As with most Muslim
communities in and round the
South East Queensland,
prayer venues were filled to
capacity on Wednesday 5
April for the Eid Prayers
and celebrations.
The Islamic Society of
Queensland (ICQ) coordinated
the largest gathering of
close on 10000 at the
Islamic College of Brisbane.
Amongst the speakers and
Imams were Mr Habib Jamal of
the Islamic Council of QLD
giving his first Eid speech
since taking office this
year; Imam Ahmad Naffaa of
Kuraby Mosque with an Eid
lecture; Qari Faizan of
Holland Park Mosque who
explained and led the salaat
(prayer); and
Imam Akram Buksh of Slacks
Creek Mosque who delivered
the Arabic Eid khutbah
(sermon).
The Deen Family once again
did an amazing job of
providing the Eid lunch to
the community and there were
long queues of people
attracted by the aroma and
hot pots of curry and rice.
The annual ICQ Eid Down
Under celebration of Eid al
Fitr in Brisbane, Queensland
got underway yesterday
(Saturday) with thousands of
people descending on the
Islamic College of Brisbane
for fun, food and
festivities.
In solidarity and friendship
between the Uniting Church
and the Muslim community,
the moderator of the Uniting
Church in Australia,
Queensland Synod, Reverend
David Baker, with the
President of the Islamic
Council of QLD (ICQ), Mr
Habib Jamal, hosted an
ifthaar dinner at the
Uniting Church Centre in
Auchenflower.
Crescents Community News (CCN)
has covered the South
African Comrades Marathon
accomplishments of
ex-Brisbanite dentist Dr
Anver Omar over the past
several years (interrupted
only by the month of Ramadan
in recent years).
On Sunday (today), Dr Omar
attempts his twelfth 87km
Durban to Pietermaritzburg run at the age of 61.
"There’s been a 3-year
Ramadan break and training
with 9pm UK iftars and hot
Northern Territory runs has
been challenging," he told
CCN.
"For me, the slogans of a
previous year 'it will
humble you' is pertinent
but on the other hand, this
year's slogan ....
'together we triumph".......
is what I am hoping for,
insha'Allah."
"Naseema
Mustapha has been a member
of the Student
Administration Team at QCGU
since early 2019 and has
been a great asset in terms
of her client service. As a
current student she has an
understanding and empathy
for our students and a great
ability to communicate
across all levels of staff.
She has received the
Griffith Global Community
Service Award for community
engagement on a global and
national level and received
the Queensland Government
Outstanding Volunteer Award
for community engagement and
service on a State level.
Her current volunteer roles
at Griffith and in the
broader community where her
role impacts on the Griffith
community include: -
Postgrad Representative
Griffith University Academic
Committee - Postgrad
Representative Griffith
Business School Teaching &
Learning Committee - Vice
President ERTHS Club -
Events, Real Estate,
Tourism, Hospitality &
Sports - Equity Officer
GUPSA - Griffith Uni
Postgrad Students Assoc -
WALi - Wellness Advocacy &
Leadership Initiative
Griffith Uni - CALD
Representative for
Queensland National Mental
Health Forum - CALD
Representative for
Queensland Mental Health
Australia - Justice of the
Peace services to the
Griffith community via
Student Services and to the
broader community.
It is with great pleasure
that we nominate Naseema for
this award".
On 13 April Rami’s Thunder
Martial Arts Academy had
started their yearly
competitions season with the
annual in-house tournament.
The competition was in
recognition of the victims
of the Christchurch attack;
hence the competition was
named after the last words
of the first victim “Hello
Brother”.
The students were able to
express their feelings and
showed solidity to the New
Zealand community by signing
and writing messages on a
Taekwondo uniform to the
victim’s Family and the New
Zealand community.
"The tournament was a huge
success, where the students
showed amazing skills and
the parents' support was
extremely appreciated,"
Master Rami (head
instructor) told CCN.
For more information about
the academy please contact
us on 0424059597 or FB:
Rami’s Thunder tkd or Insg:
Rami’s Thunder
Prue MacSween, who also
hacked into Yassmin
Abdel-Magied in 2017
".....she might have been
right there because if I’d
seen her I would have been
tempted to run her over,
mate …"
Mohamed Salah has
contributed to a decrease in
hate crimes and islamophobia
in Liverpool, according to a
report from the Immigration
Policy Lab (IPL).
