If they are not retrieved by
their rightful owners they will be disposed
of at the Muslim Welfare shop at the end of
June.
Crescents of
Brisbane reiterates our
Vote of Thanks and acknowledges the
support of the many people who helped make
this year's event the resounding success it
was.
THANK YOU, ONE
and ALL!
The
Ultimate Human Race
The
grueling 89km Comrades
Marathon from
Pietermaritzburg to Durban
in South Africa (click on
image on left) is on
today (Sunday 24 May).
The race starts at 5.30am
(1.30pm Brisbane time) at
the City Hall in
Pietermaritzburg and
finishes off at 5.30pm
(1.30am Brisbane time) at
Sahara Stadium, Kingsmead in
Durban.
If you have any family
members of friends taking
part you can follow their
progress at
www.comrades.com.
Ex-Brisbanite (the jury is
still out on that one!),
Dr. Anver Omar (Race
number 53276), will be
amongst the 13 000 runners
hitting the road this
afternoon (Brisbane time).
In a Skype conversation with
CCN last night, 8 hours
before the start of the run,
Anver had this to say about
his preparations for the big
day:
I’m ready for Comrades . For the purists,
my recent weekend training times have been
two 21 km’s in 1 hour 41 and 1 hour 42, a 25
km in 2 hours 10, a 52 km in 5 hours 10, a
56 km in 5 hours 48. Daily 8.5 km beach runs
have been at around 39 mins.
One of the training runs was in Cape Town.
The scenery (see below) was spectacular. One
bloke died after 21 km but apart from that
the day went well.
So I think I’m ready. This is a 89 km “down
run” from Pietermaritzburg to Durban so I
hope to beat the 9 hours 50 for the last
down run.
The run is on Sunday. I leave for Australia
on Monday and am back at the Cairns private
practice for a Wednesday start. Nearly 4
weeks there and then onto a government job
in Darwin before returning to South Africa
for the fasting month starting August 20th.
Anver Omar takes a break
from his training on one of Durban's
beaches to admire a sand
version of one of the 2010 World Cup
Stadiums currently being
built
The Two Oceans Route in
Cape Town
Good luck, Anver. CCN will
be tracking you all the way
to the finish!
BMBS
SMS
The Brisbane Muslim Burial
Services (BMBS) operates the
ghusl facilities at
the Kuraby Mosque and they
assist with funeral
arrangements and with
performing Ghusl for
the deceased within the
local community.
BMBS also provides an SMS
service to the community by
sending out an SMS message
of funerals taking place in
Brisbane and the Gold Coast
to mobile numbers on their
database.
If you would like to receive
their SMS messages, send
your mobile number by e-mail
to
janaza786@hotmail.com,
to be included in their
database.
You can find more detailed
information on their
services
here.
Another
PhD Academic Excellence for GIRU
Dr Mohamad Abdalla,
Founding Director, Griffith
Islamic Research Unit (GIRU),
announced thsi week that
Mahmood Nathie had just
received the University's
Doctoral confirmation letter
and that he, like Dr
Halim Rane before him,
has achieved academic
excellence for his
outstanding PhD thesis.
"Like Halim's examiners,
Mahmood's examiners were
some of the world's best in
the field," Dr. Abdalla
said.
"You all know that Halim
also won the Chancellor's
Medal for Academic
Excellence. Mahmood has also
been informed that he will
be nominated for the
Chancellor's Medal for
2010."
Halim and Mahmood are GIRU's
first two PhD graduates.
All
about the GFC at the MBN
The Muslim Business Network
held the first in its series
of lecture seminars at the
Springwood Towers last week.
Professor Michael E. Drew
of the Griffith University
Business School spoke on the
causes of the current global
financial crisis in an
entertaining and informative way
tying together all the pieces of
the jigsaw that has seen the
financial markets in the state
that they are currently in.
Islamic
Books Available Online
The following website has a
comprehensive range of
Islamic books that can be
downloaded for free:
AFIC
held its 45th Annual
Congress recently at which
elections were also
conducted and new
appointments made to the
executive committee.
Ikebal Patel was
elected unanimously as the
organization's President.
At the first Executive
Committee meeting held last
weekend, Asma Akram
from Darwin was appointed to
head the AFIC Women's
Committee.
Heba Ibrahim (pictured
right) from Melbourne
was similarly appointed to
Chair the AFIC Youth
Committee.
"Both appointees will be
provided with all the
support and other resources
necessary to ensure that the
Muslim women and Youth in
Australia are encouraged to
actively participate in the
affairs of the Australian
Muslim community," said
Ikebal Patel.
These committees will be
named as Muslim Women
Australia and Muslim Youth
Australia.
Representatives from each
State will be invited to be
nominated or to volunteer to
join these National
Committees.
"We seek your suggestions
and welcomes ideas and
initiatives that AFIC can
consider in terms of
programs that will uplift
the often distorted image of
Muslim women and youth to
one that is positive, value
adding and forward
looking," added Ikebal
Patel.
