As the world faces the
greatest disruption of our
lifetimes, Muslims
throughout the world are
also grappling with the
repercussions of the
coronavirus pandemic.
But the Islamic cultural,
spiritual and theological
dimensions offer Muslims
myriad ways of coping.
Adapting to new social norms
Muslims have relatively
large families and tend to
maintain extended family
relations. Prophet Muhammad
encouraged Muslims to keep
strong family ties. The
Quran inspires Muslims to be
generous to kin (16:90) and
treat the elderly with
compassion (17:23).
These teachings have
resulted in Muslims either
living together as large
families or keeping regular
weekly visits and gatherings
of extended family members.
Many Muslims feel conflicted
about the need to apply
social distancing on one
hand and the need to be
close to family and
relatives for comfort and
support. Tighter
restrictions on movement in
some parts of Australia (NSW
and Victoria) mean Muslims,
like everyone else, are not
allowed to visit extended
family anymore.
One of the first changes
brought about by social
distancing has been to the
Muslim custom of shaking
hands followed by hugging
(same gender) friends and
acquaintances, especially in
mosques and Muslim
organisations. After a week
or two of hesitation in
March, the hugging
completely stopped, making
Muslims feel dismal.
Visiting the sick is
considered a good deed in
Islam. However, in the case
of COVID-19, such visits are
not possible. Checking up on
those who are sick with
phone calls, messages and
social media is still
possible and encouraged.
Cleanliness is half of
faith
One aspect of coronavirus
prevention that comes very
naturally to Muslims is
personal hygiene. Health
organisations and experts
promote personal hygiene to
limit the spread of
coronavirus, especially
washing hands frequently for
at least 20 seconds.
Islam has been encouraging
personal hygiene for
centuries. The Quran
instructs Muslims to keep
their clothes clean in one
of the earliest revelations
(74:4), remarking “God loves
those who are clean”
(2:222).
More than 14 centuries ago,
Prophet Muhammad emphasised
“cleanliness is half of
faith” and encouraged
Muslims to wash their hands
before and after eating,
bath at least once a week
(and after marital
relations), brush their
teeth daily, and to groom
their nails and private
parts.
Read more: In spite of their
differences, Jews,
Christians and Muslims
worship the same God
Additionally, Muslims have
to perform a ritual ablution
before the five daily
prayers. The ablution
involves washing hands up to
the elbows, including
interlacing of fingers,
washing the face and feet,
and wiping the hair.
While these do not
completely prevent the
spread of disease, they
certainly help reduce the
risk.
An interesting detail is
that Muslims are required to
wash their genitals after
using the toilet. Even
though Muslims use toilet
paper, they are required to
finish cleaning with water.
This requirement led to some
Muslims installing bidet
sprayers in their bathrooms. Closure of mosques and
Friday services
Congregational prayers in
mosques are important for
Muslims in instilling a
sense of being in the
presence of the sacred, and
a sense of being with other
believers. Accordingly, they
line up in rows with
shoulders touching. This
arrangement is extremely
risky during a pandemic.
Australian mosques are now
closed because of
coronavirus.
Deciding to skip optional
daily congregational prayers
was not too difficult for
Muslims, but stopping Friday
prayers has been more
challenging. Friday prayer
is the only Muslim prayer
that has to be performed in
a mosque. It consists of a
30-60 minute sermon followed
by a five-minute
congregational prayer
conducted just after noon.
Stopping Friday prayers on a
global scale has not
occurred since it was
introduced by Prophet
Muhammad in 622, after he
migrated to the city of
Medina from the persecution
he and his followers endured
in Mecca.
Iran was the first to ban
Friday prayers on March 4.
While countries like Turkey
and Indonesia tried to
continue Friday prayers with
social distancing, it did
not work, and soon the
entire Muslim world closed
mosques for prayer services.
Fortunately for Muslims, the
closure of mosques does not
mean they stop daily prayers
altogether. In Islam,
individual prayers and
worship play a greater role
than communal ones. Muslims
can pray five times a day
wherever they are, and often
home is a place where most
praying takes place.
The void left by ending of
Friday sermons in mosques
has been filled to some
extent by Friday sermons
offered online.
Effect on Ramadan and the
annual pilgrimage to Mecca
Two of the five pillars of
Islamic practice are the
fasting in Ramadan and the
annual pilgrimage to Mecca.
Ramadan is only three weeks
away. It starts in the last
week of April and goes for a
month. During this month,
Muslims refrain from eating,
drinking and marital
relations from dawn to
sunset on each day of the
month. This part will not be
affected by COVID-19.
Read more: Millions of
Muslims prepare to perform
the hajj amid calls for a
boycott
What is affected are the
evening breaking of fast
dinners (iftar) and daily
evening congregational
prayers (tarawih). Muslims
generally invite their
friends and family members
to these dinners. In Western
countries, the invitations
include non-Muslim
acquaintances as well.
Islamic organisations have
already announced the
cancellation of iftar
dinners.
The three-day end of Ramadan
festive celebrations (eid)
will also be limited to
family that live together.
The impact on pilgrimage is
far greater.
The minor (and optional)
Islamic pilgrimage (umrah)
happens throughout the year,
intensifying near Ramadan.
With Iran a hot spot for
coronavirus, Saudi Arabia
suspended entry to Iranian
and all other pilgrims as
early as February 27.
The main pilgrimage (hajj)
season occurs in late July.
Although there is the
possibility of the spread of
the virus slowing by July, a
pilgrimage involving more
than two million people from
just about every country on
earth would almost certainly
flame the virus into a
second wave. Saudi Arabia is
likely to cancel the main
pilgrimage for 2020.
In the 14 centuries of
Islamic history, pilgrimage
has not been undertaken
several times because of war
and roads not being safe.
But this is the first time
in pilgrimage may be called
off due to a pandemic.
As pilgrims reserve their
spot and pay the full fee
months ahead, the
cancellation of hajj would
result in losses of savings
for millions of Muslims and
cause massive job losses in
the pilgrimage industry.
The balance between
precaution and reliance on
God
An early debate in Muslim
circles around coronavirus
has been a theological one.
Muslims believe God created
the universe and continues
to actively govern its
affairs. This would mean the
emergence of the virus is an
active creation of God.
