Crescents
Community News (CCN) reaches
another milestone this week
with its 700th
uninterrupted issue in
as many weeks.
We wish
to thank our loyal
readership and subscribers,
from all parts of the world,
as well as our many
contributors, without whom
this labour of love would
not have been sustainable or
as consistent.
Abdul Basith Mohammed was
killed in his front yard.
A
quarter-of-a-million-dollar
reward has been offered to
help find a Brisbane father
and businessman’s killer.
The power was cut to Abdul
Basith Mohammed’s Kuraby
home, in Brisbane’s south,
in the early hours of
October 25, possibly in
attempt to lure him outside.
When the 35-year-old
restaurateur walked outside
to see what the problem was,
he was stabbed to death, as
his wife and several
children remained inside.
After five months,
Queensland Police Detective
Acting Superintendent Craig
Morrow said detectives had
no suspects but several
names of interest, having
taken more than 270
statements.
Along with Police Minister
Mark Ryan, he offered a
$250,000 reward for anyone
who could provide
information leading to the
conviction of the Kuraby
man’s killer.
Indemnity would also be
offered to any accomplice,
so long as they did not
murder Mr Mohammed.
“The family and friends of
Abdul Basith are wanting
closure and frankly our
officers who are working on
this case want the case
closed too,” Mr Ryan said.
Police refused to rule out
mistaken identity but would
not comment on whether the
killing was linked to Mr
Mohammed’s financial
situation.
Friends described him as a
“good man, hardworking and
humble".
Acting Superintendent Craig
Morrow said he was
charitable, industrious, and
helped others.
Mr Mohammed opened his
Kuraby restaurant Sizza
Indian and Middle Eastern
restaurant last year and was
looking to open another
business.
“He's very good. He's very
humble and very helpful. All
the time helpful," friend
Mohammad Hissam said.
The Queensland leg of the
first Australian National
Islamic Quiz Competition got
underway at Slack Creek
Mosque yesterday (Saturday)
afternoon with some 150
young boys and girls taking
part. The winners will join
the grand final on 28 April
with winners from the other
states. Prizes include tablets
and smart watches
Ayesha Tauseef started the UQ
Muslimah Society for female
empowerment.
INTERNATIONAL relations
student Ayesha Tauseef aims
to be a voice for those who
cannot stand up for
themselves.
The Drewvale resident, 20,
said she wanted to make a
difference in the world and
also play a part in people
of different cultures living
harmoniously together.
So last year, while studying
at the University of
Queensland, Ms Tauseef
started the UQ
MuslimahSociety.
So professional was it, the
organisation received the
best club of the year
(religion category) award
from the University of
Queensland Union.
“It was a proud moment for
me,’’ she said.
“One of the biggest reasons
I wanted to have a platform
and a voice at university
was so I could educate
people and make them feel
welcome in our society. I
encourage Muslims and
non-Muslims to come together
and feel safe to talk about
sensitive issues.
“The only way we can truly
create peace in the world is
through relationships and
getting to know people on a
personal level.
“I’m also the Brisbane
co-ordinator for PACE 48,
which is affiliated with
UNESCO.’’
Born in Pakistan, Ms Tauseef
moved to Saudi Arabia aged
four before her parents
wanted to provide her with
more education
opportunities. “So he (Dad)
brought the family to
Australia. We got permanent
residency and moved to
Brisbane when I was 12. Dad
worked here for six years
but job instability meant he
went back to Saudi Arabia.’’
The Auburn Tigers
Women's team was established in
2011.
The Club aims to
integrate players from diverse
communities into a safe sporting
environment and to foster a
community spirit by creating a
family friendly sporting Club.
Life prepares you for
everything, except your
family.
“Cake” a story about love,
loss and passage of time
coming soon to a cinema near
you.
Sanam Saeed and Aamina
Sheikh play feisty siblings
in Cake. They say the word
"feminism" is misunderstood
and men need to know their
responsibilities too.
NSW:
Councillor Bilal El-Hayek
was awarded the prestigious
Stephan Kerkyasharian AO
Harmony Medal at the
Premier’s Harmony Day Dinner
on Wednesday 21 March 2018,
at Rosehill Gardens
Racecourse in Sydney.
The Premier’s Harmony Dinner
is the flagship of
Multicultural March
highlighting rich cultural
diversity as a strength of
the state of New South Wales
where individuals are
presented with Multicultural
Community Medals and
inducted to the
Multicultural Honour Roll.
The event was hosted by the
Minister for
Multiculturalism, Mr Ray
Williams MP, in the presence
of the NSW Premier, Ms
Gladys Berejiklian MP and
organised by Multicultural
NSW.
Three members of the Muslim
community received top
honours at the event
attended by more than 1000
people including community
leaders, politicians,
government officials and
business leaders.
NSW Premier Gladys
Berejiklian presented the
Stepan Kerkyahsarian AO
Harmony Medal to Bilal
El-Hayek, the Arts and
Culture Medal to Shireen
Taweel and the Youth Medal
to Bassam Maaliki.
Minister for
Multiculturalism, Ray
Williams commended Mr
El-Hayek, Ms Taweel and Mr
Maaliki on their
extraordinary efforts in
promoting harmony and social
cohesion.
“Working in fields as
diverse as the arts, youth
work and social media, all
three medal winners
demonstrate no matter what
your background or passion
you can contribute
meaningfully to our State,”
Mr Williams said.
Bilal El-Hayek is a youth
coordinator at thBilal
El-Hayek was recognised for
his efforts in delivering
much-needed programs for the
community. His ‘Bankstown
Connect’ Family Program
assists newly arrived
families, as well as others
who experience economic
hardships. He also developed
the year-long leadership
program, “Blue Crescent”,
which sees predominantly
Muslim male youth, actively
engaged in the community.e
PCYC Bankstown and Bassam
Maaliki is a Homebush Boys
High School student who
founded the social change
campaign #UBelong. Shireen
Taweel is an emerging artist
based in Western Sydney who
explores Muslim heritage,
tradition and community
through her art.
