On behalf of Archbishop Mark
Coleridge and the Catholic
Archdiocese of Brisbane, I
wish you
Eid al-Fitr Mubarak, as you
celebrate the end of the
Ramadan fast. This message
brings greetings
of peace and the wish for
many blessings upon you and
your families after your
special time of
prayer and abstinence.
Please find attached the
annual message from the
Pontifical Council for
Inter-religious Dialogue
written on behalf of Pope
Francis. This year’s message
encourages greater
collaboration between
the Muslim and Christian
communities. There has been
significant evidence of this
growing
collaboration in Brisbane
during Ramadan this year. I
wish to congratulate and
thank the various
Muslim groups around our
city for their generosity in
hosting such a large number
of Iftar meals
over the past few weeks.
These are wonderful
opportunities for members of
both communities to
get to know one another on a
personal level, to break
down suspicion and to learn
more about each
other’s beliefs.
I also wish to congratulate
the Islamic Council of
Queensland and the
Nematollahi Ghadeer Ali
Shahi Sufi Order on their
membership of the Queensland
Faith Communities Council.
This is
another excellent way for
people of faith to build
stronger relationships with
each other and to reach
out to the wider community,
especially in providing
greater education about
faith communities.
This helps to build a more
cohesive and harmonious
society for all of us to
enjoy.
We trust that this Ramadan
has been a time of blessing
and spiritual insight for
you and has
refreshed you for the year
ahead. We also pray that we
continue to find
opportunities to do God’s
work in this beautiful world
God has created.
Yours sincerely
Margaret
Naylon
Executive Officer
14 June 2018
Dear Muslim Brothers and
Sisters,
In his Providence, God the
Almighty has granted you the
opportunity to observe anew
the fasting of Ramadan and
to celebrate ‘Id al-Fitr.
The Pontifical Council for
Interreligious Dialogue
appreciates the importance
of this month and the great
effort by the Muslims
throughout the world to
fast, pray and share the
Almighty’s gifts with the
poor.
Mindful of the gifts
prompted by Ramadan, we join
you in thanking the Merciful
God for his benevolence and
generosity, and we extend to
you our heartfelt best
wishes. The thoughts we
would like to share with you
on this occasion, dear
Muslim brothers and sisters,
concern a vital aspect of
relations between Christians
and Muslims: the need to
move from competition to
collaboration.
A spirit of competition has
too often marked past
relations between Christians
and Muslims, the negative
consequences of which are
evident: jealousy,
recriminations and tensions.
In some cases, these have
led to violent
confrontations, especially
where religion has been
instrumentalized, above all
due to self-interest and
political motives.
Such interreligious
competition wounds the image
of religions and their
followers, and it fosters
the view that religions are
not sources of peace, but of
tension and violence.
To prevent and overcome
these negative consequences,
it is important that we
Christians and Muslims
recall the religious and
moral values that we share,
while acknowledging our
differences. By recognizing
what we hold in common and
by showing respect for our
legitimate differences, we
can more firmly establish a
solid foundation for
peaceful relations, moving
from competition and
confrontation to an
effective cooperation for
the common good. This
particularly assists those
most in need, and allows us
to offer a credible witness
to the Almighty’s love for
the whole of humanity.
We all have the right and
the duty to witness to the
All-Powerful One we worship,
and to share our beliefs
with others, while
respecting their religion
and religious sentiments.
So that we may further
peaceful and fraternal
relations, let us work
together and honor each
another. In this way we will
give glory to the Almighty
and promote harmony in
society, which is becoming
increasingly multi-ethnic,
multi-religious and
multi-cultural.
We conclude by renewing our
best wishes for a fruitful
fast and a joyful ‘Id, and
assure you of our solidarity
in prayer.
From the Vatican, 20 April
2018
Eid Mubarak
from the team at National
Zakat Foundation.
We would also
like to take this
opportunity to thank the
community for their
tremendous support for the
NZF toy drive collection
especially for the children
at Lady Cilento Hospital and
Eid toy gifts for NZF
clients.
