In this years 2020 Australia
Day Honours an AM was
awarded to Professor
Mohamad ABDALLA
(pictured right) for his
significant service to
education in the field of
Islamic studies, and an OAM
was awarded to Ms Faiza
EL-HIGZI(pictured
left) for her service to
the community through social
welfare organisations.
Ms Tasneem CHOPRA
(pictured below) of
Victoria received an OAM for
her service to the community
through a range of roles.
The Islamic Council of
Queensland facilitated a
workshop of leaders of local
organizations to identify
strengths and opportunities
within the Muslim community
of Queensland.
The workshop was held at the
Islamic College of Brisbane
Function Hall and some 20
organizations were
represented some as far
afield as Mareeba, Mackay
and Gladstone.
Some of the priority items
identified from the
deliberations included:
The Australia Day Awards
recognises extraordinary
citizens who have made a
contribution to improve our
city. They may have achieved
something special in the
current year and/or served
the local community over
many years.
These citizens were
acknowledged and celebrated
at an event held at the
Logan Entertainment Centre
on Sunday 26 January 2020.
From right to left:
Saalihah Seedat, Gabrielle
Crotty, Annette Bird,
Shirley Fryer, Jason Roebig
On 18 January, Sisters
Support Services joined
Brothers in Need at the
Rochedale Mosque to raise
funds for people who have
been affected by the recent
bushfire.
It was a beneficial fun
filled family day out.
The bushfire Fundraising
event was filled with lawn
games, a soccer tournament,
henna and clothing stalls as
well as some great food and
desserts.
Despite the warm weather,
there was a large turnout
and great community support.
Sisters Support Services
thanks the community for
helping to make this a
successful fundraising
event, all for a good cause
On Saturday the 25 January
the Hurricane Stars Club Inc
hired the Bayside Water Park
at Carbrook. After anxiously
watching the weather reports
all week, everyone was very
grateful for the cloudy but
warm weather on Saturday
that made it a wonderful
afternoon. They booked the
whole lake, so it could be
made into a lady’s only
space, with only female
staff on duty and no men
around and miraculously
everyone arrived on time.
The ladies were able to try
cable skiing with either a
knee board or wake board,
kayaking, canoeing, stand up
paddle boarding and paddle
boating.
It was the first ever ladies
only water park event and 60
ladies and a small number of
children attended. The lake
was full of the sound of
lady’s laughter as ladies
from different backgrounds,
nationalities and ages, had
2 hours of fun at the lake.
It allowed the ladies to
challenge themselves to new
experiences in a variety of
ways. Ladies who had only
ever swam in swimming pools
challenged themselves to
swim for the first time in a
lake where the water was not
clear and they swam around
and learned to enjoy
touching the muddy bottom of
the lake.
Other brave sisters who
could not swim, put on life
jackets and tried out the
variety of water-based
activities and they
surprised themselves and
found they were very good at
it. Even thought there was a
high possibility that they
would fall off the board in
the middle of the lake with
only a lifejacket to prevent
them from drowning and
knowing they would have to
swim back to land, some
brave sisters who could not
swim tried knee boarding.
All attendees tried knee
boarding to various degrees
of success, as some
first-time knee boarders
were able to knee board
immediately and others took
a number of attempts before
they were successful.
Our volunteer program
coordinator was happy to be
able join the activity this
time, as she is usually too
busy organising the events
to join in the fun. As the
day was a wonderful success
and the ladies asked to do
the activity regularly, the
Hurricane Stars Club Inc
plans to make this activity
a yearly event for the
ladies to enjoy.
Following on from its
successful inaugural
citizenship ceremony in
2019, the Islamic Council of
Qld will be hosting its
second ceremony on 8
February from 2-4 pm at the
Holland Park Function Hall.
One hundred people will be
receiving their Australian
citizenship.
We will be keeping the car
park for VIP guests and
government officials as well
as disabled people receiving
citizenship. On street
parking will also be
required for conferees.
Police presence has been
required to control the
traffic.
ICQ is the first Islamic
organisation in Australia to
host citizenship ceremonies.
Sister Iqra facilitated two
workshops at the Kuraby
Mosque this month for young
boys and girls.
.
The two workshops were about
Dream-building and Values,
and Mind and Body Wellness
"These workshops were highly
interactive and I am
grateful for the positive
feedback I've received from
Imam Ahmed Naffa and
parents," Sister Iqra told
CCN.
Typical feedback about the
workshop: "Jazakhallahu
Khairan. Our son thoroughly
enjoyed your workshops.
