Gold Coast non-Muslim
communities and dignitaries
were treated to a fabulous
ifthaar spread prepared by
ladies from the Indonesian
community on Friday.
It was also an occasion for
the Islamic Society of Gold
Coast to acknowledge a
number of people, including
retiring Police
Commissioner, Ian Stewart,
who was indisposed and
unable to attend in person;
the late Superintendent Paul
Ziebarth, who had pioneered
the way for establishing
close ties with the Mosque
community and the QPS; the
Police and Multicultural
Community Safety Advisory
Committee (PMCSAC) for their
work in bringing communities
together; and Mr Hamdi Bakar,
who co-ordinated the event
and contributed tirelessly
and willingly to the Mosque
over the many years.
Self-styled chef and regular
social media vlogger, Mr
Hussain Baba, was in turn
presented with a gift by the
PMCSAC for his role in
fostering harmonious
interactions between the
Mosque and other community
groups.
The evening concluded with a
seemingly never-ending range
of desserts
The Chefs
Acting Deputy
Director General,
Strategy, Governance
and Engagement, Ms
Chantal Llora (left)
with Ms Zulaikha
Goss
David Forde and Leon
Jordan
QPS
The annual Queensland Police
Service (QPS) was held this
week at the Greek Club where
several hundred invited
guests joined the breaking
of the fast on Monday.
Attendees included over 230
people from the Muslim
community, QPS,
representatives from Police
Emergency Services Minister
along with numerous other
organisations.
Sisters Support Services
(see details below) and
Islamic College of
Brisbane's Principal, Dr Ray
Barrett OAM, were recognized
by the QPS for their
services to the community.
Ms Rachel Khawaja (wife of
Australian cricketer, Usman)
was the keynote speaker (see
recording of her speech
below).
Retiring Police
Commissioner, Ian Stewart,
was recognized for his
service and positive
engagement with the various
communities in Queensland.
Indonesian performers,
Zamania Brisbane,
entertained with song and
some precision synchronized
movements.
SISTER SUPPORT SERVICES
AWARD
At the QPS Community Iftar,
Sister Support Services was
presented with a prestigious
Recognition Award.
In presenting the award, QPS
said:
Sisters Support Services
Inc. has helped to
bridge gaps, connect &
empower women in our
community and are
strongly supported by
Assistant Commissioner
Peter Crawford &
Detective Inspector
Karen Ballantyne from
Brisbane Region.
Sister Support Services
– “This organisation
is being recognised for
their support services
of helping women from
all backgrounds. This
work includes
counselling, case
management, share
accommodation, home
visits and meals for
those in need. They also
offer support and
general help for sisters
who are isolated along
with welcoming migrants
and those newly-arrived
in Brisbane. Last year,
Sister Support Services
partnered with Qld
Police and Muslimah Mind
Matters to run a series
of one day workshops for
Muslim women called SHE
program. SHE stands for
See me, Hear me, Empower
me. It’s goal was
bridging the gap –
connecting and
empowering Muslim and
Police Women in our
community. I ask Aliyah
Berger and Angela Ishaq
to accept this
appreciation plaque.”
We would like to take
this opportunity to
thank the incredible
hardworking team of
Sisters Support Services
and Princess Iqra
Lakshman. Empowering our
sisters in the community
can only be achieved by
empowered, dedicated and
united women!
Muslim Charitable Foundation
(MCF) presented a cheque for
$32,000 to the Australia
Palestine Advocacy Network
(APAN), raised at a recent
joint dinner in support of
Palestinian advocacy in
Australia.
Another $32,000 raised on
the night went to Muslim Aid
Australia's (MAA)
sustainable livelihood
programs in Gaza.
Among the Eid-focused
stories and promotions,
Brisbane's Garden City
Shopping Centre's website is
running this article:
Outfit inspo for Eid al-Fitr
Eid al-Fitr is on its way,
and just as important as
finding a gift for your
loved ones, is finding a fab
new outfit for yourself to
celebrate in on the day.
To inspire your look this
Eid, we’ve worked with a few
of our local friends Arshee
and Sara (who you might
recognise from last year)
and the lovely Ally family
to inspire looks for
everyone in the family. As
children, Arshee and her
sister Sara say they were
“taught to wear their best
clothes and adorn
themselves, which is a
tradition that’s been
practiced for centuries".
For them, Eid represents
“…an exciting time when
everyone’s out searching for
that perfect outfit, be it
either the perfect pair of
shoes, or matching jewellery
or even the latest shade of
lipstick. We’re all going
out of our way to buy a new
outfit, to dress well and
express the joy and
happiness we feel
inside...it really makes
dressing up all that more
special".
In the Ally family, Laaiqah
says “the night before Eid,
we give each other new
clothes and presents”.
Whether it’s a full outfit,
or a few accessories to
change up an existing look,
Eid presents a great excuse
to treat yo’self or someone
you love to something fun
and new, so here’s some of
our picks.
During the month of
Ramadan, MAA is
making it easier for
you to donate and
earn rewards!
We've set up a stall
at Underwood
Marketplace from
Mon-Sat for the
entire month of
Ramadan.
MAA and Hurricanes
Star Club will also
be hosting a FREE
Kids Ramadan
Activities workshop
every Saturday and
Sunday from 10am-1pm
for the entire month
of Ramadan.
Come down and make
an IMPACT this
Ramadan and help
millions in over 25
countries around the
world.
Just a few of the
items for Sale:
Prophetic Health
Packs (Honey and
Blackseed Oil)
Eid Decorations
Eid Envelopes
MAA Water
Bottles
Arabic Learning
Boards
Magnets
Umbrellas
Ramadan Lanterns
and much more
You
can also donate your
ZAKAH, FITRAH, and
SADAQAH to over 25
countries around the
world, including
Syria, Palestine,
Myanmar, Somalia,
and Yemen.
CAIR Calls on
Movie Reviewers
to Address
Racial,
Religious
Stereotypes
Perpetuated by
‘Aladdin’
Muslim
civil
rights
group
says
‘the
Aladdin
myth is
rooted
by
racism,
Orientalism
and
Islamophobia’
Official
trailer
The Council on
American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR)
in the US, the
nation’s largest
Muslim civil
rights and
advocacy
organization,
called on movie
reviewers
nationwide to
address concerns
about racial and
religious
stereotypes
perpetuated by
the Disney film
“Aladdin”
scheduled for
release on May
24.
In a statement,
CAIR National
Executive
Director Nihad
Awad said:
“The
Aladdin myth
is rooted by
racism,
Orientalism
and
Islamophobia.
