At the annual Rotary Club of
Archerfield changing of the
guards, Haji Sultan Deen was
installed as the President,
his 4th stint as the club's
leader in his over 30 years
of service to the
organization.
Many members of the Brisbane
Muslim community were
recognized for their
contributions to the
community and, in
particular, for their
efforts in supporting the
Queensland Drought Appeal by
way of hay deliveries and
monetary donations.
In addition to members of
the Deen Family, Dr Mustafa
Ally (Crescents Community
News), Riyaad Ally
(Muslim Aid Australia), Mr
Ismail Cajee (Islamic
Council of QLD) and Mr Yusuf
Khatree (Muslim Charitable
Foundation) were
acknowledged on the night
with Rotary contributing 40
polio vaccines for each
recipient of an award.
Mustafa Deen of MACTRANS was made a Paul
Harris Fellow in recognition
of his business's
contribution to Rotary's
causes.
Members of the Queensland Faith
Communities Council visited
the Rochedale Mosque to
gain some understanding of
Muslim religious practices
and an insight
and better understanding of
the Islamic way of life.
Resident
Imam of the Mosque, Sifet
Omerovic arranged for
Dr Adis Duderija of Griffith
University to present a talk and
answer questions raised by
the visitors. Dr Duderija
teaches and researches on
progressive Islam, salafism,
Islam and gender, western
Muslims' identity
construction and inter-faith
dialogue.
Dr Sadeq Mustapha also
address the audience on
spiritual values and Faisal
Essof handed out a booklet
he complied on the Islamic
religion and each one was
also given an MCF
magazine.
The group have also visited
the Quaker church and the
Hari Krishna temple and have
planned visits to other
religious places of worship.
They appeared to enjoy their
visit a great deal: "It was a pleasure to visit
such a beautifully kept
mosque and receive such a
welcoming reception from
Imam Sifet."
Dr Mustafa Ally shares his
experiences in online teaching
and learning wit the Alims.
The Brisbane-based
Academy Alliance plans
to offer linguistic study of
the Quran online starting in
2020.
Led by Imam Ikram Buksh out
of Slacks Creek Mosque, this
initiative will be run by
young Alims who currently
teach some 60 students in
daily face-to-face classes.
Academy Alive will soon be
embarking on a promotional
Queensland regional tour. If
you would like the team to
visit your town or city
message them from their
Facebook Page.
For the past six months, the
Hurricane Stars Club has
been developing a workshop
series with a local computer
gaming expert, Dr Tania
McMahon.
The workshops were developed
as a result of constant
feedback from parents about
their concerns over the
amount of time their
children spent on electronic
devices, either playing
games, watching videos or on
social media. Parents did
not know how to break the
bad habits their children
were developing, while at
the same time, it was
apparent that their children
did not listen to them about
the dangers of too much
screen time.
The Hurricane Stars Club
team felt the best way to
tackle this growing problem
in society was to develop
two-prong approach, one
aimed at parents and the
other at the children
themselves.
This was developed into a
workshop firstly for parents
to advise them how to change
both their own and their
children’s behaviours
regarding usage of screen
time.
The second workshop
especially for children was
presented in a fun and
interactive manner, so as it
does not become just a
boring lecture and so that
they can understand better
the important concepts being
presented.
The workshops were a great
success with around 100
parents and children
attending both workshops.
The workshops were held at
the Hurricane Stars Club
Centre in Logan Central and
the venue was stretched
beyond its capacity to fit
in all the attendees.
Every kind of chair in the
office was used; while some
parents had to stand along
the back wall and some
children had to sit on the
floor to be able to all fit
in and listen to the
workshop.
The presenter, Dr Tania
McMahon was very happy with
the amazing turn out and all
the positive feedback she
received for her
presentation from all those
who attended.
After the workshops, the
Hurricane Stars Club
provided afternoon tea for
the attendees to allow them
to socialise and discuss the
workshop amongst themselves
and talk to the presenter.
