Scott Morrison has accused
Muslim leaders of making
their communities "less safe
and more vulnerable" by
boycotting a meeting.
Prime Minister Scott
Morrison has launched a
blistering attack on Muslim
leaders planning to boycott
a meeting with him.
Some Muslim leaders decided
not to attend a planned
meeting with Mr Morrison
this week because his
comments after the Bourke
Street terrorist attack
"alienated" segments of
their community.
In a statement posted on
social media, Mr Morrison
declared the meeting would
go ahead regardless of the
boycott.
"The meeting is going ahead
with those who want to deal
with this issue seriously
rather than look the other
way," he said.
Mr Morrison said those that
had boycotted the meeting
were in denial.
"Continuing down a path of
denial only lets their
communities down. It makes
their communities less safe
and more vulnerable."
A
letter signed by nine Muslim
leaders including Grand
Mufti Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohamed
and Australian Federation of
Islamic Councils President
Dr Rateb Jneid, said the
meeting would not go ahead
until attendees were
confident their "views and
concerns" would be
respected.
"Many in the Muslim
community including the
undersigned are deeply
concerned and
disappointed with
statements made by
senior Government
ministers and the prime
minister in the recent
past which infer that
the community is
collectively culpable
for the criminal actions
of individuals and
should be doing more to
prevent such acts of
violence,"
the letter read.
In the days following the
November 9 attack, Mr
Morrison said he supported
religious freedom, but not
"radical, violent, extremist
Islam".
"Here in Australia, we would
be kidding ourselves if we
did not call out the fact
that the greatest threat of
religious extremism in this
country is the radical and
dangerous ideology of
extremists," Mr Morrison
said.
The Muslim leaders letter
said those statements "have
achieved nothing to address
underlying issues, but
rather, have alienated large
segments of the Muslim
community."
The letter called for the
proposed roundtable to be
rescheduled after a
"concrete agenda" is agreed
upon beforehand.
The move comes after the
Australian National Imams
Council accused the prime
minister of politicising the
Bourke Street attack that
left one man dead and two
others injured earlier this
month.
The Council called the
attack a national tragedy
but said it was "outraged"
by Mr Morrison's recent
comments linking Islam to a
radical and dangerous
ideology.
"It is extremely
disappointing in such
difficult times and during a
national tragedy, when all
Australians of all faiths
and backgrounds should be
called upon to unite and
stand together against any
form of extremism and
violence, to see our
nation's leader politicising
this incident and using it
for political gain," the
council statement said last
week.
SBS
Muslims
Australia (AFIC) also
released a statement in
response to the invitation
to the proposed Government
Roundtable meeting.
Australians
convicted of terrorism
offences would be
automatically stripped of
their citizenship as long as
the Home Affairs minister is
“reasonably satisfied” they
are citizens of another
nation, under changes
announced by Prime Minister
Scott Morrison on Thursday.
The prime minister said he
wanted the sweeping reforms
passed by Christmas, in the
final parliamentary sitting
weeks of 2018, meaning
opposition and crossbench
MPs will only get two weeks
to consider the laws.
The reforms would
significantly lower the bar
for deportation. Currently,
Home Affairs Minister Peter
Dutton can only strip
citizenship from those with
a prison sentence of more
than six years for a terror
offence.
Under the changes, any
conviction would be enough.
And the minister would only
need to be “reasonably
satisfied” they were
citizens of another country.
Revocation of citizenship
has been reserved for
dual-citizens to make sure
Australia does not render a
person stateless.
“The current wording of the
law, we believe is
unrealistic,” Mr Morrison
said.
“Terrorists have violated
everything about being what
an Australian is all about.
It's a crime against our
country, not just other
citizens,” he said.
A
dainty teacup, hand-knitted
shawl, a floral fragrance,
or a quaint clutch purse. We
all have distinct memories
of a signature item that
instantly reminds us of our
grandmothers.
For us – my paternal family
– it is without a doubt, her
Mushaf. *
Recently, my 92-year-old
grandmother passed away
peacefully on the eve of
Jumu’ah. Separated from
family by time and space,
all I can think about and
all that comforts me right
now, is the immense love &
devotion she had for the
Revealed Words.
If I close my eyes, I can
picture her holding her
hand-sewn covered Mushaf,
her constant companion, as
she whispers into its
well-thumbed pages…
When my grandfather passed
away a decade ago, I
observed how she found
solace in devoting her iddah*,
with such graceful patience,
to its recitation. Not a day
passed, but she would be
reciting from its pages for
hours on end, stopping only
to pray or have her
afternoon tea. She would
sometimes tell me that her
eyes were now tired, but
that her heart was so happy
and at peace. Her face
literally glowed.
As a Tahfeedhul Quran*
teacher, I would marvel at
her devotion and tell my
young students about her
routines. Four months later,
upon the completion of her
Iddah, she spent some time
with my family at our home.
During this time, she would
change her afternoon rest
hour so that she could be
awake to receive the groups
of students coming home to
memorize Quran. She would
position her chair so that
she had perfect view of all
the students, greeting them
individually and taking the
time to learn their names
and ask after their family’s
well-being.
And then she’d sit down,
simply take it all in:
listening to the measured
cadence of their voices, the
turning of pages; watching
their young faces, etched in
concentration as they
reviewed their lessons.
She would often marvel at
this human miracle; the
phenomenon of millions of
believers committing to
memory thousands of verses
and being able to retain it
for a lifetime and beyond.
She would ask questions:
eager to understand the
science and art behind this
momentous task.
I once asked her what she
would change, if she could
go back in time. Her answer
reflected her passion: “I’d
memorize the Quran”, she
said, without giving the
question a second thought.
With children living in
different parts of the
world, she was both an
expatriate and a seasoned
traveler: London, Brisbane,
Singapore, Joburg, Durban.
And always with her
companion, her well-loved
Mushaf, reading for hours at
a time, every single day,
weathering each season of
life. I would watch her
unpack her suitcase, stow
away her toiletries and
medication, and seek out a
shelf or drawer for her
Mushaf. Ah! now, she felt at
home and settled in. This
Quran connection transcended
jet lag, family events, and
bouts of illness: this was a
genuine love and respect for
the Quran, a gentle
nurturing that spanned
decades.