Researchers - based at
Stanford University and in
Zurich - found the
Egyptian’s excellent
performances for Liverpool
since joining the club in
2017, culminating in
Saturday’s Champions League
final triumph against
Tottenham Hotspur, coincided
with a marked decrease in
anti-Muslim posts on
Twitter.
The report, titled ‘Can
Exposure to Celebrities
Reduce Prejudice? The Effect
of Mohamed Salah on
Islamophobic Behaviors and
Attitudes’ was published
last month.
“We find that Merseyside
county (home to Liverpool
F.C.) experienced a 18.9%
drop in hate crimes relative
to a synthetic control,
while no similar effect was
found for other types of
crime,” the report claimed.
“We also find that Liverpool
F.C. fans halved their rates
of posting anti-Muslim
tweets (a drop from 7.2% to
3.4% of tweets about
Muslims) relative to fans of
other top-flight English
soccer clubs.
“The survey experiment
suggests that these results
may be driven by increased
familiarity with Islam. Our
findings indicate that
positive exposure to
outgroup role models can
reveal new information that
humanizes the outgroup writ
large.”
Salah has been a revelation
since moving to Merseyside
from Roma. The 26-year-old
scored his 50th Premier
League goal for Liverpool in
April, reaching the landmark
faster than any other player
in the club’s history.
He finished third in the
2018 FIFA Best Awards, which
acknowledge the world’s
finest players. Salah scored
Liverpool’s opening goal in
their victory over Spurs,
helping the Reds become
champions of Europe for a
sixth time.
LONDON: Mayor of London
Sadiq Khan has said that
Pakistan faces major
challenges like many other
Islamic countries but there
are opportunities and hopes
of improvement and progress
through correct policies.
In an interview with Geo and
The News here at the St
Pauls’ Cathedral, the Mayor
of London commented that the
month of Ramazan teaches
compassions and charity for
others and this message can
be utilised to alleviate the
lot of common people who
face hardships including in
countries such as Pakistan.
One of the world's most
iconic places of worship, St
Pauls’ Cathedral hosted its
first-ever Iftar for Muslims
and also invited members of
other faiths to open fast
with the Muslims. The Naz
Legacy Foundation together
with St Paul’s Cathedral and
the City of London
Corporation had organised
the interfaith Iftar.
The Bishop of London Rt Rev
Sarah Mullally welcomed the
guests. The Mayor of London
said when he was young and
fasting his friends used to
ask him how he could survive
without drinking water but
now greater awareness exists
about Ramazan. He said: “We
should redouble our efforts
in Ramazan to make sure we
end inequalities. It’s
important we remain
optimistic.”
He added: “There is no place
like London in this world.
It’s the city that got a
Muslim elected as its mayor.
It brings together everyone
irrespective of their creed,
colour and ideology. The
Iftari at this iconic place
is demonstration of London’s
togetherness and greatness.
I am proud that we are
celebrating our diversity.”
For the past four years,
Harris Bokhari, co-founder
of the Naz Legacy
Foundation, has used his
close friendships with some
of the UK's leading faith
leaders, including the
Church of England, to
organise ground breaking
iftars in the some of the
most important places of the
worship in London; including
Lambeth Palace, Archbishop’s
House and St John Wood’s
Synagogue.
The Bishop of London said:
“What this has demonstrated
is that everyone is welcome
– people of all faiths and
no faith – because that’s
London. There is no more
important time than now for
people of all backgrounds to
come together to rejoice at
what we have in common, but
also celebrate our
differences. It is the
powerful combination of
diversity and unity that
helps us thrive and benefit
one another.”
The Bishop of London and
Mayor of London both gave
speeches at the event and
afterwards met young people
to hear the challenges they
are facing in London and how
they think their political
and faith leaders can tackle
these problems. After
opening the fast with dates
and water under the dome of
St Paul’s Cathedral, the
young people, together with
members of the City of
London Corporation shared a
meal together at the
Guildhall.
