The
Queensland police held their 3rd annual Queensland
Police Service Iftar Dinner
at the Greek Club, West End,
on Monday night when
State Government Ministers,
faith leaders and community
stakeholders come together
to share a meal and break
bread.
Master of Ceremonies,
Acting Superintendent Les
Bulluss kept the
audience entertained through
the proceedings with a dry
wit that would surely have
had many an already parched
fasting Muslim prematurely
reach out for the nearest
glass of water.
Ms Tasneem Chopra
delivered the key-note
speech on her experiences
that had shaped her
understanding of
discrimination and
opportunity. From childhood
anecdotes to recent career
highlights, Tasneem
identified the role of the
State and Australian Muslims
in overcoming barriers, "let
us be enriched by our
diversity, not paralysed by
it". She commended the
QPS for their proactive
engagement with Queenslands
Muslim community beyond the
scope of the Iftar dinner
with several other community
initiatives.
Commissioner Ian Stewart APM
said in his address that the
Police Service could be only
as good as the relationships
that were forged through
dialogue and partnership.
Young
Tashfeen Parvej from the
Amanah Institute called the
adhan and Imam Muhammad
Aslam of the Algester
Mosque delivered a
recitation from the Quran
that reflected on Ramadan
and diversity.
The QPS also
acknowledged the community
work of Ms Janeth
Deen, Mr Abdul Celil
Gelim, Mr Sultan Deen
(for his 25 years voluntary
service on the QPS/Muslim
Consultative group) and
Mr Ali Kadri by
presenting them with plaques
of appreciation on the
night.
Hajji Sultan Deen
gave vote of thanks and
Sheikh Dr Ayman Malas,
the recently appointed Imam
of the Logan Mosque,
delivered the closing prayer
(dua) to conclude the
program.
Eid Down
Under is
coming to
Karawatha.
Come along
for an
ultimate
family day
out. Plenty
of rides,
activities,
entertainment
and global
cuisines for
the whole
family.
Amazing
giveaways
and lucky
door prizes
to be won.
For more
information
please
contact Ali
Ghafoor
(0410 083
975) or
visit
www.icq.net.au
The
Queensland Intercultural
Society (QIS) held its
annual Peace & Dialogue
Ifthar Dinner and Awards at
Parliament House this week.
The event was co-hosted by
Mr Abdul Celil Gelim,
QIS Executive Director, the
Hon Grace Grace MP
(ALP), Minister for
Employment and Industrial
Relations, Minister for
Racing and Minister for
Multicultural Affairs,
and the Hon Fiona Simpson
MP (LNP), Shadow
Minister for Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander
Partnerships and
Multicultural Affairs.
The guest
list of 160 invitees
included politicians (State
and Council), government
officials, religious and
community leaders and
businessmen.
The Master of
Ceremonies was Australian
Television News presenter,
George Donikian.
Imam Ahmad Abu Ghalazeh
of the Wisdom College called
the Azaan and recited a
passage from the Quran. The
guest of honour was the
Premier of Queensland, the
Hon Annastacia Palaszczuk,
who took time from a busy
schedule from setting down
the State's budget to speak
on inclusion and social
cohesion.
Associate
Professor, Mehmet Ozalp,
Executive Director and
Founder of the Islamic
Science and Research Academy
and lecturer at Charles
Sturt University, spoke on
the challenges during his
time growing up in Australia
after leaving his home
country Turkey.
This year's
Community Leadership Award
was presented to Dr Nora
Amath for her efforts in
promoting a better
understanding of Islam and
Muslim cultures through
inter-faith dialogue and
community engagement. In the
course of her acceptance
speech Dr Amath paid the
following tribute to
Mr Dave Andrews:
It would
be remiss of me to not
acknowledge someone who
really should be up here
with me, my dearest friend
and interfaith partner Dave
Andrews. I have been engaged
in interfaith work off and
on for the last 25 years and
about 8 years ago I was
ready to give up. The hate,
bigotry and hostility I
sometimes faced in my
interfaith experience was so
traumatic, so hurtful that I
couldnt do it anymore.
Until I met Dave, and he
showed me what true
meaningful engagement is all
about, what love for the
other, love for the
neighbour really meant. He
taught me about selfless
service. He taught me so
much and while I get awards
for my work in the
interfaith space, including
this very gracious honour,
he gets hate mail, degrading
insults and threats simply
because he desires to love
everyone, including Muslims.
Dave should be up here with
me, because he has taught me
what true embrace of the
other means or in the words
of Christian theologian
Miroslov Volf In an embrace
I close my arms around the
other- not tightly, so as to
crush her, or assimilate her
forcefully into myself; but
gently, so as to tell her
that I do not want to be
without her in her
otherness.
The Public
Service Award was presented to
Queensland Police Commissioner,
Mr Ian Stewart for promoting
intercultural and inter-faith
dialogue in the public domain.
In his acceptance speech he
singled out for praise the
contributions of Mr Murat
Coskun, founder and
president of QIS, and Mr
Ismail Cajee, president of
the Islamic Council of
Queensland (ICQ).
The vote of
thanks was delivered by the
Hon John Mickel, retired
Speaker of the Queensland
Parliament and long-time
friend and past host of the
QIS Ifthars.
Hon Grace Grace MP
(ALP), Minister for
Employment and Industrial
Relations, Minister for
Racing and Minister for
Multicultural Affairs
Ramadan Mubarak
I wish all your readers and
members of our Queensland
and Australian Muslim
community, a very peaceful
and blessed Holy month of
Ramadan.
