Jumadal-Awwal 03, 1442/December 18, 2020 Issue No.

919

The
The

Friday
Friday Bulletin
Bulletin
The Weekly Muslim News Update

EJK: Over 230 cases reported in

3 years - DPP
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
Continued To Page 2

Interfaith Council Preserving the Book of Allah

partners with NCIC to
promote peace ahead
of 2022 elections
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 Garissa Township Member of Parliament Aden Duale (RIGHT), Sheikh Muhammad
into a framework guiding the use of pulpits Shakul (CENTER) and Former Governor Nathif Jama during the first ever major
and religious sanctuaries to give message
event to maintain, repair and re- organise the worn out, old and dilapidated copies
of hope.
of the Holy Quran. The event was organised by a group Muslim Sisters under the
“We want to urge all religious leaders in umbrella of “The Foundation to glorify the Book of Allah” held in Nairobi County.
the country to avoid divisive politics in The group of Muslim sisters have came together to repair and 're organise dilapi-
sermons and partisan endorsements from dated and also keep safe copies of the Holy Quran. They are doing this noble pro-
the pulpits and keep partisan politics out
Continued To Page 2 gramme in the Kenya's counties of Nairobi, Mombasa, Garissa, Wajir and Mandera.

This Newsletter contains some of Allah’s names. Please do not throw in the trash. Either keep, circulate or shred
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The Friday Bulletin NATIONAL Jumadal-Awwal 03, 1442/December 18, 2020

COVID 19: NMCRC issues guidelines for Muslim schools

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
Mukurwe-ini Mosque project launched
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-
the 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
ing 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.
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.

Interfaith Council partners with NCIC Over 230 cases reported

Continued From Page 1
Continued From Page 1
of publication, social media pages and
websites of organisations affiliated to our Police Service and further disclosed that
faith communities,” said the chair during a his office is working with the Independent
consultation meeting on promoting Peace Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) to nego-
and Cohesion last week in Nairobi. tiate a memorandum of understanding to
create rules of engagement between the
The acting chairman of Supreme Council
two agencies.
of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) Hassan Ole
Naado urged the religious leaders in the For several years now, the Muslim lead-
country to ensure functions involving poli- ership has complained against police
ticians are separated from worship func- excesses which has seen hundreds be-
tions. “There is need not only to safeguard ing arrested, detained and renditioned to
the sanctity of places of worship but reaf- countries which include Somalia, Ethiopia,
firm their traditional roles of being places Uganda and the United States. In recent
for sharing messages of hope and toler- years, this has morphed up into extra judi-
ance especially during this trying time,” he The acting chairman of Supreme Council
cial disappearances and killings where in-
noted. of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) Hassan Ole
dividuals alleged to be terrorism suspects
Naado speaking during the meeting.
The council further advised religious have been arbitrarily arrested by people
leaders to keep pulpits, sanctuaries and ID-19, religious leaders have also been who identified themselves as police of-
events sacred by adopting a zero-toler- urged to pass messages of hope and to ficers and later disappear without trace
ance policy against messages likely to counter all forms of stigma and discrimi- or found killed and dumped in unfamiliar
promote division and hate. nation associated with transmission of place.
On countering stigma arising from COV- COVID-19