Hurricane Stars Club is very
grateful to the Islamic
Council of Queensland for
their support of the
workshops and Zapparas
Lawyers for their
sponsorship of the
workshops.
Other school holiday
activities
The Hurricane Stars Club
also hosted a number of
other school holiday
activities. We had a make
your own herb garden
activity, in which the
children planted three
different herbs in specially
-made pots which they could
bring home to grow their own
herbs. We are grateful to
Muslim Aid for donating the
seedlings and pots for this
activity.
For the teen boys, we
organised the program Boys
Day Out ! with Male adult
volunteers sacrificing their
time to mentor and guide the
boys in a fun day at the
Daisy Hills Conservation
Park. More than 18 boys
participated in a walk,
visited the Koala
Conservation Centre, played
games, listened to
motivational talk as well as
had a BBQ picnic.
We then had a sewing class
for teen / tween girls where
they made their own
beautiful pencil cases,
guided by a sister who is
passionate about sewing .
This activity not only
introduced the art of sewing
but also helped the girls to
learn perseverance and
patience. We are thankful
for the beautiful fabrics
used that were donated by a
lovely sister in the
community.
This School Holidays was
also an opportunity for the
Hurricane Stars Club to join
the Logan City Council’s
Krank school holidays
program as a provider.
This school holidays we
hosted a successful Soccer
Workshop for girls and
Alhamdillah the program was
a resounding success. More
than 15 girls enjoyed the
Soccer Workshop that was
held at the Multicultural
Sports Club in Kingston and
they are looking forward to
joining our free weekly
girls soccer training every
Tuesday afternoon at Gould
Adams Park as part of the
Live Well Logan program.
For more exciting and fun
activities for all members
of the family, please like
and follow the Hurricane
Stars Club Facebook page and
Instagram.
Filming for part 2 of
Before 1770 has begun.
Public help is being called
for, given that this project
is entirely community
funded. The film will be a
movie-length feature and
will play on major networks.
In 2020, Australia will be
introduced to this part of
history in a very positive,
yet significant way. There
are many surprises and
stories to tell, especially
on the back of the team's
visit to Sulawesi Island
Indonesia.
The producers have also made
the decision to build a
replica ship (prau) and sail
it to Australia in Nov/Dec
2019.
To coincide with the
screening, Dr Annie Clarke
from Sydney University will
be compiling an illustrative
book with details, which
will fit well into the
Australian curriculum.
In the mountains she dwells.
Away from all that shines,
dazzles, glitters and
sparkles.
I met her there, appearing
from the woods suddenly,
standing next to my tent, I
looked up.
She smiled.
She watched me set up camp,
perch my Apple gadgets on
the thick sleeping bag,
unpack the knapsack of
muesli bars, bottled
filtered water, canned tuna,
a dog-eared travel magazine,
pen-torch, my sneakers...
She watched me.
I smiled and said, "Just
wanna chill in nature for a
bit, you see."
She began to walk away.
"Come chill with me. I've
got cool things. Come see,"
I said.
She looked at me, then at my
neatly arranged tent, then
she looked far at the
valley, then she walked up
to me and looked into my
eyes, and said, "I see it.
In your bottled water, I see
trapped rainfall. In the
torch, I see trapped light.
In the tinned food, I see
trapped dead fish. In your
magazine, I see trapped
dreams. In your sneakers, I
see trapped steps. In your
tent, I see a trapped city.
In your space, I feel
trapped."
Her confronting stare
pierced my eyes.
She touched my hand and
gently placed it over my
heart.
"You are in nature. Be one
with elements. Untrap
yourself" were her final
words before she disappeared
into the woods forever.
Yousuf Karimi
says he is not giving up on his
dream of a job in the
architecture industry.
A new study has found
migrants from Muslim
backgrounds in Australia are
still facing significant
barriers to employment,
despite having good English
language skills.
Yousuf Karimi migrated to
Australia from Afghanistan
in 2007 when he was 17.
His first priority was to
improve his English language
skills and fulfil his dream
of being the first person in
his family to go to
university.
"I worked very hard to
improve my English because
that was my goal," he said.
