A
young man has to have
surgery to remove a brain
tumour.
Only one surgeon in
Australia is willing to
perform this high risk
operation.
The surgery is critical for
this young man to have any
hope or any future. It
simply has to be removed.
The operation is happening
on Monday 3rd December. It
will cost at least $100,000
and half of that must be
deposited before the
operation.
We are appealing to one and
all to donate generously and
quickly. Please reflect and
think how Allah almighty
tests his servants and how
we should respond in this
time of need.
JazakAllah Kheir for your
support.
Bank details:
Bank of Queensland
Muslim Charitable Foundation
– Emergency Account
BSB 124155
Account 20897395
Defeating Algester State
School 1-0 our girls have
done us proud!!!
If you see any of the team
or their parents, their
coaches Mr Burchill and Miss
Ahmed, please congratulate
them on an outstanding
effort.
They have worked super hard
and deserve their success.
Commiserations to Algester
State School who are long
time training partners and
rivals of ICB. They always
challenge our girls to play
their very best and very
much deserve their runners
up trophy
The games were played from
23-25 November at Cornubia
Sports Complex.
This week three members of
the Islamic Community of
Gold Coast were awarded
certificates in recognition
of their significant
Compassionate Work in the
Gold Coast Community
Certificates were awarded by
Gold Coast City Councillor
Glenn Tozor on behalf of
COMPASSIONATE GOLD COAST to:
1. Imam Sheikh Mohamed
Ali
2. Haji Hussain Baba
3. Sister Ree Ali
On Friday the 30th of
November we held our 8th
Annual General Meeting
at the Logan North Library
in the community meeting
room. This year we welcomed
new committee members from
the human services,
education, counselling, IT,
graphics industries to
strengthen and build our
organisation. Our financial
were put together by our
Treasurer Angela Ishaq and
audited by Acro Accounting.
We are grateful to the team
at Acro for offering this
Pro bono service to us.
During the last couple of
years since transitioning
officially to Sisters
Support Services Inc, our
organisation has blossomed
and grown and gone from
strength to strength. A new
website was created and has
been upgraded and maintained
by Zainap Hardien. Our
Sisters Support logo was
designed by the talented
Anosh Khan with new business
cards and a revised flyer
was created with our
programme along with a
re-designed new banner.
It has been a very
productive year with many
new opportunities and
avenues working towards
empowering and best
supporting sisters, their
families and youth in our
community. A time to
reflect, re-focus and
remember our intentions in
pleasing Allah first in best
serving our community.
In the past year we have
achieved many amazing things
through Sisters Support
Services….
AFIC - We were
blessed to be granted funds
from Australian Federal
Islamic Council which
enabled us to purchase a new
laptop, work mobile and a
printer. Part of the funds
were used to support new
reverts with prayer kits,
prayer outfits, Hijabs, Eid
gifts, along with catering
for Eid celebrations and
social gatherings.
NZF - We had the
opportunity to share office
space with National Zakat
Fund at 4/3 Fermont Road
Underwood. Our Bookcase with
Islamic books, Islamic
resources, prayer kits plus
our filing cabinet are all
at the office. We are now
working in alliance with NZF
and are very grateful for
their support in sponsoring
many of our events over the
past year and look forward
to working together on other
projects in the future insha
Allah. NMC - we aligned with
New Muslim Care to hold the
original 101 basic Islam
classes along with beginners
Arabic taught by Maryam Um
Khawla, which we hope to
continue in the future.
Workshops and events
– Youth Empowerment workshop
last march created a lot of
interest with around 70
participants. A free
workshop sponsored by NZF
and QPS. Our Winter
Wonderland – Dinner and
event last November was a
great success with our youth
girls coordinating the event
with fun games prizes and
over 70 participants
attended dressed in a blue
and white theme.
KJ Book Launch – It was our
pleasure to host and
organise a Book launch for
revert sister Kathryn Jones.
A successful evening with
many sisters benefiting from
the talk and by getting a
personally signed book
‘Empower the Leader with in’
by Kathryn Jones.
SHE – the success of
the She workshops was
tremendous in bridging gaps
with our community and
Queensland police. The four
full day workshops gave
muslim women the opportunity
to have open dialogue with
female police women. The
participants learned about
personal safety, healthy
relationships and techniques
to manage stress with good
mental health facilitated by
Angela Ishaq and coordinated
by Alison Berger. These
workshops wouldn’t have been
possible without the help
from our dedicated
volunteers. This
collaboration with
Queensland Police Service
has opened doors for other
opportunities and future
events. Last Wednesday we
had a coffee meet at San
Cheros with female police
officers to have coffee and
a chat, continuing with our
work together and for a more
harmonious community.