In recent years, that Mushaf
was accompanied by a new
spectacle’s prescription and
more recently, as her
eyesight began
deteriorating, a magnifying
glass.
It was an awe-inspiring
sight: a tiny figure sitting
on the edge of her bed,
leaning over the pages with
a magnifying glass, morning
and night. She recited
fluently, turning the pages
at the pace of a seasoned
Haafidh*, aware of the flow
of verses and the words to
follow. She knew the pattern
and rhythm of chapters, had
certain portions which
resonated with her more than
others, and I would often
observe her reciting from
memory, ahead of my own
review! So immersed was she
in her recitation, that one
could stand and watch her
recite for a good half hour,
and she would be oblivious
to all else around her!
“What is there left for me
in this world? We gave our
children a good education
and life, I’ve travelled the
world…what more is there for
me in the world? At least I
have my Quran, that’s all I
need.”
And when she was left with
only partial vision, she
began praying: “Oh Allah!
Please don’t take away this
eyesight; I am using it only
to read your Quran. Without
Quran, what worth is there
of this eyesight?”
Her main fear was that if
she were to lose her
eyesight completely, she
would not be able to read
the Quran. That, I know,
would have devastated her.
She lived for this
connection. She was, quite
simply, attached to the
Quran. Hers was not a
seasonal attachment, or when
time, health, or
circumstances permitted: it
was daily, during all of her
free time, in every season
of life. Unconditional love
for Him and His Words.
This Quran, this true
companion, spoke the
language of her heart. And
it was one full of hope,
peace, mercy, and faith. It
spoke to her grieving heart
as a widow, and it spoke to
her as she sought to live
gracefully until the end of
her life, with a heart full
of contentment and yearning
to meet her Lord Most High.
Years
back, I had spoken to one of
her brothers about our
family tree: It was one that
he was able to trace back to
the Arabian Peninsula, and a
tribe renowned for its Quran
literacy: it brought her
great honour to walk in the
footsteps of her
forefathers.
The way we die, is a mirror
of the way we lived our
lives: she left this world,
her tasbeeh* clasped firmly
in her hands and her index
finger raised as we do for
the Shahadah* in prayer.
Light upon Light.
Daughter of Islam, friend of
the Quran…what a legacy she
has left behind! She can
never be remembered but that
her name and memory will
always, always be associated
to The Noble Quran.
In the days since her
passing, people around the
world have been reading and
praying for her: in the
friendships she formed over
the decades as an expatriate
in different countries, to
my many students who were
inspired by her love for the
Quran: Malaysia, Australia,
Japan, Russia, Norway,
Egypt, Ivory Coast, South
Africa, to name but a few.
And if I close my eyes, I
can picture her holding her
hand-sewn covered Mushaf,
her constant companion, as
she whispers into its
well-thumbed pages…
Verily, Allah raises some by
His Book: and you, dear
friend reading this tribute,
are testimony to that.
Al Marhoomah Hawa Omar
passed away peacefully on
the eve of Jumu’ah, 1st
Rabiul Awwal 1440 and was
buried in London, United
Kingdom. May she be raised
amongst the people of Quran,
those most beloved to Him,
and gifted a home in
Everlasting Paradise,
reunited with her loved ones
for eternity – ameen.
*Mushaf = written copy of
the Quran
*Iddah = the period a woman
must observe after the death
of her spouse *Tahfeedhul
Quran = Qur’anic
Memorization *Haafidh = a
person who memorizes the
Quran *Tasbeeh = strung
beads used for Divine
Remembrance *Shahadah =
Declaration of Faith
By Zia Ahmad,
Editor-in-Chief of the Australasian
Muslim Times AMUST
From left:
Peoples Choice of the Year Dalya
Ayoub NSW, Creative Artist of
the Year Amani Haydar NSW,
Hana Assafiri Business of
the Year Moroccan Soup Bar VIC
and Creative Artist of the Year
Sara Saleh NSW
Celebrations showcasing
community icons at the 12th
annual Australian Muslim
Achievement Awards were held
in Sydney on Saturday 18
November at Grand Royale,
Granville recognising a
number of individuals and
organisations as finalists
and winners.
Winners of awards included
Dr Mehmet Ozalp, Tony Burke,
Jihad Dib, Nada Kalam, Sayed
Rahmatullah Hussainzada and
many more while AMUST won
the award for ‘Media Outlet
of the Year’.
The annual event founded and
hosted by Mission of Hope
led by Ms Hanan Dover,
recognises the outstanding
contributions made by
Australian Muslim men,
women, businesses and
organisations towards the
community celebrating their
success performance, and
achievements of Australian
Muslims.
The 2018 lunchtime program
attracted some of
Australia’s most creative
members of the community,
their families, community
leaders and supporters.
The diverse range of
nominees, finalists and
winners were selected
through a strict criterion
in each category by panels
of judges from across
Australia.
Ms Hanan Dover during her
welcome address pointed out
the high level of
nominations for this years
awards acknowledging the
great contributions that
Muslim individuals and
organisations make towards
our Australian multicultural
community.
On behalf of the award
committee she thanked the
event sponsors, committee
members, volunteers, judges,
nominees, finalists and
supporters for making this
event a great success.
The President of Mission of
Hope, Ms Nasreen Hanifi gave
a brief history of the
awards and a long consistent
track record in holding this
event year after year in
order to encourage and
recognise community’s high
achievers.
The keynote address was
given by Mr Osman Karolia,
winner of the People’s
Choice of the Year award
last year. During his
address, he emphasised the
need for members of the
community to celebrate their
diversity and cooperate with
each other in achieving
excellence in community
work.
