Safar 27,1436/December 19, 2014

Civil society oppose security

Bill

www.islamkenya.org

Issue No. 607

Jesus and the virgin Mary Amani Mashinani project

in Islam
Page 4
Page 7

Friday Bulletin
The

Page 2

The Weekly Muslim News Update

Shelve security Bill Muslim leaders

tell government
Muslim leaders have come out
strongly to voice their concerns over
the Security Laws(Amendment)
Bill 2014,saying the proposals contained in the proposed law are inconsistent with constitutional provisions and will be a setback for
human rights and freedom in the
country and therefore should be
shelved.
The leaders drawn from nine different Muslim organizations called on
the government to reconsider its
decision to push for the introduction
of the new security laws,stressing
that the proposed law will infringe
on many basic rights and liberties
of citizens without necessarily addressing insecurity.
The leaders argued that the law provides enormous powers to security
agencies who may abuse this privilege to suppress Kenyans under the
guise of fighting insecurity. The Bill
which has drawn opposition from
civil society organizations, media
owners, human rights groups, lawyers and NGOs contains a wide array of amendments to 22 laws.
In their memorandum presented to
the committee on National Security
on Tuesday this week,Muslim leaders led by Sheikh Ibrahim Lethome
noted that critical rights and freedoms of Kenyans as enshrined in
the constitution will be violated if the
Bill is enacted into law pointing out
that some of the proposed laws affected access to justice and eroded
the principle for protection and respect for human rights.
The
joint
memorandum
was
signed by Jamia Mosque Committee (JMC), Young Muslim Association, Supreme Council of Kenya
Muslims(SUPKEM),National Muslim
Leaders Forum (NAMLEF),Council
of Imams and Preachers of
Kenya(CIPK), Majlis Ulamaa KenContinued To Page 2

RAF University to offer postgraduate programs

RAF University Chairman Sheikh Muhammad Osman (Second right) and the dean of students of Internationl University of Africa ( IUA) in Sudan Prof. Babikri Hassan Qadrimari
(left) sign memorandum of understanding between the two institutions last week. Looking
on are Sheikh Muhammad Warfa Chairman Jamia Mosque Committe (Right), Munawar Khan
the executive director of Muslim Education Council (MEC), Sudanese Ambassador Osama
Ahmed Abdulbari (far left) and other Muslim educationist and leaders.

A partnership between the Sudan based International University of Africa (IUA) and RAF
University will allow RAF University to offer
postgraduate academic programmes locally.
The initiative which is expected to start in
January next year will provide students with
the opportunity to undertake studies in Masters and Doctoral programmes within the
country.
The programs will be offered at the RAF University campus in Nairobis South C area by
instructors from both Sudan and Kenya.
According to the university chairman Sheikh
Muhammad Osman, the programme was
conceived after it became apparent that
many students wished to further their studies

after completion of the undergraduate studies but the high cost of studying abroad dissuaded many from progressing to postgraduate studies.
This will make it possible for many students
to pursue Masters and PhD programmes
within the country at a much lower cost, he
said last week at a signing ceremony of the
memorandum of understanding between the
two institutions.
Speaking at the event, the Jamia Mosque
chairman Muhammad Osman Warfa expressed his gratitude to the people of Sudan for supporting the education of Muslims
in Kenya, stating that hundreds of students
have realized their educational dreams as a
Continued To Page 7

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

Safar 27,1436/December 19, 2014

The Friday Bulletin

Civil society oppose security Bill

Opposition against the Security Laws
(Amendment) Bill 2014 continued to
grow with several civil society groups
terming the Bill mischievous meant to
trample on fundamental civil liberties.
In a joint press conference, the Kenya National Commission on Human
Rights (KNCHR),
Kenya Human
Rights Commission, Independent
Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU), Constitution and Reform Education Consortium (CRECO), Human Rights Watch,
Legal Resource Foundation, Katiba
Institute and others said that the Bill
that was hastily published is in bad
taste meant to reverses constitutional gains and vowed to use all legal
means to challenge it if it sails through
parliament.
"The proposed changes are not minor. They are momentous and seek to
amend the Bill of Rights through the
back door. Any changes to the Bill of
Rights require a referendum as per Article 255. The proposed Security Laws
(Amendment) Bill 2014 makes major
amendments to atleast 22 laws and
impact on several others including the
laws relating to county Government,"
Kagwiria Mbogori KNCHR chairperson
said terming the amendments unconstitutional out to contravene interna-

tional and Pan-African instruments of human rights to which Kenya is a party.

