As you offer your prayers on
Eid-ul-Adha, the staff of
Crescents Community News (CCN)
hope that the true spirit of
this auspicious occasion fills
your heart with happiness and
your soul with spiritual wisdom
and enlightenment, insha'Allah.
Prime
Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s
speech on Anning
I
condemned the racist
remarks of Senator
Anning last night as
soon as I heard of them.
I’ve condemned them
already today and I
condemn them again here
in this House.
Let me
say Mr Speaker, we live
in the most successful
multicultural society in
the world and our
success is built on a
foundation of mutual
respect. We have one of
the most successful
immigration programs in
the world. We are a
migration nation.
Who
could claim to have a
better one? And we
manage it on a
thoroughly
nondiscriminatory basis.
It too is built on a
foundation of strong
leadership and the
control of our borders,
so that Australians know
that people who come
here, come here because
the government has
agreed to them doing so.
The people’s
representatives agree to
them doing so.
We’ve
managed that program in
a world where there is
so much disharmony.
Where, in many places in
the world, where people
of different faiths and
different races have
lived side-by-side
reasonably harmoniously
for hundreds of years
and now seem unable to
do so
Despite all of that,
here in Australia, in
the midst of our
diversity, we live in
great harmony.
So we
have so much to be proud
of, but we can never
take it for granted.
We must
always stand up for our
commitment to an
Australia that defines
itself by reference to
shared political values;
freedom, democracy, the
rule of law, a fair go.
Those are our values and
they are accessible to
people of every race, of
any religion, or none,
of any cultural
background. So that is
how we define our
nation.
Queensland African
Communities Council
Incorporated (QACC) condemns
Senator Anning’s call for
“the final solution on
immigration”
Senator
Anning particularly singled
out Muslim and African
migrants, especially those
who are both African and
Muslim, falsely claiming
that they are not
assimilating and integrating
into Australian society, and
has unjustly and unfairly
demonised and dehumanised
the entire population of
African birth and descent in
Australia, as well as all
followers of the Islamic
faith.
He labelled
the entire Muslim and
African community in
Australia as welfare
dependents and exploiters,
and as criminals, and
insisted that there is need
for “cultural reconquest” of
Australia. These statements
are abhorrent, appalling,
hateful, racial and bigoted
and reflect the ugliness of
a belief in, and adherence
to, the doctrine of the
white supremacy.
They drag
Australia back into the dark
ages of prejudice and
intolerance and do not, in
any way, reflect or
represent 21st century
Australia, a nation that
continuous to grow and
flourish because of
migration.
We know that the majority of
our members (both Muslims
and Africans) are law
abiding people who are both
proud and grateful to be in
Australia. They are
hardworking and educated
people who appreciate, and
take advantage of, the
opportunity that living in
Australia gives them to make
better lives for themselves
and their children, to be
treated equally and fairly
and to contribute to the
country and society that has
accepted them. They live in
their homes, go to work,
work hard, go to school, pay
mortgage/rent and take good
care of their families.
They have
friends from all cultures.
Many have made significant
contributions to Australian
society at all levels
including, but not limited
to, as lawyers, doctors,
engineers, teachers,
professors, researchers
etc., as well as to
Australian culture as
singers, musicians,
composers, choreographers,
dancers and actors.
They play
Australian sports and make
valuable contributions to
their teams. They serve and
protect Australia and its
people as members of their
state police forces and
defence and security
services. What sort of
non-integration is Senator
Anning talking about?
Full
Statement
Leader of the Opposition,
Bill Shorten MP, call for
motion on Australia's
non-discrimination policy
In the
corrosive and fragmented
climate of public
debate, it’s become
unfortunately common for
some to seek out
attention by picking on
minorities, the less
powerful, by attacking
in the most vile terms,
normally someone who
can’t defend themselves.
Around the world,
right-wing extremists
are turning this into a
political art form.
They say something
hateful or homophobic or
sexist or racist,
something designed to
humiliate and denigrate
and hurt. And then when
their comments are
condemned they complain
about ‘political
correctness gone mad’ or
the ‘thought police’
stifling their free
speech, all the while
basking in the media
attention.
I understand that in one
sense there might be a
reason to simply ignore
it, to starve the
stupidity of oxygen, to
treat it as beneath
contempt.
But as leaders, as
representatives of the
Australian people, as
servants of diverse
communities in a great
multicultural nation, we
cannot stay silent in
the face of racism.
We cannot ignore the
kind of prejudice and
hate that the Senator
sought to unleash last
night.
Free speech is a
cherished value in
Australian society but
it is not an unfettered
right to hurt, to bully,
to intimidate, to make
some Australians feel
less equal than other
Australians.
We have to call it out.
We must condemn it.
We have to speak truth.
We have to stand it
against it, strong and
united.
Full
Statement
Graham Perrett MP, Member
for Moreton: Statement
regarding Queensland
Senator’s first speech
Anyone
who is given the
privilege of serving in
our Parliament should
use that privilege to
make this country a
better place for all
Australians. Fraser
Anning failed that test
in his first speech in
the Senate today.
In a throw-back to the
ideology of the ‘white
Australia policy’ he
called for people of
Muslim faith to be
banned from coming to
Australia. He didn’t
stop there: his
ignorance knows no
bounds. He also said
that: ‘Not all Muslims
are terrorists but
certainly all terrorists
these days are Muslim,
so why would anyone want
to bring more of them
here?’ That is complete
nonsense and completely
untrue.
I am very disturbed that
this rhetoric would be
spoken in our
Parliament.
This is not a voice from
modern Australia. This
is a myopic, red-neck
reaching out from
another time to another
people. Modern Australia
has moved on.
I represent the most
multicultural electorate
in Queensland. And I am
very fortunate in
Moreton to have a very
inclusive multicultural
community. We have
wonderful community
leaders like Ali Kadri,
Lewis Lee, Melody Chen,
Michael Ma and Elijah
Buol who do so much to
sow the seeds of
inclusivity. They come
from the four corners of
the globe but they all
call Australia home.
The hateful rhetoric of
Fraser Anning has no
place in my community or
my Australia.
Muslim Member of
Parliament, Ed Husic MP, on
a multicultural Australia
Waleed Aly's thoughts on
Anning saga
Will
Parliament's Fraser Anning
moment simply be
self-congratulation?
Imagine
for a moment that Fraser
Anning walks into the
Senate and delivers his
now-infamous maiden
speech, but without the
phrase “final solution”.
