Muslim Aid Australia's
Riyaad Ally in Ma'arib,
Yemen, this week finalizing
plans for the construction
of a much-needed borehole
well.
This massive WASH project,
in a heavily populated
region of one of the world's
poorest countries, was
funded through MAA's 'Dig
Deep for Yemen' campaign
with donations from over
1000 people and will benefit
over 6000 Internally
Displaced People (IDP's).
If you'd like to continue
supporting these projects in
Yemen, visit the
MAA website or call 1800
100 786.
Friday 1st March saw the
inaugural Challenging
Realities forum held at
SunPac in Sunnybank. The
audience of more than 200
attendees were treated to 4
unique and diverse
presentations (by Dylan
Chown, Dr Mohamed Ghilan,
Rehana Bibi and Anas Abdalla)
on social activism, and a
spoken word segment by
Ayesha Tauseef highlighted
the challenges of being an
activist in this day and
age.
But the real kicker was the
latter half of the event
which consisted of a Q&A
session, where the audience
was keen to understand how
to tackle current issues and
avoid remaining complacent.
It was evident that Brisbane
is seeking to become more
astute in addressing social,
political, religious and
cultural matters, and there
was a great energy felt in
the air after the event,
peppered with commentary
such as "that was great! How
can I become more active in
our community, and who can
mentor me?"
The organisers led by Imam
Mohammed Azhari thank the
volunteers for their
assistance and of course the
community's support in
attending what is the first
of many community forums
under the Challenging
Realities banner, Insha
Allah.
Special thanks to our
sponsors Brisbane
Diagnostics and Kelly's
Distributors.
Yesterday (Saturday 2 March)
a predominately Muslim crowd
took their seats in the
Hoyts cinema theatre in
Sunnybank (Brisbane) to
watch the much anticipated
screening of Before 1770.
The film which explores
Australia’s Muslim history
was directed by Wesam
Charkawi.
Prof Regina Ganter, who
teaches Australian History
and heritage studies in the
School of Humanities at
Griffith University,
specialising on interactions
between indigenous, Asian
and European peoples in
northern Australia,
facilitated the Q&A session
after the screening.
Sheikh Wesam explained
“Knowing that Muslims had a
long-standing relationship
with Aboriginal people from
North East Arnhem Land (Yolngu
Clan) is profoundly
significant in terms of the
Australian Muslim identity.
It allows Muslims to draw
strength from such a
relationship and realise
that Islam is no stranger to
the first peoples of this
land.”
“Australia has a vast and
rich history. Aboriginal
people have been on this
land for sixty to eighty
thousand years and are the
world’s oldest continuing
culture,” Sheikh Wesam
further added.
The moving and inspiring
short film shared many
surprising scientifically
proven facts which
demonstrate the peaceful
relationship between the
Makassans and the Yolngu
clan who treated each other
with friendship and respect
over many centuries.
MCF
has spent around $40,000.00
in February alone attending
to 48 families with a
variety of complex issues.
A distressing fact is that
we have had four individual
women, two of them with
children needing emergency
accommodation. Three of them
are from a domestic violence
situation. Their stories are
horrific. The MCF house has
been full for the whole
month.
We have paid rent for 16
families. Many of these have
been here more than 5 years
and have had their visas
revoked and all entitlements
cancelled. With ongoing
legal appeals we have been
paying all their rent,
utility bills and providing
food and essential items.
Many families are single
parent, divorced or
separated women, making them
vulnerable and in extreme
hardship. Many simply cannot
pay their electricity bills
with rent taking more than
half of their income. Other
agencies are referring them
to us as their only means of
support. The Muslim
Charitable Foundation needs
your support.
We are undertaking building
a fully enclosed 6mx6m shed
to store much needed
furniture and other items.
We sincerely thank all our
supporters and encourage
everyone to give Zakaat or
Sadaqa locally, so our
community can benefit.
On Sunday 24 February, the
Hurricane Stars Club had the
Grand Opening Day for its
new Activities Centre.
Alhamdulillah it was a
beautiful sunny day, making
the event a great success.
We had more than 100 people
attending, a combination of
mums, dads and kids of all
ages.
The Hurricane Stars Club
greatly appreciated their
own personalized marquee,
donated to the club by
Duncan Pegg MP, which
thankfully arrived the day
before the opening day. We
were able to use the marquee
for our delicious sausage
sizzle, as the Hurricane
Stars Club volunteers are
expert sausage sizzlers
after 10 months of
organising the only Brisbane
100% Halal sausage sizzles
at Bunnings Underwood.
We are also very grateful to
Mabrouk and Sons butchers
for sponsoring the delicious
sausages. There was also a
fun jumping castle for the
kids outside on the carpark
area, hired from two local
Muslim sisters home
business.
Inside the centre, we had
our most popular stalls,
which always had a long
queue of kids excitedly
waiting for awesome face
painting by Jaz and
beautiful henna design by
Henna Me, all for just a
gold coin. We were very
grateful to several lovely
ladies who graciously
donated delicious cupcakes
for fundraising, that
quickly was sold out.
