Al-Nisa
youth group hosted
the girls’ Big Day
Out at the Islamic
College of Brisbane
on the 7th January.
The event was aimed
at girls between the
ages of 15-25 and
involved an
action-packed day of
games, exercise and
fun! The 40+
participants were
divided into groups
upon arrival and the
competition began.
Dodgeball, Oztag,
blind soccer and
Thepan, a
traditional
Aboriginal game were
played
simultaneously
throughout the large
school indoor court
all morning. The
winners of each game
played off against
each other finally
leaving “Team 3” the
victors.
After a much needed
sausage sizzle for
lunch (generously
sponsored by Sheikh
Mabrouk from
Continental Meats),
a Zumba exercise
session was
conducted by Emma
Nicol for the older
girls. Exhausted but
smiling, the girls
finished off the day
with a quiz on
Islamic facts that
had been read out to
them before each
game.
The day was
successful,
enjoyable and a
great way for the
young girls to pass
their school
holidays.
Queen bed and
base
Double bed and mattress
2 single beds and mattresses
Refrigerator
Computer desk
Dining table and chairs
Table for sitting room
Carpet for 2 bedrooms
Call Janeth
Deen on 0435 086 796 if you
can help.
Forum to discuss identification bill
The
Queensland State Government
is calling for submissions
with regard to the bill
Identification Laws
Amendment Bill 2011(Face
Coverings) that was
introduced in the Parliament
by the Independent MP, Mr
Peter Wellington.
In view of
the likely impact on the
Muslim community the Islamic
Council of Queensland (ICQ)
is holding a meeting to
discuss this subject and an
invitation is extended to
anyone wishing to attend
and/or contribute::
Date : Sunday 5th
February Time : 10.00 am Venue : Islamic
College of Brisbane,
Multi-Purpose Hall
Prime
Minister Julia Gillard this
week congratulated 40
Australians who have been
recognised for their
outstanding work in building
strong and cohesive local
communities.
The 40 local champions have
been independently selected
as the new People of
Australia Ambassadors
following hundreds of
nominations from the public.
Australians were encouraged
to nominate inspirational
people who have helped to
build bridges, promote
inclusion and strengthen
ties in their communities.
They were joined by football
champion and new Ambassador
Harry O’Brien, who is
actively involved in the
AFL’s own Multicultural
Program and engaged in a
variety of community
projects.
The Ambassador program is a
key initiative of the
Gillard Labor Government's
multicultural policy, The
People of Australia,
announced last year.
The 40 Ambassadors now have
a new platform to promote
their good work and share
their ideas and initiatives
that can help inspire
others.
The new Ambassadors will be
able to provide advice to
Government and the
Australian Multicultural
Council.
Their contributions will
help assist and strengthen
the Government’s
multicultural policy.
The Ambassadors have been
recognised for the real
impact they are having on
the lives of many
Australians - from bringing
kids together through sport,
to helping small business
owners from diverse
backgrounds get up and
running.
The inaugural Ambassador
program speaks to the
strength of our Australian
communities and our capacity
as a nation to welcome
people and make them feel
part of our community.
The 2012 Ambassadors’ term
commences today and ends on
30 December 2012.
Northern
Territory
Ms Sascha McKell
Mr Kevin Kadirgamar
New South Wales
Sister Diana
Santleben
Mr Ali Reza
Yunespour
Dr Cen Amores
Ms Ricci Bartels
Mr Susai Benjamin JP
Mr Jeremy Jones AM
Ms Vivi
Germanos-Koutsounadis
Mr Lawrence Dimech
OAM, JP
Ms Carmen Lazar
Mrs Jenny Siv Phan
Tew
Mr Samir Yousif
Dr Tien Manh Nguyen
OAM
(click
here for profile
of Qld appointees)
Mrs Adele Rice
Mr Daniel
Zingifuaboro
Mr Warren McMillan
Dr Farvardin Daliri
OAM
Mr Umesh Chandra
South Australia
Pastor Brad Chilcott
Ms Dorinda Hafner
Mrs Claudia Cream
Ms Denise McEvoy
Ms Elizabeth Ho
Tasmania
Mr Fayia Isaiah
Lahai
Mrs Sajini Sumar
Victoria
Mr Harry O’Brien
Ms Melissa Barbieri
Mrs Elleni Bereded-Samuel
Mr Deepak Vinayak
Mrs Jennifer Barrera
Ms Marion Lau OAM,
JP
Mr Chap Chow
Mr Phong Nguyen
Mr Ahmed Dini
Mr David Nyuol
Vincent
Western Australia
Ms Maria Grazia
Saraceni
Ms Zeliha Iscel
Mr Salim Youssef
Radio Muezzin: Play aims to preserve 'iconic'
Muslim sound
A group of
Egyptian muezzins is trying
to preserve a very human
element of one of the most
iconic sounds of the Muslim
world - the call to prayer.
