......a sometimes
self-deprecating and occasional tongue-in-cheek look at ourselves and
the world around us ......
Sunday, 28 September 2008
.Newsletter
0203
News you won't find on CNN!
Eid
Mubarak from CCN and the Crescents of Brisbane Team
CCN and the
Team at Crescents of
Brisbane wishes all CCN
readers and their families
Eid Mubrarak
May
the blessings of this day and the past month
be showered upon you and your loved ones,
Ameen
Eid Prayer
Programmes
Click on image to
enlarge
Australian International
Islamic College
Durack
Kuraby Mosque
EIdgah Site
& Parking
Islamic College of Brisbane
Islamic Society of Darra
Islamic Society of Bald Hills
Islamic Society of Algester
Winning
Hearts, Changing Minds: Youth Dialogues
Have you ever judged
people you don’t know? Ever regretted that judgment once
you got to interact with them?
We all have, and we all
know that it is interaction with the ‘unknown other’
that breaks barriers.
Winning Hearts,
Changing Minds is a MYServices initiative
that brings together Muslim and non-Muslim young people
"in an informal, safe and comfortable setting,
encouraging deliberation and discussion about those
really itchy issues and questions you have about
different people, but you don’t ask because you don’t
want to be rude or sound weird."
If you are young person
looking to mprove your communication skills and grow
your confidence while developing an appreciation for
other young citizens, different to you then
read more about how you can take part in this
programme.
Call for
Cakes & Cupcakes for CresCafe
The popular Crescents of
Brisbane's CresCafe will again be at this year's Eidfest on Saturday 11 October.
If you would like to
donate cakes or cupcakes, the profits of which will go
towards a worthy cause, then call Julie Hatia on
0417 786 220.
Ifthaar in
Brisbane
QUT
Muslim Community Break the
Fast for Ramadhan
The Queensland University
of Technology (QUT) Muslim community came together with
family and friends to observe Ramadhan at a breaking of
the fast event held Thursday 18 September.
Over 250 people from the Brisbane Muslim community, QUT
staff, students and friends gathered at the QUT
Refectory at sunset to break the fast, known as Iftar,
and to learn about the Islamic faith, during this month
of fasting.
"I am so grateful to be able to enjoy the company of my
friends, meet new people and share my faith with other
cultures," said QUT student Awaad Alshammary.
Graeme Baguley, Head of QUT's International Student
Services, said the event was a great opportunity to
encourage interaction between international and local
students and staff, while allowing the Muslim Students
Association to educate others about the Islamic faith.
"This event is a great example where intercultural
understanding and friendship is promoted under the
banner of the East West Centre. Staff and students are
committed to ensuring we all benefit from our culturally
diverse community at QUT," he said.
Image and names removed on
request
During the event, Muslim community representative Aslam
Hussain spoke to participants about Ramadhan's
significance, explaining the purpose of fasting to
develop self-control from temptations out of a sense of
duty to God.
QUT student and Muslim Student Association member
Sabrina Amir said that being able to host others with
food for Iftar is an important part of Ramadhan, and
supports the Muslim values of kindness and solace.
"Being a Muslim gives me a purpose in life, goals to
work for, and the happiness and satisfaction from having
achieved them," she said
"I am always contented the do good deeds in this life as
such behaviours will lead to happiness on earth."
The event was sponsored by QUT International, in
conjunction with the East West Program. Iftar and
Tarawikh Prayers occur at the Gardens Point and Kelvin
Grove Campuses every weekday, with more information
available from the
East West Centre.
The Griffith University
Multifaith Centre served as the venue for the Toward
Common Ground Ifthaar at which a number of
different organizations and faith groups broke fast
together.
The food was prepared and
served by restaurant Shai Thali.
Dr. Rubana Moola was the
Master of Ceremonies for the
evening during which (left to
right in picture) Mr.
Denis Scanlan, Mr. Ariel
Herber and Mr. Ismail
Moola spoke on what fasting
meant to the Christian, Jewish
and Muslim faiths respectively.
They spoke on the observance and
significance of fasting in the
Abrahamic religions and then
moved on to the similarities of
other aspects of worship as
reflected in the five pillars of
Islam.
"
... the event was informative,
educational and fun" said
Richard Cowley the Convenor
of the International Peace Day
Alliance.
It
was the first time for many to
be at an Ifthaar and to
understand its significance.
