Through the We Are Queensland
grants program, the Queensland
Government supports
Queenslanders to be more
involved in their communities,
"encouraging a society where
everyone is respected and
welcome to make a positive and
valued contribution to the
community."
Amongst this year's 2017-2018
recipients are the following
organizations and projects:
Crescents of
Brisbane Inc.
Connecting and
Communicating
through Coding
Young boys and
girls, together with
their parents, from
different faith and
ethnic groups will
come together in
mixed teams to
develop ideas for
software
applications guided
by mentors.
Islamic Society of
Central Queensland
National Mosque Open
Day 2017
The National Mosque
Open Day is an
initiative run by
the Lebanese Muslim
Association (LMA)
and proudly
supported by the
Department of Social
Services. This event
saw a number of
mosques around the
country opening
their doors to the
wider Australian
public.
Islamic Women's
Association of
Australia
Parenting between
Cultures
Parenting Between
Cultures is a
tailored parenting
program for Muslim
parents that helps
to prevent young
people from being
involved in
anti-social
behaviour. The
program which will
be provided in
Toowoomba and Logan
City, offers a venue
for parents and
carers to get
together and share
parenting
experiences and
tools in a safe and
non-judgmental
manner.
Townsville Islamic
Society
Intercultural Food
Share: Celebrating
Townsville
Multicultural Unity
in Diversity
An intercultural
Foods for Unity
workshop to build
unity and
inclusiveness
between cultural
groups.
Imam Imraan Husain has
accepted a position at the
Australian international
Islamic College Gold Coast
Campus in Carrara.
“After much discussion with
my immediate family I have
decided to take up the
contract with the school
because I believe the focus
should be on teaching the
youth and the best place to
do this will be at the
school,” Imam Husain told
CCN.
“I have enjoyed my years
here and the committee
members have been supportive
at all times,” he told his
Friday congregation.
Imam Husain has been the
Imam of the Gold Coast
Mosque for the past 12 and a
half years during which time
he has done much to dispel
myths about Islam and
interact with the wider
community.
At the celebration of
Multicultural Achievements in
Queensland Parliament, Brisbane
with Premier Annastacia
Palaszczuk were (l to r)
Dr Mustafa Ally, Imam Yusuf
Peer, Prof Shahjahan Khan, Mr
Abdul Celil Gelim.
Young Australian Muslims are
invited to participate in
the Sounds of Light 2017
Talent Quest, which
accompanies the Sounds of
Light Charity Concerts.
The
internationally-recognised
Sounds of Light Charity
Concert (SOL) is the biggest
event on the calendar of the
Australian Muslim community.
With destinations
nationwide, SOL is an event
that brings Muslim
communities together for an
evening of delightful
entertainment to benefit
orphans and disadvantaged
children overseas. Over the
span of ten years, SOL has
attracted more than 50,000
attendees in Adelaide,
Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth
and Sydney as well as
Auckland in New Zealand,
resulting in the incredible
sponsorship of more than
7,000 orphans around the
world.
This year SOL concerts will
be held in Perth, Adelaide,
Sydney, Melbourne and
Brisbane between 23rd and
27th November.
Multi-Platinum artist Maher
Zain from Sweden will make
his awaited return to
Australia along with
comedian Preacher Moss from
the US and the distinguished
singer Adel Elmshiti from
Libya. Imam Suhaib Webb from
US will be the guest speaker
and Dr. Omer Turkmen from
Turkey will be the Quran
reciter And from the UK,
sensational young talent
Harris J will also be
entertaining the audience.
The Sounds of Light 2017
Talent Quest is an
initiative of the newly
established division Human
Appeal Australia Community
Care (HAACC) as part of its
youth development program.
HAACC uses the performing
and creative arts to give
young people the platform to
realise their potential and
contribute to a sense of
identity, self worth and
belonging, helping to
motivate and prepare them to
contribute towards positive
social change.
This competition is a
fantastic opportunity for
young Australian Muslims to
perform alongside well-known
artists like Maher Zain,
Adel Elmshiti, Preacher Moss
and Harris J. The finalists
will be rewarded with prizes
and the opportunity to be
part of the Human Appeal
Leadership Alumni Program.
Mr Bashar Al-Jamal, the
Director of Human Appeal
Australia, said: “The
primary aim of the Talent
Quest is to engage Muslim
school-aged children and
youth from minority and
refugee backgrounds, helping
to promote wellbeing and
social cohesion through the
arts. We believe all young
people have the potential
and are capable of great
achievement if given the
opportunity.”
Young artists aged 5-19 must
submit video entries by
Sunday 12th of November
2017. Solo performers,
groups, schools and youth
organisations are invited to
join the competition with
any talent, in any language
or genre under the following
categories:
• Age Groups: 5-9 years,
10-13 years and 14-19 years
• Solo, Group, Choir or
School performers
• Quran recitation, Nasheed,
Value-Driven Songs,
• Spoken Word, Poetry,
Stand-Up Comedy, Drama Plays
• Filmmaking and Martial
Arts
David Forde will be
undertaking a 10km swim +
100km cycle to provide
urgently needed shelter and
food security for displaced
and desperate Rohingya
persons on the Myanmar /
Bangladesh border.
