CEO of the Islamic Women's
Association of Australia
(formerly Islamic Women's
Association of Queensland),
Mrs Galila Abdelsalam, was
named in the honours list
for an Order of Australia
Medal for services to the
Muslim community through a
range of organisations.
l to r: Riyaad Ally,
Farouk Adam, Jim Chalmers MP,
and Osman Rane
Local Muslims and community
groups were honoured as 2018
Local Legends at an awards
ceremony on Tuesday.
Riyaad Ally (Muslim
Aid Australia), Farouk
Adam (Muslim Business
Network), Osman Rane
(Muslim Charitable
Foundation) and Ismail
Cajee (Islamic Council
of Queensland) were
recognized for their
contributions to the local
community.
The Local Legends awards, in
their fourth year, honour
residents nominated by the
community.
Federal Labor MP for Rankin
Jim Chalmers, who started
the awards in 2015, said
there was a record of 250
nominees this year.
“I’m frequently amazed by
the selfless acts of so many
in our local area, which
makes ours a community which
looks out for each other,”
Mr Chalmers said.
People from all walks of
life, including elders,
volunteers and sports
coaches, were recognised at
the awards at the Diggers
Services Club, Logan Central
on Tuesday.
The Hurricane Stars Club
continued their school
holidays program in January,
providing kids with a wide
variety of opportunities to
have new experiences, make
new friends and learn new
skills. We started the month
with a peaceful kayak
through the beautiful
mangroves of the Brisbane
river, with both parents and
kids having fun paddling
along the river in their
kayaks. A few weeks later we
kayaked down the Logan River
and the kids had fun and
testing their skills playing
a variety of games on the
river while still in their
kayaks.
We partnered with the
Southside Academy of Combat
in Underwood again, after
our successful teen safety
workshop in December, for a
day camp for kids. We had 28
kids aged from 6 to 14 years
old who spent 5 hours
learning Indonesian Silat
martial arts and Brazilian
Jiu Jitsu, while play games,
having fun, getting fit and
making new friends.
We also joined up with the
Multicultural Sports Club to
take the kids down to the
Gold Coast by bus and gave
them the opportunity to
learn how to surf on a
beautiful Gold Coast beach.
The following week they
returned to the Gold Coast
again to learn how to be a
surf lifesaver. This
activity allowed them to
learn the important skills
needed to help swimmers in
difficulties while on the
water. For both activities
they did various activities
both on the sand and in the
water.
For those kids who prefer
indoor activities or were
too young to join the water
sports, we organized a
personalised program of
different art activities at
Logan West Community
Artshare Alliance. We had
three different activities
to appeal to all kids, we
did glass fusing, clay hand
building and hebel carving.
In the glass fusing
activity, the kids and some
parents got creative with
different coloured pieces of
glass and they made their
own fused glass scenery. Our
most popular activity was
the clay hand building
activity in which we filled
up the art studio! The kids
had the opportunity to make
their own pirate ships, into
which they etched their own
unique designs on. Our final
activity was hebel carving,
in which the kids developed
new skills and carved their
own unique designs into a
piece of concrete.
Wanting to let tweens and
teens (and their Mothers!)
regain the lost art of
Sewing, Hurricane Stars Club
organised a Beginners
Introductory lesson to
sewing by hand and to sewing
machines. It was a popular
and fully-booked program
where girls and ladies
learned upcycling a
pillowcase into their own
tote bags. A few days later,
we also organised another
sewing session, this time
for those who are with more
experience in sewing.
Participants got to learn
how to personalise and make
their own long skirts. This
activity not only helped our
girls to learn new skills
but also empower them to own
their own fashion sense
while adhering to Muslimah
conditions of attire.
Our final activity for the
school holidays was a
morning at Cable Ski Logan
in Carbrook during which the
kids tested their ability to
zoom across the water. The
kids kneeboarded,
wakeboarded and played in
the aqua park on standup
paddle boards, kayaks,
canoes, boats and inflatable
paths. Kids took on the
challenge of zipping around
the lake on kneeboards and
wakeboards, with some brave
little kids giving it a go
even though they were
smaller than the boards and
needed help to carry their
boards.
All in all it was a very
busy and fulfilling school
holidays, Alhamdulillah. We
look forward to developing
more exciting activities for
kids and youth over the
coming year with the dua and
support from the community,
in shaa Allah.
Qur’an Diaries is an
innovative and creative way
of interacting with the
Qur’an and applying it to
our daily lives assuming
that each individual holds a
key to unlock another’s’
understanding of interacting
with the Qur’an in a
profound and meaningful way.
The program goes for 7
sessions (2.5 hours each
weekly or fortnightly) and
is about reflecting with
Sura Baqarah in our lives
using solo, paired, group
activities and diary
entries.
It challenges individuals to
look deep and deliberate on
how to proactively apply
themes discussed in daily
lives.
The images illustrate some
of the outputs from the
program that was offered in
Adelaide and Brisbane in
2018. The activities in the
first session include
designing the shared
Etiquettes of Quran Diaries
which is a group agreement
on how participants would
work together, breaking the
ice collaboration activities
and reflection on sura
fatiha.