AMUST
From left:
Women of the Year Arwa Abousamra
NSW, Role Model of the Year Dr
Sara Hasan VIC, Creative Artist
of the Year Sara Saleh NSW,
Lifetime Achievement Award Dr
Mehmet Ozalp NSW, Man of the
Year Jihad Dib NSW, Youth of the
Year Sayed Rahmatullah
Hussainzada NSW
Sportsperson of the
Year Meriem Daoui
TAS
Volunteer of the
Year Eman Rahim SA
Community
Organisation of the
Year Brothers in
Need NSW
Event of the Year
Mercy Mission Twins
of Faith VIC
Part of an interview with
Imam Abdul Raheem Rane
(1916-2006), recorded in
1997.
He was Brisbane's first Imam
and one of the founders of
Islam in Australia.
He established many mosques
in Brisbane, including
Holland Park and West End,
and also founded the first
Muslim community
organisations in Queensland
and Australia.
In this recording (by
Diana Abdul-Rahman)
he
discusses what it means to
be Muslim.
It
is a long tradition in
Islamic culture to bring
extra blessings to our food
by sharing our food with
others and especially to
those in need who are unable
to easily provide food for
themselves because of
poverty or sickness.
Alhamdulillah, when
Muslims came to Australia,
they did not forget this
beautiful tradition and they
continued to generously
share the Rizk that Allah
gave them with others.
For more than twenty years,
here in Brisbane, there has
been a tradition amongst
certain nationalities in the
community to arrange food
rosters and visits in the
first few weeks for women
who have just given birth.
It is recognition of the
life-altering event that the
mother has just gone through
and understanding how
mothers themselves need to
be pampered and taken care
of at least at the beginning
of welcoming a new baby.
It used to be that women in
the particular communities
organised themselves to help
other ladies of their own
community who they knew
needed help. This provided
immeasurable support to
these ladies who were
usually alone in Brisbane
with no other families
except their own husband and
children. These same women
were used to the support
network of extended families
and friends in their home
countries, but then suddenly
found themselves relatively
alone in Australia, with
very few people for them to
trust and depend on to help
them in their time of need,
while they struggled to look
after their families even
while recovering from the
effects of childbirth and
welcoming a newborn baby.
Women from their own
communities tried to fulfil
this need for support by
preparing healthy
home-cooked meals for the
women and their families,
then delivering it to their
houses for the first one or
two weeks after they give
birth. This in turn also
fostered new bonds between
women who sometimes have
never met before and help
make the recipient feel
loved and supported by the
community. Over time, this
crowd-voluntary effort also
extended to other women who
may be facing other
hardships like difficulties
during pregnancy,
hospitalisation, long-term
illness, family upheavals
and other events after which
women appreciate hot and
delicious home-cooked meals
delivered with love.
To help Australian reverts
to be supported by the
community and to strengthen
their faith and connection
with other Muslim women in
the community. The first
organisation for reverts in
Brisbane, the Muslim Women’s
Convert Support Group, was
founded in the 1990’s by
Australian revert sisters.
They adopted this beautiful
custom from other Muslim
women whom they saw helping
their own communities in
Brisbane. Recently, a new
registered charity
organisation, Sisters With
Helping Hands (a division of
the Hurricane Stars Club
Inc.) continues this
beautiful tradition of all
those lovely ladies until
today with a group of
volunteers from all
nationalities who regularly
volunteer to cook 100% halal
delicious meals for the
families of sisters who are
not well enough to look
after their own families.
The recipients range from
reverts who may otherwise
feel isolated and alone in
their moment of need and
even to all Muslims of
different nationalities and
cultures.
Previously, Sisters with
Helping Hands depended on
recommendations from circle
of friends to organise food
rosters and visits for
people they know in the
community that needed help.
However, realizing that this
is an amazingly profound and
much needed assistance for
many other Muslim women out
there but currently not
known by the majority of
women in the community, the
Hurricane Stars Club Inc.
decided to therefore
register the Sisters With
Helping Hands organisation
with the Australian
Charities and Not for Profit
Commission (ACNC) as a
registered benevolent
charity with a formal
governing constitution.
As a result of being
registered with ACNC,
Sisters with Helping Hands
was able to register with
the Australian Taxation
Office as a benevolent
charitable organisation and
that granted us tax
deductible gift recipient
status. This means that for
all our volunteers, we can
issue them with a
tax-deductible receipt for
the expenses they incurred
cooking for or helping
others in the community
(with proof of purchase
receipts). This will also
expand access for the
services offered by our
volunteers to many other
women in need in the
community.
Sisters with Helping Hands
has engaged with medical
practitioners in areas with
high Muslim populations,
like Kuraby, Logan Central
and Underwood, to allow
medical practitioners to
offer our services to their
patients that they deem may
need more support from the
community. We have also
made contact with other
relief and support agencies
including the
Muslim Charitable Foundation
(MCF)
to refer their relevant
clients that may benefit
from our services.
We welcome many more
volunteers to help us
support other women in the
community.
Please contact Iman Shahrain
on 0449 610 386 or Farah
Scott on 0432 026 375.
For a copy of our referral
form or to fill in our
online referral form please
visit our website.
Belmore Boys' High principal
Hala Ramadan with Menindee
Central High principal Fiona
Kelly.
Hala Ramadan grew up in
Lebanon during the civil
war, and studied by
candlelight in bomb
shelters. She arrived in
Australia aged 15 and is now
principal of Belmore Boys'
High, where 80 per cent of
the students are Muslim.
Her friend Fiona Kelly is a
Barkindji/Ngiyampaa woman,
who grew up in Menindee,
near Broken Hill, and
returned years later as the
high school principal.
Seventy per cent of her
students are Aboriginal and
many have never met a
Muslim.
Both women know even those
who are marginalised can
hold on to stereotypes of
others.
"A lot of people at home
think every Muslim
person is a terrorist,"
Mrs Kelly said - and the
best way to overcome
that is human
connection.
They also know the key to
encouraging inclusiveness
among students is their
parents.
So this week Ms Kelly
brought the Aboriginal mums
of Menindee to Belmore,
where the Muslim mothers of
Miss Ramadan's students took
them on tours of the school
and the mosque, followed by
a Lebanese feast in Lakemba.
The women bonded over things
they have in common, such as
teenage kids, and answered
each other's questions.