NEW ZEALAND: The throaty
roar of the Harley Davidson
booms off the brick and
stucco houses of an
otherwise quiet, nondescript
street at the bottom of the
world. Wavy dark hair flows
behind a black helmet, beard
flutters out front. Black
leather jacket, blue Levis,
R.M. Williams boots, the
rider leans with the machine
into the mosque's driveway.
Reza Abdul-Jabbar quickly
changes into his crisp white
robe and taqiyah. "Assalamu
alaikum," he says, greeting
another early arrival. His
phone rings.
"Brent… good, mate," he
says. "Roughly how many you
reckon? Oh yep, good as.
I'll get hold of Jenny
shortly. Yeah na cheers for
that man, bye."
Bony fingers knead his long
beard straight. Thick darned
socks pulled up. "That was
my digger driver,"
Abdul-Jabbar says. "We're
busy ditching at the moment.
Time of year, trying to get
grass, crops, ya know? It's
a different pressure
farming, but it's a great
thing."
The adhan call to prayer
sounds. A rhythmical urging
that has sounded from
minarets for centuries.
Abdul-Jabbar clicks his
phone to silent and tucks it
inside his robe. The beard
is again corrected. He
kneels on a strip of knotted
carpet to begin his personal
prayers before climbing the
pulpit to deliver his weekly
khutbah, or sermon.
Around 50 men, including
doctors, students, Halal
slaughtermen, engineers,
taxi drivers, teachers, and
restaurant owners, wearing
trackpants, dress trousers,
jeans, kneel
shoulder-to-shoulder before
the charismatic, energetic,
and endearing preacher.
"My dear brothers and
sisters, let us fear Allah…"
Abdul-Jabbar is not your
typical Southland dairy
farmer. Nor is he a typical
Imam, or Islamic religious
leader.
"Whereas in a lot of
[Islamic] centres, the Imams
are trained scholars, I'm
more of a Massey-taught
Imam," grins the bike-mad
designated leader of the
Southland Muslim
Association's mosque – the
southernmost in the world.
ne is not the most
traditional pathway, but it
goes to show that Islam
isn't limited to a certain
background as it can be
perceived. You can be
anything and everything;
it's a way of life more than
anything else."
Abdul-Jabbar was born in
Pontianak, the capital of
the Indonesian province of
West Kalimantan on the
island of Borneo, in 1975.
Raised Muslim, in
multi-ethnic Borneo his
upbringing was also far from
traditional.
His late father was a
businessman dealing in
pharmaceuticals, textiles
and infrastructure
construction. Young Reza
shadowed him everywhere,
heaving his briefcase to
meetings, running errands,
grinding coffee.
They lived on a sprawling
urban section with orchards
and mango plantations
alongside deer, cockerels,
and quail. They even had pet
orang-utans.
"They were like brothers or
sisters to me. We used to
take them to town, holding
hands, and get ice-cream. It
was so cool," Abdul-Jabbar
says.
"West Borneo wasn't like
Jakarta, it was more like
Auckland 20 years ago where
everyone wanted a
quarter-acre section. It
gave me a good start to the
farming thing."
A
Shaykh in Florida by the
name of Shaykh Azhar Nasser
is currently winning at
Twitter! Not too long ago he
began tweeting the questions
posed to him alongside
responses to those
questions.
It’s probably worth stating
at this point that if you
don’t have a sense of
humour, please read no
further.
His Twitter feed is a great
reminder that religion
doesn’t always have to be
about punishment, hell and
brimstone and that sometimes
we need to take a moment to
stop and actually have some
fun!
I’m not entirely sure what
the straw was that broke the
camel’s back, so to speak,
but the Shaykh isn’t holding
back anymore. Ask him
questions at your peril!
Here is another of these tweets
(continued from
last week's CCN):
There are approximately 1.84
billion Muslims in the world
today, making up 24.38% of
the world’s population, or
just under one-quarter of
mankind. As well as being
citizens of their respective
countries, they also have a
sense of belonging to the ‘ummah’,
the worldwide Muslim
community.
The Muslim500 publication
sets out to ascertain the
influence some Muslims have
on this community, or on
behalf of the community.
Influence is: any person who
has the power (be it
cultural, ideological,
financial, political or
otherwise) to make a change
that will have a significant
impact on the Muslim world.
Note that the impact can be
either positive or negative,
depending on one’s point of
view of course.
14
"People out there are
burning in the fire of
ignorance and you are
wasting your time here
inquiring after my health!"
Leader of the Pakistan
chapter of the Tablighi
Jamaat—a transnational
Islamic organization
dedicated to spreading the
message of religious
conservatism and renewed
spirituality—Hajji Abdul-Wahhab
is a prominent Pakistani
scholar with a significant
following in South Asia and
the United Kingdom. Although
the organization does not
have a central authority,
Abdul-Wahhab has been
increasingly influential in
his leadership of the
throngs of Muslims that
follow the international
movement in Pakistan and
abroad.
Missionary: As Amir,
or leader of Pakistan’s
Tablighi Jamaat, Hajji
Abdul-Wahhab’s influence
spans globally due to the
organization’s emphasis on
missionary work. Considered
a foremost da’ee, or inviter
to the faith of Islam,
Abdul-Wahhab has spoken
about the need to return to
the correct beliefs and
practices of Islam in
numerous countries and
congregations.
Champion of Conservatism:
Abdul-Wahhab urges Muslims
to repent for their sins and
to emulate the life of the
Prophet Muhammad by adhering
to the Sunnah—the Prophet’s
teachings and deeds. Among
these is an exhortation to
partake in the act of da’wa
or spreading the message of
the faith. The Tablighi
Jamaat has gradually
acquired a massive
membership base owing to
this core tenet. Abdul-Wahhab’s
work is derived from close
ties to the founder of the
Tablighi Jamaat, Maulana
Muhammad Ilyas Kandhelvi,
and stems from the prominent
Islamic institution Darul
Uloom Deoband, in India,
where the latter studied
before establishing a
following in Pakistan.
