CCN takes great pleasure in extending
our warmest wishes to our readers and their families for a spiritually
rewarding Ramadan.
May the Almighty accept all our fasts,
prayers and duas in this holy month of Ramadan.
Council
of Imams QLD statement on the commencement of Ramadan
The Beginning of the Holy Month of Ramadan for 2011 –
1432H
The Council of Imams QLD congratulates the Muslim community
on the approach of the auspicious month of Ramadan. The council takes this
opportunity to announce a number of decisions.
These decisions of the council take in consideration the size
of the Australian continent and its geographical location, where it is
distant from most of the Muslim countries. In addition, it takes in
consideration the multi-cultural nature of the Australian society, where its
Muslim citizens come from more than 50 different countries.
Furthermore, the decisions of the council emanate from its
keenness on the unity of the Muslims and on following the undisputed Islamic
principles observed in most of the Muslim countries.
Based on all the above, the Council of Imams QLD announces
the following decisions:
First: The council will consider Australia a separate
and independent region as far as determining the beginning of the lunar
months is concerned.
Second: The council will use eye sighting, with the
aid of astronomical calculations and the observatories, to determine the
beginning of the month of Ramadan according to the Islamic teachings and the
scientific methods.
Third: Many Islamic centres are monitoring the moon
sighting throughout the year in all the Australian states and are
coordinating and cooperating with the Council of Imams QLD in order to
determine the beginning and end of the month of Ramadan.
Fourth: The Council of Imams QLD asks the Muslim
public to assist with sighting the crescent of Ramadan by looking for it on
Sunday the 29th of Sha’baan, which is the 31st July 2011 in the Gregorian
calendar. Once the sighting is established, according to the Islamic
principles followed by the prominent scholars of Islam, the Council will
announce officially the beginning of the blessed month of Ramadan.
Authentic ahadith give us clear direction, and we intend to
maintain our basic principle in following the sunnah of our beloved Prophet
(peace be upon him) which states “Fast when you see it (i.e., the moon at
the beginning of Ramadan) and cease fasting (end of Ramadan) when you see
it, and if it is hidden or cloudy, complete the counting of Sha'ban as
thirty days.' Bukhari & Muslim
It's date
time of the year
(left to right)
Beneficiaries of the MBN date
distribution
Mr Faisal Hatia and Mr Aziz
Gutta with Mr Farouk Adam at
Kuraby Mosque
The Muslim Business Network (MBN) continued with its long
established practice of distributing dates before Ramadan across the Mosques
and other prayer venues and charitable organizations in the Brisbane and Gold Coast regions.
MBN president, Farouk Adam, told CCN that this year
more that 4500 packs of dates sponsored by MBN members were handed out last
Friday at over 25 venues.
"With the significant increase in attendance at Mosques this
year and with new venues coming up we have had to increase the packs by over
20 percent," Mr Adam added.
The dates were imported from Iran and repacked by MBN
committee members.
Ramadan
Messages
President of Muslims of Australia (AFIC), Ikebal
Patel
Assalamo Alaikum Warahamatullahi Wabarakatuh
It is indeed a great pleasure for me to extend to the Muslim
Community of Australia and overseas the sincerest wishes of RAMADAN KAREEM
on behalf of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils.
On behalf of the AFIC Executive Committee and AFIC Staff, it
is my great pleasure to send our very best wishes for a spiritually
elevating Ramadan. May Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala accept our fast, worship
and prayers during the holy month of Ramadan and grant His Choicest
Blessings on all Muslims and all humanity and in particular those who are
facing hardship and difficulty around the world.
During the holy month of Ramadan I request the Muslim
community to share this holy month with our fellow Australians by inviting
them to Iftar and extending to them our traditional Muslim hospitality and
explaining the virtues of Ramadan to them.
It is important to impress on our non Muslim friends that
Muslims throughout the world observe fast from dawn to dusk and try to
reform their lives in conformity with the values of humanity and the wishes
of God, our Creator and Sustainer.
We also reflect on those human beings in the world who
unfortunately do not even have their basic needs of food and shelter met and
request the Muslim community to donate generously towards their plight.
May the blessings of this holy month of Ramadan permeate the
entire human kind and bring peace, security, stability and hope for all
peoples of the world.