(l to r) Ms Gail Kerr
OAM and recipient of the 2018
Queensland Greats award, Ms
Janeth Deen OAM, historian Ms
Beryl Roberts and Ms Adele Rice
AM, former principal of Milpera
State High School
Ms Janeth Deen was awarded
an Order of Australia (OAM)
Medal in this year's Queen's
Birthday 2018 Honours List
for her services to the
multicultural community of
Queensland.
Today (8 June 2018) —- as
you all attend your Friday
prayers — I ask a humble
request - to remember my
father - Adam Dhedhi - he
passed away (6 June 2018)
two nights (ago) - the best
of the best of the best
nights of the month of
Ramadan.
A man whose mother died at
the age of 6 - the only very
young child with two much
older sisters already
married and living away -
raised by servants and a
father who was so incredibly
busy with his businesses -
my father was given the best
that the world could provide
- in a time where normal
cars were hard to find - my
father drove Jaguars - and
many diff ones - as a
teenager - he had access to
anything money could buy.
When he had us - he made
sure he gave us all his
attention when we were
little kids - if we coughed
- he took us back home -
pocket money was endless
even though my mom kept
saying - you will spoil them
- he had to struggle to
build his career but he
never thought about how much
he spent on us - he taught
us everything and took us
everywhere - even to try the
boring 7 course meals that
he would attend with other
business colleagues -
something that 5 and 10 year
olds had no interest in -
but he made sure he treated
us the same - we learnt
about Islam together - it
was never about “I am your
father and you need to obey
and respect me”.
My father - Adam Dhedhi -
was truly the most soft
spoken - the humblest man
anybody ever knew. In his
younger days - he would
dress his best and George
Clooney with all his
stylists could not stand up
to the grace of my father.
After turning 50 he became
extremely simple and wanted
to live only with a few
pieces of extremely minimal
clothing - he never accepted
an expensive present.
He was always raising funds
for many causes - yet he
never allowed anyone to
thank him for it - or let
anyone know that he was
behind the project.
His nature was such - that
everyone trusted him. All he
had to do - was say - ‘we
need funds for... “ and he
never got to finish the
sentence before a blank
cheque was given to him
without question as to what
it was for and why. His
acquaintances were the likes
of Prime Minister Mahathir
Mohammed, the Sultan of
Brunei’s family and many
other people in extremely
high places - yet even as
his children we never knew -
unless we stumbled upon a
photo or mom told us that
they went to stay at the
royal palace - or we saw
letters from them to him.
He was the the main
fundraiser for many villages
in Indonesia after the
Boxing Day Tsumani, the Gold
Coast Mosque, the Islamic
Schools in Brisbane and Gold
Coast - and yet he refused
to let his name be published
or his photo be taken at
opening ceremonies or his
name be recorded as part of
the board of directors. He
took that as a promise from
the places he was raising
funds for.
He wanted NO RECOGNITION by
the people of this world and
only wanted the reward that
Allah would give him. He
raised countless millions -
countless millions - and
hated the way the auctions
ran to raise funds - that
glorified the people who
donated a few thousand and
everyone clapped and cheered
- while others who couldn’t
afford a few hundred - felt
humiliated and left feeling
they hadn’t done as much.
But that is the way this
world works - money speaks -
and so he would walk away
and never take part - yet he
never told anyone directly
that they were doing wrong.
He would simply advise us as
his children - don’t let
others feel shame for that
you can do but they can’t.
And I can tell you these
things now because he is no
longer here.
I tell you these things -
not to brag or to be proud
that I am his daughter - BUT
that today - this Friday in
Ramadan - I want you to make
dua for his
aakhirah and for my
mother to have strength to
go on.
But MOST IMPORTANTLY - I ask
you to make dua for
our children - that they
reach every height of
success that they can but
that they embody this
humility and generosity that
my father had - that we as
parents don’t get a high and
be proud of our titles that
we have achieved — and brag
about the success our kids
have achieved - but pray to
brag about their character
and the goodness of their
heart.
Saud Samsodien left
Brisbane this week
to spend Eid in a
refugee camp in Urfa,
Turkey with Muslim
Aid Australia. He
took gifts and food
packs bought with
donations from
Australia.
Asalamu
Alaikum, peace be on
you.
Alhamdullilah, I
have collected over
$15k for the eid
parcels to be given
to Syrian refugees
in Turkey.