Mass Appeal: Among
the throngs of Pakistanis,
diaspora South Asians, and
others who carry the flag of
the Tablighi Jamaat are
notable Muslim leaders. In
Pakistan alone, Abdul-Wahhab’s
influence has won the
allegiance of prominent
politicians, actors, and
athletes. Despite his
influence over key Muslim
leaders from various fields
of social power, Abdul-Wahhab
is consistent in his
assertion that the
organization is wholly
apolitical—identifying the
work of the Tablighi Jamaat
as a spiritual revivalist
movement. Annual gatherings
in Raiwind, Pakistan draw
close to 2 million people,
and those in Biswa,
Bangladesh attract over 3
million.
Advocate of Non-violence:
In light of heightened
incidences of violence by
fringe Islamic militant
groups, Abdul-Wahhab has
publicly stated the
importance of non-violence
in bringing people closer to
the faith of Islam. This
comes after the tragic
Mumbai attacks which
investigations found were
linked to the Pakistan-based
Lashkar-e-Taiba; a militant
organization Abdul-Wahhab
has made a point of
distancing the Tablighi
Jamaat from.
ANOTHER FROM THE TOP 50
INFLUENTIAL MUSLIMS IN NEXT
WEEK'S CCN
14 stages of
love according
to the Arabic
language
By Rayana Khalaf
Arabs are in a
league of our
own when it
comes to
romance. I mean,
just look at the
ways we express
love, we're
always ready to
sacrifice our
skin and bones
for the people
we love.
Over-the-top
demonstration of
love goes beyond
our everyday
conversation, as
it is rooted
deep within our
literature.
There is no
shortage of epic
and fiery poems
in Arab
literature,
brought to us by
the likes of Abu
Nawas and Nizar
Qabbani.
In these poems,
we see
variations of
words referring
to love, like "'oshk"
and "gharam"...
but contrary to
popular belief,
these words are
not synonymous.
They each refer
to a unique
degree of love.
Actually, there
are 14 degrees
of love in
Arabic language.
Here they are in
increasing order
of intensity:
Who's Afraid of
'Lawful
Islamism'? What
Daniel Pipes
Really Said in
Australia
By Chloe Patton,
Melbourne-based
researcher and
writer.
Islamism,
according to
Pipes, is a
political
project to
establish an
Islamic state -
that is, a
Caliphate.
Speaking to
Credlin, he
claimed that a
"significant
minority" of
Muslims in the
West "rejects
the prevailing
culture, the
mores, the laws,
the constitution
and wants
something very
different. Not
just Islam, but
Islamism: the
Caliphate."
Pipes
distinguishes
two ways that
Islamists are
trying to
achieve this:
through
violence, on the
one hand, and
legal means, on
the other. He
gave Credlin the
example of an
Australian ISIS
fighter who
creates videos
calling on
Australian
Muslims to
engage in
violence to
illustrate the
former strategy,
before arguing
that Islamists
who seek to
bring about a
Caliphate
legally are more
dangerous. He
said that
education and
the media have
"deemed
Islamists the
voice of Islam."
............
Where's the
Empirical
Evidence?
The first and
most obvious
issue here is
that there is no
empirical
evidence to
support any of
these claims.
Who exactly are
these "properly
attired,"
"lawful
Islamists" who
are more
dangerous than
ISIS? It can't
be the several
hundred or so
members of Hizb
ut-Tahrir (HT),
the only
reliably
identifiable
Islamists in
Australia. While
they do want to
establish a
Caliphate, their
vision involves
only
Muslim-majority
parts of the
world, not the
West. Any notion
that the group
is implementing
either its
version of the
Caliphate or
Shari'a law
through
Australian
educational
institutions or
the media is
risible. Public
attitudes
towards HT are
uniformly
hostile, and the
only sense in
which it has
conceivably been
deemed "the
voice of Islam"
is in the
tabloid media,
where it
frequently
operates as a
metonym for
Islam. This was
particularly
evident in the
national
psychodrama that
unfolded over a
video in which
female HT
members
discussed a
Qur'an passage
in a way that
seemed to
condone family
violence.
Even if HT or
other Islamists
were trying to
implement
Shari'a law in
Australia, it
would be of
little
significance to
the broader
population.
Shari'a law
already exists
here, both in
the sense that
Australian
Muslims
individually
structure their
daily lives
according to
Islamic law, and
Sheikhs oversee
such things as
religious
marriage,
divorce and the
settlement of
civil disputes
for Muslims.
This is no
different to
Jewish Halakhic
law - however,
Jewish law has a
greater degree
of formal
institutionalisation
in Australia, as
evident in the
existence of
local Beth Dins
(Jewish law
courts). While
Jewish law
sometimes
clashes with
Australian law,
there is no
public fear or
outcry over its
existence.
Religious law is
not a separate
system of law
that is imposed
on any part of
the population.
In Australia,
submission to
religious law -
whether Jewish
or Islamic - is
always optional
and religious
rulings are
binding only so
much as
individuals
respect them;
there is no
evidence to
suggest this
will change any
time soon.
Saudi Arabia is
investing billions of dollars
remodeling Mecca, home of
Islam’s holiest site—the Kaaba.
Its plans include building the
world’s largest hotel. The aim
is to double Mecca's capacity to
host worshippers, to nearly
seven million, by 2040. The
redevelopment has destroyed
scores of old shrines.
Linda Sarsour defends right
to be "a full Muslim"
Now This Politics
Hasan Minhaj Breaks Down
"Punish a Muslim Day"
The Daily Show
Imam Omar Suleiman speaks at
rally in US
In protest
against the violent shooting
death of black Muslim, Stephon
Clark
#LoveAMuslim day confronts
hateful campaign
Baloot Championship kicks off
in Riyadh
Al Arabiya
English
The General
Sports Authority in Saudi Arabia
recently kicked off Baloot
Championship in Riyadh
More than 12,000 people are
participating in the tournament
PLEASE
NOTE
It is the usual policy of CCN to
include notices of events, video links and articles that
some readers may find interesting or relevant. Such notices
are often posted as received. Including such messages/links
or providing the details of such events does not necessarily
imply endorsement or agreement by CCN of the contents
therein.
