History destroyed in Mali

Ancient texts, that includes the Quran, Islamic, Georgraphy, Botany, Peotry and Historical works dating back to the 13th century, were burnt at the Ahmed Baba Instistute in Mali. The institute was established in 1973, but reconstructed about 4 years ago with funding from Kuwait and South Africa. It housed about 20,000 manuscripts, with most of them dating back to the 14th and 16th centuries, that were written in Arabic.

(Pic from npr.org)

Men sorting through the ashes.

About 2,000 manuscripts was lost in the fire, but according to Professor Shamil Jeppie from Cape town University, He told Reuters that they had hidden about 95% of the ancient text when the fighters took over Timbuktu on April 1st. 

Qaswida kutoka Uarabuni Leo

Muhammad al Husayan - Allahu Rabbi Wahidu 

Arabic with English Subtitles. Enjoy!

Syria - Dozens of Bodies Found 'Executed' in Syria

This is heartbreaking, in war people loose their humanity, are these folks really Muslims? In the end everyone is blaming the other, The government is blaming it on the rebel fighters and the rebel fighters are blaming it on the Government, is there possibly a third party in this puzzle? Someone is lying here, but whoever did this I am sorry to say does not deserve to be in power.Its about time these two sides get together and have a serious talk brother to brother, I believe they can come to an understanding. 

May Allah grant Jannah to all victims of wars.

Maulid Celebrations in Dar Es Salaam

This is how Dar Celebrated the birth of Prophet Mohammed(S.A.W). 

Preparations prior to Dday.

Dr. Mohammed Gharib Bilal(Phd) the vice president of Tanzania on the right was the guest of Honor.

listening attentively

Dr.Bilal's Wife, Mama Zakia Bilal wa also in attendance, together with wamama and mabinti wa kiislamu at Mnazi mmoja Park.

And this is how the eve of January 24th went for folks in Dar. Happy Maulid everyone.

Picha hisani ya Muhidini Sufiani na Othman Michuzi blogs.

Happy Birthday Prophet Mohammed (S.A.W) 2013

Maulid Celebration for the birth of Prophet Mohamed(S.A.W) that occurred in Zanzibar, Tanzania. I nabbed this from matukio-michuzi. Enjoy!

  

Rais wa Zanzibar na Mwenyekiti wa Baraza la Mapinduzi Alhaj Dk.Ali Mohamed Shein,akisalimiana na Mwenyekiti wa Jumuiya ya Maulid EL Nabii Zanzibar Sheikh Khamis Haji Khamis,alipowasili katika viwanja vya Maisara katika sherehe za Maulid ya kuzaliwa Bwana Mtume Muhamad (S.A.W) yaliyofanyika jana.

[Picha na Ramadhan Othman,Ikulu.]

 

Rais wa Zanzibar na Mwenyekiti wa Baraza la Mapinduzi Alhaj Dk.Ali Mohamed Shein,akitia ubani kama ishara ya ufunguzi wa Maulid ya Kuzaliwa Bwana Mtume Muhammad (S.A.W) yaliyosomwa jana katika Viwanja vya Maisara Mjini Zanzibar,ambapo kila mwaka hufanyika Maulid kama hayo na kuhudhuriwa na maelfu ya Wumini wa Dini ya Kiislamu.

Ustadh Rashid Jaffer wa Magogoni Mjini Zanzibar,akisoma Quran Tukufu ya Ufunguzi wa Maulid ya Kuzaliwa Bwana Mtume Muhammad (S.A.W) yaliyosomwa jana katika Viwanja vya Maisara Mjini Zanzibar,ambapo kila mwaka hufanyika Maulid kama hayo na kuhudhuriwa na maelfu ya Wumini wa Dini ya Kiislamu.

Ustadh Abdulla Hamad wa Chuo cha Kiislamu,akitoa tafsiri ya Aya za Quran,zilizosomwa na Ustadh Rashid Jaffer wa Magogoni Mjini Zanzibar,akisoma Quran Tukufu ya Ufunguzi wa Maulid ya Kuzaliwa Bwana Mtume Muhammad (S.A.W) yaliyosomwa jana katika Viwanja vya Maisara Mjini Zanzibar,ambapo kila mwaka hufanyika Maulid kama hayo na kuhudhuriwa na maelfu ya Wumini wa Dini ya Kiislamu.

Mtafsiri Lugha kwa njia ya alama akitoa tafsiri ya maneno yanayozungumzwa wakati wa Hafla ya sherehe za Maulid ya Kuzaliwa kwa Bwana Mtume Muhammad (S.A.W) yaliyofanyika jana katika viwanja vya Maisara Mjini Zanzibar.

