The Grand Mufti of
Australia, Sheikh Abdel
Aziem Al-Afifi, has died in
Melbourne after being
elected to the role only
four months ago.
He is being remembered as a
leader committed to working
with the nation's youth.
Sheikh Abdel Aziem Al-Afifi
had a clear idea of his top
priorities when he took over
as Grand Mufti of Australia
just a few months ago.
"I'll be very happy if I can
do something to save our
kids and to keep them away
from any bad ideas," the
Grand Mufti said at the
time.
"It is our duty to work
hard to stop any harm
and to keep Australia
safe and secure, because
we're all one family and
we have to help each
other and work
together."
Announcing his death,
the Australian National
Imams Council (ANIC) said
the Grand Mufti had
"dedicated himself to
serving the Australian
Muslim Community for over 20
years."
He was one of the founding
members of the council and
had served two terms as its
president.
Janaza (funeral service) in
Melbourne
Mr Dellal, the executive
director of the Australian
Multicultural Foundation,
said the Grand Mufti was
also well known for his
engagement with the wider
Australian community.
"He worked tirelessly in the
mosques and also out in the
community, particularly with
young people and also with
the general community, with
the elderly," he told The
World Today.
"He was really a catalyst
for building bridges and he
was really greatly admired
for a lot of the work he
did, particularly with young
people."
Mr Dellal described Sheikh
Abdel Aziem Al-Afifi as a
very positive person who was
concerned with building
relationships.
"Where there were
misunderstandings, he
wanted to correct that;
he would bring people
together to have those
discussions, whether
they were Muslim or
non-Muslim," he
said.
The ANIC says its executive
committee will perform the
responsibilities of the
Mufti of Australia until an
emergency executive
committee meeting is held
within 15 days.
Appointment of an Interim
Acting Mufti of Australia
(ANIC Press Release)
The Australian National
Imams Council (ANIC)
announced that an emergency
executive committee meeting
was held on Thursday, 12
July 2018 following the
recent death of the Mufti of
Australia, Sheikh Abdel
Aziem Al-Afifi.
The meeting concluded, in
consensus, that his
Eminence Dr Ibrahim Abu
Mohamad be appointed as
an interim acting Mufti of
Australia until the next
ANIC General Assembly
Meeting in March 2019.
We ask Allah to have mercy
upon the soul of Sheikh
Abdel Aziem
Al-Afifi and to grant him
the highest level of Jannah.
IWAA Melbourne kicked off at
the Almina Restaurant in
Brunswick, Melbourne
Last Sunday (8 July) saw the
formal opening of the
Islamic Women's Association
of Australia in Melbourne
just a year after the launch
of IWAA in Sydney by the
Brisbane-based organization.
IWAA started off as a
volunteer-women's group 27
years ago and today manages,
amongst other programmes,
settlement, disability and
HACC funding, dementia
packages and a respite
centre.
Community and NGO leaders
from the area, along with
local politicians joined the
Queensland, Sydney and
Melbourne IWAA teams to
celebrate the milestone
occasion.
Dr Nora Amath was the MC and
IWAA Operations Manager,
Ms Naima Estrada, gave the
guests an overview of IWAA's
portfolio of activities and
support programmes.
For more information about
IWAA’s services in Brisbane,
Gold Coast, Toowoomba,
Sydney or Melbourne email
admin@iwaa.org.au or
call Head Office landline
(07) 3208 6333.
SHE
(See me, Hear me, Empower
me)
workshops started on a very
positive note.
Sisters Support Services are
working in collaboration
with Muslimah Mind Matters
and Queensland Police
Service to bring to our
Muslim sisters and youth,
interactive and informative
Empowerment workshops.
Our next FREE event will be
on Sunday the 22nd of
July at SunPac
Sunnybank. Followed by two
more workshops on the
Northside on the 5th &
26th of August.
The event started off with
morning tea, followed by
talks and an interactive
session on self confidence
facilitated by Counsellor
Angela Ishaq and a talk on
self care by Aliyah Berger
from Sisters Support
Services.
The next session was
journaling by Writer and
Life Coach, Princess Iqra
Lakshman, from Muslimah Mind
Matters. Sisters and QPS
women participated and
interacted enthusiastically.
Detective Inspector, Karen
Ballantyne and senior police
officers from Queensland
Police Service presented
talks on safety strategies,
healthy and respectful
relationships and the roles
of police officers.
All participants gained some
valuable knowledge.
QPS organised a special
treat by bringing in two
beautiful police horses
during lunchtime!
The workshop finished off by
each participant receiving a
certificate.
During the recent school
holidays, the Hurricane
Stars Club helped to keep
children and teenagers in
the community busy by
organising a variety of
interesting activities. The
first program was a
Make-Your-Own-Pizza activity
at Sunshine Kebabs in
Underwood.
The kids had fun making
their own pizzas by choosing
their own toppings and
decorating it with their own
unique styles. The pizzas
were then sent to the
kitchen to be cooked by the
staff. Somehow pizzas always
tasted better when it was
made yourself and the
children (and their Mums)
enjoyed eating their own
uniquely-designed pizzas
very much.
