Kuraby Madrassah held its annual Jalsa at the Runcorn State School yesterday (Saturday) afternoon where the 120 pupils from grades 1 to 8 and their teachers and volunteers were acknowledged for their hard work during 2014.

Sr Ameena Cajee proved an able Master of Ceremonies as the students performed nasheeds and plays, and received their graduation certificates.

Guest artist and poet Br Kamal Saleh's ode to mothers was well received.

Principal Br Dylan Chown praised the work of his predecessors who succeeded in establishing a strong foundation for the Madrassah over the years.

A new category of awards named after past Islamic luminaries and scholars was presented to the pupils for exhibiting Ilm, Adaad, Leadership and Amanah.

DearMum ┇ Spoken Word ┇Br. Kamal Saleh  

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[CCN Editor] I tried the Date Cake with a dollop of vanilla ice cream and it was absolutely delicious!

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An after-school encounter captures two parents' hopes and fears for their children's future. Anna Maxwell Martin and Liz White star in a microplay about education written by Rachel De-lahay and directed by Gbolahan Obisesan after a conversation with the Guardian's Richard Adams, Sally Weale and Michael Rosen

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Brisbane’s own Muslim Charitable Foundation would like to announce that your donations are now 100% tax deductible!
 

If you feel you are paying too much to the tax man and want an excellent way to reduce your income tax, donating to MCF is a great way to claim a tax deduction.

The work in Brisbane to help those in our community goes on. The trend shows that the amount of cases we are providing aid to here in Brisbane is increasing. Comparative figures at the same time last year show a two fold increase.

The monthly case report shows that the causes for becoming eligible for help from MCF are not singular, a wide and differing range of issues impacts on members of our community which causes some to require assistance.

Some of these causes are:

Single parenting pressures becoming too much
Fleeing domestic abuse
Illness or injury to parent with dependents

The assistance you provide via MCF ranges from the giving of food vouchers, paying some utility bills, replacing a fridge or even working with other local organisations to provide safe shelter/accomodation etc.

Please understand that most of those who have received assistance from MCF are reluctant to ask or reach out. Without knowing their plight you may have seen them at the mosque for Jumma or prayers or picking up their kids from school. This is the reason, MCF always has and always will continue to place most of your donations and resources within our community.

Check out our website for transparent disclosure on our financials and distributions.
 

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Anti-halal movements have gained significant traction across Australia.

While many such movements exist, the arguments commonly put forward include the notion that halal certification promotes terrorism and that it is a profit making scheme that non-Muslims should not have to pay for.

Some also take objection to the religious context of halal and kosher foods, arguing that it is a form of imposing Islamic and Jewish beliefs on others.

Halal and Kosher are terms used by Muslims and Jewish people which basically mean 'permissible to consume or do'. In the case of food, the controversy generally relates to meat products where certain procedures are required to be followed during the process of slaughtering of an animal.

According to the religious scriptures, these procedures are intended to be in the interest of the animal (admittedly, this noble intent is not always evident in practice). For example, it is mandatory to say grace before slaughter in order to acknowledge and signify the sanctity of the life being taken.

The claim that halal certification funds terrorism is unsubstantiated at best, and discriminatory at worst.

It vilifies all Australian Muslims by linking the everyday practice of eating to criminal acts of violence without any reasonable evidence.

To date, our intelligence and security agencies have not made any statements suggesting that the 15 or so independent halal certification bodies operating in Australia are in any way linked to any terrorist organisation (the Australian National Security website currently has 20 officially listed terrorist organisations).

As part of my research, I put this question to the Queensland Police Commissioner, Ian Stewart.

He confirmed via Twitter that he has no information suggesting that halal certification in Australia funds terrorism.

This further reinforces the view that most of the hysteria caused over this issue is based on unfounded claims.

Then there is the opposition to halal and/or kosher products due to their religious context. Objection on such grounds becomes a matter of one's views on diversity and one's ability to accept differences among members of our society.

