On behalf of the Brisbane
community CCN wishes to offer our heartfelt
condolences on the passing away of Imam Quddoos'
wife, Sister Saleema, and his relatives in India on Sunday under tragic
circumstances and to support the sentiments
expressed in the open letter below:
There are unconfirmed reports that
Imam Quddoos also lost two sisters-in-law and
two nieces in the boating accident.
Letter of Condolence from
Council of Imams Queensland (CIQ)
27 December 2010
Dear Respected Imam Abdul Quddoos
Saheb,
Asalamu ‘alikum Wa-rahmatulahi
Wa-barakatuh
The Imams of the Council of Imams
QLD (CIQ) are all grieved to hear of the loss of
your wife and life partner.
We belong to Allah and we shall
all return to him. May Allah’s abundant
forgiveness and mercy be upon her soul.
May the love of Allah enfold you
and your family during your difficult times and
may He help you all heal with the passage of
time.
Your respected life partner has
entered into the Rahmah of Allah and insha-Allah
has earned the position of a Shaheedah, as
promised by our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW) -
the highest status aspired by all. She brought
up two sons who memorised the Quran, acquired
Islamic education; a third son who is on his way
to memorise Quran; and daughters following on
the same path of knowledge. Your esteemed wife
offered you long term support that led to many
community benefits including the establishment
of Islamic schools, which continue to help so
many Muslim children in Australia.
May Allah Ta’ala accept her
sacrifices, gift her with the status of a
martyr, and make her enter his grace and Jannah
without reckoning. Ameen!
We wish to express our most
heartfelt sympathies for your loss. Our thoughts
are with you and your family during this
difficult time.
We are thinking of you during
this difficult time and will make a special Dua
for the Marhooma this Jum’a at the Masaajid of
Queensland.
Death leaves a heartache no one
can heal; love leaves a memory no one can steal;
our thoughts and prayers are with you.
On behalf of CIQ Imraan Husain
A prayer service will be held for
Imam Quddoos' immediate family and those
who lost their lives at the Australian
International Islamic College (Blunder Road, Durack) today (Sunday) from 11am to 2pm. There
will be Qu'ran reading and dua and lunch will be
served after Zuhr prayers. All are welcome.
The tragedy received widespread coverage in the
Indian media:
Australia awoke during the week
to the news that their Test team will have its
first Muslim cricketer. It is a big deal.
UsmanKhawaja was born in
Islamabad 24 years ago and is widely seen as
heralding a new era.
Apart
from anything else he will bat in the blue
riband number three batting position vacated by
Ricky Ponting, who is missing the match because
of a broken little finger on his left hand. But
it is his religion and his background that
appears to have exercised most of the attention.
It is generally accepted that Australia have
been slow to assimilate racial and religious
minorities in its cricket teams. Aborigines have
been few and far between, though the first
Australian touring side to England in 1868
consisted entirely of Aborginal cricketers and
they surprised all by winning as many matches as
they lost.
The products of European immigrants have long
been part of the team, taking to a game that was
not part of the culture whence they came. In the
1930s Hans Ebeling played against England, Lenny
Pascoe, born Durtanovich, was a muscular quick
bowler in the late 1970s, and of more recent
vintage men with names like Kasprowicz,
Hilfenhaus and Hauritz have been regulars.
But this is a sea change and probably not before
time. Khawaja may not realise it yet but he is
representing Asian immigrants here as much as he
is representing Australia. Succeed – and all of
the sounder judges say he has the tools to do so
– and he may encourage others to follow him into
trying to make a career out of cricket.
Khawaja, a mischievous soul who has also passed
his pilot's course, has himself said: "Maybe
they don't think they can go all the way. Also
studies are very important in sub-continental
societies."
He is merely one of the boys in Australian
changing rooms and Brad Haddin, his New South
Wales team-mate and the national side's newly
elevated vice-captain, said yesterday: "He is a
pretty relaxed guy but I am sure next week there
will be a few sweaty palms and it will be a very
exciting time for him. He has been on stand-by
for a couple of Tests and he richly deserves
this opportunity. He is one guy who has really
worked hard at his first-class cricket."