For the teens, the Hurricane
Stars Club tried organising
an indoor rockclimbing
activity followed by a
picnic lunch and teentalks
in 2 sessions separately for
teen boys and teen girls.
Unfortunately the
rockclimbing gym in
Parkinson went into
liquidation the day before
the boys session and did not
inform their customers.
The teen boys participants
(along with other customers
who already paid) gathered
in front of the rockclimbing
gym but could not enter. It
was indeed a disappointing
time for the boys. However,
the club decided to go on
with the planned picnic
lunch and teentalk so the
boys had a short sharing
session on "Life as Muslim
Teen in Today's World". It
was also a good opportunity
for the teens to learn the
real-life lesson of all
plans are actually in the
end depending on Allah's
plan.
Another activity that the
Hurricane Stars Club
organised was the Learn To
Cook From Scratch, again in
different sessions for the
teen / tween girls and boys.
The first week's session was
for the girls and they
learned the steps of making
Cinnamon Rolls from a
volunteer home baker. Held
in Loganlea, the girls
enjoyed learning to mix,
knead, spread, roll and bake
their own cinnamon rolls.
The second week's session
for the boys saw the
involvement of not 1 but 2
professional chefs who
donated their time to guide
the boys in making their own
Turkish Pide from scratch.
The boys played with flour
and the ingredients even
more than the girls and
generally relished their
time to mix, knead, design
and bake their own pides.
During break, both boys and
girls participants were also
treated to a teentalk about
Decoding Parents by special
guest speakers. They
certainly looked like they
had a great time and
savoured the freshly baked
cinnamon rolls and turkish
pides coming out from the
kitchen. The teens were also
proud and happy that they
could take some of their own
creations home for their
families.
The Hurricane Stars Club
also managed to hold a halal
sausage sizzle at Bunnings
Warehouse in Underwood this
holidays. All day long, we
helped to fill so many
families' dream of being
finally able to come and eat
a Bunnings sausage sizzle.
After years of smelling the
delicious sausages and be
unable to eat them, Muslim
kids finally got to enjoy a
halal Bunnings sausage
sizzle at last. A big thank
you to all the Muslim
families who came in droves
to support the successful
fundraising venture.
For the final activity we
held a Woodworking Workshop.
The children had great fun
attending our woodwork
workshop. For 2 hours the
participants sawed wood,
glued, sanded, hammered and
painted themselves. They all
created their own wooden
pencil box that they can
take home and use to put
their stationeries in.
All in all, it was a
fun-filled school holidays
with many different
activities on offer for the
Muslim community in
Brisbane. The newly-formed
Hurricane Stars Club plans
to continue to offer a
variety of fun and
beneficial activities for
our children and teenagers
monthly and during the
school holidays in shaa
Allah.
Look out for more programs
in the future by liking and
following our FB page
"Hurricane Stars Club" or
contacting Farah at
0432026375
Logan Robertson from
Ipswich's Pillar Baptist Church
is in immigration detention
facing deportation to New
Zealand.
A United States church is
fundraising for New Zealand
Baptist pastor Logan
Robertson, who is in
detention and facing
deportation over two alleged
mosque confrontations in
Brisbane, after a GoFundMe
page was removed and the
money raised refunded.
Verity Baptist Church in
California has set up a
donations page on its
website and the Verity
Church in Vancouver has
posted a video showing
followers how to support the
cause.
"We are trying to re-raise
the 10,000 dollars we raised
for Pastor Logan Robertson
through Verity Baptist
Church," the video
description read.
"Pastor Logan is being
persecuted for preaching the
truth against Islam. As many
of you [sic] the Gofund me
[sic] was shut down and all
donations were sent back."
Several followers have
pledged to re-donate, with
one saying they were going
to give double what they
gave to the GoFundMe
campaign.
The GoFundMe page set up for
Mr Robertson to fight the
charges of public nuisance
raised more than $10,000
since Sunday, but was not
accessible on Wednesday
morning.
Fairfax Media has contacted
GoFundMe for comment.
Mr Robertson, a pastor at
Ipswich's Pillar Baptist
Church, was taken into
custody by Australian Border
Force officials on Friday
after his visa was
cancelled.
Queensland Police alleged
the 31-year-old was one of
four men who disrupted
proceedings inside the
Kuraby Mosque on Wednesday,
and the same men were
accused of causing a
disturbance at the Darra
Mosque at about midday on
Thursday.
The church is not affiliated
with the Queensland Baptists
or Australian Baptist
Ministries, and the Baptist
Churches of New Zealand
disavowed any association
with Mr Robertson in 2014.
Home Affairs Minister Peter
Dutton said Australia would
not tolerate anyone "going
to a place of worship and
harassing others".
He said Mr Robertson was
warned when he moved to
Australia that extremist
behaviour and rhetoric would
not be allowed.
Mr Robertson, a 25-year-old
Bellbird Park man, a
29-year-old Redbank man and
a 28-year-old Sunnybank man
were charged with two counts
of public nuisance and one
count of entering premises
with intent and trespass.
