The

Friday Bulletin
The Weekly Muslim News Update

Muharram 04 1432/December 10 2010

Issue No. 397

Fears raised of Demographic

marginalisation in Lamu

A section of secondary school students who attended a 4-day holiday youth camp
at WAMY High School engage in a group discussion. The camp was organised by
the Kenya Muslims Charitable Soceity

Police under spotlight over Eastleigh blast

Investigations in last weeks deadly blast in Eastleigh are now focusing on police officers
who were carrying the grenade which exploded under unexplained circumstances killing
a police officer.
Detectives from the Criminal Investigation Department are set to question an Administration Police Officer who survived the blast.
This was after investigations revealed that the grenade exploded inside the police vehicle and was not hurled at the vehicle as earlier indicated. The Daily Nation on Wednesday said a police investigation report concluded that the hand grenade was tucked under
the passenger seat of the police land rover where it exploded and killed the Administration police corporal Erastus Kamau.
Two other unarmed policemen were killed a few hours after the incident in Kasarani by
criminals who also carried grenades rising fears of a concerted attack against the law
enforcers.
Administration police commandant Kinuthia Mbugua was quick to point a finger to terrorism and called for action against the menace.
The Anti-Terrorism Police Unit and the American Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
were called in to unravel the faces behind the blast after reports suggested that the
bombing could be the work of Somali militia groups Al-Shabaab.
Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere later dismissed the reports and blamed the attacks

This Week

Editorial
Da'wa

Women

Residents of Lamu have called on the government to stop what they said was a systematic
migration of upcountry people to Lamu. They
expressed concerns that the new comers were
being facilitated to take over land and other resources which belonged to the people of the
area.
Under the banner of the Coast Peoples Forum
(CPF), the residents also expressed anger over
reports that attempts were being made to resettle Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from
Rift Valley to Lamu.
The Government should stop the organized inmigration of poor peasants and IDPs to Lamu,
said a statement issued by CPF at a Mombasa
hotel last week.
The activities, the Forum cautioned, were
breeding suspicions among the residents and
may lead to long-term disastrous consequences.
It spoke of a systematic programme to ferry upcountry people mainly from Central province to
settle in Lamu, a move the Forum said could
lead to demographic marginalization of the
people of the area.
This process of encouraging and directed migration is done openly and the Government
and the Provincial Administration is pretending
not to know what is going on, the statement
said.
There is a network of individuals in Mpeketoni
and in Central province who encourage and facilitate the movement of such people to Lamu
District where they are then directed to occupy
the land belonging to Lamu people and start
farming, added the statement.
As a result of the migration, the population of
Lamu has gone upward by 18 percent between
1999 and 2009, an increase which was attributed to the settlers.
The residents have suffered long periods of
economic marginalization and this was now
turning into demographic marginalization within
their home region, they complained.
The group said the four major settlement
schemes which are mainly inhabited by upcountry residents are on land owned by the original
inhabitants of Lamu and no compensation has
been made to the victims.
While the new comers were facilitated with land

Story continued On Page 7

Police attack not to be used for injustice

The virtues of Muharram

Issues Parenting-Bonding begins at birth

P2 Youth

and Children
P3
Feature
P4 Feature

www.islamkenya.com

Story continued On Page 7

Willpower and discipine
The Hijri Calender
Islam and disability

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

P5
P6
P6

The Friday Bulletin

Muharram 04 1432/December 03 2010

EDITORIAL

Attack on Police should not be used to dispense injustice

Last weeks audacious attack on the police force which left three
policemen dead were greeted with shock and disdain by Kenyans.
The grotesque killings on the law enforcers generated concerns of
a rising crime wave in the city.
It further begged the question that if the police themselves could
come under attack by seasoned criminals, what lay in store for
the ordinary mwananchi who is supposed to be protected by those
who are now being targeted.
This cowardly attack needs to be strongly condemned by all peace
loving Kenyans. The police go at great length to put their lives at
risk to ensure that we have a sense of security around our surroundings. It is due to their presence in our midst that we can be
able to undertake our activities with a peace of mind knowing fully
well that help from the law enforcers will be near at hand in the
event that trouble arises.
While they also have some drawbacks in the service to the citizenry, there is no doubt that on the whole, the law enforcers provide an
important and valuable role in protecting the lives and properties
of all the people.
Any attack on the police, should therefore be taken as an affront
against all the people of Kenya and the public has a duty to support
the security forces in their duties.
Having said this, the ripple effects of the attacks in Eastleigh have
led to a major security swoop in the predominantly Muslim area
which has seen hundreds of people arrested ostensibly for being
in the country illegally.
While senior police officers are describing this as a normal operation to weed out illegal aliens, there is no doubt that the attack

triggered this operation. After the attack, many expected that this
operation would be undertaken as it has been the norm whenever
such incidents happened in the area.
The swoop followed similar patterns which saw those with Somali
ethnic features being singled out in the night time raids where security officers raided homes, restaurants, hotels and other venues
to flush out the unwanted people. Regrettably, many of the victims
were Kenyans and for some even the identity papers did not offer
any help.
While the Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere categorically stated
that the attack was the work of organised criminals and not linked
to the Somalia militia group Al-Shabaab as it was previously feared,
this did not stop members of the Somali community from being
roundly targeted for the crimes which there are innocent of.
Such operations help to instil ethnic animosity among the Somalis
who have of recent been wrongly blamed for various ills which face
the country. Even some of the media reports have carried commentaries subtly blaming the whole episode on Somali groups with calls
for tougher action to stem what has for long been termed as threats
emanating from war-torn Somalia and Eastleigh.
While the police have a duty to enforce the laws of the land, it
should undertake the task in an objective manner which should not
give rise to suggestions that it is aimed at targeting a particular
group of people.
This will give more confidence in the work of the police from citizens
which will help to ease their work in combating crime and ensuring
that all people live in a secure and peaceful surrounding.

