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The Muslim Youth Speak Out! on the 24th of May will tackle the difficult issues Muslim youth face living in Australia.

“Muslim youth will emerge from this event inspired, empowered and skilled to successfully face their critical challenges” said Riyad Rahimullah, event co-ordinator and Muslim Youth and Community Development Officer for Muslim Youth Services.

“At the Muslim Youth Speak Out! we will hear practicing Muslims, male and female, speak about how they have faced their trials and come out successful in the eyes of Allah” said Riyad Rahimullah.

“Among them will be Nazeem Hussain (from Salam Café and Fear of a Brown Planet) who will give comic relief and anecdotes of how he faced some of his challenges as a young Muslim growing up in Australia”

“Respected figures in Brisbane will then engage in discussion with the youth about the nature of specific trials, and how to triumph over them.”

“There will be something for everybody. Topics that will be covered include spiritual challenges, adhering to the laws of Islam, resolving one’s identity crisis, issues to do with confidence and drive, how to handle discrimination and social outcasting whilst also positively portraying Islam, wearing the hijab, handling peer pressure, and youth activism in community issues.”

“I think the event will be inspiring especially having female and male role models speaking …Those that come will learn a lot: how to deal with issues they have gone through or are going through, and how to overcome adversity” said Susan Almaani, co-founder and board member of Al-Nisa Youth Group Inc.

When asked of his opinion regarding the Muslim Youth Speak Out! Imam Peer, Chairman of the Council of Imams Qld said “The event is fantastic. Its vital … I think this event is the first of its kind.”

Dr Mohamad Abdalla, Director of Griffith Islamic Research Unit, observed that “This event will be very fruitful for the youth of Brisbane. It is something that has not been done before.”

“Youthhood is a critical time in shaping one’s life” said Umar Batchelor, President of FAMSY (Federation of Australian Muslim Students and Youth).
For this reason, Imaam Peer, Chairman of the Council of Imams Qld said “Allah made the age of youth an amaanat, a trust.”

But youth face a lot of trials and challenges growing up as Muslims and growing up living in Australia.
“Living in Australia there are a lot of challenges of different kinds. Temptations, career fulfilment, local and global crises, and social problems” said Imaam Peer.

“A youth may find it harder to practice Islam. Their peers can have a great and negative influence on them. It’s an impressionable age; they are easily influenced by ideas, Islamic and non-Islamic. And they might not know how to deal with Islamic dilemmas and challenges.” said Umar Batchelor.

Susan Almaani said “A lot of youth don’t have the strength or confidence to practice Islam fully. For example, young muslimahs don’t wear the hijab because of the public or because their family don’t want them to.”

“Young Muslims need to be strong, confident and have the support behind them. That’s what Muslim Youth Speak Out! aims to do,” said Susan Almaani.

The Muslim Youth Speak Out! will take place on Sunday the 24th of May at Griffith University Mt Gravatt Campus. It will begin at 9.30am in building M10 1.30 and will conclude with prayers and a lunch finishing at 1:30pm. All Muslim youth, community leaders and imams are welcome.

Muslim Youth Speak Out! is organised, sponsored, and/or supported by a very large number of Muslim organisations, local, national and international.

By Azima Omar, Al-nisa Member

 
On a perfect Sunday afternoon the Al-nisa group held a High tea at Mount Coot-tha's Botanical Gardens.

It was held in The Camellia room which is enclosed by glass windows that allowed everyone to overlook the spectacular scenery of the gardens.

Over a hundred ladies attended the event.

The Master of Ceremonies for the event was Aliyah Deen, Al-nisa's president. In her speech to the ladies present Aliyah highlighted the aims and objectives of the Al-nisa group, their past accomplishments and introduced the current management committee.

Aliyah also spoke of the fact that Al-nisa was a non-profit organisation whose aim was to bring together the Muslim youth.

A silent auction and sale table helped raise funds for the group. A variety of items were on sale including coin purses, an array of Japanese inspired tea sets and floral printed tea canisters. All the ladies were treated to a delectable selection of pastries, scones with strawberries and cream and a variety of scrumptious sandwiches on a three tiered cake stand.

The Al-nisa group would like to thank all the ladies for their much needed support and attendance in making the Ladies High tea a memorable event.

 
American Muslim advocacy group, CAIR, called on imams to use daily and Jummah prayers in the nation’s mosques as a platform for providing information about preventing the spread of swine flu.

