MUSLIM PERSPECTIVES ON THE PRACTICE OF UNVEILING AND ITS EFFECTS IN KILIFI TOWNSHIP, KILIFI COUNTY ASSAD SHEMBWANA SHEYUMBE A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in Religious Studies of Pwani University March, 2018 ii DECLARATION iii DEDICATION This work is dedicated to my family and the late Mr. Abdallah Mwambao from Majaoni secondary school for their support during my research period. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I thank Almighty Allah (S.W.) for granting good health and enabling me complete this work. I am indebted to my supervisors; Professor Dr. Hassan Mwakimako and Dr. Ali Hemed Awadh for their outstanding guidance towards writing my dissertation. I appreciate the efforts of members of the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, Pwani University for their contribution towards the success of my studies at Pwani University. v ABSTRACT Veiling as a practice has sparked a lot of debates among Muslims and non-Muslims alike. There are Muslim perspectives that exist on the practice of veiling. The pro- veiling and anti-veiling. The latter had a backing of the feminists and other people, some of whom started associating veiling with a form of slavery, backwardness and oppression to a woman. The instruments for data collection comprised of questionnaires, oral interviews and focus group discussions. A total of 80 questionnaires were distributed to gather information. Three questionnaires were not returned. This represented a 3.75% of those who did not return the questionnaires. Respondents were ulamas, community elders, women who previously unveiled, women currently veiling, the Muslims and the non- Muslims. The data collected was analyzed and presented to form the basis of this dissertation. The study found that fifty percent (50%) of the respondents believed that Muslim women were wearing the veil. They do so because it is a religious obligation. However, due to the influence of Secularization, desire to expose latest fashionable dresses and attracting men sexually, this situation has impacted the practice of veiling negatively among Muslim women. Based on the findings, it was suggested that Muslim organizations should play a vital role in sensitizing Muslim women to veil. This research seeks to establish Muslim perspectives on the practice of unveiling and its effects in Kilifi township, Kilifi County. Studies should be conducted to find out if Secularization, influx of women who do not veil or growth of higher learning institutions are responsible for influencing Muslim women to unveil. These are the gaps the study should address. vi This research will enable the public and academic domain in general to understand the importance of adhering to the practice of veiling since a greater percentage of the respondents were of the view that veiling was a religious obligation. vii ABBREVIATIONS & ACRONYMS KEDA - Kilifi Education Development Association KICOMA- Kilifi County Muslim Association NUKEM- National Union of Kenya Muslims P.B.U.H. - Peace Be Upon Him. This follows after the mention of Prophet Muhammad S. W. - Sub’hanahu-wa- ta’ala, meaning, “May He Be Glorified”. This follows the mention of Allah. SUPKEM- Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims viii TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION ............................................................................................................... ii DEDICATION .................................................................................................................. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ................................................................................................ iv ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................... v ABBREVIATIONS & ACRONYMS ............................................................................... v OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS ................................................................ xiv CHAPTER ONE ................................................................................................................ 1 1.0 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Statement of the problem ......................................................................................... 4 1.2 Objectives of the study The objectives of the study were: ..................................... 5 1.3 Research questions ................................................................................................... 5 1.4 Scope and limitations of the study ........................................................................... 6 1.5 Rationale for the study ............................................................................................ 7 1.6 Literature review .................................................................................................... 7 1.7 Theoretical framework ......................................................................................... 14 1.8 Hypothesis ............................................................................................................ 17 1.9 Methodology ......................................................................................................... 17 1.9.1 Questionnaires ................................................................................................ 18 1.9.2 Oral Interviews ............................................................................................... 18 1.9.3 Focus Group Discussions (FGD) .................................................................... 19 1.9.4 Sampling procedure and technique................................................................. 19 1.10 Conclusion ........................................................................................................... 20 CHAPTER TWO ............................................................................................................. 22 HISTORY OF ISLAM IN KILIFI TOWN ...................................................................... 22 2.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 22 2.1 Islam in Mtsanganyiko .......................................................................................... 22 ix 2.2 Islam in Kilifi town ............................................................................................... 25 2.3 Some important personalities who spread Islam in Kilifi ..................................... 26 2.3.1 Sheikh Abdulatif Mohammed Basharahil ....................................................... 26 2.3.2 Ali Mohammed Shallo................................................................................... 27 2.3.3 Bakari Salim Ngao.......................................................................................... 27 2.3.4 Said Bakari Salim Ngao ................................................................................. 28 2.3.5 Mwango Rajab Mwango ................................................................................ 28 2.4 The earliest Madrassa teachers in Kilifi .............................................................. 30 2.5 Islam in Mnarani ................................................................................................. 31 2.5.1 Presence of Masjid Taqwa in Mnarani ........................................................... 31 2.5.2 Maulid (celebrations marking the birth of Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H)) ..... 32 2.5.3 Intermarriage ................................................................................................. 33 2.6 Islam in Takaungu ................................................................................................. 33 2.6.1 Factors that facilitated the spread of Islam in Takaungu ............................... 33 2.7 Roles played by Muslim organizations in the Islamization of communities and their............................................................................................................................... 36 2.7.1 Introduction ................................................................................................... 36 2.7.2 Khairat Muslim Association (Majmuatul-Khairat) ...................................... 37 2.7.3 Kilifi County Muslim Association (KICOMA).............................................. 39 2.7.4 Kilifi Education Development Association (KEDA) .................................... 41 2.7.5 National Union of Kenya Muslims (NUKEM) ............................................. 42 2.7.6 The Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) ................................. 44 2.8 Conclusion ............................................................................................................. 46 CHAPTER THREE ......................................................................................................... 47 THE SPREAD OF ISLAM AT KWA CHARO WA MAE ............................................ 47 3.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 47 3.1 History/origin of the name of Kwa Charo wa Mae neighbourhood ...................... 47 x 3.2 Some earliest Muslim families at Kwa Charo wa Mae ........................................ 50 3.2.1 Abdallah Mbarak Bukheit, 1914-1993 ............................................................ 50 3.2.2 Hadi Awadh Abeid, 1925-1993 .....................................................................