Popcorn and Fairy floss
stalls as well as the
Fundraising Chocolate stall
were also bestsellers.
The Hurricane Stars Club
volunteers had a number of
different kids activities
for the children to enjoy.
We had fun playdough play,
bracelet making, painting
table and Marble Your Own
Cup activities. While the
children had fun doing the
kids activities, the mums
enjoyed relaxing massages,
manicures or pedicures by
the wonderful ladies of Sam
and Billy’s Beauty Box, all
in a private room in our
centre.
Alhamdulillah the Hurricane
Stars Club looks forward to
running many different
classes and activities for
ladies and kids in our new
Activities Centre over the
coming year to benefit the
community. We currently have
Ladies Fitness and Pilates
classes, Reverts Sisters
Gatherings and beginning in
March, we will be starting
our new Little Stars Islamic
Playgroup, in shaa Allah.
In the near future, we will
also be looking to start
ladies social activities and
faith-based support groups
for people experiencing
different trials and
challenges in life such as
grief and bereavement,
serious illnesses and carer
of those with disabilities.
After Ramadan, we are also
planning to start Brisbane’s
first Muslim Scouts group,
in shaa Allah.
Follow us on Facebook,
Instagram or look up our
website,
www.hurricanestarsclub.org
for updates on our latest
activities.
Tim Fung with Crescent
Institute's Talal Yassine, OAM
Crescent Institute's first
Sydney event for 2019 saw
Tim Fung, co-founder and CEO
of AirTasker, share his
story and give a glimpse
into the world of a
successful startup.
Tim Fung’s presentation was
an "insightful and even
comedic discussion" on his
eventful journey with
Airtasker
Muslim News UK readers
nominated the following
illustrious men, women,
children and projects deemed
worthy of short-listing for
a Muslim News Award for
Excellence. These exemplars
of good practice, excellence
– future role models – will
be treated to a Gala Evening
in the presence of their
peers and other renowned
guests in April, when the
finalists are announced for
the 15 coveted Awards for
Excellence
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK'S
CCN.......
Annemarie Schimmel Award for
CHAMPIONING A MUSLIM CAUSE
Acorns
Children’s Hospice
makes every day count for
the children and families of
all cultures, faiths and
beliefs that use their
services. Over the last
year, they have cared for
over 870 children and more
than 1,141 families at their
three hospices in
Birmingham, Walsall and
Worcester and in their
outreach support in
families’ own homes. Since
opening 30 years ago, 29% of
the children in their care
have been Muslim, (39% of
families using Acorns are
from Black and Asian
Minority ethnic
backgrounds). For parents
like Amjid and his wife,
whose two children, Subhan
and Zara were both diagnosed
with Joubert’s syndrome, a
rare brain disorder, the
support provided by Acorns
has been a lifeline. Sadly,
Subhan passed away in
November 2016, aged just
seven, and the couple knows
that they face the loss of
another child. Amjid says:
“The pain is unbearable but
with the support of our
friends at Acorns we’ll deal
with that day when it comes,
I don’t know how we would
cope if we didn’t have
that.”
Set
up in September 2009,
The
Refugee Cricket Project
was originally a safe place
for Unaccompanied Asylum
Seeking Children to come
together once a week for
some recreation time, to
learn and play cricket, to
eat at least one healthy and
nutritious meal per week,
and to receive casework
support for their asylum
claims. In 2018, it still
provides those basic
functions, but it has also
helped over 400 young
Afghan, Bangladeshi and
Pakistani Muslims to
integrate into British
society through joining
local cricket clubs,
organising work experience,
and challenging Home Office
and Local Authority
decisions around age
disputes, housing, and to
enable the young people to
attend school and
university.
Pamela
Christine Evans is a former
Head of Religious Education
at a secondary school in
Carmarthenshire in
south-west Wales. Following
the 9/11 attacks, she
witnessed young Muslim
pupils face bullying from
their peers and although
this was challenged she saw
the prejudice in the climate
of the time soon spread to
other faith minorities and
visible minorities in the
school. Pam acted to address
this fear brought on by
ignorance through education
and came up with a simple
but powerful hands-on
project called
Peace
Mala.
The list of personal
endorsements Peace Mala has
received reads like a ‘Who’s
Who’ of world faith
‘heavy-weights’ including,
but not limited to: the late
Pope Saint John Paul II, the
Dalai Lama of Tibet, Lord
Williams of Oystermouth
(former Archbishop of
Canterbury) and Archbishop
Emeritus Desmond Tutu.
Salih Yucel and Abu Bakr
Sirajuddin Cook, editors Australian
Journal of Islamic Studies
Editors' Introduction (Vol 3
No 3 2018):
The history of Islam within
Australia is an important,
yet often overlooked, part
of Australian history.