Islamic Womens' Association of Queensland
David Forde (Independent Candidate for Stretton)
Assalaamu Aalaykum
I take this opportunity to wish the members of our local Muslim community
and indeed all Muslims, a spiritually rewarding holy month of Ramadan, the
ninth month of the Islamic calendar.
May peace be upon you and your families during this holy month, a time that
allows for reflection on what is important to you and your family.
As a long time member of the local community in Kuraby, my family and I have
developed many friendships with our much-valued Muslim community and we
sincerely look forward to continuing and enhancing these relationships for a
long time come.
Ramadan Mubarak
Dr Qadri
lecture tour report
The Dr Qadri Lecture Tour kicked off to a flying start on
Friday when some 400 invited and paying guests came to Michael' Oriental
Restaurant to listen to the first of the much anticipated lectures by
Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri.
Addressing an audience made up largely of community and
religious leaders, Imams and politicians, Dr Qadri spoke at great length on the roots of Islam and how the different religious groups were treated and
accepted during the time of the Prophet (pbuh).
Mr Gary Hardgrave of 4BC Radio was the Master of Ceremonies
for the evening and a number of speakers delivered short messages during the
dinner before the main event. Amongst them were the Speaker of the
Queensland Legislative Assembly, Mr. John Mickel, Trade and Multicultural
Affairs Parliamentary Secretary, Mr. Michael Choi, Independent candidate for
the state seat of Stretton, Mr. David Forde, Member for Indooroorpilly,
Mr.
Scott Emerson, ICQ President, Mr. Mohammed Yusuf, IWAQ Director,
Ms Galila
Abdelsalam, and ISOGC president, Mr. Hussin Goss.
According to the organizer of the Brisbane leg of the tour,
Mr Zaffar Khan, the lecture was streamed online to 73 countries.
At his presentation the next day (Saturday afternoon) at the
Citipointe Church, Dr. Qadri told his audience that he was most impressed at
the diversity of the audience that was present the previous night and that
this representation of Australian multicultural society working, living and
engaging in such harmony had made a lasting impression on him.
At the Saturday event, where a markedly less than expected
crowd was in attendance, Dr Qadri spoke on the topic Islam and
Peace and concludes his tour with a final lecture today (Sunday
afternoon) at the Islamic College of Brisbane where he will speak on the
perceptions and reality of jihad.
Michael's Oriental Restaurant
Citipointe Church
(Saturday)
Media Interviews
Terrorism & Troops
withdrawal in
Afghanistan:Tahir-ul-Qadri's interview
with Jim Middleton-News Line
Dr
Tahir-ul-Qadri cautioned Western
governments on their aid and anti-terror
funding
Planting
for National Tree Day
Continuing its tradition of supporting National Tree Day,
members of the Crescents of Brisbane Team were out at the Victor Park in
Kuraby yesterday (Saturday) helping to bed some 200 trees that will create
new habitat for possums and birds. Under the direction of the Bulimba Creek
Catchment Coordinating Committee a variety of grasses, lilies, reeds, shrubs
and small trees were planted.
This is the fourth year that Crescents of Brisbane and Kuraby
Lions have combined their efforts to assist in planting over 2,000 trees in
Kuraby
In addition to the Crescents of Brisbane and Lions of Kuraby
Teams (pictured left) there appeared to be at one stage as many
presiding politicians and ones waiting in the wings as there were trees to
be planted. Representatives from nearly all political persuasions and levels
of government came, it would seem, to plant both the trees and their
political futures into the local electorate.
(left to right)
Zuleiga Goder, Zeyn Suleman and
Hafizah Suleman
Australian International Islamic College Fete Day 2011
Report by AIIC Fete
Committee
The Australian International Islamic College held its 9th
Annual Fete Day on Sunday 24 July 2011.
We opened 45 stalls with food and drinks, fairy floss, henna,
handicraft, bubble blowers, show bags, ice cream, Islamic clothing and book
stalls, lollies, jewellery etc.
The rides were enjoyed by all especially the younger ones.
The wonderful weather attracted a huge crowd
till late afternoon and the variety of food
stalls were ongoing throughout the day.
This kept everyone enjoying the taste of
different cuisines inclusive of Bangladeshi,
South African, Malaysian, Sri Lankan and our
very own Australian sausage sizzle.
