The first person to believe
in the Prophet
ﷺ
was a women, Khadijah (RA).
She was a pillar for the
Prophet
ﷺ
who
strengthened him and
supported him through his
toughest trials. Her role
set a new standard for the
women in shaping and
developing the Muslim
society.
Just as there were great men
with the Prophet
ﷺ
, there were also many great
women who serve as
outstanding role-models for
Muslim women today. This
course is about reliving the
legacy of a select group of
women from the early
generation of Muslims. These
jewels include:
Young Women:
Aishah Bint Abu Bakr
Amah Bint Khalid
Hafsah Bint Sireen
Mothers who raised Scholars:
Mother of Imam Bukhari
Mother of Imam As-Shafiee
Mother of Imam Malik ibn
Anas
Mother of Imam Ahmed ibn
Hanbal
Women and Society:
Zumurrud Khatun (Sister of
Salahuddin Al-Ayoubi)
Women and Their Parents:
Umm Kulthum
Love Stories: Women Making
the Right Choice
Zainab Bint Muhammad
Bareerah and Mugheeth
Khansaa Bint Khaddaam
Umm Salamah
180 Degrees: Women who
changed their life around
after Islam
Hind Bint Utbah (Radical
Change, from cannibal acts
to Islam)
Al-Ghamidiyyah (Sahabiyyah
who commited adultery)
Women and Knowledge: (A
Modern Example)
Aisha At-Taymuriyya
(1840-1902)
Be empowered to make a
difference by addressing
social issues you feel
passionate about through
social media.
Challenge racism, inequality
and extremist ideology by
learning the skills you need
to enhance your creativity
and achieve global reach.
Explore positive community
messages online and use the
latest content generation
tools to create visually
appealing and compelling
social media campaigns.
And dont forget to bring
along your smartphone or
tablet to participate in
interactive workshop
activities.
Cost: FREE
Date: Saturday, 7 May Time: 9am to 4pm Location: Park Regis
North Quay 293, North Quay,
Brisbane Included: Morning
Tea, Lunch, Afternoon Tea
Participants required: Youth
and their leaders or mentors
Victoria has appointed its
first Muslim woman to the
bench.
Attorney-General Martin
Pakula on Tuesday morning
announced the appointment of
Urfa Masood to the
Magistrates' Court of
Victoria.
Ms Masood, who is of Sri
Lankan background, will be
the first Muslim woman to
sit on the bench of any
Victorian court.
Ms Masood started practising
criminal law in 2003 and has
worked for the Victorian
Aboriginal Legal Service and
the Australian Tax Office.
She has worked cases in the
Magistrates', County,
Children's, Family and
Federal Courts.
In 2012 she became an
adjunct lecturer at the
College of Law, where she
teaches advocacy.
Mr Pakula congratulated Ms
Masood on her new position,
saying she brought to the
role extensive experience in
criminal and family law.
"Ms Masood has extensive
experience in criminal law,
child protection and family
law, as well as with the
Victorian Aboriginal Legal
Service, which will prove
invaluable in her role as a
magistrate," he said.
Annette Vickery, deputy
chief executive of the
Victorian Aboriginal Legal
Service, said it was
important to have
magistrates with an
understanding of the issues
facing Aboriginal
communities.
"The Aboriginal Legal
Service has long been
recognised as a development
ground for exceptional legal
talent and we congratulate
one of our previous staff
members on her appointment
to the bench," she said.
My name is Samira and I am
19 years old. I have
Pervasive Developmental
Disorder, which is a mild
form of Autism Spectrum
Disorder.
I am an Australian Muslim of
Lebanese and Palestinian
descent. I was a victim of
bullying and harassment
throughout primary and high
school.
I was called ugly names
because I was different and
I was called a midget and a
dwarf because I was the
shortest one in the
classroom. I was also teased
because of my teeth and my
appearance.
In Year 9, I had my pants
pulled down in front of the
girls during Visual Arts
class.
One day when I was walking
up to roll call, a classmate
locked me inside a building.
I got really frustrated and
kept telling them to open
the door but they wouldnt.
I couldnt take it anymore
so I yelled at them and they
still refused to open the
door. I felt like an
outsider in my own school
just because I was a child
with special needs.
I was struggling to keep up
with my assessments and
homework. It was a really
stressful time for me.
Two years ago I moved to a
new school where the
workload was more
manageable, the teachers
were nice and so were the
students.
I was taught in the support
unit and was studying life
skills subjects. I had a
great couple of years
adapting to the new
environment and meeting new
people.
After I finished school in
2015 my confidence began to
grow and I started to face
my fears with the support of
family and friends. They
helped me stay strong and
reminded me to keep holding
my head high.
I am now learning how to
cook, iron and become more
independent by doing things
like travelling by myself on
public transport.
I have started a Transition
to Work Program at Northcott
and am not as afraid to work
with others as I was during
school. I am starting to
plan my future now and think
about the type of career I
want for myself.
Ive decided to share my
story with you because I
want people to know theyre
not alone. Im sure there
are many people getting
bullied and its important
they know they are not the
only ones and there is
support.
I want people to be more
tolerant. We are a
multicultural society and
some of us live with
disability but we should
accept each other. At the
end of the day we are all
human and will be much
happier if we just respect
each other.
After receiving council and
building approvals in
December, construction of
the new Mosque in Worongary,
Gold Coast will commence in
the final week of April,
2016, according to the
Islamic Multicultural
Association of Gold Coast (IMAGC).
.
The IMAGC is currently
tendering for works, and
asking that anyone who is
qualified/licenced in the
building industry and has
the appropriate insurance,
or would like to
supply/donate building
materials should contact
Rami on 0413 904 278.
IMAGC is particularly be
interested in:
Concreting, Bricks,
Renderers, plumbers,
electricians, plasterers,
tilers, waterproofing,
carpenters, windows,
painters, steelworkers,
doors/bi-fold doors, roof
workers, insect screens,
pest control, scaffold hire,
WC hire, Bob cat clean-up,
WC Suites, Vanities, Basins,
Tap ware, Mirrors, etc.
"This is a golden
opportunity to put your well
earned money into this
project," a spokesperson for
the IMAGC told CCN.
Bank details for donations:
Bank - ANZ
Name - Islamic Multicultural
Association of Gold Coast
BSB - 014701
ACC - 108017453
As a result of
the overwhelming response from
the community the Brisbane drive
for the national Shoebox4syria
campaign collected over 1300
Shoeboxes in just a little over
a month.
"A huge
thank-you goes out to everyone
young and old that got involved,
whether it was a financial
contribution, box-filler
donations, collecting empty
shoeboxes, completed shoeboxes
or their time,"
a spokesperson from the local
organizing committee told CCN.
"It
has been heart-warming to see
the unity between the various
Brisbane communities,
organisations, schools &
individuals. May the almighty
reward one and all for their
efforts and as our boxes leave,
let us make duaa for our
brothers and sisters suffering
around the world. Inshallah our
gifts bring joy & light up the
lives of little children this
Eid."
The organizers wished to thank
the following for their support:
Algester Mosque, community &
Liyanas kids holiday program
Darra Mosque & community
Kuraby Mosque & community
Rochedale Mosque & community
Slacks Creek Mosque & community
Gold Coast Mosque & community
Al Mustafa Institute, Hillcrest
Muslim Charitable Foundation
Shajarah Kindergarden
Kuraby Early Learning Centre
Islamic Woman's Association of
Qld
Admin, staff & students of
Islamic College of Brisbane
Admin, staff & students of
Wisdom college
Admin, staff & students of
Australian International Islamic
College of Durack
Admin, staff &. students of
Australian International Islamic
College of Gold Coast
A plan to build a new mosque
in Melbourne's south eastern
suburbs has been
unceremoniously dumped by
Casey council, in an unusual
meeting on Tuesday night
that was more reminiscent of
a staged political
announcement.
Only about half of the
people who turned up to
watch the proceedings, many
wielding banners with
slogans such as "Stop Racism
Now", were able to fit into
the council chambers.
About one hundred were left
outside, the doors to the
civic centre guarded by a
line of police.
Inside, Casey Mayor Sam Aziz
read out a pre-prepared
speech endorsing a
recommendation by council
officers not to allow a
permit for the mosque with a
"typical Islamic dome style
roof" and 25-metre minaret
on a vacant rural property
on Belgrave-Hallam Road in
Narre Warren.
He slammed a report in The
Age suggesting that pressure
from far-right groups had
helped kill off the mosque
plan, and added an
additional, hard-line,
clause in the motion to be
voted on by council.
The clause said that council
will "allocate every
resource necessary and
required to defend the
decision at other
jurisdictions should there
be a challenge to the
decision". This means the
council will fight the
rejection if it is appealed
to the Victorian Civil and
Administrative Tribunal.
Cr Aziz said the only group
of people outside the
council officers who had an
impact on council's decision
were Casey residents, many
of whom he said expressed
legitimate concerns about
the application.
These concerns were backed
up by council planning
officers, who found the
proposed "height, bulk and
prominence" of the mosque
and the 153 car spaces would
"result in a dominant built
form and excessive hard
paving and is not considered
to be sympathetic to the
landscape and scenic
qualities of the area".
Meanwhile, VicRoads also
objected to the proposal,
finding it was "premature"
and did not "represent
sufficient orderly planning
in the area".
During his speech, Cr Aziz
lashed out at the mosque
applicants, the Saarban
Islamic Trust, because they
had told the media they
believed they had negotiated
an agreement with the
council.
The Narre Warren mosque was
to have been built on a on a
site fronting the
Belgrave-Hallam Road
"I suggest to you that you
have not endeared yourself
to anyone making these
comments and I also
respectfully suggest that in
future you consider your
comments in the context of
the truth not just your own
self interest," Cr Aziz
said.
The Saarban Islamic Trust
was not given an opportunity
to respond during the
special council meeting, as
no public submissions were
allowed. Photography was
also banned, preventing the
media taking photos of the
signs being held by the
crowd.
Cr Aziz's address was
followed by another
pre-prepared speech by Cr
Rafal Kaplon, before
councillors unanimously
voted to reject the mosque
plan and the public were
asked to leave the gallery.
Less than a minute after the
closure of the meeting, as
people were still filing
out, some of them chanting,
the mayor asked police to
"remove people from the
public gallery please".
Despite the instruction, the
protest appeared to remain
peaceful.
Afterwards, members of the
local Muslim Pakistani
community, who were among
those locked out of the
meeting, said they wondered
if it was worth attending,
because it was clear a
decision had already been
made.
Electronics engineer Taf
Chaudhry and Cranbourne real
estate agent Waseem Asif
said many Muslims believed
it was impossible to get a
permit for a mosque in
Australia.
"It is quite shameful if you
think about it because I
feel that I'm an Australian,
but I would never do to any
other community anything
like that myself," Mr
Chaudhry said.
"It is almost hurtful to
think about."