Muslim presence in Australia
has helped shape
multicultural experience
facilitating intercultural
dialogue as well as
contributing significantly
to the development of the
Australian nation. However,
to date, it has received
minimal scholarly attention.
There have been significant
studies on the engagements
of the Maccasans, Muslim
fishermen from Indonesia,
with the Indigenous peoples
of northern Australia. These
studies have detailed the
cultural interactions and
trade between them and the
lasting impacts of the
inclusion of language
foreign to Australian soil.
There is also an increasing
awareness of Australia’s
cameleers, many of whom were
Muslims, and the
contribution they made to
maintaining trade routes and
assisting early Australian
explorers.
Despite the growing interest
in the field, the history of
Islam in Australia remains
an understudied area of
research.
This rich history dates back
further than we thought and
has possibly had a greater
impact than what is
recognised. Given the
current political and social
climate surrounding Islam
globally, it is timely that
this volume of the
Australian Journal of
Islamic Studies is
published.
This volume brings to light
the depth and richness of
Australia’s Islamic
heritage, challenging some
of the prevalent assumptions
on the topic, and calls for
further studies in this
field.
Australia has proclaimed
itself as being a successful
example of a multicultural
society. It is a society
that has been shaped, and
continues to be shaped, by a
diverse range of cultural
inputs. With this being the
case, it is justifiable to
ask how and why the
contributions of Muslims to
Australia have been largely
overlooked.
Over the weeks, CCN highlights extracts from
the Australian Journal of
Islamic Studies which is an
open access, double-blind
peer-reviewed journal
dedicated to the scholarly
study of Islam.
THE EARLY HISTORY OF MICRO
AND MESO DIALOGUE BETWEEN
MUSLIMS AND NON-MUSLIMS IN
AUSTRALIA.
Interfaith dialogue has been
touted as a means to solve
many of the religious
divisions that have arisen
in an increasingly global
and multi-faith society. In
Australia, now a
multi-cultural and multi
faith society, a range of
organisations exist to
facilitate this dialogue,
most coming in to existence
after the 1960’s This paper
will review the early
dialogue between Muslims and
non-Muslims as portrayed in
the public record.
By examining the public
record and the narratives
surrounding the Macassans,
Afghans and other early
Muslims, this paper will
firstly argue that micro and
meso dialogue prior to the
1950s’ between Muslims
immigrants and non-Muslims
made a contribution to the
social harmony in Australia.
Significant Contributions
Then, as now, health
problems transcend racial
and religious boundaries.
Just as we may see a
physician of Islamic, Jewish
or other faith, so too did
early colonial Australians.
In Adelaide, Mahomet Allum
(d. 1964) established a
successful practice.
Described variously as a
‘herbalist,’ ‘healing
wonder’ and ‘miracle man,’
he was born around 1858 in
Kandahar, Afghanistan. Allum
migrated to South Australia
between 1884 and 1890.
Employed variously as a
camel driver, station-hand,
butcher, storekeeper, sailor
and mine-hand, he settled in
Adelaide in 1928 or 1929.
Prominent as a devout
Muslim, he established a
business as a herbalist and
by all accounts managed a
thriving practice, recorded
as ministering to 2,000
patients a week.
Testimonials pronounce him
curing all range of ills.
Despite never learning to
write in English, he was a
prolific contributor to the
media of the day as well as
producing a range of
pamphlets expanding on the
virtues and beliefs of
Islam. This interaction with
the citizens of Adelaide
shows interfaith dialogue
and interaction attempting
to move beyond the micro to
the meso level through the
network of patients who
became reliant on his unique
services. He ran afoul of
the law in 1935 for not
being registered under the
Medical Practitioners Act of
1919 In his defence, he
produced “a motor car load
of documentary evidence,”
including hundreds of
testimonials.
When the case came before
the courts, the defence
called upon the Commissioner
of Police (Brig.-Gen R.L.
Leane) who stated he knew
the “defendant well” and
Allum had donated “large
sums for charitable
purposes.” The case was also
raised in Federal Parliament
by Mr Riches (ALP,
Newcastle) who inquired as
to whether the case was an
issue of persecution, given
“many of the people who
visited Allum did so on
recommendations of the
police officials and other
officers (of the crown).”
Allum married for the third
time in 1950 to a local
Adelaide girl, Jean Emsley,
and at the age of 83, he
fathered a daughter with his
20year-old bride. Headlines
focussed on the age
difference, not his
religious beliefs.60Jean
died from smallpox in 1954
in Afghanistan while they
were returning from hajj
(pilgrimage). On his return,
he continued to live in and
serve the community of
Adelaide, using his skills
as a healer without charge,
for the benefit of all.
He died in 1964 and the
funeral procession was
allegedly over “a mile
long.” Given there were less
than 400 Muslims in South
Australia at that time, the
majority of the crowd must
have been Christians; a
clear indication of the
influence and public respect
afforded to Allum.
Importantly, it demonstrated
his commitment to and
engagement with micro and
meso level dialogue that was
not always reciprocated.