All four were expected to
reappear in the Holland Park
Magistrates Court on July
25.
This is your opportunity to
prepare for a career as a
Queensland police officer.
The Queensland Police (QPS)
needs staff from a range of
backgrounds in order to
reflect the cultural
diversity of the community
and provide effective police
services across all
communities.
The QPS offers positions in
the Cultural and
Linguistically Diverse
Recruit Preparation Program
(CALDRPP) to people who are
from non-English speaking
backgrounds.
The program comprises a 10
week, full-time course at
the QPS Academy in
preparation for direct entry
into the Recruit Training
Program (RTP).
This program forms part of
the Service’s commitment to
equal opportunity and
diversity in employment.
Stages of the selection
process
To be eligible for
appointment to the QPS as a
participant in the CALDRPP,
you must successfully
satisfy the requirements of
all three stages of the
selection process:
Stage 1 - Minimum
Application Requirements
(see below)
Stage 2 - Applicant
Assessment (Pre-application
| Post application)
The annual Multicultural Eid
Festival & Fair (MEFF) was
held on Sunday 8 July 2018
at the Fairfield Showground
with tens of thousands of
people celebrating post-Eid
festivities after the
fasting period during the
month of Ramadan.
This was the 34th year the
festival has been organised
and the event was a
tremendous success with
Australians of all
background and faiths
attending with more than 120
market and international
food stalls, thrilling
rides, showground
entertainment and a
life-size baby dinosaur,
Tarek the T-Rex!
Before the formal
proceedings of MEFF 2018
commenced on stage, Mr Zia
Ahmad, MEFF Trustee recited
the Islamic prayer for peace
and acknowledged the
Cabrogal people of the Darug
Nation, traditional
custodians of the land in
Fairfield where the festival
is held paying respect to
the elders, past and present
followed by the welcome
address by Mr Ali Alsalami,
President of MEFF.
The chief guest, Mr Ray
Williams MP, Minister for
Multiculturalism and
Disability Services
addressed thousands of
people from the stage during
the Main Ceremony and said
that Australia was a highly
successful multicultural
country and MEFF was a
success story highlighting
how we all in NSW got along
together thus enriching
Multicultural Australia.
Mr Jihad Dib, state member
for Lakemba, also addressed
the crowd from the stage
appreciating the long
wonderful track record of
MEFF in bringing people of
diverse background together
and the hard work put in by
three generations MEFF Team
volunteers spanning more
than 35 years.
Mr Ray Williams presented
awards to all the sponsors
and a number of
organisations and
individuals serving the
community towards the end of
MEFF VIP Reception & Eid
Lunch.
Prepared
on behalf of Moonsighting Australia &
Jamiatul Ulama Victoria
As we all know that the
hilāl sighting issue for the
determination of beginning
of Ramadan and the two eids
can be a contentious issue
for many communities around
the world, especially when
living as a minority.
Australia is no exception.
By the grace of Allah Ta’laa
that the respected ulama
visited Melbourne on
Saturday 30th June 2018 from
all over Australia to
discuss on how to
effectively implement the
Prophetic Sunnah of hilāl
sighting in a more formal
and procedural way, which
can be transparent to the
community and efficient in
processing witnesses and
getting the news out
coherently. Over 20 ulama
participated in the whole
day event.
Dr Shabbir’s steadfastness
on the issue was
appreciated. The ulama
identified a need to build
on his work be creating
institutionalised systems
and processes.
The main points of the
discussion can be summarised
into two broad categories:
that which is internal to
the process conducting by
the ulama in finalising the
sighting and that which is
related to communicating to
the community. Some issues
may be finalised at a later
date.
For the benefit of the
non-attendees the following
were discussed, agreed upon
and finalised:
1. Regional or national
sighting: both zonings,
although explored and
discussed, the
practicality of doing
regional sighting on a
set standard followed
uniformly in Australia
and in neighbouring
countries or even Cocos
and Christmas Islands is
currently non-existent.
Regional sighting maybe
considered in the
future. Cocos and
Christmas Islands are
Australian territories.
A Mufti will be visiting
those areas in the near
future. Upon return, he
can report on the
viability of following
their hilāl sighting.
There was no resounding
rejection of following
the regional sighting,
but we will continue
with the status-quo
until further
information of regional
procedures come to
light.
2. The rule of
establishing the month
will require two
witnesses with the
relevant criteria of
‘just witnesses.’ The
jamm ghafeer rule was
discussed. However, due
to our circumstance, it
was agreed to go by the
two-witness rule.
3. A testimony form
similar to the one used
by Jamiatul Ulama South
Africa will now also be
used in Australia.
4. Taking oath on the
Quran will no longer be
used for witnesses.
5. The following
definition for a
reliable witness was
agreed upon “The most
important factor that
must be present in all
shahaadahs (testimonies)
is that the witness be
‘adl “just and honest”.
