Members and sta of Jamia Mosque Commiee wishes all Muslims a joyous and happy Eid Mubarak

The

Friday Bulletin
The Weekly Muslim News Update

Issue No. 384

Shawaal 01 1431/September 10 2010

'Census results doctored to

hide higher Muslim numbers'

The British Muslim scholar Marmaduke Pickthall rightly said "The Glorious
Qur'an, that inimitable symphony, the very sounds of which move men to tears
and ecstasy." Ten-year-old Hamzah Muhydeen Rageh of City Park Madrasah Nairobi could also not resist the awe of the Holy Quran as tears rolled down his
cheeks with his melodous recitation which drew simmilar feelings of ecstasy
among the gathering during the Quran recitation competition at Jamia Mosque
on Sunday.

Muslim leaders have expressed their deep indignation over the recently released national housing
and population census results and said the numbers were deliberately manipulated to conceal the
true number of Muslims in the country.
The leaders told Muslims to reject the results as
they had lost any sense of credibility and further
called on the government to cancel the whole exercise in its entirety.
According to the tally released last week by planning minister Wycliffe Oparanya, Muslims make
up a mere 4.3 million representing 11 percent of
the population. This is far short from the erstwhile
ofcial gures which were even cited by President
Mwai Kibaki indicating that the number of Muslims in the country were more than 10 million representing 30 percent of the total population.
We believe that the population of Muslims in the
country was doctored or manipulated for political
or socio-economic expediency by the Government, and also to serve interests of forces intent
on diminishing the inuence of Muslims in the
country, said former Mandera Central Billow Kerrow who read a statement on behalf of the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM), National Muslim Leaders Forum (NAMLEF), Council
of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) and
other organisations.
We believe that the integrity of the results of the
census is in doubt on grounds that the primary
data was in fact prematurely leaked shortly after
the exercise was concluded in August 2009; a
section of the media reported at the time that the
Muslim population was in excess of 35% and was
creating heat as far away as the White house, he
Story Continues To Page 5

This Week
Editorial

Madrasas play a vibrant role in society

Da'wa

Despite the schemes plotted against madrasas (Islamic schools), the heritage of
these Islamic institutions will continue to thrive and benet Muslims.
The Jamia Mosque Religious convener Billow Kerrow said the proliferation of madrasas in various parts of the country was a testimony that the institutions will successfully weather the stormy waters from powerful forces which ultimately aims at
lessening their impact in the Muslim society.
The convener who is also a former MP for Mandera Central said it was important

Women Issues

Remaining steadfast after Ramadhan

Making Eid special for children

P2

P3
P4

Youth and Children

Back to the real world after Ramadhan

P5

National News

Story Continues To Page 2

www.islamkenya.com

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

P6

The Friday Bulletin

Shawwal 01 1431/September 10 2010

EDITORIAL

Leaders must formulate strategies for future wellbeing of Muslims

Barely hours after President Mwai Kibaki appended his signature
on the constitution at the historic gathering at Uhuru Park to usher
in what is expected to be a new constitutional order which emphasizes on safeguarding individual rights and liberties, a Kenyan citizen was illegally renditioned to Uganda joining others who were
also renditioned earlier in contravention of the law.
The rendition marked the rst violation of the new constitution
which many Muslims voted for expecting that it will put to an end
the culture of impunity experienced over the years.
The development which came after Muslim leaders made a strenuous call to the government to adhere to the laws of the land
sends a worrying signal that the expectations of Muslims in the
new law might after all remain an elusive dream.
This therefore, calls for the Muslim leadership to develop early
strategies to ensure that the rights of Muslims in the country are
upheld.
The reshaping of the country to accommodate the new constitutional framework and the skewed census results further demand
that the Muslim leadership come up with long-term policies which
will see that the rightful role of Muslims in the political, social and
economic area is duly recognized.
It is noteworthy to mention the unity and closer working relations
espoused by Muslim organisations particularly the Supreme
Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) and the National Muslim
Leaders Forum (NAMLEF) to further the ideals of Muslims in the
country.
These two organisations need to take a big practical step forward
in formulating a robust and proactive strategy focusing on ensuring that the rights of Muslims are safeguarded and also seeing to
it that the community has its fair share of the national cake.
In the past, the main approach of addressing challenges affecting
Muslims have mainly been through adhoc meetings and press
conferences and this approach need to be reviewed in favour of
proactive engagements with the government, its agencies and
other interest groups.
It is through this that some of the pertinent challenges facing the

Role of Madrasa in society

Story From Page 1

for the community to continue supporting the Islamic schools to

further their goals of preservation of Islamic knowledge which
has been in existence for the more than 1000 years.
Madrasas are being fought for preserving the Islamic knowledge and it is our duty to support them and defend them against
this onslaught, he said.
His sentiments were echoed by the Jamia Mosque Assistant
Secretary General Ibrahim Ahmed Yusuf who praised the role
of madrasa in enhancing Islamic knowledge especially among
the young generations.
Ibrahim decried the current national education system which he
said was purposely designed to prevent Muslim children to access Islamic education. The system has been crafted in such a
way that children have no time to attend madrassa classes but
this should not be a hindrance to deny our children from attending the Islamic schools,'' he said.
The two made the remarks during the rst Quran memorization
competition at Jamia Mosque over the weekend.
Bishar Ali Ibrahim of City Park Madrasa was the winner in the
whole Quran category and scooped a cash prize of Sh56, 000.
Ten year old Hamzah Muhydeen Rage from City Park madrasa
emerged the winner in the 15 juzu (parts) category walking
away with a cash prize of Sh48,000.
The competition was jointly organized by Jamia Mosque Committee, Africa Muslim Agency and the ofce of the Saudi Arabian Religious attach.
The competition attracted 16 madrasas from Nairobi and its environs.

