......a sometimes self-deprecating and occasional tongue-in-cheek look at ourselves and the world around us ......

Sunday, 7 June 2009

.Newsletter 0239

News you won't find on CNN!

Trivia Night with MBN

By all accounts this year's Trivia Night was a most enjoyable evening out with family and friends.

There were some very challenging questions - especially the ones on Australia for many of the 250 people who attended.

Many University and High School students made up the numbers.

The questions were set by MBN's President, Shummis Rane, and quiz master Haleem Rane.

The 'Rane Brain' were the winners followed by the 'Deen Machine' and the wooden spooners were the 'Misunderestimated' team.

A number of spot prizes were awarded with Mr Khatree senior receiving the award for the most grandchildren!

The Rain Brain

Misunderestimated

Mohammed's Hand Out

The hold-up that turned into a hand-out. A man armed with a baseball bat attempted to rob Mohammad Sohail’s convenience store in Brisbane.

Mohammad pulled out his un-loaded rifle, and gave him $40 on the condition that he doesn’t rob again.

Listen to his story and how his robber became an instant Muslim.

Prince on Speaking Tour

Prince Turki Al Faisal (centre in picture), former Saudi Ambassador to the United States of America, is on a speaking tour in Australia.

He has given lectures in Sydney and Canberra.

Federal member for Moreton, Graham Perrett MP (left in picture), met with the Prince during the week and invited him to visit Brisbane.

His Excellency Mr Hassan Talat Nazer (right in picture), Ambassador of Saudi Arabia, was also present at the meeting..

CCN gets Up Close and Personal with.........Aisha Dennis

Aisha Dennis is a lady who found Islam 21 years ago. A former Silat martial arts instructor Aisha now is a member of a convert support group, and gives her time to help others who want to learn more about Islam. She is also a woman who likes to dream big, raising thousands of dollars for important school projects.

What do you do?

I am a Teacher’s Aide at Runcorn Heights State school. I am only working part time this year to concentrate more on my deen, and my family. I am also the Community Liaison Officer for the ESL (English as a Second Language) unit which is the person that settles in new families into the school. I also organise the different parent cultural groups to meet regularly. Fundraising is a big part of my community work at the school, raising money for the ESL unit and our Harmony House project. One of our major fundraising projects is our Harmony Day Festival held every year. I also teach religion, and do some English tutoring.

What is Harmony House?

Harmony House is a concept that my ESL boss and I came up with 5years ago. We wanted to have a permanent space where we could teach ESL and also have a space that the community could have access to for e.g. parent or community meeting room, prayer area, and multifaith library. This would be a special place where students, parents and the community could come together. With the help of the local community, school fundraising and a very generous person, an old Scouts Hall was donated to the school. Unfortunately we have encountered some planning problems, which have put a stop to the progress of this project at the present time. It’s a great shame but we are looking at other options at the moment.

How did you become a Muslim?

I was raised as a Catholic, but, but when I started finding out about other religions and ways of life my journey started. I studied other religions and found Islam by the mercy and grace of Allah through the knowledge given to me from my Silat martial arts instructor and grand master. I read about the Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) and started visiting the Mosque. One day I received a sign, “literally” a gold figure appeared in my mind. This was the sign I was looking for.

I looked into other religions, and found Islam through my Martial Arts Grand Master. I started going to the Mosque, and one day had this eerie vision that in the end showed me that I finally found what I was looking for.

How did your family feel?

They were disappointed, and shocked at first. Nothing much was known about Islam back then. They thought it was a phase I was going through, but they were still supportive. I still have a great relationship with them today. My father said recently to me “your religion is good for you”

Why did you feel you had to change your name?

I didn’t change my name, through respect for my parents, I kept my name. You don’t have to change your name. But, I did take up a Muslim name; I think it’s important to have a good Muslim name with a good Islamic meaning.

Do you assist other converts?

