The Muslim Leaders Forum for
Gambling Harm Awareness was
held on Wednesday 5 December
in Melbourne equipping them
with resources to help
families experiencing
gambling harm.
The event, held at Al Siraat
College was sponsored by
Ethnic Communities Council
of Victoria and supported by
Victoria Police, City of
Whittlesea, Arabic Welfare,
SHARC and Banyule Community
Health.
The purpose for the
gathering was to raise
awareness on gambling harm
in Victoria and equip Muslim
leaders with the local
resources available to them
in supporting families
experiencing gambling harm.
Keynote speaker, former
mayor of City of Whittlesea
and ECCV chair, Kris
Pavlidis said that residents
of her municipality
currently lose 300 thousand
dollars at the Pokies every
single day.
She explained that the
council has petitioned
heavily this year towards
having fewer machines and
reducing operating hours for
pokies venues.
She shared some of the
successes they’ve had in
blocking new pokies machines
being introduced to the City
of Whittlesea.
One case with Commercial
Hotel who wanted to
introduce pokies machines
went all the way to the
Supreme Court but was later
withdrawn, a significant win
for the community.
The Cairns Mosque has been
desecrated with graffiti of a
Nazi swastika and KKK. Imam
Waseem Jappie stands beside the
graffiti on the outside of the
mosque.
A CAIRNS plasterer blamed
“peer pressure” as the
reason he allegedly sprayed
racist graffiti on a mosque,
a court heard.
Jai Wiltshire, 20, was
arrested after he allegedly
defaced the Cairns Islamic
Society and Mosque on Dunn
St on Saturday. He appeared
in court yesterday.
Cairns
Imam Waseem Jappie was on
leave at the time but was
alerted by one of mosque
members, who sent him
photos. He called the
vandalism “childish”.
Imam Mohamed Isa yesterday
said “as long as there was
race, there would be
racists”.
“This is a place of worship
– it is a praying place and
these acts hurt us as well.”
Cairns Magistrates Court
heard the alleged vandalism
included Nazi and white
supremacist symbols.
“There are some racist
motives behind it,” police
prosector Megan Howard said.
“There was a swastika and
KKK.”
The swastika is an ancient
symbol adopted by the Nazi
Party in the 1930s and is
associated with the
holocaust, white
supremacists and right wing
extremism.
It has been banned in
Germany and some European
countries.
KKK is the abbreviation for
the Ku Klux Klan, an
American terrorist group
known for racial hate crimes
and is also associated with
white supremacists and Neo
Nazis.
Ms Howard told the court Mr
Wiltshire told police he was
aware the graffiti was
racially offensive but did
not know the history behind
it. “He did not know the
Islamic Society was a mosque
but knew Muslims did
frequent it,” Ms Howard
said.
The court heard the
defendant was “egged on” by
drunken mates and later
blamed “peer pressure” for
the alleged act.
Mr Wiltshire is charged with
breaching probation and
wilful damage using
graffiti. He has not yet
entered a plea.
“There are some disturbing
aspects to the facts
alleged,” acting magistrate
Scott Luxton said.
Despite the police
opposition to bail, he
released Mr Wiltshire to
reappear in Cairns
Magistrates Court on January
21 next year.
“It has to be considered
given the nature of the
charges, that prison is not
inevitable.” Mr Luxton said.
This is not the first
graffiti attack on a Far
Northern mosque. Just over
five years ago, vandals
spray painted offensive
statements on the front
gates of the North Cairns
mosque. The culprits called
for worshippers to
“integrate” or return to
their “homelands”.
In 2014 the word “evil” was
scrawled in yellow paint on
the Mareeba mosque.
Abandoned by her father at
six, Naz’s family was
jumping from squalor to
squalor and living meal to
meal.
Far from a normal
upbringing, she was sent to
Pakistan at 12, to protect
her from the man sexually
exploiting her mother over a
mortgage.
She was forced into an
abusive marriage at 15, and
upon return to the UK, was
beholden to her mother
killing her abuser.
From here on, Naz was
thwarted into a life
juggling between campaigning
for her mother’s rights,
visiting solicitors, working
odd jobs and raising her
younger siblings.