"They're having all those
little conversations, in
which they connect as mums,"
Ms Kelly said.
"One said she was
wondering, 'where would
you find the time to
pray five times a day
when you are running
around with kids and
families in Sydney?' "
The relationship between the
principals began two years
ago, when Miss Ramadan
visited Menindee as part of
a city-country schools
alliance. "They'd driven
miles and miles to find
halal meat for me," she
said.
While there, she realised
how much migrants and
Indigenous Australians had
in common.
"I thought that as migrants
we were the ones that only
suffered from lack of
belonging, disconnection
from environment, confusion
about identity, all those
things, but when you look at
the set of challenges, they
are the same," she said.
Ms Kelly added: "Worlds
apart, but the same stories
and experiences."
Both principals felt
encouraging inclusiveness in
their students was not
enough.
"We build a lot of
understanding with the kids,
but the kids are still going
home," Miss Ramadan said.
"Kids will believe what
their parents say. If we
can leave that message
with the parents, and
then we still work with
the kids, the chances
are that the message
will last longer and be
engraved in people's
minds."
Education Minister Rob
Stokes said exchanges were
valuable for school
communities. “We all learn
and we all benefit when we
understand different
cultures,” he said.
Australian voters are split
on whether to cut the number
of migrants coming from
Muslim countries, as the
Morrison government
considers an overhaul of
immigration and population
rules within weeks.
A special Fairfax-Ipsos
survey finds only 14 per
cent of voters support an
increase in the number of
immigrants from Muslim
countries while 35 per cent
believe the intake should
stay the same.
But another 46 per cent
believe the intake should be
reduced a lot or a little -
a position backed by a clear
majority of Coalition voters
and one third of Labor
voters.
The exclusive poll was
conducted after the Bourke
Street terror attack by
Hassan Khalif Shire Ali and
amid growing calls from some
conservative members of
Parliament to cut migration
from Muslim nations.
The poll's findings also
highlight the challenge
facing Prime Minister Scott
Morrison as he attempts to
regain political support,
with the government trailing
Labor by 48 per cent to 52
per cent in two-party terms.
Australians often
over-estimate the proportion
of the population that is
Muslim, with Ipsos surveys
finding respondents believe
it is 17 per cent when the
reality is 3 per cent.
The government runs a
non-discriminatory migration
program but has discretion
in the humanitarian intake
to put a priority on some
over others, with the Syrian
intake of 12,000 refugees in
recent years said to favour
Yazidis, Christians and
other minorities.
Australians have supported a
multicultural migration
intake for many years,
according to annual research
by the Scanlon Foundation on
social cohesion, but the
findings also show a
“hierarchy of ethnic
preference” on migrants.
Attitudes have shifted
marginally in the past seven
years amid heavy media
coverage of terrorist
attacks and heightened
political debate about
migration, including the
revival of Pauline Hanson’s
One Nation and a call by
Queensland senator Fraser
Anning to return to the
White Australia Policy.
While 31.9 per cent of
respondents said they had a
positive attitude to Muslims
in 2010, this slipped to
28.3 per cent in the Scanlon
research in 2017. The
proportion with a negative
attitude rose from 23.5 per
cent to 25 per cent, but
there was no consistent
year-on-year trend up or
down over the period.
The Scanlon findings, led by
Monash University professor
Andrew Markus, have also
found a strong sense of
integration among Muslim
Australians.
The Second International
Conference on Organ
Transplantation in Islam
will be held at the Western
Sydney University on 22 and
23 November.
This conference explores a
rare topic in Islamic
theological and social
scientific discussions; how
Islam deals with organ
transplantation.
Existing studies on organ
transplantation, rare as
they are, either look at the
argument in support of organ
transplantation and
donation, or the argument
that considers organ
transplantation and donation
to be prohibited in Islam.
What is missing is a clear
and authoritative response
to the question of organ
transplantation and donation
in Islam.
Whether organ
transplantation and donation
is permissible or not in
Islam, robust theological
and social scientific
discussions are necessary
for individuals to make an
informed determination
Each week CCN presents the
abstract and biography of
one of the speakers at the
conference:
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.
Barzani entered the
political arena at the young
age of 16 under the wing of
his late father the Kurdish
nationalist leader Mustafa
Barzani and became the
leader of the Kurdistan
Democratic Party in 1979.
He had a major role in
shaping the new Iraq through
his political position and
by becoming a member of the
Iraqi Governing Council in
April 2004 after the fall of
Saddam Hussein’s regime.
He has been the main force
fighting DA’ISH and is
adamant about establishing
an independent Kurdish
state.
He was President of the
Iraqi Kurdish Region from
2005-2017, but had to resign
because of fierce regional
opposition to the referendum
he held in September 2017
for Kurdish independence
(there was overwhelming
support for an independent
Kurdistan).
There are approximately five
million Kurds living within
the Kurdish region in Iraq,
14.5 million in Turkey, 6
million in Iran, and less
than 2 million in Syria.
ANOTHER FROM THE TOP 50
INFLUENTIAL MUSLIMS IN NEXT
WEEK'S CCN
"Saudi
Arabia
has
turned
the holy
journey
into a
political
and
moral
nightmare.
I don’t
see how
I can
go."
Muslim
worshippers
pray and
circumambulate
around
the
Kaaba,
Islam’s
holiest
shrine,
at the
Grand
Mosque
in Saudi
Arabia’s
holy
city of
Mecca
As excruciating
details have
leaked over the
past two weeks
about the
killing and
reported
dismemberment of
journalist Jamal
Khashoggi by
Saudi government
agents, the most
high-profile
public backlash
has come in the
form of
defections from
a glittery
upcoming
conference, the
Future
Investment
Initiative,
planned by Crown
Prince Mohammed
Bin Salman.
Treasury
Secretary Steven
Mnuchin and
Jamie Dimon, the
chief executive
of JPMorgan
Chase, along
with dozens of
other politics,
business, and
media figures,
have pulled out
of the so-called
Davos in the
Desert because
of scrutiny
around the case
and the crown
prince’s likely
involvement.