Khawaja will almost certainly be one of two
debutants in the match, with left-arm spinner
Michael Beer, left out on the morning of the
third and fourth Tests, now firmly in the
reckoning. Australia are trying to regroup after
losing the Ashes and clinging to the hope they
can draw the series by winning the fifth Test
starting on Monday.
The way he looks at it, he is the
first Usman Khawaja to wear the "baggy green".
He just happens to be Muslim, not the other way
around. While respectful of his faith, he'd
prefer to make light of the matter.
"That's what I tell the boys. That's what
cricket does. You spend so much time with each
other. All you can do is take the p--- out of
each other."
In truth, the best part of his story does not
lie with his faith. It doesn't really lie with
his cricket either. It lies in the Fender
Stratocaster often found in his hands; the one
he dragged into the Australian team hotel at
Circular Quay on Friday as he joined the Test
squad.
He started a year ago during a NSW game when he
picked up the guitar of Cricket NSW video
analyst Ben Romalis.
"I nicked out early the day before and the next
day the boys batted the whole day," Khawaja
said. "So I picked up the guitar in the morning
and didn't let it go for six hours. I learnt all
my opening chords and from there I was addicted.
"I'm half decent now. I can play a few tunes."
Specifically, he loves Guns N' Roses and went
with Australian opener Shane Watson, who has
been playing the guitar for five years, to watch
Slash play at the Horden Pavilion in August.
Recently he discovered the legendary Led
Zeppelin.
When he was on standby for Ricky Ponting for the
Boxing Day Test, batting coach Justin Langer was
horrified to hear Kashmir playing in the rooms.
"It sounds like I'm going to a funeral," he
said. "How about something good, like Pink?"
Khawaja found the response hilarious, as he does
with most things in the team environment. For
years now, he has been the life of the NSW side.
"To me, that's actually a good thing. It means
nobody treats me differently and I don't feel
like an outsider.
"The only one who makes me feel like an outsider
is myself, because I'm always taking the p---
out of myself."
Usman Khawaja - Australia's
answer to South Africa's Hashim Amla?
TARIQ Khawaja does not want you
to look at his son and see a Muslim, although he
acknowledges the untold good that will come
should Usman Khawaja become the first of that
faith to wear a baggy green.
"As far as we're concerned, it's
irrelevant," Khawaja Sr said. "We never look at
it in those terms. We never discuss religion. It
is in the background, because he is an
Australian."
His cricket rise has readily been viewed through
the prism of his religion, whether he is fasting
for Ramadan or praying at a mosque before a
day's play.
The only aspect of his life that has drawn
attention away from it is the fact he studied
aviation at university and has a commercial
pilot's licence.
His teammates over the years are more likely to
playfully sledge him about that, although a
coach used to call him "Used Car Yard" as a play
on his surname.
Khawaja thought it hilarious. He is somehow seen
as different, when in reality he is not.
"I'm with the boys all the time and never once
do I feel like I'm different," he said when
selected in the Australian squad that played
Pakistan in England in July.
Nevertheless, there's something
undeniably important in his ascension. Deep
divides still exist. Cricket's appeal can cool
racial tension, as Shane Warne proved this year
after an Indian student was stabbed to death in
Melbourne.
Khawaja Sr said his son could have a similar
influence.
"We know it would be a very good thing (for
Muslims and non-Muslims)," he said. "He can be a
role model and show that if you put in the hard
work, you can achieve. And it can also show that
Australia is an open country."
Whereas others dazzled their way
forwards, Khawaja has earned his spot the
old-fashioned way, by scoring a stack of runs,
including a double century in the first Shield
match of this campaign. No harsh words are said
about him. It's not because he is brown or
Muslim, but because he is liked and respected.
Tariq Khawaja and his wife, Fozia Tariq, will
be in the stands.
They will be there to watch their son, who just
so happens to be a Muslim.
The CCN
Wedding Scene
Basheera
&
Humza
The nikah of Basheera,
the youngest daughter of
Yusuf and SaberaKhatree to Humza,
youngest son of Jamiel
and Zaiboonnisha
Pradhan of Perth, took
place yesterday (Saturday)
at the Kuraby Mosque. The
ceremony was performed by
Imam Imraan Husain of the
Gold Coast Mosque.