"The amendments appear to be calculated to undermine the various accountability mechanism created by numerous
laws passed since 2010. Kenya authorities need to be careful not to infringe the
rights protected by the Constitution in the
guise of dealing with security challenges,"
she added.
Davis Malombe KHRC deputy executive
director raised issues with the directive to
Parliament to fast track the passage of the
said Bill closing the window for any participation, scrutiny and input from both Parliament and public.
He said that if enacted the law will enhance
executive control and oversight over independent and constitutional offices including NPSC, KNCHR, IPOA, ODPP, IGP
among others.
"The Bill is unconstitutional in that it withdraws safeguards against stop search and
detention, against undue detention for accused persons and allows detentions without trials. It creates disproportionate sanctions that are not justifiable in a just and
democratic society," he said.
The Regional director Henry Maina said
that the Bill as proposed suppresses the
freedom of expression, right to information,

'State urged to shelve draconian laws'

Continued from Page 1
ya, Muslim Consultative Council,Kenya
Council of Imams and Ulamaa and Ummah Foundation.
The leaders pointed at various clauses
and provisions in the Bill which they
maintained would be detrimental to
freedom and human rights regime in
the country,citing article 31 that allows the deregistration of Kenyan
citizens,stressing that this provision
will make the situation worse for the
Muslim community which faces great
hurdle in acquiring registration documents.
''We appeal to the government to
shelve this law and have it critically revisited as it curtails the rights and freedoms of Kenyans including freedom of
association, assembly, demonstration,
picketing and petition,''.
They warned that the proposed laws
will lead to massive restrictions on the
freedoms of association,assembly,expr
ession,personal liberty in a number of
ways including detention without trial
and the rights of equal citizenship as
cherished in the constitution among
others.
On his part the Chairman of the National Muslim Leaders Forum (NAMLEF)
Abdullahi Abdi said the Bill does not
add value to the fight against terrorism
because the country has enough laws

which are good,stressing that what is now

required are reforms in the police service.
He called on the government to put in place
mechanism of working with local communities in matters pertaining to security pointing out that the proposed laws if enacted will
further lead to radicalization,resentment
and alienation,stressing that the government should create an intelligence based
approach in dealing with insecurity,
According to the proposed law,the President shall have absolute executive powers
to control security forces and the National
Intelligence Service (NIS).
The Muslim leaders recommended the
deletion of Article 4 that restricts and limits freedom of assembly and association
pointing out that there is no proof that
demonstrations and picketing have anything to do with the wave of insecurity in
the country, article 18 that will allow police
to extend pre-charge detention for up to
90 days well beyond the 24-hour limit that
Kenyan law currently allows,articles 19,21
,25,26,28,31,35,37,38,39,46,56,57,59,62,
66,67,68,69,and 71.Other articles that the
Muslim leaders want deleted are articles
72,73,75,77,79,80,and 83.
The omnibus Bill has proved to be a hot
potato after it received strong opposition
from a cross section of Kenyans who have
termed the bill draconian.

media freedom, rights of the arrested persons,

rights to privacy, freedom of association, assembly demonstration and picketing."Creates
multiple regimes governing the regulation of
media and state control over media content as
well tries to wrongfully classify public benefits
organizations," he said.
Even though they support efforts by government to stamp out terrorism and runaway insecurity they demanded that the efforts must
uphold the Constitution.
"It is our view that the security challenges can
be best dealt with by restarting the stalled
security sector reforms in order to enhance
accountability, transparency and efficiency.
Security sector reforms have continued to
face challenges, and there has been worrying trend of the authorities not confronting the
wider sectoral concerns, instead passing the
buck. The passage of a new law will not solve
Kenya's security conundrum as there over 30
existing laws related to security that have not
been adequately implemented," Mbogori said.
The organization called for the immediate
withdrawal of the Bill from Parliament.
Global human rights agencies have also
joined opposition calls on the new proposed
security laws that sailed through to the third
reading in parliament.
New York based Human Rights Watch (HRW)
and London based Amnesty International said
Members of Parliament should reject the Bill
saying the laws would add new criminal offenses with harsh penalties, limit the rights of
arrested and accused persons, and restrict
freedoms of expression and assembly.
The hastily offered security bill infringes on
many basic rights and freedoms protected in
Kenyas constitution and international human
rights law. Authorities need to focus on how
Kenyan security agencies have long violated
human rights with impunity, and not empower these forces further. said Leslie Lefkow,
deputy Africa director at Human Rights Watch.
The agencies noted that Kenyan authorities
have failed to investigate the involvement
of security forces in the violations of human
rights particularly the Anti-Terrorism Police
Unit (ATPU), which has been accused of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in the context of counter-terrorism operations.
In a joint statement the agencies said the Security Laws (Amendment) Bill 2014 will turn
Kenya into a police state and reverse the constitutional gains made by Kenyans over the
years.
The cumulative effect of the amendments
could return Kenya to the police state of the
1980s and 90s, and nullify recent progress on
protecting human rights. Parliament needs to
reject these amendments, stand behind Kenyas constitution, and pass measures aimed
at making police and the military more effective and accountable. said Muthoni Wanyeki,
regional director for East Africa, the Horn, and
the Great Lakes at Amnesty International

