Ali Kadri - There is a
greater fear now in the Muslim
community
MEMBERS of the Muslim
community in Brisbane are
preparing a mass letterbox
drop to wish residents a
happy Christmas with a
message that extremists
dont represent Islamic
views.
They are preparing to
deliver
20,000 letters to homes
from Mount Gravatt to
Underwood over the next
three days.
The letter, on Islamic
Council of Queensland
letterhead, aims to dispel
misconceptions about
Muslims and Christmas,
including that Muslims are
offended by Christians
celebrating Christmas.
ICQ spokesman Ali Kadri said
the initiative was aimed at
ensuring positive Muslim
voices were heard.
There are either Muslim
extremists speaking up and
getting engaged and talking
a lot, or theres right-wing
extremists talking a lot,
Mr Kadri said.
Theres hardly anybody else
talking. So this is my way
of talking by distributing
these flyers to make more
noise than them.
Mr Kadri said delivering the
letters was as much about
sending a message to Muslim
extremists as it was to
people who feared Islam.
There are a minority of
extremist Muslims who say
that wishing someone a happy
Christmas is against Islam,
Mr Kadri said.
I want to send them a
message as much as I want to
send one to everyone else
that those people dont
speak for Islam, he said.
Heraa Hashmi went viral
after creating a Google
Spreadsheet as a comeback to
fellow classmates who told
her that Muslims dont
condemn violence.
It took her 3 weeks of 2
hours a day to complete the
list and she uploaded the
list on Twitter. Things got
escalated quickly as the
post has been liked 26,000
times and retweeted 13,000
times and received tons of
positive replies. Adding to
the encouraging break the
internet moment two of
Hashmi followers made a
website of the list made
by her.
Among condemns in the list
are:
1. Yusuf Badat
(Director of Religious
Affairs, Islamic Foundation
of Toronto) is condemning
about Violence Against
Women.
2. Federation of Islamic
Organisation in Europe (FIOE)
is condemning about
Violations against
Christians and Islamic
monuments in North Iraq.
3. Naeem Baig
(President of Islamic Circle
of North America (ICNA))
is condemning about
Violation of Human Rights in
Bangladesh.
4. Harris Zafar
(Author of Demystifying
#Islam)
condemning about Orlando
nightclub mass shooting in
2016.
5. Wanda Krause
(scholars of Islam,
University of Exeter)
is condemning about
terrorism.
6. Homayra Ziyad
(Institute of Christian and
Jewish Studies)
is condemning about sexual
abuse.
7. Sara Khan
(Winning human rights and
counter-extremism activist
and Inspires Director)
is condemning about Boko
Haram.
8. Joseph Lumbard
(Scholar of Islamic Studies.
American University in
Sharjah)
is condemning about 2016
Brussels, Belgium bombings.
Hashmi is 19 year old Indian
American Muslim vlogger,
author of 3 books and a
student at Boulder,
Colorado. Hashmi told
Buzzfeed News, that it all
started at the History Class
when two of her classmates
start asking about her
religion that eventually
lead to the topic of
terrorism. The question that
was imposed on her was why
dont Muslim condemn
terrorism if all Muslims
werent responsible for the
terrorist attack linked to
Islam?
What Hashmi did next is
truly remarkable. Instead of
continuing the conversation
and telling all of them to
find online, she made the
712 page long list of
references of Muslim who
condemns terrorism acts like
ISIS, the bombing event,
Boko Haram and others. In
her email to Teen Vogue, she
stated that a conversation
would lead to nowhere unless
evidences are compiled and
presented.
This project of her by far
has impacted the Muslim and
Non-Muslim in a very
positive manner. She hopes
that with this list it will
also open up others to the
realization that Muslim too,
condemns violence. Heraa
told Teen Vogue, Things
like this often go unnoticed
outside the Muslim
community, and I wanted to
bring them to light. Heraa
plan to continue adding more
to the list as we speak. She
hopes to help researchers
and activists by turning
this into a searchable
database.
It is just logic dont you
think? People who believe
and practice the peaceful
religion wouldnt agree to
such horrific crime. And
what this girl did here is
the indication that a Muslim
shouldnt just settle in an
agreement or avoid
uncomfortable questions
thrown at us. Instead, you
provide the questioners the
smart way. After all, we
live in the digital age.
Everything is just a click
away. Way to go, Heraa
Hashmi.
How trolling made Mariam
'physically sick'
Lawyer and community rights
advocate Mariam Veiszadeh talks
to Clem Ford about the harmful
effects of being targeted by
threats and abuse on social
media.
Daily Life's 2016 Woman of
the Year, Mariam Veiszadeh,
was blocked from Facebook
for sharing a highly abusive
Islamophobic message she was
sent.
The anti-Islamophobia
advocate, whose
determination in the face of
incessant cyber bullying was
commended by Women of the
Year judges, said that being
punished by the social media
giant for pointing out the
extreme opinion was a
"terrible experience". She
has since been unbanned from
the site, which apologised
after claiming the barring
was a "mistake".
Facebook appeared to
sanction the abuse, which
was on Tuesday sent as a
private message to Veiszadeh,
calling her a "f---ing
disgrace" and "muslim filth"
and claiming that she is
"full of hate for our
western culture".
