jumadal-awwal 03, 1442/december 18, 2020 issue no. 919...

Jumadal-Awwal 03, 1442/December 18, 2020

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

Issue No. 919

The Weekly Muslim News Update

Friday BulletinThe

Friday BulletinThe

EJK: Over 230 cases reported in 3 years - DPP

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Over 230 cases of human rights violations, abuses and killings by police and other se-curity apparatus have been reported in the country in the past three years.

This is according to a report released on Monday by the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions which indicated that it had handled at least 236 cases of human rights violations.

The violations are becoming costly even to the exchequer, considering that over Sh820 million has been spent by the At-torney General’s office in compensation of victims of police abuses.

The extrajudicial killings and human rights violations point to a broader problem of police using excessive and unlawful ac-

tions in the name of maintaining law and order and failing to comply with the rule of law in their undertakings.

In the three-year report from 2017 to 2020, the DPP Noordin Haji said at least 107 were in respect of killings by police of-ficers in the process of handling suspects.

The DPP said thirty other cases, involved deaths of suspects while in the custody of police officers and that during the period, his office handled five cases of persons killed by alleged stray bullets and 19 un-der other circumstances.

The report by the DPP comes after Miss-ing Voices, a website that documents po-lice killings, said at least 376 people were killed or forced to disappear during the

period.

Data from the website show that most of those killed were youth from informal set-tlements with Nairobi accounting for most of the cases.

The DPP said his office has taken meas-ures to address the violations and ex-cesses of the law enforcement agencies and has established a civil rights division to enhance the promotion of human rights and address cases of inaction or action by law enforcers that result in criminal viola-tion of citizens and non-citizens.

He said the civil rights division is tasked with ensuring violations are prosecuted or dealt with administratively by the National

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The leadership of the main faith communi-ties has partnered with the National Co-hesion and Integration (NCIC) to enhance peace and cohesion.Speaking under the umbrella organiza-tion of religious communities, the Inter-Religious Council of Kenya, the leaders emphasized on the need to restore, heal and safeguard the nation from any form of polarization along ethnic, religious, racial and other differences.According to the chair of IRCK Rev.Fr. Jo-seph Mutie, the partnership will culminate into a framework guiding the use of pulpits and religious sanctuaries to give message of hope.“We want to urge all religious leaders in the country to avoid divisive politics in sermons and partisan endorsements from the pulpits and keep partisan politics out

Interfaith Council partners with NCIC to promote peace ahead

of 2022 elections

Garissa Township Member of Parliament Aden Duale (RIGHT), Sheikh Muhammad Shakul (CENTER) and Former Governor Nathif Jama during the first ever major event to maintain, repair and re- organise the worn out, old and dilapidated copies of the Holy Quran. The event was organised by a group Muslim Sisters under the umbrella of “The Foundation to glorify the Book of Allah” held in Nairobi County.The group of Muslim sisters have came together to repair and 're organise dilapi-dated and also keep safe copies of the Holy Quran. They are doing this noble pro-gramme in the Kenya's counties of Nairobi, Mombasa, Garissa, Wajir and Mandera.

Preserving the Book of Allah

Jumadal-Awwal 03, 1442/December 18, 2020NATIONAL

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Construction of a new mosque, the first ever in Mukurwe-ini in Nyeri County with anticipation from local Muslims that it will enhance their Islamic identity and promote a better understanding of Islam among non-Muslims in the area has been unveiled. The construction works of the Maganjo mosque project that is being undertaken and supervised by Straight Path Da’wah group was launched last week.The project started a decade ago after one of the Muslim faithful donated a piece of land for the mosque but it stalled due to financial constraints. Speaking during the launch of the project, the chairman of the Straight Path Da’wah Group Ramadhan Kuria Kaguo empha-sized the need for Muslims to play active role in the society and take the message of Islam to non-Muslims communities at the grass roots adding that the construc-tion of mosque will contribute to the efforts in disseminating the message of Islam and foster a better understanding of Islam to Muslims and non-Muslims in the area.“The message of Islam need to be dis-seminated widely in urban and rural ar-eas so as to correct the prevailing mis-conception about Islam and Muslims. It is imperative for the local Imams and du'ats (preachers) to promote better understand-

Over 230 cases reported

COVID 19: NMCRC issues guidelines for Muslim schoolsthe authorities. In a circular sent and addressed to NM-CRC branches, the NMCRC Chairperson Prof Muhammad Karama highlighted the guidelines for Madrassas and Muslim In-tegrated schools are expected to adhere to, saying the move is meant to reduce the spread of the novel virus.As schools and Madrassas are about to

The National Muslim Covid19 Response Committee (NMCRC) has issued safety precautionary measures that are aimed at reducing infections from the deadly coro-navirus.As a precautionary measure, the commit-tee has urged Kenyans to adhere to coro-navirus countermeasures and to follow the health and other protocols issued by

The Friday Bulletin

re-open, among the preventative meas-ures released by National Muslim Cov-id19 Response Committee (NMCRC) to reduce transmission of infection, it recom-mended that class sizes be adjusted to ensure adherence to social distancing. The committee further emphasized on the use of face masks by all learners, teach-ers, non-teaching staff and parents and visitors at all times within the school en-vironment and that education institutional programs should be reworked for shorter timings so as to avoid learners and train-ees from gathering at one place in big numbers and long periods of time. Further, temperature monitoring and re-cord keeping should be done before entry as stipulated by the government guide-lines while frequent hand washing and sanitization should be emphasized. The committee suggested that referral systems for the provision of emergency medical services, mental health and psy-chosocial support for learners, trainees and staff members should be established and continued learning and review of the school daily routine is enhanced and pro-cedure of handling suspected Covid-19 case is practiced.The chairman further pointed out that so-cial and religious gatherings are some of the driving factors for the spread of the Covid 19 infection in the community and advised that only essential functions such as family meetings should be attended. Prof Karama further said Kenyans should desist from making non-essential jour-neys adding that those travellers should ensure the mode of transport they use ob-serves all Covid 19 prevention measures. “Only essential travel should be consid-ered during this season. Travel exposes the traveller and the people to be visited to higher risk of Covid 19 infection,” read the circular.

Police Service and further disclosed that his office is working with the Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) to nego-tiate a memorandum of understanding to create rules of engagement between the two agencies.

For several years now, the Muslim lead-ership has complained against police excesses which has seen hundreds be-ing arrested, detained and renditioned to countries which include Somalia, Ethiopia, Uganda and the United States. In recent years, this has morphed up into extra judi-cial disappearances and killings where in-dividuals alleged to be terrorism suspects have been arbitrarily arrested by people who identified themselves as police of-ficers and later disappear without trace or found killed and dumped in unfamiliar place.

Mukurwe-ini Mosque project launcheding of Islam among local communities and non-Muslims,” Ramadhan said. Ramadhan called on Muslims to portray a good image of Islam by giving moral sup-port and assistance to new Muslims as this will work on demystifying the mistrust leveled against the faith and Muslims and make the reverts feel part of the Muslim community. On his part, Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) Central Re-gion Coordinator Sheikh Shaaban Gakere Bakari decried that da'wah (Islamic propa-gation) activities have for most part been confined to the traditional Muslim areas and main urban centres leaving out many other parts of the country without a strong presence of Islam.Sheikh Shaaban called on Imams and Islamic preachers to embrace modern methods in furtherance of da'wah activi-ties and effectively project the image of image of Islam. ''We should use methods that will go a long in addressing the mis-conception and negative attributes which are being unleashed on the faith and its followers,'' Sheikh Shaaban said. More information on the projects can be accessed through +254722600533, +254777600777 and contributions can be made through Mpesa Pay Bill Number 558297 , Account Maganjo Mosque.

