......a sometimes
self-deprecating and occasional tongue-in-cheek look at ourselves and
the world around us ......
Sunday, 3 January 2010
.Newsletter
0269
News you won't find on CNN!
Brisbane's Muslim community farewells drowned boy
Emergency services
workers search for Salman Abdirahman Arte at
Wishart on Tuesday. Photo: Daniel Hurst
Brisbane's Muslim and Somali
community gathered to mourn
a young Salman Arte,
13, who drowned while trying
to cross a rain-swollen
creek.
His body was found on
Wednesday, more than 24
hours after he went missing.
He and three of his brothers
got into trouble while
crossing Bulimba Creek at
Wishart, in Brisbane's
south, on Tuesday afternoon,
while trying to get to their
local basketball court.
The boys were swept away in
the swollen creek.
Three managed to get to the
bank, but Salman did not
make it.
His brothers last saw him
going under, grasping on to
a broken tree branch with
one arm.
A funeral was held for
Salman on Thursday afternoon
at Holland Park Mosque, in
Brisbane's southeast.
About 100 men and boys
turned out for the
janazah prayers, with
many wearing traditional
white dress.
Crews
meticulously search Bulimba Creek, doubling
back over the stretch of water where the
missing 13-year-old boy was playing when he
got into trouble. Photo: Daniel Hurst
United Somali Association of
Queensland President Hussein
Ahmed said the past two days
had been very difficult for
the Somali community, but
the family was coping well.
"They have started the
grieving process and all of
the community are rallying
behind them and offering
them all the support
necessary, emotionally and
financially, whatever they
can offer," Mr Ahmed told
reporters outside the
mosque.
Salman's father Abdirahman
Arte kept a vigil by the
creek during the ordeal,
clinging to the hope that he
would be found alive.
Salman was born in the Ifo
refugee camp in Kenya after
the family fled Somalia, and
never had the opportunity to
learn how to swim.
Mr Ahmed said the family of
12 arrived in Australia a
year ago and the community
was now working to raise
funds for them.
After the funeral, Salman's
casket was laid in front of
the mosque, where the men
gathered in a straight line
and prayed.
Salman, who was to turn 14
on Friday, has been buried
at Mt Gravatt Cemetery.
Last Wednesday, 30th
December, was the day for
the girls!
The Australian Muslim Youth
Network (AMYN) organised a
“Girls’ Holiday Fun Day” for
teenage and adolescent girls
at the AMYN Islamic Centre,
16/157 North Rd, Woodridge.
The fun day kicked off at
1pm with the girls
introducing themselves to
each other.
There was an array of fun
games and activities
performed in groups. Games,
puzzles, arts and crafts
were part of the activity
trail.
The games were interactive
and allowed the girls (and
mums) to get to know each
other.
Each activity had its own
prizes and even some mums
had a bout of good fortune
winning prizes too!
It was great to see all the
girls having fun. The ones
shy in the beginning, soon
made friends with their
sisters and got in the fun
and activities.
There was heaps of food
including chocolates,
marshmallows, cakes and a
hot sizzling juicy BBQ!
All in all, everyone had a
great day..
It was a chance to build
relationships based on love
and sisterhood between the
girls – teenagers and even
the mums.
To so many sisters who
helped and participated,
thank you, jazakumullahu
Khair for making this Girls’
Holiday Fun Day so enjoyable
for all.
For more events in future
please visit our site,
www.AMYNweb.com.
CCN@thecinemas
Keep
and eye out for INVICTUS - a
graphic and stirring
portrayal of Nelson
Mandela's first term in
office after his 27 years in
prison.
The movie centres around the
1995 Rugby World Cup event
that captured the
imagination of the South
African nation.
One South African who has
just seen the movie had this
to say about the film:
Matt
Damon did a great job having been tutored by voice
coaches and spending time with Francois Pienaar. But
the incredible performance by Morgan Freeman in his
portrayal of Nelson Mandela will send goose bumps
all over your body. From the opening tense moment of
a combi that is seen following Madiba on his early
morning walk, the hope that is given by his release
to the final scene at the stadium, it will have you
cheering in your seat. The production and attention
to detail is painstakingly accurate and that
includes Jonah Lomu.