We sit with Naz and hear of
the incredible set of events
which took her from
homeless, abused and
uneducated, to eventually
gaining a sweeping victory
over George Galloway as the
Member for Bradford West.
If there is any story that
embodies true perseverance,
it is this one.
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:
The Newport
mosque is a
unique building
as it was
designed by Glen
Mercut, the
Hijjas Kasturi
of Australian
architects. It
had no fence, in
order to
encourage the
participation of
the larger
community. The
forecourt, which
is usually like
a fortress
enclosed on all
four sides, was
only enclosed on
three sides.
Overlooking the
court was a
serambi or
roof-covered
porch with
ablution areas
for the men.
The main prayer
space was
enclosed by a
glass wall,
which made it
visible from the
outside. The
mosque had a
restaurant in
the front area
which was also
part of the
complex. The
restaurant was
open to all.
When my student
asked what would
happen if
someone came
with a dog, the
builder smiled
and said they
would put a sign
asking for dogs
to be kept tied
in a designated
area.
The mosque had
no dome, no
minaret and no
arches. The
architect, I
assumed, had
done away with
these
traditional
structures
because he knew
they were not a
sacred
requirement.
Secondly, I
assume, he did
not want the
mosque to stand
out in the
skyline of the
community
buildings around
the
neighbourhood
which had no
tall structures
or church
steeples. This
is called urban
contextualism,
which means to
be “friendly” to
your neighbours
by not being
obtrusive.
Meet
the former
garbageman now
running NSW
schools
By Jordan Baker
Murat Dizdar
is responsible for the
day-to-day operation of the
state's 2200 schools
CONTINUED FROM
LAST WEEK'S CCN....
His first job
was as a social
sciences teacher
at Ashcroft
High, which he
juggled with the
garbage run. He
advanced
quickly, thanks
in part to
excellent
mentors,
becoming a head
teacher at
Belmore Boys,
then deputy
principal, then
principal of
Punchbowl Boys.
Many of the
students at
Belmore and
Punchbowl were
muslim, like
Dizdar, but he
"never played
that card".
"My philosophy
is you've got to
be a great
educator, a
great human
being, and
willing to
serve," he says.
"I don't believe
you are going to
get respect and
credibility that
way, it's got to
come from what
you are actually
doing each and
every day."
When Dizdar took
over at
Punchbowl, it
had a bad
reputation, and
he worked hard
to remedy that
by engaging with
both the boys,
and the
community. But
he believes
reputation is
misleading when
it comes to
schools. "The
reputation never
matches what you
see in there,"
he says.
"Schools that
have
marginalised
reputations are
often doing
phenomenal
things inside
the school
gates, and
schools where
parents line up,
try to rent and
be in the zone
area for - it's
not quite what
you might see on
the My School
website."
His wife Ceyda's
old school,
Glebe High - now
the senior
campus for
Sydney Secondary
College - was a
case in point.
By the time
Dizdar was in
year 12, there
were just 25
students in her
year, and the
school had one
of the worst
reputations in
the state. "She
will swear black
and blue that
the school was
phenomenal,"
Dizdar says.
"[Reputation]
doesn't match
what's actually
inside. Every
site has its
complexity.
That's what
makes public
education so
strong in the
tertiary realm,
for completions,
attainments. We
do breed
resilient kids."
These days,
Dizdar is
responsible for
the 2200
principals
across the NSW
education
system. But he
can't keep
himself out of
the classroom.
He'll drop into
a school,
without telling
staff he's
coming, and run
a class for 10
minutes, "to
test whether
I've still got
it".
"You see
phenomenal
practice in
action -
inspirational
practice," he
says of his
impromptu
visits. "When
you are a high
school teacher
standing in
front of young
people five
times a day for
60-minute
lessons - there
are not many
professions that
ask you to do
that. You have
to be a believer
in the job, a
believer in
young people,
you have to stay
sharp and
informed. I
think broader
society should
show greater
respect for
that."
Dizdar has been
in his role for
nearly two
years; his boss,
Education
Department
secretary Mark
Scott, has been
there for
two-and-a-half.
Dizdar speaks
highly of Scott,
and hopes he
will remain in
the job for
years. But what
would that mean
for Dizdar's
rapid rise?
