The

Friday Bulletin
Muharram 11, 1435/November 15, 2013

The Weekly Muslim News Update

Dont force refugees back to Somalia, Govt' told

Issue No. 550

A consortium of human rights and refugee agencies have appealed to the government not to forcefully repatriate Somali refugees back to their country saying that the move will be a violation of Kenyas international obligations. The Urban Refugee Protection Network (URPN) said that while it welcomed the tripartite agreement to return refugees back to their homeland, it urged the government to honour its national and international obligation and continue providing protection and support to refugee who are not able to return voluntarily to Somalia. Section 18 of the Refuge Act, 2006, specifically proStory Continued To Page 2
Munira Salim, a teacher at Muslim Academy Park Road presents a certificate to a KCPE candidate during last week's prayers' day event for Standard 8 pupils. The pupils sat for the KCPE examination which concluded this week. In the middle is Yusuf Maroka, the head of the Islamic Integrated Education programme.

Garissa to ban public consumption of miraa

The Garissa county government is considering enacting legislation to restrict the consumption and sale of miraa in the county. The law is currently before the county assembly and seeks to ban the open sale and consumption of the narcotic substance in the county. This will be the first time that a local authority is taking steps to control miraa consumption which has been blamed for fueling social evils in North Eastern and Coastal regions. The proposed law which is expected to come into force early next year if ratified will ban the open selling and consumption of miraa and those found chewing the substance in public will be subjected to heavy fines. Licence fees for miraa vendors will also attract high fees while special taxes will be levied on transporters ferrying the produce through the county to other areas. We are not able to ban the sale and consumption of miraa but can make it prohibitive in order to reduce its consumption in the county just like the Mututho laws did with alcohol, the executive member in charge of trade and commerce Hajir Hassan who is behind the law said. The county has embarked on training pro-

Tassia Mosque Fund

Jamia mosque has opened a fund aimed at saving the Tassia Community mosque from being taken over by the National Social Security Fund. This followed a threat from the state pension fund to take over the land on which the mosque stands on if Sh4.5 million is not paid to NSSF as the purchase cost of the plot. Well-wishers can contribute to the fund through Jamia Mosque Committee-Reserves Account number 00101464 -004 First Community Bank Wabera branch Donations can also be done through MPESA on numbers 0721476986

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

Story Continued To Page 2

The Friday Bulletin

Muharram 11, 1435/November 15 2013

Dialogue imperative in addressing Muslim concerns

A recent situation report by the National intelligence Service (NIS) has recommended that the government start constructive engagements with Muslim leaders, elders and scholars as one of the ways in dealing with the growing menace of terrorism. It is perhaps the first time that an influential state agency has seen the need for closer dialogue with Muslim community leaders on this matter which has led to alienation of Muslims and helped to build a culture of mistrust and suspicion between the two sides. For more than a decade, the country has been emboldened in the war on terror campaign that has largely been characterized with acts of violations of the constitutional rights of Muslims. The legal maxim that one has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty was deliberately thrown out of the window as suspects and their families were roundly subjected to harassment, arbitrary detentions , torture and other human rights violations. Under the premise that might is right, those vested with authorities roundly ignored the numerous complaints from Muslim leaders to have constructive engagements and ensure that the campaign was conducted within acceptable framework allowed by law. This campaign saw mosques and Islamic institutions being raided, Muslims profiled, businesses shut down, Islamic non-government organizations closed, madrassas being put under surveillance, foreign Islamic scholars and personalities either deported or denied entry into the country, Kenyan citizens renditioned out of the country, hundreds of people arrested and released without any redress all under the pretext of fighting terrorism. Corruption also webbed its way in the campaign as officers from the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit threatened to blackmail individuals and business people that they would be labeled terrorist and forced to pay hefty bribes to protect their reputations. Muslims saw themselves being alienated by the government and interpreted the war on terror as a war on Muslims and Islam perpetrated by their own government. Terrorism is a dangerous cancer which transcends cultural and religious boundaries but the campaign sought to collectively punish the entire community who were perceived as either supporting or condoning the horrendous actions. Admittedly, some members of the community are involved in these despotic acts but subjecting the community to collective punishment is counterproductive to efforts to control the hydra headed monster and this may be turn out to be a reason for gullible young men to be recruited to the vice. Dialogue is an important factor in addressing contentious issues and this should be the path taken by the government to address issues of concerns for the community and should not only be limited to terrorism. Issues of discrimination and marginalization remain a concern to the Muslim community and are also breeding grounds for discord among Muslims which need to be addressed. President Uhuru Kenyatta took a positive path when he met Muslim leaders at State House to discuss pertinent issues facing the community but this should be followed up with actions as Muslims are used to be given pledges which end up to be mere rhetoric. While the NIS is to be commended for its positive recommendation, the intelligence body has also been responsible for portraying Muslims in bad light contributing in build up a culture of animosity towards members of the community. In the same report, it gives alarming information claiming that schools are being used as areas of radicalization of students and awkwardly suggests that even the quest for Muslims girls to be given the rights to fulfill their constitutional religious requirement is being driven by radicalization. Such allegations are not helpful for building the bridges of national cohesion and healing the existing mistrust and suspicions between the Muslim community and the government and should be avoided by all means.

