Fashion has long be utilised
as a tool for a cultural
change in societies, from
Coco Chanel popularising
trousers for women to the
punk movement of the 1970’s.
With an international
atmosphere of unrest and
uncertainty, to see a young
designer emerge with a
strong voice and the design
skills to back it up is
truly exciting.
Amira Al-Maani is one such
designer, whose flair for
drama and glamour is only
amplified by her Middle
Eastern heritage and
experience as a Muslim woman
in Australia. Amira is fresh
to the fashion industry,
having completed her studies
at the Australian institute
of Creative Design in 2016;
“Attending college enhanced
my designing skills, taught
me how to pattern, how to
sew, and gave me the
confidence to create my
first collection.”
She reflects that her
personal style typically
favours feminine and flowing
silhouettes, which along
with a strong admiration for
designers Elie Saab, Ralph &
Russo, Zuhaid Murad, and
Dolce and Gabbana, comes
across strongly in her own
designs. “The woman who
would wear my designs has a
love for fashion and
glamour. She is bold and
confident, warm and
good-natured. She knows who
she is and sticks true to
it.” Her inclination for
designing garments that are
bold and dramatic with rich
fabrics is heavily
influenced by her Middle
Eastern heritage.
Indonesian designer Anniesa
Hasibuan made history in
September last year when she
showcased a collection at
New York Fashion Week in
full hijab, notably, amidst
a period of severe
anti-Muslim rhetoric within
the 2016 Presidential
Campaign. The role of Islam
in the global community is
regularly discussed on news
and media platforms, and is
a large cause of contention
for political and social
groups. Amira is aware of
the difficulties facing
Muslim creatives as a result
of political climate,
however she reflects that
she does not believe her
background has isolated her
from the creative industry:
“I feel like there are a lot
of young Muslims who are
breaking into the creative
industry now, which makes it
less daunting for me”.
Whilst her college was a
place for her to express
herself and develop her
skills, she states that
regular racism outside of
the classroom did bring down
her self-confidence and
cause her to question
herself; however, she never
let these experiences stop
her from pursuing her goals,
and with the support of her
classmates and teachers
dedicated herself to doing
what she loves. As a strong
figure in the fashion
industry, it will be
exciting to observe what she
achieves.
Going forward, Amira has big
goals for her brand and for
herself. Following a
well-received debut
collection at the Emerge
2016 Fashion Parade
showcase, she is committed
to moving forward, with the
ultimate goal of making the
Amira Al-Maani brand global.
Couture designs by:
Amira-Almaani | Model:
Nyaluak Leth | Makeup: Jas
Makeup and Consultancy |
Photography: Aude
Photography
Zulaikha Goss and
Janeth Deen attended
the Conference held
by Queensland
History held in the
Southport Community
Centre on 19 - 21
May.
The Queensland
Muslim Historical
Society Inc
displayed the
history of Muslims
in Queensland for
the first time on
the Gold Coast.
Referring to the
Goss family and
Zulaikha Goss in
particular, Janet
Deen told CCN that
it was wonderful
that a member of the
first Muslim family
on the Gold Coast
was on hand to greet
the many people who
visited the
Society's display.
"It is a great
opportunity to
reinforce the fact
that Muslims have
been in Australia
since before
Australia became a
nation. Many
Australians are
ignorant of our
participation in the
development of
Australia," added Ms
Deen.
A group of Brisbane
Somali youth
supported by
respected Somali
elders respond to
the recent severe
drought in Somalia.
The youth have
organised a
fundraising event
and managed to
collect from the
Somali and wider
Muslim community in
Brisbane a cash
donation of just
under $50,000.
This money that was
collected under the
Moorooka Charitable
Trust was sent to
key areas severely
affected by the
drought including
regions of Bay and
Bakool, Gedo, Sanaag,
Ayn, Togtheer and
the Danood region of
the Somali regional
state in Ethiopia.
In some of these
regions, an outbreak
of cholera caused
the death of
hundreds of people
already suffering
from the severe food
shortage.
The beneficiaries of
this emergency
relief money from
Brisbane include
thousands of people
suffering from
thirsty, hunger and
starvation.
Individual families
from above affected
areas received
emergence relief
food comprising
sacks of sugar,
rice, maize, cooking
oil and supplies of
fresh drinking
water.
Somalia has recently
been recovering from
a long and
protracted conflict
that lasted more
than a quarter of a
century. There has
been some good news
lately for
reconciliation and
reconstruction where
Somalis successfully
formed a strong and
representative
federal State.
In 2017 Somalia
suffered the worst
drought in its
history. According
to the Food Security
and Nutrition
Analysis Agency,
about 363, 000
acutely malnourished
children needed
urgent treatment and
nutrition support.
A delay of the
spring rain season
caused the
destruction of
livestock and crops,
which are the
livelihoods of
people, leading to
serious food
shortages in the
country.
The Brisbane Somali
youth and community
elders thank all
those who have
responded generously
to the fundraising
program.
We specifically
express our sincere
and heartfelt
gratitude to the
trustees of Kuraby
Mosque for their
support in this
fundraising.
Community groups and the
local council say they're
disappointed by misleading media
reports of the privacy curtains
for women-only swimming.
Burkini-clad swimmers at the
Auburn Ruth Everuss Aquatic
Centre during its April Open Day
celebrations.
Cumberland Council, in
Sydney's West, has defended
the installation of privacy
curtains at a council-run
swimming pool, reported as a
measure to allow Muslim
women to participate in
women-only swimming
sessions.
The Ruth Everuss Aquatic
Centre in Auburn holds two
curtained-off women-only
sessions each week in one of
five pools in the complex.
Critics have branded the
curtain a backwards step for
integration, with anti-Islam
campaigner Kirralie Smith
comparing the segregation to
apartheid – but community
groups and the council say
they’ve been disappointed by
such reactions, blaming
media coverage which they
say has portrayed the move
as a divisive, controversial
issue.
“[Cumberland Council] was
not surprised by the angle
media took,” the council’s
Acting General Manager
Maxine Kenyon said.
“But it was disappointing
that the coverage focused
only on one element of the
use of the pool, given that
council did actually provide
media outlets with
information about the full
extent of the use of the
Program Pool.”
The council said the privacy
curtain was installed
following significant
community demand, and not
just from Muslim women.
The area is also used by
physiotherapy patients,
disabled swimmers and the
elderly. The council said
women of all ages and
backgrounds attend the
women-only swimming lessons.
Before media reports this
week, there had been no
negative feedback, Ms Kenyon
said, “despite the fact that
women’s only swimming
sessions have been held for
many years across numerous
local government areas
without incident”.
Yusra Metwally, who runs a
swimming group for Muslim
women, said the outrage was
ridiculous, blaming “highly
misleading” media reports
which implied the pool was
holding "Muslim only"
sessions.
“Really, we’re talking about
a curtain, it doesn’t impact
people’s access," she said.