Page 2
The Friday Bulletin
5 practical steps to understand Quran
By Theresa Corbin
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 Translation
Even 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 Objective
Before 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 Bias
Everyone 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
Page 3
DA'WAH Jumadal-Awwal 03, 1442/December 18, 2020
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 Verses
There 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 Context
The 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
Akhira
The 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).
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)
The Friday Bulletin
7 Lessons from Maryam – The best woman of the worlds
By Khawlah bint Yahya
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 Deeds
The 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 Allah
Mary 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)
Page 4
WOMEN Jumadal-Awwal 03, 1442/December 18, 2020
Not knowing who this man was, what 6. Be Patient in Fulfilling Your Respon-
was her reaction? “She said: I seek ref- sibilities
uge from you with the All-Merciful, [leave Long shifts, taking care of the family, the
me] if you have fear of Allah.” (Quran, 19: house, etc., people pulling at you from
18) all sides… Maryam (peace be upon her)
Her words show her ultimate trust in Al- braved all the difficulties and performed with
lah. How often you get scared and forget patience all her responsibilities.
to call upon Him? Seek refuge in Allah How many times do we complain, saying,
in your daily life, and truly feel your trust “I can’t be bothered to read Quran now, or
in Him. to help that person,” or complain about the
4. Don’t Surrender to Sadness and way Allah likes us to dress? Respect the re-
Look at Trials of Others sponsibilities Allah gave you towards your
Jibreel gave Maryam the news of a son, family, environment, and the ummah. Think
assuring her that Allah the Most High can of the difficult tasks Allah set for Mary, only
for her to show how strong she was and
make everything happen with ease, and:
“So she conceived him and withdrew how much she deserved a beautiful king-
dom in Paradise.
with him to a distant place.” (Quran, 19:
22) 7. Be a Role Model, Not a Talker
Now, whenever you feel alone, deeply Look at Maryam (peace be upon her);
reflect on this verse and try to imagine through her strong faith, manners, and ac-
the scene: tions she was a living invitation to belief in
Allah.
“And the pains of childbirth drove her to
the trunk of a palm tree. She said, ‘Oh, So first, look in your heart and feel the
I wish I had died before this and was in blessing to have a strong belief in your
oblivion, forgotten.’ But he called her Creator, and then show your beautiful faith
from below her, ‘Do not grieve; your Lord to others… Treat them justly, never use foul
has provided beneath you a stream.’ language, help others, be patient in times
(Quran, 19: 23-24) of hardships, and constantly speak words
Think of her pain, all alone, with no sup- of praise and thanks to Allah, and so re-
port. Usually lonely people surrender to flect the beauty of Islam to the world around
sadness and helplessness. But Mary did you. “And [mention] the one who guarded
not. She kept seeking His Help and mak- her chastity, so We blew into her [garment]
ing choices she thought would be pleas- through Our angel [Gabriel], and We made
ing to Allah. She never gave in to depres- her and her son a sign for the worlds.”
sion because she knew if she would only (Quran, 21:91)
trust Him, Allah would give her a solu- May Allah, the Most High, enable us to learn
tion. And He did. from her story and guide us to act upon our
So put your trust in Him, no knowledge. Ameen.
matter the difficulty; look at
the trials of other people in
VACANCIES
other places of the world.
Don’t lose hope, and He will
turn all hardships into good-
ness and beauty. That’s a
promise. A well-established private school
5. Don’t Be Fussed about
Acceptance of Others
in Garissa Town is looking for;
She then returned with the
baby to her community and
another amazing character 1) Head Teacher, Primary School
trait was her lack of inter-
est in winning acceptance
2) D/ Head Teacher, Primary
of her people. She vowed
silence, put her trust in Allah
3) Principal, High School
to take care of her situation
with all these people criticiz-
ing and questioning her and Trained teachers in the relevant
pointed at the miraculous
baby that Allah would made fields with administrative experi-
to speak: Esa ( Jesus in Eng-
lish) (peace be upon him) the
ence of not less than 5 years are
great Prophet. encouraged to apply. Send your
How many times do you feel
pressured by the people applications to:-
around you? Mary surren-
dered to our Lord with pure
principalgsa20@gmail.com
Iman– faith— and she was by 25th December 2020
therefore unaffected by their
comments and accusations.
The Friday Bulletin
5 Lessons from the story of the youth of the Cave
Amina Edota
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 Cave
Put your trust in Allah
The 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 Action
The 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 religion
Islam 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 part
Whatever 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
Page 5
YOUTH Jumadal-Awwal 03, 1442/December 18, 2020
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 forward
Each 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
Explaining Christmas and Jesus to Muslim Children
By Soumyana
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 Neighbors
Prophet 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,
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.
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 crucial
It 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
Continued To Page 6
The Friday Bulletin
Reality of mental health in the Muslim community
By Dr. Nabila Amin
"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.
Explaining Christmas and Jesus to Muslim Children
Continued From Page 5
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 Jesus
Inform 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-
OPINION Jumadal-Awwal 03, 1442/December 18, 2020
Mental health according to World
Health Organization (WHO)
A state of wellbeing where
1.An individual realizes their own abilities
2.Can cope with the normal stresses of
life
3.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.
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-
ferences
However, Muslims believe Jesus (peace
be upon him) was able to speak when he
was a baby in order to defend his mother
- 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
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 Miracles