What happens? Do we see
anything like the
condemnatory response
we’ve just witnessed
this week? Do we see the
cross-party unity? Do we
see the Parliament so
firmly stand up and
declare that some
inviolable line has been
crossed, which must be
re-drawn for the good of
the country?
It’s a damn important
question because its
answer determines
whether we’re condemning
a form of words, or a
set of ideas.
And
here’s my problem. Take
away that ghastly phrase
and you’re left with a
speech that sounds
increasingly familiar in
our public discourse.
What, precisely, did
Anning say that can any
longer be considered
radical? Is it the
argument that all
terrorists are Muslims?
You can hear that just
about every day even as
you inspect the wreckage
of non-Muslim attacks in
Oslo, Quebec, Portland
or Charleston.
Is it the idea of
banning Muslim
immigration? One Nation
has long advocated that,
and so has some of the
Coalition backbench. Is
it the suggestion that
we should have a
plebiscite on a matter
as incendiary as which
groups belong in our
country? That sounds
strangely familiar, too.
Or is it the idea of a
discriminatory
immigration policy? The
Howard government was
quite happy to slash
African immigration on
the basis of Africans’
alleged inability to
integrate, an idea only
recently spruiked by
Tony Abbott.
"I'll have a go at him next
time I see him," said Muslim
cane farmer Abdul Ghani
Mohammed, who considered Bob
Katter as a friend.
Muslim leaders from Bob
Katter's north Queensland
electorate say they are
dismayed he has adopted a
hard-line stance against
Muslim immigration, saying
he only just recently helped
a local imam with a visa
extension.
The Katter's Australian
Party (KAP) federal leader
this week threw his support
behind his senator Fraser
Anning's controversial
maiden speech, which praised
the White Australia policy
and called for a Muslim
immigration ban.
Mr Katter described it as
"magnificent".
But prominent Muslims in Mr
Katter's seat of Kennedy
said they felt hurt and
betrayed by a man they had
considered a long-time
friend and supporter of the
local Islamic community.
Cane farmer Abdul Ghani
Mohammed, 75, said he had
known Mr Katter for three
decades.
"He's come here to our
place three or four
times and had dinner
with us, he's even come
as late as 11 o'clock at
night to see us and he's
always had the utmost
respect for the whole
family," he said.
"I could not believe that
Bob was saying it.
"He's just helped the Muslim
community here in Cairns to
get a permit for their Imam
to stay here for another six
months.
"He's helped us to get that,
and how can he say what he
said when he does those
sorts of things."
Mr Katter said he had been
happy to help the local
Muslim community on this
instance.
"I would do it, and I would
it again, and I would do it
again," he said.
"Don't ever call them
Muslims, these are
Australians. They happen to
have a religion and it's
their business, nobody
else's.
"They said this bloke is
preaching the gospel of
peace and we need him to
stay here."
But Mr Katter maintained his
opposition to Muslim
immigration, particularly
from the Middle East,
despite criticism from Mr
Mohammed.
"I'm sorry that they feel
hurt and betrayed … They are
all good Australians," he
said.
"But we have got to protect
ourselves … Surely someone
should be talking about our
immigration policy that is
bankrupting us and drowning
our values.
"These people that are
coming in and overwhelming
us, and I'm just talking
about people from the Middle
East, they're coming in and
overwhelming us, they don't
have our values."
'Is that the real Bob or
not?'
Mr Mohammed's father came to
Australia in 1900 from what
is now Pakistan, and moved
to Cairns in 1932.
"He brought Islam to the
north," Mr Mohammed said.
Mr Mohammed speaks with a
broad Australian accent and
flies an Australian flag on
his property, south of
Cairns.
Abdul Ghani Mohammed has
known Bob Katter for 30 years.
His family helped establish
the Cairns Mosque and were
stalwarts of the local
Rotary, Canegrowers, Cairns
Show Society and football
club.
"For people to say that
the Muslims don't
contribute anything to
the community, I would
like to challenge them
and ask them where they
got their information
from," he said.
"In those days we never
heard of racism … When we
were young nobody ever said
anything bad to us … Our
family has been always able
to hold our head up.
"I think it's pretty sad
that a few minority people
will make trouble for the
rest of the Muslims."
Mr Mohammed said it
concerned him Mr Katter
appeared to be trying to
shore up anti-Muslim votes
in the area.
"I'd like to talk to Bob
about that, see what he's
got to say … Ask him is that
the real Bob or not? Or is
he just saying it because
this bloke [Fraser Anning]
is new in his party and he's
got to stand up for him?" he
said.
"He shouldn't put himself
down to stand up for this
bloke … If he's saying all
this just to cover this new
party member of his then
that's wrong anyway.
"I'll have a go at him next
time I see him."
Bob Katter defends
'magnificent' Anning speech
'He's
tarring all Muslims with the
same brush'
Benjamin Murat is a farmer
from Mareeba, also in Mr
Katter's electorate, and
Imam of the local mosque.
His father settled in the
area more than 90 years ago,
having fled war-torn Albania
as a teenager.
"Dad came to Mareeba which
is very virgin country. They
cleared land by axe," he
said.
"They came for a better
life, they worked very hard,
contributed to Australian
society, contributed to the
economy, and here we are
also doing the same thing.
"We're Australians, we
love this country as
much as any other
Australian loves … as
much as Bob loves
Australia."
Mareeba Imam Benjamin Murat
(left), pictured on his farm
with his neighbour and brother,
said he was "saddened" by Mr
Katter's comments.
Mr Murat said he was also
shocked by Mr Katter's
anti-Muslim remarks.
"I was quite saddened to
hear those comments because
we've known Bob for a long,
long time," he said.
"These sorts of thoughts and
comments regarding Muslims
have never come out with
Bob.
"He's been helpful and
supportive, so I just
don't understand what's
happened for this to all
have changed."
Mr Murat said new arrivals
needed to be given time to
integrate and contribute to
Australian society.
"They've come with who knows
what they've experienced
over there with calamities,
loss of life, families," he
said.
"And we've welcomed them and
it's been very nice of the
Australian people to welcome
them here and care for them
and show that beautiful
Australian hospitality."
Mr Katter said new arrivals
from the Middle East were
different from integrated
Muslims like Mr Murat who he
"loved" and respected.
"Some of these Australians
that are proud Australians
came out here and have been
the pioneers of this
country," he said.