community can be rightfully addressed as such policies provide a

platform for constructive dialogue and engagements which could
further enhance mutual relations.
Another area of interest which need to be given special consideration is reciprocated engagement between the Muslim leadership
and the youth.There is no doubt that the youth are an important
segment in the society and it is this segment which will carry on the
mantle of leadership in the coming years. For this reason, many
communities develop policies which ultimately prepare the young
generation to take up the mantle in the society when the opportune
time arrives.
Sadly, very little has been done to incorporate and mould the youth
for their future role in the community. This vacuum has led to the
current state where both the Muslim leaders and the youth look at
each with suspicion and mistrust. It is a sad reality which we have
lived with for several years and if the status quo continues, it could
lead to grave consequences not only for the community but the
society at large.
It is therefore, important that mechanisms are sought to bridge
this gap and to have both segments of the society appreciate one
another and join hands to build a stronger and vibrant community
with a better future not only for Muslims but also for the country at
large.
As we celebrate the festival of breaking the fast Eid ul Fitr, for the
uptenth time we send an appeal to the government and its security
agencies to keep in mind the inalienable rights of its citizens and
not to have section of the people feel that there is a deliberate campaign to isolate and annihilate them.
Peace and harmony are among the virtues of Islam and even in the
torturous times in the past, Muslims have lived to these ideals. A
Muslim suspected of involvement in criminal activities needs to be
handled on the same balance of justice like others and the present
situation where it is apparent that a different and draconian wheel
of justice is pushed against Muslims while others enjoy the fruits of
the new constitution sends a bad precedent which should not be
the case. This remains our humble call.

Rejection of Indemnity Bill heralds

more impunity
Nominated Member of Parliament Mohammed Affey has expressed his
disappointment with President Mwai Kibaki after he rejected to sign the
Indemnity Repeal Act into law.
The M.P said that the President had missed another great opportunity
to reafrm his legacy in the country by rejecting the bill saying that that
it was meant to contribute greatly in achieving national reconciliation in
the country.
This was a moment where the president should have signed the bill
into law to get rid of retrogressive laws that were put in place to discriminate some marginalised communities who were greatly affected
by security ofcers and state agents, Affey told The Friday Bulletin.
He said the bill had sought to end the impunity vested against residents
of Northern Kenya and parts of Coast province and the rejection sent
a clear message that the government is not willing to ensure that the
wronged party nally see to it that justice nally prevails.
Affey added that the move went against the spirit of the new constitution that was passed by Kenyans in August 4th which stands for the
fundamental rights and freedom of all citizens in the country.
The Indemnity Act protects security ofcers who were involved in human rights violations, it is therefore relevant to remove all the leads
that will protect some people who have committed atrocities in those
areas, he noted.
The MP termed the Indemnity Act which was to be repealed as discriminatory saying that it contravened the fundamental rights and freedom
as enshrined in the new constitution by delaying the residents of the
Story Continues To Page 10

Shawwal 01 1431/September 10 2010

The Friday Bulletin

DA'WA

Remaining Steadfast After Ramadhan

Sufyaan ibn `Abdillaah radhiallahu `anhu said: "O Messenger of
Allah, tell me something about Islam, which I cannot ask anyone
else besides you." He said: "Say: 'I believe in Allah' and then be
steadfast (upon that)." [Saheeh Muslim ] The hadith is proof that the
servant is obligated, after having Imaan in Allah, to persevere and
be steadfast upon obeying Him by performing the obligatory acts
and avoiding the prohibited ones. This is achieved by following the
straight path without drifting away from it, to the right or to the left.
If a Muslim lives through Ramadhan and spent his days in fasting
and his nights in prayer and he accustomed himself to doing acts of
good, then he must continue to remain upon this obedience to Allah
at all times. This is the true state of the slave, for indeed, the Lord
of the months is One and He is ever watchful and witnessing over
his servants at all times.
Indeed, steadfastness after Ramadhan and the rectication of
one's statements and actions are the greatest signs that one has
gained benet from the month of Ramadhan and striven in obedience. They are tokens of reception and signs of success.
Furthermore, the deeds of a servant do not come to an end with
the end of a month and the beginning of another, rather they continue and extend until he reaches death. Allah says: And worship your
Lord until the certainty (death) comes to you. (Al-Hijr: 99) If the fasting of Ramadhan comes to an end, then indeed the voluntary fasting is still prescribed throughout the entire year. If standing in prayer
at night during Ramadhan comes to an end, then indeed, the entire
year is a time for performing the night prayer. And if the Zakat-ul-Fitr
comes to an end, then there is still the Zakah that is obligatory as
well as the voluntary charity that lasts the whole year. This goes the
same for reciting the Qur'an and pondering over its meaning as well
as every other righteous deed that is sought, for they can be done
at all times. From the many bounties that Allah has bestowed upon
his servants is that He has placed for them many different types of
righteous acts and provided many means for doing good deeds.
Therefore, the ardor and zeal of the Muslim must be constant and
he must continue to remain in the service of his Lord.
It is unfortunate to nd that some people perform worship by doing
different types of righteous deeds during Ramadhan They guard
strictly upon their ve daily prayers in the masjid, they recite the
Qur'an a lot and they give in charity from their wealth. But when Ramadhan comes to an end, they grow lazy in their worship. Rather,
sometimes they even abandon the obligations, both generally, such
as praying in congregation, and specically, such as praying the
fajr prayer.
And they commit forbidden acts such as sleeping over the time
of prayers, indulging in places of foolishness and entertainment.
Obtaining help from these evils is only through the grace of Allah.
Thus, they demolish what they have constructed and destroy what
they have established. This is an indication of deprivation and a
sign of perdition. We ask Allah for His safeguarding and protection.
Indeed, this type of people take the example of turning in repentance and ceasing from committing evil deeds as something specic and restricted to the month of Ramadhan And they stop doing
these (good) acts when the month stops. Thus, it is as if they have
abandoned sinning for the sake of Ramadhan, and not out of fear
of Allah.
Truly, the success that Allah grants His servant lies in the fasting
of Ramadhan His assisting him to do that is a great favour, thus the
calls for the servant to be grateful to his Lord. This understanding
can be found in the statement of Allah after completing the favor of
the month of fasting: (He wants that you) must complete the same
number of days, and that you must magnify Allah (by saying Allahu
Akbar) for having guided you, so that you may be grateful to Him.
(2:185) The one who is grateful for having fasted, will remain upon
that condition and continue to perform righteous deeds.
Verily, the true way of a Muslim is that of one who praises and
thanks his Lord for giving him the ability to fast and make qiyaam.
His condition after Ramadhan is better than it was before Ramadhan.He is more receptive to obey, desiring to do good deeds and