As a role model of the most
extraordinary nature, he
demonstrated the altruistic,
peaceful and caring aspect
of Islam that appears to
have been forgotten over the
last half century. From
looking at the public record
of Mahomet Allum, it is
clear he was engaged in a
broad range of dialogue with
individuals and officials at
state and national levels,
including communications to
the Prime Minister.
He was philanthropic and was
described as a “Friend alike
to Human Beings and Dumb
Animals.” He espoused the
positive virtues of Islam
through his compassion and
observance of zakat
(charity). When many of his
compatriots were suffering
under the racism and
prejudice imparted by the
Immigration Restriction Act,
Allum rose above it. He was
never able to obtain
citizenship; however, he
contributed beyond the
levels expected of any
Australian. T
Magid Magid may have lived
the most unconventional
journey to politics there
is. After leaving Somalia as
a refugee, he arrived at
Britain at the tender age of
5. After schooling and
working long shifts at
factories for cash, Magid
eventually enrolled into
university to study Aquatic
Zoology.
Apart from an exotic degree,
Magid got a lot out of his
time at university. He found
a voice to speak out for
things he believed in
passionately, and eventually
got elected as the President
of the University Union.
A strong believer in
principle over politics,
Magid joined the Greens
party and quickly became an
active member. Before he
knew it, he would be elected
as the youngest Lord Mayor
of Sheffield (with quite a
fancy inauguration). We
trace Magid's journey and
the challenges he's faced as
a proud Muslim in politics.
Mohamad Zaoud is a brand
enthusiast and consults
businesses and NGOs on brand
& growth strategies. He’s
currently the Manager of
Digital Growth – EMEA, and
formerly Head of Marketing
MENA, at Al Jazeera Media
Network where he’s worked on
flagship brands including Al
Jazeera and AJ+.
British Muslim
Madinah Javed
shares her
experience of
reciting the
Quran in public
as a woman at
the British
Islam Conference
organised by New
Horizons in
British Islam #FemaleReciters
#BritishIslam2019
The video opens
with a
recitation of
the first
chapter of the
Quran, al-Fatiha
(the opening).
Madinah then
shares some
insight before
the video closes
with the last
few verses from
Chapter 59 of
the Quran, al-Hashr
(the exile).
“The female
voice is
important and
powerful and
must be heard.”
Race,
faith +
femininity with
Yassmin
Abdel-Magied
By Nisha Patel
Pinning down
certified style
icon Yassmin
Abdel-Magied was
not easy. She’s
busy. Busy
making a change.
Busy writing her
second book, You
Must Be Layla
which is out in
a few weeks.
Busy being
questioned about
her faith and
subsequently –
busy being
questioned about
other Muslim
women. The level
of questioning
and explanation
required from
women of colour,
about other
women who share
the same race or
faith is
remarkable. We
don’t question
Fiona Bruce
about Hatey
Dropkick’s
behaviour, yet
WOC, and
particularly
Muslim women in
the last two
weeks, are
expected to be
experts on a
British
Bangladeshi
teenager in
Syria.
This week,
Yassmin went on
BBC news to talk
about Mariam
Khan’s release
of ‘It’s Not
About The Burqa’
a collection of
essays by Muslim
women –
exploring the
different
individual
experiences and
thoughts on
faith, race and
sexuality – and
without any
irony, Yassmin
and Mariam were
asked about
their thoughts
on Shamima
Begum. The media
narrative
continues to be
one dimensional
when it comes to
Muslim women.
Imagine having
your race and
faith constantly
questioned (and
having to
continuously
defend your
existence on the
behalf of a
multitude of
people). The
sheer strength
to deal with it
would drive most
of us to
destruction, but
Yassmin is not
most of us. As
well as being an
author, she’s
also a
broadcaster and
an activist (and
previously a
mechanical
engineer). An
all round super
human.
Speaking last
year, she said
“I’ve never had
the space to
explore what it
means to be a
Muslim woman of
colour without
everybody asking
me all the time
what it means to
be a Muslim
woman of
colour.” That’s
exactly why
we’re hosting
her at Second
Home – to do
just that.
Yassmin comes to
our new site in
London Fields,
for a
conversation on
Race, Faith and
Femininity on
Monday 25th
February. Joy
Francis, founder
of Words of
Colour will be
hosting the
discussion, find
more details
here. We asked
her a few
questions ahead
of the event.
What
would be
your advice
on
overcoming
adversity?
“I hated
hearing this
when I was
first told
this, but
it’s really
true. Time
will pass.
If something
feels like
it will
never end,
take stock
in knowing
that it
will,
eventually.
Nothing is
forever.
Also, I
truly
believe that
everything
happens for
a reason and
my faith
allows me to
believe that
no-one is
given more
than they
can handle.
So when
you’re
uncomfortable,
you are
growing (as
long as you
are safe, of
course!)”
What’s the
best book
you’ve read
recently?
“I recently
read All
About Love
by bell
hooks and
thoroughly
loved it.
