At
the age of
16, Yassmin
Abdel-Magied
founded
Youth
Without
Borders, an
organisation
focused on
enabling
young people
to work
together for
the
implementation
of positive
change
within their
communities.
Yassmin was
recently
named the
Young Leader
in The
Australian
Financial
Review and
Westpac's
inaugural
100 Women of
Influence
Awards.
Born in
Sudan and
moving to
Australia at
the age of
two, she
graduated
top of her
university
year in 2011
with a
Bachelor of
Mechanical
Engineering
(First Class
Honours),
and was a
recipient of
the
University
of
Queensland’s
Dean’s
Excellence
scholarship.
In 2007
Yassmin was
named Young
Australian
Muslim of
the Year for
her work in
the
community.
In 2010 she
was the
Young
Queenslander
of the Year
and in 2011
a finalist
for Young
Australian
of the Year.
Yassmin is
one of
Australia’s
few female
mechanical
engineers,
and her
passion for
motorsport
has led her
to design
the
University
of
Queensland’s
Formula SAE
racer, and
she
graduated in
2011 as the
valedictorian
of her
class.
She is also
a
RichardsF1.com’s
V8 Supercars
journalist.
I am a
muslim
women. I
wear the
niqaab (face
veil).
I’m one of
those to
whom the new
law in
France would
apply. I’m
one of the
ones being
discussed by
politicians,
human rights
groups and
the media.
I’m one of
those whom
many feel
the need to
liberate.
I’m one of
those you
may think is
oppressed.
I’m one of
those many
of you
detest the
sight of...
I’m one of
those whom
you may
believe is
uneducated;
one of the
ones you may
think has no
voice.
But I do. So
let me
speak.
I am not
Arab, Asian
or even
African. I
am
Australian.
No, not
‘first
generation’,
‘second
generation’,
or an
immigrant.
On my
mother’s
side, I’m of
French-Canadian
descent, and
on my
father’s
side;
British. I
grew up as a
Christian,
and attended
church
occasionally.
I was in the
school swim
team, and
district
netball
team. I
holidayed
with my
family in
the summer
on the Gold
Coast, and
I’m
educated. I
have a
university
degree.
When I was
18 years of
age I was
introduced
to Islam. I
studied it,
and accepted
it a year
and a half
later. By
the time I
reached 20,
I was
wearing the
headscarf,
and after I
married I
donned the
niqaab.
Because of
my husband?
No.
My husband
did not want
me to wear
it, although
his mother
and sister
do, and out
of respect
for his
wishes I
didn’t do so
for two
years. But I
wanted to,
and
eventually
did, and
knowing it
to be in
line with
our
religion, my
husband knew
he had no
authority to
prevent me,
and he now
greatly
admires my
strength.
Then, I wore
it because
of my
father? No.
He’s a
catholic.
France
stands by
veil ban
after riots
PARIS
(Reuters) –
France’s
interior
minister on
Monday
defended a
ban on
wearing
full-face
veils in
public after
a police
check on a
Muslim woman
caused two
nights of
rioting near
Paris,
exposing
tensions in
immigrant-heavy
suburbs.
The 2010 law
was brought
in by
conservative
former
president
Nicolas
Sarkozy and
targets
burqa and
niqab
garments
that conceal
the face,
rather than
the
headscarf
that is more
common among
French
Muslim
women.
A police
check on a
couple in
the
southwest
suburb of
Trappes
provoked an
angry
confrontation
that led
overnight on
Friday to a
police
station
being
surrounded
by several
hundred
people, some
hurling
rocks.
Another
building was
torched in
several
hours of
street
violence
that led to
six arrests.
“Police did
their job
perfectly,”
Interior
Minister
Manuel Valls
told RTL
radio.
“The law
banning
full-face
veils is a
law in the
interests of
women and
against
those values
having
nothing to
do with our
traditions
and values.
It must be
enforced
everywhere,”
he said.