"f--- off back to
Afghanistan where you
belong! you do not belong
here! [sic]" ends the
message, which was sent
after news of a suspected
pro-Islamic terror attack in
Berlin emerged.
Because the two-part message
was sent privately, it
appears not to have
contravened Facebook's
controversial community
standards, which rely on the
public reporting of abuse.
But when former lawyer and
diversity and inclusion
advocate Veiszadeh shared
the message on her public
page, the post was swiftly
removed and she was banned
from accessing her account.
Veiszadeh believes the post
was reported to Facebook
moderators by her large and
highly active "trollbase"
which, twisting the message
to its advantage, likely
highlighted its hateful
content. There is, of
course, a particular irony
in the trolls' reporting of
their own abuse.
Speaking with Daily Life
after the 23-hour ban had
been lifted on Wednesday,
Veiszadeh said that she
nowadays regularly learns of
suspected terror attacks by
receiving social media
messages blaming her for the
horrific incidents. Becoming
the scapegoat for such acts
of terror overseas, she
said, was "deeply, deeply
unfair" and that Facebook
needed to do more to prevent
trolling and online abuse.
"People think that there are
absolutely no consequences
for pushing their anger and
sending you unreasonable,
hateful messages and
threats.
"I feel that people need to
be held accountable for
their words and actions ...
Our current political
environment has emboldened
people to hurl abuse at
people like me under the
assumption that they can
simply get away with it,"
she said.
"I wouldn't feel compelled
to share these posts
publicly if Facebook had
better regulations and
processes in place to
actually tackle these kinds
of threats in a prompt and
efficient manner."
She said that there appears
to be no option to report
abusive private messages
from smartphones and that
her experience identified a
flaw in Facebook's reporting
functionality. As is, the
system - which needs urgent
simplification - is being
exploited by trolls and
bigots whose "end goal is to
silence advocates".
"There is a human being who
clicks 'approve'. Someone is
physically checking these
reports," she said. "I'm not
asking for special
privileges. There has got to
be a better, more consistent
approach applied."
A Facebook spokesman told
Daily Life that the removal
of the post and Veiszadeh's
subsequent ban were a
mistake, possibly based on
the face-value of the
message's contents. When put
into context, her post was
clearly within community
guidelines, he said.
He added that it takes just
one report of contravened
community guidelines to lead
to a ban and that every
report is looked at. He
urged Veiszadeh and all
users of Facebook to
instantly report any abuse
they come across.
The incident adds to
countless other episodes of
Islamophobia that have flown
under Facebook's reporting
radar. Calls to "kill as
many [Muslims] you can" and
"shoot the lot [of Syria
sympathisers]" using guns,
explosives and a fuel tanker
at march for Aleppo in
Brisbane remain on the site,
for example.
It is not the first time
Facebook has banned
Veiszadeh from her own page.
In May, she was blocked for
making a sarcastic joke
about Waleed Aly's Logies
win.
Feminist author and Daily
Life contributor Clementine
Ford was similarly banned
from her Facebook page for
posting sexist abuse she had
received - while the
original, vile comments went
unmoderated.
WA Police have released
images of a man they believe
can assist in their
investigation into an
alleged attack on a Muslim
woman.
The Muslim mother was
attacked at a Perth shopping
centre and has spoken out
about the attack, saying no
individual should be
targeted because of
religion.
The 33-year-old woman, who
asked not to be named, was
at the Beeliar Village in
Perths south on Friday
evening when a stranger
urged his children to wish
her a Merry Christmas.
I said you too, Merry
Christmas and thats when
he said thats right you
**** Muslim ****, the
mother-of-four said.
The woman said she
confronted the man about his
actions, and thats when he
threw a beer bottle towards
her face.
The bottle hit her back and
a scuffle broke out.
Another woman separated the
pair, but not before the
mother-of-four's headscarf
fell to the ground.
The man then grabbed the
33-year-olds headscarf and
took off, dropping it in
nearby bushland.
As the man made his getaway,
he hurled abuse and threw
rocks at the mother-of-four
as she called 000.
He goes: if I see you
again, Im going to kill
you, she said.
Im just sick of the abuse.
This isnt the first time
its happened.
The mother-of-four said
shes been left shaken by
the incident and is calling
for her daughters, other
Muslim women and all
Australians to stand up
against abuse that she said
was becoming all too common.
Its disgusting because
were just normal people,
the woman said.
Weve got a religion we
want to follow.
I choose to wear the scarf.
Its my identity as a Muslim
and Im proud of it.
Why the hell should I be
ashamed of who I am?
WA Police are investigating
the incident.
7 News
The man police believe can
assist in their investigation
into an alleged attack on a
Muslim woman. Image: WA
Police
'We
must ban Muslim immigration':
Pauline Hanson claims terror
attacks in Germany and
Turkey show why One Nation's
anti-Islam stance is right
for Australia
In recent years, Islam has
been thrust into world
spotlight for a number of
reasons starting with 9/11
and ISIS to anti-refugee
sentiments in Europe and a
certain US Presidential
candidates anti-Muslim
campaigns. In this
hullabaloo, we have
forgotten that some of the
coolest famous people we
look up to from Muhammad
Ali to Zayn Malik and Aziz
Ansari are all Muslims.