EDITORIAL

Govt cautioned over refugees

Continued From Page 1

vides for the non-return of refugees, their families or other persons against their will, said the forum whose members includes Kituo cha Sheria, Refugee Consortium of Kenya and International Rescue Committee. The organizations faulted calls to close the Daadab refugee camps saying that the closure will have a negative impact on stability and security in Somalia. The URPN is of the strong opinion that the continued calls for the closure of the camps in Daadab are premature and counterproductive in terms of its negative impact on the security and stability of Somalia and will lead to a violation of Kenyas legal obligation, said the statement. In the aftermath of the Westgate attack, calls were made by some legislators to close down the camp, the largest of its kind in the world and relocate the refugees back to Somalia. This followed claims that the attack was planned in the sprawling refugee camp. The consortium further called on the government to continue facilitating peace in the war torn country warning that the continued instability will affect Kenyas security. This must be done on the understanding that Kenya will never experience tranquility as long as Somalia remains volatile, said the umbrella body. On Sunday, Kenya, Somalia and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees signed a tripartite agreement that paves way for the repatriation of one million refugees to Somalia. The agreement was witnessed by the Deputy President William Ruto who said the pact provides for the establishment of a repatriation commission which will be charged with undertaking a

harmonised regulatory framework for the voluntary repatriation of the refugees to Somalia, We are the happiest people today as we begin the process of orderly, voluntary repatriation of citizens to their homeland where they can go back and participate in their communities and in building their country, he said.

Garissa to ban miraa consumption

Continued From Page 1

grammes in micro business projects for miraa vendors to serve as alternative sources of income. We want to empower our women to become more productive in other areas apart from miraa trade and enable them access better opportunities and create wealth for themselves and their communities, said the county executive member in charge of women, gender and children affairs Halima Muhammad. According to statistics from NACADA, residents of Garissa spend most of their resources in the sale and purchase of miraa with reports indicating that Sh2 million is spent on the leaf substance on a daily basis. Following the ban announced by UK on miraa imported from Kenya, calls have been growing for the banning of miraa which Muslim leaders and scholars say is the leading cause of social degradation in Muslim dominated areas. Rising cases of divorce, broken families, unemployment, immorality and the increase in HIV/AIDS cases are some of the resultant effects of miraa consumption.