Summary
by Mohideen:
Mufti Naeem
commenced by
saying how
Allah
created life
and death
for a reason
and how he
will test
everyone.
Spoke about
the Deen
being
complete and
the days of
our Eid
celebrations.
He said that
we should
thank Allah
for
everything
he has given
us.
Explained
about surah
Al-Fathiha
being
divided into
two parts.
He said how
the Prophet
(pbuh)
during his
last hours
was
concerned
about the
salah of his
ummah and
advised not
to forgo
salah. Mufti
questioned
how many
Muslims
today fulfil
their salah
diligently.
He explained
why Shaytan
became
Shaytan. He
said how
Allah
ordered to
prostrate to
Adam (AS)
and Shaytan
refused to
do this one
Sajda and
because on
this one
Allah threw
him away. He
questioned
how many
Sajda’s we
are
neglecting
thereby not
adhering to
Allah’s
command. He
said
whenever any
problem
comes to the
Prophet (pbuh)
he would
immediately
resort to
salah. He
concluded by
speaking
about
quantity and
quality of
our Amal and
how to
preserve the
Amal and
advised to
spend more
time in
doing and
preserving
the Amal
especially
in the
coming month
of Ramadan.
South
African Christian consumers campaign against
halaal
SOUTH AFRICA: The
Commission for the Promotion and
Protection of the Rights of Cultural,
Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL)
Commission has been flooded with letters
from Christian consumers complaining
that most food and beverages in their
supermarkets are certified halaal, with
some saying they don’t want to eat or
drink anything “sacrificed to idols”.
Complaints received by the CRL against
supermarkets and Muslim halaal-certification
authorities show some Christians are
furious about the prevalence of halaal-certified
food in grocery stores and restaurants,
claiming it violates their right to
freedom of choice.
Documents City Press obtained show that
some Christian consumers have laid
complaints with the commission against
supermarkets, including Pick n Pay,
Shoprite, Checkers, Woolworths and Food
Lovers Market, food manufacturers and
restaurants, as well as the SA National
Halaal Authority (Sanha), National
Independent Halaal Trust (NIHT), Islamic
Council of SA and the Muslim Judicial
Council.
Christian consumers complain they are
forced to buy halaal goods and are
“manipulated” into funding Islam.
Some complainants charged that buying
halaal-certified foods indirectly forces
Christians to adhere to sharia law, pay
for the persecution of other Christians
in Muslim countries, fund the building
of mosques and even contribute
financially to terrorist groups, such as
the Islamic State and Hamas.
The complaints are being investigated by
the commission’s lawyers.
But one halaal-certification body has
hit back at the “Islamophobic” claims
that it funds terror groups and
Christian persecution, slamming them as
“untrue, a fabrication” and saying they
“should be treated with the contempt
they deserve”.
Stats SA figures from 2016 show that
South Africa is home to 892 685 Muslims,
43.4 million Christians, 5.9 million
people who claim to have no religious
affiliation or belief, 2.4 million who
follow traditional African religion, 561
268 Hindus, 52 598 atheists, 49 470 Jews
and 32 944 agnostics.
The halaal industry is estimated to be
worth R45bn and it is estimated that up
to 90% of all food products in the
country are halaal certified.
A complainant from Kouga in the Eastern
Cape charged in a letter to the
commission that halaal-certification
bodies violate the Consumer Protection
Act “which protects consumers against
discriminatory marketing”.
“Currently 2% to 3% of the South African
population is Muslim, while the majority
of South Africans associate themselves
with the Christian faith, yet consumers
are forced to buy Islamic-labelled
products ... We view this as an unfair
practice based on religious beliefs.”
Another from Riversdale, Western Cape,
wrote: “They don’t give us a choice. As
a Christian believer I’m forced to buy
products from a culture group that makes
up only 2.6% of our population. I
therefore have to finance a system that
I do not support and I also do not know
how the money is spent.”
A complainant from Laudium, Pretoria,
wrote: “My right to purchase groceries
according to my own religious beliefs
has been violated. The majority of food
items available on the shelves are
halaal certified ... I am deeply
offended by the fact that I, as a
Christian, don’t have a choice.
“I’ve been eating Kellogg’s Corn Flakes
since I was a child, but now I’m forced
to eat halaal-certified Kellogg’s Corn
Flakes, because that is all that’s
available at my supermarket.”
Complainants claim they are made to pay
for certified food which forces them to
“contribute financially to the Islamic
community”.
A complainant from Bruma, Johannesburg,
wrote that while the right of religious
communities to observe their own dietary
laws was not in dispute, measures taken
for the practical convenience of those
adherents must not be at the expense of,
or offensive to, those of other
religions.
“Islam is overtly and actively
anti-Christian. Whereas South Africa
enjoys a high degree of tolerance among
various religious groups and we value
the cordial relations that exist between
adherents of various faiths, it is
deeply offensive to the conscience of
any person to be forced to support a
religion that is directly and
fundamentally opposed to his own.”
Other petitioners included statements in
their complaints that halaal-certification
bodies have indentified as “Islamophobic”,
including that they were forced to eat
food “sacrificed to idols”, fund the
persecution of Christians and Jews in
Muslim countries, subscribe to sharia
law and even fund terrorism.
A Durbanville, Cape Town, resident
complained that he couldn’t find non-halaal
takeaways in a local shopping centre and
that besides meat and chicken, “even
sweets, frozen vegetables, milk, butter,
bread, juice, ice cream, and pasta are
halaal certified”.
"No foods are dedicated to any
gods"
But NIHT chairperson Hafez Moorad Booley
said the halaal-certification process
simply “oversees the entire programme of
production and ensures that no non-halaal
products are used, or that halaal
products are contaminated with pork,
insects, urine, alcohol, animal waste,
blood, certain genetically modified
organisms and harmful supplements and
colourants”.
“We must stress that absolutely no foods
are dedicated to any gods, as has been
alleged. That concept is alien to Islam
and it is totally forbidden. A great
misconception is that halaal means a
bunch of priests chanting and changing
normal foods to halaal foods. That is
untrue. The halaal process is merely to
ensure that forbidden ingredients are
not used in the production of these
products.”