It’s a
classic. I’m
also partway
through
Death of the
Gods by Carl
Miller and
it’s a great
look at how
tech is
changing
power.”
What have
you been
working on
lately?
“I’ve just
finished my
second book,
launched in
a couple of
weeks – You
Must Be
Layla – and
I’m heading
to Australia
to go on
tour next
week! I’m
also in the
process of
writing a
couple of
screenplays.
In other
news
however,
I’ve
partnered
with The
Other Box to
do some cool
things for
creatives of
colour (stay
tuned on
that) and am
building an
online /
mobile
platform to
record
sexual
harassment
anonymously
at events so
that we can
push the
accountability
of a safe
space onto
organisers
rather than
individuals.”
Like we
said,
Yassmin’s
busy.
Second Life
How
Islam Spread
Throughout the
World
By Hassam Munir
CONTINUED FROM
LAST WEEK'S CCN....
Conclusion
As mentioned in
the introduction
to this article,
the examples
presented above
are not
exhaustive, nor
has their
relation to the
spread of Islam
been discussed
as thoroughly as
it could have
been. However,
they
collectively
serve the
purpose of this
article: to
illustrate that
Islam could—and
historically
did—spread by
means other than
“the sword”
(i.e., forced
conversion). The
examples
demonstrate the
role of daʿwah,
trade,
intermarriage,
migration,
influencers in
the
communication of
the message of
Islam, the role
of Islam’s
characteristic
emphasis on
justice and
unity, and the
universality of
Islam in the
widespread
acceptance of
this message.
It is hoped that
the many
historical
“moments” which
make up the
larger “story”
of the spread of
Islam will
inspire readers
to explore
particular
moments in more
detail through
their own
research. This
is essential for
developing our
appreciation of
the complexity
of the spread of
Islam, which is
one of the most
transformative
processes in
human
history—comparable
in scale and
intricacy to
Christianization
or
secularization—and
which certainly
cannot be
oversimplified
in a slogan such
as “Islam was
spread by the
sword.” It is
also hoped that
the discussion
in this article
can inspire and
inform daʿwah
efforts in the
present.
Lady Evelyn
Cobbold (d.
1963), a
Scottish
noblewoman who
declared “I am a
Moslem” during a
private audience
with the Pope,
recorded the
following in her
diary: “The more
I read and the
more I studied,
the more
convinced I
became that
Islam was the
most practical
religion, and
the one most
calculated to
solve the
world’s many
perplexing
problems, and to
bring humanity
peace and
happiness.” The
discussion in
this article has
focused
primarily on
some of the more
prominent
structural
factors that
have contributed
to the spread of
Islam, such as
trade and
migration.
However, it is
important to
note that in
recent years
there has been a
“cultural turn”
in the
historiography
of conversion to
Islam. Memoirs,
diaries and
other first-hand
accounts of
converts, in
which they
describe their
journeys to
Islam, are
increasingly
becoming
available.
These, along
with a growing
body of
psychological
research on why
many people
convert to Islam
today, offer two
important areas
of further
research on the
subject of
conversion to
Islam in
history.
Born in 1701, Eastern
Senegal Ayuba Suleiman
Diallo went from being a
slave owner in Western
Africa to being captured and
shipped to America as a
slave. This is the Story of
'The Fortunate Slave'.
Ali Davidson 2019 Charity
Ride heading back to
Melbourne
Islamic
Relief Australia
Ya Nabi Salam Alaika
Rami Malek: Becoming
Freddy Mercury
Rami Malek told Patrick
Abboud he thought he could
never make it as an Arab
actor in Hollywood. But he
just won the Oscar for best
actor.
ISLAMIC
Hadith with Imam Uzair
003
Hadith
Jibreel Part 3
19/02/26
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.
Dutch court rules against Muslim man
who refused to shave beard for job
Man’s benefits were cut after he refused
to be clean shaven for asbestos removal
training
When the man refused on the basis of his
religious convictions, Amersfoort city
council suspended payments to both him
and his wife for a month.
HOLLAND: A Dutch court has backed the
suspension of a Muslim man’s benefits
over his refusal on religious grounds to
shave his beard while on training for a
job.
The unnamed man had been offered a job
as an asbestos removal officer but was
subsequently told he would need to be
clean shaven in order to undergo the
training course.
When he refused on the basis of his
religious convictions, Amersfoort city
council suspended payments to both him
and his wife for a month under the
Participatiewet, which provides a
minimum income for every legal resident
in the Netherlands.
The man appealed the decision at the
court of central Netherlands, where he
claimed that the removal of his benefits
was an infringement of article nine of
the European convention on human rights
which protects the right to freedom of
thought, conscience and religion.
The council argued that there was a
danger of asbestos particles ending up
in the man’s beard, which is harmful to
his health. They added that his facial
hair would also impact on the
effectiveness of the respiratory mask he
would need to wear.
