Eid-ul-Fitr (15/16 June) marks
the end of Ramadan and the Holy
Month of Fasting
In this last Ramadan 2018 issue
wishes all our readers and their
families
a renewed strength and
spirituality drawn from the
month of fasting and prayer,
and a joyous day of
celebrations.
Dear CCN
readers,
The team at
MAA International would like
to wish you a joyful and
blessed Eid Mubarak.
Thanks to
your support we've been able
to deliver impactful and
smart projects in over 25
countries around the world,
including Syria, Palestine,
Myanmar, Yemen, and Somalia.
This year
you've not only supported
the immediate needs of those
less fortunate, you've also
provided thousands of
families with the means of
generating an income and
supporting themselves.
Don’t forget
to pay your Fitrah before
Eid Prayers at
www.maainternational.org.au
or by calling us on 1800 100
786.
President of the Islamic Council
of Queensland (ICQ), Ismail
Cajee, beams in from China to
receive this year's QIS
Community Leadership Award
The
Queensland Intercultural
Society (QIS) hosted its
11th annual ifthaar in the
Undumbi Room at the
Queensland Parliament House
on Tuesday 5 June.
It was co-hosted by Hon
Stirling Hinchliffe
(Minister for Multicultural
Affairs) and MP John-Paul
Langbroek (Shadow Minister
for Multicultural Affairs)
and the QIS represented by
its Executive director and
event-organizer, Mr Abdul
Celil Gelim.
ICQ President, Ismail Cajee,
was recognised for his
contribution to the
community with the
presentation of the
2018 QIS Community
Leadership Award. His son,
Yusuf Cajee, was on hand to
receive the award on his
behalf, and Ms Janeth Deen
spoke of Ismail Cajee's long
list of achievements during
his time as chairman of the
Islamic Society of Holland
Park and as president of the
peak Islamic organization.
Former Anti-Discrimination
Commissioner, Kevin Cocks
AM, received the QIS's
Public Service Award.
The evening commenced with
Welcome to Country from
Aboriginal Elder, Aunty
Betty McGrady, the calling
of the Adhan to break the
fast, and a Quran recitation
by Imam Ahmad Abu Ghazaleh
of the Wisdom College.
After welcoming speeches by
the two politicians and
co-hosts, Mr Abdul Gelim
spoke on behalf of his
organization and offered a
few home truths that
resonated very well with the
audience, so much so that MC
for the night, Dr Brian
Adams, requested that Mr
Gelim
make his speech
available to a wider
audience. Here are some
highlights from Abdul
Gelim's address on the
night:
By co-hosting and
supporting such a
meaningful event at the
Parliament of Queensland
has become a catalyst
and plays an
instrumental role
towards breaking
barriers, stereotypes,
bigotry and towards our
shared goal of building
the ideal cohesive,
inclusive and harmonious
society as well as
promoting community
harmony, dialogue and
friendship.
Even though we boast of
social cohesion and the
majority of us support
diversity, there’s still
the issue of unconscious
bias that effects
everything from hiring
in the workplace to
socialising. To work on
our biases, we must
clearly engage more with
the ‘other’ to breakdown
stereotypes.
It shouldn’t take a
person like Mamoudou
Gassama, a Malian
immigrant in France who
climbed several floors
of balconies to save a
child hanging off the
balcony to recognise our
oneness in humanity. His
heroic act should not be
the reason of his
acceptance to society.
He should not be on a
list called the ‘good
migrant’ and be given
special provisions
whereas others of his
ilk are given
unfavourable attention.
This classification of
minorities to good and
bad groups doesn’t help
when trying to eradicate
racism, Islamophobia and
anti-Semitism.
I also believe we should
break the cycle of
exclusion. We should
stop using the stories
of previous waves of
migrants who worked hard
and rose above their
station and their
exclusion. To say that
those before you – the
Irish, Italians, Greeks
all faced what you’re
facing now….but they
worked hard and are now
accepted. This statement
shows that racism is an
unchanging reality that
is always seeking out a
new victim, while
ignoring those who have
been victimised in the
past.
The keynote address was
given by veteran ABC
broadcaster and one of
Australia's best-known
commentators on religion, Mr
John Cleary, who spoke on
the topic of Human Rights
and Religious Liberty.
Pupils of the Wisdom College
entertained the audience
with a range of popular
songs and the evening
concluded with a round of
reflections from the floor
by representatives of the
Police Service, Mr Ali Kadri
and Ms Kerrin Benson, and a
Vote of Thanks by the
retired Speaker of the
Queensland Parliament, Mr
John Mickel.