"We love them and they're
Australians … I'm not the
slightest bit interested in
their religious persuasion."
But Mr Murat rejected the
distinction.
"I don't think it lessens it
at all … He's tarring
Muslims all with the same
brush," he said.
The refugee
survey’s co-author says it shows
Australia has great potential to
take more refugees.
Research suggests fears of
linguistic isolation among
new arrivals are unfounded
A new study from Australian
researchers shows that
refugees and new immigrants
integrate well in Australia
– especially in regional
areas.
Contrary to recent comments
from the multicultural
affairs minister, Alan Tudge,
that migrants who reside
together “largely
communicate in their mother
tongue [and] are slower
integrating”, the research
found that refugees were
welcomed by their new
communities, found it “easy”
to get along, and felt a
strong sense of belonging to
their new homes.
Researchers surveyed 214
refugees – 155 adults and 59
children – from Syria, Iraq
and Afghanistan, who all had
been recently settled in
Queensland across Brisbane,
Logan and Toowoomba.
81% of those in regional
Toowoomba said they found it
“very easy” or “easy” to
make friends in Australia.
62% of refugees in Brisbane
and Logan said the same, for
an average of 68% across
Queensland.
82% of refugee children said
they felt they belonged to
the local community – either
“always”, “most of the time”
or “often”. Only 18% said
they belonged “occasionally”
or not at all. Half of all
refugees surveyed said it
was “very easy” or “easy” to
talk to their new
neighbours.
The study’s co-author,
Professor Jock Collins
from the University of
Technology Sydney, said
this refuted the idea
that migrants formed
linguistic bubbles.
Only 6% of the new arrivals
said they spoke no English.
47% said they spoke it “not
very well”, 38% spoke
English “well” and 9% spoke
it “very well”.
“In our experience the
people we are talking to are
really, really keen to learn
English,” he said.
Measures of belonging
were generally higher in
Toowomba, which the
researchers said was due
to a proactive and
welcoming community, and
worse in Logan, which
has a higher index of
social disadvantage.
"IT'S hard to watch anyone
suffer," Toowoomba Imam
Abdul Kader said at a
special drought prayer
ceremony yesterday.
"It's Islamic practice,
when we are in need of
something or a solution,
to ask God to help give
us the strength to
overcome the adversity."
More than 200 people packed
the Toowoomba Garden City
mosque to pray for a respite
for Qld farmers trapped in
drought.
The men added the drought
prayer, known as the Salatul
Istisqa, to their Friday
Jumma.
"We need to stand by our
farmers," Toowoomba Islamic
Society president Shahjahan
Khan said after the prayer.
"They produce the food that
we have on our tables - if
they can't survive out
there, we can't survive.
"It's our obligation to
protect our farmers."
Dr Khan said the mosque
prayer went out to everyone
impacted by the dry.
"As believers, we feel for
the farmers but also the
living creatures who have
been affected by this
weather," he said.
"Where I live, I used to see
kangaroos in the morning -
but now they have gone,
because the grass has died."
Dr Khan had also organised a
donation collection to run
alongside the prayer, all
proceeds going to the
drought appeal.
"In our religion,
charity to others is a
duty," Dr Khan said.
"Everyone is family and
everyone goes through hard
times - and this is how we
show that we are standing
beside the community.
"This is similar to what
happened during the floods,
and we worked to help donate
money to those in need
during that trying time."
The Salatul Istisqa prayer
consists of a sermon calling
on God's help and kindness,
which is followed by a
collective prayer - a format
that is similar to prayers
performed during Eid.
In good news for the Garden
City mosque, renovations on
the main building damaged by
fire are set to begin later
this month.
AMARAH (Australian Muslim
Advocates for the Right of
All Humanity) have held
their much anticipated
second community art
exhibition fundraiser in
Brisbane.
Together with Muslim Aid
Australia, the art auctioned
off raised over $20,000 in
much needed funds for the
Trauma and Rehabilitation
Centre (TRC) in the Occupied
West Bank, Palestine.
TRC provides psychological
assistance and treatment to
Palestinians who have been
tortured in Israeli jails
and have been victims of
trauma in Occupied West Bank
in general. TRC also
provides essential
humanitarian services to the
wounded, women in domestic
violence, martyrs’ family
members along with the poor
and marginalized, to find
more about TRC please visit
their website on:
www.english.trc-pal.org.
Salam El-Merebi (Human
rights chairperson, AMARAH)
curated, organized and
encouraged five aspiring
local artists to participate
and contribute their art.
The art consisted of
hand-made Palestinian cross
stitch, weaving, digital
art, mixed media paintings,
photography, hand made
crochet, visual paintings
and prints. Due to it being
a different type of
fundraiser and its relative
success, Salam intends to
make this an annual event.
AMARAH would like to take
this opportunity to thank
all the amazing volunteers,
community caterers, artists
and sponsors.
If you are an interested
artist, please contact Salam
to participate in similar
initiatives (salam-merebi@hotmail.com).
From the get go, Australia
has been a multicultural
nation, but where do we
stand when it comes to
rights, perceptions and
representation in politics?
Senator Andrew Bartlett from
the Queensland Greens will
be hosting an open forum
event, with soon-to-be NSW
Senator Dr Mehreen Faruqi at
the Newmarket Bowls Club on
Sunday August 26, from
2pm–5pm.
The panel discussion aims to
understand where Australia’s
migration system works, and
where it is broken.
Discussions will include the
erosion of family reunion
principles, why it’s
becoming harder to become a
citizen and the need for a
greater representation of
migrants in Australian
politics. We will also
consider the long hangover
of 9/11 and how it shaped
society’s perceptions.
“The 2016 Census shows 49%
of Australia’s population
are either migrants, or have
at least one parent born
overseas. The remaining
50.7% have been here for at
least three generations, yet
these percentages are not
always reflected in
politics.”
The Queensland Greens are
encouraging members of the
community to engage with
them in this upcoming public
forum, with guest speakers
Dr Mehreen Faruqi and
Navdeep Singh. More speakers
to be announced follow their
Facebook event to
keep updated
Dr Mehreen Faruqi
Mehreen
will be sworn in as the
Greens Senator for NSW in
the Federal Parliament on 21
August.
For 5 years she has been a
member of the NSW
Parliament’s Upper House,
and is the first Muslim
woman to win a seat in an
Australian parliament.