In an increasingly globalised world, intolerance and an inability to coexist will significantly hamper our economic and social progress.

Brisbane recently hosted the G20 Summit where the world's most prominent leaders promoted more global collaboration and intercontinental relationships, not less.

Finally, there is the economic argument that non-Muslim consumers are 'having to pay' for halal certification.

This argument ignores the fact that like many other business expenses (e.g. advertising) the extra sales generated from independent certification usually far exceed the cost. So companies, employees and customers are actually better off financially in most cases.

Given that certification generally increases profits, companies may find themselves being accused of simply claiming their products are halal. Independent certification allows companies to overcome this conflict of interest, and gain or enhance consumer trust. Independence provides credibility to sellers and comfort to buyers.

This is why people often get a mechanic to check a second hand car before buying it.

It is also logical to expect these independent certifiers to charge a fee to recoup their costs and make a profit from offering their services. This contributes to the growth of our economy, increases employment and generates tax revenue for the Government.

Australian farmers, the unsung heroes of our economy, are arguably the biggest beneficiaries of independent halal certification. Our farmers have gained access to new customers in countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia, and the Middle East region thanks to independent certification. Our farmers have suffered from crippling droughts throughout the country, and the sector has been struggling as a whole in recent years.

Halal certification has offered many of them some respite from the economic challenges which they face daily.

Fahim Khondaker is a Chartered Accountant working at a multinational professional services firm in Brisbane. He also coordinated the Brisbane leg of the national event, Walk Together, and has been involved in an advisory capacity with multiple Muslim organisations in Brisbane, particularly in relation to the community response to the Foreign Fighters' Bill. You can follow him on Twitter: @Fahim_Khondaker
 

Brisbane Times

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The Minister for Foreign Affairs has approved a declaration for the Syrian province of al-Raqqa under section 119.3 of the Criminal Code Act 1995. This means the Minister is satisfied that a terrorist organisation is engaging in hostile activity in that area.

The new offence of entering or remaining in a declared area is located at section 119.2 of the Criminal Code Act 1995. This provision makes it an offence for a person to intentionally enter or remain in a declared area in a foreign country where the person knows or should know that the area is a declared area.

The declared area offence is designed to act as a deterrent to prevent people from traveling to declared areas.

The area that has been declared is the Syrian Province of al-Raqqa which is in the north of Syria and shares a border with Turkey.

This declaration takes effect on 5 December 2014.

There is no process for obtaining pre-approval to travel to a declared area and the advice is simply not to go there at all.

Irrespective of a person’s destination, the Australian Government encourages everyone to register their overseas travel plans via the smartraveller website. The act of registering, however, is not a way to prove legitimate travel.

Visiting friends, business purposes or religious purposes are not included in the list of legitimate purposes. A person who enters, or remains in, a declared area for these purposes could be prosecuted for the offence.

Source: AFP

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SPECIAL REPORT: SBS goes inside a western Sydney school where students are taught to be proud Muslim Australians as part of a program to prevent radicalisation.
 

At the Al Amanah College in western Sydney students learn how to be good Muslims and good Australian citizens.

The school principal says education is the key to preventing radicalisation. They are being warned not to be brain-washed by extremist preachers.

"We are going to be talking about something very important, as Muslims in Australia, and that is our identity," teacher Amr Al Shelh tells his class.

They're also taught what their teacher calls correct and proper Islamic beliefs and ethics.
"Islam doesn't teach us to commit crimes. Islam doesn't teach us to harm each other."

He warns his Islamic Studies class about the dangers of ignorance.

"And you hear now in the news, what's going on. This is because of ignorance. And because they're ignorant, they're vulnerable. And that leads to brain-washing."

The students are urged to resist heeding extremist preachers.

"There would be some people who would dress like us, look like us, speak like us. But they will be preachers on the doors of hell-fire. Whoever listens to them will be thrown into it. And this has happened a lot in the past. And it's still happening."