The challenge? For every
$2,000 donated through Human
Appeal Australia, David will
swim 1km, up to 10km for a
total of $20,000.
Immediately after, if in
excess of $20,000 is raised,
he will cycle 10km for every
$2,000 raised, up to 100km.
His aim is to raise $40,000
and complete the 10km swim /
100 cycle in 11 hours on
Friday 24 November 2015
Donations will support food
and shelter security as
such: $20 provides a food
parcel for a family; $25
provides clothing for a
family; $100 provides a tent
shelter and utensils for a
family and $500 for a water
well. Tax-deductible
donations to Human Appeal:
CBA BSB 062191 – A/C 0090
3948. Reference your name
and “DF Challenge”
For further information and
receipts contact Imam Akram
Buksh on 0431 201 164 or
David Forde on 0413 874 008
and
visit the Facebook page.
Latest figures from the UN
are that 500,000 Rohingya
men, women and children have
been forced from their homes
and 1.2 million are
impacted. The best way to
immediately support
displaced persons is through
food and shelter security
My film is Australia’s first
Muslim romcom. I hope it will
give the senator a more positive
perspective on our lives
Osamah Sami came to Australia
as a refugee at the age of 12,
and now stars opposite Helana
Sawires in Ali’s Wedding.
G’day, Senator Hanson,
Don’t be alarmed: I’m a
peaceful Osamah – and pretty
much an assimilated one. I
say “pretty much” because
while firing up a barbie is
now an instinctive summer
tradition, I still favour
baklava over beer, and
hummus over ham.
I’d love to invite you, and
members of your staff, to my
film Ali’s Wedding, which is
showing in cinemas
nationally at the moment.
It’s a feel-good romantic
comedy set in my community:
a Muslim Iraqi community in
Melbourne.
The film has already won
audiences over across this
beautiful continent; we won
the audience award for best
film at the Sydney film
festival, and came runner up
at the Melbourne film
festival. We’ve also won
critics’ and jury prizes,
which is super exciting for
someone like me – especially
since I came to Australia as
a refugee at the age of 12,
illiterate in English.
I couldn’t speak or write a
word back then and, 20 years
later, here is a film which
I co-wrote with the
screenwriting legend Andrew
Knight. It’s surreal, and
it’s thanks to the
opportunities this country
has given me to thrive and
pursue my passion.
The story is based on my
life. I grew up in Iran
during the eight-year war
with neighbour Iraq. My
parents were Iraqis, which
meant as an Arab I was an
outsider in Iran – even
though dad was fighting for
the Iranians, against his
birthplace. Iran had given
him shelter when he escaped
Saddam Hussain’s brutal
regime and he felt indebted
to the country which had
protected him. That in turn
instilled an eternal love
for Australia in me, as I
saw it as the place which
gave me and my family
sanctuary when we eventually
fled the war.
Ali’s Wedding is a migrant
story, and opens up the
doors for many in the wider
society to access a side of
the Aussie narrative that
has limited exposure in our
culture and pop culture.
When I open the newspaper,
the only time I see myself
reflected is whenever an
Abdul or an Ahmed has
committed a sinister crime;
my film is a tiny step
towards reflecting a
brighter world for us. And I
want to bring you into that
world; I want you to see how
much of it is the same as
yours.
Many audiences have
commented that once they are
watching the film, they
forget that all the main
characters are Muslim. I
think it’s because audiences
have connected emotionally
with the film’s universal
themes of love, family and
duty – themes that don’t
discriminate against faith
or skin colour.
The night Ali’s Wedding
screened at the Sydney’s
state theatre, in front of a
film festival audience of
2,000, a 21-year-old girl
came up to me and said: “Hey
Ali,” – (I didn’t correct
her) – “I’m Ukrainian, and
Jewish ... ”
I waited nervously.
“ … and, umm, that, was my
story.”
I was speechless.
After another screening, an
elderly Iraqi was telling me
it was his story, when his
daughter smiled and said:
“Don’t listen to Dad – you
and I know the film is my
story.”
Even the Anglos are in.
Here’s one of many from
Twitter:
I hope my film will give you
a different, more positive
perspective of our lives.
Better yet, it’s a comedy –
the only reference to
“Bombers” is about the AFL
footy team. It’s a political
film, without the politics –
and I guarantee you’ll leave
the cinema with a smile on
your face.
Critics have compared Ali’s
Wedding to iconic films like
Strictly Ballroom, Muriel’s
Wedding and The Castle – and
for a Muslim Australian
story to be included
alongside this classic canon
is extremely humbling. More
importantly, it emphasises
that the Muslim Australian
story is just an Australian
story.