Dizdar says his
loftiest
ambitions are
for the
education
system. "My own
children are in
the system," he
says. "I am not
a martyr; my
kids are not
expendable. I
just know that
what we provide
inside the
school gates is
just as good if
not better than
anywhere else.
We've said that
we want to be
Australia's best
education
system, one of
the finest in
the world, not
because of our
own ambition,
but because we
service 800,000
students. If we
are the
country's best,
it's going to be
the best of
outcomes for the
young people we
serve. I'm a
product of the
system. I saw
the
transformative
power of that."
Abstract
Historians have
widely
discredited the
narrative that
the prevalence
of Islam in the
world today can
be explained as
a result of
forced
conversions.
Without denying
that there may
have been some
exceptional
cases of forced
conversion―in
blatant
violation of
clear Islamic
directives―this
article
describes some
of the prominent
factors in the
Islamization of
different
regions of the
world in
history,
including daʿwah,
trade,
intermarriage,
migration,
influencers,
Islam’s emphasis
on justice and
unity, and the
universality of
Islam. The
examples used in
this article are
not exhaustive,
but they help us
develop an
appreciation of
the complex
nature of the
spread of Islam,
a process which
certainly cannot
be
oversimplified
into a slogan
such as “Islam
was spread by
the sword.”
Introduction
In 1993, the
historian
Richard Eaton
claimed that
“Islam was
history’s first
truly global
civilization.”[1]
While the
present status
of the Muslim
ummah
(community) as a
functional
“civilization”
is up for
discussion, the
scope referenced
by Eaton is more
accurate today
than ever: Islam
today is
undeniably a
global dīn (way
of life),
professed by an
estimated 1.8
billion people
as of 2015.[2]
For some, the
prevalence of
one of the
world’s youngest
religions can
only be
explained by the
“fact” that
historically,
Islam “spread by
the sword”―that
is, through
systematic
forced
conversion. As
discussed in the
first article in
this series,
this is a very
shallow
assertion.
However, the
previous
analysis does
raise another
important
question: if
Islam was not
spread by the
sword, what are
the factors that
have led to its
prevalence
across the world
today?
The current
article
discusses these
factors and
their role in
Islam’s
historical
trajectory in
different
regions of the
world. This
analysis is
organized in the
following way.
The first
section covers
five prominent
factors that
explain how
non-Muslims were
exposed to the
message of
Islam: daʿwah,
trade,
intermarriage,
migration and
influencers. The
second section
covers three
prominent
factors which
primarily
explain why
non-Muslims
embraced this
message after
they were
exposed to it:
Islam’s emphasis
on justice and
unity, and the
universality of
Islam.
It is important
to note that
this is not an
exhaustive
list―in fact,
every individual
convert had his
or her own
particular
experiences that
led them to
embrace the
faith. However,
to discuss each
case would be
redundant, even
if it were
possible. It is
therefore
necessary to
generalize the
discussion on
the spread of
Islam for the
sake of a
meaningful
analysis, but
not in such a
way as to lose
sight of the
reality: there
have been
virtually
countless
different means
used to deliver
the message of
Islam, and
countless
different
reasons for
accepting it.
Is it true
there's a chapter in the
Qur'an named after Mary?
Dr Bilal Hassam talks
through the role Jesus plays
in Islam and more in this
clip.
The Muslim family that
looks after a church
BBC
News
St Matthew's
Church is in a rural area of
Pakistan where there are
hardly any Christians.
For the last 100 years it's
been looked after by a local
Muslim family.
Current caretaker, Waheed
Murad, is the only person
who still knows how to ring
the bell. He told the BBC
why he feels proud of his
role.
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.
Germany mulls ‘Mosque tax’ to help
distract Muslims from ‘foreign influence’
Sehitlik Mosque
in Berlin.
GERMANY: In a
bid to curb a
potentially
radicalizing
foreign
influence on its
Muslim
residents,
German lawmakers
are considering
a new “mosque
tax,” intended
to make Muslim
communities
self-reliant and
under more
control.