Page 2

DA'WA

The Friday Bulletin

Sarah Joseph

Safar 27,1436/December 19, 2014

The Muslim Jesus

Is it ever possible to imagine that Jesus

Christ could be a bridge between us?
Growing up, Jesus was the third person in
my life, along with my mother and grandmother.
Every night I would pray, Gentle Jesus,
meek and mild, look upon this little child,
before launching into my long list of things I
needed help with.
There is no doubt I was influenced by
Robert Powells portrayal of Jesus which I
watched when I was six or seven; and I can
still vividly remember seeing Ben Hur at the
local church hall at about the same age.
When the storm comes after the crucifixion,
and Ben Hurs mother and sister are healed
of their leprosy, I sat spell bound on those
uncomfortable church seats and knew with
Jesus in my life I was going to be OK.
A Muslim Who Loves Jesus
Over three decades later, now a Muslim,
I still have Jesus in my life. I realize that
this confuses many people. Some Muslims
think I may have some Christian hangover.
Whilst many Christians cannot fathom how
I can be a Muslim and still love Jesus. But I
do love Jesus, and I could not be a Muslim
unless I did.
With Christians and Muslims forming half
the worlds population, and with there being
so much misunderstanding between these
two faiths, could it be possible that Jesus
can become a bridge between those that
believe in him, despite their differences?
The Muslim understanding of Jesus is simple. Jesus was a man, born of a virgin; he
was given prophethood by God from birth
and performed miracles during his life by
Gods permission. Muslims do not believe
in the crucifixion; and the majority orthodox
belief is that he did not die and will one day
return. In a nutshell, that is it. But there is
more.
How is it possible to accept his virgin birth
and yet reject him as divine? Muslims say
it begins with Mary, who was dedicated to
God from the time she
was in LECTURE
the womb.
SUNDAY
Such was Marys grace and piety; she was
protected in the temple by God for what was
to behold hera visit by the angel Gabriel
with some extraordinary news. The account
in the third chapter of the Quran is very similar to the account in the gospels. Gabriel
says to her: O Mary! Behold, God sends
thee the glad tiding, through a word from
Him, of a son who shall become known as
the Christ, Jesus son of Mary. (3: 45)
Mary is naturally stunned by this news and
wonders: O my Sustainer! How can I have
a son when no man has ever touched me?
(3: 47)
Now appears the fundamental difference in
the two accounts, for in the Quranic narrative, in the same verse, the angel answers
Mary: Thus it is: God creates what He
wills. When He wills a thing to be, He but
says unto it Beand it is.(3: 47)

Muslims say this shows Gods majesty, not

Christs divinity. Elsewhere in the Quran
God says that the parable of Jesus virgin
birth is that of Adam. Adam was of course
brought into being without man or woman,
purely because God willed it.
Jesus' First Miracle
Mary returns to her people after the birth,
whereupon she is scandalized. She points
to her newborn baby and he speaks to the
accusers from his cradle, Behold, I am a
servant of God. He has vouchsafed unto
me revelation and made me a prophet, and
made me blessed wherever I may be; and
He has enjoyed upon me prayer and charity as long as I shall live... Hence, peace
was upon me on the day I was born, and
will be upon me on the day of my death,
and on the day when I shall be raised to life
again. (Maryam 19: 30-3). This is Jesus
first miracle.
From this amazing beginning, Jesus Christ
grows up to be a noble man. He establishes
his mission as an apostle to the Children
of Israel. And Gods promise that he would
perform other miracles is fulfilled. He heals
the blind and the leper, and brings the dead
back to life. He performs these miracles all
by Gods leave, according to the Quran.
God gave Jesus the power to perform miracles, as opposed to the miracles being evidence of Jesus divine status.
Jesus is mentioned in the Quran more than
is Muhammad. He is called the Word of
God and the Spirit of God, but most often,
the son of Mary. In the Quranic narrative
he is not crucified.
Salvation in Christianity and Islam
In the Christian account, Jesus Christ is
betrayed and crucified. The crucifixion is so
that man can be saved. As it says in the
Bible: For God so loved the world that He
gave His only begotten son; that whomsoever believed in Him shall not perish but
have eternal life. (John 3:16)
God gives Jesus as a sacrifice out of His
love to take on the sins of the world, so that
humans may be saved.
The Muslim view of salvation is different.
God decrees, as we are told in a sacred
hadith (hadith Qudsi): When God decreed
the Creation He pledged Himself by writing
in His Book which is laid down with Him:
My mercy prevails over my wrath. (AlBukhari, 419)
As such, when Adam and Eve sinned and
then repented, they were forgiven by God.
And whilst all individuals sin, there is no essential human evil that only a divine sacrifice can heal. Rather, each human being
will stand before God; and God, through
His Divine Mercy, will forgive all those who
have believed in Him, so long as they have
not ascribed partners to Him.
So, for the Muslim there is no theological
need for Christ to have been crucified. The
Quran says: They did not kill him, and nei-

ther did they crucify him, but it seemed to

them as if it had been so. (4: 157)
The two differing accounts of the crucifixion
are irreconcilable. To a Christian, it is fundamental that Christ died for our sins and
rose again, conquering death, so that we
might have eternal life.To a Muslim the idea
that God, the Creator of the Universe, can
have a son, who shares in His Divinity, and
that the Creator becomes part of the creation and dies is heresy of the highest order.
Sarah Joseph is the editor of the UK Muslim lifestyle magazine Emel

