......a sometimes
self-deprecating and occasional tongue-in-cheek look at ourselves and
the world around us ......
Sunday, 9 August 2009
.Newsletter
0248
News you won't find on CNN!
Muslim
organizations react to terror arrests
An entire community cannot be held
accountable for a crime committed by one or
a few of its so called members. Also a crime
cannot be associated with the individual’s
faith or racial identity. The best analogy
in this case
would be that the entire police force cannot
be condemned due to a few police officers
who
take bribes.
The Affinity Intercultural Foundation
issued a
media release this week condemning and denouncing
"any action related to terrorism that cannot be
justified by any religious teaching or common ethics, no
matter what aim or objective they serve".
The Affinity Intercultural Foundation is
a non-profit community based organisation that is
"committed to bringing together people of different
backgrounds to help improve understanding and respect
and to build greater community harmony".
Affinity has been involved in many bridge
building events that help to overcome ignorance and
prejudice since 2000.
The Muslim community is a
law abiding active member of the Australian
society as reflected
in Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mr. Simon
Overland’s comments that “Not all
Muslims are terrorists and the vast majority of
Australian Muslims do not support terrorism”.
Sheikh Fehmi Naji El-Imam, Mufti
of Australia and the Australian National Imams
Council (ANIC) and the Muslim religious leaders it
represents "categorically denounced any form of
terrorist activity on Australian soil" in a
press release issued this week.
IWAQ's
Grads
Nine ladies completed the
Certificate III in Children
Services.
The 17 week course was
conducted by the Academy of
Training and the graduation
ceremony was held at the
Islamic Womens' Association
of Queensland (IWAQ) on 29
July.
Left to Right (BackRow): Khadija Essahli, Hanae ElAshary, Roushan Rahman,
Mahdia Abid, Hanan Safa, Hoda Al Said, Bushra Al
Khirshan, Shatha Al Ali, Yomen Finj
Front row: Michelle Van Peppen (Teacher), Fatima
Abdel-Karim (MC President), Galila Abdel-salam (IWAQ
Director)
A Welcome
to the Land of Down Under
Mahmood, son of Ahmed
and MariamMayat of Newington, Sydney
and Shahnaaz, daughter of Ebrahim and
AyeshaAbdulla of Durban, South Africa
celebrated their recent marriage in South Africa at
a dinner held at the Himalaya Restaurant in
Granville, Sydney last night (Saturday)
Over 50 friends and family from
Brisbane travelled to Sydney for the happy event
where Shahnaaz's sister-in-law, Nasreen Abdulla,
told CCN that it was an occasion to welcome the
bride to Australia and introduce her to her new
extended family.
At the reception held in Durban, Shahnaaz wore an exquisitely
designed wedding gown made
of beaded Swarovski crystals and over 100 meters of
tulle. The theme at the Walimah in Durban was Breakfast
at Tiffany's.
In my earlier appeal I asked for anyone
in the community to come forward with donations for the
Mpilo Hospital's St. Francis Home in Zimbabwe.
The orphaned and handicapped children there are in great
need of care and food and further donations would be
greatly appreciated.
I would like to thank the people that gave money and
item donations and would like to ask one more time if
anyone has any old or spare toys, books and nicknacks/
Money donations are welcome
The donated items will be sold at the Australian
International Islamic College School Fete on Sunday next
week, 16 August 2009
The St. Francis Home Mission Statement:
To
provide individualised quality care to all children To
assist each child to attain maximum capability through
training To
train children to acquire the skills for daily living To
maintain exciting skills and prevent regression
Conditions at the Home have reached crisis levels.
Funding by Government has been steadily getting worse
and as the business community has struggled in
Zimbabwe’s tough economic times it has not been able to
help as much as it used to. The dedicated staff are
struggling to achieve the mission goals. The children
are in such great need of any decent food that they are
just skin and bones. The only food they receive is 1
bowl of soup for breakfast (10am), and 1 bowl of soup
for supper (4pm) when they are put to bed.
The conditions at the Home are at the point where
sanitation is of huge concern to the nurses. The beds
are small with 1 thin old worn blanket and some of the
children are in bed the whole day. The risk of disease
is high in such poor conditions. Some of these children
are abandoned at the Home by their parents, the parents
never to be seen again. For other parents this Home is
the only place that they can turn to for help.
It is for their case that I wish to raise money, through
the sale of books and toys donated by kind folk as
yourselves. Towards this end I will have a stall at the
Australian International Islamic College fete to be held
on 16th August 2009 to sell the donated items.
InshaAllah, I hope to do the same at the Indian Bazaar
and at EidFest later this year.