The four
Egyptian muezzins from the
mosques of Cairo are part of
a documentary theatre work
which is part of the Sydney
Festival.
Their story; their
livelihoods singing the
daily calls to prayer, are
threatened by a government
decision to replace them,
and Cairo's cacophonous
soundscape, with a
centralised radio version.
But they are showcasing
their talent to the world to
stop that from happening,
and they're using a Western
artistic form, the theatre,
to put their message across.
The muezzins share their
stories in a work displaying
the complexities of
contemporary Egypt.
With the Egyptian revolution
being incorporated into the
performance, it gives a
unique account of recent
history from those who know
the capital.
Radio Muezzin showed at
Sydney's Seymour Centre
until yesterday (Saturday).
Calling for participants in new ABC series
The Holy
Switch, is a new documentary
series being produced for
ABC TV's Compass programme.
The producers
will invite six young people
of faith aged between 18-23
and their families to
feature in this experiential
series. For two weeks (in
March-April-May 2012) these
young people will take up
the challenge to live a
totally different life with
a host family from another
faith.
"We view Holy
Switch as complementary to
the inter-faith movement in
that we are looking for
questioning young adults,
who are living in a largely
secular world but are part
of a family who puts faith
at the heart of life," said
Tammy Burnstock (researcher
for Roar Film).
Director Varcha Sidwell, who
also brought The Abbey and
The Mission series to ABC
TV’s Compass believes Holy
Switch presents a unique
invitation, “It’s not often
that young Australians are
given a chance to explore
the deeper issues in their
lives, beyond the next
celebrity scandal or latest
fad- to be deeply challenged
to discover new insights,
not only about themselves
but Australia as well”
The website details:
www.holyswitch.com.au.
Applications are due by
Friday the 17th February.
Getting CCN out each week is no mean
feat......but somebody's got to do it!
.
The World's Most Influential Muslims in 2011
There are
over 1.6
billion
Muslims in
the world
today,
making up
approximately
23% of the
world's
population,
or more than
one-fifth of
mankind.
The
Muslim500
publication
is part of
an annual
series that
provides a
window into
the movers
and shakers
of the
Muslim
world. It
gives
valuable
insight into
the
different
ways that
Muslims
impact the
world, and
also shows
the
diversity of
how people
are living
as Muslims
today.
The 2011
lists the
world's most
influential
Muslims who
have
impacted on
their
community,
or on behalf
of their
community.
Influence
is: any
person who
has the
power (be it
cultural,
ideological,
financial,
political or
otherwise)
to make a
change that
will have a
significant
impact on
the Muslim
World. The
impact can
be either
positive or
negative.
The
influence
can be of a
religious
scholar
directly
addressing
Muslims and
influencing
their
beliefs,
ideas and
behaviour,
or it can be
of a ruler
shaping the
socio-economic
factors
within which
people live
their lives,
or of
artists
forming
popular
culture.
Over the
coming
weeks, CCN
will publish
a
personality
selected
from the
list:
No. 4
H.M. King
Abdullah II
ibn Al
Hussein King of
the
Hashemite
Kingdom of
Jordan
King
Abdullah II of
Jordan has
influence in
Jordan and
around the world
due to his
lineage in the
Hashemite
family, his
custodianship of
Jerusalem and
activism on
various
fronts—from
freedom of the
press and
reformed
domestic policy
to international
diplomacy. He is
noted for having
developed
Jordan’s free
market economy,
arts and culture
scene, as well
as addressing
issues of
homelessness and
poverty during
his reign as
King of Jordan.
He has initiated
domestic
political reform
aiming to
establish a
parliamentary
government.
Prophetic
Lineage
King Abdullah II
is a member of
the Hashemite
family and the
42nd generation
direct
descendant of
the Prophet
Muhammad through
the line of the
Prophet’s
grandson Al
Hasan. The
Hashemites, or
Bani Hashem,
link back to the
tribe of Quraish;
Hashem was the
name of the
Prophet’s
great-grandfather.
King
Abdullah II is
thus a member of
the Ahl al Bayt
(the family of
the Prophet
Muhammad).
