As salaam o’alaikum wrb Dear
Brothers and Sisters in
Islam, Eid Mubarak to you
and your families on this
auspicious occasion.
Our Ummah has been fasting,
performing noble acts of
piety, contributing vast
amounts of charity and
feeding millions of people
across the world, and all
this achieved without, in
most instances, the
structures we are so
accustomed to in the form of
our masjids.
We sincerely thank Allah swt
for granting us yet another
opportunity to witness and
absorb the immense blessings
of this sacred month, albeit
under unique circumstances,
especially in our lifetime.
There will be no large Eid
gatherings this year but let
not that take away the joy
and happiness of being with
close family and celebrating
our bounties.
Let us remember all those
that are no longer with us
this year, those that are
ill, those that are living
under occupation and in war
zones, those that are living
as refugees, those that are
poor and destitute, for
their struggles are also our
struggles.
On behalf of the Islamic
Council of Queensland I take
this opportunity to thank
all those that have
supported us, and we look
forward to your continued
support in the months ahead.
Wasalaam
Hj Habib Jamal
President
PRIME MINISTER OF
AUSTRALIA
SENATORS PAUL SCARR & AMANDA
STOKER
QUEENSLAND POLICE SERVICE
On
behalf of the Queensland
Police Service, I wish you a
wonderful EID Mubarak.
Although we were unable to
gather together during
Ramadan, I know that the
special time was celebrated
and cherished by not only
the Muslim community but the
many friends of Islam within
Queensland.
I thank you for playing your
part in containing the
spread of COVID-19, and the
sacrifices of not being able
to be with extended family
and friends at this special
time.
It is my hope that in 2021,
we can once again gather, to
share fellowship and break
bread in true friendship and
the impact of COVID-19 is a
memory. I was especially
looking forward to EID
Downunder, as I know many of
you were as well. It will be
wonderful when we can all
gather again to celebrate.
To you, your families and
all communities – EID
Mubarak!
Katarina Carroll
Commissioner
GOLD COAST MOSQUE
Eid Ul-Fitr is the Muslim
festival which marks the end
of the month of Ramadan, the
end of fasting and a
celebration to mark the
completion of a month of
self-reflection. It falls on
this Sunday 24 May 2020.
Writing to you now, I am
sharing my inner thoughts
and wishing, despite social
distancing and the lockdowns
of the last few weeks, that
I could be in conversation
with you all and see you
face to face.
Self-reflection requires us
to balance our present with
our hopes and dreams for the
future. Our hopes and dreams
often face tough challenges
but our religious faith
comforts and inspires us so
that even in the worst of
times, we can have hope in
God’s mercy.
As Muslims, we are committed
to the lands we live in and
want to contribute to the
civilised, moral, scientific
and greater well-being of
society. This goal will not
be achieved unless all of us
– scholars, Imams, teachers,
families, every segment of
society – support the
Oneness of our Australian
Community as well as the
Oneness of God. Our mosques,
Islamic centres, community
organisations, businesses,
all of us – including the
Mufti – must contribute to
this. If we contribute to
the well-being of society,
our actions will show God at
work. This is faith in
action.
There has been so much
misunderstanding, we all
need to put things on a new
footing. We all – Muslim and
non-Muslim – must dismiss
stale outdated thoughts and
narrow visions which do not
engage with today’s world,
and instead work together to
offer solutions to address
the problems of our society
and deal with new challenges
as they arise.
Beware of ‘taking a back
seat’. Take a position of
leadership and be proactive.
Listen to leaders who tell
the truth about Islam and
don’t distort it. Be a role
model for peace, as God asks
of us. Lead by example.
Create an awareness and a
sensibility that denounces
injustice and transgression
in all its forms. Oppression
in all its forms is ugly.
Be a part of a movement that
calls people to action,
nobility and freedom.
Your vote is a privilege,
use it thoughtfully and
encourage others to exercise
their responsibility to
vote. Be active in the
political space and work for
the future of Australia.
Strive to make the security
of this land part of your
culture and mission. Your
contribution to the
advancement of Australia is
your religious and moral
responsibility. Your land
deserves loyalty,
affiliation and generosity.
Mutually exchange loyalty
for loyalty, generosity for
generosity, and love for
love. This should be your
commitment.
Present Islam as a love that
embraces the feelings of all
people, whose kindness flows
to your neighbours and
fellow travellers, fellow
passengers on the train,
colleagues at work and those
you meet in all walks of
life.
Present the religion of
Islam as merciful, offering
a panacea for the distress
of all human beings, healing
for their wounds and cure
for their pains.
Present Islam in the form of
flowers that fill the land
with a beautiful fragrance,
which can change the intense
heat of a mid-summer day to
a refreshing spring
afternoon.
Present Islam as a series of
thoughts that purifies the
earth from the microbes of
tyranny, turning the arid
desert minds of stubbornness
to gardens and orchards of
fruits and lush vegetation.
Couple Islam with your
thoughts and behaviour so
that your daily routine
turns into a lively sap that
nurtures future generations
to be strong and upright,
vigorous-minded and
independent in thought and
judgement. Through this
process, the flowers of the
future will open, bringing a
bright future for our
country and the wider
community both here in
Australia and abroad.
Live Islam as a noble moral
code so that people witness
Islam in your truthfulness
and integrity, your
outstanding spiritual,
intellectual and moral
behaviour and your objective
to serve other human beings.
Present Islam as hymns of
peace that fill the horizons
with the rhythms of love,
adorning the heavens and
earth with wreaths of peace.