'Awesome' was the word he
used to describe it. May
Allah reward you for all
your effort."
Again the Australian Muslim
community has once again
united to make a
Joint Submission on the
Second Exposure Draft.
More than 160 organizations
involved in the Australian
Muslim community were
signatories to this
submission (see Schedule 1
for the list of
organizations).
This submission puts forward
proposals aimed at
mitigating the chance of
another terror event like
those that befell
Christchurch from occurring
in Australia.
On the 2 October 2019, a
submission on the first
exposure draft of the
Religious Discrimination
Bill 2019 (the Bill) was
made.
That submission:
(a) Raised a concern
about the increasing
experience of
anti-Muslim sentiment in
the Australian Muslim
community which extended
to vilification and
other endangering
conduct on the grounds
of a person's religious
identity and/or the
manifestation of that
person's faith;
(b) Noted the absence of
adequate and consistent
appropriate laws at the
federal level and also
across the States and
Territories to deal with
the conduct of concern;
and
(c) Sought for a new
civil remedy to be
included in the Bill
dealing with
vilification.
It is apparent that the
second exposure draft of the
Bill remains silent on the
issue of vilification on the
grounds of person's
religious belief or
activity. As such, this
further submission relating
to the second exposure draft
of the Bill again highlights
the need for some civil
remedy to be included in the
Bill, to address the real
and present concerns
relating to vilification,
and conduct, which presents
a risk or endangerment to
the wellbeing and lives of
people of faith.
In the second exposure
draft, the Government carves
out what harmful expression
cannot be protected by the
Bill. This submission simply
asks that this clause work
both ways to operate as a
shield for people of faith.
Abu Hanifa Institute is
calling for support to
complete it's Before 1770
project:
"Now is the time to act and
change the narrative. We
cannot do this without you.
We are nearly there but need
your support. The last two
hurdles remain. Voice your
opinion through your
donation and shift the
discourse. The elements to
be revealed in this coming
documentary will leave you
in wonder and leave
Australians with an even
greater appreciation to the
extraordinary history this
land is home to and its
First Nations People."
Opinion by Rita
Markwell, Policy Advisor of Australian
Muslim Advocacy Network (AMAN)
The spiritual quest of a
Muslim (convert) woman
My own identity is
complicated because although
I took the Shahada a few
years ago, I am also
Lebanese and my extended
family is Lebanese Muslim.
So there are some things I
can connect on with born
Muslims even though my
immediate family growing up
was not religious. This is
nothing unusual. Many of us
have stories that refuse to
fit neatly within boxes. But
it might be also why I took
a particular interest in the
Islam in Australia survey
last year.
The study, led by Associate
Professor Halim Rane and a
research team at Griffith
University, detailed a
picture of Muslims in
Australia and how they
identify with, understand,
interpret and express Islam.
Alhamdulillah, their
research opened up important
conversations from many
angles, ranging from Quranic
interpretation, degrees of
felt community connection
and the experiences of
born/raised Muslims compared
to converted Muslims.
Participating in a focus
group on the survey results
last fortnight, it was
liberating to have a space
for candid and deep
reflection from a variety of
viewpoints.
Every time I attend an event
where I can be myself and be
completely honest, it’s like
a weight is lifted.
One of the issues raised was
why convert women in
particular tend to feel the
most isolated. One of my
comments was how challenged
I am by gender segregation.
The difficulty in broaching
deeper spiritual questions
where the majority of
knowledge holders appear to
be men; and where women
don’t have the same access
to traditional, spiritual
inquiry and conversation.
There is nothing more
nourishing that being able
to participate in a table
conversation about
spirituality in the presence
of formidable spiritual men
and women.
As a newish Muslim woman,
traversing the complex
landscape of new community,
new politics, new
battlegrounds – a solid
foundation in Islam is so
important. But for the most
part, I feel like a trainee
scuba diver, splashing
around underwater, getting
glimpses of the shadowy
azure depths. In all the
issues we face as a
community, I wonder whether
the ongoing spiritual
journey of women will ever
rise towards the top.
ICQ’s Playing your part
workshop
I was really heartened today
to be part of this community
experience, and to
facilitate the brainstorming
and discernment sessions.
What warmed my heart in
particular, was seeing new
faces step up and come
through – but also some
retired Elders stepping up
too. Every generation brings
strengths. Of course,
collaboration is a skill and
it’s what you make it.