Since migrating from
Pakistan two decades ago,
she has worked as an
engineer, academic and
activist for social and
environmental justice.
Navdeep Singh
Navdeep
is a proud working class man
who migrated to Australia
from Punjab, India, in 2006.
Nav runs a vehicle workshop
in Moorooka. He is a Senate
candidate for the Greens,
and has previously run as
candidate for the seat of
Inala in the 2017 Queensland
election.
This venue is wheelchair
accessible, while there is
parking available it is
limited, so it is important
to arrive early to secure a
spot. Public transport is
also available on the day,
with routes: 345, 357, 359,
360, 361, 372, 373, 390,
921, 934, 935 to Enoggera Rd
at Newmarket (Bus stop no
20) being the routes that
stop the closest to the
venue.
An AUSLAN interpreter has
been arranged for this
event, and volunteer
childcare and a kids' corner
can be arranged if parents
who wish to attend request
it.
This forum is open to
everyone in the community.
People of all backgrounds
are encouraged to attend. We
expect this to be an
informative and interesting
afternoon.
If you have any other
questions, ring the office
of Senator Andrew Bartlett
on 3367 0566 or drop us a
line on
carolina.caliaba@aph.gov.au.
Authorised by Andrew
Bartlett, Queensland Greens,
L2/251 Given Tce, Brisbane
4064
Mehreen Faruqi to become
first female Muslim senator
amid Fraser Anning outrage
Greens senator says Anning
has ‘spat in the face of our
successful multicultural
society’
Mehreen Faruqi, who will on
Wednesday become Australia’s
first female Muslim senator,
has slammed Fraser Anning as
a “merchant of hate” who has
“spat in the face of our
successful multicultural
society”.
Faruqi is due to become a
Greens senator for New South
Wales this afternoon during
a joint sitting of the state
parliament, where she will
be chosen to fill the casual
vacancy left by the outgoing
Lee Rhiannon.
The timing of Anning’s
hateful speech means Faruqi
will become Australia’s
first female Muslim senator
less than 24 hours after a
fellow senator called for
Muslim immigration to be
halted entirely.
Faruqi told Guardian
Australia Anning’s speech
had thrown millions of
decent Australians under the
bus in a “desperate attempt
to remain relevant and
reignite a long gone racist
policy”.
“Senator Anning has spat in
the face of our successful
multicultural society, but I
wouldn’t expect anything
less from an ex-One Nation
senator,” she said.
“These merchants of hate in
the Senate will stop at
nothing to keep attacking
non-white people simply for
the sake of sowing division
in our country for their
narrow political interests.”
Faruqi became Australia’s
first Muslim woman to enter
any Australian parliament
when she joined the NSW
Legislative Council in June
2013.
Her life gives lie to
Anning’s hateful rhetoric
about Muslims. She arrived
in Australia from Pakistan
in 1992, and forged a
successful career as an
academic and engineer,
working on improving vital
infrastructure across the
country. Faruqi held
leadership roles on major
engineering projects,
developing stormwater,
recycling, cycleways, and
hydropower infrastructure.
She has a PhD in
environmental engineering,
led University of NSW’s
Institute of Environmental
Studies, and managed
environment and
water-related services for
both the Mosman and Port
Macquarie-Hastings councils.
Ed Husic, the federal Labor
member for Chifley, became
the first Muslim MP when he
was voted into the house of
representatives in 2010.
Faruqi said Anning’s
comments were part of a
deliberate strategy to
create fear and wrongly
attribute society’s ills to
immigrants. She said she
would use her career in the
Senate to call out such vile
comments.
“The use of the term ‘final
solution’ is a disgusting
and deliberate telegraph to
appease people who hold
deeply sickening and violent
white supremacist views,”
she said.
“It’s pretty sad that such
dangerous fringe and racist
politics continue to make
its way into debate but as a
Senator I will call it out
every time.”
Muslim footballers Bachar
Houli and Adam Saad are set
to make a statement of
protest ahead of tomorrow
night's clash between
Richmond and Essendon at the
MCG.
The pair are set to protest
Senator Fraser Anning's
maiden speech to Federal
Parliament earlier this
week.
Anning called for a return
to a "European Christian"
immigration system and a ban
on Muslim immigration to
Australia.
Houli and Saad will
accompany their respective
captains to the pre-game
coin toss in a show of
solidarity and celebration
of diversity.
"Dashing defender Adam
Saad and Tiger Bachar
Houli, both practicing
Muslims, will join the
teams’ captains in the
centre of the ground to
toss the coin in a
simple but symbolic
gesture," the Bombers'
statement read.
"The Bombers and the Tigers
are proud to celebrate
diversity in football and
the broader Australian
community and wish to
emphasise this on the big
stage in light of recent
comments made in Federal
Parliament.
"Essendon is proud to
provide a safe, inclusive
environment for people from
all walks of life and looks
forward to standing in
solidarity through two of
the league’s greatest role
models."
Mackay high
school student Imaan Ashraf says
she's always happy to answer
questions about her religion if
it comes from a place of
curiosity and tolerance.
A simple trip to the
chemist to buy perfume is
etched into the memory of a
young Muslim woman from
regional Queensland.
Imaan Ashraf was just 14
when she and her mother, who
wears a niqab, were
approached by an older lady
in Mackay.
"Mum was really decked out
in a bright pink niqab with
flowers, and this lady came
up and started asking things
like 'why do you cover your
face? Don't you like our
country?'" Imaan said.
"Mum handled it really well,
she smiled and said she was
happy to show this person
her face, it was no big
deal".
Imaan, who also chooses to
wear a headscarf, said while
she is happy to answer any
questions, they need to come
from a place of openness.
"As long as people are
asking out of curiosity, and
they have a real reason for
asking, that's OK," she
said.
"It opens up discussion and
dialogue.
"I'd much prefer you
come and ask me a
question rather than
silently ponder about
it."
Nervous neighbours
In the days after the
September 11 terrorist
attacks in America, Mackay
resident, Michelle Stewart
said she became very
nervous.
"For weeks after I was
consumed by the tragedy and
became anxious and
depressed," she said.
"I became a recluse and
started having anxiety
attacks."
Ms Stewart, who lives next
door to Imaan and her
family, said their kindness
and openness helped her
overcome her fears.
"They are a beautiful
family," she said.
"Not long after they moved
in they knocked on the door
and had a plate of food for
us and we've become so
close."