Would you believe it if we
told you there were many
more Muslims in the celeb
world?
This week's celebrity
Ellen Burstyn
This one may come as a
surprise to you : Emmy-award
winning and Academy-award
nominated actress Ellen
Burstyn known for roles in
Requiem for a Dream, The
Last Picture Show, The
Exorcist, Resurrection and
Alice Doesnt Live Here
Anymore, practices a
moderate form of Sufi Islam
(thats why you wont find
her wearing a burqa). She
has said that she also lives
by some tenets of Hinduism,
Buddhism and Christianity..
An engaging conversation
between a Christian Pastor
and a Muslim Imam, "Out of
Context" is a 14 part
Interview series answers
pressing questions about
Islam and gives valuable
insight into the spirit of
the faith.
In Part 13 of the interview,
Shaykh Omar takes questions
from the audience. The anger
felt by many in the Muslim
world and other countries,
says Sheikh Omar Suleiman,
is primarily directed
against the American
government not the American
people. Many are dismayed by
American foreign policy in
Syria, for instance, where
they feel betrayed because
Bashaar El Asad was left to
butcher his own people for
months until ISIS appeared
on the scene. There is also
a sense that the U.S. is
supporting convenient
dictatorships at the expense
of democracy and human
rights, as in the case of
Egypt. But the sore spot is
the Palestine-Israel issue
where we find that the U.S.
often unjustly vetoes UN
resolutions that would
sanction Israel. Mostly the
anger is limited to
political conflicts in
places like Iraq, and
against drone strikes, which
is why in this country we
cannot allow political
dissent to be subdued.
Muslim and American are not
mutually exclusive as the
U.S. is home to seven to 10
million Muslims. We must
look at the issue in a
nuanced way.
A memo to the
president-elect
about the people
he fears. BY
LAWRENCE PINTAK
An Idiots
Guide to Islam
in America
ARGUMENT
Islam hates us.
That was a
recurring theme
of your
campaign, Mr.
President-elect.
And who can
blame you? After
all, your top
advisors on
Muslim affairs
Ann Coulter,
Frank Gaffney,
and Walid Phares
are
card-carrying
Islamophobes.
Your incoming
national
security
advisor, retired
Army Lt. Gen.
Mike Flynn,
wants Muslim
leaders to
declare their
Islamic ideology
sick, and your
special advisor,
Steve Bannon,
has been accused
of using his
Breitbart News
Daily radio show
to instigate
fear and
loathing of
Muslims in
America.
But now that
youve announced
its time for
America to bind
the wounds of
division, it
might be useful
for you to learn
a little bit
more about one
of the most
alienated
segments of the
nation you now
lead: American
citizens who
also happen to
be Muslims.
I get that
youre worried
about what you
call radical
Islamic
terrorism. Ive
been reporting
on extremists
who claim to
represent Islam
since I covered
the first
anti-American
suicide bombings
in Beirut in the
early 1980s, so
I share your
concern. Ive
seen friends die
and others waste
away in
captivity at
their hands. And
Ive come
awfully close to
being a victim
myself a few
times. But Ive
also learned
that Muslims
come in many
colors
literally and
figuratively
and my doctorate
in Islamic
studies helped
me understand
that the
religion itself
is interpreted
in many
different ways.
In fact,
Americas 3.3
million Muslims,
the other 1
percent, are
developing their
own take on what
it means to
follow Islam.
The jihadis are
already
rejoicing at
your election
because their
words here, not
mine it
reveals the
true mentality
of the Americans
and their racism
toward Muslims
and Arabs and
everything. But
what do they
know?
When Bill
OReilly asked
you whether you
thought American
Muslims fear
you, you
replied, I hope
not. I want to
straighten
things out.
So, in a similar
spirit of good
tidings, this
memo about how
good ol
American values
are influencing
Islam in the
United States
might help make
that whole
straightening
out go a little
easier. Since
its not likely
that much beyond
references to
Islam as a
cancer is going
to make it into
your briefing
papers anytime
soon, I thought
Id toss this
out into the
webosphere in
the hope that
you might trip
across it late
some night while
prowling the
net.
(Its OK to just
read the stuff
in bold print.)
They are
bridging what
many American
Muslims see as a
huge disconnect
in their
religion.
The foreign
imams make the
mosques
irrelevant for
the majority of
people who might
otherwise go.
Theyre speaking
a foreign
language
literally and
figuratively,
argues Jihad
Turk, the
second-generation
Palestinian-American
president of
Bayan Claremont,
which offers
graduate degrees
to future imams.
We need to have
a cadre of
American Muslim
religious
leaders that
were born and
raised here, who
get it, who can
speak to the
diversity, first
of all, in our
own community.
Khaled Abou El
Fadl of UCLA,
one of the most
renowned
scholars of
Islamic law in
the United
States, says
counterintuitively
that American
convert imams
resonate even
with immigrant
Muslims. The
white guy that
is all-American
converts to
Islam and then
tells them Islam
is wonderful, so
it affirms to
the immigrant
that Islam is
not all these
horrible things
that the public
stereotypically
believes in, he
explains.