Imam Ahmad Abu
Ghazaleh
Dr
Brian Adams
(l
to r)
Stirling Hinchliffe,
Abdul Celil Gelim,
John-Paul Langbroek
Wisdom College Choir
(l
to r) Yusuf
Cajee, John-Paul
Langbroek, Janeth
Deen
(l
to r)
Emir Cutuk (AFP
Community Liaison
Officer),
Sgt David Lucas,
Hamza Shale (Police
Liaison Officer) and
Hussain Baba
(Secretary Gold
Coast Islamic
Society)
(l
to r)
Surendra Prasad,
John-Paul Langbroek,
Amar Ali Khan,
Hussain Baba
(l
to r) Hussain
Baba. Ali Kadri,
Stirling Hinchliffe
Sisters Support
Services Inc would like to take
this opportunity to say Ramadan
Mubarak to everyone in the
community.
We would like to
thank our generous sponsors and
those who continue to donate and
who have supported our
organisation throughout the
years. Alhumdulillah 'all praise
is due to Allah.'
This Ramadan some wonderful
families have come together to
do weekly Iftars and have
delivered delicious meals,
desserts and drinks.
These Iftars,
hosted by Sisters Support
Services, are to support refugee
familles, new Muslims, reverts
and friends.
Another well
known sister has generously
opened her doors to welcome new
Muslims for Iftars on a weekly
basis.
Sizza Restaurant
sponsored an Iftar last Friday
on behalf of Asma for her late
husband Abdul Basith.
This was catered
for up to 50 people and open to
new Muslims and friends in the
community.
We would like to
say Jazaku Allah khair to all
the families & people in the
community who have contributed.
We take this opportunity to wish
everyone a blessed Ramadan in
the last 10 nights and Eid
Mubarak.
Following on from a long
tradition of hosting
community ifthaar dinners in
Melbourne and Sydney, the
Commonwealth Bank put on its
first Ifthaar dinner in
Queensland.
The function was held in the
Premier's Hall of the
Queensland Parliament where
some 200 invited community
and corporate leaders were
welcomed by Mr Huss Mustafa
OAM, the bank's General
Manager of Multicultural
Community Banking, who
initiated the annual dinners
10 years ago.
In his address Mr Mustafa
emphasized the need to
maintain and enhance the
rich cultural diversity of a
multicultural Australia. He
spoke of his personal
journey coming to the
country as a young Muslim
Cypriot migrant and then
working his way to becoming
executive of the bank where
he has been for the past 43
years.
These dinners, he went on to
explain, were the bank's
recognition of the role the
Muslim community has played
in building the economy and
social fabric of the country
and a way of creating
cultural awareness.
Other speakers on the night
included Mr Turgut Manli,
the Honorary Consul General
of Turkey, the Minister for
Local Government, Minister
for Racing and Minister for
Multicultural Affairs, Mr
Stirling Hinchliffe, and Mr
Fatih Sulakyurt who
explained the five pillars
of Islam and the purpose
behind Ramadan.
A panel discussion and
musical interlude concluded
the evening's proceedings.
Two years ago a
broken and
desperate man
stumbled
breathless into
the Gold Coast
Masjid in
Queensland,
Australia
looking for an
Imam. He had
lost nearly
everything, his
marriage, his
sanity, his
confidence, but
not the last of
his faith.
He was led to an
office and
brought water by
a crowd of
people who had
no idea he had
run nearly 2
kilometers to
get there,
afraid he would
arrive after
everyone had
gone home.
There, a man
named Hussin
Goss helped
him to see a new
path was being
opened before
him by Allah (
سُبْحَانَهُ
وَتَعَالَىٰ). I
remember that
day well,
because I was
that man.
Brother Hussin
helped me to
properly make
shahadah and
welcomed me into
the Ummah with
open arms.
Hussin
Goss
It was with
great sadness
that I took my
leave and
returned home to
Texas just a few
months later.
But the gift I
was given that
day has
strengthened me
beyond my
dreams. Since
the day I first
embraced Islam,
during Ramadan
two years ago, I
have returned to
my family in
Texas and worked
hard to rebuild
my life.
But through
Allah (
سُبْحَانَهُ
وَتَعَالَىٰ) I
have been
blessed to grow
in faith,
strength, and
prosperity. I
will graduate in
December with my
Associates
Degree, on my
way to my
Bachelor's. I
have become
healthier, lost
nearly 50 kilos.
I have made
friends and
reconnected with
my family after
15 years apart.
