A
young Sydney Muslim businessman
turned humanitarian after being
diagnosed with cancer is being
remembered for helping thousands
of people across many countries
through his charity ‘Muslims
Around the World’.
Ali Banat in
Africa
Ali Banat was a young
wealthy businessman from the
Sydney suburb of Greenacre,
renowned for living a lavish
lifestyle, earned from
owning a security and
electrical company.
But after being diagnosed
with Stage 4 cancer three
years ago he said he decided
to distribute his wealth.
He was told he had seven
months to live but instead
lived for another three
years. In that time he says
he got rid of his cars,
watches "even my clothes, I
took them overseas with me
and gave them to a lot of
people," he said.
Screenshot
from 'Gifted with Cancer - Ali
Banat.
He went on to set up
'Muslims Around The World',
a charity aimed at
"providing financial
assistance and outreach to
those in need". His projects
aimed at helping people in a
number of countries
including Togo, Ghana, and
Burkina Faso.
Gifted with
Cancer - Ali Banat
In a video recorded shortly
before his death, the
32-year-old asked people to
continue his work. "As you
can see in this life we had
the cars, we had the money,
we had everything."
"So during your life
brothers and sisters just
try to have a goal, try to
have a plan that you work
towards. Even if it's not
you personally funding it,
and you are funding someone
else's projects just do
something because Wallah you
are going to need it on the
Day of Judgement," he said.
Ali Banat's
Final Message
Nationals
"And for the brothers and
sisters that are chasing
this life .. my advice to
you guys is this life is
becoming .. before we used
to say five years ago, ten
years ago certain things
were happening, now it's
every month things are
changing. Wallah, we are
following our desires more
than we are following Islam
these days."
His video ‘Gifted With
Cancer’ in which he
described his wealth and
reasons for giving it up for
charity went viral.
Ali Banat was
farewelled at Lakemba mosque on
30th May 2018.
Brisbane's Lord Mayor,
Graham Quirk, hosted his
second annual Ifthaar dinner
at the Sunpac venue in
Macgregor.
The Lord Mayor welcomed
community and religious
leaders and fellow
counsellors and spoke on the
need for Australians to see
the Muslim community and the
Islamic religion and its
teachings as a force for
peace and goodwill.
Ms Yasmin Khan delivered the
keynote address in which she
focused on the significance
of fasting and the month of
Ramadan.
"And as we enjoy the
obligations of Ramadhan
during a wonderful
winter season in
Brisbane – how lucky are
we – we reflect on the
reasons as to why we
fast at all. I heard
recently that fasting is
the one ‘pillar of
Islam” that is a
non-action – for fasting
you don’t do anything –
you don’t have to give,
or do anything to fast –
you have to actively
refrain from eating or
drinking, stop your ego,
stop your bad
characteristics, stop
your impulses.. in our
other pillars – the
pilgrimage, the prayer,
the charity, the
declaration of faith –
they are all actions, of
doing, of contributing,
fasting is about not
acting, not doing and
not contributing.."
Westfield Blog: Celebrate
in style this Eid al-Fitr
Eid is right around the
corner and marks a key
period of celebration after
Ramadan. It’s common for
people to shop for new,
fashionable outfits to show
off around friends and
family.
To our models, Arshee and
Sara, Eid is ‘Something many
Muslims look forward to
every year and after fasting
during the month of Ramadan
it’s a time to put aside
mundane tasks and celebrate
with loved ones and the
community.’
As a child, Arshee and her
sister Sara were ‘taught to
wear their best clothes and
adorn themselves, which is a
tradition that’s been
practiced for centuries.’
Whether you’ve found the
perfect outfit and need some
accessories or you’re
starting anew, we’ve picked
out some stylish and
versatile pieces for you to
choose from. It’s an
exciting time when
everyone’s out and about
searching for that perfect
outfit, be it either the
perfect pair of shoes, or
matching jewellery or even
the latest shade of
lipstick. We’re all going
out of our way to buy a new
outfit, to dress well and
express the joy and
happiness we feel
inside...it really makes
dressing up all that more
special.’
The 5th Queensland Police
Service ifthaar was held
this week at the Greek Club,
West End where some 250
community leaders and AFP
and QPS personnel were in
attendance.
Police Commissioner, Ian
Stewart, welcomed his guests
and commended the
strengthening of the
positive relationships
formed between the QPS and
the community over the
years.
Minister for
Local Government, Minister
for Racing and Minister for
Multicultural Affairs,
Stirling Hinchliffe's speech
was followed by the keynote
address delivered by Ms
Ayesha Tauseef, founder of
the University of
Queensland's Muslimah
Society student club. She
spoke of her experiences
settling into Australian
society as a young newly
arrived migrant from Saudi
Arabia, as well as her
inter-faith dialogue
initiatives and her
establishment of an
organization in Pakistan to
enhance women's economic,
social and legal
empowerment.
The evening's programme
commenced with the calling
of the Adhan by Imam Ahmad
Ghazaleh who also read
verses from the Quran.
Pupils from the Islamic
College of Brisbane sang
several nasheeds which were
well received by the
audience.
Inspector Les Bullus performed the role
of Master of Ceremonies, Ms
Janeth Deen gave a heartfelt
vote-of-thanks and Haji
Sultan Deen carried out the
closing prayer.
Dr Mustafa
Ally (Crescents of
Brisbane), Ms Galila
Abdelsalam (Islamic Womens'
Association of Australia)
and Mr Hussain Baba (Islamic
Society of the Gold Coast
Mosque) were presented with
plaques by the Police
Commissioner in recognition
of the contribution of their
respective organizations to
the harmonious relationships
they have succeeded in
developing over the years.
There is no doubt that Islam
has a plethora of prophets,
messengers and companions
that our children will most
definitely love and
associate with, but the
prohibition of depicting
them in image form means our
babies and toddlers cannot
‘see’ or ‘play’ with those
characters, making it almost
impossible for them to build
bonds at that young an age.
For the past couple of
years, parents and graphic
designers Lama and Kais have
been putting their hearts
and savings into creating
the first Jolly Animal.
Her story is inspired by the
verses of Surat Al Baqara.