Continued From Page 1Interfaith Council partners with NCIC

of publication, social media pages and websites of organisations affiliated to our faith communities,” said the chair during a consultation meeting on promoting Peace and Cohesion last week in Nairobi.The acting chairman of Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) Hassan Ole Naado urged the religious leaders in the country to ensure functions involving poli-ticians are separated from worship func-tions. “There is need not only to safeguard the sanctity of places of worship but reaf-firm their traditional roles of being places for sharing messages of hope and toler-ance especially during this trying time,” he noted.The council further advised religious leaders to keep pulpits, sanctuaries and events sacred by adopting a zero-toler-ance policy against messages likely to promote division and hate.On countering stigma arising from COV-

ID-19, religious leaders have also been urged to pass messages of hope and to counter all forms of stigma and discrimi-nation associated with transmission of COVID-19

The acting chairman of Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) Hassan Ole Naado speaking during the meeting.


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I wrote an article about my journey to un-derstanding the Quran. It was a process of years and a lot of reading, attending lec-tures, and studying complementary texts and a foreign language. And that journey is not even close to being over.It was an intensive path and continues to be, so much so that it has become a ca-reer. But I get it. Not everyone has time for that. However, that doesn’t mean that if you don’t make understanding the Quran your career, you won’t be able to engage with the Quran in a meaningful way.Even if you are a new Muslim who has never picked up the Quran or a non-Muslim who doesn’t read even a letter of Arabic, you can and should engage with the Quran. What follows are some simple steps anyone can take toward understand-ing the Quran.1- Get a Good TranslationEven though the original and only official version of the Quran is in Arabic, you can get a lot of meaning and understanding out of a translation in any language. If you are reading the Quran translated into English, you will find that there are several transla-tions.Sahih International has been my go to translation for some time. But there are other and newer translations that may give you more clarity. Find a translation that uses language that has meaning to you. 2- Know the ObjectiveBefore diving into any book, you would know some basic stuff about it. It doesn’t matter if it is fiction, nonfiction, or an in-struction manual, you would at least know who the author is, who the intended audi-ence is, what it is about, and what the in-tended outcome is. This is no different for the Quran.Answering these questions about the Quran will be vital in any reader’s under-standing. So let me break it down for you.Who is the author of the Quran? The One and Only God and Creator of everything.Who is the intended audience of the Quran? Humankind for all times, in all places, but especially for those who have intellect (that’s you!).What is the Quran about? It is about teaching human beings who God is, what our purpose is, and what will come after death.What is the intended outcome? Guidance.3- Remove BiasEveryone comes to the Quran looking for something. But God tells us that the Quran is a book of guidance (2:2) and asks those who read it not to read their desires into it (3:7).If you come to the Quran looking for what you have already decided is in it, you will find it. Admittedly a few blessed people who have come to the Quran to prove their bias have found God’s guidance. However, that is not always the case.Those who come to the Qur’an looking to affirm their beliefs that Islam promotes

5 practical steps to understand QuranDA'WAH Jumadal-Awwal 03, 1442/December 18, 2020The Friday Bulletin

By Theresa Corbin

violence will take fragments of verses out of context and leave with that impression. Those who come to the Quran to look for proof that it is OK to do drugs will take one verse and not look at the Quran holistically.But those who come to the Quran free from bias and with open hearts and minds, they will find guidance. In the beginning of every chapter of the Quran, save one, you will find mercy.You will find that justice is fundamental (4:135). And you will find that peace is the cornerstone of the Qur’an. You will find tolerance is a necessity (2:256). You will find that equality is a given (4:2). And in all this and more you will find guidance in the Quran.The Quran is a mirror to bias and a door to truth. If you come to it with bias, it will be reflected back at you. If you come to it open, it will open for you.4- Know the Wisdom Behind the VersesThere is ultimate wisdom behind every re-vealed verse, and knowing what to look for in certain types of verses goes a long way to understanding. Here are a few kinds of verses and what should be derived from them:– Stories of Prophets/previous nations:These verses are not just biographical ac-counts. These are stories for us to take lessons from. The prophets struggled, but their righteous reactions to struggles is an example for us. Previous nations failed tests, and the traps they fell into are exam-ples of what we need to watch out for.– Glad tidings/Warning:Verses that promise amazing reward are meant to be soothing to those who are striving to meet their Lord in good standing. Verses that promise punishment are meant to be harsh in order to wake up those who are asleep to their reality before it is too late.– God’s Nature/Nature of creation:These verses are fundamental to our un-derstanding of life. They give us perspec-tive, teach us who God is, what our pur-pose is, and so much more.– Do’s/Don’ts:These verse are not rules of what makes God happy. God does not need us for any-thing. The do’s and don’ts from the Maker of the human being are guidelines to what is harmful to or beneficial for our own body and soul. These are for our own success.5- Look for ContextThe Quran was revealed over a period of 23 years. And it was revealed to a people who faced real life challenges to which the

Lesson from Ustadh Muhammad Sheikh Friday sermon at Jamia Mosque Nairobi on 11th DEC. 2020.Topic:Balancing Between Dun'ya and AkhiraThe following lessons were drawn from the sermon:1. Every human being is a slave of Allah.2. Whatever one does in this world today will be vivid to him on the day of Judge-ment.3. If Allah has given one wealth or knowl-edge, he/she should use it to build his/her home in Jannah.4. Allah has ordered us to enjoy this dun'ya but in a way that He has ordered us and refraining from the haram.5. Always be someone who perfects rela-tionships with everyone. NOTE:• One can dodge all that he was com-manded by the Creator but he cannot es-cape from death.• You should do good to the servants of Allah by helping in any way.• No one is perfect and man is to error.• If you want to balance the Dunya and Akhera you should:-Try to learn some basic knowledge of your deen.-Always hang around people who will en-courage you to balance between your du-nya and Akhira.-Use your time wisely in a manner that you won’t regret.-Always ask Allah to give you acceptance (Tawfiq).

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Quran gave answers in real time.To fully understand the Quran, we have to understand under what circumstances verses were revealed. Certain verses might sound weird if we don’t know what is going on in the context of the real time revelation.For example, the verse that includes the statement {kill them wherever you find them} sounds weird and very aggressive to us in our modern context where we do not go around killing people who have a differ-ent faith from us. The above verse was re-vealed after the Muslims were tortured by, fought against, and then signed a peace treaty with the pagan Arabs.Then after all of that, the pagans broke the treaty. And Allah revealed these verses: “Fight in the way of God those who fight you but do not transgress. Indeed. God does not like transgressors. And kill them [pagan Arabs] wherever you find them and expel them from wherever they have ex-pelled you, and persecution is worse than killing.” (2:190-191)

