Recently, the government owned media outlets, Walta and ENA, reported on a press briefing given by the Ethiopian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, ESCIA or the Mejlis, on the developments in the neighbouring Somalia. N E G A S H I OJ had also reproduced the report for the benefit of its readers.
Angered by the pulling down of their Mosque in Arat killo by federal police on 25 July 2006, Muslims in Addis held a demonstration today chanting “Allahu Akbar”, “Lailah Illa Allah”.
After performing their Friday prayer at the site of the demolished Mosque, Muslims of Addis demonstrated today to express their anger following the demolishing of their worshipping place. The number of worshippers gathered today at the site was so huge that the main road from Arat Kilo to Piazza was closed for traffic. After finishing their prayers, Muslims chanted Takbir - “Allahu Akbar” by going around the Arat Kilo Square. A large segment of the protesters then headed to the grand Anwar Mosque.
Sh. Elias Ridman, V. Chairman of the Council
Walta and Ethiopian news agency have reported on the statement given by the top officials of the Ethiopian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs with regard to the Union of Islamic Courts that controls Mogadishu and much of the southern Somalia.
In a continued attack on Islam in Ethiopia and the values and interests of Ethiopian Muslims, the only Mosque that started to provide service to the Muslims of Arat-Killo kifle ketema is demolished.
The Arat Killo Mosque (Addis Ababa) was demolished by the federal police today, 25.07.06. Before the construction of this Mosque, Muslims of the surrounding area used to pray in a building (private compound) built with metal sheet. Recently, a Muslims bought the nearby house (worth 1 million Birr) and donated to the Mosque upon which the Mosque was enlarged and Muslims of the area started to offer their Friday prayers.
By Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi,
former President of the Islamic Society of North America
Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was both a prophet of Allah and a statesman. His leadership was most comprehensive and dynamic. He was the paragon of virtue and spirituality. He was a noble and compassionate teacher, guide, and reformer. He was a family man. Indeed, he was also a political leader. As a political leader the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) unified the Arabian peninsula, established a great state whose capital was Madinah, defeated his enemies, and had most successful military expeditions. However, his real political leadership was in the realm of morality and spirituality in which he conducted himself perfectly in situations of weakness as well as strength. His way of dealing in Makkah and Madinah indicates his great political leadership.
He was always willing to help others. Allah granted him the special gift to resolve conflicts and disputes. Even before he became the Prophet of Allah, he was able to resolve a major dispute between the people of Makkah. It is reported that the people of Makkah were repairing the walls of the Ka`bah. When the time came to place the Black Stone in its place in the southeast corner of the Ka`bah, each tribe wanted to have this honor. Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked to be the judge and decide the matter fairly. He resolved this dispute with great wisdom in an amicable way. He spread his own cloak on the ground and placed the Stone upon it. He then asked representatives of each tribe to lift the cloak together. When the Black Stone reached the required height from the ground he went forward and set it in its place.
A mistake is simply something contrary to what should be. Therefore, we should find no problem in defining it by its opposite and say: a mistake is the opposite of what is correct. It is for a person to do or say what it is not right for him to do or say.
The standard by which this is determined may be religious, social, personal, or otherwise.
We see the word “mistake” used in the Qur’ân to mean “the opposite of what is correct”.
Allah says: “Slay not your children, fearing a fall to poverty, We shall provide for them and for you. Lo! the slaying of them is grave mistake.” [S?rah al-Isrâ’: 31]
When it becomes a person’s habit to look for the mistakes of others, he becomes sensitized to them and attracts them to himself like a magnet. This is a tendency found in the school environment, even in kindergarten, and in society as a whole. It stems from an error in aim and intent and a tendency for a person to think he has the right to declare what is correct and what is mistaken and then go overboard in observing and keeping tabs on others, waiting to pounce on any error. This tendency in a person is often compounded by a false perception of the inherent rightness of what he is doing.
Overlooking people’s mistakes is not a sign of stupidity or simple-mindedness. Nor does it mean a tacit approval of their mistakes. Someone who concurs with the mistakes of others is no more a person of discernment than one who actively seeks out their mistakes. A person of discretion is one who knows when to correct and when to overlook.
Striking the proper balance between overlooking mistakes and pointing them out is needed in all interpersonal dealings, even between a husband and wife. In the hadîth, we find a woman describing her husband as follows: “When he enters the home, he is a lynx, but when he departs from the home, he is a lion. He never asks what has taken place.” [Sahîh al-Bukhârî and Sahîh Muslim]
Opinion: AllAfrican.com
Dr Tajudeen Abdulraheem
Kaduna
When a people have suffered for a long time under a dictatorship the tendency is to declare that nothing could be worse than they were experiencing. It is like the optimism in that song by Yazz: ‘the only way is up’ which her own professional career did not bear out. Lived experience does teach a different lesson. No matter how bad the situation is it could always be worse. But the opposite is also true. No matter how good it is it can always be better.
Who would have thought that the jubilations at the exit of Somalia’s long term dictator, Mohammed Siad Barre, in 1991 were going to quickly turn into a prolonged nightmare for his compatriots who have not known peace or even enjoyed the protection of a legitimate government since then. Siad Barre lies reburied in Mogadishu after his body was returned from Nigeria where his life ended peacefully after being given a ’safe haven’ by the Nigerian government. The country he led with ‘iron fists’ and ‘velvet tongue’(shifting between the East and the West Cold warriors and later Islamism and Pan Arabism despite Somali language having no linguistic affinity to the Arab language!) for more than 2 decades is wasted and wasting between different pretenders to Barre’s crown who are all war lords well-equipped to destroy states but possessing no skills for building a nation.
Reports indicate that four Muslims students were arrested by police on 05/07/06. The students are accused of challenging the authority of the collage, organising the Muslims students to stand against the government, attacking their Christian colleagues and possession of illegal weapon. The four arrested are held at Alaga collage and their process is to begin after the end of the academic year which is also the date for students to leave the collage.
In the mean time, the collage adiministration and police refused to accept the letter of the Muslim students of the collage.
On 17.06.06 Christian students attacked their Muslim colleagues and police shot one one while the Christian students used stone, gejera, and the like during their assault.
More on Bilal ul-Habesha Ethiopian Muslims Community platfrom.