The town of
some 30,000
inhabitants,
which has
produced
celebrities
including
soccer
player
Nicolas
Anelka, was
mostly calm
on Monday as
tow trucks
carted away
burnt cars.
Even
thousands of
kilometres
away,
University
of Southern
Queensland
Statistics
Professor
Shahjahan
Khan is
still
receiving
accolades
from his
country of
origin,
Bangladesh.
Professor
Khan has
recently
been elected
as an
Expatriate
Fellow of
the
Bangladesh
Academy of
Science, the
leading
scientific
organisation
in
Bangladesh
and a
leading
representative
to the
government
for matters
of science
and
research.
As an
expatriate
fellow of
the academy,
Professor
Khan will
act as an
ambassador
for
Australia
and
elsewhere in
promoting
science and
technology
as well as
contributing
research.
“It’s an
excellent
feeling to
be
recognised
for your
work by
members of
the
scientific
community in
the country
of your
birth,”
Professor
Khan said.
“The academy
engages with
the
government
in the
development
and
promotion of
science
within
Bangladesh
and the
academy’s
input is
highly
valued by
the policy
makers.
“As far as I
know, I’m
the first
from
Australia to
become an
Expatriate
Fellow of
the
academy.”
Professor
Khan said he
looked
forward to
use his new
appointment
to help the
development
of science
in his home
country.
“If you have
a talent,
the academy
can use it
and mine
happens to
be
statistics,”
Professor
Khan said.
“I can also
help with
organising
seminars,
conferences
and
workshops
such as the
International
Statistics
Conferences
which I
helped
organise in
2006 and
2008 in
Bangladesh.
“I feel USQ
is a great
platform to
work with
organisations
such as the
academy.”
While
working at
USQ,
Professor
Khan has
served as
the
President of
ISOSS
(2005-2011),
an
international
professional
organisation
of
statisticians,
organised 4
international
conferences
in Malaysia,
Egypt,
Pakistan and
Qatar, and
have been
serving as
the Founding
Chief Editor
of the USA
based
Journal of
Applied
Probability
and
Statistics (JAPS)
since 2006.
The
Bangladesh
Statistical
Association
awarded him
prestigious
Qazi Motahar
Hossain Gold
Medal in
December
2012 in
recognition
of his
scientific
contribution
and
promotion of
statistics.
Professor
Khan was
nominated
for the
position by
a fellow
Expatriate
of the
academy from
Canada.
For more
information
on the
Bangladesh
Academy of
Science and
its
contribution
to the
sciences in
the country,
visit
http://www.bas.org.bd.
Mounir Kiwan,
Business Development Manager at Crescent
Wealth and Ric Fletcher, Head of Advancement
at La Trobe University, congratulated
Murtaza on his award and encouraged other
students receiving awards for Islamic
Finance subjects to continue to excel.
Murtaza
Taher
received the
2013
Crescent
Wealth Award
for academic
excellence
at La Trobe
University
Business
School where
he achieved
outstanding
results as
the best
performing
student in
the subject
of Islamic
Capital
Markets.
Professor
Leigh Drake,
the
Executive
Dean of the
faculty,
presided
over the
ceremony and
praised the
high quality
of
recipients
at this
year’s
event.
A number of
Islamic
Finance
subjects
were
recognised
including
the subjects
of Islamic
Banking,
Islamic
Financial
Planning and
Islamic
Capital
Markets.
A few weeks
ago, a call
was sent out
asking for
donations of
food for
refugee and
asylum
seeker
children at
the
Queensland
Program of
Assistance
to Survivors
of Torture
and Trauma (QPASTT)
homework
group.
Due to the
overwhelming
response
that was
received, a
weekly
roster was
drawn up so
that the
food could
be supplied
more
regularly.
Ms Farah
Suleman, who
assists with
this
voluntary
homework
program at
QPASTT,
supplies
these
healthy
snacks for
the children
on Sunday
night and
Monday
night. She
then takes
it in to
QPASTT for
the Monday
and Tuesday
group
respectively.