Quran Diaries Etiquette
Heart of the Believers
In the second session, we
start with strength-based
language activity and a
group art activity where
each group discusses and
then designs an art that
represents one of the four
hearts discussed in verses
1-20; these reflections are
then shared with the rest of
the room where individuals
can share any additional
reflections.
My tree of prohibition
Banu Israel: Timeline of
Events
The next session explores
verses 21-40 with activities
for deeper reflection
involving paired activity
what is in a name for verses
31-33, the solo activity of
my tree of prohibition where
each leaf represents an
issue that individuals are
struggling with in their
lives that Allah has asked
to stay away from thus
pondering verse 35, shared
reflection on the
relationship between Adam
and Shaitan, and reasons why
is the first narrative story
that of Banu Israel or
people of Musa (a).
Group activity: On four
hearts
The session on verses 61-80
requires working in groups
of 3/4 where individuals
would plan and execute a
role-play addressing either
verses 58 & 61 or verses
67-73. Groups are also
assigned the task of
observing another group’s
performance and providing
feedback about the
interpretative execution of
the verses in live form.
Similarly, the rest of the
sessions each reflect on
another lot of 20 verses
each involving diary entries
of reflections and crafting
paired/group activities
relevant to those verses
designed for a deeper
understanding and linking it
to daily life.
Qur’an Diaries also develops
a trusted social support
network where individuals
can safely discuss their
interactions with the Qur’an.
After 7 sessions as
participants, a facilitators
training is offered for
those who want to run their
own groups. The program has
been successfully offered in
Adelaide and Brisbane
between May to December
2018.
Dr Jalal Khan created a
mobile service to bring dental
services to those who need it
most.
Shien Sligar is 31 and can't
eat an apple.
The mother of two knew she
needed to see a dentist, but
a lengthy wait time in the
public health system and
high prices at private
clinics compounded her
situation.
Five of her teeth have
fallen out, and she is now
considering life with
dentures.
"Last year I lost three
teeth, just waiting to go
into the public health
system," Ms Sligar said.
"I'm a mother, I don't
drink, I don't smoke, I
don't use any substances
whatsoever.
"I have these issues because
of the time it takes to get
in to see a dentist."
Ms Sligar, like almost half
the NSW population, is
eligible for public oral
health care.
She also makes up one of the
100,000 children and adults
waiting for public dental
treatment in the state.
"I've waited two-years for a
general check-up," she said.
"To think at my age that I
need dentures just because I
couldn't get into the system
quick enough to fix a simple
hole, it's damaging.
"I feel like I'm unimportant
just because I'm a
low-income earner."
'I don't think it's good
enough'
In an effort to help people
like Ms Sligar, north Sydney
dentist Dr Jalal Khan
launched a mobile charity
clinic.
His initial plan was to
service regional and remote
areas, where the lack of
services is most pronounced.
But this month, for the
first time, Dr Khan parked
his truck at Sadleir, in
Sydney's south-west.
"I don't think it's good
enough because many of these
patients [on the public
waiting list] are suffering
hardship and are perhaps
even at the risk of
homelessness as well," Dr
Khan said.
"So what I'm trying to do is
target those most in need."
Dr Khan said the cost of
dental treatment in
Australia was forcing those
who can't afford a private
appointment to go without.
Long wait times were also
contributing to poor
treatment outcomes, he said.
"For medical services, a lot
of that is covered by
Medicare, but it's not so
for the dental side of
things and that reduces the
uptake of dental services
and in turn the preventive
services that people can
access," Dr Khan said.
And with strong links
between poor dental health,
diabetes and cardiovascular
disease, Dr Khan believes
it's an issue that needs
urgent attention.
"A broader analysis of
it all needs to be done
so we can improve the
system and improve the
service delivery."
In a statement, NSW Health
said dental care was a
shared responsibility
between state and federal
governments.
NSW Health said they had
attempted to contact Ms
Sligar to apologise and
ensure her needs are met.
The dental truck will leave
Sydney this weekend to
service Cunnamulla, western
Queensland.
World Hijab Day (WHD) is an
annual event in its 7th
year.
On February 1st of every
year, World Hijab Day
Organization asks global
citizens of all faiths and
backgrounds to wear the
Hijab (head-covering) for a
day in solidarity with
Muslim women worldwide. The
motto for World Hijab Day
2019 is “Breaking
Stereotypes. Shattering
Boundaries” with the hashtag
#FreeInHijab.
The overall mission of WHD
is to create a more peaceful
world where global citizens
respect each other.
Particularly, WHD focuses on
fighting bigotry,
discrimination, and
prejudice against Muslim
women. This is most crucial
in these times where Hijab
is being banned in some
countries while in other
countries, Muslim women are
being targeted and harassed
verbally and physically.