Women’s Wellbeing
Workshop - In October
this year we received
funding from QLD Alliance to
offer a free Women’s
Wellbeing workshop to
celebrate mental health week
facilitated by Angela Ishaq
and coordinated by Aliyah
Berger. Invited special
speakers from nutrition,
community services and life
coaching backgrounds gave
beneficial talks and our
selected mentors and
volunteers supported the
event.
Iftars - Last
Ramadan, we hosted weekly
iftars through Sisters
support service and
generously catered by
families in the community
and held at the Oates Soccer
Club. Many reverts and
refugees families joined us
to experience the blessings
of these Iftars during
Ramadan.
Coffee Club -
continues with our monthly
gatherings, promoted and run
by Aliyah and supported by
Kerry Pevy. We hope to
continue our monthly
Revert Lunches along
with beneficial lessons in
the coming year insha Allah.
Sisters in need -
many sisters that slip
through the system and may
not be able to access other
organisations come to us for
our unique service. We have
been able to support sisters
in many ways like offering
them food vouchers, Islamic
clothing, groceries, meals
and finances when needed.
Our organisation is unique
in the way that we offer an
ear to listen to when a
sister is at her most
vulnerable where we can show
compassion and real
sisterhood. Over the past
year we have supported many
sisters with hospital and
home visits, our volunteers
have driven them to medical
appointments and delivered
meals and food packages. We
have the ability to listen
to our clients and offer
them the best care we can
through Sisters Support
Services; after assessment
and when necessary we refer
them to other related
organisations and offer
ongoing case management.
Home Visits and meal
Rosters - Our Halal
meals and visiting rosters
are continuing strong and
going well with more than 85
sisters on our volunteer
group. We have helped many
sisters over the past 8
years who have struggled
with illness, being new
mums, isolation along with
reverts needing social
support. Regular rosters are
organised to visit sisters
who are isolated, volunteers
drive sisters to
appointments and bring them
to social gatherings. We
welcome anyone else wanting
to be on board with
coordinating meal rosters.
‘Many hands make lighter
work’
Counselling Service -
We have been blessed to have
Angela Ishaq who volunteers
a lot of her time in the
running of programs at
Sisters Support Services
whilst studying her masters
in counselling and
specialising in mental
health. She offers free
counselling to sisters who
are sometimes at their
lowest and most vulnerable.
This is a valuable service
that we are able to offer
the community and are most
grateful to Angela, may
Allah reward her abundantly.
This year we awarded Angela
with a ‘Quality Volunteer
Award’ for her
outstanding commitment and
dedication to Sisters
Support Services over the
past 8 years.
Youth Activities –
Amra Dhedhi has come back on
board to assist and
coordinate youth holiday
programs with a recent
macramé activity and the
mosaic activity with the
creative Eve Boyer in the
last school holidays. We
look forward to expanding
our team to work on our
youth program and to do more
interesting and interactive
activities in the future.
We welcome new volunteers,
and members wanting to join
Sisters Support Services and
any innovative ideas brought
forward to seek ways to
improve and strengthen our
organisation to run more
efficiently and to therefore
best service the community.
I would like to sincerely
thank our management
committee for their many
hours of commitment to the
running of Sisters Support
Services and to each and
everyone of our volunteers
and members who dedicate
their time and energy to
making this organisation a
unique place to work towards
supporting sisters in our
community. We would also
like to take this
opportunity to say a big
Thank You our sponsors and
to those community members
who have supported us and
donated generously over the
years.
SYDNEY: All three of Unity
Grammar’s Robotics teams
have successfully qualified
for the 2018 FIRST® LEGO®
League National
Championships to be held at
Macquarie University on 8 –
9 December 2018.
The Regional qualifying
round for the Senior Girls
team, STEM Cells X, took
place at Unity Grammar in
mid-November where the girls
won not only the Robot
Performance Award but the
overall Champion’s Award,
securing them a place in the
NSW State Competition.
The following week the
Senior Boys Team, STEM Cells
Y, won the same two awards
at their Regional
competition at Cranebrook
and the brand-new Junior
Team, STEM Cells Z, won the
Project Award for the most
innovative and creative
Project Presentation at
Bossley Park.
STEM Cells X, Y and Z went
on to compete at the NSW
Tournament in Wollongong on
24 November. STEM Cells Y
were awarded a trophy for
Gracious Professionalism
while STEM Cells X were
awarded a trophy for
Research and all three teams
qualified for the National
Tournament to be held at
Macquarie University in
December.
Unity Grammar CEO, Mr Aaron
Boyd, said “We are so proud
of all three teams who have
shown great dedication and a
generous amount of grace in
the competitions so far. I
have no doubt that they will
put in their absolute best
at Nationals and I look
forward to seeing the
result.”