Ms Metwally, whose group
‘Swim Sisters’ used to be
called ‘Burkini Babes’, said
that even with full-body
‘modesty suits’, women could
still be self-conscious in
mixed public spaces.
“It’s a shame that something
that’s a good program to
encourage fitness and water
safety is being labeled
something it isn’t,” she
said.
Comments comparing the
privacy curtain to
segregation or apartheid
“completely undermine the
apartheid experience,” she
said.
“Why don’t you go out and
protest outside Fernwood
women’s gym, or go protest
outside McIver women’s
baths?”
Mohammed Alzoubi, President
of the Auburn Islamic
Community Centre, told SBS
World News the move was a
positive step for
integration.
“It’s not a backwards
movement, it’s a good one,
it will help people
integrate,” Mr Alzoubi said.
Mr Alzoubi said the privacy
curtain would allow
culturally conservative
women to participate and
engage socially, as well as
bringing benefits those who
were elderly,
body-conscious, or whose
partners didn’t like them to
be seen by other men.
“Some people don’t care
about it, but there are some
percentage of people who do
care, and we don’t want them
to stay at home and be
isolated,” he said.
Mr Alzoubi said that several
years ago the Auburn Muslim
community used to hire out
entire facilities in the
evenings to swim in privacy,
but that the practice had
become prohibitively
expensive.
“It’s not people trying to
impose their culture on the
Australian community; we are
a part of the Australian
community,” he said.
“We want to integrate, but
there are cultural issues
for some people.”
Ms Kenyon said the council
encompassed a diverse area -
the pool's first booking
after re-opening in April
was an Afghan refugee group
of over 250 people.
“Cumberland has a diverse
community - not just in
relation to race or
religion, but also in terms
of age and disability," Ms
Kenyon said.
“[The] council also has a
responsibility to meet the
needs to the community it
serves.”
Muslims in Toowoomba
came together in
large numbers at the
Garden City Mosque
on Sunday, 14 May
2017 with families
to meet and greet
the members of the
wider community. It
was the 4th
Toowoomba Annual
International Food
Festival coincided
with the Mosque Open
Day.
In spite of the
forecast of rain the
weather was
exceptionally good
and there were lots
of non-Muslims who
came to enjoy the
day with members of
the mosque and know
about Islam and its
followers in an open
and friendly
environment.
There were lots of
food from all over
the world – diverse
in look, colour, and
taste and obviously
they were more
diverse than the
race, colour and
faith of the
participants.
Ever since the
Garden City Mosque
was established in
2014, the Islamic
Society of Toowoomba
has been regularly
organising Open Day
of the Mosque
alongside Toowoomba
International Food
Festival.
There were special
activities for the
women and lots of
fun for the
children. The
Queensland Police
entertained the kids
with their vehicle
and amusing horn.
The speakers on the
day included
Toowoomba Mayor Cr
Paul Antonio, USQ
Vice Chancellor
Professor Janet
Verbyla,
Multicultural
Affairs Queensland
Director Ms Julie
McDougall,
Queensland Jewish
Community Services
President Mr Ariel
Heber, Dr Mark
Copland of Social
Justice Commission
of Toowoomba, Imam
Abdul Kader of
Toowoomba Mosque and
Professor Shahjahan
Khan of Islamic
Society of
Toowoomba.
The speakers
emphasised the
importance of
building bridges
(not wall) to spread
the message of
respect and strength
of diversity.
Everyone agreed that
Toowoomba is a city
of peace and leaders
of the city have
shown unity at
difficult times.
Messages sent by the
Federal Member of
Groom, Dr John
McVeigh MP and State
Member of Toowoomba
South, Mr David
Janetzki MP were
read in the meeting.
Due other prior
commitments they
were unable to
attend the event.
The mosque building
was severely burned
in 2014 by an arson
attack at night. The
perpetrator is yet
to be identified.
Since then Muslims a
praying in a
temporary timber
building while
working for the
rebuilding of the
mosque.
The speakers
highlighted the
resilience of
Muslims in Toowoomba
and noted their high
level of commitment
to rebuild the
burned Mosque.
Everyone is looking
forward to see the
completion of the
re-construction of
the Mosque building
as approved by the
Toowoomba Regional
Council.
Many Muslims from
Brisbane and Gold
Coast participated
in the event and
visited the Garden
City Mosque.
Very attractive and
delicious foods were
prepared and sold by
many members of the
local community
including those from
Afghanistan,
Bangladesh, Bosnia,
Eretria, India,
Indonesia, Iraq,
Libya, Malaysia,
Pakistan, Saudi
Arabia, Sudan, and
Syria.
The Secretary of the
Islamic Society of
Toowoomba, Dr Mainul
Islam welcomed the
participant and
visitors, and
thanked all the
communities,
families and
individuals who
spent so much time
and efforts to make
the Open Day of the
Garden City Mosque
and the Food
Festival.
Special thanks to
all the volunteering
brothers and sisters
who cleaned the
toilets, mount and
dismantle the
gazebos, set up the
chairs and tables,
managed the stalls,
and cleaned the
premises after the
event including
placing all rubbish
on the trailer.
The event was
partially funded by
a small grant from
the Multicultural
Affairs Queensland.
Muslim activist Yassmin
Abdel-Magied has suggested
the Deepwater Horizon oil
disaster in 2010 could have
been avoided if executives
from the companies
responsible had been drawn
from more diverse
backgrounds.
Addressing hundreds of
delegates at a conference in
Perth yesterday, the
26-year-old former
mechanical engineer cited
the Gulf of Mexico spill to
urge more gender and
cultural diversity among
directors and senior
management of male-dominated
oil and gas companies.
She also confessed to
“hating” feminism until two
years ago when she came to
recognise the barriers that
made it difficult for people
such as her — “a young,
brown Muslim woman” — to
succeed in the
male-dominated industry.
Her comments came after she
attracted controversy in
February by telling the
ABC’s Q&A program that she
believed Islam was “the most
feminist religion”.
The Sudan-born activist was
speaking yesterday during a
panel discussion at the
Australian Petroleum
Production and Exploration
Association’s annual
conference on the topic of
“diversity and inclusion”.
She said behavioural
scientists had attributed
the explosion on the
BP-operated Deepwater
Horizon rig to groupthink
and confirmation bias among
key decision-makers in the
lead up to the explosion
that killed 11 people.
“Was there anyone else
around the table who thought
differently and who didn’t
just think differently, but
was included enough and was
valued enough so their
different perspective was
valued, to actually
challenge that bias?” she
said.
“Everyone around the table
came from a similar world
and a similar perspective.
They all thought the same.
They all cared about the
same things. And so we ended
with one of the worst
tragedies in our industry.
“And I often wonder, if
there was someone around
that table who was
different, who thought
differently but was valued
as equally as everybody
else, who could challenge
that groupthink and
challenge that confirmation
bias, would things have
ended differently?”
In 2014, the US District
Court ruled that BP acted
with “gross negligence” and
made “profit-driven
decisions” during the
drilling that led to the
blowout.