The mosque would have mostly
catered to around 470 Urdu
and Hindi-speaking Muslims
originally from India,
Pakistan and Fiji. There
were also future plans for
an Islamic school with
specialist farm program for
1000 students and staff on
the block, which is zoned
Green Wedge.
Casey council issued a press
release shortly after the
meeting saying the city made
its planning decisions on
planning grounds. "Council
has a record of approving
mosques and Islamic schools
(as well as similar
facilities of other
religions) where they meet
planning requirements, and
opposing them where they do
not," the statement from Cr
Aziz said.
The mosque proposal received
1003 objections from the
community, while a Facebook
page "Stop the Mosque in
Narre Warren" which
selectively shares articles
that present Muslims in a
poor light - has more than
10,000 likes.
The council had also been
under pressure from the
United Patriots Front to
reject the plan.
The Legal Affairs and
Community Safety Committee
invites submissions to its
Inquiry into the
Counter-Terrorism and Other
Legislation Amendment Bill
2016 by Friday, 13 May 2016.
The Bill was introduced in
the Parliament and referred
to the committee on 19 April
2016.
The key objective of the
bill is to equip police with
powers to enable a swift
response to any public
emergencies in Queensland.
The Explanatory Notes advise
that the bill makes a number
of amendments designed to
improve the management and
resolution of emergencies by
enabling the Queensland
Police Service to rapidly
gather information, obtain
authorisations and exercise
powers in an endeavour to
mitigate or minimise the
impacts of emergency
situations - including
natural disasters, accidents
and criminal actions,
terrorist emergencies and
chemical, biological and
radiological emergencies.
According to the Minister,
the new laws will:
Enable police to
require any person or
organisation to provide
information during a
declared emergency
Create an offence for
refusing to provide
information sought by
police or to give false
or misleading
information with
penalties of up to 10
years imprisonment to
apply
Extend the power to
search and seize
vehicles as they leave
or enter a declared area
Broaden the power for
police to seize things
from a person during a
declared emergency to
include things that a
person may use to cause
harm.
The committee is required to
report on the bill by
Tuesday, 12 July 2016.
For more information, see
the committees webpage
here. The webpage will
be updated over the course
of the inquiry.
Submissions
Written submissions relating
to the bill are now invited.
A guide to making
submissions is available
here.
Submissions should be sent
to:
Email address:
lacsc@parliament.qld.gov.au
Postal address: The Research
Director
Legal Affairs and Community
Safety Committee
Parliament House
Brisbane QLD 4000
Submissions will only by
published following formal
acceptance by the Committee
Muslim Aid Australia is
taking you on the ground with
them to deliver essential projects
around the world.
Join the MAA team on a 360 degree
Virtual Reality tour of a water system they
built in Indonesia
Click on the above image and use
the controls on the top left
hand corner of the video to
navigate through the 360
degrees. (If the controls are
not visible, please try the link
https://youtu.be/sdlwoNgd5Wo
on Google Chrome or Firefox).
Dr Tawfique Chowdhury is the
founder of Islamic development
organisation Mercy Mission.
An Australian doctor says he
will continue his charity
work despite being named by
the Islamic State (IS) group
on a "kill list".
Tawfique Chowdhury, the
founder of Islamic
development organisation
Mercy Mission, attracted the
ire of IS for presenting a
speech to British
anti-terrorism experts.
According to Dr Chowdhury,
Muslim scholars are natural
allies of the West in
fighting extremism and the
best strategy for prevention
is to dismantle terrorist
ideologies using the Koran.
In the latest issue of
official IS magazine Dabiq,
an anonymous author calls
upon the group's followers
to "wage jihad" against
several western-based
Muslims.
Dr Chowdhury says while it
was important not to
exaggerate how powerful IS
is, he was left a little
concerned by the threat.
"I don't know who they are.
I don't know if they exist
in Australia where we live,"
he said.
He still believes if
Australia is to be
successful in combating the
jihadist ideology, the
answer remains in the
theological knowledge of
Muslim scholars.
"We need to appreciate that
Muslim scholars have been
addressing this topic ever
since Islam has existed,
which is 1,400 years ago,"
Dr Chowdhury said.
"We're talking about
Australia, which is only a
little more than a century
old.
"There has to be a respect
that Muslim scholars that
are fighting this particular
issue, and from an orthodox
understanding, are probably
the best people placed to
address this.
"It cannot be fought on the
battlefield of weapons and
bullets, it has to be fought
on the intellectual
battlefield first."
He says Mercy Mission
operates in many different
countries, and it is not the
first time he has received
threats by extremist groups
for his work.
"A part of me says why? What
is so offensive about the
message I am spreading?" he
said.
A prolific public speaker
with a YouTube channel that
features hundreds of his
speeches, he says his work
must go on in spite of the
threats.
"A part of me is relieved,
there is some sort of impact
and [that our] work is going
on and is making some people
worry."
The 2400-student school is
one of the largest in NSW
Thousands of Sydney students
have been spared from being
potentially forced out of
their school after the
federal government was
ordered to restore funding
to Malek Fahd Islamic School
in Sydney's west.
On Thursday, the school was
granted a last-minute stay
by the Administrative
Appeals Tribunal as the
federal government moved to
withdraw $19 million in
funding.
In February, a Federal
Department of Education
investigation found the
private school was operating
for profit following
allegations of six-figure
loans to board members
The tribunal ordered the
department to return funding
to the school from the first
week in May while the school
appeals the decision.
Students have been back in
class running on reserve
funds since Tuesday.
In March, police had to be
called to a meeting of the
Australian Federation of
Islamic Councils, the
charity that formerly
oversaw the 26-year-old
school and five other
Islamic schools across the
country, after tensions
between competing factions
spilled over and students
protested against the
school's management.
Despite being a private
institution, the school and
five others operated by AFIC
rely on public funding for
75 per cent of their income.
The 2400-student school is
one of the largest in NSW.
Schools in the local area
would have been forced to
absorb the students from the
end of this term if the stay
had not been granted.
Rouse Hill, Ironbark Ridge,
Beaumont Hills and
Kellyville public schools
were all available to take
students, according to NSW
Department of Education.
The school has since severed
its ties with AFIC and
instituted a new board to
attempt to rescue its
future.
The board includes the
bursar of The Kings School,
Geoff Dorman, the first
female Muslim chief
executive of TAFE South
Australia, Miriam Silva, and
respected veteran NSW public
school principal Martyn
Bawden.
A spokesman for the Minister
for Education and Training
Simon Birmingham said the
department would continue to
work through the
Administrative Appeals
Tribunal's process.
In a statement, the
Department of Education
advised that it would give
effect to the Administrative
Tribunal's decision.
"As a result, Malek Fahd
will continue to be approved
to receive Commonwealth
funding under the Act during
the external review
process."
Islam
has no place in Australia if
we are to live in a cohesive
society. We have seen the
destruction it is having
around the world. If we do
not make the necessary
changes now to stop the
advancement of Islam in
Australia, there will be no
hope in the future. Do you
want your children and
grandchildren to be living
under Sharia Law and treated
as a second-class citizen
with no rights? We dont and
that's why we are standing
up.
We will enact the following:
- Call for an inquiry or Royal
Commission to determine if Islam
is a religion or political
ideology
- Stop further Muslim
Immigration and the intake of
Muslim refugees
- Ban the Burqa and Niquib in
public places
- Drivers licence cannot be
obtained without showing the
full face and having photo ID on
drivers licence
- Surveillance cameras to be
installed in all Mosques and
schools. Mosques to be open to
the public during all opening
hours
- No more mosques to be built
until the inquiry is held
- Oppose the introduction of
Sharia Law
- Investigate welfare payments
paid to Muslims who may be in
multiple marriages, having
multiple children
- Ban Halal certification. Halal
certified food not to be
provided in prisons or the armed
services. Companies may comply
for export but no monies must be
paid
- Call for a referendum to
change Section 116 of the
Australian Constitution
- Muslims will not be allowed to
be sworn in to Parliament under
the Quran
- Female genital mutilation to
carry lengthy jail term
Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohameds
lawsuit asks for general and
aggravated damages and asks that
the allegedly defamatory News
Corp stories be taken down.
The grand mufti of Australia
is suing Sydneys Daily
Telegraph for defamation
over two stories and a front
page it ran in the aftermath
of the Paris terrorist
attacks depicting him as the
three unwise monkeys.
A statement of claim was
filed in the New South Wales
supreme court on Friday
alleging the News Corp
tabloid had suggested Dr
Ibrahim Abu Mohammed was an
apologist for the terrorist
attacks in Paris, a
supporter of violent
Islamic holy war and had
deliberately refused to
attend a vigil after the
attacks, among other claims.
The newspapers front page
on 18 November depicted
Mohammed, the most senior
Sunni Muslim scholar in
Australia, in three poses
covering his eyes, ears and
mouth, with the caption:
Sees no problems, hears no
concerns, speaks no
English.
The two stories were
headlined The unwise mufti
and Even Hamas condemn the
Paris attacks so why wont
Australias Grand Mufti
Ibrahim Abu Mohammed?
Mohammed had issued a
statement two days after the
13 November attacks saying
he mourn[ed] the loss of
innocent lives and conveyed
his deepest condolences to
the families and friends of
the deceased.
A statement on his Facebook
page the previous day had
read, in relation to the
attacks and another bombing
in Beirut: There are no
words to truly describe the
devastation of these acts
but we will continue in
solidarity and pray for
peace.
A line in his Monday
statement also pointed to
what he believed were the
causative factors of
terrorism, including
racism, Islamophobia,
curtailing freedoms through
securitisation, duplicitous
foreign policies and
military intervention.
The Daily Telegraph claimed
in both stories that
Mohammed had shown a
stubborn refusal to condemn
the Paris terror attacks
and accused him of
snubbing a requiem mass
held in the aftermath,
attended on his behalf by
the head of the Muslim
Womens Association, Maha
Abdo.
The Australian National
Imams Council said in a
statement its lawyers had
clearly and succinctly
raised concerns regarding
the article with News Corp
and provided opportunities
to make amends.
But the news outlet had
shown a completely failure
to engage with the grand
mufti or his
representatives, it said.
The lawsuit asks for general
and aggravated damages and
that the allegedly
defamatory stories be taken
down.
Wisdom College is holding
its annual childrens
festival and everyone is
invited to enjoy the day
with the Wisdom family.
There will be a range of
food stalls, including
traditional Turkish food to
yummy cakes and sweets. You
can enjoy shopping at our
lovely stalls, which will be
selling candles, soaps,
flowers and clothing.
Its a great opportunity to
pick up something special
for your mum at one of our
Mothers Day stalls.
Especially for the children
we have face painting, henna
and games as well as the
jumping castle and other
great outdoor activities.
Make sure you pick up some
showbags and treat mum to a
wonderful day.
There will be student
cultural performances and a
soccer challenge thats
building up to be a beauty!
Come and see our new
buildings, meet the new
Principal and have a
wonderful day at our
biggest, childrens festival
yet.