"I have to study something,
you know?
"I just don't want to be
like the rest of my friends
who couldn't have the chance
to study.
"They want to go to
university but they don't
have that chance.
"Here we have opportunities,
here we can go and study."
Mr Karimi did just that,
graduating with his
bachelor's degree and then
his master's in architecture
from RMIT at the end of last
year.
However, while almost all of
his classmates now have jobs
in architecture, he has not
even been given an interview
after applying for more than
50 roles.
Instead, he is working in
retail.
"It's very, very
frustrating," he said.
"Especially when you keep
getting all the rejections -
you just want to say you're
sick and tired of applying
for a job.
"Because it keeps you
discouraged, there's no more
motivation that you keep on
applying for the job.
"At least you receive some
good emails saying to keep
trying."
Better English language
skills lead to higher
education levels
A new study from Deakin
University is shedding some
light on why highly
qualified migrants like Mr
Karimi are having trouble
breaking into the job
market.
The study found the
education levels of Muslim
migrants improve when they
have higher English skills.
However, their employment
prospects do not.
Doctor Cahit Guven, the
economics lecturer who led
the research project, said
this is not the case for
non-Muslim migrants.
"If you compare, you know, a
non-Muslim immigrant with
better English skills to
another non-Muslim immigrant
with lower English skills,
we find that they actually
have much better labour
market outcomes, which means
they are much more likely to
[find] work and they have
better wages.
"Once we look at the Muslim
immigrants, we find that
this is not the case.
"If you compare a Muslim
immigrant with better
English skills to another
Muslim immigrant with, you
know, lower English skills,
that, you know, there is no
difference in terms of their
employment."
The Lebs is the second novel
by Michael Mohammed Ahmad —
a journey deep in to the
heart of the real life
Punchbowl Boys High in
Western Sydney where the
boys ignore the teachers and
are routinely sent to the
Principal's office.
It follows the gifted
student Bani Adam who loves
Lolita and lusts after his
English teacher.
It also explores what it
means to be a Leb, which
doesn't just refer to
Lebanese Australians, but
encompasses the broader
Muslim Australian experience
of boys at the school.
Dr Michael Mohammed Ahmad is
the first Arab-Australian
Muslim man from Western
Sydney to be shortlisted for
his award.
Michael Mohammed Ahmad is
director of Sweatshop:
Western Sydney Literacy
Movement.
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.....
REFLECTION, CURIOSITY AND
THE ‘WHITE’ CONVERTS TO
ISLAM
There is no doubt that
British or European Muslims
would not have faced the
same immigration, work or
social restrictions as their
Asiatic counterparts, simply
because they were ‘White’.
Although Grafton was once a
man of the Church, he came
from an ordinary family.
Conversion to Islam did not
improve his economic status
and, while he was made a
leader of the local Muslim
community, his newfound
position and the associated
publicity, afforded him
little material gain.
One article assured the
reading public that “he will
not starve” and praised his
“keen brain,” adding that he
was not the sort of chap
“gone wrong” but a
“well-read, well-balanced
man, with extensive
knowledge, and a lot of
common sense.”
Grafton used the publicity
and engaged Australian
audience to clarify popular
misconceptions about Islam,
including polygamy and
blasphemy, and share the
aspirations of his growing
community.
He made no attempt to hide
the fact he was “training”
converts including “two
ex-Presbyterians” as well as
a Roman Catholic whom he
“took from the Communist
camp.”
As a more acceptable member
of the emerging Australian
nation, Grafton was also in
a better position to play
the role of go-between,
which gave him access to
press media.
Other literate Australian
Muslims like Musa Khan also
had access to the press;
however, they were more
often than not ridiculed and
shut down, based solely on
their colour and race.
That is not to suggest that
converts were completely
immune to Australia’s
protectionist program.
Grafton’s public statements
were cleverly worded, with
subtle innuendos to
occasional institutionalised
discrimination.
One of the greatest
challenges facing his
community was social
engagement, as they had no
adequate meeting place.