We draw our strength from
our rich and diverse society
and that includes our Muslim
Queenslanders. This
diversity is at the heart of
who we are. I also take this
opportunity to acknowledge
the significant economic,
social and cultural
contributions our Muslim
community has contributed to
Queensland.
Queensland is home to people
who come from more than 220
countries or geographical
locations, speak more than
220 languages and hold more
than 100 religious beliefs,
including Islam, and freedom
of religion is an important
component of our democracy.
As Minister responsible for
Multicultural Affairs, I
look forward to
strengthening the Queensland
Government's relationship
with members of our Muslim
community as part of
delivering an inclusive and
welcoming Queensland.
May peace be with you and
your families during this
Holy month of Ramadan.
AMARAH hosted its
8th annual community meal for
the disadvantaged and
homeless at St Andrew's
Anglican Church in South
Brisbane on Friday 17 June.
The infusion of the spirit
of Ramadan was once again
palpable all around the
hallowed walls of the church
on Friday night. The
Community Meal Iftar for the
marginalised drew up to 90
people of different faiths,
colours and socioeconomic
backgrounds.
"It was an evening of
friendship and fellowship
continuing the holy month of
Ramadan in the true,
compassionate spirit of
Islam," said Dr Nora Amath,
chairperson of AMARAH.
Stories were shared,
delicious food eaten and
laughter and smiles
exchanged. "Thank you to the
wonderful volunteers who
came along and to our
generous donors for making
the night possible, Dr.
Amath posted on Facebook.
The next community meal
iftar is on Friday 1 July.
If you would like to join
contact Nora at
namath14@yahoo.com.
On behalf of the Ipswich
Masjid's community, I wish
you all a very blessed
Ramadhan and Eidul Fitr in
advance Inshah Allah.
The Islamic Society of
Ipswich Inc (the Ipswich
Mosque) is in urgent need of
your financial help during
this Holy month of Ramadhan
to renovate the main prayer
areas and importantly
provide Wudu facilities for
the ladies. Currently, the
Ipswich Mosque has only two
bathrooms side by side in
the men's section and used
one each for men and women.
The ladies have to walk to
the men's section of the
Masjid to use their bathroom
which is separated by a tiny
wall from the men's one.
This is very uncomfortable
for the ladies especially
when more than one woman
wish to use it.
Also, we don't have a proper
Wudu facilities in the
ladies section and they use
a normal garden type pipe
fixed for them, to make Wudu
with almost no privacy. We
have plenty of open space
next to the ladies section
which is a separate and
beautiful building but
urgently need you financial
help in this Holy month to
provide the sistets their
own bathrooms/ Wudu
facilities and privacy.
The Ipswich Mosque had a
fund raising dinner last
year but unfortunately
raised approximately forty
thousand dollars, much less
than the required amount.
Most of that money has been
used to fix the termites
damaged areas in the ladies
section, to pay the regular
bills and Imam for the
Friday prayer. In this
Ramadhan, we have two local
Hafizs performing Taraweh
prayers to read the whole
Qur'aan Inshah Allah.
Please give your financial
help to this ONLY House of
ALLAH in the City of Ipswich
in this Holy month and
achieve the highest rewards
from Allah (swt). You help
will keep the Mosque open
for all prayers. You can
deposit directly into the
Ipswich Mosque bank account
provided below:
Bank - ANZ
Name: Islamic Society
of Ipswich Inc. BSB: 014 610
Account: 4952
83558
Or send your cheque in the
name of the Islamic Society
of Ipswich Inc to: 11 Edwin
St, Kuraby Qld 4112 OR 30
Waterworks Rd, Brassall
North Ipswich Qld.
Please provide your email or
address to send you a
receipt for your kind
donation. The reward from
Allah swt is huge for every
donation in this month.
May Allah shower His
blessings on you and your
family, Ameen.
Amar Ali Khan
Executive Committee
Islamic Society of Ipswich
Inc.
Contact: 0421 976 934.
Malcolm Turnbull hosted an
Iftar dinner celebrating
Ramadan at Kirribilli House.
The guest list of 75
included broadcasting power
couple The Project host
Waleed Aly and wife Susan
Carland, head of the
Australian Multicultural
Foundation Hass Dellal,
Muslim community leader Dr
Jamal Rifi, and Archbishop
of Sydney, Reverend Glenn
Davies.
Hes the first Prime
Minister ever to host such
an event which is the fast
breaking meal enjoyed by
Muslims during Ramadan.
It turns out the PM doesnt
know if Kirribilli House is
connected to the National
Broadband Network.
Asked by Aly whether
Kirribilli House was hooked
up to the NBN in a live TV
interview, Mr Turnbull said
he was not sure.
It is very well connected
to broadband, Mr Turnbull
said during the lighthearted
interview.
Can I say, I know you are
very keen on the NBN, but
let me tell you something.
Within a week or so, a
quarter of all Australian
premises, thats households
and business premises will
have the NBN available.
Pushed by Aly, Mr Turnbull
said he wasnt sure where
Kirribilli House was on the
rollout schedule.
Mr Turnbull was also asked
why the dinner was held at
Kirribilli House instead of
his actual place of
residence in Sydney: a Point
Piper mansion.
You do have another house,
which is kind of better than
this one. Why couldnt we go
there?, Aly said.
Well this is the official
residence of the PM in
Sydney. And its great for a
big function like this.
Mr Turnbull called on Muslim
community leaders to stand
with him as one Australian
family united against
terrorism in the wake of
the Orlando massacre at the
event.
