بِسْمِ اللّهِ الرَّحْمـَنِ الرَّحِيمِ 

 Radio Bilal Mission Statement

 ادْعُ إِلِى سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِالْحِكْمَةِ وَالْمَوْعِظَةِ الْحَسَنَةِ وَجَادِلْهُم بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ

CALL THOU (all mankind] unto thy Sustainers path with wisdom and goodly exhortation, and argue with them in the most kindly manner- for, behold, thy Sustainers knows best as to who strays from His path, and best knows He as to who are the right-guided.

(Qur’an 16:20)

 يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ كُونُواْ قَوَّامِينَ بِالْقِسْطِ شُهَدَاء لِلّهِ وَلَوْ عَلَى أَنفُسِكُمْ أَوِ الْوَالِدَيْنِ وَالأَقْرَبِينَ إِن يَكُنْ غَنِيًّا أَوْ فَقَيرًا فَاللّهُ أَوْلَى بِهِمَا فَلاَ تَتَّبِعُواْ الْهَوَى أَن تَعْدِلُواْ وَإِن تَلْوُواْ أَوْ تُعْرِضُواْ فَإِنَّ اللّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرً

O YOU who have attained to faith! Be ever steadfast in upholding equity, bearing witness to the truth for the sake of God, even though it be against your own selves or your parents and kinsfolk. Whether the person concerned be rich or poor, God's claim takes precedence over [the claims of] either of them. Do not, then, follow your own desires, lest you swerve from justice: for if you distort [the truth], behold, God is indeed aware of all that you do!

(Qur’an 4:135)

  Based on the above Words of the Almighty Allah, and as the voice of Ethiopian Muslims, Radio Bilal intends to propagate, inform and disseminate the truth about Islam and Muslims in general and Ethiopian Muslims in particular.

 Based on mutual respect and understanding, Radio Bilal intends to foster and strengthen the peaceful coexistence between the different religious groups in Ethiopia

 Radio Bilal is not affiliated with any political or any particular ethnic group. It doesn’t ascribe to any particular school of thought except to follow the teachings of the Qur’an and the Sunna of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)

 There are numerous media outlets operating out there, and yet most of these media outlets and discussion forums were controlled by governments and special interest groups, and are geared to serve worldly interests, That is why we are urged to follow the just and balanced way even if it is against our own whims or interest ,We are commanded to be the door of goodness by fostering a just and fair mindset, and it is our duty (as Muslims) to promote optimism and positive thinking in opposition to greedy and oppressive mindset. Though there are some efforts to have communication media that operates as close as possible with these injunctions, they became a drop in the ocean compared to the dominant waves of disbelieve and mischief of this period. So it is in our best interest (and all humanity) to free our selves and others from such captivity by erecting more of such good information outlets.

In order to contribute in meeting our media needs, we are in the process of launching a short wave radio broadcast in Amharic for now (and in other Ethiopian languages in the near future). This radio broadcast will start on January 18, 2009 (from 8 to 9 pm Ethiopian local time or Kemishitu 2 sa’at eske 3 sa’at ) on 9610 khz and 31 meter band. The station will be funded by the community, and will strive to serve the best interest of all Ethiopians (and others living in that region). This will also be a platform in sharing the message of Islam to everyone. In supporting this broadcast, the community should feel this support as part of our vicegerency of Allah on Earth.

 Overview and Objectives

Radio stations and other mass media played critical role in shaping the thinking patterns of the mass, and in building consensus (be right or wrong) along with the interest of the information sellers. This is because, in many cases the mass tends to consume information instead of giving a second thought, especially, if available sources are broadcasting more or less in the same line with nominal or brand difference. The bulk of the mass being misguided and fallen into the trap of the unscrupulous information sellers needs an alternative source of information to have a chance to contemplate, and use ones mind to make sense for his or her life on this Earth and the Hereafter. This lack of alternative and balanced information source becomes worse among the mass of Ethiopians in general and Ethiopian Muslims in particular. As a starting step of mitigating this problem, we are in the process of launching a short wave radio to East African Region. In doing so, we planned to follow the just and balanced way which can bring us and our listeners closer to goodness and hence to the favor of Allah. As Muslims, we are forbidden to follow neither our own whims nor the footsteps of those who used their information power to deceive and mislead others. We will strive hard to be the door of goodness by helping our selves and others in fulfilling our collective responsibilities to deal each other with fairness and justice, and manage our shared resources in the best interest of all creation. This can be done in less expensive way by reaching to the wider audience through short wave radio. This can serve as one of platforms in reminding our collective and individual responsibilities, and help us to see the benefits we can rip (in both worlds) from working together for our common interest.

  Our long term objective is to contribute in the process of Amr bil Ma’aruf (commanding good) and Nehi anil Munker (forbidding evil and vices) as we are commanded by Allah: “you are the best of peoples evolved for mankind enjoining what is right, forbidding what is wrong and believing in Allah“ Quran 3:110.

Our objectives specific to this proposal are

• to share the message of Islam,
• To discourage any activities detrimental to life, health, honor and property of individuals and societies.
• To remind our community members their rights and responsibilities by highlighting issues critical to (their role in) their country as community of believers in Allah.
• promote justice and fairness by encourage every one to stand for justice and fairness and hence create peaceful, productive and prosperous society

In short to bring goodness on earth by giving chance to people of khair to speak khair (good) as we commanded by our beloved prophet and narrated by Ibn Abass: “Anyone who believes in Allah and the last day let him be good to his neighbour. Anyone who believes in Allah and the last day let him be hospitable to his guest. Anyone who believes in Allah and the last day let him say something good or be silent.” (Related by Al-Bukhari, Muslim, Ahmad and others).

 Programs

Quran and Hadith

Current affairs

Current issues reporting and discussion from different angles (viewpoints)

Discussion points (broadcasting discussion points)

Interviews with experts

Lectures by scholars

Program Participants

Scholars and experts about the issue at hand (either in the form of interview or lecture)

Reporters from different section of the country report on current and hot issues

Students and other sections of the society (opinion, letters, unique incidents or events, poems and observations)

 Station Broadcast, wavelength, time and region covered

Language:        Amharic

Broad cast frequency: on 9610 kHz and 31 meter band.

Time    1700-1800 UTC (8-9pm. ethio.kemishtu 2-3)

Beam region: East Africa