Muharram 11, 1435/November 15 2013

The Friday Bulletin

Da'wa

Productive lessons from the Hijra

Abdallah Ahmed With the beginning of each Islamic year, our scholars and Imams remind us of the story of the momentous Hijrah (migration) of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his companion Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) from Makkah to Madina which they undertook over 1400 Years ago. This Migration was a very special journey and a turning point for Islam and Muslims in that it was chosen to mark the beginning of the Islamic calendar. Although there are many lessons that one can extract from the Hijrah, I just wanted us to focus on some of the productivity-related lessons one can learn from the Hijrah. Perhaps the first lesson that strikes me, and is often not talked about, is the difficulty and magnitude of the decision to migrate itself. We tend to think that this migration was a simple 3-day journey by camel between 2 cities, and dont give much thought to its implications in those days. Living amidst the globalised tourist industry, we tend to forget the difficulty of taking a journey to a completely new territory which youre not accustomed to the terrain, culture, or people. By all scales, the migration itself as an act was not that easy. How many of us are truly ready to leave our homes, our families, our businesses and just go to a new town and start from scratch? So, the question is why? Why did the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) migrate? The standard answer is that the migration occurred to escape persecution from Makkah and save the Prophets life (peace be upon him) from an evil assassination plot. But I believe theres another reason, one that derives an important lesson about the Hijrah: staying in Makkah with the persecution from the Makkan people was unproductive for the Prophet (peace be upon him) because the environment was not conducive for the message which he (peace be upon him) carried, Islam. The Prophet (peace be upon him) had to find a way out, he (peace be upon him) had to find a venue for his message to flourish. In essence, the migration was not about saving his life, but it was about saving the message and fulfilling his mission! The evidence of this is that immediately after reaching Madinah, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) didnt relax but immediately went through an all-embracing process to establish a faithful and strong society by building a mosque, establishing a market, managing the politics of the new town, and so on. So theres a deep lesson here about the Hijrah that is subtle but important it is that the Hijrah is a process of transfer to a better situation to enable you to be productive and active vicegerent on Earth. It is not meant to be a means to find a comfortable place where one would relax and stop being productive. Rather, it is a search for an environment more favorable to continuous and constructive productivity for Allahs sake. Think how you can apply the above to your life? What do you need to migrate from in order to live a productive lifestyle in conformity with your purpose of worshipping Allah (Subhaanahu wa Taala)? It doesnt have to be migration from place to place, but it could be migration from a non-halal job to a halal one, or migration from sins to repentance, or from evil deeds to good deeds. The Pre-Planned Journey Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and his companion Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (May Allah be pleased with him) went through a lot of preparation for this epic journey. They prepared their transportation, planned how to hide their tracks, hired a guide, and even appointed the people whod bring them the news from Makkah and who would bring them the food each night. One might ask: Why did the Prophet and His companion have to go plan so meticulously to go on this Hijrah? Wasnt this Journey blessed by Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Taala)s permission for the Prophet to migrate to Madina? Arent these the best of people in those times? Surely, Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Taala) could have prepared for them a miracle of instant transportation to Madina like He did in the journey of Israa wal Miraaj? Placing Your Trust In Allah When we think of these questions, we realise, that this journey was not about the Prophet and his companion only, this journey was for us the Muslims to learn deep lessons from, to study from it and extract unforgettable lessons that apply to all times. The Prophet and his companion prepared and took all the means to teach us the lesson that even being the best of mankind, even if you worship Allah, you need to use the means Allah has provided to achieve your goals in life. This indicates the need for action to fully trusting in Allahs decree, in fact its part and parcel of believing in Allahs decree. The above point is highlighted further in those precious moments where Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (May Allah be pleased with him) spent with the Prophet in that cave between Makkah and Madina. They were hiding there, but the Makkans were able to trace their tracks to the cave. When the Makkans approached the cave, Abu Bakr As-Siddiq started panicking saying: O Prophet, if they look to their feet theyll see us! But the Prophets confident response was: Dont be Afraid, Allah is with us (al-Bukhaari). These powerful words should be on the tongue of every Muslim and Muslimah in any situation of difficulty he/she faces after youve exhausted all possible means. Practical Lessons From The Hijrah I want us to think about this practically, how we can apply this concept of balancing between taking the means and trusting in Allah in our lives? This requires a special mindset that comes with training and constantly self-evaluating your actions. When you have goals, you need to force yourself to prepare the utmost whilst at the same time praying and pleading to Allah as if youve no means at all. I remember once I was given an extremely challenging task at work, I did my utmost and worked hard to surmount the task but at the same time I started praying to Allah to make it easy and finish it on time, and subhaanAllah it all went smoothly. You honestly taste the sweetness of true tawakkul when you strike this balance between taking the means and trusting in Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Taala). Story Continued To Page 4

Imagine youre in a town where most people dont like you, they make lies about you and they want to kill you. But they also trust you with all their precious goods. On the night you are about to leave, you could potentially take revenge for all the pain and suffering they caused you, instead you actually return these goods to them!
The Awliyaa of Satan and their errors GIRLS YOUTH CAMP Ustadhah Twaybah 6th Annual Youth Camp 2nd November 2013 2.00 pm -4.00 pm Date 1st-8th December 2013 Venue: Jamia Multi-purpose Hall Venue : Star Mosque Sheikh Academy Athi River For more information contact Ustadha Hafswa Diko Cell 0725828028/0738282828 Email:mwanajahadiks@yahoo.com

Satan Machinations, His Friends and Their Errors Ustadh Abdallah Athman 16th November 2013 2.00 pm -4.00 pm Venue: Jamia Mosque Multi-purpose Hall Mataa Nasru Allah By Capt. Yahya Date: 17th November 2013 Time:2.00 pm -4.00 pm Makina Mosque Kibera
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SUNDAY LECTURE