Speaking to The News,
Bokhari said: “Sharing food
together is one of the
greatest ways to bring
people of different
backgrounds together. From a
young age, I have always
enjoyed kosher salt beef
sandwiches and latkes from
Blooms or Reubens, iconic
London eateries, and more
recently the mouth watering
vegetarian food from
Shayonas, Neasden Temple.
Bringing young people of
different faiths together to
share iftar together this
Ramadan again shows the
beauty of food, and the role
it plays in bringing our
diverse communities
together.”
Following the initial
celebration in St Paul’s,
the group moved to join the
Chief Rabbi and enjoyed an
iftar meal in the nearby
Guildhall.
During the event, the young
attendees discussed ways to
celebrate diversity and
bring communities together.
They spoke of the importance
of understanding other
people’s traditions, and the
sense of empowerment brought
about by attending such a
gathering in St Paul’s.
Amir Khan
‘stupid’ not to
take Ł7million
purse for
fighting in
changing Saudi
Arabia
UK: Amir Khan
has defended the
choice of
location for his
next fight in
the face of
human rights
concerns by
claiming Saudi
Arabia is
undergoing
significant
change.
The 32-year-old
faces unheralded
Indian Neeraj
Goyat at King
Abdullah Sports
City in Jeddah
on July 12, less
than three
months after he
was
controversially
stopped in six
rounds by
Terence
Crawford.
Amnesty
International
have described
the Saudi human
rights record as
“abysmal”,
adding that the
nation is in the
“grip of a
sweeping
crackdown
against critics
of the
government”, and
implored Khan to
travel there
with his “eyes
firmly open”.
Khan is
reportedly being
paid Ł7million –
Ł3million more
than he earned
against Crawford
– to headline a
team event
between fighters
representing
Pakistan and
India.
The former
unified world
welterweight
champion is a
Muslim and has
embarked on
pilgrimages to
Saudi Arabia on
a number of
occasions,
offering him his
own perspective
on the country.
“When I was
there last, it
had all changed.
I started seeing
women not
wearing head
scarves. Women
were out
driving,” Khan
said.
“They had a huge
concert where
everyone was
dancing and
enjoying
themselves. I’d
never seen that
side of Saudi
Arabia before.
“Maybe now they
are changing to
make it that new
place where
people can enjoy
themselves and
it’s fair for
women. I think
they’re trying
to change now.
GIVE ME SPORTS
An amazing
display of unity
By Sheikh
Shady Alsuleiman
Auburn
Mosque
Our Turkish
Muslim Community
in Australia
celebrated eid
on Tuesday, many
others in
Australia
followed the
Australian
National Imams
Council (ANIC)
announcement to
celebrate eid on
Wednesday.
Having said
that, an amazing
display of unity
was displayed
here in Sydney
Australia during
these amazing
days of Eid.
While our
Brothers and
Sisters from the
Turkish Muslim
Community in
Australia prayed
Eid on Tuesday
morning at
Gallipoli Mosque
in Auburn, which
is one of
Australia’s
largest mosques
and landmarks, I
was so amazed to
hear that the
following day
(Wednesday
morning) our
brothers at that
same mosque
facilitated and
opened the
mosque with open
arms and hearts
to the brothers
and sisters in
the same area in
particular from
Auburn Islamic
Community Centre
to conduct their
Eid prayers, who
took a different
opinion on the
commencement of
the Day of Eid.
How amazing is
this?
I’m extremely
overwhelmed and
impressed by
this action and
gesture.
This is indeed a
DISPLAY OF
UNITY.
UNITY doesn’t
mean that we
have to agree on
everything, or
only support
each other on
what we agree
on.
UNITY means that
we respect each
other’s opinions
and try to
accommodate each
other when we
disagree.
UNITY means that
we understand
each other and
look at the
bigger picture
when we
disagree.
UNITY means that
we love each
other for the
sake of Allah
and continue
working together
for the sake of
Allah even when
we disagree.
My highest
respect and
regards to the
Brothers and
Sisters from
Gallipoli Mosque
in Auburn
Sydney.