Dr Mehreen Faruqi was
inundated with xenophobic and
racist abuse
Muslim Australian
politician, Dr Mehreen
Faruqi, was trolled with
xenophobic and racist abuse
after she tweeted that the
Melbourne Cup was deadly to
horses on November 5.
Dr Mehreen Faruqi was called
a ‘maggot’ and told to go
back to Pakistan after she
tweeted a photo of a horse
with the caption ‘Horse
racing kills. This is
CliffsofMoher who was killed
for the sake of gambling by
racing in the Melbourne Cup
this afternoon #horseracingkills
#nuptothecup’.
The Greens MP, who moved to
Australia in 1992, received
a barrage of abuse on social
media following the death of
Irish stallion The
Cliffsofmoher.
The New South Wales
politician, who is also the
Green’s Animal Welfare
Spokeswoman, was told to
leave Australia by several
social media trolls.
‘P*** off back to where you
came from,’ one man wrote on
her Facebook page.
‘Clearly, you have no
intention to assimilate or
embrace the culture that has
dragged you into equality as
a woman and provided you
with a wage well beyond the
slums of your homeland.’
The 55-year-old said she was
targeted because of her skin
colour, three months after
telling the Senate
‘everyone’ who was not a
white, straight male
experienced ‘online
harassment, bullying and
toxicity’.
‘This is what happens when
people of colour speak out
on almost any issue,’ she
tweeted.
Faruqi has posted a
compilation of the vilest
social media messages.
‘F*** of you filthy
unelected foreign
interloper,’ one man said of
the lawmaker who in August
filled Lee Rhiannon’s casual
Senate vacancy. ‘P*** off
back to your s***hole of
Pakistan. Ya maggot.’
One fine, glorious day,
When the friendly sun was
oozing its warmth,
A large-beaked,
black-velvety crow
Eyed hungrily for some food.
Its beady eyes roamed the
great forest,
Green and lush as could be,
But in varying shades, light
and dark,
Until it stopped on a
sizeable chunk of bread.
The kingly crow lifted its
wings
And flew gracefully but
nimbly to the bread.
It landed softly and began
its feast.
But this precious moment was
just that.
A set of noisy wings flapped
down in front.
The crow, annoyed, saw an
awkward pigeon staring at
his food.
This is My territory, he
thought.
The pigeon, unafraid, edged
forwards
As if desiring some bread.
Acting quickly, on which he
prided himself,
The crow caught the bread in
his sharp beak,
Immediately flew to a nearby
tree.
This bread is meant for me,
only, he mused.
He placed it carefully on a
branch,
Ready to take a mouthful,
But a clever squirrel
plunged for it
And ran for his life, out of
sight.
Prophet Muhammad said: “The
reality of faith is knowing
that what has passed you by
was not going to befall you;
and that what has befallen
you was not going to pass
you by.” (Tabarani).
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.
Sheikh Al-Yaqoubi is a
widely respected religious
scholar who also has a
significant spiritual
following worldwide.
Background: Sheikh
Al-Yaqoubi was born in
Damascus and was trained in
Islamic studies by his
father, who was an Imam and
instructor at the Grand
Umayyad Mosque. Sheikh Al-Yaqoubi
followed in his father’s
footsteps teaching in the
same mosque, and becoming a
world renowned Islamic
scholar of theology,
jurisprudence, and Hadith.
He is widely-recognised as
one of the reliable
authorities for the issuing
of fatwas in Islam.
Against Extremism: He
was one of the first
scholars to speak against
DA’ISH, denouncing its
atrocities and showing that
its actions are unIslamic.
His book Refuting ISIS has
become essential reading.
His criticism of the Syrian
government’s response to
protests made his stay in
Syrian untenable, and so he
had to flee the country.
Educator: As a
teacher, he has trained
several hundred Imams and
teachers who work in the
Arab World, the West, in the
Far East and South Africa.
As a spiritual guide he
focuses on the spiritual
well-being of Muslims and
gives personal spiritual
instruction to his
disciples, of which he has a
significant following in
Europe and the USA. He is a
charismatic public speaker
in both Arabic and English
and one of the most vocal
moderate voices of Islam
making a huge positive
impact via his public talks,
writings and numerous media
appearances worldwide.
ANOTHER FROM THE TOP 50
INFLUENTIAL MUSLIMS IN NEXT
WEEK'S CCN
MARGARET WEISS
Thanks, Tony. I
have a question
for the whole
panel. Following
on from the
recent terror
attacks in
Melbourne, or
terror attack
and arrests, and
the Prime
Minister’s
proposal for a
meeting with
Muslim
leadership, what
does the panel
think of the
refusal of those
leaders to
attend the
meeting?
TONY JONES
Mehreen, I’ll
start with you.