SUNDAY LECTURE

The Friday Bulletin

Muharram 11, 1435/November 15 2013

WOMEN

Heroine of the Hijra Asma bint Abi Bakr

The One with Two Waist-belts
Asma bint Abi Bakr belonged to a distinguished Muslim family. Her father, Abu Bakr, was a close friend of the Prophet and the first caliph after his death. Her half-sister `A'ishah was a wife of the Prophet and one of the Mother of the Believers. Her husband, Az-Zubayr ibn Al-`Awwam, was one of the special personal aides of the Prophet. Her son `Abdullah became well known for his incorruptibility and his unswerving devotion to Truth. Asma herself was one of the first persons to accept Islam. Only about seventeen persons including both men and women became Muslims before her. She was later given the nickname Dhat AnNitaqayn (the One with Two Waist-belts) because of an incident connected with the departure of the Prophet and her father from Makkah on the historic Hijrah to Madinah. Asma was one of the few persons who knew of the Prophet's plan to leave for Madinah. The utmost secrecy had to be maintained because of the Qurayshs plans to murder the Prophet. On the night of their departure, Asma prepared a bag of food and a water container for their journey. Not finding anything to tie the containers with, she decided to use her waist-belt (nitaq) but followed her fathers suggestion to tear it into two. The Prophet commended her action and from then on she became known as the One with the Two Waist-belts. When it came her turn to emigrate from Makkah, soon after the departure of the Prophet, Asma was pregnant. She did not let her pregnancy or the prospect of a long and arduous journey deter her from leaving. Her role during Hijrah was not only that of one of the Muhajirun who left their past behind, seeking a land where freedom of worship was guaranteed, but she was one who helped guarantee the success of the Prophet's Hijrah along with that of his companion Abu Bakr. During the very first days of the Prophet's Hijrah, he (the Prophet) and Abu Bakr had to hide for a couple of days in a small cave known as the Cave of Thawr in a rocky mountain of the same name. Only the chosen few knew where the two great men were hiding. Among those chosen was Asma (may Allah be pleased with her). Each night, oblivious of the dreariness of the rocky dark desert, Asma would take food and drink to her father and his blessed companion. A young woman of her age should not have taken the risk of being in such a rocky, mountainous, deserted place at night, especially with the political threats that were leveled at them due to the status of her father. Yet Asma went. How else would the two great men receive nutrition? They had to hide until the men of Quraish gave up looking for them. Asma knew this and knew the importance of her mission to help keep those two men alive. It was the mission of keeping faith alive. She received her well-known title of "She of the Two Belts" for a gesture she made during her mission. Wanting to carry both food and drink, she had no alternative but to tear her belt into two parts; a part for the food and a part for the water. Prophet Muhammad named her "Asma of the Two Belts." He then promised her that Allah would give her two belts in Paradise. In his search for the two runaway men, Abu Jahl (a major enemy of the Prophet) went to Asma, asking her about her father. Asma gave him no information and her punishment was a slap on her face that broke her earrings. A woman of her dignity and self-respect would not have tolerated such an incident except for the sake of a respected cause and a more dignified goal. As soon as she reached Quba on the outskirts of Madinah, she gave birth to a son, `Abdullah. Narrating the life of Asma would take pages of detailed heroic incidents. She lived to be one hundred with the same dignified sincerity for the cause and with the same strength of character and strength of belief. The small incident that I narrated is but one example of how many great women served Islam. These days, the Muslim community is struggling with the attitudes and choices the youth are making. Sadly, there have been cases of Muslim youth involved in incidents which are inconsistence with Islamic values. These are all worrisome trends that cannot be allowed to continue. The youth need inspiration, faithfulness, and pride in their Islamic heritage to counter the pressures of alienation and popular culture. They need to realize the great expectations the community places on them. Many parents continue to struggle to find better future for their children. Thus, it is disheartening to see the youth go astray and waste their potential to learn, grow, and lead.

Productive lessons from the Hijra

Continued From Page 3

The Measuring Stick of Justice One final beautiful lesson from the Hijrah is the instruction that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) gave to his cousin, Ali ibn Abi Twalib (May Allah be pleased with him) asking him to return the Trusts that were with the Prophet to the rightful people in Makkah. I had to stop at this and really imagine the situation to understand the magnitude of this act of honesty. Imagine youre in a town where most people dont like you, they make lies about you and they want to kill you. But they also trust you with all their precious goods. On the night you are about to leave, you could potentially take revenge for all the pain and suffering they caused you, instead you actually return these goods to them! What does that teach us? What does that tell us about our attitude to the Non-Muslims even when they harm us? It teaches us that our measuring stick in Islam is Justice, not our whims and desires or revenge or hatred. We do justice even to our worst enemies and this is how we become servants of Allah instead of servants of our desires. We become truly the Best of All Nations when we apply such principles in our lives. These were some of the productivity lessons from the beautiful Hijrah, I hope we can learn from them and apply them to our lives so we can have a true turning point within ourselves just like the Prophet and His Companions did after the Hijrah.

HIJAB and KANZU APPEAL

The number of people embracing Islam is on the increase and with these comes challenges especially for those in economic disadvantages situations to take on their new identity. For a Muslim woman, hijab is a requirement of the faith and some new comers to the religion face challenges of getting the required Islamic dress. At the same time, it is also important for male Muslims also to display their Islamic identities. This is an appeal for donations of Hijabs and Kanzus which will be distributed to new Muslims to help them preserve their Islamic identity. The donations can be made at the Jamia mosque administration offices or Masjid Noor South C
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Muharram 11, 1435/November 15 2013