This is a great
example and
lesson for all
Muslims around
the world to
learn from and
act upon.
May Allah keep
us united and
grant us
understanding of
unity. AMEEN
Three young Muslim women
called Ambar, Ilhan and
Athena give their personal
(and different) opinions on
what it means to wear hijab,
and the status of women in
Islam.
Azem Elmaz helps homeless
More than 300
people are expected to be
sleeping rough around
Shepparton this Winter.
For nearly 30 years Azem
Elmaz has been helping the
homeless, but he says he's
noticing more people in
need...including one man who
shared his story with WIN
News.
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.
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)
.....continued from last
week's CCN.....
PROTECTIONISM AND PURPOSE
The Pan-Islamic movement, of
which Quilliam was a part,
gave Muslimsa renewed
purpose despite colonial
rule.
One article stated Muslims
were not only increasing in
number, but ‘in zeal’
despite the “young men
studying at Christian
Colleges and Universities.”
Racial inclusion and
equality were often at the
centre of discussions around
the appeal of Islam.
Referring to the
“Pan-Islamic movement of
which so much has been heard
of late,” one article stated
a “potent influence in
conversions to Islam is that
the convert is thereby
raised at once to the social
state of the converter,” and
in countries where the caste
system prevails, Islam is
“an almost irresistible
temptation.”
While the threat of a
takeover is included in this
article, with the writer
pointing out that “far from
remote, too, is the risk of
a general rising of
Mussulmans wherever they are
to be found,” comparisons
with Christianity feature
far more prominently:
Hence is where Moslemism
has an advantage over
Christianity. By
becoming a convert to
Christianity the
coloured man gains
nothing socially. The
white-faced Christian
will continue to regard
him as degraded, their
nominal brotherhood
ceasing when they part
company on leaving a
church, if indeed, the
coloured man is not
excluded altogether.
Articles published in
Australian Christian papers
certainly supported this
perception of coloured
people.
Some were particularly
aggressive in their
presentation of the
missionary affairs conducted
in the colonies, and seeking
to inspire action in order
to avert “humiliation of
defeat at the hand of the
Mohammedan religion,” they
used crusader-like
comparisons:
Difficult as the problem
of the conversion of
primitive or previously
savage races has proved,
it is said to be nothing
in comparison with that
which presents itself in
the hand-to-hand
struggle that must ensue
in consequence of the
close grips into which
Christianity and
Mohammedanism have come
on the latter’s own
ground...It is a
religion –if such it may
be called at all – of
fanaticism and bitter
hatred of all outside
its own pale; a religion
which in the past has
not scrupled to gain its
converts at the point of
the sword.
The idea that this Islamic
devotion should act as a
stimulant to Christian
enterprise was certainly
followed up by some who
entertained the idea of
ending “Islam’s advance” in
Africa and Asia.
In what was described as a
“remarkable movement”
sweeping over Australia as a
result of the advance that
Islam was making in Africa,
“many business men of Hobart
have caught the same spirit
of enthusiasm.
They could not fathom the
idea of the whole continent
being overrun by Muslims and
sought to fundraise in order
to send their own
missionaries abroad.
Echoes of al-Andalus: The Portuguese town
celebrating its forgotten Islamic past
Home
to the only surviving medieval
mosque in Portugal, Mertola
doesn't hide a past shaped by
Muslims, Christians and Jews
alike
The church of
Nossa Senhora da Anunciaçăo was
once a mosque but is now a
church.
An imposing building with cylindrical
towers stands out on the steep hill of
Mertola, a southern Portuguese town on
the banks of the Guadiana river, not far
from the Spanish border.
Is it a church with a mihrab? Or
a mosque with a cross?
The whitewashed building with horseshoe
arches is known as the church of Nossa
Senhora da Anunciacao. Those who come to
visit its vaulted interior are told it’s
the best preserved medieval mosque in
Portugal.
“It’s a mixture of many things,” says
Germano Vaz, who is from Mertola and
lives nearby. “It was built on top of a
Roman temple. It was a mosque and now
it’s a church. We are very proud of this
assemblage of religions and cultures.”
