A young man first came to
our attention about 5 or 6
weeks ago when he came in
for an appointment at the
MCF house. He was very
troubled and was asking for
a referral to a psychologist
and was looking for a friend
and mentor. His mother
suffers from mental illness
and he stays home and looks
after her most of the time.
He is 20 years old. He had
leukemia and by the grace of
Allah was cured through two
and a half years of painful
chemotherapy, radiation and
bone marrow transplants.
This has affected him in an
ongoing capacity both
physically and mentally.
Hamza Maestracci decided to
dedicate some time each week
to spend with this young
man. He took him along to
Brisbane Boxing to see if he
would enjoy boxing, and to
his delight he did. The
beautiful brothers at
Brisbane Boxing allowed him
to train there for free and
have given him a six-month
membership at this point.
Hamza takes him once a week
and through reaching out,
has been able to get him
wraps, gloves and a boxing
bag for home for free. Hamza
promised him if he stuck to
the boxing for one month he
would get the boxing bag and
that’s what he did, so
naturally Hamza had to come
good on his end of the
bargain. He has begun
training not just on days
that Hamza takes him but on
other days by himself as
well. Hamza managed to get
him in to see a Muslim
psychologist at Kuraby as
well as to a GP on a regular
basis and recently he
visited a psychiatrist. All
these services were offered
free of charge.
Hamza said: “I am super
excited about watching this
young man’s progress, In Sha
Allah. He seems relaxed and
happier now and fun to be
around.”
MCF is extremely grateful to
the wonderful Brothers at
Brisbane Boxing for their
generous support and the
psychologist and
psychiatrist for their free
services. May Allah bless
you and grant you Barakah.
The Muslim Charitable
Foundation continues to
serve a meaningful role in
trying to help those that
are truly in need – not just
financially, but in other
forms as well, like the case
above shows.
Jazakallah to our Sponsors,
donors and well-wishers. May
Allah reward you abundantly
for your generous support.
Brisbane's Dr Rashida and
Osman Khan feature in the
program
Husna Pasha is an
Australian-Indian dynamo
with a burning desire to be
Australia’s answer to Oprah
Winfrey.
Growing up in rural
Tasmania, her family were
not just ‘the only Indians
in the village’ they were
also the only Muslims.
Survivor of an arranged
marriage gone horribly
wrong, Husna is now happily
married to a man who
converted to Islam for her.
Compass follows Husna as she
pursues her dream,
four-walling a venue to put
on her own talk show,
bringing people together and
empowering them through
laughter and an appreciation
of difference.
Starting from 2018, the
Islamic College of Brisbane
will provide its students
(both boys and girls) a
Hifzul- Quran programme.
The College seeks to tender
the delivery of this Hifz
Programme for a period of 1
year, commencing from 22nd
January 2018. This will be
subject to renewal after
review.
Details of Hifz programme
are as follows:
1. Number of classes : 3
(one for boys with a
Imam and one for girls
with a Mualimah) and 1
preparatory class
2. Number of students:
12-15 for boys and girls
each. For preparatory
class it can be more
than 15.
3. Venue- at Islamic
College of Brisbane (
provision will be made
for separate space for
boys and girls in the
prayer hall)
4. Hifz programme days:
• Monday to Friday
6.45am -8.00am and
afternoons from 3.40
to 5.00pm
• Saturdays and
public holidays from
8.00am to 11.00 am
• School holidays :
Term 1-3: 1 week
Term 4: 2 weeks
5. ICB will also provide
an office to the
successful tenderer.
Interested parties should
submit their details and
quotes for all three
classes.
Offer Closing date on 17th
November 2017 Friday at
1:00PM.
What a success! Over 100
participants enjoyed the
Domestic Violence in
Faith/Spiritual
Multicultural Communities
Symposium hosted by the
Centre for Islamic Thought
and Education, UniSA.
Domestic violence is a human
problem that affects many
families and communities in
Australia and across the
world. The Australian Bureau
of Statistics in its 2016
Personal Safety Survey
reveals that one in four
women in Australia have
suffered violence from an
intimate partner. Though the
challenges and consequences
of domestic violence are
significant and varied, for
faith/spiritual based
communities there are
additional considerations
for effective responses.
Addressing domestic violence
requires an incorporation of
the holistic needs and
concerns of the individual,
which includes
religion/spirituality and
its role in their lives.
The event aimed to provide
an exploratory platform for
speakers across Australia,
with skills and expertise in
faith and domestic violence
to inform, educate and
provide a networking
symposium for our
participants in a safe
space.
Much positive feedback was
received from participants,
including the diversity in
speakers and discussions,
networking, exploration of
the challenges and strengths
in DV and faith/cultural
perspectives and paradigms.
Participants have also
commented about the
prominent level of quality
of the day and the safe
space created for
discussions.
Among the most significant
achievements of the
symposium was establishing a
national network of faith
leaders and advocates,
service providers,
settlement and migrant
services, policy makers and
correctional and justice
services.
Grade 6 and John Paul
College student, Suhayl
Seedat, took the
category A winner's prize in
the Student Art Competition
held as part of the Power of
Peace Festival which
celebrated Mahatma Gandhi's
ideals through a symbolic
re-enactment of the Salt
March. The march commenced
at the Mahatma Gandhi
Inspiration Bridge located
at Springfield and concluded
at the Mahatma Gandhi statue
at the Roma Street
Parklands, Brisbane.
Suhayl's Hand Sculpture was
described thus:
The sculpture evokes a
tremendous sense of unity,
purpose and determination.
The open fist with the
different colours displays a
sense of trust and
commitment to a common path,
which in this case signifies
India’s freedom from
oppression and exploitation.
The fingers in the sculpture
are of different hues, and
it denotes the diversity of
India, however, when they
work together with a sense
of purpose and unity, a
powerful message is created.