I know you are very busy,
but I hope you accept this
invitation. I’m confident
that it will be worth your
while and give you much
needed, relaxing,
entertaining down time.
Cheers,
Osamah
• Osamah Sami is the
co-writer and star of Ali’s
Wedding
A
bit over a year ago I
started the Muslimah Society
at The University of
Queensland because I felt
that there was a need to
create a safe space and a
platform for young Muslim
women to express themselves.
The aim of the society was
to foster confidence and
strength in young women, to
pursue their life goals and
most importantly the aim was
to build a network and a
community of like minded
individuals that would seek
to empower and inspire one
another.
One of the most important
goals was to be welcoming
towards people of all
faiths, cultures and
backgrounds as part of the
social fabric of this
society and also to create
interfaith dialogue in order
to breakdown the stereotypes
and misconceptions about
Muslims.
For me Muslimah has been a
journey. A bumpy road full
of rocks and road
obstructions and also
surprises. I chose to focus
on the surprises because it
gave me access to different
roads leading to better
opportunities that would
help extend my vision and
passion. I was willing to
the take the risks. It
wasn't easy.
So this year on behalf of
Muslimah, I was invited to
speak at the International
Women's Day Panel about
creating change hosted by
the One Women Project. It
was a huge honour to be able
to represent Muslim woman on
this great platform.
Then a couple of months
later, I was approached by
Tamara Richardson who is the
founder and director of
PACE48 and she provided me
with the opportunity to go
with 5 Australians back to
my home country - Pakistan,
to create inter-cultural
dialogue between the two
countries.
I am now a part of PACE48
executive team as the
Brisbane coordinator. In my
stay there I was honoured to
Tanzila Khan who is an
absolutely inspiring woman
that has empowered countless
youth by her work in
Pakistan and all over the
world. I was able to speak
at the panel on interfaith
harmony at the International
Conference in Pakistan
alongside Hindus, Sikhs and
Christians. We visited a
Girls Highschool and
conducted a PACE48 workshop
and seeing the ambition in
their eyes to fulfil their
goals inspired me to do
more.
Saalihah Seedat Aunty
approached me last year
after 'Meal with Muslimah.'
She runs her own personal
development NGO Empowerology
Plus and she loved the
vision of the society and
helped to strategise it and
make it professional this
year. I would personally
like to acknowledge and
thank these people for
making a huge impact in my
life and for strengthening
Muslimah as a student club.
Next year, I want see other
young women take on
leadership roles and get
opportunities where they can
grow and push themselves out
of their comfort zones. I
want to see a different
president, a new team that
has commitment, integrity
and passion and for all of
them to make it their
personal journeys too, just
like I did. This society is
about creating tolerance,
respect and ambition in our
communities. Anyone can be
part of the executive team
and everyone can join as
members! This is our
strength - diversity.
I am running for the UQ
Academic Board undergraduate
position. I believe that we
need people of diverse
cultural backgrounds in
these positions in order to
enhance the representation
of all UQ students.
I am a third year Bachelor
of Arts student majoring in
International Relations and
Political Science. I have a
varied history of
representing undergraduate
students on campus from 2015
– 2017. In my first year, I
was the UQ Pakistani
Students Association Events
Organizer. In my second
year, I was the UQ United
Nations Student Association
Education Director,
Humanities and Social
Services BA Student
Representative. I am the
founder and current
president for the UQ
Muslimah Student Society.
Therefore, throughout my
degree I have been able to
represent students from
culturally and
linguistically diverse
backgrounds at UQ and this
is an opportunity for me to
take it further by advising
the senate and vice
chancellor on relevant
issues that affect you.
Former Australia Post CEO
Ahmed Fahour is set to
become executive chairman of
packaging group, Pro Pac.
According to the Sydney
Morning Herald, he takes up
the role on October 27.
It is a step up from his
non-executive chairman
position at the business,
which is 49% owned by
Raphael Geminder,
brother-in-law of Australian
billionaire Anthony Pratt.
Last month Pro Pac acquired
packaging manufacturer IPG
for $177.5 million — twice
the market value of Pro Pac
at the time. Investors will
vote on the deal the day
before Farbour starts.
Pro Pac said Farhour will
help “to assist with the
merger of Integrated
Packaging Group and
transitioning of the company
to a major international
flexible packaging
manufacturer and
distributor”.
His remuneration has not
been disclosed.
While at Australia post,
Fahour received a $5.6
million pay packet with some
saying he was the world’s
most expensive postie.
Fahour tendered his
resignation in February
after prime minister Malcolm
Turnbull criticised the
executive’s pay, saying the
remuneration was “too high”.
He left the company with a
payout of $10.8 million,
boosted by bonuses.
Why
Australia Post's CEO was
worth every cent of his $5.6
million salary
By Jenna Price, an academic
at the University of
Technology Sydney and a
Fairfax columnist.
Here's a riddle.
Q: What does it cost to
achieve pay equity in an
organisation?
