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Somaliland Remembers Victims of October 29, 2008 Terrorist Attack

October 29, 2011   ·   32 Comments

Somaliland-Foreign-Minister

HARGEISA(Somalilandpress)–Somaliland is honoring the third anniversary of the memory of the 30 innocent citizens who lost their lives on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 at 10:30am. The terrorist organization Al-Shabaab has attacked Somaliland on this day with three coordinated suicide car-bombs that exploded at the Presidential Place, United Nation’s office, and at the Ethiopian Embassy in Hargeysa. This attack caused the death of 30 innocent lives and inflicted serious injuries on 48 others. We pray to Allah to bestow his mercy on the victims and give their family and friends the strength to deal with this difficult time to deal with the memory of losing loved ones.

Al-Shabaab attacked Somaliland to disrupt the democratic progress in Somaliland; in particularly they were opposed to the Voter Registration efforts that began in Somaliland the week of October 27th, 2008. Al-Shabaab attacked Somaliland every time there was an election in Somaliland and when the National Election Commission were conducting the Voter Registration in Somaliland. Al-Shabaab attacks were successful on October 29, 2008, but there were many more times that their attacks failed and Somaliland security forces foiled their attacks.

we will always remember these victims for sacrificing their lives; they have given their lives for the Freedom and the Democracy that we enjoy today. To celebrate their lives and to honor their memory, I call on Somaliland people to observe a moment of silence on October 29th for the victims, this day is a reminder for all of us that freedom and democracy are not free.

Dr. Mohamed Omar
Foreign Minister
Republic of Somaliland

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Readers Comments (32)

  1. Dhugtame says:

    May Allah grant paradise to those who died and give rapid recovery to those injured.

    To the FM as Muslims we don't believe in moments of silence, but we honor our dead and wounded with prayers. Alfataxa!

     Reply
  2. Gobaad says:

    Rabanaa Yirxamahum waa yisakinahum fil Ganna. Gacan ka xaq darran baa dishaye.

     Reply
  3. warya says:

    This isn't an Islamic custom! What's next a special memorial statue. The people that have died were innocent and we all pray for their admittance into Jennah; however, to innovate new practices is unbecoming of a well known and respect public figure. The Prophet(pbuh) did not have a special day of remembrance for the battle of Badr, when his first wife Khadjia (RA) died nor in any circumstance except that it was ordered by Allah(swt). This issue along with others such as Women MAYORS and those running for public office have made me nervous for my people. Women can only be leaders in the company of other women. Women can only lead prayer if the people following are only women.

    I am a proud Somalilander, but we shouldn't grow arrogant with ourselves. It is only by Allah(swt)'s will and mercy that we have achieved what we have thus far. So we should be grateful and stay within the limits of set out by the Shareh lest Allah(swt) curse us and send us back to being tribal savages.

     Reply
    • Ms Justice says:

      A Mayor is not a leader. A Mayor is a manager of an specific deparment withing the Government Offices. They are led by the Head of State.
      I agree with what you are saying about women leaders, but a Mayor does not qualify as a 'leader'. Although, I can not provide you here and now a Daleel on this issue, the leadership that is not recommended for a female is the one, which sh, solely, can make decissions that will effect the whole nation. Mayors do not make such decissions, they rather conform with the Land's Laws.
      Thanks.

       Reply
  4. Dhugtame says:

    @Warya,

    i am with you in the memorial part, but our roads diverged when you attacked women-leadership and even went to the length of refuting women mayors. Public administration is different from prescribed warship, like fasting, prayers, hajj, Ramadan and etc. I am very disappointed with your comments. I know you are not a chauvinist, but comments like this make you sound like one. Please check the facts with learned scholars before you throw comments that are insulting to Islam and humanity.

     Reply
  5. warya says:

    @ Dhugtame

    PART 1

    Question:

    Is it legal in islam to acknowledge females as our leader?

    Response:

    Praise be to Allaah.

    Positions of leadership and high public office means taking on the mission of establishing Islam by reviving religious knowledge and establishing its foundations, engaging in jihaad for the sake of Allaah – which includes preparing armies and distributing war booty – establishing the judicial system, carrying out judicial punishments (hudood), fighting oppression, enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil, acting as a deputy of the Prophet SAWS (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).