Swiss-based drilling rig
owner Transocean and
Houston-based contractor
Halliburton Energy Services
were also found partly
responsible.
Yesterday, Ms Abdel-Magied
said she had not begun to
embrace diversity until two
years ago when she broke
into the oil and gas
industry, working on rigs in
Queensland and Western
Australia.
“I hated the idea of
feminism, I was like,
‘feminism is for chicks who
can’t handle jokes’,” she
said.
“I thought people who kept
talking about diversity and
inclusion were people that
studied arts. They weren’t
engineers. It wasn’t until I
went into the industry and I
saw the reality that I
actually started to think,
maybe this is a thing I
should care about.” Ms
Abdel-Magied said after
gaining a job as an
engineer, she had no idea
how to act because she “had
no one to show me what it
was like to be a successful
woman on a rig”.
“So I pretended to be a
middle-aged white bloke,”
she said to laughter,
describing how she would
swear and swagger like her
male colleagues until she
realised this was
“reinforcing the existing
culture”.
“I was undoing myself, I was
undoing my gender, I was
undoing my cultural
heritage.”
Ms Abdel-Magied said while
surveys had shown that 80
per cent of Australians
favoured multiculturalism,
most believed migrants
should fit in rather than
embrace differences.
“Multiculturalism means you
rock up, you leave
everything about yourself at
the door and you become one
of us,” she said.
“It’s a melting pot. You’re
going to melt into this pot
where everyone’s the same.
That’s not actually how you
get the most out of
diversity.”
The trailer for
Ali's Wedding is here! A true
story. Unfortunately.
After a reckless lie sets off a
catastrophic chain of events,
Ali (Osamah Sami) finds himself
caught between his sense of duty
and following his heart.
A warm-hearted comedy, Ali's
Wedding is an affectionate and
entertaining true story about
family, community and love in
multi-cultural Australia.
The country’s largest
Islamic school was used as a
“milking cow that never runs
dry”, paying millions of
dollars through
interest-free loans and
exorbitant,
above-market-value rents to
its controlling body, the
umbrella organisation
representing Muslims in
Australia.
The payments were canvassed
in the Federal Court
yesterday as the
Sydney-based Malek Fahd
Islamic School, which has
more than 2400 students and
300 staff, launched a
last-ditch bid to stay
afloat.
The case threatens to engulf
senior members of the
Islamic community who were
involved with the finances
of both the school and AFIC.
Part of the school’s
argument was that former
directors of the school had
breached their fiduciary
duties “on a comprehensive
and spectacular scale’’.
Ian Coleman SC, counsel for
the school in yesterday’s
proceedings, said there had
been “a toxic combination of
directors common to the
board of AFIC and the
school’’.
For some time before 2015,
community leader Hafez
Kassem was chairman of the
school board and president
of AFIC. He was sacked as
AFIC president in March last
year and six Islamic schools
agreed to remove AFIC’s
power over their finances.
The school, which now has a
new board, launched an
appeal in the Federal Court
after the federal government
cut almost $20 million in
annual funding following
revelations of its financial
relationship with AFIC.
The school has three
campuses, the first in
Greenacre in Sydney’s
southwest, which was leased
from AFIC and allegedly used
to fund the organisation.
“The Greenacre lease was
treated by AFIC as a milking
cow that never runs dry,” Mr
Coleman said yesterday.
“There was a series of
spectacular rental increases
— tenfold in one instance —
that were made retrospective
and prospective.”
The appeal followed a ruling
by the Administrative
Appeals Tribunal late last
year backing the federal
government’s decision to cut
funding. The government has
continued funding pending
the outcome of the court
actions but it would cease
if the school’s appeal is
unsuccessful. The school
argues that since March last
year no money has been paid
to AFIC.
Mr Coleman told three judges
in the appeal that the
school faced closure if
federal funding was not
continued. “If the school
fails in this litigation, in
the financial situation it
is in, the directors would
have no practical
alternative other than to
put the school into
liquidation,” he said.
While the school has ceased
all payments to AFIC, the
court heard it had continued
to keep track of its lease
payments in its accounts, a
figure that has soared into
the millions.
Ian Coleman SC, counsel for
the school in yesterday’s
proceedings, said there had
been “a toxic combination of
directors common to the
board of AFIC and the
school’’.
For some time before 2015,
community leader Hafez
Kassem was chairman of the
school board and president
of AFIC. He was sacked as
AFIC president in March last
year and six Islamic schools
agreed to remove AFIC’s
power over their finances.
The school, which now has a
new board, launched an
appeal in the Federal Court
after the federal government
cut almost $20 million in
annual funding following
revelations of its financial
relationship with AFIC.
The school has three
cam¬puses, the first in
Greenacre in Sydney’s
southwest, which was leased
from AFIC and allegedly used
to fund the organisation.
“The Greenacre lease was
treated by AFIC as a milking
cow that never runs dry,” Mr
Coleman said yesterday.
“There was a series of
spectacular rental increases
— tenfold in one instance —
that were made retrospective
and prospective.”
The appeal followed a ruling
by the Administrative
Appeals Tribunal late last
year backing the federal
government’s decision to cut
funding. The government has
continued funding pending
the outcome of the court
actions but it would cease
if the school’s appeal is
unsuccessful. The school
argues that since March last
year no money has been paid
to AFIC.
Mr Coleman told three judges
in the appeal that the
school faced closure if
federal funding was not
continued. “If the school
fails in this litigation, in
the financial situation it
is in, the directors would
have no practical
alternative other than to
put the school into
liquidation,” he said.
While the school has ceased
all payments to AFIC, the
court heard it had continued
to keep track of its lease
payments in its accounts, a
figure that has soared into
the millions.
Richard Lancaster SC, acting
for federal Education
Minister Simon Birmingham,
argued the school was still
bound by its contracts to
AFIC, and if funding were
continued, the school would
be obliged to pay its debts.
“The rental obligation was
discharged and replaced by a
loan from AFIC to the
school,” Mr Lancaster said.
“It seems on the facts there
was a notional payment of
rent and then its
replacement with debt.”
Since it was established in
1990, Malek Fahd’s former
board lent more than $5m to
AFIC, without interest, and
at one stage paid its rent
five years in advance.
When AFIC acquired its
campus in Hoxton Park, in
Sydney’s west, it asked
Malek Fahd to pay the second
property’s rent as well.
AFIC later sought a
valuation for the Greenacre
property that found the rent
should have been vastly
more, and demanded the
school pay an additional sum
of almost $3m. Between 2012
and 2015, Malek Fahd
received more than $76m in
commonwealth funding and
stands to gain $19m should
it be successful in its
appeal.
The Federal Court bid is
made more complicated by the
other legal battles
embroiling the school, AFIC,
and AFIC’s current and
former directors. A group of
former executive members of
the body, who were either
banned or stepped down last
year, allegedly changed the
locks of its Sydney
headquarters, declaring they
had only been removed
temporarily.