I
would like to thank
everyone who helped
make this dream
possible. I pray it
brings pleasure to
the giver and
receiver.
This Ramadan, IWAA, in
conjunction with the Embassy
of UAE, have donated
vouchers (total worth over
$2,500) to 50 families.
"IWAA highly appreciates
the generous contribution
and support of our local
community and the Embassy of
UAE. We look forward to
future successful
collaborations," a
spokesperson for IWAA told
CCN.
ICQ (Islamic Council of
Queensland) was approved to
conduct a pilot chaplaincy
program at one of the
prisons in Queensland. For
those who are not aware I do
my volunteer work at various
organisations in different
capacities and I am
currently the vice president
of the council. To ensure
that the program gets off to
a good start I participated
in a training program run by
Queensland Correctional
Services and it was an eye
opener in relation to the
social problems caused by
drug and alcohol.
For example most of the
facilities are over crowded
across the state, In 1990s
there were around 19 people
who were in secured units,
that number now is over
2500, there is an increasing
number of women who are
imprisoned and are more
likely to be incarcerated
for offences relating to
drugs and violence.
QCS management and staff
(do) a great job in ensuring
the security of the prisons
and also in providing
opportunities and services
to the inmates. It is not
perfect and there are issues
ranging from corruption to
prisoner abuse but these
issues are being looked at
and investigated. Its a
system which is under
immense pressure and QCS
management are working
really hard to ensure the
correctional system works.
Most of us do not think
twice about those who are
incarcerated but a society
is as strong as its weakest
link. Be it economical
issues or social ills, more
and more people are becoming
victims of their
circumstances and locking
them away will not resolve
these issues. We need a
strong community response to
drugs, alcohol and crime.
It is NOT cool to deal or
use drugs or abuse alcohol.
Violence should not be
celebrated or considered an
option. People who abuse
drugs and alcohol are sick
and those who take advantage
of these vulnerable
individuals to make money
are truly the enemies of our
community.
Calamvale Hotel in Sunnybank
Hills was the venue for the
Educator's Ifthaar
Wisdom College, based in
Algester, Brisbane, played
host to principals, senior
teachers and educators at
its 2nd annual ifthar
dinner.
The event is the initiative
of Wisdom College's
Principal, Mr Murat Guzel,
who invited leaders from a
wide range of educational
institutions in and around
the area with the aim of
experiencing and learning
about the significance of
the month of Ramadan to 1.6B
Muslims around the world.
Former Speaker of the QLD
Parliament, the Hon John
Mickel, MC'ed the function,
Veysel Olku of Wisdom
College called the adhan to
break the fast, Calamvale
Community College Deputy
Principal, Muhammed Azhari,
gave a recitation of the
Quran, and Member for
Algester and Minister for
Science, Hon Leeanne Enoch,
spoke of the importance of
the occasion in bringing
diverse peoples together.
Ms Adele Rice AM delivered
the keynote in which she
spoke of her experiences
when she was principal of
the Milpera State High
School where she provided
specialist learning and
settlement programs for
refugee students.
The Wisdom College School
Choir showcased their
singing skills and Lisa
Starmer (Calamvale Community
College), Geoffrey Mill
(Sunnybank Hills State
School), and Steve
Gollschewski (Queensland
Police Service) reflected on
value of the night's
proceedings.
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.
24
"For as long as a
person does not please his
parents, in reality none of
his obligatory or
superogatory prayers, or any
other good deeds is accepted
in the Court of Allah."
Mufti Muhammad Akhtar Raza
Khan is the leader of the
Indian Barelwis and
considered by his followers
as the Grand Mufti of India.
He is the great-grandson and
successor of one of the most
influential sub-continental
Islamic scholars in history:
Ahmad Raza Khan (d.1921),
who founded the Barelwi
movement in South Asia.
Spiritual Tradition:
Most Muslims from the
sub-continent can be
categorised as Barelwis (the
other major group is known
as the Deobandis). This
group emphasises the
mystical love of the Prophet
(PBUH) often expressing this
through devotion to a holy
personage (who is part of an
unbroken chain reaching back
to the Prophet (PBUH)),
visits to tombs of saints,
and use of hamds and naats.