Inside the church that used to be a
mosque, Christians still pray facing
Mecca. The mihrab, a semi-circular niche
in the wall, is directly behind the main
altar.
A bell tower stands where, less than a
thousand years ago, a minaret would call
Muslims to prayer.
From the 8th to the 13th century, much
of what is now Portugal and Spain was
under Muslim control. Known as al-Andalus,
the region became a hub for cultural
exchange, where science, architecture
and art thrived.
As long as they acknowledged
Muslim rule, Christians and Jews were,
for the most part, protected and
tolerated. The three religious groups
coexisted relatively peacefully in
southern Portugal, known as Gharb al-Andalus.
Portugal is still replete with traces of
its Islamic past, from architecture to
the influences of Arabic in the
Portuguese language and music.
Wrecked mosques, police watch: A
tense Ramadan in Xinjiang
A carpark
where the Heyitkah Mosque once
stood.
HOTAN, CHINA: The corner
where Heyitkah Mosque in China's restive
Xinjiang region once hummed with life is
now a concrete parking lot where all
traces of the tall, domed building have
been erased.
While Muslims around the world
celebrated the end of Ramadan with
prayers and festivities this week, the
recent destruction of dozens of mosques
in Xinjiang highlights the increasing
pressure Uighurs and other ethnic
minorities face in the heavily policed
region.
Behind the lot in the city of Hotan, the
slogan "Educate the people for the
party" is emblazoned in red on the wall
of a primary school where students must
scan their faces upon entering the
razor-wired gates.
The mosque "was beautiful," recalled a
vendor at a nearby bazaar. "There were a
lot of people there."
Satellite images reviewed by AFP and
visual analysis non-profit Earthrise
Alliance show that 36 mosques and
religious sites have been torn down or
had their domes and corner spires
removed since 2017.
In the mosques that are open,
worshippers go through metal detectors
while surveillance cameras monitor them
inside.
"The situation here is very strict, it
takes a toll on my heart," said one
Uighur, who requested anonymity for fear
of reprisals. "I don't go any more," he
added, referring to mosques. "I'm
scared."
In the ancient Silk Road city of Kashgar,
no longer does the sunrise prayer call
echo throughout the city - a ritual the
manager of the city's central mosque
once proudly shared with tourists.
On Wednesday (June 5), locals
celebrating Eid al-Fitr quietly filed
into the entrance of state-approved
Idkah Mosque - one of the largest in
China - as police and officials fenced
off the wide square surrounding the
building and plainclothes men monitored
every person's actions.
It was another low-key Ramadan for
Muslims in Xinjiang, with restaurants
busy serving food to customers
throughout the day, when practising
Muslims fast.
In Hotan on Friday - a holy day for
believers - the only mosque in the city
was empty after sundown, an important
prayer session when Muslim families
typically break their daily fast.
Earlier in the day, at least 100 people
attended a midday session but the vast
majority were elderly men.
The ruling Communist Party "sees
religion as this existential threat,"
said Mr James Leibold, an expert on
ethnic relations and policy in China at
La Trobe University.
Over the long term, the Chinese
government wants to achieve "the
secularisation of Chinese society," he
told AFP.
The Xinjiang government told AFP that it
"protects religious freedoms" and
citizens can celebrate Ramadan "within
the scope permitted by law", without
elaborating.
The authorities have thrown a high-tech
security net across the region,
installing cameras, mobile police
stations and checkpoints in seemingly
every street in response to a spate of
deadly attacks blamed on Islamic
extremists and separatists in recent
years.
An estimated one million Uighurs and
other Turkic-speaking ethnic groups are
held in a vast network of internment
camps.
After initially denying their existence,
Chinese authorities last year
acknowledged that they run "vocational
education centres" aimed at steering
people clear of religious extremism by
teaching them Mandarin and China's laws.
In those centres, it was a different
Ramadan.
The Xinjiang government told AFP that
people in the centres are not allowed to
hold religious activities because
Chinese law forbids it within education
facilities, but they are free to do so
"when they return home on weekends".
Youngest female minister: Saudi
Arabia’s Vision 2030 harnessing youth’s
potential
UAE’s Minister
of State for Youth Affairs
Shamma Al-Mazrui distributing
iftar meals to motorists.