Families of the renditioned Kenyans have petitioned the Head of

State and the Prime Minister to intervene and ensure that their
loved ones are returned home to access justice.
The families maintained that their kin continue to be held illegally
in Uganda and challenged the Kenyan government to put them to
trial in the country if the government had even an iota of evidence
of wrong doing on their part.
They further added that the charges which their kin are due to
stand trial for were allegedly committed in Kenya and there was no
reason to warrant their continued detention in Uganda.
We appeal to President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila
Odinga to bring back home our loved ones. We have competent
Judges and magistrates who can hear their cases, said Faridah
Saad, wife to human rights campaigner Al Amin Kimathi.
We would be glad if the courts convict them here if there is credible evidence against them, she added.
Al-Amin is charged alongside seven other Kenyans for their alleged involvement in the deadly attacks in the Ugandan capital
Kampala in July.
Apart from the executive director of the Muslim Human Rights Forum (MHRF), the rest were arrested in the country and shipped
to Uganda in a US backed rendition programme which was vehemently condemned by the High court, civil rights group and religious leaders.
It is ironical that the perpetrators of the post election violence continue to walk scot-free while our loved ones without any evidence
against them continue to be unfairly detained, Faridah said during
a press conference at the 680 hotel in Nairobi convened by the
families of the renditioned Kenyans.
Human rights lawyer Mbugua Mureithi said the recent acquittal of
several Kenyans who were earlier detained in connection with the
bombing pointed to the innocence of the Kenyans. The fact that
charges against a number of Kenyans were dropped is a vindication that a lot of people arrested had nothing to do with the bombings, he said.
Muslim Human Rights Forum co-convener Farouk Machanje
termed the allegation against the Kenyans as frivolous adding
that so far no concrete evidence has been brought forward to link

the Kenyans with the bombings.

He accused the Ugandan authorities in collaboration with some
Kenyan security agencies of resorting to desperate methods to
force the detainees to admit their involvement in the attacks which
was claimed by the Somali militia group Al-Shabaab.
Three Ugandans have confessed to their roles in connection with
the attack but none has implicated Kenyans in the deadly strike
which left more than 70 people dead.

Bring our loved ones home, families plead to Kibaki and Raila

Hajj:Record number of pilgrims

from Kenya
More than 3,000 pilgrims from Kenya performed the Hajj this year.
This is the highest number of pilgrims from Kenya to undertake the
Hajj, the largest annual gathering of humanity.
In contrast, 2,800 pilgrims from Kenya participated in the event last
year.
More than 3 million pilgrims from across the globe participated in
this years hajj rituals.
Kenyas quota stood at 3,000 but with the new population census
figures which showed that the current population stands at 40 million, this quota has now risen to 4,000. To control the huge crowds,
Saudi authorities have limited through quotas the number of people
traveling to Hajj with each country allocated 1,000 pilgrims for every
1 million people.
Meanwhile, Muslims have been advised to save early as a means
of attaining financial ability to undertake the journey of a lifetime.
This advice was given by the Sheikh Abdullatif Abdulkarim of the
Kenya Council of Imams and Ulamaa (KCIU) who said an early and
regular saving plan will enable many people to fulfill their dreams of
traveling to the Hajj.
He told Muslim to take advantage of the saving opportunities available through the Islamic banks to save for Hajj. First Community Bank
through its Labbeyk account and Gulf African Banks Hajj Savings
account are designed specifically to facilitate for those who intend
to perform the Hajj.