The definition of an
‘adl person in the
terminology of Shariah
is: That Muslim, who
abstains from the major
sins, does not persist
in minor sins, and whose
good deeds are more in
comparison to his bad
deeds”. (Fatāwa
Hindiyyah). In contrast,
a Muslim who commits
major sins and persists
in minor ones, and whose
bad actions outweigh his
good actions is
considered faasiq
(sinner). The essence of
this condition is that
the witness should be a
just Muslim & not a
Faasiq.
All the fuqahā do
unanimously agree on the
fact that it is not
mandatory for a Judge to
accept the testimony of
a Faasiq eye witness and
make a decision based on
it; however, if the
Judge has reasons to
believe that the eye
witness is not a liar
and subsequently he does
decide on the faasiq
person’s testimony, this
decision will be
considered valid. (Taken
from Hidayah, Sharh
Wiqaayah, Durre Mukhtaar,
Shaami, Hindiyyah,
etc.)” A further
definition was also
presented that a just
person in this time is
one who upholds the
symbols of Islam and
attends the masjid.
6. Referencing Mufti
Taqi Usmani daamat
barakaatuhu and others,
the issue of Imkaan-ruya
i.e. factoring into the
shahadah process the
impossibility of
sighting the hilāl due
to calculations (which
is to help the one
receiving the report to
determine whether the
witness is lying or is
mistaken). Calculations
will be considered only
for negation and not for
affirmation of a
sighting. However, three
experts including Dr
Salah Sukkarieh (Sydney)
will be consulted on
this to provide
information for a final
decision on how this can
be used in the process.
Also, astronomical
calculation can be
rejected if sufficient
sightings (istifadha)
that meet the criteria
as evidence comes
forward.
7. Dr Shabbir in the
issue of Hilal sighting
is in the place of judge
(who oversees the
determination of the
dates).
8. Each state will have
5 ulama appointed with
one acting as ameer to
receive shahadah of
witnesses in set
locations. These will be
appointed by mashwara of
the ulama of each state.
They will process
potentional witnesses
and the ameer (and only
the ameer) will report
to Dr Shabbir who will
be with a group of ulama
throughout the whole
process and including
the final decision. A
Whatsapp group will be
made for all the
appointed ulama
including Dr. Shabbir.
9. The notice to public
will be issued in
written and video forms
on the 29th of Shaban/Ramadan/Dhul
Qadaa. However, only a
written notice will be
sent for the remaining
months. They will be
forwarded within the
community. The written
statement will be issued
by Dr Shabbir and the
video message will be by
another aalim from
Australia, who will be
appointed for that
month. This will serve
the purpose of
introducing the public
to Ulama who follow
hilāl sighting.
Endorsement and names of
other ulama will also be
present. The video will
be branded as
‘Moonsighting Australia’
only.
10. Ml Owais (Melbourne)
will work with a team to
1. Develop and implement
a strategy of education
and awareness for the
public. 2. Manage web
presence/social media.
11. Working group of
ulama will flesh out
detailed procedures for
the above in the coming
weeks.
12. A follow-up mashwara
should be held in each
state to appoint the 5
representative alims and
their ameer. This will
apply to NSW, Vic, QLD
and WA only, as
currently, in the other
states the required
number of ulama who
follow hilāl sighting
does not exist. South
Australia is an
exception to this rule
as Shaykh Haithem (Imam
of Adelaide City Masjid)
is the only alim who
follows hilāl sighting.
Furthermore, meetings
should be held with
other community members
and ulama who are
dedicated to the cause.
13. A follow-up meeting
will be held in Sydney
in Sha’ban InshaAllah.
Issues not discussed or
finalised:
1. Currently no
restriction on optical
aid for Moonsighting
Australia. Its limit and
usage need to be
defined.
2. How to work with
regular individual and
group sighters in the
community and promote
the sunnah act of
sighting.
3. Taking shahadah from
distant towns where no
representative aalim who
can take shahadah is
stationed. For example
someone calls or sends a
message or email etc.
All the establishments
certified by the Gold Coast
Halal Certification Services
will be gradually brought
under the supervision and
control of the Australian
National Imams Council (ANIC)
Halal Board Australia.
Supervision of Halal
processes / procedures will
be conducted by Queensland
Halal State Supervisor of ANIC, Imam Imran Husain,
ANIC director Dr. Anas Nadwi
and ANIC assistant director
Sheikh Shady Suleiman.
When Amna Karra-Hassan
started the first women's
AFL club in Western Sydney
in 2011, she didn't realise
what it would become. She
speaks to Cathy Jacobs.
I was motivated to start the
footy team for two reasons.
One: I think that all girls
should play whatever sport
they want.
Two: as an Australian,
Muslim, Lebanese woman who
lives in Western Sydney,
everyone had an opinion on
the politics of my identity.
It was my way of reclaiming
that conversation.
I am that post September 11
generation and I hate to
frame it that way, but it's
true. It overshadowed my
teen years, in terms of what
was happening in the world
and what people were saying
about me. Then there was
also my lived experience at
home and at school having to
navigate being bi-cultural.
It felt like communities
that I belong to, even
western Sydney as a region,
were constantly under
scrutiny and constantly
reported in a way that was
negative — where all the
problems are. All of my
identities were associated
with problems.