A: $5.6 million
That's what Ahmed Fahour
earned a year as chief
executive officer of
Australia Post. And his
legacy is worth far more
than that to the women at
Australia Post, which this
week reported a zero gender
pay gap for the first time
across the enterprise.
Fahour was as aggressive in
pursuing improvements for
women in his workplace as he
was in pursuing remuneration
– and that should be
applauded.
It's a challenge few other
chief executives pursue with
any enthusiasm. Instead,
they meet the dead gaze of
boards and senior management
who bang on about "merit",
as if that concept had any
objective meaning. Merit is
code for wanting someone who
looks just like you do.
........
What advice does
Smith-Gander have for
leaders who think they want
to make change in their
organisations?
‘I could have
played for
Australia, but I
didn’t get
selected because
I was
black/Indian/Pakistani,
so I stopped
playing.’
I’ve heard that
story all my
life, whether it
was from a
family friend or
just a random
bloke.
When I was
younger I used
to think, ‘Sure,
sure, that’s
what everyone
says.’
But after
hearing this
literally a
hundred times
over many, many
years, I started
to think, ‘Wait
a minute. Maybe
there is more to
this. Where
there is smoke,
there is fire.’
Obviously,
someone saying
they could’ve,
would’ve,
should’ve played
for Australia
could be a
stretch. I could
say, ‘If I
studied even
harder at school
I could have
been a rocket
scientist’, but
no one can know
for sure and
that’s not true
on my part.
But what is
important is the
sadness, hate
and anger I’ve
heard in some of
the voices of
the people who
have told these
stories.
Those who have
been
discriminated,
racially
vilified or
segregated
because of their
race, colour or
religion.
They truly
believed the
door was closed
to them.
URDU, KILLER
PYTHONS & SLATS
I came to Sydney
from Pakistan in
the early 1990s.
I was almost
five. We were
crammed in a
rented
two-bedroom
apartment near
the city on Cook
Road in
Centennial Park
with my parents,
Tariq and Fozia,
and two
brothers, Nauman
and Arsalan, for
about five
years.
They were old
apartments and
not big enough
for three
people, let
alone five. But
we made do, and
for me it was
the norm. We had
massive
Centennial Park
literally across
the road so
going over with
my brothers for
some cricket was
easy. Except
initially they
never let me
play because I
was too young.
My brothers are
ten and seven
years older than
me respectively,
so I had some
catching up to
do.
I didn’t know
any English when
I arrived. My
kindy teacher
figured that out
first day when
she apparently
asked me how I
was. My Mum was
next to me and
in my clear Urdu
I asked her,
‘What’s she
saying?’, or so
the story goes.
I actually have
no idea how I
communicated
with my friends
initially but I
made lots of
friends really
quickly. And by
all accounts
after six months
I was fluent in
English. I also
learned about
Killer Pythons
at the corner
store, which I’d
forced my Mum to
buy me once a
week.
We lived five
minutes from the
Sydney Cricket
Ground which was
great! We used
to wait outside
the gates during
one-day
internationals,
because near the
end they would
open them up and
we could go in
free of charge.
Tickets were too
expensive and on
days where the
ground was
packed we
wouldn’t get in.
The highlight
was probably
when I saw a
flash new red
Ferrari drive
past our
apartment block.
When I looked
inside it was
non-other than
Michael Slater!
I couldn’t
believe my luck.
How good was
Australia!
Then my Dad, who
worked as an IT
architect, had
the means to buy
a bigger place
for the family
way out west in
a suburb called
Erskine Park,
not too far from
Penrith. So we
moved.
Muslim
western
communities must
work harder to
protect the
vulnerable By Dr H A
Hellyer
Dr H A Hellyer
is a senior
nonresident
fellow at the
Atlantic Council
in Washington DC
and the Royal
United Services
Institute in
London.
No one loses
any legitimate
right in the
presence of
leadership, but
everyone loses
when such
leadership is
absent, writes
HA Hellyer
Over the past
few weeks, the
English-speaking
Muslim internet
sphere has
virtually
exploded over
allegations that
a prominent
American
preacher, Nouman
Ali Khan, has
acted
inappropriately
with women.
There was no
suggestion of
legal
improprieties
that would have
indicated a
crime had been
committed.
But the episode
raises serious
questions for
the Muslim
community of the
United States in
particular, but
much wider
issues around
accountability,
ethics, and
community
leadership. With
the controversy
continuing to
raise
conversations
not simply among
Muslim western
communities, but
also spreading
far beyond into
the mainstream
press, the
questions aren’t
going to be
disappearing
anytime soon.
And the jury is
still out on
whether or not
Muslim western
communities will
be able to
effectively
address them.
The controversy
isn’t simply
about Khan,
however. To
reduce this
episode to
simply one
religious figure
would be to miss
the point
entirely. There
is a much larger
issue, one that
transcends the
accusations
against Khan.