Present Islam as a friend to
all human beings. A friend
that overlooks our faults
when we err, excuses us when
we sin, helps us reform when
we break down and wipes away
the dust from our faces when
we fall. The friend who
takes you by the hand, helps
you stand up and grants you
a fresh go, filled with all
the purity and glory of
life.
Present Islam as a religion
that fills our entire
existence with vigorous life
and motion, filling the
human intellect with deep
understanding and knowledge.
This is the Islam that will
build up our spiritual
hearts and inner state with
solid faith that links
heaven to earth, merging the
seen and the unseen, the
physical and the spiritual.
Present Islam to protect
civilisations with the
boundaries of good manners,
honour and the fulfilment of
justice.
Islam is facing a lot of
challenges and attempts to
screen its light and hinder
its progress, perhaps trying
to inhibit its growth and to
obstruct its path of
guidance and light to
others’ hearts and minds.
The challenges are well
known and we don’t need to
list them.
Many challenges lack proof
and logic, but they use the
resources at their disposal
in an effective and smart
manner – so it is our
responsibility to present
Islam in its pure and
genuine form, not as
depicted by forces that
harbour evil and hatred. In
this way, we can free the
true Islam from the violence
and aggression which some
have falsely charged it
with.
Present Islam as a guarantor
of human dignity for all
human beings. A fortress for
civil liberties. An advocate
of the oppressed. An
opponent of the oppressors.
An enemy to poverty,
disease, hunger and all that
challenges human dignity and
breaches man’s honour.
Present Islam as it is: a
standard of justice, a means
for the protection of people
and a rebuilding of the
universe. A friend, not an
enemy, to reason and logic.
A stimulus to every good
purpose and an inhibitor of
every evil in people and
things. A redeemer of
morality and sublime human
values. A call to happiness
in life, not misery. A call
to action that brings
guidance and uprightness to
life. A call to the tongue,
to stop its harm and only
speak good so it doesn’t
speak except truth. A means
of constructing our life,
not destroying it. A means
of building existence, not
corrupting it.
Also present Islam as a
character possessing
sublimity, a decency that is
not blushing, an ascension
that rejects decline and
deterioration, an honour
that rejects compromise and
sale. A dignity that rejects
abasement, humiliation and
disgrace. A loyalty to God
that can’t be sold, not for
all the gold the earth
contains. A call to peace
that denounces wars and
condemns its brokers. A call
to security that denounces
violence, terrorism and
intimidating people. An
oasis of love. An arena that
is wide open for thought,
culture and whatever else
elevates the human being. A
way to grow human skills and
talents, encouraging and
stimulating the creativity
of human beings to help
progress, and renew and
contribute to society. A
guidance for people, and a
bringer of glad tidings of
two happy lives: one here in
this life, and the other in
Paradise. A means of calling
the human mind to ponder and
heed guidance. A call to the
spiritual heart to believe
and find tranquility.
A call to the inner
conscience to be filled with
love and joy.
This is your religion.
Please present Islam as a
means of mercy to the entire
universe.
I ask God, Exalted be He, to
protect Australia: its
people, its environment, its
freedom, its honour. We ask
God to remove tribulations
and pandemics from our
people and our land.
May God grant you support in
fulfilling your duty.
May the peace, mercy and
blessings of God always be
with you.
As we say goodbye to Ramadan
for another year, we ask
Allah to accept our good
deeds and bless us all
during this joyous occasion.
Thank you for supporting the
world’s poorest communities
this Ramadan through Muslim
Aid Australia (MAA)!
Your donations this Ramadan
have reached over 25
countries including Syria,
Yemen, Somalia, Palestine
and our Rohingya and Uyghur
Refugee brothers and
sisters.
Thanks to your support we've
provided essential Food,
Water, Eid Gifts to
thousands of families and
our Income-generating Gifts
will take thousands of
families out of poverty, in-sha-Allah!
From the Team at Muslim Aid
Australia (MAA), we wish you
and your family a blessed
Eid day.
Eid prayer consists of two
units (Rakat in Arabic,
singular is Raka). The main
difference in the way this
prayer and any other prayer
of two Rakat is performed is
the number of Takbirs that
are done.
There is no IQAMAH in Eid
prayers.
Takbirs is an the Arabic
word referring to when "Allahu
Akbar" is said and the hands
are raised to the ears.
Step 1: Make an intention of
doing two Rakat behind the
Imam for Eid prayer along
with six additional Takbirs.
The First Raka
Step 2: After the Imam has
said "Allahu Akbar" the
first time, you should raise
your hands and follow. This
is the first Takbir of the
prayer.
Step 3: There will be 3
Takbirs before the Imam
starts reciting Quran. Each
time the Imam says "Allahu
Akbar", you should follow by
raising your hands, then
putting them on your sides.
After the third Takbir, the
Imam will begin reciting the
Quran. At that point, you
should put your hands on
your chest, with your right
hand on top of the left.
Step 4: Listen to the
recitation of the Holy
Quran. The Imam will recite
Surah Al Fatiha (the first
Surah of the Quran) and then
another Surah.
Step 5: When the Imam says "Allahu
Akbar" go into Ruku (the
bowing position).
Step 6: Stand up straight
when he says Sami Allahu
liman Hamidah (Allah hears
those who praise Him), and
say "Rabbana lakal Hamd"
(our Lord praise be to You)
in a low voice.
Step 7: When the Imam says "Allahu
Akbar" go into Sujud
(prostration). You will do
two prostrations as in
normal prayer.
The Second Raka
Step 8: The Imam will first
recite from the Holy Quran
(first Surah Al Fatiha and
another Surah.
Step 9: After the
recitation, before going
into Ruku, there will be 3
Takbirs. Follow the Imam.