With the advice of Imams and
Scholars, we have studied
the verses, translations and
tafsir (explanation) to
create a fable that little
kids can enjoy while
grasping educational
concepts and valuable moral
lessons.
The Yellow Cow is ready for
production. However, many
other animals remain in our
sketchbooks and writing
pads, and it is only though
your support that we can
breathe life into them.
Help us bring this project
to life so we can all be the
creators of books, toys and
other items that will act as
beneficial knowledge. Let's
create a brand that parents
around the world can use as
a stepping stone to bring up
righteous offspring. Your
donation will go a long way
in producing the Yellow Cow
board book and plush, as
well as creating and
developing the rest of the
Jolly Animals family.
Sheikh Abdel Aziem Al-Afifi,
Grand Mufti of Australia with Dr
Ibrahim Abu Mohammed, former
Grand Mufti at the Ramadan Iftar
Dinner held at Star Palace
Reception in Fairfield, Sydney
on Saturday 26 May.
The Grand Mufti of
Australia, Sheikh Abdel
Aziem Al-Afifi has assured
that he will be working for
the benefit of all
Australians and warned
against any division being
created on the basis of “us”
and “them”.
“Because we’re all one
family and we all have to
help each other and work
together,” he said.
The newly elected Mufti was
speaking at a Ramadan Iftar
Dinner on Saturday 26 May
hosted by him together with
the former Grand Mufti Dr
Ibrahim Abu Mohammed held at
Star Palace Reception in
Fairfield, Sydney.
On being questioned by AMUST
as to how he was going to
manage the rivalry between
Sydney and Melbourne, the
Mufti said that he will be a
frequent visitor to Sydney
and in collaboration with
the National Imam’s Council
(ANIC) as well as the former
Mufti, he will address any
issues facing the community
in a most positive way.
The event, MC’ed by ABC’s
Jane Jeffes was attended by
invited guests which
included politicians,
interfaith leaders,
government and police
officials and Muslim
community leaders,
Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells
pointed out that Australia
was a most successful
multicultural country and
said that as Australians we
pride ourselves for
religious freedom and
interfaith dialogue was very
important in forming a
united front on a range of
issues.
Father Rod Bower who met the
new Mufti for the first time
said that it was a great
opportunity for political
and religious leaders to
celebrate diversity and show
that we are all Australians
together.
The President of the Uniting
Church Ms Diedre Palmer said
that she was excited to work
alongside Sheikh Al-Afifi to
engage with disenfranchised
youth.
“I’d like to work alongside
them in supporting them
because I think they’re the
ones that are going to build
an Australian society that’s
respectful and can live at
peace and openness with one
another,” she said.
Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohammed
during his welcome address
talked about his highly
engaging experience during
his tenure of seven years
six months and half day
which he found very
challenging at times.
He said that he will return
to his scholarly work, but
will remain in a mentoring
role as the former Mufti to
advise the new Mufti work in
building a cohesive society
in this country.
By Beengul ("I didn't
have time to write a shorter one, so I
wrote a long one instead") Ali
Beyond its religious
significance, Ramadan
inspires human interactions
and social gatherings
whereby people meet to share
food, stories and
forgiveness.
The Islamic Women’s
Association of Australia
reiterates these fundamental
principles, through annual
Iftaar dinners.
One of the main objectives
of this year’s Iftar was the
importance of bridging
gaps and embracing diversity.
This purpose was evidently
imbedded throughout the
event, enhanced by over 400
from diverse backgrounds,
including the Honourable
Minister Michael de Brenni,
Muslim, Christian and Jewish
community leaders, Members
of Parliament, Councillors,
Indigenous community
leaders, Queensland Police
Services, Federal Police,
stakeholders and 216 newly
arrived refugees from
various countries including
Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan,
Iran, Sudan, Burma, Eritrea
and Somalia.
The sound of Athan (call to
prayer) echoed through the
halls of Michael’s Oriental
Restaurant. This was
followed by a Dua recited by
the CEO of IWAA, Galila
Abdelsalam.
The evening continued with a
Welcome to Country by Aunty
Peggy Tidyman, who also
presented IWAA with two
drawings by an indigenous
artist. In her address she
placed emphasis on the long
existing awareness of the
Islamic religion within the
indigenous communities.
Dr Nora Amath as the MC of
the evening welcomed the Hon
Minister Michael (Mick) de
Brenni to the stage where he
highlighted the importance
of food universally and its
impact on bringing people
closer together.
The CEO then provided an
update on IWAA’s expansion,
namely, into NSW in 2017 and
this year in Victoria. The
success of IWAA was
dependent on the much
appreciated support of IWAA
staff, family and friends
said Ms Abdelsalam.
Ms Muna Ibrahim, the CAMS
state wide coordinator, gave
an overview of her
activities of the
organisation and thanked
long term employees of IWAA
for their ongoing
professional and loyal
conduct, attributing the
success of the organisation
to a diverse and inclusive
team.
A group of young children
conducted a lantern parade
around the tables.
A CONTROVERSIAL political
commentator heading for
Australia says her ideas
“will shock people”.
Canadian Lauren Southern
will tour Australia and New
Zealand starting next month
on a speaking tour that
stops at Melbourne, Sydney,
Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth
and Auckland.
Southern, who previously
worked for Rebel Media — the
same media organisation
former Labor leader Mark
Latham aligned himself with
— calls herself an
“independent journalist”.
She is known as one of the
torchbearers for the
alt-right movement in her
country and will be touring
with countryman Stefan
Molyneux.
On Monday night, Southern
appeared on Sky News’s
Outsiders program where she
referenced a news.com.au
article that compared her to
Milo Yiannopolous.
Yiannopolous’ tour of
Australia last year led to
violent demonstrations where
hundreds of police were
forced to intervene in
clashes between left-wing
protesters and supporters of
the far-right figure.
“They make it appear like
we’re going to bring all
this mayhem,” Southern said.
“I’m certain our ideas will
shock people and our
arguments will bring a lot
of excitement to Australia,
but I don’t remember
discussing throwing bottles
or rioting or setting
anything on fire.
“In fact, they mention in
the article, ‘Will they
bring as much chaos as Milo
Yiannopolouos?’ We’re not
going to be the ones
bringing the mayhem, the
left-wing rioters who are
going to be there — they’ll
be the ones doing that.”
