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