Muslim Aid Australia's Riyaad
Ally on the ground in Myanmar
The Rohingya are a Muslim
people living in the
north-west of predominantly
Buddhist Myanmar, which
borders mainly Muslim
Bangladesh. In Myanmar they
are seen as Muslims, and in
Bangladesh as foreigners.
Neither country claims or
even wants them. Neither
will allow them citizenship,
though these families have
lived in Burma for centuries
at least. Now the military
in Myanmar will not even
tolerate their existence,
and in recent weeks the
almost genocidal pressure on
their villages has greatly
increased, sending tens of
thousands trying to flee
across a guarded border into
an uncertain future. The
army appears to be trying to
starve out the population
from areas where the armed
resistance is most active,
sending an unprecedented
flood of refugees across the
border. It has blocked UN
agencies from delivering
food, water or medicine to
the affected areas, leaving
an estimated 250,000 people
without regular access to
food.
There is very little for the
refugees if they do get out
alive. The Bangladeshi
authorities are extremely
reluctant to recognise that
they are fleeing from
persecution, even if local
people have responded with
great generosity.
For years Myanmar government
forces have descended on
villages to slaughter or
drive out their inhabitants.
Amnesty International has
accused the regime of crimes
against humanity. One of
Myanmar’s most influential
Buddhist preachers, Ashin
Wirathu, preaches compassion
towards mosquitoes but death
for Muslims. Although he has
served time in prison for
earlier sermons, he is now
more popular than ever, and
widely believed to have the
support of the army, which
ruled the country openly for
years and is still a
powerful force behind the
scenes.
The persecution has,
predictably, led to an armed
resistance, which, just as
predictably, has provoked
greater repression and
cruelty. The Buddha had
something to say about such
chains of violence and
revenge but it appears that
the Myanmar’s Buddhists
would rather use chains as
weapons, the way Hells
Angels did, than be freed
from them. This story would
be tragic and an outrage to
the conscience of the world
if it ended there. But there
is every chance it will not.
There is no repression
savage enough to empty the
whole of Rakhine state of
its inhabitants and finally
crush the resistance.
Neither can the armed
resistance movement hope for
any final victory. But it
can hope to enlarge the
scope of the conflict, and
present it as a religious
one in which Muslims are
being persecuted for their
faith. That is at least half
true, but it is a
destructive as well as a
powerful narrative. It adds
Myanmar to the long list of
countries where Islam
appears to be the religion
of the persecuted and the
outcast, and to frame the
justification for their own
violent and intolerant
revenge. There are already
insurgencies of that sort –
all of them building on
existing ethnic divides and
antagonisms – in many parts
of south-east Asia, from
Thailand to the Philippines.
There is a horrible irony in
the involvement here of Aung
San Suu Kyi, who appeared to
be bringing to Myanmar the
message of universal human
rights – which would
transcend or at least set
limits to the brutalities of
the old world. The Nobel
prize winner, who appeared
for decades as the epitome
of principled and
unflinching defence of human
rights, now appears as the
unfeeling figurehead of a
vicious regime.
Teachers with the help of
the students and other
working staff designed the
props and the models of
Ka’aba, Maqame Ibrahim,
Arafat, Mina, Jamarat,
Muzdalifah, and Safa-Marwa.
It was really beautiful to
see children from kindy,
prep and other lower primary
coming in their Ihram
cloths. They also had
‘passports’ with Hajj visas
stamped in. On their way to
Makkah from Jeddah airport,
children engaged in reading
Talbiyyah.
When students from each
class came to perform their
‘Hajj’, Imams guided them
through each and every
ritual. They also briefed
the stories and messages
that are contained in every
act of Hajj. The performance
concluded with the final
farewell Tawaf known as
Tawaaful Wadaa.
"The key to good service is
standing still and looking
backwards,” a royal
functionary informs Abdul
Karim (Ali Fazal), before
the Indian servant’s first,
fateful meeting with Queen
Victoria (Judi Dench).
There’s no question that
Victoria & Abdul, Stephen
Frears’ new film about the
extraordinary friendship
between the ageing monarch
and her young Muslim
attendant known as “the
Munshi” has both of those
abilities down pat.
Beginning with a coy
disclaimer that avows what
follows is “based on true
events… mostly”, Frears’
film is all nostalgia and
inertia – a tale ablaze with
historical import and
contemporary resonance,
reduced to commemorative
biscuit tin proportions.
Prise off the lid and inside
you’ll find an expectedly
sensational performance from
Dench, who returns to a role
she played (and won a Bafta
for) 20 years ago in Mrs
Brown. But this time,
there’s no bushy-bearded
Billy Connolly in sight, and
almost nothing for the
actress to push against –
least of all Abdul himself,
who remains a doe-eyed and
fawning blank slate
throughout.
The film does make some
cursory attempts to give
them equal weight – it even
begins with him, at the
moment he was plucked from
his position as a prison
clerk in Uttar Pradesh in
1887 to present a ceremonial
coin at Victoria’s Golden
Jubilee banquet in England.
(The job called for someone
tall, and he apparently
measured up.)
Meanwhile, Victoria, 68
years old and 16 years a
widow, is a sack-like shape
in a Windsor four-poster,
emitting un-regal snores.
Tired of the unremitting
round of royal duties, she
longs for novelty and colour
– which the handsome,
twinkling Abdul, full of
wise teachings and swirling
stories from the Raj, is
delighted to provide.