Nine men and women from around
Australia give voice to what
it's really like to live as a
Muslim. Aisha Novakovich, 32,
community advocate, law student
and mother of two tells of her
journey to radicalism and back.
Beau Donelly reports.
THE FORMER RADICAL
As a teenager, I had a
laminated photo of Osama Bin
Laden in my bedroom. A
friend once saw the photo
and demanded to know why I
had it. I told her he was my
hero and that I wanted to be
one of his wives; that the
media was manipulating his
image because he was
challenging US hegemony.
Aisha receiving the inaugural
Ministers Multicultural
Ambassadors Youth Award in WA in
2002.
From the age of 14, I wore
the niqab - the full face
veil - with gloves. My
mother hated it and said I
was becoming a fanatic. For
me, it became a marker of
difference in the face of
discrimination. At
university I was determined
to learn the political
systems in the West in order
to subvert and challenge
them from within. I believed
we needed a caliphate.
Eventually, I started to
flirt with ways I could
leave Australia to join the
fight against foreign
oppressors. Given different
circumstances and times, I
might have joined a
terrorist organisation when
I was younger.
I have lived in Australia
since I was six weeks old.
My Yugoslav father was Greek
Orthodox. My mother, an
Indonesian, is Muslim. As
the eldest of four children
to migrant parents, I was
keenly aware of my familys
constant state of poverty.
But when my father died when
I was a child, our poverty
became desperate and
entrenched. My mother was
only 27 and she spoke very
little English. We lived in
Coober Pedy, an isolated
mining town in South
Australia.
As far as Muslim identities
went, I had a loose
affiliation to Islam and
very little contact with the
Muslim community. My mother
wasnt a conservative
Muslim: she didnt wear
hijab or care if we ate
halal food (although she was
strict about us not eating
pork). But after my fathers
death, my uncle influenced
her to implement a more
Islamic lifestyle.
Our names were changed to
sound more Muslim. I was
Nancy one day, Aisha the
next. We started going to
Sunday school at the local
mosque and learned how to
pray and read the Koran. I
mixed with Muslim kids from
different racial and
cultural backgrounds who I
found different to the kids
at my public school. I had
always thought of myself as
an Aussie girl with Aussie
friends at an Aussie school.
The world I lived in was
very much part of mainstream
Australia and thats where I
felt a strong sense of
belonging.
I was bitterly disappointed
when I was sent to an
Islamic high school. The
facilities were run down and
staff were unprofessional.
The kids were unwelcoming,
unlike the non-Muslim
students I had grown up
with. I felt like Id been
catapulted into an
environment that stifled
creative expression and
contained pockets of deep
puritanical ideology.
I came across some strange
ideas. Some kids would talk
about the Iraqi Shi'a
students as if they carried
a contagious virus. I
learned that there were
better ways of wearing a
hijab; a bigger scarf
signified greater purity of
soul. For a girl, marrying
young was desirable and
being an obedient wife and
mother were markers of
nobility. I wondered if my
outgoing personality could
fit into the idealised
version of a docile and
demure Muslim woman.
Aisha in a go-kart in 2001.
In university and as a young
woman, I became an admirer
of the work of ideologues
and writers such as Sayyid
Qutb, Hassan al-Banna and
Abdullah Azzam. I even
applauded Hizb ut-Tahrir, a
group that Tony Abbott tried
to ban for preaching
extremist ideology. I became
obnoxious in my religious
judgement and was openly
anti-democratic. I wanted to
fight our foreign
oppressors.
My first husband physically
abused me within six months
of being married. I was
pregnant at the time. The
abuse continued for four
years.
My first marriage wore away
my political ideologies.
Domestic violence shattered
my idealisation of the
Muslim family model, where a
protective husband with his
obedient wife create a safe
and loving family home for
their children.
My husband eventually
divorced me after getting
permission from a sheikh to
end the marriage on flimsy
grounds. During those dark
days, I considered leaving
Islam. I questioned a
religion that seemed to
favour men. The arrival of
my children was also a
reality check. My dreams of
going overseas to fight for
justice seemed fanciful.
The saving grace for me was
my support network of family
and friends who noticed when
my behaviour changed. They
loved me unconditionally and
challenged me and my
beliefs. I also benefited
from the mentorship of
several community leaders
who helped break down the
walls of isolation. The
final thing that allowed me
to rebuild my life was
returning to university.
I believe young Muslims in
Australia are left
uninspired and vulnerable to
the prey of ISIS vultures.
It is vital that we have
frank conversations about
why terrorist groups are so
alluring. To acknowledge
they are seductive is not to
admit defeat; it opens up a
new space where we can
really start to really get
it.
Growing up in the 1990s, I
saw a lot of graffiti that
screamed Asians out or
Asian invasion, which made
me conscious that I was not
white and therefore not
welcome. This had a strong
impact on my self-worth,
right into adulthood. In
today's climate of rising
Islamophobia, bigotry and
nationalist movements, I
shudder to think of the
negative impact on the
hearts and minds of young
children who hear,
hatefully, You dont belong
here.
I try to instil in my sons
the universal values of
compassion, respect and
acceptance. I am consciously
raising them into adults who
will hopefully become
leaders not just for the
Muslim community but for
Australian society.
Neuroscientist
Shows What Fasting Does To Your
Brain
TED
Talk
Mark Mattson is the Chief of the
Laboratory of Neuroscience at
the National Institute on Aging.
He is also a professor of
Neuroscience at The Johns
Hopkins University, and one of
the foremost researchers in the
area of cellular and molecular
mechanisms underlying multiple
neurodegenerative disorders,
like Parkinsons and Alzheimers
disease.
Mark and his team have published
several papers that discuss how
fasting twice a week could
significantly lower the risk of
developing both Parkinsons and
Alzheimers disease. When you
take a look at caloric
restriction studies, many of
them show a prolonged lifespan
as well as an increased ability
to fight chronic disease.
Its interesting because fasting
and caloric restriction has been
shown to grow new stem cells,
repair DNA, extend life span and
retard age related disease and a
much more, its even been shown
to be effective as a cancer
treatment in conjunction with
chemotherapy drugs.
Unfortunately, you will never
see a clinical trial conducted
without testing a pharmaceutical
drug, its not like one can make
money off of fasting alone, or
from an herb that cannot be
patented.
The TEDx talk given by Mark
goies into more
detail about what fasting does
to the brain. For more links to
published studies about fasting,
you can read
this article, but a
simple Google search would
suffice if you are looking for
more publications.
6 Things
Wrong With
Trevor Phillips
Latest Crusade
(Continued
from last week's
CCN)
By Abdul-Azim
Ahmed (A
graduate of
Religion and
Theology BA and
a Masters in
Islam in
Contemporary
Britain. Abdul-Azim
is currently
completing a PhD
on Islam in
Wales.)
UK: I genuinely
cant remember
the last time
there was a
single week
without a
headline story
about Muslims.
Sometimes, its
unavoidable.
With global
crises like
Syria, the
post-war mess in
Iraq, and acts
of terrorism
headline news is
expected. But
other times,
its engineered.
Like the
non-story of
Ramadan exam
timetables, or
the non-story of
halal hysteria,
or the Suns
misleading 1 in
5 Brit Muslims
sympathy with
jihadis
frontpage (which
they had to
offer an apology
for).
This week, its
Trevor Phillips.
Hes come to
tell us
What British
Muslims Really
Think.
Thanks Trev, but
no thanks. I,
and other
British Muslims,
can quite
confidently and
competently
express
ourselves. Note
the word really
too, which gives
off the air of
Muslims hiding
their true
intentions and
nature, almost
like a
subversive fifth
column. Trevor
Philips latest
Channel 4
documentary
reeks of a
particular kind
of condescending
and dog-whistle
sensationalism,
and as many
others have
pointed out over
the past day
alone, its full
of problems.
Rather than
re-invent the
wheel, here is a
recap of what
Trevor gets
wrong.
(Continued
from last week's
CCN)
3) When
Weighted
Correctly, What
British Muslims
Really Think
Doesnt Differ
That Much From
What Others
Think
Polls,
ultimately,
cant actually
reveal that much
about
controversial
issues. Dr Maria
Sobolewska, an
academic
specialising in
the area, argues
that she can
say with
certainty that
public opinion
polls have no
value for
estimating the
number of
prospective and
likely
extremists and
terrorists. The
reason being
that Muslims
responses to
questions about
controversial
issues (in her
case, extremism)
were mostly an
artefact of what
they get asked
and that the
non-Muslims
answer similar
questions in a
similar
fashion. Mend
published a well
researched
rebuttal to
Trevors ICM
survey showing
exactly that. In
particular, they
quote from Dr
Linda Woodheads
research on
attitudes
amongst
religious groups
to show that
Muslims are not
so much
different from
Christians in
terms of their
social
attitudes,
though sometimes
more
conservative. In
particular, they
write: -
Moreover,
a YouGov
poll in
January 2016
revealed a
greater
proportion
of
Evangelical
Christians
than Muslims
saying same
sex marriage
was wrong,
63% to 52%,
and among
all faith
groups,
Muslims were
the most
likely to
answer
unsure
(34%)
suggesting
that views
on
homosexuality
are not
black and
white or
entrenched.
So Christian and
Muslim views
towards same-sex
marriage arent
that different.
I absolutely
believe there
needs to be more
dialogue between
LGBT+ groups and
faith groups.
But Trevors
argument of
Muslims forming
a nation within
a nation arent
reflected in
this statistic,
the contrary in
fact. When
surveyed,
Muslims and
non-Muslims tend
not to differ
incredibly. And
the same applies
to the current
ICM survey see
these following
tweets for an
example.
So while there
are differences,
(@JamieJBarlett
points to one in
particular),
these arent the
type of radical
differences
Trevor
indicates, nor
are they
entirely
reliable as
indications of
prevalence of
views. Rather
than being a
nation within a
nation, Muslims
share much with
their neighbours
of other faiths
and none.
CONTINUED
NEXT WEEK IN CCN:
4) The
Survey Lacks
Literacy
Residents at a
market in
Molenbeek, a
heavily
immigrant
neighbourhood of
Brussels, last
month.
A Close Look
at Brussels
Offers a More
Nuanced View of
Radicalization
By ANDREW
HIGGINS
......
A closer look at
what has
happened in
Molenbeek and
other heavily
immigrant parts
of Brussels,
however,
provides a far
more nuanced
picture than
just a
generation of
badly integrated
young Muslim
immigrants
running amok. In
some ways, it
debunks the view
that Islam is a
one-size-fits-all
faith that fuels
terrorism.
It is true that
all those so far
identified in
connection with
the Paris and
Brussels carnage
were young
Muslims from
immigrant
families. But a
more significant
marker than
their faith was
their shared
origin in North
Africa,
especially
Morocco. None
was from
Brussels large
community of
Turks, who share
the same
religion and the
same
discrimination,
as well as other
hardships that
are often cited
as a root cause
of jihadist rage
against the
West.