Booley said the cost of halaal
certification is minimal and not carried
by the consumer. The input costs of
halaal and non-halaal foods is the same,
he said, otherwise producers would not
make halaal products.
Booley said allegations that they funded
terrorist organisations was “totally
unfounded”.
“It is untrue, a fabrication and should
be treated with the contempt it
deserves,” he said.
“The NIHT is a registered nonprofit
organisation with the SA Revenue
Service, department of trade and
industry, the SA Meat Industry Company
and Consumer Goods Council of SA, and
our financials are audited annually by
reputable auditing firms.
“Our opposition and total rejection of
rogue, so-called Islamic, organisations,
such as the Islamic State, al-Qaeda, al-Shabaab
and Boko Haram, is well documented both
locally and internationally,” said
Booley.
Sanha spokesperson Ebi Lockhat said:
“Muslims do not believe in the Holy
Trinity. Our faith is monotheistic and
our belief is in one God, the Almighty
who is referred to as Allah. Our food is
not dedicated to any triune god or
idols.”
CRL chairperson Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluva
confirmed receiving numerous complaints
from Christians about halaal products in
stores and said she would look into
kosher organisations as well.
To avoid eating halaal-certified foods,
she said, some Christians said they
bought imported goods and avoided
supermarkets such as Pick n Pay,
Checkers and Shoprite, whose branded
products are certified halaal. They are
also demanding bolder and larger halaal
symbols on food products so they can
spot them better and clear warning signs
at restaurants and fast food outlets
that serve halaal meat.
“South Africans should start asking food
manufactures difficult questions, for
instance, how much money they are paying
for the halaal and kosher emblems on
food products,” she said.
“People should know what it means to
them to promote other religions as far
as their own beliefs are concerned,
because they are indirectly promoting
something else.
“Are Jewish and Muslim organisations
trying to recruit more Christians to
become Muslims or Jewish and is it in
the best interest of people from
different religious groups?”
Mkhwanazi-Xaluva said even bottled water
was certified halaal or kosher.
“If I purchase kosher- or halaal-certified
products, it means that I am subsidising
another religion. I am paying indirectly
for something that is not my belief.
“We have raised this concern with the
Muslim Judicial Council to determine how
much money it collects on halaal-certificated
foods. We had conversations with the
Consumer Council and we need to follow
up on these issues,” she said.
National Consumer Commission
spokesperson Trevor Hattingh said they
were unaware of the complaints and that
there was no empirical evidence to prove
that consumers were being forced to buy
halaal-certified food.
Shoprite and Woolworths referred media
inquiries to the Consumer Goods Council
of SA, which said it was unaware of the
complaints. Food Lovers Market declined
to comment.
A Pick n Pay spokesperson said that
halaal “certification costs are
negligible and there is no charge passed
on to our customers. Customers who do
not wish to buy food that has been
certified for religious purposes can
find alternatives in our stores.”
“The majority of our non-Muslim
customers are not offended in any way by
halaal certification.
“The only difference is that halaal meat
receives a blessing. The cost of this
blessing is negligible. Most customers
have no objection to halaal or kosher
certification symbols on the products
they buy.”
Kosher-certification head Rabbi Dovi
Goldstein said he runs a non-profit
organisation and the certification does
not increase the price of food.
Dozens
hit out at ‘Punish a Muslim Day’ by forming
human chain around mosque
The
group say they are ‘building
bridges, not walls
UK: Nearly 100 people
have formed a human chain outside a
mosque in Newcastle to fight against
racism and Islamophobia. Members of
Citizens UK are standing in solidarity
with Muslims on a day which encourages
violence against members of the
religion.
Tyne and Wear Citizens, the local branch
of Citizens UK, say they are ‘spreading
love, not hate’ on ‘Punish a Muslim’
day. Police are investigating after sick
documents were sent to people up and
down the country warning them of a
‘Punish a Muslim’ day on April 3. The
letters boast of horrific ‘rewards’ if
people carry out attacks on Muslims,
including torture, burning down mosques
and throwing acid in peoples’ faces.
Many women were warned to hide their
hijabs and not walk alone in response to
these threats, while families were urged
to lock their doors and be careful when
out and about. But in the face of these
threats, many people have been showing
their solidarity with Muslims as Brits
unite to fight against racism.
And in a show of strength and unity,
close to 100 members of Tyne and Wear
Citizens joined forces outside Newcastle
Central Mosque today. On Twitter the
group posted: ‘Spreading love not hate,
building bridges not walls.’ Matthew
Guest, author and sociologist of
religion at Durham University, wrote:
Great to be part of human chain of
solidarity stretching around Newcastle
Central Mosque.
‘Citizens standing together against
racism & Islamophobia.’ Elsewhere
throughout the country, new letters were
sent encouraging a ‘Love a Muslim’ day.
The letters promised rewards if anyone
smiled or threw flowers at Muslims –
while 2,500 points were on offer if a
family was bought a trip to Mecca.
Islamic Civilization in Thirty Lives: The First 1,000
Years
by
Chase F. Robinson
DESCRIPTION
Religious thinkers,
political leaders, lawmakers, writers, and
philosophers have shaped the 1,400-year-long
development of the world's second-largest
religion. But who were these people? What do we
know of their lives and the ways in which they
influenced their societies?
In Islamic Civilization in Thirty Lives, the
distinguished historian of Islam Chase F.
Robinson draws on the long tradition in Muslim
scholarship of commemorating in writing the
biographies of notable figures, but he weaves
these ambitious lives together to create a rich
narrative of Islamic civilization, from the
Prophet Muhammad in the seventh century to the
era of the world conquerer Timur and the Ottoman
Sultan Mehmed II in the fifteenth.
Beginning in Islam’s heartland, Mecca, and
ranging from North Africa and Iberia in the west
to Central and East Asia, Robinson not only
traces the rise and fall of Islamic states
through the biographies of political and
military leaders who worked to secure peace or
expand their power, but also discusses those who
developed Islamic law, scientific thought, and
literature. What emerges is a fascinating
portrait of rich and diverse Islamic societies.