Below are some of the
shocking but true headlines:
Men rip off woman’s
hijab, cut crosses
into her skin in
Brussels (Yeni
Safak)
Muslim Student Said
College Expelled Her
For Wearing A Hijab
(Huffington Post)
Hijab or work:
Muslim Azerbaijani
women forced to
choose (JAM News)
An 11-year-old girl
had her hijab pulled
off at school (The
Salt Lake Tribune)
Most Western
Europeans favor at
least some
restrictions on
Muslim women’s
religious clothing
(Pew Research)
Muslim woman claims
a Singapore
government agency
refused to let her
wear a hijab if she
wanted a job
(Coconuts Singapore)
A bus rider tells a
woman in a head
scarf ‘ICE should
take her kids away’
(CNN)
Muslim woman
assaulted in
Belgium, her hijab
and shirt pulled off
(TRT World)
1 In 4 Hijab-Wearing
Arab Women Have Been
Shoved On NYC
Subways (Commission
on Human Rights)
Toronto man accused
of pulling off
women’s hijabs
(Toronto Sun)
Nazma Khan, a New York
native, initiated this
global movement with the
intent of bringing awareness
on a subject that’s very
dear to her and millions of
Muslim women across the
globe. While growing up in
NYC, she was harassed both
physically and emotionally
on numerous occasions. The
presence of such
discrimination heightened
around 9/11 because of her
human right to wear the
hijab.
Her purpose was to introduce
her pain to others in hopes
that no one will ever have
to go through the emotional
trauma simply because of the
love they have for their
faith. Consequently, on
February 1st, 2013, she
asked her fellow sisters of
all faiths across the globe
to don the hijab for one
day.
Within eight days, she got
responses from women
residing in 67 different
countries that represented a
conglomerate of religious
backgrounds, to include
Christians, Jewish, Pagans,
Wiccans, Rastafarians,
Buddhists, Atheists etc. WHD
gave an opportunity to
citizens worldwide who were
not familiar with the
Islamic faith to open up
dialogues with their Muslim
neighbours, co-workers, and
friends.
Additionally, WHD presented
an opportunity for teachers
to understand why their
Muslim students wear the
hijab. It also provided
non-Muslim mothers a chance
to better understand their
daughter’s faith and the
decision to wear hijab.
The negative perception on
hijab allowed people to act
upon their fears and hurt
innocent women without a
real and existing threat.
WHD simply presented an
opportunity for everyone to
learn about hijab and its
importance in the Islamic
faith without perpetuating
the negative generalizations
in today’s society.
WHD has many volunteers and
ambassadors worldwide. WHD
ambassadors come from all
walks of life. It’s
estimated that people in 190
countries take part in World
Hijab Day every year. In
addition, WHD has been
endorsed by many world
renowned individuals
including scholars,
politicians, and celebrities
worldwide. WHD has been
covered in mainstream news
media including New York
Times, BBC, CNN, Al-Jazeera,
Huffington Post, etc to name
a few. In 2018, World Hijab
Day Organization became a
501(c)3 non-profit
organization.
There were many milestones
since the inception of World
Hijab Day. One of them was
the recognition of the day
by New York State in 2017.
The same year, the House of
Commons of the U.K. hosted
an event marking the day,
where Prime Minister Theresa
May also attended. The event
was organized by Tasmina
Ahmed-Sheikh, SNP MP for
Ochil and South Perthsire.
SNP MP Tasmina wrote in THE
TIMES:
“Given the current climate,
World Hijab Day is even
greater importance. We must
stand up and clearly say
that women have a right to
choose what they want to
wear-whenever, wherever, and
however. World Hijab Day is
an event that we should be
proud of celebrating, not
just for religious tolerance
but for women’s rights
around the world.”
One of the participants of
World Hijab Day stated the
following:
“This is my 5th year
participating in World Hijab
Day. I have many friends
from many different
religions who cover for a
variety of reasons. I love
being able to support them
and anyone else who chooses
to cover. When covering my
head, I feel like my true
self can come out, like I am
complete. My experiences
have almost always positive,
only with a few non-friendly
stares. In our world today
we need to work towards
understanding one another
and our different
experiences.”-Cathey
(Unitarian
Universalist-USA).
Muslim Funeral Services Ltd
provides funeral director
services to the Muslim
community across South East
Queensland.
We have paid positions
available for male
assistant/s to work on a
part-time, on-call basis,
with our team to facilitate
with the funeral
arrangements in Brisbane.
Duties will include driving
and doing all transfers of
the Janaza, assist with the
preparation of the grave,
assist with the Ghusl if
required, the burial process
and liaise with the family
of the deceased.
No specific experience is
necessary but the ability to
work with a team, be
available on-call, be
empathetic, be fluent in
English and have a valid
class C driver’s licence are
essential. Training for the
position will be provided.
For further details of the
position including
remuneration please contact
Muslim Funeral Services at
1300 896 786 or 0412 845 786
or via email
admin@mfs.asn.au.
The Second International
Conference on Organ
Transplantation in Islam was
held at the Western Sydney
University on 22 and 23
November 2018. This
conference explored 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:
By Professor
Shahjahan Khan,
Professor of
Statistics,
University of
Southern
Queensland,
Toowoomba
Many Muslims in
Australia will
be surprised to
know that most
popular band of
biscuit and
margarine in
Australia are
not halal.
Research shows
that many
products of
Arnott’s
biscuits
(including Tim
Tam) and Flora
margarine are
not halal.