Muharram 04 1432/December 10 2010

The Friday Bulletin

DA'WA

Significance and virtue of the month of Muharram

Mufti Taqi Usman

Muharram is the month with which the Muslims begin their lunar beginning, fasting on the day of 'Ashura' was obligatory for the MusHijrah Calendar. It is one of the four sanctified months about which lims. It was later that the fasts of Ramadhan were made obligatory
the Holy Quran says, "The number of the months according to Allah and the fast on the day of 'Ashura' was made optional. Sayyidina
is twelve (mentioned) in the Book of Allah on the day He created 'Aisha, Radhi-Allahu anha, has said: "When the Holy Prophet, Salaheavens and the earth. Among these (twelve months) there are four llahu alayhi wa sallam, came to Madinah, he fasted on the day of
'Ashura' and directed the people to fast. But when the fasts of Ramsanctified."
These four months, according to the authentic traditions, are Dhul- adhan were made obligatory, the obligation of fasting was confined
Qa'dah, Dhul-Hijjah, Muharram and Rajab. All the commentators to Ramadhan and the obligatory nature of the fast of 'Ashura' was
of the Holy Quran are unanimous on this point, because the Holy abandoned. Whoever so desires should fast on it and any other who
Prophet, Salallahu alayhi wa sallam, in his sermon on the occasion so likes can avoid fasting on it." (Sunan Abu Dawud)
However, the Holy Prophet, Salallahu alayhi wa sallam, used to
of his last Hajj, declared: "One year consists of twelve months, of
which four are sanctified months, three of them are in sequence; fast on the day of 'Ashura' even after the fasting in Ramadhan was
made obligatory. Abdullah ibn Musa, Radi-Allahu anhu, reports that
Dhul-Qa'dah, Dhul-Hijjah, Muharram, and the fourth is Rajab."
The specific mention of these four months does not mean that any the Holy Prophet, Salallahu alayhi wa sallam, preferred the fast of
other month has no sanctity, because the month of Ramadhan is 'Ashura' on the fasts of other days and preferred the fasts of Ramadmittedly the most sanctified month in the year. But these four adhaan on the fast of 'Ashura'. (Bukhari and Muslim)
In short, it is established through a number of authentic ahadith that
months were specifically termed as sanctified months for the simple reason that their sanctity was accepted even by the pagans of fasting on the day of 'Ashura' is Sunnah of the Holy Prophet, Salallahu alayhi wa sallam, and makes
Makkah.
In fact, every month, out of the twelve, According to another Hadith, it is more advisable one entitled to a great reward.
is originally equal to the other, and that the fast of 'Ashura' should either be preced- According to another Hadith, it is
there is no inherent sanctity that may ed or followed by another fast. It means that one more advisable that the fast of 'Ashushould either be preceded or folbe attributed to one of them in comshould fast two days: the 9th and 10th of Muhar- ra'
lowed by another fast. It means that
parison to the other months. When Alone should fast two days: the 9th and
lah Almighty chooses a particular time ram or the 10th and 11th.
10th of Muharram or the 10th and
for His special blessings, the same
11th. The reason of this additional
acquires sanctity out of His grace.
Thus, the sanctity of these four months was recognized right from fast as mentioned by the Holy Prophet, Salallahu alayhi wa sallam,
the days of Sayyidina Ibrahim, alayhi salam. Since the Pagans of is that the Jews used to fast on the day of'Ashura alone, and the
Makkah attributed themselves to Sayyidina Ibrahim, alayhi salam, Holy Prophet, Salallahu alayhi wa sallam, wanted to distinguish the
they observed the sanctity of these four months and despite their fre- Muslim way of fasting from that of Jews. Therefore, he advised the
Muslims to add another fast to that of 'Ashura'.
quent tribal battles, they held it unlawful to fight in these months.
However, there are some legends and misconceptions with regard
In the Shariah of our Noble Prophet, Salallahu alayhi wa sallam,
the sanctity of these months was upheld and the Holy Quran re- to 'Ashura' that have managed to find their way into the minds of
some Muslims but have no support of authentic Islamic sources,
ferred to them as the "sanctified months".
some very common of them are these: This is the day on which
Muharram has certain other characteristics special to it, which are Adam, alayhi salam, was created. This is the day when Ibrahim,
specified below.
alayhi salam, was born. This is the day when Allah accepted the
Fasting During the Month
repentance of Sayyidina Adam, alayhi salam. This is the day when
The Noble Prophet, Salallahu alayhi wa sallam, has said: 'The best Qiyamah (doomsday) will take place. Whoever takes bath on the
fasts after the fasts of Ramadhan are those of the month of Muhar- day of 'Ashura' will never get ill.
ram."
All these and other similar whims and fancies are totally baseless
Although the fasts of the month of Muharram are not obligatory, yet and the traditions referred to in this respect are not worthy of any
one who fasts in these days out of his own will is entitled to a great credit.
reward by Allah Almighty. The Hadith cited above signifies that the
Some people take it as Sunnah to prepare a particular type of meal
fasts of the month of Muharram are most rewardable ones among on the day of 'Ashura'. This practice, too, has no basis in the authe Nafl or voluntary fasts.
thentic Islamic sources.
The Hadith does not mean that the award promised for fasts of
Some other people attribute the sanctity of 'Ashura' to the marMuharram can be achieved only by fasting for the whole month. On tyrdom of Sayyidna Husain, Radhi-Allahu anhu, during his battle
the contrary, each fast during this month has merit. Therefore, one with the Syrian army. No doubt, the martyrdom of Sayyidina Husain,
should avail of this opportunity as much as he can.
Radhi-Allahu anhu, is one of the most tragic episodes of our history.
Yet, the sanctity of 'Ashura' cannot be ascribed to this event for the
The Day of 'Ashurah'
Although Muharram is a sanctified month as a whole, yet, the 10th simple reason that the sanctity of 'Ashura' was established during
day of Muharram is the most sacred among all its days. The day the days of the Holy Prophet, Salallahu alayhi wa sallam, much earis named 'Ashurah'. According to the Holy Companion Ibn 'Abbas, lier than the birth of Sayyidna Husain, Radhi-Allahu anhu.
On the contrary, it is one of the merits of Sayyidna Husain, RadhiRadhi-Allahu anhu. The Holy Prophet, Salallahu alayhi wa sallam,
when migrated to Madinah, found that the Jews of Madinah used Allahu anhu, that his martyrdom took place on the day of 'Ashura'.
to fast on the 10th day of Muharram. They said that it was the day
Another misconception about the month of Muharram is that it is
on which the Holy Prophet Musa (Moses), alayhis salam, and his an evil or unlucky month, for Sayyidna Husain, Radhi-Allahu anhu,
followers crossed the Red Sea miraculously and the Pharaoh was was killed in it. It is for this misconception that people avoid holding
drowned in its waters. On hearing this from the Jews, the Holy marriage ceremonies in the month of Muharram. This is again a
Prophet, Salallahu alayhi wa sallam, said, "We are more closely baseless concept, which is contrary to the express teachings of the
rotated to Musa, alayhi salam, than you," and directed the Muslims Holy Quran and the Sunnah. If the death of an eminent person on
to fast on the day of 'Ashura'. (Abu Dawood)
a particular day renders that day unlucky for all times to come, one
It is also reported in a number of authentic traditions that in the
Story continued On Page 6