He was seated alongside Ms
Carland and Islamic youth
advocate Yassmin Abdel-Magied
as they sipped sparkling
water while enjoying a
conversation about the
freedoms Australians enjoy
at a marquee dinner over the
lawn of the Prime Ministers
official harbourside
residence.
AFL star Bachar Houli led
the room with a sung
recitation following the
meal, which Mr Turnbull
pointed out proved the
Richmond player was a man
of many talents.
Addressing the gathering of
about 60 following the meal,
Mr Turnbull called on the
diverse crowd to unite
against extremism.
The aim of extremists
including those committing
violence through a warped
and nihilist interpretation
of religion is to divide us
and to turn our citizens
against each other but we
will not let them win, he
said.
Acts of terror like
Sundays massacre in Orlando
are perpetrated to divide us
along lines of race,
religion, sect and sexuality
but that kind of hatred
and division must not
prevail.
We must stand together like
we do tonight as one
Australian family united
against terrorism, racism,
discrimination and
violence.
Speaking directly to members
of the Australian Muslim
community, Mr Turnbull said:
You are an integral part of
an Australian family that
rests on the essential
foundation of mutual respect
and understanding.
Australians are not defined
by religion or race; we are
defined by a commitment to
common political values,
democracy, freedom, the rule
of law, all underpinned of
course by mutual respect,
he said.
Quoting from the Quran and
sayings of Prophet Mohammad,
Mr Turnbull said by
breaking bread across
religions and by bringing
diverse people together, we
are embodying Islams
emphasis on human
diversity.
We must stand together like
we do tonight as one
Australian family united
against terrorism, racism,
discrimination and
violence, he said.
.
Along with Muslim leaders,
the Prime Minister mingled
with Christians, Jews,
Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists.
By breaking bread across
religions and by bringing
diverse people together, we
are embodying Islams
emphasis on human
diversity, he said.
Following the speech for
which Mr Turnbull was
enthusiastically applauded,
Ms Carland thanked the Prime
Minister for his words as he
resumed his seat.
The Premier of NSW, Mike
Baird hosted the Premiers
Iftar dinner on Tuesday 14
June at the NSW Parliament
House while the Commonwealth
Bank hosted a corporate
Iftar on Wednesday 15 June
for its employees inviting
community leaders and
politicians for dinner.
The News.com article accused
Sheik Shady Al-Suleiman, the
national president of the
Australian National Imams
Council, who was amongst the
guests, of once calling on
God to destroy the enemies
of Islam and prepare us
for jihad as well as
believing that AIDS is a
divine punishment for gays
and wants adulterers stoned
to death.
Sheik Shady immediately
issued the following
statement in his defence:
With regards to
allegations in some
media reports today
which made reference
to statements that I
have made in the past, I
would like to say the
following:
- I unequivocally reject
the claim that I called
for the stoning or any
form of
punishment of adulterers
and/or homosexuals. As
an Australian and a
Muslim I
unreservedly condemn the
vilification and
oppression of any group
of people
based on race, religion,
gender, sexuality, or
any other criteria for
that matter.
- Islams position on
the matter is clear like
many other major
religions however
Islam espouses there is
no compulsion in
religion and diversity
is the norm. As
Australians we have and
will always show mutual
respect for one another.
- In light of the above,
there is absolutely no
place for homophobia or
any sort
of hatred or
discrimination towards a
person who identifies as
LGBTI.
As human beings, we need
to come together to
overcome and combat the
hate
that is fuelling so much
violence in the world
today.
I believe all
Australians, Muslim and
non-Muslim, have and
will continue to
campaign against any
form of hatred or
discrimination in our
society.
The Queensland Branch of the
Australian Association of
Social Workers (AASW) is the
professional body and voice
for social work in
Queensland.
This year it is celebrating
the diversity and depth of
the profession with a "70
Faces | 70 Stories" project.
The aim of the project is
"to capture the presence,
the reality and the
diversity of social workers
in our communities."
Well-known local social
worker and activist, Salam
El-Merebi of Brisbane, was
chosen to kick off the
campaign.
A request to hear an appeal
by opponents of Bendigo's
first mosque has been thrown
out by the High Court.
Two Bendigo residents have
been fighting the planned
mosque, arguing the Bendigo
City Council failed in their
legal obligations to fully
consider the social effects
of the building.
The pair took the matter to
the High Court after their
challenge was dismissed
first by the Victorian Civil
and Administrative Tribunal
(VCAT) and then the State
Court of Appeal.
The group behind the mosque,
Australian Muslims of
Bendigo, said the decision
was fair.
"We
believe the
decision is
in line with
every
Australian's
constitutional
right to
practise
their
faith,"
it said in a
statement
There were large protests in
Bendigo over the plan last
year, with opposing groups
facing off against each
other.
The Australian Islamic
Mission applied in November
2013 to the Greater Bendigo
City Council for the
planning permit to build the
mosque on Rowena Street at
East Bendigo.
It was first approved by the
council in June 2014 and a
series of appeals have since
been launched.
Debate around the mosque led
to controversy and some
divisions within the town
and large protests were held
in the centre of Bendigo in
October last year.
One of those who made the
appeal, Julie Hoskin, said
the legal process had so far
has cost more than $200,000,
which was mostly
crowd-funded.
"We've exhausted our avenues
which is what we needed to
do, and again the High Court
was always a long bow," she
said.
"We knew that was going to
be very difficult to get
into and they've said no,
and I understand that."