quick to enforce the obligatory acts. This is because he has gained

benet from this prominent institute of learning. It is that of one who
fears for having his fast not accepted, for indeed Allah only accepts
from those who fear Him.
The righteous predecessors would struggle to complete and perfect their deeds, hoping afterwards, that it would be accepted and
fearing that it would be rejected.
Be more concerned with having your deeds accepted than the
deed itself. Did you not hear Allah say: 'Verily Allah, only accepts
from those who fear Him. (i.e. possess taqwaa).' [5:27]
A'ishah said: "I asked the Messenger of Allah concerning the ayah:
'And the one who are given what they are given and their hearts
tremble with fear.' Are they the ones who drink alcohol and steal?"
He said: "No, o daughter of as-Siddeeq. Rather, they are the ones
who fast and pray and give in charity yet fear that it won't be accepted from them. They are the ones who rush to do good deeds
and they are the rst to do them." (At-Tirmidhi)

Keep the spirit of Ramadhan alive all year

Sumayyah bint Joan
As we enter upon the end of Ramadhan, let us not leave off the
many acts of worship we have performed during the blessed
month of Ramadhan. Ramadhan, for most of us is a time of renewal and reestablishment of our commitment to Allah and His religion.
We fast, give charity, read the Qur'an and perform the night prayer.
We avoid gossip, slander and every evil that would invalidate our
fasts and additional acts of worship. But now that Ramadhan is
over, the majority of us unfortunately will put the Qur'an back on the
shelves, will suspend fasting until next year and will abandon the
night prayer. This is not the way it should be, because all of these
acts of worship carry rewards and are of benet to us throughout
the year, in addition to the fact that there is no divine prescription
limiting them to Ramadhan.
The Qur'an
It's sad, true, that many of us have fallen into the bad habit of only
reciting the Qur'an during the month of Ramadhan. By doing this,
we cheat ourselves out of the abundant blessing that come from
reading the words of Allah. Reading the Qur'an is the best way to
remember Allah, it is a protection from the Satan and in it are cures
for what ails us. Allah says, "Oh mankind, there has come to you a
protection from your Lord and a healing for what is in your hearts
and for those who believe, a guidance and mercy." (Qur'an 10: 57)
The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi Wa sallam said, "Whoever
reads a harf (letter) of the book of Allah shall have a good deed (recorded for him or her) and every good deed is increased a ten-fold
(reward). I do not say that alif lam meem is a harf, but that alif is a
harf, lam is a harf and meem is a harf," (Tirmidhi)
The Qur'an is also the best way for a servant to draw closer to his
or her Lord. Khabbab ibn al-Arat said to a man, "Draw closer to Allah as much as you can, and remember that you can do so by no
means more pleasing to Him than by His own words."
The Night Prayer
Many of us pass the nights of the month of Ramadhan, especially
the last ten, standing in prayer before Allah. Just because Ramadhan is over does not mean that Allah does not see us now if we
stand in the night prayer. He says, "Surely your Lord knows that you
stand (in prayer) two thirds of the night or half of it, or a third of it."
(Qur'an 73: 20).
The night prayer carries with it many blessings. For example, AlHasan was asked, "How is it that those who stay up at night have
the most attractive faces." He replied, "Because they are on intimate terms with the Merciful, and He adorns them with some of His
light."
And for those of us who feel that standing in the night prayer will
leave us tired and unable to go about our daily tasks in the morning,

Story Continues To Page 4

The Friday Bulletin

Shawwal 01 1431/September 10 2010

WOMEN ISSUES

Making Eid special for Children

It is time for Eid - the Muslim holiday for sharing love. There is lots
that can be done to inculcate the spirit of Eid in children. Almost 30
days of fasting and praying, and it is time Allah rewards Muslims
with a time to celebrate their month-long achievement. Every Muslim looks forward to this occasion. Children love Eid because the
holiday is so festive and they receive perks from adults. By the end
of Eid, they end up making a lot of cash!
However, there is more that can be done to inculcate the spirit of Eid
in children and parents are always looking for such ideas. Following
are 3 ways an Eid can be more complete for children:
Activities Teaching Children About Eid
Read children bedtime stories or stories during the day about Ramadhan, Eid and Muslim Celebrations. Children have great imagination while listening to stories and will look forward to the day!
Eid is a time when relatives and friends from across the globe mail
greeting cards to each other. Children make them for their grandparents, siblings, cousins and class friends. A good activity would be to
make creative Eid greeting cards. There's a plethora of ideas how to
make pop up Ka'aba cards, mosques or in fact any thing the child
wishes to draw out of her or his own creativity. Make use of such
activities for their entertainment.