Being interested
from some
queries I
contacted Arnott
Australia and
Unilever
Australia & New
Zealand and both
of them
confirmed by
email that their
products are not
halal certified.
In response to
my email query,
Pam McKenzie,
Consumer Contact
Centre, Arnott’s
Australia
Consumers@arnotts.com
wrote, “Arnott's
Biscuit are not
Halal certified.
Arnott's do not
classify or
certify any of
our products we
sell in
Australia and
New Zealand
based on any
religious
preferences.”
Interestingly,
The Australian
Jewish Times
reported the
following:
"Indeed it is
milestone that
as of today,
kosher consumers
across Australia
can walk into
any store and
purchase these
iconic
biscuits." See
the link (www.jewishnews.net.au/its-timtamtastic-news/26250).
So, Arnott's
supports Kosher
for the Jews but
refuses to
support Halal.
The Tim Tam
original contain
cochineal which
is derived from
insects and is
not suitable for
a halal diet.
The cochineal is
a scale insect
in the suborder
Sternorrhyncha,
from which the
natural dye
carmine is
derived. The
carminic acid is
extracted from
the body and
eggs of the
insect, then
mixed with
aluminium or
calcium salts to
make carmine
dye, also known
as cochineal.
Today, carmine
is primarily
used as a
colorant in food
and in lipstick
(E120 or Natural
Red 4).
Mr Mohamed
Elmouelhy of
Halal Authority
Australia
confirmed that
Arnott is not
interested in
halal
certification
and the company
is happy to
proclaim that
their products
are not halal
certified.
Halal Food
Sydney FB
states,
"Arnott's does
not support
Halal. Small
amounts of
alcohol based
flavours are
added to some
biscuits. We
know that
alcohol is
sensitive to
heat, but there
is a slight
possibility that
trace amounts
could still be
present in the
finished
product."
I also contacted
Unilever
Australia & New
Zealand about
popular Flora
margarine which
naively look
like a vegetable
product. Ralph,
a Consumer
Engagement
Centre
Consultant
responded,
“Flora Light and
ProActiv Light,
Flora Ultra
Light and Flora
ProActiv Ultra
Light, Flora
Olive and
ProActiv Olive -
ALL THESE
variants contain
a pork-based
gelatine.”
He explained,
“The gelatine is
pork based. When
gelatine is
listed in the
ingredients, the
spread will NOT
be halal.”
It is an
obligation on
the individual
Muslims and
their families
to check
carefully before
purchasing any
product for
consumption.
Reading
ingredients and
knowing what is
not halal is
absolutely
essential to
avoid non-halal
or any doubtful
products.
There are many
halal
certification
authorities in
Australia
providing useful
guide to the
Muslims and
everyone should
take advantage
of these
resources.
Streamlining
money
collections for
mosque building?
By Dr Ameer Ali
Muslims all over
the world have a
penchant towards
building
mosques. Mosques
are iconic
markers of
Muslim existence
and Australia is
no exception.
There is a
belief that if
one builds a
mosque for
Allah, He, in
turn, will build
a house for that
person in
paradise.
According to one
estimate, there
are over 370
mosques or
Muslim places of
worship in this
country.
As Muslim
population
increases
through
‘controlled
immigration’,
conversion or
natural rate, we
may expect
several more to
appear in
future.
Even if Muslim
population were
to remain
static, as they
become more
religious and
regularise their
prayers, size of
congregations
will grow,
demanding
roominess in
existing mosques
or new ones.
Unlike in many
other Western
countries
Australia is
unbelievably
accommodative to
religious
beliefs even
though it is
ruled by secular
government and
constitution.
Muslims must be
thankful to
fellow
Australians for
this
accommodation.
However, there
is one issue
that the
community has to
tackle head-on
in relation to
the financing of
these mosques.
There was a
time,
particularly in
the last quarter
of previous
century, when
donors from
Muslim countries
helped
construction of
mosques. Local
Muslim
philanthropy
also contributed
towards the
cause.
Now, with drying
foreign
assistance and
thinning
philanthropy,
the burden of
financing
mosques has
fallen on
shoulders of the
regular
worshippers.
Money is
collected mostly
through
fundraising
events and
weekly
collections on
Fridays.
The question is
who are these
collectors and
whom are they
accountable to?
If a registered
society does the
collection then
that society
automatically
comes under
government rules
and the
executive
committee of
that society is
required to
maintain and
show audited
accounts.
But, when
individuals
collect in the
name of a
proposed mosque,
whom are they
accountable to?
Is there a
mechanism to
make them
accountable?
Earlier, when
the national
body, Australian
Federation of
Islamic Councils
(AFIC) remained
a strong,
resourceful and
prestigious apex
body, that
organisation
through its
state councils
and member
societies,
exerted some
control over
mosques through
financial
assistance and
systematic
monitoring.
Mosque
administrators
were accountable
to AFIC, and
AFIC in turn was
accountable to
the community
and government.
Today, AFIC’s
reputation has
crumbled through
costly
litigations and
financial
mismanagement
and it has lost
the confidence
of the Muslim
community.
However, there
is one
organization,
Australian
National Imams
Council (ANIC)
that can fill
the vacuum if
that
organization can
restructure
itself and
expand its
activities.