I'm very passionate
about talking about how
we create a sense of
place for people that is
positive.
If I get the opportunity to
go to a school and talk to
girls, or if I get to do it
through coaching, or if
there's some other space for
that connection, then I'm
definitely going to be the
first person to step up and
lead from the front.
We've come a long way
from novices
When we started as the
Tigers, none of us knew how
to play footy. We didn't
have a sponsor, we didn't
have a coach, we were
figuring it out every week
and just having fun as a
group of girls.
As time went on I recognised
that we needed to
professionalise it with
organised sponsorship and a
good committee who
understood governance. I had
a conversation with GWS
Giants and we adopted their
brand.
That was probably a very
smart move because it led to
so many other things that we
didn't forecast, like the
AFLW competition. We were
positioned really well to be
part of that change movement
for women.
We made the shift from
participation to high
performance. There are now a
lot of highly competitive
athletes pursuing their
dream.
They are very focused.
I've never been paid for the
work with the club. It's not
why I started and not why I
still do it seven years
later. When something is
fulfilling and enjoyable, I
don't think the money
matters.
I have a very high level of
commitment as chief of
operations, coach and
player. Every week I am at
all the trainings for
juniors and the seniors. I
do everything from cleaning
our sheds to helping write a
CV or listening when someone
needs support.
I love coaching. For me it's
giving back. What can I give
those kids who lack the self
confidence, like I once did?
How do I demand more of them
and say "I want you to have
fun, but I want you to take
yourself seriously"?
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.
Tracing his lineage to the
family of ‘Ali, the fourth
Caliph of Islam and cousin
of the Prophet Muhammad,
Habib ‘Ali Zain al Abideen
Al-Jifri is a leading
Islamic scholar and
prominent speaker in the
Muslim world. Al-Jifri is
Director General of the
Tabah Foundation in the UAE,
member of the board of Dar
al Mustafa in Yemen, member
of the Royal Aal Al-Bayt
Institute for Islamic
Thought in Jordan, and
affiliated with various
other international Islamic
organizations.
Sufi Guide: As a Ba
Alawi Sufi, Al-Jifri is part
of a tradition that has been
based in Yemen for
approximately 800 years. His
numerous teachers include
the scholar and spiritual
master Habib Abdul-Qadir bin
Ahmad Al-Saqqaf in Jeddah,
and Habib Ahmad Mashhur bin
Taha Al-Haddad. Habib Ali
often teaches at Dar al
Mustafa in Tarim, Yemen, and
also travels all over the
world meeting his students.
He has also made statements
against popular revolutions
during the Arab Spring for
his belief that the
preservation of peace and
reducing bloodshed is
paramount.
Educator: Al-Jifri
founded the privately-funded
philanthropic Tabah
Foundation for Islamic
Studies and Research in Abu
Dhabi, a young non-profit
institution that aspires to
become a formidable source
of reputable work in Islamic
research and thought.
World-Wide following:
Habib Ali’s popularity has
grown enormously over the
past few years with 6
million Facebook followers
and 5 million on Twitter.
His inspirational speeches
often leave many in tears,
and his smile and gentleness
touch all who meet him.
Despite not speaking
English, he is in huge
demand by English-speaking
Muslims.
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 people talk about what
it means to be black in the
United States, they don’t
talk about the Muslim
experience,” says Su’ad
Abdul Khabeer, a scholar,
artist and activist.
“And when they talk about
the Muslim experience in the
United States, they don’t
talk about
African-Americans. Black
Muslims are not part of the
popular imagination.”
Khabeer aims to change that
perception through books
like “Muslim Cool” and
online projects like Sapelo
Square, named after one of
the country’s first Muslim
communities.
Khabeer, who has studied in
Syria and elsewhere, is now
an associate professor of
Muslim-American studies at
the University of Michigan.
What other Muslims say about
Khabeer:
“She’s kind of like the
arrowhead of a new movement
to make sure that internal
racism is confronted
directly and rooted out.”
Lord Mayor Magid
Magid says he's banning Trump
from visiting Sheffield, UK.
Meet the
28-year-old British-Somali
mayor:
Drew Binsky: I'm Jewish
and I Love Muslims
Drew Binsky
As a Jew, and
someone who has travelled
extensively in Islamic
countries, I can tell you
honestly that Muslims are
some of the most hospitable
and friendly people in the
world. The Middle East is
one of my favourite regions
to visit for this exact
reason.
I get a lot
of messages from people
telling me to be 'careful'
travelling through Muslim
countries because I am
Jewish... And I don't
understand WHY they think
this way. It doesn't matter
whether you are Christian,
Buddhist, Hindu
or Jewish -- if you travel
in Muslim countries, they
will welcome you with open
arms and food on the table.
I hope
that this video teaches
you a lesson that
Muslims don't hate Jews,
and vice versa. The
world is a much more
peaceful place than you
may think.
This classic never fails to
bring on the tears from the eyes
of those departing for the
sacred journey of Hajj.