Ruling
Dynasty
The Hashemite
family ruled
Mecca from 1201
CE to 1925 CE
and other
branches of the
family have
ruled Mecca from
500 CE, when
Qusayy, the
grandfather of
Hashem, became
Mecca’s first
king. The
Hashemite
dynasty is the
oldest ruling
dynasty in the
Islamic world,
and the
second-oldest in
the world, after
that of Japan.
Custodian of
Holy Sites in
Jerusalem
As custodian of
the Muslim holy
sites in the
city of
Jerusalem, King
Abdullah II
maintains a
unique prestige
in the region.
He has gone on
record in March
2010 to condemn
Israel’s
inclusion of
West Bank
religious sites
in its national
heritage list.
Islamic
Outreach
King Abdullah II
has proven
influence at the
forefront of a
global
intrafaith
movement,
through the
creation of the
Amman Message; a
call for greater
intra-religious
tolerance and
unity in Islam
that was
endorsed by
representatives
from all major
Muslim groups in
2004. King
Abdullah II is
credited with
the Royal Aal al
Bayt Institute
for Islamic
Thought’s most
authoritative
website on the
Qur’an and
tafsir or
Qur’anic
exegesis (www.altafsir.com).
King Abdullah II
is also noted
for founding the
new World
Islamic Sciences
and Education
University in
Jordan (www.wise.edu.jo).
King Abdullah II
is lauded as an
interfaith
leader for his
support of the
2007 initiative,
A Common Word—a
groundbreaking
initiative in
Christian-Muslim
engagement
(www.acommonword.com).
Peace
Activist
King Abdullah II
is the leading
player in the
dialogue for
peace
in
Israel-Palestine.
He has
constantly and
openly called
for discussion
in the
negotiations
toward a
two-state
solution. He was
also the
initiator and
driving force
behind the
recently adopted
UN World
Interfaith
Harmony Week
Resolution,
marking the
first week of
February an
annual
celebration of
faiths.
The Arab
Spring
•• Taking the
lead in Jordan,
the King opened
a national
dialogue,
changed the
constitution and
changed the
government and
the intelligence
chief. The King
also disarmed
his own police
to avoid
violence and
promised
parliamentary
democracy within
a year and a
half. Some
protestors
called for a
faster process
but no one calls
for regime
changes.
Protests in
Jordan have
never exceeded
5,000 people.
•• His Majesty
King Abdullah
said the Arab
Spring ‘can be
an opportunity
to
institutionalize
positive change
that is
necessary for a
strong, secure,
prosperous
future’.
The Inbox
Dear
Editor
Assalamu Alaikum
My name is Ameera Mahomed-Ismail and I currently
live in Brisbane, Queensland.
I have recently been accepted into a prestigious
leadership conference in the United States that will
take place mid 2012.
I am writing to enquire whether there are any
readers of yours who would be interested in aiding
me financially to attend this conference.
I have
attached a cover letter
which provides more information and a resume
and sample itineraries are also available. i have
also linked the webpage of the conference below
If you would like any more information, please do
not hesitate to contact me via email or phone
[(07)3273 6603]. Any assistance, however small, is
much appreciated.
SEE THE NEW
LOOK ISLAM TV
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BY SALAM CARD
SUPPORTING LOCAL
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MUSLIM FRIENDLY
BUSINESS
Synopsis In
the wake of the colossal acts of terrorism of the last
decade, the legal historian and human rights lawyer Sadakat
Kadri realized that many people in the West had ideas about
the origins and implications of the shari‘a, or Islamic law,
that were hazy, contradictory, or simply wrong. Even as
“shari‘a” became a loaded word and an all-encompassing
explanation, most of us remained ignorant of its true
meaning.
And we were doing this at our peril.
In Heaven on Earth , Kadri brings lucid wit
and analytical skill to the thrilling and turbulent story of
Islam’s foundation and expansion. He shows how legal ideas
gradually evolved out of thousands of reports about the
Prophet Mohammad, most of which were not even written down
until two centuries after his death. And he explains how,
just in the last forty years, the shari‘a has been
appropriated and transformed by hardliners desperate to
impose their oppressive vision.
In the second half of the book, Kadri takes
us on an extraordinary journey through more than half a
dozen countries in the Islamic world, where he explores, in
striking detail, how the shari‘a is taught, read,
reinterpreted, reverenced, and challenged—beginning at the
eight-hundred-year old Indian grave of his Sufi mystic
ancestor, and ending in Cairo’s City of the Dead, where one
of Islam’s greatest legal scholars still gets daily requests
for legal miracles twelve centuries after his death.