So like some other religious
groups, some Muslims argue
that coronavirus was created
by God to warn and punish
humanity for consumerism,
destruction of the
environment and personal
excesses. This means
fighting the pandemic is
futile and people should
rely (tawakkul) on God to
protect the righteous.
Such thinking may help in
reducing the sense of fear
and panic such a large-scale
pandemic poses, but it can
also make people
unnecessarily complacent.
The vast majority of Muslims
counter this fatalistic
approach by arguing that
while the emergence of the
virus was not in human
control, the spread of
disease certainly is. They
remind us that Prophet
Muhammad advised a man who
did not tie his camel
because he trusted in God:
“tie the camel first and
then trust in God”.
Prophet Muhammad sought
medical treatment and
encouraged his followers to
seek medical treatment,
saying “God has not made a
disease without appointing a
remedy for it, with the
exception of one disease—old
age”.
Further, Prophet Muhammad
advised on quarantine:
If you hear of an
outbreak of plague in a
land, do not enter it;
if the plague outbreaks
out in a place while you
are in it, do not leave
that place.
Sometimes affliction
inevitably comes our way.
The Quran teaches Muslims to
see life’s difficult
circumstances as a test —
they are temporary hardships
to strengthen us
(2:153-157). Such a
perspective allows Muslims
to show resilience in times
of hardship and tribulation,
with sufficient strength to
make it to the other side
intact.
In times like this, some
people will inevitably lose
their wealth, income and
even their lives. Prophet
Muhammad advised the
grieving that property lost
during tribulations will be
considered charity, and
those who die as a result of
pandemics will be considered
martyrs of paradise.
As Muslims continue to deal
with the coronavirus
pandemic, they, like
everyone else, are wondering
how their lives might be
changed afterwards.
BSB: 032 695
Account #: 502459
Account name: IMAN
Foundation Limited
Bank: Westpac
Account type: Community
Solutions One
Reference: Food drive
Brisbane Muslim Charities
COVID-19 Response
Muslim Aid Australia (MAA),
Muslim Charitable
Foundation, Brothers in
Need, and MAA's Women's
Forum are working together
in Brisbane to provide
essential supplies to those
most vulnerable, including
the elderly, those in
self-isolation, and families
in need of assistance.
They have already begun with
collecting grocery items,
purchasing, and distribution
of food hampers.
Need Help?
If you need assistance
please contact 0435 839 928.
The Australian Arab
Association of Western
Australia
The Islamic
Council of Queensland (ICQ)
welcomed the Prime Minister’s
announcement of a wage subsidy
for Australian workers.
ICQ stated in a
press release:
This is a
right step forward in
keeping an estimated 6
million Australians
connected to a job.
However,
there are more than 1.5
million people left out.
Most of these workers are
considered residents for tax
purposes, and they pay taxes
as Australians while not
receiving benefits that
other Australians receive.
At this time
when our health and welfare
are so obviously tied to
that of the person next to
us, this is a problem for
all of us.
We want to see the wage
subsidy extended to all,
including casual workers,
temporary visa holders and
undocumented workers.
There is no reason to
exclude those who have lost
their jobs. Keeping workers
with temporary visas will
benefit us in rebuilding our
economy faster once we
overcome the stagnation
related to COVID-19.
SAUDI ARABIA: Mecca under
24-hour curfew to contain
coronavirus
Saudi Arabia is telling
Muslims worldwide to suspend
Hajj plans amid the Covid-19
pandemic
Saudi Arabia has imposed a
24-hour curfew over Islam’s
holiest cities, Mecca and
Medina, as it fights to
contain a Covid-19 outbreak.
“The complete,
round-the-clock lockdown in
the cities of Mecca and
Medina, effective today
until further notice, is
part of the government’s
efforts to curb the impact
of the novel coronavirus,”
said interior ministry
spokesman Lieutenant Colonel
Talal al-Shalhoub.
The kingdom earlier this
week raised the possibility
of canceling Hajj, the
pilgrimage to Islam’s
holiest sites obligatory for
every Muslim once in their
lifetime.
The government has meanwhile
instructed residents of
Mecca and Medina to
“self-quarantine.” They may
only leave their homes in
case of emergency, and only
between the hours of 6am and
3pm.
While he referred to the
measure as “precautionary”
it is the most severe curfew
nationwide. Even
Shiite-majority eastern
regions, isolated citizens
brought the virus back from
Iran, have curfews beginning
at 3pm.
Mecca and Medina have the
largest concentration of new
infections, according to the
Saudi health ministry, which
flagged nearly 100 fresh
cases on Thursday.
The coastal city of Jeddah
was another hotspot, with 30
new cases.
Saudi Arabia, a country of
some 33 million people, has
recorded a total of 1,885
cases. The neighbouring
United Arab Emirates has
more than 1,000 cases, while
Iran has more than 50,000.
ASIA TIMES
SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi Arabia
to Muslims: Hold off on Hajj
Saudi Arabia’s Minister of
Hajj has called on Muslims
to hold off on planning the
yearly pilgrimage to Mecca
while the kingdom – and the
world – deals with the
Covid-19 pandemic.
“Dr Mohammed Saleh bin Taher
Benten called on the
countries of the world to be
patient in concluding
pilgrimage contracts for
this year, until the path of
the epidemic and its present
and future impact will be
clear,” the Saudi press
agency reported overnight.
Saudi Arabia has thus far
recorded more than 1,500
cases of the novel
coronavirus and had 10
deaths.
Early on in the outbreak,
the kingdom took the
decision to close the gates
of Mecca out of fear it
could become a new epicenter
for the virus, as happened
in Iran’s holy city of Qom.
Visa fees already paid by
pilgrims would be refunded,
the Hajj minister told Saudi
Arabia’s Al-Ekhbariya TV.
He further assured the
public that hotels being
used for quarantine would be
carefully inspected by the
Health Ministry before any
resumption of pilgrimages.
Last year, nearly 2.5
million people performed
Hajj, one of the obligatory
pillars of Islam. More than
1 million of those pilgrims
arrived from Asian
(non-Arab) countries.
This year’s Hajj was meant
to take place from July 28
to August 2.
Its likely cancellation will
be a financial blow to Saudi
Arabia, which can count on
the annual pilgrimage for
billions in revenue.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin
Salman, in particular, sees
religious tourism as key to
his plans for the post-oil
world.