“Life is a carpet,” he tells
her. “We weave in and out to
make a pattern.” The way
Fazal delivers the line it
actually sounds quite
profound – and the pair’s
early scenes together do
have an amicable thrum and
snap, as the Empress of
India and this humble Muslim
bookkeeper playfully sound
each other out.
The film also ascribes her
some fairly improbable
progressive views. Her
appointment of a Muslim to a
key role in the royal
household is positioned,
rather optimistically, as a
triumph for diversity.
The Telegraph
UK
Review: Ali's Wedding is
Australia's first feel-good
Muslim rom-com
The stories and characters in
Ali's Wedding are based on the
life of screenwriter and star
Osamah Sami.
Ali's Wedding imagines how
an Australian Muslim
community might be able to
resolve its own problems,
without needing help from
do-gooder outsiders,
moralising pundits or
politicians.
While this reflects a lack
of confidence in the
possibility of broader
cross-cultural solidarity,
it also has a more positive
dimension.
At a time when Muslims tend
to be absent from our
screens bar in the most
tragic and brutal scenarios,
the idea that these
characters have the
compassion and courage to
work through their
significant issues
autonomously is what drives
the film's feel good energy.
The launch of the Queensland
Parliamentary Friends of
Palestine Group took place
this week.
Hosted by Peter Russo MP
with guest speakers
Palestinian Ambassador Izzat
Abdulhadi and Ruby Roo who
spoke about Palestinian
children in Israeli military
detention where 75% spend
three months or more in
detention before the age of
18 and often under torture.
On the panel: Rutger Bregman,
Historian and author; Laurie
Penny, Writer and
journalist; Shashi Tharoor,
Indian diplomat, politician
and author; Amani Al-Khatahtbeh,
Founder and editor-in-chief
of Muslim Girl; and Michael
Fullilove, Executive
Director of the Lowy
Institute for International
Policy.
The depiction of the God
Ganesha eating lamb in a
Meat and Livestock Australia
ad has angered
Indian-Australians.
Members of the Australian
Indian community are angry
about a new lamb ad which
depicts the Hindu God
Ganesha eating meat, despite
being widely considered a
vegetarian by practitioners
of the religion.
The ad depicts religious
figures from many religions
— including Jesus, Buddha,
and Moses — eating together
at a backyard barbecue.
At one point Buddha asks:
"Should we address the
elephant in the room?" to
which Ganesha, who is
depicted as a man with the
head of an elephant and
multiple arms, replies: "Not
funny 2,500 years ago, not
funny now".
Mohammed calls in at one
point apologising for not
being able to make it,
because he has to pick up
kids from day care.
The depiction of Mohammed is
considered highly offensive
to some Muslims and has
resulted in threats of
violence against artists and
cartoonists.
Indian Society of Western
Australia spokesman Nitin
Vashisht said the ad was
insensitive.
"I don't think they realise
how revered a God Ganesha is
within the Hindu community
and by and large the Indian
community," he said.
"[He is a] vegetarian
teetotaller, and that's
really God for us and most
of the Indian community.
"He is shown as … eating
lamb and looking for a new
marketing strategy for
himself [and that] is really
very insensitive to the
community."
The Logan Roos football
club, a club managed by
ICQ/Youth Connectunder coach
Abdul Samim Khan, has made
the grand final in the
church league.
The team came from 0 - 1
behind to win their semi
final 3-2.
Grand final will be on 22
September.
"ICQ has a long term lease
on Oates Park in Logan
Central. We are currently
running 4 football clubs and
will be entering clubs in
the Football Brisbane league
next year too Inshallah,"
posted ICQ's Fahim Khondaker
on the
Brisbane Muslim
Facebook page.
Three far-right activists
who staged a mock beheading
in protest at plans to build
a mosque have been found
guilty, convicted and fined
for a criminal offence under
Victoria's racial
vilification laws.
United Patriots Front
members Blair Cottrell, 27,
Christopher Shortis, 46, and
Neil Erikson, 32, were all
found guilty by a magistrate
of inciting contempt,
revulsion or ridicule of
Muslims.
Magistrate John Hardy found
the men guilty on Tuesday,
after a two-day contested
hearing in Melbourne
Magistrates Court.
The trio are the first
people convicted under
Victoria's Racial and
Religious Tolerance Act.
The charge carries a penalty
of up to six months in jail
or fines of more than $9000.
After finding the men
guilty, Mr Hardy struck out
charges of wilful damage and
defacing property, at the
request of prosecutors.
A charge of offensive
behaviour in public was
earlier withdrawn by
prosecutors.
The magistrate then imposed
convictions on Cottrell,
Shortis and Erikson and
fined them each $2000 each.
Cottrell said the
magistrate's decision set a
"dangerous precedent" for
Victorians, and believed the
state was a step closer to
introducing blasphemy laws.
In court, Mr Hardy told the
trio they had "crossed the
line" in staging a mock
beheading outside the City
of Bendigo offices on
October 4, 2015, in protest
against building a mosque in
Bendigo.
"We live in a community that
is extraordinarily diverse
and each person is entitled
to live their life without
being subjected to wrongful
conduct by others," the
magistrate said.
In the video, Cottrell
speaks to camera about the
mosque plans and directs
Shortis – wearing a Middle
Eastern-style head covering,
and shouting "Allahu Akbar"
– and Erikson to decapitate
a dummy with a toy plastic
sword.
When the dummy is beheaded,
red liquid spills onto the
footpath.