Muharram 04 1432 December 10 2010

The Friday Bulletin

WOMEN ISSUES

Parenting:Bonding Begins at Birth

Dr. Aisha Hamdan
Many parents mistakingly equate parenting with discipline. Effective parenting begins from day one in a baby's life by establishing bonding.
an to work it is important to find a competent, caring person to take
care of the child, preferably a Muslim. It is possible for a child to
bond with more than one person.
2. Breastfeed. Allah has provided humans with a natural technique
for development of a bond through the prescription of breastfeeding: "The mothers shall give suck to their offspring for two whole
years." [2:233]; "And the bearing of him and the weaning of him is
thirty months." [46:15]. This is another example of Allah's infinite
wisdom that has only recently been proven by scientific knowledge.
There are numerous health benefits from breastfeeding as well as
emotional and social effects that will last a lifetime.
3. Respond to the infant's needs as quickly as possible. A significant part of the bonding process involves trust. When the needs of
the baby are fulfilled, he/she develops trust in the caretaker and in
the world. Crying and fussiness are forms of communication that
signal that something is not quite right, and it is the responsibility
of the caretaker to determine what should be done. Experienced
parents are able to distinguish various cries and their associated
needs. It is also possible to sense the early signs of needs and take
care of them before the infant becomes upset. Caretakers who do
this well usually have babies who are very content, secure, and
enjoyable.
4. Communicate with your infant. There are many ways to send
messages of love and care to your infant. These include talking in a
soft voice, "answering" sounds by cooing or imitating, singing, smiling, hugging, stroking, massaging, making eye contact and much
more. Mothers and infants tend to develop their own special language that really is an expression of their love for each other. One
of the most wonderful gifts from Allah is the beautiful, bright smile of
an infant that says "I am loved and cared for and I am returning that
love." What amazing synchrony!
Following this advice does not guarantee that your child will develop according to your wishes and it will not alleviate your concerns,
but it is an initial building block that will provide a strong foundation upon which to build. It is important to remember throughout the
whole building process that our children are only a test for us and
that we must always rely on Allah.

Congratulations!! You and your spouse have just given birth to a

bouncy baby boy or girl. As you become acquainted with your little bundle you begin to ask yourself many questions: "How will I
cope with this new responsibility?"; "Will I be able to raise my child
as a fully functioning, psychologically healthy person?"; "Will I be
capable of protecting my child from the evil in this society?"; "What
do I need to do to build a strong Muslim character in my child?"
Whether this is your first experience at parenthood or one in a line
of blessings, the same questions surface each time a new being
appears. In upcoming issues of this magazine we will try to provide some insights into methods that will lead to positive outcomes
for the concerns that are often raised. One can use the analogy
of building blocks, with the first blocks placed at the time of birth.
Many people believe that the task of parenting does not begin until
a child can walk and talk and get into mischief, requiring some form
of discipline from the parent. The term parenting is often equated
with discipline. This understanding is inaccurate, however, because
effective parenting begins at birth with a phenomenon known as
bonding or attachment.
What is bonding?
Bonding is the formation of enduring emotional ties between an
infant and a special person in his/her world (usually the mother).
It is a process that takes place over time involving an affectionate,
reciprocal relationship between these two people. The interaction
usually occurs in this manner:
The infant cries or expresses discomfort;
The caretaker responds in an attentive and loving way, fulfilling
the needs of the infant;
The infant smiles and coos as a sign of contentment;
The caretaker is gratified to know that she/he can please the infant and produce such a response.
It is a beautiful, harmonious interplay that is a part of Allah's universal plan. It plants the seeds of the social and community ties that
are so important in Islam.
Bonding is vitally important because it can affect the psychological
and social development of a child. Scientific research has shown
that children who were securely attached in infancy are more competent in certain social and cognitive skills: they are more curious,
competent, cooperative, and self-directed than those who were insecurely attached. They are also more likely to be sought out as
friends and chosen to be leaders. In school, they tend to interact
with teachers in friendly and appropriate ways and are more likely
to be independent, seeking help from teachers only when needed.
Children who were insecurely attached tend to experience more difficulty in these areas and these effects may carry over into later
years. Poor attachment has been found to be one factor in an equation that explains problems in adolescence such as juvenile delinquency, teenage pregnancy, drug and alcohol use, and more.
Fostering a strong bond with your child
How does a parent build a strong bond with her/his child and foster
secure attachment?
1. Stay home with the baby. This is the ideal situation (although
not always possible) for both the mother and the child. Allah has
assigned women the role of nurturer and caretaker and has created
them with characteristics that fit this role. Since bonding develops
through many interactions between parent and child it only makes
sense that they be together for this to occur. It is a disturbing situation when a woman goes back to work 6 weeks after the baby is
born leaving him/her in daycare for 10 hours a day. She then comes
home too frazzled and exhausted to have any interactions with the
baby much less quality time. If it is absolutely necessary for a wom-