The turn-out was excellent and almost all food
and drinks were sold out. The college had a very
successful response, MashaAllah. It could have
been better, but we thank Allah (SWT) that we
have a very supportive community.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank
all staff members for their effort and
contributions; their team work is superb which
has made our FETE DAY a huge success. We value
your contributions and look forward to your
continuous support to the College each year.
We would like to extend our thanks to all stall
holders as well as community members for their
continuous support. We also welcome feedback so
that we could improve the event in the future.
Once again thank you ALL for making this great
day a success and we look forward to next year,
InshaAllah
May the blessings of Allah take you on the path
of success during this holy Month of Ramadan.
Ramadan Mubarak
Kuraby
curry supply on sabbatical
The
women who cook the deliciously smelling and tasty food every Friday
afternoon and the men who sell the curry and rice packs to long lines of
regular customers at the Kuraby Mosque will enjoy a well-earned respite over
the next four weeks of Ramadan.
Their voluntary efforts and those of the sponsors of the
ingredients have helped raised just under $50 000 for the running of the
Mosque this past year.
While they might not wish to be individually acknowledged in
CCN, the hard work and dedication of the team should not, says our
man-on-the-mussallah, go unrecognized or undocumented.
Local
lessons from Norway
Extreme language or behaviour should not be dismissed as
harmless Australian vernacular.
The and Norway have more in common than is immediately
apparent. Both enjoy an abundance of natural resources that provide a rich
source of wealth: Norway from oil and gas and Australia from iron ore and
coaL In the debate about how to secure a long-term benefit from this natural
good fortune, Australian policymakers have looked at Norway's sovereign
wealth fund as a world's best practice model.
Like Australia, Norway has contributed troops to the wars in
Iraq and Afghanistan, and punches above its weight as a global citizen in
peacekeeping operations and refugee resettlement, issues that have divided
public opinion there as much as here.
British
Prime
Minister
David
Cameron
recognised
that the
Norwegian
tragedy
raised the
need to
review the
rise of
right-wing
extremist
groups,
after
Britain's
recent focus
on Islamic
groups.
When the bomb went off in the centre of Oslo last Friday,
followed by the mass killing of young people at a holiday camp, the first
assumption was as would be the case if such events were to occur here that
Norway had been targeted by Islamic extremists over its involvement in the
wars.
It soon became clear that these crimes were committed by one
of Norway's own. It also began to emerge that the young man who was captured
by police and has now been charged had been giving hints for some time in
internet postings, which should have been detected by the police and
security services, that he had extreme views that made him a potential
danger to society.
Norway will no doubt reflect profoundly on how this young
man's madness manifested itself without detection. But there is also much
for others to contemplate about what happened in far-away Norway and about
the lessons that should be learned.
The most obvious and immediate is that the source of all
terrorism is not Islamic extremism.
Australian Financial Review
Samah
Hadid Interviewed
Human rights advocate Samah Hadid on why young people in the Middle East are pushing for change and how Islam is in transition.
SAMAH
Hadid, 23, human rights
advocate, on misconceptions
about Muslims, gay rights
and burqas.
Greg
Callaghan: What are the most
common misconceptions about
Muslim women in Australia?
Samah Hadid:
They are
mistakenly perceived to be
oppressed creatures without
autonomy. As an Australian
Muslim woman, I’ve only ever
experienced freedom and
individual will. Anyone who has
tried stifling my voice has
failed miserably.
That’s in Australia. But in
Iran, the credibility of a
woman’s testimony in court is
valued at only half that of a
man’s. In Saudi Arabia, women
are not allowed to drive cars or
leave their homes without their
husbands or a male relative. In
Pakistan, Jordan, Iraq and even
Turkey, women continue to be
killed in honour killings.
These countries maintain theocracies that are sustained by
patriarchal frameworks. But we cannot lump all Arab and/or Muslim countries
in the same category; they have varying levels of patriarchy or religiosity.
The role of women in these countries varies as well; there is far more
participation and diversity than is reported. Progress has been made in some
countries in eliminating the inhumane practice of honour killings, but there
is certainly a long way to go.
What are the major challenges ahead for Islam this century? It differs according to individual Islamic communities. For Muslim
majority countries, the challenges of political and economic reform and
counterterrorism will be significant in the years ahead. The participation
of women and minorities also represent important challenges. For Muslim
minorities living in the western world, however, the challenges are around
social inclusion, alleviating Islamophobia and adopting more diverse
interpretations of Islam.