    There is no dispute among the scholars that one of the conditions of the imaam or leader is that he should be male. Ibn Hazam reported in his book Maraatib al-Ijmaa’ that there was scholarly consensus on this point. In the section he says: “Out of all groups of the people of the Qiblah [i.e., all Muslim sects], there is not one that allows the leadership of women.” Al-Qurtubi reported something similar, and al-‘Allaamah al-Shanqeeti said, “There is no difference of opinion among the scholars on this point.”

    The evidence for this is the general meaning of the aayah (interpretation of the meaning): “Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allaah has made one of them to excel the other…” [al-Nisa’ 4:34]. It is also clearly indicated by the hadeeth of Abu Bakrah who said that when the Prophet SAW?S (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) heard that the Persians had appointed the daughter of Chosroes as their queen, he said, “No people who appoint a woman as their leader will ever prosper.” (Reported by al-Bukhaari, 13/53).

    This is because positions of leadership and government require a person to join men’s gatherings, which is not allowed for women according to sharee’ah because of the aayah (interpretation of the meaning): “And stay in your houses, and do not display yourselves like that of the times of ignorance…” [al-Ahzaab 33:33]. These positions also require perfect wisdom, reason and alertness, and the testimony of a man has been made equal to that of two women, the reason for which Allaah has explained in the aayah (interpretation of the meaning): “… so that if one of them (two women) errs, the other can remind her…” [al-Baqarah 2:282].

     Reply
  6. warya says:

    @ Dhugtame

    PART 2

    Imaam al-Muwaffaq Ibn Qudaamah said:

    “For this reason the Prophet SAWS (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and his successors (khulafa’) and those who came after them never appointed a woman to be a judge or a governor of a province, as far as we know. If it were permissible, it should have happened.”

    Imaam al-Ghazaali said:

    “The position of leader (imaam) could never be given to a woman even if she possessed all the qualities of perfection and self-reliance. How could a woman take the position of leader when she did not have the right to be a judge or a witness under most of the historical governments?”

    Imaam al-Baghawi said:

    “The scholars agreed that women are not fit to be leaders or judges, because the leader needs to go out to organize jihaad and take care of the Muslims’ affairs, and the judge needs to go out to judge between people, but women are ‘awrah and it is not right for them to go out. Because of their weakness, women are not able to do many things. Women are imperfect, and the positions of leaders and judge are among the most perfect of positions for which only the most perfect of men are qualified.”

    Undoubtedly this is proven by reality. People know from experience that only men are fit for leadership, because women by nature are more emotional and more easily swayed by their feelings and compassion. These qualities have been created in women to enable them to carry out their most important duty, which is that of motherhood and nurturing children. Men, on the other hand, are not usually swayed by their emotions as women are. Their way is usually one of logic and deliberation, which form the essence of responsibility and leadership.

    With regard to the question of whether a woman may be appointed as a judge, the majority of Maaliki, Shaafa’i and Hanbali scholars say that a woman cannot be appointed as a judge, because of the general meaning of the hadeeth of Abu Bakrah quoted above.

    Al-Haafiz ibn Hajar said:

    “Ibn al-Teen said: Those who say that a woman cannot be appointed as a judge use the hadeeth of Abu Bakrah as evidence, and this is the view of the majority.”

    With regard to other administrative positions, there is no shar’i reason why women should not be appointed to run institutions where they will work with other women and not men, because in this case there are no shar’i reservations about their work.

    There is no validity in what most modern writers say about how women have to go out and take part in parliaments and public councils, and that these are part of the rights granted to women by Islam. These writers have not examined the issue from the correct Islamic viewpoint. The truth is clear, but unfortunately they look at it with minds filled with the heretic trends of East and West. Therefore you see them weakened and defeated, dazzled by the false civilizations of those nations, then they come and misinterpret the texts and change the words from their right places until they agree with their whims. We ask Allaah to keep us safe and sound.