Their Action Alert states that Imams are in a unique position to offer public health information to American Muslims because they lead congregational prayers every day in the more than 2,000 mosques nationwide.

CAIR is suggesting that imams stay up-to-date on the spread of swine flu in their areas and stress the possibility of temporarily avoiding Islamic cultural traditions such as handshakes or hugs of greeting during a local health crisis. Imams are also being asked to be aware of swine flu symptoms that include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue.

“In times of crisis, public health and safety takes precedence over normal actions and activities that could lead to the spread of infection,” said CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad. “Imams, because of their access to those attending mosques every day, are well-placed to offer advice to community members based on input from public health authorities.”

Awad added that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) encouraged actions designed to prevent the spread of contagious diseases. The Prophet told his community, if disease breaks out in a particular area, “do not leave that place, and when you hear of its spread in another place, do not go there." (Al-Tirmidhi) Another hadith states: "A sick person (with a contagious disease) must not be brought among the healthy." (Fiqh-us-Sunnah)
 

IMMEDIATE ACTIONS REQUESTED:
 

CAIR is asking imams to offer flu prevention tips provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which include:
 

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
 

CAIR, in consultation with Islamic scholars, is also suggesting that imams and mosque officials consider taking other preventive actions recommended by the CDC when swine flu is confirmed in a community, including:
 

1. Worshipers who develop flu-like symptoms should be strongly encouraged to seek medical advice by phone and to self-isolate themselves in their homes.
2. Cancellation of classes in Islamic schools should be considered if there is a confirmed or a suspected case of swine flu in the school population.
3. Gatherings at mosques, even otherwise-mandatory Friday congregational prayers, should be temporarily cancelled if there is a risk of spreading infection.

Source: www.cair.com

 
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Statistics research for most people is not something they would spend a moment thinking about let alone dedicate any of their professional careers towards.

For USQ academic Associate Professor Shahjahan Khan however there are few things that get him more excited than explaining to people the importance of statistics.

Dr Khan is passionate about the vital role that statistics plays in government, industry and business and he has dedicated much of his academic life to this area of research and teaching.

This dedication has seen the USQ academic become one of the world’s foremost leaders in statistics, with Dr Khan now having published papers in statistics publications across the globe. He is also serving as the Founding Chief Editor of the prestigious Journal of Applied Probability and Statistics (JAPS) based in the USA.

'Statistics is a mathematical science involving the collection, representation, interpretation, and analysis of data, and is used to make predictions and inferences in decision making based on the results from realised data,' A/Professor Khan said.

'They play a very important role in many different areas from the environment under the sea to that above the sky, and everything in between, including decisions on business and medical science etc, as such, statistical methods and research are being used more and more in real life.

'Research in this area has really grown in the last few decades and there are now many people globally, who are working with statistics. It is truly viewed as the grammar of science and art of decision making in the face of uncertainty.

'In the past few years I have been lucky enough to have some of my international professional activities published in leading statistics publications from Australia, UK, USA and Netherlands.'

As well as much of his work being published around the world, A/Professor Khan has also been responsible for the organisation of a number of international statistics conferences, which brought together some of the finest number crunches from across the world.

'In 2007 I organised the Ninth Islamic Countries Society of Statistical Sciences (ISOSS) conference in Malaysia, which brought together statistics researchers and practitioners from around the world to discuss advancements in statistics.

'I also chaired the international scientific committee of an international conference on the recent development of statistics in December 2008, and have once again been working as the main organiser of this year’s ISOSS conference to be held in Cairo, Egypt, 20-23 December 2009.'

Dr Khan, who was also the first Australian to receive the prestigious ISOSS Gold Medal for outstanding research and contribution to ISOSS in 2007 has presented many keynote addresses and shared stages with leading statistics researchers as an invited speaker. He was awarded Queensland Multicultural Service Award in 2002 by Premier Peter Beattie.

With his heavy involvement in statistics research set to continue in 2009, A/Professor Khan is continuing to strengthen his international research profile, and promote USQ at an international level through his on going professional leadership and achievements.

The Muslim Business Network is soliciting comments, views and suggestions from members and non-members alike so that they can better serve the community.

To access the survey (which takes just a few minutes to complete), visit the MBN website: http://www.mbn.net.au/?content=survey.

The deadline for the survey is 15 May 2009.

Have your say on www.ccnforum.ning.com