In March this year, southern
was controversially banned
from entering the UK after
previously distributing
“racist material” outside a
restaurant in the English
town of Luton in February.
Southern displayed flyers
reading “Allah is a Gay God”
and “Allah is trans” before
being forced to stop by the
British police. She defended
herself by claiming the
stunt was part of a social
experiment.
In a video posted on
Twitter, she said she was
trying to prove Islam to be
a homophobic religion by
provoking British Muslims
with signs that overlaid
Islamic symbols with LGBT
pride flags.
“Border Force has the power
to refuse entry to an
individual if it is
considered that his or her
presence in the UK is not
conducive to the public
good,” a Home Office
spokesperson said in a
statement to CNN.
At the time of the
controversy, British
political commentator Katie
Hopkins tweeted what
appeared to be a letter to
Southern notifying her of
her refusal of entry.
And last year she was in
more hot water when she was
detained by the Italian
Coast Guard for attempting
to obstruct
search-and-rescue boats
looking to assist
shipwrecked migrants in the
Mediterranean Sea.
And last year she was in
more hot water when she was
detained by the Italian
Coast Guard for attempting
to obstruct
search-and-rescue boats
looking to assist
shipwrecked migrants in the
Mediterranean Sea.
In announcing the tour,
Southern said: “Australia is
a fascinating situation for
both of us, because it
really seems that you guys
are at a crossroad. Do you
want to retain your culture?
… Or, will the boats keep
coming?
“Will you become another
victim of multiculturalism?
Who knows what the future of
Australia holds. But
hopefully, we can bring some
of the facts to make those
decisions.”
There was an overwhelming
response to the Refugees
Welcome Australia community
Iftar dinner held last
Saturday evening at the
Ashgrove Bowls Club.
More than 350 people came to
engage in conversation with
people from diverse
backgrounds, create new
connections and listen to a
very insightful panel over a
delicious dinner.
Feedback:
Great night, great
company and great food.
Well done!
Thanks to everyone who
made this happen. I
thoroughly enjoyed the
night... the food... the
family feeling.... the
panel.... the prayers
In 20 years living in
this beautiful country,
last night have to be
one of the most
memorable night of them
all. Great food and
awesome speakers. This
has to be the best way
to bring communities
together. Thank you to
everyone for making this
happen.
Curries were delicious,
thanks cooks!
It was such a fantastic
evening! It was
wonderful to look around
the room and see people
from all different
cultures sharing a meal
and really connecting
with each other. The
warmth felt from this
event is something to be
remembered. Thank you
for such a fabulous
evening!! Keep up the
great work!
Thanks to the
organisers, cooks,
panelists, and community
members for such a great
event. I think I speak
for us all when I say
looking forward to next
years Iftar dinner!
I would just like to say
a BIG thank you to the
organisers on behalf of
the Muslim Community of
Brisbane, it was such a
well organised event
tonight.. the food, the
turnout and participants
& the atmosphere in
general... please don't
forget to VOTE # 1 for
the GREENS. God Bless
you All & thank you,
once again
Refugees Welcome Australia:
We have
been delighted to hear that
meals served on the night
were greatly enjoyed. If you
would like to recreate some
of the meals for your
friends and family, here are
a couple of recipes our
volunteers cooked on the
day. Thanks to the amazing
Clare who chose the recipes
and ran the kitchen on the
day.
On Friday the 25th of May
and 1st of June the
Australian International
Islamic college (AIIC)
Durack and Gold Coast
campuses held their annual
Iftari programs.
Local community leaders,
Imams, parents and students,
attended the events.
Parents, Teachers and
families from the community
all joined to help arrange a
wide range of foods from
cakes, sweets, fruits and
Biryani.
There were speeches and duas
that were made on the
evening. In one of the
speeches, Imam Ahmed Azhari
of AIIC welcomed and thanked
everyone for accepting the
invitation. In another
speech, Imam Akram Buksh
spoke about the importance
of being generous and
helping those who are in
need, especially during this
blessed month of Ramadhan.
"The Iftars organized at the
Durack and Gold Coast
campuses were very
successful events, and they
allowed people to catch up
with friends and community
members," a school
spokesperson told CCN.
Community members expressed
their appreciation to AIIC
for organizing such events,
which brings different
communities together.
"The College and the P&C
would like to thank all of
the community members who
have contributed to making
these events successful. We
would like to thank all the
AIIC teachers, staff and
everyone for their hard work
in preparation for the
evenings."
Mr Kazi Ali, a veteran leader
of Sydney's Muslim community
signed the MoU together with the
CEO of the CMCT, Mr Peter
O’Meara.
The Catholic Metropolitan
Cemeteries Trust (CMCT) is
providing 4,500 new burial
spaces to Sydney’s Muslim
community at Kemps Creek
Cemetery in Sydney’s west.
A number of Muslim leaders
attended a ceremonial
signing of a Memorandum of
Understanding with the CMCT
on Wednesday 30 May 2018 at
the Mary, Mother of Mercy
Lounge at Rookwood Cemetery,
together with an Iftar,
breaking of the fast during
this month of Ramadan.
Mr Kazi Ali, a veteran
leader of Sydney’s Muslim
community with decades of
experience in Muslim burials
signed the MoU together with
the CEO of the CMCT, Mr
Peter O’Meara.
Mr Kazi Ali said that this
signing represented a
partnership between Muslim
and Catholic faiths based on
goodwill between the two
parties and thanked Mr
O’Meara in making this
agreement a reality.
He also thanked Mr Azam Ali
who was involved with
Liverpool Cemetery for a
long time and initiated the
dialogue with Catholic
Cemeteries to allocate a
Muslim section at Kemps
Creek.
“Being a
multi-denominational and not
for profit cemetery
operator, CMCT is keen to
help any religious and
cultural group in meeting
their needs for burial
spaces amid the dwindling
supply in Sydney,” CEO of
the CMCT, Mr Peter O’Meara,
said
He further added, “It is
expected that Sydney will
run out of burial spaces
over the next 25 years and
we are working to alleviate
this problem with the
acquisition of sites at
Campbelltown and Wallacia
which will deliver more than
220,000 burial spaces to
Sydney”.