Many German
mosques are
sponsored and
are de-facto
controlled from
abroad, leaving
local
authorities in
the dark about
what happens
inside. Now,
several MPs have
come up with an
idea that they
call a
“solution” for a
problem that has
become
increasingly
unnerving for
Berlin in recent
years.
The MPs’
proposal
involves the
introduction of
a special tax to
be paid by all
practicing
Muslims in
Germany, which
would then be
redistributed by
the state among
all officially
registered
Islamic
religious
institutions. A
similar tax
already exists
in Germany and
some other
European
countries for
Catholic and
Evangelical
Christians.
The initiative
is aimed at
helping “Islam
in Germany free
itself from the
influence of
foreign states
and get a
stronger
domestic
orientation,”
Thorsten Frei,
the deputy head
of Chancellor
Angela Merkel’s
Christian
Democratic Union
(CDU) faction in
the German
Parliament,
said, calling
the proposed tax
“an important
step in that
direction.”
Frei’s idea
immediately
received support
from other
members of the
ruling Grand
Coalition.
“Independent
financing” would
make the
communities
congregating in
mosques in
Germany more
“transparent,”
Michael Frieser,
a legal expert
and a member of
the Bavarian
Christian Social
Union – a
long-time CDU
ally, said. A
prominent member
of the Social
Democratic
Party, Burkhard
Lischka, called
the suggestion
“worthy of
discussion.”
Other
suggestions
voiced by MPs
include legally
obliging the
imams preaching
in Germany to
upload their
sermons on the
internet uncut.
“The mosques
must be open and
transparent,”
said Frieser.
However, any
potential
legislation on
that matter has
a long way to go
before it could
be implemented.
Any draft bill
should be first
discussed with
the German
states as it
falls within
their
jurisdiction,
Lischka
explained. So
far, no detailed
account of the
future
legislation has
been presented.
Still, the idea
also seemingly
received backing
from the
Interior
Ministry, which
said “it can be
a solution.”
However, the
ministry also
said that the
initiative would
mostly rely on
grassroots
support from the
Muslim
communities
themselves as it
would still
require a great
deal of
self-organization
on their part.
The German
Muslim community
has so far
remained
conspicuously
tight-lipped
about the
initiative. An
outspoken
unorthodox
female preacher,
Seyran Ates,
founder of the
first “liberal”
mosque in
Berlin, has been
the only one to
comment on the
initiative so
far. Ates backed
the proposal by
saying that “in
the future
everything that
the community
needs could be
paid-for by its
members
themselves.”
For now, most
Muslim religious
institutions in
Germany rely on
foreign aid in
some form. The
Turkish-Islamic
Union for
Religious
Affairs (DITIB),
directly
controlled by
Ankara, is
considered to be
one of the
largest
organizations
contributing to
German mosques
as it exerts
influence over
896 Muslim
communities
across the
country. Turkish
President Recep
Tayyip Erdogan
personally
opened one of
the newly built
mosques in the
German city of
Cologne during
his visit in
September.
Church welcomes its special Muslim
visitors on Christmas Eve
Every year
worshippers from the nearby
mosque attend service at St
Alban’s in London
For the past
10 years, worshippers at the
Shia Ithna’ashari Community of
Middlesex have been attending
midnight mass at St Alban’s.
UK: On Christmas
Eve, churches
all over the
country will
welcome into
their midnight
mass services
people who
rarely take part
in acts of
Christian
worship but find
candlelit carols
irresistible.
In the pews of
St Alban’s in
North Harrow
there will be a
special group of
visitors: about
three dozen
Muslims from a
nearby mosque.
For the past 10
years,
worshippers at
the Shia
Ithna’ashari
Community of
Middlesex have
been attending
midnight mass at
St Alban’s as a
way of meeting
their neighbours
and taking part
in Christmas
festivities.
“For us,
attending
midnight mass is
a great chance
to participate
in an important
part of
Christmas
celebrations and
meet people from
our local
church, many of
whom have become
our friends,”
said Miqdaad
Versi, an
executive
committee member
of SICM.
“Ten years ago,
this was one of
the first times
we met, and now
it has
flourished into
a much stronger
and long-lasting
relationship as
we meet
regularly, work
together and
organise joint
events.”