But all of this
amazing journey,
which I am
blessed to be
on, started with
a single step
one night two
years ago. That
step was made
with the
guidance of
Allah (
سُبْحَانَهُ
وَتَعَالَىٰ) and
the supporting
hand of my
brother Hussin
Goss.
Today I wish to
thank them both,
and make dua for
the wise, kind,
and strong man
who taught me
the words لا
إِلٰهَ إِلَّا
ٱلله (There is
no God worthy of
Worship but
Allah). May
Allah bless and
reward you
forever.
The Holy month of Ramadan is
an important time of year
for many. It is an ideal
time to engage with our
friends throughout the
community and to foster
positive relationships for
the benefit of all.
Over the years, several
platforms such as public
forums, community gatherings
and Iftar dinners have
commonly been used as medium
to spread the messages of
peace, respect and
understanding.
In 2018, we can now add one
more platform to this list:
The World Game (football).
In a closely contested
championship match, police
officers from the South
Brisbane Police District
took out the main prize in
the inaugural Bosnian
Islamic Centre (BIC) Law
Enforcement Ramadan Futsal
Challenge on Saturday 2
June, 2018 at the Bosnian
Mosque, Eight Miles Plains.
With scores teetering on the
edge for most of the match,
the boys in blue finished
strong to claim a 4-2
victory against the local
Imams.
Despite their valiant
efforts, the Wooden Spoon
was awarded to the local
Politicians (Captained by
Stretton State Member Mr
Duncan Pegg) who finished
qualifying fixtures with no
wins and no goals scored. Mr
Johnson Chen was on hand to
receive the noble wooden
spoon prize on behalf of Mr
Pegg.
Regardless of the fierce
competition on display, all
attendees enjoyed the
opportunity to kick, volley
and strike their way to
building new friendships.
“These events are the
types of relationships that
contribute to making our
communities safer for all”
said Queensland Police
Commissioner Ian Stewart APM.
“Keeping communities safe
is our core business and to
do this effectively, the
assistance and cooperation
of the community is vital”
“Sport is a great way to
break down barriers and
bring the community
together” added Sgt Jim
Bellos from the South
Brisbane District Cross
Cultural Liaison Unit.
“Today’s law enforcement
football event featured
Imams, Police and
Politicians is an Australian
first and has certainly set
the benchmark for proactive
engagement by all involved.”
The match was concluded by a
lavish Iftar Dinner hosted
by Imam Sifet Omerovic from
BIC who highlighted that
“Ramadan is about family
time. It’s about sharing
your time, your food, and
memories of peace. So coming
here and enjoying the
surroundings and walking and
playing together is a nice
way to combine all that.”
Many thanks to all who came
out to support this event.
At
the Ethnic Communities
Council of Queensland (ECCQ)
Board meeting on 6 June
2018, the Board accepted the
resignation of Yasmin Khan.
The Board of the ECCQ
acknowledged and thanked
their Chair Ms Yasmin Khan
for her contribution and
leadership. Ms Khan will be
leaving to take up an
opportunity as a Churchill
Fellow.
The Board acknowledged her
long commitment to
multicultural affairs within
the community and at ECCQ.
At the ECCQ Board meeting on
6 June 2018, the Board
appointed the Deputy
Chairperson, Mr Alton Budd
as the Acting Chairperson.
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers hosted
their 3rd Annual Iftar this
week.
Dr Nora Amath delivered the
keynote address and Mr Fahim
Khondaker took on the role of
Muazin and called the Adhan in
the office building.
AIIC
Gold Coast Campus
Gold
Coast Mosque and Law Enforcement
Agencies
The Gold Coast
Mosque organised an Iftar dinner
for “Law Enforcement Agencies”
which included representatives
from Queensland Police,
Australian Federal Police and
Australian Border Police.
Assistant Police Commissioner
Brian Codd who has been in Gold
Coast for last 3 years took up a
new position with QPS in
Brisbane this week. He was
honoured with an Appreciation
Award presented by Gold Coast
Masjid.
The
Centre for Interfaith & Cultural
Dialogue, Griffith University
and
The Queensland Intercultural Society
Annual
Ifthaar
The annual
ifthaar held at Griffith
University
Gold
Coast Mosque and Government Services and
Organizations
Over 60 guests
including Federal MP, State MPs,
GC Councillors, senior officials
from various Government
Departments, NGOs, interfaith
communities etc. were hosted at
an ifthaar put together by the
Gold Coast Mosque
This year the Islamic Society of
Gold Coast handed out two
appreciation awards for their
dedicated services:
2. Migrant Centre
organisation: Principle: Miss.