Mr Hardy found the video –
which was posted onto the
UPF's Facebook page – was
designed to incite contempt
and ridicule of Muslims, and
encourage other "like-minded
people" to attend a rally
opposing the mosque.
The date of the rally was
broadcast on the video.
The fact the video was seen
at least 275 times on the
Facebook page indicated the
men made their video for an
audience, Mr Hardy said.
THIS TIME LAST YEAR. SAAD
WAS EMBROILED IN A
controversy of his own after
he was the subject of some
offcolour remarks by a Gold
Coast City councillor. The
Suns lodged an official
complaint after Dawn
Crichlow delivered a public
rant at a diversity
function, which the club
claimed was homophobic and
religiously insensitive.
After the story was broken
by Courier-Mail journalist
Jeremy Pierce, a defiant
Crichlow returned serve to
the Suns in a provocative
article published by the
Gold Coast Bulletin where
she accused the club of
being "thin-skinned".
Crichlow confirmed that she
had made a comment that
could have been construed as
homophobic while Saad was
play-fighting with the team
mascot, Sunny. "That mascot
was massaging this young
fella's leg and I said, 'Is
that a man or a woman in
that costume? I hope it's
not a woman because you're
not allowed to have women
touch you' - because (Saad)
is a Muslim man. It's a load
of garbage," she says. "It's
a joke, it's an absolute
joke."
Saad went to ground during
the scandal and declined
interview requests. A year
on, he reveals it was
outraged teammates and Suns'
staff members who were most
offended by Crichlow's
comments. "Everyone may have
thought I wanted nothing to
do with her or disliked
her," Saad says. "But I
actually told the guy from
the council, if she rocks up
to my door, my religion says
that I have to let her in
and treat her like family. I
invited her back to the club
to come to a game and to try
to teach her about my
religion, because a lot of
people don't really know."
Fellow Suns player Ablett is
the AFL's highest-profile
Christian and it has never
occurred to him that he and
Saad should not get along on
religious grounds. "Saady is
a good mate of mine," Ablett
says. "I don't see why there
would be conflict; I have my
beliefs and my values that I
try to live by and he is the
same, and that's pretty much
what it is.
We have those discussions
every now and then where I
will I ask him questions
about his faith and he asks
me about mine. I think it's
the same with anything-
we've all had different
upbringings and been through
different things, and I
think that's the only way
you learn, by asking
questions."
Bangladeshis travelling home
for the festival. Eid al-Adha
commemorates the Prophet
Ibrahim’s readiness to
sacrifice his son as a sign
of his obedience to God. In
honour of him, Muslims
sacrifice goats, sheep and
cows
Letters to stop the
ethnic cleansing
and save Rohingyas in
Myanmar
From Prof
Shahjahan Khan
Prof Shahjahan
Khan
LETTER TO THE
AUSTRALIAN PM
Respected Hon
Malcolm
Turnbull:
With due
respect, I write
this letter to
you with great
sorrow and pain
in heart on
observing the
ongoing genocide
and systematic
ethnic cleansing
of Rohingyas in
Myanmar over the
years and
escalation of
brutal mass
killing of
innocent
civilians by the
security forces
of Myanmar in
the Arakan
region in the
recent days.
The stories of
horrific
indiscriminant
murder and
torture of men,
women and
children, gang
rape of girls,
and burning of
thousands of
homes of
Rohingyas are
beyond
imagination in
any civilized
nation. Even
animals wouldn’t
be subjected to
this kind of
inhuman cruelty
without an
international
outcry.
the letter to
the PM
LETTER TO THE
NOBEL FOUNDATION
Prof Khan also
made an
impassioned
request that
everyone make a
submission
at this link.
He said: This
is the right
time to take
action when the
issue is hot in
the media and
the Arakan is
burning. The
Nobel Foundation
awarded The
Nobel Peace
Prize to Ms Aung
San Suu Kyi in
1991 and the
citation states,
"for her
non-violent
struggle for
democracy and
human rights."
In the recent
years she has
been leading an
army dominated
government that
has
systematically
killed thousands
of innocent
children, women
and men and
burned hundreds
of homes in the
Arakan state of
Myanmar, and has
made a complete
U turn about the
human rights.
She never spoke
against the
brutal murder of
Rohingyas.
I believe that
Nobel Peace
Prize Committee
should recall
the Peace Prize
of Ms Suu Kyi so
that the Nobel
Foundation
preserves its
undisputed
integrity,
international
reputation, and
universal trust.
Prof Khan wrote
are letter to
the Nobel
Foundation in
which he
concluded with
the following
appeal: I
humbly urge you,
and through you
the Nobel Peace
Prize Committee,
to recall the
Peace Prize of
Ms Suu Kyi so
that the Nobel
Foundation
preserves its
undisputed
integrity,
international
reputation, and
universal trust.
the letter to
the Nobel
Foundation
Abraham's
story shows the
similarities and
the differences
between faiths
From ERASMUS
A tale of
sacrifice is an
awkward example
of commonality
between
believers in one
God
A WEEK ago,
Theresa May
issued a message
to her Muslim
fellow citizens,
which might have
come from a
standard, if
optimistic,
primer on
comparative
religion. The
British prime
minister assured
followers of
Islam of her
“warmest wishes”
on the occasion
of Eid al-Adha,
a festival which
commemorates the
readiness of
Abraham or
Ibrahim to offer
up his son in
obedience to
God.