My uncle is on the board of St. Francis Home and the
funds will be forwarded to him so that they can be put
to best use. In return I will provide you with feedback
on how this project progresses.
I can be contacted at
zmaho5@eq.edu.au or phone me at home on 3273 2786
(if I am at school or out please leave a message with
anyone who is home) so that I can arrange to collect
your items.
May Allah reward you. JazakAllah.
Yours sincerely,
Ziyaad Mahomed
Handy
Hints For Non-Terrorist Muslims
Satire by Ben
Pobjie
Are you
Muslim? Do you find it hard
to convince people that
you're NOT a terrorist?
That's as it should be,
writes Ben Pobjie, but he's
gunna help you out anyway
Right now
the important thing is not to panic.
It's very easy at times of stress and tension to go off
half-cocked and run about doing all sorts of rash
things. Yes, you should tell yourself, a vicious
terrorist cell may have been discovered operating in
Australia. Yes, we may have come perilously close to
seeing a deadly attack on Australian soldiers on our own
soil. Yes, we must now spend the rest of our lives in
constant fear, every fleeting moment of joy or pleasure
tainted by the knowledge that it only brings us one
second closer to the inevitable bullet or car-bomb. But
we can adjust without going crazy and wreaking bloody
vengeance on our Islamic brothers and sisters, no matter
how much they may deserve it.
Still, Australia's Muslims do have a responsibility
here. As many of our finest pundits have pointed out
(including well-known comparative religion expert Andrew
Bolt), all Muslims who wish to live in this country have
a duty to speak out — loud and long and publicly —
against terrorism in all its forms.
CO-WORKER: Did you watch MasterChef last
night?
MUSLIM: No, I couldn't ... I was too busy
denouncing terrorism.
CO-WORKER: That's a relief.
Now some of the Muslims reading this may
be thinking it's enough that they don't actually commit
terrorist acts, but I'm afraid this is wrongheaded to
the extent that it perpetuates a stereotype I have just
made up of Muslims being extremely wrongheaded about
things.
Not committing terrorist acts is enough
for actual Australians, who follow proper religions (ie
Jesus), but when a person makes the decision to be a
Muslim and adopt a Middle Eastern appearance, they make
a decision to assume certain burdens.
One of these is that they must make every
possible effort to assuage the reasonable suspicion that
they are a terrorist. Comes with the territory, I'm
afraid. Is it fair? No, but I don't remember anything in
the Australian Constitution about being fair to Muslims,
and it's this attitude of trying to contradict the
Constitution that makes us suspect these people in the
first place.
So with that in mind, I've prepared a
list of handy hints for Muslims who are eager to put the
rest of us at ease and ensure that we don't shudder with
dread every time we pass a Muslim or a kebab shop or a
Crazy John's outlet. Just follow this five-step plan,
Muslim brethren, and we can all get along. No need to
thank me. Just don't kill me.
Controversial Uighur film a festival sell-out
PUBLICITY
surrounding the screening of
a documentary about exiled
Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer
(pictured left)
ensured it was a sell-out
last night, despite
organisers fighting a
"cyber-war" from China to
withdraw it from the
Melbourne International Film
Festival.
Festival director Richard
Moore said the festival's
website received about
80,000 hits yesterday, 10
times more than usual, and
the majority were from
China.
"There were bulletin boards
going up telling them to get
into our website … they are
specifically telling them to
target us. It seriously is
cyber war," he said.
Hackers attacked the website
on Saturday, replacing
festival information with
the Chinese flag and anti-Kadeer
slogans.
Mr Moore said he was unsure
where it would end.
"We have had five Chinese
films pull out now, one
today — a Hong
Kong-Taiwanese production
called Miaou, Miaou."
Mr Moore said the campaign
had intensified since it
became known that the
festival had refused to
buckle to Chinese Government
demands that the
documentary, The 10
Conditions of Love, be
withdrawn.
"First we had the phone call
(demanding the film be
withdrawn), then we had the
Chinese films mysteriously
withdrawing, then we had the
hackers," he said.
Mr Moore said strict
security would be in place
when Ms Kadeer attended what
was originally to have been
the film's premiere in
Melbourne on August 8.
Filmmaker Jeff Daniels last
night thanked Mr Moore for
standing up to the pressure
being applied by Beijing.
"If it had not been for the
Chinese Government this
theatre would not have been
full tonight," Mr Daniels
said.
Over
the last 7 weeks, Sunnybank Saints have had somewhat of
a rollercoaster ride with regards to the results in
their Division 3 Men’s League.
With finals just
around the corner, the boys picked up a vital and
thoroughly deserved win last night against the leagues 2nd
placed team; North Pine Kalangaroos.