Are you hopeful that the mass demonstrations sweeping the Middle
East will lead to the spread of more democratic institutions and a better
deal for women? I was in Egypt in May, where I saw in Tahrir Square the most
beautiful display of democratic political participation, one which even we
could stand to learn from as Australians. The “Arab spring” has unleashed a
vibrant civil society that will not settle for anything less than the full
political participation and freedoms of its citizenry, men and women alike.
In Iran in 1979, radical Islamicists posing as democrats suddenly
seized power. Could the Muslim Brotherhood gain control of Egypt?
No, I don’t believe so. The majority of those taking to the streets in Egypt
are young – and want a peaceful, democratic society. It’s young people
who’ve borne the brunt of problems like high unemployment and they’re not
prepared to settle for undemocratic institutions, a lack of freedom and
cronyism. Egypt is a religious society, but it’s not a fundamentalist one.
You’ve said banning the burqa and niqab would be counterproductive.
Why?
I don’t think banning the niqab or burqa will deter women from wanting to
wear it. For those forced to wear it, a public ban would only further limit
their societal participation. They’d virtually be confined to their homes,
so how would that “liberate” them? To be clear, I don’t support any face
veil but I certainly do not support a legal ban of it, either.
A female spokesperson for the Islamic group Hizb ut-Tahrir has
declared: “We dress like this because it is the command of Allah, not any
man.” But where in the Koran does it say a woman should wear a head-to-toe
burqa?
I’ve always believed that the niqab and the burqa are not obligatory or
necessary. It’s a cultural interpretation, one not ordained by religion. I
don’t think groups such as Hizb ut-Tahrir should be banned, but they need to
be challenged. It is ironic they’re criticising the very system – democracy
– that allows them the freedom to express their opinion in the first place.
In the Middle East, gay men are being imprisoned and targeted by
death squads. What can be done?
I am a passionate advocate for gay rights and for the rights of minorities
to be protected worldwide. There are groups and initiatives like
gaymiddleeast.com and MEEM that advocate for more tolerance of gay and
lesbian groups in the Middle East. But far more Muslims and Arabs need to
stand up and speak out against homophobia. Intolerance and persecution of
any group is unacceptable.
The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils wants Muslims to be
able to marry, divorce and conduct financial transactions under the
principles of sharia law. What’s your view?
I believe the current Australian legal system is flexible enough to cater
for the needs of different religious groups. So I don’t see the need for
elements of sharia law to be imposed in this way. Our legal system already
allows for different religious arrangements to exist.
If Islam has suffered an image problem in Australia, do you think
this has been at least partly due to some of its spokespeople in the past,
who have falsely claimed to represent “all” Muslims?
No one can claim to represent Islam. It is an ethnically and socially
diverse belief system, so there can be no “one” representative. There are
those, however, who are far more unrepresentative of Islam than others;
Muslims who propagate radical Islamism are out of touch with the majority of
Muslim communities. Frustratingly, radical Muslim minorities tend to attract
the most media attention. Some Muslims will say that I don’t represent
Muslim communities either, because of my progressive and reformist
interpretation of Islam. But for me, it’s not about representing any Muslim
community or being a religious community spokesperson. I only ever represent
myself.
Bonus question: Do you think the Israel-Palestinian conflict
continues to be a rallying cry for radical Islamicists?
No, for many, including myself, the plight of the Palestinian people is a
humanitarian and human rights issue. My visit to Palestine demonstrated to
me the level of marginalisation and discrimination faced by Palestinians. A
growing number of Israelis are strong advocates for the rights of the
Palestinian people.
Source: Weekend Australian Magazine 23 July 2011
"Hello
you stupid racist drunk...this is
INDIAN call centres are teaching staff Australia is the
world's "dumbest continent" where people "drink constantly" and are "quite
racist".
Staff taught "how to act Australian" are also told to "speak
slowly" to customers on the other end of the phone line because they tend to
be technologically "backwards". Indian- ased telephone spruikers and
helpline operators are also warned that Australians are "touchy" about their
pets.
They are also instructed it's OK to hang up on Australians
who use the "preferred term for us" "brown bastards".