Raise your hands after each
"Allahu Akbar". After the
third Takbir, go into Ruku
(the bowing position).
Step 10: Stand up straight
when the Imam says Sami
Allah huliman Hamidah, and
say "Rabbana lakal Hamd" in
a low voice.
Step 11: When the Imam says
"Allahu Akbar" go into Sujud.
You will do two
prostrations.
Step 12: After this, you sit
for the complete Tashshahud.
Step 13: After the Imam ends
the prayer by turning to his
face to the right first and
saying "Assalamu alaikum wa
Rahmatullah" and then to his
left and doing the same, you
should follow.
Step 14: For Toowoomba
Muslims, please complete
prayers prior to Eid Khutbah
(speech) by Imam Abdul Kader
at 9am.
Leading
academics and a major Muslim
advocacy group voice alarm over
bill that would allow
questioning of 14-year-olds
Comment has
been sought from the minister
for home affairs, Peter Dutton,
over criticism of the Asio bill.
The Morrison government is
facing pushback from leading
academics and from a major
Muslim advocacy group about
new powers allowing the
domestic spy agency to
question people as young as
14.
The dean of law at the
University of New South
Wales, George Williams, said
the government’s proposed
new law was a case of
“overreach” and agency
powers kept being increased
“in what typically is a
one-way street without any
sense of what the endgame
is”.
He said aspects of the bill
were “troubling” and were
the latest chapter in the
continual ratcheting-up of
national security laws.
A group advocating for
Australian Muslims has also
voiced alarm over the bill –
which would allow the
attorney general to issue
certain warrants orally in
emergency situations – while
calling on the government to
explain why it has yet to
list any white nationalist
groups on the list of terror
organisations.
The government introduced a
bill to parliament last week
that would overhaul the
Australian Security
Intelligence Organisation’s
existing rules for
compulsory questioning –
measures that were
originally brought in after
the 11 September 2001
terrorist attacks in the
United States.
The bill would broaden the
types of ASIO cases that
could trigger questioning to
include espionage,
politically motivated
violence and acts of foreign
interference – rather than
just those regarding
terrorism.
The agency would also be
allowed to seek to question
minors aged 14 to 18 – down
from the current age minimum
of 16 – but the government
argues this would be subject
to safeguards, including
that a lawyer is present as
well as a parent, guardian
or other appropriate person.
Williams welcomed part of
the bill – the abolition of
a certain type of warrant
that allowed people to be
detained for long periods
for Asio questioning – but
said that “extreme” power
had never been used.
“I think it would have been
better to remove that
without then embarking on
what I think is a further
overreach by extending other
powers in this area,” he
told Guardian Australia.
“We’re really now at the
sharp end of the most
concerning powers, you know,
when you get to intelligence
agencies operating in
secret, being able to
exercise coercive powers
with respect to Australian
citizens who aren’t even
suspected of terrorism.”
Williams said the rest of
the bill removed safeguards,
made it easier to exercise
powers, and extended the
reach of the agency.
“This has been the pattern
since 2001: a steady
increase and ratcheting up
of these powers in what
typically is a one-way
street without any sense of
what the endgame is,” he
said.
“What is the line we don’t
cross? It’s just this
gradual encroachment,
sometimes faster, sometimes
slower.
“It begs a larger
conversation about what sort
of security powers do we
think are appropriate, what
are the limits, what is the
community happy to put up
with? But instead, we’ve
just got this ad-hoc
legislation which on its own
merits is troubling.”
The Australian Muslim
Advocacy Network argued the
ongoing increase in national
security powers was “getting
more and more alarming”.
Rita Jabri-Markwell, a
lawyer and adviser to the
network, said Australian
Muslims had already
disproportionately suffered
as a result of a raft of
laws that had been
introduced over the past two
decades.
“It’s had huge impacts on
our community and our trust
in the justice system and
police. Now they’re talking
about reducing oversight …
it’s very scary for us but
it should alarm all
Australians.”
While Asio powers were
already very extensive,
Jabri-Markwell argued, the
government had not yet given
any indication “that it’s at
all interested in protecting
Australian Muslims from the
threat of white nationalist
terrorism”.
“We have white nationalist
terrorist groups listed in
the UK, Germany and Canada,
and the US has just listed
its first one under the
Trump administration, and
Australia hasn’t got a
single one on its proscribed
terror list,” she said.
“How is this blind spot
happening in Australia?”
The head of Asio has
previously revealed that
“the extreme rightwing
threat is real and it is
growing” in Australia and is
on the agency’s radar.
Mike Burgess, the director
general of security, said in
a speech in February that
“violent Islamic extremism”
remained the agency’s
principal concern – but it
was also focused on small
extreme rightwing cells who
met regularly in suburbs
around Australia to salute
Nazi flags, inspect weapons,
train in combat and share
their hateful ideology.
The Guardian
Ms Rita
Jabri-Markwell is a Senior
Policy Advisor to the
Australian Muslim Advocacy
Network (AMAN) and a regular
contributor to CCN with her
opinion piece "Real Chat
with Rita".
Anver
Emon, a professor at the
University of Toronto’s
Faculty of Law and Faculty
of Arts & Science, has
helped create a Canadian
tribute to Islam’s most
important holidays.
The director of the
Institute of Islamic Studies
consulted with Canada Post
after it commissioned a 2020
stamp in honour of Eid al-Fitr
and Eid al-Adha, which are
celebrated by Muslims around
the world, including more
than one million Muslims in
Canada.
“I think this stamp is a
beautiful testament to the
way in which Canada tries to
position itself with
diversity,” said Emon. “It’s
small, both physically and
as a gesture, but I think it
also speaks volumes. It's an
act of speech that I think
we can all benefit from
hearing these days.”