His Vision 2030 blueprint
calls for a ramping up Hajj
attendance nearly threefold,
to 6 million people.
ASIA TIMES
BRUNEI: Devout at a distance
in contagion-hit Brunei
Muslim nation quickly
dispensed with notion it had
divine protection against
Covid-19 and implemented a
model pandemic response
A Muslim worshiper dons a
face mask amid Covid-19
worries in Brunei.
SINGAPORE – When Sultan
Hassanal Bolkiah delivered
an address at the opening of
Brunei’s annual legislative
session on March 9, he
expressed gratitude to “God”
that his nation remained
free of Covid-19 infections.
At the time, the oil-rich
Borneo sultanate was still
one of the last countries in
Southeast Asia without a
confirmed case.
The monarch began an
otherwise down-to-earth
speech on the economic
repercussions of the viral
global pandemic for
energy-dependent Brunei by
ascribing the Islamic
nation’s virus-free status
to divine “protection”
gained through prayer.
“Brunei is constantly
praying, in our mosques,
houses and assemblies. With
continued prayers, Brunei
will continue to receive
divine blessings and
protection,” said the
sultan, one of the world’s
few remaining absolute
rulers, in his speech
officiating the Legislative
Council (LegCo) sitting.
Hours after his speech,
Brunei confirmed its first
Covid-19 case.
Within days, there were
dozens of new cases linked
to Bruneians returning from
a mass gathering of pious
Muslims in Malaysia
organized by the missionary
Tablighi Jamaat movement in
late February, Southeast
Asia’s largest coronavirus
cluster to date with
confirmed infections in
multiple countries.
A fast uptick in cases
sparked alarm and panic
buying at grocery stores and
led to Brunei prohibiting
citizens and foreign
residents from going abroad
on March 15. The country
then sealed itself off
entirely, with all land, sea
and air entry points closed
on March 24.
At present, Brunei has 133
confirmed Covid-19 cases
with one death recorded.
But the situation was
quickly brought under
control. Brunei was among
the first nations to
introduce travel
restrictions on affected
countries and temperature
screenings for inbound
travellers. By early
February, authorities began
readying quarantine shelters
capable of accommodating
more than a thousand
potential patients.
Observers say the wealthy
sultanate’s handling of the
pandemic has been robust and
transparent, despite the
adoption of drastic and
arguably draconian measures.
Mosques, suraus and prayer
halls across the country
have also been shuttered and
are likely to remain closed
in the near-term.
Places of worship and prayer
facilities were initially
set to remain closed until
at least April 6. But in a
press briefing on April 2,
Health Minister Mohammad
Isham Jaafar said the
government would only ease
Covid-19 restrictions,
including mosque closures,
after 28 consecutive days
with no new cases recorded.
“Unlike Singapore, Brunei
was initially reluctant to
close mosques and cancel
Friday prayers,” Müller
said, though precautions
such as closing mosques for
disinfection and cleaning
were taken. “But once the
case numbers grew, the
government eventually
declared that Friday prayers
at mosques were not
religiously obligatory for
the time being.”
Brunei’s ruler, in a
televised speech addressing
the Covid-19 situation on
March 22, called on the
public to remain calm and
exercise responsibility to
prevent wider spread of the
pneumonia-like illness.
As believers, said the
sultan, Bruneians are
required to undertake prayer
and devotional acts while at
home rather than at mosques
to curb the contagion’s
spread.
“This is where our culture
is different, we know this
pandemic does not exist by
itself but comes from our
creator. Nobody among us
knows why it came,” the
73-year-old monarch said.
The country’s Ministry of
Religious Affairs has since
reiterated calls for the
public to undertake pious
acts and religious deeds in
order to obtain God’s
protection.
ASIA TIMES
India and Pakistan crack
down on Muslim group
emerging as COVID-19 cluster
NEW DELHI/LAHORE: India and
Pakistan sealed off centres
belonging to a Muslim
missionary group on Tuesday
and began investigating how
many coronavirus cases were
linked to its activities.
Tablighi Jamaat is a
Deobandi Sunni Muslim
missionary movement that
preaches worldwide. Every
year, tens of thousands
attend its congregations in
the Pakistani city of Lahore
and other parts of South
Asia.
India has so far registered
32 deaths from 1,251
confirmed infections, and
Pakistan 20 from 1,914.
The numbers are small
compared with the United
States, Italy or China but
health officials say both
countries have weak public
health systems that could be
overwhelmed by a surge in
cases.
New Delhi’s city
administration has flagged a
Muslim quarter where the
100-year-old group has a
branch as a coronavirus
hotspot after dozens of
people tested positive for
the virus there and at least
seven died.
Authorities said people kept
visiting the centre, in a
five-storey building in a
neighbourhood of narrow,
winding lanes, from other
parts of the country and
abroad, and that it had
preached sermons to large
groups despite government
orders on social distancing.
Hundreds of people were
crammed into the building
until the weekend, when
authorities began taking
them out for testing. More
buses arrived on Tuesday to
take them away to quarantine
centres in another part of
the city.
“It looks like social
distancing and quarantine
protocols were not practised
here,” the city
administration said in a
statement.
“The administrators violated
these conditions and several
cases of corona-positive
patients have been found ...
By this gross act of
negligence, many lives have
been endangered ... This is
nothing but a criminal act.”
TRACING MOVEMENTS
Authorities are trying to
trace the movements of
people who had gathered at
the Tablighi centres in
Delhi and Lahore and the
people who were exposed to
them.
In Pakistan, the Lahore
Tablighi centre was sealed
off and dozens of other
preaching centres across the
country were placed in
quarantine after 143
Tablighi members tested
positive and three died,
officials said.
Media said the cases
included Tablighi members
from Malaysia, Indonesia,
Thailand, Nepal, Myanmar,
Kyrgyzstan and Saudi Arabia.
REUTERS
Turkmenistan bans use of
word 'coronavirus,'
threatens jail for anyone
wearing a mask: watchdog
group
TURKMENISTAN: Don't even
mention "coronavirus" by
name in this former Soviet
Republic, otherwise you
could end up in the slammer.
The Central Asian nation of
Turkmenistan has banned the
media from using the word "coronavirus"
and threatened harsh
punishments for those caught
talking about the global
pandemic.