Brussels first
became a magnet
for Muslim
immigrants in
the 1960s, when
the Belgian
government
eagerly invited
workers from
Morocco and
Turkey to move
to Belgium to
take jobs in
factories and
mines. The two
countries were
regarded as
generally
pro-Western and
full of poor and
hard-working
people eager for
jobs in Europe,
unlike many
developing
nations that at
the time were
frothing with
rage at European
colonialism and
racked by
conflict.
New York Times
Top Ten Muslim
Characters in
Bollywood
Muslims have
long played a
major role in
the Indian film
industry. The
industry has
given us many
iconic Muslim
figures such as
actor Dilip
Kumar (Yusuf
Khan, seen as
the actors
actor in Hindi
cinema),
actresses
Madhubala (Mumtaz
Jehan Dehalvi,
for many the
greatest beauty
to grace
Bollywood
screens) and
Waheeda Rehman
(often in roles
that cast her as
a life- and
love-tormented
female before
she was cast as
that most
quintessential
of all Bollywood
characters: the
even more
long-suffering
Ma). There
have been great
Muslim directors
such as Mahboob
and Kamal Amrohi.
Since the 1990s,
its biggest male
stars are the
three Khans:
Shahrukh Khan,
Salman Khan and
Aamir Khan, who
no longer change
their names to
sound modern.
Yet, Muslim
characters in
Bollywood, as it
has been known
since the 1990s,
are doomed to
minor roles
fated simply to
represent their
community and
conform to a
series of
well-established
stereotypes.
Hindi films
usually have
lead actors and
actresses who
are North Indian
upper-caste
Hindus, who can
be seen as
normal
Indians, while
characters from
other regions or
religions are
usually
typecast, not
infrequently in
negative roles.
Here are the top
ten archetypal
Muslims you will
have the
pleasure of
watching in
Bollywood
movies.
1. Veiled
Beauties
2. The Tawaif
and Nawabs
3. Emperors
4. Loyal
Sidekick
5. Poets and
singers
6. The
Intolerant
Muslim
7. The Gangster
8. The Pakistani
9. The Terrorist
10. Modern
Muslims
Critical Muslim
Kile Jones is an
atheist involved
in inter-faith
dialogue who
works towards
building bridges
between
non-believers
and religious
persons.
Why Atheists
Caricature
Islam: An
Insiders
Perspective
By Kile Jones
My last couple
posts dealt with
debunking stupid
memes that tried
to show the
Quran is
hate-speech
towards
non-believers
and daily
inspiration for
ISIS. I also
wrote a piece on
how progressive
Muslims and
atheists can
work together.
Now its time to
clean house and
address a very
real problem in
atheist circles:
the use of
simplistic and
naive
caricatures of
Islam.
This is not just
about people
like Ayaan Hirsi
Ali calling
Islam a cult of
death, its
much more
diffused and
endemic. Us
atheists can
always shrug
these ridiculous
claims off to
the
hate-mongering
of a few
sensationalized
figures. And
while it is true
that these
people do not
represent all of
atheism, its
unfortunate that
many of us fail
to see a problem
with being
utterly
uncritical and
sophomoric in
the way we
discuss Islam.
It should not be
that hard to
convince people
that believe
critical
thinking,
reason, and
intelligence are
supreme virtues
to utilize them
when discussing
Islam, but it
is.
People who
usually call
afoul on the
inductive
fallacy are seen
embracing it
when they use a
single anecdotal
example to
stereotype
billions of
people, and the
irony is not
subtle. And when
atheists
disassociate
from people like
Bill Maher or
Richard Dawkins
and then are
quick to connect
all Muslims with
some outspoken
and firebrand
Mullah, it
appears they
have forgotten a
lesson they
learned for
themselves.
While this
phenomenon of
double standards
is not limited
to atheists and
Islam, it
happens enough
to make a post
like this
necessary.
Why do many
atheists fail to
see these
glaring
blind-spots?
Now, Im no
psychologist,
but I have a few
ideas:
Its easy to
lump people
together. Its
easy to think of
Muslims as dumb
sheep with
martyrdom
complexes who
wish to appease
their Mullahs
and Allah (often
in that order)
by enacting
violence against
infidels. Its
easy to take an
extremist and
use them as the
ideal model for
a whole group of
people. Its
easy because it
does not require
in-depth
analysis or
research. So
when atheists
proof-text the
Quran or Hadith
to show how evil
Islam is, they
very rarely
examine the
cultural,
historical, and
textual context
of the passages
they use.
Patheos
The Truth About
The Study Quran:
Part 1: The
Quransploitation
Industry
By Shaykh Atabek
Shukurov and
Sulaiman Ahmed
The recent
controversy over
the release of
The Study
Quran by Sayed
Hossein Nasr and
his team has
really shown
Muslims at their
worst both in
their academic
incompetence and
in their
readiness to
anathematise and
declare Nasr and
others heretics
and unbelievers
based on the
flimsiest, or
rather no,
evidence a
Godsend to
Islamophobes who
wish to prove
that Muslims as
a whole are
violent and
intolerant.
Though legal
restraints in
the West have
prevented Muslim
groups and
scholars from
complementing
their open or
veiled
declarations
that Nasr is an
apostate or
non-believer
with the
violence that
they would
prefer to be
visited upon
him, it is ever
present in the
background of
their vile
ejaculations.
Did Jesus
Predict
Muhammad? A
Biblical Portal
Between
Christianity and
Islam
By Ian
Mevorach
The time has
come for
Christians and
Muslims to make
peace between
our communities.
Christians and
Muslims already
make up more
than half of the
global
population, and
these numbers
are expected to
grow in the
coming decades;
according to the
Pew Research
Center, by 2050,
two thirds of
humanity, some
5.7 billion
people, will be
either Christian
or Muslim.
Our planet
simply cannot
afford another
century of
misunderstanding
and violence
between these
two communities.
The challenges
we face as a
global human
family are
profound:
ongoing warfare
and nuclear
proliferation,
global poverty
and economic
inequality,
climate change
and ecological
degradation. How
will humanity
handle these
crises and
others if our
two largest
religious
communities are
embroiled in
constant
conflict, if
misunderstanding
defines our
relationship? As
contemporary
theologian Hans
Kung has argued
for decades,
there will be no
peace between
our nations
without peace
between our
religions. Now
is the time to
transform the
way Christians
and Muslims see
and relate to
each other.
In an earlier
blog on the
Huffington Post
about the
problem of
Christian
Islamophobia, I
argue that
Christians have
the opportunity
to transform the
way we see Islam
and Muslims by
accepting
Muhammad as
Spirit of
Truth.
Historically,
most Christian
theologiansincluding
John of
Damascus, Thomas
Aquinas, Dante,
Nicholas of Cusa,
and Martin
Lutherhave seen
Muhammad not as
a Spirit of
Truth but as a
Spirit of
Error, a false
prophet or
heretic. There
are many
Christians today
who respect the
Islamic
tradition and
would never make
such an
offensive
statement about
Muhammad.
However, the
majority of
Christians still
maintain a
fundamentally
Islamophobic
position on
Muhammad. So I
believe that the
time has come
for peacemaking
Christians to
contradict this
position
directly.
Changing our
view of
Muhammadso that
we recognize him
as a true
prophet rather
than discredit
him as a false
prophetwould
effectively
inoculate
Christians
against
Islamophobia and
would help to
establish a new
paradigm of
cooperative
Christian-Muslim
relations.
MVSLIM's list of Muslim women
who achieved great things in
2015.
7.
Imaan Aldebe
From camel coats designer to
designer turban hijabs. A
daughter of a retired Imam,
Imaan Aldebe breaks through
the Western frame of the
fashion industry across the
UK and France with her
stylish and artistic fashion
line of designer turban
hijabs. In the light of
current events, Iman Aldebe,
with her confidence to hit
across the western market as
well as achieving great
success along the way,
deserves a definite title as
one of the top Muslim women
of 2015.
This brilliant white place
of worship in the UAE's
capital is home to the
world's largest hand-knotted
carpet, crafted by 1,200
artisans, and a 12-tonne
crystal chandelier.
Combining Mamluk, Ottoman
and Fatimid styles, it is
described by Rosemary Behan,
Telegraph Travel's Abu Dhabi
expert, as a "landmark
building" that is worth
visiting "for the
architecture alone. "
The amazing story of the 700
year old Haggadah, the Muslim
librarian who saved it from the
Nazis, and how his children were
miraculously saved by Israel.
Resplendent in deep
blues, brilliant yellows and alluring
reds, the 14th century Sarajevo Haggadah
was created during the halcyon days of
la convivencia, or coexistence, when
Jews, Muslims and Christians lived
together in Spain in relative peace
An incomparable work of
art appraised at $700 million, its
wine-stained pages indicate that it was
more than a precious family heirloom, it
was actually used at Seder tables. It
probably left the Iberian Peninsula
along with the Jews exiled by the
Alhambra Decree of 1492, and a Church
censors notation dated 1609 indicates
that it somehow passed the scrutiny of
the Inquisition in Italy. In the late
19th century a mysterious figure named
Joseph Cohen sold the precious document
to a museum in Sarajevo, where it
currently resides as a treasured item of
the National Museum of Bosnia and
Herzegovina.
.......
Among the amazing stories
associated with the document is that of
Dervis Korkut, a Muslim intellectual who
served as the Chief Librarian of the
Museum during the Nazi occupation. A
fervent advocate of the multi-ethnic
culture of Sarajevo, he predicted that
the Nazis would seize the Haggadah for
the bizarre Museum of Jewish
Civilization in Prague that Hitler had
planned in future commemoration of the
destruction of the Jewish people. At
great personal risk, Korkut smuggled the
slim book out of the Museum and
deposited it with an Imam, who hid the
books in the library of a mosque outside
of Sarajevo, returning it after the war.
King Abdulaziz Holy
Quran contest from Muharram 21
Minister of
Islamic Affairs Saleh Al-Asheikh
RIYADH: Minister of
Islamic Affairs Saleh Al-Asheikh has
approved the holding of the 38th King
Abdulaziz Holy Quran Competition from
Muharram 21 to 25, 1438 at the Grand
Mosque in Makkah.
The contest remains the
focus of attention of young Muslims from
different countries all over the world
since it will be held in Makkah, which
is the heart of Islam, Al-Asheikh said.
He said that Makkah is a
beacon of faith and contributes in
guiding young Muslims in thought as well
as in deed. It guides them on the right
path so they could avoid deviant ideas
and extremism.
Mansour bin Mohammad Al-Samih,
secretary-general of the Holy Quran
Competition, said the delegations of the
contestants will arrive from Muharram
16.
They will be referred to
a designated committee regarding initial
qualifications for the contest and test
their readiness before a panel of
arbitrators at the Grand Mosque, he
said.
He added that this early,
he could already see in the minds eye
the eagerness of young Muslims in
various Islamic countries intending to
participate in the contest.
He also said that a visit
to Madinah, the City of the Prophet,
will be organized for the delegates
after the closing ceremony of the
contest.
He explained that the
four branches of the competition will
include the recitation of the Holy
Quran and its interpretation.