I am a member of the Muslim Women Convert Support Group, and we organise regular meetings for converts. I was just recently involved in the organisation of a short course on Islam for new Muslims. The course was run over 4 weeks and we had 40 participants doing the course, about 26 men, and 14 ladies. We wanted to create a good relaxed Islamic environment for the participants to learn in. We had great learned Imams, and other knowledgeable people come to speak. The course gave information on praying, fasting, different aspects of the religion including marriage. It was very rewarding to be a part of such a successful course.

You didn’t have a match making service there as well?

Actually, we had a couple who did meet up through the course, and I think they will be getting married shortly InshAllah.

What types of people are converting to Islam?

All different types of people are converting to Islam. At one stage, it was the older female, who maybe had been married to a Muslim, or had a troubled background. But now the females are younger, stronger girls, well educated, and knowledgeable. They come from a range of occupations, nationalities, and ages. We had Chinese girls, a lawyer, an Aboriginal, and an Irish girl in our last group. In the last 12months we have had a lot of younger people converting, ages between 18-25years.

Why is there a divide between reverts and born Muslims.

Sometimes there is a divide. There is a barrier. Some converts think they are better than born Muslim. Personally I don’t believe that. We are all equal is the eyes of Allah. I personally think sometimes some converts feel pressure from born Muslims. Islam has so much knowledge for us to learn. It’s a lifetime of learning and converts have just started. We need to have patience and diplomacy with our new Muslims and make sure we are good examples for them. I think culture is sometimes a problem, it can get mixed up with religion and everything becomes a bit confusing. That’s one good thing about being an Aussie convert we don’t have that problem.

Is it revert or convert?

I like to say convert, because people who were from another religion or way of thinking converted to Islam. I personally don’t like the sound of Revert.

And what do you enjoy the most about Islam?

I enjoy the peace of Islam, the knowing there is an answer for everything. The strong family unit is another thing I enjoy about Islam. Doing everything together as a family and everyone knowing what is expected of them.

Deadly Dozen

1. Do you still enjoy the Christmas celebrations... No

2. If I have a spare hour I would love to... Read

3. I’m glad I taught my kids.... Respect others

4. A job I had when I was younger was... a Pharmacy Assistant

5. My kids hate it when I.... talk to their friends

6. If someone had to play you in a movie who would you like it to be ... Meg Ryan

7. Which reality TV show would you go on... The Amazing Race

8. What sport would you love to try... I’ve tried lots, but maybe jet skiing

9. Do you take your environmental bags shopping.. No I always forget

10. I regret not learning how to.... speak another language

11. It might be daggy but I love.... my slippers

12. If you found $10 in a shop would you keep it? No

Jumma in Hangzhou

The Great Mosque of Hangzhou is one of the oldest mosques in China, predated only by the Great Mosque of Guangzhou and the Great Mosque at Quanzhou.

It was, like the other two, probably first erected sometime in the seventh century under the Tang Dynasty. It was rebuilt between 1314 and 1320 by a Persian missionary named Aladin during the Yuan Dynasty, and rebuilt again during the second half of the fifteenth century under the Ming Dynasty.

Situated in an area of 3 300 square meters, the Phoenix Mosque (or the Phoenix temple, as it often referred to as), is one of the major ancient mosques in southeastern China's coastal region.

It is listed as a key cultural relic under the protection of the state government and boasts a fusion of Chinese and Arabian cultures.

The tablets gallery has 27 ancient stone tablets carved in Chinese, Persian and Arabic.

The mosque is currently undergoing major renovations.

Elaborately carved inscriptions from the Ming Dynasty

adorn the mehrab

At Jhumma last Friday

Continental Halal Meats - Hangzhou style (outside the mosque)

Artist's impression of the new structure

An ABD franchise opportunity goes abegging!

Arranged marriages should end for Muslim women

The male-dominated Arab world was given a sharp warning by Qatar’s Doha Debates that Muslim women expect greater freedom in choosing a husband.