Below is an
email she
received
from the
Director at
QPASTT in
response to
this
imitative:
Dear All
On
behalf
of the
Queensland
Program
of
Assistance
to
Survivors
of
Torture
and
Trauma I
would
like to
thank
your
members
for the
donations
of food
for our
school
holiday
activities
and our
homework
club. I
would
also
like to
thank
you for
the
financial
donations
that you
have
made –
the
funds
will be
used to
provide
resources
for
young
people
accessing
the
Youth
Program.
Your
kindness
has been
very
much
appreciated
by the
organisation
and I
know
that the
young
people
have
enjoyed
the food
that has
been
provided.
Thank
you
Regards
Tracy
Tracy
Worrall
Director
Queensland
Program
of
Assistance
to
Survivors
of
Torture
and
Trauma
AN energy
drink
consumed by
St Kilda
forward
Ahmed Saad
before a
game could
cost him two
years on the
sidelines.
Saad, who is
believed to
have mixed a
powdered
stimulant
with a
liquid, was
randomly
tested after
the match
where he
returned a
positive
sample.
The
23-year-old
was said to
be shattered
on
Wednesday.
The
goalsneak
has tested
positive to
an A sample,
but is
awaiting the
results of
tests on his
B sample.
Saad has had
a
long-running
ambassadorial
role with a
popular
health
supplements
company,
promoting
the use of
legal
additives.
The Saints
said they
hadn't been
told Saad
couldn't
play this
weekend,
meaning Saad
is likely to
have taken
what is
termed in
the AFL
Anti-Doping
Code a
"specified
stimulant",
which are
banned only
on match
days.
If Saad has
taken a
"specified
stimulant",
he is
allowed to
continue
playing
while his B
sample is
being tested
and until
the case is
ultimately
resolved by
the AFL
tribunal.
According to
the AFL's
code, taking
a "specified
stimulant"
is
considered a
less serious
offence than
substances
such as
steroids and
growth
hormones,
but still
carries a
maximum
two-year
ban.
The code
also carries
the
provision
for lesser
penalties,
including a
reprimand
and no ban.
NSW: A
MUSLIM
prayer
leader
disputes
allegations
he touched
the breasts
of two teens
and a
grandmother
after his
arrest left
the local
Islamic
community
shocked.
Egyptian
national
Ahmed
Alkahly, 59,
was charged
on Wednesday
with three
counts of
indecent
assault over
three
incidents.
Police
allege Mr
Alkahly, who
is visiting
a Northern
Beaches
mosque for
the period
of Ramadan,
on Monday
groped a
16-yearold
girl as she
walked
through a
reserve in
Dee Why.
They also
allege he on
Wednesday
groped a
57-year-old
grandmother
as she
pushed her
grandson in
a stroller
on Dee Why
beach before
indecently
assaulting
another
16-year-old
girl.
But a
spokesman
for the
Islamic
Society of
Manly-Warringah,
which runs
the Dee Why
Masjid
Mosque said
Mr Alkahly
claimed the
incidents
were the
result of a
misunderstanding.
"He denies
the
allegation,"
the
spokesman
said. "We
just can't
believe it
... we're
shocked,
absolutely
shocked." Mr
Alkahly will
appear at
North Sydney
Local Court
on August 5
Last
night
the
Islamic
Society
of
Logan
put
on
an
Iftar
at
the
Logan
Mosque
and
invited
the
Police
Commissioner
who
was
represented
by
the
Assistant
Commissioner
Paul
Stewart,
Superintendent
Noel
Powers
and
David
Forde
from
Multicultural
Affairs
Queensland.
Who can
decipher the
mind of a
terrorist?
In the post
9/11
America,
there is a
dollar-spending,
ink-spilling,
competition
between the
government
and the
academia to
answer this
question.