"Collectively Muslim women
and youth make up over 70
percent of our community and
they should be actively
supported. We would
appreciate your
recommendations on issues
that impact directly in the
lives and choices of our
women and youth."
Fast food chain KFC is
trialling halal meat in
certain restaurants, but
some Muslims say it hasn't
been killed in the correct
Islamic way. Catrin Nye asks
when is halal meat not halal
meat?
It may claim its food is
"finger lickin' good", but
until recently strict
Muslims might have seen a
problem with it.
Now fast food chain Kentucky
Fried Chicken (KFC) is
trialling halal meat -
meaning it has been killed
in accordance with Islamic
dietary laws - in eight of
its UK restaurants. But the
trial has sparked a debate
over what is and what isn't
halal, with some Muslims
boycotting the restaurants
because they say the meat
has not been killed
correctly.
The issue is whether meat
can be halal if it has been
slaughtered using mechanical
methods.
Traditionally, halal meat is
killed by hand and must be
blessed by the person doing
the job. But some Muslims
say a mechanised form is
also now acceptable.
Halal
is the description of food
and drink Muslims are
allowed to consume under
Islamic dietary laws defined
in the Qur'an and in the
sayings of the prophet
Muhammad. Classifying of
halal food can only be
carried out by a Muslim
expert in the laws.
The meat is traditionally
prepared by slaughtering the
animal with a quick cut to
the throat with a sharp
knife to allow all blood to
drain from the animal, the
idea being that the meat is
cleaner. The slaughterman is
required to say the
traditional proclamation of
faith in one god as the
animal is killed.
At present two separate
organisations regulate the halal food industry in the
UK. The Halal Food Authority (HFA) says using machines
is ok, as long as the meat is still blessed. It argues
that advances in technology mean methods have to change
and though a machine does the killing, the meat is still
blessed by a Muslim slaughter-man.
But the Halal Monitoring Committee (HMC) says animals
should be slaughtered by hand and using a machine is not
halal and not permissible. It argues mechanisation
contradicts a fundamental principle of halal - that the
person who slaughters the animal is the same person who
recites the words over it.
'Rotten and wrong'
"Halal is a very sacred part of a Muslim's diet and many
Muslims do not even know what they are eating when it's
certified as halal in this way," says Yunus Dudhwala,
chairman of the HMC.
"I think the majority would be very upset to find out
that it's been mechanically killed."
KFC says it is following the guidance offered by what it
considers a reputable advisor.
"We are working with the Halal Food Authority, one of
the most widely recognised bodies in the UK and
overseas, who have audited and approved our halal
suppliers, distribution and our trial store
environments," says a spokesperson for the company.
The debate has prompted calls for a single body to
regulate the halal food industry which has a clear set
of guidelines on animal slaughter.
"The onus is not on individuals to identify each and
every item that they eat, if the seller says it's halal
that's enough," says Ajmal Masroor, an Imam and
spokesman for the Islamic Society of Britain.
The School of Public
Health at Griffith University
is
currently conducting a research project, which
investigates how Australian Muslims achieve a balance
between their work and non-work lives.
"I
would like to thank the Muslim community for their
support and participation in the project, said Dr.
Mohamad Abdalla, who is supporting the research work
of PhD candidate Adam Sev.
"We
are in need of further participants and hence, kindly
asking brothers and sisters to complete a confidential
survey."
"With large participation, the project will have greater
power to increase awareness and inform future government
policies that will potentially help brothers and sisters
balance their work, family and religion."
Galila Abdelsalam (IWAQ
Director) and Fatima Abdel-karim (IWAQ
President) receiving the 2009 Local Area
Multicultural Partnership (L.A.M.P) award from
Mayor Pam Parker (Mayor of Logan)
A BIG congratulation to the IWAQ team for
winning the 2009 Local Area Multicultural Partnership (L.A.M.P)
award.
This is a testament to the tremendous
hard work everyone in the team contributes with.
Upcoming Activities:
.. Friday, 5th June: Youth and Police dinner at
Aladdin's restaurant.
.. Sunday, 7th June: Fundraising
BBQ for ladies' swimming. This is to help in raise some
much needed funding for the swimming classes in order to
help ladies from refugee background access the swimming
activity as a means of forming networks and reduce
social isolation. Tickets are $15 for single, $40 for a
family of five (2 adults and 3 children) and $5 for
extra children.
Parade
of Nations
The Department of Education
and Training and are
currently organising a huge
and spectacular show at the
Brisbane Entertainment
Centre at Boondall on 6
June.
The show is called Creative
Generation - State Schools
Onstage.
This is part of the Qld
150th Anniversary
celebrations.
As part of the show they
plan to include a "Parade of
Nations" and are seeking
approximately 10 - 20
volunteers (adults and
children) in their national
dress to march on Stage
representing their national
heritage.