Heaven on Earth is a brilliantly iconoclastic
tour through one of history’s great collective intellectual
achievements, as complex as the religion that brought it to
life. The shari‘a continues to shape both explosive
political circumstances and the daily life of more than a
billion Muslims, and Sadakat Kadri has given us a compelling
and clarifying portrait of a changeable world of faith,
reason, and justice.
From The Guardian:
An
article in The Guardian has stated that a leading
barrister has called for Britain to be more educated about
sharia law, stating that Islamic law can be compatible with
the with the "toughest human rights legislation.” Speaking
to the Guardian, Sadakat Kadri, who studied at Harvard Law
School said that sharia courts are important in safeguarding
human rights.
"A leading barrister has called for the UK to become more
sharia-literate, while arguing that Islamic law can be
compatible with the toughest human rights legislation.
"Sadakat Kadri told the Guardian that so-called "sharia
courts", such as the Muslim arbitration tribunal, were good
for "the community as a whole" by putting Sharia on a
transparent, public footing and should be more widely
accessible to those who want to use them.
"Kadri said they played a role in safeguarding human rights:
"It's very important that they be acknowledged and allowed
to exist. So long as they're voluntary, which is crucial,
it's in everyone's interests these things be transparent and
publicly accessible. If you don't have open tribunals,
they're going to happen anyway, but behind closed doors."
In his book, Heaven and Earth, Kadri sets out the history of
sharia. In it, “He describes the slow development of sharia
law, which many assume to be derived directly from the
Qur'an, in the centuries after the death of Muhammad.
"After 7/7," he said, "people were saying the sharia is all
about violence, it's all about chopping people's hands off,
it's all about stoning adulterers to death. Others said it's
nothing to do with that, Islam is a religion of peace.
Clearly both of those things were true at a certain level,
but very early on I just realised no one had a clue what
sharia said about this or that."
“"I'm not a theologian," said Kadri.”But this is my
interpretation of Islamic history. There's a mistaken belief
that Islamic law is a vast unchanging body of rules – 1,400
years of Muslim history shows that little could be further
from the truth."
"It's really important that the Muslim community engage with
its actual history, as well as idealised traditions. If
that's to take root, critical engagement with the past among
young Muslims will be crucially important."
The article also highlights ‘top five sharia myths’, which
include mandatory veiling, the permissibility of suicide
bombing, and the mention of stoning in the Qur’an.
Top five
sharia myths:
That amputation is a typical punishment
for theft in Muslim countries
Of the
world's 50 or so Muslim-majority states,
only about half a dozen allow for
amputations and at least one of those
countries – Pakistan – has never carried
out the penalty in practice
That veiling is mandatory under sharia
law
Women are
simply advised by the Qur'an to wear
modest clothing and – like men – to
lower their eyes and maintain their
chastity
That suicide bombing is permissable
under sharia law
Most
interpreters of the Qur'an understand it
to forbid suicide. The first suicide
bombing by Muslims was carried out in
1983 during the Lebanese civil war
Stoning is mentioned in the Qur'an
Stoning is
not mentioned as a punishment in the
Qur'an. It was institutionalised on the
basis of hadiths (reports about
Muhammad) which were themselves not
written down until more than a century
after his death
Capital punishment for apostasy is
mentioned by the Qur'an
The Qur'an
repeatedly warns believers who abandon
their faith that they will have to
account to God in the afterlife, but it
does not provide for their punishment on
earth. Again, it was hadiths that later
served to justify the death penalty
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.
KB says: This week's recipe comes
to you from Ratheesh, the in-house chef at the Zuri
Kumarokom Resort in Kerala, South India.
It was both enlightening and educational
to have them demonstrate the cooking of this dish yesterday
as a special request from me, and more humbling to have them
willingly share their traditional recipe dish with me and
our CCN readers.
Kerala
(South Indian) Fish Curry
(serves 4)
Ingredients
250gm fresh fish
1 tsp tamarind (diluted in a 1/4 cup of hot
water)
1 large onion sliced
2 tab of curry leaves
3 tsp red chillie powder
1/2 tsp coriander powder
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1/4 tsp fenugreek powder
2 tab coconut oil
1 tsp slivered ginger
2 tsp ground garlic
1 tsp salt
1 pinch mustard seeds
1 pinch fenugreek seeds
2 tab coconut milk
1/2 cup tomatoes
Method
1. Clean fish, drain and keep aside
2.
Mix together the red chillie, coriander,
turmeric and fenugreek powders with a little
water to make a smooth paste.
3.