According to international
media freedom watchdog
Reporters Without Borders,
the gas-rich nation is
treating COVID-19 like it
does not exist.
The France-based group said
Tuesday that the autocratic
ex-Soviet nation made sure
the word also was removed
from health information
brochures distributed in
schools, hospitals and
workplaces.
According to reports from
Radio Azatlyk, authorities
have also forbidden people
to wear face masks under the
threat of jail time.
“The Turkmen authorities
have lived up to their
reputation by adopting this
extreme method for
eradicating all information
about the coronavirus,” said
Jeanne Cavelier, the head of
RSF’s Eastern Europe and
Central Asia desk.
Plainclothes police officers
reportedly listen to
people's conversations in
lines, at bus stops and on
buses.
Cavelier added that the
denial of information
"endangers the Turkmen
citizens," while reinforcing
the strongarm of President
Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov.
If you’re looking to
understand the Quran while
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reciting the Quran or
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situation in life you need
to join the Academy Alive
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As the countdown to Ramadan
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suitable for levels of
learners and all ages from
12 and above.
These videos
are to help with simple
strategies to keep the mind
and body healthy and can be
practised by Muslim families
in their homes during this
time of isolation.
ABOUT THE SHOW
7 Stories is a podcast for your
ride to school. These highly
produced 7 minute stories are
sure to keep your kids engaged
while in the car! A Toledo
original and the first of its
kind for Muslim parents and
children, this show is hosted by
Wasan and Moeed.
We'll have funny stories…and sad
stories…and scarrrrry
stories….but each story has an
important message for you to
discuss with your children!
We’ll hear stories such as
Spidey the big red spider, and
about the chicken that was an
eagle!
Wasan Altikriti is a mother of
two young girls and is the
founder of Arabic
learning-resources start-up
called 'Arnoub'. Wasan is a
public speaker with a PR and
Media background.
Moeed Ahmad is a digital media
executive who has spearheaded
the launch of multiple
successful brands like AJ+,
Jetty and Contrast VR within Al
Jazeera where he currently heads
Innovation and Research. He is
passionate about open source
technologies and other community
enabling movements such as the
Creative Commons. Most
importantly though, Moeed is a
father of three boys with plenty
of experience dropping his kids
to school!
UK's
Muslim News readers
nominated
illustrious men,
women, children and
initiatives deemed
worthy of
short-listing for a
Muslim News Award
for Excellence. The
nominees were
short-listed by an
independent panel of
judges who reviewed,
deliberated and
mused over the list.
Over
the next weeks, CCN
presents a
shortlisted
candidate who will
be treated to a gala
evening in the
presence of their
peers and other
renowned guests, when the
finalists are
announced for the
[15] coveted Awards
for Excellence.
BREAKING
NEWS:
Due
to the
unprecedented
uncertainty
regarding
the
coronavirus
pandemic,
The
Muslim
News has
postponed
its
prestigious
annual
awards
ceremony
until
late UK
summer.
Annemarie Schimmel
Award for
Championing a Muslim
Cause
Dorking-based
Patricia Parker MBE,
is the founder and
CEO of Kids for
Kids, a UK charity
which provides aid
to Darfur, Sudan.
Kids for Kids has
transformed the
lives of over half a
million people
living in 100
villages in North
Darfur, providing
sustainable projects
that communities
identify and run
themselves.
One of Patricia’s
first encounters
with poverty in
2001, in Darfur
moved her to return
to the UK to raise
funds.
In six months
£54,000 was raised
to install a hand
pump for a village
and to purchase
livestock for the
most afflicted.
Through the work of
Kids for Kids,
children were able
to attend the local
school during the
day because they no
longer had to walk
miles across the
desert to fetch
water.
In the UK, Patricia
raises awareness of
the plight of others
through her
presentations at
schools throughout
the country.
Munira Qubeysi is the head
of the largest women-only
Islamic movement in the
world. It offers Islamic
education exclusively to
girls and women. Qubeysi
commands around 80 schools
in Damascus alone, teaching
more than 75,000 students.
She is one of the most
significant Islamic scholars
in the world; her movement
focuses on learning the
Qur’an and six Hadith
collections by heart.
Qubeysi is arguably the most
influential Muslim woman in
the world, albeit in great
discretion.
Influence Female Muslim Order:
At a time when clandestine
meetings of Islamic
organizations are proscribed
in Syria, Sheikha Qubeysi’s
network, the Qubeysiat, has
legally been permitted to
host classes and meetings in
mosques since 2006—although
they had been operating as a
secret society for long
before that time. Members of
the Qubeysiat are provided a
unique role within Arab
society as scholars and
teachers exclusively
catering to the needs of
Muslim women; they provide
an open forum to address
religious questions and
discuss religious issues.
Milestones in Islamic
Education: Qubeysi is
influential as the leader of
an incredibly successful
educational movement. The
religious education of women
had previously been
neglected so the emergence
of a female-specific
educational initiative has
become very popular, making
the Qubeysiat, in numbers,
the leading Islamic movement
in Syria. Qubeysi’s students
are also at the forefront of
a significant achievement in
Islamic history in regards
to education—no less than 70
Qubeysiat have memorized
nine canonical books of
Hadith with extensive chains
of narration.
ABSTRACT
Islamophobia has been a
recurrent socio-political
narrative for some time now,
and it has been exacerbated
since the aftermath of 9/11.
Despite the plethora of
studies on the subject,
little is known about Muslim
scholars’ perception of this
phenomenon. This is due
primarily to the language
barrier since the Arabic
language is the code for
their discourse.
It is essential to consider
both Islamic and Western
perspectives to understand
the problem thoroughly and
suggest solutions, as
relying on one approach is
both biased and
uncompromising. Accordingly,
the purpose of this paper is
threefold:
First, it explains how
Islamophobia should be
defined contextually. It
frames its arguments within
three contexts: a historical
setting (Meccan and Madinah
period), Islam in the Arab
world, and Islam in the
West.
Second, the paper
demonstrates how a Muslim’s
perspective contrasts with
the Western narrative. It
critically challenges some
of the arguments put forward
in social sciences and
intellectual discourses and
adopts an unapologetic and
non-defensive approach in
the treatment of
Islamophobia.
