Imam Shatiri’s Captivating Quran Recitation
Enchants Brisbane Muslims
By Falihin Amran, Manager AMYN Islamic
Centre and Library HikmahWay Institute
Saturday
25th February was a first
for Brisbane!
A packed
audience of over four
hundred enjoyed the
beautiful and soothing
recitation of Surah Waqiah
by Sheikh Abu Bakr Shatiri
(pictured seated left),
one of the world’s leading
Quran reciters.
Prior to the
recitation, the Sheikh
entertained the audience
with his humble sense of
humour and sincere
spirituality during a half
hour interview conducted by
Sheikh Aslam AbuIsmaeel
(pictured seated right),
the night’s host and
Director of Australian
Muslim Youth Network (AMYN).
During the
interview, Sheikh Shatiri
highlighted the need for and
a way to develop a pure and
sincere heart and it is only
such a heart that Allah
blesses with the joy of
truly enjoying the depths of
the meaning and recitation
of the Quran.
The Sheikh,
whose Quran recitation is a
world best seller and
available in all leading
Quran Applications on
Android and AppStore, also
travels extensively around
the world and is much adored
by Muslims of all
backgrounds.
The memorable
night, filled with an
atmosphere of love of the
Quran, witnessed also the
spirit of brotherhood
between people of all
backgrounds – South African,
Zimbabwean, Arabs, African,
Asian and European.
Special
thanks from AMYN Islamic
Centre and Library to Imam
Yusuf Peer, the president of
Council of Imams Queensland
(CIQ) for attending and
welcoming the famous reciter
on behalf of Queensland's
Muslims.
Sydney:
Assmaah Helal
(pictured right) has
broken barriers to reach
football's elite, but a
controversial FIFA ban on
Muslim women playing in the
hijab means she may never
realise her dream of wearing
the Australian jersey.
Helal, 25, was introduced to
football by her
Egyptian-born father when
she was just five, and she
was determined not to let
gender keep her from joining
her three brothers on the
pitch.
It was no easy task. Members
of her Muslim community in
western Sydney frowned on
the idea of girls playing
sport at all, much less a
rough and tumble game which
was, at that time, still
very much a male domain.
"I used to just get told I
was a tomboy. In my culture,
to play with the guys and to
mix with guys was seen as
not appropriate," Helal told
AFP.
Helal now plays in the Super
League, one step below the
nation's premier W-League
for women, and says
representing Australia in
national side the Matildas
would be her ultimate dream.
But devout Muslim beliefs
which see her don the hijab
to play every weekend mean,
for now, such a dream is out
of reach.
FIFA banned players from
wearing the Islamic
headscarf in 2007, claiming
it is unsafe, but Helal has
never once experienced or
heard of a hijab-related
injury and has joined
growing calls for the ban to
be overturned.
Sport is the
field of
dreams. If
you take
away the
dream of
playing in
an Olympics
or playing
in a World
Cup then it
will have an
effect all
the way down
the line.
Moya Dodd
"I strongly believe that the
ban is just outright
discrimination," she said of
the headscarf, which she
described as "a part of a
Muslim woman's identity
which cannot be changed".
"At an international and an
elite level, sports like
taekwondo and rugby allow
the headscarf to be worn
during the competitive
matches, and for the world
game, for the universal
language that is football,
to ban the headscarf... it
doesn't make sense."
The Asian Football
Confederation is leading the
charge for the sport's
lawmaking body, the
International Football
Association Board (IFAB), to
lift the ban at its meeting
yesterday (3 March).
It has become
a pressing issue in the
region, with Iran's national
women's team forced to
withdraw from the West Asia
Olympic qualifiers last year
and three players dropping
out of the Jordanian side
due to the ban.
AFC vice-president Moya Dodd
said the safety concerns had
been "fully addressed" by
new designs with a velcro
front-seam to prevent
strangulation and it was a
baseless reason to exclude
"hundreds of millions" of
Muslim women.
"Football, it's the
fastest-growing sport in
Asia, and it's important
that people can play also
knowing that they can
compete at the top level,"
Dodd said.
"Sport
is the field of dreams. If
you take away the dream of
playing in an Olympics or
playing in a World Cup then
it will have an effect all
the way down the line."