The salt crystals at the
base of the sculpture
brought to mind the Salt
March which symbolises the
universality of Gandhi’s
message of non violent non-
cooperation with the British
masters to the masses of
India.
A One Nation candidate
standing in the Queensland
state election has spoken
about the need for community
harmony at his local mosque.
His party wants to stop the
spread of Islam, ban the
building of mosques, and
start a royal commission
into the religion, but One
Nation candidate Shane
Holley has praised his
“brothers” at a mosque in
Queensland.
Mr Holley is vying for the
state seat of Stretton - one
of the most multicultural
electorates in the region -
in the Queensland state
election.
On Saturday, the small
business owner and taxi
driver joined local MPs
speaking at Logan Mosque,
which had thrown open its
doors as part of a national
mosque open day, and spoke
about the need for community
harmony.
Mr Holley made no reference
to the party’s policies
about Islam, instead
thanking community leaders
and noting it was a
privilege to represent one
the “most multicultural
industries” in the country,
the taxi sector.
“So coming here today is
just kind of like another
day where I get to spend it
with my brothers that I get
to work with each and every
day within the taxi
industry,” he told the crowd
of about 40 people.
“One of the reasons that I
find it important to be
here, not only with my taxi
hat on but also with my
political hat on and as a
One Nation candidate, is
it’s about bringing
communities together.”
Mr Holley spoke of the
importance of the whole
community working together
for the common goals of
“peace, happiness and to
build a better Australia”.
“It’s fantastic to be able
to dispel some of the myths
out there and representing
One Nation,” he said.
Mr Holley has been reluctant
to expand on his remarks
since his visit.
The One Nation candidate was
unavailable for comment when
SBS World News contacted him
several times this week.
No record of Mr Holley’s
attendance at Logan Mosque
appears on his candidate
Facebook page, which
otherwise documents the
political hopeful’s time out
on the hustings and messages
from the party.
Among the posts shared by Mr
Holley is a July interview
posted by party leader
Pauline Hanson in which she
speaks of her concerns about
Islam.
“If you understand Islam and
you understand Muslims, even
the moderate Muslims. Now, a
lot of these people, if
Jihad was called, where are
their loyalties going to
lie?” Ms Hanson told
interviewer and former Labor
leader Mark Latham.
“This is why I’ve called for
a royal commission into
Islam, we need to understand
it.”
One Nation’s Queensland head
office referred media
enquiries back to the
candidate.
Mr Holley’s party wants to
stop the establishment of
new mosques. Senator Hanson
has also called for CCTV
units to be installed at
every mosque over terrorism
concerns, and in her maiden
speech, said Islam was
“incompatible” with
Australia and that the
nation was at risk of being
“swamped” by Muslims.
"Islam cannot have a
significant presence in
Australia if we are to live
in an open, secular and
cohesive society," she said.
Jamal El-Kholed, left, and
Shane Holley, second from left,
at an earlier visit to Logan
Mosque.
Asked why it had invited One
Nation to the mosque given
the party’s views on Islam,
Jamal El-Kholed from the
Islamic Association of Logan
said: “The mosque is open
for everyone”.
Mr El-Kholed said the day
was about teaching others
about the Muslim community
and Arabic culture.
“Some people know nothing
about Islam, maybe he wants
to learn,” he told SBS News.
Mr El-Kholed said he’d also
received a “beautiful”
letter from another One
Nation candidate in which
they had expressed joy at
having visited the mosque.
The candidate didn’t want
the letter to be made
public.
Mr El-Kholed said he was not
“worried” about Senator
Hanson’s views.
“Pauline is one of 26
million Australians,” he
said.
“It’s not about One Nation,
it’s about people, people
[have] very nice heart
(sic).”
“If you can change the
person, maybe you can change
the party.”
Federal Labor MP Jim
Chalmers and the Member for
Stretton Labor’s Duncan Pegg
also spoke at the event.
More than 30 per cent of
locals in the Stretton
electorate were born
overseas - including about
14 per cent from China and
six per cent from Taiwan,
according to the Australian
Bureau of Statistics.
Muslims make up about 8.3
per cent of the local
population. The most common
religion recorded is 'no
religion', followed by
Catholic and Buddhists.
The father of
a boy killed in the Sydney
school tragedy has issued a
powerful message of forgiveness
and compassion to the driver
involved.
As he prepared to bury his
son, the father of Jihad
Darwiche — who was killed
when a car ploughed into a
Year 3 classroom in
southwestern Sydney on
Tuesday — pushed through his
grief to offer forgiveness
to the driver and ¬declare
the tragedy “an honest
mistake’’.
After a ceremony at Lakemba
Mosque attended by more than
300 mourners, Raed Darwiche
called for an end to
recriminations against Maha
Al-Shennag, the 52-year-old
widowed mother of four who
was at the wheel during the
accident that killed Jihad
and his best mate, who
cannot be identified for
legal reasons.
His plea of forgiveness came
as police yesterday laid
more charges against Ms Al-Shennag:
dangerous driving
occasioning grievous bodily
harm and causing actual
bodily harm by misconduct.
She is already facing two
charges of dangerous driving
(occasioning death) and two
charges of negligent driving
(occasioning death), which
carry a maximum penalty of
10 years’ jail.
The peak body for Muslims in
Australia has agreed to
repay $22m in
misappropriated rent
payments, loans, service
fees and property to the
largest Islamic school in
Australia which amounts to
about half the total by the
school being tested in the
NSW Supreme Court.
The Australian Federation of
Islamic Councils has agreed,
without admission, to hand
back almost $10m worth of
payments once made by Malek
Fahd Islamic School to the
organisation and a property
worth $12m at Beaumont Hills
in Sydney which it purchased
but which was done so under
the name of AFIC.