Third, the paper discusses
the variables that affect
Islamophobia, such as
Western media and terrorism
(including state terrorism).
Finally, the paper proposes
some approaches to
mitigating the situation.
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
INTRODUCTION
...continued from last
week's CCN
More recently, moral panic
has been exacerbated by the
simplistic association of
criminality with the Arabic
language, and of Islam with
terror groups.
In a few recent occurrences,
Muslims were prevented from
travelling by air after
being viewed with suspicion
and reported by fellow
passengers when they heard
‘dangerous’ Islamic
expressions such as Insha
Allah – ‘God willing’.
The criminalisation of
Arabic is the new face of
Islamophobia and “in the
past, skin colour and other
signs of faith, such as
facial hair, have been used
as profiling tools, language
has now joined them as a new
profiling index.”
Muslims are seen as
threatening and undermining
Western values. They “appear
as a corrosive influence,
refusing to integrate, and
undermining national
values.”
This moral panic is
exacerbated by media
reporting. Media – “the CNNs
and Foxs of this world” –
has played an important role
in demonising Muslims and
inflaming anti-Muslim
sentiment.
For instance, in the United
Kingdom, 74 per cent of
British people assert they
know almost nothing about
Islam and what is even more
astounding is that 64 per
cent of the population
formulate their opinion on
Islam solely on the media.
The media discourse is often
carefully crafted and
suitably conveyed.
There is a plethora of
examples of this type of
biased reporting; for
instance, in the aftermath
of significant events, media
outlets seize any
opportunity to associate
acts of violence with an
Islamic celebration.
For instance, on Australian
commercial channels (namely
channels Seven, Nine and
Ten), one finds a terrorist
act is conflated with an
Islamic event, such as Eid
celebrations.
Another notorious Australian
example is the pack rape
committed by the Skaf
brothers; immediately after
the event, media rushed to a
Lakemba mosque in Sydney to
solicit information from
worshippers about the stance
of Islam towards rape.
This attempt to associate
the Islamic faith with the
acts of ‘lone-wolves’ is
subjective and likely to
demonise Islam and Muslims
further.
How corona is
changing funeral
rites, mourning
and grief
LONDON: When
Fuad Nahdi
(pictured above),
a journalist,
interfaith
activist, and
prominent figure
in the British
Muslim
community, died
in London on
Saturday after
suffering from
long-standing
health issues,
there was a
global
outpouring of
grief, foreign
media reported.
Death in the
Islamic
tradition is a
communal event.
Muslims
typically gather
to perform a
funeral prayer
led by an imam
with the
deceased laid in
front of the
congregation.
But amid the
coronavirus
pandemic,
lockdowns
worldwide have
changed the way
people mourn,
reports the
international
media.
In the United
Kingdom, social
gatherings are
banned, but
unlike the case
in Italy,
funerals are not
prohibited. Even
so, there are
new restrictions
on the number of
attendees -
though the
government has
yet to specify
what that figure
is, and
authorities have
advised against
wakes. Usually,
hundreds if not
thousands attend
the funeral of a
prominent Muslim
figure. But on
Tuesday, only 20
members of
Nahdi's family
said final
goodbyes in
person.
The internet,
however, offered
some solace to
others. From
Kenya to
Malaysia,
thousands
watched Nahdi's
funeral as it
was streamed
live on
Facebook.
"There is no God
but God," the
pallbearers said
in Arabic as
they carried
Nahdi's coffin,
draped with a
green velvet
cloth bearing a
bouquet of
tulips.
Nahdi's family
and the funeral
directors wore
masks in an
attempt to
protect
themselves and
others from the
pandemic that
has so far
killed almost
800 people in
the United
Kingdom.
"It's really
difficult to
wear a mask when
arranging
funerals and
dealing with
family members,"
said Hasina
Zaman, the
cofounder of
Compassionate
Funerals, who
prepared the
burial. "We've
come to this
point where
we're so
separated by our
grief through
death," Zaman
said. "We can't
show compassion
in the way we
handle the
deceased or
relate to the
family."
New
measures
Zaman described
the government's
guidelines on
funeral
restrictions as
vague, saying
there was
currently a
disproportionate
"focus on the
living instead
of the dead".
Among
undertakers, she
added, there was
confusion over
whether the
virus is still
active after an
individual has
died. Following
advice from the
Muslim Council
of Britain that
ghusl, the
bathing of the
deceased, can be
performed if
funeral
directors wear
personal
protective
equipment, Zaman
said she still
does the ritual.
"But I think
that will become
nonexistent as
the week goes",
she added.
Mansur Ali, a
lecturer in
Islamic studies
at Cardiff
University, said
the British
Board of
Scholars and
Imams was now
referring to
"seldom-used
points of
Islamic law
related to
funerary rites".
For instance,
ritual bathing
will no longer
have to be
performed, and
body bags can be
used to replace
the kafan, or
white burial
shroud. Several
Muslim funeral
directors have
already taken
measures to
prevent the risk
of transmission.
"They're putting
the deceased
into a plastic
body bag, they
perform tayammum
[wiping over the
body bag], put
the body into a
coffin, and it's
straight to the
graveyard,"
Zaman said.
The pandemic has
ended communal
prayer and
congregational
funeral
gatherings at
many major
churches,
synagogues,
mosques and
temples. In
Iran, one of the
world's
worst-hit
countries,
burial rituals
have been
abandoned, with
families barred
from cemeteries
and bodies
buried without
undergoing
ritual bathing.
The United
Synagogue, a
union of
Orthodox British
Jewish
synagogues,
announced on
Wednesday that
stone-setting
ceremonies will
be postponed.
All cemeteries
have been shut
and those
sitting shiva,
the seven-day
period of
mourning, have
been advised
that they cannot
have visitors.
In Ireland, the
Irish
Association of
Funeral
Directors
advised
undertakers not
to embalm the
deceased, and to
hold
closed-coffin
funerals instead
of open-casket
events.
I’m a nurse; how
am I to pray
when I’m
handling
COVID-19 cases?
By Farwina
Faroque
With these
pandemic
outbreaks
spreading
throughout the
world,
frontliners from
medical teams to
delivery
services to
cashiers,
cleaners, police
officers, fire
fighters – just
to name a few –
are skipping
their rest to
help fight these
outbreaks.