Both 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.
Page 6
The Friday Bulletin
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.
Page 7
Jumadal-Awwal 03, 1442/December 18, 2020
He has, for example, declared Jerusalem nex Greenland after he failed to buy the
to be the capital of Israel, which illegally world's largest island for the US last year.
occupied and annexed decades ago; Closer to home, he has still not forgiven
he has recognised Israeli sovereignty Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon
over the illegally occupied Syrian Golan for removing his business ambassador
Heights; and he has looked on approvingly status and giving him the cold shoulder
as Israel has stolen much of the occupied on a private visit to the country after his
West Bank in one of the world's most in- derogatory comments about Muslims.
famous land grabs, and threatens to steal Payback might come Sturgeon's way by
even more of the Palestinian territory. Trump granting Norwegian sovereignty
Nevertheless, Trump was clearly gleeful over the much-loved Shetland Islands
on Thursday when he tweeted in charac- which the King of Norway pawned as a
teristic style: "Another HISTORIC break- dowry for his daughters' wedding to the
through today! Our two GREAT friends King of Scotland in 1468. It sounds crazy,
Israel and the Kingdom of Morocco have but so does Trump.
agreed to full diplomatic relations – a mas- His team has promised a "very profes-
sive breakthrough for peace in the Middle sional transition" to the administration of
East!" President-elect Joe Biden even though
Sovereignty over the Western Sahara has Trump continues to claim that he, and not
been a long-running dispute which has his Democrat challenger, actually won the
seen Morocco's claim to the territory go election. The inauguration on 20 January
largely unrecognised by the international cannot come soon enough, but there is
community. A White House statement pro- still time for US President Donald Trump
claiming US recognition of the claim add- to wreak even more havoc on the world
ed that "[An] independent Sahrawi state stage. Just ask the Palestinians and
is not a realistic option for resolving the the people of Western Sahara what that
conflict and that genuine autonomy under means.
Moroccan sovereignty is the only feasible
solution."
Morocco now becomes the sixth mem-
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-
The Friday Bulletin
Sri Lanka refuses to stop cremating Muslim Covid-19 victims
By Rehab Mahamoor
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 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 8
Jumadal-Awwal 03, 1442/December 18, 2020
The Muslim community has strongly criti- in a concept proposal for a Covid-19 exit
cised the forced cremation of Covid-19 vic- strategy presented to President Gotabaya
tims. Under pressure from various groups, Rajapaksa — assigned the Muslim popu-
including the private and public protests lation the highest weightage of risk when
of the Minister of Justice, Ali Sabry PC, it determining the risk of the spread of the
was reported on 4 November that a gov- virus in each district.
ernment-appointed committee would meet
Following heavy criticism for racially pro-
to reassess the government’s policy on
filing Muslims, the ICTA has since disas-
mandatory cremations, but on 22 Novem-
sociated itself with the report, and the
ber, the committee reaffirmed the earlier
GMOA has republished the report omitting
decision, without giving reasons.
the inclusion of the Muslim population as a
On 1 December, the Supreme Court of Sri variable affecting the spread of the virus.
Lanka dismissed all Fundamental Rights
Against a backdrop of attacks targeting
petitions before it which challenged the
Muslim businesses, homes and places
directive on mandatory cremations, clos-
of worship in the country through 2014,
ing the door to further legal challenges.
2017, 2018, and following the Easter
According to a news report, of 124 deaths
Sunday bombings in 2019, these latest
due to Covid-19, as many as 50 of them
directives come at a time when Muslims
are Muslims whose bodies have been
already have plenty to fear.
cremated. The report even details at least
one instance where the body of a Muslim In a year when we have seen the impor-
who tested negative for Covid-19 was for- tance of solidarity as communities rally to-
cibly cremated. gether to survive the pandemic, Sri Lanka
has chosen to further alienate a commu-
To add insult to injury, reports indicate
nity already reeling from violence, hate-
that families are being forced to bear the
mongering, and discrimination.
cost of cremation, typically around LKR
50,000-60,000 (approximately $270-325), The Sri Lankan government must not for-
in a year that has economically strained get that it has a duty to ensure all people in
many families. Sri Lanka are treated equitably. Covid-19
does not discriminate on ethnic, political
The cruelty of not only having to stand idle
or religious grounds, and nor should the
as a loved one’s body is desecrated but
Government of Sri Lanka.
being forced to shoulder the cost of this
act has led some Muslim families to refuse On 1 December, the Supreme
the ashes and the associated payment, in
an act of protest.
Court of Sri Lanka dismissed all
Fundamental Rights petitions
This is sadly not the only instance where before it which challenged the
the Muslim community in Sri Lanka has
directive on mandatory crema-
been targeted in the government’s re-
sponse to Covid-19. The Government tions, closing the door to fur-
ther legal challenges.
Medical Officer’s Association (GMOA)
and the Information and Communication
Technology Agency Sri Lanka (ICTA) —
The Friday Bulletin
The anonymous superstars of the Hereafter
By Shaykh Fuad Abdo
Celebrity 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
Jumadal-Awwal 03, 1442/December 18, 2020
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.
413 Palestinians detained by Israel in November
Israeli 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-
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.
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.
Page 9
The Friday Bulletin
Kisumu 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
Lamu leaders demand youth to be trained for LAPSSET jobs
Members 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
Austrian court annuls headscarf ban in primary schools
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,
Page 10
NATIONAL Jumadal-Awwal 03, 1442/December 18, 2020
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.
LAPSSET project ongoing in Lamu.
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”.
"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.
to 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.
The Friday Bulletin NATIONAL Jumadal-Awwal 03, 1442/December 18, 2020