Whilst the sport of rugby may have no commercial
interest to the American audiences who may shy away
from this movie, in my estimation Morgan Freeman
would be deserving of an Oscar for the impeccable
performance of Nelson Mandela. In fact you might be
forgiven for seeing him as the real Madiba. I hope
you get a chance to see the movie and don’t be shy
to sing along with the stadium crowd scene.
Directed by
Clint Eastwood, the title of the movie comes from a poem
written on a scrap of paper that Mandela had in his
prison cell. In the movie, Mandela gives the "Invictus"
poem to Springbok captain, Francois Pienaar, before the
start of the Rugby World Cup. In reality (and according
to Wikipedia), Mandela provided Pienaar with an extract
from Theodore Roosevelt's "The Man in the Arena" speech
from 1910.
FAMSY
call for comment
By FAMSY's Umar Batchelor
FAMSY is revamping its
mailing service for you. The
improvements will come
through a number of means.
Some of the ideas include a
monthly professional
bulletin, including quality
articles, Famsy’s news,
editor's comments and
possibly special topics
bulletin.
However, the end product
depends on your
contribution.
We highly value your
opinion. There is also an
option for you to win a $50
voucher for
www.mybookstore.org.au.
Dr Mohamad Abdalla,
the Founding Director of the
Griffith Islamic Research
Unit (GIRU) and Director of
the National Centre of
Excellence for Islamic
Studies Australia (NCEIS) at
the Key Centre for Ethics,
Law, Justice and Governance
at Griffith University has
been appointed as an
Associate Professor in the
Faculty.
The
Australian Journey: Muslim Communities - DIAC
publication
Adapted from
Australian Journey - Muslim
communities
The
Australian Journey – Muslim communities,
a new DIAC publication, is characterised by
contributions of Muslims from all over the world who have
made Australia home.
In this and following issues of CCN we highlight one of the successful Muslims in Australia
from the report and their thoughts about what it means to be both a
Muslim and an Australian.
Fadle El Harris
Theatre & Film
Many Muslims in
Australia are also
carving out
successful careers
behind the camera,
such as Fadle El
Harris who has run
his own film
production, video,
multi-media and
animation company
since 1999.
As a
professional
filmmaker, I was
inspired by the
contributions
Muslims have made
over the centuries.
It
was not until I was
involved in such a
documentary that I
realised Muslims are
not new in Australia
and have been one of
the oldest and most
successful
communities ever
established.
I
believe it’s my
obligation to
continue to be part
of this tradition
through my own
filmmaking and excel
in a society that is
full of
opportunities.
Fadle El Harris
Around
the Muslim World with CCN
No beer money in Amla's
coffers
Hashim
Amla (pictured left), the Muslim Protea who
does not wear a Castle logo on his cricket shirt, on
Sunday said that he did not pocket a cent from his match
fee.
Nor did he profit from his share of money pooled from
awards that the team won in Test matches.
But Amla, 26, a veteran of 38 Tests who was granted
permission by South African Breweries and Cricket South
Africa not to wear the Castle logos on his clothing in
five-day matches, refused to comment further on wearing
the sponsors' logos and utilisation of earnings from
Test matches.
Promoting beer is against the teaching of Islam and as
such Amla became the first player to be the exception.
On Sunday the batsman referred
the Daily News newspaper to his agent, Ismail Kajee,
when he was asked to comment on his financial gains from
Test matches.
Kajee categorically said: "Hashim does not and will not
at any time in his career consume the earnings from Test
matches."
As a Muslim, Amla was forbidden liquor or to take
interest money or gamble, Kajee said.
"Since Hashim is a devout Muslim, he understands his
religion well, his beliefs are staunch and knows what is
right and wrong. At the outset he made the decision not
to wear the Castle logo on his clothing, which went
public, and at the same time he also took the decision
that the money earned from the Tests, sponsored by
Castle, were forbidden for his use.
"The money has been given away - Islam teaches us to
give it away without having to make a song and dance of
it."