Worldview,
not just accent,
is the key
issue. Many
of the old guard
and theres
plenty of them
still around
wear what some
in their
erstwhile flock
see as cultural
and religious
blinders. A
reinterpreted
Islam is no
Islam, Jaafar
Idris, a
U.S.-based
Sudanese cleric,
preached more
than a decade
ago.
Hogwash, says
Safi, the Duke
professor. This
notion that
Islam somehow
dropped from
heaven in a
hermetically
sealed envelope
and our job is
to simply
preserve it can
only come from
somebody who
doesnt
understand the
way that history
works and the
way that
religious
traditions
work.
Even the
conservatives
among this new
generation of
American Muslim
preachers agree
that Islam can
and should adapt
to its time and
place.
American
Muslims by and
large do need to
understand that
the environment
theyre living
in is not
3rd-century
Byzantium, nor
is it
21st-century
Saudi Arabia,
says Yasir Qadhi,
an influential
American imam
who has more
than 1 million
followers on
social media.
If you wish
Islam to
flourish in this
land, you have
to find and
create local
clergy; you have
to bring about a
new generation
of scholars who
are fully
Western and
fully in sync
with the
tradition of
Islam.
CONTINUING THE
LESSON NEXT WEEK
IN CCN:
These new
American imams
are not
(necessarily)
anti-Saudi.
An Asian
Peace Plan for
the War on
Christmas
The ARGUMENT
Singapore
proves that
holidays in a
multiethnic
country dont
have to be
occasions for
divisiveness.
.........Ive
been thinking
about that meal
in recent weeks,
as Ive watched
the venom spewed
in the United
States, where I
now live, over
the alleged War
on Christmas
thats the name
Americans give
to their
internecine
battle over
wishing people
Merry
Christmas
versus Happy
holidays or
other similarly
inclusive
phrases. Its a
fight that has
metastasized to
reach the
highest levels
of politics.
President Barack
Obama has gotten
some heat on
social media for
sending out a
holiday as
opposed to
Christmas card
again this year.
At a victory
rally in
Wisconsin this
month, Donald
Trump stood in
front of a line
of Christmas
trees and
pointedly said,
When I started
18 months ago, I
told my first
crowd in
Wisconsin that
we are going to
come back here
some day and we
are going to say
Merry
Christmas
again. Merry
Christmas. So,
Merry Christmas
everyone. Happy
New Year, but
Merry
Christmas. The
audience, primed
by decades of
right-wing
media, reacted
in ecstasy.
FOREIGN POLICY
This
Razor-Sharp
Rebuttal To An
Islamophobic
Comment Is More
Relevant Than
Ever
As hate crimes
towards Muslims
increase, it's
important to
keep serving up
the truth.
Societies have a
lousy tendency
to pin their
misfortunes on
those in the
minority among
them. In the
early decades of
the 21st
century, some in
Western nations
have found
Muslim
communities easy
scapegoats for
larger systemic
societal ills.
Islamophobia is
rampant and only
growing ever
more so here in
the U.S and in
Europe as
far-right
politicians ride
the populist
wave of
anti-refugee
backlash.
Recently, one
Tumblr user
posted a photo
of the World
Trade Center's
since-destroyed
twin towers in
pre-9/11
Manhattan, with
the words
"Imagine the
world without
Muslims" in bold
caps. The image
alluded that
9/11 would not
have happened if
not for Muslims,
a sweeping
generalization
that charges all
1.6 billion
followers of
Islam for the
terrorist
attack.
But a dazzling
rebuttal came
from another
Tumblr user, "whatpath,"
who took on the
challenge of
picturing a
world without
Muslims. The
result is one
bereft of
innovations and
products as we
know them today,
including
coffee,
anesthesia,
Algebra, the
numbering
system, Braille,
chess, shampoo,
and so on.
Yes, lets
imagine a world
WITHOUT MUSLIMS,
shall we?
Without Muslims
you wouldnt
have:
Coffee Cameras
Experimental
Physics Chess
Soap Shampoo
Perfume/spirits
Irrigation
Crank-shaft,
internal
combustion
engine, valves,
pistons
Combination
locks
Architectural
innovation
(pointed arch
-European Gothic
cathedrals
adopted this
technique as it
made the
building much
stronger, rose
windows, dome
buildings, round
towers, etc.)
Surgical
instruments
Anesthesia
Windmill
Treatment of
Cowpox Fountain
pen Numbering
system
Algebra/Trigonometry
Modern
Cryptology 3
course meal
(soup,
meat/fish,
fruit/nuts)
Crystal glasses
Carpets Checks
Gardens used for
beauty and
meditation
instead of for
herbs and
kitchen.
University
Optics Music
Toothbrush
Hospitals
Bathing Quilting
Mariners
Compass Soft
drinks Pendulum
Braille
Cosmetics
Plastic surgery
Calligraphy
Manufacturing of
paper and cloth
It was a Muslim
who realized
that light
ENTERS our eyes,
unlike the
Greeks who
thought we
EMITTED rays,
and so invented
a camera from
this discovery.