Anna Zubac
Logan
Mosque Community Ifthaar
David Forde with
Maya Berjaoui
(President Islamic
Council of ACT)
Community
Iftaar at Mount Gravatt Community Centre
By Farina Abawi
It was an evening
filled with warmth, beautiful
setting, great company and great
food. The first ever Community
Iftaar held at Mount Gravatt
Community Centre exceeded its
invitation list to cater for
more than 120 people from
neighbouring residents, to local
representatives.
Held on June 2,
2018, it was hosted on behalf of
Conversations with Purpose (CWP),
a new social group for women of
diverse backgrounds at the
Centre and with the support of
Multicultural Development
Australia and Brisbane City
Council.
The crowd was
engaged and delighted with the
informative and wise words
spoken by Imam Uzair from
Holland Park Mosque in his talk
about Ramadan who together with
Ali Kadri, spokesperson for
Islamic Council of Queensland,
accommodated a myriad of
questions from the audience.
One attendee
said, “It was a most
enjoyable and educational
evening on Saturday, thanks for
inviting us. Everyone would have
gained from the experience”.
Feedback was
overwhelmingly positive with
enquiries already about when the
next one will be.
A special thanks
goes out to the organizing team,
CWP participants, all those in
attendance and everyone who
supported making this event
possible.
[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.]
Faiza El-Higzi
University of Queensland
Faiza El-Higzi
is a PhD student at the
University of Queensland.
A MONTH OF MERCY
"In the name of Allah, the
most merciful most
beneficent."
Ramadan reminds me of many
things. It reminds me of the
passage of time, of the many
opportunities afforded for
spiritual engagement and
transcendence. It reminds me
of the way those
opportunities are lost as
the mundane fills every
space in life.
Like the new year
resolutions, Ramadan can be
a time when we encounter
many unfulfilled intentions
of years past. And yet the
optimist in me doesn't want
to give up; each year is a
chance to make a start.
Better late than never; good
habits start small and grow;
gently and with kindness to
oneself, change will happen,
I convince myself.
My starting point is
mercy.
Mercy has been the theme for
Ramadan for as long as I can
remember. My earliest memory
of Ramadan sermons is
infused with the term: the
month of mercy. When the
first ayah verses of the
Qur'an were revealed to the
Prophet Muhammad (peace be
upon him) in the hira'a cave
while he was meditating. The
archangel Gabriel ordered
him to read - to seek
knowledge in the name of the
divine.
Sermons on the first days of
Ramadan tell us that
Ramadan's beginning is
mercy, its middle is
forgiveness and the final
days hold a promise of
release from the bondages of
evil and hopefully from
hell. I grew up hearing
these sermons, and the theme
of mercy has not changed.
Continuity of ideas within
faith is reassuring.
Anticipating mercy in the
mundane, I reflect on a
simple daily habit: in the
name of Allah, the most
merciful most benevolent.
This is a verse that is so
prevalent, so often recited,
that I don't even think of
its meaning anymore.
Invoking the name of Allah
at the beginning of every
act is common among Muslims.
But when I look at it with
renewed curiosity, there it
is staring at me: al-rahman,
the merciful, and al-rahiem,
the benevolent.
Both words in the verse come
from rahma, "mercy" -
founded on the root rahiim,
"womb." Seeking the joy of
finding meaning within
oneself, I start with rahiim,
womb - that which with the
grace of Allah creates life,
elevating uterine bonds to
an almost sacred status. The
Prophet (peace be upon him)
asks us to care for our
families, especially those
with whom we share blood
bonds.
As I reflect on this, a
smile makes its way to my
face as I remember my
siblings; my younger days
back in Sudan observing
Ramadan in the heat of
summer; my father gently
teaching us the ethics of
fasting and the etiquette of
breaking fast. These
memories are so joyous my
smile widens. "Gently" was
his advice. Break your fast
with a date and a sip of
water, all the time
remembering to engage your
heart and your tongue with
gratitude. Advice lost on a
hungry, tired, younger me.
The moment of breaking fast
was the hardest and most
anticipated until I learned
the grace that comes with
fasting - and with age.
Fasting and breaking fast
taught me the value of
community as all we
congregated for prayer,
young and old. Those first
15 minutes after the azan
call for prayer at sunset is
intense, yet tender. Older
siblings and parents looking
after newly inducted members
observing their first full
month of fasting. Veterans
caring for older souls,
offering them food and
waiting on them. Moments of
such tenderness and joy that
even their memory fills me.
I hope my children Ramadan
memories are equally
meaningful.