Grafton spoke of building a
large mosque in Sydney that
would not be primarily a
place of worship, but “a
sort of social club,” and
perhaps knowing this was not
easily achievable, he added
“the sky is our mosque to
pray under.”
Grafton continued to work
towards meeting this
essential need; however, the
possibility ended with his
death in 1935.The existence
of what can be referred to
as “closet European Muslims”
was also raised by Grafton
who claims: Among the
European Mahommedans in
Sydney are many
well-educated men in the
Civil Service. One of our
most prominent men is a high
official in the Education
Department.
He dare not reveal his
religion, for there would be
an outcry at a Mahommedan
teaching young Australians.
This idea was certainly
supported by numerous other
articles published about
Australian Muslim converts.
Australian diggers feature
most prominently in these
pieces, which often reveal
the conversion following the
death of the soldier.
One such example was that of
Aly Azireldin, who died in
Cairo in 1939.
Azireldin was formerly
Australian Peter Austen, who
enlisted for the Great War
and “served on Gallipoli and
in Egypt with the Australian
Army Medical Corps.”
Austen, who was a
journalist, returned to
Australia following the war,
but decided to go back to
Egypt in 1920 where he
worked selling carpets and
curios before starting a
private school in 1924. His
death in Egypt revealed the
digger’s conversion to the
press and, unwittingly, his
story.
The respectful and objective
reflection was republished,
with little variation, in at
least five different
Queensland newspapers.
In small towns across
Pakistan, emigrant families
have been building huge
mansions for decades. But
behind every mansion lies
heartache. This is Ahsan's
story..
My week as a Muslim
Islam is the
religion of Peace and Love
Documentary About a
Christian Lady Being Muslim
for a week
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.
Islamic
headscarf:
Iran's
promotional
video divides
opinion
By BBC News
An
"inappropriately
dressed"
woman is
encouraged
to
switch
attire
As part of Hijab
week in Iran, a
video endorsed
by the Islamic
Revolution
Guards Corps
promoting the
Islamic
headscarf has
created a social
media stir.
In the clip,
produced by the
Basij Cyberspace
organisation, an
"inappropriately
dressed" young
woman enters a
shop that sells
fake jewellery.
The woman, who
is also the
film's narrator,
says the male
shopkeeper gives
her "a peculiar
look and a
meaningful
smile".
When she asks
about real
jewellery, he
tells her she
needs to go to a
store where
jewellery is
"kept in seven
boxes and locked
in seven safes".
He also tells
her anything
that is valuable
is "hard to
access and
commands special
respect", while
appearing to
lean low and
stare at her.
When a woman
enters wearing a
full-body veil,
the chador, the
man stands up
straight and
bows his head.
The clip ends
with the first
woman - now
dressed in a
chador - saying:
"I realised I
had to make a
change. I
understand the
difference
between fake and
genuine
jewellery."
It has been
viewed on
Twitter 114,000
times since
posted, and has
inspired some
people to share
their views.
Responses to the
animation have
been mixed. One
woman,
apparently
pro-establishment,
felt it did not
help promote the
hijab at all and
disliked being
compared to
jewellery,
tweeting: "I'm a
human being.
Don't downgrade
us to goods,"
A man who
claimed to be a
shopkeeper said
he was more
vigilant with
chador wearers
as they could
sneak things
under their
clothes.
Another woman
tells the
"absolute
jewels" to
"leave us fakes
alone", implying
that she does
not like being
told to wear the
full-length
veil.
Some have
lamented that
the animation is
"ridiculous" and
a waste of
mobile data.
In Iran, the law
requires women
to wear modest
"Islamic"
clothing. In
practice, this
means women must
wear a chador, a
full-body cloak,
or a headscarf
and a manteau
(overcoat) that
covers their
arms.
In 2018, there
were posters in
cities and towns
comparing
unveiled women
to unwrapped
candy and
lollipops
attracting
unwanted
attention from
flies.