It was a Muslim
who first tried
to FLY in 852,
even though it
is the Wright
Brothers who
have taken the
credit.
It was a Muslim
by the name of
Jabir ibn Hayyan
who was known as
the founder of
modern
Chemistry. He
transformed
alchemy into
chemistry. He
invented:
distillation,
purification,
oxidation,
evaporation, and
filtration. He
also discovered
sulfuric and
nitric acid.
It is a Muslim,
by the name of
Al-Jazari who is
known as the
father of
robotics.
It was a Muslim
who was the
architect for
Henry Vs
castle.
It was a Muslim
who invented
hollow needles
to suck
cataracts from
eyes, a
technique still
used today.
It was a Muslim
who actually
discovered
inoculation, not
Jenner and
Pasteur to treat
cowpox. The West
just brought it
over from Turkey
It was Muslims
who contributed
much to
mathematics like
Algebra and
Trigonometry,
which was
imported over to
Europe 300 years
later to
Fibonnaci and
the rest.
It was Muslims
who discovered
that the Earth
was round 500
years before
Galileo did.
The list goes
on ..
Just imagine a
world without
Muslims. Now I
think you
probably meant,
JUST IMAGINE A
WORLD WITHOUT
TERRORISTS. And
then I would
agree, the world
would definitely
be a better
place without
those pieces of
filth. But to
hold a whole
group
responsible for
the actions of a
few is ignorant
and racist. No
one would ever
expect
Christians or
White people to
be held
responsible for
the acts of
Timothy McVeigh
(Oklahoma
bombing) or
Anders Breivik
(Norway
killing), or the
gun man that
shot
Congresswoman
Giffords in
head, wounded 12
and killed 6
people, and
rightly so
because they had
nothing to do
with those
incidents! Just
like the rest of
the 1.5 billion
Muslims have
nothing to do
with this
incident!
A
PLUS
In the Islamic
nativity, Jesus
is born under a
date palm tree.
The
Little-Known
Story Of The
Islamic
Christmas Tree
Not many people
know that the
Quran features a
tree in the
narrative of
Jesus birth.
When I was
growing up, I
always wanted a
Christmas tree
in our family
home but
unfortunately
for me, this was
an idea my
parents
staunchly
resisted. Once,
I even offered
to make a
homemade one but
my parents
wouldnt
entertain the
idea because we
were Muslim.
We werent very
strict Muslims,
but we were
practicing, and
a Christmas tree
was seen as a
contradiction to
our religious
values back
then. I wasnt
alone either;
most of my
Muslim friends
have a similar
story to tell.
Fast forward
years later, and
the same parents
are now gifting
Christmas
presents to
their
grandchildren.
So what exactly
was the problem
back then with
the Christmas
tree? Upon
reflection, this
no compromise
position is
likely to have
been wrapped up
with the
insecurities and
identity
politics of my
parents being
new migrants.
In general these
attitudes are
starting to wane
amongst Muslims,
as it seems more
are enjoying
cultural
elements of
Christmas in the
U.K. and in
America too,
particularly
younger
generations.
Some see the
cultural
tradition of
giving and
sharing during
Christmas as
compatible with
Islamic values.
Given how huge
Christmas is in
the West (and
practically
unavoidable),
many do not want
to miss out on
the fun either.
However, the
Christmas tree
in particular is
still met with
resistance by
many Muslim
families (and
non-Muslims too,
such as
Jehovahs
Witnesses, who
dont celebrate
any aspect of
Christmas) as it
is well known
that the
Christmas tree
has European
pagan origins.
The pagan
practice of
bringing in
something
evergreen into
the home was
thought to ward
off evil
spirits, and
this didnt gain
popularity as an
adapted
Christian custom
until the 17th
and 18th
centuries.
Because of this
pagan history,
some Muslims
have sought to
avoid having a
Christmas tree
in their home
for fear of
deifying
anything other
than God. This,
coupled with
anxieties around
maintaining
their heritage
in a non-Muslim
society, means
that it is still
rare to find
Muslims who will
put up a
Christmas tree.
But can
religious
literacy in
Quranic
narratives
soften attitudes
towards this?
What many
Muslims dont
reflect on (or
know about) is
the concept of
an Islamic
Christmas tree.
What I mean by
this is the tree
featured in the
Quranic account
of Jesus birth
in chapter Mary
(Surah 19). In
this narrative,
Jesus is born
under a tree,
which is an
integral part of
the Islamic
nativity scene
and story. This
is an Islamic
Christmas tree
of sorts; a tree
that can be used
to remind us of
the story of
Jesus birth.
Huffington Post
Muslim and
Christian make
new Quran
translation to
show the two
religions'
similarities
'Most of the
tension that
exists post-9/11
is because
Christians fear
the Quran,' says
co-author
A Muslim and a
Christian have
made a new
translation of
the Quran to
underline the
similarities
between their
two religions.
The authors, who
are also
friends, said
they hoped the
text would
provide a tool
of
reconciliation
between
Christians and
Muslims.
Some 3,000
parallels
between the
Bible and Quran
are demonstrated
in the book,
which has a
split-page
format.