The Friday Bulletin Kitchen

KATLESI
Ingredients
kg potatoes, boiled and mashed
cup milk
1 tbsp margarine
3 eggs, boiled and finely chopped
(1 extra for beating)
1 onion, finely chopped

bunch dhania, finely

chopped
Pilipili manga (black pepper
powder) to taste

Pinch of salt
Vegetable oil for shallow frying

Method

Mix the mashed potato with the milk, margarine and salt and set
aside.
In a bowl, mix the egg, dhania, onion and black pepper together.
Using a spoon, place some mash into the palm of your hand, cupping it
to make a hole in the centre with the spoon.
Stuff the centre with the egg mixture and fold over to cover completely.
sides
Shape the katlesi into patties then dip them into the beaten egg.
Heat the oil and shallow fry the patties until lightly browned all over.
Share your favourite recipes with our readers. Send them to P. O. Box 10078600100 or email:fridaybulletin@islamkenya.com or fridaybulletin@gmail.com

Muharram 04 1432 December 10 2010

The Friday Bulletin

YOUTH AND CHILDREN

Willpower and Discipline

Adultery and fornication do not happen automatically. The mind
plays an important role in the whole scenario. Everyone is constantly bombarded with visual, auditory, and tactile stimuli that are
processed in the mind. These messages can either be controlled or
uncontrolled. If teenagers have low self-esteem and want to be accepted, they will give in to temptation. On the other hand, teenagers
who are firm in their faith in Allah Most High and who have positive
self-esteem, use their willpower to control temptation and channel it
into another form of energy.
Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be
upon him) said,"Allah Most High has written for the son of Adam his
inevitable share of adultery, whether he is aware of it or not: The
adultery of the eye is looking (at something which is sinful to look
at), and the adultery of the tongue is to utter (what it is unlawful to
utter), and the inner-self wishes and longs for (adultery) and the
private parts turn that into reality or refrain from submitting to the
temptation" (Al-Bukhari).
Prevalence of Illegal Sex
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "From
among the portents of the hour is that (open) illegal sexual intercourse will prevail, and men will decrease in number while women
will increase" (Al-Bukhari).
This hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) very
accurately describes our current state of affairs. Pornography, teenage pregnancies, and adultery are so common that people seem to
be fighting a losing battle against this tidal wave of immorality and
have come to accept all of these activities as the "modern generation."
Furthermore, with each generation, the level and availability of
lewdness is increasing; for example, pornography is available in our
homes on TV and the Internet, thus affecting the mindset of children
from an early age. Homosexuality is gaining support throughout
many parts of the world. Some advocates of the gay movement are
claiming that they are born gay. This is a ruse to cover their shameful behavior. Homosexuality is a lifestyle choice. Allah Most High
created everything in pairs, male and female. Anyone who goes
against this plan will be answerable to Allah Most High.
The above verses from the Qur'an and various hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) clearly indicate
that both fornication and adultery are forbidden in Islam; furthermore, the long-term harm of these acts far outweigh and short-term
momentary gratification.
In simple terms, the Islamic requirement is as follows:
1- Boys and girls should not have sex before they are married
2- Sex is only permissible between legally married partners
3- Within the arena of the marriage contract, sex is a sacred, private, and personal act between the married couple only; this means
that the husband and wife should guard their "bedroom secrets"
from all prying ears and eyes.
4- Neither of the partners is allowed to have sex with anyone else.
This means that neither the husband nor the wife can indulge in the
un-Islamic practices of wife swapping parties, visiting prostitutes, or
having sex with another married or single person.
5- When in doubt about anything, use the Qur'an and the Sunnah
of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to give clarity on
any matter.
Role of Parents
Our children are faced daily with images from TV, movies, videos,
Internet, newspapers, magazines, books, and friends about the
"sexual revolution." Their young minds are being brainwashed with
ideas that morals, modesty, and values are old-fashioned. If we do
not tell our children about the facts of life and what is acceptable
moral behavior from a cultural, and, more importantly, from an Islamic viewpoint, then we should share the blame with our children
if they become ensnared in the vices of sex, drugs, teenage pregnancy, prostitution, alcohol, and gambling. (Zawaj.net)

Obeying Parents
Being kind and dutiful to parents means to obey ones
parents, show them love and respect, and help them
with whatever means available such as exerting effort
or spending money.
It also means talking to them in the most polite and
grateful manner, listening to them when they talk, and
never show dissatisfaction or resentment towards
them.
Indeed Islam advocates us to be kind and dutiful to our
parents and deal with them in the best manner. Allah
Says: {And your Lord has commanded that you worship
none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents.
If one of them or both of them attain old age in your
life, say not to them uff (a word of disrespect), nor
shout at them but address them in terms of honour.
And lower unto them the wing of submission and humility through mercy, and say: "My Lord! Bestow on them
Your Mercy as they did bring me up when I was small.}
[Quran 17:23-24].
Islam regards being kind and dutiful towards parents
as one of the best acts of worship which a Muslim performs in order to get closer to Allaah, because parents
are the direct reason for the existence and happiness
of the children. On one hand, the mother spends many
nights awake bringing up her children and taking care of
them. She spends long nights taking care of her young
child who is unable to manage any of his affairs. On the
other hand, a father does his best to earn a living to
support his children with food, clothing and education,
and help them realize their dreams. That is why we notice that Allah mentioned obedience to parents as being
next to worshipping Him. Allah Says:
{And your Lord has commanded that you worship none
but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents. If
one of them or both of them attain old age in your life,
say not to them uff (a word of disrespect), nor shout
at them but address them in terms of honour.}[Quran
17:23].
Allah even commanded children to be kind and dutiful to
their parents even if they are polytheists. Allah Says
(which means): {But if they (both) strive with you to
make you join in worship with Me others that of which
you have no knowledge, then obey them not, but behave
with them in the world kindly, and follow the path of him
who turns to Me in repentance and obedience. Then to
Me will be your return, and I shall tell you what you used
to do.}[Quran 31:15].
5