    See: Fath al-Baari by Ibn Hajar, 13/55; Maraatib al-Ijmaa’ by Ibn Hazam, 125; Adwa’ al-Bayaan by al-Shanqeeti, 1/55; Sharh al-Sunnah by al-Baghawi, 10/77; Tafseer al-Qutubi, 1/271; al-Fasl fi’l-Milal wa’l-Nihal by Ibn Hazm, 4/110.

     Reply
  7. warya says:

    @ Dhugtame

    My fellow Muslim, my views can not be labeled an insult to Islam and humanity if they are in accordance to Quran, Sunnah and the view of the majority of the Scholars of the past and present.

     Reply
  8. Gobaad says:

    Warya, I am very disappointed to see your comments. You are either a chauvinist who have issues with women or you are one of those fanatics who are living in 'dark ages' and hates the education and advancement of women. Since the Saxaaba women were working side by side with men in wartimes and disasters. Besides, woman is your mother, your sister, your wife, and your daughter. I am dumbfounded to see a comment such as this from a man supposedly educated, at this time and age.

    Furthermore, women proven to be excellent leaders beside being wives and mothers. And as the saying goes: behind every successful man, there is a strong woman! I don't know what issues you have with women, but I found this appalling, extreme and beyond normal limits.

     Reply
    • mohamed cheers says:

      @Warya

      Wake up… you are way backward Buddy. Don't forget that we are in Islam Hijria Calendar (1432H).
      All that you are quoting are basically what life was all about at that Ignorant Era when the Holy book
      and the Prophet(pbuh) at their early stages. Just compare now the Human beings Scientific Contemporary
      World of 1432H/2011AC. Just imagine how both men and Women of our generations progressed in
      the World of pure Scientific education/knowledges; Specially the Women proved to excel men in all walks
      of livelihood professionalism trades as well as being the sole rear-vanguard-backbone of delivering
      mankind beings. The Islam of our times and the Islam of the Past during the Stone Age are in different generational Eras and that in itself will bring about different controversial issues. MR. Warya please go further researches for understanding how Islam progressed with the different generations Scientific knowledges.
      Praise be to the educated Women to take their role in the Societies unto the doomsday calls. Am all out
      to support their unique values.
      Cheers.

       Reply
      • Abdiraham Jama says:

        Mohamed,

        Our Religion doesn’t have new testimony or old testimony. It is the same from Hijria 1 to (1423h). Yes there is much advancement scientifically on yearly bases however Quran is the same as it was first received by our Prophet (Pbuh) I’m not advocating for Mr. Warya’s point either

         Reply
        • mohamed cheers says:

          Again it depends on what you mean by new testimony or old testimony? Why there are
          Fitwas(Amendments) in Islam? My understanding fluctuates between the old Islam testimony
          and the new testimony fitwa amendments to match scientific knowledge for all generations
          unto doomsday calls. You see Religion is God's Constitution. How many new testimony
          amendments do take place in World Govts. Constitutions to match different virtues/values at
          different generations etc. Make no mistake about it..Islam travels with all generations and is not
          stagnant as many tend to believe.
          Cheers.

           Reply
  9. mohamed cheers says:

    @Warya

    JSL is a Muslim Country and remembering and honouring the dead victims of Oct,29,2008
    Terrorist attacks and the form and style the Article commemorates the event in my view doesn't
    conflict with the Islam Customs for as long as the intentions are meant to be Islamic from the heart
    (Camashu waa Niyadda). Freedom and Democracy are pillars in Islam etc.
    Cheers.

     Reply
  10. amal says:

    @Warya

    I think you are turning into an extremist :(

    However,the truth is there are a lot of points that you mentioned that I agree with you. A Muslim woman cannot be the president of a country because of her femininity and the roles that involves such as meeting other male leaders, preparing for war, leading salah but the position of a mayor is NOT running a country and mayors don't do things like preparing for war. Mayors and leadership is also different from the judges you talked about. Yes a woman judge can be swayed by emotion but mayors don't make such judgments. There are many types of leadership and it depends what leadership the woman assumes and for you to say women can never be leaders is crazy, in fact to say they should only stay in their homes and raise children and nothing else is rather extreme. They way you've talked about women is very disrespectful "she cannot even be a witness blah" ofcourse she can and do you know why two women is required? not because she is less or not equal to man as you sound like but witness depends of what is being witnessed,witnessing crimes like murder, rape etc is aggressive horrific for a woman that if one witnesses it may affect the accuracy if she becomes hesitant, scared, confused so two is needed to support each-other since witness is a big thing and is used to make big judgement like giving capital punishment for great crimes . Similarly there are things that only women witness is required and not men, things that are to do with women that men cannot witness properly.