MEHREEN FARUQI
Yeah, go
straight to the
Muslim, Tony.
TONY JONES
It seems to make
sense.
MEHREEN FARUQI
Yeah. So,
obviously, the
attack was
horrific. You
know, my heart
goes out to the
victims of that
attack, but I
think the
response of the
Prime Minister
was also very
divisive. Like,
to immediately
vilify a whole
community for
the actions of
one person is
not how society
works. You know,
I do...
ERIC ABETZ
He didn’t do
that.
MEHREEN FARUQI
Well, he did do
that.
ERIC ABETZ
He didn’t.
MEHREEN FARUQI
And, you know...
Every time
something like
this happens and
it’s a Muslim
who...
TONY JONES
Could you just
explain? ‘Cause
Eric Abetz said
he didn’t do
that. Can you
explain, if you
believe that,
how did he do
it? Because
essentially what
he did was to
say to imams,
“If you see
something going
on in your
church, and even
if you don’t, if
you suspect it,
you should
intervene in
some way.” So, I
mean, how
disrespectful
was that?
MEHREEN FARUQI
Sure, OK. So his
immediate
reaction was
that the Muslim
community needs
to do more about
this. You know,
when we have
criminal
activities like
this, when we
have attacks
like this, when
we have violence
like this, it is
the
responsibility
of the whole
community. We
have to come
together as a
whole community.
Just vilifying
and picking on
one community is
not the way to
do it. And, you
know, the Muslim
community has
been doing quite
a lot in terms
of getting young
people’s
programs,
engaging them
in, let’s say,
mateship
programs or
harmony
programs. They
even run
programs in
prisons for
Muslim prisoners
in terms of how
to get back into
the community.
So, it’s not a
lack of the
Muslim community
doing something.
TONY JONES
But, Mehreen,
vilification is
quite a strong
charge to lay
against the
Prime Minister.
Based on what he
said, is that
really
justified?
MEHREEN FARUQI
Sure. I think
after that, he
said was the
Muslim community
wasn’t serious
about this issue
and, you know,
they didn’t want
to deal with
this issue. I
think those are
pretty strong
comments. So, I
mean, I think we
should always
have dialogue.
It’s always,
always very
important, but
the dialogue has
to start on the
basis of good
faith and trust
and it cannot
start on the
basis of where
this community
is not
interested in
dealing with
this issue.
Let’s sit
together and
have a
conversation. We
need to have
that
conversation...
ERIC ABETZ
That’s what the
Prime Minister
wanted.
MEHREEN FARUQI
We need to have
many
conversations,
but they need to
happen in good
faith and with
trust.
TONY JONES
OK. Eric Abetz,
good faith and
trust, did the
Prime
Minister...
ERIC ABETZ
The Prime
Minister
referred to
extremists, and
I think that is
the vital word
here. And some
leaders of the
Islamic
community were
in fact willing
to meet with the
Prime Minister,
because they
understand the
seriousness of
the issue.
Others decided
not to. What is
the Australian
community to
make of that,
that some are
willing to
condemn the
activity,
others, not so
sure?
TONY JONES
So what did you
make of it, Eric
Abetz?
ERIC ABETZ
Well, I made
exactly what the
Prime Minister
made of it, and
I think they are
the undeniable
facts, that a
radicalised
Muslim undertook
an activity that
has been
described as
absolutely
horrendous, and
correctly so,
and then for
that to be
called out for
what it is is
not sin by the
Prime Minister
but a statement
of fact. And
that some Muslim
leaders were
willing to deal
with that, I
think, is to be
applauded.
Whereas others
were willing to
stay away, is a
matter of
concern.
MEHREEN FARUQI
Unless every
single Muslim
comes out and
condemns attacks
that happen, you
think we don’t?
ERIC ABETZ
No, no, no.
MEHREEN FARUQI
Of course
everyone
condemns these
attacks. I mean,
these are
terrible things,
but you have to
go back and
address the
issue at the
root causes of
it. Why is this
happening? Why
is
radicalisation
happening?
ERIC ABETZ
It’s the
extremism.
MEHREEN FARUQI
It’s
radicalisation,
it’s isolation,
it’s alienation,
it’s power
imbalance. We
have to get to
the root of
this.
ERIC ABETZ
Look, there are
many people...
TONY JONES
Sorry.
ERIC ABETZ
Alright.
TONY JONES
I’m just going
to let the other
panellists talk.
Tom, I’ll come
to you first.
TOM SWITZER
Well, I think
the first point
to make is that
the broad
cross-section of
Australian
Muslims are
decent and
law-abiding
citizens. And
that goes
without saying.