New curriculum for Madrassas to be ready soon

A unified and common structured curriculum to enhance on learning in Madrassas

in Kenya will soon be realized.
The government through 2013 Basic Education Act recognized Madrassas and Duksis as formal schools.
Muslim Education Council (MEC) executive
director Munawar Khan said the process is
on it final stage and as soon as the committee of experts is through with the development process it would be forwarded to
Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development
(KICD) for approval to include it in the law
governing basic education in the country.
The development of the new curriculum
spearheaded by Muslim Education Council, a body mandated to manage the affairs
of education where Muslims are concerned
is a joint effort of Islamic organizations,
madrassas, Islamic schools and Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD)
In September this year a fifteen member
committee of experts was formed and
tasked to spearhead the development of a
unified curriculum to guide the teaching of
pupils in Islamic schools in the country.
The new curriculum aims to streamline Islamic studies, standardize qualifications for
teachers and pave way for employment of
madrassas teachers by Ministry of Education.
Khan pointed out that the issue of a unified curriculum has for long been a thorny
among Muslims but expressed his happiness and gratitude for the cooperation and
support they have received from stakeholders that has made the work of the committee more easier.
He further said that he was optimistic that
the curriculum when approved will guide
the madrassa system the right direction
and improve Madrassas and Duksis to
bring them up to the standards that are required and needed of schools in the Basic
Education Act.

SUNDAY LECTURE

Kuamrishana mema na kukatazana

mabaya
By: Abu Hudhaifa
Date:21st Dec. 2014 Time: 2Pm- 4Pm
Venue: Mashimoni masjid Kibra
Page 3

The Friday Bulletin

Safar 27,1436/December 19, 2014

Jesus and the Virgin Mary in Islam

By Juan Galvan

Many people may be surprised that Muslims love Mary, the mother of Jesus. In the Quran, no woman is given more attention than
Mary.
Mary receives the most attention of any woman mentioned in the
Quran even though all the Prophets with the exception of Adam
had mothers. Of the Quran's 114 chapters, she is among the eight
people who have a chapter named after them. The nineteenth
chapter of the Quran is named after her, Mariam. Mariam means
Mary in Arabic. The third chapter in the Quran is named after her
father, Imran.
Chapters Mariam and Al-Imran are among the most beautiful
chapters in the Quran. Mary (peace be upon her) is the only woman specifically named in the Quran. An authentic Hadith states
that the Prophet Muhammad said: "The superiority of 'Aisha to
other ladies is like the superiority of Tharid (i.e. meat and bread
dish) to other meals. Many men reached the level of perfection,
but no woman reached such a level except Mary, the daughter of
Imran and Asia, the wife of Pharaoh." (Al Bukhari). Indeed, both
Mary and Pharaohs wife are an example. The Virgin Mary plays
a very significant role in Islam. She is an example and a sign for
all people.
In the Quran, Mary's story begins while she is still in her mother's
womb. The mother of Mary said: O my Lord! I have vowed to You
what is within my womb as a consecration. Accept this from me.
Lo! It is You Who are the Hearer, the Knower. (Al-Imran 3: 35).
She wanted the baby in her womb to serve only the Creator.
When Mary was delivered, she said: O my Lord! Behold! I am
delivered of a female child! (Al-Imran 3: 36). She had expected
her baby to be a male child who would grow up to be a scholar
or religious leader. However, God had a better plan. God is the
best of planners. The Quran continues: and God knew best
what she brought forth- 'And no wise is the male like the female. I
have named her Mariam, and I commend her and her offspring to
Thy protection from Satan, the Rejected.'" Mariam literally means
"maidservant of God.(Al-Imran 3: 36)
God states that He accepted Mary as her mother had asked. He
made Mary grow in purity and beauty. She was assigned to the
care of a priest named Zacharias. This is interesting considering
few women were given this opportunity. Every time that he entered (her) chamber to see her, he found her supplied with sustenance. He said: 'O Mary! Whence (comes) this to you?' She said:
'From God. for God provides sustenance to whom He pleases
without measure.'} (Al-Imran 3: 37). Upon hearing Mary's answer:
{Then Zachariah prayed to his Lord, saying, 'Lord, bestow upon
me from You a goodly offspring, verily You are the Hearer of supplication (Al-Imran 3: 38).
Although his wife was barren and he was very old, God blesses
Zacharias and his wife Elizabeth with John. John is known as
"John the Baptist" in the Bible. Zacharias was skeptical after the
angels announced John's birth. The response to his skepticism
was: Doth God accomplish what He willeth (Al-Imran 3: 40).
John would become a noble and chaste Prophet as the angels
had stated.
The Quran discusses Mary's miraculous conception as well. Relate in the Book (the story of) Mary, when she withdrew from her
family to a place in the East. She placed a screen (to screen
herself) from them; then We sent her Our angel, and he appeared
before her as a man in all respects.} (Maryam 19: 16-7). After
seeing the angel, she said: {I seek refuge from thee to (God)
Most Gracious: (come not near) if thou dost fear God.} (Maryam
19: 18). The angel Gabriel responded: {Nay, I am only a messenger from thy Lord, (to announce) to thee the gift of a pure son.}
(Quran 19: 19). Her next response is expected. She asked: {How
shall I have a son, seeing that no man has touched me, and I am
not unchaste?} The Angel Gabriel said: {So (it will be): thy Lord
saith, 'That is easy for Me: and (We wish) to appoint him as a
Sign unto men and a Mercy from Us.' It is a matter (so) decreed.}

(Maryam 19: 21-2). Mary then becomes pregnant.