Victoria a place that
welcomes diversity: Andrews
Premier Daniel Andrews said
the majority of Victorians
believe that
multiculturalism is our
"greatest strength".
"That's the story of Bendigo
and the story of so many
other parts of Victoria," he
said.
"I welcome the fact that
Bendigo can have places of
worship for people of all
faiths to come together in
celebration of the brilliant
diversity that marks us out,
not just as a place that
tolerates diversity and
multiculturalism, we
celebrate it.
"We're much, much stronger
because of that."
Mayor of Bendigo Rod Fyffe
said the court decision had
vindicated the work of the
council.
"We're very pleased that
it's come down in favour of
the fact that the mosque can
go ahead and we have been
exonerated in following all
of the procedures as set out
by Victorian law," he said.
It really has been a long
process, a difficult
process, and I pay tribute
to the council who has stood
by the decision they made.
"I think that today's
decision just says to them,
'you've done it right,
congratulations.'"
Landmark decision hailed
Prue Mansfield, director of
planning and development for
the city of Bendigo, said
there would always be
differences of opinion.
"It's how we respond and
respect that, be that in the
pub down the street, in the
footy room or in our
workplace," she said.
"That way we'll have a
really strong and thriving
community that's welcoming
for everyone and everyone
feels at home and to be
respectful in that way."
Local community group
Believe in Bendigo, led by
local identity Margot
Spalding, congratulated the
High Court and in a Facebook
post said it was time to
celebrate the city for what
it is, not what it had been
portrayed as.
"The line has now been drawn
and it is time to move on,"
the Facebook post said.
"This
decision is
a landmark
day in
Bendigo's
history, but
it is not
the end of
something,
it is the
start of
something
magnificent.
"We are a diverse, welcoming
and inclusive community that
celebrates the contribution
every culture makes to
Bendigo life.
"Whatever country you are
from, whatever religion you
practice and whatever
culture you celebrate, you
are welcome in Bendigo."
Mosque opponents 'disgusted'
Not everyone welcomed the
decision.
A Facebook post on the Stop
the Mosque in Bendigo page,
which has more than 28,000
likes, said the ruling was a
"sad day for Australia".
One comment on the post said
Bendigo would "soon be a
noisy, violent, fetid no-go
zone."
Another said the decision
was "absolutely disgusting"
and asked when the people in
power would "listen to what
the majority of ordinary
citizens want and expect".
According to Australian
Muslims of Bendigo, there
are about 300 Muslims living
in Bendigo, including
international students.
It said the mosque would
hold a maximum of 375 people
and include a sports
facility and library.
"The
Bendigo
Islamic
Centre will
be a great
asset to
Bendigo. It
will be a
centre for
understanding,
education
and cross
cultural and
inter-faith
dialogue,"
the group
said.
Sunshine Coast Muslim
community members Abdul Malik
and Ky Jeffers are fasting for
Ramadan.
MARCOOLA mechanic Ky Jeffers
misses cracking open a cold
craft beer but the sacrifice
has helped him find peace.
Mr Jeffers, 45, is
abstaining from all food and
liquid this month as Muslims
around the world fast for
Ramadan.
He converted to Islam two
years ago, having been
raised a Roman Catholic on
the Sunshine Coast.
"I did have a religious
upbringing and sort of
drifted away from that," Mr
Jeffers said.
About three years ago, a
Muslim friend of his gave
him a Quran. That sort of
sparked an interest. Mr
Jeffers fasted that year,
despite not being Muslim. I
cheated a little - I just
cut out food. I still drank
water and it was quite
challenging because I was
going off to work every day
and working quite physical.
He was in Malaysia about a
year later when he heard the
call to prayer (Adhan)
shortly after arriving at a
friend's mother's house.
That first time I heard the
Adhan in an Islamic country
... it was a very emotional
thing for me and I felt a
stronger drawing towards
Islam. It snowballed from
there and I just wanted to
learn more.
Mr Jeffers researched Islam
on the Sunshine Coast when
he got back to Australia and
met Islamic community member
Abdul Malik. He took Shahada,
the declaration of faith,
within a few weeks of
returning to the Coast.
Mr Malik gave Mr Jeffers
books to read and he
searched online for
information. Obviously
there's lots available on
the internet - some which
you can discard and some
which you can listen to.
Mr Jeffers said the change
has brought him a real
feeling of inner peace. I
was at a sort of crossroads
in my life. I'd been through
a bit of turmoil and it
(Islam) has given me peace.
He said sourcing Halal food
was one of the biggest
things that people
considering converting to
Islam worried about. I'm a
vegetarian so that wasn't a
big deal for me.
Giving up alcohol was more
of a challenge. I didn't
drink much ... but I do miss
my beer.
Mr Jeffers did not fast
during last year's Ramadan
because he was injured and
needed pain medication. If
you are sick or ill, you
don't fast but you actually
make up for it.
So after Ramadan, or
throughout the year, you can
make up those fasting days.
He is fasting this year and
has found it hard at times.
Especially when you are
working physically, it gets
tough. His schedule of
prayer gets busier during
Ramadan but he has an app on
his smartphone to tell him
when his is due to pray.
He said breaking fast in the
evening was really
important, whether he was
with his Muslim or
non-Muslim friends. It's
really encouraged that you
do that with family and
friends.
I break fast with my mum and
dad, who aren't Muslim. He
said his family were really
open-minded in accepting his
change of faith. I've got a
lot family that have lived
in the Middle East so they
have been exposed to Islam.
He said he also had a few
family members who didn't
take to it so well. But it's
not an issue for me.