Creating space for those
with the time, passion and
fresh perspective to take
the lead with the thinking
behind project ideas, while
still having the ‘sounding
board’ and ‘force multiplier
effect’ of those more
experienced about them,
might open new
possibilities. Let’s see,
Insha’Allah.
.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sister Rita Jabri-Markwell
is an advocate,
community supporter
and connecter. She
is allergic to cats,
but has a cute human
family. she can be
reached at
advocacy@aman.net.au
Quotes “Terrorism cannot be born
of religion. Terrorism is
the product of corrupt
minds, hardened hearts, and
arrogant egos, and
corruption, destruction, and
arrogance are unknown to the
heart attached to the
divine.”
“In Egypt, a civil state
means a modern nationalist
state that is compatible
with Islamist provisions.”
Statistics
10 years – served as the
Grand Mufti of Egypt
4.3 million followers on
social media.
Ali Gomaa
Former Grand Mufti of the
Arab Republic of Egypt
Sheikh Ali Gomaa is the
former Grand Mufti of the
Arab Republic of Egypt. He
is one of the foremost
Islamic scholars in the
world. Despite retiring from
the post of Grand Mufti of
Egypt in 2013, Gomaa has
remained active on many
fronts and his counsel is
more in demand than ever
before.
Influence Egypt’s Weight in Islamic
Scholarship: Gomaa’s
scholarly influence is
derived from his position at
the centre of many of the
most significant
institutions of Islamic law
in the world. Before
becoming Grand Mufti, Gomaa
was a professor of
jurisprudence at AlAzhar
University—the second oldest
university in the world,
founded in 975 CE—Gomaa also
served as a member of the
Fatwa Council. He is
currently a member of the
International Islamic Fiqh
Academy, the highest
institute of Islamic law in
the Organization of the
Islamic Conference—an
intergovernmental
organization for
Muslim-majority countries.
Gomaa has authored over 50
books, as well as hundreds
of articles.
Visit to the Holy Al-Aqsa
Mosque Controversy: On
April 18th, 2012, Sheikh Ali
Gomaa, with HRH Prince Ghazi
of Jordan, broke what had
been a 45 year taboo in some
parts of the Islamic World
(propagated notably by Qatar
based Sheikh Al-Qaradawi)
and visited the Al-Aqsa
Mosque in order to pray
there and support the
beleaguered Muslim community
in Jerusalem. The visit was
viewed as controversial in
Egypt, but set off a change
of public opinion in the
Islamic World that continues
to this day. The Grand Mufti
also visited the Church of
the Holy Sepulcher, which
was much appreciated by the
Christian community of
Jerusalem.
Personal Popularity:
Gomaa was exceedingly
popular as a mufti and
remains ever popular since
his retirement, although
some of his political
statements and pro-military
government stance after the
Egyptian Revolution have
tempered this support
somewhat. Apart from
appearing on popular
broadcasts and satellite
television programmes, he
also revived the practice of
informal ‘knowledge circles’
at the AlAzhar Mosque. At
his very well attended Q&A
sessions after his Friday
sermons, Gomaa makes a point
of taking on anyone who
tries to simplify or distort
Islamic teachings without
knowledge of its traditions.
This has made him extremely
popular with those who
vehemently oppose political
Islam, as well as also
making him a target for some
extremist Islamists. He
recently escaped an
assassination attempt
outside a mosque in Cairo.
Popularized and
Simplified Fatwas: Gomaa
has immense legal influence
through his advocacy of
Islamic religious edicts (fatwas).
When he was Grand Mufti of
Egypt, he modernized the
process of issuing fatwas in
the country. He did this by
overhauling the Dar Al-Ifta
organization into a dynamic
institution with worldwide
reach, based on a fatwa
council and a system of
checks and balances.
SAYYID
İBRAHIM DELLAL: AN ANALYSIS
OF UNTOLD STORIES OF A
‘LIVING HISTORY
by Salih Yucel
Abstract: İbrahim
Dellal (1932-2018) was a
community activist and
played a pioneering role in
establishing religious and
educational institutions
after his arrival in
Melbourne in early 1950.
As the grandson of a late
Ottoman mufti, being
educated at the American
Academy, a Baptist
missionary school in Cyprus,
clashed at times with his
traditional upbringing based
on Islam, service and
Ottoman patriotism.
İbrahim’s parents,
especially his mother,
raised their son to be
Osmanli Efendisi, an Ottoman
gentleman.