The Friday Bulletin

The Role of the Youth in the Prophets Migration

Abdisalam Adam As the new Islamic year 1435 AH begins, it is worthwhile to remind the Muslim youth of their place in history. The youth played a pivotal role in the most significant occurrence of Islamic history the Migration of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his companions from Makkah (Mecca) to Madinah (Medina) in 622 CE. We can say the religion survived because of the contribution of the youth. Why can our youth today, with all the resources at their disposal contribute positively to society and lead the way? Why dont they focus on their education and become messengers of peace and prosperity? Lets turn to some youth pioneers of Islam to see the sacrifices they made in the service of their community. Struggles of Early Muslims In the early days of Islam, when Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) called his people to embrace Islam, they did not accept it easily. The tribe of Quraysh, to which the Prophet belonged, was reluctant to leave the religion of its forefathers, and the Makkan unbelievers spared no effort in trying to eliminate the religion from existence. They resorted to every conceivable means and method of torture and persecution. They ridiculed the new reverts and subjected them to all kinds of hardships in order to force them to renounce their faith. But the ill treatment only made them more determined and firm. Among the early reverts who suffered most were the Yassir family (father, mother, and son), Bilal Ibn Rabah, and Khabbab Ibn AlAratt. But nothing could turn the new Muslims away from their faith. This situation continued for thirteen years in Makkah, while the Muslims were still weak. The Prophets Migration (Hijrah) Then, Allah (the Exhaled, the Mighty) instructed His Prophet to migrate from Makkah to Madinah, then known as Yathrib. This migration marked a turning point in Islamic history as the Muslims found support in Madinah. Within a few years, their situation changed from weakness to strength. However, the Hijrah itself was overshadowed by all kinds of dangers. The Quraysh conspired to kill the Prophet before he left Makkah, and they contrived a master plan to assassinate him. They agreed that each clan should select a warrior to represent it, whereby the warriors would jointly stab the Prophet. The idea behind this plan was to escape the onus of blood compensation and tribal feuds. In this manner, all the clans would share the compensation, and at the same time, the Prophets clan could not engage in war against the allied tribes. But Allah protected His Prophet from their conspiracy. As the group selected to carry out the plot gathered outside the Prophets home, he asked his cousin, Ali ibn Abi Twalib, to sleep in his bed. Then the Prophet left silently under the cover of darkness, as he recited these verses of the Quran: And We have put in front of them a barrier, and We have covered them so that they cannot see. [Yasin, 36:9] The Prophet went to his close companion, Abu Bakr, and they left Makkah secretly, accompanied by Abu Bakrs servant, Aamir ibn Fuhayrah, and a polytheist guide Abdallah bin Urayqit who had good knowledge of the way. The group left in a direction other than the one usually taken to Madinah so as to escape the pursuit of their adversaries. The Prophet and Abu Bakr hid in the cave of Thawr, near Makkah, to wait for the frantic search of the unbelievers to subside. In fact, The Quraysh placed a reward of a hundred camels for whoever would capture the Prophet before he reached Madinah. The Role of the Youth in the Migration It is worth noting here the role played by Muslim youth in this crucial journey, which required much planning, secrecy and courage. Four young people who stood up to this task were Ali ibn Abi Twalib, Aamir ibn Fuhayrah, Abdullah ibn Abi Bakr and Asmaa bint Abi Bakr. The role of Ali Ibn Abi Twalib on the night of the Prophets escape from assassination has already been mentioned. Abdullah Ibn Abi Bakr sneaked out each night to inform his father and the

YOUTH

SALAH TIME

Yasin Abdulghani (Imam) leads his classmates in a demonstration of the prayer. This was during the graduation ceremony of the Pre-Unit class at Kinderworld Academy, which was held at the Memom Hall, South 'C' over the weekend.

Prophet of what was transpiring in Makkah among the unbelievers, and of the relentless search they were undertaking. Aamir Ibn Fuhayrah, on the other hand, drove his sheep to graze over and wipe out any footprints leading to the cave where the Prophet and Abu Bakr were hiding. Asmaa took food and water to them. She stood firm in the face of close scrutiny by the leaders of Quraysh, such that one of them even hit her hard to extract from her information of the whereabouts of the Prophet and Abu Bakr. One day, Asmaa could not carry the food and water with her bare hands, so she tore her waist-band into two sashes and used them to tie and carry the provisions on her shoulders. When she reached the cave and the Prophet salallahu alayhi wa sallam knew what she had done, he said to her, Surely, Allah has exchanged your two sashes with two sashes in Paradise. Indeed, the story of the circumstances surrounding the Prophets migration serves as an inspiration for Muslim youth in all generations. These young individuals realized the significance of the Message of the Prophet peace be upon him and importance of his personal safety for the survival of Islam. They therefore made the decision to contribute to the success of the Islamic message with all the means at their disposal. The sacrifice each one of them made reveals the love and loyalty that they had for the Prophet peace be upon him. They also serve as role models for all Muslims youth to emulate. Youth is the most vigorous and dynamic stage in an individuals life. Therefore, Muslim youth of today should realize their role in society, and they should contribute selflessly to the advancement of the community. In a hadith, the Prophet peace be upon him said that among the things for which every person will be held accountable on the Day of Judgment is his/her youth and how he/she spent it. In another authentic Hadith, the Prophet peace be upon him said, Take advantage of five before five: Your youth before your old age; your health before your illness; your wealth before your times of poverty; your spare time before you get busy; and your life before your death. (Hakim and Musnad Ahmad). The Muslim youth should therefore rise to the occasion and shoulder their responsibilities to their communities. They must also have the courage and foresight to help shape the future of their community and nation.
Abdisalam Adam, Board Member, Islamic Civic Society of America (Dar Al-Hijrah), Minneapolis, United States

