AIIC Year-12 graduates and
staff of the AIIC celebrate
achievements at Michael's
Restaurant
Parents, teachers and
community leaders came
together at Michael's
Oriental restaurant this
week to celebrate the
graduation of 18 of the Year
12 students of the
Australian International
Islamic College.
In addition to their
graduation certificates,
students were presented with
a number of awards by their
teachers for excellence in
subjects.
The 2017 Dux Award went to
Sarah Ahmed and Samir Ali
received the Islamic Ethos
Award.
The MC role on the night was
performed by teacher Ms Lee
Vang.
The keynote address was
delivered by Mr Faisal Hatia
who was also presented with
the school's inaugural
Community Award in memory of
Haja Salima Bi Bi Azhari.
The late Haja Salima was a
founder member the Darul
Uloom Acadamy of Brisbane
and the Brisbane Muslim
School in Buranda and the
Australian International
Islamic College in Durack.
Special acknowledgments were
made to Dr Mustafa Ally and
Mr Tahir Ali for their
contributions to the school.
Community Award
in memory of Haja
Salima Bi Bi Azhari
awardee, Mr Faisal
Hatia (right)
with School
Administrator, Mr
Mohammed Ally (left),
and School Founder,
Imam Abdul Quddoos
Azahri
(centre)
10 years at AIIC,
teachers Mr Irfan
Meduselac
(left) and
Mrs Zeba Khan (right)
with School
Principal Mrs Mariam
Banwa (2nd
from right)
2017 School Dux,
Sarah Ahmed
Islamic Ethos
Award, Samir Ali,
and Mr Shahid Khan
(right)
Dr Mustafa Ally
Australian
National Titration
Competition (ANTC)
winners, (l
to r) Sara
Ahmed, Rumana Akter
and Kushidah Binti
Mohd Ayub
Sahal with his Metropolitan
East outfit and the sought-after
Queensland cap.
Sahal Khatree (son of Raeesa
and Zubair Khatree)
represented the district of
Metropolitan East during a
5-day tournament last week.
Twelve teams comprising 12
players each participated.
From these 144 players,
twelve were selected to
represent Queensland in the
Australian 10-12-year-old
Championships to be held in
January 2018 in New South
Wales.
Sahal was one of the twelve
selected and he was awarded
his Queensland School
Cricket cap. He captured 4
wickets for 17 runs in the
final match, taking his
tally to 10 wickets for the
tournament.
Sahal is the first student
of his school, JPC, to be
selected for the state team
for cricket in this age
group.
The inaugural Qld Imams vs
law enforcement (QPS/AFP)
football tournament took
place at the Bosniac Islamic
Centre (BIC).
The tournament was also part
of the celebrations for the
BIC’s 3rd year anniversary.
The Imams of Qld were
comprehensive winners over
QPS, 5-2 in the grand final.
Player of the tournament was
Imam Imraan Hussein (Gold
Coast).
"There has been some very
positive feedback about the
wonderful atmosphere on the
day, the mix of sport,
creating a great vibe and a
sense of goodwill,"
tournament organizer, Sgt
Jim Bellos, told CCN.
"The concept was well
embraced by everyone."
Next year the organisers
will be looking to expanding
the format to four teams to
include the Muslim youth.
(l
to r) Mr
Hamid Kassim, Mr
Fakhri Samsodien, Mr
Hashim Hatia, Shadow
Minister Mr Tony
Burke, Mr Peter
Russo MP
(l
to r) Mr
Hussin Goss, Dr
Mazhar Haque-(gastroenterologist),
Mr David Forde, Dr
Mohammad Islam
(medical
oncologist), Shadow
Minister for
Citizenship Mr Tony
Burke, Member for
Toohey, Mr Peter
Russo MP, Dr Fatima
Ashrafi
(obstetrician
gynaecologist) and
Dr Nizam Dastagir
(medical specialist)
Meeting with Terri
Butler MP
Ms Terri Butler MP (third from right) met with locals from
Queensland's Bangladeshi
community, who came to see her
about the mass displacement of
Rohingya people in Myanmar.
The meeting was organized by
Dr Fatima Ashrafi (second
from right)
Campbell McPhee of Western
Meat Exporters at Charleville in
western Queensland
A WESTERN Queensland
abattoir manager has
delivered an embarrassing
smackdown to One Nation
leader Pauline Hanson over
her stance on halal
certification.