What if you’re a
nurse or a
doctor who can’t
have your 5
times a day
break for
prayers (salah)?
Do you skip the
salah? It’s
pretty difficult
to take wudu
(ablution) so
many times when
your PPE
(Personal
Protective
Equipment) is
limited and
there’s no
excuse but to
use as much
protection as
possible when
you’re dealing
with cases that
are being
brought upon
you.
Is it
permissible for
a nurse or a
doctor to
combine the
prayers (Jama’)
? A medical
doctor by the
name of Dr Jefri
Irwan Harris
shared the
rukhsah
(concession)
regarding this
matter.
Yes, it is
permissible to
combine (Jama’)
the salah
Jama’ (جمع) is
an act of
combining two
prayers. The two
prayers that are
permissible to
be combined are
Zuhr and Asr,
Maghrib and Isha.
Fajr (Subh)
prayer is not
included. To
combine prayer
means to
complete four
rakaah of Zuhr,
and next to add
four rakaah of
Asr during
either Zuhr or
Asr time. It
also means to
combine three
rakaah of
Maghrib and next
to add four
rakaah of Isha
during either
Maghrib or Isha
time.
This will ensure
that the PPE
(Personal
Protective
Equipment) won’t
be over used as
it can only be
used once.
And what
about....
Combine
(Jama’) the
salah
Renewing wudu
without removing
socks, shoes or
even hijab.
Working
remotely??? This
is for you!!
By Amber Kamran-
Freelance Career
Advisor -
Electrical
Engineer
If you will ask
someone, who
played a major
role in
developing an
innovative work
platform, where
employees can
work remotely,
the answer is
COVID!
As per current
situation more
than 80% office
workers are
working from
home and trying
to settle with
their new
routine. As many
of us are not
used to work
from home, we
are managing
hindrances like
resources,
tools, software,
work space and
distractions
around us. I
believe these
things are
manageable, you
can buy a
comfortable
table and chair,
connect another
screen with your
laptop or
install
different
software and use
multiple medium
for
communication.
The most
important
hindrance is,
how to “switch
off”. What will
happen ? When
your work set up
is in front of
you all the
times and you
are staying and
not leaving the
place. The
chances are that
you will
continue and try
to finish
because you are
not leaving the
work place.
These tips
worked for me ,
so I’m sharing
for others:
1- Set up a
dedicated work
place/ table not
in your room ,
rather in a
separate room or
another place in
your house . So
you can leave
This place after
finishing your
work.
2- Start your
day with at
least one
official call or
meeting per day.
This will help
you be switched
on and
concentrate on
the work . This
concentration
will help you
finish your
necessary task
on time and you
will be ready to
leave the time
on time.
3-Take breaks
for tea/ coffee
/ snack like you
were doing at
work to keep
your brain
working.
4- Maintain the
same schedule
for the start
and end time.
5- Switch off
the computer
after finishing
work or hide it
so there is no
chance of
checking work
emails after
work time.
6- Just like you
start your day
with a routine .
End it the same
way. Go for a
walk or ask your
family member to
start some
activity at your
home time at the
time of leaving
office, this
will help you
leave the place.
Of course, you
need fresh air
to keep yourself
healthy.
7- Make a TTD
thing to do
list, for the
next day before
leaving your
work,
considering what
you can do in 8
hrs, the next
day. Now this
organisation
will help you to
control your
working hours.
We all know
future of the
organisations
will depend on
flexible and
remote working.
Now it’s time
for us to
organise our
future.
Who was the
first anti-racist? Rooted in
both ignorance and
arrogance, racism has
plagued civilizations since
the advent of man. Hear the
remarkable story of a
pioneer who addressed this
disease of the heart and
mind from its root cause.
Watch Dr. Craig Considine of
Rice University as he
presents the story of the
first anti-racist, from the
7th century, who set in
motion universal principles
that forever changed the
discourse on racial
equality.
South African COVID-19
support for Gaza
Mums
on the Run
OnePath
Network
Mums on
the Run – Podcast
OnePath Network’s flagship
podcast for busy
English-speaking Muslim
mothers, in the hopes to
inspire and help them
through the journey of
motherhood.
Hosted by Jana Abdulaziz and
Dahlia Saddiq
Jana has a BA in Media and
Communication and she is
currently finishing her
Masters of Counselling at
Monash University. Jana has
been a journalist at OnePath
Network since 2017. She is a
mother of 2 boys and is
currently a homeschool mum.
Jana always strives to share
and speak about women’s
issues in the community and
is always searching for
opportunities to learn new
things.
Dahlia has completed her BA
in Psychology/Arts, She is
also a registered life coach
and journalist. Dahlia has
been working closely with
the community for the past 8
years through weekly Islamic
lectures (halaqah). She is
certified in marriage
enhancement and divorce
prevention. She is a mother
to 3 beautiful children and
she is always happy to help
others while juggling her
different roles.
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.
'Healthy' NHS nurse, 36, dies after
contracting coronavirus
Walsall Manor Hospital nurse
Areema Nasreen has died after
contracting the coronavirus
UK: A "fit and healthy"
NHS nurse has died after battling the
coronavirus.
Mother-of-three Areema Nasreen, 36, had
been in a critical condition at Walsall
Manor Hospital in the West Midlands
where she worked.
Her condition improved slightly last
week however she died in the early hours
of Friday morning.
In a tribute posted on Facebook, her
friend Rubi Aktar said: "My beautiful
best friend Areema Nasreen has just
passed away. My heart is broken. She
fought and fought but Allah decided to
take her.
"She was the most loveliest, genuine
person you could ever meet, she went
above and beyond for everyone she met.
Speaking to Birmingham Live on Sunday,
her friend Kazeema urged everyone "to
take coronavirus seriously".
She said: "I want everyone to know how
dangerous this is. My sister is only 36
and is normally fit and healthy.
"She is young - it is not just the
elderly who are at risk."
Anguish as Sri Lanka forces Muslims to
cremate COVID-19 victims
Out
of the four people who died due
to COVID-19 in Sri Lanka, two
were Muslims who were cremated [
Al Jazeera]
SRI LANKA: The forced
cremation of two COVID-19 infected
Muslims in Sri Lanka has sent shock
waves among the minority community,
which accused the authorities of
violating Islamic burial rites.