This kind of intervention has been successful in bringing some young men back from the brink.

Students at the Islamic school have told SBS what they've learnt.

"There is a lot of violence, that's going on, that we see in the media, and in the news," says school captain Mohamad Zahab. "And people have not portrayed the proper message, the proper beliefs about our religion, Islam. They've tarnished the name of Islam."

The principal of Al-Amaneh College, Mohamad El Dana, wants his students to be proud Muslim Australians.

"We are putting a lot of effort and stress on building the identity of the young Muslims, that they belong to Australia, their nationality, they are Australian, and at the same time, their religion is Islam," said Mohamad El Dana.

Teachers and parents don't want to see any repeat of the so-called "Ginger Jihadist" case - the Sydney schoolboy who's now a poster boy for IS.

When 17-year-old Abdullah Elmir ran off to Iraq he went with another Bankstown teenager, a 16-year-old boy called Feiz, who's now back in Sydney, pulled back from the brink by his family, and apparently rehabilitated.

Lebanese Community figure Dr Jamal Rifi says intervention in the radicalisation process, before it's too late, can make a difference.
 

"In the case of this young boy, who went overseas, and he came back, he was actually allowed to go with his family," says Dr Rifi. "The security agencies sat down with him, probably briefed and talked to him, and found he posed no threat."

Former teacher, Kuranda Seyit personally intervened in another case last year, to rescue a young Afghan Australian man from Sydney who was on his way to Syria, via Turkey.

"He decided to go overseas, and fight abroad. Fortunately, we were able to intercept him and bring him back to Australia Now you'll find that he has a totally different mindset," said Kuranda Seyit.
But there's no way back for Australians, like Mohamad Elomar, who've taken up arms in Syria and Iraq.

"There will be some people like Mohamad Elomar, that no mattter what you do, you can't even save them from themselves,” says Dr Rifi.

But Jamal Rifii hopes it's not too late for four Sydney brothers who went to Syria last month.

"It's definitely possible to de-radicalise almost anyone who wanted to be de-radicalised."

Kuranda Seyit says the key solution is understanding the causes of radicalisation.

"Research needs to be done," he says. "Once we get to that level, we can look at prevention being the key to this."

WATCH: part one of Vesna Nazor's special report: How Muslim communities are trying to prevent radicalisation:

Source: SBS

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Case registered against Junaid Jamshed, pop star turned preacher, over alleged insult to one of the wives of prophet.

Police in Pakistan have opened a blasphemy investigation against a former pop star turned Islamic preacher after he was accused of insulting one of the wives of the Prophet Muhammad.

Officials opened the case on Tuesday against Junaid Jamshed, the star attraction at a recent Mosque fund raiser in Brisbane and other cities in Australia and popularly dubbed as "disco mullah", in the southern port city of Karachi, police officer Sheraz Nazeer said.

He said the police responded to a complaint by the Pakistani Sunni Tehreek party over a video released last weekend.

In the video, Jamshed appeared to insult one of the wives of the Prophet Muhammad while making a point about women's flaws.

"The case has been registered under Sections 298-A and 295-C (of the Pakistan Penal Code) - the use of derogatory remarks in respect of the Holy Prophet and use of derogatory remarks in respect of wives of the Holy Prophet," Mehmood Ahmed, a police officer in Karachi, said.

Apology rejected

Jamshed swiftly apologised in a video statement on Tuesday. "I confess to my mistake," he said. "I did not do it intentionally."

But the Pakistan Sunni Tehreek party rejected his apology, saying he must be tried in court.

"We demand an immediate arrest of JunaidJamshed, who is a cursed person," party spokesman Mobin Qadri said.

Before becoming a preacher, Jamshed was a pop star with a string of chart-topping songs and albums. He retired in 2001 and announced that he was devoting his life to Islam. He is associated with a deeply conservative Islamic group, Tableeghi Jamaat.