Expected to fill the demand
for Muslim burial spaces for
10 years, the spaces were
sought urgently as the
Muslim’s current burial
grounds, Riverstone
Cemetery, is expected to be
full this year and Rookwood
Cemetery spaces will expire
in the next few years.
“We look forward to a
continued, long association
with the Muslim and Jewish
communities in Sydney and
call on the NSW Government
to approve our proposed
cemeteries to fill the
ongoing demand for burial
spaces and to ensure future
generations have equitable
access to interment
options,” Mr O’Meara said.
[ABC EDITOR'S NOTE: Throughout
Ramadan, Muslim scholars,
intellectuals and activists from
around the world will be
contributing reflections on the
moral demands and spiritual
meaning of this holiest month.
But, as Susan Carland makes
clear in her introduction, these
meditations also act as an
invitation - to Muslims and
non-Muslims alike - to reflect
on the way we neglect the health
of our souls during the rest of
the year.]
Randa Abdel-Fattah
Macquarie University
Randa
Abdel-Fattah is a DECRA
Research Fellow in the
Department of Sociology at
Macquarie University.
HOPE, NOT RESIGNATION
I've devoted my academic
life to studying the
phenomenon of Islamophobia
from the point of view of
the perpetrators. I've spent
hundreds of hours poring
over transcripts of
interviews with people who,
on the one hand, equate
Islam with Nazism or seek to
install abortion clinics in
suburbs with large Muslim
populations, and those who,
on the other hand,
congratulate themselves for
"tolerating" Muslims - the
ones with those elusive
"moderate" credentials, that
is.
A few years ago, on the eve
of Ramadan, I hit a low
point. The principal of an
Islamic school had invited
me to speak to her senior
students, expressing her
profound concern for the
students' eroding
self-confidence, confused
identity and sense of
belonging in Australia. As I
sat down to prepare my talk,
I felt overwhelmed with
despair. Studying the rise
in Islamophobia, conducting
my fieldwork among
self-proclaimed "Islamophobes,"
experiencing racism
first-hand or witnessing my
close friends and family go
through it, seeing our
country spiral into a state
of paranoia over asylum
seekers and "home grown
radicals" and introduce
legislation that makes a
mockery of human rights and
basic civil liberties,
watching the travesty of
injustices the first people
of this land continue to
suffer by people who would
still deny our nation's
continuing racial project -
all of this left me feeling
utterly overwhelmed.
I wondered what I could
possibly say to these
students. It would seem that
there is something the
majority wants us Muslims to
do in order to be fully
accepted, but they never
tell us what it is. Our
leaders and media have
created an environment that
has effectively provided
people with permission to
hate, emboldening people to
encounter Muslims as "the
enemy in the war on terror"
or as potential radicals, as
though we all carry a
"radical" dormant virus
ready to be activated at any
moment.
There was a time in my life
when I had faith that we
Muslims could rise above the
challenges of being a
minority in our homeland and
forge strong identities
despite the invisible
structures of racism. And
yet there I was staring at a
blank screen, reflecting on
the fact that, in this past
two years, I had questioned
such faith. It is not just
the hidden injuries of
Islamophobia and racism.
What is happening in our
name to the first people of
this nation, to asylum
seekers, to the marginalised
and raced, makes my blood
freeze. I cannot understand
how we collectively remain
silent and complacent.
I arrived at a point where I
felt incapable of speaking -
overwhelmed with the
bleakness of a social and
political order that seems
doggedly committed to
inequality, inhumanity and
hypocrisy. And then I turned
to my Islamic tradition and
stumbled across a saying of
Prophet Mohammed which I had
long forgotten:
"If the Hour (the day of
Resurrection) is about
to be established and
one of you was holding a
palm shoot, let him take
advantage of even one
second before the Hour
is established to plant
it."
The dynamism of the Islamic
faith offers believers an
intimate, unmediated
engagement with the texts of
Islam. The Prophet's words
were like a ritual
cleansing, instantly washing
away the grime and dirt of
despair and hopelessness. I
immediately felt both
ashamed and empowered.
Ashamed because I realised
the arrogance implicit in a
sense of despair: I should
not feel I have the luxury
of despair; I have no right
to despair when people are
suffering, depending on our
advocacy and political
struggle to render their
suffering visible. And I
felt empowered because it
seemed to me that my own
faith tradition is based on
hope - on projecting the
best image of oneself and
humanity into the future and
working to realise that
until the very end.
On the eve of Ramadan, I
addressed a large hall of
senior students. Students
who are still searching for
meaning in their lives - for
identity, for affirmation
and validation. Students
with big dreams and students
with ambivalent plans.
Students afraid to project
themselves into the future
because they are shackled by
the poisonous us-and-them
rhetoric of today. Students
defiant and gloriously
optimistic of their ability
to be who they want to be on
their own terms and in a way
that is not dependent on the
acquiescence of white
Australia. I shared with
these students my belief
that the incomprehensible
suffering, cruelty and
injustice of today's global
order represents a call to
work, not to despair.
Drawing on our shared
religious tradition, I told
the students that in the
Qur'an God says that he has
"commanded justice" (7:29).
The numerous verses in the
Qur'an that command human
beings to stand for justice,
protect the weak and
oppressed, work tirelessly
to do good - and to do all
this without giving up - can
act like a soothing balm
against the wounds of racism
and marginalisation.
Pursuing justice can be a
liberating, empowering path
for identity formation. That
is how I came to find my
life path as a young person
back in 1992, when a social
justice fire rose in my
belly with the impact of the
Gulf War on my community. I
told the students how my
entire identity has been
forged in a politics of
resistance: resistance
against stereotypes, against
racism, against orientalist
feminism.
I came of age in the same
year as the first Gulf War.
I went from being a Muslim
kid in a Catholic school to
a Muslim kid in an Islamic
secondary school - suddenly
I was a wog, a nappy head, a
terrorist, a sand nigger, a
camel jockey, a target for
"go back to where you came
from." I fought racism with
adolescent passion and sheer
obstinacy. I raised my voice
in support of Bosnians being
slaughtered in the Bosnian
War in the 1990s, convinced
of my responsibility to
speak out, even if nobody
but God would register my
tiny voice and makeshift
placard at a small suburban
protest in the western
suburbs of Melbourne. The
point was that God demanded
action over complacency,
hope over resignation.