Western Meats Exports
Managing Director, Campbell
McPhee – one of the biggest
employers in the Charleville
region said Senator Hanson’s
claims that halal
certification is funding
terrorism groups was
incorrect and was an
important part of his
business.
Senator Hanson has long been
a critic of halal
certification, raising
question marks over where
they money is going, however
Mr McPhee rubbished those
claims, saying instead he
has a relationship with his
provider and was
“comfortable” with how they
operated.
“I have spoken to One Nation
in the past about Halal and
who I provide funding for,
it’s a very small
percentage,” he said.
“What I gain from doing
Halal greatly outweighs the
cost and I have a
relationship with my
provider and I am very
comfortable with the people
I deal with, I know who they
are and what they are doing
- I am very comfortable.”
Mr McPhee said having the
certification allowed him to
“value add” to his business.
“I don’t see Halal as an
issue, Halal is a
certain type of a
certain brand that we do
- there is no difference
to the humane slaughter
we provide to be a T2
plant, we have to abide
by the highest animal
welfare.
We are hellbent in
having our animal
welfare upheld and
that’s why we have an
onplant vet to inspect
every animal, inspect
the slaughter process,
we have four Government
officers down the line
to make sure this
happens.”
The Islamic Society of
Toowoomba hosted One
Nation's Toowoomba North
Candidate Mr Paul Wilson and
South Candidate Mr Jeremy
Scamp at a meeting with the
representatives of Muslim
community of Toowoomba.
"We discussed a range of
issues related to the
community and controversial
policies of One Nation. I
expressed my particular
concerns about their
official policy to abolish
Multiculturalism, ban
mosques, stop welfare
payments to Muslims, stop
Muslim migration, and
spreading of false stories
on Islam and Muslims," Prof
Shahjahan Khan said about
the meeting.
"It was a friendly meeting
and we hope the meeting will
open the doors to engage
with each other to build a
united community with mutual
understanding and respect,"
Prof Khan added.
Toowoomba North Labour party
candidate, former Attorney
General of Qld, Mr Kerry
Shine was also hosted by the
Society following this
meeting.
In a dark and nearly empty
fifth floor office near the
Adelaide CBD we find the
Islamic Association of South
Australia.
It consists of Imam Mohammed
Tawhidi, his loyal assistant
Haider and mahogany
furniture.
This man has been ridiculed,
denounced, spat on, roughed
up and shamed.
Why?
The few who applaud Tawhidi
say it is because he is
brave enough to stand up to
the toxic extremism which
has infiltrated Australia.
If you ask radio jocks and
conservative commentators,
you will be told Tawhidi is
a hero speaking the truth.
Ask the Left and you’ll be
told he is a "fake sheikh" –
a charlatan who has been
discredited after
overselling his credentials.
Ask the man himself and
he’ll tell you he is doing
God’s work – fulfilling a
destiny to clean out the
radicals from his religion
after escaping a path that
was leading him towards
fundamentalism earlier in
life.
In one breath, Tawhidi is
humble – "I woke up and
become an Imam of peace and
I go around and there has
been no reception
whatsoever."
In the next, delusional – "I
will say this because of my
studies on
counter-terrorism, I feel
I’m qualified. If the United
States cracks down on Iran
and its regime, Iran will
fund ISIS".
The counter-terrorism
studies Tawhidi is referring
to is a free online overseas
course with a certificate
that can be purchased for
$49. It took him 12 weeks to
complete from home.
But press him on his
qualifications and he will
tell you he “studied at
Harvard and Georgetown
universities”.
A Muslim take on Big Brother
will be one of the
highlights of SBS's line-up
in 2018, as the broadcaster
seeks fresh ways of
fulfilling its charter
obligation to "inform,
educate and entertain all
Australians and, in doing
so, reflect Australia's
multicultural society".
In Muslims Like Us, 10
Australian Muslims
representing different
aspects of the faith will
spend eight days cooped up
in a share house, cameras on
them around the clock.
"We've cast it so we
represent different
spectrums of the faith,
geographical diversity,
gender diversity, age
diversity, sexual
diversity," said Marshall
Heald, the network's
director of TV and online
content. "We want to
demystify and explode some
of the stereotypes about the
community and give people a
far better sense of the
diversity within it."
But Mr Heald refused to be
drawn on whether or not the
cast would include a
representative of the
extremist brand of Islam.
"I wouldn't use that word,
but we're definitely looking
at people from all aspects
of the faith, so some people
have more hardline views
than others," he said.
Are we talking IS hard line?
"I'm probably not
comfortable going further
into it now."