Melissa Barbieri
(pictured right),
captain of the Matildas and
one of Australia's
best-known female
footballers, said she had
seen great Muslim players
"and it scares me to think
they won't be able to play
for Australia one day
because of religion".
"We already have so many
obstacles in the way of
getting equal opportunity in
the football world, mostly
due to stereotypes and lack
of knowledge," she said,
urging FIFA to see the
footballers behind the hijab.
"If you just see some of
these girls' skills you
would feel obliged to
overturn the ban. It would
send a thorough 'Football is
the World Game' message,"
added Barbieri.
If you just
see some of
these girls'
skills you
would feel
obliged to
overturn the
ban. It
would send a
thorough
'Football is
the World
Game'
message.
Melissa
Barbieri
Sydney
sisters Hiba and Hala Ayache,
24 and 26, have been
campaigning for nine years
to win acceptance of their
all-female "Lakembaroos"
football club in the local
Muslim community and they
see the ban as a slap in the
face.
"You're taking it all away,
all our hard work," said
Hiba, who has played at
state representative level
and, like Helal, has
international dreams.
"We all have the potential,
we have the skills to play
further. So it's not only
the boundaries of our family
and the community, it also
becomes international now.
It's a bit of a burden on
us."
Dodd said only that she's
"hopeful" of having a fair
hearing over the ban at the
meeting of IFAB, which
comprises four members from
FIFA and four from British
associations.
"I'd like to see a way
enabling women with
particular cultural beliefs
to participate, rather than
see it as ground for
exclusion," she said.
"The field should be a field
of cultural exchange rather
than conflict."
Moonshadow - A Musical Fantasy - coming to
Melbourne
An
enchantingly magical
storytale by Yusuf Islam,
featuring his music and
words as Cat Stevens. This
new musical with beloved
classics is set to be one of
the most exciting and
innovative shows of pop
musical history.
Moonshadow is a musical
fantasy, weaving together
exciting new songs with some
of the most famous and
beloved classics from Cat
Stevens' expansive back
catalogue. With hits around
every corner, such as Father
and Son, Wild World, Morning
Has Broken, Peace Train, and
First Cut is the Deepest,
this musical will send
audiences out happily
singing or whistling along
to themselves.
A young boy Stormy, lives in
a realm locked in endless
night. When he is visited by
his mysterious Moonshadow,
he is inspired to set off on
a quest for the lost land of
the sun. Danger lurks around
every corner. As Stormy
ventures closer and closer
to the end of the world,
even the moon begins to die…
Army Muslim Insults Outrage Australia
Abusive
comments by army soldiers
against Muslims, immigrants
and women on a Facebook
group are sparking a storm
of outrage in Australia.
“I am angry, I am
disappointed, I am going to
do something about it,” Army
Chief Lieutenant General
David Morrison told
reporters on Thursday, March
1, Australia’s Sky News
reported.
ABC TV revealed that more
than 1,000 former and
current army soldiers wrote
abusive and racist comments
against Muslims, immigrants
and women on a Facebook
group.
Muslims were described by
soldiers as “ragheads”.
There were also comments
such as: "What do u do if u
see a Muslim limping across
your yard? Reload."
Other posts suggested that
immigrants are not welcome
and that women are filthy
whores.
Hundreds of other
expletive-riddled comments
are un-publishable.
"The targeting of any person
on the basis of their
gender, ethnicity or sexual
orientation is repugnant and
contrary to both Defence and
Army's values," Morrison
said.
The army chief said that an
investigation was launched
into the racist comments.
We are “already taking steps
to determine if any serving
members are linked to the
offensive comments. Where
they have been, I intend to
take action to deal with
them.”
“Where they have been I
intend to take action to
deal with them to the extent
that our policies and the
laws allows,” he said.
Defence Minister Stephen
Smith also launched a range
of reviews of defence
culture to address ongoing
concerns about inappropriate
conduct.
Muslims, who have been in
Australia for more than 200
years, make up 1.7 percent
of its 20-million
population.
A recent governmental report
revealed that Muslims are
facing deep-seated
Islamophobia and race-based
treatment like never before.
Common Behaviour
A former army cadet has
described the racist views
as very common in the
Australian army.
“I’ve heard it before,”
Naomi Brookes, a former
Australian Defence Force
Academy (ADFA), told ABC TV.
“Comments like the ones on
the Facebook groups aren’t
all that unusual.