Preparing for Eid With Children

There is loads to do before Eid. There is food to cook for guests
visiting on Eid and the house to tidy up. Children love helping adults
out in adult chores it makes them feel like they have grown up too.
Ask them to give a helping hand. Set targets for them to make it
competitive and fun. And reward them at the end of it possibly with
their favorite sweets!
Family visits
Families will be visiting for Eid and there will be lots of children to
keep busy with. Children should feel special on this great, fun day.
Bring them lots of ribbons, balloons and decorative items and help
them decorate their room the way they want. Children who visit on
Eid day will love it too and immediately join in the Eid fun!
Out of all the things, children love helping in the kitchen the most!
They want to help baking and what better time to teach them how
to share food than on Eid day. Make cookies with children and set
these aside for the little guests that will be visiting on Eid day!
For each child in the family, make another new dress to donate to
a needy child. Teach children the concept behind new clothes for
Eid day and charity. Let them pick out the fabric or the dress. Teach
them how to wrap it up and give to those in need for Eid day!
Although many adults like to do their shopping before hand so they
can concentrate on Ramadhan and other house chores, it is a good
idea to set a couple of hours aside to take children out for Eid shopping before Eid. Get the little girls some bangles to match with their
clothes and let them apply henna on their hands. Buy them sweets
and let them enjoy the festivities! It's their age to do so!
Ramadhan is over and if parents spent quality time during Ramadhan with children, it is time to reward them for Eid. Often celebrations with children make festivities a lot more fun!

Keep the spirit of Ramadhan alive all year

Story From Page 3

we should consider the following words of Allah's Prophet sallallahu

alayhe Wa sallam. He said: "When any of you sleeps, Satan ties
three knots at the back of his head. On each knot he repeats and
exhales the following words, 'The night is long so stay asleep.' If
you wake up and remember Allah, one knot is undone - and if you
make wudhu (ablution) the second knot is undone - and if you pray
the third knot is undone, and you get up in the morning full of energy
and with a clear heart. Otherwise, you will get up feeling lazy and
with a muddled heart." (Bukhari)
Fasting
The Prophet sallallahu alayhi Wa sallam said: "Whoever fasts a day
in the way of Allah, Allah will place between him and the Fire a
trench like that between the heavens and the earth." (Tirmidhi)
Likewise, fasting wipes away the evils that arise out of person's
wealth, family or neighbour. Hudhaifah ibn Al-Yaman narrated that
the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi Wa sallam, said, "The evils
caused for a man through his family, wealth and neighbor are expiated by prayer, fasting and charity." (Bukhari)
The Prophet sallallahu alayhi Wa sallam explained to us that fasting
protects us from our unlawful desires, shields us from the hell re
and draws us closer to Allah and His Paradise. He , also encouraged us to fast at least three days each month. The best days for
this optional fasting are Mondays and Thursdays, or the thirteenth,
fourteenth and fteenth days of the lunar month.
Charity
Alhamdulillah (Thanks to God), most of us live relatively comfortable lives. But there are Muslims all over the world that nd great
difculty in attaining the most basic necessities of life. During Ramadhan most of us give charity, but we forget to do so for the rest
of the year. Giving charity is of greater benet to the one who gives
it, than to the one who receives it. It is a means of purifying our
wealth, increasing our faith and attaining righteousness. Allah says,
"It is not righteousness that you turn your faces towards the East
or West, but it is righteousness to believe in Allah, the Last Day,
the angels, the Books, and the messengers; to spend of your substance, out of love for Him, for your kin, for orphans, for the needy,
for the wayfarer," (Qur'an 2: 177)
Giving in charity also allows us to express our faith. To truly taste the
sweetness of faith, we must like for our brothers and sisters what we
like for ourselves. For the Prophet sallallahu alayhi Wa sallam, said,
"None of you will have faith until he likes for his (Muslim) brother
what he likes for himself." (Bukhari)

The Friday Bulletin Kitchen

Zurubiani
Ingredients
5 cups rice.
1 kg beef or chicken
3 onions, chopped
4 garlic cloves
6 pieces cardarmom Salt to taste
5 pieces cinammon sticks
1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 cup yogurt
Pinch of chili powder
6 carrotts, chopped
tbs tomato paste
3/4 cup oil
1/2 cup ghee
3 capscicum, sliced

Method
Heat oil and ghee in a pan till hot. Add onions and fry till golden
brown
Add beef or chicken, spices and salt and cook on medium heat
till the meat is cooked
Blend carrots and yoghurt in a food processor and add the
mixture to the meat
Add the sliced capsicum
Scoop out the oil on top of the sauce and keep aside
Soak rice for about 20 minutes and cook till soft but not well
cooked
Add the rice to the sauce
Reheat the oil from the sauce and add it on top of the rice
Cook on low heat
When serving, place rice on the plate and add the sauce.
Share your favourite recipes with our readers. Send them to P. O. Box 10078600100 or email:fridaybulletin@islamkenya.com or fridaybulletin@gmail.com