The Friday Bulletin

Muharram 11, 1435/November 15 2013

FEATURE
Murtaza Hussain On October 24, 2012 a Predator drone flying over North Waziristan came upon an eight-year old Nabila Rehman, her siblings, and their grandmother as they worked in a field beside their village home. Her grandmother, Momina Bibi, was teaching the children how to pick okra as the family prepared for the coming Eid holiday. However on this day the terrible event would occur that would forever alter the course of this family's life. In the sky the children suddenly heard the distinctive buzzing sound emitted by the CIA-operated drones - a familiar sound to those in the rural Pakistani villages which are stalked by them 24 hours a day - followed by two loud clicks. The unmanned aircraft released its deadly payload onto the Rehman family, and in an instant the lives of these children were transformed into a nightmare of pain, confusion and terror. Seven children were wounded, and Nabila's grandmother was killed before her eyes, an act for which no apology, explanation or justification has ever been given. This past week Nabila, her schoolteacher father, and her 12-yearold brother travelled to Washington DC to tell their story and to seek answers about the events of that day. However, despite overcoming incredible obstacles in order to travel from their remote village to the United States, Nabila and her family were roundly ignored. At the Congressional hearing where they gave testimony, only five out of 430 representatives showed up. In the words of Nabila's father to those few who did attend: "My daughter does not have the face of a terrorist and neither did my mother. It just doesn't make sense to me, why this happened as a teacher, I wanted to educate Americans and let them know my children have been injured." The translator broke down in tears while recounting their story, but the government made it a point to snub this family and ignore the tragedy it had caused to them. Nabila, a slight girl of nine with striking hazel eyes, asked a simple question in her testimony: "What did my grandmother do wrong?" There was no one to answer this question, and few who cared to even listen. Symbolic of the utter contempt in which the government holds the people it claims to be liberating, while the Rehmans recounted their plight, Barack Obama was spending the same time meeting with the CEO of weapons manufacturer Lockheed Martin. Selective Memory It is useful to contrast the American response to Nabila Rehman with that of Malala Yousafzai, a young girl who was nearly assassinated by the Pakistani Taliban. While Malala was feted by Western media figures, politicians and civic leaders for her heroism, Nabila has become simply another one of the millions of nameless, faceless people who have had their lives destroyed over the past decade of American wars. The reason for this glaring discrepancy is obvious. Since Malala was a victim of the Taliban, she, despite her protestations, was seen as a potential tool of political propaganda to be utilized by war advocates. She could be used as the human face of their effort, a symbol of the purported decency of their cause, the type of little girl on behalf of whom the United States and its allies can say they have been unleashing such incredible bloodshed. Tellingly, many of those who took up her name and image as a symbol of the justness of American military action in the Muslim world did not even care enough to listen to her own words or feelings about the subject. As described by the Washington Post's Max Fisher: Western fawning over Malala has become less about her efforts to improve conditions for girls in Pakistan, or certainly about the struggles of millions of girls in Pakistan, and more about our own desire to make ourselves feel warm and fuzzy with a celebrity and an easy message. It's a way of letting ourselves off the hook, convincing ourselves that it's simple matter of good guys vs bad guys, that we're on the right side and that everything is okay. But where does Nabila fit into this picture? If extrajudicial killings, drone strikes and torture are in fact all part of a just-cause associated with the liberation of the people of Pakistan, Afghanistan and elsewhere, where is the sympathy or even simple recognition for the devastation this war has caused to countless little girls such

Malala and Nabila: Worlds apart

as her? The answer is clear: The only people to be recognized for their suffering in this conflict are those who fall victim to the enemy. Malala for her struggles was to be made the face of the American war effort - against her own will if necessary - while innumerable little girls such as Nabila will continue to be terrorized and murdered as part of this war without end. There will be no celebrity appearances or awards ceremonies for Nabila. At her testimony almost no one even bothered to attend. But if they had attended, they would've heard a nine year old girl asking the questions which millions of other innocent people who have had their lives thrown into chaos over the past decade have been asking: "When I hear that they are going after people who have done wrong to America, then what have I done wrong to them? What did my grandmother do wrong to them? I didn't do anything wrong." (Al Jazeera.com)