Keysar Trad, who was elected
AFIC president last August
but defeated at elections
this month, has launched
legal action in the NSW
Supreme Court against Mr
Kassem and several others.
Malek Fahd is also taking AFIC to the NSW Supreme
Court seeking a repayment of
funds, damages and the
release from other
obligations it holds. Both
matters remain before the
courts.
The financial affairs of six
Islamic schools operated by
AFIC, were investigated by
the federal Education
Department in 2015 after a
string of senior staff
members and principals were
sacked, allegations of
financial mismanagement and
concerns over the delivery
of the curriculum. As well
as Malek Fahd, Islamic
colleges in South Australia
and the ACT had funding
withdrawn.
From left: Her Excellency The
Honourable Kerry Sanderson AC,
Governor of Western Australia,
Sahra Abdi, Young Volunteer of
the Year WA and Ashul Shah,
Managing Director of Eduka.
Sahra Abdi, 24 has recently
been awarded the 2017
Western Australian Youth
Volunteer of the Year Award
for her dedication to
assisting Syrian refugee
families settle in as new
Australians.
Abdi has also secured her
place as a 2017 finalist for
the Western Australian
Volunteer for Multicultural
Communities Award,
recognising her ongoing
support in facilitating and
promoting diversity in
Australia.
“I feel very humbled and
grateful to be recognised
for the work I do with
helping newly arrived
migrants resettle into
Australia,” she said.
The young Australian
volunteers her time to
engage with local migrant
communities, particularly
those arriving as refugees,
and provides them with
essential materials and
assistance in settling in to
their new home.
“I try to bridge the gap
between what settlement
services provide and
families need. I mainly
provide social support so
that the families can
integrate into Australian
society.”
The Perth resident has been
recognised by members of the
community as an “outstanding
young woman who works
tirelessly to help others”.
Abdi spends most of her free
time with refugees, creating
friendships and community
connections that will help
the migrants feel
comfortable as new Western
Australian residents.
“The trauma and the things
that these families have
gone can be triggering and
emotional at times. I am
driven by their strength and
always remind myself that I
am human and that could have
easily been me.”
Abdi’s work for the
community extends beyond
helping those in her
immediate surroundings to
encouraging youth from
culturally diverse
backgrounds to achieving
their full potential.
“Volunteering and giving
back to my community is
super important to me. It’s
great for others to also see
a young Culturally And
Linguistically Diverse (CALD)
person do it. I hope my
journey and my achievements
inspire other youth,
particularly CALD youth, to
give back and make a
difference.”
As a Muslim, Abdi holds
strong connections to her
faith, with her religious
values driving her passion
for helping others through
charity and aid.
“Social justice and aid is
very much a big part of
Islam so, absolutely, it
motivates me and acts as a
reminder as to why I do it.”
Her involvement in the
community is one that Abdi
intends to continue through
advocating for the rights of
migrants and refugees and
providing the necessary help
they require to adjust their
new lives in Australia.
“I will continue to be
helping these families and
any other families that come
to Perth. Furthermore, I
hope to continue to do many
of the other volunteering
initiatives I am involved
in, all of which I am very
passionate about.”
Mariam Veiszadeh will speak
before an audience of 5,000
people at TEDxSydney on Friday,
16 June
Lawyer, diversity and
inclusion practitioner,
advocate, social commentator
Mariam Veiszadeh, will join
an impressive line-up of
speakers and performers at
TEDxSydney 2017 on Friday 16
June at ICC Sydney, Darling
Harbour.
TEDxSydney is the leading
platform for the propagation
of Australian ideas,
creativity and innovation to
the rest of the world.
On a post on her public
facebook page, Mariam said
“Super excited to be
presenting at TEDxSydney!”
which got hundreds of likes.
The TEDxSydney event is a
unique and vital day of
talks, films, music and
debate, and is one of the
largest TEDx events in the
world.
Managing director at Xplore
for Success, Diana Reyall AM
said “It’s exciting that
Mariam has the opportunity
to reach such a large
audience with her important
messages, and I very much
look forward to seeing her
speak at TEDxSydney.”.
Vicki Forbes said “Congrats
#MariamVeiszadeh for making
it onto the #TEDxSydney
stage at @ICCSyd on 16 June
2017.
'No
choice': Government cuts off
funding for Islamic School
of Canberra
Federal funding has been
stripped from the Islamic
School of Canberra amid
governance and financial
management concerns.
The Islamic School of
Canberra has been stripped
of its federal government
funding after it failed to
meet the education
department's demands that it
improve its governance and
financial management.
The independent school was
receiving around $1 million
in public money every year.
Education Minister Simon
Birmingham's office released
a statement saying the
department had "no choice"
but to cut off funding from
July 1.
The department put the
school on notice in December
2015, warning that the
school was failing to meet
standards and community
expectations.
The school lost its funding
in April last year, but had
it reinstated in September
after it promised to make
improvements.
“Schools receive significant
taxpayer funding.
Australians rightly expect
that every taxpayer dollar
committed to school
education is genuinely
expended on school education
and for the benefit of
students," Mr Birmingham
said in his media release.
“My Department’s concerns
centre on the Islamic School
of Canberra’s independence,
financial management and
governance arrangements."
SBS News contacted the
school for comment, but was
advised both the principal,
David Johns, and the
chairwoman, Azra Khan, could
not speak "at the moment" as
they were busy preparing the
school's public response.
Students are due to return
from school holidays next
week.
"Our attention now turns to
working with the students
and their families, the
teachers and the whole
school community about how
we best support them through
this difficult time," Mr
Birmingham said.
The school is still
registered by the ACT
Government and can continue
to teach, but it is unclear
whether the school could be
financially viable without
Commonwealth support.
The school has 30 days to
seek a review of the
decision, Mr Birmingham's
office said.
The Islamic School of
Canberra (ISC) in Weston,
ACT is scrambling for
survival
after the Federal Government
decided to cease funding
after 30 June 2017.
ISC is an independent K-7
co-educational school with a
student population of 215
and employs over 20 staff,
educating its students using
the Australian National
Curriculum within the
Islamic tradition.
According to the Principal,
Mr David Johns, if the
government ceases funds as
they did last year, it will
require outside funding of
$600,000 to remain viable
till the end of this
calendar year otherwise it
will close within the next 6
weeks.
The school has started a
fundraising campaign on
social media that will allow
small and large donations to
the school. Donations can be
made through the following
website www.chuffed.org/project/sos-isc.
Donors can also send money
directly to the Parents &
Friends Fundraising Account:
Account Name: PFA-ISC
Fundraising,
BSB: 062-912,
Account: 10295655,
Bank: Commonwealth Bank of
Australia
The school has progressed
over the last year with new
administrative and academic
leadership to be an example
for other schools teaching
within the Islamic
tradition.
It has developed a strong
curriculum and extra
curricula programme that
provides students with the
knowledge and practice of
their Muslim faith together
with its application within
Australian society.
