MACRA BANS RADIO ISLAM PROGRAM
By Staff Reporter
News reaching malawimuslim.com is that Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) has banned Radio Islam from broadcasting the popular Chichewa program called “Tipange Dawa“.
According to unconfirmed reports, the government’s broadcasting and telecommunications regulating agency, MACRA, summoned Radio Islam management to its offices after they (MACRA) allegedly received some complaints against the program, and they demanded that the program should be scrapped off the air or face the consequences of having their licence revoked.
Tipange Dawa is a very popular comparative religion program that broadcast recordings of live dawah meetings that are conducted throughout the country by various Muslim dawah groups. The program comes on air every Saturday night and is repeated on Sunday from 09:00 am local time.
The program is popular due to its direct and explicit references to the Holy Bible and Holy Quran verses, especially during question time (which are always asked by non-Muslims), which makes listeners appreciate the diversity and authenticity of the Islamic faith.
The ban on “Tipange Dawa” program is with immediate effect and until “investigations are over.”
When this reporter tried to tune in to listen to the program on Radio Islam on Sunday at 09:10 am, it was found to be off air.
Radio Islam management was not immediately available to comment on this development.
If this is true,then I think the authority has acted in a biased way.they supposed to hear from both sides and if possible get views of both Muslims and Christians on the issue.Ihad a chance of listening to the programme.I didnt see anything wrong with the programme.moreover,it was a radio programme on a private radio station.those who were not interested in the program had a choice of tuning to other radio stations instead of making a decision for all listeners.this is a violation of freedom of association and freedom of information.hope the authority concerned will be impartial in their duty concerning this issue.the only crime here is for one(the sheikhs undertaking the dawah ) to study the Bible and present Biblical authority on topics they debate on.
May Allah protect us and all muslims world over from such perscutions.Ameen
barning a programme on reasons pertaining to complaints by peope is totally inappropriate and baseless..if a person doesnt want to listen to the programme..let him switch off his radio..this reason is not enough to have our wonderful radios licence being revoked..
Its a very sad development. Its a fight against Islam. Wa Llahu mutimmu noorihi walaukarihalkafiruun. Are issues aired false? They are facts which can be verified and referenced.
Why macra to ban tipange dawa programm on air, why this macra not ban makiyolobasi and other programs on mbc and television malawi?
I understand that the people at RAIS are working tirelessly to re-tune the program to comply with MACRA's demands. If they work faster, the program would be back on air this coming weekend.
Its not only MACRA which is biased. Tune to TVM and watch how many so called gospel programmes ar aired. Even on Friday when we are supposed to watch more Islamic programmes, what happens. This world is never fair. But we know no matter what the trueth shall merge out. We know who has complained. Let them know this with or without Tichite Dawah people will continue embracing Islam.
Macra u r in mbarasing urselves no wonder may b becouse there r no Muslim reprisentatives. Macra is a baised org u listen 2 Radio Maria the way they insult Islam & besless withnut any proove shame on you Macra. May almighty Allah protect us Aameen
"TRUTH HAS COME FALSEHOOD SHOULD BE PERISHED" HOWEVER THEY CAN TREAT MUSLIMS STILL THEY WILL CONTINUE PREACHING THE TRUTH. TO YOU MACRA OFFICIALS FROM WHOM HAVE YOU RECEIVED THE DIRECTIVE. ARE YOU AWARE THAT WE HAVE FREEDOM OF WORSHIP, SPEECH & ASSOCIATION, HOW COME MUSLIMS SHOULD BE PUNISHED. LET ALONE TVM/MBC USED TO AIR SEVERAL CHRISTIANS PROGRAMMES BUT WE HAVE COMPLAINED NOWHERE HANCE WE OUR VIEWS WILL NOT BE ENTERTAINED.
HOWEVER, IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM A SOLUTION IS NOT TO BAN A PROGRAM, ADVISE THEM HOW IT SHOULD BE TO FIT YOUR WISHES.
MAY ALLAH FORGIVE AS THEY DONT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING.
Thats what happen when truth has been burning in the heart for long. But, is that the way to go about it, probably that due to ignorance on how to deal with ISLAM.