She noted that
this was a
“special time”
during which
“British Muslims
will gather
together with
family, friends
and neighbours
to pray,
exchange gifts
and share
meals”, as well
as “extending a
hand of
friendship and
compassion to
those less
fortunate than
themselves”.
For many
adherents of
Islam, the
holiday involves
ritually
slaughtering a
sheep and
sharing the meat
or the monetary
proceeds with
poorer folk.
Mrs May, a
Christian
cleric’s
daughter,
offered
particular
congratulations
to those who had
made their
commemoration as
part of the haj,
or pilgrimage to
Mecca. This
involves
ritually
throwing pebbles
at three walls,
just east of the
holy city, so as
to recall
Ibrahim being
tempted by the
devil (to
disobey the
command of God)
and his
subsequent
victory over
temptation.
Then Mrs May
delivered her
most soothing
line. “The
festival’s
commemoration of
Abraham’s
willingness to
sacrifice for
his faith is a
reminder of the
shared roots of
the world’s
great Abrahamic
faiths.”
In some ways,
that is
perfectly true.
The story has
always loomed
large in the
spiritual
consciousness of
Christians,
Muslims and
Jews. It is told
in the 22nd
chapter of
Genesis, part of
the Hebrew
Scriptures which
are read by both
Christians and
Jews. But there
are at least two
awkward things.
Significant
differences
exist in the way
the three faiths
tell and
interpret the
story. And
whichever way
you read the
narrative, it
can be a
difficult one
for the
21st-century
mind. On the
face of things,
it describes the
actions of a
revered figure
who on the
principle of
“following
orders” is
prepared to
commit
infanticide.
It is the usual policy of CCN to
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imply endorsement or agreement
by CCN of the contents therein.
TOPIC:
"Supporting
the
MAZLUMEEN
(the
oppressed
people) :
WHY & HOW?"
IMAM:
Mossad Issa
MASJID TAQWA/BALD
HILLS MOSQUE
Friday
khutbah
(sermon)
DATE:
8 September
2017
TOPIC:
"What
is our
responsibility
at times of
difficulty"
IMAM:
Mufti Junaid
Akbar
SUMMARY
Mufti
Junaid
Akbar, Imam
of Masjid
Taqwa
Brisbane
spoke about
having love
for Allah
and how
Allah will
test
everyone and
the test
will be in
fear,
wealth,
patience,
emaan, how
Allah has
made us to
eat animal
meat after
mentioning
Allahs name.
He spoke
about the
current
situation in
Burma and
asked if we
feel the
pain, are we
crying for
the Burmese
Muslims. Are
we praying
Tahajud let
alone Fajr,
how will
help come if
we do not
pray. How
Prophet
feels the
pain of his
Umma. Why
aren’t we
looking at
the sky and
asking Allah
to intervene
instead of
the West,
because
everything
is from
Allah. What
is it that
we are
obliged to
do before
Allahs help
come.
Hafiz
Rashid Ali
visiting
Imam at
Oxley/Darra
Masjid spoke
about how
people
belittle
actions of
deen and not
even know
what actions
Allah will
accept, he
said how
Allah has
said to
treat deen
like a
business. He
said nothing
in this
world can be
compared
with the
hereafter.
He asks the
questions
what are we
really
working for?
Why are we
toiling so
much? What
is the
reality? Is
the person
spending a
lot of time
for deen,
the same as
the person
not spending
much time
for deen? He
mentioned
how only one
in every
thousand
people will
enter Jannah,
that is a
scary
percentage
of only
0.001%. He
said on that
day how
everyone
will get
very anxious
and will not
be able to
stand up and
how the
knees will
give way and
buckle.
Finally he
pose the
question as
to what are
we doing in
preparation
for that
day?
UK: A headline in The
Times which read "Christian child forced
into Muslim foster care" focussed on the
case of 5 year old Christian girl who
was put into the foster care of a devout
Muslim family.
Over the weekend the
mayor of Tower Hamlets spoke out about
the article saying a number of issues
raised had been sensationalised. It
included claims the girl wasn't allowed
to wear a crucifix on religious
grounds.Could this put ethnic minorities
off from fostering in future?
UK: Her music videos have
received millions of views but some
claim her they go against Islamic values
Our reporter Maaiysa Valli has been
catching up with the Muslim American
rapper on the love/hate relationship
people have with her music.
Non-Muslim farmers turn to selling halal
meat products.
UK: Thousands of Muslims
are marking the start of the three day
holy festival of Eid-al-Adha. This one's
known as the "sacrifice feast" when
Muslims distribute the meat of an animal
to their loved ones and the less well
off. It's also the busiest time of the
year for halal butchers and meat
suppliers including one farm in
Lancashire which has recently turned to
supplying only halal products. But it
says its received anti-Muslim abuse on
social media because of it. Our reporter
Rahila Bano's been to visit them.
Iran
football ticket 'glitch' gave female fans
hope
Iranian female
football fans were able to
attend a club match in Oman last
month
IRAN: It seemed the ban
on women attending men's football
matches had been lifted on Saturday,
when an option for women's tickets for a
World Cup qualifier against Syria
appeared online.
A number of women bought tickets,
expressing their surprise and joy.
But Iran's football federation later
said the tickets were sold by mistake.
Women are allowed into segregated
sections in stadiums to watch men play
certain sports, including volleyball,
basketball, handball and tennis.
But they are not permitted to watch
men's football, swimming or wrestling.