But there was something even
more invigorating than this
realization alone. I soon
learned that the struggle
for justice and human rights
is perhaps the best thing
people can use to anchor
their identities. Serving
others is the best way we
can know ourselves.
As I heard students share
with me their anxieties
about Islamophobia, and
their commitment to
internalise the ethics of
Islam as a roadmap for a
life lived as a global
citizen, I felt ashamed that
I had allowed myself to
internalise the negative
vibes of the racist
discourse I had been
analysing these previous two
years. Not only would I not
give those who hold on to a
morally impoverished vision
of society the satisfaction
of "winning," but my faith
demands that I celebrate the
blessings and infinite
wonder of a universe
entrusted to us.
In this sixth day of
Ramadan, as I abstain from
food and drink from dawn to
dusk, I find that even as my
physical strength wanes, my
spiritual strength
increases. To recalibrate
one's life around a struggle
against injustice is not
about trying to achieve a
kind of feigned,
self-serving virtuousness.
It is about humility. When I
bow my head on the ground in
worship to my Lord who
commands we seek to live
ethical, moral,
compassionate lives in
service of others, I am
reminded that there is
nothing to despair about.
There is no need to feel
confused or lost.
There is truly inner peace
in this realization.
Contemplating the offer of a
life that transcends the
hate and injustice that
surrounds us and transforms
pain into hope is exciting.
Whether a bright-eyed
student or a jaded adult,
there is always a moment
when one is faced with the
choice to plant a seed and
hope for tomorrow, or walk
away consumed with
yesterday.
As a Muslim I must always
think and feel my way to the
future, for it is there that
God waits for me to ask:
What did you do with the
life I gave you in the time
and place I chose for you to
live?
The Prophet said that
sometimes our actions
belie our words and,
consequently, some gain
nothing but hunger and
thirst in this holy
month.
There are approximately 1.84
billion Muslims in the world
today, making up 24.38% of
the world’s population, or
just under one-quarter of
mankind. As well as being
citizens of their respective
countries, they also have a
sense of belonging to the ‘ummah’,
the worldwide Muslim
community.
The Muslim500 publication
sets out to ascertain the
influence some Muslims have
on this community, or on
behalf of the community.
Influence is: any person who
has the power (be it
cultural, ideological,
financial, political or
otherwise) to make a change
that will have a significant
impact on the Muslim world.
Note that the impact can be
either positive or negative,
depending on one’s point of
view of course.
22
"Indonesian Islam is not
Arabic Islam; it does not
have to wear a robe, it does
not have to wear a
turban...The most important
thing is the substance, that
is the morality of Islam -
robe, trousers, sarongs, no
matter that."
Dr KH Said Aqil Siradj is
the leader of Indonesia’s
largest independent Muslim
organization and one of the
world’s most influential
Islamic organizations,
Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), or
‘Awakening of Scholars’.
Siradj guides millions
through his work with the
NU.
Head of Expansive Network:
The Nahdlatul Ulama boasts
an expansive network that
covers 30 regions with 339
branches, 12 special
branches, 2,630
representative councils and
37,125 sub-branch
representative councils
across Indonesia. This
network practices the
doctrine of Ahlassunah wal
Jama’ah, which is Arabic for
‘people of the Sunnah
(practices of the Prophet
Muhammad) and the
community’. They base their
practices on the traditional
sources of Islamic
jurisprudence—mainly the
Qur’an, Hadith, and major
schools of law. Among its
aims are the propagation of
Nahdlatul Ulama’s message
and also an expansion of its
already extensive network of
members in Indonesia. This
is the basis of many of the
organization’s social reform
efforts. With a solid
structure of central and
regional boards, branch and
special branch boards, and
various advisory councils,
Siradj sits at the top of
this increasingly
influential Sunni movement.
Model of Traditionalism:
With a mainly rural
membership base, the
Nahdlatul Ulama
distinguishes itself from
other Islamic organizations
in Indonesia by positioning
itself as a premier
organization of traditional
Islam—with an emphasis on
education and political
engagement based on Islamic
principles.
Social Service: The
Nahdlatul Ulama has made
substantial charitable
contributions to Indonesian
society in the fields of
educational development,
healthcare, and poverty
alleviation. Siradj, like
his predecessors, propagates
the Nahdlatul Ulama as an
organization that is geared
toward establishing a
secular nation-state based
on a body of modern and
moderate Muslims—with agenda
items such as
anti-corruption laws and
social reform measures that
are deeply rooted in Islamic
principles.
Human Rights Activism:
Prior to his role as
Nahdlatul Ulama chairman,
Siradj served on Indonesia’s
National Commission for
Human Rights. Only a few
weeks into his position as
chairman of the country’s
largest Muslim political
party, and after violent
clashes erupted in different
churches across the country,
Siradj made strong
statements condemning the
discrimination against
Christian minority groups in
Indonesia.
Educational Reform:
Siradj has an extensive
academic background in the
Islamic sciences, and
regards education as a tool
for development. He founded
the Said Aqil Centre in
Egypt, a study centre that
focuses on developing
Islamic discourse,
particularly in the Arab
World.
ANOTHER FROM THE TOP 50
INFLUENTIAL MUSLIMS IN NEXT
WEEK'S CCN
CNN spent a year
interviewing more than 100
American Muslims, asking who
they think are the most
influential Muslims in their
fields. We sought nominees
for whom religion is part of
their public identity, but
other than that, we let
American Muslims do most of
the talking.
When she was a child growing
up in California, M. Hasna
Maznavi dreamed of founding
a beautiful mosque, with
soaring architecture and
inspiring artwork. Over
time, though, the writer and
comedian began to think of
mosques less as physical
spaces and more as
communities of believers. “A
place where you could
actually form a movement,”
she says.
In 2015, that dream became
reality, as Maznavi and her
co-founders opened The
Women’s Mosque of America,
which they call the
country’s first mosque just
for women. “This is not a
space for women running away
from Muslim men,” she
explains. “It’s a place that
seeks to uplift all Muslims
by empowering women.”
