......a sometimes
self-deprecating and occasional tongue-in-cheek look at ourselves and
the world around us ......
Sunday, 18 July 2010
.Newsletter
0297
Arab Film
Festival in Brisbane
The Arab Film Festival is
touring across Australia
again this year, bringing to
DENDY Portside a selection
of Arab films to share with
Brisbane audiences.
Action-packed drama,
documentary, thrillers,
animation and shorts – once
again the Festival program
is packed with fresh stories
from across the Arab world.
The Arab Film Festival
Australia (AFFA) aims to
showcase stories emerging
from diverse Arabic speaking
cultures to all Australian
audiences that reflect the
complexity and diversity of
Arab experiences.
Furthermore the aim is to
address the (mis)representations
of Arab culture through film
by providing critical spaces
and give exposure to
alternative representations
of Arab culture, Arab
commentary and
self-representation.
Nothing else has the power
to immerse you in another
place quite the way cinema
can and this festival will
give you the inside story on
the contemporary Arab world.
Walk the streets with these
filmmakers, follow the
stories of people from
Egypt, UAE, Lebanon, Dubai,
Kuwait, Palestine, Bahrain,
Morocco, Algeria, Iraq and
Australia. Unravel the huge
themes and poignant human
struggles,
For two nights only, 30th
and 31st of July, Dendy
Portside will be proudly
hosting the Arab Film
Festival 2010.
CCN is offering its readers
double passes for the
Opening Night’s Film CITY OF
LIFE, which premiered at the
Dubai Film Festival 2009.
To enter the draw simply
send an email to
ccn@crescentsofbrisbane.org
with the answer to the
following question by 5pm
Friday 23 July:
In which country is CITY OF
LIFE set?
The CCN
Classifieds
Wanted
I’m looking for furnished 2
or more bed rooms home/unit
for rent. Any brother going
overseas for the next couple
of months and wishes to rent
their house/unit, please
contact 0414 280 599
The
QMHSoc Update
Janeth Deen
The Queensland Muslim
Historical Society Inc. (QMHSoc)
was contacted by the Mt
Gravatt District Community
Centre Inc. to write a
script on the history of the
first five Muslim families
in Mt. Gravatt. The Mt
Gravatt District Community
Centre Inc applied for and
received funding to produce
a video on the early Muslims
in Mt Gravatt. It will only
be a thirty minute video
designed to be shown as a
documentary for television.
QMHSoc has successfully
completed its part of the
project. This involved
writing the script and
planning the video. In order
to do this, it needed the
support of the Imam at
Holland Park, one
representative of each of
the early Muslim families
which will be featured, the
local member for the Wishart
ward and a few other people.
Islamic music was also
provided by Ahmad Abu
Ghazaleh.
Also featured in the video
will be the Muslim section
of the Mt Gravatt Cemetery
and the Mt Gravatt State
School which was the only
school in the area and was
attended by children of the
early Muslim families.
The video, which is
presently being edited, took
two months to write, turn
into a script, get all the
people involved in the video
together and then do the
actual filming. InshaAllah,
the video will be launched
on the 18 August at 10 am in
a hall at the Mt Gravatt
Showgrounds. Invitations
will soon be sent out by the
Mt Gravatt District
Community Centre for the
launch.
The whole project focused
only on the first families
who settled in the Mt
Gravatt area, landmarks of
importance to Muslims in the
Mt Gravatt area and seniors.
Questions asked in the video
were "How did the White
Australia Policy impact on
Muslims at the time? What
did the Muslims do to
support each other and the
community? Why was the
mosque so important? What is
the future of Muslims in Mt
Gravatt?"
The Queensland Muslim
Historical Sociey Inc were
delighted to work on this
project as the video will be
distributed to libraries and
will be on sale to the
public. It will give some
focus on the role Muslims
have played in Brisbane and
explain some of the
difficulties faced by the
early Muslims in adapting to
Western culture under the
White Australia Policy. All
the early families could not
be mentioned as the time
allocated for the project
was short.
The Queensland Muslim
Historical Society Inc. has
been established to record
the history of Muslims and
their activities in
Queensland. It is up to the
Muslim community to provide
information for them to
record this history. There
is still much to be written.
The Society needs family
history from all the
different nationalities,
Muslim business
organisations, sporting
groups, mosques, etc. The
QMHSoc will be happy to to
write your history to be
recorded for future
generations. This has long
been an overlooked need and
has become one of the main
objectives of the Society.