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.

MOTW and social media influencers bring back hope in Wajir

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
have 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.

Maahad Daawah distributes relief food to families

At least 5,000 vulnerable fam-
ilies benefited from relief food their food reserves.
donations from Nairobi based
Non-profit organization, Maa-
had Daawah Organization Food Distribution in Tana River
The food items distributed County by Maahad Daawah Organ-
recently were donated by isation where over 1500 packages
Maahad Daawah Organiza- were distributed.
tion with the help of generous
donors and partners.
The distribution exercises
of 5,820 relief food parcels
(over 250 tonnes of food) that were aimed tributed.
to cushion the vulnerable families against The benefi- AVAILABLE VACANT SPACE
the ravages of the Covid-19 pandemic were ciaries of the LOCATION: 3RD FLOOR JAMIA PLAZA
carried out in Kwale, Lamu, Garissa ,Tana donation ex-
River and Maili Tisa in Kajiado county re-
SIZE: 1,200 SQ FT
pressed grati-
spectively. tude to Maa- LOCATION: JAMIA TOWERS, MURANGA ROAD
In Kwale, 980 food packages were distrib- had Daawah SHOP,SPACE 1STFLOOR SIZE:129 SQFT&2ND FLOOR SIZE
uted with 800 food packages being distrib- Organization 2,050 SQFT
uted to the needy and vulnerable families in and made dua
Boni, Lamu County. for the donors
ALL APPLICATIONS ADDRESSED TO:
In Garissa and Tana River Counties re- noting that the
food items do- SECRETARY GENERAL
spectively, a total of 3,395 food packages
were distributed while in Maili Tisa in Ka- nation will go JAMIA MOSQUE COMMITTEE
jiado county, 645 food packages were dis- a long way to P.O. BOX 100786 00101 NAIROBI.
supplement EMAIL: jamiamajlis@gmail.com
Page 11
 Virtuous burial for our deceased
Death is very painful and emotional phenomenon, yet one that may of stranded unclaimed bodies that are becoming very rampant.
be filled with hope and mercy. Muslims believe that death is a de- You should team up with Ummah Foundation or Mosque commit-
parture from the life of this world, but not the end of a person’s tees in your locality to help facilitate such cases so that we accord
existence. Rather, eternal life is to come, and we pray for Allah’s our dead, decent and honourable burials. We appreciate the un-
mercy to be with the departed, in hopes that they may find peace relenting help we receive from likeminded organisations like Ja-
and happiness in the life to come. mia Mosque Committee, Parklands mosque and Madrassah so-
For a Muslim, death marks the transition from one state of exist- ciety, Pangani Mosque committee and the Qabristan Committee.
ence to the next. Islam teaches that life on earth is an examination- May Allah wt bless those who tirelessly work for the sake of this
the life to come is the eternal abode where one will reap the fruits Ummah.
of one's endeavors on earth. Our Contact:
Further, death is not a taboo subject in Muslim society and is a Ummah Foundation
matter upon which one is encouraged to reflect frequently. In coun- P.O.Box 58717-00200
selling of Muslims regarding a terminal illness, or relatives after a Tel: 0202680610/13 Mob: 0734845277
bereavement, these points should be borne in mind.
Email: info@ummahfounfation.net
The deceased should then be taken to the cemetery for proper bur-
Web: www.ummahfoundation.net
ial- while those who attend the burial humbly remember Allah and
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

The Friday Bulletin is a Publication of Jamia Masjid Committee, P. O. Box 100786-00101 Nairobi, Tel: 2243504/5 Fax: 342147
E-mail: fridaybulletin@jamiamosque.co.ke Printed by Signal Press Limited-Lords House-Tom Mboya Street signalpresslimited@gmail.com