The Christmas
visits were
initiated by
young members of
the mosque. The
executive
committee
checked with the
church that they
would be
welcome, and
every year since
up to 50 Muslims
have attended
the midnight
service.
Versi said that
most Muslims
enjoyed
Christmas
celebrations and
the focus on
family. “There
are differences
in belief, of
course, but in
the Islamic
faith Jesus is
revered as a
major prophet.”
Each year, the
group from the
mosque includes
some people who
have never been
inside a church
before. “We
prepare them
before the
service, so they
know what to
expect. It’s up
to individuals
whether they
want to sing
carols or go up
to the altar to
be blessed. Some
do, some don’t.”
The mosque also
provides
volunteers to
local churches
that provide
shelter for
homeless people
on a rota basis
over the festive
period.
“We work with
churches
throughout the
year,” said
Versi. “They
come to us
during Ramadan
for iftar [the
meal that breaks
the daily fast],
and church
leaders have
spoken at the
mosque.”
Kate Tuckett,
the vicar of St
Alban’s, said
the attendance
at midnight mass
by members of
the mosque was a
“really positive
sign of
friendship”.
She added:
“We’re delighted
to welcome them.
They come in a
spirit of
respect and
their presence
reinforces the
strong links
that have
developed
between our
faith
communities.
Given the world
we live in,
anything we can
do to foster
dialogue and
understanding
will always be a
good thing.”
Pogba, Salah, Mane and Džeko make
UEFA Team of the Year short list
Football
Transfers: Eden
Hazard revealed
contract talks
with Chelsea
have stalled –
opening the door
for his dream
move to Real
Madrid once
again. The
winger, 27, has
just 18 months
left on his
current deal at
Stamford Bridge
and admitted he
still has not
decided on his
future.
Arsenal are
considering
selling Mesut
Özil for a
cut-price Ł25
million in the
January transfer
window,
according to the
Sun. The German
has struggled to
make Unai
Emery’s first
team in recent
weeks and the
Gunners have
been on
sensational
form. Arsenal
would weigh up
letting Özil go
for a reduced
transfer fee in
order to shed
his massive
Ł350,000-per-week
wage from the
books.
Liverpool and
Senegal forward
Sadio Mane has
agreed to terms
on a new
long-term deal
at Anfield. The
26-year-old
joined the club
from Southampton
on a five-year
contract in June
2016 for a fee
of Ł34 million.
Since then he
has gone on to
make 89
appearances in
all competitions
for Jurgen
Klopp’s side,
scoring 40
goals. Talks
over the new
deal, which is
believed to run
until 2023, were
opened at the
end of last
season but have
only been
finalised now.
UEFA 50-man team
of the year
shortlist: Paul
Pogba is the
only Manchester
United player to
make Uefa’s
50-man shortlist
for the team of
the year
published on
December 10 and
is made up of
five
goalkeepers, 15
defenders, 15
midfielders and
15 forwards. It
means Marseille,
Roma and
Tottenham all
have more
nominees than
the Old Trafford
club. Six
Liverpool
players have
made the
shortlist
including
Egypt’s Mohamed
Salah and Mane,
Seven Serie A
(Italy) based
players also
secured a spot
including
Bosnia’s Miralem
Pjanić of
Juventus and
Edin Džeko of
Roma.
Goalkeepers:
Alisson
(Liverpool),
Hugo Lloris
(Spurs), Keylor
Navas (Real),
Jan Oblak (Atlético),
Marc-André Ter
Stegen
(Barcelona).
Defenders:
Virgil Van Dijk
(Liverpool),
Giorgio
Chiellini (Juventus),
Kalidou
Koulibaly (Napoli),
Kostas Manolas
(Roma), Joshua
Kimmich (Bayern),
John Stones (Man
City), Gerard
Piqué, Jordi
Alba, Samuel
Umtiti
(Barcelona),
José Giménez,
Diego Godin,
Lucas Hernández
(Atlético),
Raphael Varane,
Sergio Ramos,
Marcelo (Real).