To release
it during
the Trump
era of
rapidly
rising
anti-Muslim,
anti-immigrant
and racist
animus only
serves to
normalize
stereotyping
and to
marginalize
minority
communities.
“The overall
setting,
tone and
character
development
in the
‘Aladdin’
story
continues to
promote
stereotypes,
resulting in
a
perpetuation
of
Islamophobic
ideas and
images. We
urge the
public and
film critics
to
scrutinize
the new
production
of ‘Aladdin’
in light of
its
historical
context and
today’s
toxic
environment
for all
minority
communities.”
CAIR urged
reviewers to
address the
following
concerns:
The
Aladdin
story,
not just
the
Disney
film,
has
always
been
associated
with
depicting
Arabs
and
Muslims
as
barbaric,
uncivilized
“others,”
following
a long
pattern
of
anti-Muslim
attitudes
in
Hollywood.
Film
critics
should
consider
commentary
and
scholarship
by
experts
as they
review
the
current
Disney
production.
The
Aladdin
Jr.
play, a
licensed
Disney
production
that
encourages
elementary
school
children
to
perform
a
rendition
of the
play,
has been
the
source
of
alienation
and
trauma
for
Arab,
South
Asian
and
Muslim
children
and has
even
been
removed
by some
school
districts
for not
being
compatible
with the
values
of
culture
equity,
diversity
and
tolerance.
This
comes at
a time
when
Muslim
children
face
bullying
at twice
the rate
of their
non-Muslim
peers,
as
reported
by a
CAIR-CA
study.
As seen
through
the
trailer,
the
racist
themes
of the
original
animated
cartoon
seemingly
re-emerge
in the
live-action
remake,
despite
efforts
by
Disney
to
address
the
concerns
from 25
years
ago.
While
the film
is set
in a
fictional
country,
Agrabah,
the
location
will
clearly
be
perceived
as
Middle
Eastern,
Muslim
or the
“Orient,”
leading
viewers
to make
the
resulting
associations
with
Muslim
Arabs.
In fact,
a PPP
survey
in 2015
found an
alarming
number
of
Republicans
and
Democrats
alike
being in
favor of
bombing
Agrabah.
Contrary
to
popular
belief,
the
story is
not
originally
found in
the
Middle
Eastern
literary
tradition
of “1001
Nights,”
(Alf
layla
wa-layla)
but is
rather
the
invention
of
French
orientalist
Antoine
Galland
and made
popular
in
English
by
Richard
Burton
who
overly-sexualized
the
story to
further
exotify
Arabs
and
Muslims.
CAIR
Most
Americans say
‘Arabic
numerals’ should
not be taught in
school, finds
survey
Seventy-two per
cent of
Republicans
oppose Western
world's standard
numeric system,
according to
research
designed to
'tease out
prejudice among
those who didn't
understand the
question
More than half
of Americans
believe “Arabic
numerals” – the
standard symbols
used across much
of the world to
denote numbers –
should not be
taught in
school,
according to a
survey.
Fifty-six per
cent of people
say the numerals
should not be
part of the
curriculum for
US pupils,
according to
research
designed to
explore the bias
and prejudice of
poll
respondents.
The digits 0, 1,
2, 3, 4, 5, 6,
7, 8 and 9 are
referred to as
Arabic numerals.
The system was
first developed
by Indian
mathematicians
before spreading
through the Arab
world to Europe
and becoming
popularised
around the
globe.
A survey by
Civic Science,
an American
market research
company, asked
3,624
respondents:
“Should schools
in America teach
Arabic numerals
as part of their
curriculum?” The
poll did not
explain what the
term “Arabic
numerals” meant.
Some 2,020
people answered
“no”.
Twenty-nine per
cent of
respondents said
the numerals
should be taught
in US schools,
and 15 per cent
had no opinion.
John Dick, chief
executive of
Civic Science,
said the results
were “the
saddest and
funniest
testament to
American bigotry
we’ve ever seen
in our data”.
Seventy-two per
cent of
Republican-supporting
respondents said
Arabic numerals
should not be on
the curriculum,
compared with 40
per cent of
Democrats. This
was despite
there being no
significant
difference in
education
between the two
groups.
“They answer
differently even
though they had
equal knowledge
of our numerical
nomenclature,”
Mr Dick said.
“It means that
the question is
about knowledge
or ignorance but
[also] something
else –
prejudice.”
He said the goal
of the research
was to “tease
out prejudice
among those who
didn’t
understand the
question”.
This bias was
not limited to
conservative
respondents and
attitudes
towards Islam.
Another poll
question was
worded: “Should
schools in
America teach
the creation
theory of
Catholic priest
George Lemaitre
as part of their
science
curriculum?”
the
INDEPENDENT
‘What is wrong
with people!?’:
Jacinda Ardern
mural artist
Loretta Lizzio
hits back
Loretta
Lizzio
painted
a mural
of
Jacinda
Ardern
on a
Brunswick
silo.
Eighteen metres
above the ground
in Melbourne’s
north, a giant
Jacinda Ardern
wraps her arms
around a woman
in need of
comfort.
The mural on a
silo at Tinning
Street in
Brunswick took
nine days to
paint — from sun
up to sun down —
as well as 25
litres of paint
and it took its
toll physically
on artist
Loretta Lizzio.
“My body is
broken,” the
32-year-old told
news.com.au from
her home on the
sunny Gold
Coast.
Her arms ache
from the
constant
sweeping motion
and her back is
stiff from
bending down to
lift four litre
cans all day
long.
But looking back
at what she’s
achieved, her
heart is full.
Partly because
the image of the
New Zealand
Prime Minister
dressed in a
headscarf and
hugging a
grieving Muslim
woman after the
Christchurch
massacre means
so much to her.
“When I first
saw that
picture, I
thought ‘what a
beautiful moment
in such a
terrible
tragedy’,” she
said.
“I thought about
how genuine
Jacinda looked.
I love painting
strong female
figures so (when
I was approached
for this) I
instantly
thought,
‘Yes!’.”
The artwork
towers over the
suburb 4km from
the Melbourne
CBD but not
everybody is
supportive.
Critics have
been vocal about
their opposition
to the mural.
They’ve asked
her why she
painted a moment
that was not
Australia’s to
celebrate.
To that, her
response is
simple and
unequivocal.
“It’s like,
f***. What is
wrong with you
people?! It was
an Australian
man that did
this,” she said,
referring to
accused
terrorist
Brenton Tarrant
who livestreamed
the attack that
left 50
worshippers
dead.
“So if a message
of love can be
sent to
Australia, then
that’s great.”