The revelations have caused a stir in the US over cultural
stereotyping after they appeared in the reputable news magazine Mother
Jones.
Sunday Mail Brisbane
MAQ
Awards
Nominate now!
Do you know someone doing an outstanding job in
supporting Queensland's cultural diversity?
Why not nominate them for a Queensland
Multicultural Award?
Nominations are now open in the following
categories:
A new documentary
DEEN TIGHT
takes us on a controversial and
very emotional journey through the lives of
several Muslim hip hop artists as they search
deep within their hearts to find a balance
between their faith, culture and identity as
Western Muslims.
Music, considered taboo practice
by many traditional Muslims, has also become one
of the most prominent methods for Muslims to
share their faith internationally through Muslim
Hip Hop - a global phenomenon reaching from the
skyscraper laden skies of New York all the way
to the deep deserts of Arabia and beyond.
It is a subculture that
transcends boundaries of language, gender, and
religion. DEEN TIGHT
brings to the screen the untold story of Western
Muslims struggling to find a balance between
their culture and their religion.
Produced and directed by Mustafa Davis, the
film features interviews and appearances with
well known Muslim artists such as HBO Def Poetry
Jam Artists AMIR SULAIMAN and LIZA GARZA, Rock
Steady's POP MASTER FABEL, MUTAH BEALE formerly
NAPOLEON of Tupac's Oulawz, Graffiti artist
AEROSOL ARABIC, KUMASI of Black Wallstreet,
Remarkable Current's M-TEAM, AFTER HIJRAH, Bay
Area Underground Beat Maker FANATIK, Producer DJ
BE LIKE MUHAMMAD, RC Lyricist TYSON, Hip Hop
Chess Federation founder ADISA BANJOKO, DJ KID
DRAGON, DJ RAICHOUS, and others.
Trailer
Why go
berko at burqa wearers?
Clothing in general just doesn't make sense to me. Oh, please
don't get me wrong. A necessity? Of course. A way to express one's self?
Certainly. So, why can't women wear burqas?
The World According to Jack (News Mail)
Saints
Finals Hopes In Tatters
Sunnybank
Saints finals hopes are no longer in their hands after a 5-1 defeat at top
of the table St Pauls.
St Pauls started the game with a high tempo and it was clear to see see why
they were top of the table. They were creating chance after chance but were
unable to break the Saints defence.
The pressure, however, took its toll on the Saints defence and St Pauls got
their first goal after a through ball split the Saints defence in two. Five
minutes later and St Pauls broke away as Saints pushed forward in search of
an equaliser. St Pauls striker latched on to a good ball to slot home for a
2-0 lead.
Full match report
The CCN
Trading Post
GIVEAWAYS
I have the follow items I would like to give away if
anyone would like them.
1. A silver screen door 202*85cm
2. A brown screen door 202*82cm both with flyscreens in good condition.
Hinged doors not sliding.
3. Security door. Bronze colour. Right hinged 206*82cm. Good condition with
flyscreen.
If anyone is interested please call 0432026375.
Around
the Muslim World with CCN
Wayne becomes Whallid Parnell
SOUTH AFRICA: Protea
cricketer Wayne Parnell (pictured right)
has embraced the Islamic faith.
This was confirmed by national team manager
Dr Mohammed Moosajee. “It was his choice to
embrace Islam,” confirmed Moosajee.
Christened Wayne Dillon Parnell, the
left-handed Eastern Province bowler who is
also a useful lower order batsman, took the
cricketing scene by storm when he captained
the SA U19 squad at the 2008 World Cup.
Under 19 coach Ray Jennings tipped Parnell
then to step into the shoes of Shaun
Pollock.
He became the youngest South African to be
awarded a Proteas contract in 2009. Parnell
turns 22 on Saturday.
An SMS doing its rounds on Monday attributed
his conversion to the influence of fellow
Protea players Hashim Amla and Imraan Tahir.
However, Amla’s agent Ismail Kajee said it
was not true that the ODI vice-captain had
any influence in Parnell’s decision to
convert to Islam.
According to the SMS, Parnell’s Islamic name
is Whallid, meaning “the great one”.
While acknowledging Parnell’s conversion,
Moosajee said he would continue to use his
christened name.