7 Lessons from Maryam – The best woman of the worldsJumadal-Awwal 03, 1442/December 18, 2020The Friday Bulletin

She (Maryam) is the only woman mentioned by name in the Quran and God mentioned her more often in the Quran than in the en-tire New Testament.An entire chapter in the Quran is named af-ter her and Allah the Most High mentions her as the best woman to have ever lived: “And [mention] when the angels said, O Maryam, indeed Allah has chosen you and purified you and chosen you above the women of the worlds.” (Quran, 3:42)She is Mary, or in Arabic: Maryam bint ‘Im-raan (peace be upon her).Here are seven inspiring life skills and pro-ductivity lessons from the greatest woman, Maryam.1. Always Ask Allah to Accept Your DeedsThe mother of Maryam was the wife of `Imraan, and her name was Hannah bint Faqudh. She supplicated to Allah the Most High to grant her offspring, and her supplica-tion was accepted.The first clear lesson to learn is to simply turn to your Creator with your wishes and ask Him.When she found out she was pregnant she asked: “O my Lord! I have vowed to You what (the child that) is in my womb to be dedicated for Your services, so accept this from me…” (Quran, 3:35)How many times throughout the day do you actually ask Allah the All mighty to accept a deed of yours? No matter how big or small, for example trying not to step on an insect, ask Allah to accept it from you for His sake.2. Realize Youth is Precious Time and Recognize Your Blessings“So her Lord accepted her with good ac-ceptance and caused her to grow in a good manner and put her in the care of Zechariah. Every time Zechariah entered upon her in the prayer chamber, he found with her provi-sion. He said, O Maryam, from where is this [coming] to you? She said, It is from Allah. Indeed, Allah provides for whom He wills without account.” (Quran, 3:37)As she grew up, Maryam (peace be upon her) was often in her prayer chamber. This shows you she didn’t grow up watching tel-evision, partying, or wasting her time.Another point to note: nowadays, you some-times see ‘righteous’ people, who’ve just started practicing their religion, look down on others and even boast about their own righteous behavior.When Maryam was asked about her provi-sion, she admitted it was from Allah the Most High. She could have said it was because of her hard work, but she didn’t. She was humble.3. Like Mary, Seek Refuge in AllahMary withdrew herself from her family in seclusion and met Jibreel (peace be upon him).“Then We sent to her Our Angel, and he represented himself to her as a well-propor-tioned man.” (Quran, 19:17)

WOMEN

Not knowing who this man was, what was her reaction? “She said: I seek ref-uge from you with the All-Merciful, [leave me] if you have fear of Allah.” (Quran, 19: 18)Her words show her ultimate trust in Al-lah. How often you get scared and forget to call upon Him? Seek refuge in Allah in your daily life, and truly feel your trust in Him.4. Don’t Surrender to Sadness and Look at Trials of OthersJibreel gave Maryam the news of a son, assuring her that Allah the Most High can make everything happen with ease, and: “So she conceived him and withdrew with him to a distant place.” (Quran, 19: 22)Now, whenever you feel alone, deeply reflect on this verse and try to imagine the scene:“And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm tree. She said, ‘Oh, I wish I had died before this and was in oblivion, forgotten.’ But he called her from below her, ‘Do not grieve; your Lord has provided beneath you a stream.’ (Quran, 19: 23-24)Think of her pain, all alone, with no sup-port. Usually lonely people surrender to sadness and helplessness. But Mary did not. She kept seeking His Help and mak-ing choices she thought would be pleas-ing to Allah. She never gave in to depres-sion because she knew if she would only trust Him, Allah would give her a solu-tion. And He did.

6. Be Patient in Fulfilling Your Respon-sibilitiesLong shifts, taking care of the family, the house, etc., people pulling at you from all sides… Maryam (peace be upon her) braved all the difficulties and performed with patience all her responsibilities.How many times do we complain, saying, “I can’t be bothered to read Quran now, or to help that person,” or complain about the way Allah likes us to dress? Respect the re-sponsibilities Allah gave you towards your family, environment, and the ummah. Think of the difficult tasks Allah set for Mary, only for her to show how strong she was and how much she deserved a beautiful king-dom in Paradise.7. Be a Role Model, Not a TalkerLook at Maryam (peace be upon her); through her strong faith, manners, and ac-tions she was a living invitation to belief in Allah.So first, look in your heart and feel the blessing to have a strong belief in your Creator, and then show your beautiful faith to others… Treat them justly, never use foul language, help others, be patient in times of hardships, and constantly speak words of praise and thanks to Allah, and so re-flect the beauty of Islam to the world around you. “And [mention] the one who guarded her chastity, so We blew into her [garment] through Our angel [Gabriel], and We made her and her son a sign for the worlds.” (Quran, 21:91)May Allah, the Most High, enable us to learn from her story and guide us to act upon our knowledge. Ameen.

By Khawlah bint Yahya

VACANCIESA well-established private school in Garissa Town is looking for;

1) Head Teacher, Primary School2) D/ Head Teacher, Primary 3) Principal, High School

Trained teachers in the relevant fields with administrative experi-ence of not less than 5 years are encouraged to apply. Send your applications to:-

[email protected] 25th December 2020

So put your trust in Him, no matter the difficulty; look at the trials of other people in other places of the world. Don’t lose hope, and He will turn all hardships into good-ness and beauty. That’s a promise.5. Don’t Be Fussed about Acceptance of OthersShe then returned with the baby to her community and another amazing character trait was her lack of inter-est in winning acceptance of her people. She vowed silence, put her trust in Allah to take care of her situation with all these people criticiz-ing and questioning her and pointed at the miraculous baby that Allah would made to speak: Esa ( Jesus in Eng-lish) (peace be upon him) the great Prophet.How many times do you feel pressured by the people around you? Mary surren-dered to our Lord with pure Iman– faith— and she was therefore unaffected by their comments and accusations.

Jumadal-Awwal 03, 1442/December 18, 2020The Friday Bulletin

5 Lessons from the story of the youth of the Cave

The story of the youth of the cave signi-fies love of the best kind and shows how the youth had a commitment to such love by seeking to earn the pleasure of the be-loved, Allah before taking pleasure in His creations. Do you think that the people of the Cave and the Inscription (the news or the names of the people of the Cave) were a wonder among Our Signs? (Remember) when the young men fled for refuge (from their disbelieving folk) to the Cave. They said: “Our Lord! Bestow on us mercy from Yourself, and facilitate for us our affair in the right way!” (Quran 18: 9-10). . . Indeed, they were youths who believed in their Lord, and We increased them in guidance. (Quran 18: 13)Lessons From the Story of the Youth in the CavePut your trust in AllahThe young men put their trust in Allah when they separated from their disbelieving folk and sought refuge in a cave. They had no idea what would become of them. You should equally learn to trust in Allah at all times and especially in times of uncertainty and trial.Have faith and take ActionThe youth did not only believe, they also took the necessary steps to act on their be-lief. First their thoughts and eventually their limbs took action. Begin the journey in your heart, but do not let it end there; verbalize your thoughts, then walk the talk. Now start moving.Embrace Islam as your true religionIslam is the true religion and a complete way of life. In Islam you will find guidance, faith, strength, and the will to submit to the true Creator, Allah. If you embrace it wholly as the youth of the cave did, you will be among the rightly guided Muslims. You will have no unnecessary fears or feel over-whelmed with the challenges around you.Play your partWhatever your station in life, you have an important part to play— in the family, at school or work, and in society— as part of the wider Ummah.Your role as a Muslim youth comes with responsibilities. These responsibilities will not simply be executed without challenges, choices, and changes.Not too long ago, I remember looking for-ward to the teen years and the years be-yond as a time of maturity, decision-mak-ing, and independence. It seemed like the perfect years were yet to come. But I was wrong. My teen and youthful years brought with them many challenges, from faith is-sues to other internal conflicts to trying to balance family and friends with career.Understanding the teachings of Islam, es-pecially the message of the Quran, guided me on a path of self-discovery and focus-ing on my faith, passion, experience, and skills. The Quran carries lessons for the youth in all situations and with any kind of challenge.The life of the Muslim youth is not simply

about independence and choosing be-tween black and white. It is a period of change, choices, and challenges, with many shades of grey in between. And these challenges are not without a purpose, just as the entire life of a Muslim is not without a higher purpose beyond fulfilling our im-mediate needs.Move forwardEach time you are faced with issues re-garding your faith and Islamic identity, remember the advice of Luqman. Reflect on his words to help you build the best of relationships with your parents and others around you. Emulate Yusuf in building a fine character and facing up to daily chal-lenges with patience and trust in Allah.Follow in his footsteps by repelling evil with good and striving to work hard for your sus-tenance with excellence. Face up to soci-etal pressure through the example of the youth of the cave. Build a kind of “cave” in

YOUTH

your life from time to time so that you can give yourself space away from the noise and busyness around you to reflect on the verses of Allah and nurture the faith within.Such are the lessons and reminders we find in the Quran. The times may be differ-ent but the principles and emotions remain the same. Isn’t it time then to take a closer look into the pages of this special book— to study, reflect, seek answers, and adopt the solutions embedded within it?Keep reading the Quran and do not sim-ply recite it; ponder over the meanings and practice what you learn in addition to shar-ing the message with others. Take a sim-ple step each day and make your intention sincere.Read the Quran daily and take lessons from the stories contained within and you will overcome your challenges without any doubt.