The reception was held last
night (Saturday) at the
Riverside Receptions, New
Farm and was attended by
some 400 guests many from
inter-state and overseas.
Basheera is an accountant by
profession and Humza is a
metallurgist working on
Stradbroke Island, off
Brisbane.
Nadiya Rizwana
&
Nadir Saleh
Hafeez and ZabidaAlikhan of Forest
Lake are the proud parents
of their only daughter
NadiyaRizwana
who recently married
Nadir Saleh son of
Mrs Najiba Anne Barham
of Rockhampton.
This special Walima occasion
was attended by their family
and friends locally and
abroad on the 19th of
December 2010, in Mt
Gravatt.
Western
Australian effort for flood victims
During last Ramadan the Pakistan
Australian Cultural and Welfare Association of
Western Australia asked the Islamic Council of
WA to lodge appeal for the flood victims of
Pakistan.
Just over $50 000 was collected
through donations, Fitra and Zakat.
A report on how the monies was
distributed in Pakistan is available
here.
Further donations can be sent for
ongoing relief work to:
Pakistan Australia Cultural and
Welfare Association,
P.O.Box 305, Burswood WA 6100
or
PACWA-- A/C No. 066128 1028 0742 Commonwealth
Bank
Joe still
on the go!
The intrepid Omar headed off on a 24-hour train journey from Mbeya to Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania (enlarge map
on right) having arrived in the country from
Mozambique by hitch hiking for some 600km.
Yusuf (pictured left with 15th
Century merchant trader and explorer Lourenço
Marques) is exercising his journalistic
skills working for a week at the Guardian
Newspaper in the Tanzanian capital city from
whence he muses:
Oh Zanzibar!
Seldom do I write an
unadulterated stream of consciousness straight
onto my blog. Rarely is Yusuf Omar lost for
words. But never have I seen anything
quite like Zanzibar.
“Subhan’Allah! (Praise be to Allah).
I’m not a very pious man, but
that was the only words that came to my mouth as
I stepped of the ferry and into Stone Town. I wish I was a skilled enough
wordsmith to convey just how spectacular this
city is, or why tears ran down my cheeks for the
first time in my travels. Whitewashed walls, shops,
night bazaars, ancient mosques, vibrant
courtyards and squares.
I urge anyone to book their
next holiday destination here. But please, don’t
come alone; this city is far too romantic for
the solo traveler Then again I spend my days
getting lost on arcades of book stores, with
periodicals that are as old at the building
itself. Don’t even get me started on
the food, for breakfast I had Chapatti and
Mussel curry. There are bus loads of
tourists or Mazungus (white people in Swahili)
this time of the year, you can’t deny it.
But there is a reason why
people flock here from all over the world. It is by far the most amazing
city I have ever visited, and I haven’t even
visited the fine, white-sand beaches.Tomorrow I rent a motorbike
and intend to venture around the perimeter of
the island for a few days. Somebody is going to have to
fly here and drag me home, because I have no
intensions of leaving this place in a hurry. I have to go now; I can hear
the Azaan (call to prayer) echoing through the
narrow streets.
It’s Friday and the internet
café is closing for Jummah (Friday prayers).
Yusuf's blog
Be
adventurous and make a difference this summer
By Umar Batchelor
All
communities and societies need leaders to help
achieve their goals and objectives.
History has shown that a lack of
effective leadership can lead to failure and
eventual destruction of societies.
The Brisbane Muslim community is
no exception.
In light of this, FAMSY and
Alnisa Youth Group are organising a 3-day Exceed
Leadership Camp to specifically target young
Muslims males and females aged between 17 and
30.
The camp will be held between
Friday, 4 to Sunday 6 March 2010 at Koonjeware
Springbrook campsite.
Both individuals and
organisations can be part of this community
project.
For young Muslims, this camp is
unique as it does not only excite you with
jungle rope challenges, water activities and
jungle walks but you will aspire to make a
difference to the Australian society.
The camp has been structured to
increase the your awareness about the pivotal
role you play in your community’s and country’s
growth and equip you with various tools and
resources to develop your leadership abilities.