ABU DHABI — At 25 years
of age she is the youngest female
minister in the world.
Shamma Al-Mazrui was appointed as UAE’s
Minister of State for Youth Affairs in
Feb. 2016 at age 22, making her the
youngest member of the UAE Cabinet and
the youngest government minister in the
world.
In an interview with Okaz/Saudi Gazette,
she described the Kingdom’s Vision 2030
as very ambitious and based on
harnessing the youth’s potential.
“This comprehensive developmental
initiative is the result of ideas by
youthful leaders who believe in the
capability of the youth and are keen to
enhance their participation in
supporting the march of the Kingdom’s
advancement and prosperity in all
fields,” she said.
Al-Mazrui stressed the need to create a
joint regional initiative to infuse hope
among the youth, empower them and
improve their status.
She said Misk Foundation is one of the
most prominent foundations that strive
to empower the youth.
“We are extremely happy to cooperate
with the Foundation in the exchange of
experience and expertise, and working on
many joint initiatives and projects to
build a creative generation, successful
business leaders and entrepreneurs by
providing incubators for the youths’
innovations and their creative ideas.”
Al-Mazrui said, “We have a media
initiative for the Arab youth that aims
to build a system to enable the Arab
youth to become pioneers in the various
media fields and specializations.
“The objective is to prepare a
generation of qualified young men and
women in the media field in line with
the highest standards that include
transparency and professionalism.”
Mohamed Salah claims he cannot leave
house for Eid Al Fitr due to 'lack of
respect' from media
EGYPT: Mohamed Salah has
criticised media and public attention in
Egypt and complained he is not able to
leave his house during Eid Al Fitr.
The Liverpool forward has returned to
Cairo after helping his club win the
Uefa Champions League with the first
goal in their 2-0 win over Tottenham
Hotspur on Saturday in Madrid.
But now back in his home country for the
Africa Cup of Nations, which Egypt is
hosting from June 21, Salah, 26, has
been irked by the amount of public
scrutiny and blames the media for it.
“One isn’t able to go out of the house
for Eid prayer because of what some
journalists and people are doing," he
wrote in an Arabic tweet on Tuesday,
"This has nothing to do with love. What
this is called is a lack of respect and
especially a lack of professionalism."
When Muslims Marched with Christians Across Europe's
Battlegrounds
by
Ian Almond
When, in our
turbulent day, we hear of a clash of
civilizations, it s easy to imagine an
unbridgeable chasm between the Islamic
world and Christendom stretching back
through time. But such assumptions
crumble before the drama that unfolds in
this book. "Two Faiths, One Banner"
shows how in Europe, the heart of the
West, Muslims and Christians were often
comrades-in-arms, repeatedly forming
alliances to wage war against their own
faiths and peoples.
Here we read of savage battles, deadly
sieges, and acts of individual heroism;
of Arab troops rallying by the thousands
to the banner of a Christian emperor
outside the walls of Verona; of Spanish
Muslims standing shoulder to shoulder
with their Christian Catalan neighbours
in opposition to Castilians; of Greeks
and Turks forming a steadfast bulwark
against Serbs and Bulgarians, their
mutual enemy; of tens of thousands of
Hungarian Protestants assisting the
Ottomans in their implacable and
terrifying march on Christian Vienna;
and finally of Englishman and Turk
falling side by side in the killing
fields of the Crimea.
This bold book reveals how the idea of a
Christian Europe long opposed by a
Muslim non-Europe grossly misrepresents
the facts of a rich, complex, and above
all shared history. The motivations for
these interfaith alliances were dictated
by shifting diplomacies, pragmatic
self-interest, realpolitik, and even
genuine mutual affection, not by jihad
or religious war. This insight has
profound ramifications for our
understanding of global politics and
current affairs, as well as of religious
history and the future shape of Europe.
KB says:
The nutrients in fennel are linked to a range of
health benefits. Bone health. The vitamin and
mineral content in fennel contributes to
building and maintaining bone structure and
strength, lowers blood pressure. Improves heart
health. Helps with Immunity. Inflammation.