Down 1-0 at halftime,
the team put in a fantastic effort in the 2nd
half to come through with a 2-1 victory. Goals came
courtesy of Riaz Essof and Naseer Ahmid.
The teams captain Arshad Randeree
has been sidelined for the past 3 weeks after colliding
with a fellow player in the game against Logan causing a
skull fracture. He is now confined to a coaching role on
the sidelines. Arshad should be back on the field in
another 3 weeks and the team wishes him a speedy
recovery.
With two games to go, Sunnybank
Saints will be looking to cement their position in the
top 4 and make it through to the semi finals.
The following are the
results of games played over the last 2months:
04/07/2009
Sunnybank
4
Tigers
4
11/07/2009
Sunnybank
4
Fireside
0
18/07/2009
Logan
5
Sunnybank
3
25/07/2009
Sunnybank
11
Nundah Wavell
0
30/07/2009
Life House
3
Sunnybank
2
01/08/2009
North Pine Mavericks
2
Sunnybank
1
08/08/2009
North Pine Kalangaroos
1
Sunnybank
2
The
final draws for the Unity Cup Football Tournament
being held today (Sunday) at the Acacia Ridge Futsal
Centre have been made.
AIIC
students shine in competition
Students of the Australian International
Islamic College (Durack) did particularly well in last
week's Queensland Quran Competition.
A congratulatory
media release was issued by the school acknowledging
the efforts of its star pupils.
Amongst the winners was first placed
Malak Boulem (pictured left).
CCN Turns
250! Soon, insha’Allah
CCN
is about to celebrate its 250th birthday. On 23rd August
CCN will officially turn 250.
As our birthday draws near we’d be more than happy to
hear your thoughts and feelings of the uninterrupted
journey that you have taken together with us over the
last 5 years.
Bald Hills Islamic Society is looking for a Hafiz
to lead the Taraweeh prayers during the month
of Ramadaan (Approx dates - 22nd Aug - 19th Sep
2009).
For further information please contact Mufti Junaid
Akbar- 0412 991 971 or Brother Ismail - 0402 598 456
Jazak Allah Khair Web Master
ISLAMIC SOCIETY OF BALD HILLS
As- salaam Alaikum
I have a Carrom Board which I want to sell. We have
used it a couple of times.
My contact no. is 0414168969.
Jazzak Allah. Shabnam
Around
the Muslim World with CCN
Haj bar move 'a
logistical nightmare'
ALKHOBAR: Haj authorities in
India and Pakistan are
gearing up for a logistical
nightmare after the Arab
health ministers' decision
in Cairo on Wednesday to
restrict the elderly and
children from performing Haj
this year.
Egypt too expected a drop by
30 to 40 percent in the
number of people performing
Umrah and Haj this year
following the Cairo
recommendations.
The ministers unanimously
agreed at the emergency
meeting in the Egyptian
capital that people over the
age of 65 and children under
the age of 12 and those with
chronic illnesses should be
excluded from undertaking
the pilgrimage to Makkah.
"The total number of
pilgrims will not be
restricted," Health Minister
Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah was
quoted as saying by news
agencies. "We will not
change the quota of any
country. We have agreed to
change certain rules" in an
effort to contain the spread
of the H1N1 flu virus, he
said. Representatives of the
World Health Organization
(WHO) also attended the
meeting.
Although the Arab health
ministers' decision has to
be ratified by their
governments, WHO Regional
Director Hussein Gezairi
told news agencies it would
likely be OK'd by the Saudi
government. "The Saudi
government will make (these
conditions) a requirement
... No one will get their
visa unless these
requirements are fulfilled,"
Gezairi told AFP.
In June, Saudi Arabia had
called on the elderly, ill
and other unfit Muslims to
postpone the journey to
Makkah due to fears over the
swine flu virus.
"If those above 65 are not
be allowed to undertake the
journey to Makkah for health
reasons then this is bad
news for almost 35 percent
of our pilgrims," said Hafiz
Naushad Ahmed Azmi, a member
of India's Central Haj
Committee (HCI). Speaking to
Arab News from India by
telephone, Azmi said all
those Indians whose Haj
applications have been
approved are in a
celebratory mood. "For them
the countdown has already
begun. Their preparations
are complete in all
respects. The money for the
once-in-a-lifetime journey
has already been deposited
with the Haj agencies. They
are now only waiting for the
Haj visa to be stamped on
their passports. All those
above 65 will be very
disheartened. This will
break their hearts," said
Azmi.
Of the 115,000 Indians whose
Haj applications have been
approved by the HCI, nearly
20 percent are above the age
of 65.