Midfielders:
James Milner
(Liverpool),
Paul Pogba (Man
United), Ivan
Rakitic
(Barcelona),
Miralem Pjanić (Juventus),
Saul Niguez (Atlético),
Eden Hazard,
N’golo Kante
(Chelsea), Luka
Modrić, Casemiro,
Isco, Toni Kroos
(Real), Kevin De
Bruyne, David
Silva (Man
City), Dimitri
Payet, Florian
Thauvin
(Marseille).
Forwards:
Antoine
Griezmann (Atlético),
Harry Kane
(Spurs), Edin
Dzeko (Roma),
Robert
Lewandowski (Bayern),
Gareth Bale
(Real),
Cristiano
Ronaldo, Paulo
Dybala (Juventus),
Kylian Mbappé,
Neymar, Edinson
Cavani (PSG),
Mohamed Salah,
Sadio Mane,
Roberto Firmino
(Liverpool),
Luis Suárez,
Lionel Messi
(Barcelona).
The
suspenseful and heartbreaking story of
an immigrant family driven to pit love
against loyalty, with devastating
consequences
Isma is free. After years of watching
out for her younger siblings in the wake
of their mother’s death, she’s accepted
an invitation from a mentor in America
that allows her to resume a dream long
deferred.
But she
can’t stop worrying about Aneeka, her
beautiful, headstrong sister back in
London, or their brother, Parvaiz, who’s
disappeared in pursuit of his own dream,
to prove himself to the dark legacy of
the jihadist father he never knew.
When he
resurfaces half a globe away, Isma’s
worst fears are confirmed.
Then Eamonn enters the sisters’ lives.
Son of a
powerful political figure, he has his
own birthright to live up to—or defy. Is
he to be a chance at love?
The means of
Parvaiz’s salvation?
Suddenly,
two families’ fates are inextricably,
devastatingly entwined, in this searing
novel that asks:
KB says:
This recipe is so aptly named...the cupcakes
turn out nothing short of amazing every time!
They are moist, yet light and soft and flop
proof.
Perfect Vanilla Cupcakes
INGREDIENTS & METHOD
Ingredients
1Ľ cups flour
1Ľ tsp baking powder
˝ tsp bicarbonate of soda
˝ tsp salt
2 eggs
ľ cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla essence
˝ cup oil
˝ cup buttermilk
Method
1. Sift together dry ingredients and set aside.
2. Beat eggs till creamy and slowly add sugar and beat for
another minute.
3. Add vanilla, oil and beat for another minute.
4. Add buttermilk and flour mix alternatively to the egg
mixture, folding it gently until all the ingredients are
incorporated.
5. Fill muffin cups to half full.
6.
Bake 180°C for 14-16mins till done.
Caramel topping
˝ tin caramel
4 tab milk
Mix together until slightly thin but not to runny. Spread
over cake. Decorate with aero mint chocolate & pistachios
Or ……just leave it plain, perfect with a cup of tea.
Baba's Halal Kitchen
(Hussain Baba is
the host and chef of *BABA’S HALAL KITCHEN*, a
show where he uses his own unique style to
cook 'Quick, Easy and Delicious' dishes.)
Vegetable and Prawn Fried Rice
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:
Cultivating Joy In
Your Marriage
ALMIGHTY ALLAH
enjoins a man and a
woman in marriage, a
union so beautiful
in every way.
Admittedly, it is
not always a bed of
roses. Cultivating
joy in your marriage
is a daily
challenge.It takes
unconditional love,
dedication,
commitment, kindness
and tremendous
amount of respect
and understanding to
maintain a joyful
marriage.
We may feel that
love is the only
ingredient in
marriage. Truth is,
it all starts with
respect. Respecting
anyone means to have
a regard for their
feelings, rights and
wishes. When you
respect, you are one
step closer to
understanding. And
when you understand
someone, there is no
room for assumptions
or accusations.
Take a moment and
ask yourself, when
was the last time
you displayed regard
for your spouse’s
feelings, rights and
wishes? How did you
display it?
Having an attitude
of respect and
understanding is not
the same as
practising them. It
is vital that your
spouse actually sees
you practising
respectful words and
respectful actions
towards him/her.
Strategies to
Cultivate Joy in
Your Marriage
1. Look your spouse
in the eye when you
communicate. There
is no barrier when
you are together.
ALLAH has enjoined
you in marriage and
permitted you to
communicate openly.