Maznavi’s mission: “To
serve God by serving God’s
creation.”
The lives, ambitions, and
beliefs of more than 40
members of Brisbane's Muslim
community have been put
under the spotlight in a new
project aimed at dispelling
misconceptions about Islam
and its followers.
Award-winning documentary
photographer Matt Palmer
interviewed and photographed
41 Muslims living in the
Queensland capital for his
online project, Faces of
Islam.
She has been going to the Mosque
to join others who were breaking
fast at the Gold Coast Mosque
and decided to become Muslim
Sirin Hamsho Engineering Project
Leader at General Electric
Company
Islam is the
religion of peace and safety
Sirin Hamsho
Engineering Project Leader at
General Electric Company ..
Sirin Hamsho - "climbing a wind
turbine is like climbing Everest
Mountain"
Today's Women
interview
Noor Saadeh An #American
Convert to #Islam – Her Story
Islam is the
religion of peace and safety
First Girls' Cadet School in
Pakistan
AJ+
Tony Burke from the streets
of Lakemba
We invited
everyone to come to Lakemba
during Ramadan.
And it looks
like everyone did!
Ramadan Lectures
with Imam
Uzair Akbar
Living Muslim LIVE with
Hoblos and Stuzz!
Living Muslim
Perform a Secret Deed Every
Day - #ReviveRamadan
OnePath Network
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.
‘Roseanne’
Cancelled by ABC Hours After Racist Tweet by
Roseanne Bar
US: ABC cancelled the hit sitcom
“Roseanne” on Tuesday hours after the
show’s star and co-creator, Roseanne
Barr, posted a racist tweet about a
former top adviser to President Barack
Obama.
Early on Tuesday, Ms. Barr posted a
comment about Valerie Jarrett, an
African-American woman who was a senior
adviser to Mr. Obama throughout his
presidency and considered one of his
most influential aides, that said if
“muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes
had a baby=vj.”
Hours later, ABC cancelled Ms. Barr’s
show, which had ended its successful
comeback season last week and was
expected to return in the fall for 13
episodes.
“Roseanne’s Twitter statement is
abhorrent, repugnant and inconsistent
with our values, and we have decided to
cancel her show,” ABC’s entertainment
president, Channing Dungey, said in a
statement. Ms. Dungey was appointed to
her current role in February 2016,
becoming the first black entertainment
president of a major broadcast
television network.
Robert A. Iger, the chief executive of
the Walt Disney Company, ABC’s corporate
parent, shared Ms. Dungey’s statement on
his own Twitter account, adding: “There
was only one thing to do here, and that
was the right thing.”
SOUTH AFRICA: South
African President Cyril Ramaphosa
performed the Muslim prayer this week
after joining the Muslim Judicial
Council and members of the Cape Muslim
community for Iftaar.
Family
doctor who left Zimbabwe for N.L. now newest
Trudeau-appointed senator
Family doctor and professor
Mohamed-Iqbal Ravalia, left,
seen receiving the Order of
Canada from then governor
general David Johnston in 2016,
OTTAWA — Prime Minister
Justin Trudeau has appointed Mohamed-Iqbal
Ravalia, a family doctor and community
leader, as a senator for Newfoundland
and Labrador.
Ravalia fled apartheid-era Zimbabwe and
settled in the province more than 30
years ago.
He is a family physician, as well as a
senior medical officer at the Notre Dame
Bay Memorial Health Centre and an
associate professor of family medicine
and the assistant dean of the Rural
Medical Education Network at Memorial
University.
He was given the Canadian Family
Physician of the Year Award in 2004 and
is a member of the Order of Canada.
He will sit as an independent senator.
Trudeau says he will be a great addition
to the Senate.
“Dr. Ravalia’s vast knowledge and
experience have earned him high respect
in the medical field, and I am confident
that he will be a great ambassador in
the Senate — not just for Newfoundland
and Labrador, but for all of Canada,”
Trudeau said in a statement.
KB says:
These cold evenings justify a delicious hot
curry even in Ramadaan.
Kashmiri Chops
INGREDIENTS
& METHOD
Step 1
Marinate 1 kg chops
in
1 tab. ginger garlic
2 tab. lemon juice
1 heaped tsp salt
½ tsp tumeric powder
1 tsp kashmiri
chillie powder
1 tsp chilli powder
1 tsp steak and
chops spice
Step 2
Prepare
1 medium onion
chopped
5 baby tomatoes
¼ each of red and
green peppers sliced
2 green chilli slit
3 medium potatoes
cut in wedges and
fry until done
Step 3
a. Heat 2 tab. ghee
in a pot.
b. Add the marinated
chops
c. Mix well and cook
on high for 5
minutes to seal
juices, lower heat
and cook until done
and water has
evaporated.
d. Add chopped
onions and cook for
approx. 5 mins.
e. Place peppers and
chilli over.
f. Sprinkle salt and
pepper over the
peppers (do not
mix),
g. After 15 minutes
add the fried
potatoes and mix
everything well
together.
h. Cook on medium
heat for further 15
minutes with the
baby tomatoes placed
right at the end or
5 mins before
serving.
i. Garnish with
dhania and green
chillies
j. Serve hot with
roti
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.
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:
Listening To Your
Intuition
When was the last
time you had a gut
feeling about
something and you
actually listened to
it? Most times,
people ignore their
gut feeling.
Intuition is that
still, small voice
that speaks to you
from the core of
your gut, the core
of your being and
acts like a compass
to point you to your
true north. It’s
that voice that
tells you to hold
your tongue when you
are really angry
with someone and you
feel like lashing
out at them with
unkind words. It’s
that feeling you get
about someone and
you know you just
have to call them to
see if they are
okay. It’s that
voice of absolute
certainty that helps
you give your final
decision on
something without
any doubt
whatsoever.
A common phrase
being used by my
clients more often
now than ever before
is “I’m so confused,
I don’t know what to
do.”
Confusion happens
when you become
disconnected from
your intuitive
compass. Take a look
around you and you
will notice why
there is this
disconnection in
people nowadays.
