolerate murder. 7. Islam instructs parents to separate their children in their beds by the age of ten in order to avoid sexual experiences which may result from childhood experimentation. Such experiences may be reinforced by contacts in schools and through abuse from adults. Also, the distinctions between male and female are strongly made in Islamic teachings. Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) cursed men who imitate women and women who imitate men. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) cursed the man who wears womens clothes and the woman who wears mens clothes." (Ibn Majah) Homosexuality and lesbianism have been dubbed 'alternative lifestyles', 'personal preference', 'natural variation', etc. In the West today, where homosexuality was once considered an illness by the Association of Psychiatrists, it has now been removed from the list and replaced by homophobia (the dislike of homosexuals and homosexuality). Consequently, Islam and Muslims are considered intolerant and biased due to their continued opposition. Arguments in favor of tolerance towards homosexuals are based on the assumption that homosexual behavior is biologically based and not merely learned from society. Continued to page 4 to shower with kindness and undivided attention and praise. So let the frivolities of technology take the back seat for most of your marriage, unless youre sending a virtual heart, and spend time with your spouse, talking, laughing, and planning for the future, all for the sake of Allah.

FEATURE

Homosexuality and lesbianism have been dubbed 'alternative life-styles', 'personal preference', 'natural variation', etc. In the West today, where homosexuality was once considered an illness by the Association of Psychiatrists, it has now been removed from the list and replaced by homophobia (the dislike of homosexuals and homosexuality). Consequently, Islam and Muslims are considered intolerant and biased due to their continued opposition. Arguments in favor of tolerance towards homosexuals are based on the assumption that homosexual behavior is biologically based and not merely learned from society. 1. Early opposition to homosexuality was based on the argument that such behavior was unnatural. Sodomy cannot produce children, which is one of the main natural consequences of sexual relations. 'Mother Nature' did not make us that way, it was argued. To counter such arguments, homosexual researchers scoured the earth until they found supposed homosexual behavior among the animal kingdom. They found that the males of some species of exotic fishes off the coast of Japan imitated the behaviour of females of the species in order to prevent other males from impregnating their mates, and some rare butterflies from islands off the coast of Africa also had males exhibiting female behavior during mating season, etc. However, if the animal kingdom is to be used to justify human behavior, there also exists a spider in South America whose female is much larger than the male. When mating is complete, the female eats her mate. 2. During the 1980s, it was claimed that a gland in the base of the brain which is small in women and large in men was found to be small among homosexuals. However, this evidence, while seeming incontrovertible to the layman, was immediately refuted by scientists. The data was taken from cross-sections of the brains of dead adult humans whose sexual preference was identified prior to death. Consequently, the reduced size of that gland among homosexuals could have been a result of the practice and not its cause. That is, they could have been born with normal-sized glands which then became small due to their deviant lifestyle. 3. Recently, genetics has become the most commonly used foundation for the pro-gay argument. In 1993 Dr. Dean Hamer, a researcher at the National Cancer Institute, claimed to have discovered 'the first concrete evidence that gay genes really do exist.' Homosexual orientation was supposedly transmitted to males on the X chromosome from the mother. Hamers findings, published in the prestigious journal 'Science', transformed his colorless career as a government scientist into a dynamic media personality and he penned his memoirs. He gave expert testimony to the Colorado Supreme Court that formed the basis of the victorious decision striking down anti-gay propositions. However, a replication of his study at the University of Western Ontario failed to find any linkage whatsoever between the X chromosome and sexual orientation. It was also found that Hamers study lacked a control group; a fundamental principle of scientific research. Furthermore, in June 1994, the Chicago Tribune reported that a junior researcher in Hamers laboratory who assisted in the gene mapping in the homosexuality study, alleged that he selectively reported his data. She was then summarily dismissed from her post-doctoral fellowship in Hamers lab. But a National Institute of Health investigation substantiated her claims and gave her another position in a different lab. Though Dr. Hamer was coy about his own sexuality in his memoirs, he later admitted in his lectures that he was gay. 4. It should be noted that Islam, in its final form, did not introduce anti-gay legislature to the world. The texts of the Torah are replete with clear condemnations of such practices.

Married to the mobile gadget

Ahmednassir article based on fallacy

Continued to page 5 those who are critics of the Muslim leadership more righteous and pious than Musa nor are those criticized as evil and arrogant as Pharaoh". The writer is the deputy secretary general Council of Imams and Preacher of Kenya (CIPK)