One of the University of
Queensland students said that
his mother had a negative idea
about fasting, "I think I can
now go and convince her that her
ideas about fasting are not
right" he said.
ActingInspectorCherie said that she
would like to bring more
officers with her next time as
he found this event a worthwhile
experience.
The panel was facilitated
by Ms. Faiza El-Higzi.
ACCES Serves Up an
Ifthaar
The
employment group ACCES Services laid out an
inviting spread for their guests at their offices in
Woodridge last Tuesday.
It was also an opportunity
to be introduced to the two new Muslim Employment
Project Workers, Safia Casoojee and Ahmed Abou
El-Yazid (pictured left at CresWalk2008).
Their task at ACCES is
finding employment and training for new Muslim migrants
and refugees. Training is done through ACCES with RTOs
providing the
tutoring. Their job also entails having overseas skills
and experience assessed and accredited.
ACCES Services Inc provides a wide range of services
from settlement to employment and they also offer
torture and trauma counseling.
A new Health Facility is
scheduled to open in the next few weeks with Dr.
Fuzzy Moola as the resident GP.
The food was prepared and
served on the night by the Tandoori Village Restaurant.
[EDITOR]
Ahmed Abou El-Yazid's other claim to fame is that he was
the winner of the 16-25 years category at this year's
CresWalk2008.
Kuraby Mosque hosts VIPs
Several invited guests
joined the ifthaar at
the Kuraby Mosque. They were
shown around the Mosque and
sat through the MaghribSalaat, which for
some turned out to be the
first time they had seen
Muslims as prayer.
The same
evening Imam Akram Buksh presented
the
keys of a specially fitted out vehicle to
the Ali family. The Ali Family have two
young boys who suffer from Duchenne Muscular
Dystrophy - a severe and ultimately fatal
condition.
As a result
the family found itself in need of a special
vehicle with dual wheelchair access for
transporting the boys.
Kuraby Mosque
coordinated and collected $50 000.00 for the
purchase of a vehicle fitted for disability
access.
The vehicle
was handed over to the family that evening.
Police
Commissioner Bob Atkinson was so
taken with the gesture and the condition of
the boys that he invited the Ali Family to
dinner and a look over the Police
Headquarters.
The occasion
also struck a chord with Deputy Mayor
Councillor Graham Quirk who has a
21-year wheelchair bound daughter.
Breaking fast
together
The
guests
included
Police
Commissioner
Bob
Atkinson,
Assistant
Commissioner
Brett
Pointing,
David Forde
(President
of Kuraby
Lions),
Sergeant Jim Bellos
(Cross
Cultural
Liaison
Officer),
Garry Page
(Executive Director
Multicultural
Affairs
Queensland),
Deputy Mayor
Cr. Graham
Quirk, Serge Voloschenko
OAM Chairman
ECCQ, Nick
Xynias
Honorary
President
ECCQ and Roy
Somerville
(Roy
Somerville
Surveys)
Meet
Hanifa Deen @ Eidfest
Eidfest has been chosen for the
Queensland launch of The Jihad Seminar by
Hanifa Deen.
After the book launch at 3.00pm Ms Deen
will be available for a book signing.
About
the book
In
March 2002, three Muslim converts attend an Evangelical
Christian talk on the inner secrets of 'Holy Jihad'.
Shocked by what they hear,
they convince the Islamic Council to lodge a complaint
against Catch the Fire Ministries Inc, under a
controversial new hate speech law.
A case expected to be over
in three days turns into an unholy war of words lasting
five long years - freedom of speech versus freedom from
religious vilification is under the spotlight.
Author
Hanifa Deen follows this case from beginning to
end, witnessing the religious impulse at its best and
worst.
Her very human account
focuses on the personalities and motives of the two
religious tribes: Muslims and born again Christians.
Real people on both sides
of the courtroom express their pain and their innocence
at a hearing that turns into a nightmare.
Hanifa Deen's photo Courtesy of the National Archives of
Australia
The AIIC
Report Card
The Australian
International Islamic College (AIIC) has published a
progress report on the school and its activities
over the past year.
Embedded
with Sheik Hilaly
On Tuesday 23rd September
SBS aired the documentary Embedded with Sheik Hilali.
A young man decides to
move in with Australia’s most controversial Muslim
figure, Sheik Taj El Hilaly, in order to learn more
about the cleric, Islam and the Australian-Muslim
community.