To their critics these
practices represent the
cardinal sins of bid’a
(innovation) and shirk
(associating another being
with God).
Education and Scholarly
Lineage: Mufti Akhtar
Raza received his basic
education at Darul Uloom
Manzar-e-Islam in Bareilly,
India. He then went to Al-Azhar
University to study tafsir
and hadith (1963-1966). Upon
graduation, he was awarded
the Jamia Azhar Award by
Colonel Jamal Abdul Nasir.
He then returned to India
and has written numerous
books, educated hundreds of
scholars, and overseen the
development of many
educational institutes. He
also serves as a spiritual
guide, having been given
permission by his
predecessor Mufti Mustafa
Raza Khan to lead the
Qaadriya, Barakaatiyah, and
Nooriyah Sufi orders in
India. He was also appointed
to the position of Muslim
Chief Justice of India in
2006.
Dynamic Mufti: Mufti
Akhtar Raza is esteemed for
his extensive collection of
English-language rulings,
the Azharul Fatawa. He
became involved in issuing
Islamic rulings from the age
of 17 and is noted for
having issued over 5,000
rulings.
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.
Sheikh Hamza Yusuf converted
to Islam as a young man and
spent two decades studying
with scholars in the Middle
East and Africa.
After returning to the
United States, he found that
young Muslims flocked to his
lectures, which often blend
Islamic teachings, incisive
social commentary and
literary criticism. In 2009,
Yusuf co-founded Zaytuna
College, the country’s first
accredited Muslim liberal
arts college, in Berkeley,
California.
Through the Deen Intensive
and Global Center for
Guidance and Renewal, Yusuf
urges Muslims to tap into
Islamic traditions and
grapple with modern issues
like extremism and
materialism.
Some experts consider him to
be the Western world’s most
influential Islamic scholar.
What other Muslims say about
Yusuf:
“He presented a version of
Islam, true to its spiritual
roots and yet at home in
America, that generations of
American Muslims had never
heard before.”
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.
As
Ramadan 2018
comes to an end,
Officers from
across the South
Brisbane
District took
time to reflect
over the month
as being one of
the most
peaceful,
uplifting and
rewarding to
date.
Festivities took
place in the
form of Iftaar
dinners,
insightful
community forums
and even
community
football
tournaments.
Ramadan is
well-known as
the month of
fasting from
sunrise to
sunset across
the Islamic
Faith and as
such Iftaar
Dinners
represent the
end of the
day-long period
of fasting.
The Queensland
Police Service
continued its
tradition of
hosting this
unique event at
the Greek Club
South Brisbane,
with this year’s
gathering
marking the
fourth
consecutive year
with over 200
guests in
attendance.
Queensland
Police
Commissioner Ian
Stewart AM also
proudly
presented
special
recognition
awards to Galila
Abdesalam
(President,
Islamic Women’s
Association of
Queensland), Dr.
Mustafa Ally
(Editor-in-Chief,
Crescents
Community News)
and Hussain Baba
(Secretary,
Islamic Society
of Gold Coast
Inc).
Police Liaison
Officers also
had the
privilege of
attending
Iftaars hosted
by the
Australian
International
Islamic College,
Brisbane City
Council,
Griffith
University, the
Queensland
Intercultural
Society and
Wisdom College.
“This is the
month of giving
and helping
those in need,”
Police Liaison
Officer Hamza
Shale (pictured
above) said.
“It is during
these times that
we have the
opportunity to
come together
and share the
messages of
peace, harmony
and love with
family, friends
and the wider
community”,
Police Liaison
Officer Nasra
Aden said it was
great to have
the support of
peers during
this auspicious
period.
“This is my
favourite month.
It allows me to
to focus on the
good things in
life and
appreciate what
we have,” she
said.
Now with
Eid-Al-Fitr (the
end of Ramadan)
on the horizon,
we thank those
who have opened
their doors to
share the month
with the QPS.
This rep and his
team fast for a full day during
Ramadan in solidarity with his
Muslims staffers.
The Other Side of Ramadan
AJ+
I fasted for the
first time in my life and
learned that Ramadan is so, so
much more than just not eating.
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.