There are a
number of other
preachers who
have already
been accused of
improprieties,
from different
followings
within the
Muslim
community.
Moreover, most
importantly of
all, the issue
of redressing
abuses against
victims will
remain,
irrespective of
whether Khan has
engaged in any
indiscretions.
The nature of
such
indiscretions,
however, is that
they are usually
not illegal and
do not break
fundamental
human rights –
if they did,
then such
individuals
would simply be
taken to court.
But abuse still
takes place –
and abuse can be
immoral,
unethical and
harmful, without
necessarily
being illegal.
Victims of any
ill-treatment
have to be able
to find recourse
and hitherto,
the ways in
which this can
happen are far
and few in
between.
The National
A suburban
hair salon, an
anti-Muslim
tirade and what
it says about
hate speech in
Australia
By Denis Muller,
senior research
fellow at the
University of
Melbourne's
Centre for
Advancing
Journalism.
Hate speech eats
away at people's
sense of
belonging, Denis
Muller writes.
Such hair as I
have is cut from
time to time by
Mrs E, who runs
a one-chair
salon in my
neighbourhood.
She has been in
business there
for 40 years.
She knows all
about the
history of the
street and many
of her clients
have been coming
to her for half
a lifetime.
The salon is
shut on Mondays,
when she cuts
the hair of the
elderly and
disabled in
various local
institutions.
Mrs E is a
petite woman
with a cloud of
brown hair, a
bright smile and
that empathetic
personality that
fits so many
hairdressers for
their parallel
occupation of
informal
counsellor.
Under her
hairdresser's
smock she wears
a dress or a
blouse and
trousers.
She came to
Australia as a
child from the
Balkans, grew
up, married, had
two sons.
Australia is
home and a place
where she says
she has always
felt welcome,
until the other
day.
A client whose
hair she had
been cutting for
20 years came in
as usual, and
then, without
any prompting or
preamble,
launched into a
tirade against
Muslims.
Mrs E heard her
out. As a rule,
like most
sensible
businesspeople,
she resists
being drawn into
conversations
about sex,
religion or
politics.
But
eventually
it became
too much.
"I'm a
Muslim," she
told the
client, "and
I very much
regret that
after 20
years I must
tell you I
will no
longer cut
your hair".
The salon
contains no
outward sign of
her faith:
nothing in her
appearance or in
the room itself
gives it away.
For her, it is
something
private; nothing
to do with her
professional
life.
It happened that
I came in about
a week later.
Mrs E and I
often talk in
general terms
about what's
going on in the
world.
She knows I am a
journalist and
academic and I
think she feels
safe pushing her
conversational
boundaries
slightly.
She told me this
story and as she
did so, the hurt
was written all
over her face.
And after nearly
a lifetime in
Australia, she
said she felt
just that little
bit less
welcome.
The Guardian
What If Only
Stephen Paddock
Were a Muslim
By Thomas L.
Friedman
If only Stephen
Paddock had been
a Muslim … If
only he had
shouted “Allahu
akbar” before he
opened fire on
all those
concertgoers in
Las Vegas … If
only he had been
a member of ISIS
… If only we had
a picture of him
posing with a
Quran in one
hand and his
semiautomatic
rifle in another
…
If all of that
had happened, no
one would be
telling us not
to dishonor the
victims and
“politicize”
Paddock’s mass
murder by
talking about
preventive
remedies.
No, no, no. Then
we know what
we’d be doing.
We’d be
scheduling
immediate
hearings in
Congress about
the worst
domestic
terrorism event
since 9/11. Then
Donald Trump
would be
tweeting every
hour “I told you
so,” as he does
minutes after
every terror
attack in
Europe,
precisely to
immediately
politicize them.
Then there would
be immediate
calls for a
commission of
inquiry to see
what new laws we
need to put in
place to make
sure this
doesn’t happen
again. Then we’d
be “weighing all
options” against
the country of
origin.
But what happens
when the country
of origin is us?
What happens
when the killer
was only a
disturbed
American armed
to the teeth
with
military-style
weapons that he
bought legally
or acquired
easily because
of us and our
crazy lax gun
laws?
Then we know
what happens:
The president
and the
Republican Party
go into
overdrive to
ensure that
nothing happens.
Then they insist
— unlike with
every
ISIS-related
terror attack —
that the event
must not be
“politicized” by
asking anyone,
particularly
themselves, to
look in the
mirror and
rethink their
opposition to
common-sense gun
laws.
Gold Coast Mosque Shahadah
gets over 4.5M views on Facebook
Hussin Goss
Science should really thank
Islam
Yaqeen
Ways To Be Muslim
Muslim Collective
Ever wonder what
it means to be Muslim?
Meet 8 Muslims who have taken
part in this video series for
'Ways to be Muslim'.
Find what
inspires them, who they look up
to and what advice they have for
young Muslims living in
Australia.
This video series is directed
and produced by young Muslims
living in Melbourne as part of
an ongoing project campaign by
Muslim Collective - Australia.