The stamp pays tribute to
Eid al-Fitr, which marks the
end to the holy month of
Ramadan, during which many
Muslims fast throughout the
day. Eid al-Adha, the
Festival of Sacrifice,
observes the end of the
annual pilgrimage to Mecca,
the holiest site in Islam.
Often lasting several days,
the celebrations include
congregational prayers,
communal feasts, family
gatherings, gift offerings
and charitable acts. This
year, they begin May 23 and
July 30, respectively.
Designed by Toronto’s
Context Creative, the
traditional greeting of Eid
Mubarak – “have a blessed
festival” – is written in
Arabic calligraphy on a
background of layered stars.
A total of 1.3 million
stamps began circulating on
April 24 to commemorate the
start of Ramadan. “I think
it's gorgeous,” said Emon.
“I’ve shared it on Facebook.
I've shared it on my various
social media accounts.
“What's important to me is
that there's a certain level
of historical accuracy
there. The imagery, the
background, the symmetry in
design – those all have
precedents in Islamic
history. And, importantly,
they are present in
contemporary manifestations
of this kind of art form.”
He was also moved by the
passion of Canada Post to
make this both visually
appealing and significant in
its underlying message.
“Everybody I interacted with
was very serious about the
stamp, very committed – and
not just to this stamp, but
to this whole genre of
stamps that symbolize the
inclusion of different
communities of culture and
religion and value,” he
said.
“It was one of the most
interesting things I've had
the privilege to do. As a
medieval historian, I focus
on the textual tradition and
the authors who have long
been dead. So working with
images, colors, and the
committed professionals at
Canada Post was a special
treat.”
Zahra Fielding used to think
the hijab was oppressive. Now,
as a Muslim convert, she proudly
wears the headscarf. (Supplied:
Zahra Fielding)s
When Zahra Fielding
downloaded an
Ottoman-inspired phone game,
she didn't expect it would
introduce her to new
friends, let alone Islam.
In fact, the game caught her
attention because of its
suggestive nature.
"When I first downloaded the
game, it was out of
curiosity, coming across on
Facebook ads — and really,
intensely wrong ads," she
recalls.
"I'm like, 'Surely there
can't be a game like this
that would do that or talk
about women in that way.'"
The app in question, Game of
Sultans, is an empire
simulation role-playing
game. Players strive to
become — and remain — the
ruler of the Ottoman Empire,
so much of the game is about
forging alliances and
fighting rivals.
Gamers are also encouraged
to assemble their harem,
choose wives and consorts,
and foster heirs. But Zahra
says the game isn't as
sexist as its publicity
suggests.
Once she started playing,
she joined a team with
female players from
Australia and Asia.
"The game came at such an
important time in my life,
perhaps. I was really lonely
and feeling lost," she
recalls.
"Like, not happy in my
career, not happy in my
personal life … I'd been
single for a very long time.
"And I just met like a
wonderful group of people
from different countries
that I never would have an
opportunity to connect with
here."
Continued in next week's
CCN: Revealing faith and
covering skin
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.
PLESE
NOTE:
Due
to the
unprecedented
uncertainty
regarding
the
coronavirus
pandemic,
The
Muslim
News has
postponed
its
prestigious
annual
awards
ceremony
until
late UK
summer.
Elinor Mair Chohan
MBE worked as a
nurse for twenty
years before turning
to the voluntary
sector.
Among her many
current
appointments, Elinor
is Director of the
Miri Roshni
Foundation, a
registered family
charity for the
benefit of people in
the UK and abroad.
Elinor is also Chair
of North West
Remembering
Srebrenica, a
position in which
she has overseen an
annual Civic
Remembrance Service
at Manchester
Cathedral to mark
the Bosnian
genocide.
As Co-chair of the
Manchester section
of Nisa–Nashim,
Elinor helps bring
together Jewish and
Muslim women in a
spirit of
cooperation and
sisterhood.
As Muslim adviser to
RECLAIM, Elinor
plays a role in a
youth-led initiative
seeking to promote
community cohesion
and character
building, now being
piloted at seven
secondary schools in
Manchester.
Elinor is a trustee
of the British
Muslim Heritage
Centre and was
awarded an MBE in
2018.
Abdul-Malik Al-Houthi is the
current leader of the Houthi
political, religious and
militant movement in the
Sa’dah governorate in Yemen.
Influence Houthi: The Houthi
movement was established in
1992 by Hussein Badr Al-Din
AlHouthi, a Zaydi Shia’a
scholar and anti-Wahhabi who
had written a number of
books criticizing Wahhabism
and the leading authorities
of Yemen. The Zaidis ruled
most of Yemen for over 1,000
years until 1962. They
believe that Muslims should
be ruled only by a
descendant of Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH), whom they
call an Imam.
Leader: Abdul-Malik
has made major changes in
Yemen through tactical and
strategic plans that have
enabled him to reach the
position where he is today.
In 2007, he founded the
Al-Minbar website and in
March 23, 2012 he launched
Al-Masirah TV channel.
Taking Yemen: Abdel
Malik emerged as a leader
after the February 2011
uprising. The Houthi
authority seized control
over Saada and Jawf
provinces in March 2011.
Then in 2014, the Houthis
seized control over the
Demag region in the Saada
and Amran provinces and in
September 2014 they stormed
the capital Sana’a, seizing
a large number of ministries
and military facilities. He
has driven Al-Qaeda out of
the regions which the
Houthis have taken.