We don’t need an
ANIC and a Grand
Mufti just to
announce the
beginning and
end of fasting.
ANIC should get
involved with
what really
matters to the
community.
Bringing mosques
under proper
management is
one such
activity.
ANIC knows very
well that
mainstream media
and powers
behind it are
not kind towards
Muslims. There
is a hidden
agenda to
restrict Muslims
settling in this
country and
building
mosques.
Any financial
scandal
concerning
mosques will be
manna from
heaven to this
media and its
backers.
Prevention is
better than
cure.
Will ANIC take
up the
challenge?
AMUST
How
Islam Spread
Throughout the
World
By Hassam Munir
CONTINUED FROM
LAST WEEK'S CCN....
I: The Spread of
the Message
Intermarriage
Intermarriage
between Muslims
and non-Muslims
has been
historically
important for
the spread of
Islam in many
contexts. This
is an area of
research that
only recently
has begun to
receive
attention, as
most converts to
Islam via this
process were
women and, as
Maya Shatzmiller
noted in 1996,
“not only was
woman’s voice on
the subject [of
conversions]
absent, but the
sources devised
a
historiographical
debate from
which the
feminine
perspective was
omitted all
together.”[70]
More than two
decades after
this
observation,
there is a
significant body
of research that
has explored the
nexus of
intermarriage
and conversion
in Islamic
history, but
much more work
needs to be done
in this field.
Conversion
through
intermarriage
was important to
establishing the
early Muslim
community Spain.
In around 785,
Pope Hadrian in
Rome wrote a
letter
expressing his
concern that
some Catholics
in Hispania
seemed only too
willing to marry
into Arab Muslim
families, and
Christian-Muslim
unions were
condemned at a
council in
Cordoba in
836.[71] One
prominent case
was that of
Sarah, daughter
of Alamund of
the Visigothic
royal family.
She was married
twice to
prominent
Muslims, and in
later centuries
her descendants
formed some of
the leading
Muslim families
of Seville,
including the
Banū Hajjāj and
Banū Maslamah.[72]
One of her
descendants was
the famous
scholar of
history, fiqh
(jurisprudence)
and hadīth
(Prophetic
narrations), Ibn
al-Quṭiya (d.
971), who
prominently
mentioned the
role of his
great-grandmother
in his
discussion on
the early
history of Islam
in al-Andalus.[73]
A similar case
is that of the
daughter of the
Visigothic
nobleman
Theodomir (d.
743), who
married one ʿAbd
al-Jabbār ibn
Khaṭṭāb. The
descendants of
this couple came
to be known as
the Banū Khaṭṭāb
and formed an
influential
family of
Islamic scholars
that lasted
until the end of
Islamic rule in
Murcia in the
13th
century.[74]
The early modern
Ottoman Empire
also offers many
examples of
intermarriage
involving
conversion. A
case in point is
that of Beatrice
Michiel of
Venice who, in
1591, “opted for
conversion
without coercion
or compulsion”
and changed her
name to Fatima
Hatun.[75]
Having been
raised a
Christian and
married twice,
she escaped her
difficult second
marriage by
fleeing to
Constantinople,
where she
converted to
Islam and
married one ʿAlī
Agha. Her son
from her first
marriage,
Giacomo,
followed his
mother into
Islam nearly a
decade
later.[76] A
similar case was
that of the
wife, unnamed in
the sources, of
Ferenc Csiszar,
a man from
16th-century
Várad
(present-day
Oradea,
Romania). She
reportedly went
to Buda
(Budapest) to
marry a “Turk,”
which in all
likelihood
involved a
conversion to
Islam despite
this not being a
condition for
the
marriage.[77]
This trend was
noted by the
Jesuits involved
in missionary
work in
Ottoman-ruled
Hungary. It was
also common
enough for King
Matthias Hunyadi
(r. 1458-90) to
feel compelled
to write to the
Pope requesting
that the
Christian
men—and in some
cases,
women—whose
spouse had left
to convert to
Islam should be
allowed to
remarry rather
than hope for
their spouse’s
eventual return
or worse yet, go
searching for
their spouse in
Ottoman
territory and
potentially
convert to Islam
themselves in
the process.[78]
In British-ruled
India, several
dalit women
(i.e., those
from the
downtrodden
Hindu caste of
“untouchables”)
converted to
Islam as part of
intermarriage
with Muslims.
There are at
least nine
reported cases
between 1924 and
1946, though
four of these
occurred between
March and May in
1926 alone.[79]
Considering that
these were only
the cases that
were registered
by the colonial
police force in
the province of
Uttar Pradesh
(UP) because
they sparked
significant
unrest, the
actual rate of
conversion may
have been much
higher. It has
been noted that
although there
were active
daʿwah efforts
among the dalits
of UP, “in many
cases of
individual
conversion,
particularly by
lower castes,
the reason [for
intermarriage]
was neither
proselytism nor
doctrinal
conviction, but
romance,” though
romantic
motivations were
“possibly aided
by greater
mobility.”[80]
Intermarriage
has continued to
play an
important role
in conversion to
Islam in more
recent times.