“And because they are not
all that unusual as time
goes on they seem less and
less obscene. So it feeds
back into itself.”
The former cadet quit the
academy in disgust with the
way a friend who had been
raped was treated by her
peers.
The Australian army has been
hit by a series of
allegations of abusive
behaviour in recent months.
A review by Australia's
human rights commissioner
last year found that women
in Australia's top military
academy faced widespread
low-level sexual harassment.
Support International Women's Day Celebrations
in MacGregor TODAY
The hall at
the MacGregor State Primary
School, McCullough Road,
MacGregor (next to Sunnypark
Shopping Centre) is the
venue for an entertaining
afternoon to be held from 2
- 5pm. today (4 March)
There will be ample car
parks in the shopping centre
s and at the back of the
Sunnypark Shopping Centre in
the school grounds.
Bring along your tickets if
you have pre-purchased them.
If not there will be tickets
available at the door.
Ticket prices are $20 or $50
for a family of two adults
and two children.
Please ensure you are on
time as the function will
begin at 2pm sharp.
You are sure to enjoy
yourself with the great
entertainment and good food
which are all included in
the price of the ticket. You
could even win a lucky door
prize.
At the same time you will be
contributing to the purchase
of an eye-gaze machine to
help a young man who was
severely handicapped due to
a car accident he was
involved in, in October
2000.
Some
10,000 Syrian
refugees have fled
to Jordan and are
desperately in need
of help. A charity
event is being held
on the Gold Coast to
raise money to buy
supplies in Jordan
and to take and send
the supplies
directly to them.
Tickets can be bought
through
Facebook or by
contacting one of the
sisters above.
All tickets must be paid for
in full by Saturday 10th
March.
Children will be supervised
upstairs in the madrassa
with games, activities,
food, etc.
For anyone
who can't attend and would
like to make a donation, you
can use the following
account:
Acct name:
Melissa Leslie, BSB: 814282,
Acct #: 5402631. Please use
the reference: SYRIA
Amna is highly commended
On
Friday 2 March, the
University of Western Sydney
(UWS) hosted its annual
International Women’s Day
celebration and presentation
of the UWS Women of the
West, and Young Women of the
West Awards.
Amongst those
recognized was Ms Amna
Karra-Hassan who was
presented with a Highly
Commended Young Woman of the
West Award.
Gracious in
her acceptance of the award
Ms Karra-Hassan told
friends: There are so
many women who do more work
quietly and are so much more
deserving. There are many
who support me in what I do
and this award is a credit
to those people who
encourage me in everything I
do. May our standards and
expectations as individuals
and a community excel much
higher than we believe is
achievable."
Amna Karra-Hassan
was born and raised in
Western Suburbs of Sydney.
She is currently studying
for her Masters in Islamic
Studies with Charles Sturt
University (CSU) and the
Islamic Sciences Research
Academy (ISRA).
Amna
is currently employed as a
Team Member in the
Australian Federal Police
Community Liaison Team. Her
role with the AFP involves
engaging and networking with
various communities to
educate minority groups
about law enforcement in
Australia. Some of the
successful programs that
Amna has coordinated
includes, the Community
Partnership Program and the
Annual AFP Eid Dinner.
Amna is the co-founder of
the Auburn Tigers Women’s
Aussie Rules football team
which was awarded the
Mayoral Encouragement Award
at the 2011 Sports Award.
Amna was able to create an
avenue for women,
predominantly from the
Muslim community and/or
culturally and
linguistically diverse
communities to participate
in sport. This initiative
has received much media
attention and has become a
means of interfaith and
intercultural dialogue.
At the age of
23, Amna has proven to be a
passionate advocate for
grass-roots activism in both
the youth and community
sector. With a strong
passion for social reform,
Amna is a positive role
model and proud ambassador
for young people, her
community and religion. She
works with many members of
the community to broaden her
understanding, be it
theological, social, and
political.
Ms Karra-Hassan
was the 2011 Youth of the
Year in the Mission of
Hope's Muslim Achievement
Awards.
The CCN Classifieds
Boulevard
Tower Residence
The Heart of Surfers
Paradise
Relax
in one of the newest and
most exciting developments
in the heart of Surfers
Paradise - Boulevard Tower
located at 6 Orchid Ave
Surfers Paradise. A stroll
away from the beautiful
sandy beaches of Surfers
Paradise. Walk to Hard Rock
Cafe, and enjoy the
convenience of shops,
supermarkets, restaurants,
cafes, boutiques etc right
at your doorstep.