The parade will represent
the many nationalities who
have chosen to make
Queensland their home.
Queensland has grown from
having this multi national
community and is a
significant part of
Queensland's development
since 1859.
They are anticipating
audiences of approximately
7,000 people per
performance.
Invited guests include Anna
Bligh, Premier of
Queensland, Queensland
Governor Penny Wensley and
other distinguished guests.
The show will be televised
nationally by of media
partner Network Ten.
Full details about the show
and the processes at the
Brisbane Entertainment
Centre at Boondall will be
provided to participating
schools and volunteers
through the Final
Information Book.
"This is a great opportunity
for all Queenslanders to
celebrate together!" said
organizer Talei Schmith
Local primary schools in the
Moreton electorate will
receive $17.5 million for
major new infrastructure
projects under Round One of
the Primary Schools for the
21st Century (P21) program.
One of the beneficiaries of
this round is the Islamic
College of Brisbane (Karawatha)
which will receive $3
million to build a new
multipurpose hall.
Local Federal Member of
Parliament, Graham
Perrett said all local
primary schools should
submit applications for
Round Two which closes on 15
May 2009 and Round Three
which closes on 10 July
2009.
“This first Round is for 20%
of projects, further
successful school projects
will be announced in the
coming months,” he said.
CCN
Supporting Local Enterprise
Click on image to enlarge
An Islamic bookstore has opened
up. It is shop 1 on 51-55
Station Road, Logan Central
4114, (opposite Woodridge train
station). It is the first of its
kind!
Some of the items on sale
include:
Authentic quality books
Men, women and children's
clothing
Perfumes
Honey
Black seed
Miswak
Prayer mats
Children's books and toys
DVDs and audio CDs
And much more!
Your shop owner is Omar and he
can be contacted on
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.
Q: Dear Kareema, I'm dealing with a few injuries
at the moment, but do not want to stop training as I
know it will take me a long time to get back to the
level I'm at right now. I've also been advised by my
doctor to try and keep exercising if possible. What do
you recommend I do?
A: Maintain that positive attitude of yours, no
matter what!
A person's belief in their ability to get better is
vital during the recovery process.
Start by setting yourself a new set of training /
fitness goals. Be realistic and be patient.
Allow yourself enough time to heal properly.
If you're over anxious and rush the healing process, you
may just set yourself up for more serious injuries which
may cost you even more time.
If your injuries allow you to still continue certain
parts of your training, then do so, and restructure
whatever parts you need to, even if means cutting some
out completely.
REMEMBER: Go slower, arrive sooner!
All the best and N-JOY!
Ladies, please take full advantage of the following:
FREE FITNESS CLASSES FOR LADIES
Suburb: Sunnybank
Park: Conondale Park
Activity: Women's walk n talk group challenge
Improve your posture with walking while challenging
yourself with mini exercise drills in the park. Bring a
towel, hat and bottled water.
Age: 10+ years
Cost: FREE
When: Every Sat 9 May to 13 Jun
Time: 9-10am
Meeting Point: Park entry
Please
contact Kareema if you need any additional information.
All questions sent in are published here anonymously
and without any references to the author of the
question.
KB's
Culinary Corner
Quick
Mini Pizza Quiches
Ingredients
1 cup chicken fillet finely chopped and
cooked in
1 Tab of oil/ghee
1 tsp green chillies
½ tsp salt
1/4tsp crushed jeeru/cumin
1tsp ginger garlic paste
Remove from the stove and add
1 cup grated cheese
¼ cup green pepper finely chopped
1 tomato finely chopped
2 eggs – lightly beaten
5 Tab Flour
½ tsp Baking Powder
2 Tab Mayonnaise
1 cup corn kernels/mixed vegetables
Method
Place in greased patty pans, sprinkle with
oreganum or chilli flakes and bake at 180
degrees until light brown.
Serve warm
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
Jallaluddin visited Mula Nasruddin
in hospital and took his portable keyboard along.
He told some jokes
and sang some funny songs at Mula Nasruddin's bedside.
When he finished he
said, in farewell, “I hope you get better.”
Mula Nasruddin
replied, “I hope you get better, too.”
University of Queensland,
323 Hawken Drive, St. Lucia
Every Monday
Event: Weekly Learning Circle: Sharh
Riyad-us-Saliheen (An Explanation of
'Gardens of the Righteous'
Venue: Prayer Room, University of Queensland
Time: 6.45pm to 7.30pm
Every Friday
Subject:
Fiqh Made Easy
Venue: Room E215 Building 1 (Forgan Smith),
University of Queensland
Time: 7pm to 7.50pm
Every Friday
Subject:
Tafseer al Qur'an (Explanation of the
Qur'an)
Venue: Room E215 Building 1 (Forgan Smith),
University of Queensland
Time: 8pm to 9pm
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.
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.