He found converting to be a
simple process. It's knowing
in your heart that that is
what you want and making
that declaration. He said a
lot of Muslims who did not
understand Arabic did not
understand what they were
reciting when they prayed.
So I've taken steps to learn
Arabic, which is a difficult
language.
Mr Jeffers said he was upset
by the violent acts of
groups like Islamic State
which portrayed Islam as
their motivator. It's also
upsetting in the same way
that when I was a Catholic,
many years ago when I was a
child, there was groups like
the IRA that had an agenda
and they hid behind
Catholicism. Their agenda
was violence and killing.
MR JEFFER'S RAMADAN SCHEDULE
4am: Out of bed to
have breakfast 5.10am: Prayer- 10 to
15 minutes Midday: Prayer- 10 to
15 minutes 3.45pm: Prayer- 10 to
15 minutes 5.10pm: Prayer- 10 to
15 minutes 6.45pm: Evening
prayer at Kawana Family
Centre- about 1 hour 45
minutes
The Australian International
Islamic College community
conducted the soil turning
ceremony to mark the
beginning of its state of
the art administration
building, on Wednesday, 15
June 2016.
The Principal, Mrs Banwa,
opened the ceremony by
thanking Allah (S.W.T) for
blessings on the College
followed by a beautiful Dua
by Imam Yusuf Taqafi.
Symbolic soil turning was
done by the Board Members,
Special Guests, Staff,
College Captains as well as
the Building Team.
The project is expected to
be completed by late October
2016 and will be ready for
2017 academic year Insha
Allah.
The project is partially
funded by the Commonwealth
and State Governments and
was awarded to SJ Higgins
Group, who have an
outstanding reputation in
the construction industry.
It's the most important time
of the year and it's a time
where the whole Muslim world
comes together to change
themselves and to make a
positive difference in the
lives of others. With the
infinite rewards we can all
gain during Ramadan we all
must strive to do our best
for those less fortunate.
This Ramadan MAA plans to
expand on the work we do by
helping families Break the
Cycle of Poverty.
Alhamdulillah to feed
someone and bring a smile to
their faces is an
unbelievable feeling, but to
help someone Break the Cycle
of Poverty is something we
should all strive to do.
That's why this Ramadan,
we'll be using $10 from
every Smart Food Pack you
donate to provide a
long-term sustainable
solution towards Breaking
the Cycle of Poverty in
someones life.
Toowoomba Muslims condemn
Orlando attacks as
un-Islamic
THE major Islamic group in
Toowoomba has condemned the
terrorist attack in Orlando
as un-Islamic.
A gunman named Omar Mateen
is suspected of killing more
than 50 people.
He allegedly swore
allegiance to the head of
Islamic terrorist group ISIS
before he died.
Professor Shahjahan Khan,
founding president of the
Islamic Society of
Toowoomba, said he was
terribly shocked by the act
of a brutal killer who had
taken the lives of so many
innocent people and
destroyed the lives and
dreams of so many others.
"Islamic Society of
Toowoomba condemns the
attacker and this kind of
un-Islamic barbaric killing
by anyone in the strongest
terms.
"We believe this is an act
of an individual who has
brought shame on our
religion, but his evil
action is absolutely
opposite to the belief of
common Muslims and peaceful
teachings of Islam.
"There is no room for
murdering any innocent
person in Islam by making up
any self-prescribed excuses
or suggesting any convenient
pretext to justify the
criminal act.
"We are particularly
horrified that this kind of
tragic killing has occurred
in the blessed month of
Ramadan, a time from Muslims
to reflect on
self-correction to acquire
the quality of
God-consciousness through
month-long fasting, night
prayers, reflecting on the
Qur'an, and giving charity
to care for humanity.
"Our deepest condolences go
to the families and loved
ones of the victims of this
senseless murderer, and they
are in our prayers and
thoughts."
Women are hardworking, resilient
and marvellous multi-taskers!
These women have shown that
Pakistani women are especially
exceptional because of all that
we have to overcome and yet we
are able to not only become
leaders in our fields but also
pioneer into uncharted
territories. All over the world,
and beyond.
Read on about these super
Pakistani women gathering
respect and accolades the world
over:
5. Lianna Swan
A swimmer, Swan is a
British-Pakistani, who
represented Pakistan at the
2014 Commonwealth Games. She
holds 9 National records and
several international
records for swimming.
Since Sadiq Khans election
as Mayor of London, many
people seem to be suggesting
that no Muslim city would
ever be open-minded enough
to elect a Christian as
mayor.
So, in the interests of
accuracy, and because FACTS
ARE OUR FRIENDS, I present a
list of some of the many
Christians who have done
just what Mr Khan has done
been elected to high office
in Muslim countries where
they are a religious
minority:
6. Lιopold Sιdar Senghor
Senegal had a Catholic
president, Lιopold Sιdar
Senghor, for 20 years.
Senegal is 92% Muslim.
A Muslim mother in Sydney
fears her grandchildren will
end up in a concentration
camp. A Victorian father
won't tell his football team
he is Muslim so he doesn't
have to explain himself. To
be Muslim is to be judged
for everything you do, says
a Brisbane woman. An
international student living
in Melbourne says she feels
segregated in class.
What is it to be Muslim in
Australia today?
Fairfax Media asked readers
who are Muslim to speak of
their experiences and how
they explain extremism and
Islamophobia to their
children. Dozens of people
responded.