Whatever the constitution of
its cast, the show is bound
to get people talking, which
is precisely the point.
"We're always looking to
provoke with purpose. We're
trying to create a more
cohesive society, and we're
looking for creative,
cut-through approaches to
issues," Mr Heald said.
"It's only through debate
that people can get to
understand different
perspectives, and that's
good for everyone. We want
to be broadly inclusive of
opinion."
Kevin Andrews has argued that
Jewish and Muslim bakers should
be able to refuse services to
couples of the other faith.
Liberal MP Kevin Andrews
says a Jewish baker should
be able to refuse to serve a
Muslim couple and vice
versa.
He made the comments while
arguing bakers should be
able to refuse services to
same-sex couples for a
wedding if they held a
religious view against
same-sex marriage.
Asked if a Jewish baker
should be able to deny a
Muslim couple a cake, he
said: “Why not?”.
“This goes to fundamental
religious beliefs and
beliefs of conscience and
it's only in relation to
that,” he told Sky News on
Tuesday after the Yes result
in the Australian Marriage
Law Postal Survey was handed
down.
“I don’t have a problem with
that, I don’t have a problem
at all.”
Mr Andrews argued a Muslim
supplier could already make
decisions on the types of
products they sold, such as
halal goods.
“So we already accept this
in relation to other
services being provided,” he
said.
“It’s only in relation to a
wedding ceremony itself that
we’re talking about.
“It’s not just somebody
walking off the street and
saying, ‘I want to buy a
cake’, and you say, ‘Oh no
you can’t buy a cake, so
it’s restricted to that’.”
Fears about
Muslims, mosques and home-grown
terrorists are hitting the
headlines. Mosque leader Imam
Uzair is doing all he can to
guide his community through
these troubled times, and
embrace multiculturalism, but he
soon finds himself confronting
crisis after another. Meanwhile,
as Christmas approaches, a
controversial YouTube video has
gone viral among the Muslim and
non-Muslim community. Determined
to confront extremists head-on,
Ali issues a statement, but just
12 hours later, there's backlash
within his own community.
FINAL EPISODE 3:
Wednesday 22 November, 8.40pm on
SBS
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.
Mobinah says Western
societies have gender roles,
and so too does Islam.
Mobinah: “I feel
like I have equal
opportunity to a Muslim
man. Explain to me why
you think I wouldn’t.”
Kerrie: “Not you
personally ... but there
are many Muslim women
that practise their
Muslim faith
differently, yes?”
Mobinah: “That’s
a good point. But I just
want to say that I don’t
represent the entire
Muslim community. I
don’t represent
oppressed women as well
as liberated women. I’m
just me.”
Kerrie: “I see
sometimes on TV little
bits here and there of
males but I think from a
woman’s point of view
there doesn’t seem to be
a voice for the women.”
Mobinah: “There
are so many incredible
females Muslim leaders
within our country but
you don’t hear about
them because the media
don’t want to promote
them.”
The Ongoing
Genocide in
Myanmar
–
The Final
Episode of a
Master Plan for
Extermination of
Rohingyas: Needs
urgent actions
of world leaders
By Professor
Shahjahan Khan
PhD, University
of Southern
Queensland,
Australia; and
Expatriate
Fellow,
Bangladesh
Academy of
Sciences (BAS)
The long term
process of
extermination of
the Rohingyas is
all very well
known to the
whole world.
This includes
systematic mass
killing of a
helpless
civilian
population,
indiscriminate
gang rapes of
girls and women,
burning of
thousands of
homes and places
of worship, and
forcing them to
leave their
ancestral land.
This horrific
destruction of
the most
persecuted
ethnic minority
of the world has
been happening
with madness,
arrogance and
total disregard
for any human
rights and
international
obligations of
Myanmar military
led government
and Buddhist
nationalist
thugs.
If history is
any evidence,
then former
Burmese and
current Myanmar
Government not
only has a long
record of
deliberately
denying facts on
its criminal
acts but also
shifting the
blames on the
victims.
Fabricated
stories coming
from the Myanmar
Government
officials and
military leaders
that the
Rohingyas burned
their own homes
in Rakhine are
only a part of
the mountain of
lies they have
been using to
hide their
heinous crime.
Myanmar
Government has
been also
accused of
oppressing a
number of other
ethnic groups
such as Kachin,
Chin, and Shan.
These groups
have been
fighting against
the Myanmar
Government to
gain freedom
from the
army-led rule
and systematic
discrimination.