Parnell, nicknamed Pigeon, is currently
playing county cricket for Sussex in
England.
He also turns out for Pune Warriors in the
IPL and the Chevrolet Warriors in domestic
franchise cricket.
He is expected to observe his first fast for
the holy month of Ramadan which begins on
Monday.
Petition
Calls Op-Ed by Harvard Summer School
Instructor Offensive to Muslims
A
group of Harvard students
have started a petition
calling on the University to
sever ties with Subramanian
Swamy (pictured right),
a Harvard Summer School
economics instructor who
wrote an op-ed against
Islamic terrorism that many
have called offensive and
inflammatory.
In
an article published July 16
in the Indian newspaper
Daily News and Analysis,
Swamy recommended
demolishing hundreds of
mosques, disenfranchising
non-Hindus who do not
acknowledge their alleged
Hindu ancestry, and banning
conversion from Hinduism.
The op-ed
came in response to a series
of bombings in Mumbai that
killed 23 on July 13.
“The first
lesson to be learnt from the
recent history of Islamic
terrorism against India and
for tackling terrorism in
India is that the Hindu is
the target and that Muslims
of India are being
programmed by a slow
reactive process to become
radical and thus slide into
suicide against Hindus,”
Swamy wrote.
His op-ed
spurred over 200 people to
sign
a petition condemning Swamy
and calling on Harvard to
end its relationship with
him.
Dubai: Ramadan is a good
opportunity to connect with the various
nationalities in Dubai, a senior tourism
official said, announcing a host of
activities for the month.
"It is the best time [to visit Dubai] for
those interested in Islam and our culture,"
said Hamad Mohammad Bin Mejren, executive
director at the Department of Tourism.
To further grab attention of people, Loon
[Amir Hawkins] a former rap artist, will
give a talk on the "Pursuit of Happiness" at
the Ramadan Forum. The American was also an
actor before he embraced Islam in 2009.
The Ramadan Forum has attracted over a
million visitors since its inception nine
years ago, said Bin Mejren, noting that an
iftar programme for non-Muslims will also be
held at Obaid and Juma Bin Thani House in
the historical Shindagha district.
Obaid Bin Thani's House was built in 1917 of
stones and gypsum and was one of the first
homes built in this district. This house
today hosts a themed exhibition within eight
of its different rooms, called Al Siraaj
(the guiding light), so named after one of
the characteristics of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).
The Ramadan Forum will be held from August 4
to 16 at Al Twar district and will include
lectures on Islam in three different
languages, Tagalog, English and Malayalam,
Bin Mejren said.
"We invite everyone to come and join in the
festivities," he said.
Gulf News
16
Muslims recognised in Queen’s Honours
UK: Makkah
Sixteen Muslims (2 CBEs, 5 OBEs, 8 MBEs and
a Police Medal) were recognised in the
Queen’s Birthday Honours, along with 18
members of the Hindu and Sikh communities (9
OBE, 9 MBEs) and 17 from the Jewish
communities (1 Knighthood, 1 Dame hood, 1
Companion of the Order, 1 LVO, 2 CBEs, 5
OBEs and 6 MBEs).
The highest decorated member of the Muslim
community this year is Professor Yasir
Suleiman, Fellow of King’s College,
Cambridge, and the His Majesty Sultan Qaboos
Bin Sa'id Professor of Modern Arabic
Studies.
Suleiman who is made a CBE is of Palestinian
origin, also established Universities of
Cambridge and Edinburgh’s Prince Alwaleed
Bin Talal Centres for the Study of Islam &
Muslims and the Centre for the Advanced
Study of the Arab World at Edinburgh.
Speaking to The Muslim News, Sulieman paid
tribute to his wife and two sons who he says
“have been my greatest supporters” allowing
him to concentrate on his work.
Prof Yasir Suleiman, CBE (left) and Jawaid
Akhtar recipient of the Queen's Police Medal
“They are as
proud of this honour as I am, and rightly
so. And I shouldn’t forget my close friends
who have supported me professionally in
various ways. This honour belongs to them
too.”
Fellow academic Professor Mona Siddiqui, of
Glasgow University has been awarded an OBE
for her services to inter-faith relations.
Siddiqui has worked at the University since
1996 and set up the Centre for the Study of
Islam at the university in 1998.