An audience of more than 350 people who attended the last in the current season of The Doha Debates voted 62 per cent to 38 in favour of a motion that Muslim women should be free to marry anyone they choose.

In an often impassioned debate Asra Nomani, Bombay-born American author and journalist, said she wanted Muslim women to be able to exercise their basic human right to freedom of choice.

Speaking from her own experience of a loveless, arranged marriage, she said Muslim women needed to “know the suffering, the loneliness, the lovelessness that often comes out of marriages where women cannot make their own choices…and their spirit is broken”.

Ms. Nomani, currently adjunct professor of journalism at Georgetown University, refuted arguments that Muslim families should decide what was in the best interests of young women. She said families should “offer unconditional love and allow people to make free choices.

“It is for us to show the compassion that Islam is all about.”

Muhammad Habash, a Muslim cleric and member of the Syrian Parliament, who joined her in supporting the motion, said it was wrong to interpret the Koran as advocating the subjugation of women.

“I believe Islam gives women full human rights and the right to choose her own spouse.

“We, as parents, have the moral responsibility to protect our daughter, the right to correct and even to boycott her, if necessary, but I do not have the right to force her (to do anything) beyond this.”

Speaking against the motion Thuraya Al Arrayed, a Saudi writer, columnist and member of the advisory board of the Arab Thought Foundation, argued that freedom was a “beautiful concept” with “hazy and sometimes conflicting definitions”.

She believed that marriage was too important a decision to leave up to the emotions of inexperienced young people.

“Youths under the ages of 25-27 are not the most wise or experienced. They go by (mostly physical) attraction and need to be satisfied with the shortest possible wait.

“But marriage should not be about a “quick solution.”

She said it was ultimately too important to be decided by two young people because of the impact it has on others, most of all on children.

Yasir Qadhi, an American Muslim cleric speaking against the motion, suggested that if the debate was merely about granting “greater freedom” for women he would support it.

But because it appeared to be about giving them “unconditional rights” he had to oppose it since Islamic law forbade Muslim women from marrying a non-Muslim man as well as other women.

“Anyone arguing for ultimate freedom is arguing to destroy these boundaries.”

PANELISTS

Asra Nomani, American Muslim Writer & Activist FOR
Yasir Qadhi, American Muslim cleric AGAINST
Muhammad Habash, Syrian parliamentarian and cleric FOR
Thuraya Al Arrayed, Saudi writer and columnist AGAINST

Speaker bios

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Now have your say on the subject at www.ccnforum.ning.com

All the Fun of the International Food Fair at the Gold Coast Moque

Gossens' Climbs Another Everest

Blind sportsman, Gerrard Gossens, who was the fastest finisher in last year's CresWalk2008 and a keynote speakers at Crescents of Brisbane's fund raiser dinner in 2007, will take part in Channel 7's Dancing with the Stars.

Around the Muslim World with CCN

Reform candidate's wife new political star in Iran

TABRIZ, Iran — Presidential hopeful Mir Hossein Mousavi waited in the wings as his wife warmed up the crowd. Zahra Rahnavard quickly had them roaring in approval — and her husband beaming — as she ticked off her demands for women's rights and other reforms.

"We love you, Rahnavard!" shouted the Tabriz University students, as Mousavi clapped.

While the political power couple is a common fixture in the West, Rahnavard is rewriting the role of political spouse in conservative Iran — and could give a boost to her husband's candidacy in the June 12 presidential election.

With her sharp wit and fluid oratory, Rahnavard has fast become a political draw on her own, as well as an important asset to her husband's campaign as the main pro-reform challenger to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Masoud Heidari, a rights activist, said the country "needs to respond to accumulated demands from women and Rahnavard is playing a deservedly good role in that direction."

She brings a rare mix: the liberal cry to fire up reformers, paired with the revolutionary credentials that bring grudging respect from hard-liners.