I turn on the television,
tune in to Arabic channels
broadcasting Qur'an
readings. I am transported
to a different place, vivid
with meaning and memories. I
follow that with a dose of
hadith, the tradition of
stories and sayings of the
Prophet Muhammad (peace be
upon him). I am moved by an
incident of loss and grief.
The Prophet (peace be upon
him) sheds tears at the loss
of his young son Ibrahim,
telling his followers that
to experience love and show
grief is not weakness but an
expression of mercy - God's
mercy. Opening ourselves to
life's experiences makes us
gentler, kinder, better
humans.
In the folds of my memory
something stirs: a childhood
hero of mine, a female sufi
mystic of high birth who
shunned the mundane and
lived by the side of a
river, in mystic devotion.
Lines etched in my memory
are released to me from her
sufi mystic poetry. And I
enjoy their effect on me:
I hold two loves for
thee
Devotional, and a love
worthy of thee
The first is, as I think
of none but thee
The second is an
anticipation of seeing
thee
Neither did I find
without your grace to
me!
The texture, contours and
complexity of this mystic
poem are mind bending and
delicious.
Mercy as the experience of
family, the feeling a loss
that humanises, and the
grace of love. And that is
just the beginning.
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.
23
"Seeing to the welfare of
people is more effective
than the use of force. It
has been said that the crown
of a leader is his
integrity, his stronghold is
his impartiality and his
wealth is the welfare of his
people."
Amirul Mu’minin Sheikh as
Sultan Muhammadu Sa’adu
Abubakar III is the 20th
Sultan of Sokoto. As Sultan
of Sokoto, he is considered
the spiritual leader of
Nigeria’s 85.5 million
Muslims, who account for
roughly 50 percent of the
nation’s population.
Although the position of
Sultan of Sokoto has become
largely ceremonial, the
holder is still a central
figure for Nigerian Muslims.
Lineage Back to Sheikh
Usman Dan Fodio: The
Sultan of Sokoto is the
spiritual leader of
Nigeria’s enormous Muslim
community. He gains this
position by lineage.
Abubakar is the 20th heir to
the two-century-old throne
founded by his ancestor,
Sheikh Usman Dan Fodio. Dan
Fodio (1754-1817 CE) was a
scholar, leader of the
Maliki school of Islam and
the Qadiri branch of Sufism,
and Islamic reformer of the
nineteenth century. Dan
Fodio believed that Islam
should have a more central
role in the life of the
people of West Africa and
led an uprising to institute
the changes he sought. His
figure and his writings are
a very important chapter in
the history of Islam in West
Africa, and Abubakar, by
lineage, holds a key place
in West African Islam, and
particularly for the Fulani
and Hausa people who
followed Dan Fodio.
An Illustrious Family:
The position currently does
carry with it some
weight—though largely
ceremonial since British
colonial rule diminished its
political significance. Much
of this clout is derived
from the respect that was
earned by Siddiq Abu Bakar
Dan Usman—17th Sultan and
father of Abubakar—who held
the Sultanate for over fifty
years. The rule of
Abubakar’s father from 1938
to 1988 earned the position
significant social capital
and popularity with ordinary
Muslims.
Administrative Power:
Abubakar holds important
administrative influence in
Nigerian religious life.
Abubakar is the titular
ruler of Sokoto in northern
Nigeria and is also the head
of the Nigerian National
Supreme Council for Islamic
Affairs. Leadership of this
council means that the
Sultan of Sokoto remains the
only figure that can
legitimately claim to speak
on behalf of all Nigerian
Muslims. This role has
become increasingly
influential over the years
with a rise in
interreligious tensions
between Nigeria’s
Muslim-majority north and
Christian-majority south.
Boko Haram: The
Sultan has started many
initiatives to counter and
reduce the influence of Boko
Haram, including inviting an
international joint
Muslim-Christian Delegation
to visit Nigeria.
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.
For years, if you wanted to
know if whether watching
“The Walking Dead” was halal
or haram (allowed or
forbidden, in Muslim
parlance) the imam to ask
was Suhaib Webb. Webb, a
convert to Islam whose
grandfather was a Christian
minister, combines a love
for popular culture,
particularly hip-hop, with
deep Islamic learning.
A graduate of Cairo’s
prestigious al-Azhar
University, Webb spends less
time talking about
television these days, but
he remains active on
Snapchat, where he issues
“SnapWas” (Snapchat + fatwas)
in response to questions
from young Muslims around
the world on everything from
sex to study habits. He is
also a scholar in residence
at New York University.