Islamophobic backlash over
Muslim burials across the US
US: Residents in Dudley,
Massachusetts have complained about the
possibility of a Muslim graveyard being
built on empty farm land. The residents
of the small town are the latest in a
list of towns expressing anti-Muslim
concerns.
The land for the cemetery was bought by
the Islamic Society of Greater Worcester
(ISGW), a local Islamic center, because
the nearest Muslim cemetery is presently
located 90 miles away. Some Dudley
residents claimed that their concerns
were based on water contamination, AP
reported, due to the fact that Muslims
do not traditionally embalm their dead
or use coffins. These concerns are
somewhat contradicted bu the fact that
embalming has been linked to toxicity in
the water and ground. The commonly-used
formaldehyde, which has recently been
found to cause cancer, can take up to 10
years to dissipate, gradually
contaminating its surroundings.
Other concerns expressed included a fear
of crazy music and an increase in
traffic on a small road.
Residents previously expressed their
reasons for not wanting the cemetery.
Why not go bury your dead at a
Christian cemetery, a confused Jarrod
Manzi said during a February town
meeting. Why do you need your own
cemetery if youre willing to violate
jihadi law?
During a meeting in Dudley earlier this
month, a Muslim resident said I
deserve to be buried here. I deserve to
be die in the town where I work hard. I
dont want my family to (have to) go far
away.
ISGW has said it will alter its plan to
use less of the land, and even offered
to give some of the land back to the
town. The zoning board has until July to
make a decision, CBS reports.
Dudley joins Farmersville, Texas,
Walpole, Massachusetts, Carlisle,
Pennsylvania, and Farmington, Minnesota
in complaining about Muslim cemeteries
in their towns, with some managing to
stop the process, according to AP.
Residents of Farmersville complained at
a town meeting last August. "People
don't trust Muslims. Their goal is to
populate the United States and take it
over," said Barbara Ashcraft, a
local resident, said.
Everywhere yall have been, yall
have caused some kinda controversy in
schools, and the government led yall
have yalls way, well that aint goin
happen in Farmersville, said
another Farmersville resident at the
meeting in August 2015.
Pastor David Meeks told Fox News:
You just cant trust them. I dont
believe theyre going to tell the truth
about this issue. Eventually therell be
a mosque, therell be a training center
there.
One resident claimed she was concerned
the cemetery would become an eyesore,
despite the fact that Islam says graves
should not be adorned with monuments,
like Christians do.
Naz Shah suspended by
Labour party amid antisemitism row
Naz Shah
apologises wholeheartedly for
Israel remarks
UK: Jeremy Corbyn has
caved in to pressure and suspended Naz
Shah, the Bradford West MP, over remarks
she made about Israel on Facebook.
Shortly before he faced David Cameron in
the House of Commons on Wednesday
afternoon Corbyn had issued a statement
saying that he had accepted Shahs
fulsome apology for a series of posts
from 2014 in which she appeared to
endorse a suggestion that Israelis be
deported to the United States.
Even after the prime minister said it
was extraordinary, that she continued
to hold the Labour whip, and accused the
Labour leader of failing to get to grips
with antisemitisim in his party,
Corbyns aides defended Shah, saying the
comments were antisemitic but the MP had
shocked herself, and did not mean what
she said.
But later in the day, Labour announced
that the Bradford West MP had been
suspended, by mutual agreement, while
claims against her were investigated by
the compliance committee of Labours
national executive committee.
The allegations centre around a 2014
Facebook post, in which Shah shared a
graphic of Israels outline superimposed
on a map of the US under the headline
Solution for Israel-Palestine Conflict
Relocate Israel into United States,
with the comment: Problem solved.
Former London Mayor
Ken Livingstone was suspended from
Britain's main opposition Labour
Party after he defended Naz Shah
whose membership was put on hold
over anti-Semitic postings on social
media.
Mr Livingstone described Hitler as a
supporter of Zionism as part of his
defense of MP Naz Shah, who was
thrown out of the party in the House
of Commons on Wednesday for posts
suggesting Israelis should be
transported to the United States.
David Cameron must
apologise to Parliament for his appalling
attack against a British Muslim citizen -
Opinion by Peter Oborne
If
the British prime minister gets
away with his behaviour, no one
in Britain will have any
protection from politically
motivated calumny
UK: At last
weeks Prime Ministers
Questions, David Cameron
made an appalling accusation
against a British citizen.
If made outside Parliament,
it could have been
challenged as seriously
defamatory, but inside
Parliament, Cameron enjoyed
total privilege and it could
be repeated freely by the
media as he and his party
no doubt intended it to be.
It could expose its victim
to criminal charges: it has
certainly made him a figure
of public hatred and caused
distress and anxiety to him
and his family.
The victims name is Suliman
Gani, who is an imam in
Tooting, the constituency of
Sadiq Khan, Labours
candidate for mayor of
London.
Khan has shared a platform
with him several times.
Attempting to traduce Khan
by association, the prime
minister claimed that Gani
was a supporter of Islamic
State the most vicious
terrorist organisation in
the world.
The claim was followed by
uproar (also, no doubt,
intentional) but stayed on
the record and has been
extensively quoted.
Cameron has been accused of
racism giving voters a
barely coded signal that
they should not vote for
Khan because he is a Muslim
and all Muslims are either
terrorists or soft on
terrorism.
I dont think that Cameron
is racist. But he has
adopted a poisonous
syllogism and I am certain
that Cameron would not have
dared to use his tactics
against members of any other
faith or indeed any other
community in British
society.
But if he gets away with his
behaviour no one in Britain
will have any protection
from politically motivated
calumny. British democracy
and British justice will
crumble and we will join
those dismal countries whose
political leaders are free
to brand any opponent as an
enemy of the state.
Bear in mind that Camerons
accusation against Gani was
not made on impulse. It was
prepared and pre-meditated
in response to a question he
was expecting.
So the prime minister and
his staff have no excuse for
naming Gani without reliable
evidence to back up their
charges.
Yesterday, I rang up Number
10 Downing Street and asked
for that evidence. A press
officer told me that she
could not help me because
she was a civil servant and
civil servants do not
comment on political
statements.
This is flummery. Cameron
made his statement not on
the campaign trail but in
his capacity as prime
minister, discharging his
official responsibilities in
the House of Commons, using
resources paid for by
taxpayers.
So there is no excuse for
Number 10 not producing the
evidence if there is any
behind Camerons charge.
They have failed to do this.
The BBC has quoted a Number
10 spokesman as follows: At
events, this individual has
spoken up in support of a
range of things including
the formation of Islamic
State. Which events? Not
named. What range of things?
Not said.
I spoke to a member of
Camerons political team. He
pointed me towards a "Quiz a
Muslim" event in Bedford on
13 Friday November last
year. This can be watched on
YouTube. I have studied
Ganis contribution and can
find nothing which could be
interpreted as giving
support to IS.
I also arranged to meet Gani
myself. Having done so, I am
not surprised at Number 10s
difficulties in
substantiating David
Camerons claim.
He showed me awards and
citations from interfaith
organisations, and cited
many meetings with all-party
parliamentary groups and
individual Conservative MPs
including Camerons
flagging mayoral candidate
Zac Goldsmith.
Remarkably, for an alleged
IS supporter, he has been
allowed into Number 10
itself and Parliament on
several occasions as part of
delegations presenting pleas
and petitions.
Gani is a British
citizen. He told me he was
born and raised in South
Africa under apartheid: the
politician he most admires
is Nelson Mandela for his
achievements in reconciling
former enemies.
He says that he has never
been questioned by the
police about any matter or
faced inquiries from any
official body. David Cameron
has no pretext for throwing
his name to the mob.
There are two possible
explanations for Camerons
behaviour, neither of them
creditable.
The first is that he grabbed
Ganis name from a BBC
mayoral debate where Andrew
Neil made a similar
unsupported accusation
against him.
The second is that he was
fed Gani by some source in
the security services. This
doesn't make it true but
this possibility has much
worse implications. We saw
before the Iraq war how the
security services can be
misused for political
purposes by the prime
minister of the day. Trust
in the security services has
been eroded ever since.
However, although Tony
Blairs behaviour remains
inexcusable, at least it had
a great issue at stake
behind it should Britain
go to war in support of the
United States? If Cameron
took Ganis name from the
security services he did so
merely to support a local
election campaign a
trivial, partisan cause.
That would contaminate those
services even more deeply.
We would have repeated the
experience of the United
States when the FBI, under
its infamous director J
Edgar Hoover, supplied
information to a succession
of presidents to condemn and
even blackmail their
opponents.
Even if Ganis name did come
from intelligence sources,
it emphatically does not
mean that the information
was true. After studying the
evidence and after an
hour-long conversation with
Gani, I am perfectly certain
that David Camerons
statement was completely
false. Indeed Suleiman Gani
has campaigned against
Islamic State, and has
cooperated with his local
synagogue and local church
in Tooting. I have news for
Cameron: this is not the
conduct of an IS supporter.
In October last year, the
prime minister updated the
code of conduct for all
government ministers,
including himself.
He wrote a personal foreword
full of ringing
declarations, including this
one: People [at the general
election] didnt just tell
us what to do, but how to go
about it. They want their
politicians to uphold the
highest standards of
propriety. That means being
transparent in all we do. It
means rooting out any form
of misconduct.
At the very start of the new
code, paragraph 1.2.c
states: It is of paramount
importance that ministers
give accurate and truthful
information to Parliament,
correcting any inadvertent
error at the earliest
opportunity. Ministers who
knowingly mislead Parliament
will be expected to offer
their resignation.
MPs of all parties should
now hold David Cameron to
that standard. He has failed
to substantiate a very
grave, damaging and serious
statement about Gani, which
cannot now be regarded as
accurate or truthful.
MPs should make David
Cameron withdraw it on the
floor of the House, excise
it from the public record,
and make a public apology
for his dreadful conduct.
-
Peter Oborne was British
Press Awards Columnist of
the Year 2013. He recently
resigned as chief political
columnist of the Daily
Telegraph. His books include
The Triumph of the Political
Class; The Rise of Political
Lying;and Why the West is
Wrong about Nuclear Iran.
At Chobani, Now Its Not
Just the Yogurt Thats Rich
Hamdi Ulukaya,
founder of Chobani, handed over
to his employees stock worth
around 10 percent of the company
when it is sold or goes public.
NEW BERLIN, N.Y. The 2,000 full-time
employees of the yogurt company Chobani
were handed quite the surprise on
Tuesday: an ownership stake that could
make some of them millionaires.
Hamdi Ulukaya, the Turkish immigrant who
founded Chobani in 2005, told workers at
the companys plant here in upstate New
York that he would be giving them shares
worth up to 10 percent of the company
when it goes public or is sold.
The goal, he said, is to pass along the
wealth they have helped build in the
decade since the company started.
Chobani is now widely considered to be
worth several billion dollars.