Imaan Ashraf
with her neighbour, Michelle
Stewart, and her parents Zubia
and Muhammad at recent open day
at the Mackay Mosque.
She now admits to being
embarrassed about her fears.
"It's not until I grew to
know my neighbours that I
[came to have] a different
outlook on it all."
Imaan is
uncharacteristically lost
for words when Ms Stewart's
words are read to her.
"It goes to show what you
can do by just being friends
with people," Imaan said.
"They've had the same impact
on us.
"If more people got to
know their neighbours
the world would be a
better place."
The smiling game
Imaan said the encounter
with the older woman at the
chemist several years ago
taught her a lot about how
to try and overcome
misconceptions in the
community.
"Mostly I remember how my
mum responded to the
situation," she said.
"She told me, smile and show
them you're harmless."
The mother and daughter now
have a game they play each
time they go out.
"We smile at as many people
as possible and if people
look at us, we'll just throw
the biggest grin on our
faces and they'll either
smile back or they'll look
away, like 'oh, we've been
caught'," she laughed.
"But it always makes us
laugh.
"Smiling is in every
culture, every language in
the world."
Ask a Muslim
Imaan recently organised a
forum at her school to help
students get a better
understanding of her faith,
with scholars flying up to
Mackay for the Let's Talk
About Forum.
Whitsunday Anglican School
Principal, Maria McIvor,
said Imaan has shown great
passion and ability in
breaking down barriers.
"She's a young woman with a
voice and she was able to do
something to give students
an opportunity to ask
questions that they may have
felt embarrassed about," Ms
McIvor said.
"It really helped improve
understanding and there's so
much support for her in the
school community."
A young girl
has her hand painted with henna
during an Open Day at the Mackay
Mosque.
Imaan said the forum was
eye-opening not only for her
peers, but for her as well.
"Many of the students said
they learnt so much, and it
was things I thought they
already knew," she said.
"Primary sources are the way
to go, don't rely on other
sources or what you hear on
TV.
"If you see a Muslim in the
street, ask them the
questions — no-one is going
to turn you away if you ask
out of curiosity.
"I want you to ask me
questions and I can
clear up any
misconceptions you
have."
Young achiever
Imaan's work within the
Islamic and broader
community has seen her named
as a finalist for the
Queensland Multicultural
Awards, which will be
announced in Brisbane on
Sunday afternoon.
She said she is very proud
to be the only high school
student named as a finalist.
"It's great to show that
everyone can have a positive
impact if they want to.
"But it's not about the
award, it's about
creating discussion and
showing people if I can
do it, you can too."
Over 200 faith, cultural and
community leaders graced
South Brisbane’s Greek Club
to attend the 12th Annual
Queensland Police Service
Multi-Faith Dinner on
Thursday, 16t August 2018.
The event featured several
cultural performances, guest
speakers and an inspiring
keynote address by Hathor
Singh, founder of Turbans &
Trust.
Dr Brian Adams held the
event together as the
perennial Master of
ceremonies, other speakers
included the Police
Commissioner, Ian Stewart,
and the Minister for Police
and Emergency services, Mark
Ryan.
MDA CEO,
Kerrin Benson, condemned
Fraser Anning's
Parliamentary speech and the
"dog whistle politics in the
lead up to this".
"It was one of those events
you were disappointed it
actually concluded," one of
the guests told CCN.
ISLAMIC SOCIETY OF DARRA
219 DOUGLAS ST, OXLEY, QLD
The Islamic Society of Darra
invites applications from
suitably qualified persons
for the position of an Imam
for its Mosque at Oxley,
Brisbane. The applicant
should preferably be a
Qu’ran Hafiz and must have a
good command of written and
spoken English. Ability to
speak Urdu and Arabic will
be an advantage.
Duties will include,
inter-alia, leading daily
prayers and running the
madrassah classes at the
Mosque.
Further information can be
obtained from Mohammed Yusuf,
email:
mybne@hotmail.com or
Mobile 0413 038 610.
Written applications
together with a CV
should be sent to :
The Secretary, Islamic
Society of Darra, P.O. Box
333, Inala, Qld 4077 by 15
September 2018.
Cyclists rode
from Brisbane to Byron Bay on
the 10-12 August to raise money
for children's education in
Hebron and help spread
understanding and awareness
about the Palestinian Plight
with our local community.
On Saturday
night, the Gold Coast Mosque
invited all the participants of
“RIDE FOR PALESTINE” to have
dinner at the Mosque.
The riders started their journey
from Brisbane and rode all the
way to Gold Coast where they
stayed overnight and continued
with their ride to Byron Bay the
next morning.
In the group, there were two
familiar public faces Hon. Peter
Russo (MP for Sunnybank) and Mr.
Gordon Price (Marketing Director
of Gold Coast Tourism.
“My artwork signifies
validation and acceptance.
It highlights the different
letters in Arabic which make
up the word Australia. The
Australian community is like
these letters, we are
different and unique
but together we form a
cohesivewhole,
hence the title Australia
1.”
Samia Khan, exhibiting
artist, Australian Muslim
Artists 2018e
This week marked the opening
of Australian Muslim Artists
(AMA) 2018 at the Islamic
Museum of Australia (IMA)
(Melbourne), an annual
shortlisted exhibition
showcasing the work of
emerging to established
artists.
"The exhibition is
wonderfully diverse, in both
in artists and their work.
Some engage with world
politics and others deal
with identity, including the
image of self in the context
of local societies. And
collectively, the artists
represent the rich, cultural
diversity that exists in the
wider Australian community."
At the
Bledisloe Cup Sydney launch
this week, Raja Yassine was
a guest speaker and
according to her brother
Walid "she rocked the
house!"
Raja spoke to
the board members,
influencers and sports stars
about her experiences in a
hijab and the importance
sport and rugby plays in
‘charging down’ barriers in
Australia.
"From
laughter and some to
tears...the essence of
Australia, sports and a fair
go for all really shone
through regardless of faith,
gender, disability."
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.
Head of
the International Union of
Muslim Scholars
Yusuf Al-Qaradawi is a
preeminent Egyptian scholar.
Articulate and widely read,
he is one of the most famous
Islamic scholars of our
time. Al-Qaradawi has been
sentenced to death in
absentia by an Egyptian
court along with the ousted
President Mohamed Morsi and
over 100 other Egyptians
affiliated with the Muslim
Brotherhood. Meanwhile,
Interpol removed Al Qaradawi
from its “Wanted” list in
2017.