Many women were therefore surprised when
they were given an option online to buy
tickets for Tuesday's match at Tehran's
Azadi stadium.
Some proudly shared their purchases on
Twitter.
One woman told the reformist Shahrvand
newspaper that she had bought a ticket
even though she did not really like
football. "I felt that if didn't sign
up, I would be missing a major event,"
Zahra Jafarzadeh said.
However, the football federation later
issued a statement blaming a "technical
glitch" and stressing that there was "no
plan to allow the presence of women in
Azadi stadium for the Iran-Syria match".
All tickets purchased by women would be
cancelled and refunded, it added.
Ghoncheh Ghavami, a British-Iranian
woman who was detained for four months
after attempting to watch a men's
volleyball match in 2015, urged female
fans to keep buying tickets for the
match in protest at the stadium ban.
"The empty seats will represent our
voice," she wrote on Twitter.
I
ran Iran: Sweden's ultra-runner overcomes
fears and prejudice
Kristina Paltén
ran 1144 miles across Iran on
her own, from Turkey to
Turkmenistan, to challenge
prejudice against Islam in her
home country of Sweden and
across Europe. It took her two
months, and although she got off
to a rocky start, she found
herself welcomed by a succession
of friendly encounters, with
free meals, gifts, and places to
stay.
Kristina
Palten on the road in Iran last
year pushing her “Baby Blue”
pushchair that carried her 25
kilograms of baggage across the
country
SWEDEN: Over a period of
58 days, Kristina Palten ran across the
vastness of Iran, from the Turkish
border through desert heat via the
Caspian Sea, to snow-covered mountains
near Turkmenistan.
Running an average of 37 kilometres per
day, she started in Bazargan by the
Turkish border and finished in Bajgiran
on the north-eastern border, running a
total of 1,840 kilometres.
By her side was her only companion,
“Baby Blue,” as Palten named her light
blue pushchair that carried her 25
kilograms of baggage, which included a
tent, a sleeping bag, books and vehicle
repair gear.
MEE met Palten at a cafe in downtown
Stockholm, and asked why she chose to
run through Iran last autumn. “For so
many reasons,” she says. “The nature is
supposed to be beautiful and the people
generous and kind.”
That, she continues, is at least if you
listen to the people who have been to
Iran. Others are likely to be influenced
by the mainstream media's more negative
portrayal of the Islamic country.
Breaking preconceived ideas of ‘the
other’
Palten was intrigued by the idea of a
woman running solo through a Muslim
country. If she went ahead with it, she
knew she would not only be challenging
her own ideas, but also many other
people’s preconceived notions.
The immediate reaction among most people
she initially spoke to about her plans
was fright - they thought she was crazy
and that she would never make it.
“My perception is that people are
becoming more and more afraid,” explains
Palten. She thinks it is a direct effect
of terrorism and the wave of refugees
entering Europe. She asked herself if
she really wanted to live in a world so
full of fear. “When I am afraid of
something it is usually unprecedented
and makes me feel bad,” she says.
Nothing good can come out of a world
closing itself off in fear, she says.
“I want a world where we trust each
other and listen to one another.” It
made Palten think about what she, as a
runner, could do to contribute towards
building trust. Running through Iran and
putting her life into strangers' hands
was, to her, the answer.
Someone
Put an Eid Message on Times Square’s Biggest
Billboard
A message
saying “Eid Mubarak” has been
displayed on New York Times
Square’s biggest billboard.
USA: The billboard went
live on 1st September at 8pm EST. on the
landmark NASDAQ MarketSite in Times
Square as Muslims in the USA and around
the world celebrated Eid Al Adha.
The billboard was sponsored by Wahed
Invest, a shariah-compliant investment
platform who partnered up with the New
York branch of leading Muslim civil
rights organization CAIR.
Wahed Invest’s CEO Junaid Wahedna told
IlmFeed the company wanted to spread the
positivity of Eid with the world:
“We
really felt we should spread the
positivity and love of the Eid
festivities with the world
especially after all the negativity
tied to Muslims in the US and
worldwide.”
In 1930, the
American historian and philosopher Will Durant
wrote that Britain’s ‘conscious and deliberate
bleeding of India… [was the] greatest crime in
all history’. He was not the only one to
denounce the rapacity and cruelty of British
rule, and his assessment was not exaggerated.
Almost thirty-five million Indians died because
of acts of commission and omission by the
British—in famines, epidemics, communal riots
and wholesale slaughter like the reprisal
killings after the 1857 War of Independence and
the Amritsar massacre of 1919.
Besides the deaths of Indians, British rule
impoverished India in a manner that beggars
belief. When the East India Company took control
of the country, in the chaos that ensued after
the collapse of the Mughal empire, India’s share
of world GDP was 23 per cent. When the British
left it was just above 3 per cent.
The British empire in India began with the East
India Company, incorporated in 1600, by royal
charter of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth I, to
trade in silk, spices and other profitable
Indian commodities. Within a century and a half,
the Company had become a power to reckon with in
India. In 1757, under the command of Robert
Clive, Company forces defeated the ruling Nawab
Siraj-ud-Daula of Bengal at Plassey, through a
combination of superior artillery and even more
superior chicanery. A few years later, the young
and weakened Mughal emperor, Shah Alam II, was
browbeaten into issuing an edict that replaced
his own revenue officials with the Company’s
representatives. Over the next several decades,
the East India Company, backed by the British
government, extended its control over most of
India, ruling with a combination of extortion,
double-dealing, and outright corruption backed
by violence and superior force. This state of
affairs continued until 1857, when large numbers
of the Company’s Indian soldiers spearheaded the
first major rebellion against colonial rule.