The Friday Bulletin

Rabi' Ul Thaany 28, 1435/February,28 2014

NATIONAL

Uwezo funds ready for disbursement after Parliamentary approval

Parliament has approved the regulations to govern the Uwezo Fund management and operational framework. The National Assembly endorsed the final amendments to the rules that will see the kitty operate like a revolving fund with a resemblance of the National Women Empowerment and National Youth Enterprise Funds. Uwezo Fund was launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William RutoinSeptemberlast year in fulfillment of the Jubilee coalitions pledge to economically propel the youth and women. Following the approval, the Ministry of Devolution and Planning will undertake the Uwezo Fund capacity building programme that seeks to promote informed and effective participation of target beneficiaries of the UWEZO Fund by providing them with a broad range of business development services and mentorship opportunities. Three percent of the money would be spent on administration costs and Sh 480 million in capacity building while 70 percent of the balance would be shared equally among the 290 constituencies. Twenty five percent of the funds would be shared based on poverty index. The plan is to have groups of young people and women access funds ranging between Sh 50,000 and Sh500,000 to finance their business ventures. Youth and women groups registered with the Department of Social services,Cooperatives or the Registrar of Societies with members aged between 18 and 35 for youth and 18 and above for women are eligible to receive the Funds. The groups must be based and operational at the constituency and operate a banking structure where members make monthly contributions according to the groups' internal guidelines and must hold a bank account in the name of the group. Before application for the Funds a group must develop a unique business idea and prepare a simple business plan and application must be submitted with relevant documents to the Constituency Uwezo Fund Management Committee located within the CDF offices in your constituency.

Embracing Halal

Sheikh Hussein Kassim, a shariah advisor with the Kenya Bureau of Halal Certification overseeing the halal procedures at the Parklands Pizza Inn outlet. Due to the rising demands for halal products, Innscor Kenya Limited is taking steps embrace halal at its Pizzan Inn outlets. On 14th February, the Pizza Inn outlet in Parklands was certified as halal compliant by the Kenya Bureau of Halal Certification (KBHC). All the non-halal products were removed from the menu and all ingredients are now sourced from halal sources. The processing procedure is now halal compliant. Parklands becomes the fourth Pizza Inn Outlet in Nairobi to become halal complaint thanks to the demands made by the increasing number of Muslim customers. The others are Westlands, Bellevue South C and the Westgate branch which closed down after September 21 attack at the Mall. All the Pizza Inn outlets in Mombasa are Halal Compliant.

Masinde Muliro Muslim Students appeal for Mosque

Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology(MMUST) Muslim Students Association is calling on the University administration to provide land for the construction of a mosque at the University to cater for the spiritual needs of its Muslim students and staff. The patron of the Muslim students Association, Kassim Yusuf said it was important for the University to take the initiative of providing and setting aside land for the construction of a Mosque to spare them the trouble of having to make five trips in a day to access the nearest mosque that is three kilometres away. He added that they were optimistic that the university's administration will do the needful and consider their request and proposal. Kassim further said that by putting up a mosque in the compound, Muslim students of MasindeMuliro University would be able to perform their prayers with dignity and would not have to look for empty lecture rooms to perform their prayers like they are doing. He made the remarks at KakamegaJamia Mosque where the university students were engaged in a cleaning exercise organized by the Muslim Association. The deputy Imam of KakamegaJamia Mosque and Islamic centre, Sheikh Imran Otang'o expressed his gratitude to the students for their volunteerism in cleaning up the mosque adding that this was a show of love and commitments they have on their deen Islam. Sheikh Otang'o told the students to appreciate their Islamic values and embody the teachings of Islam in their education careers for spiritual development and good moral values, adding that these would lead to their success here on earth and the hereafter. Kenyatta University and Mount Kenya University are the only universities which have established mosques for the institution's Muslim community.

MP to support Muslim projects

Lurambi Member of Parliament Rafael Otaalo has said he will prioritize and supplement the efforts by the Muslim community to ensure Muslim development projects are supported. Speaking during a visit to the KakamegaJamia mosque, Otaalo noted that Muslims as the citizens of the country and taxpayers have fundamental rights to participate and engage in both democratic governance and development programmes at all levels without discrimination of any kind, adding that the new constitutional dispensation provides opportunities for people's participation and urged Muslims not to relent in their effort to engage themselves in developments. Otaalo said the Lurambi Constituency Development Fund has allocated Sh 1.5 Million to Kakamega Muslim Secondary School for the construction of Laboratory and pledged to support the construction of additional classrooms and Library at the school to enable students undertake their studies without obstacles and hindrances. At the same time the legislator called on Muslim Youths and Women to apply for Uwezo Fund and invest in projects that can empower them economically for sustainability, adding that the fund was interest free and Muslims should not be afraid to go for the fund to improve on their living conditions. On issue of discrimination of Muslim students in public schools, Otaalo pointed out that the preamble and the Bill of Rights in the Constitution clearly outlaw discrimination on the basis of religion, adding he will personally make a follow up and seek the intervention of education cabinet secretary Jacob Kaimenyi to address the matter urgently. He said there was nothing wrong for the mosques to be constructed at public schools for the spiritual development of Muslim students,stating that good moral values are inculcated in the students through the facilities leading to responsible and law abiding citizens.