He was raised to be loyal to
his faith and dedicated to
his community. I met him in
the late 80s in Sydney and
discovered he was an
important community leader,
a ‘living history’, perhaps
the most important figure in
the Australian Muslim
community
since the mid-20th century.
He was also one of the
founders of Carlton and
Preston mosques, which were
the first places of worship
in Victoria. I wrote his
biography and published it
in 2010. However, later I
found he had more stories
related to Australian Muslim
heritage.
First, this article will
analyse İbrahim’s untold
stories from his unrevealed
archives that I collected.
Second, İbrahim’s
traditional upbringing,
which was a combination of
Western education and
Ottoman Efendisi, will be
critically evaluated. He
successfully amalgamated
Eurocentric education and
Islamic way of life.
Finally, his poetry, which
reflects his thoughts, will
be discussed.
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
IBRAHIM’S LINEAGE
....continued
from last week's CCN
Some of the things Braham
learned at the academy
contradicted what he had
learned at home. The purpose
of academy was “to provide
Christian education, which
encompassed not only
academic training but a
focus way of Christian
learning.”
His instructors taught
Ottoman history differently
to what Ibrahim learned from
his family. He envisioned
the Ottomans as civilised
people, dedicated to justice
and social welfare, whereas
his history books depicted
an imperialist empire
expanded by the sword.
Doubts formed in his mind
about the grand empire to
which his family was loyal.
He was hesitant to voice his
doubts to his parents out of
fear they would withdraw him
from the academy.
There were more issues that
added to the clash of
cultures. Despite enjoying
the dance lessons at school,
Ibrahim did not attend them
due to his religious and
cultural background, which
enforced separation of the
sexes.
He was wary of what his
parents would say if they
found out about the few
dancing lessons he took.
During the 1940s, Larnaca
was still conservative in
terms of family values and
gender relations. Boys and
girls would mingle at the
academy, but mixed
activities would not occur
too often after school.
Ibrahim questioned which way
was correct: the lifestyle
he experienced at the
academy or at home. This
uncertainty occasionally
distracted Ibrahim from his
studies. Sometimes he was
left under the greater
impression by his school
life, but as he pondered
over it, he felt guilty.
Most of the time, he wanted
to follow his parents’
teachings instead of the
school’s teachings. There
were some students who
converted to Protestantism
from Greek Orthodoxy,
Armenian Orthodoxy or
Judaism. Ibrahim added,
“There were a few Turks, but
I had not known of any of
them to change their faiths
at the Academy.”
Associate Professor Munjed
Al Muderis arrived in
Australia by boat, a people
smuggler’s boat. His story
began in Iraq, but even ten
months in WA’s Curtin
Immigration Detention
Centre, couldn’t stop him
becoming a fully-fledged
Aussie legend.
The former refugee is the
NSW Australian of the Year.
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.
TOPIC:
"Be the
architect of
your legacy" IMAM:
Ahmad
Ghazaleh
[CCN
Editor]
In this
khutbah,
the Imam
speaks of
the loss of
Br Noor
Mohammed
Parker
who passed
away
suddenly on
Thursday
afternoon at
his
workplace.
Br Noor's
contribution
to Kuraby
Mosque is
acknowledged,
and his kind
and
endearing
personality
is held up
as an
example to
be emulated.
The Friday
prayer was
followed by
Br Noor's
janaza
and burial
led by Imam
Akram Buksh,
and was
attended by
many
hundred's
who were
visibly
shaken and
devastated
by the news
of his
passing.
At
present,
there
are
STRICTLY
NO
wudhu
facilities
at
the
premises,
so
in
the
interim,
brothers
are
requested
to
perform
their
wudhu
prior
to
coming
through
for
salaah
13 year old and TV chef among 28 Muslim
named in the New Year’s Honours
Top row: Ibrahim Yousaf BEM and
Ali Akbor OBE. Centre row:
Shabir Beg OBE, Subnum Hariff-Khan
BEM and Parveen Hassan MBE.
Bottom Row: Nadiya Hussain MBE,
Afzal Pradhan BEM & Prof Sophie
Gilliat-Ray OBE.
UK:Twenty-eight members
of the Muslim community have been named
in the New Year’s Honours, among them a
TV chef, a thirteen-year-old fundraiser,
several academics as well as a community
cricket activist.
Overall, 9 per cent of those honoured
come from a black, Asian and minority
ethnic background, including 29 (2 CBEs,
6 OBEs, 12 MBEs and 9 BEMs) members of
the Hindu and Sikh communities. Over
half of the recipients in the New Year’s
Honours List are women, including 44 per
cent of awards at the highest levels.