They don’t want
to be associated
with an event
designed to
bolster the
image of (and
enrich) a brutal
regime and
prince that
might kill a
dissident and
barely try to
hide it. Go
figure.
But for me,
there’s another
annual gathering
in Saudi Arabia
that comes to
mind. It’s an
essential and
religiously
required journey
for Muslims: the
annual
pilgrimage to
Mecca, one of
the five pillars
of Islam. My mom
told me it was
the greatest
moment of her
life when she
went. In Arabic,
my father asked
me to pray for
him when I make
it. At 29, I
still haven’t
been able to
afford it, but I
remember the
look in my
parents’ eyes
after I told
them I was
saving my money
for the
expensive trip.
It was pure
emotion—a clear
affirmation of
their parenting.
Personally, I’ve
always dreamed
of converging
with fellow
Muslims on the
location
believed to be
the birthplace
of our final
prophet, and
where the first
words of the
Quran were
revealed: Iqra.
Read.
Now I’m starting
to wonder how I
can go at all.
And I’m also
wondering why
more Muslims
don’t question
the powers that
control our most
sacred site—and
how the Saudis
have already
twisted it to
their own
political and
financial ends.
In some ways,
it’s absurd that
the alleged
murder of one
journalist is
what has sparked
a high-level
reckoning with
the kingdom, or
finally caused
my own doubts to
spill over. To
participate in
one of our
religion’s most
important rites,
we shouldn’t
have to look
past the Saudis’
merciless,
brutal campaign
in Yemen. We
shouldn’t have
to look past
decades of
notorious and
flagrant
human-rights
abuses.
Personally, I
shouldn’t have
had to look past
the hate-filled,
Saudi-peddled
“textbooks” that
the kingdom has
distributed to
children in
Islamic schools
in America,
including mine.
But whatever the
catalyst, the
moment seems
finally to have
arrived, if
President Trump
doesn’t manage
to help the
Saudis talk
their way out of
it. Although
various
investigations
into Khashoggi’s
murder continue,
it doesn’t seem
too early to ask
how any
Muslim—particularly
one in pursuit
of a profound
religious
duty—could not
be troubled by
such horror and
corruption.
Should we not
hold the
guardians of
Islam’s holiest
sites to a
higher standard?
This kind of
flagrant
thuggery and
extrajudicial
murder does not
belong in this
century, and
we’re complicit
if we line the
pockets of those
responsible. The
Quran teaches,
“O you who
believe! Stand
out firmly for
justice, as
witness to
Allah, even if
it be against
yourselves, your
parents, and
your relatives,
or whether it is
against the rich
or the poor … ”
The message
isn’t ambiguous.
Saudi Arabia’s
violent
disregard for
basic human
rights isn’t
either.
The Saudi regime
itself has
politicized the
pilgrimage
before, using it
as a bargaining
chip to put
pressure on
other
Muslim-majority
countries.
Earlier this
year, Qatar
accused the
Saudis of
withholding
access to hajj
from its
citizens. For a
while last year,
it also wasn’t
clear whether
Iranians would
be allowed to
visit, because
of long-standing
tensions between
the countries.
And in many
other places,
angry protests
sought to remind
the kingdom of
the weight of
its religious
duty as
“immoral” prices
surged out of
control. “Only
God has the
right to forbid
anyone to go on
Hajj, not Saudi
Arabia,” one
Indonesian
organization
said.
In practice, of
course, that’s
not true. The
time has come to
change it.
Muslims have
more power over
the royal family
than we think.
Make no mistake:
Mecca is big
business for the
Saudis. Hajj and
umrah revenues
are estimated to
surpass $150
billion by 2022.
That’s a lot of
money to collect
from Muslims,
many of whom
have been
selling their
belongings and
saving money for
years to afford
the trip. If we
can harness the
anger at the
kingdom’s
arrogant
violence and
abuses, it won’t
have a choice
but to notice.
Executives
dropping out of
the Future
Investment
Initiative and
some
high-profile
business
cancellations
have already
rattled the
royals there and
raised questions
about the crown
prince’s future.
Muslims should
stand up to the
regime now, when
its abuses are
finally too
glaring and
inescapable that
they can no
longer be
ignored. We can
do it by staying
home until
something
changes.
As with most
Muslims, my
desire to
complete the
hajj carries an
intense
emotional and
spiritual
weight. It isn’t
just a
ritual—it’s a
foundational and
indispensable
pillar of my
religion. I
can’t say I’ll
never go. I
must. But I do
know I can’t
focus on my hajj
while Saudis
make a mockery
of the journey
and corrupt
Islam without
consequences.
I’m still
putting money
away in an
account—I got
married last
year, and I
dream of
bringing my wife
with me so we
can complete our
religious
obligation
together. But
for now, I’m
going to keep
that money far
away from Saudi
Arabia.
Scott
Morrison says Muslim
community leaders don’t do
enough to stop terror
attacks.
But what about white
community leaders when it
comes to crimes committed by
white people?
Imran Hosein interviewed
by Christian Peschken in
Geneva
Sheikh Imran
Hosein
Published on
25 Sep 2017
Interview
conducted by Christian
Peschken at the United
Nations in Geneva. Christian
is an independent UN
Correspondent for EWTN (The
Global Catholic TV Network).
Common mistakes in Jumuah
OnePath
Network
Jumuah is a
congregational prayer that
Muslims hold every Friday
instead of the Zuhr prayer.
These are some of the most
common mistakes in Jumuah
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.
SOUTH AFRICA:
Concerns have
been raised,
especially from
Christians, that
buying halaal or
kosher foods
amounts to
funding
religions.
The concerns
have been raised
with the
Commission for
the Promotion
and Protection
of the Rights of
Cultural,
Religious and
Linguistic
Communities (CRL
commission),
which hosted a
seminar on the
subject on
Thursday.
Religious
leaders and
commissioners
were faced with
questions about
whether the
certification of
products by
religious groups
did not amount
to denying other
consumers the
freedom to
choose
non-certified
products.