Under Pakistan's harsh blasphemy laws, anyone accused of insulting Islam, the Prophet Muhammad or other religious Islamic figures can be sentenced to death, although no one has ever been executed under the law.

Just being accused of blasphemy can put someone at grave personal risk. Angry mobs have killed blasphemy suspects in the past. Defence lawyers have been targeted and judges sometimes hold trials inside jails out of safety concerns.

Last month, an axe-wielding police officer killed a member of the Shia minority sect in police custody, claiming he had committed blasphemy by insulting companions of the Prophet Muhammad.

A mob recently killed a Christian couple and burned their bodies in a brick kiln where the man and his wife worked, claiming they allegedly desecrated the Quran.

Source: Al Jazeera

CII Broadcasting Opinion: Blasphemy charges are going too far; Junaid Jamshed’s case is a matter of incorrect adab

In the last few days there has been a lot of discussions about Junaid Jamshed’s “alleged” blasphemy against mother of the believers Sayyida Aisha (RA) and then emotional apology. Observing from the comments, it is becoming apparent that most people have not heard the original clip, not analysed the evidence and are merely jumping on the bandwagon! Interestingly, many in the west are not fluent in Urdu so have no clue as to what was said in the “original” offense or the apology.

Here is the breakdown with full English translation:
 

THE APOLOGY

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A delegation representing Australians of Indian Muslim background attended and presented a submission to PM Modi at the reception and public gathering at Sydney Olympic Park organised in honour of Narendra Modi, PM of India during his short visit to Sydney on 17 November.

Unlike their counterparts in the US, the delegation decided to avoid the negative protest politics and engage the Prime Minister by delivering a positive submission in moving forwards towards a brighter future for India and promotion of peace and harmony in South Asia in general and within the Indian society in particular. The submission on several points addressed the concerns of the Muslim minority in India for its safety, security and empowerment.

Indian Muslims are not only the second largest community in the country but also the second largest Muslim population amongst the countries of the world, Indonesia being the first.

Mr Modi is the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Australia in 28 years. He left Australia in high spirits as he was not only cheered by 15000 strong crowd of Indians living in Sydney at a stadium usually played by rock stars but he also received very warm official welcome. He met leaders of the world’s major economies, became the first Indian Prime Minister to address the Australian Parliament and met various business leaders and other officials. He signed several bilateral agreements as both sides made many more promises for future business relations between the two countries.

There were a few protesters at the Olympic Park where the Indian Prime Minister attended the grand reception organised by Indian Australian Community Forum headed by Dr Nihal Agar of Hindu Council of Australia.

PM Modi made an extempore speech for one and a half hour in Sydney that was highly engaging, positive, inclusive, intelligent with a great sense of humour. He talked about India moving forward, the initiatives he has taken and evidence of their implementation in his short track record as PM and what Australians of Indian origins can do for India and vice versa.

He spoke in English at the Australian Parliament House in Canberra on 18 November and managed to capture repeated applause from MPs and a few hundred Indians in the gallery.

Many BJP activists among Australian Indians worked tirelessly over the  previous three weeks to put up a grand show for their leader and the nation’s Prime Minister. The Indian Australian Community forum brought together many small and major Indian associations who staged several cultural shows to make it a memorable event.

On the other hand, the protesters blamed Modi for hurting the cause of minorities in India including his failure to prevent riots in Gujarat in 2002.

Source: Australasian Muslim Times

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Penrith, an outer suburb in Sydney’s west has rejected a racist and anti-Muslim campaign by accepting the building of a community centre in the area.

After a two hour debate Penrith Council last week voted to approve the development application by the Mohammadi Welfare Association for an Islamic Centre in Kemps Creek. The vote was split seven councillors voting for including the mayor Mr Fowler, and five councillors voting against.

The meeting was interrupted several times to calm the rowdy audience and a member of the public was ejected for calling the mayor, a liar.