NOOR ACADEMY
Noor Academy, an integrated school based at Pangani Shopping Centre is seeking to recruit a qualified teacher with a minimum of 3 years teaching experience for its upcoming Standard 1 Class. Send your testimonials to The Headteacher P. O. Box 32517-00600 Email: gulnargis344@yahoo.com
For further details call 0701802927 Deadline 20th November 2013

VACANCY

The Friday Bulletin

Muharram 11, 1435/November 15 2013

NATIONAL

Take education of girls seriously, Muslims advised

Muslims in the Western Kenya region have been urged to give more attention to the education of girls as they too have a contribution to make to the society. Kakamega educationist Mariam Hassan Were said that it was regrettable that many parents in the community were denying female children their right to religious and secular education She decried the practice of marrying off young girls for the purpose of acquiring wealth stressing that this act was not condoned by the teachings of Islam. Speaking during prayer day for the KCPE 2013 candidates at Kakamega Muslim Primary School, Mariam noted that Islam puts emphasis on education and did not exclude girls from seeking knowledge. ''Unfortunately, the education of girls in our communities is not being given the necessary consideration. Let us take our girls to school as when you educate a girl you educate the society'' said the educationist who is a lecturer at the Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology. She pointed out that the greatest investment Muslims can make is to take their children to school to reclaim back their lost glory and heritage. Mariam appealed to parents in the Muslim community to take the education of the girl child seriously and support their endevour instead of marrying them off. She decried that most of the parents had neglected a number of brilliant girls when it comes to educating them. Mariam further called for more measures to ensure that bright and needy children are supported to further their education adding that a number of them are unable to report to secondary schools due to lack of fees and further advised parents and guardians to prepare them psychologically so that they are not depressed. The deputy Headteacher Bakari Kweyu promised that the institution will compete among the best performing schools as a way of improving academic performance. Sheikh Idris Luvale who spoke on behalf of the sponsors of the school stressed on the need for the community to invest in education saying that this was the key to the development and progress of the community. Area county representative Aggrey Waturasu pledged to ensure that the school and bright needy pupils are supported to further their education through the provision of bursaries by Constituency Development Fund [CDF]

Take your parental responsibility, parents urged

UK court decision on hawala excites refugees

Somali refugees in the country welcomed the move by a UK court granting a Somali money transfer service, Dahabshiil, a temporary injunction preventing Barclays Bank from cutting its banking services. Somali refugees who mainly depend on remittances (hawala) from relatives abroad breathed a sigh of relief after the vital source of income for millions of impoverished Somalis was allowed to continue. Refugees in the Dadaab refugee camp in Garissa county which is home to more than a half a million Somali termed the move as a lifeline. "Cutting remittances from our relatives in the diaspora will be catastrophic," said Khadija Osman. I receive $250 dollars monthly from relatives in the UK, which I use to buy food, pay rent and pay school fees. I can't imagine what will happen if this is stopped, she added. It is a lifeline for thousands of people who depend on the money transfer service. A lot of people would have suffered as a result of the move by the bank, an official at the Nairobi office told The Friday Bulletin. Dahabshill had early this year sought a court injunction after Barclays Bank announced plans to cut off services to the company amid concerns over money laundering and funding of terrorism. "This is not just a victory for Dahabshil. It is a victory for the millions of Somalis and other Africans, many of whose livelihoods depend on our services," said Dahabshill in a statement. Aid agency, Oxfam has also welcomed the move. It however asked for a permanent solution. "The ruling provides a small window of opportunity for Somalis living in the UK to send money home to loved ones in one of the poorest countries in the world. This, however, does not solve the problem. A long-term fix is needed to safeguard hundreds of thousands of people relying on the money for food, medicines and education," it stated. The full trial is expected to start next year. Displaced Somalis are particularly dependent on the money-service businesses as Somalia lacks a formal banking system after decades of war.

Dysfunctional families where parents are abdicating their roles of looking after their children are posing a danger to the socialdevelopment of children. This was among observations noted during a one-day workshop which aimed at providing guidance to parents on proper upbringing of children. Parents were reminded of their primary obligation to provide for the physical and emotional needs of their children with special emphasis on teenagers. Mentoring begins at home. This is the primary reason as to why it is very important for parents to act as role models for their children said Rukia Mohammed a human resource officer and a teacher. As much as they are teenagers, children need structured guidance, especially girls because reality is that it is difficult to bring up girls than boys. Parents should be consistent when dealing with their children, said Riziki Ahmed a child psychologist. She adviced parents to have quality time with their children saying that busy schedules were becoming a big challenge for the proper upbringing of their children. Community parenting has proved to be challenging due to todays changing times when many people are mainly concerned with their wellbeing. The patron of the youth group Sheikh Abdullatif Abdulkarim emphasized on proper up-bringing of children based on Islamic values stressing that this will lead to a morally sound society. Other factors which were identified for undermining the proper upbringing of children were divorce, drug abuse and influence of the media The event was held over the weekend at Muslim Academy and was jointly organized by the Park Road Youth Group in conjunction with the Family Resource Centre.