Ive built something I never thought
would be such a success, but I cannot
think of Chobani being built without all
these people, Mr. Ulukaya said in an
interview in his Manhattan office that
was granted on the condition that no
details of the program would be
disclosed before the announcement.
Now theyll be working to build the
company even more and building their
future at the same time, he said.
Chobani employees received the news on
Tuesday morning. Each worker received a
white packet; inside was information
about how many Chobani shares they were
given. The number of shares given to
each person is based on tenure, so the
longer an employee has been at the
company, the bigger the stake.
Change of faith: Marseille
Synagogue bought at 400k, to be turned into
mosque
Members of the
Muslim community pray in a
mosque in Marseille
FRANCE: A
synagogue in Marseille, a
city in southern France city
with a large Muslim
population, was reportedly
bought for nearly 400,000
euros by a Muslim
association and will be
transformed into mosque,
local media report.
Thora synagogue on Saint
Dominique Street was
allegedly sold to the Al
Badr Association a few
months ago, Marseille-based
Le province newspaper
reported.
The association has already
one mosque on this street.
However, this mosque is
reportedly always packed and
the worshipers sometimes
pray near-by, on the
pavement. The synagogue,
which has a capacity of
about 250 believers, on the
contrary, hosts less than 10
worshipers per service.
It was an
emblematic synagogue. But in
this city, the Jews have
moved... It's a sign of the
times, Michele Teboul,
president of Crif
Marseille-Provence, told the
paper. Marseille doesnt
lack synagogues.
The new mosque may open in a
few months, the paper added.
Zvi Ammar, President of the
Marseille Israelite
Consistory also viewed the
changed positively.
For the past 20 years or so
we have seen the shift of
the Jewish community to
other neighbourhoods, he
said. We all have the same
God, the main thing is for
this to proceed in harmony,
he said.
Marseille is home to
220,000-250,000 Muslims (out
of 850,000 residents) who
mostly come from North
Africa, Turkey and the
Comoro Islands. According to
international Open Society
Foundations as of 2011,
between 30 and 40 percent of
Marseilles population is
Muslim.
Jewish population is
significantly less in the
city about 70,000-80,000,
according to official
figures.
There were
currently about 2,500
mosques in France with
another 300 under
construction, but the number
falls short of what is
needed, Dalil Boubakeur,
rector of the Grand Mosque
in Paris and the president
of the French Council of
Muslim Faith, told Europe 1
radio in 2015.
With roughly 5 million
Muslims in France, at least
5,000 mosques are needed, he
said, suggesting some
abandoned Catholic churches
may be into mosques.
However, still there are
certain tensions between
Muslims and Jews in the
city. In January Ammar in
Marseille urged Jews in the
region to refrain from
wearing traditional headwear
until better days.
Balochistans
first female commissioned naval
officer says she was able to
achieve her dreams due to the
support of Baloch society and
her father
BALOCHISTAN: At the time she
joined the Pakistan Navy,
Lieutenant Zakia Jamali had
little idea of the direction
her career would take. The
only female commissioned
naval officer from the
province, the possibility of
belonging to the navys
elite seemed like a
far-fetched idea for a young
girl who grew up in
Balochistans Jaffarabad
district.
For Lt Jamali this is a
childhood dream come true as
she had always been
fascinated with the armed
forces. I did my
intermediate with science
subjects only to join the
military but I was rejected
by the Pakistan Air Force
for being short in height,
she recalls.
However, the naval officer,
who had been brought up to
face all challenges in life
head on, didnt give up her
dreams and instead applied
to the navy at a later
stage. Lt Jamali attributes
her strong headedness to her
father, Niaz Mohammad Jamali,
a pioneering educationist in
the 70s in her hometown.
Muslim Family Talks About
Their Faith In South Glastonbury
Rebecca Minor
spoke about why she became
Muslim, and why some people who
claim to act in the name of
Islam are not true Muslims.
US: Rebecca
Minor and her parents, Ann
and Mark, a family of
Muslims who had converted
from Christianity, spoke at
the first of three
conversations hosted by the
South Glastonbury
Congregational Church on
April 25. Approximately 125
people attended the event,
as organizers were expecting
a crowd between 50 and 60.
The Minors are also members
of the Muslim Coalition of
Connecticut, and were
invited after an interfaith
council in Glastonbury put
together the three-part
program.
Rebecca, who was raised in
the Congregational Church,
said she was part of that
religion, not because it
felt strongly about, but
because it was expected. She
told her story of being a
student at UConn, while
dating her high school
sweetheart, who was
stationed in Iraq. She said
he told her many negative
things about Muslims, but
that was difficult for her
to reconcile with the
Muslims she was acquainted
with on campus.
"They were some of the
most generous, kind, caring
people that I have ever
met," she said. "I couldn't
understand why these young
men and women didn't go out
and party. They didn't go
eat with the rest of us. I
didn't understand what was
so important that a bunch of
them had to leave our staff
meeting and come back. I was
so interested that they had
something -- they had a
relationship with God that I
didn't have, and I felt like
I was missing out. I began
to ask questions. I heard
such negative things from
someone who was important to
me, and I saw such beautiful
things from people around
me, that pushed me to
learn."
After studying the religion
carefully for about a
year-and-a-half, and
debating with herself as to
whether she should convert,
she finally did.
Subsequently, she convinced
her parents to do so, as
well.
The Minors presented an
overview of the Islam
religion, including the five
pillars of the faith, as
well as explaining that
Muslims pray at least five
times a day at specific
times.
Shortly after sunset, at
7:44 p.m., the Minors and
other Muslims in attendance
demonstrated the Maghrib
prayer. A woman in the crowd
said she appreciated them
letting the audience view
something so personal, and
that she was greatly moved
by the experience.
During a question-and-answer
period, attendees asked many
questions about the prayers
and other customs of Islam.
Rebecca was also asked about
Muslims often depicted on
television as being
intolerant of other faiths.
"That one population that
gets the most amount of
television time is not
representative of the
majority," Rebecca said.
"There is a lot of
confusion between religious
practice and belief vs.
cultural practices that have
nothing to do with Islam."
She added that she enjoys
events like the one in South
Glastonbury, because it puts
a real face on Muslim
people.
"Our hope is that after
you sit here, you can walk
away and say 'The Muslims I
actually spent time with
tonight are very different
than the ones that are
portrayed on TV,'" she said.
"We believe that we are all
brothers and sisters in
faith. We believe that the
first prophet was Adam, so
we are all brothers and
sisters we are all
descendants from Adam."
"You may hear that people
are being forced to convert
to Islam," Rebecca
added, "but that is so
opposite of what the holy
book the word of God is
saying. There is no
compulsion in religion."
"There is a lot of
turmoil and violence that is
happening overseas," she
added, responding to a
question about Islamic
factions in the Middle East
fighting each other. "I
believe a lot of that has to
do with the political sphere
overseas. It doesn't have to
do, necessarily, with
religion. Human life is so
sacred in Islam. So, the
actions of those who are
killing and purposefully
hurting other people in the
name of Islam are not
Muslims. If you ask someone
who is Muslim if they are
Muslims, you would hear us
say no, because we practice
peace. We practice a
religion that values ethics
and social justice. What
they are doing is so
opposite to our teachings,
that it's embarrassing. It's
really upsetting that so
much of the world, and of
the Western hemisphere,
associates Muslims [with
that] and isn't able to
separate the two."
Ann was asked why she
doesn't wear a hijab, while
Rebecca does. She explained
that as a holistic and
hospice nurse, it could be
confusing to patients and
families, so she chose not
to.
"If I went to work
wearing my hijab, as a
Muslim woman they would
immediately be confused, so
I've chosen not to do that,"
she said. "I've chosen to
keep my religion very
private, very personal, in
public."
Rebecca was asked if she has
had any negative experiences
as a special education
teacher. She said that other
than noticing some small
signs of discomfort when
first meeting some parents,
she hasn't. But, she did
recall one negative
experience, that was
somewhat related.
When she was visiting an
Iraqi family who had
recently moved to Farmington
and was preparing to visit
the school she teaches at as
speakers. She took several
of the six children for a
walk. A man in a pickup
truck drove by, rolled his
window down and yelled, "Go
home!"
"It was hard for me to
stomach," she said.
"But, it was more difficult
for me to think of these
children, who experienced
such trauma back home in
Iraq, who now identify so
strongly and proudly as
American I was afraid they
heard that comment."
South Glastonbury
Congregational Church
Pastor, Rev. Richard Allen,
said he felt overwhelmed by
the turnout.
"I thought the question
and answer time was quite
meaningful, in that the
questions came from a place
of true curiosity," he
said. "The responses
allowed for some humor, and
a more-personal connection.
Anyone can read a textbook
about the five pillars of
Islam, but having a
face-to-face conversation
really broke the ice."
Rebecca said she enjoyed
speaking in Glastonbury. At
other similar events, some
people came with the purpose
of arguing, but here, they
were clearly interested in
learning.
"This is a very warm
community," she said.
"People who come to these
kind of events come because
they want to learn they
want to walk away with
something, rather than put
divides between us."
The next talk is slated for
May 2, and will highlight
the role of women in Islam,
presented by Aida Mansoor,
President of the Muslim
Coalition of Connecticut.
The third talk will take
place June 6, and will
address hot button issues
pertaining to Islam and
Muslims, hosted by Dr. Reza
Mansoor, founding member of
the coalition.
Europe 'to have more
Muslims than Christians': Belgian minister
warns Brussels attacks hearing that the
continent should not 'make an enemy of
Islam'
BELGIUM:
Muslims will very soon
outnumber practising
Christians in Europe, a
Belgian minister claimed
yesterday.
Koen Geens, the justice
minister, told the European
Parliament the continent
does not realise this, but
this is the reality.
At a hearing by MEPs into
the Brussels attacks, the
Belgian deputy prime
minister Jan Jambon added
that the worst thing we can
do is to make an enemy of
Islam.
The remarks follow claims by
Mr Jambon in the wake of the
suicide bombings that a
significant section of the
Muslim community danced when
attacks took place.
Speaking
before the Parliaments
justice and home affairs
committee yesterday, Mr
Koens said the EU needed to
realise a shift in
population was taking place.
In Europe, very shortly
were soon going to have
more practising Muslims than
practising Christians, he
said.
That is not because there
are too many Muslims, it is
because Christian are
generally less practising.
Europe does not realise
this, but this is the
reality.
Mr Jambon, who also serves
as the countrys interior
minister, added: Ive said
a thousand times, the worst
thing we can do is to make
an enemy of Islam. That is
the very worst thing we
could do.
We have 600,000 to 700,000
Muslims in Belgium and the
overwhelming majority of
those people share our
values.
To make an enemy of all of
those people, we really will
be creating problems. We
need to see who the
terrorists are, who supports
the terrorists, what
networks are there to
support them.
That is who we need to
tackle and we need to get
all of the rest of the
Muslims on our side not
working against us.
Professor Launches Project
to Advance Scientific and Theological
Literacy Among Madrasa Graduates in India
Ebrahim
Moosa, professor of Islamic
Studies at the University of
Notre Dame.