Alongside the famous
characters who coloured this landscape—including
Muhammad’s cousin ’Ali; the Crusader-era hero
Saladin; and the poet Rumi—are less well-known
figures, such as Ibn Fadlan, whose travels in
Eurasia brought fascinating first-hand accounts
of the Volga Vikings to the Abbasid Caliph; the
eleventh-century Karima al-Marwaziyya, a woman
scholar of Prophetic traditions; and Abu al-Qasim
Ramisht, a twelfth-century merchant millionaire.
An illuminating read for anyone interested in
learning more about this often-misunderstood
civilization, this book creates a vivid picture
of life in all arenas of the pre-modern Muslim
world.
KB says:
Sharing Raeesa Khatree's recipe from her The
Great Australian Bake Off appearance.
A sweet and sour
crepe cake where lemon, lime and orange citrus
flavours meet cream and Italian meringue.
Sweet and sour crepe cake
Recipe by Raeesa Khatree
from The Great Australian
Bake Off
Ingredients
Method
Crepe batter
(double the recipe
quantity for all 60
crepes)
4 extra large eggs
1 cup full cream
milk
1 cup thickened
cream
˝ cup water
2 cups plain flour
6 tablespoons
unsalted butter –
melted
˝ teaspoon fine salt
3 tablespoons castor
sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
bean paste
Extra ingredients
for each tier
Americolor gel
colours: yellow,
lime green, orange
and red
Ingredients to be
added to mascarpone
cream
Pulp of 3 finger
limes – reserve 2
extra for decoration
1 tablespoon finely
grated lime zest
1 cup desiccated
coconut - toasted
Tier 3
Ingredients to be
added to mascarpone
cream
˝ cup frozen orange
juice concentrate
1 tablespoon finely
grated orange zest
2 punnets fresh
raspberries
For the crepe
batter:
Double all
ingredients and
blend together in
either a blender jug
or food processor.
Divide batter into 2
parts first using
different large
bowls. Then remove 3
cups of batter from
each bowl and place
into a 3rd bowl for
first tier of crepe
cake. The portion
for tier 1 should be
lesser quantity than
for tier 2 and 3.
1. Lemon meringue,
finely grate lemon
zest and grind lemon
myrtle in a pestle
and mortar and add
to bowl 1. Cover and
set aside in fridge
to rest for 1 hour.
For tier 2:
1. Lime and coconut,
finely grate lime
zest and add to bowl
2. Cover and set
aside in fridge to
rest.
For tier 3:
1. Orange and
raspberry, finely
grate orange zest
and add ˝ teaspoon
of orange blossom
water to bowl 3.
Cover and set aside
in fridge to rest.
For tier 1
biscuit:
1. Preheat oven to
180°C, using a food
processor, blend
flour, castor sugar,
macadamias and lemon
myrtle until
combined and
macadamia is small
but visible. Add
cold butter cubes
and process with
short pulses for a
crumbly texture.
Place on lined
baking tray and bake
for 15 minutes or
golden and crunchy.
Once done, remove
from oven and set
aside to cool.
Reserve for filling
of tier 1.
For tier 1 lemon
curd:
1. Place yolks,
sugar, zest and
juice in a saucepan
over low heat and
whisk until sugar is
dissolved. Gradually
whisk in butter,
ensuring each chunk
of butter has melted
before adding
another. Whisk until
it thickens well,
approximately 5
minutes. Place a
layer of cling on
surface of the curd
and place in freezer
to cool.
For tier 2 and 3
mascarpone cream:
1. Prepare one large
quantity of
mascarpone cream and
divide into 2 bowls.
Using a stand mixer,
whisk mascarpone for
a minute with sifted
icing sugar, then
add thickened cream
and vanilla bean
paste. Once it is
creamy (not watery)
and medium peaks
form, remove and
divide into 2 bowls.
For tier 2:
1. Add lime zest and
pulp of finger
limes. Toast coconut
and add to mixture.
Cover with cling and
refrigerate.
For tier 3:
1. Add the orange
concentrate and
orange zest by
folding in gently.
Lightly mash or chop
into little pieces
the 1 ˝ punnets of
raspberries and add
to mixture. Reserve
remaining ˝ cup for
decoration. Cover
with cling and
refrigerate.
Method for making
crepes:
1. Starting with
Tier 3 (size 8
inch), remove bowl
of batter for tier 3
from fridge and add
1 drop of orange
colouring to bowl
and mix together
gently to obtain a
light orange colour.
Using the crepe pan,
brush it with a
little oil and heat
on high. Reduce heat
to medium-high, then
add ˝ cup of batter
and swirl to coat
the base of the pan,
almost to the end of
pan rim (this is the
largest tier so aim
to get the largest
size crepe). Cook
for one minute or
until golden, then
flip with a palette
knife or spatula and
cook for 45 seconds
on the other side.
Place crepe on
baking paper lined
trays so it doesn’t
dry out. Once there
are 7 evenly sized
crepe in the light
orange colour, add 2
drops more of gel
colour in orange and
fold through until a
darker shade is
obtained. Make 7
more evenly sized
crepes. Then add one
drop of red gel
colour to batter and
fold through to
obtain a darker
shade of batter.
Make 7 more evenly
sized crepes.
Tier 2 (size 6
inch):
1. Remove bowl of
batter for tier 2
from fridge and add
1 drop of lime green
gel colour to bowl
and mix together to
obtain a light green
colour. Using the
crepe pan, brush it
with a little oil
and heat on high.
Reduce heat to
medium-high, then
add slightly less
than ˝ cup of batter
and swirl to coat
the base of the pan,
almost to the end of
pan rim (this is the
middle tier so aim
to get it smaller
than previous size
crepe). Cook for one
minute or until
golden, then flip
with a palette knife
or spatula and cook
for 45 seconds on
the other side.
Place crepe on
baking paper lined
trays so it doesn’t
dry out. Once there
are 7 evenly sized
crepe in the light
green colour, add 2
drops more of gel
colour in lime green
and fold through
until a darker shade
is obtained. Make 7
more evenly sized
crepes. Then add 3
drops of lime green
gel colour to batter
and fold through to
obtain a darker
shade of batter.