Wake za Viongozi na Akinamama wakisikiliza Maulid Barzanj ya Kuzaliwa kwa yaliyosomwa na wasomaji mbali mbali na Qasida katika sherehe za Maulid ya Kuzaliwa kwa Bwana Mtume Muhammad (S.A.W) yaliyofanyika jana katika viwanja vya Maisara Mjini Zanzibar.

Baadhi ya Waumini wa Dini ya Kiislamu waliohudhuria katika sherehe za Maulid ya Kuzaliwa kwa Bwana Mtume Muhammad (S.A.W) yaliyofanyika jana katika viwanja vya Maisara Mjini Zanzibar.

Ustadh Ali Twalib Mohamed,wa Kibanda Hatari Mjini Zanzibar akisoma Maulid Barzanj Mlango wa kwanza katika kusherehekea kwa kuzaliwa kwa Bwana Mtume Muhammad (S.A.W) yaliyofanyika jana katika viwanja vya Maisara Mjini Zanzibar.
Kwa Habari zaidi ingia hapa Matukio-michuzi 

And this is how folks in Zanzibar Celebrated the Birth of Prophet Mohammed(S.A.W). 

Bulgarian Politician Attacked At Gun Point

This just in, a video clip showing a man's gun misfires during an assassination attempt on a Bulgarian politician.

Bulgarian Politician Attacked At Gun Point - Attempted Assassination Caught on Camera - 19 January 2013

A man jumped on stage and pointed a gun at the leader of Bulgaria's ethnic Turkish party before security guards wrestled him to the ground during a televised conference.

Ahmed Dogan, the long-time leader of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) escaped unscathed - and it was not immediately clear why he had been targeted at the party congress in Sofia.

Television footage showed a man jumping out of the audience and interrupting a speech by 58-year-old Mr Dogan, who has led the party for almost a quarter of a century.

Islam: Empire of Faith. Part 1: Prophet Muhammad and rise of Islam

A PBS Documentary on Islam. Enjoy!

Msomi wa Leo - Sheikh Abdullah Saleh Al-Farsy

Sheikh Abdullah Saleh Al-Farsy was born on February 12, 1912 in Zanzibar, Tanzania. He was a poet, a scholar, a Muslim historian and an author. He is remembered as one who was easily approachable with a joyous attitude, thus he was always surrounded by people who wanted to interact with him and discuss Islam. The Sheikh studied the Quran under Fatma Hamid Said and many other great Scholars of his time. He later on completed his islamic education at the Barza Mosque and his worldly education at the Teachers Training College. 

The Mufti became a hafiz of the Quran at a young age, and wrote many islamic books, however, he is more widely known for his work on QUR'ANI TAKATIFU.  QUR'ANI TAKATIFU, was the first Muslim accepted swahili translation of the holy Quran, which is widely used by many swahili speakers today. He started his project in 1956 translating one chapter at a time, however, due to financial problems, the finished work sponsored by the Islamic Foundation was made public in 1969. With the financial help of Sheikh Ahmed bin Ali Thani the Sultan of Qatar, they were able to distribute 4000 copies of the translated Quran for free,  and the remaining copies were sold at a very low price.

Sheikh Al-Farsy was a Principal of the Muslim Academy Secondary school from 1952 to 1956, and later on became a Headmaster at the Arabic Medium School  from 1957 to 1960. In 1960, he was appointed as the Chief Kadhi of Zanzibar. He left the Ministry of Education and his teaching post at the Teachers Training College in 1967 when he migrated to Kenya.

(1912-1982)

Sheikh Al-Farsy moved to Oman in 1982, and passed away 8 months later on November 9th 1982 in Mascut.  His death affected many in East Africa, but he left a legacy that has yet to be matched in the region. 

May Allah reward him with a great place in Jannah.

Source: IslamTanzania.org, sekenke.com

Is South Africa Numb to rape and sexual violence?

Andrew Harding from BBC Radio 4 poses this question, based on attitudes to rape in South Africa. I think this question should be posed to all of Africa. Well are we?

listen to ‘Is South Africa numb to rape and sexual violence? ’ on Audioboo

We can all relate to this, the Gang rape violence in India was very horrific, and its people responded appropriately forcing reforms to be made in the country. Africans not only South Africans need to raise awareness of such issues. Its shocking that the rapist, in this particular scenario he gives, was still sitting at the bar without a worry of the world after raping a 17 year old girl.Where was everyone when this rape was going on? The fact that he was not worried, is a big indicator that she is not his first victim. The new trend these days, corrective rape, Really? Rape is Rape is Rape is Rape, and last time I checked, it is still called Rape. No such thing as trying to prove a point or punishing someone.