You will also be designing
projects to tackle real-life community issues
which we hope are implemented post-camp. So
sign-up and make a difference.
For organisations, you can make a
difference by enlisting one of their young
members with potentials.
For businesses, you may also make
a difference by sponsoring this unique community
project.
Dr. Karl explains why he sits
down and wees in
Episode 8 of the Sleek Geeks (slide the bar
three-quarters of the way if you don't want to
watch the rest of this most informative and
entertaining of programs on the subject of
urination).
Book
launch on 150 years of being Indian in South Africa
Many Lives – 150 years of
being Indian in South Africa, by Goolam
Vahed, Thembisa Waetjen and Ashwin Desai (pictured
left to to right), was launched on Friday in
South Africa.
THE glossy hard cover 366-page
pictorial and summary draws attention to the
diversity and complexity of experiences that
being Indian in South Africa has generated over
a century and half of dramatic historical
change.
CCN
readers from around the globe
The Inbox
Dear Editor
Assalamu-Alaikum
Thanks for sending CCN regularly.
It is an excellent publication serving the
Muslim Community.
A positive approach to issues
between Muslim and Non-Muslim majority is
commendable.
May Allah bless CCN and people
working for it.
Thanks once again.
Rahim Ghauri
(Islamic Council of Western Australia)
Around
the Muslim World with CCN
The Hajj and
the Apartheid Train: Where Is the Muslim
Outrage?
Ziyad Motala
Law professor, Howard University School of
Law
A pivotal theme in current Islamic political
discourse is a demand for justice, a key
tenet of the Quran. A popular complaint in
Islamic political argument is discrimination
against Muslims in the west such as the ban
of the veil in European countries, minarets
in Switzerland or racial profiling in many
western countries. Unfortunately, there is a
conspicuous lack of looking inwards to
practices within Muslim countries. Muslims
from all over the world have just completed
the annual pilgrimage, the Hajj in Saudi
Arabia. The Hajj represents a critical
pillar of Islam and is supposed to represent
a universal gathering of Muslims, which
transcends race, ethnicity, color or any
other distinction. Muslims are supposed to
meet in the sacred precincts surrounding the
holy city of Mecca as equals wearing the
same simple clothing meant to symbolize
perfect brotherhood, where individuals or
groups do not see themselves as separate
entities and differences of lineage, tribe
or race have no bearing.
The experiences of the Hajj are very
different depending on which part of the
world you originate from. If you hail from
Saudi Arabia or the Gulf states, you will
perform the hajj in relative luxury and
privilege, which is denied to Muslims from
the sub-continent, Africa or the rest of the
world. Those from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf
states have a different Hajj based on
luxurious accommodations, and preferential
treatment in performing the rituals. The
latest egregious practice is the high-speed
rail service, which transports the pilgrims
from Mecca to the sacred sites where the
rituals of the Hajj are performed. The train
is reserved only for Saudis and citizens
from the Gulf countries. Citizens from Saudi
Arabia and the Gulf countries can be
transported to the holy sites within a few
minutes. For others, they will have to take
the bus or walk which could take many hours
each day. I cannot think of any other place
in the world today that practices such crass
racism. Imagine a train in the United States
that states no Arabs -- just people from the
west -- can ride in. The real tragedy is the
lack of outrage from Muslims.
The Huffington Post
Mosque
milestone for Alaska Muslims
As the Muslim
community in Alaska grows over 3,000,
donations help start state's first mosque.
Work has
begun on the first mosque in the US state of
Alaska.
For years, the Muslim community of America's
largest state simply did not have the cash
to build one.
But with a rise in the number of refugees in
Alaska, religious leaders are hoping more
donations will make it a reality.
[Editor]
....and the $64K question is.......will a
certain Ms Palin do the honours at the
opening ceremony?
WordPress.com Deletes Blog That Advocated
Killing Muslims
An Internet blog containing
posts that advocated burning mosques, making
false bomb threats implicating Muslims,
desecrating Muslim graves, and that
recommended the “proper way to shoot a
muslim [sic]” has been deleted by its
hosting company.