Dave Zwolenski is 26 years old and likes girls
and drinking beer. Raised a Catholic, these days he
prefers to stay away from religion altogether.
Sheik Hilaly is 66,
born in Egypt and a devote Muslim. He likes praying and
drinking ‘man tea’ (his own special blend).
Together, Dave and the
Sheik form an odd couple, but for the next few weeks
they are going to be inseparable.
Arriving at Sheik Hilaly’s house in the Sydney suburb of
Lakemba, Dave is a little apprehensive about what the
next few weeks may have in store.
Sheik Taj El Hilaly is
after all, the ex-Mufti of Australia who made national
headlines for his comments regarding scantily dressed
woman.
But Dave is determined to
uncover the man behind the controversy, and attempt to
better understand Islam and the Australian-Muslim
culture in the process.
As part of Dave’s experience, the Sheik insists that he
observe all Muslim practices, which includes praying 5
times a day, attending mosque and no bacon! Dave also
discovers a few surprises when it comes to the Sheiks
rules concerning hygiene…
To gain a better understanding of the Islamic community
in Australia, Dave speaks to the Sheik’s good friend,
boxer Anthony Mundine about his conversion, a newly-wed
couple on relationships and a young woman about freedom
of choice.
In
a bid to find out why some Australians are so afraid of
Islam, Dave travels to Camden in south west Sydney where
earlier this year, locals rejected a plan to build a
Muslim school in the area.
There, Dave meets with
anti-Islamic activist Katie McCullough, a woman who
caused a bit of a stir of her own when she voiced her
strong opposition to Muslims living in her community.
Back in Lakemba, Dave and the Sheik’s unconventional
relationship blossoms and it seems the pair is becoming
unlikely friends.
But all this could end
when, over a cup of ‘man tea’, Dave decides to confront
the Sheik about the comments that made him infamous to
the Australian public.
Embedded with Sheik Hilaly uses comical observational
moments, created by a clash of cultures, in order to
examine some of the bigger issues that have, and
continue to, divide the community.
The documentary is the first of a
three part observational documentary series called
Embedded, where young Australians from a variety of
backgrounds are placed into very different cultures to
learn and share in their experiences.
Ms. Annette Yunus
has been presenting talks on Islam to schools in both
the private and state government sector on behalf of the
Islamic Women's Association of Queensland (IWAQ).
After her recent talk at
the All Hallows School Annette was presented with a cup
by the staff and students as a parting gift.
Annette received the following feedback from the Kelvin
Grove State College Grade 12 Philosophy class where she
presented a talk in the early part of Ramadan:
Dear Annette,
Thank you so much for once again
taking the time and trouble to come and talk to our KGSC
Philosophy and Reasoning class. We very much
appreciated your visit, and learned a great deal from
what you had to say. Both the factual knowledge your
comments provided and the social awareness your visit
promoted will, I am sure, make a positive difference to
my students and to the communities they live and move
in, now and in the future.
Many thanks,
Chris Poulson
(Teacher)
Dear Annette Yunus
Thanks a heap for coming in to talk
to our class. You helped me to gain a better
understanding of the Islam faith and come to respect it
more because of this understanding. I really enjoyed
our time with you.
Bryanna
To Annette Yunus
I really appreciated the way you
presented your religion to us! I was very intrigued by
the Islam religion.
Internationally celebrated UK based
artist,
Mohammed Ali, will be presenting an evening of live
painting, presentation and discussion at the al-Ghazzali
Centre Academy in Sydney on 13th October.
Mohammed Ali will share his experiences and
influences, discuss the history of graffiti art and
Islamic script and explain how he has used it to
challenge the oft-heard 'clash of civilisations'.
The CCN
Centre Link
Imam
The Islamic Society of
Bald Hills in Brisbane is currently looking for
applicants for the position of Imam.
For further
information please phone 07 3839 9962 during
business hours.
Applications close at 5pm Monday 6 October 2008.
CALD Tenant Education Project Worker
Purpose of the Position: To increase accessibility
to the tenancy advice services for new and emerging
CALD communities (Culturally & Linguistically
Diverse)
About the TENANTS'
UNION OF QUEENSLAND click
here.
Locum Positions
The Queensland Program of Assistance to Survivors of
Torture and Trauma (QPASTT) is a non-government
organisation providing a range of services to
refugees, especially survivors of torture and
trauma. These include counselling and clinical
services, specialist children’s and youth programs,
community development work, research and innovation.