After conceiving Jesus, Mary went away with the baby to a distant
place: {And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palmtree. She cried (in her anguish): 'Ah! would that I had died before
this! would that I had been a thing forgotten!} (Maryam 19: 23).
{But (a voice) cried to her from beneath the (palm-tree): 'Grieve
not! for thy Lord hath provided a rivulet beneath thee; And shake
towards thyself the trunk of the palm-tree: It will let fall fresh ripe
dates upon thee. So eat and drink and cool (thine) eye. And if
thou dost see any man, say, 'I have vowed a fast to (God) Most
Gracious, and this day will I enter into no talk with any human being.} (Maryam 19: 24-26)
Joseph, the magi, and manger are not mentioned in the Quran.
God was Mary's only Provider. Muslims do not accept the virgin
birth of Jesus as evidence of Jesus' divinity: {The similitude of Jesus before God is as that of Adam; He created him from dust, then
said to him: 'Be.' And he was.} (Al-Imran 3: 59). Adam's creation
was even more miraculous because he was born without father
and mother.
When she brings the baby to her people, they said: {O Mary! truly
a strange thing has thou brought! O sister of Aaron! Thy father
was not a man of evil, nor thy mother a woman unchaste!} (MarContinued To Page 6

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Safar 27,1436/December 19, 2014

The Friday Bulletin

JANUARY 2015 INTAKE

INTRODUCTION

P.O. BOX 50696-00100 NAIROBI KENYA, TEL.0739-969030, 0703-969 000

Email: registrar@umma.ac.ke

Umma University is the first Islamic-based institution of higher learning in

Kenya, recognized by Commission for University Education offering Degree,
Diploma and Certificate programmes.
The University has campuses in Nairobi (Jamia Towers Opp. Meridian Hotel) and
Thika-Makongeni off Garissa Road. Please contact our coordinators in Garissa
(Hussein: 0728772324) and Mombasa (Salim: 0770026300)
VISION
To be a centre of excellence and a seat of knowledge in the region and
Contribute to the improvement and upgrading of the quality of human life and
civilization.
MISSION
To provide University education that is effective, efficient, accessible
and Sustainable. To produce competent leaders and scholars of high integrity and
moral uprightness.
DEGREE PROGRAMMES
- Bachelor of Arts in Islamic Studies
- Bachelor of Arts in Islamic Sharia
- Bachelor of Business Management (BBM)
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
-Bachelor of Education
-Bachelor of Science in Nursing
-Bachelor of Law and Sharia (LLB)
DIPLOMA/CERTIFICATE PROGRAMMES
-Diploma in Islamic Banking & Finance
-Diploma in Arabic Language and Islamic Studies
- Diploma in Business Management
- Diploma in Information Communication Technology (ICT)
- Bridging Course in Mathematics
- Certificate in English Language
- Certificate in Business Management
- Certificate in Computer Studies
- Certificate in Arabic Language and Islamic Studies
ADMISSIONS:
Our intakes are in January, May and September for full-time & distance
programmes. School based intakes are in April, August and December.
MODE OF APPLICATION:
Application form are available at Kajiado main campus, Thika or Nairobi campuses or
can be downloaded from our website http://www.umma.ac.ke. Non-refundable
application fee of Kshs. 1,000 (for degree courses) & 500/= (for Diploma &
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Commercial Bank of Africa, Account No. 7157980019. Dully filled application
forms and pay-in slip should be returned to the office of the Registrar Academic
Affairs at Kajiado main campus, Thika campus or Nairobi campus. Application can
also be made online through the students portal from t h e Universitys website.
http://www.umma.ac.ke

page 5

The Friday Bulletin

China bans veiled robes in Xinjiang

China has banned the wearing of Islamic veiled robes in public in
Urumqi, the capital of the Muslim-majority province of Xinjiang, in
the latest crackdown on the rights of the Muslim community.
The ban was considered and approved by the Urumqi parliaments standing committee, the official website of the Xinjiang government was cited by Russia Today on Thursday, December 11.
The law in the predominantly Muslim region comes as Beijing intensifies its so-called campaign against religious extremism that
it blames for recent violence.
The new law, passed by the Urumqi legislatures standing committee, was announced on Thursday.
Though the announcement did not clarify what is considered a
veiled robe, critics say they are not necessarily expressions of
extremism but cultural choices by members of the ethnic Uighur
minority.
They warned that the heavy-handed measures may anger ordinary
Uighurs.The ban would make the veils more popular as a symbol of resistance and assertion of ethno-national identity, James
Leibold, an expert on Chinas ethnic policy from Melbournes La
Trobe University, told Reuters.
"This fits into the larger pattern, keeping up with the trend in the
past five years that has really intensified in the last year by the
government to try to forcibly reshape and standardize the type of
garment among the Uighur females," he added.
Uighur Muslims are a Turkish-speaking minority of eight million in
the northwestern Xinjiang region.
Xinjiang, which activists call East Turkestan, has been autonomous since 1955 but continues to be the subject of massive security crackdowns by Chinese authorities.
Rights groups accuse Chinese authorities of religious repression
against Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang in the name of counter terrorism.
The latest announcement comes just one month after Xinjiang
banned the practicing of religion in government buildings, as well
as wearing clothes or logos associated with religious extremism.
In August, the northern Xinjiang city of Karamay prohibited young
men with beards and women in burqas or hijabs from boarding
public buses.
Police have also raided womens dress shops in the province to
confiscate full length robes, AP reported. (Onislam.net and agencies)