Well we hope and pray that rape does not happen to anyone, as it is a scar that is hard to disappear. 911rape.org gives tips of what to do if, Allah forbids, this ever happens to anyone.

1. Go to a safe place. 

2. Notify the police immediately, it will help you regain a sense of personal power and control

3. Call a friend or family member or someone trustworthy

4. Do not shower, bathe, douche, eat, drink, wash your hands or brush your teeth before the medical exam is done. Save all your clothes you were wearing at the time of assault and place each in separate paper bag.

5. Get Medical care Pronto, we live in a world of STD's and AIDS.

6.Write down as much as you can remember about the circumstances of the assault.

7. Talk to a counselor if one is available to you.

Also remember that Ayatul Kursi protection prayer, try to remember that prayer morning and night if possible. My prayers go out to all the rape victims out there, and lets not stay silent when such issues are happening in our own back yards. Allah Sees and Hears All.

Sajuki's Burial

Juma Kilowoko was finally put to rest on Friday January 4th, 2013 at the Dar-Es-Salaam Kisutu Cemetery.

The body on the way to the burial site

President Kikwete participating in the burial.

Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un (إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعونَ) 

To Allah we belong and to him is our return.

source: Dailynews.co.tz, michuzi blog.

Juma Kilowoko AKA Sajuki atuacha

(1985-2013)

Jamani mbona mwaka unaanza hivi tena. Nimesikita kupata habari ya Juma Kilowoko Almaaruf kwa Sajuki msanii wa filamu za bongo amefariki dunia alfajiri ya tarehe mbili kwenye hospitali ya Muhimbili. Rajabu Amiri mkuu wa chama cha waongoza filamu wilaya ya ilala, ametoa habari kuwa sajuki alikuwa anasumbuliwa na tatizo la upungufu wa damu.

Wote tunakumbuka jinsi Sajuki alivyougua vibaya baada accident yake ya pikipiki, ambaye ilisabibisha mchumba wake kwa sasa ni mke wake Wastara kukatwa mguu moja,na yeye kusumbiliwa na mambo mengi ikiwemo uvimbe tumboni. Mwaka 2011 watu tulichangishana akaenda India kutibiwa. Kumbe hakupona kabisa, na juzi juzi hapa Arusha, alianguka kwenye stage. Na habari ni kwamba alikuwa arudi tena India kwa matibabu zaidi. Duh! kweli huyu Kaka aliteseka.

"Ugonjwa ni kama kituo cha polisi, kuingia rahisi kutoka na hela". Haya maneno mazito aliyanena mwanzoni wa mwaka 2012 alivyorudi kutoka India.

 Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un (إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعونَ)

To him we belong and to him we shall return. May Allah forgive his sins and accept him into his heaven.

Source: IPP Media

Binti Wa Kiislamu's top five events of 2012

5. Man Lands in Mars

You have to agree looking at our history of where we came from. From a group of hunters and gatherers, to building Cars, Airplanes and even Rockets that flew us to the Moon and back. We have come along way to landing a rover in Mars. In a period of just 100 years, we have invented everything from Airplanes, Rockets, Satellites, Flying Cars, Computers, Telephone,  iphones, iPads,manipulated the crop to be weather proof and everything else you can think of. For someone who is 100 years old today, they have seen it all, the best and worst of man.

4. Man falls from 23 miles or 39.034 meters above the earth.

This is bravery beyond its limit. I am just glad he lived through it, otherwise it would have been a horrible tragedy.

3. Saudi sends its first female Athlete(Wojdan Shaherkani ) to the Olympics.

This goes on my list, the reason being she is not from any city in Saudi Arabia, but from Makkah, the heartland of Islam. We are totally supporting her, and in the future In Sha Allah, she will do so much better than this year.

2. A movie mocking the prophet was released on youtube and it caused riots in many parts of the Muslim world.

I saw this movie and truthfully I was upset too and believe you me, I don't get upset very easily. But we need to get better at handling our emotions and anger, there are other ways we could have handled this situation.

1. Yangtze River in China turns red.

This definitely goes on my top list. I mean how often does the 3rd longest river in the world turn red? Okay twice for China, but you gotta admit, it is quite interesting. 

Mmh! I am getting ideas, it seems water is the next business to invest in. Imported water anyone? 

Happy New Year Everyone! May Allah fill our homes with his peace and may he grant us his blessings in this world and in the hereafter In Sha Allah.

Source: China Photo Press, Abc World News, Ny times, The Guardian.