Our two bedrooms residences
offer luxury in abundance
with extensive floor space,
convenient open-plan layout,
two bedrooms, two bathrooms,
separate living and dining
areas, fully equipped
kitchens and internal
laundry. Experience pure
tranquillity from your
residence with expansive
ocean views over the famous
Surfers Paradise Beach.
Winner
for Best Foreign Film in
this year's Oscar Award
Ceremonies, A Separation is
a story set around a
marital rift—the Separation
of the title—but it is in
many ways the larger tale of
an Iran separated by
religion, class and
privilege.
An
upper-middle class couple
seek to separate because
Simin (the beautiful Leila
Hatami), the wife, wishes to
leave Iran for better
opportunities for their
teenaged daughter Termeh
(played with moving
intelligence by Sarina
Farhadi, writer/director
Asghar Farhadi’s daughter).
Her husband
Nader (Peyman Moaadi)
insists on staying in Tehran
to care for his aged father,
who suffers multiple health
problems, including
dementia.
This utterly
absorbing film makes us root
for every character,
particularly the two girls,
one young and one on the
cusp of adulthood, who see
and understand much more
than they should. Asghar
Farhadi’s amazingly rich
screenplay has the density
and moral complexity of a
Tolstoy novel and the
performances of the
phenomenal cast only
multiply its depth and
emotion.
A Separation‘s two hours fly
by, but its sensitivity and
humanity stay with you.
Both Margaret
and David of ABC1's At
the Movies gave the
movie 5 stars
It is
currently showing at Palace
Centro and Dendy Portside.
In pictures: The History of the Hajj
Over the next
few weeks, CCN will post
images from a new exhibition
at the British Museum in
London that traces the
history of the Hajj:
This 19th
century water bottle, made of Chinese
porcelain, contains ZamZam water from the
well in Mecca used by millions of pilgrims
every year.
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
Muslim500 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. 10
H.E.
Grand
Ayatollah
Sayyid Ali
Hussein
Sistani
Marja of the
Hawza,
Najaf, Iraq
Grand
Ayatollah Sayyid
Ali Husseini
Sistani is the
prime marja, or
spiritual
reference for
Ithna’Ashari‘a (Twelver)
Shi‘a Muslims.
He is the
leading sheikh
of the Hawza
Seminary in
Najaf, Iraq and
the preeminent
Shi‘a cleric
globally.
Sistani is one
of the most
respected of the
marjaiyya—the
highest position
of authority in
the Usuli school
of Twelver Shi‘a
fiqh.
Preeminent
Shi‘a Cleric and
Marja Taqlid
Sistani’s
influence in the
Twelver Shi‘a
sect stems from
his scholarly
lineage and
education, which
have enabled him
to reach the
status of marja
taqlid—the
highest status
in the Usuli
branch of
Twelver Shi‘a
Islam. Marja
taqlid means
literally one
who is worthy of
being imitated—
placing Sistani
in a position of
great authority
over Twelver
Shi‘a Muslims.
There are
currently only
29 marjas
worldwide.
Sistani is
descended from a
family of
religious
scholars, and
was educated in
the leading
institutions in
Iran. He later
went to Najaf,
Iraq to study
under the Grand
Ayatollah Abu Al
Qasim Al Khoei.
On Khoei’s death
in 1992, Sistani
took over as
grand ayatollah,
inheriting Al
Khoei’s
following. He
soon rose to
become the
leading cleric
in Iraq.
With the recent
opening of Iraqi
shrines to
Iranian
tourists,
Sistani is
gaining a
following
outside of Iraq.
Financial
Influence
Sistani also has
very significant
financial clout
due to his
position as
marja. As a
marja his
followers give
him a religious
tax (khums,
Arabic for one
fifth). The
redistribution
of this tax for
the common good
is one of the
key roles of a
marja. Much of
this remittance
is redistributed
through the Al
Khoei
Foundation— the
largest Twelver
Shi‘a
development
organization in
the world that
maintains a
network of
educational and
humanitarian
establishments
for both Shi‘a
and non-Shi‘a
Muslims.