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.
A Childhood in the Middle East, 1984-1985: A Graphic
Memoir
by
Riad Sattouf
Description
The highly
anticipated continuation of Riad Sattouf’s
internationally acclaimed, #1 French bestseller,
which was hailed by The New York Times as “a
disquieting yet essential read”
In The Arab of the Future: Volume 1, cartoonist
Riad Sattouf tells of the first years of his
childhood as his family shuttles back and forth
between France and the Middle East. In Libya and
Syria, young Riad is exposed to the dismal
reality of a life where food is scarce, children
kill dogs for sport, and his cousins, virulently
anti-Semitic and convinced he is Jewish because
of his blond hair, lurk around every corner
waiting to beat him up.
In Volume 2, Riad, now settled in his father’s
hometown of Homs, gets to go to school, where he
dedicates himself to becoming a true Syrian in
the country of the dictator Hafez Al-Assad. Told
simply yet with devastating effect, Riad’s story
takes in the sweep of politics, religion, and
poverty, but is steered by acutely observed
small moments: the daily sadism of his
schoolteacher, the lure of the black market,
with its menu of shame and subsistence, and the
obsequiousness of his father in the company of
those close to the regime. As his family strains
to fit in, one chilling, barbaric act drives the
Sattoufs to make the most dramatic of changes.
Darkly funny and piercingly direct, The Arab of
the Future, Volume 2 once again reveals the
inner workings of a tormented country and a
tormented family, delivered through Riad
Sattouf’s dazzlingly original talent.
KB says:
Banana Nut Muffins are quick and easy to make,
moist and full of flavour. These delicious
muffins are one of my all-time favourites - soon
to be yours, too!.
Banana Nut Muffins
INGREDIENTS
METHOD
• 1 cup flour
• ˝ cup whole wheat
flour
(You could use 1˝
cup flour without
any whole wheat
flour if you prefer)
• 1˝ teaspoon baking
soda
• Ľ teaspoon salt
• ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg
• ⅛ teaspoon
cinnamon
• 113g salted butter
(˝ cup), melted
• 3 large ripe
bananas, mashed
• ˝ cup sugar
• Ľ cup dark brown
sugar, packed
• Ľ cup milk
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
extract
• ľ cup - 1 cup
walnuts
(toasted if you
prefer)
1. Preheat oven to
180degrees.
2. Sift flours,
baking soda, salt,
nutmeg and cinnamon
together in a large
mixing bowl. Set
aside.
3. Melt butter. Set
aside.
4. In a separate
mixing bowl, mash
bananas with a fork.
Mix in butter, both
sugars, milk, egg
and vanilla. Stir
until well combined.
5. Combine wet
ingredients into dry
ingredients. Stir
until just combined
- do not over mix.
6. Fold in half the
walnuts.
7. Spoon batter
evenly into 12
greased or paper
lined muffin cups.
8. Sprinkle
remainder of walnuts
over top of muffins.
9. Bake for about
20- 25 minutes or
until muffins are
golden brown and
toothpick inserted
into centre comes
out clean.
10. Let muffins rest
in pan on wire rack
for 5 minutes.
Remove from pan and
let cool completely
on rack.
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:
Accept, Release,
Receive
Pause for a few
minutes and reflect
on your past few
months. There may be
something
challenging in your
life that keeps
happening over and
over. You may find
you’re making duaa
for it to subside
and for ALLAH to
give you ease and
yet you may feel
that it keeps
lingering on.
Perhaps it briefly
subsides only to
recur in a few days
or weeks.
If you feel you are
being tested in the
same thing over and
over again, perhaps
it is time you
realised that you
have not yet learned
the lesson that is
coming from that
test.
The lesson of
SURRENDER.
Surrendering to
ALLAH’s plans for us
requires us to
accept without
judgement and
expectation all that
is happening in the
moment of now and
all that has
happened in the
past. When you
accept what is and
has been, you will
no longer anticipate
fearful outcomes.
Acceptance enables
you to shift from
fear to faith. It is
fear that keeps you
trapped in anxiety
of false, imagined
outcomes. It is fear
that perpetuates
your inability to
surrender completely
to ALLAH. It is fear
that makes you doubt
yourself and dismiss
your intuitive
voice. When you
accept life as it is
happening in the
now, you start
living with complete
faith. Faith that
shifts you from a
restrictive, fearful
and doubtful mindset
to one where you
begin to believe in
the positive
possibilities of
life, where you know
that no matter what
is happening in your
life right now it is
only through the
mercy of ALLAH that
you are learning a
lesson so that you
may serve HIM
better.
In acceptance lies
freedom. When you
oppose the natural
flow of life by
unacceptance, you
live from a mindset
of lack, restriction
and limitations.
This restrictive,
opposing vibration
leads to ailments in
the body such as
anger, anxiety,
digestive disorders,
to name only a few.
Accepting and
surrendering enables
you to release
toxins from your
mind and body.