Muharram 04 1432/December 10 2010

The Friday Bulletin

FEATURE

The Islamic Hijri Calender

The Islamic calendar, called the Hijra calendar, is a lunar-based calendar. As such, the Islamic year is about 354 days long, the Islamic
dates therefore move through the seasons, completing the cycle in
approximately 34 years.
The Islamic Calendar is based purely on lunar cycles, was first introduced in 638 CE by the companions of the Prophet, sallallahu
alayhi wasallam, and the second Khalifah, Umar ibnul Khattab (592644 CE).
He did it in an attempt to rationalize the various, at times conflicting,
dating systems used during his time. Umar consulted with his advisors from the companions on the starting date of the new Muslim
calendar. It was finally agreed that the most appropriate reference
point for the Islamic calendar was the Hijrah the incident of the immigration of the Muslims from Makkah to Madinah. It is a central
historical event of early Islam that led to the foundation of the first
Muslim city-state, a turning point in Islamic and world history. The
actual starting date for the calendar was chosen (on the basis of
purely lunar years, counting backwards) to be the first day of the
first month (1 Muharram) of the year of the Hijrah. The Islamic Hijri
calendar came to be abbreviated by some as AH in Western languages from the latinized Anno Hegirae, "in the year of the Hegira".
Muharram 1, 1 AH therefore corresponds to July 16, 622 CE.
The Islamic year consists of twelve (purely lunar) months. Each
month may be of 29 or 30 days depending on the sighting of the
new moon.
They are: Muharram; Safar; Rabi'ul Awwal; Rabi'u Thani; Jumada
al-Awwal; Jumada ath-Thani; Rajab; Sha'ban; Ramadhan; Shawwal; Dhul Qi'dah; and Dhul Hijjah.
Muharram, Rajab, Dhul Qadah and Dhul Hijja are considered to be
sacred months. Fighting during these sacred months is prohibited.
Islam has made use of both the lunar and solar system of measuring times. Where worship is to be performed in different parts of the
day the solar system of reckoning time is used as in the five daily
Prayers or for the beginning and breaking of the fast, and where
worship is to be completed within a particular month or part thereof,
the lunar system is used, as in the determination of the month or
part thereof, the lunar system is used, as in the determination of the
month of fasting or fixing the time of Hajj or other festivals.
To Muslims, the Hijri calendar is more than a sentimental system of
time reckoning, and dating important religious events. Many of the
marital and spousal relationship rulings of the women are directly
connected to the lunar (Islamic) months. The Hijri calendar, therefore, has a much deeper religious and historical significance in the
Muslim life. Abul Hassan an-Nadwi, of the illustrious scholars from
the Indian sub-continent who wrote, "It is indeed, a unique occasion to ponder that the Islamic Era did not start with the victories of
Islamic wars, nor with the birth or death of the Prophet, sallallahu

alayhi wasallam, nor with the revelation itself. It starts with Hijra,
or the sacrifice for the cause of Truth and for the preservation of
the Revelation. It was a divinely inspired selection. Allah wanted to
teach man that the struggle between truth and evil is eternal. The
Islamic year reminds Muslims not of the pomp and glory of Islam
but of its sacrifice, and prepares them to do the same." From a
historical angle, Ilyas quoted Samiullah who wrote, "All the events
of Islamic history, especially those that took place during the life of
the Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wasallam, and afterwards are quoted
in the Hijra calendar era. But our calculations in the Gregorian calendar keep us away from those events and happenings, which are
pregnant of admonitory lessons and guiding instructions. ...And this
chronological study is possible only by adopting the Hijri calendar
to indicate the year and the lunar month in line with our cherished
traditions."
Why use the Islamic calendar?
Muslims are obliged to use the Islamic calendar because all of the
rulings needing time tracking are related to it. The Qur'an states,
"They ask you about the New Moons, say they are but signs to mark
fixed periods of time in (the affairs of) men and for Hajj." [11:189]
"The number of months in the sight of Allah is twelve (in a year) so
ordained by Him the day He created the heavens and the earth. Of
them four are sacred; that is the straight usage so wrong not yourselves therein, and fight the pagans. [9:36]
Since the Islamic calendar is purely lunar, the Muslim year is shorter
than the Gregorian year by about 11 days. Also, the months of the
Islamic year are not related to seasons which are fundamentally
determined by the solar cycle. This means that important Muslim
festivals, which always fall in the same lunar month, will occur in
different seasons. For example, the Hajj and Ramadhan's fasting
can take place in the summer as well as the winter. It is only over a
33 year cycle that lunar months take a complete turn and fall during
the same season.
For religious reasons, the beginning of a lunar month is marked not
by the birth of a new moon, but by a physical (i.e. an actual human)
sighting of the crescent moon at a given locale.
Astronomically, some data are definitive and conclusive (i.e., the
birth of the new moon). However, determining the visibility of the
crescent is not as definitive or as conclusive; rather it is dependent
upon several factors, mostly optical in nature. Therefore, all Islamic
calendars are to be updated every month to insure the exact beginning of each month. This should not present difficulties in using the
calendar as a planning tool. Muslims have devised some methods
to calculate the approximate beginning of the months (i.e., predicting the sightability of the new moon at the different parts of the
world) and in turn used them to produce calendars. However, when
it comes to religious matters, physical sighting is adhered to.