Amina Edota

Explaining Christmas and Jesus to Muslim Children

Every year, around Christmas time, many Muslims living in the West face the same problem. We wonder what to do about the holidays, what to tell our children about Christmas and Jesus (peace be upon him) and why are we different?What are you going to say this year when your children ask you, “Why don’t Muslims celebrate Christmas?!” Your children are the product of a hybrid culture, a potpourri of religious experiences. What will you tell them about Christmas holidays?Respect Your NeighborsProphet Muhammad, (peace be upon him), faced this question when he arrived in Ma-dinah to consolidate the first Muslim com-munity. Muslims were then a minority liv-ing among Christian and Jews. Najran has the protection of God and the pledges of Muhammad, the Prophet, to protect their (the Christians’) lives, faith, land, property,

those who are absent and those who are present, and their clan and allies. They need not change anything of their past customs. No right of theirs or their religion shall be altered. No church leader, monk or church guard shall be removed from his position.” Prophet Muhammed (Salahi, Adil: “Prophet Muhammad Meets Najran Christians.”)Respect is crucialIt is important that Muslim parents teach their children to respect other people’s beliefs. It is essential to point out the fact that Muslims hate whatever Allah did not permit, but they do not hate the people of different beliefs. There is always room for people of other faiths to learn and grow. We do not give up on them. They have their own customs and we have ours.Allah says in His holy Book, “You have

By Soumyana

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The Friday Bulletin

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"Daktari, i feel very low, I have been feel-ing this way for a long time. I feel like am trapped in this tiny box, am suffocating; I don't know what to do.”(Feeling very sad and helpless) "I have done so many bad things including abus-ing substances and neglecting my daily Salah (prayers)... Am a sinner, Allah will not forgive me. Daktari I can't bear this anymore…..I better be dead.I haven't told anyone at home about my suf-fering, I know they won't understand. They will tell me to go back to Allah, work on my imaan (faith), practice sabr (patience), read more Quran and the list goes on.... Daktari I know I should do these things and I would have loved to do them but I just can't, I don't have the energy ,motivation nor interest to do anything" sob sob sob”This is a snapshot of one of my sessions with a Muslim client suffering from a Men-tal illness. Your are surprised!!! Yesss …......This too happens to Muslims.While growing up we have been made to believe that we Muslims are not supposed to be depressed and that depression and anxiety is from shaytan, that these are signs of weak imaan.It's taboo to talk about emotional pain, mental distress, suicidal thoughts or men-tal ailment in an average Muslim family unit and in the Muslim communities. This has caused a lot of stigma, myths and miscon-ception around mental health in our society and has markedly affected our health seek-ing behavior as Muslim in terms of mental illness…..It's high time We as a community had an attitudinal change in our approach towards mental health.

OPINION

- Mental Illness is not always a sign of Jinn possession (maruhani) nor ayn (evil eye) nor hasad (envy) Mental illness can affect anyone from any society and the Muslim community is not immune to mental illnesses. I would like to urge my Muslim brother and sisters, family and friends to take serious our mental well being. To speak about it and help us help our communities prevent and adequately manage mental illnesses. Let’s be ready to listen to understand and NOT listen to respond. Though our inten-tion to redirect is good but it’s important to understand people do struggle; And they do struggle with emotional pain, emotional distress. Sometimes the only thing people need to experience is love and acceptance and that they are in a safe place. However good our intentions it is paramount that we add value by equipping ourselves with the right help where the right skill set and knowledge can be administered to help overcome these struggles. Mental health is real and should be treated as seriously as physical health and safe medical, psychological together with spir-itual treatments are available just like for other ailments.Let's not shy off from seeking professional help when we need it. As it is mentioned in the Holy Quran..... “And We did not send before you any but men, to whom We granted inspiration; If ye realize this not, ask of those who possess the knowledge.” [ Surah Al-Anbiya' 7]Dr. Nabila is a consultant, psychiatrist and a member of the National Muslim Covid-19 Response Committee

Reality of mental health in the Muslim community

Mental health according to World Health Organization (WHO)A state of wellbeing where1.An individual realizes their own abilities2.Can cope with the normal stresses of life3.Can work productively and fruitfully 4.Are able to make a contribution to their community.We have been told in the Quran: “And surely we shall try you with something of fear and hunger, and loss of wealth and lives and crops; but give glad tidings to the steadfast.” Surah Baqrah (2:155)According to Hadith of our Prophet peace be upon him: Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (radhi-allahu anhu) reported that the Prophet peace be upon him said: “Whenever a Muslim is afflicted with a hardship, sick-ness, sadness, worry, harm, or depres-sion --even a thorn's prick, Allah expiates his sins because of it.” (Muslim and Bukhari)We have surely been promised sickness, and we have not only been promised physical illness but mental illness too. I wonder how we are easy to empathize with someone suffering from a physi-cal illness, accept and understand their struggling and be quick to take them to see a specialist, doctor or a healthcare provider, while it is so hard to do the same for someone suffering from a men-tal illness. - Mental illness is as real and as serious as cancer, it's as real as a heart disease- Mental illness is not a western phenom-enon- Mental illness is not a sign of weak im-aan.

By Dr. Nabila Amin

your religion, and I have mine” (The Qur’an 109:6)Teach your children to stay away from mocking the beliefs of other people. Al-mighty Allah says, “And insult not those whom they (disbelievers) worship besides God, lest they insult God wrongfully without knowledge. Thus, we have made fair-seem-ing to each people its own doings; then to their Lord is their return and He shall then inform them of all that they used to do” (The Qur’an, 6:108).Tell Your Kids the Story of JesusInform your child that Christmas comes from the word Christ used to call Jesus Christ. The “Mass” is a religious ceremony. Christ means “the Messiah” or “messenger” of God. It is an honorific title.Jesus is known in Arabic as Isa (peace be upon him) as mentioned in the Qur’an. Muslims have an utmost respect for Proph-et Jesus (peace be upon him). Every time Muslims mention the name Jesus, they add “Peace be upon him. In the Qur’an, the name of Prophet Jesus is mentioned five times more than the name of Prophet Mu-

Explaining Christmas and Jesus to Muslim ChildrenContinued From Page 5

hammad.Impress upon your child that Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) is important in both Islam and Christianity. However, there are major differences in what we be-lieve happened to him.Read the passages in the Qur’an pertain-ing to Jesus (peace be upon him) and his mother, Mary. Go to the third chapter of the Qur’an called “The Family Of Imran” and also go to the nineteenth chapter of the Qur’an called “Maryam.”The Qur’an, like the Bible, confirms that Jesus (peace be upon him) was born from a mother but not from a father. It con-firms that Jesus’ birth was miraculous. “(Remember) when the angels said, “O Mary, God gives you good news of a word from Him (God), whose name is the Mes-siah Jesus, son of Mary, revered in this world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near (to God). The Family Dif-ferencesHowever, Muslims believe Jesus (peace be upon him) was able to speak when he was a baby in order to defend his mother

against the neighbors’ accusations and in order to preach. On the other hand, Chris-tians believe Jesus started preaching when he was thirty years old. “Jesus’s MiraclesBoth Christians and Muslims believe Jesus (peace be upon him) performed many mira-cles during his life. The Qur’an says that he (peace be upon him) healed the blind and the leper and was also able to raise the dead with the help of Allah. “I have come to you with a sign from your Lord. I make for you the shape of a bird out of clay, I breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by God’s per-mission. I heal the blind from birth and the leper. And I bring the dead to life by God’s permission. And I tell you what you eat and what you store in your houses….” (Qur’an 3:49)A poll in UK showed that “51% agreed with the statement “The birth of Jesus is irrel-evant to my Christmas” whilst 46% disa-greed with the statement.”And “40% said Christmas is a good excuse for taking time off and doesn’t really have any meaning today but 34 % disagreed with this.