The school has also
regularly engaged in
outreach activities that
provide opportunity for
students to give back to the
wider community with
fundraising as well as allow
non-Muslim community members
a deeper understanding of
the Islamic faith and its
value within Australian
society.
The school supports a
rapidly growing Muslim
population in Canberra on a
valuable tract of land that
was provided at a low cost
by the ACT Government. ISC
also supports the many
Muslim diplomats and their
families in Canberra.
The Islamic School of
Canberra was formed and
managed by the Australian
Federation of Islamic
Councils (AFIC). However,
the Commonwealth Government
has deemed that for the
funding to continue the
school should be independent
of any financial control or
management influence by any
outside entity.
The Commonwealth Government
stopped its funding to the
school last year for this
reason and only recommenced
it after appointment of an
independent Board, made up
of educators, public
servants and academics,
which committed to
strengthen the school’s
governance and further
distance itself from AFIC
over time.
According to Mr Johns, the
Commonwealth Government has
now given notice to cease
its funding at the end of
June for three key reasons:
● Governance
(documentation, record
keeping,
decision-making)
● Existing links to AFIC
(including financial
loans)
● Financial viability (a
monthly shortfall to
meet operational
expenses and debt
repayments)
“We are confident we will
address the governance issue
immediately and remaining
points in the medium to
long-term,” he said.
“However, the worst-case
scenario in the short-term
is that if we cannot
convince the government in
time to continue the funding
beyond June this year we
will have no choice other
than to close. In that case,
the students will go to
other schools – most likely
the public schools with no
Islamic education.”
“Understandably teachers are
also worried about their
livelihood and it is quite
reasonable for them to
commence looking for other
employment very soon if they
have not already done so.
Once gone it will be hard to
regain teaching
professionals of their
calibre and understanding of
an Islamic education.”
According to the President
of the Parents & Friends
Association (PFA-ISC), Mr
Kalam Azad, the school needs
$600,000 to fund the school
for the remaining months of
the school calendar till
December to counter the
possible cessation of
Commonwealth Funding.
“With this commitment, we
can assure the teachers that
their salaries are fully
funded till the end of the
year and so there is no need
to seek other employment,”
he said.
“This will also assure
parents so that they do not
take their students out
prematurely.”
The school has a long-term
strategy, according to the
Chair of the school board,
Mrs Azra Khan.
“With the immediate needs
fulfilled and a strategy for
viability met, we will
continue to seek to meet the
government’s conditions and
regain the monthly funding,”
she said.
“We feel that the school has
potential for significantly
higher student numbers once
these issues are resolved
and the community has
confidence in the long-term
viability of the school.
This will increase the
school’s financial position.
“We also have the long-term
potential to establish an
Islamic College and
University along with
existing Islamic school and
need continued support from
the community to continue
the investment in our
children.”
Have you
wondered or been asked any
of these questions:
1. Are Muslim
males superior to Muslim
females?
2. What are
the expectations of Muslim
men in society?
3. What are
the expectations of Muslim
women in society?
4. Who
decides what roles Muslim
men and Muslim women should
play?
5. Is there
gender equality between
Muslim men and Muslim women?
6. What about
gender equity?
We invite you
to join us to discuss and
explore these very questions
and share your valuable
views and insights with
others in an exclusive
event:
Date:
Thursday, 25th of May 2017
Time: 8.45 am
-3 pm
Registration
at 8.30
Venue: IWAA,
11 Watland St, Springwood
The issue of
gender is significant in
addressing Community
Empowerment and has been
raised recently in the media
on the topic of violence
against women in Muslim
communities. I have had to
address this issue to dispel
the prevailing misconception
surrounding how women are
treated in domestic violence
cases in an upcoming article
for The Conversation
given my expertise on the
topic. We all have a
responsibility in correcting
misconceptions surrounding
the Islamic view on issue of
gender. In Islam we
recognize that we have
separate roles and
responsibilities. Attaining
gender balance in
communities does not in
anyway mean losing one’s
femininity or masculinity
but rather celebrating these
differences to strengthen
the Muslim community.
Let us
discuss this issue openly in
a safe facilitated space so
we can help create an
environment of stronger
communities.
A social
media campaign will also be
produced during this
event...so share your voice
on the topic and be part of
the movement of Community
Empowerment! We expect the
social media campaign video
to go global and we want you
to be part of it...
Details are
in the flyer alongside.
Please register your spot
now by calling 0431 360 418!
Scrumptious
morning tea, LUNCH and
afternoon tea will be
provided!
This company
is an international company
that requires a technical
auditor for food, beverage,
pharmaceutical and cosmetic
industry. We are seeking
male or female applicant,
who is confident for a part
time/contract position in
Melbourne.
The successful applicant
must have the following
requirements:
Must
believe in Islamic
Principles
Qualifications in
sciences or food science
or equivalent
Proficient in typing,
computer and reporting
skills
Proven analytical
skills
Excellent customer
relations and initiative
Excellent
Communication and
organizational skills
Willing to travel
I WAS told Amna Karra-Hassan
was an agent of change, a
deep thinker, and that we
should talk. We did. And she
is. Amna is daughter of
migrant parents who came to
Australia seeking better
opportunities. Amna has
inspired many in her quest
for equality, unity and
success.
She is founder of the Auburn
Giants Women’s AFL team,
which consists of various
nationalities including
Lebanese, Palestinians,
Fijian, Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander,
Croation, Serbian, Turkish,
Maltese, Macedonian, Greek
and Chinese.
She has partnered with
Holden as part of their
Supporting the Drivers of
Change diversity and
inclusion program. We spoke
about the challenges of
being a Muslim in 2017, the
effects of Trump, building a
football team to create
unity and opportunity and
cohesion, racism and Pauline
Hanson.
HM: Agent of change,
Muslim, footballer,
feminist, activist, coach,
inspiration — some of the
words I’ve read to describe
you. What word would you
use?
AKH: I would use
ambitious. I think that’s an
important quality, and a
good one to have when you
are female and Muslim.
HM: You are the
product of Lebanese parents.
Your father migrated when he
was 24, your mother was only
three. Why did your father
leave Lebanon?
AKH: In my dad’s
words, he left for a better
life and opportunity. His
family wasn’t doing well
financially, and he thought
that if he came to
Australia, there would be
more opportunities.
HM: He started
working as a labourer in a
bakery. Is that because any
language difficulties were
overcome?
AKH: Primarily, yes.
He could labour out the back
and not have to be
proficient in English. To be
honest, I often wonder how
he did it. Maybe there were
other workers who were
better at being bilingual,
so perhaps he would tap into
them for support and to help
him with communication,
until he learned more
English.
HM: Everyone seems to
be a product of their
parents; what traits have
you inherited from your
mother and your father?
AKH: I definitely
inherited my dad’s good work
ethic. He used to teach us
to work for your employer as
if it’s your business. I
think that’s an outstanding
work ethic. From my mum, I
think adaptability. We lived
in a very unique household
where we had extended family
stay with us. My
grandparents came and lived
with us when I was seven.