Journalist Vicky
Abraham
addressed the
commission and
said Christians
had raised
concerns about
the number of
products
certified halaal.
In a City Press
report in April,
Abraham reported
that the CRL
commission was
"flooded" with
complaints from
Christians,
laced with
Islamophobic
sentiment,
complaining that
"most" items in
chain
supermarkets
were halaal.
Some
complainants
reportedly said
they objected to
eating something
"sacrificed to
idols", eating
and drinking
goods used to
fund terrorism,
or inadvertently
adhering to
Sharia law.
Abraham said
that 80 to 90%
of the products
in stores were
certified halaal.
But South
African National
Halaal
Association (Sanha)
halaal
certification
office manager,
Mufti Mohammed
Yusuf Seedat,
was at pains to
explain that the
certification
fees paid by
food
manufacturers
and retailers
were used solely
for Sanha's
purposes.
Sanha's adited
financial
results for the
year ending
February 2017
stated that the
association's
income for that
year was R22m -
mostly received
from service
fees. It's
expenditure was
about R21m and
most of the
amount went
towards staffing
costs, travel
expenses, the
training of
personnel to
export certified
products to Gulf
states, and
other running
costs.
In short, the
money Sanha
receives from
retailers,
restaurants and
manufacturers
who pay halaal
certification
fees does not go
towards building
mosques,
financing
terrorism, or
subsidising
Islam.
Another Muslim
attendee said
the only reason
for having food
certified halaal
was to ensure
that those who
wanted to keep
to the
prescripts of
Islam could do
so.
Similarly,
Kosher
Department of
the Beth Din
head Rabbi Dovi
Goldstein said
the it was a
non-profit
organisation and
certification
fees received
were also mostly
used for running
costs. He said
kosher food was
one of the
fastest-growing
food trends in
the world due to
the belief that
the way the food
was prepared was
cleaner and more
humane.
He said more
than 450
companies, 30
000 products and
70 000
ingredients were
certified with
the
diamond-shaped
"BD" symbol.
Goldstein said
that kosher was
a set of
"technical
standards" set
out by the
Torah.
For example, the
slaughter of
animals is "very
specific", he
said, to ensure
cleanliness and
humaneness. As
part of its
staff
complement, the
kosher
department has
75 supervisors –
permanent and
part time – at
manufacturers
around the
country, he
said.
Convenor of the
Shuddha
Committee of the
South African
Hindu Maha Sabha,
Mala Sarupdeo,
said the purpose
of having foods
certified under
the Shuddha
lotus flower
symbol was to
protect the
rights of
Hindus.
She said that if
someone was
fasting, for
example, it
would violate
their rights to
practice their
religion freely
if Shuddha-certified
foods were not
available.
"I have been to
these kitchens
and 99% of fast
foots outlets
and
manufacturers
don't respect
the rights of
consumers. It's
about protecting
the rights of
the consumer -
not promoting a
particular
religion," said
Sarupdeo.
She said that
Shuddha-certified
food was
strictly
vegetarian and
contained no
animal products
at all. The food
and packaging
must not be
related to any
animal cruelty
or animal
testing, and
must not have
come into
contact with
alcohol.
While a number
of foods are
Shuddha
certified,
Sarupdeo said
the list needed
to be longer,
but there was a
lack of
awareness among
manufacturers.
Professor Alice
Chan,
representing the
Nan Hua Buddhist
Temple, said
that Buddhists
encouraged
vegetarianism
but there was no
strict rule
about it. She
said because of
this, Buddhists
had no
certification
symbol of their
own.
Chan said that
Buddhists
discouraged the
ingestion of the
five "pungent
herbs" - garlic,
onions,
scallions, leeks
and chives. She
said they were
considered
aphrodisiacs and
could also cause
bad breath that
"offends other
people".
Chan said that
if she was to
eat meat, if
would be kosher
or halaal
"because I'm
sure the animals
were treated
humanely" and as
a vegetarian,
she would
support Shuddha
products.
Why are so
many products
certified halaal?
Seedat said that
the number of
products
certified halaal
was so high
because of the
unseen animal
products used in
so many foods.
He said animal
by-products were
used in some
breads and
baking premixes.
Some yoghurts
used gelatin as
a stabiliser,
and even red
colourant in
desserts could
come from
crushed insects.
Some
hypo-allergenic
baby formulas
contain pork
enzymes, while
wine gums and
even apple juice
can contain
gelatin. Even
basting brushes
can contain
porcine hair,
Seedat said.
Even the casings
of pill capsules
and wax covering
toothpicks can
contain animal
products and
need to be
certified halaal,
he said.
3 Joint Winners of Million Dollar
2018 Al Sumait Prize for Health Announced
KUWAIT CITY:
Three joint
winners of the
2018 cycle of Al
Sumait Prize for
African
Development in
the field of
Health have been
endorsed by the
award’s Board of
Trustees, in
recognition of
their exemplary
work in health
improvement on
the African
continent.
Following
consideration of
the jury and
selection
committees’
reports, the
Board of
Trustees has
decided to award
half of the
Prize to
Professor Salim
S. Abdool Karim
(pictured),
Director of the
Centre for the
AIDS Program of
Research, Pro
Vice-Chancellor
(Research) at
the University
of KwaZulu-Natal
in South Africa
and Professor at
Columbia
University.
The second half
of the prize is
to be shared
equally between
Professor Sheila
K. West Vice
Chair for
Research Wilmer
Eye Institute at
Johns Hopkins
University
School of
Medicine, and
the Rakai Health
Sciences
Program, which
is a nonprofit
independent
research center
based in Rakai,
Uganda.
Professor Abdool
Karim has been
jointly awarded
the prize for
his recognised
contributions to
science in HIV
treatment and
prevention over
the past three
decades, which
have led to
significant
changes in
health policy
and practices
worldwide. He
has published
more than 350
papers in
world-class
medical journals
and his efforts
in research on
prevention and
treatment of
AIDS patients
has been a major
factor in the
decline in
HIV/AIDS and
mortality rates
in Africa and
the world.