Safi Kaskas, the
Muslim co-author
of the new book,
said in a
statement: Most
of the tension
that exists in
the West in the
post-9/11 era is
because
Christians fear
Muslims and
their book, the
Quran.
"This new
translation was
designed to be a
tool of
reconciliation
between Muslims
and the
followers of
other Abrahamic
religions
[Christianity
and Judaism].
In an
environment of
tension, working
for
reconciliation
and peace is
long overdue. If
we are to
prevent a much
larger disaster
from happening,
we must work for
a better
understanding.
He said some
translations had
wrongly given
the impression
Islam was
intolerant of
other faiths,
saying this was
not an accurate
interpretation
of the holy
text.
I am a regular and appreciative reader of CCN,
including its book review section.
I am getting in touch with you because I convene a
reading group at Clarence Corner bookshop in
Woolloongabba that I thought might be of interest to
some of the readers of your newsletter.
We're starting the year with a well-known book
written by an Iranian/French author that tells the
story of the Iranian revolution from the perspective
of a young girl. The book is called Persepolis and
its author is Marjane Satrapi.
I
attach a reading list for the year ahead, in
case you are interested. People can join for as many
or as few sessions as they want. People from all
backgrounds are welcome.
With best wishes, Carolina Caliaba
World Books Club
Clarence Corner bookshop - 596 Stanley St,
Woolloongabba
Muslims
donate 10 tonnes of food in charity drive
for homeless at Christmas
Volunteers
taking part in the food drive at
the East London Mosque
CREDIT: MUSLIM AID/BEN STEVENS
LONDON: Muslims in London have donated
10 tonnes of food to feed the homeless.
The charity drive, organised by Muslim
Aid and the East London Mosque in
Whitechapel, saw hundreds of congregants
arrive to Friday prayers bringing food
donations
The food will be given to homeless
charity Crisis, with more than 90 per
cent going to non-Muslims.
Dilowar Khan, Executive Director of the
East London Mosque said: It was
heart-warming to see so many people
bringing food to the Mosque and a good
sign of our common humanity. We need to
build on this and make sure that we
support those less fortunate all year
round.
Pupils of the
London East Academy were among
those who helped with the food
drive
CREDIT: MUSLIM
AID/BEN STEVENS
The Reverend Bernadette Hegarty of St
Pauls, Bow Common Church, said: Giving
is an important part of both the
Christian and Islam faith and it is
important for us to be working together
to do what we can to support our
brothers and sisters.
Jehangir Malik, Chief Executive of
Muslim Aid, said: With austerity cuts
and the housing crisis, more and more
people are ending up on the streets
destitute.
"We, as a Muslim charity, want to do
everything we can to help the most
vulnerable people in this country this
Christmas, regardless of faith or
background.
Helping those in need is one of the
five pillars of Islam and as
temperatures plummet we need to do
everything we can to protect those most
at risk.
(l-r)
Askor Ali, Head Teacher of the
London East Academy school,
Jehangir Malik, CEO of Muslim
Aid, Reverend Bernadette Hegarty
of St Pauls, Bow Common Church,
Dilowar Khan, Executive Director
of the East London Mosque and
Muslim Aid volunteer Fatema
Mawji
CREDIT: MUSLIM
AID/BEN STEVENS
Shaykh Abdul Qayum, Chief Imam of the
East London Mosque, added: Muslims are
inspired by their faith towards helping
others in need. It is a religious duty
for Muslims to try to help others,
irrespective of a person's faith or
background. This compassion is truly
reflective of what Islam stands for.
In the cold winter months when we have
the luxury of a home and hot food, it's
easy to forget about others that are in
dire need around us. So it is in that
spirit we take part in this big food
drive.
Ian Richards, Head of Crisis at
Christmas, said: Every year, Crisis
opens its doors to thousands of homeless
people, offering a safe, warm welcome
with food and companionship, as well as
access to vital services and year-round
opportunities.
"None of this would be possible without
the generosity of our donors, and wed
like to thank Muslim Aid and the East
London Mosque for their kind support.
This food will help us provide a
lifeline for homeless people this
Christmas and bring them one step closer
to escaping homelessness for good.
Muslims and Hindus more
likely to help someone being attacked than
Christians, survey finds
Christian
respondents suggested they were
the least likely to intervene
(Bay Alarm Medical)
US: In a world that
seems to be getting angrier and more
hectic, lots of people have
witnessed violent or aggressive
incidents and wondered whether or
not they should intervene.
A thousand questions race through
the mind: do you risk your own
safety, are you actually witnessing
what you think you are witnessing,
and could getting involved even make
things worse?
A new survey questioned 2,000 people
about their willingness to intervene
in an extreme situation and came
up with some interesting findings.
One was that greater percentage of
people who identify as Muslims and
Hindus said they would spring into
action than Christians.
Just 24 per cent of people said they
would get out their phone and start
videoing if they saw a police
officer harassing an African
American man for no reason, while 21
per cent said they would get out of
it. Meanwhile - both typically and
depressingly - nearly twice as many
people say would step in if they
witnessed violence against a dog,
rather than a person.
The survey, entitled Bystander
Backlash and which makes no claims
to being entirely scientific, was
conducted on behalf of Bay Alarm
Medical, a California-based medical
services company.