QPASTT has two 12-month maternity leave locum
positions (commencing early November 2008) for:
• Counsellor/Advocate – Youth Team
• Capacity Building and Support Worker (Children’s
Program)
Skilling Queenslanders for Work – Work Placement
(SQW-WP)
Brisbane City Council
Employment Services is calling for expressions of
interest for three Work Placement projects that will
provide work experience and opportunities for more
sustainable employment:
If you are interested
in any of this projects fill in the
referral form and attach your resume.
Short-listed applicants will be contacted by phone
and further recruitment processes will be discussed.
Alternatively or those who prefer to send their
application via post the address is:
Brisbane City
Council
HR Employment Services
Lilly Matich- Community Employment Services
Coordinator GPO Box 1434, Brisbane,Qld, 4001
Marketing
Assistant
Around
the Muslim World with CCN
There will be hope in Gaza
(LARNACA, 23 September
2008) - The Free Gaza Movement announced today that an
international delegation of doctors, parliamentarians,
and human rights workers will sail to Gaza aboard the
“Hope” on Thursday, September 25th at about 10 a.m, (ETA
Gaza Friday 10 am).
The passengers on board
include:
• Five physicians from 4 countries
• Human rights lawyers and monitors
• Jamal Zahalka, a member of the Israeli Knesset
• Dr. Mustafa Barghouti, General Secretary of the
Palestinian National Initiative, and member of the
Palestinian Legislative Council
• Mairead Maguire, winner of 1976 Nobel Peace Prize for
work in Belfast
According to Maguire, a
world-renowned human rights campaigner, "This mission
carries with it the hopes
and wishes of many people around the world."
The CCN
Readers' Book Club:
You are what you read!
This week
CCN
recommends
My Guantanamo Diary: The Detainees and the Stories
They Told Me by Mahvish Khan
Mahvish
Khan is an American lawyer, born to immigrant Afghan
parents in Michigan. Outraged that her country was
illegally imprisoning people at Guantanamo, she
volunteered to translate for the prisoners. She spoke
their language, understood their customs, and brought
them Starbucks chai, the closest available drink to the
kind of tea they would drink at home. And they quickly
befriended her, offering fatherly advice as well as a
uniquely personal insight into their plight, and that of
their families thousands of miles away.
For Mahvish Khan the experience was a validation of her
Afghan heritage—as well as her American freedoms, which
allowed her to intervene at Guantanamo purely out of her
sense that it was the right thing to do. Mahvish Khan's
story is a challenging, brave, and essential test of who
she is —and who we are.
Using the book
club you can see what books fellow CCN
readers have on their shelves, what they are
reading and even what they, and others,
think of them.
I'm writing in regards to Ms. Nahida Hossain, seen
on the documentary film Mohammad Hossain's Intensive
Care.
I would like to provide assistance to
Ms. Hossain in any way possible and was wondering if
you could please update me on whether you are still
assisting her in your organization.
I'd appreciate if you could email me
back to advise on whether she is still in touch with
your organization and what assistance I can provide
to her and her baby.
Thank you for your time.
Kind Regards, Verity
[Editor] We have lost contact
with Nahida since our fund raising effort when the
programme first aired on SBS in 2006. If any reader
can shed light on the contact details of Ms. Hossain
and/or an update on the progress she has been since
please email
ccn@crescentsofbrisbane.org.
Dear Editor
Jazaak Allah for publishing my appeal for Fitrah/Zakaat
to be distributed to the poor and needy Muslims in
Zimbabwe.
I wish to inform all those that gave towards this
worthy cause that the Fitrah has been distributed
and the Zakaat will be distributed accordingly.
May Allah reward you all abundantly. Aameen.
Jazaak Allah.
Was Salaam Faisel Essof
Kareema's Keep Fit Column
Q: Salam Kareema, I took a break from exercising for
the past month as I couldn't find time to fit it in my
already busy schedule. What can I do now to get my
fitness level back to what it was prior to taking a
break?
A: Unfortunately taking a break can cause you to
lose up to 50% of lean muscle mass and cardiovascular
strength.
As soon as you stop participating in regular activity,
your body starts de-training.
The good news however is if you were fairly fit before
taking a break, you'll bounce back quickly!
Ease back into your old fitness regime by cutting back
the intensity you were used to and slowly build your
fitness level over the next few weeks.