Make 7 more evenly
sized crepes.
Tier 1 (size 4
inch):
1. Remove bowl of
batter from fridge
for tier 1 and do
not colour batter
for first 5 crepes.
Using the crepe pan,
brush it with a
little oil and heat
on high. Reduce heat
to medium-high, then
add Ľ cup of batter
and swirl to coat
the base of the pan
– just a little
round crepe is
needed as this is
the smallest tier.
Cook for 40 seconds
or until golden,
then flip with a
palette knife or
spatula and cook for
45 seconds on the
other side. Place
crepe on baking
paper lined trays so
it doesn’t dry out.
Once there are 5
evenly sized crepes,
add 1 drop of gel
colour in yellow and
fold through until a
light shade of lemon
is obtained. Make 5
more evenly sized
crepes. Then add
another drop of
yellow gel colour to
batter and fold
through to obtain a
darker shade of
batter. Make 5 more
evenly sized crepes.
Then add 2 more
drops of gel colour
to obtain darkest
shade of yellow
batter. Make 5 more
evenly sized crepes.
To assemble:
Tier 3:
1. Using the 8-inch
cake board and
plate, place cake
ring or acetate
around the board and
line the ring with
cling. Starting with
the darkest shade of
crepe (reddish
colour) start by
placing first crepe
on board and spread
orange and raspberry
filling on crepe,
making sure the
raspberries are not
too chunky. Cover
with second crepe
and repeat process
by layering crepe
from darkest shade
of crepe to lightest
orange. Once the
tier is stacked with
20 crepes, cover
with cling and place
in fridge to firm
up.
Tier 2:
1. Using the 6-inch
cake board and
plate, place cake
ring or acetate
around the board and
line the ring with
cling. Starting with
the darkest shade of
crepe (lime green
colour) start by
placing first crepe
on board and lime
filling on crepe.
Cover with second
crepe and repeat
process by layering
crepe from darkest
shade of crepe to
lightest shade of
green. Once the tier
is stacked with 20
crepes, cover with
cling and place in
fridge to firm up.
Tier 3:
1. Using the 4-inch
cake board and
plate, place cake
ring or acetate
around the board and
line the ring with
cling. Starting with
the darkest shade of
crepe (yellow
colour) start by
placing first crepe
on board and spread
lemon curd filling
on crepe, then
sprinkle the crumbs
of the lemon myrtle
biscuit. Cover with
second crepe and
repeat process by
layering crepe from
darkest shade of
yellow crepe to last
5 non-coloured
crepes. Once the
tier is stacked with
20 crepes, cover
with cling and place
in fridge to firm
up.
To stack:
1. Carefully remove
all 3 tiers from
fridge and using the
straws as dowels,
cut size according
to height of each
tier and poke
through centre of
each tier, making
sure it will be
directly under cake
board above. Stack
tiers accordingly
above one another
using any extra
mascarpone cream
under each cake
board as a glue.
To decorate:
1. Sprinkle tier 1
with biscuit crumbs
and lemon myrtle.
Using any left-over
mascarpone cream,
pipe on top of tier
2 a few rosettes.
Place finger limes
on top of tier 2 and
sprinkle grated lime
zest. Pipe a few
cream rosettes on
tier 3 and decorate
with sprinkled
orange zest and
raspberries.
Sprinkle a little
glitter or silver
leaf on decorative
elements.
2. Whisk 1 egg white
with 3 tablespoons
castor sugar and a Ľ
teaspoon cream of
tartar. Pipe onto
baking paper lined
tray and place in
oven on 180°C for 15
minutes or until
golden and firm.
Place swirls on top
tier of crepe cake.
Imagine this scenario. It’s 3.59pm on a Friday,
and you’ve been looking forward to having that
piece of Cadbury block chocolate you have saved
for your afternoon pick-me-up. The clock strikes
4pm so you shut your computer and leave the
office desk. You grab the chocolate from your
bag and start to eat on your way to the carpark.
Before you know it, you get to the car and you
have already finished eaten 4 small squares. You
think to yourself, “how did I manage to do that,
I barely enjoyed the chocolate at all.” You get
in the car, and since you felt unsatisfied, you
reach for a few more. By the time you get home,
you are halfway through the block and you are
left wondering, how did you get through all of
that without realising and yet still feel like
you want more.
Does this sound familiar? Try switch the
scenario from the car, to perhaps on the couch
in front of the TV or in front of the laptop
where you’ve been working on assignments all
day. Can you relate? Most of us probably can.
It is this mindless eating behaviour that
usually leads to harmful behaviours such as
bingeing, purging, or restrictive dieting which
all can impact negatively on our health. The
problem here does not lie in the food, no one
food is inherently good or bad. The problem lies
in our mind and our lack of awareness. One of
the skills that we can learn to help us become
more focused on the present moment and
disconnect from habitual, unsatisfying and
harmful behaviours is to practice mindfulness.
Mindfulness is a state of being conscious or
aware, a mental state achieved by focusing one’s
awareness on the present, while acknowledging
and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts and body
sensations. (1) Research shows that mindful
eating may help people control binge eating and
overeating, enjoy food and feel more in touch
with the body’s internal hunger and satiety
signals. (2)
Click here to read the 10 steps on how to
eat mindfully.
Fitria
For any other health questions or enquiries,
send me a message or subscribe to
my blog.
Need an answer to
a nutrition related matter? Send your
question to Fitria at
fitria.s@hotmail.comAll
questions sent in are published here anonymously
and without any references to the author of the
question.
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:
Turning Every
Experience Into An
Opportunity For
Personal Growth
It may seem
unrealistic to
believe that one can
turn every
experience, pleasant
or traumatic, into
an opportunity for
personal growth.
Yet, as Rumi said,
that it is only
through the crack of
the wounded heart
that light enters.
It is in times of
despair that you can
truly reflect on the
lessons provided in
all your experiences
and implement those
lessons to create
better experiences
for yourself and
others.