"However, those above 65
will not be travelling
alone. Some of them are to
be accompanied by sons,
daughters or other family
members. If a man or woman
above 65 is now not allowed
to undertake the journey
then those who were to go
along with him or her will
also drop their pilgrimage
plans," said Azmi. "So it
will affect a large number
of intending pilgrims."
Blackwater accused of
murder in 'crusade to eliminate Muslims'
A series of
allegations including
murder, weapons smuggling
and the deliberate slaughter
of civilians have been
levelled against the founder
of Blackwater, the security
company being investigated
for shooting deaths in Iraq.
“....... views himself as a Christian
crusader tasked with eliminating Muslims and
the Islamic faith from the globe”
The
accusations, including a
claim that the company
founder Erik Prince either
murdered or had killed
former employees
co-operating with federal
investigators, are contained
in sworn affidavits lodged
at a Virginia court on
Monday night.
The company
was the most prominent of an
army of private security
companies employed by the
Pentagon and State
Department to protect
military convoys and guard
US diplomats in Iraq.
The
accusations against Mr
Prince are being made by two
former employees, including
a former Marine, who have
sworn them anonymously as
John Doe No 1 and John Doe
No 2, because they said they
feared for their lives if
their identities were
revealed.
Tazmin Mahomed was born on the 11th of
March 1967, in Laudium, South Africa, the youngest of
four siblings. She matriculated from Iona Convent,
Pretoria, in 1984, where she excelled in public
speaking. It was from this that her love of the English
language developed. She obtained her degree in
Psychology (Hons) from the University of South Africa
and went on to become a successful businesswoman,
volunteer counsellor and writer.
In 2009 Tazmin wrote Secrets of a Muslim Heart, a
collection of poems and essays that are the culmination
of her life lived as a Muslim woman within a western
society, and her journey to assume her true Muslim
identity.
Synopsis
This book is a collection of essays and
poems that chart's the author's remarkable personal
journey, as she moves from being a Muslim woman trying
to find her place in a Western world, to assuming her
true Muslim identity.
This collection of writings speaks to
everyone seeking change or inspiration to find a deeper
meaning to their own lives, and reveals the hidden
wisdom that lies within the process of 'going into
scarf'.
Secrets of a Muslim Heart is an important
contemporary book on Muslim spirituality, dedicated to
women.
Would you like to see the
cover of your favourite book on our book shelves below?
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.
Ingredients
2 ½ cups all bran flakes
1 cup yoghurt
¾ cup brown sugar
1 tsp baking powder
500g self raising flour
250gr butter
1 egg beaten
1 tsp salt
½ cup chopped almonds
Method
On low heat melt butter and sugar.
Beat eggs, add
yogurt and then add butter and sugar
mixture, add the chopped almonds.
Fold in the
sifted dry ingredients.
Pat in oven
tray and slice.
Bake at 180c
for 35 mins.
Remove from
oven and slice into bars.
Return to oven
and bake at 100c to dry out.
A great and healthy dunker for tea and
coffee.
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.
Kareema's Keep Fit Column
Dear Kareema, you always talk
about good technique and posture while executing an
exercise. Can you please explain it in a little more
detail?
A: With perfect training posture and technique, you are
less likely to injure yourself while exercising. The
following are tips which will help improve your
technique:
• Go to the full range of motion that your joint allows
• Target particular muscle groups with appropriate
challenging exercises
• Keep your abs in and maintain good spinal/head/neck
posture throughout the movement
• Don't rush the movement
• Focus on both phases of the movement (up and down)
• Oxygen is energy - breathe effectively throughout the
exercise
All questions sent in are published here anonymously
and without any references to the author of the
question.
The CCN Chuckle
Jallalludin
told his good friend Mula Nasruddin that he wasn't able
to do all the things around the house that he used to do
and asked him why did he think this was so.
"Now, Brother
Nasruddin, I can take it. Tell me in plain Arabic what
you think is wrong with me."
"Well, in plain Arabic," Mula Nasruddin replied, "you're
just lazy."
"Okay," said Jallalludin. "Now give me the medical term
so I can tell my wife."
University of Queensland,
323 Hawken Drive, St. Lucia
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.
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.
To
provide individualised quality care to all children
he film be
withdrawn), then we had the
Chinese films mysteriously
withdrawing, then we had the
hackers," he said.
Over
the last 7 weeks, Sunnybank Saints have had somewhat of
a rollercoaster ride with regards to the results in
their Division 3 Men’s League. 
CCN
is about to celebrate its 250th birthday. On 23rd August
CCN will officially turn 250.
C