Demonstrators for and against the application gathered in front of the Penrith Civic Centre before the approval meeting with a heavy police presence.

There were ugly scenes outside the building where an Asian protester was targeted with racist slurs while an African woman was told she had Ebola.

The vicious campaign against the Centre was spearheaded by far right organisation Australia First, neo-nazis and local racist elements.
 

However a large number of local community members in addition to Muslims demonstrated in support of the Centre with slogans “Muslims are welcome, racists are not” and outnumbered those who were against the Centre.

Muhammadi Welfare Association Incorporated, had applied to build a community centre and place of worship in Clifton Avenue, Kemps Creek within the greater Penrith area.

The secretary of the association Mr Abbas Alvi, a poet-musician and a widely respected community leader said, “ We are mainly an Urdu speaking community from the Indian subcontinent whose members now belonging to four generations who have been living in the surrounding area for more than 30 years”.

“We serve a multicultural ethnic community diaspora of Western Sydney and our members belong to professions like community services, medicine, engineering, IT, security, education, agriculture, trade and many other fields”, he said.

Mr Alvi assured that the centre will welcome all community members for interfaith dialogues, networking and appreciation of our diverse cultural background in order to promote peace and harmony in our society.

The President of the association, Mr Athar Zaidi said he would be more than willing to talk to the protesters and tell them there was nothing to fear.

“I think people are scared of the unknown. If we have a chance to explain to them who we are, they would see that we are just normal people’, he said.

Mr Alvi announced that when the Centre was completed he would love the whole Penrith community join and celebrate its opening.
 

Source: Australasian Muslim Times

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The Queensland Government has continued its support for the state’s Muslim community against racism and bigotry with special funding to support the Open Mosques program and Brisbane’s annual Eidfest.

The latest round of funding under the Queensland Government’s Valuing Diversity program includes $10,000 for the Eidfest celebration, $3000 for CresWalk 2015 and $12,000 for Mosque open days at Gladstone, Mareeba, Logan and Cairns.

Queensland Minister responsible for Multicultural Affairs, Glen Elmes, said the Valuing Diversity grants promote positive multicultural relationships through funding community events which promote community cohesion and education about the different ethnic and cultural groups which make up our great society.

“The Newman Government is pleased to support Queensland’s Muslim community who have lived peacefully in Queensland and contributed to our state’s development for more than a hundred years,” Mr Elmes said.

“The Queensland Government welcomes people from all cultures and religions who choose to make Queensland their home and who are prepared to abide by our laws.

“We are working with our Muslim community leaders to ensure they are able to follow their religious beliefs as valued members of society.

“Unfortunately, some Queensland Muslims and Mosques have been the victims of racism and bigotry expressed by a very small minority of the general population.

“The open Mosque program has proven to be an effective community education mechanism in centres where it’s been held, and I’m pleased to support its continuation and expansion.

“A culturally diverse community is one that is socially vibrant, because it’s open to a rich diversity of ideas, skills, traditions and customs.

“As a result of our long history of migration and nation building, Queensland is filled with a richness and diversity of cultures.

“The state has a strong record in supporting, understanding and appreciation of cultural diversity, and the positive contributions of migrants.

“Funding for events under the Valuing Diversity program brings together Queenslanders from different cultural backgrounds to celebrate our diverse origins and all that we have in common.”

A full list of funded events across the state is available at on the Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Multicultural Affairs website at www.datsima.qld.gov.au.

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TWO Muslims have refused to stand for a District Court judge, with one claiming they are not “at the behest of any authority other than Islam”.

Under NSW law an accused is required to stand to hear the charge against them and respond with a plea of guilty or not guilty.

Wassim Fayad (pictured above) and co-accused Milad Bin Ahmad-Shah Al-Ahmadzai both defied the law yesterday and remained seated during their arraignments on an aggravated break and enter charge in Parramatta District Court.