As the history tells, when ISLAM is oppressed its when it springs up. ONLY ALLAH HIMSELF DEFENDS ISLAM.
I believ each &every one hav got freedom of worship so wat is happening wit this macra?Tipange dawa teaches alot.
The message has reached the right ear and that is minor resultant reaction.MACRA should know that there are means of reaching an ear of Nsanje to Chitipa.And we have survived in difficult times.
Dear brothers and sisters
Let me tell you that MACRA DID NOT BAN the program. As there were complaints from other religious institution to MACRA, the licensing body decided to raise the matter to radio Islam.
Our brother Sheikh Yusuf who doesn't understand Chichewa but manages the radio was also not aware of the content of the program and to what extremes the program goes.
The lawyers of the radio are working on the matter but from the director of radio Islam came an order to SUSPEND the program until further investigations into the matter.
Just to raise some points to which people complained.
It is great that the program shows how people have seen the truth about our Deen. But in some contents it forces these people to castigate other religions. For example, for a journalist to ask a simple question saying; don't you feel sorry for those who haven't seen the truth?
That there simply is asking someone to talk wrong of other people.
Same way with current political affairs. Other people are joining a certain party later on get on radio or tv castigating and talking low about there previous party. We all know that's not a good habit. So from a religious point of view, it's more wrong!
Let's also not forget that despite being allowed air license, those controlling the licensing body are not Muslims. Should they have been, I don't think they would be happy to give a lisense to other religions just to be castigated in turn. We wouldn't like it! So brothers and sisters, let's be a little sensitive sometimes.
May Allah make us wise inshaAllah.
This is also what i have just learnt from a reliable source. Thanks brother for enlightening the ummat and its my hope that the fire will diminish now.
Assalaam alaikum,
I would like to say shaitan is at the highest degree of his work by taking many to hell. They know many have embraced the true religion of Allah through the program.
Abdul, cant the director of Rais appeal for the ban?
What other measures could be taken in use?
Eventually, I am very upset with what Macra has done to the Malawi nation, especially muslims in particular. I am also aware that every person regardless of religion, creed etc, has free access listening to any radio program. Then, it will be up to the listener to follow or not according to his/her own understanding.
Once again, I remain dissappointed.
Abdul Razaak.
Salams to all,
I am a devoted muslim and dont question it about what i am to say.
While some say end justfies means, islam on the contrary stresses that both end and means must be justified islamically. What im driving at is that tipange dawa has for a long time stepped too much on our friends of different belief. I dont hate the program but i think the way dawah had been done lately leaves a lot to be desired. The dawa of the Like of Abdul Karrem Kamweno and Ali Abdul i dont have problems with but Proffessor Zambia's approach is confrontal. If we have won some souls with the approach of proffessor then its by chance.
I will end by saying that I pray the program returns to the air but in a modified version of the former.
May ALLAH hear our duas and heal our souls, 'amin.
What you have said is very fair akhy. sometimes we are insensitive in the way we present dawah, when talking to a christian, i think we should not step too much and too harsh on our colleagues. To me, dawah came very softly from a senegalee brother (who is dead now-May Allah grant him Jannatil-Firdous) with nurtured sensitivity that by the permission of Allah, I easily saw the truth. Lets build a face of love and make our way of life the BIGGEST DAWA. Aaameeeen!
Allah the almighty will provide wat z best 4 we (muslims) lets wish the authorities handling the issue well for them to come up wth palatable ideas or guidelines on how best dz cud be solved inshaallah.
Well, its a sad development to hear that a program of dawah has been banned, i cannot not make a sided comment on this issue being that i do not know the details of the issue at hand. Every Muslim that benefit from the program should go back to the closet and get that weapon to shoot at the obstacle, we all have weapon, the weapon of Du'aa, don't just complain,at the moment, this is the Qadar of the program. We are dying to have a 24/7 islamic radio station in my country Zambia, I hope with coming of new breed organisations powered by du'aats burning with a passion for dawah like Islamic Information beareau-Zambia and many other organisations one day insha'aAllah they will have means to start up something like that(Radio) here in Zambia. All the best in the "Tipange Dawah" program.
Just an update; the program was back on air on 12 March, 2011 unedited. We are yet to hear about the outcome of the discussions with MACRA.