His findings on
HIV-TB, a
leading cause of
death in Africa,
are specifically
mentioned in
many country
treatment
policies and
guidelines, and
are being
implemented
worldwide. The
impact is highly
tangible (eg.
HIV-TB deaths
have halved in
South Africa
since 2012).
The prize amount
of one million
US dollars,
offered by the
State of Kuwait,
is awarded
annually to
individuals or
institutions
within one of
the three fields
of Food
Security, Health
and Education.
The Board of
Trustees (BOT),
which oversees
the prize, is
chaired by H.E.
Sheikh Sabah
Khaled Al-Hamad
Al-Sabah, Deputy
Prime Minister,
Minister of
Foreign Affairs,
and its members
include: Bill
Gates, co-chair
of the Bill &
Melinda Gates
Foundation, Dr.
Kwaku Aning,
Chairman of the
Governing Board
of Ghana Atomic
Energy
Commission,
Chairman of
Ghana Nuclear
Energy Institute
and Former
Deputy Director
General of the
International
Atomic Energy
Agency,
Abdulatif
Alhamad,
Director General
and Chairman of
the Arab Fund
for Economic and
Social
Development,
Tareq Al-Mutawa,
Executive Member
of the Board of
Public Gathering
Charity
Committee and
Makhtar Diop,
Vice President
for Africa, The
World Bank. The
Kuwait
Foundation for
the Advancement
of Sciences (KFAS)
provides all the
administrative
and logistic
support.
An initiative of
His Highness
Sheikh Sabah
Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber
Al- Sabah, the
Amir of the
State of Kuwait,
which provides
the annual
million dollar,
the Prize honors
the late Dr.
Abdulrahman Al
Sumait, a
Kuwaiti doctor
who dedicated
his life to
addressing the
health
challenges
confronting
Africa.
Meet the woman who discovered a whole
new type of galaxy
Astrophysicist Burçin
Mutlu-Pakdil speaks during the
TED2018 event in Vancouver,
Canada.
US: Turkish-born
astrophysicist
Burçin
Mutlu-Pakdil
shares her name
with a rare
double ring of
stars more than
350 million
light-years
away.
As a child
growing up in
Turkey,
astrophysicist
Burçin
Mutlu-Pakdil
used to enjoy
looking up at
the stars in the
night sky.
Little did she
know that thanks
to her
scientific
skills, a galaxy
sitting 359
million
light-years from
Earth would one
day bear her
name.
Mutlu-Pakdil’s
lifelong passion
for astrophysics
was born when
she had to
prepare an
assignment in
middle school on
an interesting
person.
“I asked my
sister for
suggestions on
who I should
choose for my
assignment, and
she suggested
Einstein,
because he’s the
cleverest man in
the world,”
Mutlu-Pakdil
says. She
immediately dove
into reading
about physics
and became
obsessed with
understanding
the cosmos. But
she encountered
obstacles when
she chose to do
undergraduate
studies in
physics. For
starters, she
had to move from
her home town of
Istanbul to
Ankara.
“Even though
my family
supported my
decision and
encouraged me to
follow my
passion, friends
and relatives
said that girls
should not leave
home to study,”
Mutlu-Pakdil
says.
A
professor at the
college also
questioned her
decision to move
cities to study
science. Perhaps
not
surprisingly,
she was one of
the few female
students in her
class.
“As a woman
studying
physics, I felt
like an outsider
and had to teach
myself not to
care about the
comments and to
just focus on my
passion.” Also,
even though it
is not the case
anymore, women
in Turkey were
not allowed to
wear the hijab
while attending
university at
the time she was
in college.
“I wore hats and
looked for ways
to cover my
head, but it was
disconcerting. I
was already
battling the
prejudices of
being a woman
studying
science, and by
forcing me to
alter my attire,
I was being
compelled to be
someone I was
not.”
When she came to
the U.S. for her
master’s degree
at Texas Tech
University, and
later a Ph.D. in
astrophysics
from the
University of
Minnesota-Twin
Cities, she had
to deal with a
new set of
cultural
differences, but
she did find a
more welcoming
environment.
“I was in a new
country and many
things were
different. But
since I was
myself and I
could dress as I
pleased, I felt
happier, even
though there
were other
issues to sort
out.”
Ringing
success
Now a
postdoctoral
research
associate at the
University of
Arizona’s
Steward
Observatory,
Mutlu-Pakdil
analyzes data
collected from
telescopes to
help unravel the
mysteries of the
universe—especially
how galaxies
form and change
over time.
The Salafi Worldview and the Hermeneutical Limits of
Mainstream Sunni Critique of Salafi-Jihadism
(Journal article)
by
Adis Duderija
Griffith University, School of Humanities, Languages and
Social Science, Faculty Member
Abstract
The aim of this article
is not to directly engage with this
literature but to point to the
hermeneutical limits of the critique of
mainstream Sunnism vis-à-vis the
Salafi-jihadist interpretations with
particular reference to the literature
produced by the proponents of the IS.
The main argument the
article makes is that by subscribing to
what will be termed a “Salafi
worldview,” mainstream Sunnism shares
many interpretationally crucial
epistemological and methodological
mechanisms with those adopted by the
proponents of the ideology behind the
IS.
KB says:
With summer almost upon us, this is an ideal
treat without much effort.
Cardamom, Rose and Almond No-Churn Ice
Cream
INGREDIENTS
METHOD
1 tin ideal milk (cold)
1 tin condensed milk
250 ml fresh cream, whipped
150g toasted slivered almonds
2 tsp cardamom powder
20 ml rose water
50 ml rose syrup
Whisk cold
ideal milk until thick
Whisk in
condensed milk and rose water.
Fold in the
whipped cream
Fold in the
almonds and cardamom
Pour rose
syrup over and pour mixture into a plastic tub and set,
preferably overnight
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.
Writer, Clarity
Coach, Founder and
Facilitator of
Healing Words
Therapy - Writing
for Wellbeing
Muslimah
Mind
Matters
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:
How to Overcome
Insecurity
Do you ever feel
anxious, with little
or no confidence, or
inadequate in your
circumstances? Do
you feel the need to
depend on others for
things or approval?
