click on the button to   click on the button to   It's only just days before the big day and there are just 25 free special, commemorate CresWalk2014 T-shirts left.   So register now and join your friends and family for a walk along our beautiful Brisbane River and enjoy a wonderful Spring day out and a free brunch and park activities.   There will also be loom bands and sausage sizzle on sale on Race Pack pick-up-day (6th) and designer, gourmet  cup cakes on Race Day (7th) to help raise funds for the Gaza appeal.

 

CresWalk2014 Run for Gaza! is proudly sponsored by

 

Imam Uzair Akbar at Friday afternoon prayers at the Holland Park Mosque.                                            Photographer: Liam Kidston.

FRIDAY prayers are significant for Muslims, and in Australia’s oldest mosque at Brisbane’s Holland Park the sermon yesterday to about 450 mostly men was one of mercy.

Imam Uzair Akbar highlighted an historical example from the Prophet Mohammed when Mecca was captured from the Arabs, who were pardoned despite the persecution faced by Muslims.

It is a message these Muslims wanted the wider Australian community to fully understand.

“This is one of the most prominent mosques in Australia and 99.99 per cent of Muslims know the historical aspect of Islam, which is one of mercy,” spokesman Ali Kadri said.

“Radicals are very, very few in number and they don’t have a large voice in the community.

Imam Uzair Akbar at Friday afternoon prayers at the Holland Park Mosque.

 

“They may rant and rave on the internet but when it comes to the mosques, they don’t bring their extremist opinions because we have experts in Islam here.”

The Courier-Mail was allowed into yesterday’s prayer session to highlight that mosques were not hotbeds for extremism.

“I know that people are afraid watching what is happening overseas and seeing some Australians involved in it, but they need to know that Islam is a 1400-year-old religion and the Middle East for a good period of time was ruled by Muslims and they lived peacefully with a large number of Christians, Jews, Sabiens and Yazidis,” Mr Kadri said. “Our mosque and those around the nation are about peaceful co-existence.”
 

Friday afternoon prayers at the Holland Park Mosque.                  Photographer: Liam Kidston.

 

Source: Courier Mail

The Council of Imams Queensland (CIQ) and several organizations have expressed their appreciation in response to the “Love for 100 years” campaign which was reported in last week's CCN.

 

On the 21 August, religious leaders from various faith communities issued a statement proclaiming they will “love Muslims for 100 years”.

 

"This notion of empathy provides a counter narrative to the negative portrayal of people of the Muslim faith via frequent links to violent extremism within political and media discourse," a spokesperson for the CIQ told CCN.

 

"The response statement represents and is supported by various communities and members of numerous religious and non-religious institutions."

 

The Council of Imams Queensland (CIQ) Letter of Appreciation Media release can be read here.

 

The Islamic Society of Gold Coast Inc held its Annual General Meeting on 29 August. The executive was re-elected to their portfolios with (above left to right) Haji Habib Jamal (Treasurer), Haji Hussin Goss (President, Haji Ruhul Amin (Vice Chairman) and Haji Hussain Baba (Secretary).

 

The full committee

 

 

 

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Toowoomba Chronicle

 

Muslims say no backlash despite global headlines

 

TOOWOOMBA'S Muslims say they have not been subjected to any abuse after their religion has been thrust into the world's headlines.

Islamic Society of Toowoomba president Professor Shahjahan Khan (pictured left) said in his 21 years living in Toowoomba the Muslim community has been predominately accepted with open arms.

"My family and I have always enjoyed a very inclusive experience and through my involvement with the Islamic Society it has been the general consensus among the Toowoomba Muslim community," he said.

"The Islamic Society has always had a great relationship with Toowoomba Regional Council and we are regularly working with them and other local groups.

"Toowoomba has a very strong Muslim population and we are committed to developing a fully inclusive community in the region."

However Prof Khan believes new counter-terrorism laws proposed by Prime Minister Tony Abbott could create further animosity towards Muslims in Australia.

Professor Khan said the federal government's draft bill would generate unnecessary fear and would be a backward step in the efforts to build an inclusive Australian population

"A focus on engaging with Australia's Muslim community should be what the Federal Government should be working towards," Prof Khan said.

"These laws are the wrong policy and will only further alienate people.

"Developing trust and promoting good will between both parties is a more sustainable long-term approach."