Many armed
fighters of
these groups are
active in the
southern Myanmar
bordering
northern
Thailand.
7 questions
Muslims are
tired of hearing
By By Adeel
Qureshi,
Associate
Producer of The
Mosque Next Door
These are only
just some of the
questions, based
on prevalent
misconceptions
about the Muslim
community, that
people keep on
asking.
Muslims seem to
be this era’s
hot topic. To
some degree,
it’s
understandable.
ISIS-related
terrorist acts
have grabbed
media headlines
over recent
years, adding
fuel to the fire
in an already
turbulent Middle
East, and
inspiring a
chain of
horrific
terrorist
attacks around
the world- all
in the name of
Islam. So, of
course, the
world’s gaze
turns to this
religion to
understand what
exactly is going
on.
Various aspects
of Islam are
constantly
debated,
dissected and
discussed by the
media so it’s
natural that
some non-Muslims
become curious;
what are they
really teaching
in those
mosques? Who’s
really hiding
under that burqa?
(Hint: it might
be Senator
Hanson) Why
can’t ‘they’
live peacefully
with ‘us’?
Now don’t get me
wrong. In a
healthy,
cohesive society
contentious
issues ought to
be debated. But
there’s a fine
line between
curiosity and
ridiculousness,
and all too
often it seems
that the
questions we
get- no thanks
to some
hysterical media
and populist
politicians- are
of the latter
kind. Here’s a
quick collection
of my seven
favourites.
Regardless of
how tiresome
these questions
can get, the
fact is that
other Muslims
and I will keep
getting them –
not because
people are
necessarily
Islamophobic or
ill-intending.
But because the
cacophony of
discussion on
all things
Muslim (whether
on social media,
on television or
by politicians)
means that
there’s a
constant stream
of
misinformation.
Sometimes
intentional
sometimes not.
That means that
a lot Muslims
are happier
receiving thorny
questions in
person than
people looking
for answers
online.
But it’s tiring
to constantly be
the news cycles
hot topic, or
being viewed as
a security
threat rather
than an ordinary
person, or being
constantly
talked about and
not being talked
to. Hopefully,
this little
piece can give a
little more
perspective, a
little more
nuance for the
next time you
talk to a Muslim
you know.
Now as a male, I
don’t have the
weight of
personal
experience on my
side to answer
this question,
but I’ve heard
enough
frustrated
female friends
rant about this
to know this
common question
needed
discussing.
The operative
word here is
‘make’: it takes
away agency from
Muslim women and
implies their
lack the
capacity to make
decisions
themselves. I
also can’t
answer this
question for
women who choose
to wear the
hijab - the
reasons could be
as diverse as
the women who
choose to wear
it. But
curiosity is
great! And if
you’re wondering
why an
acquaintance or
friend of yours
wears the hijab,
ask them. But do
them a favour
and try to
appreciate their
point of view,
even if you
don’t understand
it.
Why Jacqui
Lambie Doesn’t
Deserve To Be
Glorified
(extracts)
By Osman Faruqi
ex-Senator
Lambie
The reaction to
Lambie’s
departure has
been markedly
different to
most of the
other dual
citizen MPs.
Senators as
diverse as
Pauline Hanson,
Penny Wong and
Nick McKim lined
up to hug her
goodbye.
Speeches were
made, eulogies
written.
Lambie is being
remembered
because she was
a rare kind of
politician:
someone who
didn’t emerge
from the
political class
and seemed like
a regular
person. And
while this is
something that
deserves to be
acknowledged,
too much of the
commentary
around her
departure uses
that as an
excuse to ignore
her regressive
policies
targeting
refugees and the
Muslim
community.
But her position
on social issues
and immigration
in particular
left a lot to be
desired. Like
Hanson, she
supports a ban
on the burqa.
Like Hanson, she
has expressed
support for
Donald Trump’s
Muslim ban and
called for a
version of it to
be implemented
in Australia.
She has also
called for
refugees
entering
Australia to be
electronically
tagged, and
linked refugees
to terrorism,
without any
evidence.
An article in
The Sydney
Morning Herald
made a similar
point:
“Lambie’s views
on Islam and
refugees made
her unpalatable
to many. I
suspect those
views are widely
held by many
working-class
Australians so,
in that sense,
they are
representative.
It wasn’t always
pretty, but
Lambie had what
politicians are
always trying to
fake:
authenticity.”