Humanitarian Toll:
Since 2015, they have been
subject to aerial bombing by
a Saudi led coalition. This
bombing of one of the
world’s poorest countries
has led to 10,000 civilian
deaths and a humanitarian
crisis which has left around
70 per cent of the
population (27 million)
reliant on humanitarian aid
and over a million people
infected by cholera. The UK
in particular has come under
international criticism for
its supply of weapons which
are being used in the
bombardment.
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
ISLAMOPHOBIA: A MUSLIM’S
PERSPECTIVE
...continued from last
week's CCN
Ben Tamsuk has also
tackled the question
about who fuels and
benefits from
Islamophobia.
He maintains
Islamophobia has
unintentionally
empowered extremism.
Muslims have been
enraged by attacks on
their sacred Islamic
religious symbols;
hence, they have been
mobilised globally to
attend angry street
demonstrations and some
cases have led to the
burning of flags and
assassination of foreign
ambassadors.
For instance, the
publication of abusive
pictures of the Prophet
serves not only the
purposes of extremist
groups, but is a pretext
to pressure Muslim
communities living in
the West to assimilate.
Islamophobia tends to be
inflamed at the time of
elections, especially by
the extreme right of
politics that blames
Muslims for problems
related to rising
unemployment, the spread
of crime, terrorism and
clandestine migration.
Increased economic
hardships, recessions
and the failure of
capitalism have prompted
some Western countries
to create a virtual and
illusory war by doing
two things: directing
internal public opinion
to fight virtual
struggles with migrant
Muslim communities and
blaming these
communities for
capitalism’s failures.
Another strategy is to
convince the Western
voter that the country’s
problems could only be
solved by the expulsion
of Muslims from Western
countries.
It is extraordinary, Ben
Tamsuk argues, that
these ridiculous and
childish fantasies have
been promoted to the
people and largely
ignored the structural
corruption of the
capitalist system.
However, the author adds
this ‘Globalized
Islamophobia’ (GI) has a
direct aim, not hiding
behind election
narratives. Ben Tamsuk
adds that:
GI, as led by the
United States and
its allies today,
harks back
historically to the
end of the Cold War
and the demise of
the ‘red’ danger on
the global
capitalist system.
It is only natural
the USA aspires to
put its hand on all
sources of wealth in
the world and launch
their multinational
companies in all
directions.
Ben Tamsuk argues, since
imperialist countries
can no longer use their
military power as in
Vietnam, they look for
other ways to get
involved in rich
countries and use their
resources.
Equipped with embedded
media, they search for
“legitimate
justification for its
interference in the
affairs of other
countries.”
No one can undermine the
role of the media that
links Islam with
international terrorism.
The USA has always
supported political
Islam in the past; for
instance, the Muslim
Brotherhood against
Nasser, the Taliban
against the Soviet Union
and Khomeini against the
Iranian national
movement. In other
words, the USA and
Britain have found
political Islam to be
the ideal tool to curb
communism and Arab
nationalism.
After the failure of
communism and
nationalism, political
Islam became a problem
and previous loyalties
became enemies.
The USA created
seemingly Islamic groups
to soil Islam’s name and
foster sectarian
division.
When her studies moved
online due to COVID-19,
mature student Naseema
Mustapha was a little bit
nervous. With the support of
the Griffith community, she
found studying online was
easier than she expected.
Listen to her tips for
combining family life and
study.
France’s
face mask policy sparks
controversy
France began
its mandatory face mask
policy on Monday to combat
the coronavirus pandemic.
But, Muslim women are still
banned from wearing the face
veil.
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.
Coronavirus: Afghan girls make ventilators
out of car parts
The girls are
trying to produce ventilators
for a fraction of the market
price
AFGHANISTAN:
Afghanistan's all-girl robotics team has
turned its focus on coronavirus patients
- by making affordable ventilators out
of car parts.
The teenagers made headlines in 2017
when they won a special award at an
international competition in the US.
Now they are racing against time to
deliver ventilators by the end of May,
at a fraction of the market price.
Afghanistan, reeling from years of war,
has a maximum of just 400 ventilators
for a population of 38.9 million.
So far, more than 7,650 coronavirus
cases and 178 deaths have been
confirmed, but the authorities fear the
situation could get worse and overwhelm
an already fragile healthcare system.
"It's important even if we can save one
life with our effort," team member Nahid
Rahimi, 17, told the BBC.
Known as the "Afghan Dreamers", the
girls come from the western province of
Herat, where Afghanistan's first case of
Covid-19 was reported.
It's the nation's hotspot for the
pandemic because of its close proximity
to Iran, the region's epicentre of the
outbreak.
The girls, aged between 14 and 17, have
built a prototype using a motor from a
used Toyota Corolla and a chain drive
from a Honda motorcycle.
They say their ventilators will give
temporary relief to patients with
respiratory difficulty in an emergency
when standard ventilators are not
available.
"I feel so proud to be part of a team
that is trying to do something
meaningful to support our doctors and
nurses - they are our heroes at this
time," says team captain, Somaya Faruqi.
Blind British
Pakistani singer moves millions to tears at
Britain's Got Talent show
UK: 14-year-old British
Pakistani singer Sirine Jahangir moved
millions of people to tears and won four
yeses from the judges as she displayed
her unique vocals at Britain’s Got
Talent show on Saturday night and shared
with the audience and judges how she
completely lost sight in both eyes but
never gave up on life and her passion
for music.
The four Britain’s Got Talent (BGT)
judges Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon,
Amanda Holden and David Walliams
unanimously gave yeses to Sirine.
Appearing on the stage, she told the
judges: "It’s pretty obvious that I
can’t see. There was a time when I could
but now I cannot. Music is my vision.
It’s my thing."