Shawwal 01 1431/September 10 2010

The Friday Bulletin

YOUTH AND CHILDREN

Back to the Real World After Ramadhan!
For one month I was a good Muslim. I didnt miss any
Prayers. I got up in the early hours of the morning and helped
prepare breakfast and then sat quietly and with calmness
while my family and I ate together before the break of dawn.
There was more harmony between usmore cooperation
and love. That was in Ramadhan!
I went to work with such a feeling of inner peace that I didnt
have any fear. I didnt get angry because I was not afraid of
anything or anyoneexcept Allah the Almighty. My life was
more orderly and I seemed to get more things done. There
was barakah (blessing) in my time, my food, and my efforts.
Getting up for suhur (early morning breakfast before fasting)
gave me energy and power to do all I had to do all day long.
Sometimes I would get thirsty because the weather was hot,
but everything was manageable.
Most of the time I got up late at night and did more prayers
and read more Quran and I loved it! It gave me a feeling of
inner richnesswealth. My soul felt satised and at rest.
I gave more charity and my heart seemed softer when I saw
poor and needy people. I wished I had more to give. Now
that blessed month of Ramadhan is over. The last 10 nights
are gonethose special nights in which we seek The Night
of Power and Allahs forgiveness and help. I hope I found
that precious night and my prayers and worship were accepted.
The time of having fun and sharing the happiness and good
wishes is nished. It was a time when I got to see people
I havent had time to visit in ages. Now life is just back to
normal again and I miss Ramadhan and that special feeling
I always get when it comes.
I ask myself if I am a better person than I was before. Am
I more humble? Am I more kind and generous? Am I more
aware of myself and my strengths and weaknesses? Am I
more honest and truthful in my words? I think soI hope so.
But the test is sure to come; because as I face life outside the
blessings of Ramadhan and meet troublesome people I will
see for myself if I am really more patient and sober minded.
When I see those poor and needy people will I just rush by
ignoring them because I am going somewhere important to
me? Or will I take a minute to stop and give them something along with a smile and some kind words? How much
of Ramadhan lingers in my heart, on my tongue, and in my
hands? It remains to be seen and my words and actions now
will be the proof of how much I really grew and developed in
Ramadhan.
I ask myself why it seems to be easier to get up during the
night to pray in Ramadhan than it is at other times of the
year. How much self-discipline have I really got which is one
of the true indicators of strength? Dont I want to taste the
sweetness of night worship? Dont I want to feel the peace
of reading Quran in the quietness and solitude of the night?
Dont I think deep down that I really still need these things?
If I let my life rush by and scoop me up and carry me along
with it then I will become over-concerned with gaining wealth
and position; I will become more ambitious for this worldly life
than I am for the next life which is the lasting one.
I do not want to be foolish or weak. I do not want to be of
those who fail in this life (by not having inner peace, insight,
and faith), and the Hereafter (by being far from Allah and
having earned His displeasureMay Allah protect us). So
the trick is to keep the behaviour and spirit of Ramadhan with
me throughout all the year.
Keeping the spirit of Ramadhan is pretty much impossible
because the feeling you get during that time is unique to it
alone. However, I can maintain the behaviour and good habits of Ramadhan and keep the ame kindled in my heart,
which will be reected in my words and actions until the next
Ramadhan arrives, in sha Allah.

EID UL FITR
The end of Ramadhan is marked by a big celebration
called 'Eid-ul-Fitr', the Festival of the Breaking of the
Fast.
Muslims are not only celebrating the end of fasting,
but thanking Allah for the help and strength that he
gave them throughout the previous month to help them
practise self-control.
The festival begins when the rst sight of the new
moon is seen in the sky.
There are special prayers held in the open ground and
in Mosques and of course, a special celebratory meal eaten during daytime, the rst daytime meal Muslims
will have had in a month.
Eid is also a time of forgiveness and making amends.
During Eid-ul-Fitr Muslims dress in their nest clothes,
give gifts to children and spend time with their friends
and family.
At Eid it is obligatory to give a set amount of money to
charity to be used to help poor people buy new clothes
and food so that they too can celebrate the Big Day.

Census numbers manipulated

Story From Page 1

added while addressing a press conference at Jamia mosque.

Billow said there were glaring discrepancies in the results from North
Eastern and coastal province adding that a large number of Muslims from
those areas was deliberately not included in the nal country.
The population given for North Eastern matched the total number of Somalis yet the gures did not reect the number of Somalis residing in other
parts of the country. There is no doubt that there are hundreds of thousands of Somalis in many parts of the country. In Eastleigh alone they
number of 500,00 but this number is not included in the results, he wondered.
Similarly, the results indicated that the population of Muslims in Coast
province is supposed to less than 50 percent yet it is common knowledge
that the area stretching all the way from Lamu to the border with Tanzania
is predominantly inhabited by Muslims. It is incredible that the population
of Muslims in Coast Province is even less than 50% of its overall population! That the population of Swahilis in the country is just over 100,000,
and that the population of Lamu is 18,000 yet it was over 32,000 in 1999
census, the statement further said.
The Population of Upper North Eastern which is also a predominantly
Muslim area was also grossly underrated, the statement added.
Billow questioned the explanation from the planning minister to dispute
the high gures from North Eastern which the minister attributed to elderly
residents grabbing questionnaires and lling it themselves. The same
census revealed that about 90 percent of the residents of the region are
illiterate. How then could such people ll in the complicated census forms
that even professionals themselves could not ll in by themselves? How
come no one was arrested for such violations? Billow queried. The leaders called on the Interim Independent Boundaries Review Commission (IIBRC) not to use the given population gures for delineation of boundaries
as it will disenfranchise the people of the affected areas.
Further, a call was made to the National Cohesion and Integration Commission to take action against the minister for proling the Somali community for referring to them as Kenyan Somalis yet the same name tag
was not applied to other communities like Maasais, Turkanas, Luhyas and
Tesos who inhabit border regions.