People are so busy
maintaining online
connections on
several social media
platforms, that they
are actually deeply
disconnected with
one’s own self. In
experiencing this
disconnection, you
become deaf to your
intuitive voice and
once this happens,
you start feeling
confused about
things. You lack
clarity in your
vision of how you
want to live this
life. You lack
clarity in your
purpose.
Maintaining clarity
in life is vital.
Avoiding confusion
is essential.
Clarity comes when
you
look within yourself
to find your core’s
purity and then
connect with ALLAH
in that state of
purity. For as long
as self-criticism
and self-loathing
exist in your mind,
achieving clarity
remains challenging,
sometimes
impossible.
Connecting with
ALLAH and pondering
over the verses from
the holy Quran are
the only ways to
find answers to
these three
questions:
- Who am I?
- Why am I here?
- What is my true
purpose?
A Daily Practice
To Connect With And
Listen To Your
Intuition
As you embrace this
daily practice and
avoid negative
patterns, you will
notice your inner
world will become
peaceful, your mind
settled, your
decision-making
ability much better
and your beliefs and
goals much, much
clearer and
steadfast.
Do
Don’t
Make your
surroundings
orderly and
uncluttered
Situations
that are
disordered
and
stressful
Take a close
look at
stresses
that need to
be addressed
Push your
work time to
the limit of
exhaustion,
mental or
physical
Keep away
from
negative
influences
Be tied down
by other
people's
opinions and
attitudes
Find a
friend or
confidante
who shares
your virtues
Let stress
go
unaddressed
Centre
yourself
several
times a day
whenever you
feel
distracted
or unsettled
Let a good
night's
sleep slip
by more than
once a week
Go outside
to
experience
the calm and
inspiration
of nature
Immerse
yourself in
bad news and
the world's
chaotic
unrest
Ignore your
body's
signals; be
aware of
when it
wants rest,
nourishment,
downtime,
and a chance
to reset
itself
through
meditation
and quiet
time alone
Gadget detox
- keep all
gadgets away
from bedroom
so that your
sleep is
uninterrupted
Forget to
provide
yourself
with pure
food, water,
and air
In Shaa ALLAH, next
week we will explore
the topic:
Awaken The Brave
Within You
DOWNLOAD
Muslimah Reflections
- my new ebook of
poetry and
affirmations
DOWNLOAD The
Ultimate Self-Care
Guide For Muslimahs
WATCH VIDEOS
from Muslimah Mind
Matters YouTube
Channel.
DOWNLOAD
Muslimah Meditation
Moments - audio
files for
self-awareness
meditation.
If you wish to know
about a specific
topic with regards
to Self-Care and
Clarity of Mind,
please text or email
me or visit
www.muslimahmindmatters.com.
If you wish to have
a FREE one hour
Finding Clarity
telephone session,
contact me on
0451977786.
Mula Nasruddin, the
local Imam, was asked by the Muslim Funeral Services director to
say a prayer at a graveside for a homeless man.
The deceased man had
no family or friends and the prayer was to be performed
at a cemetery outside the city precincts in the
countryside.
As the Imam was not
familiar with the backwoods, he got lost.
He finally arrived an hour late and saw the funeral
director had evidently gone and the hearse was nowhere
in sight.
There were only the
diggers and crew left and they were eating lunch.
Mula Nasruddin felt badly and apologized to the men for
being late.
He went to the side
of the grave and looked down and saw the wooden supports
were already in place.
He didn’t know what
else to do, so he started to pray.
The workers put down their lunches and began to gather
around.
Mula Nasruddin then
delivered an impassioned dua (invocation) out of
his heart and soul for this man with no family and
friends.
He prayed like he'd
never prayed before for this homeless man.
And as he prayed, the workers began to weep.
They wept, Mula Nasruddin
wept, they all wept together.
When Mula Nasruddin
finished he turned to leave and though his head hung
low, his heart was full.
As he opened the door to his car, he heard one of the
workers say, “I never seen nothin’ like that before and
I’ve been putting in septic tanks for twenty years.”
If you do not produce a
miracle for them, they say,
“Why don’t you improvise
one.” Say, “I only follow
what is inspired to me from
my Lord.” These are insights
from your Lord, and
guidance, and mercy, for a
people who believe.
Six years after his
conversion to Islam and
after producing economic
reports in some of the most
prestigious international
media, French International
Sales Reporter Julien Drolon
partnered with Malaysian TV
producer Zara Shafie with
whom he co-produced the TV
Show “Salam Mualaf” seen by
more than 2 million viewers
on Malaysian channel TV9 to
produce and direct the first
documentary film featuring
converts from all over the
world: FREEDOM.
FREEDOM is a spiritual and
emotional documentary film
featuring 50 converts to
Islam from 25 different
nationalities over 6
continents in 15 languages -
all of them speaking from
the very depths of their
soul about their
perspectives on freedom and
Islam.
The film is truly
eye-opening and very
informative for non-Muslims
and for the born Muslims it
is spiritually uplifting and
encourage them to be
consistent in reminding
themselves of the main
purpose in life.
In the wake of a global rise
of anti-Muslim sentiments,
film directors Julien Drolon
and Zara Shafie are giving a
voice to a global community
of converts during a crucial
time when Islam needs to be
more understood and
appreciated as a religion
that is protecting the
rights and dignity of every
human being.
Following a successful tour
in South Africa, Turkey,
United Kingdom and Malaysia,
co-director Zara Shafie
brings a taste of FREEDOM to
Brisbane with a women only
advance screening of this
acclaimed documentary at
IWAA on Sunday 24th June
at 1:00pm.
All women are welcome, so
please share this event with
Muslims and non-Muslims
alike.
Further screenings are
planned for September
throughout Australia as part
of the FREEDOM World
Screening Tour 2018.
Some reviews of the film
FREEDOM so far:
"It was spiritually
uplifting. You'd think a
documentary with people
talking one after the
other would be
monotonous. This is
anything but that. It
was engaging and
riveting." - Fatima,
South Africa
"Excellent. Deeply
emotional and at the
same time, intriguing as
well." - Ardila,
Malaysia
"The film gives a
different perspective to
Muslims and non-Muslims
around the concept of
freedom. It's a
manifestation of the
universality of the
religion of Islam."