Return to Egypt: In
February 2011, Qaradawi
returned to Egypt after a 30
year exile and addressed a
crowd of over a million
people at Tahrir Square
during Friday prayers. He
addressed all segments of
Egyptian society (including
the Copts and the military)
and called for unity and a
return to civilian rule.
Leading Figure of the
Muslim Brotherhood:
Qaradawi is the intellectual
leader of the Muslim
Brotherhood. He has twice
turned down offers to be
their leader—in 1976 and
2004—preferring to be free
of institutional
restrictions. As early as
1997 he stated categorically
that he was not a member of
the Brotherhood. Earlier in
his life Qaradawi was jailed
three times for his
relationship with the Muslim
Brotherhood and subsequently
stripped of his Egyptian
citizenship in the
1970s—driving him to seek
exile in Qatar.
Fatwas: Qaradawi
vocally supported the ‘Arab
Spring’ movements issuing
fatwas for the killing of
Colonel Gaddafi, and fatwas
against the Asad regime in
Syria. He also issued a
fatwa condemning the
overthrow of Morsi, saying
that it was an obligation to
continue to support Morsi.
He advised Al-Sisi to remain
neutral and protect the
legitimate rule of
government. Finally, he
criticised the Sheikh Al-Azhar
for supporting a rebellion
against the ruler of a
country.
ANOTHER FROM THE TOP 50
INFLUENTIAL MUSLIMS IN NEXT
WEEK'S CCN
CNN spent a year
interviewing more than 100
American Muslims, asking who
they think are the most
influential Muslims in their
fields. We sought nominees
for whom religion is part of
their public identity, but
other than that, we let
American Muslims do most of
the talking.
Ilhan Omar’s journey to
become this country’s first
Somali-American Muslim
lawmaker began in a refugee
camp in Kenya, where her
family was escaping
Somalia’s brutal civil war.
After immigrating to the
United States in 1995, Omar
says, she was confused by
the disparity between the
country’s high ideals and
the stark realities she
encountered. But her
grandfather, a student of
American history, gave her a
political pep talk.
“He told me I couldn’t just
sit there and complain,”
Omar says, “I had to serve.”
In 2016, Omar was elected to
the Minnesota House of
Representatives, where she
brings a personal
perspective to this
country’s heated debate
about admitting immigrants
and refugees.
What other Muslims say about
Omar:
“Ilhan is leading the charge
to get more Muslims involved
in local politics.”
Go ahead, white
Australia, eat
your kebabs
while you remind
us of your
'values'
By Randa Abdel-Fattah
Continued from last week's
CCN......
‘We are
endlessly
reminded
of our
proud
British
heritage,
of our
inherited
values
and
institutions.
The
bloodstains
are
almost
always
covered
up.’
Consider
something as
routine as the
prime minister’s
message to
communities
celebrating
religious and
cultural
festivals.
Messages issued
to the Jewish,
Chinese or Hindu
communities, for
example, on
their special
celebrations
contain a
celebratory line
or two along the
lines of being
“the most
successful
multicultural
society” and so
on. The messages
are generic and
bland. Perhaps
the only
particularly
enthusiastic
message is
reserved for the
Jewish
community, which
is given special
mention for
being a
“well-established
and integral
part of
Australian
society” and for
their “valuable
contribution …
to our nation’s
cultural,
economic and
social life”.
Ramadan messages
are rather
different. A
subtle
disciplinary
tone seems to be
reserved for
messages to
Muslims. A
reminder that,
“We are a nation
that respects
each other’s
right to freedom
of speech,
thought and
religion. That
right, supported
by our
principles of
democracy and
law, bind us
together into
what I believe
to be the most
successful
multicultural
society in the
world.” And,
“Australia is
the most
successful
multicultural
society in the
world. And the
key to our
success is
mutual respect;
for each other
and for our
democratic way
of life under
the rule of
law.” In 2016,
Malcolm Turnbull
suggested that
Muslims “enjoy
iftar with
neighbours who
may be
unfamiliar with
Ramadan and
Islamic
traditions”. If
any
generalisation
can safely be
made about
Muslims, it is
regarding their
hospitality –
and yet even
this we need to
be advised on.
Only if you’re
Muslim do your
religious
festivals become
a pedagogical
opportunity to
be schooled on
“Aussie values”.
Ramadan iftar
dinners hosted
by state
governments,
Asio or police
departments are
another example
of how race
operates quietly
in the shadows
of the
government’s
engagement with
Muslim
communities. No
amount of halal
food or imams
reciting from
the Qur’an can
detract from how
such functions
involve a
measure of
taming and
moulding Muslim
governmental and
police/security
allies in the
“war against
terror”/radicalisation.
Go ahead, white
Australia, eat
your kebabs or
butter chicken
and tell us more
about democracy
and mutual
respect. Throw
around words
like “free
speech”,
“freedom”,
“citizen”,
“equality”,
“fair go”. But
if white
Australia is
going to do that
– and do it with
such laughable
self-idealisation
– then take
seriously the
intellectual
genealogies and
historical
trajectory in
Australia of
such words. What
does your
“national
identity” mean
when we start
not from your
“British
heritage”, but
from the violent
dispossession
and
near-genocide of
Australia’s
Aboriginal and
Torres Strait
Islander
population? What
does “social
justice” mean to
white Australia
when it was only
in 1992 that the
law acknowledged
the fiction of
terra nullius?
What does your
“equality” mean
given Indigenous
incarceration
rates, deaths in
custody and
lower life
expectancy?
What does your
“citizen” mean
when it was only
some 43 years
ago that the
White Australia
policy was
finally
dismantled? What
does your “free
speech” mean
when it is
denied to angry,
racialised
people? Who pays
the price for
your “national
security”
policies? Where
do you get your
assumptions of
sovereignty that
justify
Australia’s
illegal offshore
mandatory
detention? What
does “equality
of opportunity”
mean when
studies show
discrimination
against job
applicants with
Chinese, Middle
Eastern or
Indigenous
names? What does
“freedom of
religion” mean
when certain
practices are
the subject of
robust public
debates?