The Friday Bulletin

Shawwal 01 1431/September 10 2010

NATIONAL NEWS
Zakat - A Solution for Muslim Poverty

President rejects Indemnity Bill

Story From Page 8

Story From Page 2

house; however, till the time when the money is used to buy the house
it will be included in the calculation of Zakat as the money is liquid asset
which can be used for any other purpose also if the need arises.
A common misconception is about outstanding debt. Suppose a person
has Sh100,000 in cash on Zakat due date and he also has outstanding debt
of Sh10,000. Since he has available assets on the due date he has to pay
Zakat on all of it irrespective of the loan as the money can be used for any
purpose. However, if he uses the Sh100,000 he owns to pay off his debt
before the Zakat due date then his assets will be below the Nisab and no
Zakat will be due.
Allah categories those who deserve to receive Zakat in Quran (9:60) as follows:
The needy,the poor, those employed to collect Zakat, to attract the hearts
of those inclined towards Islam, to free the captives, for those in debt, for
Allahs cause, for the wayfarer (traveler in need)
Relatives to whom Zakat may not be paid to are those to whom we are duty
bound to support. These include sons and daughters, parents and grandparents as supporting them is our religious obligation. It is recommended to pay
Zakat in the following order of priority; relatives, neighbours, community, city,
country and then to Muslims in the rest of the world.
The simplest way to calculate Zakat is to establish a specic Hijri date, say
1st of Ramadhan. Every year on that date add up all the liquid assets you
own such as bank accounts, market value of stocks on that day, amount of
gold/silver you possess multiplied by the rate on that day, property/ land etc
for sale (establish its market value). Add up all the amounts and multiply the
total by 0.025. This will give you the Zakat amount payable.
May Allah guide us to the right path and give us the strength of faith to fulll
all his commandments and live a life as shown to us by His Prophet Mohammed peace be upon him Ameen.

affected areas an opportunity to seek redress where their

constitutional rights had been grossly violated.
He asked Muslim Members of Parliament to be more vigilant when the bill is brought back to the oor of the house
to ensure that the rights of the affected areas who are in
predominantly Muslim areas are taken into account.
The nominated M.P decried of the government effort for
not ghting historical impunity and atrocities committed by
former regimes saying that by not assenting to the Bill, discriminatory laws will still continue to part of the laws of a
new Kenya.
The Indemnity Repeal Bill aimed at revoking a law that
grants blanket immunity to security forces and other government agencies who were responsible for committing human
rights violations in North Eastern and some areas of Coast
province between 1963 and 1967.
Affey repeated his sentiments that it was meaningless for
the Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) to
carry out its sittings in the affected areas before the Act is
repealed.
The Indemnity (repeal) bill is meant to revoke the Indemnity
Act which was designed to restrict any legal proceeding or
claims for compensation by any court, authority or tribunal
established for atrocities committed by the public ofcers or
members of the armed forces implicated in human rights
violations in the course of security operations in North Eastern province, as well as Marsabit, Isiolo, Lamu and Tana
River districts.

changaa legalization condemned

among the youth. Sheikh Khalifa also said the President errored when
he rejected the Price Control Bill which was referred to Parliament for
re-drafting. He argued that the rejected Price Control bill would have
helped to cushion Kenyans who are suffering as a result of skyrocketing of essential commodities prices.

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6

The Friday Bulletin

Shawwal 01 1431/September 10 2010

NATIONAL NEWS
Religious leaders condemn legalization
of changaa
Muslim religious leaders have faulted President Kibaki for assenting into law the
Alcoholic Drinks Control Bill that legalizes the use of changaa and many other
dangerous drinks in the country.
The scholars said that the legalization of the bill will make Kenya loose track in
realization of the national objective as it will make the country a drinking nation
rather than a working Nation.
The Chairman of Majlis Ulamaa Kenya Sheikh Khalfan Khamis condemned the
passage of the bill saying it would bring more misery to the country that has
already suffering the consequences of reckless drinking.
Kenya has a history where changaa has claimed many lives over the years as
well as making other blind, passing a bill that will legalize it is dangerous to the
wellbeing of the society at large, the Sheikh said.
The head of Jamia Mosque Information Centre Sheikh Juma Amir also criticized
the move to legalize the deadly drink saying the passage of the bill into law
would lead to the moral decay in the society.
He said that the drink has caused widespread social like family breakups, spiraling divorce rates, as well as causing dangerous diseases to those who use it
thus legalizing it will create more problems to the society.
Alcohol is the mother of all evils and legalizing it will only give room to a host
of other vices like crime and other immoral behaviors to creep into the society,
Sheikh Juma lamented.
Nominated MP Sheikh Mohammed Dor said President Kibaki went against the
grain to approve the alcoholic bill rather than passing the Price Control Bill which
was expected to cushion Kenyans from exorbitant food prices in the country.
The alcohol bill will affect education, economy and health standards. We should
expect serious health complication among the youth and I urged our coastal
youth already ruined by drug abuse to keep off local tradition brew (mnazi), he
added.
Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) Organizing Secretary Sheikh
Mohammed Khalifa said the bill will create room for more deaths and destruc-

Grand Eid party for revertees

A grand Eid ul Fitr family party has been organized for
reverts (new Muslims). The event will be held on Saturday at the Nairobi Muslim Academy and is being organized by a women group After Shahada (the testimony
of faith).
The get-together is aimed at fostering brotherhood and
sisterhood and will also be a platform for sharing experiences and addressing challenges among new Muslims.
This will be the third time that such an event will be held
and more than 700 people are expected to attend.
Islam is about bringing people together and we want to
forge closer relations among the new Muslims so that
they feel they are part of the larger family of Islam, said
Maryam Kibunja, one of the ofcials of After Shahada.
She said the idea was envisioned after the realization
that many reverts failed to enjoy the beauty of Eid as
many of them could not celebrate the day with their
non-Muslim families. Eid is supposed to be a family
event but many reverts could not enjoy the festivities
with their families, she said.
The only condition for attending is that one must be a
revert, Maryam added.
Apart from the family lled entertainment, participants
will also benet from lectures presented by among
others Aisha Wangare from the Al Azhar University in
Egypt.
After Shahada was formed by revert sisters who had
graduated from the Jamia Mosque classes for new
Muslims. The group has been involved in various community projects in several parts of the country.