One case is that
of immigrant
Muslims marrying
Latina women in
the United
States in the
mid-20th
century. A 1947
study of
Palestinian
immigrants in
Chicago revealed
that one man had
married a
Mexican-American
woman and had
children with
her.[81]
Similarly, and
from around the
same time, there
are records of
Yemeni Muslim
men in southern
California
marrying
Mexican-Americans
and South Asian
Muslims in
Harlem marrying
Puerto
Rican-Americans.[82]
By the early
1990s there were
an estimated 100
Latino converts
to Islam in
southern
California
alone, mostly
women who had
married Muslims
since the
mid-1970s.[83] A
noticeable trend
in their
conversions was
that “the
conversion of
one woman would
lead to a string
of conversions
within her
family.”[84]
After having
converted, these
Latina Muslims
led the effort
to perform
daʿwah in Latino
communities in
the U.S.
Another recent
case is that of
Chinese and
Filipina women
in Hong Kong
converting to
Islam through
their marriages
to South Asian
Muslims. Muslims
from
British-ruled
India first
arrived in Hong
Kong in
significant
numbers in the
early 20th
century as
employees of the
British
administration.
During the
Japanese
occupation of
Hong Kong during
the Second World
War, many
disadvantaged
Chinese women
married these
Muslims.[85]
Beginning in the
early 1990s,
Filipina
domestic workers
in Hong Kong,
mostly devout
Catholics aged
21-35,
increasingly
began to convert
to Islam and to
marry Pakistani
Muslims. In the
Wan Chai
district alone,
there were 100
Filipino
converts between
1993 and 1996,
making up for
about 70% of all
converts to
Islam, and this
trend continued
strongly into
the early years
of the 21st
century.[86]
The Great Women of Islam
The contributions of women
in Islam is indisputable.
Some women have had a great
role and status in Islam and
are, therefore, revered and
appreciated in Islamic
history.
Here are some of the
greatest Muslim women in
Islamic history in more
detail.
So who are
these women and why are they
so special?
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.
The longest
voluntary imam, the late Haji
Rane, served thirty years and
traveled the state when needed
for weddings and funerals. He
was Australian born,
self-taught, and the only
Australian born imam of this
mosque.
SHOCKING: Poll reveals up to 71%
women in hijab face discrimination
The motto for World Hijab Day 2019 is
“Breaking Stereotypes | Shattering
Boundaries.” We wanted to take this
opportunity to clear some commonly held
misconceptions about hijab. We didn’t
want to just provide our opinion. We
wanted to break these stereotypes with
actual data taken from women who wear
the hijab. So, we decided to take polls
on our social media regarding these
misconceptions. These polls were taken
on Facebook and Instagram Story.
To better understand these polls, we
will provide some backgrounds on our
followers.
Syrian refugee feeds government
workers during shutdown
Yassin Terou, owner of Yassin's
Falafel House in Knoxville, Tenn
USA: The nicest place in America just
got even nicer.
Yassin Terou, the owner of Yassin’s
Falafel House in Knoxville, Tennessee,
is offering free meals at both of his
restaurants to anyone affected by the
government shutdown.
erou said he felt compelled to do what
he could to ease the burden on federal
employees and their families.
“It’s important for me [to provide free
meals] because these guys are our
brothers and sisters, and they already
did the work, and they aren’t getting
paid,” Terou explained to “Good Morning
America.” “For someone like me who is
living the American dream in the
American land…I believe every hard
worker should reach his goal and have a
good level of life.”
Turkey builds biggest mosque of
Balkans in Albania
Mosque to open by end of 2019
has capacity of up to 10,000
worshippers
ALBANIA: A Turkish charity group is
building the biggest mosque of the
Balkans in the Albanian capital Tirana,
according to a statement on Friday.
In a written statement, the Turkiye
Diyanet Foundation (TDV) -- linked to
the state Religious Affairs Directorate
(Diyanet) -- said the Namazgah Mosque
will be completed and open for worship
by the end of this year.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
had attended the mosque's groundbreaking
ceremony in 2015, where he said: "I
believe this mosque will be a unique
symbol of the brotherhood between our
nations.”
The statement said 70 percent of the
construction of "the 100-year dream of
the Muslims in the region" was complete.
The mosque that is built in the area
called Namazgah, or open-air place of
worship, among locals will have the
capacity to host 5,000 worshippers
inside the mosque and 5,000 others in
the compound.
The Namazgah Mosque is expected to
become one of the symbols of Tirana
city. It includes a library, cultural
centre, parking area, Quran course
venue, exhibition hall, cafeteria as
well as a conference hall.
Shahad Al Rawi (Goodreads
Author), Luke Leafgren (Translator)
Baghdad,
1991. In the midst of the first Gulf
War, a young Iraqi girl huddles with her
neighbours in an air raid shelter.
There, she meets Nadia.
The two
girls quickly become best friends and
together they imagine a world not torn
apart by civil war, sharing their
dreams, their hopes and their desires,
and their first loves.
But as they
grow older and the bombs continue to
fall, the international sanctions bite
and friends begin to flee the country,
the girls must face the fact that their
lives will never be the same again.