Quietist
Influence
Significantly,
Sistani is
against the idea
of Velayat-e
Faqih,
suggesting Shi‘a
clerics should
not get involved
in politics.
Paradoxically
this approach
has afforded him
very strong
influence as a
religious leader
unsullied by
politics.
This became
clear after the
Iraq invasion
when Sistani
issued a legal
ruling (fatwa)
calling on the
clergy to guide
Iraq’s populace,
and later during
the 2005
elections when
he issued a
ruling telling
Shi‘a women that
they were
religiously
obliged to vote.
Ali Sistani has
used his
position of
quietist
authority to
wield influence
also as a
peacemaker in
the turbulent
post-invasion
Iraq.
At a time when
Sistani was
losing support
to Sheikh
Muqtada Al Sadr,
he showed his
sway by
arranging a
lasting deal
between Sadr and
US forces at the
Imam Ali Shrine
in Najaf in
2005—a deal that
secured the
Shrine and
pushed for an
American
retreat.
Sistani was
vocal about
encouraging
Iraqis to
participate in
the 2010
parliamentary
elections. He
strongly
condemned the
Baghdad church
attack in
October 2010 and
also advised
Iraqi security
forces to take
more
responsibility
for the
protection of
Iraqi citizens.
The Arab
Spring
Ayatollah
Sistani has
continuously
supported the
Arab Spring in
other countries.
Do not refer
to the
Sunnis as
our other
brothers,
but refer to
them as
‘Us’
Ayatollah
Sistani
The Inbox
Assalamu alaikum CCN readers,
As you all know, I shall be attending a Leadership
Conference in New York this year.
In
June/July I received a lovely idea from a reader: he
suggested that I let you know on a regular basis my
total funds and funds needed. So here it is:
Total available funds: $2 350
Funds still needed: $4 860
As you can see, I am well on my way, but I would
appreciate any help offered.
Jazakallah,
Ameera Mahomed-Ismail
Dear
CCN Editor
Aslaam
alikum
Please
tell all our Muslim brothers who travel or are
moving to our area in Hervey Bay, Queensland we have
Jumma prayers at 1.15pm and Tuesday esha prayers at
8pm at the Boys Scout Hall at Andrews Street Piabla.
The
contact persons are Dr.Rana 0401565660 and
Dr.Mahomed 0414735005
Sukran
Imran Habib
Dear
CCN Editor
I am
writing to you to enquire as to whether you have any
contacts in your community that may be able to
assist one of our Iraqi students.
We have
had this student with us doing his EAP courses
before starting his PhD in Faculty of Engineering
this semester.
Unfortunately this student has had some very bad
news in relation to his four year old son.
The boy
has been diagnosed with cancer and will require at
least six months of treatment in the Royal
Children’s Hospital in Brisbane.
Unfortunately the family are not entitled to any
subsidised accommodation whilst they are in Brisbane
and this has put extreme pressure on them.
They
were already undergoing financial pressures before
this occurred. Currently they are staying in
emergency funded accommodation near the hospital but
this runs out next week and the Social Worker
advised me yesterday that she is looking into
hopefully getting a community member to assist with
providing short term accommodation. This may happen
but until it is confirmed the family are extremely
worried. They have rental accommodation here in
Toowoomba that they are also paying for and their
other 6 year old son is currently staying with one
of our Saudi students and his family.
If there is anything at all that you could suggest
we would be very grateful.
Kind regards
Naomi
Naomi Noble
Careers Counsellor
Open Access College
Faculty of Arts
University of Southern Queensland
Ph: +61 7 4631 2603
Email:
noble@usq.edu.au
Around the Muslim World with CCN
Hollywood
snubs Muslim Stone
US: Sean Stone, son of
controversial director Oliver Stone, converted to Islam in
Iran last week and says he’s already experiencing a
Hollywood backlash.
The ceremony was held in Isfahan, where he is researching a
documentary. He now goes by the name of Sean Christopher Ali
Stone.
He told Page Six: “I’ve already experienced the reverse of
anti-Semitism, having people within the film industry
express a reluctance to work with me now that I have said a
simple prayer, ‘There is no God but God, and Mohammed is his
messenger.’ I am sure I have [bleeped] off some powerful
people.”
Speaking over dinner at
Barrio 47, Sean told us, “Having read the Koran and having
been around the Islamic culture, especially in Iran, I do
believe that Mohammed is a prophet of the same god
worshipped by other religions.