Sydney siege, when Muslims rushed to help

As the news spread about the siege, Dr Abu Mohammed offered
his services to negotiate by phone or in person at the cafe in a
bid to bring the situation to a peaceful conclusion. He was not
alone.According to the paper, other Sydney Muslim imams made
repeated offers during the day offering any type of support they
could give or that might be needed.
Former Guantanamo Bay detainee Mamdouh Habib, who knew
Man Haron Monis for some time, rang police and security agencies to offer his help, saying he had had a lot of contact with him in
the past and was willing to try and calm him. "He was a sick man,"
said Habib. "I knew him and I used to speak with him to try and
calm him down," Habib told Fairfax Media. "I was willing to try and
do something."
The operation to release hostages started after 2 am local time
(1500 GMT on Monday) as people heard heavy gunfire and loud
bangs rang out. The siege ended dramatically with the death of
two captives and the gunman, who was identified as Man Haron
Monis, an Iranian refugee and self-styled sheikh facing multiple
charges of sexual assault.Muslims calling police have also offered
their services as translators to talk to the man in whatever language he preferred.
During the time of the siege, Australians too rushed to show support for the Muslim community using the hashtag #IllRideWithYou.

Safar 27,1436/December 19, 2014

Jesus and virgin Mary

Continued From Page 4

yam 19: 27-8). Mary then points to the baby. They said: {How
can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?} (Maryam 19:
29). Then a miracle occurs that is not mentioned in the Bible. In
defense of his mother, Jesus said: {I am indeed a servant of God.
He hath given me revelation and made me a prophet; And He
hath made me blessed wheresoever I be, and hath enjoined on
me Prayer and Charity as long as I live; (He hath made me) kind
to my mother, and not overbearing or unblest; So peace is on me
the day I was born, the day that I die, and the day that I shall be
raised up to life (again)!} (Maryam 19: 30-3).
The virgin birth of Jesus was a sign. {And (remember) her who
guarded her chastity: We breathed into her of Our spirit, and We
made her and her son a sign for all peoples.} (Al-Anbiya 21: 91)
Muslims believe that all those who submitted to the will of God in
line with divine revelation received before the advent of formal Islam with Prophet Muhammad, were themselves also Muslim. So
coming from this understanding, Muslims believe that we are part
of one continuing faith community with Jesus and Mary. Mary,
Jesus, and the disciples were all "Muslims" because they submitted to God.
{And when the angels said, 'O Mary, God has preferred you, and
made you pure; He has preferred you above all women of the
worlds. O Mary, be obedient to your Lord, prostrating and bowing
with those who bow'.} (Al-Imran 3: 42-3)
Another Prophet with a message similar to Jesus' would later be
born in Arabia in the sixth century. He also called people to the
worship of only God.
There is none worthy of worship but God, and Muhammad and
Jesus are His messengers.

KENYA MUSLIM ACADEMY

VACANCIES
Kenya Muslim Academy , boys secondary and primary Boarding school offering 8:4:4 and Islamic Education Curriculum has
limited vacancies in Forms 1,2 and 3 classes 1-7 . The school is
situated in Huruma along Outer ring road and has:
2 Well equipped science Laboratories
Playing field
School transport
Adequate trained staff
Conducive learning environment
A school library
Adequate and spacious classes
The school was position 95 nationally in the 2013 KCSE Examination. For more information Cell:

+254722724794 +254713820458

MARAGUA MUSLIM GIRLS

SECONDARY SCHOOL
Maragua Muslim Academy is agirls boarding Secondary School
offering 8:4:4 Kenya curriculum. The school situated in serene
environment conducive for academic and spiritual growth. The
school has excellent facilities and well equipped laboratory for
teaching science, a library, sports facilities and qualified taeching staff . It is situated in Maragua town , about 80 KM East of
Nairobi. The school over the years has shown marked improvement under the new management appearing as the most
improved school in Muranga county in the 2013 KCSE examination. The school has limited vacancies in forms 1, 2, and 3
For more information call: +254722335500 +254722724794
and +254721744864

page 6

The Friday Bulletin

NATIONAL

NEP leaders call for more say in security decision

Following the recent attacks and run away
insecurity in North Eastern Kenya, county
governors have called for concerted efforts
between the national and county governments in matters of security.
Speaking during the 51st Jamhuri day celebrations, the leaders said county chiefs
need more engagement and authority in
security issues at the county levels to ensure the national strategies are well implemented at the grassroots.
We urge our brothers and sisters at National Government in accordance with Section 54 (6) of The County Government Act,
to engage our leadership through a formalized and consultative forum that will enable
the two interdependent levels of government to share security brief regularly and
consistently said Mandera governor Ali
Roba.
Roba noted that his county government
is committed to finding a lasting solution
to the insecurity witnessed in the county
through the provision of administrative
support and resources to enhance the stability of the county.
The governor urged local residents to ensure they protect their colleagues from other counties especially those working and
living in the counties, adding that Kenyans
have a constitutional right to live and work
anywhere in the country.