BBC
Arab world
turns its back
on religion –
and its ire on
the US
Survey
of
25,000
people
in
Middle
East and
North
Africa
Trust in
religious
leaders
decreased
in each
of the
11
states
and
territories
surveyed
bar
Lebanon.
Fifty years
after his
imprisonment,
the activist
example of Imam
Abdullah Haron
lives on
Imam
Abdullah
Haron is
known in
South
Africa
as one
of the
most
renowned
martyrs
of the
anti-apartheid
struggle.
He is
pictured
here at
a mosque
library
in 1967.
(The
Haron
Foundation)
CONTINUED
FROM LAST WEEK'S
CCN......
That may be
changing,
however. Around
the time of the
fiftieth
anniversary of
Imam Haron’s
arrest, a
completely
unrelated letter
was issued
seeking clemency
for several
Muslim preachers
who are
currently in
detention in
Saudi Arabia.
The letter was
drafted, hosted
and supported by
very traditional
mainstream
scholars,
particularly
Shaykh Faraz
Rabbani of
Canada and
Shaykh Salman
Younas of the
United States.
It’s an
interesting
development, and
one that is new
in the
contemporary
context. First,
it was conceived
and continues to
be dominated by
traditional
scholars, rather
than Brotherhood
or certain sorts
of Salafi types,
who might have
been expected to
voice their
thoughts loudly
on political
matters. Second,
the letter
wasn’t issued
about a
traditional
mainstream
scholar, like a
Sufi shaykh or
someone of that
ilk. It was
issued in
support of
several more
moderate leaning
Salafi preachers
― that is, not
the same ‘camp’
as Rabbani and
Younas.
For Younas, the
reasoning was
quite simple. As
he told me, it
was about
“transcending
the
activist-scholar
frame and
recognising that
being a scholar
in Islam means
being a leader
and exemplar for
the wider
community who
has a religious
duty to be a
voice of moral
clarity to
people.” His
training in
mainstream,
traditional
Islamic
teachings had
taught him that,
“especially in
contexts of
oppression and
suffering, it
requires some of
us to speak out
firmly and
courageously
with wisdom, and
lend whatever
little support
we can to the
oppressed and
their families.”
Maybe not
everyone with
that training
had to do it,
but some do ―
and those that
do not are still
obliged not to
side with
oppression.
Ten years ago, I
thought Britain
was becoming
more tolerant. I
was wrong
Autobiography
and memoir by
Sarfraz Manzoor
Sarfraz
Manzoor
recalled
the
racism
of his
childhood
in Luton
in his
memoir
Greetings
from
Bury
Park. As
a film
adaptation
is
released,
he asks
how much
has
really
changed
A scene
from the
new film
adaptation
of
Sarfraz
Manzoor’s
memoir,
Blinded
by the
Light
Boris Johnson
was still a
backbench
Conservative MP
and Donald Trump
was a property
developer and
reality
television star
in the summer
that Greetings
from Bury Park
was published.
It was June
2007. I was 36,
a journalist and
broadcaster
living in
London. The
world I worked
in was white,
middle-class and
metropolitan – a
long way from
the world in
which I had been
raised. I had
grown up in
Luton, the
working-class
son of Pakistani
parents.
My father
arrived in
Britain in 1963
and my mother
followed 11
years later with
their three
children. I was
almost three
years old. Bury
Park was the
Asian district
of Luton, and my
father worked on
the production
line at the
Vauxhall car
factory while my
mother was a
seamstress at
home.
My childhood was
defined by a
lack of money
and a vivid
awareness that
my future was
limited by my
class and my
colour. When I
managed to get
to university
and build a
career in the
media, it became
apparent that
what I had
considered an
ordinary
upbringing was
very different
from those of
the people I
worked among.
It was also
striking that I
never saw lives
like mine
depicted in
popular culture
or in books.
Working-class
lives, Muslim
lives, lives
defined by their
apparent
ordinariness.
When I started
working on a
memoir, I did so
with the
ambition of
opening up the
world in which I
had been raised.
I pictured my
mother, Rasool
Bibi, walking
along a street
in Bury Park in
her traditional
shalwar kameez.