The faith of
the
terrorist in
the above
question is
typically
implied
while the
magnitude of
the problem
-- less than
0.1 percent
of the
world's
Muslims have
committed
acts of
terror
against the
western
world -- is
typically
denied.
Which brings
me to the
consequential
next
question:
How much
effort has
gone into
decoding the
minds of the
99.9 percent
of, yes,
Muslims?
Zilch. Nada.
None.
So if you
would like
to know what
the 99
percent of
Muslims
secretly
believe in,
man, do I
have an
absolutely
great idea
for you:
perform ten
deeds in ten
days as the
Muslim Holy
month of
Ramadan
winds down.
For Muslims
-- over 90
percent of
whom observe
fasting
during the
month of
Ramadan
according to
a recent Pew
poll --
these ten
deeds are
prescribed
for the
whole month.
Each day,
just act
upon one
deed. And
forget about
the rituals;
this is not
stealth
evangelism.
The idea is
not to
convert
anyone to
Islam but to
convert a
mindset
based on
media
one-liners
and
sensational
images. At
the end of
this "ten
days, ten
deeds"
project, you
would know
exactly what
is in the
heart of an
average
Muslim.
So here we
go:
Day 1, keep
a fast: Give
up all food
and drinks
from dawn to
dusk. This
year, the
average
duration of
a fast is
approximately
16 hours in
America. For
the first
8-hours, you
will
experience a
degree of
self
discovery
that will
shatter the
I-could-never-do-it
mindset and
the last
8-hours will
enhance your
empathy for
the hungry
-- whether
they are in
Afghanistan
or in your
downtown.
Day 2,
control your
anger:
Whether
someone
parked in
your spot or
your spouse
started the
age old
argument --
walk away
from the
situation
saying "I am
fasting,
therefore, I
will not
respond in
kind."
Day 3,
forgive:
Especially
someone who,
you believe,
does not
deserve
forgiveness.
Strip all
malice from
your heart.
Muslims
believe that
if we
forgive
fellow human
beings, then
God in turn
forgives us.
Day 4, do
charity:
Write a
check, as
big as you
can, to your
favorite
charity. A
recent
survey
reported
that UK
Muslims gave
more money
to
charities,
annually,
than
Christians,
Jews, Hindus
and Sikhs.
Day 5, be
hospitable:
Invite your
neighbors,
your
children's
friends or
your
coworkers
and have a
meal with
them. Sort
of what Greg
Mortenson
describes in
his book,
"Three cups
of tea."
Hospitality
is deeply
ingrained in
every Muslim
culture.
Day 6, be
kind: After
writing
nearly 100
op-ed
pieces, I
can see a
reader, who
is itching
to write a
scathing
comment
along the
lines of,
"go tell the
"Mozlems" to
do these ten
deeds. Go
back to your
"Mozlem"
country." Be
kind. Don't
write such a
comment
during these
ten days.
Fasting is
an exercise
of
comprehensive
self
control.
Giving up
food is just
a part of
it.
Day 7, visit
the sick:
There's got
to be an
uncle, aunt,
grandparent,
someone who
will be
elated to
see you
unexpectedly.
Spend some
time with
them on day
7.
Day 8,
forgive a
debt: That
$100 or
$1000 which
a friend or
a relative
owes you but
does not
have the
capacity to
pay it --
consider
forgiving
it. Muslims
are urged to
follow the
practice of
easing the
hardships of
other humans
and Ramadan
is
considered
the best
time for
such acts.
Day 9: stay
up all night
and pray.
Pray in your
own words,
according to
your belief.
But don't
miss these
off-peak
hours.
Muslims
believe
there is a
night of
destiny
during the
last ten
days of
Ramadan when
every prayer
is accepted.
Global
median of 63
percent of
Muslim pray
five times a
day and they
intensely
search for
the night of
destiny.
Day 10,
enjoy
solitude:
Turn off
your phones,
iPads,
laptops, TVs
and
genuinely
think.
Analyze.
What would
make a
people who
globally
practice
empathy,
sacrifice,
charity,
prayer,
kindness,
and a
comprehensive
self control
hate us?