Lizzio said she
was shocked by
the backlash to
a piece of art
she hoped would
“send a message
of love and
acceptance”.
Instead, she
said it became a
target for some
to sprout their
racist views.
“There’s so many
people out there
who treat other
people like shit
because they
don’t understand
their
background, or
where they come
from,” Lizzio
told news.com.au.
“They should
feel like they
can walk down
the street and
not feel like
they’re looked
down upon. No
matter who they
are.
“People say to
me, ‘What about
Sri Lanka?’ Or,
‘What about the
Christians?
Where’s their
mural.’ Well, go
crowdfund for
it.”
The idea for the
project came
about after
residents of a
building
opposite the
silo shared
their grief over
the massacre on
a communal
chalkboard.
Lizzio had
painted a
smaller piece
there three
years earlier
and when a
resident
approached her
she jumped at
the chance.
First,
organisers
needed
permission. So
they went to the
owner of the
silo who was
more than happy
to get on board.
They needed to
raise some money
for the project,
too, and a
crowdfunding
project quickly
took care of
that.
the COURIER
MAIL
Beer mats
designed to
teach drinkers
about Islam
spark criticism
in Germany
Cardboard
coasters
feature
different
questions
about
the
religion:
'Mohammed,
what was
he
like?'
asks
one.
A project to
promote better
understanding of
Islam in Germany
by printing
information
about the
religion on beer
mats has been
criticised.
Under the
scheme, pubs and
restaurants have
been provided
with
specially-created
coasters asking
questions about
Islam. On the
flip side of
each is a web
link and QR code
to the answer.
“Mohammed, what
was he like?”
wonders one in a
deliberately
informal tone.
“What is it with
Muslims and
pork?” ponders
another.
But now, despite
the scheme
running for
three years and
being approved
by the Germany’s
Central Council
of Muslims, it
has run into
controversy.
The Foreigners’
Advisory Council
in the central
town of Maintal
– where the
cardboard mats
have just been
introduced – has
said it is an
inappropriate
way to educate
people about a
religion which
forbids alcohol.
“They could have
used postcards,
or adverts on
the side of a
bus. Why did it
have to be the
pub?” Salih
Tasdirek, head
of the council,
told Der Spiegel
magazine.
He also
questioned if it
was right for
the coasters to
include a symbol
of a cider jug,
despite it being
a historic
emblem for the
region.
Orient Network,
the small German
NGO which runs
the project as
part of its work
promoting
interfaith
understanding,
defended the
scheme.
Raban Kluger,
from the
organisation,
said: “We wanted
to give answers
in local
language to the
questions that
our members,
mostly Islamic
scholars, are
always asked.
“It is not our
intention to
associate
alcohol with
Islam.
The questions
and answers were
all drawn up by
Muslims and
checked by
Germany’s
Central Council
of Muslims, he
added, while
also saying that
tens of
thousands of
mats had
previously been
sent out across
different areas
of Germany with
no issues
arising.
Salih Yucel and Abu Bakr
Sirajuddin Cook, editors Australian
Journal of Islamic Studies
Editors' Introduction (Vol 3
No 3 2018):
The history of Islam within
Australia is an important,
yet often overlooked, part
of Australian history.
Muslim presence in Australia
has helped shape
multicultural experience
facilitating intercultural
dialogue as well as
contributing significantly
to the development of the
Australian nation. However,
to date, it has received
minimal scholarly attention.
There have been significant
studies on the engagements
of the Maccasans, Muslim
fishermen from Indonesia,
with the Indigenous peoples
of northern Australia. These
studies have detailed the
cultural interactions and
trade between them and the
lasting impacts of the
inclusion of language
foreign to Australian soil.
There is also an increasing
awareness of Australia’s
cameleers, many of whom were
Muslims, and the
contribution they made to
maintaining trade routes and
assisting early Australian
explorers. Despite the
growing interest in the
field, the history of Islam
in Australia remains an
understudied area of
research. This rich history
dates back further than we
thought and has possibly had
a greater impact than what
is recognised. Given the
current political and social
climate surrounding Islam
globally, it is timely that
this volume of the
Australian Journal of
Islamic Studies is
published. This volume
brings to light the depth
and richness of Australia’s
Islamic heritage,
challenging some of the
prevalent assumptions on the
topic, and calls for further
studies in this field.
Australia has proclaimed
itself as being a successful
example of a multicultural
society. It is a society
that has been shaped, and
continues to be shaped, by a
diverse range of cultural
inputs. With this being the
case, it is justifiable to
ask how and why the
contributions of Muslims to
Australia have been largely
overlooked.
Over the weeks, CCN
highlights extracts from the
Australian Journal of
Islamic Studies which is an
open access, double-blind
peer-reviewed journal
dedicated to the scholarly
study of Islam.
REVULSION AND REFLECTION:
THE COLOURED AND WHITE
MUSLIM IN AUSTRALIA’S PRINT
MEDIA FROM THE LATE 19TH TO
THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY (Katy
Nebhan)
BETWEEN THE LINES: THE
LIVERPOOL MUSLIM INSTITUTE
IN BRITAIN
The Liverpool Muslim
Institute in Britain played
a significant role in
reorienting the image of
Islam and Muslims in
Australia’s print media. The
institute and British Muslim
Association were founded by
a local Liverpool solicitor,
William Henry Quilliam
(1856-1932), who converted
to Islam following a visit
to Morocco in 1887 and
adopted the name Abdullah.
In 1894, he received an
invitation to visit
Constantinople from the
Sultan who appointed him
‘Sheikh al-Islam of
Britain,’ a formal title
that was also recognised by
the Amir of Afghanistan.
While the title, which has
never been held by anyone
since, provide
Quilliam with the legitimacy
to claim leadership “of all
Muslims in Britain and to
represent their interests,”
he was just as “devoted to
the interests of Islam
throughout the globe.”
Quilliam was particularly
attentive to the diasporic
communities from the British
Empire and he actively
assisted his “translocal
agents, ”as Germain refers
to them.
As well as responding to
letters Quilliam provided
these translocal agents with
literature that challenged
popular stereotypes that
Islam was ‘fanatical,’
‘backward’ or ‘opposed to
Christian values.’
During the 1896 annual
meeting of the Liverpool
Muslim Institute, reference
was made to the
large contingent of
Afghan Muslims in
Western Australia, with
a very earnest brother,
H. Musa Khan, among
them. They seem to be
making a good impression
among the European
settlers there, and
their very presence has
brought the question of
Islam prominently before
the minds of the
inhabitants of the
island continent.