Ibrahim ‘Ibby’ Yousaf, 13, is the
youngest person in the country named in
the list. Ibby was amongst those
recognised with a BEM, for his
fundraising for eleven charities in
Oldham. They include Oldham Food Aid, Dr
Kershaw’s Hospice and Maggie’s Cancer
Support. Ibby rallies fundraising
efforts, finding sponsors and organising
fundraising events, and also donates all
the money he gets given for his
birthday, pocket money or Eid.
His efforts are all the more remarkable
because Ibby suffers a serious health
condition and requires frequent visits
to the Royal Manchester Children’s
Hospital. “I am in absolute shock and
overwhelmed that I have been given this
honour,” said Ibby.
Ali Akbor, Chief Executive of Unity
Homes and Enterprise, spoke of his pride
at being awarded an OBE. Akbor, who
joined unity in 1999, was honoured for
services to the community in Leeds. In a
statement to The Muslim News, he said he
was “deeply humbled” by the award,
adding, “I regard it as recognition for
the work that unity staff and board
members – past and present – have done
over more than three decades.”
Safet Vukalić is honoured with the OBE
in recognition for his work on genocide
education. Vukalić is a Bosnian a
survivor of a massacre in Prijedor and
has been working closely with
Remembering Srebrenica and the Holocaust
Memorial Trust for many years. Last
year, Vukalić spoke about the importance
of sharing his story and said, “I want
my daughters to be proud of what their
father did, no matter how small, to help
educate people about the consequences of
hatred, ignorance, and inaction. No one
should go through what happened to me.”
Professor Sophie Gilliat-Ray will
receive an OBE for her services to
education and the Muslim community in
the UK. She has worked to promote the
study of Islam for over 25 years. This
has included research on the work of
Muslim chaplains, the history of Muslim
communities in Cardiff, and the
religious education of Muslim children.
She is currently the Chair of the BSA
Sociology of Religion Study Group and
former chair of the Muslims in Britain
Research Network.
“I feel very honoured to have received
this recognition. I would like to thank
those who nominated me, and the many
colleagues and friends who have
supported my work over the years. I am
especially indebted to those British
Muslim communities which have been so
generous in their encouragement and
support and have been a continual source
of inspiration,” she told The Muslim
News.
Another Muslim academic to be recognised
is Dr Adeela Ahmed Shafi, Reader in
Education at the University of
Gloucestershire who is to be made an MBE
for her services to social justice in
Bristol. Shafi has driven important
initiatives as a social activist in
Bristol for the last thirteen years,
specifically within the Pakistani
community.
She was elected as General Secretary for
the Pakistan Association Bristol in 2007
and then Governor for the oversight of
PAB. She is the current chair of the
Avon and Somerset Police Constabulary’s
Police Scrutiny Panel, engaging with the
Police Crime Commissioner, Councillors
and Representative groups, and working
to ensure that the Police are held to
account. She has an impressive
publishing profile. She is engaged in
research on academic resilience and is
currently leading on a book entitled
‘Reconceptualising Resilience in
Education.’
US: US President, Donald
Trump, has been slammed for re-tweeting
a fake Islamophobic image showing
leading Democrats, Senate minority
leader Chuck Schumer and Speaker of the
House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi,
wearing a turban and a hijab and
standing in front of the Iranian flag.
Nihad Awad, National Executive Director
of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR), said , “Today’s
childish, undignified and offensive
re-tweet of an Islamophobic photoshopped
image of Speaker Pelosi and Senator
Schumer further endangers American
Muslims, Sikhs and members of other
faiths who wear recognisable religious
attire and are increasingly targeted by
bigots nationwide.”
“President Trump has repeatedly targeted
Islam and Muslims with bigoted rhetoric
and Islamophobic appointments and
policies such as the Muslim Ban, which
media reports say is soon to be extended
to other nations. Americans of all
faiths and backgrounds must speak out
against this promotion of religious
hatred by the occupant of the Oval
Office. Such bigotry is not normal and
must never become acceptable,” added
CAIR.
Trump re-tweeted the image on January
13, amid continuing controversy and
international fallout over his approval
of the drone strike assassination of Gen
Qassem Suleimani, a top Iranian leader.
Madihha Ahussain, Special Counsel for
Muslim Advocates, said, “The image is a
hodgepodge of anti-Muslim tropes and
garb from many traditions including some
that are frequently used to stereotype
and attack Muslims.”