What would a
white person,
someone who
could not speak
Urdu, think of
her? What
questions would
they wish to ask
her if they
could? I set
about writing my
book with the
hope that by
writing very
specifically I
might tell a
more universal
story. Perhaps
it was possible
that sharing my
family’s history
would help to
normalise this
immigrant tale,
and confirm that
stories like
ours belonged
within the
larger narrative
of British
history.
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
Many families
attended the opening ceremony
CONTINUED FROM LAST
WEEK'S CCN....
The shared Mediterranean
Despite never having studied
archaeology, Leila Ali, a visitor to the
Mertola festival, agrees. Originally
from Egypt, Ali has been living in
Portugal for twelve years.
“I lived in Germany before moving to
Portugal, but I didn’t like it. It was
cold, and people were cold. In Portugal,
people are like Arabs. They are warm and
friendly,” she adds with a smile.
Ali has been coming to the festival
since 2011, but she tells MEE that this
year’s festival, held between 16 and 19
May, was more difficult because it
coincided with Ramadan.
“It’s hard to reconcile the programme
with fasting,” says Ali.
Hussein Beddar is another regular
visitor, having been coming to Mertola
for 15 years. Originally from Algeria,
he has been living in Madrid for 35
years. Despite being tired from fasting
and the heat, he spent the day serving
tea to guests and selling Arabic sweets
in the market.
“I don’t mind serving tea while I’m
fasting,” says Beddar, describing at
length what he plans to eat when the sun
sets. “Mertola is special and I love
being here,” he adds.
But many regret that local Muslim
communities were not more involved in
planning the festival. Others fear that
despite good intentions, the Islamic
festival in Portugal might perpetuate
Orientalist fantasies and reproduce
cliches about Islam.
“There is the danger of the festival
becoming a 'folklorisation', which is
also a way of creating distance,” warns
Cardeira da Silva. “The aim should be
contradicting the problem of othering.
Mertola should show that the other is
also part of us.”
Vandals target a billboard
advertising an Islamic art exhibit
The vandalized billboard has
been replaced.
USA: A billboard advertising an Islamic
art exhibit at the Philbrook Museum of
Art in Tulsa was vandalized Tuesday,
according to the museum's director.
The billboard, which has since been
replaced, featured a piece of ceramic
pottery and text that read, "1,200 years
of Islamic Art." Someone wrote "HOME
GROWN TERROR!" in black spray paint on
the billboard and the one below it.
The Tulsa Police Department has not
responded to a request for comment.
Museum Director Scott Stulen said he has
seen an outpouring of community support
since the incident.
"What's been really great is seeing the
community rally behind us for this," he
said. "Even if they don't necessarily
want to support the museum, they don't
want to see this hate in their
community."
The Oklahoma chapter of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations said it was
both saddened and frustrated.
"Philbrook's exhibition shows now, more
than ever, the importance of our
understanding and appreciation of the
Muslim community, both here and abroad,"
CAIR-OK Civil Rights Director Veronica
Laizure said.
Saudi Cabinet warns Hajj pilgrims not
to mix politics with religion
Saudi Arabia’s
Council of Ministers, chaired by
King Salman, urged pilgrims to
be considerate of the privacy
and spirituality of the holy
places and not to engage in
political acts
SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi Arabia warned
pilgrims on Tuesday not to mix politics
with religion while performing Hajj.
During a meeting of the Saudi Cabinet,
chaired by King Salman, pilgrims were
urged to be considerate of the privacy
and spirituality of the holy places and
not to engage in political acts.
The warning follows a veiled threat by
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei of
disruption and possible political
demonstrations by Iranian pilgrims at
this year’s Hajj, and criticism of Saudi
organization of the pilgrimage.
“Among major mistakes is that they say,
‘Do not politicize Hajj’,” Khamenei
said. “Creating unity is a political
matter. Supporting and defending the
oppressed in the world of Islam, like
the Palestinian and Yemeni nations, is a
political matter, based on Islamic
teachings and obligations.