The Friday Bulletin Jumadal-Awwal 03, 1442/December 18, 2020

Trump's insane decision about Western Sahara shows he still has time to wreak havoc By Yvonne Ridley

The words and wisdom of the late, great South African leader Nelson Mandela are often invoked to illustrate a point when confronted by injustice and how to deal with it. Although his heart and soul were anchored in South Africa, Mandela's out-look was global, and there seemed to be no case of injustice that bypassed him, especially when it came to the freedom of other people. He made this clear when he was released from prison in February 1990 and addressed the UN General As-sembly."We also take this opportunity to extend warm greetings to all others who fight for their liberation and their human rights, including the peoples of Palestine and Western Sahara," he told delegates. "We commend their struggles to you, con-vinced that we are all moved by the fact that freedom is indivisible; convinced that the denial of the rights of one diminishes the freedom of others."Quite what the late President Mandela would have made of Donald Trump's deci-sion on Thursday to recognise Morocco's claim over the disputed Western Sahara is anyone's guess. The outgoing US Presi-dent is acting like a wrecking ball swinging out of control in the Middle East as he bul-lies, cajoles and pressurises leaders into normalising relations with Israel, for that is the price that Morocco has paid for this deal.Trump is determined to make his mark be-fore he leaves the White House, but he really doesn't need to try that hard. I doubt many will forget his four disastrous years in Washington because he has wreaked havoc across one of the most volatile regions on the planet. While Mandela is revered globally for his legacy of compas-sion, forgiveness, diplomacy and determi-nation, at the other end of the statesman scale we have the insanity that is Donald Trump.America stands as virtually the only coun-try to recognise Morocco's illegal annexa-tion of Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony forcibly seized by Morocco in 1975. Trump has yet again trampled over a raft of UN Security Council resolutions in addi-tion to a landmark World Court ruling call-ing for self-determination for the Western Saharawi people.Once again the reality TV show host-turned-US-President has steamrollered longstanding international legal principles and treaties by recognising Morocco's il-legal land grab of the territory. This virtu-ally gives a green light to any madman or dictator to charge into neighbouring coun-tries and territories as long as they're pre-pared to normalise relations with Tel Aviv. He may be leaving office next month, but Trump has established dangerous prec-edents, and we have no idea how Presi-dent-elect Joe Biden will respond to them.

He has, for example, declared Jerusalem to be the capital of Israel, which illegally occupied and annexed decades ago; he has recognised Israeli sovereignty over the illegally occupied Syrian Golan Heights; and he has looked on approvingly as Israel has stolen much of the occupied West Bank in one of the world's most in-famous land grabs, and threatens to steal even more of the Palestinian territory.Nevertheless, Trump was clearly gleeful on Thursday when he tweeted in charac-teristic style: "Another HISTORIC break-through today! Our two GREAT friends Israel and the Kingdom of Morocco have agreed to full diplomatic relations – a mas-sive breakthrough for peace in the Middle East!"Sovereignty over the Western Sahara has been a long-running dispute which has seen Morocco's claim to the territory go largely unrecognised by the international community. A White House statement pro-claiming US recognition of the claim add-ed that "[An] independent Sahrawi state is not a realistic option for resolving the conflict and that genuine autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty is the only feasible solution."Morocco now becomes the sixth mem-

nex Greenland after he failed to buy the world's largest island for the US last year.Closer to home, he has still not forgiven Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon for removing his business ambassador status and giving him the cold shoulder on a private visit to the country after his derogatory comments about Muslims. Payback might come Sturgeon's way by Trump granting Norwegian sovereignty over the much-loved Shetland Islands which the King of Norway pawned as a dowry for his daughters' wedding to the King of Scotland in 1468. It sounds crazy, but so does Trump.His team has promised a "very profes-sional transition" to the administration of President-elect Joe Biden even though Trump continues to claim that he, and not his Democrat challenger, actually won the election. The inauguration on 20 January cannot come soon enough, but there is still time for US President Donald Trump to wreak even more havoc on the world stage. Just ask the Palestinians and the people of Western Sahara what that means.

ber of the Arab League to nor-malise relations, after Egypt, Jor-dan, the UAE, Bahrain and Sudan. King Mohammed VI insists that this move "does not in any manner affect Morocco's ongoing and sustained com-mitment to the just Palestinian cause." We have seen from Egypt and Jordan what that means in practice; very little, in fact, as the Palestinians know all too well.It's hard to fath-om what Trump's next move will be as each edict coming out of the White House appears more insane than the last. Perhaps he will give Britain's Falkland Islands to Argentina, or maybe he will invade and an-


Sri Lanka refuses to stop cremating Muslim Covid-19 victims

In a blatant violation of Islamic religious rites, Muslims are be-ing cremated, and to add insult to injury, their loved ones are being asked to pay for it.

For most people, the effects of Covid-19 are already painful enough – the fear of contracting the virus, the fear of spreading it to others, the fear of seeing loved ones suffer, the fear of someone close dying. But for Sri Lanka’s Muslims, there is yet another fear: the fear of not being able to bury your loved ones and being denied dignity in that final moment.

In a country where minorities are marginalised and discrimi-nated against, Muslims who fall victim to Covid-19 are un-justly prevented from being laid to rest in accordance with their religious beliefs and are forci-bly cremated.

The Muslim community has strongly criti-cised the forced cremation of Covid-19 vic-tims. Under pressure from various groups, including the private and public protests of the Minister of Justice, Ali Sabry PC, it was reported on 4 November that a gov-ernment-appointed committee would meet to reassess the government’s policy on mandatory cremations, but on 22 Novem-ber, the committee reaffirmed the earlier decision, without giving reasons.

On 1 December, the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka dismissed all Fundamental Rights petitions before it which challenged the directive on mandatory cremations, clos-ing the door to further legal challenges. According to a news report, of 124 deaths due to Covid-19, as many as 50 of them are Muslims whose bodies have been cremated. The report even details at least one instance where the body of a Muslim who tested negative for Covid-19 was for-cibly cremated.

To add insult to injury, reports indicate that families are being forced to bear the cost of cremation, typically around LKR 50,000-60,000 (approximately $270-325), in a year that has economically strained many families.

The cruelty of not only having to stand idle as a loved one’s body is desecrated but being forced to shoulder the cost of this act has led some Muslim families to refuse the ashes and the associated payment, in an act of protest.