Sirine then played piano and sang
Gabrielle Aplin’s "Salvation". As she
sang through the "you are the avalanche,
one world away", the audience and the
judges were spellbound listening to her.
By the time Sirine ended the song, most
in the audience including the two judges
were moved to tears.
The judges were particularly impressed
as Sirine told them that she had
performed at the school level only and
the BGT was a huge stage for her and
something new.
"What a sweet girl you are. My heart is
melted and you sang beautifully," Alesha
Dixon told her. David Walliams told
Sirine that she may not be able to see
but the whole palladium was on their
feet rooting for her.
"I found it so poignant. It was just
brilliant. You sang so beautifully,"
said Dixon, tears in her eyes.
"I think I should be the first person to
say yes to you," said Simon Cowell.
While dozens of talented acts appeared
on the show, some won approvals and some
didn’t but Sirine was the only performer
who brought the entire house to their
feet in applauding her talent.
Sirine Jahangir is the granddaughter of
Sahibzada Jahangir, one of Prime
Minister Imran Khan’s oldest friends and
his spokesperson on Trade & Investment
in UK & Europe.
After the show, Sahibzada Jahangir spoke
to The News and Geo and shared his joy
and excitement at Sirine's performance.
"Our joy cannot be put in words. Sirine
has shown to millions of people what a
unique talent she is. She is a
confident, super talented and well-liked
young girl who wants to spread the
message of good in the world. She has
beaten odds with positivity and her
positivity is making an impact on a big
scale as was witnessed on BGT," he said.
“After The News and Geo published her
news of making it to the contest, we
have received messages of support from
thousands of Pakistanis who have taken
pride in her achievements. The messages
of support have come from Pakistanis of
all backgrounds, family, and friends,"
he added.
Jahangir said Sirine has worked
extremely hard to perform before
millions of people. "She’s hopeful of
making it to the next stages of the
show. Since a young age, she has been
doing charitable work and in the last
four years Sirine has made it a point to
do charitable work every week to help
others."
Sirine was born in 2005 in London. Until
the age of five, she excelled in
everything including sports and dancing
was her favourite pastime. Her family
discovered when Sirine was 5 that she
had lost her vision totally in one eye
and although the other eye was perfect,
there was a danger it may deteriorate.
Sirine lives with parents Kafeel, 48,
and Ghizlane, 40, in north London with
her brothers Zayn, 13, and Aydin, six.
When Sirine became blind in one eye, her
parents became very concerned and did
everything they could to get her cured.
They took her to India for six weeks
where she was given injections in her
eye but that didn’t work. When they
realized that she might lose sight in
both eyes completely, they took her to
all the places she wanted to see so she
could enjoy the beauty of the world
before losing sight.
Sirine said that she wants to spread
positivity in the world through the
power of music. “If I do well on
Britain’s Got Talent, it’s really not
because I want to live the life of a
celebrity. I’m doing it because I hope
to have a bigger platform to spread a
positive message about blindness and
because I honestly love playing piano
and singing. Music is my vision.”
The Italian
government allows mosques and
Islamic centers to reopen
ITALY: The
Italian government has signed a
landmark agreement with leading
Muslim organizations that will
allow mosques and Islamic
centers to reopen as part of an
easing of the country’s
coronavirus lockdown.
The protocol was signed at an official
ceremony in Palazzo Chigi, the prime
minister’s office, as part of Italy’s
efforts to reopen all places of worship,
including Catholic churches, from May
18, provided sanitary and social
distancing measures are enforced by
religious authorities.
Mosques, prayer rooms and Islamic
centers have been shut, along with other
places of worship, since the lockdown
began on March 9.
The agreement is the first official act
signed by an Italian government with
Muslim representatives in the country,
and is viewed as a milestone on the road
to full legal recognition and
acknowledgement by the state.
The protocol was signed by Prime
Minister Giuseppe Conte, Interior
Minister Luciana Lamorgese, and
representatives of four Islamic
organizations — Coreis (Italian Islamic
Religious Community), the Great Mosque
of Rome, Union of Communities and
Islamic Organizations in Italy, and the
Italian Islamic Confederation.
Yahya Pallavicini, president of Coreis,
described the agreement as “a historic
event.”
The protocol establishes “a model of
interdisciplinary collaboration,” and
confirms “equal dignity and opportunity
for prayer in places of worship for
Muslims in Italy,” he said.
Muslim associations representing the
Pakistani, Senegalese and Bengali
communities in Italy also praised the
agreement.
The protocol follows several weeks of
negotiation between the religious
community and the Interior Ministry over
safeguards for the reopening of mosques.
Yassine Lafram, president of the Union
of Islamic Communities in Italy, told
the Italian prime minister that mosques
will remain closed for Eid Al-Fitr
regardless of the agreement.
“We will not open our mosques and
Islamic centers before May 24 when
Ramadan will be over. We confirm this
decision with great regret, but we
believe it is a matter of
responsibility,” he said.
Lafram said that lengthy discussions
between Muslim communities had led to
this “painful decision.”
With social distancing a
key measure in the fight against the
coronavirus, the organization had
expressed concern that the country’s
small and medium-sized mosques might not
be able to enforce safety measures.
In a statement, the organization said:
“We renew our call to all communities
throughout Italy to adopt our
guidelines, aimed at prevention and
safety. We are persuaded that our
worship places are not yet sufficiently
protected and are too risk-exposed to
reopen (during Ramadan).
“We invite Islamic communities belonging
to our union to keep mosques and prayer
rooms closed until after May 24, not to
celebrate the collective prayer of Eid
Al-Fitr, and to raise awareness and
prepare for reopening in complete
safety.”