SMS
Notifications - Ramadhan and Eid ul Fitr
The Australian National
Crescent Sighting
Coordination Centre (ANCSCC)
will be providing both LIVE
updates online as well as a
national SMS notification of
the results of crescent
sighting for the upcoming
lunar month of Ramadhan as
well as Shawwal. The 1st day
of Ramadhan effects the
commencement of fasting, and
the 1st day of Shawwal
effects the end of fasting
and establishes the day of
‘Eid ul-Fitr.
ANCSCC is the only
nationally coordinated
effort in Australia, with
Scholars for on-time advice
and resolution of all
sighting claims, which
undertakes monthly crescent
observation. Physical
sighting of the crescent is
the only Shar’i and
scientifically acceptable
method available to
establish the Islamic lunar
months.
To register your mobile
number for SMS notification
of the results of crescent
observation (and which day
to start and end fasting),
please go to
http://crescentwatch-australia.alghazzali.org
and enter your mobile
number.
To check LIVE updates for
the results of crescent
observation online, go to
http://crescentwatch-australia.alghazzali.org.
Make sure you refresh the
browser regularly to update
your webpage with new
information. This service is
also available via your
Twitter account- just update
your setting to include
ANCSCC on your settings!
The Al-Ghazalli Newsletter
of the Sydney-based Al-Ghazalli Centre can be
viewed
here.
Topics include:
• The Ansaar Project's
Sleeping Bag Drive
• Mizaan Living - Kayaking at Pittwater
• XpressO - Dirt! The Movie
• Ramadhan Food Packs
• Understanding the Fiqh & Science of Crescent
Sighting
• Crescent Sighting - Sha'aban
• Mizaan Ecology - Newcastle
• The Ansaar Project @ Elizabeth Bay
• Seerah of the Prophet
• The Ansaar Project @ Exodus
• Fiqh of Fasting
Around
the Muslim World with CCN
Celebrating
the Record-breaking Exhibition
UK: More than
25 UK-based Arab Ambassadors
and VIPs attended a special
gala reception at London’s
Science Museum on Thursday
the 24th of June to
celebrate the
record-breaking run of the
1001 Inventions exhibition.
Since
launching in January 2010 in
London – the first venue on
the global tour – 1001
Inventions has broken all
known records with more than
400,000 visitors during the
6-month run in Britain’s
capital city.
In attendance
at the gala event, which
marks the end of the
exhibition’s residency in
London, were representatives
from almost a dozen Arab
nations, including Lebanon,
Algeria, Tunisia, Iraq,
Kuwait, Lebanon, Egypt,
Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.
Hosts for the evening were
Prof. Salim Al-Hassani,
founder and chairman of 1001
Inventions, and Chris Doyle
who is Director of the
Council for Arab-British
Understanding (CAABU).
Speaking
about the event, Prof. Al-Hassani
said: “I am honoured to have
hosted so many important
dignitaries from the Arab
world and we are looking
forward to sending an Arabic
version of the exhibition to
the Middle East in the
coming year.
For now
though, our next great
milestone will be the launch
of our exhibition in the
historic city of Istanbul
mid-August 2010.”
The exhibition also played
host to Prof. Ekmeleddin
Ihsanoglu (pictured),
Secretary General of OIC,
who expressed great
enthusiasm for the project -
a sentiment shared by the
Arab Ambassadors and VIPs at
the gala event, many of whom
expressed a desire to bring
the 1001 Inventions
initiative to their home
territories.
Liberal
Democrat politician and
academic Jonathan Fryer, who
attended the event, said he
was “delighted” by the
exhibition and its content.
“Many people in the West are
blissfully unaware of how
much modern civilization
owes to Arab scientists,
inventors and thinkers. It’s
not just that the Arabs
saved much of classical
Greek and Roman writings and
knowledge during the
European Dark Ages:
From
Constantinople to Baghdad,
there was a ferment of
activity and creativity,
which is documented and
conveyed in a highly
entertaining way in this
magnificent exhibition,
supported by the Jameel
Foundation.”
The 1001
Inventions exhibition
completed its residency at
London’s Science Museum on
the 30th of June 2010. The
next venue on the five-year
global tour will be
Istanbul, following which
the exhibition moves on to
North America
CCN's
London-based correspondent,
Adam Stewart, wrote:
My family
and I have been to 1001
Inventions twice, and we
have even brought our
Brisbane-based visitors to
the exhibition as part of a
welcome tour of London. Part
of the exhibition includes
the award winning 13 minute
film, entitled “1001
Inventions and the Library
of Secrets” which has won 20
awards including the coveted
“Grand Winner for Best Film”
at the 53rd New York Film
Festivals on 3rd May 2010.