CCN publishes one response
each week:
"Australia is their
country"
Sahar Elsemary, 48, Sydney,
Egyptian
At times, living in
Australia as a Muslim is
rewarding. At other times it
is very difficult. I feel
stressed going to certain
suburbs or states. I worry
that some ignorant person
will swear at me for being a
Muslim or pull my scarf off.
This happened to me once
when I was leading a tour in
Lakemba. A man stopped me in
the middle of the road and
called me a terrorist and
demanded that I go back
where I came from. I tell my
children it's just a small
percentage of Australians
who are ignorant and racist.
That Australia is their
country and that they should
prove it to others that
being a Muslim is an
advantage.
Nine men and women from
around Australia give voice to
what it's really like to live as
a Muslim. Yusuf Acar, 22, a
psychology student, explains why
he believes hysteria is the
biggest problem we face. Beau
Donelly reports.
THE UNI STUDENT
When I meet people, Im
extra kind to them because I
want them to feel at ease
when theyre speaking to a
Muslim. There's a tension, a
mistrust, between Muslims
and non-Muslims.
The Acar family with Yusuf as a
boy (far right) hiding behind
his uncle.
Since 9/11 there has been a
dark cloud hanging over the
Muslim community. Theres
always a few months of calm
and then something happens
at home or overseas and we
find ourselves in the middle
of it again. I feel like I
have to justify being a
Muslim-Australia or prove
that Im a legitimate
Australian. I dont see that
expectation being put on
other groups in our
community. This is a huge
problem because all it does
is widen the gap between
Muslims and the broader
community.
As a nation we have to learn
from the mistakes of the
countries where terrorists
have struck. The biggest
problem is hysteria. When an
attack happens, people are
rightfully very emotional
but hysteria doesnt help
anyone, regardless of their
religion. If such a thing
was to happen in Australia,
God forbid, there must be
self restraint. Muslims and
non-Muslims have to work
together. You only have to
look at the Republican
candidates in the United
States to see how easy it is
to play off people's
emotions, rile up a crowd
and trade off hysteria.
My siblings and I were born
in Australia. My parents
both emigrated from Turkey
and met here when they were
younger. As a family, we
know extremists are
misguided and that their
actions are politically
driven not religious. They
have ulterior motives which
they bring into religion to
justify their actions. Its
alarming and as a community
I dont think were dealing
with the problem well.
Orubba Almansouri
is a 2016 graduate in English
and History from CCNY's Division
of Humanities & the Arts and
Medal of Excellence recipient
from the Alumni Association of
The City College of New York.
This powerful
PSA introduces you to Muslims
you might not know to counter
hatred and misconceptions
24 of the
Most Influential Black
Muslims in History
4. Usama
bin Zayd (d. 674)
The son of Zayd ibn al-Hāritha
and Umm Ayman, Usama bin
Zayd was among the closest
companions of the Prophet
Muhammad and was the
youngest individual ever
appointed as a military
general during the lifetime
of the Prophet, leading a
military force when he was
only 17 years old.
NEXT WEEK IN
CCN:
5. Muhammad al-Jawad (c.
April 12, 811 A.D. Nov.
29, 835 A.D.)
100 years old
bulb at
Prophets Mosque
creates online
buzz
JEDDAH: The
social media is
abuzz with a
photo of an
electric bulb
used in the Holy
Mosque in
Madinah in
1325H, more than
100 years ago.
According to
information
inscribed on the
bulb, the date
of its
installation was
the same date
when electricity
entered the
Arabian
Peninsula, about
112 years ago.
According a
Madinah
Municipality
website, the
mosques
construction and
its expansion
during the era
of Ottoman ruler
Sultan Abdul
Majid took place
between 1265 and
1277H. Oil lamps
were used at
that time.
Electricity was
introduced by
Sultan Abdul
Majid and the
electric bulb
was lit inside
the Holy Mosque
of Madinah for
the first time
on Shaban 25,
1326H.
The expansion
work during King
Abdul Azizs
times took place
between 1370H
and 1375H.
During this
period, a
special power
station was
established for
lighting the
Holy Mosque of
Madinah when the
number of bulbs
or lamps reached
2,427.
Mohammad Al-Sayyid
Al-Wakeel wrote
in his book,
The Holy Mosque
of Madinah,
that the mosque
was originally
lit by palm
fronds. When
Tameem Al-Dari
came from
Palestine in 9H,
he changed to
oil lamps as was
narrated by Abu
Nuaim referring
to Abu Hurairah
who said that
the one who
first lit a lamp
in the mosque
was Tameem
Al-Dari.
Some historians
say that the one
who first lit
lamps in the
mosque was
Caliph Omar bin
Al-Khattab when
people gathered
there for
Taraweeh prayer.
The lamps were
then lit by oil.
If Islam Is a
Religion of
Violence, So Is
Christianity
By Julia Ioffe
The worlds
oldest religions
all have
troubling
histories of
bloodshed.
Singling out
Islam is just
Trumps latest,
hateful
hypocrisy.
..............................
The Crusades are
still a sore
subject in the
Muslim world,
but its easy to
forget the havoc
they wreaked on
the Jews of
Europe. Time
after time, as
Crusaders
slogged
southeast on
their umpteenth
trip to the Holy
Land, they
slaughtered the
Jews in their
path. They
herded them into
synagogues and
set the
buildings
alight. The
Crusaders killed
so many Jews in
the name of
their Christian
faith that it
was the most
stunning
demographic blow
to European
Jewry until the
Holocaust.
Which, just a
friendly
reminder,
happened in
Christian,
civilized Europe
only 70-some
years ago.