And the Prime
Minister is not
attacking
Muslims or
Muslim leaders,
he’s attacking
these jihadists,
who are
unashamedly
embracing this
radical
extremist
version of their
religion.
TONY JONES
Tom, he did say
it was a lame
excuse to talk
about this man’s
history of
mental illness.
Now, does that
sort of twist
the story a
little bit?
TOM SWITZER
Well, I think
mental illness
is a
contributing
factor, but he
was also
motivated by the
ideology of
militant Islam,
and that’s what
the Prime
Minister is
saying. And
context is
important. Both
Sydney and
Melbourne have
seen violence
and murder at
the hand of
radical
jihadists, and
our law
enforcement
officials have
thwarted many
terror attacks
inspired by
Islamic
extremists. Now,
on the political
consequences of
this, I don’t
think it’s such
a big issue
these days. It
was in the
decade after
9/11, and the
terror attacks
in New York and
Washington and
Pennsylvania.
Certainly in
London, after
the 2005 terror
attacks. But at
the last British
election, when
this issue was
raised after a
few terror
attacks outside
Westminster,
this issue did
not hurt the
Labour leader
Jeremy Corbyn,
who more or less
talks your
language on this
question, which
might indicate
that the
political
climate on this
issue is
changing.
TONY JONES
Well, let’s see
if Doug Cameron
is talking the
same language as
Mehreen, or a
different kind
of language. And
are you talking
the same
language as
Jeremy Corbyn?
TOM SWITZER
(LAUGHS)
DOUG CAMERON
Well, as a
socialist, yes.
TOM SWITZER
(LAUGHS) He’s
not a Scot
though, mate.
DOUG CAMERON
No.
TONY JONES
There aren’t
many people left
in the Labor
Party who refer
to them as
socialists. We
have to say
that.
DOUG CAMERON
Well, I am.
TOM SWITZER
There are in
Britain!
(LAUGHS)
DOUG CAMERON
Yeah.
TONY JONES
True.
TOM SWITZER
You should go
back to
Scotland, mate.
TONY JONES
Tom, you’re not
saying, “Go back
to where you
came from”?
TOM SWITZER
(LAUGHS)
TONY JONES
Because that
would be quite a
bad...
DOUG CAMERON
You see, you
know, I’m a
white guy, so
you can imagine
what happens to
other migrants
in this country
if that’s the
sort of
attitude...
TOM SWITZER
Come on, I’m
just joking. It
was a joke,
Dougie, come on.
DOUG CAMERON
And it’s always
easy...
TOM SWITZER
That was a joke,
Tony.
DOUG CAMERON
It’s always easy
to say it’s a
joke. I’ve been
told I’m
incomprehensible
by members of
the Coalition,
I’ve been told
to go back to
Scotland. You
know, I can
stand up for
myself. You
know, I can. But
you’ve got lots
of migrants come
here that don’t
have that
capacity, and I
think they get
treated
terribly.
TOM SWITZER
Australia is a
very welcoming
society, Doug.
Otherwise, why
do so many
people come to
this country?
TONY JONES
Alright...
TOM SWITZER
No, seriously,
that was a cheap
shot by Doug. I
was not...
ERIC ABETZ
Yeah, very.
TOM SWITZER
It was clearly a
joke. And this
is the problem
with identity
politics.
DOUG CAMERON
Oh...
TOM SWITZER
You guys take it
way too
seriously. It
was just a joke.
TONY JONES
OK, so, we’ve
gone beyond the
air of the
question.
DOUG CAMERON
So...
TONY JONES
I’d like to
bring us back to
the question.
DOUG CAMERON
So, I agree. You
didn’t hear, you
know, when it
was the
Christian
churches…where,
you know, kids
were being
abused all over
the place, you
didn’t hear, you
know, for years,
many of those
leaders of the
Christian
churches being
told, “It’s your
responsibility.
You fix it.”
That didn’t
happen. And I
just think it’s
terrible when
you’ve got, you
know, One Nation
coming into the
Senate dressed
in a burqa, you
know, and people
are going, “Oh,
this is OK,” and
just copping it.
You know, I
thought that was
terrible. And I
think this is
going to get
worse. I think
the politics of
terrorism, the
politics of
Muslims is going
to get worse as
we get closer to
the election,
because as it
gets tougher for
the Coalition,
then they’re
going to try and
divide, they’re
going to run
fear campaigns.
I think it’s
terrible, and I
think they
should be
concentrating on
decent policies
for all
Australians,
including Muslim
Australians.
TONY JONES
OK...
TOM SWITZER
And notice that,
not once, not
once, not once
did Dougie
condemn radical
extremist Islam.
Not once.
DOUG CAMERON
I wasn’t asked
to condemn...
ERIC ABETZ
Not once.
TOM SWITZER
This was all in
the context of
the question.