Significance and virtue of the month of Muharram

Story From Page 3
can hardly find a day of the year free from this bad luck because
every day is associated with the demise of some eminent person.
The Holy Quran and the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet, Salallahu
alayhi wa sallam, have liberated us from such superstitious beliefs.
Lamentations and Mourning
Another wrong practice related to this month is to hold the lamentation and mouming ceremonies in the memory of martyrdom
of Sayyidna Husain, Radhi-Allahu anhu. As mentioned earlier, the
event of Karbala is one of the most tragic events of our history, but
the Holy Prophet, Salallahu alayhi wa sallam, has forbidden us from
holding the mourning ceremonies on the death of any person. The
people of jahiliyyah (ignorance) used to mourn over their deceased
through loud lamentations, by tearing their clothes and by beating
their cheeks and chests. The Holy Prophet, Salallahu alayhi wa sallam, stopped the Muslims from doing all this and directed them to
observe patience by saying "Innaa lillaahi wa innaa ilayhi raaji'oon".
A number of authentic Ahaadith are available on the subject. To

quote only one of them:

"He is not from our group who slaps his checks, tears his clothes and
cries in the manner of the people of jahiliyyah." (Sahih Bukhari)
All the authentic jurists are unanimous on the point that the mourning of this type is impermissible. Even Sayyidna Husain, RadhiAllahu anhu, shortly before his demise, had advised his beloved
sister Sayyidah Zainab, Radi-Allahu anha, at not to mourn over his
death in this manner. He said, "My dear sister! I swear upon you
that in case I die you shall not tear your clothes, nor scratch your
face, nor curse anyone for me or pray for your death." (Al-Kamil, ibn
al-Athir vol. 4 pg. 24)
It is evident from this advice of Sayyidna Husain, Radhi-Allahu
anhu, that this type of mourning is condemned even by the blessed
person for the memory of whom these mourning ceremonies are
held. Every Muslim should avoid this practice and abide by the
teachings of the Holy Prophet, Salallahu alayhi wa sallam, and his
beloved grand child Sayyidna Husain, Radhi-Allahu anhu.

The Friday Bulletin

Muharram 04 1432/December 10 2010

Islam, Disability and Societal Responsibility

Harun Maalim Hassan

In our everyday lives, we often encounter persons with disabilities

(PWDs) whether we stop to chat with them or not, many of us find
ourselves thanking God for creating us free of disabilities while simultaneously uttering a prayer for them.
Interestingly enough though, whereas we may consider such people disadvantaged, there is no evidence in the Quran or the traditions of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him that shows Islam
views them in a similar fashion. For instance, the Quran contains
hardly any direct reference to disabled people except in the context
of jihad: Not equal are those of the believers who sit (at home),
except those who are disabled, and those who strive hard and fight
in the Cause of Allah with their wealth and their lives. (4:95).this
paragraph presupposes that PWDs are not disadvantaged.
In another place, when Allah corrected the Prophet, peace be upon
him, in Surah Abasa (Chapter. 80) on account of his behavior towards Abdullah ibn Umm Maktum, He does not dwell on the latters
disability except to refer to him as the blind man. In other words,
the Prophet is not being admonished on his insensitivity towards a
PWD, but rather on his delay in responding to someone who came
to him to learn.
The Prophets behavior toward disabled people is an example par
excellence for us. In addition to greeting Abdullah ibn Umm Maktum
with respect and humility, the Prophet designated him as the leader
of Madinah many times in his own absence. As far as the Prophet
was concerned, Abdullah ibn Umm Maktums blindness was not a
hindrance in his ability to carry out his duties.
Similarly, the case of Julaybib, another companion of the Prophet,
is instructive. He was thus known because of his diminutive figure.
He was also described as being deformed or revolting in appearance. While many people in Madinah had made him an outcast, the
Prophet salallahu alayhi wa sallam instead approached a family to
give their beautiful daughter as a bride for Julaybib.
Other shining examples of people who, while having some kind
of disability, occupied very excellent positions and prominent status in the society is `Atta Ibn Abi Rabah, who was black, lame and
partially paralyzed and was the greatest Mufti in Makkah. He was
highly honored by `Abdul-Malik Ibn Marwan, the Muslim caliph of
that time. His vast knowledge earned him this prestige.
Also, we know the story of the great Companion `Amr Ibn Al-Jamooh, who was also disabled. His four sons, when participating in
Jihad, said to him: You have an excuse to remain at home, for you
are old and you have a kind of disability. With full confidence and
trust in Allah, he said to them: Nay, for I hope to walk in Paradise
with my lame foot. Commenting on this, the Prophet, peace and

Demographic marginalisation

Story From Page 1

and other resources, it was a daunting task for the

residents to acquire the documents to the land which
they had held for generations. Acquiring Letters of
Allotment and Title Deed is very difficult and only the
rich people are able to acquire such documents. The
majority of Lamu people are either landless or are on
their ancestral land but have no documents.
The Forum also charged that the migrants were destroying the eco-system of the area through illegal
settlements in Witu forest which was gradually being
destroyed.
Calls were also made to recognize the rights of the
Bajuni people, the first IDPs who were forced out of
their land by the Shifta menace. Majority of these people remain landless as no efforts have been made to
resettle them to their original areas.
On the proposed Lamu Port, the Coast Peoples Forum expressed concerns that it may not be beneficial
for the residents after the government has ignored
persistent calls to engage them in the project which
could alter their culture and heritage.