Germain uses this speech,
along with an article
reference to the Liverpool
Muslim Institute published
in the spiritualistic
Melbourne journal This World
and the Next then reproduced
in Quilliam’s 1896 issue of
Islamic World, to illustrate
the influence of the
Institute “among the new
religions’ networks.”
While these publications may
have given literate Muslim
settlers like Musa Khan a
sense of place within a
broader international
Islamic brotherhood, they
had little bearing on local
politics or perceptions of
these ‘coloured’ Muslims as
unwelcome outsiders,
particularly among the
working class. Religion as
well as race continued to be
unnecessarily highlighted,
even in documented civil
cases, and used as an
identifier and opportunity
to place Islam against
Christianity. In the case of
a Fitzroy youth, Sydney
Morris, who was charged with
stealing shawls and other
goods from a Muslim hawker,
Terio Khan, part of the page
one headline read
“Mahommedan V. Christian.”
Musa Khan’s persistent
writing of letters
referencing the
proselytising successes of
the institute elicited
scathing public responses.
One letter from Vosper
stated Islam had a “tendency
to raise the fetish
worshipper and override the
Christian.”
Musa Khan’s position within
Quilliam’s international
Islamic brotherhood and his
being a ‘British subject’
carried little weight in
Australia, mainly because of
his colour. He expressed his
frustration in a letter he
wrote to the Western Mailin
1898, which stated that
under the provisions of the
Immigration Restriction Act,
he could not be a prohibited
immigrant as he was “well
educated in English ”and
“not a pauper, idiot,
diseased person or
criminal.”
His rationale attracted no
adequate response or
interest, and Australia
moved towards Federation,
racism and discrimination
towards Australia’s early
Muslims would be legislated.
Fasting is only one half of
Ramadan, the other half is
feasting on some of the most
delicious food from around
the world.
Pop quiz:
what is a Jalebi? Is knafeh
from Africa or the Middle
East? And sahlab — drink,
dessert or both?
If you've never seen these
words before, then welcome,
new friend, have we got a
treat (or two) for you.
You may be aware that
Ramadan is the month where
Muslims fast, but that's
only from sunrise to sunset
— after dark, it's all about
feasting.
With Muslims hailing from
many corners of the globe,
there's a huge variety of
foods that are eaten
specifically during this
month.
In the bustling Ramadan
night market in Lakemba, in
Sydney's west, food lovers
talk to ABC Life about their
favourite iftar dishes, from
Somalia to Singapore, and
everywhere in between.
ABC Life
Kay Burley from Sky News
speaks to Imam Ajmal Masroor
about LGBT lessons at
schools
"The
current protest is directly
as a consequence of a safe
space honest conversation
between those who oppose
LGBT lifestyle and those who
subscribe to it. The way
forward is not to
recriminate each other or
call anyone any disparaging
names. The solution lies in
accepting both peoples
rights to express and
practice their beliefs."
Find your perfect date
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.
His
poetry did not become popular
until 1859, when it was
translated by Edward FitzGerald
Google Doodle
celebrates pioneering Persian
astronomer and poet
Omar Khayyam, a
celebrated Persian mathematician,
astronomer, philosopher and poet, is
being remembered with a Google Doodle on
his 971st birthday.
Born in the town of Nishapur in what is
now Iran in 1048, Khayyam is most
commonly recognised for both his
astronomical expertise, which led to the
reform of the calendar, and his poetry.
Having studied under scholars including
Sheik Muhammand Mansuri and then the
imam Mowaffaq Nishapuri, Khayyam made
great strides in both mathematics and
astronomy during his lifetime.
At the age of 22, Khayyam was already
making a name for himself in the field
of mathematics through the publication
of Treatise on Demonstration of Problems
of Algebra and Balancing.
In the text, Khayyam explained his
observation that cubic equations can
have multiple solutions, as well as his
methods for solving quadratic equations.
Shortly after, Khayyam’s astronomical
knowledge was requested by Malik Shah,
Sultan of the Seljuq Empire, in helping
to reform the calendar.
Upon receiving an invitation to the
Persian city of Isfahan, Khayyam worked
in an observatory where he eventually
succeeded in precisely measuring the
length of the year, leading to the
development of the new Jalali calendar,
which was used until the 20th century.
His observations and the subsequent
calendar was based on the sun's
movement, as well as quadrennial and
quinquennial leap years, with the
calendar consisting of 25 ordinary years
with 365 days and eight leap years that
had 366 days.
In the West, however, it is Khayyam’s
work as a poet and his collection of
quatrains that is recognised and
celebrated. The poems, written in four
lines, were translated by Edward
FitzGerald in the 1800’s and published
in The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám.
Khayyam became famous for his poems
posthumously, having died at the age of
83 on 4 December 1131.
In 1963, the Shah of Iran ordered
Khayyam’s grave exhumed and his remains
moved to a mausoleum in Nishapur where
tourists could pay their respects.
Although not much is known about the
personal life of Khayyam, it is believed
that he had a wife, a son, and a
daughter.
Jews and Muslims pray together at
Africa's oldest synagogue
This year's annual pilgrimage to
the Ghriba synagogue, coincides
with the Muslim holy month of
Ramadan for the first time since
1987
TUNISIA: Muslim and
Jewish leaders also shared a
fast-breaking meal as they came together
for the holy month of Ramadan and the
annual pilgrimage to the Ghriba
synagogue in Tunisia.
Afef Ben Yedder delicately placed an egg
inscribed with wishes in a cavity in
Africa's oldest synagogue in southern
Tunisia, hoping they will be granted
even though she is a Muslim.
Five years ago, she said, her prayers
were answered after visiting the Ghriba
synagogue on the Mediterranean island of
Djerba, where Jews go to ask a
mysterious saint to grant their wishes.
"I prayed for a friend who had
difficulty having children and now he
has a three-year-old boy, and for
something else I don't want to mention,
and it has come true," she said with a
big smile.
This time Ben Yedder returned with her
Jewish childhood friend Karen who moved
to France as a teenager, after they were
reunited on Facebook.
It is a chance to pray together and
reminisce about their times spent
together in a district of Tunis where
they grew up living alongside Jewish,
Christian and Muslim neighbours.
This year's annual pilgrimage to the
Ghriba synagogue coincides with the
Muslim holy month of Ramadan for the
first time since 1987.
Muslim and Jewish leaders shared a
fast-breaking meal on Wednesday evening
on the island, a symbol of cohabitation
that Tunisia is keen to promote.