Even her outfit gives a nod in both directions — an ultraconservative head-to-toe black chador, with a colorful head scarf peeking out and a bag made by traditional village weavers.

Read the rest.....

A New Beginning

Thank you very much. Good afternoon.

I am honored to be in the timeless city of Cairo, and to be hosted by two remarkable institutions.

For over a thousand years, Al-Azhar has stood as a beacon of Islamic learning; and for over a century, Cairo University has been a source of Egypt's advancement.

And together, you represent the harmony between tradition and progress. I'm grateful for your hospitality, and the hospitality of the people of Egypt.

And I'm also proud to carry with me the goodwill of the American people, and a greeting of peace from Muslim communities in my country:

Assalaamu alaykum.

Read the rest.....

CCN Reader's Discussion Forum

Have your say on www.ccnforum.ning.com

Recent topic of discussion: When is halal meat not halal meat? CCN 237

Kareema's Keep Fit Column

Four ways to fire up your training regime: Train Smart(er)

Have you stopped making progress while working out?? Maybe you're muscles are just bored with the same old thing. Here are four solutions to re-ignite your interest and help your muscles and you reach your goals faster!!

1 PERIODISATION:

How do you do it? Break your training up into cycles - (1 to 7 days), (2 to 3 months) and (6 to 12 months). These cycles should progress gradually and culminate at an event or deadline. Manipulate as many training variables as possible, eg: sets, repetitions, exercises, rest periods and weights etc.

2 TRAINING CIRCUIT:

How do you do it? Circuits can be tailored to fit any goal. For example, to lose weight, combine strength and cardio exercises to burn lots of calories quickly. For the most effective circuit workout, keep your rest intervals to a minimum (30 - 60 secs). You burn fat and tone muscle with circuit training!

3 SUPERSETS:

How do you do it? Work legs for example, using moderately heavy weights, do 10 - 15 repetitions of leg extensions, then move immediately to squats and do 10 - 15 repetitions. Rest for a minute and then repeat twice more.

4 PLYOMETRIC TRAINING:

How do you do it? A training method in which leaping, jumping and other explosive moves are used develop muscle power. Choose 1 to 3 plyometric moves that closely mimic your sport and do them twice a week.

TOGETHER, LET’S FIGHT GLOBESITY

Kareema

My Health and Fitness

Tel: 0404 844 786

(Accredited Member of Fitness Queensland)

Need an answer to a fitness related matter? Send your question to Kareema at fitness@crescentsofbrisbane.org.

All questions sent in are published here anonymously and without any references to the author of the question.

CCN Readers' Book Club: You are what you read!

Would you like to see the cover of your favourite book on our book shelves below?

Then simply email the title and author to thebookclub@crescentsofbrisbane.org

Double click a book cover to find out what others think of the book

The CCN Readers' Book Club

CCN has set up an online Book Club at Shelfari to connect with CCN book readers at:

http://www.shelfari.com/CCN_BookClub

Using the book club you can see what books fellow CCN readers have on their shelves, what they are reading and even what they, and others, think of them.

The CCN Readers' Book Club

KB's Culinary Corner

CHINESE FRIED RICE

Ingredients
½ cup oil - ½ cup rump steak – cut into matchsticks - 1 tsp chilli garlic paste - 1 green chillie sliced, 1 cup green, yellow and red pepper (sliced) - ½ cup carrots - cut into julienne strips - 1 tsp salt - 3 cups cooked rice - 2 tablespoons soya sauce - 2 tablespoons chilli garlic sauce - 1 egg (for rice) - ½ cup spring onions (chopped) - 2 eggs for omelette.

Method
• Heat oil and stir fry chicken and chilli garlic paste
• Add peppers and carrots, chilli and stir fry for 2 minutes
• Add the salt, cooked rice and soya sauce
• Break one egg in the centre of rice, mix in with the rice and add the spring onions
• Make omelette with eggs, salt, pepper, green chillies and dhannia
• Cut omelette into strips and garnish rice with spring onions and omelette strips

Serve hot.