Orders were made by Justice
Michael Ball this morning.
Malek Fahd Islamic School
originally claimed some $45m
had been siphoned from it
over a period of 15 years by
AFIC, which founded the
school in 1989 but which,
apart from a three-month
amnesty on rental payments,
has never helped it
financially.
The school is facing the
loss of $19m worth of
federal funding each year on
account of its past links
with AFIC.
A trial began yesterday in
the NSW Supreme Court
between Malek Fahd and AFIC
and heard that the Muslim
body’s powers over the
school were like the
“Clocktower of Faisalabad”
in Pakistan which can be
seen from all directions in
the city.
The court heard AFIC rewrote
the school’s constitution in
the early 1990s to give it
“absolute control” over the
school and the ability to
appoint all of its
directors.
Later, AFIC executives went
so far as to write to
directors of the school
telling them there was “no
reason” for them to ever
actually visit the school,
attend fundraisers, talk to
parents or even turn up
unless it was to drop off
their children.
In the 2000s Malek Fahd’s
directors were required to
sign additional declarations
in which they agreed to act
at all times “in the
interests of AFIC.”
During the purchase of land
at Condell Park and later at
Hoxton Park in Sydney Malek
Fahd’s silk Kelly Rees told
the court that not only was
the school required to pay
for these purchases on
behalf of AFIC but that
subsequently it was required
to pay rent as well.
The trial heard this morning
that when the school raised
concerns about the fact it
appeared to be paying rent
above market value — some
$1.5m a year on its
Greenacre site which was
valued at $400,000 a year —
it led to extreme upheaval
on the board of AFIC.
“A mock federal council of
AFIC was held and some
members of the executive
committee unlawfully
occupied the federal office
resulting in an injury to
somebody, motions of censure
were passed against some
members,” Ms Rees told the
court.
Bank accounts were frozen in
what AFIC’s old guard
described as a “coup” and,
desperate for cash, a
proposal was made that
directors “drive out to
Malek Fahd to physically
collect the rent cheques.”
For many
non-Muslim Australians, the
mosque is shrouded in mystery,
and for some, controversy. But
how many Australians have ever
stepped inside one? For the
first time in Australia,
television cameras were given
unprecedented 24-hour access
into one of Australia's oldest
mosques - Holland Park Mosque in
Brisbane - to join a community
rarely seen from the inside.
This year, the mosque finds
itself in the firing line as
never before, as it faces
increasing hostility from the
wider Australian public and
spiralling pressures from
within.
Kerrie and Mobinah have very
different views on Islam in
Australia.
What happens when they sit
down to talk?
Australia’s national
conversation about Islam is
often heated, sometimes
abusive.
Kerrie and Mobinah were both
born in Australia but they
have very different
backgrounds — and
contrasting perspectives on
Islam.
Kerrie fears the spread of
Islamic terrorism in
Australia. Mobinah thinks a
lot of the fear is driven by
ignorance. They’ve promised
to hear each other out.
Kerrie says no, she doesn’t
think Muslim immigration
should be stopped — but she
does want to feel safe.
“I don’t think
immigration should be
stopped, period, whether
it’s Muslims, Asians,
whoever.
“If people are in need
and they come from war-torn
countries and they’ve lost
their homes and they’ve lost
everything then I think that
we’re obliged to provide
home and shelter.
“If I can feel safe in
offering a home to people of
Muslim background, then
absolutely fantastic.”
'Write letter to
family about
converting to
Islam':
Furious
stepfather
refuses to let
his
stepdaughter,
12, complete her
homework after
she is asked to
pen them a note
about becoming a
Muslim
Mark
McLachlan,
43,
found
the
homework
task
(pictured)
in his
stepdaughter's
planner
and
refused
to let
her
finish
it
Mark
McLachlan
found the
homework
task in his
stepdaughter's
school
planner
She was to
write a
letter to
her family
explaining
why she has
become a
Muslim
He was
furious and
refused to
let her
finish it,
saying it
was 'wholly
inappropriate'
UK: A furious
stepfather has
refused to let
his 12-year-old
stepdaughter
finish her
homework after
she was asked to
write a letter
to her family
about becoming a
Muslim.
Mark McLachlan,
43, from
Houghton-le-Spring,
near Sunderland,
has slammed the
decision by the
Kepier School to
ask pupils to
pen the note.
He has refused
to let his
stepdaughter,
who he has asked
not to be named,
complete the
task after
failing to see
what the letter
would
accomplish.
Mr McLachlan
said: 'I know as
part of the
national
curriculum they
have to learn
about all
religions.
'I just don't
see why they
should ask a
child to write a
letter addressed
to their family
about converting
to another
religion. I
really just
don't see what
the letter will
gain.
'If they want
children to
learn about
Islam, then go
teach them all
about it and its
history.
'What I don't
want is a school
asking my
stepdaughter to
look into
reasons for
converting to
another
religion.
'Like every
parent, it is
our decision on
how we raise
them and once
they are old
enough to make
decision, then
it is there
choice.'
Mr McLachlan
visited the
school to raise
his concerns and
was told that
this was part of
the curriculum
and was shown
example exam
questions for
Islam,
Christianity and
Hinduism.
The homework
came to light
when Mr
McLachlan was
looking through
the youngster's
school planner
and saw the
teacher has
written the task
to be handed in
on November 8.
He added: 'When
I saw this
assignment in
the planner,
written by the
teacher, you
could have
knocked me over
with a feather.
'I told her she
will not be
completing it
and she is more
worried about
getting
detention.
'We send our
kids to school
to get a good
education and
use what they
have learnt to
have a good
career.
'I have no
problem with
them learning
about religions
but I feel they
should not be
asking
12-year-olds
writing to their
parents about
why they are
converting.