Lawyers for the council went on to
conclude that the man, who had been
unemployed for two years, would have
received an automatic job on completing
his training and that they had to act in
the interests of the taxpayer.
The man responded that he would have
been willing to wear an alternative
respiratory mask on the market suitable
for those with beards but the court
concluded that the training required the
use of a specific mask.
The court’s appeal board ruled
that the decision was “unmistakably an
infringement of [the man’s] right to
religious freedom” but that this was
tolerable if there was a legal basis and
society required it.
In the summing up the judges took into
account the lack of any prospect of
other employment given the man’s history
including time in jail, psychological
problems and a gambling addiction.
“The provision offered … did not involve
any internship or training, but was
provided with a job guarantee”, the
court said. “For the appellant, the
training was therefore an excellent,
concrete chance for regular work …
“Due to the refusal to participate in
the training, the appellant did not make
use of the guaranteed opportunity to
gain access to the labour market. As a
result, he put undue pressure on the
public funds to the detriment of those
who, in solidarity, bear the costs of
the provisions in the Participatiewet.”
The judges ruled that the suspension of
payments was “deemed necessary in the
interest of the protection of the rights
and freedoms of others”.
The Dutch welfare system has undergone
significant changes in recent years
corresponding with a fall in
unemployment from 6.9% in 2014 to around
3.9% today, the pre-financial crisis
level. But real wage growth has been
slow with work contracts being
increasingly short-term.
"In a series
of personal letters to his sons, Omar
Saif Ghobash offers a short and highly
readable manifesto that tackles our
current global crisis with the training
of an experienced diplomat and the
personal responsibility of a father.
Today's
young Muslims will be tomorrow's
leaders, and yet too many are vulnerable
to extremist propaganda that seems
omnipresent in our technological age.
The burning
question, Ghobash argues, is how
moderate Muslims can unite to find a
voice that is true to Islam while
actively and productively engaging in
the modern world.
What does it
mean to be a good Muslim?
What is the concept of a good life? And
is it acceptable to stand up and openly
condemn those who take the Islamic faith
and twist it to suit their own misguided
political agendas? In taking a hard look
at these seemingly simple questions,
Ghobash encourages his sons to face
issues others insist are not relevant,
not applicable, or may even be
Islamophobic.
These
letters serve as a clear-eyed
inspiration for the next generation of
Muslims to understand how to be faithful
to their religion and still navigate
through the complexities of today's
world. They also reveal an intimate
glimpse into a world many are unfamiliar
with and offer to provide an
understanding of the everyday struggles
Muslims face around the globe."
KB says:
Stores in an air tight container for 1 week, so
a great idea for the lunch box.
Coconut, Oats and Chia muesli bars
INGREDIENTS
METHOD
½
cup coconut oil ²/³
cup honey ¼
cup brown sugar
2 cups rolled oats
1 cup shredded coconut
1 cup natural almonds chopped ¼
cup black chia seeds ½
cup pitted dates, finely chopped ½
tsp cinnamon spice
Preheat
oven at 180 degrees
Place oats,
coconut, nuts, dates, chia and cinnamon into a bowl and
mix well.
Place
honey, coconut oil and sugar into a small saucepan over
low heat and cook. Stirring for 3 to 4 minutes or until
melted and combined.
Add coconut
oil to oats mixture and mix well until combined.
Spoon
mixture into baking pan lined with baking paper and
press down with back of spoon.
Bake in
oven for 25 minutes or until dark golden in colour. Set
aside and cool completely. And cut into desired size.
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:
The Dangers Of
Personalising
Everything
Are you easily
affected by people’s
words? Do you
retaliate and give a
nasty comeback? Do
you find that
sometimes people’s
comments are able to
ruin your mood and
frustrate you? Do
their words play in
your mind over and
over, affecting you
for the rest of the
day or week?
When you operate on
a reactionary
mode, your
default setting is
to react. Anything
that is said to you
and done to you, no
matter how small,
will trigger you in
some way so that you
produce a reaction.
Most times, these
reactions are in the
form of damaging
thoughts. These
thoughts can play
over and over in
your mind and slowly
you begin to accept
them as your
reality. Assumptions
about yourself and
others are formed in
your mind as a
result of these
recurring damaging
thoughts.
These reactions from
you perpetuate your
habit of
personalising
everything that
happens to you and
around you. You
become sensitive to
even a harmless
comment. I struggled
with this for years.
Even a simple
comment like, “You
look tired” was
enough to make me
feel useless and a
failure. I was
taking everything as
a personal attack
and felt that I had
to constantly defend
myself. My reactions
ranged from
aggressive outbursts
to
passive-aggressive
gestures. I lost
faith in goodness in
people, thinking
that everyone was
critical about
everything I did and
no one was ever
acknowledging my
hard work.
I failed to
understand that the
only one attacking
me was me. The only
one critical of me
was me. The only one
doubting my
abilities was me.
All because I had
chosen to
personalise external
factors and allow
them to shape my
reality. I was
completely
disconnected from my
internal compass, my
intuition.