Think.
Dr. Faheem
Younus is
the founder
of
Muslimerican.com.
He can be
reached at
talk@Muslimerican.com.
Follow him
on Twitter @FaheemYounus.
This week
Musallis
in West End
Mosque have
donated over
$2400,
thanks to
Imam Ahmed
Odeh and Br
Kaleem and
the
committee
for their
valuable
support.
From the
three
Mosques in
Gold Coast
over $28,000
was raised
thanks to
Imam Imraan
for his
continued
encouragement
and Br
Hussin Goss
and his
committee
for their
generous
support.
Another
fundraising
was planned
for the Gold
Coast Mosque
Saturday
evening.
So far
around
$160,000 has
been donated
from
different
mosques in
Brisbane and
Gold Coast.
To date
almost
$520,000
(56%)
towards our
target of
$925,000.
The current
shortfall is
$405,000.
On Friday,
16 August
fundraising
is scheduled
for the
Logan
Mosque.
For more
information
on the
purchase of
the property
and where to
send you
donations
click
here.
UK
Government’s weak response over attacks on
Muslims
KZN (SOUTH
AFRICA): Three months of sustained
preparations by the Muslim Prisons Board of
South Africa (MPBSA) have paved the way for
a vibrant Ramadan for Muslims incarcerated
at correctional centres across the country.
According to South Africa’s main faith based
body catering for Muslim offenders, planning
Ramadan activities for inmates begins well
in advance of the Holy Month each year,
starting with the submission of a Ramadan
policy guideline document to the Department
of Correctional Affairs.
“This is a document advising prison
authorities on the requirements of Muslim
inmates during Ramadan, drafted by Ulama and
various roleplayers and approved by the
Department,” says MPBSA Spiritual Care
Coordinator Moulana Shabeer Asmal.
While conditions and regulations varied at
different detention facilities across the
country, Asmal said it was typical for South
African prisons to set up fasting rooms for
Muslim prisoners in Ramadan, where Iftar and
Suhoor meals were served and Tarawih and
special programs are held. Arrangements are
also made for Islamic clothing and
literature to be distributed to prisoners.
Speaking to Cii Radio, the aalim said the
feedback received from those participating
in activities within these ‘fasting rooms’
was “motivational”.
“The Athaan goes off meticulously in these
rooms; collective Ibadah takes place.
Inmates are seasoned to performing Salaah in
Jamaah. Women inmates also separately hold
their own programmes,” he said
For his part, National Muslim chaplain
Moulana Abdul Azeem Khateeb said it were
activities such as these that made him the
most occupied religious chaplain in the
country during the Ramadan season.
Moulana Asmal highlighted that 2013 had been
declared the ‘Year of The Quran’ within
South African prisons, and spiritual care
workers were being kept busy tendering
Quranic lessons to inmates on a regular
basis.
“We have seen these efforts bearing fruit,
some are learning Surahs, some are learning
Duas”.
He cited the example of an inmate in Kokstad
who used his 22 hours of confinement to his
benefit, using the prolonged detention time
to kickstart his Hifz programme.
“We now even have permission to take CD
players inside the prison so that inmates
can listen to Qiraah. We have taken Qurrah
inside prisons to recite for inmates in
Ramadan, and there are also Hufaaz who lead
Taraweeh daily inside our prisons.”
Some inmates who had forgotten parts of the
Quraan previously due to their negligence,
had repented and had once again dedicated
themselves to the Quraan, Asmal said.
The Aalim appealed to the Muslim community
for donations of Lillah ,Zakaat and Sadaqah
in Ramadan and for contributions towards
feeding fasting inmates.
Reza
Aslan To Fox News: Yes I 'Happen To Be A
Muslim,' But Wrote 'Zealot' Because I Am An
Expert
US: "You're a
Muslim, so why did you write a book about
the founder of Christianity?" Fox News'
Lauren Green demanded of religious scholar
Reza Aslan, author of "Zealot: The Life and
Times of Jesus of Nazareth," on Friday.