Ramadan police: Malaysian officials
disguise as waiters to catch Muslims who
skip fasting
MALAYSIA: If you are a
non-fasting Muslim in Malaysia - be
warned, a local official in disguise
might serve your next meal having
already snapped a photo of you and sent
it to the local religious affairs
department.
Thirty two enforcement officers in the
Malaysian district of Segamat are
dressing up as cooks and waiters to
catch Muslims eating during the holy
month of Ramadan, the New Straits Times
newspaper reported on Thursday.
The best tea-brewers and noodle chefs
were selected from the ranks of the
department’s officers to carry out the
task, which will be conducted at 185
food premises. Another prerequisite for
the job was skin color as many
restaurant staff are migrants workers.
“We have specially selected enforcement
officers who are dark skinned for the
undercover job,” Segamat Municipal
Council president Mohamad Masni Wakiman
told the paper.
“They sound convincing when they speak
in Indonesian and Pakistani lingo, so
that customers will believe they are
really hired to cook and serve meals and
take menu orders.”
Islam’s holy month of Ramadan runs from
May 5 until June 4 this year. During
this time observing Muslims are obliged
to fast from dawn until dusk unless they
have a special health condition.
In certain parts of Malaysia Muslims are
subject to Islamic laws. If a Muslim is
caught breaking the fast by one of the
officers, he or she might face a fine of
up to $329 or up to six month detention
or both.
The large Muslim population of the
multi-ethnic Malaysia has traditionally
followed a tolerant form of Islam. In
recent years the spread of increasingly
conservative interpretations have been a
source of worry in the country. A
human-rights group advocating for Muslim
women in Malaysia, Sisters of Islam, has
lambasted the restaurant initiative
calling it a “disgraceful act of
spying”.
Boris Johnson: Tory leadership
frontrunner's history of racist comments,
from Muslim 'letter boxes' to African
'piccaninnies'
Former foreign secretary, Boris
Johnson, has repeatedly
been forced to apologise for
offensive language
UK: Boris Johnson is
widely regarded as favourite to be the
UK’s next prime minister after Theresa
May announced her resignation.
The former foreign secretary, who has
confirmed he will stand in the Tory
leadership race, has long eyed the job
despite doubts among his party
colleagues about his suitability.
If he moves into Downing Street, he will
carry with him the baggage of a lengthy
history of racially inflammatory remarks
that could complicate international
diplomacy.
Muslim women ‘letter boxes’ jibe
In an August 2018 column for the Daily
Telegraph, Johnson wrote that women who
wore the niqab looked like ”letter
boxes” and “bank robbers”. He suggested
it was “absolutely ridiculous” that
people would choose to wear the
“oppressive” religious headgear.
His comments infuriated other Tories and
led Labour MP David Lammy to accuse him
of “fanning the flames of Islamophobia
to propel his grubby electoral
ambitions”.
But the Conservative Party cleared him
of breaching its code of conduct after
an independent panel ruled his column
was “respectful and tolerant”.
Picanninnies and ‘watermelon smiles’
In another Telegraph column, this one
written in 2002, Johnson used two racial
slurs to refer African people.
First female Omani novelist to be
translated into English shares Ł50,000 prize
with translator Marilyn Booth – the first
time an Arabic book has won
Jokha
Alharthi with translator Marilyn
Booth.
OMAN: Jokha Alharthi, the
first female Omani novelist to be
translated into English, has won the Man
Booker International prize for her novel
Celestial Bodies.
Alharthi, the Ł50,000 award’s first
winner to write in Arabic, shares the
prize equally with her translator,
American academic Marilyn Booth.
Celestial Bodies is set in the Omani
village of al-Awafi and follows the
stories of three sisters: Mayya, who
marries into a rich family after a
heartbreak; Asma, who marries for duty;
and Khawla, waiting for a man who has
emigrated to Canada.
Chair of judges for the prize, historian
Bettany Hughes said: “Through the
different tentacles of people’s lives
and loves and losses we come to learn
about this society – all its degrees,
from the very poorest of the slave
families working there to those making
money through the advent of a new wealth
in Oman and Muscat. It starts in a room
and ends in a world.
“We felt we were getting access to ideas
and thoughts and experiences you aren’t
normally given in English. It avoids
every stereotype you might expect in its
analysis of gender and race and social
distinction and slavery. There are
surprises throughout. We fell in love
with it.”
Celestial Bodies was selected from an
almost entirely female and independently
published shortlist to win the award,
which goes to the finest work of
translated fiction from around the
world. Alharthi saw off competition from
writers including former winner Olga
Tokarczuk, acclaimed French author Annie
Ernaux and Colombia’s Juan Gabriel
Vásquez.
Hughes said the judges had loved “the
subtle artistry” of Alharthi’s novel.
“It’s less flamboyant than some of the
other books, there’s a kind of poetic
cunning to it. It starts feeling like a
domestic drama in a fascinating world,
but with the layers of philosophy,
psychology and poetry, you are drawn
into the prose, through the relationship
between the characters. It encouraged us
to read in a slightly different way.”
In an interview after the novel was
longlisted,Booth said she was delighted
that the award was bringing Omani
literature to the attention of a wider
audience. But she added that Arabic
fiction had a tendency to be seen as “a
road map to the Arab world rather than
first and foremost as art, as
imaginative writing, pushing the
boundaries of what can be thought and
said”.
“What one really learns here ‘about the
Arab world’ is that there are amazing
fictionalists … throughout the region,
not only in the better-known hubs of
literary creation such as Egypt,
Palestine, Lebanon, Morocco and many
other places, but in a country that is
less literarily mapped, like Oman,” said
Booth. “And perhaps what one learns most
is how alike they are in their dailiness,
human exchange and emotions, and how
societies that might appear so different
are really so very much alike.”
Celestial Bodies is published by
Inverness’s Sandstone Press and is its
first venture into Arabic literature.
Alharthi, who has written two other
novels, two short-story collections and
a children’s book, and has been
translated into languages including
German, Italian, Korean and Serbian,
said she hoped Celestial Bodies would
help “international readers discover
that Oman has an active and talented
writing community who live and work for
their art”.
Before learning she had won, the author
added: “They take on sacrifices and
struggles and find joy in writing, or in
art, much the same way as anywhere else.
This is something the whole world has in
common. Omanis, through their writing,
invite others to look at Oman with an
open mind and heart. No matter where you
are, love, loss, friendship, pain and
hope are the same feelings and humanity
still has a lot of work to do to believe
in this truth.”
Muslim Members Of Congress Host A
Historic Iftar In The Capitol
Trump held a Ramadan dinner at
the White House just last week
but without any Muslim
Americans.