“Her crusade
against the
burqa and sharia
law (which she
appeared to
misunderstand)
was flat-out
Islamophobic,”
it went on. “Her
call to follow
the Trump
example and ban
Muslim
immigrants was
ugly. But when
it came to
sticking up for
the
disadvantaged,
Lambie was
compelling,
because she had
lived hard, and
she didn’t
present this
hard-living in a
palatable,
pretty
Cinderella-story
way.”
There are a few,
glaring problems
with this
perspective.
Firstly, why are
Lambie’s
positions on
immigration and
the Muslim
community
contrasted
directly against
her approach to
the
“disadvantaged”?
Why does
standing up for
working class
welfare
recipients give
you a free pass
when it comes to
demonising
another
disadvantaged
section of the
community?
Lambie was the
antithesis of
that in her
background and
in her abrasive,
direct style.
And we found it
refreshing. But
her background
shouldn’t be
used to excuse
her strategy of
demonising
migrants and
Muslims. Many
migrants and
refugees have
had similar
experiences to
Lambie. Her
inability to
show empathy
towards them
can’t be ignored
just because she
stood up against
the government’s
cuts to welfare.
If commentators
and the public
are looking for
politicians to
laud, there are
enough examples
floating around
of people who
stand up for the
disadvantaged
and for
migrants. Some
of them even
happen to be
migrants from
working-class
backgrounds!
On The Drum: John
Barron is joined by Ali Kadri
from the Islamic Council of
Queensland, Peter Lewis from
polling firm Essential, former
NSW Liberal leader Kerry
Chikarovski and former Greens
leader Christine Milne.
The 100% All-American halal
burger
Eater Detroit
Detroit's famous
nacho cheeseburger is 100% halal
and hiding at one local gas
station
ISLAMIC
EDUCATION VIDEOS
Tafseer of Surah At-Takathur by Umm Bilal
SistersSupport
Services
PLEASE
NOTE
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some readers may find interesting or relevant. Such notices
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therein.
TOPIC:
"Tips
that help
one lower
the gaze (Ghadd-ul-Basar)"
IMAM:
Mossad Issa
MASJID TAQWA/BALD
HILLS MOSQUE
Friday
khutbah
(sermon)
DATE:
17 November
2017
TOPIC:
"The
effect of
Quran on
hazrat Umar"
IMAM:
Mufti Junaid
Akbar
Summary
by Mohideen:
Mufti Junaid
continued
the story of
harat Umar
from last
week where
Umar was
going to
deal with
his sister
accepting
Islam. After
going to his
sister’s
house, he
asked her
what she was
reading and
Mufti
explained
her response
and
subsequent
beating of
his brother
in law and
sister. The
sister
responded
after
getting
slapped by
Umar, saying
do whatever
you want but
we believe
in Allah and
his prophet
(pbuh). Umar
asked his
sister to
give him
what she was
reading and
when he read
bismillah he
trembled. In
between
delivering
the story of
Umar Mufti
diverted and
gave many
lessons and
stories of
how Umar use
to cry a lot
when reading
the Quran
and asked
where do we
stand when
Quran is
read. He
said many
today don’t
even
understand
surah Al-Fathiha.
He warned a
person who
does not
pray rejects
750 ayahs
every day.
He said that
the prophet
(pbuh) said
if you want
to be in my
company in
Jannah then
increase
your sujood
by doing
extra
prayers. He
concluded by
saying he
will
continue the
rest of the
story next
week.
Summary
by Mohideen:
Mufti Naeem
Ali started
off with
saying how
Allah has
said in the
Quran that
whatever
good deeds a
person does
will not go
to waste and
Allah will
reward for
those good
deeds. He
explained
how the
reward for
good deeds
get
multiplied
and bad
deeds is not
multiplied
hence the
favour Allah
has given to
the ummah of
Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh).
He spoke
about how
the sahabi
Muaz ibn
Jabal
requested
the prophet
(pbuh) for
some advice
and the
prophet (pbuh)
gave him
three
advices and
he went on
to explain
the three
advices. The
first advice
is, whenever
you do a
sin, do some
good deed,
the second
advice is to
be shy with
Allah and
the third
advice is to
establish
your prayers
as if it is
the last
prayer in
your life.
He concluded
in advising
the people
to come to
the Masjid
for salah.
The
forgotten Muslim heroes who fought for
Britain in the trenches
The stories
of the 2.5 million Muslims who
travelled to Europe to fight for
the allies during the first
world war are finally being told
Algerian
soldiers on the way to the
western front arrive in Paris in
1914.