Man throws coffee
in Muslim womans face at Dunkin Donuts
and calls her a terrorist
Hate crime:
The New York store where a man
'threw hot coffee in a Muslim
woman's face'
US: A homeless man
threw hot coffee at a Muslim woman
before hitting her and calling her a
terrorist at a branch of Dunkin
Donuts in New York, US authorities
said.
Nathan Gray, 34, allegedly told his
21-year-old victim he hated
Muslims before threatening to kill
her.
He has been charged with assault as
a hate crime, police said.
The New York Daily News reported
that Mr Gray walked into the fast
food store in mid-town Manhattan on
Sunday afternoon and asked for a cup
of coffee.
A store employee, who did not want
to be named, told the paper that on
paying for his coffee the
34-year-old allegedly sat next to
group of Muslim women and started
shouting at them, calling them
terrorists.
The women reportedly tried to ignore
him but he continued shouting.
Muslim woman shoved down and dragged
along in 'sickening' attack
She said: One woman called him
stupid. So he threw his hot coffee
in her face.
It was hot, hot coffee. She could
have been burned. Then he swung his
bag at her and it hit her in the
face.
The woman then ran outside where Mr
Gray allegedly put her in a
headlock.
Emergency services were called to
the scene and Mr Gray was arrested.
The victim reportedly refused
medical attention.
YouTube star allegedly
kicked off Delta flight 'for speaking
Arabic' is known for pranks
Adam Saleh,
whose videos have drawn millions
of followers, recorded himself
being escorted from plane after
people felt uncomfortable, he
told the Guardian
US: A YouTube star
known for filming elaborate hoaxes
was escorted off a Delta flight on
Wednesday morning after he claimed
that other passengers complained
when they heard him speaking in
Arabic.
Adam Saleh, a 23-year-old YouTube
star from New York, posted multiple
videos to Twitter and Periscope on
Tuesday, showing himself being
escorted from a plane by Delta
flight attendants.
Saleh said in the videos that after
passengers heard him speaking
Arabic, they felt uncomfortable
and called flight attendants.
However, while it is clear that he
was removed from the flight at
Londons Heathrow airport, the
circumstances leading up to the
video retweeted more than 644,000
times are not known and cannot be
verified.
Saleh has created videos in the past
that involved staged scenes on
airplanes and with actors playing
authority figures.
Saleh was on a flight from London to
New York with his friend Slim
Albaher, another YouTube
personality, who was also escorted
off the plane.
They kicked us off the plane
because a lady, because a lot of
people felt uncomfortable, Saleh
said. Delta Air Lines just kicked
us out for speaking Arabic.
Saleh told the Guardian that he was
calling his mother before his flight
from Heathrow on Wednesday morning.
Usually before I take off I speak
to my mom, he said. My mom is 66
years old and she only speaks
Arabic, so I was speaking to her in
Arabic it was a 30-second phone
call.
After the phone call, he said, he
was speaking with Albaher in Arabic
and in English when this lady that
was sitting maybe four seats ahead
of us turns around and says: Oh my,
you need to speak English, Im
feeling very uncomfortable. Saleh
said after another passenger
defended the two, an older man the
woman was travelling with also got
involved.
According to Saleh, he said: Chuck
them off the f-ing plane! before
other men stood up and called for
the captain.
The woman who originally complained
told the captain: We feel
uncomfortable something happened
in Germany. If they dont leave, I
leave, according to Saleh.
Saleh said the captain then asked to
speak to them outside, which is when
he started filming.
Romania Set for First
Female, and First Muslim, Prime Minister
Sevil Shhaideh
is a relatively little-known
figure who served as minister of
regional development for six
months in Romanias last Social
Democrat-led government.
BUCHAREST, Romania
In a surprise move, Romanias
largest political party nominated a
woman from the countrys Tatar
minority for prime minister on
Wednesday. If she wins approval from
the president and Parliament, she
will be both the first Muslim and
the first woman to hold the post.
The Social Democratic Party scored a
resounding victory in the Dec. 11
general election, winning more than
45 percent of the vote. Together
with its smaller ally, the Alliance
of Liberals and Democrats, it holds
a majority of the seats in
Parliament.
Muslim women have very rarely served
as heads of state or government in
Europe. The few previous examples
were in countries with Muslim
majorities: Tansu Ciller was prime
minister of Turkey in the 1990s, and
Atifete Jahjaga was president of
Kosovo from 2011 to 2016.
By contrast, more than 80 percent of
Romanians are Orthodox Christians,
while fewer than 1 percent are
Muslims.
There will clearly be part of the
electorate that wont like it, Mr.
Ivan said of the partys choice of
Ms. Shhaideh. They also wont like
that the two most powerful political
positions in Romania will be taken
by those from ethnic and religious
minorities. (Mr. Iohannis, the
president, is Protestant and of
German ancestry.)
Even so, Mr. Ivan said he did not
think Ms. Shhaidehs faith would
make her seem alien to fellow
Romanians. Generally, Romanias
Muslim community, the Turks and
Tatars, the Islam they practice is a
very moderate one, he said. They
have lived more than 100 years in a
non-Muslim country, theyve been
through a socialist regime. If you
look at Shhaideh, her head isnt
covered.