The UK Muslim News Awards
for Excellence event was
held 27 March 2017 in London
to acknowledge British
Muslim and non-Muslim
contributions to the
society.
Uthman Dan Fodio
Award For Excellence
in COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT:
For a person or
organisation aimed
at raising the
quality of life of
Muslims locally or
nationally.
Winner: Shazuli
Iqbal
Shazuli Iqbal is
Chair and Co-founder
of the Wiltshire
Islamic Cultural
Centre (WICC), which
was formed to serve
the educational,
social and moral
needs of the growing
Muslim Community in
Wiltshire and to
reach out to the
wider community.
Under his
leadership, a soup
kitchen has been set
up for the local
homeless people.
Under his guidance,
WICC has also
managed to secure a
grant from Wiltshire
Council for youth
activities. Shahzuli
is also a trustee of
the Wiltshire Racial
Equality and a
former trustee of
Stepping Stones, an
organisation for
children with
special needs.
With a keen interest
in this area, he
managed to convince
the senior
management team of a
Special needs school
to accommodate
Muslim children and
asked the school to
translate the
leaflet in different
languages; which
helped the parents
understand the
services of the
school.
..........The UK Muslim News
Awards for Excellence CONTINUES IN NEXT
WEEK'S CCN
Ed Husic is known to some as
'the minister for basketball',
to others as the first federal
MP sworn in on the Quran. He
became the first ever Muslim
frontbencher under Kevin Rudd.
What next for an outspoken Gen
Xer with a friend on the wrong
side of parliament?
(Continued from last week's
CCN)
The salubrious surroundings
of the ministerial wing of
Parliament House
conveniently illustrate the
difference between being in
government and subsisting in
opposition. Frydenberg, like
Husic, is a member of the
“class of 2010”, and casts a
Liberal eye over the Labor
politician’s curriculum
vitae.
“If I looked at his
background on paper, I would
say, ‘Interesting… he ran a
union. Could that make him
more [of a] bovver boy in
this place?’” says
Frydenberg, leaning back in
his chair. “But he’s not.
He’s actually quite a gentle
soul with a very funny
streak. And he can be
self-deprecating. He’s
well-liked in this building,
well-respected.”
Ed Husic made it into the
building in question 15
years after his first
attempt and just in time to
see “the disintegration of
our government”. Husic says
dolefully, “I thought, I
finally get here, and it
looks like it’s just all
going to go ‘pop!’” His
false starts weighed on him.
“I think you feel the crush
of time, particularly once
you get over 40… I was
watching colleagues –
friends like Chris, and
[shadow minister] Tony Burke
– starting to progress, and
then the election of the
Rudd government. I would be
lying if I said I didn’t
think [about] what could
have been. And I did – a
lot.”
In the Rudd-Gillard years,
Husic publicly backed Rudd,
for whom he served as
parliamentary secretary
during Rudd’s second coming.
The position lasted just
three months, or as Husic
puts it, “the political
equivalent of a nanosecond”
before the government was
defeated in September 2013.
“I have an upcoming book,”
he says, wryly, “on those
tumultuous three months, and
all the achievements I was
able to secure.” Opposition,
Husic declares, is a
“terrible place”, the
experience akin to
“screaming into space”.
In the SUV in which he uses
to transport himself to
Canberra, Husic takes me on
a guided tour of his vast
and culturally diverse
electorate. He knows it
well, having been raised and
educated there (Blacktown
South School, Mitchell High
School, University of
Western Sydney)..
This Is What
Islam Says About
Women Who Use
Their Husband’s
Name As Last
Name After
Marriage
BY FAHAD UR
REHMAN KHAN
We often see
women changing
their names
after getting
married, and
usually starts
using their
Husband’s name
as their last
name. Is it
permissible in
Islam?
According to the
Islamic
traditions, a
person’s name is
always linked
with his or her
father. Let’s
take an example
of the
companions, Ali
ibn Abi Talib
(RA), Umar bin
Khattab (RA),
Maryam Bint
Imran (RA),
Zainab binte
Jaish and many
others, you will
always find
these people
using their
father’s name.
It is to be
noted that even
Prophet Muhammad
(PBUH)’s wives
never linked
their last name
to Prophet (PBUH).
Like Khadija
bint Khuwaylid
(RA) and Ā’ishah
bint Abī Bakr
(RA) they didn’t
change their
names after they
got married to
the last Prophet
(PBUH). It is
clear that there
is no evidence
that allows
women to change
their last name
after they get
married.
Modern
traditions make
it necessary to
change a woman’s
name after her
marriage. It’s
the havoc
created by our
society which is
totally based on
the falsehood.
Like, if a girl
has a name
“Khansa Khan”
then after
marriage she
will become
“Khansa Owais”
which has
nothing to do
with Islam and
its teachings.
These are the
things which are
created only by
and within our
society.
The Islamic
Information
Here’s Why You
Shouldn’t Stop
Working Out
During Ramadan
Every year,
athletes
experience the
challenges of
going to the gym
and maintaining
a proper diet
during the month
of Ramadan. If
you are
unfamiliar, the
physical
requirements
during the month
of Ramadan are
no food or water
during daylight
hours resulting
in loss of
energy,
dehydration, and
lack of
motivation.
Sadly, we love
to use these
results as
excuses along
with our busy
schedules to
justify our
month long
absence from the
gym.
Subsequently,
our family and
friends have to
listen to us
complain about
our muscles
shrinking and
how much we used
to be able to
lift
pre-Ramadan.
After seven
years of
training and
fasting, I
learned a lot of
important habits
that have helped
me achieve peak
performance
results in and
out of the gym. .
MVSLIM
There is no
dominant
Islamist group
in Indonesia
that represents
a coherent
Islamic
community.
Should we worry
about Islamism
in Indonesia?
Anxiety about
radicalism and
religious
tolerance in
Indonesia have
triggered
reactionary
responses that
could be
dangerous for
the country’s
democracy. Joko
Widodo’s
administration
recently
announced plans
to disband Hizb
ut-Tahrir
Indonesia, which
seeks to
establish an
Islamic
caliphate. The
government is
looking to
implement legal
measures to
dissolve the
Indonesian
branch of the
global Islamist
group.
The move came
amid increasing
concern among
some analysts
and members of
the public about
rising Islamic
radicalism and
religious
intolerance.
Several analysts
saw the victory
of Anies
Baswedan in the
Jakarta
gubernatorial
election as an
indicator of
rising Islamism.
This movement
seeks to
institutionalise
certain literal
understandings
of the Quran in
the political
system.
Baswedan was
supported by
conservative
Muslims. They
had staged
enormous
protests
demanding the
jailing of his
rival,
then-incumbent
Basuki Tjahaja
Purnama (better
known as Ahok),
who was
embroiled in a
blasphemy case
for allegedly
insulting Islam.
