N E G A S H I - OJ

Muslim Scholars of Addis Ababa organised last May, 2008 a one day conference. The conference discussed the achievements of Muslim Scholars of the city in their effort to create a Muslim Scholars Forum that would enable them discuss issues that kept them and the bigger Umma in a prision of its own - disunity, wrangling, accusations. On this historical occassion, an event where more than 700 leading figures of the Muslim Community participated, the scholars vowed to strengthen their Islamic brotherhood and Islamic Unity thereby stand up to the expectation of their religion and the Umma. 

The achievements of these precious scholars were lauded by all the participants who also promised to stand by the side of those scholars in their effort to stand united and cultivate a habit of resolving differences through discussion - norms that have been missing so far and made the Umma unable to develope itself and its country. The participants then issued a statement wherein they applauded the achievments of the scholars and expressed their readiness to stand united and help and suppor the Scholars Forum to realise its Mission and provide service to the Umma and the country. The establishment of this Muslim Scholars Forum was coordinated by Addis Ababa Majlis.

Although the step taken by the scholars and set up of such a Forum is seen as historic one and is being praised by unity-longing Ethiopian Muslims both at home and in the diaspora, some individuals or groups have dared to come out and criticise the very initiative and the objective it stands for. Out of their disperation in not winning a single notable figure among Muslim scholar within the country who would support their view, they got refuge in a foreign scholar who is said to have issued a Fatwa (Religious Verdict). Negashi will soon comment on the actions of this group, their possible motive and the fatwa and other materials that have been circulating around through emails, egroups and discussion forums. Let me leave you now with the stament the conference participants issued so that you could also forumlate your own idea if Ethiopian Muslims do have any other option than the one our scholars brought to reality. Click here to open the scanned statment - PDF format.

Wolayta Soddo: Muslim students of Wolayta Soddo University are denied of any service - educational, administrative and all other services including cafiteria and library - unless they abandon their demand for appropriate food and remove their Islamic dressing - Hijab. It is reported that while the rest of the university students are attending final exams, about 400 Muslim students are prevented from attending their exams unless they meet these conditions.

Earlier the students appealed for the Reginal and Federal Islamic Affairs Councils to intervene in their case and help alleviate the countless unfair and crule treatment they are subjected to. None of them could however help them. More is to come soon.

 by Aqibaw Yimer

Islam is a complete way of life founded on belief in One God: One God there is none like unto Him; One God without any Partner or Comparison; One God who begets not and One Who is neither begotten; One God who is Initiator of existence and One Who Ends it; One God Who is the Eternal. Any believer is expected to pronounce the declaration of Allah’s being One: Lailah Illa Allah (There is No Diety but Allah). One is expected not only to utter this by his/her tongue but also need to assimilate its message and implications with his real and day-to-day life. 

The Oneness Allah, a basic tent of the religion, manifests itself, among others, in the unity, oneness and brotherhood of the believers.

Verily, [O you who believe in Me,] this community of yours is one single community, since I am the Sustainer of you all: worship, then, Me [alone]! (Q021:092) 

And, verily, this community of yours is one single community, since I am the Sustainer of you all: remain, then, conscious of Me! (Q023:052)

All believers are but a single brotherhood. … and remain conscious of God, so that you might be graced with His mercy. (Q049:010)

Unity of believers is a stronghold of Islam. It builds and strengthens bonds not only between mankind and the Creator or among the people themselves but also strengthen the relationship between mankind and other creations. Islamic teaching commands believers to stay united and help each other. It is the only means to uphold and uptake the task of being vicegerents of Allah on earth (Q002:030). It is a force for all goodness, a purveyor of peace and justice for everyone. It provides stability in otherwise unstable and quarrelsome world. It guarantees the safety and well being of the Society at large. It is a means to freedom and triumph.

“The Believers, men and women, are protectors one of another: they enjoin the ma`roof (all of Islam), and forbid the munkar (all that is evil; kufr): they observe regular prayers, pay Zakat, and obey Allah and His Messenger. On them will Allah pour His mercy: for Allah is Exalted in power, Wise.” (Q009:071)

Seen at this slant, unity or brotherhood can be taken as synonymous to Islam.

As the status of unity and brotherhood in Islam is so high, it is so precious and dear for all those who have submitted their will to the Will of Allah. Any happening that promotes and elevates this is equally cherished.

Despite the above general truth and fact as far as the teachings of Islam is concerned, the Muslim community today is one of the highly divided and a society that suffer from internal strives and grudge. This unfortunate fact has some how reduced the role the religion as well as the community could play today in much of the global issues.