Behind the Veil: The
Intersection of Religion,
Politics & Culture
Yaqeen Institute
for Islamic Research
Where does the hijab fit into
the fabric of our daily lives as
Muslims in the U.S.?
This is a
question that Muslims,
non-Muslims, governments, and
everyone in between seem to have
an answer to.
Join the conversation as we
reclaim the narrative
surrounding hijab in an
exclusive interactive webinar
with presentations and a Q&A
session by Muslim women who are
leaders in their fields.
ISLAMIC
EDUCATION VIDEOS
Have Our Children Become
Orphans?
OnePath Network
The youth have become so out of
touch with their parents that
they have become 21st-century
orphans. A 21st-century orphan
is a child whose parents are
alive but might as well not.
This is because the parents
neglect their children’s
interests. When the child comes
to the father with an exciting
story, the father says ‘go away
I’m busy!’. And so it should
come as no surprise to any
parent that your child has left
you.
Our youth have become orphans
without ever having to lose
their parents. It is a saddening
truth. The parents don’t want
their issues, they go to the
next sheikh to talk to their
child. They ask the sheikh to
tell their children about the
obligations of the children to
their parents. The parents don’t
want to acknowledge their
obligations and duties to their
kids. Their children actually
despise their parents, simply
because the parents don’t want
to take the initiative to get to
know their children.
Even when parents aren’t
working, they are at home on
their phones, TV, computer. So
even when they aren’t busy they
still are busy. Parenting is a
full-time job, it is the best
investment you can ever make.
Unfortunately, paying attention
to our children has become our
second job. So when parents say
‘we need to work on our youth’,
what about you brother/sister?
Don’t the parents need to work
too?
The religion that the parent
practices the religion the youth
will practice. So no matter how
many Quran memorisation schools
you put your child in, he/she
will only practice the Quran you
practice. Your child is a
reflection of you. So do not let
your child think of him/her self
as an orphan.
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.
Why did Vikings have
'Allah' embroidered into
funeral clothes?
One of the excavated
fragments made from fine silk
and silver thread discovered at
the two Swedish sites, Birka and
Gamla Uppsala
Researchers in Sweden have
found Arabic characters
woven into burial costumes
from Viking boat graves. The
discovery raises new
questions about the
influence of Islam in
Scandinavia, writes
journalist Tharik Hussain.
They were kept in storage
for more than 100 years,
dismissed as typical
examples of Viking Age
funeral clothes.
But a new investigation into
the garments - found in 9th
and 10th Century graves -
has thrown up groundbreaking
insights into contact
between the Viking and
Muslim worlds.
Patterns woven with silk and
silver thread have been
found to spell the words
"Allah" and "Ali".
The breakthrough was made by
textile archaeologist Annika
Larsson of Uppsala
University while
re-examining the remnants of
burial costumes from male
and female boat and chamber
graves originally excavated
in Birka and Gamla Uppsala
in Sweden in the late 19th
and mid-20th centuries.
She became interested in the
forgotten fragments after
realising the material had
come from central Asia,
Persia and China.
Larsson says the tiny
geometric designs - no more
than 1.5cm (0.6in) high -
resembled nothing she had
come across in Scandinavia
before.
"I couldn't quite make sense
of them and then I
remembered where I had seen
similar designs - in Spain,
on Moorish textiles."
Unlocking a puzzle
Larsson then realised she
was not looking at Viking
patterns at all but ancient
Arabic Kufic script.
There were two words that
kept recurring. One of them
she identified with the help
of an Iranian colleague. It
was the name "Ali" - the
fourth caliph of Islam.
But the word next to Ali was
more difficult to decipher.
To unlock the puzzle, she
enlarged the letters and
examined them from all
angles, including from
behind.
"I suddenly saw that the
word 'Allah' [God] had been
written in mirrored
lettering," she says.
BBC News
Tharik Hussain is a
London-based freelance
journalist, travel writer
and broadcaster who
specialises in Muslim
heritage.
TOPIC: "Islamic
stance on
Humour and
Jokes in
Islam"
IMAM:
Akram Buksh
LOGAN
MOSQUE
Friday
khutbah
(sermon)
DATE:
13 October
2017
TOPIC:
""
IMAM:
Mossad Issa
MASJID TAQWA/BALD
HILLS MOSQUE
Friday
khutbah
(sermon)
DATE:
13 October
2017
TOPIC:
"Hazrat
Tufail Bin
Amar Dowse’s
conversion
to Islam
Part 1"
IMAM:
Mufti Junaid
Akbar
Summary
by Mohideen:
Mufti Junaid
spoke about
how the Quran had a
very
integral
part of the
lives of the
Sahaba’s.
Thereafter
he
elaborated
on the story
of Tufail
Bin Amar
Dowse, how
this person
was very
hospitable
and his
doors was
always open
for guests
and he feeds
the hunger
and gives
shelter to
those in
distress and
gives refuge
to those who
need peace
and how the
Prophet (pbuh)
made a
special Dua
for Tufail.