    There are so many other unislamic things going on and you talk about women out of all things, so is democracy Islamic then? What I have realized is that when men try to be Islamic or religious and implement the sharia they first turn to attacking women. look at saudi arabia where the young men are out doing shisha and all sorts of things but a woman cannot go out of the house for even simple things or cannot even drive a car. If a woman doesn't want to work, or be a mayor or public eye then it is up to her not anyone else to force her. Allah has given the right for everyone to choose the path they want to choose. People CANNOT be controlled, the best thing in a society is to educate people and teach people of their religious duties but they should be given the free will as long as it is not extreme like allowing public alcohol, and all sorts of shamefulness.

    Men and women are equal but because of the biological differences they have different roles for example wearing hijaab to protect women since women are physically weaker and beautiful and needs covering from men who is weak in controlling themselves and physically strong. Men and women have equal purpose in life, both to worship their creator and will both be punished if they err and their gender will not make any difference to their worship or their sinning.

    Anways going back to leadership, are you telling me women cannot be leaders at all, so is being a manager not a leader. I can establish my own big company and employ several people who are both men and women to run my business, are you telling me I'm not a leader then. Khadijah was a great business woman and she employed our prophet to work for her. Women are great leaders. I tell you this whole world would have crumbled without women leadership. Women are the backbone of the society. And especially somali women have proven to be one of the most strongest women, with great sense of confidence and I believe it is our culture and the freedom they are given that led them to be very strong. Even a Yemeni lady once told me that when she was in Yemen they used to see the somali women to be so strong that even the men used to be scared of messing with them and respect them. Anyways that's not the point. you

    Anyways like I said I understand and agree some elements you've mentioned but you went bit too far

     Reply
  11. amal says:

    We should make du'a for our innocent civilians that died in the terrorist attack but this act of moment of silence is copying the non-Muslims. Our prophet has told us in advance that the Muslims would copy the kufars in every act and I believe this is one of them. We should avoid copying them in their practices. But because I don't have concrete evidence I cannot say this is purely haram alahu a'lam but I know copying the non-Muslims of their practices is not allowed unless it is beneficial knowledge like scientific stuff etc

    @Mohamed cheers

    I hope you don't th

     Reply
    • amal says:

      sorry continue…

      I hope you don't think our religion is changing with time like the bible. Our religion is complete and is the same since it was revealed. But the culture and society at the time was different. The culture at that time was ignorant culture where women didn't even know their own islamic rights, and didn't participate in anything. The society has changed and people became more educated now but the religion cannot be changed around. But the problem is sometimes people use religion for their own benefit or misunderstand the religion.

       Reply
      • mohamed cheers says:

        @Amal
        The Islamic Religion transcends to explain everything in this World of ours and goes beyond to
        explain doomsday calls and what goes after in the eternity World. Yes, Religion is complete
        as revealed but doesn't mean every generation understands the absolute interpretion of the Koran
        at any given generation? Therefore it's my understanding that certain signs of the Koran open up
        their true meanings from generation to generation until the end comes through. BTw Amal for
        the Educated Woman the Sky is the Limit. You could replace Silaanyo and invite me to be your
        wardiyah lol.
        Cheers.

         Reply
        • amal says:

          lol why not mr cheers considering your level of patriotism. But I am afraid women are not made for presidential positions. It is not even in our nature to desire for such position due to its nature, unlike men I guess we aint power hungry lol

          And yes, you are absolutely right the sky is the limit and women can excel and achieve so many other things, we all know the importance of women in any society. so cheers.

           Reply
  12. warya says:

    @ Everyone kkkk

    Let me simplify – A Mayor of today's time would be equivalent to the position of AMIR of a city of the old days. A Mayor is the one responsible for the overall the well being of the city and all its inhabitants. This by extension means she is the supreme leader of that city; which consists of men and women.