Visitors to “Bootislam's
Blog,” hosted by WordPress.com, now see the
message: "bootislam.wordpress.com is no
longer available. This blog has been
archived or suspended for a violation of our
Terms of Service."
Earlier the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) called on
American Muslims and other people of
conscience to contact WordPress.com to ask
that the Internet hosting company drop the
blog for violating its Terms of Service,
which prohibit blogs that "contain threats
or incite violence towards individuals or
entities."
Posts on the blog had
headlines such as:
* Burning Mosques – A lovely idea
* Training in desecrating muslim [sic]
graves
* The proper way to shoot a muslim [sic]
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.
KB SAYS:This has been quiet a
hectic holiday organizing lunches and dinners with
friends and family for Christmas Day, Jumma and New
Year's eve. At one of the many get togethers I was taken
aback by the gorgeous looking and delicious chocolate cupcakes
that SameeraSurtie brought along. I am so
thrilled that she was willing to share her recipe with
CCN readers and the big bonus, Sameera tells me, is that
it's one of the easiest and tastiest cupcakes to make.
Ingredients
150g soft
butter
150g castor
sugar
175g self
raising flour
3 eggs
vanilla essence
4 Tb cocoa
powder
Method
1. Combine all ingredients and beat for
30seconds.
2. Place a
tablespoon of the mixture into the paper cup
casings .
Step 1: Decide how long you have to train for the
day / week.
The longer you train the better your results, although
any workout is better than none.
Step 2: Decide on the exercises for your training
session.
Try a few different combos every week. Don't just do the
ones you find easy. Always challenge your body.
Step 3: Modify exercises so you can manage.
If you find certain exercises too hard, there are always
easier options for beginners, eg. push-ups can be done
on your knees instead of your toes to start off with.
Step 4: Go prepared.
When you've completed a whole circuit of exercises, grab
a quick sip of water and start again. Don't get caught
without your water bottle / towel / cap... whatever you
think you may need for your session.
Step 5: Aim high.
Try to do as many sets as possible in your time limit.
Reduce your rest periods in-between exercises. NEVER
rush the exercise itself or compromise your posture!
Step 6: Notice how you feel after exercise every
day.
Be sure to take note of how you feel after particular
exercises (your energy levels, etc.), and work out ways
to improve next time.
Step 7: Mix things up.
Whenever possible, choose to do something different, or
workout for a different time period.
Step 8: Step things up.
Try to do more advanced exercises as soon as you can.
Never tell yourself that you are not ready. The harder
you work now, the easier it becomes - sooner!
It's not the minutes spent at the table that put on
weight, it's the seconds.
Assalamu Alaikum.Jazak-allah
khair. I would like to thank FLIGHT STAR & THE
STAFF & MANAGEMENT for selling me an excellent
package for Hajj 2010. It was a trip of my life
time. I would pray to Almighty to reward
each and everyone for there effort in making our
trip more enjoyable. Special thanks to QARI UMAR,
MAULANA NURUL-AL HASSAN and BROTHER YASEEN. May
Allah reward them all. Zahid
Just a short note to say thank you so much for
all the effort and hard work you, Fatima, Uncle
Omar and the team at Flight Star Travel put in
to ensure what I would describe as a most
beautiful Hajj experience. From my initial
enquiry, to obtaining visas, issuing of tickets
as well as the farewell I must say a very big
thank you of which we are most grateful and
appreciative of. Jazaakallah. Salaams and Duas.
Mohammed and Abdul Rashid Osman
Taleem
classes will be closed for the year and will
resume in January, insha'Allah.
Watch this
space!
Jazak
Allah to all those who contribute their time
to attend the taleem classes over the past
year.
Girls Game
Night
Sitting at
home on a Saturday Night?
Want to do
something constructive, but FUN?
Inspiration
talk, pizza, BBQ, fun and games
Topics that
are relevant, Iman-boosting and
mind-capturing. Where: AMYN Islamic Youth Centre,
16/157 North Road, Woodridge When: Every Saturday,after Maghrib
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.
Apart
from anything else he will bat in the blue
riband number three batting position vacated by
Ricky Ponting, who is missing the match because
of a broken little finger on his left hand. But
it is his religion and his background that
appears to have exercised most of the attention.