Pakistan-born Siddiqui specialises in the
fields of law and gender, early Islamic
theology and thought, contemporary legal and
ethical issues in Islam, and modern Arabic
literature. “It is incredibly humbling and
it shows the importance for British Muslims
to have a stake in British society,” she
told The Muslim News. Electric motorsports
founder, Azhar Hussain, is to be awarded an
MBE for his services to Motorsports. He is
believed to be the first Muslim in the
motorsport world to be recognised.
Hussain is the founder and CEO of both
Mavizen and eGrandPrix; the organisations
behind TTXGP, the world’s first sanctioned
zero carbon motorcycle race.
Launched in 2009, the eGrandPrix is now an
international race series with races in
seven countries and over 30 teams worldwide
taking part this year.
Hussain dedicated his award “to the teams,
suppliers, tracks, governments, and many
others who stand with TTXGP and believe we
can all make a difference. Competition not
only provides great challenge and
entertainment but also improves the breed;
we hope that will come to be seen as a
milestone in bringing new transportation
technology to the world beyond motorsports.”
Project
Manager of Deaf Parenting UK Asif Iqbal
became the first young deaf Muslim to be
included in the honours.
Asif Iqbal, MBE (left) Mona Siddiqui, OBE
and Azhar Hussain, MBE
Iqbal told
The Muslim News he was “very shocked” when
he learned of his MBE award. “I thought it
was sent to me by mistake, it reality hit me
and I felt humbled and honoured.”
He is also a Public Appointments Ambassador
for the Cabinet Office and the Equalities
Office where his role is to encourage more
people to apply for public appointments.
On a local level, he revived Harrow Asian
Deaf Club which is attended by over 100 deaf
people every month.
Assistant Chief Constable Jawaid Akhtar
receives the Queen’s Police Medal for his
distinguished service to the police force.
During his 28 years service with West
Yorkshire Police, Akhtar worked in
Huddersfield, Halifax, Bradford and
Wakefield
Currently, as holder of the Specialist Crime
portfolio, Jawaid is the Chief Officer lead
for Crime Division, the Homicide and Major
Enquiry Team and the North East Counter
Terrorism Unit.
In a statement to The Muslim News Akhtar
said: “I felt a surreal combination of
surprise and delight. I very much look
forward to attending the investiture
ceremony at Buckingham Palace and being
accompanied by my family who have supported
me throughout the years.”
After following your culinary skills
over the last two weeks, it saddens me to see you
surviving on salad and flat almond and honey balls.
Do you need me to rescue you or you
are most welcome to entertain us with more of your
bachelor skills.
Well, your recipes are somewhat cute.
Salaams
Devoted CCN fan
{Editor] I have one more
“masterpiece” up my sleeve before I throw in the
towel. It’s an avocado dip with a difference (using
leftovers from last week’s tragedy). I made it
during the week and it tasted quite good I must say.
Someone suggested, very unkindly I thought, that my
honey balls needed a solid dose of prescription
medication to get them to rise again..
Congratulations on the 350th
edition…I really enjoy the CCN, and I know the
dedicated work to make sure that each bulletin is
delivered…
Thank you
Senator Claire Moore
Labor Senator for Queensland
CCN
tweeting on twitter!
New on
ISLAM TV this week
If you are unable to view Islam
TV here open this CCN newsletter in Firefox or
Safari
Winner of 3 awards in the Australian
Book Industry Awards 2011:
best book, best biography best
newcomer
Synopsis
Anh
Do nearly didn't make it to Australia. His entire family
came close to losing their lives on the sea as they
escaped from war-torn Vietnam in an overcrowded boat.
But nothing - not murderous pirates, nor the imminent
threat of death by hunger, disease or dehydration as
they drifted for days - could quench their desire to
make a better life in the country they had dreamed
about.
Life in Australia was hard, an endless succession of
back-breaking work, crowded rooms, ruthless landlords
and make-do everything. But there was a loving extended
family, and always friends and play and something to
laugh about for Anh, his brother Khoa and their sister
Tram.
Things got harder when their father left home when Anh
was only nine - they felt his loss very deeply and their
mother struggled to support the family on her own.
His mother's sacrifice was an inspiration to Anh and he
worked hard during his teenage years to help her make
ends meet, also managing to graduate high school and
then university.