“Hajj is a political act and this
political act is … a religious
obligation,” the ayatollah said.
The Iranian leader also suggested that
Saudi security measures at the annual
pilgrimage were too tough. “The Saudi
government bears major
responsibilities,” he said. “Among their
responsibilities is protecting the
safety and security of pilgrims, but
they should not spread a security
atmosphere.
“While the pilgrims are in Makkah and
Madinah, they should treat the pilgrims
properly, respectfully, and with honor,
because they are the guests of God.”
The ayatollah’s remarks were also
condemned by the exiled Iranian author
and journalist Amir Taheri. “Khamenei
has ended the 10-year truce on Hajj, and
called for demonstrations during the
next pilgrimage,” Taheri said.
“The stage is set for riots by pilgrims
sent by Tehran to Saudi Arabia to incite
violence during Hajj.
“Saudi Arabia may regret having
increased Iran’s Hajj quota by almost
10,000. This year some 90,000 Iranian
pilgrims may turn the Islamic ritual
into an anti-American demonstration that
could lead to clashes among pilgrims,
and with Saudi security.”
The Saudi Minister of Media, Turki Al-Shabanah,
called on worshippers to refrain from
taking part in any political activities
— such as the raising of slogans — that
might disturb the pilgrimage. He said
the Kingdom would not accept such
behavior, and would take all necessary
action to prevent misconduct.
Chairing the ministerial meeting in
Jeddah, King Salman welcomed pilgrims
and directed all Hajj organizing bodies
to continue providing security,
stability and tranquility for the
visitors.
Insurgent Empire: Anticolonial Resistance and British
Dissent
by
Priyamvada Gopal
How
rebellious colonies changed British
attitudes to empire
Insurgent Empire shows how
Britain’s enslaved and colonial subjects
were active agents in their own
liberation. What is more, they shaped
British ideas of freedom and
emancipation back in the United Kingdom.
Priyamvada Gopal examines a century of
dissent on the question of empire and
shows how British critics of empire were
influenced by rebellions and resistance
in the colonies, from the West Indies
and East Africa to Egypt and India. In
addition, a pivotal role in fomenting
resistance was played by anticolonial
campaigners based in London, right at
the heart of empire.
Much has been written on how colonized
peoples took up British and European
ideas and turned them against empire
when making claims to freedom and
self-determination. Insurgent Empire
sets the record straight in
demonstrating that these people were
much more than victims of imperialism
or, subsequently, the passive
beneficiaries of an enlightened British
conscience—they were insurgents whose
legacies shaped and benefited the nation
that once oppressed them.
Britain’s story of empire is
based on myth. We need to
know the truth By Priyamvada Gopal
If we were taught just how
much the UK was shaped by
its colonies, the shared
history would unite rather
than divide us
The Indian Rebellion of
1857: ‘In reality,
resistance, often violent
resistance alongside famous
non-violent movements, was a
central part of the story.
These days we’ve become
wearily accustomed to
depictions of Brexit Britain
as oppressed by a
villainously imperial
Europe. Annexed “without
permission”, Nigel Farage
claimed melodramatically,
defending Brexit party MEPs
against charges of
“disrespecting” the European
Parliament. In a
particularly far-fetched
comparison, Ann Widdecombe
MEP has compared Brexit with
the resistance of “slaves
against their owners” and
“colonies against empires”.
Prime ministerial
frontrunner Boris Johnson
too has spoken of Britain’s
supposed “colony status” in
the EU though, with a
familiar double standard, he
also believes that it would
be good if Britain was still
“in charge” of Africa.
These bizarre comparisons
can be made and go
unchallenged because the
stark fact remains that most
Britons know very little
about the history of the
empire itself, still less
the way in which its long
afterlife profoundly shapes
both Britain and the wider
world today.
This great amnesia or
“shocking lack of
understanding” has led a
respected race equality
thinktank, the Runnymede
Trust, to call this week for
the teaching of the
intertwined histories of
empire and migration to be
made compulsory in secondary
schools. Migration and
empire are “not marginal
events”, its report rightly
notes, but “central to our
national story”.