Heat the coconut oil in a pan, add mustard seeds
and when it starts spluttering, add the
fenugreek seeds followed by the sliced onions,
ginger, garlic, curry leaves and the paste and
fry until the onions turn light brown. Then add
the tomatoes and simmer until the oil separates.
4.
Add the tamarind extract and check the level of
sourness.
5.
When the mixture starts boiling, add the fish
pieces and salt.
6.
Add enough water to cover the pieces.
7.
Cook on gentle heat and when the fish is almost
cooked increase the heat and cook until the
gravy thickens and the oil is visible.
8.
Lastly, add the coconut milk and serve hot with
rice.
Q: Dear Kareema, I
normally do circuit training at the gym but I just can’t
seem to get there enough these days. What are some exercise
options I can do at home?
A: Easy. Create your own mini home-circuit for a
stress free, time-efficient workout.
All questions sent in
are published here anonymously and without any
references to the author of the question.
Flightstar Fozi's Travel Tips
Q: Dear Flightstar Fozi, I have just had a baby and
want to visit my family in Lebanon in a few months, I am
worried about having to travel with the baby, I know how
annoying it is it when there is a screaming baby on the
plane, has it become easier.
A: Travelling with a baby is not easy but it is
sometimes necessary when you have eager grandparents on the
other side of the world.
The
flight crew are well trained in looking after children and
babies, as they understand how upsetting it can be for
fellow passengers and the parents involved to have a
screaming baby. The airline will seat you in the front
aisle, and issue you with a bassinet for the baby, so at
least you will have your hands free, and you don't have to
hold the baby for the whole flight, like you had to many
years ago.
If you are still feeding the baby, it will be much easier,
but flight crew are only too happy to boil up water and warm
up bottles if you need them. They also can give you a nappy
pack and some of them are only too pleased to help settle
the baby if they are not busy. I would also suggest you see
a doctor well before you leave to make sure immunisations
are up to date and they can give the baby a good check up
before you leave.
It may be a long trip over but I am sure once you get there,
it will all be worth it to see your family.
All questions sent in
are published here anonymously and without any
references to the author of the question.
The CCN Chuckle
Mula
Nasruddin, was being honoured at his retirement dinner
after 25 years as the Imam of the local Mosque.
The main trustee of
the Mosque was chosen to make the presentation and to
give a little speech at the dinner.
However, since the trustee was delayed, Mula Nasruddin
decided to say his own few words while they waited:
"I got my first impression of the mussaalees of this
Mosque from the first who came to seek some advice from
me. I thought I had been assigned to a terrible place.
The very first person who came to me told me he had
stolen a television set and, when questioned by the
police, was able to lie his way out of it. He had stolen
money from his parents, embezzled from his employer, had
an affair with his boss's wife, taken illegal drugs and
drank alcohol regularly. I was appalled. But as the days
went on, I learned that my people were not all like that
and I had, indeed, come to a fine Mosque full of good
and loving people."
Just as Mula Nasruddin finished his talk, the trustee
arrived full of apologies at being late. He immediately
began to make the presentation and gave his talk:
"I'll never forget the first day our Imam arrived, said
the trustee. In fact, I had the honour of being the
first person to go to him for advice on a number of
personal matters."
Thank you Fakhri and
Hashim
The CCN
"But only a brief moment
is granted to the brave
one breath or two, whose
wage is
The long nights of the
grave."
Muhammed Iqbal
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.
King
Abdullah II of
Jordan has
influence in
Jordan and
around the world
due to his
lineage in the
Hashemite
family, his
custodianship of
Jerusalem and
activism on
various
fronts—from
freedom of the
press and
reformed
domestic policy
to international
diplomacy. He is
noted for having
developed
Jordan’s free
market economy,
arts and culture
scene, as well
as addressing
issues of
homelessness and
poverty during
his reign as
King of Jordan.
He has initiated
domestic
political reform
aiming to
establish a
parliamentary
government.
In
the wake of the colossal acts of terrorism of the last
decade, the legal historian and human rights lawyer Sadakat
Kadri realized that many people in the West had ideas about
the origins and implications of the shari‘a, or Islamic law,
that were hazy, contradictory, or simply wrong. Even as
“shari‘a” became a loaded word and an all-encompassing
explanation, most of us remained ignorant of its true
meaning.
The
flight crew are well trained in looking after children and
babies, as they understand how upsetting it can be for
fellow passengers and the parents involved to have a
screaming baby. The airline will seat you in the front
aisle, and issue you with a bassinet for the baby, so at
least you will have your hands free, and you don't have to
hold the baby for the whole flight, like you had to many
years ago. 
.jpg)
post comments on
our Wall
7
August 2011