Three congressional lawmakers ―
Ilhan Omar, André Carson and
Rashida Tlaib ― hosted Monday
night's groundbreaking event.
US: On Monday evening,
three Muslim members of Congress ― Reps.
André Carson (D-Ind.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.)
and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) ― hosted a
historic iftar in the U.S. Capitol to
recognize the holy month of Ramadan and
honor the contributions of the Muslim
American community.
The gathering to break that day’s
Ramadan fast was the first iftar to be
hosted by Congress’ own Muslim members.
The event, which was co-hosted by the
national civil rights organization
Muslim Advocates, was also set to be the
first congressional iftar to be
addressed by any speaker of the House.
“It’s important to take a moment to
recognize how historic this iftar is,”
Tlaib said in a statement. “This event
lifts an entire community that has felt
unseen for far too long. We have been
unjustly targeted to ignite fear and
promote an agenda of hate. Tonight, we
recommit to being rooted in justice,
inclusivity, and a sense of belonging.”
Along with Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.),
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.),
Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin
(D-Ill.), and Reps. Judy Chu (D-Calif.)
and Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) were also
set to attend.
Farhana Khera, executive director of
Muslim Advocates, told HuffPost that the
event was significant not only because
it celebrated the unprecedented number
of Muslims in Congress but because it
came at a time when anti-Muslim rhetoric
and hate crimes are at an all-time high.
“This is particularly meaningful now
given the increasing public role that
Muslims are having in civic life,” Khera
said. “To have this opportunity to have
members of Congress recognize our
community, and to say that they see us
and they support us, is just absolutely
crucial, especially in the holiest month
on the calendar for Muslims.”
Last week, President Donald Trump hosted
his own iftar at the White House, but
without the presence of American
Muslims. (The White House declined to
share the guest list for this year’s
event.)
Law
against ‘religiously influenced
clothing’ exempts male Sikh and
Jewish headwear
The ban was proposed by the
ruling rightwing government.
AUSTRIA: Austrian MPs
have approved a law aimed at banning the
headscarf in primary schools, a measure
proposed by the ruling rightwing
government.
The text refers to any “ideologically or
religiously influenced clothing which is
associated with the covering of the
head”.
Representatives of both parts of the
governing coalition, the centre-right
People’s party (ÖVP) and the far-right
Freedom party (FPÖ), have made it clear
that despite its wide description, the
law is targeted at the Islamic
headscarf.
The FPÖ education spokesman, Wendelin
Mölzer, said the law was “a signal
against political Islam” while the ÖVP
MP Rudolf Taschner said the measure was
necessary to free girls from
subjugation.
The government said the patka head
covering worn by Sikh boys and the
Jewish kippa would not be affected.
Medical bandages and protection from
rain or snow are also not covered by the
law approved on Wednesday.
Austria’s official Muslim community
organisation, IGGÖ, has condemned the
proposals as “shameless” and a “direct
assault on the religious freedom of
Austrian Muslims”. The organisation has
signalled that it will seek to challenge
the validity of the law at Austria’s
constitutional court.
The government has already said it
expects the law to face legal
challenges, since similar legislation
affecting schools is normally passed
with a two-thirds majority. In this
instance almost all opposition MPs voted
against the measure, with some accusing
the government of focusing on garnering
positive headlines rather than child
welfare.
Irmgard Griss, of the liberal Neos
party, said the ban threatened to do
more harm than good by making girls at
Austrian schools responsible for the
repressive policies of authoritarian
regimes in Iran or Saudi Arabia. There
was no evidence, Griess said, that girls
found it more difficult to learn when
wearing a headscarf.
The ÖVP and FPÖ formed a coalition in
late 2017 after elections in which both
parties took a tough anti-immigration
stance and warned of the dangers of
“parallel societies”. The Austrian
chancellor, Sebastian Kurz, said in
April 2018: “Covering up small children
is definitely not something for which
there should be space in our country.”
In a speech on Wednesday, the
bestselling Austrian-German novelist
Daniel Kehlmann condemned Kurz’s
leadership. “I want to ask our silent
chancellor very matter-of-factly whether
he is fully aware that history books of
the future will remember him as the man
who enabled a party of rightwing
extremists to damage the outer image and
inner fabric of this country to such an
extent that it will soon no longer be
repairable.”
Kurz oversaw an Austrian ban on
full-face coverings in 2017, introduced
as part of an “integration” policy aimed
at limiting the visibility of orthodox
Islam in public life. It was criticised
by police after it mainly resulted in
the issuing of warnings against people
wearing smog masks, skiing gear and
animal costumes.
“If this law was intended as a
contribution in the fight against
conservative Islam, then I can only say:
it’s gone belly-up,” a representative of
the Austrian police union said at the
time, adding that many officers were
declining to enforce the law.
Denmark enacted a ban on the wearing of
face veils in public in 2018, joining
other EU countries including France,
Belgium, the Netherlands and Bulgaria,
and the German state of Bavaria.
Dr Keith Wolverson says he will quit
profession after being investigated for
asking patient to lift her niqab
UK: A doctor who is
facing an inquiry for asking a Muslim
woman to remove her veil so he could
hear her during a consultation has said
he no longer has any interest in working
in the profession.
Dr Keith Wolverson, a GP who has been in
medicine for 23 years, said he was
"deeply upset" at being accused of
racial discrimination over the incident.
The situation arose last year when he
asked a woman to lift her niqab, a face
covering garment worn by some Muslim
women, which he claims he did politely
and was so he could communicate with her
better while trying to diagnose the
woman's daughter.
However, last week he received a letter
from the General Medical Council telling
him his conduct was under investigation.
He has since told The Mail on Sunday: “I
absolutely no longer want to be a
doctor.”
Dr Wolverson said his
“quest to perform the very finest
consultation for the safety of the
patient has been misinterpreted in a
duplicitous manner to suggest there has
been an act of racism committed”.
“I feel a major injustice has taken
place,” he added. “This is why you are
waiting so long to see your GP and
doctors are leaving in droves. This
country will have no doctors left if we
continue to treat them in this manner.
I’m deeply upset.”
He said the woman was speaking to him
about her daughter, who she feared had
tonsillitis, and he asked her to move
the veil so he could hear her more
clearly.
He claims she did so with no complaint
during the consultation at Royal Stoke
University Hospital in Stoke-on-Trent
last June.
However, he said the woman's husband
arrived later and said he would be
making a complaint.
A spokesman for the Doctors' Association
UK told the Mail on Sunday: "It is of
utmost importance that the religious
wishes of our patients are respected.
"However, evidently there are some
circumstances where removeal of a niqab
or burka is necessary for medical
assessment and treatment.