After the rebels were defeated, the British
Crown took over power and ruled the country
ostensibly more benignly until 1947, when India
won independence.
In this explosive book, bestselling author
Shashi Tharoor reveals with acuity, impeccable
research, and trademark wit, just how disastrous
British rule was for India. Besides examining
the many ways in which the colonizers exploited
India, ranging from the drain of national
resources to Britain, the destruction of the
Indian textile, steel-making and shipping
industries, and the negative transformation of
agriculture, he demolishes the arguments of
Western and Indian apologists for Empire on the
supposed benefits of British rule, including
democracy and political freedom, the rule of
law, and the railways.
The few unarguable benefits—the English
language, tea, and cricket—were never actually
intended for the benefit of the colonized but
introduced to serve the interests of the
colonizers. Brilliantly narrated and
passionately argued, An Era of Darkness will
serve to correct many misconceptions about one
of the most contested periods of Indian history.
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:
Nurture Your
Relationship With
Your In-Laws
Before you read this
column, it may be a
good idea to make
yourself a hot
beverage, sit back,
relax and then begin
reading. Banish all
preconceived notions
of how in-laws
should be with you
or how you should be
with your in-laws.
This column will
only serve you good
if you read it with
an open mind and
embrace it without
judgments about
yourself and your
in-laws.
It is becoming
increasingly common
that every time
there is a
challenging
situation in a
marriage, the
reasons for these
challenges are
attributed to having
a weak relationship
with the in-laws.
It is vital that for
your marriage to be
healthy and joyful,
your relationship
with your in-laws is
healthy and joyful.
There is no secret
formula to it. There
is simply a daily
practice of
self-awareness and
understanding that
your happiness, your
joy, your respect
for your in-laws and
your respect for
yourself come from
one person - YOU.
Some of my clients
groan at me at this
and retort by
saying, “Oh, but
Sister Iqra, you
don’t know how
terrible these
people are to me…”
Another common one I
hear often from
daughters-in-law is:
“Islam says I don’t
have to obey my
in-laws”.
Technically that is
true but not the
whole truth. It is
incumbent on every
Muslim to be
respectful to each
other and to say
Salaam. There are
homes where the
members of the
family are not even
exchanging salaams.
That is not what
Islam is. That is
what Shaitaan is -
to attack and break
relationships,
especially
marriages.
It is this
perception that
needs to be
examined. As Muslims
when we deconstruct
our Ummah, we find
that every Muslim
home has the
greatest potential
to impact the entire
Muslim population.
It is the collective
efforts of all
Muslim homes that
make our Ummah what
it is today.
And yet, our Ummah
is suffering. We
only need to look
within our own home
to find that our
little micro-Ummah,
our family, is in
turmoil, begrudging
each other over
petty things and
petty emotions. We
are spending
precious time in
engaging in “I’m
right, you’re wrong”
arguments that are
not only repetitive
but sucking the joy
out the family
unit...our very own
little ummah within
the Ummah is
disintegrating.
Self-awareness is
vital when it comes
to nurturing your
relationship with
your in-laws. When
you take account of
your own behaviour
patterns, when you
take care of your
mind, body and soul,
you will live a life
of peace and joy.
You will pray on
time, you will
practice more ibadat
and spend less time
in blaming others
for things that are
going pear-shaped in
your home. When you
self-reflect and
become self-aware,
you will be able to
transform your
habits and your
perceptions in order
to cultivate a
joyful and
harmonious
relationship with
your in-laws.
11 Ways To
Nurture Your
Relationship With
Your In-Laws
1. Take time out
to spend with your
in-laws by yourself.
Your spouse and
children do not have
to be there. Spend
that time to
converse with them
and ask them to
share some wisdom
from when they were
younger. You would
be amazed at how
wonderful your
connection can be if
you spend this
alone-time with them
regularly. Do not
spend this time
discussing about
people or your
children or your
marriage. Simply
spend this time to
gain wisdom from
your in-laws.
2. Show a genuine
interest in the
activities that your
in-laws participate
in and enquire
about how it is
going for them. Do
not give your
opinion about
whether you agree
with the activities
or their interests.
Simply listen and be
happy for them.
3. Organise a
family activity once
a month where
you all get to spend
time together as a
whole family and
experience real joy.
If it is difficult
to come up with what
activity suits
everyone so get
inputs from your
in-laws, spouse and
children. Make it a
monthly commitment.
It can be as simple
as having a picnic
in the park or
reciting meaningful
poetry in the living
room. Make it
creative, maybe even
have a poetry
session where each
one of you are
creating couplets
impromptu.
4. Find a way to
connect with your
in-laws daily with a
genuine smile and a
heartfelt Salaam.
Your own energy is
important and your
joyful, positive
vibration will
spread joy in the
home. If they have a
grumpy nature, do
not give up with
your daily
connection attempts.
Practice Sabr. Your
patience and
persistence in being
kind and joyful will
ultimately yield you
the desired results.
5. Clarify
respectfully instead
of jumping to
assumptions and
negative
conclusions. If
there is a matter
that seems unclear
and is causing you
anxiety or
disturbance,
approach your
in-laws respectfully
and discuss it with
them in a tone that
is kind and shows
that you wish to
understand them, not
accuse them. Tone is
everything. Even if
you say something
beneficial in an
accusing tone, the
message is lost and
people get hurt.