FP
Trump claims
assimilation
among American
Muslims is
close to
non-existent
Republican
presidential
candidate Donald
Trump, who has
escalated his
controversial
anti-Muslim
rhetoric in the
wake of the
Orlando
shooting,
suggested
Tuesday night
that several
generations of
Muslim Americans
have failed to
assimilate to
life in the
United States.
Assimilation
has been very
hard. Its
almost, I wont
say nonexistent,
but it gets to
be pretty close.
And Im talking
about second and
third generation
for some
reason theres
no real
assimilation,
Trump told Fox
News host Sean
Hannity.
The Washington Post
Yasir Qadhi
on the
"Radically
boring Imam"
Obama: Use of
'radical Islam'
just a
'political
distraction'
ARRCC open
letter before
2016 election
To those in
public office or
aspiring to it:
As leaders in a
range of faith
traditions, we
draw attention
to the wake-up
call which the
degradation of
the Great
Barrier Reef
provides.
The Reef is a
wonder of the
natural world
and, to people
of faith, a sign
of the spiritual
dimension of
life. It also
supports many
jobs and
economic
benefits.
It is therefore
with great
sadness that we
witness the
irretrievable
loss of parts of
the Reef,
principally due
to global
warming.
Familiar to any tourist who
has been on a city break to
Marrakesh, the Koutoubia
Mosque stands near the
Djema'a el-Fna square in the
centre of the Red City. The
mosque, with one of the most
intricate and impressively
decorated minarets in Sunni
Islam, goes by various other
names, including the Jami'
al-Kutubiyah, Kotoubia
Mosque, Kutubiya Mosque,
Kutubiyyin Mosque, and
Mosque of the Booksellers.
Non-Muslims are not allowed
inside, but the mosque is
surrounded by tranquil
gardens.
I have been reading CCN every week it
is fantastic and I get to see what is going on in
the area and also learn so much about Islam from
many of the articles.
An Indonesian state-owned oil
and gas company is offering motorists two
litres of free fuel for reading one chapter
of the Quran during the month of Ramadan.
In a case of
not-seeing-the-irony-whatsoever,
Islamophobic hate group Britain First is
angry that all followers of its party are
being tarnished by one man's actions.
UK:
Following the death of Labour MP Jo Cox,
eyewitness reports suggested the alleged
perpetrator had shouted "Britain First",
"put Britain first" or words to that
effect, while stabbing and shooting her
outside a library in her West Yorkshire
constituency.
As those reports surfaced, Britain First
leader Paul Golding took to the party's
Facebook page and sent emails to members
to strongly condemning the attack which
he described as a "despicable crime
carried out on the streets of
Yorkshire".
"There's no
evidence whatsoever that 'Britain
First' was shouted or 'putting
British people first'.
We're in the middle of a referendum
campaign. What this person said...
Was he referring to an organisation?
Was he referring to a slogan? Was he
just shouting out in the middle of
an EU debate: 'Putting Britain
first'? You know, I've heard this
almost every day.
We're nothing to do with it. We
would not condone actions like that.
After this terrible attack happened,
the Britain First press line is
ringing off the hook with
journalists all asking what we think
about this...
They are trying to incriminate a
perfectly legal political party in
this act of criminality. We're
nothing to do with it... we
certainly don't condone it.
This was a terrible criminal act on
an MP, a representative of the
people. No one else, no
organisation, was behind this, no
organisation was incriminated.
That's the fact."
Others, however, have
pointed out the irony of this line of
thinking from a political party that
does its best to portray the world's
1.6bn Muslims as evil (NB: it's posted
at least seven anti-Islam videos since
the shooting)
From Tunisian palm to
Ramadan plate: A dates journey
A
Tunisian village became one of
the first in the world to
produce fair trade dates,
popular with those breaking
their fast in Ramadan
A group of
retired women sort through the
dates in a warehouse in Hazoua
TUNISIA: If you live in
Europe, it is very likely that the dates
you buy for Ramadan come from Tunisia,
the world's largest exporter in terms of
value.
Yet in the southern part of the country,
40,000 hectares of palm grove are under
threat. Climate change and
over-exploitation of groundwater has put
the water resources of this arid region
at risk. The use of chemical fertilisers
has also been polluting the soil.
As a consequence, the dates produced by
the palm trees were generally fewer and
of poorer quality than they once were.
To address these challenges, farmers of
Hazoua, a village located in the
south-east of Tunisia, mobilised and
formed a cooperative. Together they have
developed innovative cultivating and
irrigation techniques that are
respectful of the environment.
In 1963, a borehole was drilled in
Hazoua to turn part of the village into
a 1000-hectare oasis. While a quarter of
the population lives below the poverty
line, dates are the main source of
income for many of the 4,700
inhabitants. In Hazoua, there is
nothing but dates, a young agricultural
engineer told MEE.
........
Once on the ground, these dates are sold
to Beni Ghreb. Founded in 2002, the
company became one of the first fair
trade date producers in the world in
2004. The aim was to gather the
producers and to create a complete and
sustainable chain, so we could export
our dates to high-end markets, explains
Said Maatoug, the director of the
co-operative. Our producers can sell
their dates for more than two dinars per
kilo (one dollar, while some farmers in
other towns are forced to sell for one
dinar (0.47 dollar) or less, adds
Maatoug.
Beni Ghreb
company exhibits in Hazoua,
south-east of Tunisia, a box of
21 packets of dates ready to be
exported
SAUDIA ARABIA: Civil
Defense personnel were kept on their
toes during (Jumah Salaah)the Friday
prayer time, with as many as 120 Umrah
pilgrims fainting due to exhaustion and
the summer heat.