Bishrul Hafi Mohammed Joonus, a 73-year-
old man from the capital Colombo who
died of COVID-19, was the second Muslim
to have been cremated in the Indian
Ocean island nation, which has
registered 151 cases so far.
Bishrul's son Fayaz Joonus, 46, said his
father who had a kidney disorder tested
positive for the virus about two weeks
ago. He died on April 1 and was cremated
the following day.
Fayaz said they could not perform
congregational funeral prayers, called
the Janazah, for his father due to fear
of infections.
"My father was taken in a vehicle under
the supervision of the police force and
was cremated. We did some prayers
outside the morgue, but it was not a
Janazah that us Muslim typically do,"
Fayaz told Al Jazeera.
"The government needs to make
arrangements for us Muslims to be able
to bury our loved ones in accordance
with our Islamic burial rites."
"If there is an option of burial, our
government should accommodate. Cremation
is not the only option, we want to bury
our loved ones as per the Islamic way,"
he told Al Jazeera.
Sri Lanka's Ministry of Health on
Tuesday issued COVID-19 guidelines
saying the standard procedure of
disposing bodies should be cremation. It
reversed an earlier guideline that
allowed traditional Muslim burial.
It also said the body should not be
washed and placed in a sealed bag and a
coffin, as against the Islamic practice
of washing the body.
Malaysian ministry apologises for 'avoid
nagging' lockdown tips
Citizens mocked advice for women
to wear makeup, dress neatly and
not nag husbands
Doraemon, a
Japanese robo-cat anime
character: imitations of its
squeaky voice were suggested.
MALAYSIA: Malaysia’s
government has apologised after its
advice for women to wear makeup and not
nag their husbands during the
coronavirus lockdown sparked anger and
mockery online.
The country has ordered citizens to stay
at home to stem the spread of Covid-19.
In a series of Facebook posts, the
women’s ministry offered tips on how
wives should behave while the
restrictions were in place.
One now-deleted post showed a
picture of a couple hanging clothes,
next to a caption that urged women to
“avoid nagging” their husbands – and to
imitate the squeaky voice of Doraemon, a
cartoon robot cat from Japan that is
popular across Asia.
Other posts advised women working
at home to wear makeup and dress neatly
rather than in casual clothes.
There was anger and disbelief over the
posts, with one social media user
asking: “How will dressing up and
putting on makeup at home [prevent]
Covid-19? Pray, tell?”
The women’s ministry apologised and
conceded the advice may have offended
some people. It pledged to “remain
cautious in future” but claimed the
suggestions were aimed at “maintaining
positive relationships among family
members during the period they are
working from home”.
There have been concerns over a surge in
domestic violence worldwide caused by
the stress of confinement, with experts
suggesting job insecurity was increasing
the likelihood of conflicts.
A government-run helpline in Malaysia
for vulnerable people, including those
affected by domestic abuse, has reported
a more than 50% increase in calls since
the lockdown began on 18 March, local
media reported.
Princess R. Lakshman
is a writer, poet,
life coach, and
spiritual
counsellor. She
lives in Brisbane,
Australia. Her
website is
www.princesslakshman.com
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
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.
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.
Harmony in
Marriage During
Covid-19 Isolation
Self-isolation is
not about the world
ending. It is about
you stopping so that
the world can heal.
If you haven’t yet
isolated yourself,
now is the time to
seriously consider
it. And for those
who are in
self-isolation, use
this time to reflect
on your life’s
priorities - health,
relationships,
vocation, and
spiritual growth.
This time, of less
doing and more
being, is a gift of
healing.
The past few days
have seen an
increase in
hostility between
married couples due
to the isolation
period. There is an
immense need to
pause and reflect on
one’s intentions.
Despite the hundreds
of religious texts,
practices, self-help
books and podcasts
that teach us ways
to demonstrate love,
compassion, care,
and kindness,
marital problems
continue to soar.
What exactly are we
failing to
understand about
human connection and
soulful
companionship?
From my experience
as a relationships
counsellor, I feel
that the main issue
is that we use words
without practising
the essence of those
words. For example,
we use words like
love, kindness,
compassion, empathy,
and so on, but we
don’t really
understand how to
translate these
words into action.
Take the following
example: The wife is
taking a nap while
the husband decides
to surprise her and
clean the pantry as
he is bored during
the lockdown.
However, when the
wife wakes up she
finds that the
pantry is not
arranged in the same
way as before. She
tells him off,
abuses him. Another
example is that the
husband is spending
all his time on the
phone instead of
helping with
household chores.
And yet another
example is that both
the husband and wife
are constantly
trying to find fault
with one another
through incessant
arguments, bickering
and nagging.
These examples show
what love doesn’t
look like, what
compassion doesn’t
look like, what
respect doesn’t look
like and what
kindness doesn’t
look like.
So, what does love,
compassion, kindness
and respect look
like? How does one
translate these
words into action?
It is in your tone.
It is in your gaze.
It is in your touch.
It is in your
ability to hold
space while you
listen to your
spouse’s words
without judgment or
reaction. It is in
your expression of
gratitude, first and
foremost, for
everything your
spouse is doing for
you. It is in your
choice of words -
are you accusing or
seeking
clarification? Are
you name-calling?
Are you blaming? Are
you using respectful
words, kind words
and speaking them in
a kind, respectful
tone?
Love, kindness,
compassion - these
are just empty words
unless you translate
them into deeds that
are in harmony with
the essence of these
words.
These are
challenging times,
no doubt. We don’t
need to make it any
worse with our ugly
thoughts, words, and
deeds. The world
needs us all to
pause and heal a
disease which is far
greater than the
Covid-19. It is the
disease of
unkindness.
One Simple
Strategy
Have at least one
hour everyday with
your spouse where
you are not on any
gadgets - no phones,
tablets, laptop,
smart watch or TV -
nothing that you are
wired to. Just try
to be in each
other’s company
without depending on
any external forms
of connection. Try
to soulfully connect
with each other.
Hold space for an
organic conversation
to happen and flow
with that. Hold
space for your
spouse to speak
while you listen,
without interrupting
even once. Make this
a daily tea time or
coffee time or juice
or smoothie time,
whatever you both
prefer. Learn to
once again be with
each other and learn
to enjoy being with
each other.