This poignant debut novel will spirit
readers away to a world they know only
from the television, revealing just what
it is like to grow up in a city that is
slowly disappearing in front of your
eyes, and showing how in the toughest
times, children can build up the
greatest resilience.
Q:
Dear Kareema, we love the outdoors and regularly
try to escape the city on weekends.
Any suggestions on outdoor workouts?
A:
Embrace nature.
Depending on the time you have, plan to do some
5-10km walks to really immerse yourself in the
bushland. Choose destinations where both
beach and bush is accessible for the
ultimate getaway.
Soft-sand running is great to change things up
and fire up your workout routine every time you
head out!
Most places will have cycle tracks as well so
don’t forget to take the bikes. Yoga on
the beach is another of my great loves – nothing
quite like listening to the waves break while
you’re standing strong in a yoga pose.
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:
Self-Care Is Not
Selfish
What self-care acts
you have performed
today? When I ask my
clients this
question, the common
response I get is:
“What do you mean,
self-care? Isn’t
that a bit selfish?
I can’t ignore
everyone else and
put myself first. I
wasn’t raised that
way.”
Let us understand
the vital difference
between self-care
and selfish and why
self-care is not
selfish but rather
without self-care,
it becomes
absolutely
impossible to care
for others and be a
healthy individual
in body and mind.
What is Selfish?
Selfish - to lack
concern and care
about others and
indulge in personal
pleasures and
profits.
What is Self-Care?
Self-Care is to care
for yourself with
the intention to be
a better person in
mind and body so
that you live a full
life of love, light,
peace and joy and
are able to spread
love, light, peace
and joy to others.
In order to
understand self-care
at a deeper level,
let me explain about
your Physical and
Essential Self.
We often take our ‘Physical
Self’ as the
primary self. When
it comes to
self-care, we need
to delve deeper and
find the ‘Essential
Self’ - our
essence. This
Essential Self is
what dwells inside
the physical body.
Our soulful self.
For example...
When you use words
like: “I am angry”,
“I am fat”, “I am
confused”, “I am
hungry” and so on,
what you are really
saying is that your
physical body is
angry or fat or
confused or hungry.
Your energy force,
the Essential Self,
within you, “I”, is
free from anger or
hunger or confusion
or fat.
When the Essential
Self is ignored for
too long, the
Physical Self begins
to show negative
symptoms such as
anger, confusion,
anxiety, fear,
accumulation of
abdominal fat, lack
of sleep, fatigue,
worry, increased
blood pressure and
shallow breathing,
to name a few.
Now, ask
yourself...is it
selfish to care for
your Essential Self
so that your
Physical Self
operates at an
optimum level? Think
about it...if your
Physical Self has
been manifesting
symptoms of fatigue,
poor concentration,
agitation, anger,
irritability and
more, how is that
affecting your
ability to care for
others? How is it
affecting your
ability to pray? To
connect with ALLAH?
To live a life of
joy and positivity?
The truth is that
lack of self-care
leads to negative
behaviour patterns
whereby you
eventually feel
resentful towards
others (the same
people you are
caring for) and
resentful towards
yourself. This
further results in
terrible outbursts
of anger or complete
withdrawal from
people. Before you
realise it, you are
on pills for a
diagnosed mental
health issue and are
programmed to
believe that there
is a label that
defines you, when in
reality, all you
need is self-care.
Strategies for
Self-Care
• Be
compassionate,
gentle and
caring towards
yourself. Do not
judge yourself
with negative
self-talk
• Change
negative
thoughts by
immediately
being grateful
to ALLAH, and
mean it
• Care for
others with an
intention to
care, not with
an intention to
seek approval or
to please
• “No” is a
complete
sentence.
Practise saying
“No” and
understand that
you do not
always have to
explain why you
are saying “No”
• Say “Yes” with
love and
compassion, not
resentment and
guilt
• Upon waking
up, express
gratitude to
ALLAH for giving
you this brand
new day to be a
better Muslim
• Be grateful
for your body
and all its
organs. Take
care of it by
resting and
sleeping on
time, eating the
right foods and
drinking water
and healthy
beverages.
Exercise for at
least 15 minutes
daily
• Inspire others
to care for
themselves
• Speak only
positive words,
think only
positive
thoughts,
perform only
positive deeds
• Repeat this
Positive
Affirmation
daily:
ALHUMDOLILLAH -
Everyday in
every way, I am
better and
better.
• Love yourself
(if you have a
hard time
understanding
this, contact me
for a
Clarity-Coaching
session).
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.
At a wedding
reception, the guest of honour< Mula Nasruddin, was
about to deliver his speech when his wife, sitting at
the other end of the table, sent him a piece of paper
with the word “ KISS " scribbled on it.
A guest seated next to Mula Nasruddin said, “So your
wife has sent you a kiss for good luck. She must love
you very much.”
Mula Nasruddin replied, “ You don’t know my wife. The
letters stand for ‘Keep It Short, Stupid! ’"
On the Day that the Hour
will be established, the
guilty will be struck dumb
with despair. No intercessor
will they have among their
"Partners," and they will
(themselves) reject their
"partners."