'I just found
the task wholly
inappropriate.
'I would like to
emphasise how
much respect I
have for the
head of year and
deputy head who
were very
receptive to my
complaint and
concerns but
unfortunately in
this instance
the national
curriculum has
failed miserably
in my opinion.'
Mr McLachlan
took a photo of
the assignment
and posted it
online, where it
has been shared
hundreds of
times.
One user
commented:
'Would they go
to a Muslim
school and ask
them to write a
letter to their
parents about
converting to
Catholic? I
doubt it!
'Children should
not be made to
write letters
about converting
to any religion
for any reason.'
Another user
said: 'Isn't
part of RE to
research,
investigate and
teach about all
religions?
'I feel like
this homework is
just an exercise
about converting
to another
religion. That's
been blown way
out of
proportion.'
The Daily Mail
UK
'Islam saved
me from a life
of crime'
By Robbie
Maestracci,
Presented by
Nicola Heath
Robbie
Maestracci
gave up
a life
of crime
when he
converted
to Islam
five
years
ago. He
shares
his
story
with SBS.
I was born in
Brisbane in
1981. When I was
seven we moved
to America. My
parents had
split up and dad
was running
hotels in Noumea
and New
Caledonia. Mum
had some friends
in the States
and we went over
for a vacation.
She found work
and one year led
to two, and she
eventually got
remarried.
We lived between
New York and New
Jersey. It was
amazing – like
what you see on
TV. The kids
were all running
amok. It was a
lot of fun, but
the wrong kind
of fun.
Religion was
part of my life
growing up. I
can remember mum
encouraging me
to pray when I
was a boy. She
used to take me
to church –
sometimes we’d
go to a Catholic
church,
sometimes we’d
go to a
Pentecostal. But
as soon as I was
old enough not
to go, I didn’t.
I can’t recall
praying or
thinking about
anything beyond
the here and now
as a young man.
We moved back to
Australia when I
was 16. Mum
didn’t say so at
the time but I
think part of
the reason we
came back was
me. I was on the
wrong path with
the kids I was
hanging around.
Mum told me we
were coming here
to Australia for
a vacation. It
turns out it was
a one-way ticket
but she figured
that was the
only way to get
me out of there.
I moped around
for a few years.
I was really
depressed
because I wanted
to go back to
the States with
my friends. I
tried to go to
school here but
the system was
completely
different.
Within six
months of
enrolling I
dropped out.
I got a job
doing
door-to-door
marketing – the
sort of thing
you jump into
after school
with no
experience.
Later I worked
at a bank and at
Centrelink –
they were good
jobs. But
recreational
drug use was
always in the
background. I’d
go out and party
on the weekends.
The thing about
that is, from
what I’ve
observed,
recreational
drugs stay in
the background
until something
happens in your
life, and they
don’t become so
recreational or
occasional any
more.
That’s what
happened with
me. I was
married young at
22. I was using
drugs throughout
my marriage and
when my marriage
ended, I went
into a nosedive.
I’d felt like
I’d failed at
conventional
life. I didn’t
deal with it
well and I
turned to drugs
and crime.
It was a bad
time. I was
lost, I was
doing bad
things. I was a
typical crim,
involved in
anything that
was
drug-related. I
wasn’t living a
good life. I
wasn’t happy
with myself.
In 2007, I was
sentenced to 10
months in prison
for drug-related
offences. To be
honest, it was
really good for
me at the time.
I wasn’t very
healthy at all.
I was staying up
for two or three
nights at a
time, sometimes
more, partying
and not eating
well, so when I
got locked up it
was good to have
food and sleep
and get healthy
again. Jail
opened my eyes.
It wasn’t
anywhere as bad
as I thought it
would be, but
it’s not a goal
you set yourself
to end up there.
It’s not a
wonderful place
or anything.
When I got out,
I got straight
back into it. I
didn’t even
pause. There
wasn’t even a
moment that I
wasn’t running
amok, doing the
same things with
the same people.
Changing old
habits
But somewhere
along the way,
doing all these
bad things, I
became more
interested in my
spiritual self –
who I was as a
person and my
character. I
realised I had
become the worst
version of
myself.
I started
changing old
habits, being
honest with
myself and other
people. I
started going to
a Baptist church
down on the Gold
Coast and got
involved in
feeding needy
people in the
area. We’d cook
up a lunch on
Thursdays. Doing
things like that
made me realise
that it wasn’t
that hard to
change – I could
change.
It felt good to
surround myself
with nice
religious people
who were doing
good things, as
opposed to [the]
people [I knew]
with no religion
who were doing
really bad
things to each
other – selling
drugs, or
harming each
other for drugs
or money. It was
light compared
to total
darkness.
I believed in
God but
theologically I
didn’t feel
satisfied with
Christianity. In
the back of my
mind, I’d always
wanted to read
the Koran and to
go to a mosque.
One day, when I
was having a
really bad day,
I felt like I
needed to reach
out to someone.
I found a phone
number for a cab
driver named
Mohammed who I’d
met a couple of
weeks earlier. I
called him and
asked if I could
go to the mosque
with him. He
asked me why,
and I said,
‘Look, I need
guidance, I need
help’, so he
picked me up and
took me there
that evening.
And that was it.
I spoke with one
of the imams and
I watched the
brothers pray
and had this
total feeling of
serenity within
myself. It was
that feeling of
coming home, of
belonging.
"It changed
my entire life."
I gave my
Shahādah, the
testament of
faith, that
night, and
everything
changed. I no
longer had this
desire to use
drugs, and I’ve
been clean now
for five years.