Newswise
With a $1.2 million grant
from the John Templeton
Foundation, Ebrahim Moosa,
professor of Islamic studies
at the University of Notre
Dame, has launched a
three-year project to enrich
scientific and theological
literacy among recent
graduates of Islamic
seminaries in India.
Working with scholars and
teachers at Notre Dame and
in India, Moosa will develop
a curriculum and online
learning program that
integrates modern and
classical knowledge
traditions for young
orthodox seminarians in
India.
The teaching team will
recruit and train 100 recent
madrasa graduates who are
eager to acquire scientific
knowledge that is indigenous
to the Muslim tradition and
interested in exposure to
comparative theologies and
modern humanities and social
sciences.
Equipped with these
knowledge resources, Moosa
said, madrasa graduates can
discover new ways to
transform their lives and
advance human dignity and
the public good.
The project is expected to
have a multiplier effect
throughout the subcontinent
of India, Pakistan and
Bangladesh. Graduates of
madrasas are very
influential in shaping the
religious thinking, values
and practice of mainstream
Muslims, Moosa said. They
are well-placed to play a
transformative role as
disseminators of ideas and
agents of change.
Moosa joined the Notre Dame
faculty in fall 2014 after
spending 13 years in the
Department of Religious
Studies at Duke University.
He holds appointments in the
Kroc Institute for
International Peace Studies
and the Department of
History. He is co-director
of Contending Modernities, a
global research project
focused on Catholic, Muslim
and secular forces in the
modern world. His 2015 book,
What Is a Madrasa? draws
on his extensive scholarship
on Islamic seminaries in
South Asia as well as his
own years as a madrasa
student in India.
Professor Moosas vision
recognizes that reform in
the Muslim world as within
many religious communities
begins with the education
and formation of local
religious leaders, said
Scott Appleby, dean of Notre
Dames Keough School of
Global Affairs. This
innovative project holds
tremendous promise as a
model for how local and
global religious thinkers
and scholars can work
together as agents of
change.
The John Templeton
Foundation serves as a
philanthropic catalyst for
discoveries relating to the
Big Questions of human
purpose and ultimate
reality.
Now Umrah visas can be
converted into Saudi tourist visas
JEDDAH:
Saudi Prince Sultan Bin
Salman, President of Saudi
Commission for Tourism and
National Heritage (SCTH),
launched here Sunday the
Post-Umrah Program, an
initiative which allows
Umrah pilgrims to convert
their visas into tourist
visas.
This is a key channel of
The Kingdom is Muslims
Destination initiative,
which was proposed by the
commission several years
ago.
In a press statement
following the launching
ceremony in Riyadh, Prince
Sultan said the program aims
at providing an opportunity
to Umrah pilgrims to see the
landmarks of the country,
Islamic historical sites,
attractive tourist
destinations and shopping
centers and malls.
They might also opt to make
cultural, medical,
educational and marketing
tours, visit exhibitions and
attend conferences after
having completed their Umrah,
he added.
He said the SCTH is carrying
out the program in
cooperation with the
ministries of interior,
foreign affairs and Haj.
Prince Sultan said the SCTH
started the program several
years ago and it took a long
time to study. There were
procedures that were not
ready yet, like converting
Umrah visa into tourist
visa, among other
procedures.
Business visa holders and
GCC citizens can also avail
themselves of the
opportunity to join the
post-Umrah program, he said.
Pharrell Protege Yuna
Talks Being Muslim in Music: 'It's My Choice
to Cover Up My Body. I'm Not Oppressed --
I'm Free'
MALAYSIA:
Los Angeles looks good on
Yuna, even if she doesn't
fit the Hollywood standard
for pop star -- hair always
wrapped in a hijab (she's a
devout Muslim); a stylishly
chaste wardrobe that covers
her from turtleneck on down;
a label home, Verve, known
for legacy jazz and adult
contemporary artists like
Barry Manilow. The
29-year-old born Yunalis
Zarai is a long plane ride
from her homeland, where not
so long ago she posted shy
folk-pop songs to MySpace
and, warmed by the feedback,
hit the reset button to move
to America and meet her
mentor, Pharrell Williams.
Today, she's
markedly different: Her
third and best album,
Chapters (May 20), is edgy
alt-soul featuring Usher,
Jhene Aiko and DJ Premier.
The songs -- including
"Crush," her first Billboard
chart hit -- are inspired by
a wrecked relationship and
powered by Yuna's new
confidence in herself and
her opinions. "I was a timid
girl before," says Yuna
hours earlier, perched at a
table in a warehouse photo
studio and dressed in all
black. "A lot of people
said, 'Your problem is
always holding back.' I
didn't want to hold back
anymore."
"Yuna thinks differently
than a lot of people -- she
has something to say, and
she won't compromise," says
Verve chairman David Foster,
who has won 16 Grammys
producing and writing for
Whitney Houston, Celine Dion
and others. "I'm much older
than her, but I relate to
her lyrics, and my
stepdaughters, Gigi and
Bella [Hadid], they're crazy
for her too. She's speaking
to a lot of generations."
Yuna was raised in Alor
Setar, Malaysia, by her
legal-adviser father and
chemistry-teacher mother.
"It was a very conservative
environment -- we watched
what we said." Yuna spent
her childhood focused on her
education, set on becoming
a lawyer. As a hobby, in
between poring over
textbooks, she taught
herself guitar watching
YouTube, writing songs in
both Malay and English,
inspired by her heroes
Lauryn Hill ("she was
life-changing for me") and
Feist. Music started taking
priority a year before she
graduated from university in
2009, when she self-released
EPs to local acclaim and won
second place in a national songwriting
contest.
At first, she felt
like an outsider in the
country's music biz.
Malaysia may be
predominantly Muslim, but
much like in America, "women
singers are seen as sexy
here -- you have to let your
hair out and be beautiful,"
she says. "I struggled with
that." Instead, Yuna
shrouded her image in
mystery, letting her music
speak for her. "I didn't put
up a proper photo of myself
-- it was cropped, up until
my nose. People didn't know
what I looked like until my
first show. They were
shocked in the beginning,
but they accepted me."
Yuna - Places
To Go
Yuna smiles when discussing
her plans to push Chapters
on tour in Europe and the
States through May, and just
bought a piano for her
apartment to start work on
a new album, which she says
won't wallow in the sadness
of the past. "Crush,"
featuring Usher, is her
first song to crack U.S.
radio, rising 22-18 on the
April 30 Adult R&B chart.
She says she feels at home
in the Los Angeles soul
scene, and America overall
-- even as she warily eyes
the anti-immigrant,
anti-Muslim fervour stoked by
Donald Trump and others.
"He's out there promoting
hate, violence," she says.
"It's really weird that this
is acceptable in a modern,
advanced country.
"But I'm not too worried
about it," she adds. "I
think you can soften
people's hearts, even if
they have a lot of hate.
Music can do that, if it's
beautiful and honest. If I
can do that -- soften just
one person's heart -- I
consider myself successful
already."
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA: A
number of contenders to be the
next leader of the Muslim
Judicial Council (MJC) will go
head to head at the
organisations annual general
meeting on Saturday. As the
current president, Moulana
Ihsaan Hendricks second term
draws to a close, the MJC will
vote for a new president, a new
executive, and the five senior
positions within the MJC.
Thrust
the sole of your foot the
attackers knee to disable
him or her buying you time
to make a run for it. You
have a higher success rate
of connecting because unlike
the face or groin region,
the knee is nearly
impossible to block and
people need a working set of
legs to chase someone down.
Fight smart, not hard.
For more info
on self defence classes
please contact Taufan on
0447004465 or
info@sscombat.com.au.
This Orient Isle: Elizabethan England and the Islamic
World
by
Jerry Brotton
Review
Tudor England was hand in glove with Islam, both in
diplomacy and free trade
In
September 1599, a 24-year-old blacksmith and musician from
Warrington entered the Topkapi palace in Constantinople and
began to play a clockwork organ he had built "in front of
the most powerful ruler in the world". This was the Ottoman
Sultan Mehmed III, and the mechanical organ along with its
young artificer belonged to a boatload of eye-catching
presents that Queen Elizabeth I had sent to help sustain the
Anglo-Turkish alliance that had, fitfully, already lasted
for more than two decades.
Thomas Dallam gave a virtuoso performance. Mehmed fell in
love with his new toy, and offered the Englishman his pick
of the Topkapi harem concubines. Dallam made his excuses and
left, but was rewarded with a big bag of gold. As Jerry
Brotton drily remarks, "It must have all seemed a long way
from Warrington".
"By the end of Elizabeth's reign," Brotton notes, "thousands
of her subjects were to be found in the Islamic world". From
Morocco to Persia, they traded, soldiered, settled,
negotiated, spied and (fairly frequently) converted to
Islam. As a counterweight to the threat from Catholic Spain,
Elizabeth had built up an "impressive network" of diplomatic
alliances and free-trade deals. They bound England to the
Sultanate of Morocco, and to the Ottoman and Persian
empires. By 1600, this Anglo-Muslim wall against Spanish
hegemony stretched almost 4,300 miles "from Marrakesh via
Constantinople to Isfahan".
With Henry VIII's break with Rome and then (in 1570)
Elizabeth's excommunication as a "heretic" by Pope Pius V,
England found itself shunned as a rogue state by Catholic
Europe. It needed friends with clout in strategic locations.
Around the Mediterranean and the Middle East, only the lands
of Islam could supply them. Thus the stage was set for an
extraordinary half-century of adventures, deals,
conspiracies and misunderstandings: a little-known story
that Brotton chronicles with scholarship, assurance, and not
a little charm.
He tells a very English story: the quest for the sweet deal
and the quick groat usually trumps theological niceties. It
runs from the Leicestershire mercer Anthony Jenkinson's
meeting in Aleppo with Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, to
the mishaps and manoeuvres of the freelance diplomat Sir
Anthony Sherley at the Persian court of Shah Abbas I. With a
tempting trade pact or military alliance in the offing, it
proved surprisingly easy for both sides to forget the little
matter of whether Jesus of Nazareth was the divine Son of
God or simply the last prophet before the final revelation
to Mohammed.
But if this is a story of business, it also boasts plenty of
show business. The human exchange that yielded treaties with
Muslim powers soon reached the London stage. Brotton
calculates that 60 English plays put Turks, Moors and
Persians on stage between 1576 and 1603. And no writer
embarked on a steeper learning curve than William
Shakespeare, through the 20 years that separate the
schemingly wicked but still charismatic Aaron the Moor
in Titus Andronicus to the tragic, heroic Muslim-raised
General Othello, the Moor of Venice.
East meets
West: Abd el-Ouahed ben Messaoud,
Moorish ambassador to Queen
Elizabeth I
During Elizabeth's reign, "Protestant England came closer to
Islam than at any other time in its history until today".
When England looked away from the Levant, under James I, the
shift was driven in part by peace with Spain (in 1604) but
mainly by the new commercial-imperial focus on south Asia
and the Americas. The day of the East India and Virginia
Companies had dawned.