Metabolism. Digestion and regularity.
Combine the following for the dressing and refrigerate
• Salt and Pepper
• 1 tab. salad cream
• 1 tab. mayonnaise
• Juice of ˝ a lemon
• 1 finely sliced green chilli (remove seeds if you don’t
want the heat)
Combine all the above ingredients for the salad and
refrigerate.
Just before serving add the dressing.
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’ve recovered from
a knee injury and finally have the all clear to
get back into exercise again. What can I do that
won’t be too jarring on the knees? I’ve been in
the pool every other day and would like to
change it up.
A:
Biking would be great for
strengthening the muscles around the knee. You
can make it more intense as you get stronger by
upping the resistance and also doing some
hill-climbs etc.
If you’re in the gym environment, try the
elliptical trainer. It fuses the motion of
stair-climbing with cross-country skiing which
is a rock-solid challenge for knees, glutes and
thighs.
The gliding motion is easy on the joints and
great for fat burning. N-JOY!
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:
Listening To Your
Intuition
When was the last
time you had a gut
feeling about
something and you
actually listened to
it? Most times,
people ignore their
gut feeling.
Intuition is that
still, small voice
that speaks to you
from the core of
your gut, the core
of your being and
acts as a compass to
point you to your
true north. It’s
that voice that
tells you to hold
your tongue when you
are really angry
with someone and you
feel like lashing
out at them with
unkind words. It’s
that feeling you get
about someone and
you know you just
have to call them to
see if they are
okay. It’s that
voice of absolute
certainty that helps
you give your final
decision on
something without
any doubt
whatsoever.
A common phrase
being used by my
clients more often
now than ever before
is “I’m so confused,
I don’t know what to
do.”
Confusion happens
when you become
disconnected from
your intuitive
compass. Take a look
around you and you
will notice why
there is this
disconnection in
people nowadays.
People are so busy
maintaining online
connections on
several social media
platforms, that they
are actually deeply
disconnected with
one’s own self. In
experiencing this
disconnection, you
become deaf to your
intuitive voice and
once this happens,
you start feeling
confused about
things. You lack
clarity in your
vision of how you
want to live this
life. You lack
clarity in your
purpose.
Maintaining clarity
in life is vital.
Avoiding confusion
is essential.
Clarity comes when
you look within
yourself to find
your core’s purity
and then connect
with ALLAH in that
state of purity. For
as long as
self-criticism and
self-loathing exist
in your mind,
achieving clarity
remains challenging,
sometimes
impossible.
Connecting with
ALLAH and pondering
over the verses from
the Holy Quran are
the only ways to
find answers to
these three
questions:
- Who am I?
- Why am I here?
- What is my true
purpose?
A Daily Practice
To Connect WIth And
Listen To Your
Intuition
As you embrace this
daily practice and
avoid negative
patterns, you will
notice your inner
world will become
peaceful, your mind
settled, your
decision-making
ability much better
and your beliefs and
goals much, much
clearer and
steadfast.
Do
Don’t
Make
your
surroundings
orderly
and
uncluttered
Involve
yourself
in
situations
that are
disordered
and
stressful
Take a
close
look at
stresses
that
need to
be
addressed
Push
your
work
time to
the
limit of
exhaustion,
mental
or
physical
Keep
away
from
negative
influences
Be tied
down by
other
people's
opinions
and
attitudes
Find a
friend
or
confidant
who
shares
your
virtues
Let
stress
go
unaddressed
Centre
yourself
several
times a
day
whenever
you feel
distracted
or
unsettled
Let a
good
night's
sleep
slip by
more
than
once a
week
Go
outside
to
experience
the calm
and
inspiration
of
nature
Immerse
yourself
in bad
news and
the
world's
chaotic
unrest
Ignore
your
body's
signals;
be aware
of when
it wants
rest,
nourishment,
downtime,
and a
chance
to reset
itself
through
meditation
and
quiet
time
alone
Gadget
detox -
keep all
gadgets
away
from
bedroom
so that
your
sleep is
uninterrupted
Forget
to
provide
yourself
with
pure
food,
water,
and air
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.