In
China’s Far West, Companies Cash in on
Surveillance Program That Targets Muslims
The firms profiting from China's
rights abuses are often backed
by Western investors.
CHINA: In the far western region of
Xinjiang, China has created one of the
world’s most sophisticated and intrusive
state surveillance systems to target the
predominantly Muslim Uighur ethnic
minority. Part of what Beijing calls its
anti-terrorism campaign, the system
includes mandatory facial-recognition
scans at gas stations and Wi-Fi sniffers
that secretly collect data from network
devices. Over the past two years, the
technology has helped authorities round
up an estimated hundreds of thousands of
Uighurs and other Muslims and lock them
up in clandestine camps that China calls
“re-education centers.”
For those detainees and for millions of
others, this Chinese experiment in
technological control has transformed
Xinjiang into an Orwellian prison state.
But for Chinese surveillance companies,
it has turned the area into something
else altogether: a lucrative market and
a laboratory to test the latest
gadgetry. The companies include some of
the leaders in their field, often backed
by Western investors and suppliers,
according to analysts and activists who
follow the plight of the Uighurs. Their
research on the issue raises the grim
prospect that many people around the
world are profiting from some of China’s
worst human rights abuses.
The companies include the world’s two
largest security camera manufacturers,
Hikvision and Dahua Technology. Though
they are not household names, odds are
you’ve been filmed by one of their
products. Combined, the two firms supply
around one-third of the global market
for security cameras and related goods
like digital video recorders. They are
publicly traded at the Shenzhen Stock
Exchange and are worth a combined $70
billion — billions more than
better-known brands like Sony.
Hikvision and Dahua have already
attracted scrutiny in the West, where
their popular cameras are deployed at
U.S. Army bases and other sensitive
locations.
Hikvision has close ties to the Chinese
government — it’s partly owned by a
state defense contractor and its
chairman was appointed to the National
People’s Congress, China’s rubber-stamp
parliament, earlier this year — raising
concern in the United States that China
might be harnessing these cameras for
espionage (charges Hikvision strongly
denies). Last month, the House of
Representatives passed the annual
National Defense Authorization bill for
2019, which includes a provision that
would bar the U.S. government from
purchasing both firms’ products.
But the two companies’ activities within
China, where they make the bulk of their
revenues, have received little scrutiny
— allowing both firms to capitalize on
China’s surge in security spending in
Xinjiang in recent years. Beijing has
long worried about a Muslim separatist
movement in Xinjiang, a huge
mineral-rich region that straddles key
trade routes.
In response, it has promoted the
migration of millions of Han Chinese —
people from China’s ethnic majority — to
the province, a strategy which backfired
in 2009 when race riots left hundreds
dead in Xinjiang’s capital of Urumqi. As
Beijing cracked down, some Uighurs
turned to terrorism. In 2016, China
appointed Chen Quanguo to run the
province, a hard-liner who had
previously run the Tibet autonomous
region. In short order, Quanguo nearly
doubled security spending in Xinjiang to
an astonishing $9 billion per year.
Since then, Hikvision and Dahua have won
at least $1.2 billion in government
contracts for 11 separate, large-scale
surveillance projects across Xinjiang,
according to Chinese bidding websites
and the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. Most of
the Xinjiang projects were launched in
2017, a year in which Hikvision and
Dahua’s revenues grew by 30 and 40
percent respectively, and most are
located in predominantly Uighur parts of
the province.
Record-breaking
crowds at Europe's largest Eid celebration
Tens of
thousands of people gathered in
Birmingham's Small Heath Park on Friday
to mark Eid
UK: As millions of
Muslims around the world celebrated Eid,
Birmingham hosted Europe's largest event
with more than 140,000 people gathering
in Small Heath Park.
Now in its seventh year, Celebrate
Eid marks the end of Ramadan, the
Islamic holy month of fasting.
The huge celebration in Birmingham is
organised by Green Lane Masjid and
Community Centre (GLMCC) in the city and
includes global delicacies, a bazaar and
a funfair.
A spokesman for the Birmingham event
said: "We're all overwhelmed that so
many people from different faiths and
from across the world have travelled to
Birmingham for this year's Celebrate Eid."