Among those who took ill were mostly
elderly people and the fatigue resulted
from tawaaf (circumambulating of the
Kaaba) and saee (ritual between Safa
and Marwah mountains), a media report
said on Saturday.
Some cases of Umrah visitors and
pilgrims slipping from the escalators
and getting injured were also reported.
Most of the patients were discharged
after administering first aid inside and
outside the Grand Mosque, while some
were taken to nearby hospitals and
health centers, Col. Mahdi Al-Fahmi,
commander of the Civil Defense forces at
the Grand Mosque, was quoted as saying.
He added that the treatment of pilgrims
was carried out in coordination with the
teams of Saudi Red Crescent and Health
Department.
Pakistani Muslims build
church for Christian neighbors
In Pakistans Punjab
province, Muslims help their poor
Christian neighbors build villages
first and only church
KARACHI, Pakistan: In
Pakistan's northeastern Punjab province,
Muslim villagers are raising funds to
help their poor Christian neighbors
build a church.
The initiative was begun shortly before
Easter by a group of Muslims from a
village in Faisalabad, Pakistans
textile-manufacturing hub.
"There is a tiny Christian population in
the village -- only 20 families -- who
have no place to worship," Fr. Aftab
James, the local priest, told Anadolu
Agency.
"Only days before Easter, the initiative
was taken up by our Muslim brothers," he
said.
According to Fr. James, Christians of
the village had to use someones home --
or some other site -- to perform prayers
on holy days.
"Muslim residents of the town, however,
offered to build us a chapel as a gift,"
he said.
"We are thankful to our Muslim brothers
for this wonderful gesture. It makes us
feel proud," the priest said.
The local Christian community is now
very excited that they will soon have a
church in the village.
KB says:
This recipe was shared by Mehroon Hans. The
comments from some of the ladies who made the
naan said it was the tastiest and lightest naan
they have had yet.
NAAN
Step 1
Warm the ingredients
below
1½ cups milk
½ cup water
Ύ cup sugar
1½ tsp fine salt
Ό cup oil
3 Tabs butter
1½ Tabs soomph slightly crushed
Step 2
To the above mixture add 2 eggs and ½ cup
buttermilk and beat with egg beater.
This mixture must
still be warm to activate the yeast.
Step 3
Place into your mixing bowl:
6 cups bread flour or cake flour
1 tsp baking powder,
15g instant yeast
Add the warm liquid mixture to the
flour mix, using a dough hook to make a soft
pliable dough, (beat for approx 15mins) smear a
little ghee around dough to bind the dough.
Grease a
container and set dough in to rise for approx 1½
to 2 hrs until well risen.
Shape and leave
on greased baking tray for 20 minutes then brush
with beaten egg & sprinkle with poppy seed or
sesame seeds.
Q: Dear
Kareema, whats the key to finding a healthy and
balanced lifestyle?
A: Simply put, try not to over think
everything and eat in moderation. We are
all so busy in our daily lives that we hardly
stop to think and just breathe.
Try not to focus on
the negatives in your life, instead, turn them
into positives.
Be creative with your workouts and do what you
love youll be amazed at
how much calmer and centred you feel.
Mufti Mula
Nasruddin asked a man during a lecture at his Mosque:
"A time is coming when a brother will not recognise his
brother. A sister will not recognise her sister. A mother
will not recognise her daughter. A father will not recognise
his son.
Tell
me which time am I talking of?"
The
man replied, "IFTAAR TIME!"
*Iftaar is the time at the end
of the fasting day during Ramadan.
It is He Who creates from
the very beginning, and He
can restore (life). And He
is the Oft-Forgiving, full
of loving kindness, Lord of
the Throne of Glory, Doer
(without let) of all that He
intends.
1. All Islamic Event dates given above are supplied by
the Council of Imams QLD (CIQ) and are provided as a guide and 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.
7:15 pm Esha salah
7:25 pm Taraweh salah Kathamul Quran
There will be a talk for 15 minutes every day after Taraweh
salah covering the following topics:
1. Daily sunnats of our beloved Prophet
2. Intentions for good deeds
3. Salaat according to sunnat
4. 40 small Ahadith to memorise
Al-Mustapha
Institute of
Brisbane
39 Bushmills Court, Hillcrest Qld 4118
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
RAMADAN PROGRAMME
Naath
and Queesadah session every Saturday night,
after Taraweeh
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: 12 JULY 2016 Venue: Islamic College of Brisbane - 45 Acacia Road
Karawatha
The next QPS/Muslim Communities has been postponed.
Discussions with key stakeholders has resulted in the
meeting date now being moved to 12 July 2016 same time and
location (7pm at the Islamic College of Brisbane, 45 Acacia
Rd, Karawatha).
This will enable people to participate in the many Ramadan/Eid
functions and provide an opportunity for a subsequent
debrief of these events on the 12 July. If there are any
additional agenda items could you please forward them to
Maat.Michael@police.qld.gov.au.
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 us..
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.
Births, Marriages,
New Migrants and
Condolences
Dear
brothers and sisters
Assalamu Alaikum wr wb.
Free fuel for those who read the
Quran 
UK:
Following the death of Labour MP Jo Cox,
eyewitness reports suggested the alleged
perpetrator had shouted "Britain First",
"put Britain first" or words to that
effect, while stabbing and shooting her
outside a library in her West Yorkshire
constituency. 
post comments on
our Wall
7
August 2011