Allah bless you
marriage and keep
you safe and
healthy. Remember,
marriage is all
about daily efforts
of kindness,
compassion, patience
and respect.
Love, light, peace,
joy, wisdom, courage
and clarity be with
you always. May you
be blessed with
optimal health and
well-being.
For two decades, militant
jihadism has been one of the
world's most pressing security
crises. In civil wars and
insurgencies across the Muslim
world, certain Islamist groups
have taken advantage of the
anarchy to establish political
control over a broad range of
territories and communities. In
effect, they have built radical
new jihadist proto-states.
Why have some
ideologically-inspired Islamists
been able to build state-like
polities out of civil war
stalemate, while many other
armed groups have failed to gain
similar traction? What makes
jihadists win?
In Jihad & Co., Aisha Ahmad
argues that there are concrete
economic reasons behind Islamist
success. By tracking the
economic activities of jihadist
groups in Afghanistan, Somalia,
Pakistan, Mali, and Iraq, she
uncovers an unlikely actor in
bringing Islamist groups to
power: the local business
community.
To illuminate the nexus between
business and Islamist interests
in civil war, Ahmad journeys
into war-torn bazaars to meet
with both jihadists and the
smugglers who financed their
rise to power. From the arms
markets in the Pakistani border
region to the street markets of
Mogadishu, their stories reveal
a powerful economic logic behind
the rise of Islamist power in
civil wars. Behind the fiery
rhetoric and impassioned,
ideological claims is the cold,
hard cash of the local war
economy. Moving readers back and
forth between mosques,
marketplaces, and battlefields,
Ahmad makes a powerful argument
that economic savvy, as much as
ideological fervour, explains
the rise of militant jihadism
across the modern Muslim world.
KB says:
This is the single most requested recipe at a
Thai Restaurant, but now you can create your own
with your own level of spiciness and how creamy
you want your sauce to be.
Thai
Green Curry
INGREDIENTS & METHOD
Ingredients
500 g mix of chicken and thigh fillet
2 tsp crushed garlic
1 tsp crushed ginger
1 tsp ground green chillies
1 tsp salt
1 tsp whole cumin seeds
1 tsp crushed cumin seeds
Pinch of turmeric powder
1-tab ghee or coconut oil
1 can coconut milk
Juice of half a lime
Chopped fresh coriander
1 tab flour mixed with water
Method
1. Heat the coconut oil and braise the cumin seeds and then
add the remaining spices and braise for another minute.
2. Add the chicken which has been cut into bite size curry
pieces and allow to cook until done.
3. Add the coconut milk and allow to simmer.
4. Add chopped coriander and allow to simmer further.
5. To thicken, mix one tab flour with a little water and add
to the pot.
6. Allow to simmer further until the curry thickens.
7. Before serving add fresh lime juice.
8. Serve hot with Jasmine Rice
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.)
A flustered Mrs. Jallalludin
complains to her less than helpful husband: "I've
been ironing clothes.... washing windows .... scrubbing
floors............and you just sit there waiting for me
to bring you a snack!"
In
celebration and recognition
of Black History Month in
the United States, here is
one of the greatest and most
influential quotes by Black
Muslims who have made
history and continue to make
history in our world today.
Abu Uthman Amr (Al-Jahiz)
Abu Uthman Amr, also known
as Al-Jahiz, was a renowned
theologian and one of the
most important writers in
Islamic history. Born in
Basra in modern day Iraq in
the 9th century, Al-Jahiz
wrote some 200 books over
the course of his life, on
subjects that included
Arabic grammar, zoology,
poetry, lexicography and
rhetoric. He also wrote a
famous book on Black
Africans, praising their
courage, generosity,
nobility and cheerfulness,
while also discussing how
the colour of skin was
simply a natural outcome of
environmental circumstance,
dispelling racist myths on
why Africans had darker
skin.
"Ikhlaas is to
forget the vision of the
creation by constantly
looking at the Creator."
The current
information out
there indicates
that we should
prepare
ourselves for
the long run and
things will
worsen in the
coming months.
Rapid changes
have given rise
to an air of
selfishness
where those who
are able hoard
leaving the rest
to perish. We
need to
continuously
adapt to these
changes which
can be
challenging.
In response to
the
uncertainties
that lies ahead,
ICQ is planning
to launch
PROJECT HUMANITY.
The goal of this
Project is to
shift the focus
from selfishness
to selflessness
by promoting a
culture of
positivity. The
Muslim community
has a wider
array of skills
and talents,
which ICQ
intends to
coordinate and
make services
available to the
people of
Queensland.
LAUNCHING
27.03.2020
STAY SAFE
ACADEMY ALIVE
ENROLMENTS OPEN
The Year of Endless
Opportunities, Don't Miss Your OPPORTUNITY.
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!
1. All Islamic Event dates given above are supplied by
the Council of Imams QLD (CIQ) and are provided as a guide and are
tentative and subject to the sighting of the moon.
2. The Islamic date changes to the next day starting in
the evenings after maghrib. Therefore, exceptfor Lailatul
Mehraj,
Lailatul Bhahraat
and
Lailatul Qadr - these dates refer to the commencement of the event
starting in the evening of the corresponding day.
HikmahWay offers online and
in-person Islamic courses to
equip Muslims of today with
the knowledge, understanding
and wisdom to lead balanced,
wholesome and beneficial
lives.
Articles and
opinions appearing in this newsletter do not necessarily
reflect the opinions of the CCN Team, its Editor or its
Sponsors, particularly if they eventually turn out to be
libellous, unfounded, objectionable, obnoxious, offensive,
slanderous and/or downright distasteful.
It is the usual policy of CCN to
include from time to time, notices of events that some
readers may find interesting or relevant. Such notices are
often posted as received. Including such messages or
providing the details of such events does not necessarily
imply endorsement of the contents of these events by CCN
The best ideas
and the best feedback come from our community of readers. If you
have a topic or opinion that you want to write about or want
seen covered or any news item that you think might be of benefit
to the Crescents Community please
e-mail us..
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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.
For
the Ultimate Ramadan
Preparation
Acknowledging the
contribution of Muslim doctors
Towards
Demystifying Islamophobia: 
'Healthy' NHS nurse, 36, dies after
contracting coronavirus
post comments on
our Wall
7
August 2011