“It’s disappointing but not surprising
that the President would use his massive
Twitter platform to spread this kind of
harmful, ignorant, anti-Muslim bigotry.”
Schumer, asked in a tweet of his own:
“President Trump: How low can you go?
Republicans: How long can you cover up
for and defend the president’s actions?”
It’s not the first time Trump re-tweeted
Islamophobic content. On November 2017
he shared a series of Islamophobic
tweets from far-right extremist group
Britain First, sparking condemnation for
spreading its “deplorable” ideology to a
global audience.
Among the tweets was a video, originally
shared by Britain First deputy leader
Jayda Fransen, claiming to show ‘Muslim
migrants beating up a Dutch boy on
crutches’. However, local media in the
Netherlands later confirmed the attacker
was neither a Muslim nor a migrant.
If you wish to know
about a specific
topic with regards
to Self-Care and
Clarity of Mind,
please text or email
me. If you wish to
have a FREE one hour
Finding Clarity
telephone session,
contact me on
0451977786
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Reflections - my
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affirmations
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For Muslimahs
WATCH VIDEOS
from Muslimah
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YouTube Channel.
DOWNLOAD
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Moments - audio
files for
self-awareness
meditation.
If you wish to know
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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.
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:
Finding Good in
Every Situation
One could argue that
it is impossible at
times to find good
in a terrible
situation. For
example, wars or
children dying of
starvation and many
more such realities
that are present in
our daily lives. My
goal today is to
help you understand
that we really can
find good in any
situation, every
situation and best
of all, not only
find good but
actually turn it
into a statement of
gratitude and praise
for ALLAH.
Our Prophet (SAW)
found good in a
situation as
terrible as his own
son’s death.
SubhanAllah, I
shudder at the
thought of even a
little scratch
coming upon my
child. May ALLAH
give us the same
strength and
endurance as our
Prophet (SAW. Ameen
ya rabb.
Train your mind to
always be aware of
these verses from
the Quran, the book
of truth and
guidance.
“And
certainly,
We shall
test you
with
something
of fear,
hunger,
loss of
wealth,
lives
and
fruits,
but give
glad
tidings
to the
patient
ones.”
(Quran
2:155)
“Therefore,
remember
Me (God)
and I
will
remember
you, and
be
grateful
to Me
(for My
countless
Favours
on you)
and
never be
ungrateful
to Me.”
(Quran
2:152)
“If God
helps
you,
none can
overcome
you; and
if He
forsakes
you, who
is there
after
Him that
can help
you? And
in God
(Alone)
let
believers
put
their
trust.”
(Quran
3:160)
Four Simple
Strategies to Train
Your Mind to Find
Good in Every
Situation
Acknowledge that you
are a soul dwelling
temporarily in a
body. You are not
your body. Your soul
is pure. Events,
people, things may
have an impact on
your body through
your sensory
perceptions.
However, they do not
have an impact on
your soul. Only
connection with
ALLAH has an impact
on your soul.
Acknowledge this and
remember that
events, people and
things have no power
over your soul. ONLY
ALLAH can change
your situation.
Having faith in
ALLAH helps you find
good in every
situation.
Daily practice of
simple strategies
can help with
reminding yourself
about your faith in
ALLAH.
1. No matter what
the situation,
avoid blame and
accept the
responsibility of
your own actions.
Once you identify
what role you play
in that situation,
you can turn it into
an act of faith and
gratitude. For
example, if you are
constantly watching
negative news
regarding
Islamophobia and as
a result, you take
off your hijab or
shave off your beard
because of fear, the
strategy to use
would be to first
identify your own
responsibility
towards your deen.
Is living in fear of
people part of
Islam? No. So, what
responsibility do
you, as a Muslim,
have on upholding
the commandments of
your deen? Once you
are honest with
yourself and live by
your deen, the
negativity of
situations and
people become
invisible. Only
goodness remains.
2. Detox from
people who are
constantly
complaining and
seeing only
negative. It is
challenging but try.
People who display
negativity can
affect the mood of
the whole family or
community. Avoid
spending time with
such individuals.
Whenever you are in
the company of such
people, use their
complaints and turn
them into gratitude
statements. For
example, if someone
is always
complaining about
not having enough
money, say this to
the person:
“Alhumdolillah,
Allah has really
blessed us with an
abundant supply of
all the things we
really need to
sustain ourselves.
We are truly
blessed.”