Looking in the eye
when communicating
reaffirms your
commitment and
caring nature.
2. Listen to the
reply when she/he
speaks. REALLY
LISTEN. Do not
formulate a reply
while she/he is
speaking. Do not
interrupt. Become
fully engaged. Curb
your urge to correct
or argue. You will
have your time
afterwards to
respond
appropriately.
First, LISTEN.
3. Give undivided
attention to each
other. Multi-tasking
is a wonderful skill
but NOT when you are
communicating with
your spouse. No
matter how important
certain chores or
tasks may seem,
remember ALWAYS that
your marriage is
more important than
any task you are
concerned about.
4. Ask each other
this question: “What
matters to you most
in life?” Understand
the response given
and honour those
wishes. Knowing what
matters most to your
spouse helps you
understand what you
can do to fulfil
his/her wishes.
5. Speak well about
the people who
matter to your
spouse. You may not
get along with all
the people who
matter to your
spouse and that is
fine. There is no
obligation to get
along. However there
is an obligation to
show respect. If you
speak ill about
people who matter to
him/her, it is
hurtful. Causing
your spouse hurt
will eventually turn
the relationship
sour.
6. Respect each
other’s fears and
sentiments. Fear is
very real to the
person experiencing
it. You do not have
to encourage it but
you need to show
sensitivity that it
is real to the
person experiencing
it. For example, “I
know it makes you
fearful when you
think about our new
baby. It is
overwhelming for
both of us. I am
with you all the
way. I am so pleased
that you are trying
your very best. That
is all that matters.
Allah rewards
efforts not results.
Keep doing your
best.”
7. Do not bring up
past arguments/
negative events when
addressing a new
issue. Be clear from
the beginning of any
discussion that the
topic of discussion
is to remain a
specific one and you
both need to respect
that rule. For
example, if you need
to discuss the
budget for your next
family vacation, it
is NOT advisable to
talk about how the
last vacation was
horrible because one
of you forgot to
book a hotel and
ended up staying
with in-laws!
8. Thank your spouse
regularly for being
your soulmate.
Expressing gratitude
increases positivity
in your
relationship.
9. Emphasize each
other’s good points.
Dwelling on mistakes
or negative traits
will only put stress
on your
relationship.
Instead, acknowledge
that you are human
hence you have your
own shortcomings.
Similarly, your
spouse may slip
every now and then
too. Say sorry,
forgive and move on.
10. When leaving for
work, exchange
Salaams and a loving
hug. There is no
shame in hugging
your spouse. ALLAH
has enjoined you in
marriage and allowed
you to display
affection towards
each other.
11. Spend COUPLE
TIME at least once a
week where you are
by yourselves for a
couple of hours to
share an activity
you both love. This
increases your
compatibility.
12. Follow ALLAH’s
commandment that the
husband is the
guardian of the
family. The wife is
created equal and
has different
responsibilities.
Following this
commandment
increases harmony in
the home. Disharmony
creeps in when these
roles are reversed.
13. Be content with
life and however
much your spouse is
doing for you.
Express gratitude to
ALLAH. If you want
more from life, ask
ALLAH instead of
nagging or
complaining to your
spouse.
14. Admire one
another. Pay a
compliment. Your
spouse feels nice
every time you
compliment him/her.
15. Protect each
other’s honour.
Guard it fiercely.
Do not speak ill of
your spouse to
another person, even
if that person is a
close family member.
Remind yourself that
ALLAH is watching
you if you backbite
about your spouse.
If the matter is
serious and your
spouse’s behaviour
concerns you, seek
appropriate guidance
and professional
help. Speaking ill
about your spouse
shows your poor
character - it
doesn’t fix your
marriage.
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.
And among His Signs is the
sleep that you take by night
and by day, and the quest
that you (make for
livelihood) out of His
Bounty: verify in that are
Signs for those who hearken.
What and When: Oz
Sports has been hired for
the community's sole use on
Saturday 19 January 2019
from 6pm to 8pm.
Activities will include
netball, soccer, cricket and
volleyball all in the name
of fun.
Teams will be randomly
selected and participants
will be able to play at
least 2 different sports on
the night. Salaah facilities
will be provided.