blessings be upon him, said to them: Leave him! He is a man who

seeks martyrdom.
Almighty Allah guides all Muslims not to leave those disabled in
isolation lest they fall prey to despair and psychological ailments.
They should be welcomed to the open society and be dealt with in
the kindest way.
These examples show that even though the Prophet was sensitive to their particular circumstances; he did not consider these to
be things which should stand in their way of leading normal lives.
Rather, he was intent upon focusing on their inner beauty and amorphous souls just as he did with all of his companions.
In fact, mans life is a full record of hardships and tribulations. In this
sense, Allah says: We create man from a drop of thickened fluid
to test him (Al-Insaan:2) When man looks upon these tribulations
and afflictions as being a test from Almighty Allah to see his true
colors, he will come to know that there is a great Divine wisdom
behind all these tests. This is surely an absolute fact, whether we
know it or not.
It is also a great thing that Allah, when depriving a person of a certain ability or gift, compensates him for it, by bestowing upon him/
her other gift(s), with which he excels others. That is why we see
that those people who are deprived of sight, have very sensitive
ears that they can hear very low beats or movements around them.
They are given excellence in many other abilities to compensate
their imperfection.
As Muslims we should create a society where people with disabilities are recognised, valued and accorded equal opportunities to
participate in and live dignified lives. We are therefore obligated
to embark on mechanisms of creating awareness and advocacy in
mainstreaming and inclusion of PWDs. We can do this by promoting education and economically empowering them and importantly
in order to achieve these we should engage ourselves in the process of eliminating all barriers whether attitudinal or environmental
that hinders their full participation. In this way as a Muslim society
we can give them a platform to network, learn and have a voice in
the society.
Therefore, putting aside our own prejudices and assumptions, we
must recognize that disability is not necessarily a hindrance or disadvantage. After all, Allah has promised us that our lives are a test
for us. Indeed, God has promised us that with every hardship there
is relief, (94:5) and that no person shall have a burden laid on him
greater than he can bear (2:286)
The writer is Chief Executive Officer Northern Nomadic Disabled
Organisation (NONDO)

Eastleigh blast

Story From Page 1

on criminal gangs operating in the city.
The killings formed the basis of the current security swoop in Eastleigh and several areas of Nairobi which has seen more than 200 people, many of them from
the Somali community arrested over immigration issues.
According to the Nation report, only officers from the elite General Service Unit
Recce Squad and the Anti-Stock Theft Unit are mandated to carry the grenades.

Northern Nomadic Disabled Organisation

FUNDRAISING
Northern Nomadic Disabled Organisation invites all for a fundrasing event to
help People with disabilities
The Guest of Honour wil be Hassan Gulled Chairman of the Eastleigh Business Community assited by Abbas Gullet Secretary General of Kenya Red
Cross Society and Abdinassir Hassan of Has Petroleum.
Guest speakers will be Hon. Muhammad Elmi and Hon. Naomi Shaban and
MPs from Northern Kenya
Venue: Pan Africa Hotel
Date: Friday 10th December 2010 From 6.00 pm

Islamic Symposium
Lectures by various scholars
Friday. 24th December 2010 to
Sunday 26 December 2010
Masjid Al-Amin-off Juja Road
ALL ARE INVITED

TWEEN SEMINAR

Seminar for 10-13 years old girls

12th-14th December 2010
ACPE Academy, South C (behind Phase 4
estate)
For details call 0722-734090
0722-651679
Organised by After Shahada

Girls' Camp
Nairobi Muslim Academy South C
14th-18th December
For registration call 0729824100
Organised by Kenya Muslim Charitable
Society (KCMS)

From the Book of Allah

"We are your protectors in this life and in

the Hereafter: therein shall ye have all that
your souls shall desire; therein shall ye have
all that ye ask for! "A hospitable gift from
one Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful!" Who is
better in speech than one who calls men to
Allah, works righteousness, and says, "I
am of those who bow in Islam"? The Quran
41:31-33

Your Questions answered

Lately, more and more new people have
been calling the One Shilling Foundation
with renewed enthusiasm to enquire about
the foundation. There was a lot of hype during the launch of the foundation last year
and in recent times. Despite this, we have
to accept the fact that there are many other people who still do not know about the
foundation. To help the potential members
and new members answer some of the frequently asked questions, log on to our website on www.oneshillingfoundation.org.
Some of the questions and answers are as
follows:
When did the One Shilling Foundation
become operational?
The concept of small regular charity contributions from a large number of people has
been discussed for many years. In fact the
concept was successfully implemented by
some of our youth at one Mosque in Nairobi. Early last year Ummah Foundation
initiated consultations and discussions
on this concept with various Islamic leaders, scholars and Imams of our Ummah.
The whole team fine tuned the ideas and
agreed to implement the concept of using

the strength and power of numbers for the

general benefit of the Ummah.
What is different about One Shilling
Foundation compared to other Institutions and Organizations?
The foundation was formed specifically to
address problems which other organizations were unable to address. The vision of
this foundation is to systematically uplift the
living standards of the Ummah, to a much
higher level by empowering the community
primarily through education but also providing health, economic and social welfare
services.
How can the foundation help? We need
to have our own pre-school, primary and
secondary schools, our own universities,
our own health centres, clinics and hospitals. We need more teachers, university
lecturers, scientists, professionals and businessmen. We need to lead this country to
harmony, peace and prosperity. We need to
spread the message of Islam within and outside our boundaries. We want to improve
the quality of life for all peoples irrespective
of race, colour or creed. That is what the
foundation focuses on.
To become a member contact us:
One Shilling Foundation
Village Plaza, Ngara Road
P.O. Box 58717-00200, Nairobi
Tel: 0717 613 333/ 0732 613 333
Email: oneshillingfoundation.org
www.oneshillingfoundation.org

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