Do about a quarter of the cardio you were doing to
prevent overexertion and instead of doing weights
straight away, use resistance bands to regain the
strength you've lost quickly and without causing injury.
Work both upper and lower body and remember quality
versus quantity.
All questions sent in are published here anonymously and
without any references to the author of the question.
KB's Culinary Corner:
Ramadan Recipes
PECAN NUT BISCUIT WITH DATES
Ingredients
250grams Butter
½ Cup sugar
2 eggs
1 cup coconut
1 cup dates- chopped fine
¾ cup pecans – chopped fine
1 tsp water
1 tsp vanilla essence
Pinch salt
1 tsp baking powder
2 cups flour
Method
Beat butter and sugar until creamy
Add eggs and then the rest of ingredients and mix well.
Add flour to make a soft dough.
Divide the dough into 3 and form logs and refrigerate for approx 1 to 2
hours.
Slice and place a pecan nut on top
Bake at 180 deg C until very light brown
Cool and then sift icing sugar over the top.
Do you have a recipe
to share with CCN readers?
Send in your favourite recipe to
ccn@crescentsofbrisbane.org and be our "guest chef" for
the week.
The CCN Chuckle
Two Jewish men, Sid
and Al, were sitting in a restaurant in Jeddah.
Sid asked Al, 'Are
there any Jewish people of our faith born and raised in
Saudi?'
Al replied, 'I don't know, let's just ask our waiter.'
When the waiter, Jalalludin, came by, Al asked him, 'Are
there any Saudi Jews?'
The waiter said, 'I doont by knowing, I go ask our
manager Mula Nasruddin.'
He returned from the
kitchen in a few minutes and said, 'No ser, no Saudi
Jews.'
Al wasn't really satisfied with that and asked, 'Are you
absolutely sure?'
Jalalludin, realizing he was dealing with 'foreigners',
gave the expected answer, 'I check again,' and went back
into the kitchen.
While Jalalludin was away in the kitchen, Sid said, 'I
find it hard to believe that there are no Jews in Saudi
Arabia, our people are scattered everywhere.'
Jalalludin returned and said, 'Manager Mula Nasruddin
say there is no Saudi Jews.'
'Are you certain?' Al asked once again, 'I just can't
believe there are no Saudi Jews!'
'Listen, I asked EVERYONE,' replied the frustrated
Jalalludin. 'All we have is Orange Jews, Apple Jews and
Tomato Jews!'
Venue:
Room S201,
University of Queensland, 323 Hawken Drive,
St. Lucia
Contact: 0421 731 797
Time: 6.45pm to 9.00pm
Sunnah Inspirations is a
non-profit organisation to cater for Muslim
social support and supplying information to
Muslims and non-Muslims. They have
been doing various activities around
Australia, and have organised Da'wah
information stalls at various universities
in Brisbane. More info can be found on
their website above.
Please feel
free to post an entry on our Wall, start up a
Discussion thread and/or become a Fan.
Write For Us
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
Share
your thoughts, feelings and ambitions for our community
through CCN.
If
there is someone you know who would like to subscribe to
CCN please encourage them to send an e-mail to
ccn@crescentsofbrisbane.org with the words
“Subscribe Me” in the subject line.
Disclaimer
Articles and opinions appearing in this newsletter do
not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Crescents of
Brisbane Team, CCN, its Editor or its Sponsors,
particularly if they eventually turn out to be libelous,
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 either
CCN or Crescents of Brisbane Inc.
keys of a specially fitted out vehicle to
the Ali family. The Ali Family have two
young boys who suffer from Duchenne Muscular
Dystrophy - a severe and ultimately fatal
condition. 
About
the book
In
a bid to find out why some Australians are so afraid of
Islam, Dave travels to Camden in south west Sydney where
earlier this year, locals rejected a plan to build a
Muslim school in the area. 
Imam
Mahvish
Khan is an American lawyer, born to immigrant Afghan
parents in Michigan. Outraged that her country was
illegally imprisoning people at Guantanamo, she
volunteered to translate for the prisoners. She spoke
their language, understood their customs, and brought
them Starbucks chai, the closest available drink to the
kind of tea they would drink at home. And they quickly
befriended her, offering fatherly advice as well as a
uniquely personal insight into their plight, and that of
their families thousands of miles away.
Catch
Crescents
Community News at