Another inspiration was the comedian Anh met when he was
about to sign on for a 60-hour a week corporate job.
Anh asked how many hours he worked. 'Four,' the answer
came back, and that was it. He was going to be a
comedian! The Happiest Refugee tells the incredible,
uplifting and inspiring life story of one of our
favourite personalities.
Tragedy, humour, heartache and unswerving determination
- a big life with big dreams. Anh's story will move and
amuse all who read it.
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.
Still master of his own domain, CCN's Editor-in-Chief continues
his cooking adventures this week with a relatively
healthy snack-time recipe (with ingredients saved over
from last week's desert attempt). It took just 15
minutes to prepare and goes great with rice cakes or
crackers.
Crunchy Almond Avocado Dip
.
Ingredients
2 ripe avocados
Juice of half a lemon
1 tablespoon olive oil
Salt (or Aromat) and freshly ground pepper
Avocado oil to drizzle (optional)
35g almonds roasted and roughly chopped
Roasted sesame seeds
Method
1. Place the almonds on a
baking tray, and cook in the oven at 180°C
for 8 - 10 minutes
2. Peel and pip the
avocado, then roughly chop and crush with a
fork until your desired texture has been
achieved.
3. While you’re doing
this, add the salt or aromat, olive oil and
lemon juice.
To serve, dust with the roasted sesame
seeds; add a dash of avocado oil and pepper.
You can also use dried chili.
Continue your favourite workouts during
Ramadaan with sweet rewards at sunset.
Don’t use the coming month as an excuse not to exercise.
The one question I’m asked consistently
in the weeks leading up to Ramadaan is: “How can I
possibly exercise while I’m fasting?”
My answer : “Nothing is impossible”…
The key is to train smart, not hard. We are also blessed
with cooler weather, and shorter days – so what you need
to do is not push yourself too hard. Any exercise is
better than none at all. If you would normally jog, walk
instead. If you go for regular walks, cut back on the
time or distance, or if you weight-train, lighten your
load. The one thing you don’t want to do is stop
completely.
Time management is vital as we want to
spend most of our time doing good deeds.
Remember, looking after your body and
staying healthy is important as well, so do your best to
fit a short, effective routine into your day.
Tips:
Drink as much water as you can before and after fasting
Avoid working out outside when the sun is at its hottest
(10am-3pm)
Wear a hat and sun protection at all times when outside
Reward yourself with sweet treats at sunset – SMALL
PORTIONS
Have some fruit and vegies
Never give up – imagine how good you’ll look and feel
come Eid!
PappaRoti Warrigal Square will be
running a Ramadan promotion in conjunction with
the holy month of Ramadan from August 1st. We
will be offering the Ramadan Combo Specials
which is a crispy bun with a Malaysian specialty
from $4.99.
Please take this opportunity to break fast with
the Ramadan Combo Specials.
Computers,
laptops, bags, accessories, digital cameras,
monitors, notebooks, printers,
toners/cartridges, software and much much more.
All the best brands at the lowest possible
prices. Visit us today
www.efxshop.com.au
Want an effective treatment to
clean out BAD CHOLESTROL and PLAQUE from your
arteries?
ArgiNox Maintain is available from Zakiya
Sacur - 0433 270 770. Book your consultation
now
Gabriel K hair studio is a boutique studio
exclusively for women. Gabriel K has over 20
years experience as a stylist and uses Matrix as
the professional range.
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.
The
women who cook the deliciously smelling and tasty food every Friday
afternoon and the men who sell the curry and rice packs to long lines of
regular customers at the Kuraby Mosque will enjoy a well-earned respite over
the next four weeks of Ramadan.
Greg
Callaghan: What are the most
common misconceptions about
Muslim women in Australia? 
Sunnybank
Saints finals hopes are no longer in their hands after a 5-1 defeat at top
of the table St Pauls.
A
group of Harvard students
have started a petition
calling on the University to
sever ties with Subramanian
Swamy (pictured right),
a Harvard Summer School
economics instructor who
wrote an op-ed against
Islamic terrorism that many
have called offensive and
inflammatory.
Anh
Do nearly didn't make it to Australia. His entire family
came close to losing their lives on the sea as they
escaped from war-torn Vietnam in an overcrowded boat. 
Drink as much water as you can before and after fasting
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