It changed my
entire life. It
gave me the
means and the
rules and the
path to follow
to achieve what
I’d set out to
achieve a year
before I
converted, which
was to strive to
become the best
version of
myself. When
you’re doing
that on your own
with no rules to
follow, it can
be a tough
process.
Part of the
appeal of Islam
was the strength
of character of
the Muslim
people that I’d
met. The fact
that they didn’t
use drugs and
drink at all was
something that
really appealed
to me. It was
the polar
opposite of how
I’d been living
my life and
seemed to
require such
strength of
character. As a
young man, I was
always drawn
towards
strength.
It was not just
a good system
[for me] to
follow. I agree
with all the
theology – I do
believe that the
Koran is the
last Book of
Revelations. I
now have a
renewed interest
in the Bible and
the books that
came before it
because, from
our point of
view, I know
that there is
truth in these
documents,
whereas before,
as a loose
Christian, I
don’t know that
I had any belief
in them at all.
I’d say 99 per
cent of the
people in my
life were
supportive and
happy. No one
thought I could
change. Whether
they agree with
the theology or
not, they are
certainly happy
with the results
it had in my
life.
Three months
after I
converted my mum
converted as
well. She has
been a massive
supporter of
anything
positive I do in
my life but in
this instance,
she also
believes as I
believe, and
therefore she
practices as I
do.
Four years ago,
I moved from the
Gold Coast to
Brisbane. Slacks
Creek is my
local mosque but
I used to spend
a lot of time at
the mosque at
Holland Park. I
learnt a lot
from the imam
there. It’s the
same as most
mosques,
everyone’s
supportive of
each other and
friendly.
The good with
the bad
I’ve been called
a terrorist.
It’s like water
off a duck’s
back for me, but
if it’s directed
at someone who
I’d consider
vulnerable, it
makes me angry.
It amuses me in
a way – I’m a
blue-eyed Aussie
bloke with a
Southern Cross
tattoo, and to
be discriminated
against for the
first time in my
life is an
interesting
feeling. It’s a
weird feeling to
have someone
hate you, not
because of
anything you’ve
done to them, or
anything about
you, other than
what you
believe. They
hate you without
knowing you.
I now work in
community
outreach. I
literally reach
out and look for
people who need
help in the
community.
Rather than
sitting back and
saying ‘If you
need something,
call us’, I tend
to go out and
speak to people
and let them
know what I do
and offer my
help.
Predominately,
it’s kids with
legal issues –
giving them
advice about how
to get a
solicitor or
encouraging them
to follow their
bail conditions
so they don’t
re-offend and
end up in jail.
At the end of
the day, we
don’t want our
young brothers
occupying the
correctional
centres. We want
them to live
good lives.
Coffee & Conversation: The
Rabbi and the Muslim High School
teacher
The POINT magazine
The Coffee &
Conversation film project
models casual conversations
on camera of people from
different religions.
The
conversation revolves around
interfaith and
intergenerational social
issues, depicting how
thoughtful conversations can
be had regardless of age,
gender, or faith.
Finding
beauty in differences and
connection on common ground,
the project aims to break
down assumed barriers to
social cohesion.
Rabbi Zalman and Taha Allam
talk about what’s in a name,
and how it is wrapped up in
culture, religion and
feelings of self-worth.
A mosque for the future: The
story of Punchbowl Mosque
The POINT magazine
What happens when
the vice president for the
Islamic Mission commissions a
Greek Orthodox architect to
build a Brutalist inspired new
mosque? It was initially a
challenge for both the Muslim
community and the Architect
Angelo Candalepas, who said that
in the end, “architecture is
about understanding the cultural
dimension to society… and
understanding how people can be
moved and changed by the spaces
people create.”
Architect Angelo Candalepas and
Australian Islamic Mission Vice
President Dr Zachariah Matthews
spoke with The Point Magazine
about re-designing a mosque for
Punchbowl’s Sunni Muslim
community.
Hailing from a Greek Orthodox
background, Angelo Candalepas
was at first apprehensive about
designing a place of worship for
a faith other than his own. Now
close to completion after 10
years of planning and
construction, Angelo discusses
how design can be a bridge
between culture and faith.
"Architecture to me is about
understanding the cultural
dimension in society, and
understanding how people can be
moved and changed by the spaces
people create.”
The mosque was featured as part
of the Sydney Architecture
Festival last month, with
tickets to a public tour of the
mosque selling out due to
popular demand.
Reviving the Islamic Spirit:
Canada Toronto
Islam is the
religion of peace and safety
Meet the Wogans
SBS
ISLAMIC
EDUCATION VIDEOS
Tafseer of Surah Az Zalzalah by Umm Bilal
SistersSupport
Services
PLEASE
NOTE
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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.
Summary
by Mohideen:
Mufti Junaid
started off
explaining
the
unbearable
conditions
in Mecca and
the prophets
(pbuh) order
to migrate
in the fifth
year of
prophethood.
Spoke about
how hazrat
Umar before
accepting
Islam was a
staunch
enemy of
Islam giving
a very hard
time to
Muslims. He
told how
hazrat Umar
went to buy
alcohol but
Allah made
him go to
the haram
instead and
listen to
prophets (pbuh)
recitation
and whilst
secretly
listening to
the
recitation
hazrat Umar
thought a
few things
about the
prophet (pbuh)
and Allah
answered his
thoughts via
prophets (pbuh)
recitation.
He also
spoke about
how Umar
went on the
mission to
kill the
prophet (pbuh)
however was
told that
his sister
has accepted
Islam and he
turned
around and
went to his
sister’s
place to
deal with
her first.
He explained
what
happened at
Umar’s
sisters
place and
concluded
his kuthba
by saying to
be fearful
of Allah and
not be in a
delusion
that you are
prophets (pbuh)
uncle or a
Sahabi.