ERIC ABETZ
You were. That
was the
question, Doug.
TONY JONES
Actually, I’ll
come back to
Doug...
TOM SWITZER
I mean, that is
very revealing,
Dougie.
TONY JONES
...but actually,
Yasmin’s mother
is a Muslim, and
I’m just
interested how
you’re viewing
this debate, or
how you’re
feeling it,
perhaps.
YASMIN POOLE
Yeah. I mean,
look, I’m
certainly not
representative
of all young
people, and I’m
not Muslim
myself, but, you
know, has a
mother who is
Muslim. She
doesn’t even
wear the hijab
anymore, um,
because when she
first came to
the country she
was
discriminated
against. Um, and
now she’s
working as a
mental health
nurse and
contributing
hugely to our
society. So when
you’re
saying...when
you’re blaming
the Muslim
community, I
think it’s very
counterproductive
and just aside
from the issue,
which is… You
know, the fact
that she’s in
mental health is
ironic, because
it’s mental
health.
At the end of
the day, you
know, there is a
big Muslim
community that
are extremely
moderate, and I
think, by
pointing fingers
without focusing
on security,
without focusing
on mental health
reform, you
know, without
focusing on
these things, it
ultimately is
going aside from
the real
problem. So,
unfortunately, I
think when we’re
painting Muslims
with a broad
brush and when
we’re, like I
said, pointing
fingers, it’s
honestly
counterproductive
and unhelpful,
and creates more
divisiveness.
TONY JONES
OK, and very
briefly, I’m
going to go back
to Doug Cameron.
The question
was, what do you
think of Muslim
leaders refusing
to attend the
meeting with the
Prime Minister
regarding
radicalisation?
DOUG CAMERON
I think it was
being used by
the Prime
Minister, to
some extent, for
another photo
opportunity. And
I think, you
know, if he was
really serious
about dealing
with that, there
could have been
a meeting
without all the
publicity, all
the nonsense
that went on,
and I’m sure
that the Muslim
leaders in this
country would
sit down, as
they have been
doing, working
cooperatively
with security
and intelligence
agencies,
working
cooperatively
with the police,
and working
cooperatively
with
politicians.
Because they
know the dangers
of terrorism,
and they
understand it,
probably better
than most. But
to be used as a
photo
opportunity by
the Prime
Minister, I
think was the
wrong thing.
ERIC ABETZ
Well, it wasn’t
a photo
opportunity.
DOUG CAMERON
Yes, it was. It
was.
ERIC ABETZ
Absolutely not.
Then, you
know...
DOUG CAMERON
It totally was.
ERIC ABETZ
Look, if Scott
Morrison could
walk on water,
Doug would be
saying, “This is
proof positive
he can’t swim.”
This is the sort
of nonsense that
we are now
getting out of
Doug Cameron.
DOUG CAMERON
As long as he
gets the
baseball hat on,
he’ll be OK.
TONY JONES
OK,
let’s...let’s...
MEHREEN FARUQI
A tinfoil one.
DOUG CAMERON
Yeah.
TONY JONES
Let us move on.
The next
question’s from
Jack Green.
Discover the
untold history of Islam in
the Philippine Islands.
Uncover the amazing
community of the sultanates
of Muslims...
Najwa Zebian - Write Your
Story
The
Daily Goalcast
Najwa Zebian
shares her emotional story
of abuse, and how an old
picture from childhood
turned her pain into
something beautiful..
Everything you should
know about the birth of the
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
OnePath
Network
How familiar
are you with the birthday of
the noble Prophet of Allah,
Muhammad ﷺ? Here are some
facts that you should know
about this tremendous day in
the history of Islam.
PLEASE
NOTE
It is the usual policy of CCN to
include notices of events, video links and articles that
some readers may find interesting or relevant. Such notices
are often posted as received. Including such messages/links
or providing the details of such events does not necessarily
imply endorsement or agreement by CCN of the contents
therein.
In accepting the
award on Mrs
Mayat's behalf,
Dr Ally told the
members present
that he was
particularly
honoured to be
doing so, given
that he would
not have
survived the 6
years as a
student in the
UK without his
trusty copy of
Indian Delights.
Upon receiving
her award and
gifts in person
at her home the
next day, Mrs
Mayat emailed
SANHA to say:
My reluctance to
present myself at your recognition
award function was due to the 93
years that I carry on weak legs. I
know you will understand. However,
the plaque and the big box with skin
rejuvenating lotions especially, may
result in spring returning after the
autumn years of my life. The
femininity within me eagerly looks
forward to massaging the creams into
the furrows and wrinkles that are
sketched across face and limbs.
Jazaak Allah O Khairun Jaza.
With Duas and
Salaams
Zuleikha Mayat.