Even after the
election, mass
rallies
continued to
pressure the
court to punish
the
Chinese-Indonesian,
Christian
non-active
governor. The
court recently
sentenced Ahok
to two years in
prison.
The court’s
decision left
many people
feeling
devastated. They
rallied in a
show of support
for Ahok in
front of the
prison where
he’s detained.
Communities
concerned by the
rising influence
of Islamist
groups have
launched social
media campaigns
defending the
country’s
founding
principles of
Pancasila. This
promotes
pluralism, among
other values.
How are
Muslims Portrayed in
Hollywood OnePath Network
Muslims are the most
vilified group of people in
the history of Hollywood.
Since the emergence of
Hollywood as the home of the
U.S film industry, the
numerous pictures(or films)
made over the years have
stolen the identity of
numerous groups of people
including the Muslim
community.
Ramy
Youssef on Steven Colbert
Fadumo Dayib
Somalia's
first female presidential
candidate
Sulaiman Al Rajhi donates
$16 billion to the Charity.
It is considered to be one
of the largest contributions
to Charity in Islamic
History.
Two cultures and two
religions AJ+
This is what happens when
people from two different
cultures come together.
Poet Hanna
Essa SpokenWord
Meet Hanan Issa, the Welsh
Muslim spoken word artist
talking about her identity.
Imam Akram
Buksh in Somalia for HAI Facebook
PLEASE
NOTE
It is the usual policy of CCN to
include notices of events, video links and articles that
some readers may find interesting or relevant. Such notices
are often posted as received.
Including such messages/links or
providing the details of such
events does not necessarily
imply endorsement or agreement
by CCN of the contents therein.
Indian
Muslim teen develops world's smallest
satellite, NASA will launch it
Rifath Sharook with his tiny
satellite
INDIA: It will be a proud moment for all
Indians when the US space agency
National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) will be launching
world's smallest satellite next month.
Do you know why? The 64-gram satellite
has been developed by none other than a
Muslim teenager from Tamil Nadu. The
teen scientist Rifath Sharook is just 18
years old and a student of 12th class.
The tiny satellite manufactured by 3D
printing, weighing just 64 grams, is the
lightest satellite in the world as well.
The satellite "KalamSat" named after
renowned scientist and former Indian
President APJ Abdul Kalam, will be
launched by NASA on June 21.
Sharook's satellite got selected in a
competition "Cubes in Space", jointly
organized by NASA and an educational
group, 'I Doodle Learning.' He developed
this tiny satellite while working on a
project funded by Space Kidz India, an
organization that educates and guides
young aspirants to make career in
science and technology.
"The satellite is made mainly of
reinforced carbon fiber polymer. We did
a lot of research on different cube
satellites all over the world and found
ours was the lightest. We obtained some
of the components from abroad and some
are indigenous," Sharook was quoted as
saying by The Times of India.
Sharook said it would be a sub-orbital
flight and after launch the mission span
would be 240 minutes while the
operational capacity of the satellite
will be for 12 minutes in a
micro-gravity environment of space.
"The main role of the satellite will be
to demonstrate the performance of 3-D
printed carbon fibre," Sharook said
while speaking to the daily from
Pallapatti town in Tamil Nadu.
Sharook has been fascinated by space
science since beginning. In 2015, he
launched a 1,200gm helium weather
balloon into the atmosphere.
Unmarried
couple stoned to death in Mali for
‘violating Islamic law’
The man and
woman were put in two holes dug
by ringleaders before four
people attacked them, local
official says
A man walks
down a street in the Kidal
region of Mali.
MALI: An unmarried couple
have been stoned to death in public in
north-east Mali, in the first such
incident since jihadi groups were driven
out of the region.
Jihadis seized key northern cities in
Mali in March 2012, and though they were
driven out by a French-led military
intervention in 2013, Islamist groups
continue to make their presence felt
with frequent attacks on domestic and
foreign forces.
“The Islamists dug two holes where they
put the man and the woman who lived
maritally without being married,” said a
local official. “They were stoned to
death.”
The execution happened in Taghlit, close
to Aguelhok in the Kidal region, on
Tuesday. The same source told AFP that
members of the public were invited to
take part.
“Four people threw stones at them until
they died,” they said.
Another local official said the
ringleaders had accused the unmarried
couple of violating “Islamic law”, which
requires punishment by stoning.
During their brief control of key towns
in the north, jihadist groups imposed a
version of Sharia law which forced women
to wear veils and set whipping and
stoning as punishment for
transgressions.
Holocaust
Survivors Campaign to Disinvite Linda
Sarsour from New York College
Shock sentence comes after
hardline Islamist groups called
for Christian official to be
jailed for referencing Qur'an
verse
Linda Sarsour
with Bernie Sanders
US: Anti-Israel activist
and Women’s March on Washington
organizer Linda Sarsour is the subject
of a letter-writing campaign by 100
Holocaust survivors calling for her
disinvitation from the City University
of New York, where she is scheduled to
deliver a speech on June 1st.
According to the Jerusalem Post, the 100
Holocaust survivors penned their letter
to New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo
asking him to bar her from speaking at
the publicly funded university.
In a recent interview, Sarsour commented
that it was impossible for any person to
be a feminist unless he or she was in
opposition to Israel’s “occupation” of
the West Bank, which is legally a part
of Israel.
“You can’t be a feminist in the United
States and stand up for the rights of
the American woman and then say that you
don’t want to stand up for the rights of
Palestinian women in Palestine,” she
said.
The upcoming even has met strong
opposition from Jewish leaders,
including former ADL chief Abraham
Foxman.
After the Prophet: The Epic Story of the Shia-Sunni Split
in Islam
by
Lesley Hazleton
Description
In this gripping
narrative history, Lesley Hazleton tells the
tragic story at the heart of the ongoing rivalry
between the Sunni and Shia branches of Islam, a
rift that dominates the news now more than ever.
Even as Muhammad lay dying, the battle over who
would take control of the new Islamic nation had
begun, beginning a succession crisis marked by
power grabs, assassination, political intrigue,
and passionate faith. Soon Islam was embroiled
in civil war, pitting its founder's
controversial wife Aisha against his son-in-law
Ali, and shattering Muhammad’s ideal of unity.
Combining meticulous research with compelling
storytelling, After the Prophet explores the
volatile intersection of religion and politics,
psychology and culture, and history and current
events. It is an indispensable guide to the
depth and power of the Shia–Sunni split.
KB says:This is the first of
my pick of Ramadan savouries.
Mini
Round Chicken Roulade
Step 1
Mash:
Boil 2 to 3 potatoes. Mash until smooth and
season with salt and pepper. Add a little butter
and a tab of chopped spring onions. Make small
marble size ball and place on baking tray. Place
in freezer until you are ready for the next
step.