Conceptualisation of Integration
An Australian Muslim Counter-Narrative
by
Abdi Hersi
Description
SUMMARY: Provides a
comprehensive overview of Muslim
conceptualisation of integration with full
acknowledgment of other competing
interpretations of the concept of immigrant
integration. Utilizes focus group discussions
and in-depth interview data. Will be useful to
policy makers and settlement service providers
as well as academics
This book identifies and examines the meanings
of integration from the perspective of
Australian Muslims, through analysis of focus
group discussions and in-depth interviews in the
South East Queensland region. It provides a
comprehensive overview of Muslim
conceptualisation of integration, and the author
explores the various meanings Muslims ascribe to
it, such as participation, belonging and
contributing to the wider society
By gaining an understanding of how Muslims
define integration, this research can help
policy makers, academics and settlement service
providers to appreciate how culture and faith
influence the meanings diverse groups give to
certain accepted terms. It will be of interest
to scholars and students in the fields of
migration, mobility, integration and social
cohesion.
Abdi Hersi
(pictured right) is an Adjunct Research Fellow at the
Griffith Centre for Social and Cultural
Research, and former sessional lecturer in the
School of Humanities, Languages and Social
Sciences of Griffith University.
“As an academic who has been working in the
field of migrant integration for several decades
I must say that I have hardly come across a book
that is as comprehensive and as insightful as
Dr. Abdi Hersi’s study. He clearly shows in how
many different ways the notion of integration
can be and has been conceptualised and
interpreted, not only in the literature, but
also in practice.” (Han Entzinger, Professor
Emeritus of Migration and Integration Studies:
Erasmus University Rotterdam, Netherlands)
“In contrast to various policy and
institutional definitions of Muslim integration,
Hersi’s study makes a strong argument for a
better understanding of the nuances of the
concept, particularly emphasising its subjective
and contextual meanings generated through the
lived experience.” (Professor Zlatko Skrbis,
Senior Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Monash
University, Australia)
“Dr Hersi’s book is timely, insightful and
skilfully addresses a highly topical and hotly
contested issue. It is academically rigorous,
and unlike other books, Dr Hersi’s
counter-narrative argument is strengthened by
his long-standing engagement with the Australian
Muslim community, and his 13 years’ combined
experience working with Australia’s Federal
Department of Immigration and Citizenship and
the International Organisation for Migration. A
must read for all.” (Professor Mohamad
Abdalla, Director, Centre for Islamic Thought
and Education, University of South Australia)
KB says:
A easy and enjoyable recipe. do it right and it
will turn out moist and very flavourful.
Almond Chicken
INGREDIENTS
METHOD
2 small chickens,
cut up as required.
Marinade
1 cup ground almonds
1 tin tomato puree
3 tablespoon ground
garlic
salt to taste
1 grated onion
1 grated tomato
2 teaspoon chili
powder
2 teaspoon crushed
chillies
1 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoon oil
1. Put all the above
ingredients into a
liquidizer and puree
2. Adjust salt to
taste
3. Marinate chicken
for at least 2hrs or
preferably overnight
4. Heat approx. 60g
of butter in a pot
and add chicken
5. Cook on low to
medium heat until
thick gravy is
formed. Do not dry
out the chicken
6. Serve hot with
naan or roti / puris
7. Additional
accompaniments could
be salad and chips
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:
The Whirlpool Of
What-Ifs
Ever heard of the
saying “curiosity
killed the cat”? My
philosophy professor
at college had a
great comeback for
this adage:
“Stupidity killed
the cat. Curiosity
got the blame,” he
told us.
What-if questions in
life are vital, in
fact necessary. They
open the mind to
embrace different
perspectives. The
curious mind thrives
on seeking more
knowledge to find
the truth and to
become a better
human being. In
doing so, one
becomes closer to
ALLAH.
The mischief maker,
shaitaan, knows how
to intercept your
curious mind and
whisper stupid
suggestions that can
suck you into a
whirlpool of
what-ifs that end up
diluting your faith
in ALLAH. It
suggests fearful
outcomes and grips
you into believing
them, so much so
that you lose trust
in ALLAH’s plans and
give in to fear
rather than explore
life with faith and
curiosity. Ever felt
that your imaan was
getting low? Next
time you feel that
way, observe your
thought patterns and
identify how much of
your day you’re
wasting anticipating
negative outcomes
about your life.