The video starring Sir Ben
Kingsley, is
now available on youtube.
French entrepreneur offers to pay veil fines
A French
businessman is offering to
sell properties to help
Muslim women pay any fines
that they may receive for
wearing the full veil in
public if a law is voted
through France's Parliament.
Lawmakers will vote on the
bill on Tuesday, which would
see women fined 150 euros if
they wear the full veil,
known as the burqa or niqab,
in public places.
In a statement published in
several newspapers, Rachid
Nekkaz, who tried to stand
in the presidential
elections in 2007, said he
would use proceeds from
property sales for a 1
million euro fund to help
women pay any fines.
France, home to the Europe's
largest Muslim minority with
about 5 million Muslims, is
the second country after
Belgium to want to ban the
veil on its own soil.
Nekkaz is setting up an
association, 'Hands off my
Constitution', which he said
viewed banning the veil in
the street as
unconstitutional.
Critics also see the bill as
difficult to enforce and say
only a tiny minority of
Muslim women wear the full
veil and that the
legislation is a step toward
tighter restraints on
individual freedom.
Supporters of the ban argue
that wearing garments which
hide women's faces violates
the ideals of secularism and
equality.
The country already bans
Muslim head scarves and
other religious symbols from
schools and voters have
indicated support for a ban
of the full veil.
The government is expecting
broad support for the bill
after opposition Socialists
said they would not hinder
its adoption.
Source: Arab
News
Malaysia Swoons Over Hottest Imam Reality Search
Pregnant Muslim women who fast during Ramadan
are likely to have smaller babies who are more
prone to learning disabilities, a new study has
found.
Researchers from the U.S said this trend was most marked if
mothers-to-be fasted early on in their pregnancy
and during the summer when longer days meant
they went more hours without food.
They also found that the women were 10 per
cent less likely to give birth to a boy if they
had fasted.
They're young, tall-ish, dark and handsome and
they've captured the hearts of Malyasian TV viewers
mesmerized by their quest to be declared the
nation's hottest up-and-coming imam.
Contestants on the new reality show Young Imam are
judged by one man— the former grand mufti of
Malaysia's national mosque—and are ranked by their
knowledge of Islamic theory, the quality of their
voices citing Koran verses and intellectual feats.
Their reward? A university scholarship, a job
leading prayers at a Kuala Lumpur mosque and a trip
to Mecca to perform the Haj pilgrimage.
The show is an odd mix of Hollywood razz matazz and
ancient religion as the nation juggles the demands
of faith and the modern world.
"These young imams are modern, and we need that.
Muslims are very progressive," one fan tells the
Wall Street Journal. "After 9/11, it's good for us
to show the true picture of Islam."
Thought the program has the look of Survivor meets
Britain's Got Talent, the feats are unique. In one
episode, contestants had to prepare unclaimed
corpses for burial—an essential rite in Islam. "It's
a tough contest, but if we want to be imams and lead
our community, we should expect to face difficult
challenges any time, any place," declared one brash
contender.
Pregnant Muslim women who fast during Ramadan
are likely to have smaller babies who are more
prone to learning disabilities, a new study has
found.
Researchers from the U.S said this trend was most marked if
mothers-to-be fasted early on in their pregnancy
and during the summer when longer days meant
they went more hours without food.
They also found that the women were 10 per
cent less likely to give birth to a boy if they
had fasted.
PAKISTAN: A cleaner will be rewarded for
his remarkable honesty after he handed in $AUD51,500
worth of cash which he discovered in a Pakistan hotel
room.
Hotel employee Essa Khan, 51, found the wad of $100
notes left in a safety deposit box in the room of a
Japanese NGO worker at the Serena hotel in Gilgit,
Pakistan.
The father-of-five, who earns about 21,000 rupees
($AUD277) per month, told the BBC he hoped his honesty
would portray Pakistan in a positive light after
allegations of Government corruption and incidences of
state terrorism.
He said that he never considered keeping the money.
Hotel manager Rajid Uddin said the guest had been
relieved when the cash was returned.
"He was naturally very worried as he wasn't able to
figure out where he had lost the money," he said.