What other Muslims say about
Webb:
“Nobody, no imam or anyone
else, relates to our youth
as well as Suhaib. He can
talk about al-Ghazali and
gangsta rap in the same
sentence, and it somehow
makes perfect sense.”
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.
This is what Dear Alyne, Project
Nightfall and I learned.
Fasting with the Hui
Muslim Vibe
Spend the holy
month of Ramadan with the Hui
Muslim Community of Xi'an China
in this lovely short
documentary!.
Ramadan Lectures
with Imam
Uzair Akbar
Living Muslim LIVE with
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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.
Turkey
condemns Austria's 'racist' move to close
seven mosques
Austrian chancellor says country
can no longer put up with
‘parallel societies’
AUSTRIA: As many as 60 Turkish imams and
their families face expulsion from
Austria and seven mosques are due to be
closed under a clampdown on what the
government has called “political Islam”.
Austria’s chancellor, Sebastian Kurz,
said the country could no longer put up
with “parallel societies, political
Islam and radicalisation,” which he said
had “no place in our country”.
The announcement at a press conference
by leading members of the coalition
government, which comprises the
centre-right People’s party (ÖVP) and
the far-right Freedom party (FPÖ),
prompted a furious reaction from Ankara,
which called the move anti-Islamic.
“Austria’s decision to shut down
numerous mosques and deport imams with a
lame excuse is a reflection of the
anti-Islam, racist and discriminatory
populist wave in this country,” tweeted
İbrahim Kalin, a spokesman for the
Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Austria’s interior minister, Herbert
Kickl, of the FPÖ, said around 150
people faced losing their right to
residency, taking into account the
imams’ family members.
The moves follow an investigation by the
national religious affairs authority
into activities carried out by mosques
in Austria. Images of children in a
Turkish-financed mosque re-enacting the
first world war battle of Gallipoli have
dominated headlines in Austria for
weeks, and intensified a nationwide
debate over what is widely viewed as the
insufficient integration of people of
Turkish origin in Austrian society.
The photographs, published in April,
showed some of the boys playing dead and
being draped in Turkish flags – seeming
to identify more with Turkey than with
Austria – at what was reportedly an
official event organised by the
Turkish-Islamic Cultural Association (ATIB).
The ATIB condemned the images, calling
the event “extremely regrettable”, but
insisting that it had called it off.
Relations between Austria and Turkey
have long been strained, with Kurz
insistent to the European Union since he
entered office last year that it should
cease negotiations about Ankara joining
the bloc.
Ramadan
public wakers face arrest, fines in
Jerusalem
The public wakers, known as
musaharati, walk through
parts of the Old City from 2
am to waking up Muslims for
suhoor
They say they have been
arrested and fined for doing
what they say is a part of
Palestinian heritage
In this Tuesday, June 5, 2018
photo, traditionally dressed
Palestinian public wakers, known
as musaharati, are stopped by
the Israeli border police in the
Jerusalem’s Old City.
JERUSALEM: The
Palestinian men who chant and beat drums
to wake up the faithful during Ramadan
in Jerusalem’s Old City say they are
being unfairly targeted by Israeli
police over their early-morning
tradition.
The public wakers, known as musaharati,
walk through parts of the Old City from
2 a.m., waking up Muslims for the
“suhoor” meal ahead of the daily
dawn-to-dusk fast during the holy month,
which ends next week.
But since residents began filing
complaints with police about the noise,
they say they have been arrested and
fined for doing what they say is a part
of Palestinian heritage.
“They claim that we disturb them, but
that’s not true. They want to erase
something called Palestinian
Jerusalemite heritage,” said Mohamed
Hagej, 26, who has worked as a public
waker for three years. He said he
believes the complaints come from Jewish
settlers.
What would be a standard dispute between
neighbors in another region takes on a
political hue in Jerusalem’s Old City,
which is divided into Muslim, Jewish,
Christian and Armenian quarters, where
residents generally live separately. But
an increasing number of nationalistic
Jews have settled in the Muslim quarter,
inflaming tensions with Palestinian
residents who see their presence as
provocative.
Israel captured east Jerusalem,
including the Old City, in the 1967
Mideast war and annexed the area in a
move that is not internationally
recognized. Israel considers the entire
city to be its capital, while the
Palestinians seek east Jerusalem as the
capital of a future state.
In previous years, Hagej said he had no
trouble with the police. But this year,
he says he has been arrested four times,
and claims that at one point, Israeli
paramilitary border police used tear gas
on him and another musaharati. Hagej was
fined 450 shekels ($125) after his first
arrest, a fine that increased with each
offense.