Experience, by
definition, is when
an event or
occurrence leaves an
impression (negative
or positive) on
someone.
Opportunity is when
circumstances arise
that make it
possible for you to
do something,
anything, that will
bring about change
(negative or
positive).
Every single
experience
(event/occurrence
that leaves a
positive or negative
impression on you)
can be perceived as
a platform which
gives rise to an
opportunity for
action (positive or
negative).
Pause for a moment
and reflect on your
major experiences in
life.
Perhaps in your
present situation
you may be going
through a repetitive
pattern of certain
experiences that are
holding you hostage.
Are there any
experiences in your
life right now that
seem to be happening
over and over,
whether with people
or with your job or
with your own
eating, drinking,
procrastination or
any other habits,
that make you feel
stagnant or trapped?
These repetitive
experiences may be
perpetuating
negative thought and
behaviour patterns
to the point where
they have become
habitual.
You are merely
reacting to these
repetitive
experiences instead
of responding to
them. When you stop
reacting to
experiences and
instead respond to
them you will begin
to you see each
experience as a
lesson from ALLAH,
imbibe the lesson
and implement
strategies to grow
from the experience.
When you take
ownership of your
experiences and use
them as lessons in
order to pass the
tests of life, you
become empowered.
But when your
experiences begin to
control you and
define you in every
situation, you
become a victim.
Experiences will
continue to play
like a movie in the
cinema of your mind.
Choose to be the the
hero of your
film, not a victim.
Five Easy Steps
To Turn Your
Experience Into An
Opportunity For
Personal Growth
1. Take a pen and
paper and write down
the experiences that
are repetitive in
each of these areas
in your life:
Health,
Relationships,
Career/ Studies,
Spiritual (your
connection with
ALLAH)
2. Beside each
experience, write
down how they make
you feel. Your
feelings are the
first signal from
your body to
indicate that
something needs
attention.
3. Sit in silence
after your salah and
ask ALLAH to help
you hear your
intuitive voice.
4. Now write down
(dot point list) the
first answer that
comes in your mind
on how you need to
handle these
repetitive
experiences.
5. Pick the easiest
one from your dot
point list and act
on it immediately or
as soon as possible.
If the above
exercise seems too
difficult, send me
an email or contact
me on my mobile. I
am happy to guide
you through it.
In Shaa ALLAH, next
week we will explore
the topic:
Do You Suffer
From WWPSS (what
will people say
syndrome)?
DOWNLOAD
Muslimah Reflections
- my new ebook of
poetry and
affirmations
DOWNLOAD The
Ultimate Self-Care
Guide For Muslimahs
WATCH VIDEOS
from Muslimah Mind
Matters YouTube
Channel.
DOWNLOAD
Muslimah Meditation
Moments - audio
files for
self-awareness
meditation.
If you wish to know
about a specific
topic with regards
to Self-Care and
Clarity of Mind,
please text or email
me or visit
www.muslimahmindmatters.com.
If you wish to have
a FREE one hour
Finding Clarity
telephone session,
contact me on
0451977786.
Q:
Dear Kareema,
I’m starting to lose motivation with my diet.
What is the
key to ensuring that I at least stay on track?
A:
Try to commit and stay consistent. Set yourself
small achievable weekly goals and go from there.
Remember the 2 and 5 rule when it comes to fruit
and veggies daily and stay away from fast foods.
Only adopt changes that are sustainable and
surround yourself with like-minded people to
keep you on track.
Promote your
business, advertise your
services, sell your products
and connect your business to
the Australian Multicultural
community at this vibrant
and fantastic annual event.
The Multicultural Eid
Festival and Fair (MEFF) is
the largest Eid Festival in
Australia, welcoming tens of
thousands of people from
over 35 diverse communities.
IWAA is delivering a small
business program to Muslim
women in the Ipswich area.
It is a free 12 week
program, every Saturday
morning, with a start date
of 7 April.
The program aims to provide
business support, training
and mentoring to Muslim
women to help them
commercialize and
operationalise an idea into
a successful small business
in Ipswich.
The participants will be
provided with mentoring and
one on one skills to assist
them to establish their own
business.
Participants will also be
able to commercialise a
business idea, price and
value it, and be given step
by step guidance and ongoing
mentoring (from mainstream
businesses) to establish and
operationalise a business.
At the end of the 12 week
course participants will
have developed a simple
business and marketing plan,
set up an ABN, registered
their company, set up a
website and Facebook page;
set up accounting systems
and business processes, set
up weekly and monthly cash
flow and other simple book
keeping tasks and will have
established a customer base
and be working on their
business.
Ongoing mentoring and
support will be provided
through the Ipswich Chamber
of Commerce, and individual
business mentors selected to
be part of this program.
The main facilitator is
Christine Mudavanhu who also
resides and owns a business
in Ipswich.
There are only 8 places
available so participants
will need to register ASAP.
If you have any questions,
please do not hesitate to
contact Nora Amath at
nora.cams@iwaa.org.au.
Are you looking at starting your own
business? Do you have a business idea that you would
like to explore with a professional?
This interactive, practical
experience that provides you with tools to start or
grow your business!
Workshop 1: Thinking like an
Entrepreneur Workshop 2: The Entrepreneurship
Journey Workshop 3: Branding and Design Workshop 4:
Communication and Pitching
COST: $80 Workshop Series (Four
Workshops)
MELBOURNE
click on image
Need to improve your English for work or
social settlement? Learn for FREE with the Adult Migrant
English Program at TAFE Queensland.
The AMEP provides up to 510 hours of free English
language, literacy and numeracy training to eligible
refugees and migrants, at more than 40 sites throughout
Queensland.
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.
HikmahWay offers online and
in-person Islamic courses to
equip Muslims of today with
the knowledge, understanding
and wisdom to lead balanced,
wholesome and beneficial
lives.
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
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A
Shaykh in Florida by the
name of Shaykh Azhar Nasser
is currently winning at
Twitter! Not too long ago he
began tweeting the questions
posed to him alongside
responses to those
questions.
South
African Christian consumers campaign against
halaal 
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our Wall
7
August 2011