Al sami'oun madrassa

In the Year 2003, we started by conducting interpretation of Friday prayer sermons from English/Swahili/Arabic to Sign Language. We then formed the Coastal Muslim Association for the Deaf in Mombasa. In 2005, we started classes at Serani Primary School, Old town Mombasa. We then expanded to different areas like Likoni, Msambweni, Mtwapa, and Kwale conducting outreach programs.

My inspiration came from attending the Friday prayer sermon in Nairobi at Jamia masjid in the year 2003. The sermon was being interpreted from English and Arabic to sign language. It was the first time in Kenya that an initiative like this was done for the Muslim deaf community. Interpretation of the Friday prayer sermons to the deaf, was and still is a gap in many parts of the country.

I thought to myself it is a gap that needed to be attended to in Mombasa as well, where I reside. I went to the interpreters and requested one of them to join me to replicate the same in Mombasa so that we reach the many Muslims from the deaf community. They agreed and I came up with a simple and brief plan inviting them, in the next two to three weeks, to conduct the interpretation of the Friday sermon. I went back to Mombasa and had a meeting with the masjid committee members of the idea and they accepted to be the first in the Coastal Province then to conduct Khutba via sign language for the deaf community. I initiated mobilization of the deaf Muslim community with the help of a friend and invited them to start attending sermons and made sure that they could get the same sermon given by the Imam.  The first Friday prayer sermon to be interpreted via sign language was held at Mbaruku Masjid in Old Town, Mombasa. We then saw the need to have a separate female interpreter so as to reach the deaf female Muslims, although Mbaruku Masjid had no section for the women. We then moved from Mbaruku Masjid to Baluchi Masjid which had a section for the female members at the masjid. We were also faced with a challenge in paying a female sign language interpreter. However, we are still in search of a female interpreter for the Friday prayer sermon at the masjid.

During mobilization I realized that most of the deaf Muslims lacked Islamic knowledge because the community of persons with disability, especially the deaf were supported by the Christian churches/ programs especially education and livelihood challenges. That is when I thought of starting classes for the deaf Muslim community in Mombasa. We did survey of the Muslim deaf community by engaging the first attendees from the sermon after the Friday prayer asking them where most of them conducted their businesses and whether they were willing to spend 1-2 hours learning Islamic studies. They accepted and requested to have the sessions closer to their jobs or engagements. We approached different members of the Muslim communities and decided to locate the learning space at Serani primary which was easy for most of the Muslim deaf members to access and attend classes.

1. Serani Primary School in Old town Kibokoni, Mombasa proximity to Baluchi Masjid (Makadara grounds)

1. In 2005 we started with 40 students (Adults) and currently we have 135 students (55 children and 85 Adults-(48 women and 37 men) ).

• Conducting Islamic studies for the Muslims who come from the deaf community (Both for Adults and Kids)
• Tracking, Mapping and collecting data of Muslims who are deaf within coastal region
• Counselling Services for Muslim deaf community; Marriage counselling (pre-marital counselling) and others.
• Alternative despite resolution (ADR) for marriages within the deaf Muslim community
• Supporting the deaf Muslim community on livelihood challenges; both monetary and material
• Entrepreneurship programs

We conducted Mass Nikah (Marriages) for the Muslim deaf communities and fundraised dowry for the brides on behalf of the grooms. Furthermore, we offered group pre-marital counselling services.

• Relationship dispute that led to two members being arrested and we had to bail them out from the police custody.
• We witnessed one of our students become a widow. She lost her husband who was also our student through an accident. The widow was left with the responsibility of raising two deaf children and the third child was normal. We managed to support her raise the school fees for the children.
• One of our students in Msambweni who was deaf and dumb. He was very determined to learn the Islamic religion, however life took a turn on him despite he was also among the students who got some financial support once in a while. He lost his sight completely. It has become difficult to help him and further support is needed.

• We were able to start the First Coastal Muslim Deaf Association
• Conducting mass nikah for the Muslim deaf community in Mombasa after realizing they were in relationships not a marriage (making it halal way).
• One of the deaf Muslim members supported financially to take teaching course and immediately getting work abroad to teach.

• The deaf students have livelihood challenges due to poverty, joblessness; to support them in their daily lives
• Lack of proper funding for the madrassa to support so as to conduct the activities and operations with ease
• Lack of learning materials
• Lack of fixed space to conduct madrassa activities (Serani Primary education is a temporary space for our operation)
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• The deaf students have livelihood challenges due to poverty, joblessness; to support them in their daily lives
• Lack of proper funding for the madrassa to support so as to conduct the activities and operations with ease
• Lack of learning materials
• Lack of fixed space to conduct madrassa activities (Serani Primary education is a temporary space for our operation)
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MPESA

Paybill : 522533

Account Number : 7693839

BANK DETAILS

Bank Name : Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) 

Account Number : 1319059058

Account Name : Al Sami’oun Madrassa

Swift Code : KCBLKENX

Bank Code : 01136

REMITLY/MONEYGRAM MOBILE WALLET

Ahmed Athman – 0722632595