This is sadly not the only instance where the Muslim community in Sri Lanka has been targeted in the government’s re-sponse to Covid-19. The Government Medical Officer’s Association (GMOA) and the Information and Communication Technology Agency Sri Lanka (ICTA) —

in a concept proposal for a Covid-19 exit strategy presented to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa — assigned the Muslim popu-lation the highest weightage of risk when determining the risk of the spread of the virus in each district.

Following heavy criticism for racially pro-filing Muslims, the ICTA has since disas-sociated itself with the report, and the GMOA has republished the report omitting the inclusion of the Muslim population as a variable affecting the spread of the virus.

Against a backdrop of attacks targeting Muslim businesses, homes and places of worship in the country through 2014, 2017, 2018, and following the Easter Sunday bombings in 2019, these latest directives come at a time when Muslims already have plenty to fear.

In a year when we have seen the impor-tance of solidarity as communities rally to-gether to survive the pandemic, Sri Lanka has chosen to further alienate a commu-nity already reeling from violence, hate-mongering, and discrimination.

The Sri Lankan government must not for-get that it has a duty to ensure all people in Sri Lanka are treated equitably. Covid-19 does not discriminate on ethnic, political or religious grounds, and nor should the Government of Sri Lanka.

On 1 December, the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka dismissed all Fundamental Rights petitions before it which challenged the directive on mandatory crema-tions, closing the door to fur-

ther legal challenges.

By Rehab Mahamoor

The act of cremating a body is forbidden in Islam, and the callous disregard for reli-gious rites shown by the state has, under-standably, caused tremendous distress amongst the Muslim community.

While it is becoming increasingly difficult for Muslims in Sri Lanka to live in peace, with the constant fear of further threats, discrimination and violence hanging over the community, the government has used Covid-19 as an excuse to ensure Muslims in Sri Lanka cannot even die in peace.

Sri Lanka is one of the few countries in the world which has made cremations manda-tory for people who have died or are sus-pected as having died from Covid-19. This is despite Ministry of Health guidelines originally permitting both burials and cre-mations earlier this year.

After the body of the first Muslim to suc-cumb to the virus was forcibly cremated against the wishes of the victim’s family, and in spite of vehement protests from re-ligious leaders, politicians and the wider Muslim community, the Ministry of Health amended the guidelines to make crema-tions mandatory.

The government’s chief epidemiologist, Dr Sugath Samaraweera, claimed that burials would “contaminate ground drink-ing water”. However, according to interim guidance set out by the World Health Or-ganization on the safe management of a dead body in the context of Covid-19, victims of the virus can be buried or cre-mated.

In a letter, Muslim groups report that over 185 countries allow for the burial of Cov-id-19 victims, making Sri Lanka an outlier with its disregard for the religious practic-es of minorities.


Page 9

The anonymous superstars of the HereafterCelebrity culture has engulfed almost eve-ry aspect of our lives. Speakers with the largest following on social media and who can pack out mosques and prayer halls with heartrending admonitions are natu-rally the most sought after.There are, however, individuals who are anonymous in the sight of others. Their names are largely unknown, and their achievements have been screened from publicity, yet they are superstars of the Hereafter. They occupy a closeness to Allāh that makes them oblivious to the ad-oration of people. Their deeds are so hid-den from others that they are presented to Allāh on the Day of Judgement pure from any taint of showing off and self-conceit. These people are raised to the highest lev-els of Paradise in the Hereafter, and in this world Allāh responds to their every invoca-tion. They are the anonymous superstars of the Hereafter.Amongst the Companions of the Prophet (sall Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) are individu-als whose deeds make them legends, but they are rarely spoken about. Their sacri-fices are not appreciated when stories are recounted about the bravery and valour of the Companions in general. Their names are barely known despite their pivotal role to the success of the mission of the Proph-et (sall Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam).So let us take a moment to appreciate just one of these names – Amir bin Fuhayrah (radhi Allāhu anhu).Amir was one of the early converts to Is-lam and one of the many slaves who were persecuted and tortured by the pagans of Makkah. Like many of the dispossessed believers, it was Abu Bakr (radhi Allāhu anhu) who purchased Amir and set him free. Amir played an instrumental role in the hijrah of the Prophet (sall Allāhu ‘alay-hi wa sallam) and Abu Bakr (radhi Allāhu anhu), who could not have made the journey from Makkah to Madinah without Amir’s logistical support.For three days, they remained hidden in the cave of Mount Thawr. Asma, the daughter of Abu Bakr, would secretly bring food to the cave while her younger brother would innocently wander through the streets of Makkah collecting intel-ligence and informing the Prophet (sall Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam). It was Amir bin Fuhayrah (radhi Allāhu anhu) who would move through the mountain passes with a flock of sheep to cover up the tracks of Asma and Abdullah, thereby preventing the Prophet (sall Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) from being discovered. Amir would pass by the cave entrance to bring milk to the Prophet (sall Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and Abu Bakr (radhi Allāhu anhu).When the pagans of Makkah had largely lost hope in finding the Prophet (sall Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam), it was an expert guide named Abdullah b. Urayqid who brought two camels for the Prophet (sall Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and Abu Bakr (radhi

Allāhu anhu) to begin their perilous jour-ney through an unknown and dangerous route. Once again, it would be Amir bin. Fuhayrah (radhi Allāhu anhu) who would accompany them in this famous journey.Amir bin. Fuhayrah (radhi Allāhu anhu) fought at the battles of Badr and Uhud, making him one of the elite group about whom the Prophet (sall Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, “Perhaps Allāh has looked at those who witnessed Badr and said, ‘Do whatever you like, for I have forgiven you.’”Amir’s crowning glory was his martyrdom at the Bi’r Ma’ūna massacre. The Prophet (sall Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) was be-trayed by the tribes of Udl and Qārra, two subtribes of Banu Salīm. They had invited the Prophet (sall Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) to send a large contingent of seventy of the most learned and devoted Compan-ions to teach the Bedouin tribes of the Najd region about Islam. This group of Companions was known as al-Qurrā’ (the Reciters) due to their knowledge and de-votion to the Qur’ān.During the journey, the Reciters were betrayed in the most deplorable manner, surrounded by an army of several hun-dred that massacred the unarmed men with spears, swords, and arrows. It was here that Amir bin Fuhayrah (radhi Allāhu anhu) had a sword plunged through his chest that exited from his back. He looked down at his hands that were now covered in his own blood, wiped the blood across his face, and declared, “By the Lord of the Ka’bah, I am successful!’ This show of dignity and joy at the moment of achiev-ing martyrdom affected the killer so pro-foundly that he later embraced Islam and became one of the great Companions of the Prophet (sall Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam): Jābir bin Salma.

This is a glimpse at the life of a Com-panion whose sacrifice and importance are largely overlooked. The Prophet (sall Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) himself said:“Tūbā (happiness, or a tree in Paradise) is for him who holds the reins of his horse to strive in Allāh’s Cause, with his hair un-kempt and feet covered with dust. If he is appointed in the vanguard, he is perfectly satisfied with his post, and if he is appoint-ed in the rear guard, he accepts his post with satisfaction. If he asks for permission, he is not permitted, and if he intercedes, his intercession is not accepted.” (Sahih al Bukhari) In this remarkable hadīth, the Prophet (sall Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) describes a person exhausting himself in the Cause of Allāh – he finances himself fighting with his own horse. He seeks no recognition or glory. Whether he is posted in the van-guard or the rear guard, he is happy to be in the Path of Allāh regardless. He is so obscure that when he asks permission to enter upon the elite, it is not granted, and when he seeks to intercede on behalf of someone else, his intercession is not ac-cepted.Whether you are a celebrity or an anon-ymous believer, you should seek to be the person described in this hadīth – to be somebody who strives hard in the Cause of Allāh with your own resources and never seeks or receives recognition. Have good deeds that are totally private between you and Allāh – deeds that no-body knows about except Allāh. Consider these the best of your deeds and the most valuable in the Hereafter. Do not be de-ceived by praise and recognition of people – adoration comes and goes easily. Most importantly, make your private life better than your public life.