He spoke
about how
Tufail was a
leader in
his tribe
and gives a
hearing for
judgements
and resolves
issues.
Spoke about
not all
Muslims are
required to
preach Islam
but
certainly
need to
practice and
preach via
that
practice
which is the
effect of
the noor.
Spoke about
when Tufail
arrived in
Mecca how
all the
Maccan
leaders got
together and
met with him
and told
about how
the Prophet
(pbuh) is
causing
divisions in
Mecca and
not to
listen or
talk to the
Prophet (pbuh).
He also said
how there is
only one
place under
the sky to
build your
emaan and
that place
is the
Masjid, he
complained
how the
Masjids are
empty today
like the
churches. He
continued
the story of
Tufail and
said how he
went with
his ears
blocked to
the Kaaba
but Allah
had other
plans for
him. He
concluded by
saying he
will
continue the
story next
week
InShaAllah.
Summary
by Mohideen:
Mufti Naeem
spoke about
how Allah
says in the
Quran the
responsibilities
of the
parents. He
said how the
parents are
responsible
for
upbringing
their
children. He
explained a
hadith how a
Sahabi asked
the Prophet
(pbuh) which
of the
actions are
most loved
by Allah and
first action
being
praying on
time and he
said
therefore
how we
should be
very mindful
and diligent
of our daily
salah. The
second
beloved
thing to
Allah is
taking care
of your
parents, he
went on to
explain how
we are not
even allowed
to say uff
to our
parents and
how not to
talk back to
them. He
also
mentioned
the famous
hadith of
how a Sahabi
asked the
Prophet (pbuh)
who he
should
respect the
most and how
the Prophet
(pbuh)
replied,
mother three
times and
then the
father for
the fourth
time. He
also advised
how children
must be
commanded to
pray from
the age of
seven and be
strict from
the age of
ten. He went
on to tell
the story of
how three
people
entered a
cave and
whilst
inside a big
rock covered
the entrance
and trapped
them inside.
He also told
the story of
how Prophet
(pbuh) said
a person
will be in
paradise and
how a Sahabi
went and
stayed with
this person
to observe
what he does
special for
the prophet
(pbuh) to
say that he
will be in
paradise. He
concluded
with the
story of how
a lady will
drag four
men to the
hell fire
even though
they were
destined to
paradise.
Iranian
Chess Player, Shunned for Refusing to Wear
Hijab, Will Play in U.S.
Dorsa
Derakhshani
US: A female chess champion from Iran
has joined the United States Chess
Federation, months after learning that
she was officially barred from playing
for her homeland because she refused to
wear a head scarf.
Officials at the United States Chess
Federation, the official governing body
for chess players in the United States,
said on Tuesday that Dorsa Derakhshani,
19, a grandmaster champion who grew up
in Tehran, would compete under its
oversight after she officially joined in
September.
The designation was recorded on the
website of the Fédération Internationale
des Échecs, or World Chess Federation.
The American branch represents the
United States in the world federation.
Iran wasn’t letting her play in certain
tournaments that she needs federation
approval to play in, such as world
champion cycles or world juniors,”
Alejandro Ramirez, her team coach at St.
Louis University, which she now attends,
said on Tuesday. “Of course, America is
not going to have a problem with that.”
In July, Ms. Derakhshani moved to the
United States to start competing with
the university’s chess team, according
to a statement from the school.
KB says:
Curry in a hurry? This delicious fish version
has you covered. It’s got loads of flavour and a
stunning texture and when served with rice or
roti the dish is complete.
Authentic Indian Fish Curry
Ingredients
2 kg sliced fish (I prefer
it filleted) washed and smeared with a fish
paste (see recipe at the end)
Step 1
Sauté the following in 2 tabs of ghee or coconut
oil
2 onions grated or chopped
1 tsp. whole mustard seeds
1 tsp whole cumin seeds
A handful of curry leaves
Step 2
Add the following and stir for a minute
2 tab. crushed garlic
2 tsp. chilli powder
1 tsp ground green chillies
2 tsp crushed cumin and coriander mix
Step 3
Then add
2 tsp salt
1 tsp lemon pepper
1 cup grated tomatoes
1 tin tomato puree
Ľ cup tamarind juice
Juice of a lemon (1/4 cup)
And allow it to simmer for approx. 10 mins or
until the sauce thickens.
Step 4
Quickly pan fry the fish in butter and add to
the sauce and allow to cook with lid on for
approx. 5 mins.
Lastly add water to bring it to the consistency
you desire and simmer for a little longer.
Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and serve
hot with rice.
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:
Are You Being Of
Service?
To be of service is
to use your time,
mind and body to
bring about a
positive change to
your own life and
the life of others.
As Muslims, our duty
lies in performing
deeds that are in
service for the sake
of ALLAH. In doing
so, we become beings
of service.