Hassan, a Moroccan grocery shop owner
from Rome’s San Giovanni neighbourhood,
said he agreed with the decision.
“Our mosques are definitely too small.
We had better wait a few days,” he said.
“It will be painful not to celebrate Eid
Al-Fitr together in our prayer room as
we do every year. We have not met there
during Ramadan this year because of the
lockdown.
“But all the people I talk to agree that
we have to wait. Coronavirus is deadly.
We had better stay vigilant. Hopefully
we will get together soon. And we will
celebrate life and harmony,” he added.
Hajj to be cancelled for the first time
since the founding of Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Arabia has given the
strongest indication that this
year’s Hajj pilgrimage is to be
cancelled, calling on pilgrims
to delay travel bookings amid
uncertainty over the Covid-19
pandemic. Umrah (the
non-mandatory pilgrimage) has
already been suspended.
Around two million people visit
Makkah to perform Hajj, which
this year was set to begin in
late July, but plans have been
thrown into doubt.
The country’s Health Minister,
Dr Tawfiq Al Rabia, predicts the
number of cases to soar to
200,000 if measures to counter
the disease are not followed.
Saudi Arabia has also suspended
Tarawih prayers at the two holy
mosques in Makkah and Madina
during Ramadan. The special
night prayers were instead
performed mainly with the
mosques’ staff.
Saudi Arabia has enforced a
lockdown in an attempt to stem
the outbreak, and entry to the
holy cities of Makkah and
Madinah has been severely
restricted.
The Kingdom’s Minister of Hajj
and Umrah, Muhammad Banten,
recommended that would-be
pilgrims wait before concluding
contracts. “We have asked our
Muslim brothers around the world
to wait before making contracts
until things become clear,”
Banten said.
“Under the current
circumstances, as we are talking
about the global pandemic, from
which we have asked God to save
us, the Kingdom is keen to
protect the health of Muslims
and citizens,” he added.
Banten said that the Ministry of
Hajj and Umrah has refunded the
fees of Umrah visas to travel
agencies after visits to Makkah
were suspended late in February.
Though Hajj has been cancelled
several times over the
centuries, since the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia’s foundation in
1932 it has never missed a year,
not even during the Spanish flu
pandemic of 1917-18 that killed
millions of people worldwide.
Should this year’s Hajj be
cancelled, it will be among a
list of almost 40 dramatic
cancellations since the first in
629. In 865, the hajj was
cancelled due to the ‘Massacre
on Arafat Mountain.’
During his conflict with the
Abbasid Caliphate based in
Baghdad, Ismail bin Yousef,
known as Al-Safak, launched an
attack on the holy Arafat
Mountain overlooking Makkah,
massacring pilgrims there. The
raid forced Hajj to be
cancelled.
In 930, Abu Taher al-Janabi, the
chief of the Qarmatians
heterodox sect based in Bahrain,
launched an attack on Makkah.
Historical accounts say the
Qarmatians killed 30,000
pilgrims and dumped bodies in
the sacred Zamzam well. They
also looted the Grand Mosque and
stole the Black Stone from the
Ka’abah, taking it to the island
of Bahrain. Hajj resumed a
decade later when the Black
Stone was returned.
Disputes between the rulers of
two caliphates – the Abbasids of
Iraq and Syria and the Fatimids
of Egypt – disrupted travel to
Makkah in 983. It would be eight
years until Hajj was held again,
in 991.
Not only conflicts and massacres
have led to the cancellations of
Hajj. A plague from India hit
Makkah in 1831 and killed
three-quarters of the pilgrims
there, who had endured weeks of
travel through dangerous and
barren lands to perform Hajj.
In a span of almost two decades,
Hajj was halted three times,
leaving pilgrims unable to head
to Makkah for a total of seven
years. In 1837, another plague
hit the holy city, putting
things on hold until 1840.
Cholera struck Makkah in 1846,
killing over 15,000 people, and
plagued its inhabitants until
1850.
Outbreaks returned in 1865 and
1883. In 1858, another global
cholera pandemic arrived in the
city, prompting Egyptian
pilgrims to run away en masse to
Egypt’s Red Sea shores, where
they were held in quarantine.
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
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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.
Muslimah Mind
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Please visit this
link and follow the
website to get your
latest articles on
self-care and mind
wellness from
Princess R. Lakshman
(Sister Iqra)
https://muslimahmindmatters.wordpress.com
Muslimah Mind
Matters blog site
advocates self-care
and clarity of mind
for Muslim women.
Princess R. Lakshman
is a writer, mind
wellness coach,
narrative therapist,
soon-to-qualified
clinical
nutritionist,
speaker, and
workshop
facilitator.
To suggest topics
for blogs, email
info@princesslakshman.com
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:
Replacing Regret
With Gratitude
Reality of Regret
To regret is to wish
that you had
something other than
what you have now.
It is to spend the
present moment
wishing it was
different. It is
human nature to
dwell on thoughts
that start with
‘What-if’ or ‘I wish
I had’.
Regrets can quickly
turn into a default
setting in the mind
if you are not aware
of your present
moment. Your moment
right now is your
moment to design
your life in a way
that will serve your
purpose. Moments
spent in regret do
not serve your
purpose – they hold
you back and before
you know it, a
vicious cycle of
regrets becomes your
default setting. You
lose sight of your
present moment and
forget to appreciate
the beauty and
serenity of
surrendering to
ALLAH’s plans for
you.
Let us transform
ourselves right this
moment and cultivate
a mindset which
replaces regret with
absolute gratitude.