“I am of a Jewish bloodline, a baptized Christian who
accepts Christ’s teachings, the Jewish Old Testament and the
Holy Koran. I believe there is one God, whether called Allah
or Jehovah or whatever you wish to name him. He creates all
peoples and religions. I consider myself a Jewish Christian
Muslim.
“What I am trying to do is open up a dialogue about
religion. There is such Islamophobia in the West. Islam is
not a religion of violence any more than Judaism or
Christianity is.”
He said his dad welcomed the move.
“My dad said, ‘Allah be with you.’ My father understands
that I am trying to bridge certain gaps and bring about
peace.”
But he has been shocked by the reaction from others.
Sean, about to release his horror movie “Graystone,” said,
“I didn’t realize I would be so vilified. It is almost like
I am a criminal for having accepted Islam. I didn’t realize
Islamophobia was that deep. People have speculated that I
have done this because I am from a spoiled family or that I
am lost and trying to find myself. That is ridiculous.
“I don’t care if I get criticized. If I can open up a debate
about religion and create some understanding, then it is
worth it.”
Beauty
and Belief Exhibition - the arts of Islamic culture
Arabic-inscripted
bowl is made of tortoise shell and inlaid in
ivory
UTAH, USA:
This exhibit offers access to Islamic culture, providing ‘a
view from within’ by project director, Tunisian born Dr.
Sabiha Al Khemir. As an introduction to the arts of Islamic
culture, this exhibition aims to bridge differences and
inspire insight through beauty. To address the question,
“What makes Islamic Art, Islamic?” Dr. Al Khemir creates a
show that combines historical and geographic background with
succeeding sections of calligraphy, figurative imagery and
pattern.
This is the story of art
created in the societies fostered by Islam, a journey
through Islamic culture from the 7th century onward. The
exhibition makes a point of touching on the present day and
includes works by contemporary artists. The exhibition
uniquely draws from collections across the United States as
well as many other countries such Kuwait, Great Britain,
France, Denmark, Morocco, and Italy.
It features over 250 objects,
from 40 lenders, from nine countries in Europe and the
Middle East. For some of the works of art this will be the
first time they are featured in the United States. Among the
noteworthy pieces are masterworks from the al-Sabah
Collection at Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyya in Kuwait, unique
manuscripts from the Royal Library in Morocco and works from
collections across the United States.
Beauty & Belief Museum
Using
the Legacy of Muslim Women Leaders to Empower
Op-ed by Engy Abdelkader
Muslim women are steeped in stubborn stereotypes as meek,
oppressed and in need of rescue.
Recurring images beamed into our homes and phones from
abroad of Muslim women being denied access to education, the
ability to drive or even the right to cast a vote or run for
political office only serve to reinforce such widely held
misconceptions; examples of empowered Muslim women
(particularly those donning the hijab) living here or
overseas seldom enjoy the same quality air time. As such,
our views remain skewed on the subject.
Further, such pervasive generalizations about Islam's
inherent oppression of Muslim women are not only offensive
but ultimately also unhelpful to the female subjects they
purport to describe. This is because secular Western
feminist notions, often viewed as the cure-all remedy for
alleged misogynistic practices in the Muslim world, are
frequently met with suspicion and rejected by Muslim men and
women alike. They may view such ideas as unwanted foreign
intrusions into their domestic, religious and family
affairs.
Where Islam continues to hold political, social and
religious currency in society, the human rights agenda can
be effectively advanced through re-education initiatives
regarding "proper" Muslim women roles through a new yet
sound Islamic jurisprudential lens.
Specifically, Muslims can further the human rights agenda by
re-examining the lives of the very first Muslim women who
lived during Islam's formative period as more than
historical figures but as modern Islamic models to be
emulated today. Indeed, these women embody viable political,
social and financial models with modern applicability.
This point cannot be overstated.
While many Muslims around the world learn about such Muslim
women in grade school, their relevance to contemporary time
is frequently overlooked. Yet, by learning about and
celebrating their examples, men and women can better
understand and build upon notions of "proper" Muslim women
roles while using a culturally authentic paradigm.
Indeed, Islam can empower women as is evidenced by numerous
instances of religiously observant
Muslim women who strive towards and achieve professional,
financial and social success in accordance with their
understanding of religious strictures. As for those Muslim
women who are deprived of similar opportunities, Islamic law
can be used to empower them.