Do you have a recipe to share with CCN readers?
Send in your favourite recipe to ccn @crescentsofbrisbane.org and be our "guest chef" for the week.

The CCN Chuckle

Jalalludin is walking along with Mula Nasruddin and says to Mula Nasruddin, "I'm a walking economy."

Mula Nasruddin asks, "How so?"

"My hair line is in recession, my stomach is a victim of inflation, and both of these together are putting me into a deep depression!"

Notice Board

Click on image to enlarge

Bridges of Understanding Carrara, Gold Coast

Sounds of Light

Pakistan Crisis Dinner

World Refugee Day

IWAQ BBQ

CANCELLED

AIIC Annual Fund Raiser

Course: Road to Recovery

Women in Afghanistan

Hajj Workshop

Speed Intros

Parenting Workshop

GUMSA Seminars

Golf Weekend

6-8 June CANCELLED

NEW DATE\

Tafseer at Bald Hills

Islamic Classes for Teenagers

AMAL Muslim Helpline

Achieving Wellness

The CCN Date Claimer

(provisional)

Date	Day	Event (Click on link)	Organizer	Venue	Contact	Time
7 June	Sunday	Fund Raiser for Swim Program CANCELLED	IWAQ	Svoboda Park, Kuraby	3423 3022	10am to 3pm
13 June	Saturday	The Building Bridges Project	MYServices	Southport Community Centre	0402 529 395	10.30am TO 2.30pm
14 June	Sunday	Haj Workshop: Abu Muneer Ismail Davids	Lutwyche Mosque	Lutwyche Mosque	18000 ISLAM	10am TO 5pm
16 June	Tuesday	Women in Afghanistan: Challenges & Hopes	Griffith Uni Multifaith Centre	Griffith Uni Multifaith Centre	0404 280 582	7.15pm TO 9.30pm
20 June	Saturday	Annual Fund Raiser	Australian International Islamic College	724 Blunder Rd. DURACK	3372 1400	6pm TO 8.30pm
27 June	Saturday	Parenting Workshop	Al-Nisa	Rochedale Mosque, 2674 Logan Rd.	0430 511 637	7pm
28 June	Sunday	World Refugee Day Festival	Multicultural Development Assn	Annerley Soccer Grounds	333 7 5400	All day
19 July (provisional)	Sunday	Lailatul Me'raj
10 July	Friday	Sounds of Light Concert 2009	Human Appeal International	QPAC, Southbank	1300 760 155	6.30pm
17 July	Friday	Speed Intros for Muslims	Julu Latif	Sebel Citigate Hotel, Brisbane	0400 142 786	8pm
25 July	Saturday	USQ Islamic Centre Open Day	Islamic Soc. of Toowoomba	USQ Islamic Centre, TOOWOOMBA	3735-7051	10.30am to 3pm
26 July	Sunday	Mini Tennis Tournament	Shabir Elias	Griffith University, Mt Gravatt Campus	0415 467 868	8.30am
6 August (provisional)	Thursday	Lailatul Baraat
22 August (provisional)	Saturday	Start of Ramadhan
16 September (provisional)	Wednesday	Lailatul Qadr
19 September (provisional)	Saturday	End of Ramadhan
20 September (provisional)	Sunday	Eid-ul-Fitr
26 September	Saturday	Eidfest	Eidfest Committee	Mt Gravatt Showgrounds	0418 722 353	All day
27 September	Sunday	MBN Eid Dinner	Muslim Business Network	The Coffee Club, RNA Showground	secretary@mbn.net.au	7pm
3 October	Saturday	QPS/EECQ Cup: 2009 Qld Multicultural football tournament	QPS & ECCQ	TBA	0438 114 619	9am to 5pm
3 October	Saturday	Eid Dinner	Islamic Society of Darra	Darra Mosque, 219 Douglas St, Oxley	0418 757 157	5.45pm
4 October	Sunday	QPS/EECQ Cup: FINALS and FESTIVAL DAY	QPS & ECCQ	TBA	0438 114 619	9am to 5pm
24 October	Saturday	Breast Cancer Awareness	Crescents of Brisbane	TBA	0404 296 297	TBA
27 November (provisional)	Sunday	Eid-ul-Adha
18 December (provisional)	Friday	Islamic New Year