3. Consciously
find the best
possible result of
the situation at
hand. Take any
given situation that
may seem terrible
and deconstruct it
to deliberately find
a positive in it.
For example, the
ongoing plight of
the refugee
crisis...as Muslims,
we can find good in
that situation by
reminding ourselves
that it is now a
must that we commit
to our deen more
strongly than ever
before. We may not
be able to
physically stop
drone attacks,
however, we can wake
up in the middle of
the night to pray
Tahajjud salah and
beg ALLAH to help
these refugees reach
safety.
4. The glass is
refillable. Yes,
it is not about
whether the glass is
half full or half
empty...it is about
acknowledging that
rizk comes from
ALLAH alone and that
HE has provided us
with an abundance
that can be used in
our daily lives to
keep replenishing
our lives. If you
are breathing, you
are alive...that is
a start...the idea
is to keep breathing
and keep being of
service. If you are
stuck, get help from
those who have
knowledge. If you
are feeling really
down, fall in sajda
and refill your
emaan. You are never
alone. ALLAH is with
you.
Daily
affirmation
to help
see the
good in
everything
ALLAH
gives me
wisdom
every
day to
be his
servant
and to
practise
my deen
with
love,
light,
peace
and joy.
Alhumdolillah)
KB says:
Labneh is Greek yogurt which gets transformed
into a bright fresh cheese, this can be bought
or made at home. Recipe for Labneh to follow in
the next issue..
Fattoush Salad
topped with Labneh and Dukkah Powder
INGREDIENTS & METHOD
Ingredients
Baby cucumber sliced
Baby tomatoes halved
Parsley chopped
Mint leaves chopped
Lettuce finely chopped
Olives
Yellow pepper cubed
Pita bread cut up and toasted
Labneh
Dukkah for sprinkling
Dressing
4 tblsp fresh lemon juice
2 Tblsp olive oil
2 tblsp veg oil
Salt to taste
Crushed black pepper
1 small clove garlic crushed
˝ tsp
zaatar
˝ tsp
sumac
Method
Whisk together dressing ingredients
and keep aside
Mix together salad ingredients
Add dressing and toss well
Place onto serving platter
Place labneh in the centre of salad
Sprinkle over dukkah powder and serve
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.
Baba's Halal Kitchen
(Hussain Baba is the host and
chef of *BABA’S HALAL KITCHEN*, a show where he uses his own
unique style to cook 'Quick, Easy and Delicious' dishes.)
LAMB
KEBAB & SHIRAAZ SALAD
In this episode, Chef Ali
Ghaffoor of “Afyat Catering” shows us how he makes authentic
Lamb Kebab from his hometown of Iraq
HADARA, meaning
"adorned with
beauty" is a
modest fashion
Boutique that
launched in
September, 2019.
The Boutique
offers a range
modest clothing
options from
luxurious hijabs
to stylish
casual wear,
sophisticated
work wear and
graceful evening
wear.
The new business
is owned by 3
young sisters
who were born
and raised in
the Aussie heat.
Dina Ghaznavi,
one of the
owners has been
a long time
community
volunteer, she
said "My sisters
and I wore the
hijab at the age
of 10... I
remember growing
up my mum would
purchase
material from
Spotlight and we
would candle
light the edges
to make hijabs...
Thinking back
there really
weren't many
options back
then, and
growing up
wearing the
hijab post 9/11
wasn't easy...
Alhamdulilah we
have come a long
way, I'm very
proud of us"
The sisters have
travelled
various
countries,
including Turkey
and the UAE to
provide
fashionable
modest clothing
that suits the
Australian
climate.
You can support
this new
business by
purchasing a
ticket to their
upcoming Fashion
Runway Charity
Event: Proceeds
of ticket sales
will be donated
to the NSW Fire
service and the
affected
Indigenous
Village of Mogo.
You can also
follow their
social media or
shop in store.
The Indonesian
Diaspora
Queensland and
Rotary Club of
Archerfield are
hosting the
fundraiser event
for "Bushfire
and Drought
Relief".
The event will
be held on
February 29,
2020 in
Brisbane.
This event will
also be an
opportunity for
all our attendee
to engage with
committed hard
working members
of various
community who
will be joining
us on the night.
Invitation have
also been
extended to
Ambassador of
Republic of
Indonesia for
Australia in
Canberra and
Consulate
General of
Republic of
Indonesia in
Sydney. Also to
local government
representatives.
Please join us
in this
fundraising
night. The Night
will be wrap as
"Indonesian
Cultural Night"
with Indonesian
Foods, Dances
and Fashions.