ALLAH has blessed
you with a mind with
immense potential.
You have the ability
to use your mind and
become aware of
these damaging
thoughts the moment
they begin to occur.
Once you do, you
will shift from the
default setting of
reactions and begin
operating from the
mode of response.
This mode requires
you to understand
that what is said to
you by people and
what is done to you
by people is only
one aspect of your
life. HOW YOU
RESPOND TO THESE
WORDS AND ACTIONS
governs how your
life unfolds.
How To Respond To
Triggers
ALLAH has blessed
you with a mind to
articulate your
response in any
situation where you
are being triggered,
by doing the
following:
1. Pause
2. Breathe
3. Listen
4. Observe your
body while
someone is
speaking to you.
Is it getting
hot, sweaty,
muscles are
tightening,
heart
palpitations,
shallow
breathing, heavy
breathing,
forehead
frowning, nose
squinting, eyes
narrowing? By
observing these
body sensations,
you will raise
your awareness
that these
sensory
manifestations
are your
physical signs
to guide you on
choosing the
appropriate
response.
5. Make the
choice to remove
yourself from
the triggering
situation.
6. Understand
that other
people’s words
and actions have
nothing to do
with your
purpose in life.
7. Find a quiet
space and
breathe deeply.
Drink water to
hydrate yourself
during these few
moments of
silence.
8. Close your
eyes and spend
some quiet
moments thanking
ALLAH for giving
you strength to
choose calm over
aggression.
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.
Smash-hit
Super Muslim
Comedy Tour
returns for its
second
successive year
The
side-shattering
Super Muslim
Comedy Tour
makes a welcome
return for its
second
successive year
in the
spotlight.
Following on
from the tour’s
2018 success,
this year’s
iteration of the
spine-tingling
night of
hilarity is
hosted across
four cities in
Australia, from
13th March to
16th March.
The tour has
been organized
by Penny Appeal
Australia, an
international
humanitarian
charity. All
funds raised
will support
Thirst Relief
projects, in
which Penny
Appeal supports
initiatives to
provide clean
and safe
drinking water
within
impoverished
communities
around the
world.
With a diverse
array of comedy
styles and
unique voices,
the Super Muslim
Comedy Tour is
guaranteed to
hold audiences
rapt. The
charity has
lined up 4 world
class comedians
for the events.
Each evening
will consist of
4 stand-up acts,
including
Australia’s very
own Khaled
Khalafalla best
known for his
performance in
Ali’s wedding.
Attendees will
also be
entertained by
the likes of US
comics Azeem
Muhammad who
returns after
captivating our
audiences during
last year’s tour
and newcomer
Salma Hindy.
Also returning
is the UK’s
Abdullah Afzal,
best known for
his role as
Amjad Malik in
BBC One’s
long-running
Citizen Khan.
Abdullah Afzal
said, “Following
on from the huge
success of last
year’s tour, I
can’t wait to
get out on the
stage again with
my fellow
artists, in aid
of what is a
fantastic
initiative.
Through a great
night of
entertainment,
we can really
transform lives
around the
world; I’m
really looking
forward to it!”
Penny Appeal
Head of
Fundraising and
Tour Manager,
Aamon Sayed,
added, “We
expect this
year’s tour to
be an even
bigger success
than last
year’s. We have
some of the best
Muslim comedians
from Australia,
the UK, the USA,
and Canada, who
will have the
audience roaring
with laughter.”
“We hope that
everyone can
come together,
enjoy a
fantastic night
of
entertainment,
and really help
to aid those
living without
access to clean
drinking water-
one of life’s
most basic
necessities. We
are sure that
with the support
of the public,
and everyone who
comes to this
year’s comedy
tour that we
will be able to
make a big
difference.”
The tour will
run from 13th
March to 16th
March, visiting
Perth, Brisbane,
Melbourne, and
Sydney.
Early Bird
tickets are
priced at $10
but won't last
long, with
standard ticket
prices at $20.
For more
information
about Penny
Appeal
Australia’s
Super Muslim
Comedy Tour, to
buy tickets, or
to donate to
Penny Appeal,
call 1300 347
947 or visit
pennyappeal.org.au/supermuslim.
Do you have healthy
lifestyle and wellbeing goals
planned for 2019?
The good news is, if you feel like
you’re ready to make a change, the
My Health For Life program is now
available, making it easier for
Queenslanders to get their health
back on track!
This free lifestyle modification
program is designed to help eligible
participants improve their health
and reduce their risk of developing
chronic disease such as type 2
diabetes, heart disease or stroke.
It takes a fresh, personalised
approach to help people move past
the barriers that stand in the way
of making healthy choices and
positive lifestyle change.
The program is run by a qualified
health professional over six
sessions.
See flyer for upcoming program
details.
For further information and to check
eligibility :
tel 0404 296 297 or
MH4L.Logan@bigpond.com.
Or you can call the secretary Abdul
Samim Khan on 0413669987.