Kajee, also a devout Muslim,
said that he, too, did not derive a cent from Amla's
Test earnings.
"As an agent I do not take a commission from the revenue
that Hashim earns in Test matches. The money earned from
the Castle Tests is not pure, according to our Islamic
beliefs, and as such I also am forbidden to use it," he
said.
"I cannot give you any figures as to how much Hashim has
earned since his first Test for South Africa. It's not
something we are proud of - the money is dispensed as
soon as it comes in.
"I think the bottom line is that everyone wants to know
how much he takes from the Test matches, or have been
keen to find out whether he uses money from the Castle
Tests while not wearing their logos in matches. The
questions are now answered well."
Dr. Mohammed Moosajee
(pictured left), manager of the Proteas, and
Goolam Rajah (pictured right), the logistics
manager, also do not personally pocket any money from
the Castle Tests.
Moosajee and Rajah, like Amla, do not wear the Castle
logos on their clothing during the five-day game.
Moosajee, who referred the Daily News to Amla's agent on
Sunday, said: "We do not get any share of prize-money
from the Castle Tests."
London, (IRNA):
Nigerian Muslims living in
Britain have disassociated
themselves with having any
links with the alleged
attempted bombing of an
airliner in Detroit on
Christmas Day perpetrated by
Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab.
Such acts are “not in our
character,” the Council of
Nigeria Muslim Organisations
(CNMO) said in a statement
in conjunction with Muslim
Association of Nigeria UK
(MAN).
“We wholeheartedly condemn
the vicious and cowardly act
of terrorism as a complete
violation of the teachings
of Islam,” their statement
said.
“The act of inciting terror
in the hearts of defenceless
civilians, the wholesale
destruction of buildings and
properties, the bombing and
aiming of innocent men,
women, and children are all
forbidden and detestable
acts according to Islam and
the Muslims,” it said.
The Muslim News
Woman in burqa turned
away from clinic
HOLLAND: A 23-year-old Muslim woman from Utrecht
who says she was not allowed into a first aid clinic on
Christmas Day with her three-month old baby because she
was wearing a burqa has submitted a complaint to the
equal opportunities committee.
According to media reports on Tuesday, the doctor was
prepared to examine the baby with his father but would
not allow the mother to be present.
Last year the government announced plans to ban the
wearing of burqas in schools and said it might consider
bringing in a similar ban for hospital and other
healthcare staff.
“A classic is
something that everybody wants to have read and nobody
wants to read.”
- Mark Twain
This week
CCN
recommends
The Mother of Mohammed: An
Australian Woman's Extraordinary Journey into Jihad
by
Sally Neighbour
In The
Mother of Mohammed, Four Corners journalist Sally
Neighbour tells the extraordinary story of how a
dope-smoking beach bunny from Mudgee, Robyn Hutchinson,
became Rabiah-a member of the jihadist elite. Known
among her peers as 'the mother of Mohammed', and as 'the
Elizabeth Taylor of the jihad' in CIA circles, Rabiah
lived for twenty years on the frontlines of the global
holy war.
With a
reputation for tough investigative journalism, Sally
Neighbour persuaded Rabiah to tell her story.
She
investigates how Rabiah became a trusted insider to the
Jemaah Islamiyah, Taliban and al Qaeda leaderships, and
married a leading figure in Osama bin Laden's inner
sanctum.
In The
Mother of Mohammed Sally Neighbour discovers a world of
converts and true believers. This unique and confronting
account from inside the jihad helps us to understand the
magnetism of the Islamist cause.
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
½ kg Chicken breasts cubed
Fresh Lasagne sheets – cut into 3
1 bottle of Béchamel sauce
1 tsp green chillies
1 cup Tomato Chutney (see recipe below)
1tsp salt
1tsp ginger and garlic
1 tab olive oil
1 tsp chilly powder
½ cup water
1 cup of pizza cheese (a mixture of cheddar
and mozzarella cheese)
Method
1. Place ginger garlic in olive oil
2. Add cubed chicken, salt and chilly powder
and cook until chicken is done.
3. Add chutney and braise until mixture is
fairly dry but still a little saucy.