Story Continues To Page 10

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Telephone: 6767063 Cell: 0725148786 Fax: 6761150

Wishing all Muslims EID MUBARAK

7

Shawwal 01 1431/September 10 2010

The Friday Bulletin

Zakat - A Solution for Muslim Poverty

Many Muslims around the world either dont pay Zakat, pay it reluctantly or cut corners to minimize the due amount. Some Muslims feel Zakat overburdens them after
paying direct and indirect taxes. This attitude is of course due to weakness in faith as
many Muslims have not understood the principles of Zakat and what good it can do for
the Muslim community.
There is so much wealth in the Muslim world that if all Muslims, on whom Zakat is due,
pay their fair share and it is distributed honestly to the deserving then no Muslim will
face extreme poverty and hunger as we see in so many countries these days. It will
also eliminate the need for Western aid which usually comes with strings attached and
sometimes for the purpose of spreading Christianity.
Let us try to understand some principles about Zakat.
Zakat is one of the ve pillars which constitute the foundation of Islam (others four being declaration of belief, praying ve times a day, fasting in Ramadhan and pilgrimage
to the blessed city of Makkah if health and resources permit).
Hardly ever is faith (iman) mentioned in the Quran without it being associated with
prayer and Zakat and the need to fulll both duties. So much is the importance of Zakat
in Islam that it has been mentioned in eighty two places in the Quran in close connection with prayer. Prayer and Zakat are given precedence over other types of Islamic
worship because prayer, which is offered purely for Allahs sake, has an important role
in restraining people from committing sinful and evil deeds, while Zakat has a greatly
benecial effect on both individuals and the society.
It is obligatory upon every Muslim in possession of wealth above a prescribed limit, to
pay Zakat. There are many advantages of which some are mentioned below:
1-It meets the needs of the poor of the society
2-It strengthens the good relation between the rich and the poor
3-It cleanse and purify the wealth
4-It promotes open-handedness, generosity and sympathy in a Muslim towards the
needy person
5-It draws Allahs blessing; causes increase in wealth and replacement of spent wealth
as promised in the Quran And whatsoever you spend of anything (in Allahs cause),
He will replace it. He is the Best of those who grant Sustenance. (34:39)
On the contrary, a severe punishment awaits those who act miserly and are negligent
in paying out Zakat. Allah describes this as And those who hoard up gold and silver
(the money, the Zakat of which has not been paid), and spent it not in the way of Allah,
announce unto them a painful torment. On the Day when that ( money,gold and silver
etc, the Zakat of which has not been paid) will be heated in the re of Hell and with it
will be branded their foreheads, their anks, and their backs:(and it will be said unto
them): This is the treasure which you hoarded for yourselves. Now taste of what you
used to hoard.(9:34,35)
Zakat is paid on the surplus of wealth which is left over after a passage of a year.
It is thus paid on the accumulated wealth at least equal to Nisab(limit). Nisab is the
minimum amount on which Zakat must be paid. If the wealth is below Nisab one does
not have to pay Zakat. The Nisab is as follows:
Gold: 85 grams
Silver: 595 grams
Cash: equivalent to gold or silver which ever is less.
Stocks and Merchandise: same as for cash
Zakat is obligatory on the following kinds of wealth
The produce of earth like grains and fruits
The grazing animals
Gold, silver, cash
Commercial commodities
Leaving aside animals and agricultural yield for which specic rules apply, Zakat is
paid at 2.5% of the total accumulated wealth. For example, if the total of all liquid assets is Sh100,000 the Zakat due will be Sh2,500. Items of personal use such as the
house one lives in, furniture, cloths, cars, household items etc are exempt. Zakat is
due on gold and silver jewelry even though it may be for personal use as such items
are liquid assets and readily cashable for other use. Property, tools and equipment
used to generate business income are exempt.
If one has liquid assets on the due date, Zakat will be paid on all of it irrespective of
the future intent for some or all of it. For example, one may be saving money to buy
Story Continues To Page 10