Aslan responded, "Well, to be clear, I am a
scholar of religions with four degrees,
including one in the New Testament, and
fluency in biblical Greek, who has been
studying the origins of Christianity for two
decades, who also just happens to be a
Muslim."
The answer did not seem to satisfy Green, so
Aslan added, "Because it's my job as an
academic. I am a professor of religion,
including the New Testament. That's what I
do for a living, actually."
Earlier this month, Aslan told HuffPost Live
host Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, “I’ve been obsessed
with Jesus for a very, very long time" and
his fascination inspired his latest book.
"Huma
was raised in Saudi Arabia, where women are
treated worse by men than anywhere else on
the planet"
US:
Huma Abedin is a longtime aide of Hillary
Clinton.
Her husband, Anthony Weiner, has been caught
twice sending explicit messages to women on
social media. He was recently caught for the
second time sending out lewd photos of
himself.
Abedin pledged her love for him at a news
conference.
Columnist Maureen Dowd explained Abedin's
decision this way: "Huma was raised in Saudi
Arabia, where women are treated worse by men
than anywhere else on the planet."
First, Abedin is not exactly Saudi Arabian.
Her late father was from India; her mother
from Pakistan. She was born in Kalamazoo,
Michigan, but the family moved to Saudi
Arabia when she was 2. She moved back to the
United States to attend George Washington
University.
She began her Washington career as a White
house intern, before working in Hillary
Clinton's office, when Clinton was first
lady.
Some could not help but see the irony in the
same situation connecting both women, in
light of the Monica Lewinsky affair during
the presidency of Bill Clinton.
"Commentary on Huma Abedin's ethnic reasons
for standing by her man ignores the fact
that her white boss Hillary Clinton did the
same #Weiner," @SaeedShah posted to Twitter.
Moroccan author and novelist Laila Lalami
tweeted:
"Maureen Dowd: Huma Abedin stands by Anthony
Weiner because she was raised in Saudi
Arabia. Remind me, where was Hillary Clinton
raised?"
US:
Sado-masochistic best-seller 50 Shades of
Grey is popular reading among high-value
detainees at Guantanamo, officials have told
a visiting congressional delegation.
'Rather than the Koran, the book that is
requested most by the (Camp Seven detainees)
is Fifty Shades of Grey,' House Democrat Jim
Moran said, in comments confirmed on
Wednesday by his spokeswoman.
'They've read the entire series in English,'
said Moran, who supports moves to close the
US detention facility in southeastern Cuba.
'I guess there's not much going on. These
guys are going nowhere, so what the hell.'
UK:
The
Times (Ł) covers the results of an ICM poll
which found that Muslims top the league on
charitable donations.
The
paper reports that Muslims “are among
Britain’s most generous givers” donating an
“average of almost Ł371 each, with Jewish
givers averaging just over Ł270 per person.”
“Nearly one in ten of Jewish givers donated
more than Ł1,000.
Among
Muslim givers, most donated between Ł300 and
Ł500. “Atheists, by contrast, donated an
average of Ł116 when they gave to charity,
with Roman Catholics giving slightly more
than Ł178, other Christians slightly less
than Ł178 and Protestants Ł202.”
The
Huffington Post adds: “According to the poll
of 4,000, carried out in conjunction with
the JustGiving website, nearly four in 10
atheists did not donate at all, compared to
three in ten Muslims, Catholics and other
Christians, nearly three in ten Protestants
and more than four in ten Jewish people.”
From
the internationally bestselling author of No god but
God comes a fascinating, provocative, and
meticulously researched biography that challenges
long-held assumptions about the man we know as Jesus
of Nazareth.
Two thousand years ago, an itinerant
Jewish preacher and miracle worker walked across the
Galilee, gathering followers to establish what he
called the “Kingdom of God.” The revolutionary
movement he launched was so threatening to the
established order that he was captured, tortured,
and executed as a state criminal. Within decades
after his shameful death, his followers would call
him God.