Outgoing
Travel is meant
to be exciting,
not be a
reminder of
inequality and
your place in
the geopolitical
order
By Yassmin
Abdel-Magied
(EVENING
STANDARD UK)
I’m an Australian and
have been so for as long as I can
remember. I’ve always considered myself
“Aussie”, and proudly so — with the
obvious caveats around our treatment of
First Nations people, asylum-seekers,
performance at the World Cup, etc. But
no matter how Aussie I feel, how broad
my ocker accent, or how blasé I am
around poisonous creatures, customs
lines at airports see me a little
differently. There I’m less “Aussie”,
more “Muslim”. Less “larrikan”, more
“African”. Less “life of the party”,
more “danger to national security”.
Standing in the UK customs line — or any
customs line in Europe, for that matter
— reduces me from being a real person
with hopes, dreams and an Instagram page
begging for holiday snaps to someone who
(apparently) poses a threat to a
nation’s social fabric.
The US poses even more challenges: dual
citizens of Iran, Iraq or Syria, or
Sudan in my case, or anyone who has
travelled to these countries since March
2011 can no longer sail through on the
visa waiver programme like other Brits
or Australians: we are now asked to go
through extra vetting. It is an
additional process most fellow citizens
don’t even realise exists.
The irony is that I’m doing nothing
wrong by wanting to travel, but I’m
worried that the folk at the border will
think otherwise. I start to get anxious
that they won’t believe me. I stress
that they’ll see “Khartoum, Sudan” as my
place of birth and decide it’s enough to
warrant suspicion, to raise the alarm,
to take me aside for further
interrogation.
Am I being paranoid? Possibly, because
most of the time I’m fine (Alhamdulillah).
But it wouldn’t be the first time I had
been turned away at a country’s border,
humiliatingly told to “go back to where
I came from”.
Travel is meant to be exciting, not
remind you of structural inequality and
your place in the world’s geopolitical
hierarchy. Alas! Sometimes, all I want
is a tan.
I just got back from my first group
holiday. We were a group of five; one
white man and four brown and black
women. As we joked about the length of
time it took us to get through security,
the white guy chuckled self-consciously.
“Me and my white mates do get through a
lot quicker,” he said, a little
surprised. “I’d heard it was like that,
but wow!”
We laughed, but after it took me an hour
to get through the non-EU queue, the
laughter was a little more subdued. Will
this be us next year, thought the
British members of my group.
"It
wouldn't be the first
time I'd been turned
away at the border, told
to 'go back to where I
came from'"
Of course, I know I’ve
got it pretty darn good. Having an
Australian passport is a ticket to a
type of freedom my Sudanese
born-and-bred cousins don’t have — they
weren’t even allowed to visit me in
Australia as tourists. I’m lucky, and
I’m grateful.
But unfortunately it’s not enough. We
still live in a world where my faith and
birthplace speak louder than my
paperwork, and where the freedom of
travel is something to earn rather than
be entitled to. It kind of kills that
summer holiday vibe, you know?
"If you don't
speak my native language of
Arabic, this video will make
your life so much easier!
This word is so popular that my
mom forbids me from saying yes
anymore. "Say Inshallah
instead". So I made this video
as a comedic take on this entire
phenomenon that I'm sure many
can relate to.
It has no religious implications
as this phrase is shared by
Christians, Muslims, and
Atheists alike"
"If you want to wear a
burqa, go for it!"
Channel 4:
The Last Leg
(warning:
strong language)
"I'd much
rather sit next to a good
person in a burka, than a
_____ in a suit"
The Last Leg discusses if
Boris Johnson should have
said Muslim women wearing
burkas "look like letter
boxes".
Japan welcomes Muslims to
schools to turn the tide of
ignorance
Islam is the
religion of peace and safety
Why do Muslims Perform
Hajj?
OnePath Network
The Virtues of Thull
Hijjah
OnePath
Network
Is Shari'ah the most
barbaric form of law? The Deen
Show
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.
I, Migrant: A comedian's journey from Karachi to the
outback
by
Sami Shah
Description
Despite nearly being killed by a
kangaroo and almost lynched and run out of town after his
comedy was taken far too seriously, Sami Shah is very happy
to be living in Australia. He has fronted his own satirical
show on TV in Karachi, worked as a journalist and been a
highly regarded newspaper columnist - all dangerous
occupations to be involved in - when the combination of
seeing the aftermaths of a devastating bomb attack and being
the target of death threats convinced him to leave Pakistan.
Under the terms of their Australian migration visa, Sami and
his wife and young daughter were obliged to settle in a
rural area, and so they moved to Northam in Western
Australia.
Now Sami is battling a crippling addiction to meat pies, but
at least is no longer constantly mistaken for an escaped
asylum seeker from the nearby detention centre. He has also
been the star of Australian Story, the subject of an article
in The New York Times, and has performed countless comedy
shows to ever-growing and appreciative audiences.
I, Migrant tells the hilarious and moving story of what it's
like to leave the home you love to start a new life in
another country so your child can be safe and grow up with a
limitless future. Australia is lucky to have Sami Shah. Read
I, Migrant, and laugh till you cry.
Beat egg whites till
very stiff.
Add castor sugar and
beat till glossy.
Add egg yolks and
vanilla essence
Sift dry ingredients
3 times and fold
into egg white
mixture.
Line 2 swiss roll
trays with baking
paper.
Spread batter evenly
onto the tray and
bake at 180 for
10-12 mins.
Turn over onto a
dish cloth and peel
of baking paper from
the long side up and
allow to cool.
Once coolled,
sandwich together
with cream cut into
mini squares and top
with chocolate
ganache and sprinkle
with flake.
Ganache:
Melted dairy milk (3
slabs-240g or more
if you like) and add
a large can of
nestle cream
A Good Tip:
To add a variety and
make it look
colourful, you can
divide the batter in
two and place green
colouring in one and
a tab of cocoa in
the other and
sprinkle with grated
green aero
chocolate.
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.
Q:
Dear Kareema, what is it that
older Aussies can do to avoid falls and
strengthen their bones?
A:
Balance is very important, especially as we’re
ageing. Joining exercise classes like Tai Chi,
Yoga, aqua-aerobics, etc. is great for building
bone and core strength.
Any weight-bearing exercises will
encourage better balance and posture (so make
sure your core is locked on) and go for your
daily walk or jog.
It’s easy, it’s safe and it’s a
great way to get out, meet new people and stay
active.
Using light weights is another
option for strengthening and toning.
The key is to constantly
challenge yourself and be consistent in your
activities.
A small herd of
camels was wandering around an oasis in the Sahara
desert.