How To Replace
Regret With
Gratitude
1. Praise ALMIGHTY
ALLAH for all that
HE has already given
you. Write down a
list of everything
you are blessed
with.
2. Now, Praise
ALMIGHTY ALLAH for
all the lessons you
have learnt from
past experiences,
negative and
positive.
3. Replace all
what-if statements
with
“Alhumdolillah”.
4. Avoid comparing
your life with
someone else’s. Your
unique abilities and
experiences make you
different from the
rest of the world.
Focus on your
soulful connection
with ALLAH. Increase
your own ibaadah and
good deeds. Don’t
worry about who is
saying what and who
is doing what. Focus
on your deeds, your
thoughts, your
words.
5. Daily positive
affirmations.
Consciously choose
positive words when
talking about your
situation. The more
you affirm your life
positively, the more
positive outcomes
arise from
situations. Refer to
the examples below:
Situation
Negative
Self
-Talk
Positive
Affirmation
Money
I don’t
have
enough
money
yet.
Thank
you,
ALLAH,
for
providing
me with
exactly
what I
need
precisely
when I
need it.
Ya
ALLAH,
you are
the only
source
of rizq
and you
know
what I
need and
when I
need it.
I am so
grateful
for this
daily
abundance
of rizq.
Marriage
It’s not
going
well.
Thank
you,
ALLAH,
for my
realisation
that
there
are
things
that I
need to
reflect
upon in
my
thoughts,
words
and
deeds
that
contribute
to my
marriage.
I am
grateful
for the
daily
realisation
that I
need to
be
accountable
and
responsible
for my
own
thoughts,
words
and
deeds
and be
responsible
for my
own
choices.
Disobedient
children
What
more can
I do?
They are
so
ungrateful.
Thank
you,
ALLAH,
for
making
my
children
healthy
and
joyful
and
keeping
them on
the
straight
path. I
am
grateful
that you
help me
every
day to
be a
good
role
model
for my
children.
Job
I hate
my job.
Thank
you,
ALLAH,
for the
realisation
that my
heart is
not
aligned
with my
work. I
am
grateful
for the
opportunity
to learn
and
reflect
upon
exactly
what my
heart
finds
joyful.
I place
my trust
in you
that you
are
guiding
me to
that. Ya
ALLAH,
help me
to be of
service
to
others
in all
that I
do in my
work so
that I
may
please
you.
Body
Image
I don’t
like my
body.
Thank
you,
ALLAH,
for my
healthy
body
which
unconditionally
breathes
for me
and
allows
me to
accomplish
righteous
deeds
that may
please
you.
Someone wise once
said, “When you
change the way you
look at things, the
things you look at
change.”
Always remember, you
are not your
experiences. You are
the FORCE that
overcomes them.
Lost Islamic
History: Reclaiming Muslim Civilisation from the Past?
by
Firas Alkhateeb
DESCRIPTION
Islam has been one of the
most powerful religious,
social and political forces
in history. Over the last
1400 years, from origins in
Arabia, a succession of
Muslim polities and later
empires expanded to control
territories and peoples that
ultimately stretched from
southern France to East
Africa and South East Asia.
Yet many of the
contributions of Muslim
thinkers, scientists and
theologians, not to mention
rulers, statesmen and
soldiers, have been
occluded.
This book rescues from
oblivion and neglect some of
these personalities and
institutions while offering
the reader a new narrative
of this lost Islamic
history.
The Umayyads, Abbasids, and
Ottomans feature in the
story, as do Muslim Spain,
the savannah kingdoms of
West Africa and the Mughal
Empire, along with the later
European colonization of
Muslim lands and the
development of modern
nation-states in the Muslim
world.
Throughout, the impact of
Islamic belief on scientific
advancement, social
structures, and cultural
development is given due
prominence, and the text is
complemented by portraits of
key personalities,
inventions and little known
historical nuggets.
The history of Islam and of
the world's Muslims brings
together diverse peoples,
geographies and states, all
interwoven into one
narrative that begins with
Muhammad and continues to
this day.
KB says:
…… and now the detoxification begins as the
season for nectarine starts when it has a good
flavour and a good balance of sweetness and
tartness, making it a hero of this dish.
Nectarine & Pistachio Salad
INGREDIENTS & METHOD
1 bag mixed lettuce
5 nectarines sliced, leaving the skin on.
1 tsp. chopped mint
˝ cup feta cubed
1 cup pistachios -some halved /some whole
Dressing
1 tab. Lemon juice
2 tab. Honey
Ľ cup Olive oil
Salt & pepper to taste
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.
BOSS: "Jallalludin, I know you are a new employee, but
you never seem to make it in time for start of work.
This tardiness is unacceptable and the other employees
are noticing that you are walking in late every day. Do
you have a solution to this problem?"
In
pre-Islamic Arabia,
hospitality was of such
importance that a guest at
the home of an Arab was
guaranteed at least three
days of total security and
protection before he would
even be questioned about why
he was there.
This tradition was further
reinforced by the Prophet
(pbuh), who stated that a
guest has the right to be
hosted for three days.
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.
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reflect the opinions of the CCN Team, its Editor or its
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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
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On
behalf of the Queensland
Police Service, I wish you a
wonderful EID Mubarak. 
Anver
Emon, a professor at the
University of Toronto’s
Faculty of Law and Faculty
of Arts & Science, has
helped create a Canadian
tribute to Islam’s most
important holidays.
Towards
Demystifying Islamophobia: 
Coronavirus: Afghan girls make ventilators
out of car parts
In
pre-Islamic Arabia,
hospitality was of such
importance that a guest at
the home of an Arab was
guaranteed at least three
days of total security and
protection before he would
even be questioned about why
he was there.
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