RAF University
Continued From Page1
result of the scholarship programmes offered by IUA and other Sudanese educational institutions.
The IUA dean of students Prof. Babikri
Hassan Qadrimari expressed optimism
that the academic relations will benefit
many Kenyans to realize their academic
dreams in higher education.
The Senator for Marsabit Abubakar Harugura urged Muslims to take advantage of
the arising opportunities to make further
strides in education as this forms an important driver of development.
In his remarks, the Mandera East MP Abdiaziz Ali Farah urged Muslims to strongly
speak against the atrocities and wanton
killings which were tarnishing the good image of Islam and Muslims. As we educate
our young men and women, we need to
come together to defend the name of Islam from groups who are misrepresenting
Islam by killing innocent people, he said.
Among those present were Ambassador
Osama Ahmed Abdulbari from the embassy of Sudan as well as various Muslim
leaders and educationists.
RAF University is an educational project of
the Qatar based Sheikh Thani bin Abdullah Foundation. Construction of the first
phase is underway at the main campus in
Kisaju, Kajiado district. The University is in
the process of acquiring a Letter of Interim
authority (LIA) which will make it the second Muslim University to gain government
recognition after Umma University.

On his part Wajir governor Ahmed Abdullahi pledged to pay salaries for the Kenya
police reservist who have been proving security in the county in the last few months.
My government will allocate money to pay
Kenya police Reservist who have provided
security at government institutions and installations such as the referral hospitals
he said addressing residents at Wajir Stadium during the celebrations on Friday.
Abdullahi said the insecurity incidents
targeting innocent Kenyans are aimed at
causing religious and tribal intolerance
among peace loving Kenyans.
Speaking in Garissa Governor Nathif Jama
urged residents to closely work with security agencies and provide information that
may be useful in curbing insecurity noting
the recent attacks in Mandera was regrettable should be not be tolerated in the Kenyan society.

Amani Mashinani project

to transform youth
A campaign to keep youth in Mombasa and
the coast region productive and address
idleness has being initiated.
The project dubbed Amani Mashinani
seeks to develop a sporting culture among
youth and engage them in extra-curricular
activities.
Speaking during the launch, Haki Africa
executive director Hussein Khalid cited
idleness as the main reason behind the
initiate saying the program will disengage
the youth from unlawful earnings, idleness,
drug abuse and crimes.
He noted that the youth at the coast feel
oppressed by the society and sometimes
feel harassed by the state a reason that
has resulted to them showing their frustrations through crude and negative means.
As an organization, HAKI Africa believes
that in order for us to have sustainable
peace, we must make youth beneficiaries
of peace. We must ensure that they are at
the forefront of ensuring cohesion, tolerance and understanding said Hussein.
The project kick started with a football tournament in Mombasa county while other
sporting activities such swimming, expedition and drama to be soon introduced to
other five coastal counties.
The winners will be awarded with school
fees, school uniforms and books as a way
of ensuring their sport activities contribute
to their education.
Hussein urged the government and leaders to invest in the youth by promoting their
welfare, talent and most importantly education and ensure that the youth are given
an opportunity to prosper and develop their
communities.
The project facilitated by Haki Africa a
Mombasa based human rights lobby group
aims at giving the youth an opportunity to
explore their talents and engage in productive activities and promote talents to professional levels that can become a source
of earning a living among the young the
generation.

Safar 27,1436/December 19, 2014

CIPK national elections

pushed to January
The Council of Imams and Preachers of
Kenya (CIPK) national elections earlier
slated for December will now be held in
January, 2015 in Mombasa.
The national chairman Sheikh Abdalla Ateka said the elections have been postponed
to January in order to give more time to
delegates in 27 counties to register and
hold grassroots elections to facilitate their
participation in the national elections.
So far only 20 counties have held their
grassroots elections and forwarded their
results to head office in Mombasa.
Sheikh Ateka said that only delegates who
comprise county chairmen,secretaries and
treasurers will be allowed to participate in
the elections.
''We don't want to lock out any county
or delegates,we want all counties to
participate in the election process as
their democratic rights and for equal
representation,''said Ateka.
He further noted that county offices and
delegates have until December 31 to submit their results and appeals.
If by the end of December 2014,no complaints are received in regard to the membership and election exercise,the exercise
will be closed for compilation of bona fide
delegates in readiness for national elections in January and no complaints whatsoever will be entertained thereafter,''said
Ateka.
Ateka disclosed that all posts will be open
for contestation and stressed that delegates have a constitutional right to show
interest and contest for any position during
the national elections while stressing that
the polls will be free and fair.
He further assured that all arrangements
and measures will be put in place to ensure the elections are held in a transparent
manner.
At the same time the Council of Imams
and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) Kakamega county chapter has elected new office
bearers to serve for five years.
During the hotly contested elections held
last week at Kakamega Jamia Mosque and
Islamic centre, Sheikh Idris Luvale Muhammad from Lurambi, retained his position where he was re-elected as the chairman of the council while Ibrahim Khamis
(Matungu) was elected vice-chairman.
The post of secretary went to Khamis
Swaleh Wakhusama (Mumias) and Hassan Munyira from Mumias took the position of vice secretary.
Other officials include Nurdin Wanyama
(Navakholo) who is the treasurer, Juma
Daraja(Lugari) the organizing secretary
while Abubakar Kombo was elected committee member.
The CIPK national elections are slated to
be held in January,2015 in Mombasa. Already grassroots elections have been held
in various counties in Western, Nairobi,
Rift Valley, Nyanza and Eastern regions
respectively.