Such as:
•
What if I fail?
• What if I eat
this and gain
weight?
• What if I
can’t please my
husband/ wife?
• What if my
children go
astray?
• What if I end
up poor?
• What if I end
up alone?
• What if I
can’t deliver
what I promised?
• What if nobody
loves me?
See
what I mean? This
thought pattern is
what I call the
whirlpool of
what-ifs. It’s the
stupid kind of
what-ifs that kills
the cat, not the
curious type that
opens your mind to
greater potential
and innovation. It’s
shaitaan’s
whisperings that
suck you deeper and
deeper into this
whirlpool of
negativity which has
only one destination
- extreme fear
manifesting in
symptoms of anxiety,
depression and
incessant worrying.
Eight Steps To
Exit This Whirlpool
For Good
So, how do you
become aware of this
when it starts to
happen?...Trust me,
it happens to every
single person at
some point in life.
Unless you become
aware while it’s
happening and take
charge, the
negativity of the
experience
aggravates and makes
you even more
anxious as you
anticipate the next
anxiety/ panic
attack.
1. Ask yourself,
how am I feeling
right now?
2. Answer the
question with
regards to
physical
sensations, for
example, if you
are anxious, how
is your body
reacting to the
anxiety? How is
my breathing, my
heart rate, my
body
temperature?
3. Now examine
what thought is
affecting your
body to react
that way...for
example, is it
the thought of
something on
social media, or
the thought of a
family member or
the thought of
your job?
4. Analyse how
true this
thought really
is, challenge
yourself to come
up with solid
evidence to back
this thought,
for example, if
you are
obsessively
thinking that
you are not good
enough, write
down what
evidence you
have that proves
that you are
beneath others.
5. Analyse the
evidence you
have gathered
from your mind
and ask
yourself, “Is
this absolutely
true and correct
that the future
will unfold
exactly as I am
thinking? Am I
the absolute
best of
planners? Or am
I over thinking
and creating a
false reality?
6. Remind
yourself that
ALLAH is the
absolute best of
planners. That
only ALLAH knows
what will happen
to anyone.
7. Remind
yourself that
these negative
thought patterns
bring about
negative body
sensations and
symptoms.
8. Acknowledge
that you can
control your
body sensations
immediately by
doing the
following:
• Breathe -
inhale
deeply and
exhale
deeply
• Become
aware that
your nafs
(body
sensations)
are in your
control
• Remind
yourself
that your
soul is
purer than
your nafs
• Connect
deeply with
your breath
and your
soul and
connect with
the purity
of your soul
• Make
continuous
dhikr of
ALLAH with
each long
breath in
and out.
In
Shaa ALLAH, next
week we will explore
the topic:
Surviving
Separation
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.
Q:
Dear Kareema, my elderly parents have been
advised by their doctor to do some form of
exercising to strengthen bones etc. and feel a
little better. What can they do?
A:
Working in the garden and taking brisk walks
around the local park would be a good way to
start getting a little more active.
Aim to increase the activities in
weeks to come as they should get stronger and
have more energy.
Exercise will also help prevent
diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.
Check in regularly with their
doctor to monitor progress.
Worship Allah, and ascribe
no partners to Him, and be
good to the parents, and the
relatives, and the orphans,
and the poor, and the
neighbour next door, and the
distant neighbour, and the
close associate, and the
traveller, and your
servants. Allah does not
love the arrogant show-off.
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
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.
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.
Asalamu
Alaikum, peace be on
you. 
As
Ramadan 2018
comes to an end,
Officers from
across the South
Brisbane
District took
time to reflect
over the month
as being one of
the most
peaceful,
uplifting and
rewarding to
date.
In
China’s Far West, Companies Cash in on
Surveillance Program That Targets Muslims 
Abdi Hersi
(pictured right) is an Adjunct Research Fellow at the
Griffith Centre for Social and Cultural
Research, and former sessional lecturer in the
School of Humanities, Languages and Social
Sciences of Griffith University.
post comments on
our Wall
7
August 2011