Releasing toxicity
brings about clarity
and clears the space
in your life to
receive love, light,
peace and joy. It is
when we do not
accept the moment of
now that we create
energy blockages in
ourselves and bring
about stagnation in
our lives. This in
turn brings about
repetitive, negative
thought patterns
that do not serve us
to connect with
ALLAH. In fact these
negative thought
patterns only serve
the shaitaan.
How To Accept,
Release And Receive
Use the table below
to help you
understand, accept
and release the
recurring incidents
in your life. Be
sure to refer to the
Holy Quran to find
the ayats that will
reconfirm that
whatever incident/
event/ experience
you may be having,
it is temporary.
Understanding this
will enable you to
accept and release.
Once you accept and
release, you create
space in your life
to receive love,
light, peace and
joy. In Shaa ALLAH.
Makes a list
of all the
things that
you feel are
happening
over and
over in your
life
What lesson
do you think
this
incident/event/experience
is teaching
you?
Find an ayat
from the
Holy Quran
that
confirms to
you that
this
incident/
event/
experience
is
temporary.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
In Shaa ALLAH, next
week we will explore
the topic:
Raising Sons
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.
Mrs Jallalludin: If I mention a country, you run to the
left side of the room and touch the wall and if I
mention a bird, you run to the right side of the room
and touch the wall. If you run to the wrong direction,
you'll give me all your salary for this month.
Jallalludin: Okay!
And if you fail in your turn, I'll have your salary too
right?
Mrs. Jallalludin: (smiles) Yes darling!
Jallalludin: Okay (stands up ready to run in any
direction)
Mrs. Jallalludin:
Are you ready?
Jallalludin: Yes, ready.
Mrs. Jallalludin: TURKEY
It's been 4 HOURS
NOW...
Jallalludin is still standing at the spot wondering if
she meant the country or the bird.
Whatever you are given
(here) is (but) a
convenience of this life:
but that which is with Allah
is better and more lasting:
(it is) for those who
believe and put their trust
in their Lord; those who
avoid the greater crimes and
shameful deeds, and, when
they are angry even then
forgive; those who hearken
to their Lord, and establish
regular prayer; who
(conduct) their affairs by
mutual consultation; who
spend out of what We bestow
on them for Sustenance; and
those who, when an
oppressive wrong is
inflicted on them, (are not
cowed but) help and defend
themselves.
Noura Erakat is a human
rights attorney and an
Assistant Professor at
George Mason University,
whose research interests
include humanitarian law,
refugee law, national
security law, and critical
race theory.
Noura is a Co-Founding
Editor of Jadaliyya e-zine
and an Editorial Committee
member of the Journal of
Palestine Studies. Prior to
joining GMU's faculty, she
served as Legal Counsel for
a Congressional Subcommittee
in the House of
Representatives, as a Legal
Advocate for the Badil
Resource Center for
Palestinian Refugee and
Residency Rights, and as the
national grassroots
organizer and legal advocate
at the US Campaign to End
the Israeli Occupation. She
is a Co-Founding Board
Member of the DC Palestinian
Film and Arts Festival and
is a Board member of the
Institute for Policy
Studies.
A powerful spokesperson for
the Palestinian cause,
Noura’s media appearances
include CNN, MSNBC, Fox
News, PBS NewsHour, BBC
World Service, NPR,
Democracy Now!, and Al
Jazeera. She has published
in the Nation, the New York
Times, the Los Angeles
Review of Books, Huffington
Post, Jezebel, IntlLawGrrls,
The Hill, and Foreign
Policy, among others.
Noura is the author of
Justice for Some: Law As
Politics in the Question of
Palestine (forthcoming
Stanford University Press,
2019).
Palestinian-American human
rights attorney Noura Erakat
is the guest speaker for the
2018 Edward Said Memorial
Lecture, an annual public
lecture to honour the memory
of groundbreaking
Palestinian scholar,
courageous advocate,
passionate critic and an
unfailing humanist - the
late Edward Said.
She will be touring several
capital cities - so check
details for your city below.
Bookings are essential!
⚬ ADELAIDE
Edward Said Memorial
Lecture: Anti-Blackness,
Settler-Colonialism and the
Question of Palestine
> Details:
Adelaide Town Hall
Saturday 14 July at 5.30pm
> NB: If you aren't in one
of these key cities, then
please make sure you are
following APAN - Australia
Palestine Advocacy Network -
for an announcement of a
Facebook live event with
Noura Erekat!
THE BIG RIDE
AUSTRALIA for PALESTINE
Cycle from Brisbane to Byron
Bay on the 10-12 August and
raise money for children’s
education in Hebron and help
spread understanding and
awareness about the
Palestinian plight with our
local community.
Riders from all backgrounds
and faiths take part because
they want to be a beacon of
hope for the people of
Palestine showing that all
over the world there is
support for the Palestinian
cause and an aim to bring
about peace in the region.
There is something for
riders of all levels of
fitness with a free family
city ride and community
event on the Friday night
and then the two day main
event cycling from Logan to
Byron Bay. You can sign up
for one, two or all three
days. Remember your sign up
costs include: accommodation
(Saturday), food, jersey,
support vehicles, insurance,
stickers, flag and
wristband. Sunday includes
bus back to Gold Coast or
Brisbane.