By Shaykh Fuad Abdo

413 Palestinians detained by Israel in NovemberIsraeli forces rounded up 413 Palestinians in raids across the occupied West Bank in November, according to Palestinian NGOs on Saturday.The highest number of the detentions were reported in Jerusalem with 157 Pal-estinians arrested, the Palestine Libera-tion Organization (PLO)’s Detainees and Ex-Detainees Commission, the Palestin-ian Prisoner Society, Addameer Prisoners Support and Human Rights Association and Wadi Hilweh Information Center said in a joint statement.The NGOs said 49 minors and seven women were among those detained over the past month.According to the statement, there are around 4,400 Palestinian detainees in Is-raeli prisons, including 41 women, 170 mi-nors and 380 held under Israel’s policy of administrative detention without charges of trials.They said the soldiers detained 157 Pales-

tinians in occupied Jerusalem, 40 from the Ramallah and al-Biereh governorate, 74 in Hebron, 31 in Jenin, 33 in Bethlehem, 30 in Nablus, 18 in Tulkarem, 18 from Qal-qilia, 3 in Jericho, 7 in Tubas, 1 in Salfit, and one from Gaza.In a recent report, the Palestinian Infor-mation Ministry has confirmed that Israeli soldiers have killed seven Palestinian chil-dren in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, since the beginning of this year.The latest casualty was Ali Ayman Abu Alia, 14, who was shot and killed by the soldiers in his village of al-Mughayyir, northeast of the central West Bank city of Ramallah.On Friday December 11th, a deaf and mute Palestinian man, identified as Nasser Halawa, 47, from Nablus in northern West Bank, died from serious wounds he suf-fered on August 17th, after Israeli soldiers shot him at the Qalandia Terminal, north of occupied Jerusalem.

The Friday Bulletin Jumadal-Awwal 03, 1442/December 18, 2020NATIONALKisumu Muslims urged to invest in Madrassa education

Muslims in Kisumu have been urged to in-vest in madrassa education to provide an all-round education to their children. The call was made by Sheikh Said Ath-man who noted that Madrassas contrib-utes a great deal towards imparting edu-cation, knowledge, good moral values and promoting socio-economic develop-ment hence called on Muslims to prioritize Madrassa education.Speaking on Saturday last week during a one-day Muslim girls conference held at Masjid Abubakar Bandani B in Kisumu, Sheikh Said also reiterated the need for Muslims in the region to put more empha-sis on women and girl’s education saying that according to the Prophetic teachings acquisition of knowledge is binding on all

Muslims, male and female.He emphasized on the need of establish-ing girls’ institutes which will provide an all-round education and impart Islamic knowledge and technical skills to em-power young Muslim girls, stressing that investment in education deserves to be given priority as this has proved to be pro-ductive in building the society.Sheikh Said observed that progress can be achieved through self-funded projects such as hospitals, schools, colleges and other social amenities and urged Mus-lim community leaders to come together and utilize their resources and God-given wealth in supporting the setting up of vi-able projects to economically uplift the situation of the community.

"We as leaders must go out of our way to support Muslims in setting up projects and improving the infrastructures of Islamic in-stitutions and construction of mosques, Madrassas and vocational training insti-tutes,” the Sheikh who is also Secretary Council of Imams and Preachers (CIPK) Kisumu chapter told the gathering.Among the highlights of the confer-ence organized by Habari Njema Muslim Women group, a Quran memorization competition was held with 45 participants showcasing their unique skills in the art of Qur’an memorization during the event which aimed at nurturing young minds in preserving the Qur’an and its message.

Lamu leaders demand youth to be trained for LAPSSET jobsMembers of Parliament (MPs) from Lamu have asked the Government to set up a maritime college in the county and hon-our a pledge by former President Mwai Kibaki to train youths to work in the Lamu Port-South Sudan Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET).MPs Stanley Muthama (Lamu West) and Athman Sharif (Lamu East) together with Woman Representative Ruweida Obbo, on Monday said that the college will di-rectly supply labour for the port.They noted that the college will work for Lamu port as Bandari college does for Mombasa port. “It's just realistic that the Lamu port has a college as a sure way to ensure a steady supply of the labour force, be it manual or skilled, just like the Mombasa one. It will also be a guarantee that our youth get

The Constitutional Court in Austria on Fri-day declared “unconstitutional” and “dis-criminatory” the ban on headscarves in primary schools and annulled the decision taken by the far-right government in 2019.The law prevented girls younger than 10 from wearing the headscarf and had been challenged by two children and their par-ents.The measure was passed in May 2019 under the previous coalition of the centre-right People’s Party (OeVP) and the far-right Freedom Party (FPOe), just days before that government collapsed due to a corruption scandal.Both parties had made anti-immigration rhetoric and warnings against “parallel societies” a key part of their political mes-saging and their spokespeople made it clear at the time that the law was targeting the headscarf.The OeVP-FPOe government had itself said that the patka head covering worn by Sikh boys or the Jewish kippa would not be affected.Christoph Grabenwarter, the head of the Constitutional Court, said the ban vio-lates equality, right to freedom of thought,

worldview, and religion.Grabenwarter said the law was targeting only Muslim students and caused discrim-ination in the education system.The law risks limiting educational opportu-nities for Muslim female students and may cause them to be excluded from the soci-ety, he added.Grabenwarter said that banning only Mus-lim religious clothing in the education sys-tem would result in stigmatization of the group in society.He said the ban does not comply with the principle of impartiality of the constitution, adding that justifications given by the gov-ernment that enacted the law “were not objective.”Grabenwarter stated that the implementa-tion of the Constitutional Court’s decision to annul the law is Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz’s legal obligation, and or-dered the Education Ministry to cover the court expenses of the family who took the matter to the court.The current OeVP Education Minister Heinz Fassmann said that the ministry would “take note of the judgement and look into its arguments”.

Austrian court annuls headscarf ban in primary schoolsto be employed at the port after training,” Lamu West MP said.MP Athman Shariff called for the quick rehabilitation of the Mpeketoni and Kiz-ingitini technical training centres. Early this year, the National Government an-nounced it had set aside Sh110 million for the upgrade of the two TVET institutions.The MPs have also asked the Government to train all the 1000 youth who were given opportunities by former President Mwai Kibaki in 2012 for local youth in readiness for the Lapsset project.They were to be recruited in five groups of 200 youths over five years.“So far, only two tranches have been re-cruited and trained, with some already having graduated from various colleges and institutions. There is still at least 600 left to go. No one is telling us when that will be,” MP Ruweida Obbo said.In October, Human rights lobby Haki Afri-ca Lamu county Coordinator Yunus Isaack Ahmed, demanded an explanation as to why it has taken so long for the Lamu port management to absorb the youth. Accord-ing to Ahmed despite the youth being in-terviewed more than one and a half years ago, none of them has benefited from the LAPSSET jobs.

LAPSSET project ongoing in Lamu.