Reflect on your life
now and see if you
are using your time,
mind and body to be
of service. Being of
service helps us
realise the greater
meaning of our
existence. It makes
us more
compassionate and
empathetic towards
others. It brings
about
self-realisation and
spiritual growth. It
enriches the ummah.
It gives us joy.
Service To Others
Starts First With
Service To Self
You may have a busy
life trying to
multitask and ensure
that your family is
cared for, your
income is regular
and your needs are
met. It may seem
impossible to be of
service to others
when your own life
revolves around a
hectic schedule. The
truth is that no
matter how busy your
life may seem to be,
it is possible for
you to take out at
least five to ten
minutes every day to
be of service to
others.
Service comes from a
place of love and
care, not haste and
resentment. It must
not feel like a
chore. Service is
self-less not
love-less meaning
that self-love and
self-care are a
crucial part of
service. If you are
not serving your
mind with positive
input then your
thoughts become
negative and what
you put out to the
world is also
negative. If you are
not serving your
body with nutritious
foods and water then
your body manifests
illnesses and
depletes your energy
to function
optimally in your
life. When there is
lack of energy in
the body, you are
unable to perform
optimally in all
areas of your life.
It is vital to
understand that to
be of service to
others you must
first be of service
to yourself.
Seven Things You
Can Do To Be Of
Service
1. Call an elderly
relative and spend
time to talk to
them. If you live
close by, visit
them.
2. Spend time to
mentor a child or
teenager in your
community.
3. Spend time to be
with someone who is
grieving. Just be
there, in silence.
You never know when
they may want to say
something that may
help them process
their grief.
4. Become a
volunteer at an
organisation that
appeals to you and
your values.
5. Buy or cook a
meal for a person
who is homeless.
6. Help someone
achieve a goal.
Start with your
family members
first.
7. Send a personal
message to someone
to ask how they are.
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.
Not
only is skipping one of the easiest and best
ways to get your sweat on, it’s one of the
quickest.
A 10min skipping
session is almost equivalent to a 30min run and
burns more than 10 calories per minute.
So step off the
treadmill every now and then, and dust off your
skipping rope.
Skipping can be one of the best do-anywhere,
full body exercises you can do.
It improves endurance and boosts cardio-health.
Also strengthens bones and tones muscles. It’s
an incredible way to work on agility, balance,
speed and coordination.
So don’t underestimate the power of skipping.
N-JOY!
"Just think who answers the
oppressed person when he
cries out to Him and
relieves his affliction, and
makes you, O humankind,
inheritors of the earth? Is
there another divine power
besides God?"
The 2017 Scientific
conference of the Islamic
Medical association of
Queensland is an annual
meeting place for members to
share ideas and learn about
the latest developments in
the field of medicine. It is
also a platform for members
to network and broaden their
professional circles.
The event will aim to invite
both scientific and faith
based speakers on topics
which have been highlighted
by our members as areas of
interest.
The conference will be at
the Hilton Hotel Brisbane on
29 October 2017. Halal meals
and snacks will be provided
for all attendees and Salah
facilities will be available
on site.
We look forward to meeting
you at the conference and
hope it will be both a
medically stimulating and a
spiritually uplifting
experience.
The conference is open to
ALL Medical, Dental and
Allied healthcare
professionals and students
in these disciplines,
including non IMAQ members.
With the ongoing
humanitarian crisis in
Myanmar, IMAQ will be
donating your entire
registration fee to the
Myanmar Appeal.
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.
Human Appeal
Rohingya
donation
Human Appeal
bank details:
BSB: 062191
ACC: 00903948
ACC name:
HAIA
Commonwealth
bank
Ref: Rohingya
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. …….
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.
Articles and
opinions appearing in this newsletter do not necessarily
reflect the opinions of the CCN Team, its Editor or its
Sponsors, particularly if they eventually turn out to be
libellous, unfounded, objectionable, obnoxious, offensive,
slanderous and/or downright distasteful.
It is the usual policy of CCN to
include from time to time, notices of events that some
readers may find interesting or relevant. Such notices are
often posted as received. Including such messages or
providing the details of such events does not necessarily
imply endorsement of the contents of these events by CCN
The best ideas
and the best feedback come from our community of readers. If you
have a topic or opinion that you want to write about or want
seen covered or any news item that you think might be of benefit
to the Crescents Community please
e-mail us..
Share your
thoughts, feelings and ambitions for our community through CCN.
If there is
someone you know who would like to subscribe to CCN please
encourage them to enter their details
here.
A
bit over a year ago I
started the Muslimah Society
at The University of
Queensland because I felt
that there was a need to
create a safe space and a
platform for young Muslim
women to express themselves.
Iranian
Chess Player, Shunned for Refusing to Wear
Hijab, Will Play in U.S. 
Get
a copy of
Not
only is skipping one of the easiest and best
ways to get your sweat on, it’s one of the
quickest. 
post comments on
our Wall
7
August 2011