6. Children do as
we do, not as we
say. Remember
how you respond or
react in the home
and with your
in-laws. Your
behaviours are being
watched by your
children. Reflect on
your life and see if
your behaviours are
as a reflection of
your parents’
behaviours. Most
times they are,
unless you have
consciously chosen
to change them. If
you treat your
in-laws well,
whether they are in
the same home as you
or whenever you meet
them, your children
will imbibe those
values in their own
lives. Your in-laws
too will mimic this
positive behaviour.
It is human nature
to do so.
7. Set your
boundaries. Do not
impose them on
others but set
them for yourself so
that you know when
to walk away or when
to remain quiet. If
you know yourself
better, you can
control your
responses instead of
reacting on another
person’s anger or
disrespectful ways.
Knowing your
boundaries means
having self-respect
and understanding
your rights, values
and doing what
pleases ALLAH, not
what pleases people,
even if they are
your in-laws, your
parents or anyone
else for that
matter.
8. Monitor your
words. Once they
leave your lips they
can NEVER be
retracted or
unspoken. Be mindful
of what you are
saying when you
converse with
people. If your
in-laws disappoint
you, do not abuse
your tongue by
getting even with
them or by
slandering about
them. Speaking ill
about them to others
will only reflect on
your poor character,
not theirs.
9. NEVER blame
your spouse for
anything that is
said to you by your
in-laws. Your
spouse has his/her
own mind. Blaming
one for another’s
actions is highly
unfair. What is
better is to discuss
with your spouse
about all that was
said and done and
find a way to
resolve this as a
couple, without
blame or accusation.
Your marriage is not
just to your spouse
but to the entire
family. Remember
that the spouse that
you love so dearly
is here because your
in-laws loved and
cared for your
spouse in his/her
childhood.
10. Be fair to
your in-laws and to
yourself by
expecting from them
what you expect from
others - Respect
and Understanding.
You must demonstrate
respect and
understanding in
order to expect
these from others.
11. Get help from
a professional
if matters are
becoming too
challenging for you.
It is your
birthright to be
happy. Alhumdolillah,
the Muslim community
is always helpful to
each other. Visit a
trusted professional
and discuss ways to
deal and manage your
challenges with your
in-laws. Do not
speak about your
challenges to people
who do not have the
expertise to help
you.
Focus on yourself to
transform your
behaviour so that
everything you
think, speak and do
is pleasing to
ALLAH. Your
relationship with
your in-laws is
ultimately about
your relationship
with humanity.
Respect,
understanding,
kindness and
compassion -
practise these
virtues on yourself
and practise them
with others.
In Shaa ALLAH, next
week we will explore
the topic: Taking
Care Of Yourself
While Going Through
Separation or
Divorce
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, apart from my exercises I do, what is
it that I can do to look and feel better?
A: Examine your diet - Make
'good-for-you' choices when it comes to
preparing / choosing meals.
Try 5 smaller meals instead of 3 big ones.
Think lean protein & veggies instead of fried
fatty foods.
Set realistic goals that are focused on YOUR
body.
Don't rush your body to see change - take it
slow & enjoy the journey.
Improve your posture - stand up tall & you'll
look trimmer without breaking sweat.
Who doesn't
love a girl’s night in? Or
maybe even a girl’s night
out! If you've been waiting
for that perfect time to get
dressed up and let down your
hair - literally! We've got
you covered! (yes all you
gals wearing hijab, this
one's for you too).
UQ Muslimah
Society would like to
cordially invite you to our
first ever WOMENS ONLY
Annual Ball - 'Beauty In The
East!'
Who needs a
prince or a beast to save
their day? Lets all be the
Wonder Women in all our
eastern glamour and western
elegance sooo.....
LADIES get
ready for a magical night
that celebrates women in all
of our beauty. Enjoy great
company, exotic food and
dance the night away in a
safe, women’s-only
environment. Let’s just
forget about assignments,
boy drama and
responsibilities for this
one night, for the chance to
be the Belle of the Ball!
DRESS: Formal ball gowns
(all traditional and
cultural dresses are
welcome!)
NOTE: This is an alcohol
free event. All Muslim and
non-Muslim women of all
backgrounds are welcome. You
do not have to be a UQ
student to attend event.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FUNDRAISING: A portion of
the income from ticket sales
and parallel fundraising
will be donated to REVI, a
group of volunteers helping
Syrian refugee families
through job opportunities,
education and emergency aid
in Izmir, Turkey.
At the Islamic Women's
Association of Australia (IWAA)
this is what is being
organized over the next few
months.
1. inspiredNAFSi personal
leadership course:
This course is a signature
program of the Centre for
Islamic Thought & Education,
UniSA. The inspiredNAFSi
program is underpinned by a
strength-based approach and
Muslim worldview, that
utilises the nga
thanaluidha
Yarning Circle Framework
(developed by Aunty Debra
Bennett). This framework has
been adapted, infusing
Islamic worldview as this
informs Muslim people's ways
of knowing, being and doing.
The program offers a
holistic approach to
development of human
potential. It depicts a
journey of learning and
self-discovery, empowering
the individual and the
community and enabling
individuals with skills
through sharing, learning
and transforming life into
new futures.
Places are very limited.
Please the flyer below for
details.
2.