Click on the image to sign up
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."
Islamic College of Brisbane (ICB), 45 Acacia Road, Karawatha
3364 4159
7PM to 8.30PM
13 April
Saturday
Open Day and 6th Annual Toowoomba International Food
Festival
Islamic Society of Toowoomba
217 West St.,
Harristown, Toowoomba
0421 081 048
11AM to 3PM
20 April
21 April
(tentative)
Sat (EVE)
Sunday
NISF SHA'BAAN
(Lailatul Bahrat)
15th Sha'baan 1440
6 May
(tentative)
Monday
RAMADAAN
(start of the month of fasting)
1st Ramadaan 1440
26 May
(tentative)
Sunday
LAILATUL-QADR
(Night of Power)
27th Ramadaan 1440
5 June 2019
(tentative)
Wednesday
EID-UL-FITR
(end of the month of fasting)
1st
Shawal 1440
11 August
(tentative)
Sunday
YAWMUL ARAFAH
(Night of Power)
9th Zil-Hijjah 1440
12 August
(tentative)
Monday
EID-UL-ADHA
10th Zil-Hijjah 1440
17 August
Saturday
Eidfest @ Dreamworld
Eidfest
Dreamworld
0418 722 353
from 6PM
1 September 2019
(tentative)
Sunday
RAʼS AL-SANAH AL-HIJRĪYAH
(Islamic New Year)
1st Muharram 1441
16 November
Saturday
Annual Milad-un-Nabi
Al-Mustapha
Institute of Brisbane
TBA
0422 433 074
from 3.30PM to
Maghrib
PLEASE NOTE
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.
MCF
has spent around $40,000.00
in February alone attending
to 48 families with a
variety of complex issues. 
Acorns
Children’s Hospice
makes every day count for
the children and families of
all cultures, faiths and
beliefs that use their
services. Over the last
year, they have cared for
over 870 children and more
than 1,141 families at their
three hospices in
Birmingham, Walsall and
Worcester and in their
outreach support in
families’ own homes. Since
opening 30 years ago, 29% of
the children in their care
have been Muslim, (39% of
families using Acorns are
from Black and Asian
Minority ethnic
backgrounds). For parents
like Amjid and his wife,
whose two children, Subhan
and Zara were both diagnosed
with Joubert’s syndrome, a
rare brain disorder, the
support provided by Acorns
has been a lifeline. Sadly,
Subhan passed away in
November 2016, aged just
seven, and the couple knows
that they face the loss of
another child. Amjid says:
“The pain is unbearable but
with the support of our
friends at Acorns we’ll deal
with that day when it comes,
I don’t know how we would
cope if we didn’t have
that.”
Set
up in September 2009,
The
Refugee Cricket Project
was originally a safe place
for Unaccompanied Asylum
Seeking Children to come
together once a week for
some recreation time, to
learn and play cricket, to
eat at least one healthy and
nutritious meal per week,
and to receive casework
support for their asylum
claims. In 2018, it still
provides those basic
functions, but it has also
helped over 400 young
Afghan, Bangladeshi and
Pakistani Muslims to
integrate into British
society through joining
local cricket clubs,
organising work experience,
and challenging Home Office
and Local Authority
decisions around age
disputes, housing, and to
enable the young people to
attend school and
university.
Pamela
Christine Evans is a former
Head of Religious Education
at a secondary school in
Carmarthenshire in
south-west Wales. Following
the 9/11 attacks, she
witnessed young Muslim
pupils face bullying from
their peers and although
this was challenged she saw
the prejudice in the climate
of the time soon spread to
other faith minorities and
visible minorities in the
school. Pam acted to address
this fear brought on by
ignorance through education
and came up with a simple
but powerful hands-on
project called
Peace
Mala.
The list of personal
endorsements Peace Mala has
received reads like a ‘Who’s
Who’ of world faith
‘heavy-weights’ including,
but not limited to: the late
Pope Saint John Paul II, the
Dalai Lama of Tibet, Lord
Williams of Oystermouth
(former Archbishop of
Canterbury) and Archbishop
Emeritus Desmond Tutu.
In Adelaide, Mahomet Allum
(d. 1964) established a
successful practice.
Described variously as a
‘herbalist,’ ‘healing
wonder’ and ‘miracle man,’
he was born around 1858 in
Kandahar, Afghanistan. Allum
migrated to South Australia
between 1884 and 1890.
Employed variously as a
camel driver, station-hand,
butcher, storekeeper, sailor
and mine-hand, he settled in
Adelaide in 1928 or 1929.
Prominent as a devout
Muslim, he established a
business as a herbalist and
by all accounts managed a
thriving practice, recorded
as ministering to 2,000
patients a week.
Testimonials pronounce him
curing all range of ills.
Race,
faith +
femininity with
Yassmin
Abdel-Magied
How
Islam Spread
Throughout the
World
Dressing 100 years ago in Britain
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post comments on
our Wall
7
August 2011