Most students would welcome
this move. Mine often tell
me, regretfully, how little
they were taught about the
empire at school or, when it
was addressed at all, how
selectively. They want to
know more and to know the
truth. While some
Conservative politicians,
such as former schools
secretary Michael Gove, have
also stressed the need to
teach the British empire,
their preference is for
mythology over history, a
drums-and-trumpet “island
story” in which Britannia
munificently scattered
“British values” across the
globe like so much imperial
confetti. The enormous scale
of resistance to empire and
the terrifying bloodshed it
took to quell that
resistance are either hidden
or deliberately played down.
My new book, Insurgent
Empire, shows how this
resistance and repression
influenced another strand of
British history few Britons
know anything about –
criticism of empire and
colonialism within Britain
itself over centuries. There
is much to be proud of here,
especially those
clear-sighted Britons who
refused mythmaking and
insisted on solidarity with
those at the receiving end
of exploitation and
dispossession, whatever
their skin colour.
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:
Foster A Healthy
Marriage With Couple
Goals
Your marriage is a
soulful platform
where you and your
spouse can thrive
with love, mutual
respect,
understanding,
kindness and service
to each other to
become better in
your deen.
It’s not always
easy. Marriage is
hard work, and like
everything that is
hard to practise,
you will require
patience, compassion
for self and your
spouse and daily
goals to work
towards fostering a
healthy and
meaningful marriage.
It is one thing to
say “I love you” and
another to practise
it. Great virtues,
such as, love,
kindness,
understanding,
respect and service
must be cultivated
every single moment
in one’s life and
practised
consciously, every
single day.
Seven Couple
Goals
These seven couple
goals could be a
great start. Try
practising one a day
for a week and see
how you both feel on
the eighth day.
1. Find a quiet
moment, hold
each other’s hands,
look into each
other’s eyes and say
these words: I thank
ALLAH for blessing
my life with you.
Thank you for being
my soulmate.
2. Sit together
in a quiet space,
take one ayat from
the Holy Quran,
read it together and
ponder over it. Tell
each other how this
ayat is relevant to
your marriage.
3. Have a journal
where you both can
discuss your hopes
for the future.
Write them down.
Don’t worry about
how or when you are
going to do them.
Trust ALLAH to help
you both to realise
those hopes.
4. Sit facing
each other. Take
turns in paying each
other a compliment.
Really mean it when
you say it.
Graciously receive
the compliment.
5. Write a
heartfelt letter to
each other and
leave it on the
pillow as a
surprise.
6. Take a walk in
nature, just the two
of you and speak
only about ALLAH.
Admire all HIS
creations in nature.
7. Pray extra two
rakat salah to
express gratitude to
ALLAH for your
healthy marriage.
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.
Those who spend their
substance in the cause of
Allah, and follow up not
their gifts with reminders
of their generosity or with
injury, - for them their
reward is with their Lord:
on them shall be no fear,
not shall they grieve.
Located in the hear of St.Lucia and open
from 11:00am-9:30PM Daily, Zambeekas St.Lucia is always available
when you need it.
Zambeekas St. Lucia opened on
the 1st of May 2019 boasting the same delicious flame grilled BBQ
chicken flavour that Zambeekas is renowned for.
What started as an
inherited recipe of homemade basting sauces from a small town family of
the Zambezia Province has evolved into an intriguing range of Portuguese
cuisine tempting even the finest taste buds!
Who would have thought the
flavours of a small Portuguese settlement in
Mozambique in the 1500’s would unite these two vastly different flavours
so wonderfully!
This fusion is what Zambeekas is known for. Pop
into our St.Lucia Store and get to know why Brisbane loves Zambeekas!
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.
If there is
someone you know who would like to subscribe to CCN please
encourage them to enter their details
here.
Echoes of al-Andalus: The Portuguese town
celebrating its forgotten Islamic past
.jpg)
post comments on
our Wall
7
August 2011