Consider, for example, Aisha bint Abu Bakr who was a female
scholar of great eminence and a voice of authority in
Islamic jurisprudence almost 1500 years ago. By way of
background, Aisha was the daughter of Abu Bakr, one of the
Prophet Muhammad's closest companions, one of the first
converts to Islam and the first to assume leadership as
Caliph over the Muslim community following the Prophet
Muhammad's death. During her marriage to the Prophet
Muhammad, the couple developed a close relationship and it
was in Aisha's arms that the Prophet Muhammad died in 632
CE.
This is to say that Aisha bint Abu Bakr is accorded a highly
deferential status in Sunni Islam.
Huffpost Culture
Afghan
children dream of musical future
Sayed Elham sits at the piano lost in Chopin as he dreams of
becoming Afghanistan’s first famous concert pianist and one
of the original graduates of the country’s only musical
academy.
Inspired by his singer father, the 14-year-old hopeful
practices for five hours each day to emulate his musical
heroes: from famed 1970s Afghan singer Ahmad Zahir, to
American heavy metal band System Of A Down.
“...I like Chopin — because it has a lot of feeling,” he
says, swinging his red school rucksack onto the floor as he
takes to the ivories again to play a typical Afghan folk
song filled with bittersweet emotion.
The Afghanistan National Institute of Music, revived with
the fall of the Taliban who banned the playing of
instruments under their strict interpretation of Islamic
law, has operated for two years at its current site in west
Kabul.
Dawn.com
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
SEE THE NEW LOOK
ISLAM TV
AUSTRALIA NOW
WITH INDIVIDUAL
CHANNELS FOR
EASY ACCESS TO
YOUR FAVOURITE
SPEAKERS.
WWW.ISLAMTV.COM.AU
DOWNLOADABLE
AUDIO LECTURES
WWW.ISLAMTV.COM.AU
ISLAM
TV IS SUPPORTED
BY SALAM CARD
SUPPORTING LOCAL
MUSLIM AND
MUSLIM FRIENDLY
BUSINESS
DISCLAIMER: CCN publishes
articles in good faith and takes no
responsibility for the contents
supplied by its writers. Any
complaints regarding any articles
should be sent by email to
ccn@crescentsofbrisbane.org for
us to act on.
CCN Readers' Book Club: You are what you
read!
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 is one dish I
serve at least once a fortnight at home. One cup of cooked
mugniedaar or yellow split peas contain 16g of protein,
according to the World's Healthiest Foods. They say that
also helps stabilize the level of sugar in the blood, which
may benefit sufferers of hypoglycemia, insulin resistance
and diabetes. I have it because its just plain delicious
especially with hot freshly baked brown roti.
PS: The spinach is just my personal
innovation to a very traditional dish and I am not sure its
one our moms would have taken kindly to.
Mugniedaar (yellow split peas) with Spinach
Step-by-Step Guide
1. Heat 2 Tab
coconut oil/ghee.
2. Add 1 large sliced onion and allow it to
soften (5mins)
3. Add ½ tsp of cumin and ½ tsp methi
(fenugreek) seeds and cook for a minute.
4. Add and sauté the following spices for 2
minutes.
a. 2 tsp red
ginger and garlic mix (see below for recipe)
b. 1 tsp red
chilli powder
c. 1 tsp
crushed cumin and 1tsp crushed coriander (dhana
/jeeru mix)
5. Then add the following altogether:
a. ½ red or
green peppers sliced or a bit of both.
b. 1 cup of
chopped English spinach
c. 1 cup of
diced tomato
d. 1 cup of
Mugniedaar which has been washed.
e. 1 tsp salt
f. 1 cup
water
6. Give it a good mix and cook on low heat until
lentils are soft, you may need to add more water
if the mixture has dried out and the lentils are
not soft.
7. Sprinkle with chopped coriander and serve hot
with roti.
Ginger and Garlic Mix
1 cup fresh ginger
2 cups fresh garlic
1 cup ground red chillies
1 tab salt
1 tsp turmeric powder
Grind all the above to form a paste and
refrigerate
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, we are thinking of
taking a trip to Singapore and travelling by train to
Penang. Have you got any suggestions?
A: The problem with the train is it has lots of stops
and takes about 12 hours.