UK: A biting wind whips across the
rolling countryside, cutting through the
crowd gathered on a hillside overlooking
Notre Dame de Lorette, France’s national
war cemetery. Huddled amid what remains
of the 440 miles of trenches that made
up the western front, they shudder out
of shock and surprise rather than cold
while listening about life for the men
who endured the horrors of the first
world war.
More than 1.5 billion artillery shells
fell in this part of northern France,
close to the town of Arras, prompting
soldiers to nickname the farmland in
which they fought “the hell of the
north”, or poignantly, “the cemetery”.
It is the experiences of some of their
Muslim comrades, however, that
particularly capture the crowd’s
imagination, drawing looks of disbelief
at a history that has never been fully
told.
Having travelled thousands of miles from
hotter climes, these soldiers went into
the trenches with imams whose duties
included leading group prayers and
reciting the call to prayer into the
ears of the dying. Special orders had
been issued on when and how to pray. “If
the war is intense and the Muslim does
not have a moment of peace to fulfil his
prayer he can just move his head and
torso,” said a declaration from French
high command. “In the case where there
are moments of calm, one can complete
the prayer together.”
Hot halal food was routinely served,
prepared by cooks who had accompanied
the men. When medical supplies ran out,
some of these soldiers used traditional
herbal medicines from their homelands to
help treat injured comrades, whatever
their faith. Others taught their folk
songs to those serving alongside them,
whatever their language, in between the
brutal onslaughts of trench warfare.
The evidence of their sacrifice is on
display in a corner of Notre Dame de
Lorette, which contains the graves of
40,000 French soldiers who fell on the
western front. The Muslim headstones are
distinguishable not just by their
Islamic inscriptions but because they
also tilt eastwards towards Mecca. They
were designed by the French painter
Etienne Dinet, who converted to Islam in
1908
Muslim
art student 'forced to drop out of college
after refusing to draw naked models'
Maryam Adam
said "There are Muslims who don't mind
taking part in classes like this, but I
was not one of them."
Maryam Adam has always loved art
and creativity
UK: Maryam Adam thought everything had
fallen into place when she got accepted
to study for an art foundation course at
The Royal Drawing School in London. The
18-year-old had spent a year thinking
she would apply to study dentistry at
university to appease her mum who was
worried about her future - but Maryam
knew her own mind.
From making personalised cards and
canvases for her friends on their
birthdays it was clear she had been
passionate about art her whole life, and
decided she couldn't live her life
according to how someone else wanted her
to, she told IBTimes UK.
When applying for degrees and foundation
years... I didn't realise how little my
faith and my race was represented in the
art scene.
Unfortunately, tackling family pressures
wasn't to be the toughest obstacle she
would face. On the first day of her
course, she watched her classmates begin
to meet one another.
"I was in the waiting room being told
that there was no way I could continue
the course without taking part in the
nude life drawing class... I told the
course director how uncomfortable I was
with taking part and that it was against
my religion but their school policy on
'Equality and Diversity' didn't mean
anything on that day," she claims.
What's more, she tried her best to
compromise and tells IBTimes UK: "I
asked if the models could be clothed if
or if I could only do parts of the body,
but the answer was still 'no'."
Maryam stresses that this isn't a strict
faith issue but something she personally
isn't comfortable with. She says: "there
are Muslims who don't mind taking part
in classes like this, but I was not one
of them."
I remember how upset and helpless it
made me feel, I was thinking more about
the fact that I didn't know what I was
going to do
Her mind went blank; the only thing she
could think was that it felt unfair.
What else could she do to get an art
degree when they all require foundation
years?
In the end she decided to drop out and
leave the course.
Her family and friends have been
incredibly supportive and not questioned
her decision to stick to her guns but
often the situation weighs on her. She
says: "Being a South Asian Muslim living
in London is already a unique experience
but being an artist also creates a new
scene entirely.
"I had to come to terms about not being
able to stay in the Asian comfort zone
with my friends who study sciences and
the effect is that people find it hard
to look past your colour or faith and
sometimes when you stand alone, you're
seen as the spokesperson for your whole
faith or community."
IBTimes UK was told by Mark Chester,
Executive Director of the Royal Drawing
School: "We recognise that life drawing
is not suitable for everyone and
encourage students to discuss any issues
with us.
"Working directly from the unclothed
figure is an age-old practice that
allows students to see the structure and
anatomy of the body with the intention
of developing other areas of
investigation such as drawing clothed
figures or imagined ones."
The school has apologised for the
situation and offered to find some
compromise - a potentially positive step
in an otherwise unfortunate situation.