Ethiopian Muslims has not been immune of such division and discord among their ranks. Minor and insignificant issues were given precedence and even our learned men engaged in pushing ahead with their individual understanding than upholding the interest of the religion and the community. In the country’s long history of sufferings, our self appointed leaders have skilfully exploited the minor difference among Muslims in their policy of divide and rule and to leave Muslims downtrodden, backward and illiterate; measures systematically applied to keep them away from every thing of national affair. Yet God-fearing men and men of understanding have never lost hope and caught every opportunity to promote unity among Muslims and remind their fellow men of crucial issues that are left in the shadow the minor differences. A latest effort to that end started with a Muslim Diaspora delegation which visited the country a year ago.

BADR International Ethiopian Muslims Federation organised a high-level delegation of the Diaspora Muslim communities which visited Ethiopia in the period April/May, 2007. Apart from its mission to present to and deliberate with the country’s leadership on issues that has deterred the Muslim Community from playing its share in the affairs of the country, the delegation engaged the leading Muslim figures in the Addis Ababa and reminded them of their duty towards their religion and the Community they claim to serve. For those men of understanding who has been longing for any means to get out of the crisis that kept the Muslims community in anguish and made it captive in its own prison, this was like a morning sunshine that not only brings an end to the darkness of the night but also make over the coldness of the morning with elating warmth.

Believers are only they whose hearts tremble with awe whenever God is mentioned, and whose faith is strengthened whenever His messages are conveyed unto them, and who in their Sustainer place their trust. (Q008:002)

Remind (all who would listen), for, verily, such a remineder will benefit the believers. (Q0051:051)

• Read more: Unity and Brotherhood in Islam: Precious to Muslims, Painful to Hypocrites

A female Muslim student at Dire Dawa University has received a last warning letter written by the President of the University for failing to stop wearing Niqab (veil).  She was asked to stop doing it during the first semester but she told them to give her time since she was in the middle of the final exam.

The University has adopted its Students code of conduct from its Haramaya counter part with little adjustments a year ago.  Of the adjustments made the niqab case is the one. Old universities of the country do not forbid wearing neqab in their institutions. The student has been told to stop doing it till tomorrow (Thursday, May 08, 2008) , which other wise the president promised her for a more sever penalty.   Read here the Letter from the President office - Dr. Wogayehu Bekele

What the president is doing is clear breach of the universal human right Ethiopia claims to respect and has included in its constitutions. The action is also against the rule and regulation of the university itself. If such action was to be taken, according to the university’s rule, it should have been by the Discipline committee or by the Dean of students. Muslims do not expect such action to be taken especial in Dire Dawa , where the Muslim community is over whelmingly dominant.  

This uncalled-for provacation of the president of Dire Dawa university in the aftermath of the dismisal of three Muslims students from Mekelle univesity should be a call-up ring for Muslims to stand up in mass and demand for the respect of their civil and religious rights. If these happenings are to be left and Muslims are to receive them with negligence, then it is them to blame if tomorrow the worst happens. The measure taken by the president of Dire Dawa university can be taken as a good example for all university of the country. Our resolve was tested by Mekelle University when it sent home three Muslim students for possessing and reading Quran in its campuse. No individual or group has openly risen up so far to contest the measure. Dire Dawa has followed suit and my send home those who wish to dress them as per the prescription of their faith. If we are not to rise-up … then what would  be of surprise if we are told tomorrow to abandon our declaration of the Faith - Shahada? In Ethiopian case and under the situation we are testifying, albiet bit by bit - this is not an impossible or unexpectable. Most of us thought such double standard on Muslims were the case of the past .. they are now creaping in back and being institutionalised. Who is to speak for sure these measures are not part of an effort to re-instate the policy of Yohannis? After all our time has a lot to share with this man who never hesitated to perscute Muslims until his last breath.

Muslims need to stand in the face of injustices of this type with firm determination and may not show any indifference in measures that deny them the right to education or their right to freely express their belief. No one is to give one’s right. It is a natural part of our being. We are not born as captive to others - we are born free and clean. Right is to be claimed back by whatever means if one is denied of his/her rights by others, be it by group or by an individual. Muslims all over the country and beyond need to stand for the cause such brave sister stands for - stand for respect for the religious rights of Muslims - even if it is to cost her dearly. Action … Action … Action! As we do so, Insha Allah, Allah will be with us.

Negashi

Get up, stand up: stand up for your rights!
Get up, stand up: stand up for your rights!
Get up, stand up: stand up for your rights!
Get up, stand up: dont give up the fight!
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The rest of this entry is deleted on request from my visitors. I have decided however to leave the above text for it is the core of the message I wanted to transmit. It is possible that my choice of Bob Marley is wrong and can be seen as “carelessness” on my part but the message I wanted to transmit is just this: for Ethiopian Muslims to “Get up, Stand up: Stand up for Their Rights.” I will soon come back to treat “Why and How”, insha Allah.