Jallaludin: Last year I
replaced all the windows in my house with those
expensive double-pane energy-efficient kind.
Mula Nasruddin: So how did
the installation go?
Jallaludin: Yesterday, I got a call from the contractor
who installed them. He was complaining that the windows
had been installed a whole year ago, and I hadn't paid
for them yet.
Mula Nasruddin: Had you?
Jallaludin: No, because I told him just exactly what his
fast-talking sales guy had told me last year..namely,
that in just ONE YEAR these windows would pay for
themselves!
Habibi! ! (I told him). 'It's been a year'!
Mula Nasruddin: How did he
take it?
Jallaludin: There was only silence at the other end of
the line, so I finally just hung up. He hasn't called
back, probably too embarrassed about forgetting the
guarantee they made me. Bet he won't underestimate my
intelligence again.
....Let there be no
obscenity, nor wickedness,
nor wrangling in the Hajj.
And whatever good you do,
[be sure] Allah knows it.
And take a provision [with
you] for the journey, but
the best of provisions is
right conduct.....
The An-Nur youth
group presents
our 'Youth
Masquerade Ball'
at Michael's
Oriental coming
up at the end of
this month on
Sunday the 30
June.
Celebrate end of
term with your
friends & join
in with some fun
games, Quizzes,
competitions
with prizes &
loads more.
Check out the
latest designer
clothing range
by Kira House of
Fashion.
The Ball's theme
is black and
gold with a
formal but
modest dress
code. Get
creative &
design your mask
for the Ball as
there are prizes
to be won.
Don't miss out,
secure your
seats, taking
bookings now.
Contact details
on the flyer
please call
Anosh on 0410
049 881 or 0404
920 621 for more
information.
“And the servants of
the Most Merciful
are those who walk
upon the earth
gently, and when the
ignorant address
them harshly, they
say words of peace.”
(Qur’an 25:63)
“Islamic
environmentalism is
embedded in the
matrix of Islamic
teachings. The
Qur’an, the holy
text of the Muslims,
is inherently
conservationist and
much of it has to do
with how humans
being relate to the
natural world and
the benefits that
accrue from
protecting it. The
Qur’an is holistic
and it defines
humanity’s place in
creation as khalifa
or steward. There
are two layers to
Islamic
environmentalism: A
body of ethics based
on the Qur’an which
we would define as
Knowledge of
Creation (Ilm ul
khalq) and a body of
practical action
which we would
define as natural
resource management
(Fiqh al bi’ah).”
Excerpted from
“Exploring
Environmental Ethics
in Islam – Insights
from the Qur’an and
the Practice of
Prophet Muhammad” by
Fazlun Khalid
Creation is being
put under enormous
strain by climate
change. There’s been
much debate about
who should do what
to address this
grave issue.
Encouragingly
however, there’s
actually a lot we
can do ourselves.
Join Mark Delaney
(author of
Low
Carbon and Loving
It) and others from
the
Australian
Religious Response
to Climate Change,
as they explore how
we can reduce our
own carbon
footprint, and in so
doing, lead a life
that is not only
more environmentally
responsible, but is
also more fulfilling
and true to our
spiritual heritage.
The workshop will be
highly interactive,
with plenty of
discussion, and
group work. This is
an
interdenominational
and interfaith event
- open to all people
of good will. The
workshop is free and
includes a shared
afternoon tea. Tea,
coffee and juice
will be provided.
Please bring a plate
to share.
Dates:
Sat 15 June,
2-5pm, repeated on
Sun 30th June 2-5pm.
Venue:
St
Andrew's Anglican
Church, South
Brisbane
160 Vulture St,
South Brisbane,
Queensland 4101
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..
Share your
thoughts, feelings and ambitions for our community through CCN.
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someone you know who would like to subscribe to CCN please
encourage them to enter their details
here.
"Naseema
Mustapha has been a member
of the Student
Administration Team at QCGU
since early 2019 and has
been a great asset in terms
of her client service. As a
current student she has an
understanding and empathy
for our students and a great
ability to communicate
across all levels of staff.
Echoes of al-Andalus: The Portuguese town
celebrating its forgotten Islamic past
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7
August 2011