A Special Interest Group is being set up to share knowledge, information and expertise around Bitcoins and crypto-currencies in general, with a view to exploring the technology and its potential as well as as a shariah-compliant option for investing, saving and trading with the virtual currency in the future.

 

If you would like to join this meet-up group, please contact Dr Mustafa Ally on 0402 026 786 or email mustafa.a.ally@gmail.com for more information.

Course registrations are now open for the latest HikmahWay course being conducted in Brisbane on the 20 and 21 of September.

Allah chose the greatest generation to be the Companions of the greatest man, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). His Women Companions are an eternal inspiration and an ideal role model for both brothers & sisters. In our times today, Muslims are in search of role models to inspire them and have confidence in.

 

 

Join us for a weekend and be inspired by the: “Women Companions of the Prophet (pbuh) – Their Lives, Inspiration & Legacy”.

A course, to relish a great past, discover our Muslim identity, and shape a truly awesome Islamic future!

School students- $30 Uni students|Concession|Unemployed- $50 Full Price- $80

 

To secure your place, free notes and free lunch, enrol now by clicking here.

 

If you would like to sponsor someone or be partially or fully sponsored, please email us at info@hikmahway.com.

There is really no argument; modern society has very few options for teenage Muslim girls.

 

But that is changing on the account of a new youth group 'Beauty of a Muslimah' run by local sisters.

The idea was first put forth by sister Jessica Wicks who had previous experience with youth groups in Sydney and together with (name redacted) the program found it’s legs. Both women are reverts who acknowledge that girls are faced with a lack of fun activities for teenage Muslim girls combined with the increased temptation of fitna found in a western society. “We felt growing up the in western society it is important for young girls to realise that they can have fun in a halal way” said  (name redacted).

Jessica and  (name redacted) have worked hard to find new and engaging ways to involve the girls at their meetings. There is a strong focus on topics that pertain to teenage Muslim girls. This often involves inviting other sisters with specialised knowledge and skills. So far classes have included calligraphy workshops, science nights, game nights, photography workshops, prayer workshops and craft nights.

Another important aspect is the focus on charity in which the girls are encouraged to plan and run a charity event for a chosen cause. The last event was a highly successful high tea, which raised more than $2000 for Syrian Orphans.

The youth group is a program run through Sisters’ House and meets every Friday at iQraa Islamic Center from 6-9pm. It is free to attend the groups meetings with the exception of special excursions. Girls aged 12-17 years are encouraged to attend and more information can be found by contacting  (name redacted).

This University of South Australia (UNISA) International Centre for Muslim and non-Muslim Understanding organized award recognises the efforts of individuals and organisations, with any or no religious affiliation, that have done the most to improve understanding between Muslims and non-Muslims in Australia.

 

It was developed in 2012 in conjunction with the Australia Day Council of SA. It is part of the centre’s remit to work towards improving relations between those who are Muslims and those who are not and is a means of celebrating those members of the community who have done the most to improve understanding between Muslims and non-Muslims in Australia.
 

The award:
• widely disseminates good practices that make a significant contribution to improving relations between Muslim and non-Muslim people
• publicly acknowledges and rewards good works and inspirational role models
• acts as a catalyst for public debate and engagement.
 

The hope is that the award will contribute to developing national social harmony and community cohesion.

For more details click here.
 

Nominations must be lodged by 5pm Friday 20 September 2014

 

The recent Queensland Police Service/Muslim Reference Group meeting

Australia's top spy has urged more Muslims to join the nation's security force to aid understanding of the Islamic community following negative reporting on Islam in the Australian newspaper.

Some Islamic leaders have expressed fears about proposed counter-terrorism laws, which are aimed at radicalised Australians fighting in overseas conflicts.

ASIO boss David Irvine said the government was not good at listening to the Muslim community and needed to work on communication.

He said he would like more members of the Islamic community to join ASIO.

"That will help us understand better, but this is an organisation that is designed to protect you and you should be part of it," he told Muslim community leader Jamal Rifi in an interview obtained by Fairfax Media.

Mr Irvine said he was "utterly outraged" by a report in The Australian newspaper and picked up by other outlets that suggested Australia was "fighting Islam".

Prime Minister Tony Abbott said he was disappointed that some Muslim leaders had "rather foolishly" boycotted meetings in Melbourne and Sydney, where he pitched the laws.

 

Source: SBS

"A reminder especially to all Muslims to be careful in quickly believing the news and reacting to it by criticizing others without verifying its authenticity":

Click here.