To claim your date for your event email ccn@crescentsofbrisbane.org.

RECURRING EVENTS

The ladies Taaleem programme this Thursday will be at the home of

Catija Omar

31 Crestwood St, Kuraby

11-12pm
All Ladies Welcome!

Sunnah Inspirations

http://www.sunnahinspirations.org

Contact: 0408 270 421

University of Queensland,
323 Hawken Drive, St. Lucia

Every Monday

Event: Weekly Learning Circle: Sharh Riyad-us-Saliheen (An Explanation of 'Gardens of the Righteous'

Venue: Prayer Room, University of Queensland

Time: 6.45pm to 7.30pm

Every Friday

Subject: Fiqh Made Easy

Venue: Room E215 Building 1 (Forgan Smith), University of Queensland

Time: 7pm to 7.50pm

Every Friday

Subject: Tafseer al Qur'an (Explanation of the Qur'an)

Venue: Room E215 Building 1 (Forgan Smith), University of Queensland

Time: 8pm to 9pm

Sunnah Inspirations is a non-profit organisation to cater for Muslim social support and supplying information to Muslims and non-Muslims. They have been doing various activities around Australia, and have organised Da'wah information stalls at various universities in Brisbane. More info can be found on their website above.

CCN @ Facebook

Catch Crescents Community News at

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Crescents-Community-News-CCN/30163063922

Please feel free to post an entry on our Wall, start up a Discussion thread and/or become a Fan.

Useful Links

Crescents Community News (CCN) Readers' Forum

Discussion Forum & Social Network for CCN Readers

Queensland Muslim Historical Society Inc.

Promoting the study and awareness of the rich history of the Muslims of Queensland

Young Muslims of Queensland

Social network for young Muslims of Brisbane

Sunnah Inspirations

Providing information about Islam - its beliefs, culture, practices, dispelling misconceptions

Kuraby Mosque

Holland Park Mosque

Al-Nisa

Provide young Muslim women in Queensland with support and opportunities to express themselves

Gold Coast Mosque

South African National Halaal Authority (SANHA)

Muslim Womens' Convert Support Group (MWCSG)

Network of Muslim women converts from the Brisbane and Gold Coast areas of Queensland.

Australian International Islamic College (Durack)

Eidfest 2009

Kotku Mosque - Dubbo NSW

Islamic Society of Algester

If you would like a link to your website email ccn@crescentsofbrisbane.org.

Write For Us

The best ideas and the best feedback come from our community of readers. If you have a topic or opinion that you want to write about or want seen covered or any news item that you think might be of benefit to the Crescents Community please e-mail ccn@crescentsofbrisbane.org.

Share your thoughts, feelings and ambitions for our community through CCN.

If there is someone you know who would like to subscribe to CCN please encourage them to send an e-mail to ccn@crescentsofbrisbane.org with the words “Subscribe Me” in the subject line.

Disclaimer

Articles and opinions appearing in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Crescents of Brisbane Team, CCN, its Editor or its Sponsors, particularly if they eventually turn out to be libelous, unfounded, objectionable, obnoxious, offensive, slanderous and/or downright distasteful.

It is the usual policy of CCN to include from time to time, notices of events that some readers may find interesting or relevant. Such notices are often posted as received. Including such messages or providing the details of such events does not necessarily imply endorsement of the contents of these events by either CCN or Crescents of Brisbane Inc.