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Wajir residents were beneficiary of an ear and eye medical camp organized by the Muslims of the World (MOTW), an interna-tional recognised charity group, working towards curing preventable and curable loss of hearing and blindness in Kenya.The MOTW included a team of Mus-lim bloggers and influencers recognised worldwide where they used their platforms to carry out a donation drive to raise funds for the surgeries.During the medical camp, free quality medical care services were provided to some of the most underprivileged includ-ing the elderly, disabled, refugees and vul-nerable people in the community.The MOTW team and medical profession-als carried out cataracts removal surgery to more than 50 people. Cataracts is the

clouding of the lens of the eye. It accounts for more than 50% of all blindness, despite the known technology that can restore vi-sion at an extremely low cost.The old and the young ones were able to hear and see for the first time after the team of MOTW and influencers raised over Ksh.5,000,000 to cater for the medi-cal expenses.“We have seen children hear again for the first time ever and we have seen el-derly who have been blind be able to see again. We witnessed people in the village making prayers for the people who do-nated because these donations have liter-ally changed their lives,” read a post from MOTW Instagram page.The MOTW confirmed that the surgeries

MOTW and social media influencers bring back hope in Wajirhave been 100% successful with no re-curring complications.“Treatment of preventable blindness, like cataract and low vision, is one of the most effective ways to lift people out of pover-ty, especially for vulnerable communities like refugees living in makeshift environ-ments,” said the MOTW.Adam Saleh, one of the influencers who accompanied the MOTW for three days in Wajir, described the moment as emotional and life changing. “Hundreds of people from the village arrived at the camp in hopes of getting their children a chance to hear again, some walking over 10 miles. But they have walked miles in hopes of regaining something that many of us are blessed to be born with,” he said.

History as Churches that turned into mosques in Homa Bay to open Five Churches in Rangwe Constituency in Homabay County that were transformed into Mosques after their followers con-verted to Islam will next week open their doors for Muslim faithful.According to the Chief Executive Of-ficer (CEO) of Greenfield Society, Omar Al Bashir Otieno, the opening ceremony of the 5 former churches converted into Mosques will be held on December 25 at Dago Jamia Mosque in Rangwe.“We have lined up a series of programs starting with the official opening of the 5 mosques on the 25th, December,2020. Our team will also be traveling to Rarie-da in Siaya county, Mbita and Bondo for Da’awah activities,’’ Al Bashir said.The immediate churches under Bishop Joseph Mbori who would later become Yusuf Mbori closed their doors and their

followers numbering 153 embraced Is-lam in 2019.The churches were affiliated to the famous Roho Israel churches that had spread in Homa Bay County and had branches in Kodera,Kachar and Ndiru re-spectively. It all started in September 2017 when the then Bishop of the God’s Call Church of East Africa, a church in the far flung village of Nyalgosi,Rangwe constituency in Homa Bay county ,Charles Okwany embraced Islam together with 23 other members of his church.and became Ismail Okwany af-ter reading a Luo translation of the noble Qur’an authored by Sheikh Omar al Bashir Otieno. The 65-year-old former Bishop made his-tory, the first of its kind in the country after he converted his church into a Mosque. The mosque is the first Muslim place of

worship in Kagan Ward which has more than 200 churches. On February 14, 2019, the quiet village of Nyalgosi was abuzz with activity after receiving visitors from near and far who trooped in to witness the official opening of the mosque. The visitors included Sheikh Muham-mad Swalihu, the Imam of Jamia mosque Nairobi, Sheikh Khalfan Khamis of Maj-lis Ulamaa Kenya, representatives from the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) and the Kisumu based Da’wa Development Group. Also among the notable visitors were a delegation from Hayrat Foundation of Tur-key. The Foundation had earlier facilitated Ismail Okwany to travel to Turkey to study Human development.

Maahad Daawah distributes relief food to familiesAt least 5,000 vulnerable fam-ilies benefited from relief food donations from Nairobi based Non-profit organization, Maa-had Daawah Organization The food items distributed recently were donated by Maahad Daawah Organiza-tion with the help of generous donors and partners.The distribution exercises of 5,820 relief food parcels

tributed. The benefi-ciaries of the donation ex-pressed grati-tude to Maa-had Daawah Organizat ion and made dua for the donors noting that the food items do-nation will go a long way to s u p p l e m e n t

(over 250 tonnes of food) that were aimed to cushion the vulnerable families against the ravages of the Covid-19 pandemic were carried out in Kwale, Lamu, Garissa ,Tana River and Maili Tisa in Kajiado county re-spectively. In Kwale, 980 food packages were distrib-uted with 800 food packages being distrib-uted to the needy and vulnerable families in Boni, Lamu County. In Garissa and Tana River Counties re-spectively, a total of 3,395 food packages were distributed while in Maili Tisa in Ka-jiado county, 645 food packages were dis-

their food reserves.

Food Distribution in Tana River County by Maahad Daawah Organ-isation where over 1500 packages were distributed.

Virtuous burial for our deceasedDeath is very painful and emotional phenomenon, yet one that may be filled with hope and mercy. Muslims believe that death is a de-parture from the life of this world, but not the end of a person’s existence. Rather, eternal life is to come, and we pray for Allah’s mercy to be with the departed, in hopes that they may find peace and happiness in the life to come. For a Muslim, death marks the transition from one state of exist-ence to the next. Islam teaches that life on earth is an examination-the life to come is the eternal abode where one will reap the fruits of one's endeavors on earth. Further, death is not a taboo subject in Muslim society and is a matter upon which one is encouraged to reflect frequently. In coun-selling of Muslims regarding a terminal illness, or relatives after a bereavement, these points should be borne in mind.The deceased should then be taken to the cemetery for proper bur-ial- while those who attend the burial humbly remember Allah and

The Friday Bulletin is a Publication of Jamia Masjid Committee, P. O. Box 100786-00101 Nairobi, Tel: 2243504/5 Fax: 342147 E-mail: [email protected] Printed by Signal Press Limited-Lords House-Tom Mboya Street [email protected]

His mercy, and pray for the deceased. Thereafter, mourning is observed, in Islam, by increased devotion, receiving visitors and condolences, and avoiding decorative clothing and jewellery.As we struggle to better our lots and be the best we can be in this life we should not forget the cutter of hope; we should not forget the destroyer of enjoyment. We should not forget that which will take us to the lonely place. We should keep death in remembrance always and try our possible best to pre-pare for its arrival; may Allah assist us in the preparation. Ameen! When one dies, everything in this earthly life is left behind, and there are no more opportunities to perform acts of righteousness and faith. The Proph-et Muhammad s.a.w. once said that there are three things, however, which may continue to benefit a person after death: charity given during life which continues to help others, knowledge from which people continue to benefit, and a righteous child who prays for him or her.According to Islamic teachings, the highest honour to be bestowed on the dead is giving the deceased a swift bur-ial, preferably before sunset. Ummah Foundation in this respect, every now and then donates kaffans and arranges for burial of brothers and sisters who are either abandoned or have no Muslim next of kin to give them a good sent off. We have been approached severally by non Muslims who lose their Muslim relatives and have no idea what it entails to give a decent burial to a Muslim. It is very hu-miliating for a Muslim body to be left un-buried in a country where nearly a third of its population is Muslim. Ummah Foundation takes the onus and caters for all expenses that are involved in terms of Kaffans, washing and digging of the grave. We would like to appeal to the entire Muslim community to come whole heartedly forward and help these cases

of stranded unclaimed bodies that are becoming very rampant. You should team up with Ummah Foundation or Mosque commit-tees in your locality to help facilitate such cases so that we accord our dead, decent and honourable burials. We appreciate the un-relenting help we receive from likeminded organisations like Ja-mia Mosque Committee, Parklands mosque and Madrassah so-ciety, Pangani Mosque committee and the Qabristan Committee. May Allah wt bless those who tirelessly work for the sake of this Ummah.

Our Contact:Ummah Foundation

P.O.Box 58717-00200Tel: 0202680610/13 Mob: 0734845277

Email: [email protected]: www.ummahfoundation.net

jumadal-awwal 03, 1442/december 18, 2020 issue no. 919...

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