Summary
by Mohideen:
Visiting
Imam Shezard
commenced
reminding
how Allah
has created
many things
and his best
creation is
the human
being. He
said
everything
that is
created by
Allah is for
a purpose.
He posed the
questioned
“what is the
purpose of
our creation
and our
life?” He
spoke about
prophet Nuh
(as) and
said how he
preached for
nearly 950
years but
only very
small amount
of people
accepted his
message. He
then
reminded
that one
must
practice
what he
preach and
gave an
example of a
smoker. He
said that if
someone does
a sin and
does not
make tauba
then that
sin will
continue
with him and
gave an
example of
poison from
a snake
bite.
Thereafter
he continued
the story in
the Quran of
prophet Nuh
(as) and
said how
ultimately
Nuh (as)
requested
Allah to
destroy his
people. He
also
mentioned
how our
prophet
Muhammad (pbuh)
asked Allah
a Dua how
not to
punish his
Ummah
similar to
the
punishment
of the
people of
Nuh (as). He
reminded
everyone to
try and
please Allah
and not his
creations.
He concluded
with how
angel
Jibreel (as)
came to the
prophet (pbuh)
and asked a
few
questions
about Islam
and emaan.
Father
of murdered Muslim pizza delivery driver
forgives man convicted over killing then
hugs him in court
Guilty man
reduced to tears by Sombat
Jitmoud's actions
US: A father hugged and forgave a man
convicted over the murder of his son,
saying he had done so in the spirit of
Islam.
Trey Relford was jailed for 31 years
after admitting complicity in the
robbery and murder of Salahuddin Jitmoud,
a 22-year-old pizza delivery driver in
Lexington, Kentucky.
The young man was making his final
delivery of the night when he was
fatally attacked. It was said Relford
had planned the robbery, and he denied
being the one who killed Mr Jitmoud.
On Tuesday Mr Jitmoud's father, Sombat,
reduced a courtroom to tears by saying
he forgave Relford. At one point the
judge even had to call a recess from the
emotional hearing.
According to CNN, he said "Islam teaches
that God will not be able to forgive"
someone unless the person they wronged
has first done so.
He said: "I'm angry at the devil, who's
misguiding you and misleading you to do
such a horrible crime.
"I don't blame you. I'm not angry at
you. I forgive you. Whatever happens to
you is from Allah. Let the believer put
their trust in Him."
After addressing the court he stepped
down from the stand and hugged Relford,
who was himself in tears.
Both Relford and his mother apologised
to Mr Jitmoud.
Tesco
Christmas advert attacked for featuring
Muslim family
Twitter
users unleashed attacks on
Tesco's message of diversity,
but the supermarket has hit back
Tesco said
it aimed to show that Christmas
is for everybody
UK: Just days after its release, Tesco’s
Christmas advert has come under fire for
featuring a Muslim family.
In the supermarket’s one-minute long
advert, families prepare Christmas
dinner and cook a turkey in a variety of
ways.
As families meet and greet each other,
one scene shows a Muslim family holding
Christmas gifts and preparing to
celebrate the festive holiday.
Some haven’t taken too kindly to Tesco’s
inclusive message, with one Twitter user
claiming to be a devout Christian
feeling “very offended”.
Another user said “@Tesco why are you
showing Muslims celebrating Christmas in
your advert. That’s just wrong, we all
know they don’t!!!”.
Tesco hit back, arguing everybody should
be able to enjoy the festivities.
“Everyone is welcome at Tesco this
Christmas and we're proud to celebrate
the many ways our customers come
together over the festive season”, a
Tesco spokesperson said.
As part of a series of five short videos
set to be released in the run up to
Christmas, Tesco said the adverts aims
to promote diversity.
Tesco said its Christmas campaign “will
celebrate the many ways we come together
at Christmas, and how food sits at the
heart of it all”.
Google
Doodle marks 90th birthday of Lebanese
singer
EGYPT: The public named her Shahroura,
after a singing bird - and now the
Lebanese singer has been honoured in a
Google Doodle.
Lebanese singer Sabah led a remarkable
life and had a career which spanned 60
years.
Now she has been honoured with a Google
Doodle to mark her 90th birthday in 24
countries, including Australia and New
Zealand - but who was Sabah and why is
she famous?
Who was Sabah?
Sabah travelled from Bdadoun, a town in
Mount Lebanon, to Cairo in the 1940s in
search of a brighter future.
She became an overnight star when her
first film, El Qalb Louh Wahid, was seen
by the Arab world.
After nicknaming herself Sabah, after
the morning, the public called her
Shahroura, after a singing bird.
Over six decades, Sabah performed in
over 100 films and plays and sang over
3000 songs.
She was known for performing her
signature music, the folklorist 'mawwal',
and presented it on stage in such
locations as the Piccadilly Theatre, the
Sydney Opera House and Carnegie Hall.
During the war years, she carried out
humanitarian work which helped millions
of people.
SingleMuslim.com:
how the Yorkshire dating site transformed
Muslim romance
It
is one of the biggest dating
sites in the world and after 17
years, it has has led to over
50,000 marriages. Last week, it
hit the headlines as matchmaker
to two terror suspects. Tim
Adams meets its founders in
Wakefield
‘Mum would tell me
this cousin was great at making chapatis
and all that. The idea was we would get
married,’ says Adeem Younis, founder of
SingleMuslim.com
UK: The business books tell you to
follow your heart. It is 17 years since
Adeem Younis took that advice and set up
SingleMuslim.com. He was 20 and a design
student at Wakefield College in
Yorkshire with a passion for IT. Besides
a desire to be his own boss, there was a
more urgentimperative.
“Quite literally I would go home and
there would be a big photo of my first
cousin in Pakistan on the mantelpiece,”
he said. “Mum would tell me this cousin
was great at making chapatis and all
that. The idea was we would get
married.”