I would like to express my appreciation for my brothers and sisters who have commented and expressed their displeasure about my choice. Please keep up with your comments in the future. It is that way that we can improve the service Negashi OJ strive to provide.

Mekelle University has dismissed three of its Muslim students. The three were found guilty of possessing and reading of the Holy Quran. Effort by the university Muslim community to negotiate with the authorities and persuade them to recall the unjust measure has so far failed.

On Monday. Megabit 22, student Muhammad Yesuf, Ibrahim Hussien and Ismael Tadesse left their room after Subh (Morning) prayer and went to a room that they use for studying. One of them had a phone from where he was listening to a prerecorded Quran using his ear phone. The other had an Amharic Translation of the Quran. These two had also pocket size original Quran in Arabic in their pocket. The Third one has a medium sized Quran and a small tape recorder. He was reading the Quran silently.

The president of the university apparently tipped by a cleaning lady who saw the three entering the room with their visible Muslim appearance, came to the room and found the three possessing these “illegal” materials thus performing an “Illegal” act. He demanded for their ID card and Meal Card. He then took the Quran and tape recorder with him. The Three followed him up to his office and begged for his compassion. Nevertheless the man was unbending to these innocent students of his. He passed his outright decision to dismiss them and sent order to the Dean of Students to implement the decision. The next day, as the students went to the restaurant for breakfast, the three read their dismissal from the notice board. Read the letter from the Dean of Students on the dismissal of the three students.

It is to be recalled that Mekelle University was the first to deny Muslim students space to offer their prayers. From their history of intolerance to Muslim students and their stern position not to give any space for Muslim students to practice their religion, the top leadership of the university is believed to be an indirect architect of the directive the Ministry of Education prepared and oblige Muslim students to choose from their study and religion.

Ethnic Somali separatists have been fighting government forces in the east of Ethiopia for more than 13 years now, but the long-running conflict has been largely invisible as Addis Ababa has restricted access to the region.

There have been numerous clashes between the Ogaden National Liberation Army (ONLF) and the military in recent months, with both sides claiming successes.

But with few journalists in the vast and sparsely populated region that borders Somalia, it is difficult to get an accurate picture of how frequently the fighting occurs and its toll on human life.

However, Al Jazeera gained exclusive access to the region and found that youths, angry at the treatment of the local ethnic Somali population the government, were flocking to join the separatists. For a full reporting visit Al Jazeera

Addis Ababa, March 18, 2008 (Addis Ababa) - The 1,483th birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammed would be colorfully celebrated on the coming Thursday all over the country, Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council said.In a statement sent to ENA on Tuesday the Council said that the Millennium birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammed would specially be warmly celebrated in Albuko Woreda of South Wollo Zone, Amhara State.

Mosques in the country have undertaken various preparations for the celebration.

Mawulid, anniversary celebration of the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is one of the controversial issues within the Muslim Community Some devote every thing they have to colorfully celebrate it while others abhore it and in extreme situation elevate the act to the level of Shirk, a sin for which there shall not be any pardon. We all have listened, watched and read discourses that are pro and aganist the act. Neither of the two position has so far managed to bring an end to the other.

For Ethiopian Muslims, this years anniversay celebration brings with it another issue. This year’s Maulid is to be celebrated at a historic site of what is known as “Getta”. Getta is where “ye Gettaw Shaykh” established one of the 18/19th century center of excellence for Islamic learning, a center for the expansion and strengthening of Islam in Wollo and beyond. With the fact that Maulid is to be celebrated at this site, we may tend to raise various issues: Who was this Gettaw Shaykh? What contribution he made for Islam and Ethiopian Muslims? What is his legacy? How is that legacy known, kept, and promoted by the present generation? At what state is the site at the moment? What responsibility do we all have to keep such historic sites and promote the legacy of the fathers and mothers who did so much to keep Islam in that country?

Having the controversy revolving the celebration of the birth day anniversary, let me invite you to share ideas on the points I raised above. Lets use the opportunity to know about one of our heroe’s - Hajji Seid Bushira - Alias ye Gettaw Shaykh. Lets use the plateform to give what we know on this topic and receive what others are to offer us.

Earlier Eid Al Adha was celebrated at Dire Shaykh (Bale) - another center of prominance and believed to be established by Shaykh Hussien. Ashura was celebrated at Nejashi in Wuqiro (Tigray) - a site believed to carry in it the bones of the Just King, King Ashama and many companions of the Prophet (May Allah have mercy on all of them). Lets also share knowledge on the contribution and achievement of these great people.