Touring the place, Jallalludin complimented the local
Bedouins on the quality of their camel milk... and asked
how long it took to milk them.
"Not very long" they answered in unison.
"Why don't you try and milk more of the camels?"
The Bedouins explained that quantity they milked was
sufficient to meet their needs and those of their
families.
"But what do you do with the rest of your time?"
"We sleep late, tend to the camels a little, play with
our children, and take afternoon naps. In the evenings,
we go to the neighbouring Oasis to see our friends, have
coffee together, play the daf, and sing a few songs. We
have a full life."
Jallalludin interrupted, "I have an MBA from Harvard and
I can help you! You should start by milking more of the
camels each day. You can then sell the extra milk. With
the extra revenue, you can buy more camels."
"And after that?"
"With the extra money the extra camels will bring, you
can buy more and more until you have a large herd of
them.
Instead of selling your milk to a middle man, you can
then negotiate directly with the processing wholesalers.
You can then leave this little Oasis and move to Dubai,
Riyadh, or even New York City!!! From there you can
direct your huge new enterprise."
"Afterwards? Well my friend, that's when it gets really
interesting," answered the tourist, laughing. "When your
business gets really big, you can start buying and
selling stocks and make millions!"
"Millions? Really? And after that?" asked the Bedouin.
"After that you'll be able to retire, live in a Oasis,
sleep late, play with your children, milk a few camels,
take afternoon naps and spend your evenings drinking
coffee and enjoying your friends."
"With all due respect brother, but that's exactly what
we are doing now. So what's the point wasting
twenty-five years?" asked the Bedouin.
A lot of
people are doing it tough
right now, but instead of
standing up against big
corporations and a morally
corrupt banking industry,
politicians are turning us
against one another, blaming
migrants of non-European
backgrounds when they should
be blaming our broken
economic and political
systems.
The
government has been pushing
massive tax cuts for big
corporations and cutting
basic services, while
simultaneously whipping up
fears about immigration,
scapegoating migrants for
everything from traffic
congestion to crime rates.
Racism and
anti-immigrant rhetoric is
on the rise in mainstream
discourse, and we need to
stand up against it.
Everyone
seems happy to condemn
isolated examples of overt
racism on public transport.
But when racists like Tony
Abbott and Andrew Bolt make
similar comments in
parliament or in the
mainstream media, they are
rewarded with more coverage.
All this
happens against a backdrop
of ongoing colonial racism
against First Nations
peoples - the theft of land,
wages and children, and the
continued rejection of
Aboriginal sovereignty.
In the next
few months, the federal
government will try to
change citizenship and
immigration laws. If passed,
these changes will:
- Make
the English language
tests and ‘Australian
Values’ tests even
stricter
- Require
permanent residents to
have lived here for 4
years before becoming
citizens, when it’s
already very difficult
and can take many years
just to get permanent
residency
- Require
citizenship applicants
to ‘prove they have
integrated’
- Make it
harder to reunite with
elderly parents and
disabled relatives, even
after you become a
citizen
- Make it
harder to have overseas
educational
qualifications
recognised in Australia
- Make it
harder for asylum
seekers to be accepted
as refugees
- Give
the Immigration Minister
stronger powers to
deport people and reject
visa applications
without going through
fair processes
Without
strong public opposition to
these changes,
anti-immigrant policies will
become the new normal, and
refugees will continue to
languish in offshore
concentration camps.
Please join
us at a positive,
family-friendly public rally
to say no to racism and
imperialism, and yes to
unity and multiculturalism.
This will be
a short rally and march,
featuring poets and
performing artists but not
too many speeches. After the
poetry, we'll be marching
down Adelaide St to the
Immigration Department
building, then back up to
King George Square.
We want to
remind politicians of all
parties that racist policies
and messages are a
vote-loser, not a
vote-winner, and remind
broader society that with
the exception of Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander
people, everyone on this
continent has come from
somewhere else.
Multiculturalism should be
celebrated and encouraged,
not undermined.
This event is
taking place on stolen land.
We acknowledge the Jagera
and Turrbul peoples, and pay
respects to their elders
past and present.
Sovereignty was never ceded,
and the struggle against
racism and anti-immigrant
xenophobia is fundamentally
a struggle for
decolonisation and justice
for First Nations peoples.
Event banner
image by artist James
Fosdike.
Join us for a night of fun,
games and prizes. Ladies
enjoy dressing in your
finest and enjoy a girls
night out with your
favourite person. Mothers
and daughters of all ages
are welcome. Weather you are
a 30 years old with your 60
year old mother or with your
10 year old daughter, or
both.
New Muslim Care (NMC) are proud to
be working in alliance with Sisters Support Services
(SSS) and National Zakat Foundation (NZF) to
support new Muslims with the Islam 101: The Foundations
courses.
Through collaboration we are strengthening our
organisations and sharing resources in order to continue
to provide much needed services to the community.
Our aim is to offer continuous support to new Muslims
through Islamic workshops, classes and social avenues
and enable a more seamless transition successfully to an
Islamic way of life Insha'Allah.
Sessions for brothers are envisaged for the near future.
On 31 December 2017 the only
Islamic childcare centre in the whole of Brisbane had to
unfortunately close its doors due to the Department of
Transport requiring it for their future expansion. To
date they are still in the process of securing new
premises to continue serving this very important need of
the community and the wait continues….
In the interim the need is
still there. The question most Muslims would be asking
themselves is “Where do I send my child so that he/she
can learn, grow and develop in an Islamic environment,
and establish a sound Islamic foundation?”
Msasa Montessori is a private home based learning centre
for 3-5 year olds. The focus is an Islamic based
learning environment alongside the Montessori method of
teaching. Children will be taught their basic duas,
surahs, tasbeehs, stories of the Prophets will be read
and enacted, and Inshallah their love for Allah and His
Noble Prophet Muhammed S.A.W will develop. Supported by
the Montessori method of teaching they will develop
their independence and will utilise equipment which will
enable them to develop and grow.
Montessori is a method of education based on
self-directed activity, hands-on learning and
collaborative play. The Montessori materials cover
developmental activities designed to meet the needs of
children in five curriculum areas:
Practical life skills, Sensorial activities,
Mathematics, Language and Cultural Studies.
By providing such an
environment, the children will develop a strong sense of
wellbeing and identity as Muslims and they will become
confident and involved learners with the ability to
communicate effectively and with confidence.
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
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
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