So the age had passed when an intrepid but ruthless
merchant-venturer such as Jenkinson could despatch a
slave-girl known as Aura Soltana from Astrakhan as a gift
for the Queen. Four years later, though, she turns up in a
ledger of Elizabeth's servants as "our dear and well-beloved
woman Ippolyta the Tartarian", who taught her mistress "the
fashion of wearing Spanish leather shoes". What did Aura-Ippolyta
herself make of her fantastic voyage? Someone should get
cracking on the screenplay now.
KB says:
This breakfast is delicious, easy to make, and
can be customized to your own tastes. The nests
could be made ahead of time. To make it easier
for yourself, you could use hash browns from the
stores and combine them with the remaining
ingredients. Then simply follow the rest of the
recipe.
Breakfast Hash Brown and Egg Cups
INGREDIENTS
6 or 7 large
potatoes.
⅔ cup finely grated cheese, (parmesan if you
like)
2 green chillies finely chopped
12 very small eggs
Salt and pepper
METHOD
1. Bake the potatoes
until tender, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Allow to
cool, and then peel and grate them. Season well
with salt and pepper and green chillies.
2. Spray a 12-hole muffin pans generously with
olive oil or coconut oil. Scoop 3 to 4
tablespoons of grated potato and cheese into
each muffin hole dividing the mixture evenly.
Use your fingers to gently press down the sides
and bottom in each muffin hole to make a nest.
Spray again with cooking spray or olive oil.
3. Then bake for 15 to 20 minutes. Watch and
make sure they do not burn.
4. Allow the nests to cool. Then crack an egg
into each one. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and
chives and bake until the whites are set, about
15 minutes.
5. Very important, stand in pan for 5 mins
before removing.
6. Best served warm with Avocado and grilled
tomatoes.
Aim for personal bests in
everything that you do during training. Your
best time on your walk/run, more body weight
exercises than you've done before (add a few
more reps to your routine), lift heavier weights
if you're hitting the gym (add an extra 1.25kg
to your bar and feel the difference).
The aim is to shock the muscles & body by
changing things up & getting results.
Try additional mini-workouts during the day: eg.
take the stairs instead of lifts, walk to the
shops, get off the bus a few stops earlier &
pound the pavement a little longer.
The more you move, the stronger/better/faster
you will become... It's up to you!
To book appointments -
Ph: 3341 2333 (Underwood)
Ph: 3299 5596 (Springwood)
M: 0406 279 591
Website:
www.diversenutrition.com.au
Whats on your plate?
Portion control is an essential key to achieving
a healthy body no matter what your goals are. It
is no use exercising for hours if you are
consuming foods in excess of what your body
needs. As a simple guide, I like to follow the
healthy plate method to help with portion
control during meal times.
A healthy plate should consist of the following:
One quarter filled with protein such as
beef, lamb, eggs, fish, poultry or seafood.
It is recommended to trim any visible fat
off meats prior to cooking and to frequently
choose leaner cuts. Vegetarian options which
also belong in this section include nuts and
legumes such as beans, chickpeas, lentils
and soy bean products (e.g. tofu).
Another quarter filled with a carbohydrate
preferably the whole grain variety to
provide fibre, such as brown rice, quinoa,
couscous, wholegrain bread and pasta.
Starchy vegetables also fit in this category
and this includes potato, corn, sweet potato
and pumpkin.
The rest of your plate (half) should be free
vegetables such as leafy greens, carrots,
cauliflower, broccoli, peas, or salad
vegetables. This will help to bulk up your
meal to keep you full as well as provide
your body with lots of antioxidants,
vitamins and minerals.
By dividing up your meal portions accordingly,
it will assist you in weight control as well as
nourish your body with adequate energy and
essential nutrients for good health and
wellbeing. Try it at your next meal time!
A
group of friends were having one of their regular
get-togethers at the local kebab shop.
Jallaludin: I am feeling very depressed. I am going home.
Mula Nasruddin: Now sit down, my brother. Its the worst
thing you can do. Its moments like this that you need
people around you. Never give up on people brother. I know
sometimes it seems like no one seems to understand your
pain, but when you are in trouble and you cry out for help
thats when its important.
I mean you take Bulbulahs cousin, Habibulah. Now, he owed
$50 000 on his mortgage, isnt that so Bulbulah?
Bulbulah: Yes, he was going to be thrown onto the street the
following day. He was very worried about it.
Jallaludin: What happened then, brother Bulbulah?
Bulbulah: He drove out to the Beachy Head Cliffs. Here he
parked about 3 metres from the edge of the cliff.
Jallaludin: What, was he going to drive off it?
Bulbulah: Yes, he just sat there for two hours, his head
resting on the steering wheel. People tried to talk him out
of it, but he was too depressed to listen.
Mula Nasruddin: This is the thing, brother Jallaludin. This
is what I mean about people. Because it was the people who
had a quick collection and got him his $50000.
Jallaludin: Who were the people who got the collection
together for him?
Say: I seek refuge with the
Lord of the Dawn, From the
mischief of created things;
From the mischief of
Darkness as it overspreads;
From the mischief of those
who practice Secret Arts:
And from the mischief of the
jealous one as he practices
jealousy. ~
Stretton
Heights provides new lifestyle for yourself and family,
Stretton Heights is a leafy estate next to Karawatha
Forest (Acacia Picnic Area Facilities: BBQ, shelter
sheds, water, toilets, picnic tables, disable
facilities; Illaweena Picnic Area Facilities: Picnic
tables, shelter sheds). Provides different walking and
bike tracks. Fixed Price Full Turnkey H&L Package price
from $810,000.
It is central
location to shopping centres and motorways. Short stroll
to Karawatha Forest for walking and biking tracks.
- Just behind the Islamic School
- 9 mins (4.1km) to Pacific Motorway to City, Gateway
and Gold Coast
- 7 mins (4.4km) to Sunnybank Hills Shopping town
- 9 mins (5.9km) to Calamvale Central Shopping Centre
- 10 mins (6.9km) to Stretton State College
- 18 mins (10km) to Westfield Garden City, Upper Mount
Gravatt
For prices and
brochures, please call Mansur Omar now via 0405 451 786
or email to
mansur.omar@gogecko.com.au
Laylat al-Qadr - Night of Power
(27th Ramadan 1437)
6
July
Wednesday
EID al-FITR
1437
(1st Shawwal 1437)
9
July
Saturday
ICQ Eid Festival
Islamic Council
of QLD (ICQ)
TBA
TBA
TBA
20
& 21 August
Sat & Sun
The Divine Light
Sh Wasim Kempson
Al Kauthar
Brisbane
Griffith
University NATHAN
0438 698 328
All day
20
August
Saturday
Family Fun Day
Gold Coast
Islamic School (AIIC)
19 Chisholm Road
Carrara, Gold Coast
5596 6565
12pm to 6.30pm
4 September
NEW DATE
Sunday
CRESWALK2016
Crescents of
Brisbane
Orleigh Park,
WEST END
0402 026 786
8.30am
12
September
Monday
EID al-ADHA
1437 (10th Zilhijja 1437)
3 October
Monday
1st Muharram
1438 Islamic New Year 1438
8
October
Saturday
Al Yateem Fundraising Dinner
Islamic Relief
Australia
Greek Hall, 269
Creek Road, Mt Gravatt
0456 426 523
6.30pm
12 October
Wednesday
Day of Ashura
12 December
Monday
Birth of the
Prophet (pbuh) / Milad un Nabi
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, exceptfor Lailatul
Mehraj,
Lailatul Bhahraat
and
Lailatul Qadr these dates refer to the commencement of the event
starting in the evening of the corresponding day.
Zikr - every Thursday
7pm, families welcome
Hifz, Quran Reading & Madressa - Wednesday & Friday
4:30 - 6:30pm, brothers, sisters and children
New Muslims Program - last Thursday of every month,
6:30 - 8:30pm
Salawat Majlis - first Saturday of every month.
Starting at Mughrib, families welcome
Islamic Studies - one year course, Saturday 10:00 -
2:00 pm, brothers and sisters
Ilm-e-Deen, Alims Degree Course - Three full-time and
part-time nationally accredited courses, brothers
Quran Reading Class For Ladies (Beginners
or Advanced)
Every Saturday 2 - 4pm
Lady Teacher
Algester Mosque
Zikrullah program every Thursday night after
Esha
For more details, contact: Maulana Nawaaz:
0401576084
On Going Activities
1. Daily Hadeeth reading From Riyadusaliheen,
After Fajar and after esha .
2. After school Madrassah for children Mon-Thu 5pm to 7pm
3. Adult Quran classes (Males) Monday and
Tuesday after esha for an hour.
4. Community engagement program every second Saturday of the
Month, interstate and overseas speakers, starts after
margib, Dinner served after esha, First program begins on
the 15 August.
5. Monthly Qiyamulail program every 1st
Friday of the month starts after esha.
6. Fortnight Sunday Breakfast program. After Fajar, short
Tafseer followed by breakfast.
7. Weekly Tafseer by Imam Uzair after esha followed by
dinner. Starts from 26 August.
For all activities, besides Adult Quran,
classes sisters and children are welcome.
For further info call the Secretary on
0413669987
Click on images to enlarge
IPDC
Lutwyche Mosque
Weekly classes with Imam Yahya
Monday: Junior Class
Tuesday: Junior Arabic
Friday: Adult Quran Class
For more information call 0470 671 109
Holland Park Mosque
Queensland Police Service/Muslim Community
Consultative Group
Next Meeting
Time: 7.00pm Date: TBA Venue: Islamic College of Brisbane - 45 Acacia Road
Karawatha
Please send any topics you wish to be added to the agenda to
be discussed on the night.
Articles and
opinions appearing in this newsletter do not necessarily
reflect the opinions of the CCN Team, 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 CCN
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 enter their details
here.
Mostafa Salameh Azan on top of
the world
.jpg)
Thrust
the sole of your foot the
attackers knee to disable
him or her buying you time
to make a run for it. You
have a higher success rate
of connecting because unlike
the face or groin region,
the knee is nearly
impossible to block and
people need a working set of
legs to chase someone down.
In
September 1599, a 24-year-old blacksmith and musician from
Warrington entered the Topkapi palace in Constantinople and
began to play a clockwork organ he had built "in front of
the most powerful ruler in the world". This was the Ottoman
Sultan Mehmed III, and the mechanical organ along with its
young artificer belonged to a boatload of eye-catching
presents that Queen Elizabeth I had sent to help sustain the
Anglo-Turkish alliance that had, fitfully, already lasted
for more than two decades.
One quarter filled with protein such as
beef, lamb, eggs, fish, poultry or seafood.
It is recommended to trim any visible fat
off meats prior to cooking and to frequently
choose leaner cuts. Vegetarian options which
also belong in this section include nuts and
legumes such as beans, chickpeas, lentils
and soy bean products (e.g. tofu). 
post comments on
our Wall
7
August 2011