Slacks Creek Mosque and the Islamic Council of
Queensland will be hosting a Hajj Seminar. This event is
beneficial for those that are attending Hajj this year,
and for those that intend to attend in the near future
In Sha Allah.
Have all your questions answered on Saturday 21st
July, 9am - 1pm at the Slacks Creek Masjid.
To ensure that we have enough resource material
available, please register your full name via ‘SMS’
to 0456 426 523.
FOOD PARCEL RUN
Don't miss out on Building the future of Australia's
Islamic Education. We are doing a food parcel run to
raise funds for our Arabic and Shariah course, hifz
course, revert course, children madrasah and various
other courses currently running.
The food consist of lamb korma, Malaysian fried noodles,
buyer chicken, fried chicken, biryani, rice, rice
pudding and a drink. All for only $100. Delicious food
to feed at least five people. You may pickup at Slacks
Creek, Kuraby, Logan, Darra, and Gold Coast on the
28th July at 4pm.
May Allah bless you in your doa and contribution.
ISLAM 101
New Muslim Care (NMC) are proud to
be working in alliance with Sisters Support Services
(SSS) and National Zakat Foundation (NZF) to
support new Muslims with the Islam 101: The Foundations
courses.
Through collaboration we are strengthening our
organisations and sharing resources in order to continue
to provide much needed services to the community.
Our aim is to offer continuous support to new Muslims
through Islamic workshops, classes and social avenues
and enable a more seamless transition successfully to an
Islamic way of life Insha'Allah.
Sessions for brothers are envisaged for the near future.
In collaboration with Qld Police Service,
Muslimah Mind Matters and Sisters Support Services are
facilitating FOUR x 1 Day SHE live events (Free) for
Muslimahs in Brisbane.
Book FREE tickets for the first of the four events
on 11th July, especially for Mothers and Daughters.
A small group of sisters have
established the
Hurricane Stars Club,
the first sports and recreation association
specifically catering for Muslim females in
Brisbane. All classes and activities for
males and females over 10 years old will be
kept separately as males-only and
females-only classes.
The organisation is an
incorporation of 3 previous clubs that have
been operating for the past 2 and a half
years ; The Young Muslims club, that
organised social and educational activities
for primary-school-aged children. The Teens
Club, that organised fun activities with an
Islamic-based session for teenage girls and
boys done separately and also the Ladies
swimming program that has offered
ladies-only swimming lessons, aqua-aerobics
and mums-and-bubs learn-to-swim classes for
the past 18 months.
All of these programs will
continue and are still organised by the same
ladies who founded these programs. Being
registered as an official not-for-profit
sports and recreation association allows us
to be eligible for government sporting
programs. It has allowed us to be eligible
to accept the Queensland Government’s ‘Get
Started’ $150 vouchers for our swimming
program for children aged 5-17 years old.
Children aged from 5-to-17-years old will
receive $150 off the cost of swimming
lessons if they register for our swimming
program.
We have also added a new
Female Fitness program, sponsored by the
Logan City Council. We offer ladies only
fitness classes and aqua-aerobics classes
for only $2 per class. Mums are welcome and
encouraged to bring their children aged 3
years old and under to the class with them
while they do a 45-minutes-class. We have
created a teen girls fitness program, which
will be a hijab-friendly fitness opportunity
for teenage girls to get fit and active. We
offer a variety of activities both indoors
and outdoors on a regular basis.
Please like our Facebook page
- hurricane stars club, for all the latest
updates. We look forward to offering many
more exciting and fun programs and
activities for the community in shaa'Allah
in the future.
On 31 December 2017 the only
Islamic childcare centre in the whole of Brisbane had to
unfortunately close its doors due to the Department of
Transport requiring it for their future expansion. To
date they are still in the process of securing new
premises to continue serving this very important need of
the community and the wait continues….
In the interim the need is
still there. The question most Muslims would be asking
themselves is “Where do I send my child so that he/she
can learn, grow and develop in an Islamic environment,
and establish a sound Islamic foundation?”
Msasa Montessori is a private home based learning centre
for 3-5 year olds. The focus is an Islamic based
learning environment alongside the Montessori method of
teaching. Children will be taught their basic duas,
surahs, tasbeehs, stories of the Prophets will be read
and enacted, and Inshallah their love for Allah and His
Noble Prophet Muhammed S.A.W will develop. Supported by
the Montessori method of teaching they will develop
their independence and will utilise equipment which will
enable them to develop and grow.
Montessori is a method of education based on
self-directed activity, hands-on learning and
collaborative play. The Montessori materials cover
developmental activities designed to meet the needs of
children in five curriculum areas:
Practical life skills, Sensorial activities,
Mathematics, Language and Cultural Studies.
By providing such an
environment, the children will develop a strong sense of
wellbeing and identity as Muslims and they will become
confident and involved learners with the ability to
communicate effectively and with confidence.
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..
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thoughts, feelings and ambitions for our community through CCN.
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7
August 2011