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Let peace prevail during Holy month of Ramadhan- Muslim leaders ask government



Madrassa and Mosque teachers and Imams pose for a group photo with WAMY National Director Irshad Ibrahim photo by Botan Mohammed
BY PETER KOMBE

Islamic leaders including politicians are calling on Kenyans, especially the Muslim community throughout the country to maintain peace a few days before the holy month of Ramadhan starts.

Speaking to the media in Mombasa during a distribution exercise of Islamic religious books in Mosques and Madrassas in Mombasa County, Lamu East Member of Parliament Ali Sharrif said there is a need for the government to beef up security in all places of worship including mosques and public places.

Lamu East MP Sharrif Ali at Madrassa Al-Munawwara Al -Islamiya in Mombasa 
He says Ramadhan is the only month in the Islamic calendar where Muslim faithfuls get Gods favor urging them to stick to the Islamic teachings and principles during the entire fasting season.

“I call on the government to ensure that Muslims mark the holy month peacefully. Security should be tightened in all parts of this country” the law maker said

The legislator further donors to reach out to areas with a shortage of the Holy Quran.

World Association of Muslim Youth (WAMY) National Director Irshad Ibrahim said nationally there is a shortage of the Islamic religious books in Mosques and Madrassas.
WAMY national director Sheikh Irshad Ibrahim in Mombasa 

He says the association is working up and down to ensure that Islamic books penetrate to all parts of the country.

“Throughout the country there is a shortage of Islamic religious books. Although we are working up and down to ensure that it spreads to all parts of the country” he noted

The director argues that religious leaders play a crucial role in ensuring that the Holy Quran spreads to all parts of the country.

He petitioned the government to ensure that Muslims mark the holy month of Ramadhan without fear of insecurity.

“Religious leaders play a pivotal role in ensuring that all Muslims have an access to the holy Quran. The government should ensure that there is peace everywhere” he noted

On his part, Mombasa Campus Moi University director Mbwarali Kame notes that one of the biggest challenge facing the Muslim community is that most of them do not understand the significance of the Islamic religious books.

According to him the Muslim community will get Allah’s favor only if they meditate on the holy Quran including adhering to its teachings and principles.

“There is a very serious challenge here. Many Muslims do not find the holy Quran relevant. This should not be the case” he noted

He further urged Kenyans to ensure that peace prevails during the Holy month of Ramadhan.

The national director of World Association of Muslim Youth Irshad Ibrahim says there are over 40,000 copies being distributed throughout the country.

On Tuesday (29) Kenya National Muslim Advisory Council (KEMNAC) chairperson Juma Ngao called on the establishment of a grand Mufti office to be vested with the mandate of making final decisions that affect the Muslim community in the country.

“There should be a person at the national level who has the expertise on the sighting of the moon before and after the holy month of Ramadhan. This person will be responsible for making decisions affecting the Muslim world” he said

The Muslim faithful wants the national office in the referendum debate to avoid a clashes including sighting of the moon before and after the Holy month of Ramadhan.

He urged Kenyans to maintain peace as they prepare to mark the holy month of Ramadhan in early May.

“This office should be pegged in the current referendum debate. What we want is to avoid a clash on issues such as sighting of the moon before and after” he noted

Currently, chief Kadhi takes up the mandate over some of the issues that affect the Muslim community.

However, some Muslim faithfuls are opposed to him (Kadhi thus creating a rift during and after the end of the holy month of holy month of Ramadhan.

“Our kadhi is always attacked and has nowhere to run to” he noted





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