Israel police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld
said police were simply responding to
the noise complaints.
“After complaints were made by residents
of the Old City in connection with the
noise, the police acted accordingly to
stop the offense,” he said. He said he
was not aware of any tear gas use, and
would not say whether those who
complained were Jewish or Palestinian.
Despite the arrests, Hagej and others
have continued their tradition.
“This thing draws a smile on the
children of Jerusalem, the elders of
Jerusalem, the women of Jerusalem, and
the people of Jerusalem,” said Hagej.
“If there’s no musaharati, and there’s
no decoration, there’s no Ramadan.
Two
Jewish groups back calls for inquiry into
Tory Islamophobia allegations
Jewish Council For Racial
Equality and Union of Jewish
Students endorse need for
investigation
UK: Two Jewish groups
have backed calls for an inquiry into
allegations of Islamophobia in the
Conservative Party.
The Jewish Council For
Racial Equality (JCORE) and the Union of
Jewish Students (UJS) have endorsed the
appeals made by the Muslim Council of
Britain and 11 other Muslim councils
across the UK.
The endorsement comes as the chairman of
the Conservative Party’s own Muslim
forum accused the Tories of failing to
root out Islamophobia because they are
scared of damaging their political
power.
Speaking exclusively to The Independent,
Mohammed Amin, the chairman of the
Conservative Muslim Forum (CMF), said it
was a serious issue and that it had been
raised several times.
Now, JCORE and UJS have
put their weight behind the calls for an
inquiry into the issue.
Dr Edie Friedman, executive director of
JCORE said: “We welcome the call for
Islamophobia to be investigated within
the Conservative Party.
“In the same way as there is a focus on
combatting antisemitism including within
the Labour Party, it is incumbent on all
groups and communities to come together
to look at how we can be more effective
in combatting hate speech and behaviour
across the entire political spectrum.
“This requires action from the
leadership and grassroots of all
political parties, religious
organisations and civil society.”
The UJS said it wanted to express its
support for the UK Muslim community in
tackling “the scourge of anti-Muslim
hatred”.
A spokesperson for the group added:
“When the Jewish community stood outside
parliament and demanded enough is enough
with antisemitism in the Labour Party,
we were grateful to be joined by allies
from other minority communities, and so
it is only right that when the Muslim
community is facing abuse, our community
too stands behind them.
“We call on the leadership of the party
to take a hard line against this
insidious form of hate, act swiftly in
disciplining those responsible
appropriately and, echoing the call of
Tell MAMA over two years ago, to
commission an inquiry into anti-Muslim
hatred in the Conservative Party.”
Editors: Abdalla, Mohamad, Chown,
Dylan, Abdullah, Muhammad (Eds.)
Description
This book presents
the views of leading scholars, academics, and
educators on the renewal of Islamic schools in
the Western context.
The book argues that
as Islamic schools in Western contexts have
negotiated the establishment phase they must
next embrace a period of renewal.
Renewal relates to a
purposeful synthesis of the tradition with
contemporary educational practice and greater
emphasis on empirical research substantiating
best practices in Islamic schools.
This renewal must
reflect teaching and learning practices
consistent with an Islamic worldview and
pedagogy.
It should also
inform, among other aspects, classroom
management models, and relevant and contextual
Islamic and Arabic studies.
This book acquaints
the reader with contemporary challenges and
opportunities in Islamic schools in the Western
context with a focus on Australia.
KB says:
When you say ‘burfee’ you know that the day of
Eid is fast approaching – its a bit decadent but
surely you deserve a bit of indulgence now and
then.
Sojee with the flavour of Burfee
INGREDIENTS
METHOD
1 egg
2 cups milk
125g butter
¾ cup semolina
5 tab. milk
powder (make a paste
with some milk)
2 tsp ground
cardamom powder
1 cup sugar
1 cup fresh cream
1 tsp vanilla
essence
Pinch of saffron
Slivered almonds and
sliced pistachios
1. Beat together the
egg, milk, sugar,
cardamom,
cream and vanilla
essence and set
aside.
2. Melt the butter
in a heavy based
pot, add semolina and
braise for 10min.
Then add
in the above milk
mixture and simmer
until it thickens
slightly.
3. Add the saffron
and milk powder and mix
with a wooden or
non-stick spoon on
low heat for ± 10
minutes.
4. Steam on low
until
cooked.
5. Decorate with the
slivered almonds and
pistachios and serve
warm.
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:
Awaken The Brave
Within You
So, here’s a
question for
you...Are you brave?