"The GMC should consider issuing clear
guidelines to protect both doctors and
our patients."
Book Review:
‘The Butterfly Refugee’ and ‘It’s Jummah
Day’
by Suraya Daly
Roger Ibn Tyrone and wife Devina are
based in Sydney, Australia and write and
illustrate Islamic children’s books with
Minaret Mountain Books which all have a
common thread of underlying positive
teachings.
Roger was brought up in a creative
family where his parents encouraged “all
roads of making art and music”. He
reverted in 2000 and frequently
expresses his creative and artistic side
and finds inspiration for the stories
through his four children.
Similarly, wife Devina did not see
herself represented on TV, in toys and
dolls, and books, and felt that she
needed to make this change herself after
she had children.
Their children’s book The Butterfly
Refugee was the first one I read out of
two. I feel the story describes well the
very real experience of a young child in
war-torn conditions. While the
descriptions illustrated the bleak
realities of war, deep symbolism and
indirect references were prevalent so
that children can properly follow
through the stories without a rising
fear through their imagination.
Some adjectives and nouns were quite
realistic so I would recommend the
reading age to start from 8 years with
parental supervision, so as to explain
further certain meanings to prevent the
child’s concerns.
I feel the child is taken through a
journey, where he or she is not
sheltered away from the harsh truths of
war, but they are carried through until
the triumphant moments in the story.
They are instilled hope and faith in the
story and a message that despite
hardship and deep sorrow, there is a
light at the end of the tunnel, if they
never stop believing. I especially liked
the symbolism of the Bunny, that Roger
described perfectly in his own words:
“Bunny represents time, acceptance,
coming to terms with loss and the
strength and courage to move on.”
I feel this book can inspire compassion
in young hearts, and to live with the
belief that there is sunshine after the
rain. I feel it is important to instill
positive messages in the early years so
young minds can appreciate that while
there is sadness, there is also
bountiful kindness, beauty and happiness
in the world.
It’s Jummah Day is the second children’s
book out of the Minaret Mountain Books
written by Roger and Devina which I have
had the pleasure to read. I really
enjoyed the illustrations from this
particular book because although they
depict everyday activities like getting
ready together, heading to a destination
in a car together, and playing in a park
together, I could feel the joy and
imagination sparked from the ideas for
the illustrations.
As I understand, Roger’s illustrations
are inspired by his children’s
imagination and wonder. When viewing the
images, I feel like I’m stepping into
the beautiful inventive creative minds
of a child, always hopeful and joyful,
in wonderment.
These feelings complement the story
well. It is a simple story of Jummah Day
which is a special day that the children
spend with their Dad, putting on their
best clothes and head to the mosque
together.
They pray together and listen to the
Imam intently together, and learn
valuable lessons on how to purify the
hearts and how to treat one another, as
well as learning to honour and love your
parents.
They then engage in more leisurely
activities together. This book has a
great simple and positive story that
encourages the bond with the family, the
value of spending time together, and to
be thankful of one’s blessings and
reflective of one’s actions to date.
While these activities involve rather
complex thinking for a child, they can
carry these positive messages and
lessons to adulthood to become an
exemplary member of society.
4 pieces of chicken fillet cubed
1 tsp salt
˝ tsp pepper
1 tsp lemon pepper
1 tsp chicken spice or Aromat
1-tab vinegar
1-tab lemon juice
4 tabs nestle cream
2 tsp crushed green chillies
Marinate for a few hours
Take a few pieces and pierce through the wooden skewers
coat in bread crumbs
Dip in egg and fry
Serve hot with chutneys
If you are not frying immediately, then freeze after the
coating of bread crumbs.
No need to thaw out when using in its frozen state, just dip
in egg and fry.
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,
I’m trying very hard not to give up my workouts
at home as I’ve been consistent during all of
Ramadan and would love to keep on going. What
are some of your favourite at home, no-machine
workouts?
A:
I love both high-impact and strength training
workouts, so to break out into a sweat I combine
the two for double the impact.
My skipping rope and gym ball are my ideal
fitness tools.
I enjoy the 30-sec work, 30-sec rest rule for
about 5-10min at a time and I constantly modify
as I go depending on the time I have and how my
body is feeling.
Squats, walking lunges, wall-sits, tricep-dips,
mountain-climbers, etc. are but some of the
bodyweight exercises I incorporate into my
sessions. I love using my weights too as it adds
that extra challenge.
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:
The Whirlpool Of
What-Ifs
Ever heard of the
saying “curiosity
killed the cat”? My
philosophy professor
at college had a
great comeback for
this adage:
“Stupidity killed
the cat. Curiosity
got the blame,”
he told us.
What-if questions in
life are vital, in
fact necessary. They
open the mind to
embrace different
perspectives. The
curious mind thrives
on seeking more
knowledge to find
the truth and to
become a better
human being. In
doing so, one
becomes closer to
ALLAH.
The mischief-maker,
shaitaan, knows how
to intercept your
curious mind and
whisper stupid
suggestions that can
suck you into a
whirlpool of
what-ifs that end up
diluting your faith
in ALLAH. It
suggests fearful
outcomes and grips
you into believing
them, so much so
that you lose trust
in ALLAH’s plans and
give in to fear
rather than explore
life with faith and
curiosity. Ever felt
that your imaan was
getting low? Next
time you feel that
way, observe your
thought patterns and
identify how much of
your day you’re
wasting anticipating
negative outcomes
about your life.
Such as:
• What if I
fail?
• What if I eat
this and gain
weight?
• What if I
can’t please my
husband/ wife?
• What if my
children go
astray?
• What if I end
up poor?
• What if I end
up alone?
• What if I
can’t deliver
what I promised?
• What if nobody
loves me?
See what I mean?
This thought pattern
is what I call the
whirlpool of
what-ifs. It’s the
stupid kind of
what-ifs that kills
the cat, not the
curious type that
opens your mind to
greater potential
and innovation. It’s
shaitaan’s
whisperings that
suck you deeper and
deeper into this
whirlpool of
negativity which has
only one destination
- extreme fear
manifesting in
symptoms of anxiety,
depression and
incessant worrying.
Eight Steps To
Exit This Whirlpool
For Good
So, how do you
become aware of this
when it starts to
happen?...Trust me,
it happens to every
single person at
some point in life.
Unless you become
aware while it’s
happening and take
charge, the
negativity of the
experience
aggravates and makes
you even more
anxious as you
anticipate the next
anxiety/ panic
attack.
1. Ask yourself,
how am I feeling
right now?