Madina Hospital, a fully fledged hospital located in Eastleigh wishes ro recruit a Hospital Administrator. The candidate must have a minimum qualification of a degree in Administration. Working experience in a medical facility will be an added advantage.

VACANCY

For more details call Dr Aden on 0721303311

Nairobi Muslim Academy

We are seeking to recruit Experienced Ladies with the following qualifications to fill position of: 1) Librarian Diploma in Library and Information Science 2) Secretary Secretarial Diploma 3) Cateress Diploma in Catering Management 4) Registered Nurse Diploma in Nursing

One Shilling Foundation rescues abandoned orphans

Seventeen years old Fauzia was raised up by her single mother after their father disappeared without trace from their home while at a very tender age. The mother later died when Fauzia was only eleven and left three other siblings; Najma who is now 15 years old, Feisal who is now 11 and Abdulmalik who is now 6 years old. It was Fauzia who assumed the role of being the mother of her 3 siblings. She had to carry Abdulmalik on her back every morning to Eastleigh to beg from well wishers for food and clothes. This happened for quite some time before a neighbour who used to reside with them in Dandora noticed their disappearance and wanted to find out what happened with the children when their mother passed on. He took several months before he noticed that the Al-Toto Missionary Church a Korean oriented Christian Group had long adopted the kids when they found them in the slums and were in danger of dying from hunger and malnutrition. They took the four in their convent and were in the process of adopting them to the Christian faith. Fauzia being of a reasonable age resolved that they should not be kept apart from each other as the other two were very young. She opted for the option of the Korean missionary renting a house for them outside the Church premises for Ksh. 3,000 per month and also be provided with food. This trend continued for several years until the Father of the Church started making direct advances towards the older girl to join the Sisters session with a view of converting them to Christianity. The deputy Imam of Jamia Mosque Sheikh Juma Amir who stays within the vicinity came to learn of the predicaments facing the orphaned children and what the church was actually doing to completely get them away from their religion of Islam. He could not withstand the situation and petitioned several Muslim organisations to save the children. The One Shilling Foundation Marketing Director Sister Maryam Kibunja mobilised a group of supporting sisters to save the innocent children the horrid life they were leading. A sisters meeting was convened at Jamia Mosque and more than 30 sisters from various Women Groups attended and pledged to pay the fees, accommodation and other personal requirements of the four children. The two boys were taken to Kisumu and enrolled in a Muslim boarding primary school that has an integrated system of Education. The girls were taken to Al Momin Girls Institute that caters for Muslim girls Islamic training and other technical skills. Currently they are all happily settled and now they are getting on well with their studies away from the psychological tortures they used to go through every day. We would like to thank all those who voluntarily donated towards this noble cause and our prayer is that Allah will amply reward you all for your generous donations We still need to support these children as they endeavour in their studies in the current schools. We therefore appeal for more donors to come forward and support One Shilling Foundation in helping this case in particular and such other cases that we encounter in our community more often. For more information please contact us: One Shilling Foundation Village Plaza, Ngara Rd P.O. Box 58717- 00200 Nairobi. Email: info@oneshillingfoundation.org Web: www.oneshilling foundation.org Tel: 0717 613 333, 0722 734 090

Please send application with all relevant testimonials to: The Manager Nairobi Muslim Academy P.O BOX 18421 00500 Nairobi Or Email: nmajobs@yahoo.com

An Islamic Institution based in Nairobi in the process of establishing and running a TV station seeks to recruit qualified candidate for the following position HRZ/001/13: TECHNICAL MANAGER/PRODUCTION MANAGER The Technical Manager will be in charge of the non-editorial broadcasting functions. In charge of the hardware/ technical direction for broadcasting set up, advise on hardware and software solutions to enable transmission and ensuring the signal goes on air and all safety precautions are taken by staff handling company equipment and ICT. Job description Identifying, assessing the needs and recommending appropriate equipment for broadcasting Rigging and set up of broadcast infrastructure for diverse needs Maintenance of the stations transmission equipment Overseeing the functioning of live or recorded program links Responding to equipment failure and fixing problems Planning the technical aspects of a production, ensuring equipment is ready and technical checks are completed before production begins Assisting with camera settings, lens choices, etc. Training staff on equipment use, safety and new technologies Assisting with equipment changes and modification. Qualifications At least a Bachelors degree or advanced professional training in telecommunications technology, electronics or audio visual production At least three years working experience in a similar position Experience with servers and transmission systems and new media technology Experience in media projects start-ups Good leadership skills and ability to work under intense pressure and deadlines

VACANCY

Send your detailed CV and copies of testimonials quoting the job title and reference to: P.O Box 100786 00101, Nairobi or email to info@islamkenya.org to be received latest by 30th Nov 2013. Only qualified candidates will be acknowledged and shortlisted.

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