Fayad initially refused to stand for Judge Andrew Colefax in the morning but elected to stand in the afternoon and plead not guilty to one charge of aggravated break and enter and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Al-Ahmadzai, 24, has now been referred to NSW Attorney-General Brad Hazzard after refusing to stand for Judge Colefax three times during his proceedings.

The judge adjourned the case for several hours while considering referring Al-Ahmadzai and Fayad for contempt of court charges.

When Al-Ahmadzai refused to stand for a second time, telling Judge Colefax “no thank you’’, Fayad said from the dock “he has a bit of a sore leg’’.

But Al-Ahmadzai's lawyer Arjun Chhabra told the court his client’s decision stemmed from a “philosophical and theological belief’’.

“He has a far stricter view (than other followers of Islam),’’ Mr Chhabra said.

“There are a number of prescriptions (of the faith) ... that one isn’t at the behest of any authority other than that of Islam ... and Allah.

“At first it may appear disrespectful (but) it is not intended to bring the administration or efficiency of the court to a halt, or its dignity into disrepute.’’

Prosecutor Craig Everson said the conduct was like “putting a finger up to the court’’.

Judge Colefax said, while he considered the behaviour to be “clear contempt’’, he would refer it to the Attorney-General’s office, along with a transcript of the interaction.

The pair laughed and talked to each other while Judge Colefax addressed the court. He asked him for the third and final time to stand, to which Al-Ahmadzai replied: “No.’’

He then pleaded not guilty to one charge of aggravated break and enter, allegedly committed alongside Fayad and an unidentified man, at Macquarie shopping centre in North Ryde on October 15 last year.

The pair were refused bail yesterday and both men ordered to stand trial in the Parramatta District Court from September 7 next year.
 

Source: Daily Telegraph

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In this episode of '100 Muslims, 1 Question' American Muslims from all walks of life were asked: "What do you struggle with?".

These are their responses

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As Salaamu Alaikum,

Like many other communities we, as Queensland Muslims, have also taken part in The White Ribbon Campaign.

Last year we distributed 1000 white Ribbons in the City.  Alhumdulillah this was a great success.

This year we intend bringing the message home by requesting that you purchase Ribbons and distribute amongst family, friends and work mates (Muslims or Non-Muslims)

As Muslims it is our duty to promote this message, See the Darul Ihsan poster on why the violent abuse of women must stop.

Wear one to work everyday.

Women too can purchase these Ribbons.

You can purchase this ribbon for $1.00 each (this is to cover costs.)

Please contact me on 0402 575 410

Jazaak Allah. May the Almighty reward you for your efforts.

Ws Salaam

Faisel

 LMA Domestic Violence Awareness Campaign 2014  

Would you like to see the cover of your favourite book on our book shelves below?

Then simply email the title and author to thebookclub@crescentsofbrisbane.org

Double click a book cover to find out what others think of the book

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Spicy Sausage Rolls

Mula Nasruddin Junior enters a barber shop and the barber whispers to his customer, "This is the dumbest boy in the world. Watch while I prove it to you."
 

The barber puts a dollar coin in one hand and fifty cents in the other, then calls Junior over and asks, "Which do you want, son?"

The boy takes the fifty cents and leaves.

"What did I tell you?" said the barber. "That kid never learns!"

 
Later, when the customer leaves, he sees the Junior coming out of the ice cream store.

"Hey son, may I ask you a question? Why did you take the fifty cents instead of the dollar coin?"

 
Junior licked his cone and replied, "Because the day I take the dollar, the game's over!"  

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Events and Functions

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Islamic Programmes, Education & Services

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Businesses and Services

DIRECTORY

PLEASE NOTE

1. All Islamic Event dates given above are tentative and subject to the sighting of the moon.

2. The Islamic date changes to the next day starting in the evenings after maghrib. Therefore, except for Lailatul Mehraj, Lailatul Bhahraat and Lailatul Qadr – these dates refer to the commencement of the event starting in the evening of the corresponding day.

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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.

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