Step 2
Combine the following
1kg minced chicken fillet
2 chopped onions
˝ bunch chopped green dhania/coriander
Spring onions
4 slices bread with crusts off
6 or more chopped green chillies
5 pieces chopped garlic
2 beaten eggs
Season with:
2 tsp fine cumin
2 tsp fine coriander powder
1 tsp white pepper
˝ tsp black pepper
1˝ tsp salt
2 tblsp vinegar
1 tblsp lemon juice
3 tblsp ghee
Knead the mixture well.
Step 3
In the palm of your hand take some mince, spread
out slightly.
Place a frozen mash ball in centre. Close up and
roll into ball.
Place on greased oven tray.
Bake at 180 deg for not more than 10 minutes or
until it is cooked through.
Place in shallow pot with a little butter and
ever so slightly let it brown. Serve with fried
grated potatoes and a sauce (see below)
Sauce:
In a saucepan add 1 cup tomato sauce, 1 tsp
garlic, 1 tsp fine red chillies, 2 tblsp oil and
2 to 3 tblsp worcester sauce. Let it simmer for
5 minutes.
Do you have a recipe to share with CCN
readers?
Send in your favourite recipe to me at
admin@ccnonline.com.au and be my "guest chef" for the week.
Welcome
to my weekly column
on Self-Care and
Clarity of Mind.
If you’re taking
time out to read
this, pat yourself
on the back because
you have shown
commitment to taking
care of your mind
and body.
Today, In Shaa
ALLAH, we will
explore the topic:
Respecting
Psychological
Personal Space.
The month of
Ramadaan is fast
approaching.
Alhumdolillah. We
are blessed with an
entire month of
self-reflection and
an opportunity to
transform our lives
so that we may live
from faith in ALLAH
and banish all fear
of situations.
Self-Reflection is
only possible when
we spend moments in
silence and create a
personal space for
ourselves whereby we
are in complete
immersion within our
own being, in order
to look back and
learn from all that
happened in the past
several months.
Personal Space
exists in two forms
- physically and
psychologically
- when a person
feels comfort in a
region surrounding
them which they
regard as their own.
That region could
exist within
physical boundaries
or within the mind.
When this personal
space is encroached
upon, the person
feels anger,
frustration,
discomfort or
anxiety.
Alhumdolillah, our
Deen reminds us of
this space with
examples of our
Prophet’s (SAW)
retreats to the
mountain caves and
his regular practice
of I’tikaf.
The fundamental
thing to remember is
that everyone has a
right to personal
space and no one has
the right to
encroach upon
another’s personal
space. Respecting
one’s own personal
space and that of
others is vital if
one wishes to live a
joyful, peaceful and
harmonious life.
Psychological
Personal Space In
Your Home
Often people may
feel that the mosque
is a preferred
choice to practise
self-reflection and
connection with
ALLAH. However,
every Muslim’s home
can be perceived as
a sanctuary to
practise
self-reflection.
Every member of your
family is entitled
to this space and
must have respect
when spending time
in silence - bearing
in mind that silence
can also be
practised while
being in a room full
of people.
Respecting that
psychological
personal space is
vital.
How to Respect
Psychological
Personal Space
As Muslims we have a
wonderful advantage
in that we have been
reminded countless
times that a
harmonious family
unit is a compulsory
prerequisite to
having a harmonious
Ummah. The question
is, are we actually
practising this?
Look at the state of
our Ummah and
understand that it
is a direct
reflection of the
state of your own
family unit, your
dealings with
extended family
members and the rest
of the community.
Perhaps this
Ramadaan we can all
make a conscious
effort to improve
the state of our
Ummah by improving
ourselves and the
state of our family
unit (nuclear or
extended).
Below are ways to be
mindful and
respectful of your
own psychological
personal space and
that of others.
• Dedicate a
time daily to be
in your personal
space. This is
aside from Salah
times.
• Let people
around you know
that you are
retreating for
some quiet time
and you wish not
to be disturbed.
• Whilst in
quiet time,
leave gadgets in
a different room
so that you are
not disturbed by
notification
tones, texts or
phonecalls.
• Discuss the
benefits of
personal space
as a family,
• If a family
member practises
being in their
personal space
whilst in a room
full of other
family members,
DO NOT ask them
why they are
quiet. Let them
be.
• During this
practice,
acknowledge and
become aware of
every part of
your being and
give thanks to
ALLAH for this
precious time of
reflection.
• Minimise loud
noises and
distractions in
the home so that
people who are
in practice of
this time can
feel more at
peace.
• Go into the
practice with an
intention to
know ALLAH
better and find
answers to
questions that
are on your
mind.
• Encourage and
support your
family members
to experience
Psychological
Personal Space
daily.
A
daily practice of
psychological
personal space will
not only transform
you as a person but
also inspire people
in your family and
community to imbibe
this practice. In a
world where the
terms
‘communication’ and
‘connection’ are
reduced to defining
the latest
electronic gadgets,
we are sadly the
most disconnected
Muslims to have
dwelled on this
earth.
Disconnect from
the outside and
connect within so
that you may connect
better with ALLAH.
In Shaa ALLAH, next
week we will explore
the topic:
Finding Good in
Every Situation
If you wish to know
about a specific
topic with regards
to Self-Care and
Clarity of Mind,
please text or email
me or visit
www.muslimahmindmatters.com.
If you wish to have
a FREE one hour
Finding Clarity
telephone session,
contact me on
0451977786
Q. Dear
Kareema, I’m fairly active but need to improve
my cardio and lower body strength. Any
suggestions?
A: Any activity that gets your heart
beating faster and you breathing harder; from
walking briskly to cycling, can boost
heart-health and improve blood flow.
For lower body strength, try incorporating the
plank into your routine. It is the perfect way
to strengthen the deepest layer of your ab
muscles, along with your thighs and glutes.
These muscles will help stabilise and strengthen
lower body. Try holding your hover longer
(30secs) every time you do it.
Mrs Habibbula: Congratulations dear, it seems your
daughter's marriage has been fixed.
Mrs Jallaludin: Yes yes, a very nice boy, very well
settled.
Mrs Habibbula: Oh really, you are so lucky, what does he
do?
Mrs Jallaludin: Oh, very high profile job. There is this
famous company called WhatsApp, and he is the admin of a
group in it. It seems there were only 8 people in the
group earlier, now there are 108 people under him.
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.
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
MONTHLY COMMUNITY PROGRAMME
FIRST FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH
Click on images to enlarge
IPDC
HOLLAND PARK MOSQUE
Queensland Police Service/Muslim
Community Consultative Group
NEXT MEETING
TIME: 7.00pm –
8.30pm DATE: TBA VENUE: Islamic College of Brisbane [ICB].
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.
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someone you know who would like to subscribe to CCN please
encourage them to enter their details
here.
Births, Marriages,
New Migrants and
Condolences
Indian
Muslim teen develops world's smallest
satellite, NASA will launch it 
Welcome
to my weekly column
on Self-Care and
Clarity of Mind.
If you’re taking
time out to read
this, pat yourself
on the back because
you have shown
commitment to taking
care of your mind
and body. 
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our Wall
7
August 2011