Sifting through centuries of
mythmaking, Reza Aslan sheds new light on one of
history’s most influential and enigmatic characters
by examining Jesus through the lens of the
tumultuous era in which he lived: first-century
Palestine, an age awash in apocalyptic fervor.
Scores of Jewish prophets, preachers, and would-be
messiahs wandered through the Holy Land, bearing
messages from God.
This was the age of zealotry—a
fervent nationalism that made resistance to the
Roman occupation a sacred duty incumbent on all
Jews. And few figures better exemplified this
principle than the charismatic Galilean who defied
both the imperial authorities and their allies in
the Jewish religious hierarchy. Balancing the Jesus
of the Gospels against the historical sources, Aslan
describes a man full of conviction and passion, yet
rife with contradiction; a man of peace who exhorted
his followers to arm themselves with swords; an
exorcist and faith healer who urged his disciples to
keep his identity a secret; and ultimately the
seditious “King of the Jews” whose promise of
liberation from Rome went unfulfilled in his brief
lifetime.
Aslan explores the reasons why the
early Christian church preferred to promulgate an
image of Jesus as a peaceful spiritual teacher
rather than a politically conscious revolutionary.
And he grapples with the riddle of how Jesus
understood himself, the mystery that is at the heart
of all subsequent claims about his divinity. Zealot
yields a fresh perspective on one of the greatest
stories ever told even as it affirms the radical and
transformative nature of Jesus of Nazareth’s life
and mission. The result is a thought-provoking,
elegantly written biography with the pulse of a
fast-paced novel: a singularly brilliant portrait of
a man, a time, and the birth of a religion.
Advance praise for Zealot:
“A bold, powerfully argued
revisioning of the most consequential life ever
lived.” —Lawrence Wright, Pulitzer Prize–winning
author of Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and
the Prison of Belief
“The story of Jesus of Nazareth is
arguably the most influential narrative in human
history. Here Reza Aslan writes vividly and
insightfully about the life and meaning of the
figure who has come to be seen by billions as the
Christ of faith. This is a special and revealing
work, one that believer and skeptic alike will find
surprising, engaging, and original.” —Jon
Meacham, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Thomas
Jefferson: The Art of Power
“In Zealot , Reza Aslan doesn't
just synthesize research and reimagine a lost world,
though he does those things very well. He does for
religious history what Bertolt Brecht did for
playwriting. Aslan rips Jesus out of all the
contexts we thought he belonged in and holds him
forth as someone entirely new. This is Jesus as a
passionate Jew, a violent revolutionary, a fanatical
ideologue, an odd and scary and extraordinarily
interesting man.” —Judith Shulevitz, author of
The Sabbath World
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:I received
this recipe from Faraaz Ismail:
I would like to submit the
following recipe for your KB cooks column in the
newsletter. Your recipes are always yummy n easy
to follow! I have a food blog which people are
welcome to visit :
www.fraged.blogspot.com.au.
Harissa Chicken Skewers
Ingredients
1 Kg Chicken Breast
Cubed
2 Whole Roasted Red Peppers
1 Tbsp Garlic
1/4 Cup Lemon Juice
2 Whole Red/Green Chillies
1 Tbsp Roasted Almonds
1 Tsp Cumin Seeds
1/4 Tsp Turmeric
Salt and Pepper to taste
1/4 Cup Coriander leaves
1 tsp Mint Leaf
Method
1. Blend all of the ingredients
(except the chicken) and add to the chicken
cubes.
2. Leave to marinate for a few
hours or overnight.
3. Skewer the meat and grill over
a charcoal fire or in the oven, turning till
browned well.
Foods containing carbohydrate are an important part of a
healthy diet. They provide energy for your body and fuel
for your brain.