- Merve, Turkey
"The documentary is
absolutely beautiful.
It's the first of its
kind and it will open
the minds of people to
understand how it really
feels to be free." -
Hajara, UK
3rd Annual Australian
Islamic Schooling
Conference:
Islamic Schooling Renewal
– A Focus on Pedagogy
Tuesday 10 and Wednesday
11 July 2018
Adelaide
Pedagogy can be defined in
many ways, narrowly as a way
of teaching or a methodology
of instruction, and more
broadly as a framework for
conceptualising what is
meant by approaches to
schooling. A critical
reflection on pedagogy
within the field of Islamic
schooling is timely as we
move beyond the
establishment phase and
embrace an era characterised
by renewal.
If one considers the
provocation that pedagogy is
never politically neutral, a
unique lens for exploration
exists in the field of
Islamic schooling given the
complex politics of Muslims
and Islam in popular
Australian media as well as
in other contemporary
Western contexts and the
intersection with
contemporary schooling
contexts, sometimes
criticised as neoliberal.
How much progress has been
made in the area of pedagogy
within Islamic schooling?
What is an Islamic pedagogy
and what does it offer to
the field of Islamic
schooling? Are our current
pedagogies responsive to the
educational context and the
needs of Australian Muslim
students? How does
pedagogical practice in
Islamic schools align with
AITSL teacher standards? How
equipped is the field of
Islamic schooling to manage
necessary pedagogical
renewal?
These are just some of the
questions that Islamic
Schooling Renewal – A Focus
on Pedagogy will tackle over
two conference days, as it
examines pedagogy and
Islamic schooling for Muslim
students from a
whole-of-life and
whole-of-community
perspective.
With an impressive line-up
of international and
national speakers from
specialist disciplines and
diverse sectors, Islamic
Schooling Renewal – A Focus
on Pedagogy is sure to offer
valuable and practical
insights into the future of
pedagogy in Islamic
schooling in the West.
The conference will
critically explore pedagogy
and Islamic schooling for
Muslim students from a
whole-of-life and
whole-of-community
perspective.
Topics and themes of
presentations will include
the following but not
limited to:
• Conceptualisations of
pedagogy in Islamic
schooling
• Pedagogy – theory and
praxis
• Pedagogical leadership
• Politics and pedagogy
• Pedagogy, identity and
citizenship
• Critical pedagogical
perspectives
• Culturally Responsive
Pedagogy
• Professional learning
communities – pedagogical
conversations
• Pedagogy and implications
for curriculum and
assessment
• Professional learning and
teacher education
The 3rd Annual Australian
Islamic Schooling
Conference: Islamic
Schooling Renewal – A Focus
on Pedagogy will be held on
Tuesday 10 and Wednesday
11 July 2018 in
Adelaide, South Australia,
for more information please
contact
cite@unisa.edu.au or 08
8302 6919
I will be
celebrating Eid with our
brothers and sisters in a
refugee camp in Turkey with
Muslim Aid Australia Insh Allah.
Help me raise funds to make this
Eid a special one for them. I
will be distributing these packs
Insh'Allah.
Traditionally as the tax
year draws to a close
(30 June), most
taxpayers scurry around
seeking tax deductions.
It’s not uncommon to
see large retailers
advertising tax
deductible purchases
such as stationery,
computers, vehicles, and
other assets.
As a Muslim, there’s a
smarter way of getting a
tax deduction without
wasting funds on
unnecessary items. Pay
your zakah to a zakah
fund that has DGR
(Deductible Gift
Recipient Status). This
will secure you a tax
deduction.
Fundamentally, it
assists you in
discharging an
obligatory duty.
A number of funds have
DGR status, some of
these are:
·Muslim
Charitable Foundation (MCF);
·Muslim
Aid Australia (MAA); and
·National
Zakah Foundation (NZF).
You can contact these
zakah funds through
their websites.
Depending on your top
tax rate, you can get an
effective tax deduction
ranging from 21% to 47%.
It is
heartbreaking to watch
Afghanistan's people suffering
at the hands of extreme poverty.
Many families are so financially
deficient that they are unable
to feed their children, let
alone provide them with a good
education.
Last year, we saved many babies
who would otherwise be sold to
save their families from
poverty. I never thought I would
ever see Afghan people selling
their loved ones.
This Ramadan, look into your
hearts and make a generous tax
deductible donation. Help us
fight poverty and save more
innocent babies this Ramadan.
Mahboba Rawi
HAA Feed the Fasting
program in Gaza
Jazkaalalhukhairun for
supporting the orphans of
the world.
Through your humble
contributions, we are able
to place a smile on the face
of these beautiful orphans
this Ramadhaan.
Help
the orphans of the world
today.
For all your charity needs
from Zakaat, Sadaqah and
Lilaal, orphan sponsorship
for only $50 a month to
build a well in Bangladesh
for $500.
Bank
details:
Westpac
BSB: 032065
ACC: 328484
ACC: HAIA
Human Appeal AUSTRALIA
Akram Buksh QLD Manager
Support the NZF
2018 Eid toy drive you can
donate money towards buying
gifts or donate brand new Toys .
Please contact
Amra on 0430589383 for more info
and drop off details.
Halis Media in association with Muslim Aid Australia
IWAA, 11 Watland
St, Springwood
0431 747 356
1PM
21 August
(tentative)
Tuesday
YAWMUL ARAFAH
(Day of Arafah)
9th Zil-Hijjah 1439
22 August
(tentative)
Wednesday
EID-UL-ADHA
10th Zil-Hijjah 1439
17 November
Saturday
Annual Milad-un-Nabi
Al-Mustapha Institute of Brisbane
TBA
3PM to Maghrib
PLEASE NOTE
1. All Islamic Event dates given above are supplied by
the Council of Imams QLD (CIQ) and are provided as a guide and are
tentative and subject to the sighting of the moon.
2. The Islamic date changes to the next day starting in
the evenings after maghrib. Therefore, exceptfor Lailatul
Mehraj,
Lailatul Bhahraat
and
Lailatul Qadr – these dates refer to the commencement of the event
starting in the evening of the corresponding day.
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