Wise,
funny, and heartbreaking, Persepolis is Marjane Satrapis
memoir of growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution.
In powerful black-and-white comic strip images, Satrapi
tells the story of her life in Tehran from ages six to
fourteen, years that saw the overthrow of the Shahs regime,
the triumph of the Islamic Revolution, and the devastating
effects of war with Iraq. The intelligent and outspoken only
child of committed Marxists and the great-granddaughter of
one of Irans last emperors, Marjane bears witness to a
childhood uniquely entwined with the history of her country.
Persepolis paints an unforgettable portrait of daily life in
Iran and of the bewildering contradictions between home life
and public life. Marjanes childs-eye view of dethroned
emperors, state-sanctioned whippings, and heroes of the
revolution allows us to learn as she does the history of
this fascinating country and of her own extraordinary
family. Intensely personal, profoundly political, and wholly
original, Persepolis is at once a story of growing up and a
reminder of the human cost of war and political repression.
It shows how we carry on, with laughter and tears, in the
face of absurdity. And, finally, it introduces us to an
irresistible little girl with whom we cannot help but fall
in love.
A New York Times Notable Book
A Time Magazine Best
Comix of the Year
A San Francisco Chronicle and Los Angeles Times Best-seller
I try to read about a book a week on average.
Even when my schedule is out of control,
I carve out time for reading"
- Bill Gates
Would you like
to see the cover of your favourite book on our book shelves
below?
Q: Dear
Kareema, how can I just kick back, relax and let
go of the stress these holidays while working
out?
A: The last thing you want to do is
stress about how you are going to relax!
We all know that
yoga is hard work, but if you find your inner
calm while doing the stretches/poses, youll be
amazed at how relaxed you feel after a session.
Try not to overthink or struggle through your
poses, just breathe.
Studies show that sounds can have a powerful
effect on how we feel too, so go for a run on
the soft sand while listening to the crashing
waves at sunrise
Taking a dip in clear waters close to a
waterfall is a great stress-reliever as well.
So turn off your
mind and let your body take over. N-JOY!
Mula Nasruddin
called his friend Jallaludin and asked him how his
Advanced Studies in the English Language course
was going.
Jallaludin replied that he was too busy to talk as he was
working on the "Aqua-thermal treatment of ceramics,
aluminium and steel under a constrained environment".
Mula Nasruddin was suitably impressed...... but on
further enquiring learnt that Jallaludin was washing
dishes, with hot water... under his wife's supervision.
And spend of your substance
in the cause of Allah, and
do not make your own hands
contribute to (your)
destruction; but do good;
for Allah loves those who do
good.
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.
Nuria Khataam
Date: Every last Wednesday of the month
Time: After Esha Salaat
Venue: Algester Mosque
Contact: Yahya
Ph: 0403338040
Sisters Support Services - On going
Activities
Tafsir
Class
By Umm Bilal. Held every Tuesday at 10am -
Kuraby area
Halaqah
By Um Bilal. Held every Thursday &
Saturday at 10am
( Saturdays at Runcorn location)
Arabic classes
Taught by Umm Bilal Wednesdays 1 2pm
Kuraby Masjid
Tuesdays 1 2pm
Kuraby area (after Tafsir Class)
Sisters Support Social Group -
1stWednesday of every
Month - Kuraby Location
YOUTH GROUP-
- Muslimah Girls Youth Group
for 10+ Girls
School Holiday Activites
- Contact : Aliyah 0438840467
Amir Boys Club
for Primary School Boys MONTHLY & HOLIDAY ACTIVITES
Contact : Farah
0432026375
We also run a volunteers group to assist
Muslim women with food rosters and home visits for sisters
who need support or are isolated. We refer Sisters in need
for counselling, accommodation, financial assistance and
other relevant services.
To join our volunteer group or for any other
details for activates please call the numbers below
Aliyah : 0438840467
Khadijah: 0449268375
Farah: 0432026375 Iman
: 0449610386
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
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
HOLLAND PARK MOSQUE
Queensland Police Service/Muslim Community
Consultative Group
Minutes from the QPS/Muslim Community
Reference Group meeting held on
Monday 24 October 2016 at the Islamic College of Brisbane [ICB]
are available
here.
Next Meeting
Time: 7pm Date: TBA Venue: Islamic College of Brisbane - 45 Acacia Road
Karawatha
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..
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Births, Marriages,
New Migrants and
Condolences
Muslims
donate 10 tonnes of food in charity drive
for homeless at Christmas
Wise,
funny, and heartbreaking, Persepolis is Marjane Satrapis
memoir of growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution.
In powerful black-and-white comic strip images, Satrapi
tells the story of her life in Tehran from ages six to
fourteen, years that saw the overthrow of the Shahs regime,
the triumph of the Islamic Revolution, and the devastating
effects of war with Iraq. The intelligent and outspoken only
child of committed Marxists and the great-granddaughter of
one of Irans last emperors, Marjane bears witness to a
childhood uniquely entwined with the history of her country.
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7
August 2011