Mrs. Zuleikha
Mayat is
renowned for her
cookbook Indian
Delights, which
was first
published in
1954. The
93-year-old was
also active in
the struggle
against the
apartheid
government in
Durban where she
also organised a
women's
community group
that has worked
tirelessly for
social change.
Mayat and her
husband hosted
the late
president Nelson
Mandela at their
home while he
was in hiding.
She formed a
close
relationship
with Ahmed
Kathrada while
he was on Robben
Island and
published a book
with their
letters titled
Dear Ahmed,
Dear
Zuleikhabehn:
The letters of
Zuleikha Mayat
and Ahmed
Kathrada
1979-1989.
SCOTLAND: Iraqi
author Shahad
al-Rawi has won
Edinburgh
International
Book Festival’s
prestigious
First Book Award
for her debut
novel The
Baghdad Clock.
Set in Baghdad
during the first
Gulf War, the
novel tells the
story of a girl
growing up in a
city at war.
Announcing Al-Rawi
as the winner on
November 2, the
festival’s
Director, Nick
Barley, said the
novel
exemplified the
importance of
telling stories.
“Even in extreme
situations like
the one
portrayed in
Shahad’s novel,
it’s stories
that keep people
going. Maybe
that’s why her
novel is so
affecting and so
powerful,” he
said, in
comments
published by the
festival.
Al-Rawi said she
was “extremely
happy” to be
honoured. “I’m
very proud for
two reasons;
first because
this prize came
from the
Edinburgh
International
Book Festival
itself.
Secondly,
because the
competition was
extremely strong
and the books
drew on so many
different
subjects.
“Edinburgh
International
Book Festival is
one of the most
important
festivals in the
world. It has
the best
reputation, and
I’m very
grateful that I
was part of it
this year,” she
said.
Al-Rawi was born
in Baghdad in
1986 and moved
with her family
to Syria after
high school. She
now lives in
Dubai and is
pursuing a PhD
in anthropology.
The First Book
Award celebrates
the new fiction
from the UK and
around the world
featured in the
Book Festival
public programme
and is voted for
by readers and
visitors to the
Festival. The
winner was
chosen from the
49 debut novels
and short story
collections for
adults and young
adults eligible
for the Award
this year.
The Edinburgh
International
Book Festival is
billed as the
largest such
festival. It
coincides with
the city’s
famous Festival
Fringe.
Refuting ISIS: A Rebuttal Of Its Religious And
Ideological Foundations
by
Muhammad Al-Yaqoubi (Author &
Translator)
Description
The Islamic
State in Syria and Iraq (ISIS)
constitutes the most serious threat
Islam has ever faced.
To justify
its horrible crimes and appeal to
Muslims around the world, ISIS has based
its ideology on a superficial and
literalist approach to the Sacred Texts
of Islam - the Holy Qur'an and the
Prophetic Tradition.
ISIS
manipulates religion to brainwash angry
young Muslims, who have little knowledge
of Islamic theology and jurisprudence.
Therefore,
the Muslim scholars are obliged to
respond with a counter-narrative that
elucidates the reality of Islam and its
commitment to tolerance.
There exists
a plethora of proofs that demonstrates
ISIS’ actions do not represent Sunni
Islam and its claims are based on clear
fallacies.
The author,
Shaykh Muhammad Al-Yaqoubi, a renowned
scholar and one of the 500 most
influential Muslims in the world today,
presents in this invaluable book a
thorough refutation of ISIS’ beliefs and
crimes.
Providing
authentic quotes that destroy the
allegations of ISIS, Shaykh Al-Yaqoubi
reaches the conclusion that this group
does not represent Islam, its
declaration of a caliphate is invalid,
and fighting it is an obligation upon
Muslims.
KB says:
This is perfect for children’s parties or for a
treat during the holidays and together with this week's recipe, I thought I
would share with you a recently posted video on
a Food Tour of Islamabad, Pakistan.
Drop Doughnuts
Guest chef-of-the-week: Yaseera
Peer
INGREDIENTS
METHOD
2 cups self-raising flour
2 eggs
½
cup sugar
1 cup yoghurt
2 tab ghee/melted butter
Beat eggs
and sugar well and add yoghurt and flour and melted
butter to form the dough.
Drop ball
size dough in hot oil and fry on medium heat.
Roll in
castor sugar and serve immediately
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.
Q:
Dear Kareema, as we’re approaching the summer
holidays, I feel like I’m ‘burning myself out’
and December gets even busier. Any tips on still
keeping active and stressing less?
A:
That is why it is very important to take care
and manage your health and fitness first.
Schedule in a workout before you even look at
other events in your diary.
You’ll feel better and be more energised to take
on your other ‘must-do’s’.