"We are sorry that we did not make it
clearer at an earlier stage that life
drawing and working from unclothed
models was a core part of the curriculum
and we are contacting Maryam to see if
there is another course we could
recommend that does not involve life
drawing, either with us or somewhere
else, to help develop her artistic
practice."
Since she's had a few weeks to reflect
her outlook on the situation has
completely changed. She says: "I think
art for me has always embodied the idea
of freedom and freedom in whatever you
want to do.
"At this school I was made to feel like
drawing naked people had to be the norm
for everybody but I didn't want to have
to find my way around it with the course
director. I didn't want to make
compromises and beg for some sort of
place. I just wanted to be me."
Barbie
reveals first hijab-wearing doll inspired by
trailblazing US fencer
Ibtihaj
Muhammad was the first American
to compete at the Olympics while
wearing a hijab
US Olympic
medalist Ibtihaj Muhammad
unveils the new doll
US: The manufacturer of the Barbie doll
has revealed its latest figurine is
inspired by Ibtihaj Muhammad, an
American fencer who competed in last
year's Olympics while wearing a hijab.
Mattel Inc said the doll will be
available online next Autumn.
The doll is part of the Barbie "Shero"
line that honours women who break
boundaries.
Past dolls have included gymnast Gabby
Douglas and Selma director Ava DuVernay.
Ms Muhammad said on Twitter that she was
"proud" that young people will be able
to play with "a Barbie who chooses to
wear hijab!"
Ms Muhammad, part of the US fencing team
and the first American to compete at the
Olympics while wearing a hijab, won a
bronze medal in fencing at the 2016 Rio
Games.
During the Olympics Ms Muhammad drew
criticism after she described the US as
a dangerous place for Muslims, telling
the Daily Beast she did “not feel safe”
as a Muslim living in America.
Ms Muhammad is also a sports ambassador
and works on the US State Department’s
Empowering Women and Girls Through Sport
Initiative. She also runs a clothing
company, named Louella, which she set up
with her siblings. It manufactures
modest clothes for women.
Czech
Republic's tiny Muslim community subject to
hate
Prague Muslims
Prague, Czech Republic: Walking along
the idyllic streets of Prague just
blocks away from the famed Wenceslas
Square, 38-year-old Palestinian-born
Raed Shaikh stopped to point out a halal
grocery store he and the handful of
other Muslim residents in town frequent.
He then motioned towards a Middle
Eastern restaurant to the right, hidden
behind a small mosque.
"Here is the highest concentration of
Muslims in Prague," the IT project
manager said laughingly.
Though no exact figures exist, the
Muslim community in the Czech Republic
is small, between 5,000 and 20,000, or
less than 0.02 percent of the total
population.
Just a portion lives in Prague.
Yet Islam has become a hot-button topic
in Czech national politics, where the
power to resolve the country's hung
parliament could lie with a politician
whose only policy is, "No to Islam. No
to terrorism".
Czech-Japanese entrepreneur Tomio
Okamura and his Freedom and Direct
Democracy Party (SPD) rode into
parliament as the third most powerful
party after the recent October
nationwide elections, with no
discernible policy other than to drive
Islam completely out of the Czech
Republic.
The campaign slogan was convincing
enough for the newly formed SPD to scoop
significant votes in its first ever
electoral race.
The Townsville Islamic
Society is looking for
"someone who can become part
of us and lead us to the
right path in this world as
well as the hereafter and
are keen to welcome the
right person to our
community."
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:
With the holidays
approaching, a great idea to make these scones
ahead of time, freeze and serve when needed.
Savoury Scones
INGREDIENTS
2 cups flour
90g butter
2 tsp baking powder
ľ tsp salt
1 tab. sugar
Ľ tsp bicarb of soda
1 tsp black pepper
˝ cup yogurt
Ľ cup finely chopped coriander
˝ cup cheese
METHOD
1. Sift the dry ingredients.
2. Rub in the butter gently
3. Add the remaining ingredients.
4. Lastly add a mix of cold water and milk to
form a soft dough.
5. Pat the dough down, using light fingers and
form scones by using a round cutter.
6. Paste with an egg wash and sprinkle sesame or
poppy seeds.
7. Bake in a preheated oven at 180degrees until
very light brown.
Remove from the oven, wait for the scone to cool
down, slit the scone in half, spread with
mayonnaise and your favourite chicken or steak
filling and top with grated cheese and close.