What’s the first
response that comes
to your mind when
you read this
question?
I know my answer.
Today, I want you to
ponder on yours. If
you know you are
brave, great. You
probably don’t need
to read on, but
maybe forward this
article to someone
who may benefit from
acknowledging their
inherent courage and
learn strategies on
how to awaken the
brave within them.
To be brave is to
feel the fear
without letting fear
own you.
It is to feel the
fear by listening to
what it’s saying to
you rather than
believing in what
it’s saying to you.
When you can feel
your fears as and
when they arise,
observe them without
judgement and put
your complete trust
in ALLAH to protect
you, that’s when
courage is born.
The trigger for
courage is fear.
But first, you must
allow yourself to
observe your fears
without judgement
and banish all
preconceived beliefs
about those fears.
Once you start
observing your
fears, you will
begin to notice that
they are merely
other people’s fears
that you have
inherited as you
were growing
up...other people’s
beliefs imposed upon
you that you were
then conditioned to
adopt as your own.
9 Strategies To
Awaken The Brave
Within You
1. Make a list of
all the things you
want to be, do, or
have in life but are
too scared to pursue
them.
2. Choose one thing
from this list and
put a circle around
it. Perhaps choose
the thing that
causes you the least
fear in comparison
to the others on the
list.
3. Now write down
what is the worst
thing that could
happen to you if
you decide to pursue
this.
4. Write a detailed
description of the
fear you are feeling
about pursuing this
particular thing.
Describe how this
fear is making your
body feel. Is it
causing hurt or
pain? Write down who
all are affected by
this fear of yours.
5. And now write
down what is the
best thing that
could happen to you
if you pursued this
thing.
6. Write down a
detailed description
of how your body is
feeling when you
think about all the
great things that
you could feel from
pursuing this thing.
Write down who all
would be affected if
you felt this great.
7. Now take time to
read what you have
written and observe
how your body feels
when you read both
scenarios.
8. Which of these
two scenarios makes
you feel closer to
ALLAH?
9. Now answer if you
are still feeling
fearful about
pursuing this or do
you have trust in
ALLAH. If you are
still feeling fear,
keep analysing
deeper as to how you
came to hold this
fearful perception.
In Shaa ALLAH, next
week we will explore
the topic:
The Whirlpool Of
What-Ifs
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.
O you who believe! Stand
firmly for justice, as
witnesses to Allah, even if
against yourselves, or your
parents, or your relatives.
Whether one is rich or poor,
Allah takes care of both. So
do not follow your desires,
lest you swerve. If you
deviate, or turn away—then
Allah is Aware of what you
do.
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
We're delighted to
launch MAA's 2017
Annual Report,
presented to you by
our CEO Imam Hassan
Elsetohy.
Learn about MAA’s
key achievements and
figures in 2017; how
your donations were
spent, and how MAA
differentiates
itself from other
Australian
charities.
To donate with us
this Ramadan, visit
bit.ly/Ramadan2018MAA
or call 1800 100
786.
MAA - Australia's
Trusted Charity
Asalamu Alaikum.
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.
HikmahWay offers online and
in-person Islamic courses to
equip Muslims of today with
the knowledge, understanding
and wisdom to lead balanced,
wholesome and beneficial
lives.
Articles and
opinions appearing in this newsletter do not necessarily
reflect the opinions of the CCN Team, its Editor or its
Sponsors, particularly if they eventually turn out to be
libellous, unfounded, objectionable, obnoxious, offensive,
slanderous and/or downright distasteful.
It is the usual policy of CCN to
include from time to time, notices of events that some
readers may find interesting or relevant. Such notices are
often posted as received. Including such messages or
providing the details of such events does not necessarily
imply endorsement of the contents of these events by CCN
The best ideas
and the best feedback come from our community of readers. If you
have a topic or opinion that you want to write about or want
seen covered or any news item that you think might be of benefit
to the Crescents Community please
e-mail us..
Share your
thoughts, feelings and ambitions for our community through CCN.
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someone you know who would like to subscribe to CCN please
encourage them to enter their details
here.
The CCN's "We'll
take that as a
comment" Column 
The
Queensland Intercultural
Society (QIS) hosted its
11th annual ifthaar in the
Undumbi Room at the
Queensland Parliament House
on Tuesday 5 June.
At
the Ethnic Communities
Council of Queensland (ECCQ)
Board meeting on 6 June
2018, the Board accepted the
resignation of Yasmin Khan. 
Turkey
condemns Austria's 'racist' move to close
seven mosques 
post comments on
our Wall
7
August 2011