If you’re really pressed for time, try
10min-mini workouts whenever possible.
You’ll be amazed with the results and how much
you can actually achieve in a short challenging
session.
Take time out daily to de-stress.
Whether it is a yoga session or just sitting in
a quiet spot and focusing on your breathing.
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 Unlearn
Your Fears
For many years I
harboured within me
two major fears -
fear of abandonment
and rejection and
fear of spiders. It
was only two years
ago that I was able
to unlearn these
fears and am now a
spider-friendly
person who loves her
own company and
could not give a
hoot about being
rejected or
abandoned. It didn’t
happen overnight,
especially
overcoming
arachnophobia :)
Fears are learned.
The environment we
grow up in and the
mindset we are
conditioned to
operate from govern
our fears. I watched
a horror film when I
was very young
called
Arachnophobia. I had
no problems with
spiders until I saw
that film. And then
I watched Harry
Potter Chambers of
Secret and
Aragog the Spider
was enough to keep
me awake a few
nights. That is a
classic example of
physical fear.
Emotional fears are
slightly different
but learned in a
similar way. They
too are as a result
of experiences and
conditioning. My
fear of abandonment
and rejection came
from childhood
experiences of
inadequate emotional
care.
So how do we
unlearn our fears?
In any journey of
transformation, one
must first identify
what needs to be
transformed.
Similarly, in order
to unlearn fears,
one must first
identify what one
fears.
5-Step Process to
identify and unlearn
your fears
1. Make a list
of what you are
fearful of.
These things
could be
emotional or
physical.
2. Beside each
fear, write down
where you got
this fear from?
(parents,
friends, TV or
Film or books)
3. Write down
what exactly
would happen to
you physically
if you had to
face this thing
that was causing
you to fear
4. Write down
positive aspects
of the thing you
fear from a
logical and
rational point
of view
5. Every time
you feel fear,
remind yourself
about the
positive aspects
of that thing
that is causing
you to fear
It is the fourth
step that people
struggle with most.
For example, one of
my clients had a
fear of dying in a
car crash. She
didn’t fear death,
however, the car
crash was not how
she wanted to die.
She said she
couldn’t find
anything positive to
say about a car
crash.
You may agree with
her. At some level,
I do too. However,
let us look at this
from a Muslim’s
perspective. Once I
did this with my
client she was able
to overcome this
fear completely.
Where there is FAITH
there is NO FEAR.
As Muslims, we are
not to fear people,
places, things or
situations. We are
to fear (have ‘khawf’)
of ONLY ALLAH.
Example of how to
unlearn fear
Let’s look at how my
client unlearned her
fear of dying in a
car crash using the
above 5 steps.
1. She listed
her fear - Dying
in a car crash
2. She listed
how she
developed this
fear - She saw
pictures of a
car crash in a
newspaper
clipping when
she was very
young
3. She wrote
down what would
happen to her
physically if
she was in a car
crash - broken
bones, brain
damage, blood
everywhere
(notice she
didn’t mention
death)
4. She wrote
down the
positive aspect
of this car
crash - death,
returning to
ALLAH, and
inshallah Jannah
5. She wrote
what she needed
to remind
herself every
time this fear
gripped her -
That dying of a
car crash will
not matter when
her soul is
released from
her body because
she will no
longer exist in
human form. She
will be awaiting
her judgment
day. She needs
to focus on the
now and do good
deeds to be able
to reach Jannah
when she dies.
This rather logical
confrontation of her
fear gave her a
renewed perspective
of her temporary
existence here in
this Duniya.
As Muslims, we are
wonderfully equipped
with this
realisation that
life in the Duniya
is temporary. Fear
is shaytaan’s
whispers to make you
think otherwise.
Faith overcomes
fear. Faith and fear
can never coexist.
ALWAYS CHOOSE
FAITH OVER FEAR.
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.
Teacher: “If I gave
you two cats and another two cats and then another two,
how many would you have?”
Jallalludin Jnr.:
“Seven!”
Teacher: “No no, listen carefully… If I gave you two
cats, and another two cats and another two, how many
would you have?”
Jallalludin Jnr.:
“Seven.”
The teacher starts to get frustrated.
Teacher: “Come on my
boy, you’re better than this. Let me put it to you
differently. If I gave you two apples, and another two
apples and another two, how many would you have?”
Jallalludin Jnr.: “Six.”
Teacher: “Good. Now,
if I gave you two cats, and another two cats and then
another two, how many would you have?”
Jallalludin Jnr.: “Seven!”
Teacher: “Jallalludin Jnr., where in the heck do you get
seven from?!?”
Jallalludin Jnr.: “Because I’ve already got a b@34*&
cat!”
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
A
young man has to have
surgery to remove a brain
tumour. 
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