There is no scientific evidence that supports cutting
out all carbohydrates from your diet. If you do cut out
carbs, you are cutting out energy, so of course you will
loose weight. But remember carbs are our bodies primary
fuel source, particularly for our brains. Check how well
you brain functions when you cut out carbs .
Choosing a variety of wholegrain, low GI carbohydrate
containing foods will provide you with fibre and help
you to feel fuller for longer.
There is undisputed evidence that the best way to
control body weight and excess fat is to balance energy
intake with energy output.
The simple key to weight loss is finding an eating
pattern that helps you reduce the amount of calories you
eat, in combination with physical activity.
It is important to consider that weight management is an
individual process and an
Accredited Practising Dietician (APD) can assist you
to plan a healthy diet that considers weight management
techniques that meet your personal health and lifestyle
requirements
Habibullah was a man who had worked all of his life, had
saved all of his money, and was a real miser when it
came to his money.
Just before he died, he said to his only surviving son,
Mula Nasruddin, "When I die, I want you to take all my
money and put it in the grave with me. I want to take my
money to the afterlife with me."
And so he got his son to promise him with all of his
heart that when he died, he would put all of the money
in the grave with him.
Well, he died.
He was stretched out in the grave with Mula Nasruddin
standing over him there.
Just before the family members got ready to close the
grave, Mula Nasruddin said,
"Wait just a minute!"
He had a box with him; he came over with the box and put
it in the grave by his father's side.
Then the grave was filled.
Mula Nasruddin's friend said, "I know you weren't fool
enough to put all that money in there with your father."
The loyal son replied "Listen, I'm trustworthy; I can't
go back on my word. I promised him that I was going to
put that money in that casket with him."
"You mean to tell me you put that money in the casket
with him!?"
"I sure did" said Mula Nasruddin. "I got it all
together, put it into my account and wrote him a cheque.
If he can cash it, he can spend it."
You be
foremost (in seeking)
forgiveness from your Lord,
and a Garden (of Bliss), the
width whereof is as the
width of heaven and earth,
prepared for those who
believe in Allah and His
Messengers: that is the
Grace of Allah, which He
bestows on whom He pleases:
and Allah is the Lord of
Grace abounding.
Halal marshmallows from Beacon South Africa, gummies from
Yupi Indonesia, jellies, chocolates from Cadbury New
Zealand, Hersheys from the US, Pakistan candies and lots
lots more all delivered to your door.
KNOWLEDGE SEEKERS CLASS Venue: Algester Mosque, 48 Learoyd Rd, Algester When: Every Tuesday after Isha
Teacher: Imam Aslam Al Qadri
For any further information please contact me on 0433552409
or ladies can contact Shakira Ayoob on 0449800205.
Bald Hills Mosque Weekly Tafseer
The weekly program schedule is as follows:
Mondays: Tafseer
Wednesdays: Tafseer
The above lessons will start at 7:30 pm and will go for
approximately 1/2 an hour each day.
All brothers and sisters are welcome.
Kuraby Mosque Tafseer &
Taalim
Tuesday tafseer and taleem classes at Kuraby Mosque every Tuesday
11am - 12.30pm
Queensland Police Service/Muslim Community
Consultative Group
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
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 best ideas
and the best feedback come from our community of readers. If you
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The CCN Inbox:
Letters to the
Editor
At
the age of
16, Yassmin
Abdel-Magied
founded
Youth
Without
Borders, an
organisation
focused on
enabling
young people
to work
together for
the
implementation
of positive
change
within their
communities.
Even
thousands of
kilometres
away,
University
of Southern
Queensland
Statistics
Professor
Shahjahan
Khan is
still
receiving
accolades
from his
country of
origin,
Bangladesh.
US:
Huma Abedin is a longtime aide of Hillary
Clinton.
From
the internationally bestselling author of No god but
God comes a fascinating, provocative, and
meticulously researched biography that challenges
long-held assumptions about the man we know as Jesus
of Nazareth. 
Well
look no further!
post comments on
our Wall
7
August 2011