2. Answer the
question with
regards to
physical
sensations, for
example, if you
are anxious, how
is your body
reacting to the
anxiety? How is
my breathing, my
heart rate, my
body
temperature?
3. Now examine
what thought is
affecting your
body to react
that way...for
example, is it
the thought of
something on
social media, or
the thought of a
family member or
the thought of
your job?
4. Analyse how
true this
thought really
is, challenge
yourself to come
up with solid
evidence to back
this thought,
for example, if
you are
obsessively
thinking that
you are not good
enough, write
down what
evidence you
have that proves
that you are
beneath others.
5. Analyse the
evidence you
have gathered
from your mind
and ask
yourself, “Is
this absolutely
true and correct
that the future
will unfold
exactly as I am
thinking? Am I
the absolute
best of
planners? Or am
I overthinking
and creating a
false reality?
6. Remind
yourself that
ALLAH is the
absolute best of
planners. That
only ALLAH knows
what will happen
to anyone.
7. Remind
yourself that
these negative
thought patterns
bring about
negative body
sensations and
symptoms.
8. Acknowledge
that you can
control your
body sensations
immediately by
doing the
following:
• Breathe -
inhale
deeply and
exhale
deeply
• Become
aware that
your nafs
(body
sensations)
are in your
control
• Remind
yourself
that your
soul is
purer than
your nafs
• Connect
deeply with
your breath
and your
soul and
connect with
the purity
of your soul
• Make
continuous
dhikr of
ALLAH with
each long
breath in
and out.
If you wish to know about
a specific topic
with regards to
Self-Care and
Clarity of Mind,
please email me on
info@healingwordstherapy.com.
If you wish to have
a FREE one hour
Clarity Coaching
phone session,
contact me on
0451977786
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.
MCF (Muslim
Charitable
Foundation) was
established in
2009 by
concerned
members of our
Brisbane
community.
MCF is a
registered
charity
organisation
that delivers a
reliable
community
service whilst
having no paid
employees. 100%
of your
donations
entrusted to MCF
are received by
those in need.
To donate your
Zakaat and
Fitrah use the
banking details
below:
MCF Zakaat
Banking Details:
Bank of
Queensland
BSB: 124155
Account Number:
20897312
Fitrah is $10
per person.
Fitrah Account
Banking Details:
Bank of
Queensland
BSB: 124155
Account No:
20963614
MAA Preparing
to Distribute
Your Donations
in Ramadan
For over 30
years, Muslim
Aid Australia
has been
delivering your
donations to the
poorest
communities
around the world
including in
Syria,
Palestine,
Yemen, Burma and
across Africa.
This Ramadan,
donate your
Zakah & Sadaqah
or opt for some
of our special
'Donate &
Elevate'
packages that
focus on Food,
Sadaqah Jaariyah,
the Environment,
Women's
Empowerment and
more.
Don't wait -
help change the
lives of your
brothers and
sisters today to
ensure they can
benefit this
Ramadan and
beyond.
EID AT THE
PARK IS BACK on the 5th OR
6th June Rocklea Showgrounds
with bigger and better
things planned than ever
before!
With a large variety of
cuisines to choose from, a
petting farm, plenty of
stalls and thrilling rides
for children and adults, the
largest Eid Day Festival in
Brisbane is an experience
not to be missed!
The Islamic Council of
Queensland (ICQ) is hosting
its annual Eid Down Under
festival on Saturday 8 June.
More than 15,000 people
attend for hours of fun,
food, rides, entertainment,
competitions, cultural
performances and more.
Brisbane City Council
considers this a major event
in Brisbane. It provides a
chance for the Muslim
community to connect with
other groups and communities
in Queensland, promoting an
inclusive and harmonious
Australian society.
Many companies and
organisations host stalls at
the event to sell products
and showcases their
services. The promotion
opportunity is huge as the
event brings together people
from all walks of life, and
many different communities
from across Queensland.
The Islamic Council of
Queensland (ICQ) would like
to invite you to support the
upcoming EID DOWN UNDER
festival taking place on
Saturday the 8th of June at
the Islamic College of
Brisbane. Eid as you know is
a time for celebration for
Muslims and more than 15,000
people are expected to
attend the social event for
hours of fun, food, rides,
entertainment, competitions,
cultural performances and
much more, the Brisbane City
Council considers this a
major event in Brisbane. It
also provides a chance for
the Muslim community to
connect with other groups
and communities in
Queensland, promoting an
inclusive and harmonious
Australian society. Insha
Allah this year the festival
will be bigger than previous
years.
The event provides a
platform for businesses to
promote their activities and
the opportunity is huge as
the event brings together
people from all walks of
life, and many different
communities from across
Queensland. Over the years,
the event has seen major
sponsorships from
well-established leading
Muslim businesses and Insha
Allah this year we hope to
see your kind support. In
doing so, you’ll not only be
promoting your business but
also be supporting social
cohesion, mutual respect and
understanding within our
society, which is a key
focus for ICQ and
cornerstones of our Muslim
identity.
Starting at only $500.00, we
have tailored sponsorship
packages to suit all types
of businesses, we humbly
request you to consider
being a sponsor of this
year's event.
At Sisters
Suppprt Services Inc we have
qualified volunteers who help
women in their darkest moments &
time of need to empower them to
make the right choices for
better outcomes for their own
lives.
Here are some examples of our
cases over the past few months.
ALL names have been changed to
protect client identities.
1. Aisha, a victim of Domestic
Violence came to us for
assistance. We assisted her by
giving her money to buy clothing
and personal items as she left
her home quickly and with very
little. Aisha has also needed
ongoing counselling which she
has been receiving from us for
the past few months. She was
taken to appointments and
connected with the right people
who helped her start a new life
in a safe environment.
“Thank you so
much for your help. I am so very
grateful. Thank you to Sister
Services. Allah bless you all.”
2. Katie, a revert sister with
young kids needed ongoing
counselling and support as she
had not been coping well at home
and was not able to look after
herself and her family. Sisters
Support Services was there for
her; “I can’t tell you enough in
words how grateful I am, just by
listening to me when I was
feeling so low. Life is not
looking so dark anymore !”
3. Sarah also a revert sister
recently divorced with a young
child arrived in Brisbane with
virtually nothing. We have
helped her with everyday
essentials, food supplies &
assisted her to find suitable
accommodation. Sarah has some
health issues & needed financial
support with purchasing
medications & by being driven to
medical appointments by our
volunteers.
"So happy with
the help I've received from
Sisters Support Services."
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
e-mail us..
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The CCN's "We'll
take that as a
comment" Column 
Who was Omar Khayyam? 
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7
August 2011