Younis’s grandfather had settled in
Yorkshire after he had fought for the
British army in the second world war and
his daughter had an arranged marriage to
Younis’s father, her first cousin. The
assumption was that Younis would do
that, too.
When he suggested he wanted to follow a
different path, his mother, he recalls,
asked anxiously, “you know, if you are
not going to marry your cousin, who are
you going to marry?” As a respectful
young Muslim man in want of a wife, he
realised he was not alone in being asked
that question. “It was at a time when a
lot of forced arranged marriages were
happening and it was causing a huge
amount of tension and turmoil,” he says.
“I believed we could resolve a lot of
these problems by giving people more
options.”
Younis was working part-time in a pizza
place at the bottom of Westgate, where
the traditional uphill Wakefield pub
crawl begins of a Saturday night. In
exchange for a couple of extra shifts he
persuaded his boss to give him office
space above the restaurant and he set up
a rudimentary Muslim marriage website
with a friend. Immediately after it went
live they got their first registration.
The business started to grow slowly
through word of mouth, mostly through
student societies. During the marches
against the invasion of Iraq, Younis
turned up shouting, inevitably, “Make
love not war” and giving out leaflets
about the website to any Muslim he
encountered.
I am a distinction average
student currently studying a
Bachelor of Laws and have
two years of experience in
the tutoring industry. I am
currently employed as a
Paralegal at Havas and Dib
Lawyers, a top tier law firm
based on the Gold Coast,
Brisbane and Sydney.
I achieved a Dux position in
both Grade 11 and 12 and
attended Trinity Lutheran
College and Surfers Paradise
State School, and am now
tutoring in Brisbane and the
Gold Coast. I specialize in
Secondary Education and am
more than capable of
tutoring Primary, Secondary
and Tertiary students.
I previously was also
enrolled in a Bachelor of
Civil Engineering (Honours)
and Commerce (Finance) at
the University of Sydney for
two years before returning
to the Gold Coast and taking
up the change to a Bachelor
of Laws (which I love).
I have a passion for passing
on the knowledge I have
worked very hard to attain
and provide my students on
extensive and well tested
notes compiled on most
subjects I tutor to ensure
my students are only
learning what is included in
the Australian Curriculum
and not redundant
information that is not
tested (which most textbooks
contain a lot of). I focus
upon specific subjects and
work with students on useful
skills such as exam
techniques, exam
preparation, study habits
and more.
I not only provide standard
tutoring services but make
myself available around the
clock for proofreading and
last-minute exam/assignment
preparation.
If you have any inquiries
please don't hesitate to
contact me via phone or
email.
•
Accounting –
Secondary
• Algebra
• Alternative
Dispute Resolutions
– Law
• Arabic – Beginner
• Biology - Primary,
Secondary
• Business Studies -
Secondary
• Calculus –
Secondary
• Calculus -
Secondary, Tertiary
• Communication -
Secondary
• Contract Law
• Creative Writing -
Primary, Secondary
• Criminal Law
• Economics -
Secondary
• Engineering
• English - Primary,
Secondary
• English Literature
- Primary, Secondary
• Essay Writing -
Primary, Secondary
•
Evidence and Proof -
Law
•
Finance - Secondary
• General Science –
Primary
• Geography -
Primary, Secondary
• History - Primary,
Secondary
• Human Biology
• Interviewing for
Advocacy – Law
• Legal Studies -
Secondary
• Management -
Secondary
• Maths - Primary,
Secondary
• Mechanical
Engineering
• Physical Education
- Primary, Secondary
• Reading - Primary,
Secondary
• Society and
Culture - Secondary
• Statistics -
Secondary
• Taxation -
Secondary
Position Available -
Islamic Lecturer
Al Mustapha Institute of
Brisbane is seeking to
appoint a highly motivated
and experienced Islamic
Lecturer to join our growing
team of professionals. This
is a permanent part-time
role, commencing in February
2018, initially for Friday
evenings and Saturdays.
KB says:
A crunchy outside covers a juicy white fillet in
this great seafood dish
Macadamia crusted barramundi fillets
INGREDIENTS FOR THE CRUST
˝ cup macadamia nuts
˝ cup dried
breadcrumbs
1 tab. parsley, roughly chopped
1 tab. chives, chopped
1 tsp green chillies
INGREDIENTS FOR THE FISH
4 tab. butter, softened
1 tab. olive oil
4 barramundi fillets, (approx. 170G) skin
removed and seasoned with
salt to taste
1 tsp lemon pepper
1 tsp green chillies
METHOD
• Step 1
Preheat oven to 200⁰C.
• Step 2
Combine all ingredients for the crust in a food
processor and pulse until a rough crust forms,
the macadamia nuts should still be quite chunky.
• Step 3
Heat a large non-stick pan over medium high heat
and add the olive oil to the pan.
• Step 4
Place the seasoned fillets in the pan flesh side
down (side opposite where skin was) and cook for
1 to 2 minutes or until light golden brown.
• Step 5
Using a thin flat spatula gently flip fish over
and divide the crust evenly among the top of
each fish in an even layer.
• Step 6
Transfer entire pan to the oven and bake for 4
to 5 minutes or until the fish is just cooked
through and the crust is light golden brown.
• Step 7
Remove fish from oven and serve immediately with
either a light salad or sautéed vegetables or
chips
Do you have a recipe to share with CCN
readers?
Send in your favourite recipe to me at
admin@ccnonline.com.au and be my "guest chef" for the week.
Welcome to my weekly
column on
Self-Care and
Clarity of Mind.
If you’re taking
time out to read
this, pat yourself
on the back because
you have shown
commitment to taking
care of your mind
and body.