The
coaches have become more popular on this route.
The buses take about nine hours and are faster and more
comfortable.
Or you could fly from Singapore to Penang which will take
1.5 hours and costs about $180-$200.
However, having done the train trip between Singapore and
Bangkok via Penang some years ago, I would recommend taking
the rail option as it is a great trip through the middle of
Malaysia with wonderful Jungle scenery.
If you have funds you should consider the luxurious Eastern
& Oriental Express.
All questions sent in
are published here anonymously and without any
references to the author of the question.
The CCN Chuckle
Mula Nasruddin
took his son to the new dentist in town.
The dentist had
quickly acquired a reputation of being the 'Painless'
dentist.
However it didn't
take Nasruddin Jr to dispute his claim.
"He's a fake!" Nasruddin Jr told his friends. "He's not
painless at all. When he stuck his finger in my mouth I
bit him - and he screamed worse than a baby!"
The CCN
Your children are not your
children.
They are the sons and
daughters of life's longing
for itself.
They come through you, but
not from you.
And though they are with
you, yet they belong not to
you.
You may house their bodies,
but not souls.
You may strive to be like
them, but seek not to make
them like you.
You are the bows from which
your children as living
arrows are sent forth.
The Archer sees the mark
upon the path of the
infinite,
and He bends you with His
might that His arrows may go
swift and far.
Let your bending in the
archer's hand be for
gladness;
200 Grand Avenue, Forest Lake Qld
4078.
Open 7 days a week until 8:00pm
We accept Bulk Billing 7 days a week
Appointments Available – Walk ins welcome
For Appointment
NB: The Islamic date changes to the next day starting in
the evenings after maghrib.
Therefore, exceptfor lailatul mehraj,
lailatul baraat
and
lailatul qadr – these dates
refer to the commencement of the event starting in the
evening of the corresponding day.
RECURRING EVENTS
As-Salaam Institute of Islamic
Studies
Free Monthly Tafseer Class
Telecast Live from Sydney
The Immense Ocean by Imam Ahmed Ibn Ajiba
al Hasani
Date: Saturday 3 March 2012, then
every second Saturday of each month Time: 3pm - 4:30pm Venue: IWAQ Office, 11 Watland St, Springwood
Light refreshments provided.
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.
Saturday
25th February was a first
for Brisbane! 
"Sport
is the field of dreams. If
you take away the dream of
playing in an Olympics or
playing in a World Cup then
it will have an effect all
the way down the line."
Abusive
comments by army soldiers
against Muslims, immigrants
and women on a Facebook
group are sparking a storm
of outrage in Australia.
On
Friday 2 March, the
University of Western Sydney
(UWS) hosted its annual
International Women’s Day
celebration and presentation
of the UWS Women of the
West, and Young Women of the
West Awards.
Amna
is currently employed as a
Team Member in the
Australian Federal Police
Community Liaison Team. Her
role with the AFP involves
engaging and networking with
various communities to
educate minority groups
about law enforcement in
Australia. Some of the
successful programs that
Amna has coordinated
includes, the Community
Partnership Program and the
Annual AFP Eid Dinner.
Relax
in one of the newest and
most exciting developments
in the heart of Surfers
Paradise - Boulevard Tower
located at 6 Orchid Ave
Surfers Paradise. A stroll
away from the beautiful
sandy beaches of Surfers
Paradise. Walk to Hard Rock
Cafe, and enjoy the
convenience of shops,
supermarkets, restaurants,
cafes, boutiques etc right
at your doorstep. 
Winner
for Best Foreign Film in
this year's Oscar Award
Ceremonies, A Separation is
a story set around a
marital rift—the Separation
of the title—but it is in
many ways the larger tale of
an Iran separated by
religion, class and
privilege. 
Grand
Ayatollah Sayyid
Ali Husseini
Sistani is the
prime marja, or
spiritual
reference for
Ithna’Ashari‘a (Twelver)
Shi‘a Muslims.
He is the
leading sheikh
of the Hawza
Seminary in
Najaf, Iraq and
the preeminent
Shi‘a cleric
globally.
Sistani is one
of the most
respected of the
marjaiyya—the
highest position
of authority in
the Usuli school
of Twelver Shi‘a
fiqh.
The
coaches have become more popular on this route. 
.jpg)
post comments on
our Wall
7
August 2011