4. In a casserole layer tomato chutney to
cover the base.
5. On a third of the lasagne sheet place 1
tab chicken filling on the edge and roll.
6. With the seam side down place the
cannelloni in the casserole and continue
until the casserole has been filled.
7. Place ½ cup of water into it.
8. Mix the béchamel sauce with the green
chillies and pour over the cannelloni to
cover it completely – as any exposed
cannelloni will dry out.
9. Top with cheese and cover with foil.
10. Bake on 180deg for half an hour, then
remove the foil and bake for further 5 mins
until cheese is light brown.
Tomato Chutney
Braise 2 chopped onions in 1 tab olive oil
until light brown add 2 tsp garlic, braise
for a minute before you add 6 chopped
tomatoes, 2 tsp salt 1 tsp chilly powder and
¼ tsp turmeric, 1 tab tomato paste, 1 tab
vinegar and allow it to simmer until the
sauce thickens.
Puree the chutney and its
ready to use in pizzas, pastas or as base
for curries, baked beans, fish curry etc
Note: I normally
double this quantity and keep some aside in
the fridge for unexpected guests who may
drop by.
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
NEW YEAR, NEW YOU!
All the best for the year 1431 and 2010 -- Time to clean
up your act and eat your words....
We all want to live healthier, happier lives and there
is no QUICK FIX! It's time to commit and sign a contract
with yourself to put in some serious YOU-time. Here are
a few pointers to get you started:
• Don't wait for tomorrow or the next day, YOUR TIME IS
NOW.. so start exercising today!
• Eat yourself healthy - eat what you love, just look at
alternative/healthier ways to prepare it
• Cut down on portion size
• Aim high - set some realistic goals for yourself and
watch your fitness levels soar
• Make gentle exercise / incidental exercise a part of
your daily routine
• Believe in yourself - nothing is impossible
• Boost your energy even more by staying hydrated -
energy levels tend to drop if you're dehydrated,
especially in the warmer months
• Set some good sleeping habits - consider going to bed
a little earlier if you don't tend to get enough sleep
every night
• Sleep yourself slim - a good night's sleep could help
you lose weight
• Reward yourself every time you reach a goal you've set
• Plan a few mini-holidays to break up your busy
schedule
• Make your Sunday a sun-day, take a 15 minute break to
sit out in the sun and take in some vitamin D
(preferably before 10am or after 3pm)
• Love yourself and what you do - find your passion and
take control of your destiny
All questions sent in are published here anonymously
and without any references to the author of the
question.
The CCN Chuckle
Mula Nasruddin was a millionaire, who collected live
alligators.
He kept them in the pool in the back of his mansion.
He also had a beautiful daughter who was single.
One day he decides to throw a huge party, and during the
party he announces, "My dear guests . . . I have a
proposition to every man here. I will give three million
riyaals or my daughter to the man who can swim across
this pool full of alligators and emerge alive!"
As soon as he finished his last word, there was the
sound of a large splash!! There was Jalaaluddin in the
pool swimming with all he could and screaming out of
fear.
The crowd cheered him on as he kept stroking as though
he was swimming for his life. Finally, he made it to the
other side with only a torn shirt and some minor
injuries.
Mula Nasruddin was impressed.
He said, "Brother Jalaaluddin that was incredible!
Fantastic! I didn't think it could be done! Well I must
keep my end of the bargain. Do you want my daughter or
the three million riyaals?"
Jalaaluddin says, "Listen, I don't want your money, nor
do I want your daughter! I want the person who pushed me
in that water!"
Australian Muslim Youth Network (AMYN)
Find out about the latest
events, outings, fun-days, soccer tournaments, BBQs
organised by AMYN. Network with other young Muslims on
the
AMYN Forum
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 libellous,
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.
Keep
and eye out for INVICTUS - a
graphic and stirring
portrayal of Nelson
Mandela's first term in
office after his 27 years in
prison.
Hashim
Amla (pictured left), the Muslim Protea who
does not wear a Castle logo on his cricket shirt, on
Sunday said that he did not pocket a cent from his match
fee.
C