Today, In Shaa
ALLAH, we will
explore the topic:
It’s Never Too
Late And You’re
Never Too Old
At the time of
writing this column
I am snowed under
Biology and
Chemistry textbooks,
studying for two
final exams for a
degree program I
started earlier this
year. I was supposed
to study this degree
back in 1997,
exactly twenty years
ago. It wasn’t until
last February when I
opened a box filled
with my old
textbooks that I was
overcome with the
realisation: If not
now, then when? If
not me, then who?
Twenty years is a
long time to catch
up with. But so
what? Time will pass
whether I like it or
not. Time, after
all, is abstract.
The only moment is
NOW. The only future
is how we accumulate
moments of NOW. And
the only past is how
we waste our moments
of NOW on thoughts
that stagnate us
rather than fill our
hearts with love,
light, peace and
joy.
So, I ask you today
to take a moment and
reflect on what you
have been putting
off all these years.
What is that one
thing you have been
yearning to do? What
is stopping you from
doing it? Because
guess what? It’s
never too late and
you’re never too
old. Because really,
how old is too old?
And how late is too
late?
ALMIGHTY ALLAH has
blessed you with an
energetic body and
great wisdom. If
anything, the more
years you have
lived, the better
experienced you are
to tackle life. All
you really need to
do is keep your body
healthy and your
mind alive, curious
and creative. Above
all else, invest in
your spiritual
enlightenment.
Recite something
from the Holy Quran
and truly practise
it mindfully.
Even back in our
Prophe’s (SAW) time,
it took twenty-three
long years for the
Holy Quran to be
revealed. Every
surah was mindfully
practised, imbibed
and implemented into
the daily lives of
the sahabas before
the next one was
revealed. So why are
we in such a hurry?
Strategies To
Fulfil Your Dream,
Age No Bar
• Write down at
least five things
you have always
wanted to do but
haven’t
• Write down why you
haven’t done them
• Pick ONE of these
five dreams and
place it on the top
of another fresh
page
• Under this new
heading, write down
how your life will
be different if you
achieved this dream
• Write down what
you can do RIGHT NOW
to at least start
the steps towards
realising this dream
• Write down what
you will do for the
next 11 days to move
forward in realising
this dream
(repeating something
eleven times wires
the brain to form a
habit. So even
thinking about
realising this one
dream, every day for
11 days will form a
positive habit)
In Shaa ALLAH, next
week we will explore
the topic: How
Self-Aware Are You?
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.
The Day when He gathers you
for the Day of
Gathering—that is the Day of
Mutual Exchange. Whoever
believes in Allah and acts
with integrity, He will
remit his misdeeds, and will
admit him into gardens
beneath which rivers flow,
to dwell therein forever.
That is the supreme
achievement.
Dreamworld
& Dial A Home Doctor Unite
to Make Dreams Happen
With over 144,000 people
living in Queensland with a
disability, many of which
also live with underlying
health conditions, the team
at Dial A Home Doctor
thought it was time to make
a difference.
Teaming up with Dreamworld,
they have arranged for two
privately hosted evenings to
be held in November and
5,000 people with
disabilities invited free of
charge via the numerous
organisations and community
groups supporting these
families.
Families across Queensland
have been invited to
participate in two fantastic
community evenings with
numerous disability groups,
and schools taking advantage
of free tickets.
The general public can enter
to win up to 6 tickets out
of the 5,000 on offer
online. 10,000 tickets in
total will be given away.
The two privately hosted
evenings are:
Salam aleikum everyone. This Sunday 29th
of October marks 5 years since the opening of Shajarah
Islamic Kindergarten back in 2012.
Alhamdulillaah since then we have come along in leaps
and bounds until last year we received an Exceeding
Rating in the National Quality Framework from the
Department of Early Childhood Education and Care.
In March this year we were informed by the Qld
government that we must relocate as they will be
demolishing our building in January 2018 to make way for
a new upgrade of the M1.
After 7 months of searching and exhausting all avenues
we could think of as well as through whatever advice
others gave us, we are able to finally announce that we
have an agreement in place to lease a property in
Hillcrest, just opposite Browns Plains Grand Plaza. The
property is to be renovated and should be ready by the
start of the school year in January 2018.
Alhamdulillaah: A big thankyou and jazakumAllaah khair
to the parents of our children for their continued
support and all those who have tried hard to help us and
wished us well in our search for a new place. A new
start for Shajarah! InshaAllaah onwards and upwards!
We will now be starting our fundraising efforts in
earnest for our relocation. Our Gofundme page is
here. Please help us continue the Quality Islamic
Early Education we are known for inshaAllaah.
Please see our facebook page and website for updates on
construction and all info and news.
WHAT'S HAPPENING AT IWAA?
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
Due
to the ongoing drought
affecting farmers in west
Queensland, MAA have joined
local organisations to help
Aussie farmers in their time
of need by trucking hay
bales from Victoria and New
South Wales to farmers in
west Queensland.
Farmers impacted by drought
often struggle to ask for
help and many due to the
financial strain of trying
to keep the farm afloat also
battle mental health issues.
By providing bales to help
farmers feed their animals
you'll be taking a huge
financial burden from them
as well keeping their
livestock alive.
GOLD COAST
ISLAMIC CULTURAL CENTRE
Update as at
October 2017
Construction of
the Cultural Centre (Dawah &
Youth Centre) is progressing
well.
The walls for the second floor
have already been erected and
very soon they will be working
on the roof.
We still need donations to fund
this construction.
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.
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opinions appearing in this newsletter do not necessarily
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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
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Due
to the ongoing drought
affecting farmers in west
Queensland, MAA have joined
local organisations to help
Aussie farmers in their time
of need by trucking hay
bales from Victoria and New
South Wales to farmers in
west Queensland.
post comments on
our Wall
7
August 2011