Please support
us by purchasing
the tickets and
invite others.
Ticket price is
$35 pp or $315
per table.
Ticket is
purchase via
Eventbrite. Cash
Donation are
welcome.
Alhamdulillah, only for Brisbane
residents are we so fortunate to have the ability to
access Islamic Education on a variety of different
platforms.
With registrations CLOSING SOON there are limited spots
remaining until classes are at full capacity 2020 with
both Full – Time and Part – Time close to capacity.
“The Quran Alive course is the culmination of over 14
years of research and development. Our Academy Alive
scholars have tailored, refined and systemised our
unique curriculum, producing world class standards of
education to suit all learning styles."
View some of our success stories of our students of
2019. 2020 could be your year!
It's
the 4th time in 5
years we have been
involved.
MarshaAllah Brisbane
sent more than 1450
backpacks (with the
Islamic Society of
Algester and friends
packing over 670
backpacks with the
generous monetary
donations) in last
year's very short
campaign! This year
we will exceed that
InshaAllah! 2020 in
2020!
Griffith University Centre for Interfaith and Cultural
Dialogue
0413 067 160
8AM
15 March
Sunday
ICQ Christchurch Attack
Memorial
Islamic Council of Queensland (ICQ)
TBA
secretary@icq.org.au
TBA
23 March
(tentative)
Monday
LAILATU
MI'RAAJ
(Ascension
night)
27th Rajab
1441
10 April(tentative)
Friday
NISF SHA'BAAN
(Lailatul
Bahrat)
15th Sha'baan
1441
25 April(tentative)
Saturday
RAMADAAN
(Start of the
month of fasting)
1st Ramadaan
1441
21 May(tentative)
Thursday
LAILATUL-QADR
(Night of
Power)
27th Ramadaan
1441
25 May(tentative)
Monday
EID-UL-FITR
(End of the
month of fasting)
1st Shawal
1441
6 June
Saturday
Eid Down Under Festival
Islamic Council of Queensland (ICQ)
TBA
secretary@icq.org.au
TBA
31 July(tentative)
Friday
YAWMUL ARAFAH
(Day of
Arafah)
9th Zil-Hijjah
1441
1 August (tentative)
Saturday
EID-UL-ADHA
10th Zil-Hijja
1441
21 August(tentative)
Friday
RAʼS AL-SANAH
AL-HIJRĪYAH
(Islamic New
Year)
1st Muharram
1442
30 August (tentative)
Sunday
DAY OF ASHURA
10th Muharram
1442
6 September
Sunday
CRESWALK2020
Crescents of Brisbane
Orleigh Park,
WEST END
0402 026 786
9AM STARTER'S GUN
to 12PM
30 October
(tentative)
Friday
MILAD UN NABI
(Birth of
Prophet Mohammed (pbuh)
12th
Rabi-ul-Awwal 1442
PLEASE NOTE
1. All Islamic Event dates given above are supplied by
the Council of Imams QLD (CIQ) and are provided as a guide and are
tentative and subject to the sighting of the moon.
2. The Islamic date changes to the next day starting in
the evenings after maghrib. Therefore, exceptfor Lailatul
Mehraj,
Lailatul Bhahraat
and
Lailatul Qadr - these dates refer to the commencement of the event
starting in the evening of the corresponding day.
HikmahWay offers online and
in-person Islamic courses to
equip Muslims of today with
the knowledge, understanding
and wisdom to lead balanced,
wholesome and beneficial
lives.
Articles and
opinions appearing in this newsletter do not necessarily
reflect the opinions of the CCN Team, its Editor or its
Sponsors, particularly if they eventually turn out to be
libellous, unfounded, objectionable, obnoxious, offensive,
slanderous and/or downright distasteful.
It is the usual policy of CCN to
include from time to time, notices of events that some
readers may find interesting or relevant. Such notices are
often posted as received. Including such messages or
providing the details of such events does not necessarily
imply endorsement of the contents of these events by CCN
The best ideas
and the best feedback come from our community of readers. If you
have a topic or opinion that you want to write about or want
seen covered or any news item that you think might be of benefit
to the Crescents Community please
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The CCN's "We'll
take that as a
comment" Column 
SAYYID
İBRAHIM DELLAL: AN ANALYSIS
OF UNTOLD STORIES OF A
‘LIVING HISTORY 
13 year old and TV chef among 28 Muslim
named in the New Year’s Honours
post comments on
our Wall
7
August 2011