School holidays youth program

Youth mentoring program is increasingly becoming the most popular way of providing guidance and support to young people in
need. To fill this void, there has been an increase in formal mentoring programs, most prominently in community-based settings.
These community-based programs have shown the ability to improve youth behaviours and attitudes. Evaluation results provide
clear evidence that involvement in consistent, long-term, well-supervised relationships with adults can yield a wide range of tangible benefits for the youth, including improved grades, nice family
relationships, decreased alcohol and drug abuse and more importantly the essence of idleness that has resulted into radicalization.
Ummah Foundation in collaboration with Kenyatta University Muslim students organised a two day youth program that was geared
towards educating and motivating the secondary school students
to be conscious and adopt meaningful activities during these long
holidays. This was done in Kibera at Makina Mosque. More than
thirty students attended this program that was full of learning and
fun.
While we targeted the students in the informal settlement of Kibera, Ummah Foundation also intended to engage our Muslim students at University levels to be meaningful to the community during this vacation. The University students went through a design
and implementation course that prepared them to run an effective
mentoring and motivation program.
They were tasked to give well researched presentations that will
have a positive impact to their young brothers. At the end of the
thorough training sessions, the students had become mentors and
possessed the skills, attitudes, and activity ideas needed to effectively mentor young persons. To us this was like killing two birds
with one stone, the initial training for the University students and

the final implementation among the youth utilising the volunteer

students. Some of the topics that were covered during the program were: How to curb drug abuse and other vices among the
youth, Public speaking and Daawah skills, Motivational talk on
Volunteerism, Culture of reading and acquiring knowledge, Importance of Taqwa and Steadfastness and other open forums where
they engaged in group sessions presentation.
They had all manners of games ranging from soccer to racing
competitions. To them that was another day to learn from Allahs
wonderful creation and have fun. Thanks to our Kenyatta University Muslim students, the youth were significantly involved in all
manners of games that was all a learning journey.
These Community -targeted mentoring can be operated at a fairly
low cost. We appreciate the support we got from Sheikh Ahmed
Idris Khamis and Makina Jamia Mosque Committee, who whole
heartedly allowed us to utilise the available classrooms instead of
going out to hire a hall or space for implementation purposes. We
also thank Brother Mzamil of Executive Rentals who provided the
Program with two comfortable tour buses at a fairly low prize. It is
our prayer that Allah swt will reward all those who helped Ummah
Foundation make this program have a lasting impact.
Contact us:
Ummah Foundation
Village Plaza, 2nd Floor,Ngara Rd
P.O. Box 58717-00200 Nairobi
Tel: +254-20-2680610/13 Mob: 0734845277
Email: info@ummahfoundation.net
www.ummahfoundation.net

DREAM, ACHIEVE & SUCCEED WITH NAIROBI MUSLIM ACADEMY

Nairobi Muslim Academy has been offering a high quality mix breed of secular and Islamic oriented education for
the past 19 years.

WE COMPRISE OF:
NURSERY
KG1 (2 YRS)
KG2 (3 YRS)
KG3 (4 YRS)
PRE-UNIT (5-6 YRS)

PRIMARY
STD 1-STD 8
(6 YRS - 14 YRS)

SECONDARY (GIRS ONLY BOARDING SCHOOL)

FORM 1 - FORM 4
(14 YRS 18 YRS

Join our school today and discover the learning opportunity that awaits your child
Why Choose Nairobi Muslim Academy;
Well Trained and highly qualified Teachers
Commitment to providing the best education
Islamic Studies incorporated in day to day learning; Quran, Seerah, Arabic & Tarbiya
ICT integration in classroom teaching
Students have access to a wide range of enrichment and extra-curricular activities
Organised transport to various zones
Hot and healthy lunch offered at school
Experienced female clinical officer on board to attend to students while at school
Well maintained play ground within the school
ADMISSION INTERVIEW FOR 2015 ONGOING FOR INQUIRIES PRIMARY / NURSERY 0721427488 SECONDARY 0720 796 518
EMAIL: nairobimuslimacademy@yahoo.com WEBSITE: www.nma.ac.ke Or visit the school located at: south c Muhoho Avenue
next to Masjid Nur.
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