In 2011 Alim High School sat for the KCSE examination for the first time and scored mean grade B-. Alim was ranked in position 71 among the best private schools in the country and was 8th overall in Machakos County. In 2012 Alim improved to position 61 among the best private schools in Kenya, was ranked the best private school in Machakos District and won awards for excellent performance in Arabic, IRE, Chemistry, English, Biology, Physics, Geography and History. Alim High School has its sights even higher. If you have the qualifications, experience, ability and commitment to take us to the top, you may be the person we are looking for. You need to be a graduate qualified teacher with a minimum of five years teaching experience at least two of which must be at the level of principal or deputy principal and be able to prove a track record of excellent performance. To apply, send us your CV with copies of your testimonials and a brief statement of why you believe you should be the next Principal of Alim High School. Applications should be addressed to the Director, Alim High School, P.O. Box 234, Machakos, or sent by courier direct. Closing Date: 14th March 2014

VACANCY OF PRINCIPAL ALIM HIGH SCHOOL

Islamia Madrasa Society, a leading institution providing secular education alongside an Integrated Islamic Education Programme owns and manages Muslim Academy, Park Road, Nairobi Applications are invited from qualified Kenyan Citizens for the post of PRINCIPAL at the Muslim Academy comprising o Nursery, Primary and Secondary Schools for both boys and girls with a student population of 1,600. He or she must be professionally qualified, highly motivated with at least five years of teaching and school leadership experience. Administrative leadership, academic excellence and development skills are a must. A graduate with a Masters degree in educational administration with the knowledge of a Muslim school set up is preferable. All applications enclosed with detailed CV copies of all certificates and testimonials and a passport size photograph to be sent to Hon. Secretary Islamia Madrasa Society P. O. Box 41013-00100 Nairobi Email: muslimacademykenya@gmail.com On or before 15th March 2014

RE-ADVERTISEMENT ISLAMIC MADRASA SOCEITY VACANCY-PRINCIPAL

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

Ummah Foundation is not -for- profit charitable organisation involved in a lot of humanitarian work for the past eight years. Ever since its inception much has been achieved in terms of Education where more than 1200 students have graduated from universities and high schools and are giving meaningful contribution to the society. We have also taken an active role in rehabilitation of prisoners through spiritual and technical trainings. This has empowered the inmates and reduced the number of repeat offenders in our prisons. This program has also helped in terms of minimizing overcrowding in our correctional institutions, an issue that the government struggles with everyday. To make this program successful we appeal to the general public to help us in the provision of the following: 1- Provision of Islamic literature (books) in the prisons throughout the country to enlighten the inmates on the virtues of Islam and the best way of making the best out of it. Any Islamic literature that you feel can benefit these brothers and sisters can be dropped at Ummah Foundation Office or Parklands Mosque which is our collection point. 2- Salah is obligatory on every Muslim and these inmates are in dreadful need of prayer mats. Most of them make their five daily prayers under very unhygienic conditions and corrective measures need to be taken to salvage them from this deplorable situation. Currently they need 100 rolls of mats of 30feet width. 3- Quran both translated in English and Kiswahili- they have a lot of time which can be utilized properly in learning and memorizing the holy Quran. They need 200 copies. 4- They also need Kanzus that they can be wearing during prayer times. 3000 Kanzus will suffice for all the numbers available. 5- Water drums of 210 litres each can be of great assistance in terms of availing water for Wudhu and purification. We are also collecting 2 litrejericans that can help the inmates in ablution. They are in dire need of 20 water drums that will alleviate the water shortage problem and 1000 jericans. 6- During the month of Ramadhan the Inmates need dates to break their fast. 2000 kg will be of great help to the inmates. 7- Sanitary towels and underpants for the Women inmates at Langata and Nakuru prisons. Soap and Sandals for washing. 3000 pairs of sandals and 30 boxes of bar soap. Our madrassahs that form the background of our religious knowledge and learning is one area that Ummah Foundation has given a lot of importance and we are currently involved in the running of three madrassahs in Nakuru, Kisumu and Magadi. Our intention is to have more of this Madrassahs set up in most parts of the country. We call upon all willing well wishers to partner with Ummah Foundation and open more learning centres that can train our young children the correct way and living as guided by our Holy Quran and the hadith of our beloved Prophet salallahu alayhi wa sallam. This is the only way of bringing up straight forward and steadfast future generations. We appreciate the efforts made by our Sister Organisation, Al MuntadahAlislami for the provision of a unified Madrassah syllabus that will help in our Madrassah teaching systems. Ummah Foundation has also initiated several development programs that aim at rehabilitations of our Mosques and related sub projects. We realised that many well wishers and donors are very enthusiastic in building mosques all over the country but one thing that has been left pending is how the mosques can be maintained and kept in good standard. Ummah Foundation has got sponsors who are willing to support in rehabilitations of these mosques and the Wudhu facilities and toilets. We have forms that are available at our offices and we would like to ask our Mosque committees to apply. It is our hope that once you meet all the criteria set by the trustees then Ummah Foundation should be happy to help in the construction work and any renovations needed. It is our sincere hope that more well wishers will come up with such programs so that together we can help maintain our Mosques and give them the holy image they rightfully deserve. You can can make your contribution to us at Ummah Foundation Offices or write a donation cheque to Ummah Foundation. 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

Ummah programs