For food, there will be a
sausage sizzle.
Who's Invited: Everyone!
Men, women, boys and girls 4
years old and above are
invited to participate. Kids
under 4 and non-sports
participants are also
invited to join us on the
night.
Why: The purpose is
purely for the community to
get together, network and
have some fun through sport.
How do I Sign On:
Registration can be done
online.
Or you can call the secretary Abdul
Samim Khan on 0413669987.
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.
This is
urgent plea to all our
brothers and sisters.
We have paid
a deposit to purchase a
church on the Gold Coast to
make it into a Masjid, the
church is already approved
as a place of worship as a
Masjid.
So far we
have raised $2.6m in loans
qarz e hasna and donations
and are $500,000 short.
Our
settlement is in just over
1week time. We are pleading pay
back in 12 months.
We cannot
miss out on this church
which can accommodate 500
people. We will not get this
opportunity again in the
middle of Gold Coast.
There is only
1 Masjid on the Gold Coast
which is overflowing, again
I point out we can not miss
this opportunity we will
never get this opportunity
on the Gold Coast again.
Please help
towards this house of Allah
as the reward great - a
house in Jannah Insha’Allah.
Complete the
Pledge Form or please
message or contact me......
.
Please contribute whatever
you can and share with
family and friends.
May Allah swt grant you and
your family a dwelling in
Paradise.
Imam Akram
Buksh
0431201164
Gold Coast
Islamic Cultural Centre
Bank
Account Details:
Commonwealth
Bank of Australia, Toowoomba
Plaza Branch
A/C Name: Toowoomba Islamic
Charitable Organisation
BSB No
064459,
A/C No 1034
1586,
Swift Code: CTBAAU25XXX
Contacts:
Prof Shahjahan Khan Ph
+61421081048, Email:
khans@usq.edu.au, Dr
Mainul Islam Ph
+61432533550, and Br Shahbaz
Rafiq Ph 0402398608
(Brisbane).
Water
scarcity is a major concern
for those living in Yemen,
especially those in conflict
areas. This has resulted in
people seeking water from
unclean sources and the
spread of water-borne
diseases to over 1 million
people.
MAA has embarked on a major
project to provide water to
over 3,000 people by digging
an artesian well with a
depth of 170m.
The structure will include a
concrete reservoir,
generator room, and pipes
networked to distribute
water to local areas.
You now have the opportunity
to invest in the
construction of this
life-saving Sadaqah Jaariyah
project for just $50.
Invest on behalf of
yourself, your family, and
your friends and reap the
rewards!
1. All Islamic Event dates given above are supplied by
the Council of Imams QLD (CIQ) and are provided as a guide and are
tentative and subject to the sighting of the moon.
2. The Islamic date changes to the next day starting in
the evenings after maghrib. Therefore, exceptfor Lailatul
Mehraj,
Lailatul Bhahraat
and
Lailatul Qadr – these dates refer to the commencement of the event
starting in the evening of the corresponding day.
HikmahWay offers online and
in-person Islamic courses to
equip Muslims of today with
the knowledge, understanding
and wisdom to lead balanced,
wholesome and beneficial
lives.
Articles and
opinions appearing in this newsletter do not necessarily
reflect the opinions of the CCN Team, its Editor or its
Sponsors, particularly if they eventually turn out to be
libellous, unfounded, objectionable, obnoxious, offensive,
slanderous and/or downright distasteful.
It is the usual policy of CCN to
include from time to time, notices of events that some
readers may find interesting or relevant. Such notices are
often posted as received. Including such messages or
providing the details of such events does not necessarily
imply endorsement of the contents of these events by CCN
The best ideas
and the best feedback come from our community of readers. If you
have a topic or opinion that you want to write about or want
seen covered or any news item that you think might be of benefit
to the Crescents Community please
e-mail us..
Share your
thoughts, feelings and ambitions for our community through CCN.
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Cairns
Imam Waseem Jappie was on
leave at the time but was
alerted by one of mosque
members, who sent him
photos. He called the
vandalism “childish”.
The
Newport
mosque
Meet
the former
garbageman now
running NSW
schools
How
Islam Spread
Throughout the
World
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