Mr Uddin also told the BBC that there had been similar
instances where lost items had been returned, but none
"of this magnitude".
The Age reported Mr Khan has shown that honesty is the
best policy, as the governor of Punjab has named him a
'national hero' and honour him in a special ceremony.
I am writing to let you know about my effort to
raise funds for a very worthwhile UK charity and
hoping for your support and assistance.
I ran 10km on Sunday (British 10km run), on a warm
London summers day, in order to raise money for
Muslim Youth Helpline, a charity which provides a
sounding board for the many, many young Muslims who
call everyday. Children with a variety of issues and
for many, with nowhere else to turn. This sort of
support is so important for today's youth.
MYH also provides other community support services,
such as their prisoner support.
I am about half way to reaching my fundraising
target but really need some help. I would very much
appreciate some publicity with my link to where
funds cam be safely donated. With the strength of
the Aussie dollar, I should be there in no time!
Isra & Mir'aaj
Sheikh Uzair
HOLLAND PARK MOQUE
_____________________________________________________________________
Branches Of Islam
Sheikh Akram Bussksh
KURABY MOSQUE
This Month Lectures on what increases and decreases our
Iman
_____________________________________________________________________
Gratitude Belongs To Allah
Sheikh Ahmad Abu Ghazaleh
LOGAN MOSQUE
_____________________________________________________________________
Umar Ibn Abdul-Aziz
Sheikh Aslam AbuIsmaeel
Personal portrait of the Leader, Scholar & Zaahid
Part 2
HIKMAH WAY INSTITUTE
A word from the producers
of Islam TV..........
"INVITATION TO BUSINESS
OWNERS - REACH THE MANY
THOUSANDS OF SALAM CARDS
HOLDERS"
Reach The Many Thousands of
Salam Card holders.
Call Salam Card today to
find out how to become a
Salam Card Business Member (
07) 384 14085 / 0405 07 6886
/ email:
info@salamcard.com.au
Salam Card entitles you to
countless discounts and
special offers ranging from
shopping for gifts, dining
in restaurants, beauty
salons, car repairs and many
more products and services.
GET YOUR FREE
SALAM CARD NOW
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 eggs
1 cup castor sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla essence
1 cup self Raising flour,
1 tsp Baking powder
2 tablespoons cocoa (sifted )
1/2 cup warm milk
1/2 cup oil
Method
1. Beat eggs till light in colour and fluffy
2. Slowly add sugar and keep beating
3. Add oil and beat to incorporate
4. Fold in sifted dry ingredients with a
spoon
5. Add warm milk and essence - and stir in
lightly, lifting batter & folding in
lightly.
Put mixture in cup cake pans and bake at
180c
When its cool, ice with chocolate topping:
Chocolate Topping
Melt 200g milk chocolate, in the microwave
for 1min and 30seconds add then add ½ cup
fresh cream and stir in and beat into a
smooth consistency or until its glossy
Walking at a comfortable speed improves heart-lung
function and is good for general fitness.
If you walk regularly you tend to:
. feel more confident, happy and relaxed
. control your weight better
. have healthier blood cholesterol level
. have lower blood pressure
. have stronger bones (less osteoporosis)
. be less likely to have a heart attack
. recover better from a heart attack
. be less likely to have a stroke
. be less likely to develop diabetes in middle age
How often
and how hard?
Just a short comfortable walk every day will give you
great health benefits.
How often? Try to walk every day. Ideally adults should
get a total of 30 minutes or more of moderate exercise -
like walking - on most (preferably all) days of the
week. The more exercise you can do the better -
providing you follow the steps outlined in this guide.
How hard? Find the level that suits you best. You should
still be able to talk (or whistle) comfortably as you
walk.
Getting started and staying motivated
Once you get started, you'll realise how enjoyable and
relaxing walking can be.
Walking is a great social activity - you can walk with a
friend or join a club. Or you might prefer the quiet of
a solitary walk. Whatever you do, the aim is for comfort
and enjoyment while keeping active.
Taleem
this week will be held on Thursday 21 July
from 11am-12pm at the
residence of:
FarahnaazOmar
57 Dandelion Street
Eight Mile Plains
All ladies
welcome
Inspiration
Talk, BBQ and Youth Hour
Topics that are relevant, Iman-boosting and
mind-capturing. Where: AMYN Islamic Youth Centre,
16/157 North Road, Woodridge When: Every Sunday, 7pm
Info: www.AMYNweb.com Everyone is invited
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.
C