    So can a women be an AMIR over a group of men? NO If she was allowed then what would be the legal ruling forbidding her from also leading prayer? There would be none.

    To clarify, I women CAN and I repeat CAN be a leader just not over men. That is why you find in the progressive Muslim countries women doctors leading the women section of the hospital. Every women in that section would report to her, since she was the leader.

    This dude is an extremist, chauvinist, cave man, sexist, anti women education blah blah blah. Yet no one has bothered to reflect on what the Prophet (pbuh) has said in regards to women leaders as well as the interpretations of the best 3 generations. Had women Mayors been permissible then Aisha(ra) would have surely been chosen, since many male companions sought knowledge from her. However, she neither nominated herself nor was she by the rightly guided Caliphs.

    So my question is (since I am the psycho here kkk) do you people know something that the Prophets(pbuh)'s wives, Companions, and their predecessors did not? I am willing to be convinced, but with PROOF!

     Reply
  13. warya says:

    @ Everyone

    Some people I think have incorrectly understood a certain point. When scholars deal with issues they first ask themselves whether this issue has been addressed already- Is it 1) clear cut – Halal or Haram, 2) contain various valid opinions or interpretations or finally is it 3) completely new and requires a ruling that is extrapolated from Quran and Sunnah. Furthermore, within the second option there are also strong (popular positions) and weak ones that have few supporters.

    So is this women leadership topic new? No, it has been discussed to death!

    At the end of the day, we are all Muslim and Somalilanders. So to each his own. There is no compulsion in religion and if someone of you have other beliefs that is fine. I gave my views on this topic, provided support and that's it. All the best!

     Reply
    • mohamed cheers says:

      @Warya

      Now at least we are closing our discussions to understand each others point of view. Yes you are absolutely positive about points 1,2,3. Our conflicts are in the 3 column which's completely new and requires a new ruling that's extrapolated from the Koran and Sunnah. You see being followers of the Prophet and the Companions
      in his lifetime to the teachings of the Koran, we have to understand that we live through a far distant
      generation than the time the Religion was established and the rulings pertaining to that early ignorant
      stone age generations. We are now in 1432AH corresponding to 2011AC. and living in highly sophisticated
      scientific knowledge which was not there at the generation of the Prophet and his companions. The
      Scientific knowledge would continue to evolve through progressively unto doomsday calls.
      Therefore to adapt to the livelihoods of the Scientific klnowledge studies both man and woman have
      in my Islamic view should have equal opportunities to excel one another in power sharing in almost
      everything in the human beings lifestyles.
      Cheers.

       Reply
      • warya says:

        Quote – "the rulings pertaining to that early ignorant stone age generations."

        Brother, the Prophet(pbuh) Mohamed was the best of all of the previous Prophets(bput) and by default HIS companions were the best of any of the companions of the previous Prophets(pbut). This makes the first 3 generations of our Islamic Ummah the best of all of the generations past and present. And if this logic does not satisfy you then the Prophets(pbuh) should be sufficient enough to convince you.

        All this women Mayor stuff aside, you are incorrect to refer to these generations as the " early ignorant stone age generations"! Secondly, the Quran was revealed to as a guide to all of creation from THOSE days until the day of judgment. I agree in regards to your point that NEW issues and topics require Fatwa; however, the issue of women being LEADERS over men has already been addressed.

        The question now is do you have a scholarly opinion/position from which to debate or do you only wish to use " we are a smarter generation than the past Muslims" argument? Islamic rulings can only be debated by countering with OTHER equally legitimate rulings and not by "We live in 21st century…we are smarter.. technology this and that. etc"

        I have a nice touch screen phone myself, but that doesn't mean I no longer have to pray 5 times a day. loool

         Reply
        • mohamed cheers says:

          You said it forget anything else…FATWA has it all..that will bring about all the necessary changes
          for both man and woman. How do you address the more educated Woman than man in our times
          in Islamic jurisprudence..be humbly stagnant to observe the times of the Prophet in his lifetime
          and his Companion or to give her deserving place in our advanced scientific achievements.
          My position remains valid..if you still do not agree with my point of view…am out to continue
          debating on this subject. Tku and have a nice day. Eid Aladha Mubarak.
          Cheers.