Parenting between Cultures
workshop
that will run over a three
week period on Fridays
starting 6th October. This
workshop has been very
popular and has been very
well received. The
facilitators are Joan
Burrows and Sr. Susan Al-maani
who come with a wealth of
knowledge and experience in
delivering these workshops.
Places are very limited.
Please the flyer below for
details.
3. “I am
Connected”
at IWAA. We have been very
privileged to start a
program to connect with our
indigenous sisters. The
“I am Connected” project
is aimed at developing
connections and linkages
between Muslim and
Indigenous women through
sharing of native foods,
customs, arts and crafts and
storytelling and
highlighting the
similarities between these
groups, forging friendships
and celebrating women's
interests across all
cultures in a respectful and
caring environment.
Current activities include:
• arts and crafts workshop
on Friday, 8th September at
IWAA hall from 5-7pm
• Soundtrack – Tuesday, 19th
September at IWAA hall from
11am-1pm
• Weekend camp – 12-14th
January 2018 (please note
that the dates for this camp
has changed from 24-26th
November). Please see flyer
for more details
• Walk in Country – date and
venue to be advised
We acknowledge our
indigenous and Muslim elders
for their support, advice
and guidance. Alhamdulillah
For more details and to
participate, please call
Muna on 0431 360 418
We will collect
donations until
Friday, 8
September 2017,
and then send to
Bangladesh
directly to
assist the
Rohingyas.
Asalaamu
Alaykum Warahmatullahi
Wabarakaatu
We are
inviting you to take part an
amazing opportunity of
building a home in Jannah.
Islamic Society of Gladstone
Inc. (ISG) started a journey
to build the First Masjid in
the region of Gladstone
Queensland Australia.
18 April 2017
marks a historic occasion
when Islamic Society of
Gladstone (ISG) was granted
the Developmental
Application (DA) for the
construction of the much
needed ‘place of worship for
Muslims’ which will be the
first purpose built Islamic
Centre / Masjid in the whole
Gladstone Region.
Having
already been purchased the
land, ISG hereby appeals to
the broader local and
international Muslim
communities to raise
$1,600,000 for the
construction stage of the
Islamic Centre in Gladstone.
The prophet
Muhammad (pbuh) said,
“Whoever builds a mosque for
Allah, Allah will build for
him likewise in Paradise” [Bukhârî
& Muslim]
May Allah
Almighty shower His
blessings upon us all in
this world and in the
hereafter. Ameen.
ISG bank
detail is as below:
ANZ bank Account Name:
Islamic Society of Gladstone
Inc.
BSB Number: 014 580
Account Number: 379 453 433
Assalamualaikum.
Shajarah Islamic Kindergarten is
in need of your help! The
Department of Transport who owns
the current premises at 2 Rothon
Drive, Rochedale South, require
the property to create a new
busway through the area. We need
to find a new location a.s.a.p.
Going back to
the beginning…. Shajarah
Islamic Kindergarten was the
inspiration of a new
Muslimah’s concerns that
there was no Islamic Kindy
where she could send her son
to for the most critical
years of his life i.e the
1st five years. (As we are
all aware of the importance
of the foundation phase in
the correct upbringing of
our children). She noticed
this empty Kindergarten
building at No. 2 Rothon
Drive and in October 2012
the first Islamic Kindy in
Brisbane opened it’s doors
to a pressing need in the
community. From such humble
beginnings up till now, we
are pleased to say that
through the Rahmah and mercy
of Allah we have grown to
become an established
institution serving the
needs of the Muslim
community.
In October
2016 we were assessed by the
Office of Early Childhood
Education and Care and
Alhamdullilah we were rated
as “EXCEEDING THE NATIONAL
QUALITY FRAMEWORK”. We meet
all government requirements
for the National governing
body “ACECQA” as well as the
Queensland State Government
Office of Early Childhood
Education and Care.
Our Service
Approval currently includes
:-
- An
Approved Kindergarten
Program for children in
their final year before
school,
- Long Day Care for 3year
olds to school age,
- Before School Care
- After School Care
- Vacation Care for School
Aged Children
- A Montessori Program
across all ages.
We have 24 childcare places
per day. Our Kindergarten is
set in a beautiful garden
setting and it will be sad
to see it go. We even have
parents coming from the
North side and as far as
Gold Coast, braving the
traffic for up to an hour
just to place their child in
our Islamic Kindy!
To date we have approached
various organisations and
individuals and visited
buildings for rental but
unfortunately have not been
successful in securing
premises for our new Kindy.
We beseech anyone who can be
of any assistance in helping
us to find new premises,
renovate if required, and
relocate by the 31st
December 2017 to come
forward and assist us in
continuing this humble but
integral venture for the
future of our children in
this environment we find
ourselves in.
This is an environment where
our children will learn
about Allah and his beloved
Prophet Muhammad S.A.W.,
recite their duas and surahs,
learn about the 5 pillars of
Islam, following the Sunnah,
the values of Ramadaan and
Eid and go to sleep
listening to the beautiful
recitation of the Quran or
Zikr. …….
GOLD COAST
ISLAMIC CULTURAL CENTRE
Update as at July
2017
Work is
progressing according to
schedule but still short of
funds.
Please donate generously for
this worthy project and earn
Saadaqah Jaariya.
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
Date: TBA Time: TBA Venue: TBA
Community Contact Command, who are situated in Police
Headquarters, manages the secretariat role of
the QPS/Muslim Reference Group meeting.
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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7
August 2011