Wishing all Muslims Eid

Mubarak
The Chairman, the Board of Directors and staff of
the Ummah Foundation as well as the One Shilling Foundation wish all Muslims Eid Mubarak.
It has been a busy month of Ibadaat, wa lillahilalhamd. It has been a busy month of activities for
humanity for both the Foundations.
The Ummah Foundation had a tight schedule of
distributing food, clothes and Islamic literature
to various institutions across the country. Some
of the institutions which beneted were: Mama
Fauzia Childrens Home, Umoja Madassah, The
Industrial Area Remand Prison, The Matuu Madarassah for Tahdhul Quran, Kithimani Madarassah, GTZ refugee Camp, Naivasha Maximum
Prison, among other institutions.
On top of these activities which are given more
impetus during the Holy month of Ramadhan,
the Ummah Foundation has a myriad of other
pleasant activities, which we do on your behalf.
The Ummah Foundation has been able to give
education bursaries to more than 200 students
from secondary to tertiary institutions. It supports
medical services in various clinics and hospitals
around the country.
Hundreds of physically challenged people have
benetted from wheelchairs donated by the Ummah Foundation. Many Islamic institutions have
received computers donated by us. Various Madarassahs in the country benet from learning
materials and teachers salaries from the Ummah Foundation. The Ummah Foundation has
facilitated the construction of affordable houses.
The list of the jobs that the Ummah Foundation
has done is endless.
On the other hand, the One Shilling Foundation
seeks to change the way we approach the future.
For many years, Muslims have been marginalised and subjected to live in appalling impoverished conditions. The One Shilling Foundation
calls on all Muslims to help change the status
quo.
This we can all achieve by making a contribution
of one shilling a day, or Ksh 360 per year and
make a difference for the whole community. On
behalf of the One Shilling Foundation, Brother
Ali Khamis and Sister Batul Suleiman of the One
Shilling Foundation would like to express their
gratitude to the ardent supporters of this foundation.
For more information contact us at
Village Plaza Ngara
P. O. Box 58717 00200 Nairobi
Tel: 020-3742862/3 or 0732 613333,
0717 613333
Email:nfo@ummahfoundation.net
info@oneshilingfoundation.org
www.ummahfoundation.net
www.oneshillingfoudation.org

Shawwal 01 1431/September 10 2010

The Friday Bulletin

Shawwal 01 1431/September 10 2010

The Friday Bulletin

In Pictures: Ramadhan at Jamia Mosque

1

37

4
6

1 The Saudi Arabian Religious Attache Anwar Ibrahim al Souly

presents a prize to the runner up in the Qura'an memorization
comepetition Abdulaziz Hassan Muhammad of Madrasatul Quran
Kareem-Muthaiga. 2 and 3. Crowds gather outside Macmillan Library and Banda street for Friday prayers at Jamia Mosque. 4.
The Da'wa Ofcer Muhammad Abdallah presents a Swahili darsa
5. Sheikh Anwar of Muslim Academy presents an Urdu darsa at
the Mosque 6. Abubakar Nazir presents an Iftar package to a revertee student at the Jamia Training Institute. 7 Hundreds of worshippers wait to break their fast at Jamia Mosque.

10

Shawwal 01 1431/September 10 2010

The Friday Bulletin

11

The Quran Burning: Sign

of Things to Come?
Muqtedar Khan
"Where books are burned in the end people will burn." - Heinrich
Heine
On May 10th, 1933 the Nazis burned 25,000 books -- including those
written by Jewish poet Heinrich Heine, who had predicted in 1820 that
"where books are burned in the end people will burn," - and eight years
later the Holocaust began.
The connection is not too difcult to discern. Books are repositories
of histories, of identities, of values. They are the soul of civilization. A
society must abandon basic decencies in order to muster the immoral
courage to burn books as a celebratory act. Once it starts burning the
souls of civilization, human souls will not be left behind.
On September 11, 2010, some misguided Americans plan to burn the
Holy Quran, the only book in the entire heritage of humanity that claims
to be solely the word of God. This dastardly act is the brainchild of
Terry Jones, a Christian Pastor from Florida. This act is not just some
symbolic gesture of deance. It is an act of egregious violence against
the beliefs and the sacred symbols of one fourth of humanity. The act
will scorch Muslim hearts everywhere. The searing pain will never be
forgotten.
Along with the idea of God and prophets, the Quran is the thing that
Muslims hold the dearest. Believe me, there is nothing more precious
to Muslims than the Quran, and watching people toss it into re, will be
horrifying. I would rather burn in re myself, than watch a Quran burn.
I am amazed at how millions of Americans who are decent and honorable can watch this happen. No matter how ugly the act the Constitution permits this, is not an acceptable excuse. The Constitution does
not permit this. The Constitution forbids cruel and unusual punishment.
For Muslims this is worse than torture.
Those determined to burn the Quran are doing so as a way to either
hurt or get even with Muslims. They however are laboring under the
illusion that Quran belongs to Muslims. Yes, Muslims attach unimaginable value to it, but the Quran belongs to all people, it is part of the
human treasury and the Quran attests that it was sent, not to Muslims,
but to the entire humanity: "It is nothing less than a message to all nations" (Quran 68:52). It belongs as much to Terry Jones as it does to
Muslims. The only difference being, some have built great civilizations
on its basis others may burn their own values along with it.
When images of Quran burning will be ashed around the globe, it
will excite Muslim anger. I want Muslim leaders everywhere to council
their communities. Recognize this provocation for what it is and ignore
it. And remember do not let this become a source for anger and hatred towards Christians. Remind your congregations what the Quran
tells Muslims about Christians: "...Forgive them and overlook their misdeeds, for Allah loves those who are kind (Quran 5:13).
Be patient, encourage everyone to be patient, let Terry Jones enjoy
the monopoly on barbarity for a while. "True believers are those who
show patience, rmness and self-control (Quran 3:17) and indeed God
is with those who are patient (Quran 2:153)."

Saturday Lecture
Islam and poverty eradication
Sheikh Juma Amir
Sat. 11th September 2009 2.00 pm-4.00 pm
Jamia Mosque Multi Purpose Hall

Eid Ul Fitr FETE

Celebrate Eid and have fun in an Islamic environment
Sunday 12th Sept. 2010 Time: 10.00am-6.00 pm
JAMHURI HIGH SCHOOL-NGARA Entrance Fee: Ksh50
LADIES AND CHILDREN ONLY
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.com or
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