           Reply
          • mohamed cheers says:

            Yes, one more thing..The Koran have many unexplained technical SIGNS (Ayaas) left out
            for the followers(new Generations) (after the Prophet's and his Companions living times) to
            discover their true meanings/interprettions where in our advanced scientific ages both men and
            women would adapt to their generational environments which would beyond all reasonable
            doubts force fatwa to take effect for both species meaning that the educated Women could no
            longer be kept left out to remain inferior in a sophisticated ERA(S) of generations after generations
            unto the doomsday calls. Sorry am out for more dialuge. Tku have a nice day.
            Cheers.

             
  14. amal says:

    @Warya

    Brother jazakallah khair fo trying to explain to us. You are not extremist, chauvinist, cave man, or sexist but you have only explain to us what was said before you.

    But don't forget Somaliland is not Islamic state that implements proper sharia, it is even democracy. if you are saying we should not allow women mayors or to participate in leadership why should we let men with no beard walk around, people smoking walk around etc. again it is peoples choice, if a woman wants to be a leader or TV presenter etc it is her choice, just like it is a man's choice to smoke. trust me people cannot be controlled.

    "NO, If she was allowed then what would be the legal ruling forbidding her from also leading prayer? There would be none" Brother there is a HUGE difference between a woman leading group of men in salah simply because that salah is INVALID and this is to do with the worship and the ibadah. A woman mayor or leader of certain field will not harm anyone but can be harmful to herself because of her nature and may harm her emaan if she has to deal with meeting men and traveling alone etc but it is up to her and it is up to her to judge if the role involves violating her religious teachings.

    So if I for example employ men and women in my own big established company am i not the leader of that company and are they not working under me both the men and women. if there is a problem they would report to me both the men and women. The old common example of kadija employing the prophet and he was working for HER but when it came to marriage he was her leader as a husband and then again as her religious leader. I don't know, am i twisting things around? You used an example women leading women only in a hospital but that is a way of segregating the gender and is especially found in Saudi Arabia where there is a strict segregation not because of the leadership. You are mixing it with leading in salah.

    What you said and the evidence you have used are all correct but you explanation and understanding seems to be rather bit weird o at least different to my understandings. Anyways Allah know best and I will not debate further in this complex issue lest I make a mistake and cause the anger of Allah

    Jazakallah khair and wasalam

     Reply
    • amal says:

      correction: I ment somalliland is not proper strict islamic state. Not even saudi implements proper islamic sharia but mix with cultures

      when islamic khalifah is established then inshAllah proper islamic sharia like that of the former muslim leaders like Omar banu khataab will be implemented.

       Reply
    • warya says:

      Well my intention is not to force anyone to believe that which they do not in their heart. There is no compulsion in religion. And I realize that Somaliland is not an Islamic state. In fact, the majority of Muslim countries cut and paste, meaning they pick and choose which rulings to apply and not.

      Finally, I thank you for you input and views, but sister this has never been about ME. Go ask your local Imam, check your trusted sources or even Google. Let me know, what the scholars you take your knowledge from SAY or think. The views I have posted far far above is what SCHOLARS had to say …men that are FAR better than me. My opinion means ZERO when it comes to serious matters like religion. If I have made a mistake please post and I will read and double check.

      My apologizes if I have somehow ruffled your female feathers kkkkkkkkk (joke)

       Reply
  15. abdi says:

    May Allah grant janah to those who deceased and give full recovery to those who injured.

     Reply
    • amal says:

      Ameen brother. we went bit out of topic but may Allah give the deceased jannah and forgive them ameen

       Reply
  16. Maxamed Ciise says:

    I was really shocked when it happened because this would be unheard of in such a peaceful place such as the city of Hargeysa but anyway may Allah grant the deceased who were the victims of that tragic attack Jannah Inshallah.

     Reply
  17. amal says:

    Guys this has nothing to do with the topic but I'm just posting a video that i was watching. Anyone who views this website can watch it since this is Muslim website. Who know who will benefit from this random video even though it is not related to the topic or what was discussed.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o569g5JcCtE&NR

     Reply
    • warya says:

      Jazakallah Khair. Thank you for the beneficial video sister.

       Reply