Do you feel
self-pity or that
you need to prove
your worth to
others? If so, you
could be feeling
insecure.
Insecurity creates
self-doubt and fear,
and cripples you
from living a
joyful, productive
life. When you feel
insecure, you resist
total submission to
ALLAH swt. You begin
to believe in
shaytan's whispers
that you are “not
good enough” or that
you “don’t have what
it takes” or that
you are a “fraud”.
These negative
whisperings not only
create massive
blocks in every
aspects of your
life, such as,
relationships,
finances,
spirituality, to
name a few, but also
affect your mental
health and holistic
wellbeing.
For thirty-seven
years of my life I
was a slave to
shaytan’s whispers
about my own
insecurity. It had
crippled me to the
point where I would
create situations to
prove my worth. The
saddest part about
those years was that
I was not a Muslim
and I did not know
how to handle
feelings of fear,
rejection,
self-loathing,
self-pity and
self-doubt.
Insecurity stems
from emotional hurt
or pain that has not
been healed. Instead
of processing hurt
and emotional pain,
we tend to put on a
brave face and slap
on a big, padded
band-aid over them.
We become fearful of
our own
vulnerabilities by
moving on with life,
carrying a load of
unprocessed
emotions.
The way to process
emotional hurt and
pain is to identify
what happened, when
it happened and who
were involved. You
may need
professional help
from a therapist to
successfully
identify these
suppressed, or
sometimes blocked,
memories. Once you
have identified
them, you are then
on the road to
overcoming feelings
of insecurity that
are as a result of
these memories.
Journaling or
Writing Therapy is a
great way to not
only identify
memories of hurt and
pain but also
process them and
experience
catharsis. Contact
me if you wish to
find out more about
this therapy.
Strategies to
Overcome Insecurity
Below are six
typical situations
which may cause
feelings of
insecurity. Try to
practise
corresponding
affirmations to
become aware of your
insecurities and
therefore overcome
them.
Situation
Affirmation
When people
compliment
others in
front of me
I am unique.
ALLAH has
blessed
every
creation
with their
own unique
abilities. I
am enough
because I am
ALLAH’s
creation.
When I
struggle
financially
ALLAH is
Ar-Razak.
Only ALLAH
provides my
sustenance.
Everything I
need, ALLAH
provides
immediately
When I
struggle
with my body
image
ALLAH has
blessed me
with optimum
health. I am
a soulful
being
dwelling
temporarily
in this
body. Every
salah I
pray, my
body
re-energises
with faith
and
wellbeing. I
am a
beautiful
creation of
ALLAH.
When I feel
I do not
deserve
compliments
or monetary
rewards for
my efforts
I am worthy
of rewards.
I work hard
and ALLAH
knows my
efforts. HE
rewards me
for my
efforts. I
accept
wholeheartedly
whatever HE
has ordained
for me to
receive as
payment for
my services.
When I feel
I don’t have
as much as
my other
friends or
family
members
ALLAH
provides me
with comfort
and ease. I
accept
wholeheartedly
and
gratefully
all that
ALLAH
provides for
me and my
family. I
embrace
ALLAH’s
abundant
blessings in
my life.
When I feel
I lack
skills or
aptitude I
have a mind
with
unlimited
potential.
ALLAH gives
me
knowledge,
intelligence,
reason and
creativity.
ALLAH helps
me in every
task I
perform that
is good for
me and my
deen.
If you wish to know about
a specific topic
with regards to
Self-Care and
Clarity of Mind,
please email me on
info@healingwordstherapy.com.
If you wish to have
a FREE one hour
Clarity Coaching
phone session,
contact me on
0451977786
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.
During a company's
annual family trip to a crocodile farm in Thailand...
the eccentric Boss dared his employees to jump into the
crocodile infested pond... and swim to the shore.
Anyone who survived
the swim will be rewarded with 5 million... but if
killed by the crocs...2 million will be given to the
next of kin.
For a long period of
time no one dared take up the challenge... then suddenly
Jalllaludin jumped in, and swam frantically for his life
towards shore pursued by the crocs, and luckily he made
it unscathed.
When he managed to
recover his breath, Jalllaludin, who became an instant
millionaire, shouted asking who had pushed him into the
pond.
It turned out to be
his wife who did it!
And from that
day...that was how the phrase...
"Behind every
successful man...there's a woman"...came about !!!
Brother Laith
from the community has a
brain tumour and needs
urgent brain surgery. All
proceeds will be going to
help his medical expenses.
Medical expenses may exceed
$150,000 due to the high
risk nature of the tumour.
Please support this worthy
cause by purchasing a ticket
or donating.
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..
Share your
thoughts, feelings and ambitions for our community through CCN.
If there is
someone you know who would like to subscribe to CCN please
encourage them to enter their details
here.
@cfcsouthport
Australians
convicted of terrorism
offences would be
automatically stripped of
their citizenship as long as
the Home Affairs minister is
“reasonably satisfied” they
are citizens of another
nation, under changes
announced by Prime Minister
Scott Morrison on Thursday.
A
dainty teacup, hand-knitted
shawl, a floral fragrance,
or a quaint clutch purse. We
all have distinct memories
of a signature item that
instantly reminds us of our
grandmothers.
Years
back, I had spoken to one of
her brothers about our
family tree: It was one that
he was able to trace back to
the Arabian Peninsula, and a
tribe renowned for its Quran
literacy: it brought her
great honour to walk in the
footsteps of her
forefathers.
Part of an interview with
Imam Abdul Raheem Rane
(1916-2006), recorded in
1997. 
It
is a long tradition in
Islamic culture to bring
extra blessings to our food
by sharing our food with
others and especially to
those in need who are unable
to easily provide food for
themselves because of
poverty or sickness. 
What’s
a Muslim to Do
About Hajj?
UK's Oldest Mosque: Incredible
pictures shine a light on Britain’s oldest
mosque dating back to the reign of Queen
Victoria
post comments on
our Wall
7
August 2011