Warm in the oven just before serving. (5 mins in
a pre-heated 160degree oven)
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:
How Self-Aware
Are You?
Have you ever
experienced a moment
where you suddenly
became aware of
yourself and
realised that so
many minutes or
hours have passed
without you actually
being aware of that
time-lapse? That you
were so engrossed in
whatever you were
doing that you
didn’t see the world
go by, didn’t hear
the sounds around
you, didn’t notice
any smells, didn’t
notice your posture
or even the way you
were breathing?
Self-Awareness is
what the new-age
gurus are calling
Mindfulness. I like
to call it
self-awareness
because it helps me
understand that
unless I am aware of
self, I can’t be
mindful in my
actions.
What is
Self-Awareness?
Self-Awareness is to
know yourself - your
personality, your
beliefs, your values
and morals - and to
also know why you
have them, so that
you may have
conviction in them
and act mindfully.
Knowing yourself is
probably the most
difficult thing to
do because often you
are so consumed by
the world outside of
you that you barely
spend moments with
yourself to
experience the world
inside of you.
When you disengage
with the outside
world to become
engaged with your
inner self, you will
realise who YOU
REALLY ARE by
realising who YOU
ARE NOT. For example
(not an exhaustive
list):
•
You are not your
name, you have a
name, but it’s
not you because
it was given to
you
• You are not
your job title,
it’s what you do
because you got
hired by someone
• You are not
your business,
it’s what you
are
entrepreneuring
by providing a
service in
exchange for
money
• You are not
your body, it’s
a physical,
sensory and
cellular
structure that
you live in
• You are not
someone’s
opinion about
you
• You are not a
label
• You are not
your bank
balance, your
material wealth
or your
bloodline
When you realise the
things you are NOT,
you will begin to
understand what you
really are. You will
understand that:
•
You are a pure
soul
• You are here
in this realm
for a temporary
existence
• You are meant
for using your
sensory
perceptions
(see, smell,
hear, taste,
touch) to
maintain the
purity of your
soul
• You are here
to glorify and
be grateful to
your ALMIGHTY
CREATOR
30-Second
Strategy To Develop
Self-Awareness
1. After Fajr Salah,
DO NOT GO BACK TO
BED.
2. Sit in silence on
your prayer mat.
3. Straighten your
back and let your
upper body feel tall
4. Breathe in slowly
and deeply, so that
you feel your belly
expanding
5. Hold for a few
seconds
6. Breathe out
slowly
7. Repeat for 10
long, deep breaths
in and 10 long, deep
breaths out
8. If you have more
time, write in your
journal and express
your true feelings.
(Contact me if you
require help with
journaling)
In Shaa ALLAH, next
week we will explore
the topic: Foster
A Healthy Marriage
With Couple Goals
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 average Aussie
is sedentary for most of the day..
It’s time to sit
less and move more. If you have a desk job or
spend hours travelling to and from work, you may
just be sitting too much.
Research shows that
not being active enough is associated with a
shorter life span and increased risk of chronic
disease – therefore sitting is the new smoking!
While at work, or throughout the day; try
standing up every 20-30
mins. This may help reverse the metabolic
effects of sitting for too
long.
Moderate exercise
such as walking or cycling for about 60 – 75
mins
a day seemed to eliminate the increased risk of
mortality associated
with long periods of sitting.
Mula Nasruddin
urgently needed a few days off work, but, he knew the
Boss would not allow him to take leave.
He thought that maybe if he acted 'crazy' then the Boss
would tell him to take a few days off.
So he hung upside-down on the ceiling and made funny
noises.
Mula Nasruddin's co-worker, Jallalludin, asked him what
he was doing.
Mula Nasruddin told Jallalludin that he was pretending
to be a light bulb so that the Boss might think he was
'Crazy' and would give me a few days off.
A few minutes later the Boss came into the office and
asked, 'What the heck are you doing?'
Mula Nasruddin told him that he was a light bulb.
The Boss said, 'You are clearly stressed out.' Go home
and recuperate for a couple of days.'
Mula Nasruddin jumped down and walked out of the
office...
When his co-worker, Jallalludin, followed Mula Nasruddin,
the Boss asked him, '..And where do you think you're
going?!'
Jallalludin replied, 'I'm going home, too. I can't work
in the dark.'
The charitable men and
charitable women, who have
loaned Allah a loan of
righteousness—it will be
multiplied for them, and for
them is a generous reward.
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:
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
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.
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.
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.
The
forgotten Muslim heroes who fought for
Britain in the trenches 
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