Brisbane Muslim Fellowship
is having another BBQ for
converts, their families and
friends on Saturday 2nd
February at 12.30pm at the
site of the planned Brisbane
Islamic Centre at 161
Underwood Road, Eight Mile
Plains.
Our thanks to BIC for
allowing us to use the old
house on the site. As the
road is very busy, please be
careful in entering the site
and park inside rather on
the side of the road.
Imam Ahmed from Kuraby
Mosque will give a short
talk insha'allah and we are
hoping that there will be
some that want to throw a
football around. It's a huge
block of land if you have
not seen it before. See
http://www.bic.org.au/
It would be great if you
could bring some food to
share but we will have
plenty and to bring a picnic
rug or blanket if you have
one.
The aim is that this will be
relaxed social occasion to
meet other converts - new
and old and their families
and will allow anyone to ask
any questions they would
like to.
Please let us know if you
can attend.
IMRAN PRICE
A short film presented by
Shaykh Wesam Charkawi,
followed by Q&A panel with
special guests.
The History of Muslims in
Australia
The short film documentary
entitled "Before1770" is a
film designed to encapsulate
the history of Muslims in
Australia before 1770.
Abu Hanifa Institute, a
centre for education in
traditional Islam and youth
mentoring, utilised its
resources and community
support to document the
facts in this space.
This meant embarking upon a
journey to critical
locations in the Northern
Territory, such as Arnhem
Land, Bawaka, and Groote
Eylandt to see first hand,
the places and people who
hosted the Macassan Muslims.
This endeavour also meant
speaking to academics
specialised in the field as
well as Aboriginal elders
from the Yolngu clan.
The idea of this short film
is to establish Islam's
long-standing connection
with Australia. It is not
designed to cause pain or
disrespect to any figure,
person, organisation or a
particular community.
Date And Time
Sat, March 2, 2019
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
AEST
Location
HOYTS Sunnybank
McCullough Street
Sunnybank
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.
At Sisters
Suppprt Services Inc we have
qualified volunteers who help
women in their darkest moments &
time of need to empower them to
make the right choices for
better outcomes for their own
lives.
Here are some examples of our
cases over the past few months.
ALL names have been changed to
protect client identities.
1. Aisha, a victim of Domestic
Violence came to us for
assistance. We assisted her by
giving her money to buy clothing
and personal items as she left
her home quickly and with very
little. Aisha has also needed
ongoing counselling which she
has been receiving from us for
the past few months. She was
taken to appointments and
connected with the right people
who helped her start a new life
in a safe environment.
“Thank you so
much for your help. I am so very
grateful. Thank you to Sister
Services. Allah bless you all.”
2. Katie, a revert sister with
young kids needed ongoing
counselling and support as she
had not been coping well at home
and was not able to look after
herself and her family. Sisters
Support Services was there for
her; “I can’t tell you enough in
words how grateful I am, just by
listening to me when I was
feeling so low. Life is not
looking so dark anymore !”
3. Sarah also a revert sister
recently divorced with a young
child arrived in Brisbane with
virtually nothing. We have
helped her with everyday
essentials, food supplies &
assisted her to find suitable
accommodation. Sarah has some
health issues & needed financial
support with purchasing
medications & by being driven to
medical appointments by our
volunteers.
"So happy with
the help I've received from
Sisters Support Services."
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.
Every Sunday Quran Tafsir or Islamic Lesson
or Arabic Class.
After Magrib
Conducting by Imam Yahia Baej
Children Arabic/Quran Class every Tue-Wed-Thursday after
Magrib
ALGESTER
MOSQUE
Nuria Khataam
Date: Every last Wednesday of the month
Time: After Esha Salaat
Venue: Algester Mosque
Contact: Yahya
Ph: 0403338040
IPDC
HOLLAND PARK MOSQUE
Queensland Police Service/Muslim Community
Consultative Group
NEXT MEETING
Date: Thursday 21
February Time: 5.30pm – 7:00pm Venue: Upper Mt Gravatt Police Station
You are cordially invited to attend the South Brisbane
District Police /Islamic Leaders Working Group meeting on
Thursday the 21st of February 2019 at the Upper Mt Gravatt
Police Station from 5.30pm – 7:00pm.
The South Brisbane District Police aims to develop
strategies and services that reflect the needs of our
diverse Islamic community in order to foster a respectful,
peaceful and harmonious District through knowledge sharing
and dialogue.
This SBD working group will also include community leaders
from our neighbours in South East Region and Southern
Region.
The purpose of this working group is to focus on broad
issues of the Islamic faith, culture and religion and their
influence on policing.
The role of the working group is to:
Establish an information exchange mechanism that allows
the community to provide feedback on QPS Services on an
ongoing basis.
Consult with, and provide advice to our community.
Identify any emerging religious issues or trends likely to
create community interest or concern.
Facilitate effective communications between the QPS and
the Islamic community.
Formally report to QPS on matters of religious
significance.
Promote strategies and achievements to the broader
community.
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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encourage them to enter their details
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Streamlining
money
collections for
mosque building? 
How
Islam Spread
Throughout the
World
Holland Park Mosque
post comments on
our Wall
7
August 2011